Chapter 26

Sitting at the table the following morning, Emma smiled up at Natalia. "Can you make us pancakes with the shapes?"

"You mean ones that are shaped like hearts?" Emma nodded. I already did." She answered holding out a plate of heart shaped pancakes to Emma.

Emma pushed the plate away from her, causing Natalia to spin from the stove and look down at her. "What's wrong sweetie?"

"Why couldn't we go with mommy to see Ava."

"Oh, sweetie. She's going to be busy helping Ava move, and you have school, and I have work, so, come on. Finish your breakfast so we can get you to school on time."

"The bus isn't coming yet."

"Well, I thought I would drive you while mommy's gone. Give us some extra time in the car together. Sound good?"

"Yeah."

"Now, give me a hug and finish your pancakes."

Emma walked around and gave Natalia this biggest hug her small arms could manage. Then returned to her chair and dug into her pancakes.

After a long day at work, and a run in with Buzz at the mini mart, the last thing Natalia wanted was a visitor, but there was a knock at the kitchen door and it would've be rude not to answer it. She opened the door and was a bit surprised to find Mayor Wolfe standing before her.

Doris gave a forced smile. "Hi"

"Um, hi."

"Is um, is Olivia home?"

"No, Olivia's out of town."

Walking in uninvited Doris sat down her purse and turned to Natalia. "Oh, that's funny. I saw the little pink sneakers and I just thought.."

"Oh um, Emma's here. I uh, I'm, Olivia just went to see Ava for a few days. I'm sorry. I just got back from a trip. I haven't even unpacked, and I was supposed to start baking an hour ago and I just…"

"Oh, you bake, how sweet."

"Yeah. You?"

"Bake? No. no."

"Um…" Natalia shook her head back and forth.

"You seem a little raddled. Is it the baking?" Doris asked with a nervous laugh.

"No, I'm fine."

"Yeah."

"Yeah. I mean, I just got back. Olivia and I went away for a few days. Just a weekend trip. And it was good we had a nice time."

"And now you're back and reality's a little different. Look, I know, you go away and you're in your own little bubble and, well, I hate to burst that bubble, but it is all part of coming out."

"I don't know what…"

"Look, really I just came over here to let you know that I'm petitioning to get Rafe a new hearing."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because I owed Frank a favor, and he used it, to help you."

"What, I…"

"Just a warning, Frank may not be done yet. I know you and Olivia think he is, but...enjoy your baking." She walked around Natalia and out the door.

As soon as she shut the door, Natalia sat at the kitchen table to call Olivia. Disappointment was evident in her voice as she left another voice mail. "Hi, Olivia, it's me. Please call me back. It's not an emergency or anything, uh, everything's fine. Emma's doing great. Um it's just, it's really kind of hard here without you. So, I, you know, I just um, I guess I just really want you to come home. I miss you, and I love you." Sighing she hung up the phone.

She sat thinking out loud for a few moments. "Why, why does it all happen at once. We have been together for months and it all has to crash around us now. While Olivia is across the country, really? She bowed her head and prayed. "Father, please give me strength. Olivia and I have fought so hard to get here. Together, and engaged, and happy. Please help guide us through this. Amen."

Instead of a phone call, Olivia decided to just head home early. Arriving at the house, she checked her breath before walking in the door. To her happy surprise, Natalia was right there. Arms open, ready to welcome her home. They fell into each other's arms. Hugging tightly for long moments before pulling back just enough to find wanting lips.

They kissed long and hard. Only breaking apart for air before diving back in. Kissing with abandon, as if they would never get to kiss again. Tongues tangled together, fighting for dominance. Olivia's hands were on Natalia's hips, pressing their bodies firmly together. Natalia had one hand gripping the back of Olivia's head. Keeping her firmly in place. Her other arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders.

Finally breaking the long-awaited kiss, Olivia kept a hand on Natalia's hip, maintaining their closeness. "So how is Emma? Everything go okay?"

