Chapter 30

Walking back out of the house, both wearing matching grins, Olivia and Natalia resumed watching Frank and Rafe. Olivia was going to have to head to the office soon and Natalia wanted to go into town for a bit after lunch.

Catching the ball a final time, Frank walked over to Rafe. "Oh man, it's great to be outside doing this."

Rafe teased him for quitting so soon. "You have got to be kidding me."

"Oh, no, let's take a little break here, ya know."

"Frank, you getting tired on me already man?"

"Oh no, nobody's getting tired. You got a good arm. You got a really good arm. You remind me of your dad. You're a lot like him."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, absolutely. You know, you uh, you've got good street smarts. You know how to handle a tough situation."

"Those things don't matter, it's no big deal."

"It is a big deal. Those two things alone, can get you through life. Look um, Rafe." He pulled out Gus's badge from his back pocket and handed it to Rafe. "You uh, you gave me this, when you thought I might marry your mom, and uh, I think you should have it."

"Frank no man, stop."

"You should have it, cause it will remind ya, where you came from."

"Thanks man."

"Yeah." Frank gave him a manly hug before heading to his car.

Natalia called over to him attempting to be friendly. "Hey Frank, I was gonna get a bucket of chicken, you wanna stay awhile?"

"Um, no thank you. I was on my way out actually, but uh, I'll be back tomorrow." He got in his car and left without looking back.

Natalia turned to Olivia. "What about you? Wanna stay, have some chicken?"

"Chicken? I would love some chicken, but uh, Emma's got a sleep over, and you my dear, need to spend some time with Rafe, and I need to get some work done. Jellybean, in the car, we're leaving."

"Emma won't be here tonight?"

"When I thought we were staying at the Beacon, I set it up. Wanted to keep her distracted. You know."

"Yeah. So, I guess I'll see you later."

"Yes you will."

Natalia leaned in close and placed a kiss close to Olivia's ear. "I love you."

"I love you too." Walking around Natalia, fighting the urge to take her in her arms and kiss her senseless, she gave a small wave from the car door and got in. Natalia waved to her and then to Emma, before walking up the path and into the house.

Later that afternoon Rafe walked out of the police station with his father's badge and an application in hand. Shoving the badge in his jacket pocket, and the application in his back pants pocket, he headed for a walk.

Olivia walked into Company for coffee and was happy to find one, Doris Wolfe. She wasn't looking for her, but an opportunity had just presented itself, so she figured 'what the hell' maybe Doris could give her some insight. She walked over and stood at Doris's table. "Hi."

Over her coffee, Doris greeted Olivia. "Hello, how are you?"

"Good."

As Doris's daughter walked up, she motioned with her hand. "Do you know Ashley?"

"Yeah. Of course, I know Ashley."

As she sat, Ashley looked at Olivia, speaking with her always bubbly personality on full display. "Hey, how are you?"

"Well, you?'

"Oh wait, are you hiring?"

"Am I hiring?"

"Yeah, well um, I'm looking for a job. Dinah uh, cut my hours back, um, I was hoping to get into event planning. Um, I was Bill and Lizzy's wedding planner for like five minutes."

"You know what, I will remember that, when I'm in city hall holding up their license." Doris grumbled.

Ashley looked back to Olivia. "Well, I was just wondering if you would keep me in mind."

"Yes. Absolutely."

"I'm open to just about anything, and I have really good people skills."

Doris smiled at her. "Just like her mother."

"Right, well, I guess I better be going." She kissed her mother on the cheek and ran off.

Olivia quickly took her vacated seat. "I need your advice."

"Oh, that's funny, and my daughter needs a job."

"Fine. Okay. How long were you a prosecutor?"

"Uh, awhile, a long time." Doris answered with a self-conscious laugh.

"Okay, so, you saw some people, go to prison, and then get released."

"Lots of em."

"And how long would you say on average, it takes said person to get settled?"

"Is this about Rafe Rivera?" She looked down at the table and sighed, then back at Olivia. "Of course, it is. You need Natalia's son, Rafe, to be okay, so you and Natalia can get on with your lives."

Olivia shrugged. Looking solemn.

Rafe arrived at his father's grave, flowers in hand. Setting the flowers down, he crossed himself and stood with his hands intertwined in front of him. Natalia suddenly walked up beside him. "Hey you. Came to say hi to your dad?"

