Chapter 35

Frank stumbled into the kitchen of his apartment, running a little late. Rake was finishing making breakfast. "Whoa."

"Yo."

"Check it out. Somebody making breakfast?"

"Yeah. But it's just hard-boiled eggs Frank. I would have made something else but you didn't have anything else in your cabinet."

"Yeah, sorry about that. But you know, I've only been in this apartment less then twenty-four hours. I haven't been on a big shopping spree yet, but this is awesome."

"I am not gonna be cooking for ya. I just um, I have a, my job starts today and we have training and I'm gonna find out what my hours are and everything so ya know."

"Oh, all right. Well, I'm on call today so I may or may not be here when you get home so."

"I'm gonna go uh, hang out before I go to work okay."

"Hey Rafe, before you go, we're gonna need to ah, lay down some house rules."

"Okay. Let me finish getting dressed and then I'm all yours." Coming out of the bedroom Rafe approached Frank on the couch. "Hey uh Frank, I'm gonna go okay."

"Listen uh, before you head out, we're not gonna have time to go over all the ground rules but uh let's start with one okay. I don't need a laundry list when you go out and all that, but uh one or two details would be cool." Frank's phone rang. Natalia was on the other line asking to talk to Rafe. "It's your mother, do you wanna?"

"No." He didn't wait to hear the conversation just walked out.

"Natalia you know what, he uh, he just walked out the door."

"How's he doing?"

"Oh Natalia, what do you think? He's hurt, he's confused, he just doesn't understand and all that. Did you think he would?"

"I guess I didn't think."

"You know you're right, you didn't."

"Is this about Rafe Frank? Or you?"

"It's about Rafe…"

"You know what, sorry. Just, thank you for taking care of him. Will you call me?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll call you, but you know what Natalia, don't worry. He'll be fine."

Olivia was walking on the sidewalk when a male voice came from behind her.

"Nice holiday, the fourth of July. The entire country celebrates it together." Father Ray said.

"Yeah."

"Well, happy fourth." He started to walk on when Olivia stopped him.

"Father uh, I just wanted to thank you, for your support and your understanding regarding Natalia and me."

"I'm sorry, but I don't support your relationship. I understand things are difficult for Natalia. I understand both of you love each other, but the circumstances shouldn't justify your actions. That would be a mistake for the both of you and for all the people in your lives."

"So, Natalia should just…I mean the church should tell her what to do, what not to do…"

"No, no. I don't wanna make decisions for Natalia. She's got to make her own choices in life. As you do. Both of you have had a lot going on. There's been a lot of turmoil, in both your lives, since you two have got together, and when you're in the middle of something like that, I just don't think you can make clear choices, I'm sorry."

"Happy fourth of July Father."

"Okay. Happy fourth."

Olivia stood there for a moment thinking on what the Father had said. Her emotions and thoughts warring with one another. She walked into Company for a cup of coffee and hopefully a moment of piece. No luck.

Marina came around the counter with her coffee. "I'm glad you stopped by, can I talk you about something, or rather someone?"

"Sure, I could use a distraction."

"It's about your friend Natalia. She needs to stop letting the events of her life dictate her actions."

"Okay, is this about…"

"It's about the fact that whatever seems to happen to Natalia just seems to happen and then everybody else is left to pick up the pieces. It's like she just reacts to whatever's in front of her, you know.

"Okay look, she, she, she, no, no stop. Come on, she's a good person, and she knows what she wants."

"Well, you wouldn't know that to be around her. And my dad just can't keep getting pulled into her life because she can't stand on her own two feet."

"What is it you want me to do?"

"I don't know, talk to her. Tell her that she needs to take control of her own life. You're her friend, maybe she'll listen to you." Marina walked away before Olivia could respond. Olivia thought that was probably for the best, she wasn't going to be able to bite her tongue much longer.

Natalia walked to Frank's house, hoping to find Rafe. But only saw Frank. "Hey."

"Hey. Uh, Rafe's not here."

"I was just over at Company, I'm not trying to intrude or anything, I just wanted to see how he's doing."