"Yeah. No problems at all. She was perfect, she was great." Natalia couldn't keep the huge, dimpled smile off her face. "She um, she missed you. We both did."

"Oh honey, I missed you too. So much. I'm never leaving without you again."

Pulling Olivia back to her, Natalia buried her face in the crook of her neck. "You'd better not. I couldn't sleep without you."

"Me either. A few days seemed like forever." Kissing her temple, she pulled back from the embrace, but stayed in the circle of Natalia's arms. "Come sit with me. I want to hold you." Taking her hand, they walked to the living room and sat on the couch. Natalia sat on one side and as Olivia started to move into her arms she noticed the paper.

Picking it up her face went ashen. "Edmond Winslow is dead?"

"Yeah, I, I thought you knew about that?'

"Uh…"

"You weren't exactly friends with him were you?"

"Uh, no, he was a sad bastard, but I just saw him yesterday."

"Yesterday?"

"Yeah, I uh, I got back early I wanted to come straight here but there was an emergency at the Beacon, and I went there to deal with it and I, I, I looked out the window, and I saw him talking to…Do they think that uh, think he was murdered?"

"Well, that's what it looks like. Who did you see talking to him?"

"You know I, I uh, it was probably uh, nothing, I, I shouldn't say anything. I don't, I don't really know what to do."

"I think you should be honest, it's when you start lying and hiding things, that things get all messed up. I mean if you know something about a crime…"

"Yeah, you know what, let me go deal with this. You'll be here in a little while?"

"Yeah. I'm not going anywhere."

"Okay. I love you. I'll be back soon." Bending over she gave Natalia several sweet kisses.

"I love you too. Hurry back."

"I will." One more kiss and she was out the door.

While waiting for Olivia's return, Natalia was folding laundry at the kitchen table when there was another knock at the door. Natalia opened it to Father Ray, standing on the other side.

"Hey." Father Ray said with a smile.

"Hi."

"I was just driving by, decided to drop in."

"Oh yeah, yeah come on in."

"Someone promised to help with the annual fund raiser, you remember?"

"Of course, I remember. Yes. Please, please have a seat."

"Natalia, a lot of people are hurting right now. Losing their jobs, their homes, a lot of people need help. I'm sorry, I don't wanna impose."

"No, you're not. I, I really still wanna help."

"Oh, great."

"And I think we can probably get some rooms from the Beacon, and some left-over food. You know I just have to clear everything with Olivia."

"That's terrific thank you."

"Sure. Do you want um, some soda? Or I could make some coffee?"

"How about a beer?"

"You wanna drink, right now?"

"Any chance I get. Hey, Jesus turned water into wine. It was his first miracle." He answered with a chuckle. "So, are you seeing someone?"

"Yes." She answered without hesitation. "I am actually engaged to someone." She declared, glancing at the picture of her, Olivia, and Emma on New Year's.

Father Ray followed her gaze, he saw the picture, then looked back to the smile on her face, back to the picture, and back to Natalia. "Olivia?"

"Yes."

Father Ray let out a sigh.

Jeffery reached the door at Cross Creek after seeing someone outside, he called out. "Reva." As he got closer, he saw that it was Olivia.

She stepped down from the porch. "Hi."

"Hey, how was your trip?"

"It was good. Ava's just great, and she misses her dad."

"You know I; I really have to get out there and visit her, soon."

"Yeah. Um, you know I want the best for you, right? I mean, I, I, I haven't always wanted that. But seeing what you, and Reva, and the new baby have, It, it, it's great. And I, I just, I know how precious it is to find someone you truly love. After all the years of hardship, and ya, you finally think that you found something special, and enduring, and…" She giggled nervously and looked down. Pinching the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger

"Where is…this coming from?"

"I saw her with Edmond."

"What?"

"Reva. I saw Reva with Edmond. And it must have been right before he died."

Natalia and Father Ray were still seated at the kitchen table. Discussing she and Olivia's relationship.

"I didn't see this coming, you know, the love that I have for…"

"Olivia."

"All I know is that they're real."