"I guess so."

"I got some food in the car, you know, if you don't wanna be at the house right now, we could go eat at the park or something."

"No, it's fine. You can go home."

"Okay." Noticing the papers in his back pocket, she pulled them out. "What is all, what is all this you got back here?"

"No, it's nothing. Just random paperwork." He tried to snatch the papers back to no avail.

"It's not random paperwork it's from the police, are you applying to the police department?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know? It looks like you filled out all these forms."

Taking the papers from her hands, his voice filled of attitude. "Can this please be one of those things that we just drop? Okay."

"Why? I think it's great. I don't understand why you're trying to hide it."

"I'm not trying to hide it."

"So, you wanna be a police officer, just like your dad?"

"See, this is why I don't wanna, like I don't even know if I'm gonna apply yet."

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Because Ma, it's, look, it's one thing to say I wanna be like Gus. It's another thing to actually do it."

"I think you'd make a great cop."

"Yeah we'll see. I made a lot of mistakes Ma."

"Well yeah, but I'm looking at someone who wants to, put those mistakes behind him. You know, make something of yourself. Your dad made mistakes, he made plenty of mistakes. He was never perfect. But he had integrity and character. Just like you. You're so alike the two of you, I mean, you have no idea. You're never gonna be perfect but, instead of just appreciating when you're at least close, you beat yourself up when you come up short. He would be so proud of you."

"Ahh, okay. I have a couple of his ties at home, maybe I'll just, wear one to the interview." Natalia pulled him into a hug. "I love you Ma."

"I love you too."

Olivia waved her hand in front of herself. "I get it, I understand that Rafe is Natalia's first concern, cause I'm a mother and Emma is my first concern. So, I also know that she's not gonna be able to talk to him, until he's in a better place."

"Oh, I don't know that Rafe will ever be in a good enough place, to hear that."

"Oh, okay great, I'm leaving." Olivia started to stand but was stopped by Doris's hand on her arm.

"Look I am not gonna sit here and give you something to hang onto, and then have it be a lie."

"I could use a comforting lie right now."

"Are you that worried?"

"What? No? About what?"

"That if she doesn't tell Rafe soon, maybe she never will."

Olivia just looked at her, and then stood from the table and walked out.

That afternoon, Rafe went home to change into a suit and tie, then returned to Springfield PD for an interview. Reaching the door, Natalia stopped him to fix his tie. "Hold on a second."

"Okay, thanks Ma. Okay." He held up Gus's badge. "I brought this for luck, what do you think?"

"Yeah, you know, soon you could have a badge of your own."

"Yeah. I guess we'll see. Look I gotta get in there. I don't want to keep Frank and the chief waiting."

"I'm gonna wait out here."

"Ma you can come inside. Everybody knows you in there."

"No that's okay. I'll be right out here."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

Rafe turned on his heel and walked inside, as Olivia walked up behind Natalia, startling her. "So, you casing the joint?"

Laughing Natalia turned and grabbed Olivia's hand. "Hi."

"What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry, I just sent my son in there on a job interview."

"Really?" Olivia asked. Knowing it was a long shot with Rafe's criminal record, but not wanting to ruin Natalia's good mood.

"Yeah. He decided that he wants to join the police force, just like his dad."

"That's great. See he's gonna be fine. He's trying to move on with his life."

"We'll see. This is just a beginning."

"He wants to make you proud."

"I think he knows that he disappointed me, and I think he really wants to make up for it."

"Well, there's nothing worse than disappointing the person you love the most. So um, I'll let you wait, but uh, if you need anything or if he needs anything, like a letter of reference, you call me."

"I will. I'll call you."

"You better. I already miss you."

"I miss you too. So maybe I can stop by the Beacon later? Get a moment with the boss." Natalia smirked.

"Maybe, I'll have to check with my assistant, oh darn, she's out for the week." Olivia rose an eyebrow and winked.

"Oh, I'm sure your assistant could find the time to pencil me in. Even if she is technically off for the week." She flirted back.

"I bet she can."

Laughing Natalia lay her hand on Olivia's arm and stared at her with longing. "I love you."

"I love you too. I do have to go though. Work to be done."

