Chapter 124
Friday passed entirely too quickly for Natalia. She and Olivia went into the office until just before one. Natalia had wanted to leave by noon, but Olivia really did have a lot to catch up on since she had been doing little more than emails from home. Ava had tried to stay on top of everything but running two hotels was more work then she had realized. Natalia had been doing as much as she could from home. Including fielding anything that had to do with their Chicago hotel, but between taking care of Olivia, keeping on top of payroll, and helping Andrew get the Beacon Chicago up to SRHR standards, she had time for little else. Rafe was doing an amazing job as Ava's assistant, but seeing as to how he was still learning, he wasn't able to fully assist with all Olivia usually took care of.
When Olivia and Natalia finally did part for the day, they had a laundry list of things to do. Olivia wanted to do some more work from home, which Natalia allowed after lunch and an hour break/nap. Natalia had a million things to do around the house. Laundry had piled up, she needed to put new sheets on the guest room bed, she hadn't dusted in ages, the floors needed to be swept, vacuumed, and mopped, and she intended to assist Emma in getting her room back in order. They had been lax on the rules and now it was time to get their home back in order.
It seemed like the day had flown by in a flash when finally, it was time for the kids to head out to Ava's apartment. "Okay." Olivia said once they were all seated on Ava's couch. Natalia sideways on her lap, putting no weight on her ribs, with Rafe on one side and Emma on the other, Ava sat next to Emma and Doris in one of the chairs by the front window. "We want you three to understand that you can come back into the house at any time." She looked pointedly as Ava and Rafe. "If any of you feel the need to come back to the house, you are always welcome, it will always be your home."
"We know mom." Ava said, understanding exactly what her mom was trying to say.
"Good. Ma and I picked up some snacks on our way home from the Beacon earlier. They are in the kitchen."
"And there are cookies in the jar on the counter and sugar free ones in the container next to it. Please don't eat them all and make yourselves sick." Natalia added, directing her glare at Rafe and Emma in particular.
"Yeah, yeah. We got it ma." Rafe answered. "Can you two and auntie over there go now, we would like to get on with our parental free night." He said, winking at the three adults.
Natalia stood from Olivia's lap. "Well fine, we know when we're not wanted. Let's go my love, we can enjoy our own kid free night." She retorted, wiggling her eyebrows for effect as she held out a hand to Olivia.
Olivia took it and stood, wrapping her arms around her love, and placing wet overly dramatic kisses on her neck. "Mmm, indeed we can."
"Ewe. Moms, that is so gross. Did not that mental image." Rafe whined in mock disgust.
"And that my son, is why you never try to outwit your mothers."
"Fine, whatever, just go before you give us nightmares."
Ava and Emma both giggled at the display. Although Emma wasn't really sure what they were talking about, the way her brother was trying not to smile and Ava was attempting to suppress her laughter, told Emma there was a joke of some sort at play and she wanted to be a part of it.
"Alright, alright, we'll go, but seriously, call us if you need anything."
"We will moms, go, enjoy your night." Ava said.
Emma looked at the floor sheepishly, scuffing her toe against the floor. Doris noticed and called Emma to her, taking her hands she urged her to look at her. "Look at me my angel." She gently commanded. When Emma's eyes met hers, she smiled lovingly. "What's the matter my sweet girl?"
"Well, I…" Emma looked over at her brother and sister and then back at Doris. "Could you maybe, will you…"
"Do you want me to sleep with you angel?"
Emma nodded vigorously. "I guess I didn't think about you not being with me when I slept here. I don't want to sleep without you yet."
"Alright my girl. How about I go have some adult time with your moms, and Ava can call me when you're going to bed and I'll come out here and sleep with you. Will that work?"
Emma's face broke into a huge smile. "Yes. Thank you auntie Doris." She threw her arms around Doris's neck and squeezed as tight as her little arms could.
"Anything for you my angel." Doris whispered against the side of her head as she kissed her cheek. Releasing Emma, she stood and headed for the door where Olivia and Natalia were waiting for her. All three women kissed each child's cheek or forehead and wished them a wonderful evening before exiting.
Ava asked Rafe to set up the Wii he had brought with him from his apartment and had Emma go to the kitchen for snacks before she raced out the door to catch the women. "Moms."
Olivia and Natalia both turned at the sound of Ava's voice, Olivia with a concerned expression. "What is it Ava? What's wrong?"