"He's good. He's taking his meds, he's watching his sugar,"

"Good."

"He's a good kid. He actually made me something to eat before he left today."

"He's a pretty good cook."

"Yeah he is."

"So, you, do you think that he's okay. I mean after finding out?'

"No, Natalia, he's not okay. Did you really think he would be?"

"I thought…"

"See that's just the thing. You weren't thinking, you weren't thinking at all. You got caught up in your own little world with Olivia…"

"That's not what this is."

"Well, that's what it looks like. It really does. It just doesn't seem like you, and that's confusing to Rafe. It's confusing to a lot of us."

"Frank, this isn't about me and you, or anyone else. This is about my son, that's it. Olivia and I have done everything we can to make this easy on him, but how long Frank, how long were we supposed to put our lives on hold?"

"I don't know, maybe you should of thought about that before you did this with Olivia."

"Did what Frank? Fall in love. He found out because he saw us kissing, like any other couple. Would it be the same if he found out I was dating a man by seeing me kiss him? Or is it just that it's a woman? Or maybe it's just because it's Olivia." She didn't give him time to respond before she stormed off.

Rafe leapt up the stairs at the church where Father Ray was sweeping. "Rafe."

"Hey."

"Hey man. Frank told me you got a job. Way to go kid. You know one of my specialties is saying blessings for new homes, new business, new jobs. Is that why you stopped by?"

"Uh no, I was kind of, I was hoping I could talk to you, if that's okay."

"Yeah sure step into my office." He responded with a smile. Sitting on the step and patting the spot next to him. "What's up?"

"Um, I don't know, I guess I thought, I thought I could kind of get passed it…"

"Passed what?"

"My mom and Olivia."

"Oh."

"I love my mom you know, but she lied to me. I thought they were just friends.'

"They are friends."

"No Father, they're a hell of a lot more then friends."

"I know, I know, I know what you mean."

"Father, you know?"

"Rafe what's said to me stays with me. It's part of the job. I've spoken to both your mom and Olivia, different times, different ways,…"

"And you're okay with that?"

"I cannot and will not give them my blessing. I've been very clear with your mom about that."

"She's the one that told me you can't have sex before marriage."

"She's right. She's right.'

"I don't get it though. What, I have to follow the rules, I have to follow them but she gets to go around and do whatever she wants. Father what she's doing isn't even normal."

"Rafe, the feelings we're dealing with here, well, they're complicated. This is really hard on your mom, and although she's struggling to do the right thing, it's only going to get harder. But now's the time for you to man up and help her, not turn your back on her."

"I don't know."

Olivia returned to her office to find Natalia sitting there waiting for her. "Hi."

"Hi."

"I thought you had a lower-level staff meeting."

"Yeah I got it wrapped up pretty quick. I wanted to come talk to you."

"Good. I want to talk to you too. How's Rafe?"

"Frank says he's okay. He still won't talk to me."

"Don't worry about that, he's gonna come around. He will."

"I don't know. With the way things are going right now, I don't know."

"What does that mean?"

"Don't stand sit um…" Olivia walked around her desk and sat in her chair. "No, that's not gonna work. Sit over here." She motioned to the seat next to her. Olivia came and sat next to her, both positioning so they were facing each other. "First, I know you were scared yesterday, after Rafe found out…"

"I was."

"I know. And I didn't do very well at easing your fears. I let you walk away, and I let you sleep here, instead of at home, and I'm sorry. I was just…I was scared too. But not for the reason's you might think."

"Go on."

"I was scared…that…"

"Spit it out Natalia."

"I was scared that you were gonna leave, decide you didn't want this. Rafe reacted so badly, and I wouldn't blame you if you don't want to…"

"Stop, stop. Natalia, I have no intentions of going anywhere, ever. We knew it was going to be hard with Rafe, I'm prepared for the fight. I just…I was scared that he would try to make you choose and…I don't want you to lose your son. I can't live with that."