Natalia pouted. "Fine. Okay. I'll call you soon."

Olivia strode away from her, looking back over her shoulder and shooting a sultry look. Natalia just shook her head and smiled, wishing later would come already, so she could get some alone time with her fiancé.

After watching Olivia until she could no longer see her, Natalia decided to go inside after all. Finding Rafe sitting at a desk. "Hey."

Slightly startled out of his inner musings, he looked up at her. "Hey, oh god."

"Did you talk to anyone?"

"Uh, just the desk clerk, he's new but uh, he told Frank and the chief that I'm here waiting."

"Okay." She couldn't help but smile at her son. As she looked up Frank appeared in in the doorway. "Hi."

"Hi. Uh, Officer McGee said that just Rafe was here."

"Oh, yeah sorry. I probably shouldn't be here."

Rafe stood from his chair. "I'm here to interview for a job."

"Yeah um, Rafe wants to be a policeman, just like Gus." Natalia said, rubbing Rafe's arm.

"Like Frank too."

"And you."

Frank licked his lips. "Well how about that."

"I realize, of course, that there's a waiting list and stuff like that, but…" Rafe waved his hand nonchalantly.

"Well, they just hired Remy, so, you don't know." Natalia argued.

"Either way. Yeah."

Frank's face was slight exasperated. "I wish you would have talked to me about this."

Natalia shook her head. "We didn't want to put you on the spot."

"No, um, Rafe, why don't we go upstairs and we can talk about this. Who knows, we'll uh, we'll see."

Rafe grabbed his suit jacket and joined Frank.

"Okay, well I'll stay here, and I'll be nervous and I'll pace." Natalia laughed nervously.

Frank led Rafe to a private room. Closing the door behind them. "Come on in."

"What's going on Frank?"

"You already put your application in?'

"Yeah, I gave it to the guy at the front desk. He told me to wait."

"And no one talked to you?"

"No. Why?"

"Rafe you just got out of prison. You have a felony record."

"Yeah I know. So."

"That means you can't be a cop, in Springfield, or anywhere else for that matter. I'm sorry."

Rafe's face fell. He felt he had been physically struck.

"Rafe, I'm sorry."

"There's nothing we can do? No one we can talk to?"

"Rafe, if there was anything that I could do, believe me, I would do it."

"I just don't understand. Man. I'm out of jail. I'm done with all that stupid stuff."

"I get that. I…" Frank's phone rang. "Sorry." He looked at the display and then back to Rafe. "I really gotta get this. Listen, why don't we go back downstairs and talk to your mom about this. Okay? Listen I'm sorry. You really would have made a good cop." Frank left, Rafe falling behind him sadly.

Rafe came down the stairs and up to his mother. "Hi."

"Hey, how did it go."

"He said that there's gonna be a waiting list, so, it's fine. I thought maybe I'd get a part time job in the meantime. Maybe ask Alan if he'd help me."

"There's plenty of people that want to help you, you don't need to go straight to Alan. This is a great day."

"Ma, it's just a waiting list okay, relax."

"Oh no, somethings are really worth waiting for." Natalia said. Thinking of herself and Olivia with a smile.

Olivia sat at her desk, attempting to get work done. With so much on her mind she was having little luck. She sat back in her chair, rubbing her hands down her face and letting out a long sign, when her phone rang. "Olivia Spencer."

A small smile graced her face when Natalia's voice came over the line. "Hi, it's me."

"Hi."

"Hi, just um, I wanted to call you, I have some really great news. Rafe's been put on a waiting list at the police department."

"He applied?" Olivia was a little shocked. Knowing there were laws against felons becoming cops. She shrugged to herself, thinking maybe Frank pulled some strings.

"Yeah. He wants to be a cop, just like his dad."

"Well, that's, that's wonderful."

"He's just gonna need something to tide him over until this comes through but, I thought you'd wanna know, I'm just so proud."

"Send him over."

"What?"

"Send him over. I wanna help him. Come on, you know I would do anything for you."

"Olivia, thank you. I'll do that right now."

Without another word Olivia hung up. Smiling to herself. Natalia's voice alone, always put her on cloud nine.

While Rafe went to meet with Olivia at her office, Natalia headed to Spaulding Mansion for a talk with Alan. Walking in Alan had his back to her. "Hello Alan."