"Natalia there's nothing wrong with what you're feeling. I understand the connection. She's got Gus's heart. You care about her daughter. But the church is clear on this matter. For you to act on the feelings would be…"

"It's a sin. But God is love. Right? Right? Love?"

He laid his head on the table, and then looked up.

"God gave them over to shameful lust. Even there woman exchanged natural relations, for unnatural ones. Romans: 1:26-27. The scriptures say…"

"Yeah, I know what they say. But I don't feel in my heart, that what I'm doing is wrong."

"I can offer you support; I can give you guidance, the church has councilors…"

"You know what, this is not a confession father. I have thought about this, and I have prayed, and prayed about it. And I am still…the same person, no matter who I love. No matter who I choose to marry. I want to help you with your church charities, and I still want to go to mass, every Sunday. My faith in God is still as strong as it was before any of this happened. I still believe in him and his teachings."

"Not all of them."

Her voice was even, but stern. "I love Olivia, and I love my faith, and I don't see why I have to choose between them."

"The bible is open to interpretation, but the church believes."

She covered her face with her hands. "I understand." Bringing her hands down to rest on the table in front of her. She looked him straight in the eye. "The bible also says, test all things, and hold vast to that which is good. Olivia and I are good. I've never known love like this, happiness like this. With Olivia, I feel complete, for the first time in my life. I feel like I'm home."

Walking inside at Cross Creek, Jeffery was picking up things as he went. "Sorry about the uh mess."

"It's Okay." Olivia replied.

"Are you sure it was Reva?"

"I'm positive, I was in my office on the phone, and I looked out the window, and it was Reva and Edmond, arguing across the lake. And I didn't think anything of it, until I saw the paper."

"You know, I'm sure that there's an explanation."

"I'm sure there is, I just thought you should know. And whatever you wanna do about it, it's up to you."

"Well thank you. Hey, did I tell you that Reva got her test results back? No more cancer."

"That's great."

"It's been a tough year for her. And for you. But now you're both, healthy and happy. You are happy."

"I am. I'm very happy. Never known happy like this."

"You know, I think Ava would be glad to see us like this."

"I think she would too."

She gave him a hug and left for home. Returning home, she kissed Natalia then grabbed her briefcase and purse, so they could head out to work. Walking into the kitchen, she sat her belongings on the table and turned to face Natalia. "So okay, we'll leave work by three, pick up Emma, maybe get a pizza?"

"Yeah sounds good." She handed Olivia a water from the fridge. "Here, have some water. Listen, uh, right after you left, Father Ray stopped by. And I sort of told him."

"About us?"

"Mmmhmm."

"Huh."

"He asked me if I was seeing someone and, I couldn't lie to him, not to a priest."

"Okay, so Father Ray knows, I doubt he'll say anything to Rafe."

"Well, no, I just, I just wanted you to know. It seems like more and more people are finding out before our children. Speaking of which. How was your visit with Ava?"

"It was good. We got her all settled into her new place. She's uh, she's okay."

"Good. I'm glad. I really want to get to know her. I hate that she's so far away."

"Me too."

"So, did you get a chance to talk with her."

"I did…"

"And?"

"She was very happy for us. Surprised. But happy. She told me not to screw it up." Olivia laughed out.

Natalia came to stand in front of Olivia, sliding her hands across her hips. "You can't screw this up, I won't let you." She ghosted her lips across Olivia's, taking her hand and pulling her towards the door. "We need to get to work."

"Let's stay home. I need some personal time with my personal assistant." Olivia suggested, wiggling her eyebrows.

"I would love to take you upstairs right now, and show you just how much I missed you, but you have meetings, my dear." She gave her one last kiss, then pulled her the rest of the way out the door, while Olivia pouted behind her.

Inside Olivia's suite at the Beacon, they were both immersed in their own work when Olivia complied a plan to get her much needed personal time with Natalia. "You know what, I Can't find that spread sheet." She said, thumbing through the files in her hand.