"Olivia, I am not choosing. I will have you both. He needs time, but he will be okay. I know my son. And I know how I feel about you. But…I've been thinking, a lot, about how it must look like from the outside, and I don't want Rafe, or anyone else, to think that we're together because of our situation. You know, I mean, I know we know that this is real, but think about it. I love Gus, you love Gus, you get sick, Gus dies, you get his heart, we become friends, I nurse you back to health, you give me a job, you help me out with Rafe, we move in together, and it's a lot…"

"Alright, alright, alright, I agree."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I love you, and I know how I feel, but I don't want to give anyone the chance to think that what we have is because of our circumstances. I don't ever want either one of us to ever feel that way. I want everyone to know that even if we're separate, without all the drama, I choose you."

"I choose you too."

"So, this means that, we take a step back. We don't let everything that's happening in our lives be what brings us together. Right?" Natalia nodded. "How do we do that?"

"I think I need to quit my job."

"No!"

"No? Just like that? No."

Olivia reached for her hand and pulled her onto her lap. "Honey, come on, really. You think quitting your job is the best course of action here?"

"Do you have a better idea?" Natalia countered, reaching to shut the office door.

"Well, I don't know. I just…baby, I am trying to build this business into a hotel empire, not for me, but for my girls, and now for you and for Rafe. I have always dreamed that this would be a family run business. I hope that one day, Ava will come back and be the general manager and when Emma gets older she'll come too. I know she may not choose to, but I hope she will. And now I have you, and Rafe. My dream is that one day, hopefully soon, Rafe will come work for US, too. Natalia, I've been waiting to tell you this, because I know how you're going to react, but, once were married, this is half yours. All of it, and I want you here, with me, helping me build this into the empire I know it can be. I want to franchise the Beacon and make it a household name. And I want to do it, with you by my side, as my wife, as my business partner, and as half owner of this company."

"No, no, Olivia, no, you are not…"

Olivia quickly silenced her with a kiss. "Yes, my love. Yes."

"No." Olivia tried to open her mouth but was stopped by a finger to her lips. "Olivia, this is your baby, you built this, long before me. I won't let you do that. You can't make me part owner honey. This, this is yours."

"Natalia, that's my point, I don't want anything to be mine. I want it all to be ours."

"Olivia…"

It was Olivia's turn to place a finger to Natalia's mouth. "Honey, just listen. I have never wanted to share this part of my life with anyone. With all my husbands, my business and my bank account, they were mine, but with you, I want to be equal in everything, and this, this is part of that."

"But Olivia, I can't…'

"Do you love me?"

"What? What kind of question is that? Of course, I love you."

"Well, this is part of me. Baby, if you marry me…"

"If? If Olivia…'

"Okay, when, when you marry me, you marry all of me. That includes Ava, and Emma, my stock holdings, and the Beacon, and my bank account. I know this is hard for you, I know you don't like handouts, and you don't take help easy, but this is neither help nor a handout. This is me, offering all of myself to you. For once in my life, I want to be true partners with someone, I've never wanted that before…"

Natalia was speechless. She knew that this was a big deal for Olivia, she had used men and sex to get what she wanted. Her divorce with Alan had made her business possible, but now, now she was offering a part of herself she had never shared before. In her own Olivia way, she was giving a full commitment to Natalia, in the only way she knew how, by giving not only her heart, mind, body, and soul, but also all her babies. The Beacon included. Natalia didn't know what to say, so she just kissed her.

The kiss was meant to me chaste, but quickly turned heated. Natalia shifted so that she was straddling Olivia's thighs. Kissing across her jawline to her ear. "I want you so bad." She kissed down her neck to bite lightly on her pulse point.

Olivia pulled her close by her hips, electing a soft moan. "Take me."

"Ooohhh….baby we can't. We're in your office." Natalia moaned out. Kissing back up to waiting lips before easing off Olivia's lap.

Olivia gripped her hips. Stopping her from moving away. Standing she kissed up her neck and murmured against her lips, "I'm the boss." She moved to lock the door and pressed herself hard into Natalia. Forcing her against the desk. Kissing her long and slow. Slipping her tongue past Natalia's lips to glide against hers. Natalia moaned into the kiss. Easing onto the edge of the desk.