Turning to the voice behind him, he wasn't surprised to find Natalia there. "Well, Natalia. It's been a long time. Please sit, I'll get you a drink or something."

"No, no thank you, no. How are you?'

"Well, I'm, as good as can be expected. I guess. You probably heard that Elizabeth is marrying Bill Lewis."

"Yeah, that's nice isn't it?"

"I wish I saw the world through your eyes."

"Well, you know, Rafe told me that you gave him a call."

"Yes well, I wanted to call my grandson and wish him well out in the real world. How's he doing?"

"Well, he's, he's trying hard. But, this transition, has been, a little bit harder than…we thought it would be."

"Hmm. Well, uh, since he's out of prison, is there anything I can do to help?"

"No. No. Actually that's…I'm coming to ask you to not help Rafe. In anyway. Not with a job, or any money, or anything like that. You know, if you could be supportive, as a family member, that would be wonderful, just no Spaulding short cuts or anything like that."

"Let me ask you something, is he aware that I'm not allowed to help him?"

"Well yes, I'm gonna talk to him about this. We talk about everything." She walked to the front door with Alan following. "I hope you understand."

"I do understand Natalia, and I promise you, I will not corrupt Rafael."

"That's not what I was saying. I was just trying to explain, that this is a very tricky time for him."

"Well, I have a lot of tricky situations with the rest of my family. So, I will leave Rafael to you."

"Okay." Satisfied, she turned and walked out the door.

Olivia was trying her best to find Rafe a position, however, he was not making it easy. "Alright well here's something, it's in the kitchen, it's an entry level job, but you know what, the salary is more then it seems and you get to share all the tips with waiters."

"Olivia, a bus boy?"

She handed him another piece of paper. "This is right up your alley; you know if you're looking to be a cop. Security guard."

"Um great, I'm sure they have really snazzy uniforms too. Come on."

"Excuse me?"

"You know what, forget it, I'll go ask my grandfather."

"No, no. That kind of job comes with strings. Look, I'm not looking for kissing of the feet. A little gratitude would be nice. I'm offering you a job, two jobs in fact."

"But a bus boy? Come on, that's not a career."

"We're not talking about a career. We're talking about something until you can…"

"I'm not gonna be a cop. Alright. I went over there and I asked them. I wanted to be like my dad. I wanted to honor him. They said no. So, excuse me if I don't get all excited about picking up some dirty dishes in your hotel rooms." He got up to leave but was stopped.

"Come on, don't go. Sit, please, talk."

Rafe sat back down. "Why? What's there to talk about?"

"Your mother led me to believe that you wanted to apply…"

"I know what my mother said, I was there, okay."

"So, you just let her go on thinking that everything was okay? Or, what? You lied to her?"

"No."

"Rafe come on. You know you don't have to lie to your mother."

"I don't. Stop."

"She's very excited for you."

"I know that. That's exactly the point. I don't want to disappoint her."

Olivia walked around and leaned on the front of her desk in front of Rafe. "Well then, just tell her the truth, okay. She's a strong person. You owe her the truth. Right?"

"First of all, can you back off please? This is my business and my mothers. Who the hell do you think you are anyway? This has absolutely nothing to do with you."

"See that's where you're wrong. It has everything to do with me."

"What? I am not your business, your problem, just stay out of it." He tried to walk out again.

Olivia lightly grabbed his arm. "No, sit." Once he complied, she continued. "First of all, you are not a problem Rafe. Secondly, I care about your mother and you. I just want to help you."

"Why? So, I can owe you? No thanks, I'd rather owe Alan."

"No. I don't want anything, other than your mother to be happy, and she won't be happy until you're okay. I'm just offering my help, no strings, no owing, just a chance, a job, that's all."

"I don't want anything from you."

"Fine, no job. New topic. I plan on coming home tonight, you gonna be okay with that?"

"It's not my choice, it's my mothers."

"I'm making it your choice. You don't want me there, I won't be.

"My mother wants you there."

"Not the point. If I'm there and you act like this the entire time, your mother will be very unhappy, I won't let that happen, so, if you can't deal, then Emma and I will move back here."