Ava jogged over to where they were, just in front on the back porch. "Nothing, nothing, I just wanted to let you know that I want to try and get Emma to sleep with me and Rafe tonight. That was my plan in the first place. I figured we would play some games on the Wii, maybe watch a movie, and then the three of could cuddle up on my bed. I figure she spent a few nights without Doris when we all slept in your bed, so maybe this wouldn't be so different."
"That's a wonderful idea sweetie." Natalia stated. "Just, don't be afraid to call us or Doris if she needs someone there, or if you or Rafe do. Okay?"
"Thanks ma." Ava blushed a little, knowing that both of her mother's knew it was very likely that at least one of the three would want to be in their mother's room at some point during the night, if not all three of them. It was kind of the norm. She and Rafe almost always ended up in their bed before morning. Sometimes even Emma left Doris for the security of their moms bed.
Olivia could almost hear the thoughts playing over in her daughters mind. "Hey, let's just take it one night at a time okay. Let's see how tonight goes, then you, me, and ma will talk before anything else happens. Okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks mom." Ava hugged her mom close, thankful that Olivia seemed to understand she was worried about moving out of the house, even it was just to the now renovated barn. She still worried for her birth mother, and as much as she hated feeling like a little kid every time she crawled into their bed, it was comforting and something she wasn't sure she was ready to give up just yet.
"I love you baby."
"Love you too mom." Releasing Olivia, Ava quickly hugged Natalia as well. "Love you ma."
"I love you too sweetie. Have fun tonight." She kissed Ava's cheek and pulled back from the hug.
"We will, I better get back in there before they think I've left them free reign over my house." She chuckled as she dashed back into her house.
Olivia grabbed Natalia's hand and started back towards the house once more. She could feel Natalia's worry coming off of her in waves. She really was a mama bear. "They will be fine h-honey. We are right here. It would take them ten seconds to get into the house if they decided not to stay out there."
"I know, I just, they are all still so scared."
"I know baby. We'll just play this by ear. If Ava doesn't want to move out yet, she doesn't have to, and if any of them need us tonight, I have no doubt they will call, or just come in. We can even call them before bed as if they aren't fifty feet from our back door."
"Okay." Natalia relented. "You're right."
"Excuse me, could you repeat that please?" Olivia grinned playfully at her wife."
Natalia shook her head. "You are incorrigible."
"Yeah, but you love me anyway."
"That I do my love." She sealed her declaration with a tender kiss as they entered the kitchen where Doris was already seated at the table with a deck of cards, a bottle of whisky, and three shot glasses.
"Bout time you two made it back. I know it was a long walk and all but could you have taken any longer."
"Ha, ha, Doris. You are so not funny." Olivia said dryly.
"Oh, you know I am Spencer. Now you two ready for some cards or what?"
The wives just looked at each other before each taking a seat and waiting for Doris to deal out whatever they were to play. Two hours later, several rounds of gin, and even more shots, the three women were giggling like schoolgirls. Conversation had flowed from the kids, the hotels, the town, Jamanda, and Natalia's sister, into lighter topics, mainly Olivia and Doris busting each other's chops and Natalia just laughing at their antics but throwing in her own well timed one liner every once in a while.
As Doris checked her phone when it chimed and found a text from Ava saying she wasn't needed and Emma would be sleeping sandwiched between herself and Rafe, she smiled. She looked up at the women across from her, making out like teenagers in love for the first time and her smile grew. 'Tonight, had served its purpose.' She wanted Olivia and Natalia to cut lose a little. They had been so busy since the trial ended that they hadn't really relaxed much at all. She knew Natalia's sisters arrival the following day was weighing heavily on both women and she had wanted them to have a fun carefree night before diving into yet another stressful situation.
As she watched their kisses become more fevered and hands begin to roam, she thought it might be best to end their night of drinking and cards and send them to bed before she became a witness to sex on the kitchen table. Clearing her throat, she stood up and began putting away the cards, shot glasses, and whisky. "Ladies." When they continued to devour each other, she clapped her hands, loudly. "Olivia! Natalia!" When both women jumped back with wide eyes and red cheeks, she had to hold back her laughter. "I think it's best if we all head to bed. Ava text that Emma would be sleeping with she and Rafe so I think I'll take the guest room this evening."
Olivia tried and failed to keep her face from reddening further with embarrassment as she fully registered just where her hands and mouth had just been, in front of her best friend. "I think that's a good idea." She took Natalia's hand to help her stand, wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her as the alcohol hit full force upon standing.
Natalia latched her lips to Olivia's neck, too tipsy to even care that Doris was still there. "Rooms, too far away. I need you, right now." She whispered as she assaulted Olivia's neck and jaw with more kisses and nips.