"Oliv…ia….seriously." She pushed Olivia away weakly.

Olivia wrapped her arms tighter around Natalia's waist. "Please baby…I need you…it's been so long." She begged, running her tongue down the length of Natalia's neck. Nipping along her skin while her fingers worked at the button on the younger woman's jeans.

Natalia had given up her attempt to stop, she wanted it as bad as Olivia. She laced her fingers into honey blonde locks, pressing Olivia's mouth harder against her. As Olivia's hand slipped into her jeans and under the waistband of her panties she gasped. Her hips started to rock with anticipation. "Oh god…Olivia…please…baby."

The need in her lovers voice made Olivia shiver as she penetrated her with three fingers. Using her hips for added pressure. Natalia's fingers dug into her back, causing her to wince. She covered the Latina's mouth with her own to drown out the moans as she pounded into her harder. Olivia plunged her tongue into the brunette's mouth in time with the thrust of her fingers. Natalia's body began to shake and then stilled as she crashed over the edge. Her orgasm ripping through her with unbelievable force.

"OHFUCKOLIVIA!"

Olivia left her fingers buried deep inside, moving slightly to help bring the younger woman down. When her breathing slowed and her body relaxed, Olivia eased out of her. Wrapping her arms around her and holding her tight. Natalia rested her head on the hoteliers shoulder. Panting lightly, dropping kisses to her neck. "God baby. I love you."

Olivia kissed the top of her head. "I love you too."

Natalia felt her energy return and moved to stand. Refastening her jeans and adjusting her shirt. A blush rose to her cheeks as she realized how loud she had just shouted her release. She inserted herself back into Olivia's arms and buried her face in the crook of Olivia's neck.

Olivia felt the woman in her arms start to shake. She thought she was crying and pulled back with concern, until she noticed that Natalia was lightly laughing. "What? What's going on?"

"Well, I can either laugh or cry right now and I'm choosing to laugh."

"What's wrong baby?" She gently lifted Natalia's chin to meet her eyes.

Natalia took a deep breath to calm her laughter. "Um, I was just really loud. I cannot go out there. I'm sure half the hotel just heard us."

Olivia chuckled and pulled Natalia close again. "I can't help that I'm a rock star." She said with a smirk.

Natalia playfully smacked her arm. "You're still not funny." She chastised but couldn't help the shy smile tugging at her lips.

"Yes I am. And you love me."

"Yes I do." She rose to her tip toes and placed a kiss to the corner of Olivia's mouth.

"So, you're not quitting your job?"

"No baby."

"Good, because I need you."

"You know those three words have always made me run to your side."

Olivia wiggled her eyebrows. "I know. But seriously. This is our family's business. No matter what the kids decide to do, it's ours and I want us to run it together. As a team."

"A two-person team?"

"Like beach volleyball."

"No. bad mitten remember, no skimpy bikini's."

"But…but." Olivia pouted.

"Oh, poor baby. You got your way once already today, don't push it." She kissed pouting lips and moved to pick up her purse.

"Fine. Are you leaving?"

"I want to try and talk to Rafe again."

Olivia walked over and placed her hands on slender hips. "Okay baby. I love you. So, you want me to come home, or…"

"I always want you home. I hated not having you there last night. I must have almost called you a hundred times."

"Me too. It won't happen again okay. No matter what, we both sleep at home, even if it is in separate beds."

Natalia shook her head. "No."

"No?"

"No more separate beds. Rafe knows now, and weather he likes it or not, he has to get used to it. So, you, mi amor, will be in our bed, from now on."

Pretending to think about it, Olivia rolled her head back looking at the ceiling. "Hmm…" Natalia swatted her stomach. "Okay, I can live with that."

"Good, because I wasn't giving you an option." She leaned in and kissed her again. This kiss was sweet and gentle, deep, and caressing. This kiss was them, uplifting their spirits and renewing their love.