Rafe thought about his talk with his mother earlier that morning, and their talk at the halfway house. Olivia seemed to just want his mother happy. She was even willing to move out of her home to do it. He knew his mother would be upset if Olivia left. He still wasn't willing to trust her, but he promised his mother to try and get to know the 'new' Olivia. "No, it's fine. I'll see you tonight I guess." Not waiting for a response, he grabbed his jacket and walked out.

Shortly after Rafe left there was a knock at Olivia's office door. "We're closed, come back tomorrow."

Poking her head in, Natalia smiled at her love. "It's me, the mother of your newest employee."

"Hi. We uh, we should talk about Rafe."

"I'm sorry. I really wasn't checking up, I swear."

"You should be. You should check up. Um, especially with the people that you love. You know, they're not always completely honest with you."

"Um, which job did he take?"

"He didn't take a job, he wasn't interested."

"Oh. Well ya know, it's probably because he had his heart set on becoming a cop, but you know, I know, he needs to get it, that he needs something in the meantime, until he gets to the top of that list."

"It's not gonna happen."

"What do you mean?"

"He can't become a cop. He's a convicted felon, it's a law."

"Does Rafe know that?"

"Frank told him."

"But he…"

"He didn't want to disappoint you. That's all."

"Oh Rafe, my poor baby."

"See that's, uh, that's the thing. He's not a baby. He's a grown man. And you know what, he's gonna have to learn how to handle set back in his life. Because that's a part of life. And I honestly don't think it's a good idea that you coddle him. You know, it's not good for him and it's not good for us."

Rubbing her face with her hands. Natalia stood, getting irritated. "Us? Really? Cause my son just had another one of his dreams crushed. This is not about us."

Walking around, Olivia propped herself on the edge of her desk. "Okay. I'm not trying to be mean but, Rafe, his life, it does affect us. So, in a way, it is about us."

"Okay, he just got out of jail."

"I know that."

"And becoming a cop, this wasn't just about getting some job. This was about his father. Whom he didn't even have in his life that long."

"I understand. I understand. That's why I wanted to help him. I feel for him. But I offered him a job, and he didn't want it. He had an attitude while he was in here and he walked out on me. So, what do we do? Cause it's a bad economy, and he's got a criminal record. There aren't gonna be a lot of people who are gonna give him another chance like this. So, what does that mean? How long do we wait? Because honestly, I hate it. The whole time he was in here I just wanted to tell him."

"It's hard for me too Olivia. And I wish things could be simpler for us. But Rafe is my son. And he needs my attention right now. So that just means I have to wait for some of the things I want. And you know, someday Emma may be coming up with some of these issues too, and I just hope, that I'm a little more understanding then you."

"I'm not trying be difficult Natalia. I'm just saying, he's not a baby anymore Natalia. You've got to quit treating him like he's still a little boy. He has to deal with some of this on his own."

"I know Olivia. I know he's not a baby. But he still needs me."

Stopping Natalia's pacing, Olivia grabbed her by her hips, pulling her to stand between her legs at the desk. Natalia left her arms at her side but didn't move away. "He's always going to need you Natalia. I'm not saying you shouldn't be there. I'm just saying that he needs some space too. I know you've missed him sweetheart. But hovering over him, that's gonna drive him crazy."

"Funny, he said a similar thing this morning." Pouting she leaned into Olivia. Finally relenting and running her hands up Olivia's arms and around her neck.

"He loves you sweetheart, but he's growing up, and he wants to do some of this on his own. Without mommy. I'm sure that's part of why he wouldn't take a job here, he saw it as a handout. Wonder where he gets that from." Olivia added, with a raised eyebrow.

"You're not funny."

"Then stop smiling." Olivia leaned in the few inches separating them and placed a gentle kiss to pouting lips.

"Okay. You're right. I'll try to ease up."

"That's my girl." She gave her another kiss.

"So, when are you coming home?"

"I still have a few things to finish up here, then I'll be there."

"Okay. I have to run by the store before I head home, so, I should be there around the same time as you."

She tilted Natalia's chin so she could see into those beautiful mahogany eyes. "It's going to be okay Natalia. We will figure it out."

"I know. I just hate all of this. I really didn't think it was going to be so hard."

"I know, but we will get through this. Together."

"Together." Closing the distance Natalia kissed her again. This kiss was for thank you, it was for I love you. This kiss was for weathering the storm, no matter how strong the winds blew.