Natalia pointed to said spreadsheet from across the bed. "It's right there."

"Where?"

Natalia walked around the bed to stood next to Olivia. "It's…"

"Where?" Olivia asked again. Half laughing.

"Right there in front of you." She stated. Bumping Olivia with her hip.

"Here look." She opened the folder directly to the missing paperwork. "You just wanted me to come over here, didn't you?"

"I'm not that clever." She stated, dropping the files to the bed and wrapping Natalia in her arms. Pushing her towards the bed.

"Yes you did. You did." Natalia laughed. Sitting back on the bed and pulling Olivia down with her, until they were laying down, Olivia half on top of Natalia. Olivia lowered her head and kissed the shell of Natalia's ear, along her jawline, ghosting over her lips, and then continuing down her jaw to the other ear, licking along the rim before biting the lobe. "Olivia, we're at work."

Olivia was licking and sucking on Natalia's neck, she mumbled against her, "I'm the boss."

Natalia moaned and her back arched slightly. "Olivia we can't" She panted out.

Olivia covered her mouth with her own. Plunging her tongue into the warm well of Natalia's mouth. Coaxing Natalia's tongue into her own and sucking on it. "I want you." She moaned into Natalia's mouth. Sliding her hand down Natalia's side to the hem of her shirt.

Just as she started to raise the blouse, Greg walked in. "Ms. Spencer, the ball room has been overbooked."

Olivia jumped off the bed. Straightening her jacket and skirt. Reaching a hand down to assist Natalia. She looked at Greg and spoke as if nothing out of the norm was just happening. "What? Which parties?"

"Um, Springfield animal rights group, and the Springfield furriers association." He quickly responded, giving no reaction to what he just walked in on.

"Oh, that's perfect. How did this happen?"

"I don't know."

"Well, you're the banquet manager, you should know."

"I did that. I booked it. I was trying to drum up business, and I, it was my mistake." Natalia interjected.

Olivia looked at her, "It happens. We'll call Towers and we'll have one of the parties moved over there." She walked closer to Greg. "I don't want Margret at Towers knowing that we doubled booked, so just, make her think that we're throwing some business her way."

"I'll make the call." He replied as he quickly departed.

Olivia shut the door and spun to face Natalia. "What's his problem?"

"What are you doing? I screwed up, and you tell me it's okay, right in front of another employee. There was no yelling at me, no threatening to fire me…"

"Why? Why would I?"

"Because you're yelling at Greg. And he expected it, you know why, because that's what the boss does when she's mad. And I can't work here if you're gonna give me special treatment." She said with a shy smile, while wrapping her arms around Olivia's neck.

"Mm, I think this is special treatment, I don't let my employees into my personal space like this." Olivia countered. Pulling Natalia firmer against her body by her hips.

Natalia ran her tongue across Olivia's bottom lip. "We have to be careful. It's been five months and you haven't treated me different thus far."

"Oohhh. I can do it. I can separate...uhhh….my personal life...from…from…" Olivia's voice failed her.

"From your love life…" Natalia finished for her. Placing open mouth kisses along her neck.

"I can…uh...I can do it...Oh god…I've done it before. You just…" Natalia's mouth found the spot behind Olivia's ear. "Caught me...umm…by surprise that's...that's all…." Natalia had moved her mouth to kiss along Olivia's jawline, to her chin. "You so rarely...god Natalia...mess up."

Natalia spun them, checking the lock on the door before walking Olivia back to the bed. Slowly laying them down so she was hovering over Olivia. Kissing down the v of her shirt to just above the scar running between her breasts.

"No…Ooohhhhh…special treatment…for you." Olivia panted out.

Natalia kissed back up Olivia's chest, over her pulse point, to her chin, and finally pressed her lips just barely against Olivia's. "At least, not in front of the other employees." She pressed harder into Olivia's lips. Parting them with her tongue and slipping it inside. They kissed long and deep. Hands searching for buttons. They kissed to welcome each other home, they kissed to ignite their passion, they kissed to express naughty things about to come.