Olivia tried to push Natalia back so they could get to their room, but Natalia was having none of it. She bit down on the spot below Olivia's ear, sucking hard, knowing a mark would be left and causing Olivia's knees to almost buckle.
Doris eased her way around the couple and laughed as Olivia attempted, again, to stop Natalia's reign of kisses and failed miserably. "Have fun with that Spencer. Oh, and do try to keep it down, this house might be large, but it has paper thin walls."
"You're just gonna leave me with this? You're not gonna help me?" Olivia asked.
"That is you're wife Spencer. Besides, I'm not exactly sure what it is you think I could do."
"You could help me get her up the stairs at least. Please Doris?" Olivia begged, knowing that there was no way she was going to get a drunk Natalia up the stairs by herself when she still had trouble getting herself up them, sober.
"Oh fine. But only because you said please." Doris said smiling, already having planned on getting the Latina up to bed.
After some coaxing, and dirty promise from Olivia, the two were able to get Natalia to release Olivia and Doris got her up the stairs and into the master bedroom. She then returned to spot Olivia as she slowly made her way up the stairs. Still having to lean on the railing for support as her ribs were still a bruised. She had trouble sober and being slightly more than tipsy was making the job twice as hard. The last thing she needed was to irate her injuries, knowing she couldn't take a pain pill with alcohol. Eventually she made it and bid Doris good night before joining her wife in bed.
She had hoped to open the door to a naked Natalia waiting for her, instead she was greeted with an almost hysterical sight. Natalia was passed out, snoring loudly. She was laying crooked on the bed, flat on her back. She had only one arm out of her shirt with it partially over her head, her skirt was shoved halfway down her thighs, and she was still wearing one shoe. Olivia snorted as she took in the sight before her. Grabbing her cell phone, she snapped a few pictures before placing it on the charger and moving to the side of the bed to get her wife undressed fully and moved to one side of the bed so she could climb in next to her.
After struggling to get Natalia undressed, with little help because she couldn't get her to wake fully, she finally got her to one side of the bed and undressed herself. She slipped into the cool sheets and pressed herself fully against her wife. She kissed her head and whispered her love before succumbing to sleep herself.
Natalia woke with her head pounding the following morning. She could tell by the amount of sun streaming through the window that it was much later then she usually woke. Groaning she rolled to her back in Olivia's arms. Olivia stirred and tightened her hold on her love.
"Ugg, s'op movin'" Olivia slurred grumpily, feeling a hangover of her own.
Natalia tapped Olivia's arm. "Too tight." Olivia loosened her hold and Natalia turned to be facing her, tossing a leg over Olivia's hip and kissing her forehead. "We have to get up, it's late." She stated, not wanting to move as the pounding in her head seemed to get more persistent with every tiny shift.
"No, head hurts. Sleep more." Olivia grumbled.
Just as Natalia went to respond, there was a knock at their bedroom door. "Morning ladies. I believe it's time to rise and shine." Doris called from the other side of the door.
"Go away." Olivia shouted back and then moaned in pain as her headache made itself fully known.
Doris peaked her head in the door and when she saw they were fully covered by the comforter, continued into the room, balancing a try full of omelets, toast, two full glasses of water and two cups of coffee, aspirin, and a special hangover mix of tomato juice, tobacco sauce, lime juice, and a splash of the whiskey from the previous night. She set the tray down on Natalia's bedside table and went to open the curtains fully.
"Come on you two. Your children are downstairs. They've already eaten and are dressed for the day. You have two hours before Natalia's sister is set to arrive. I suggest you eat and drink what's on the tray, take a hot shower, and make yourselves presentable."
Olivia sat partially up, leaning on her elbow and being careful to keep herself covered. "How in the hell are you not feeling this?"
"Easy, I didn't drink as much as the two of you, and I drank a full glass of water and took aspirin before I went to sleep. Then, this morning, I drank some more water and a glass of the hangover cure I have waiting for you. Now, get your ass up, drink the damn water, take the aspirin, eat as much as you can, and down the entire glass of the tomato juice. I promise you'll feel better shortly if you do."
Olivia glanced at the tray on the bedside table and then back up to Doris. "How the hell do you know how to cure a hangover so well?"
"Many years of trial and error." Doris handed her the water and aspirin, waiting until she emptied the glass and then handed her the hangover cure she had concocted. She watched as Olivia downed most of it in one go and then turned to Natalia. "You're turn Mother Terresa." She did the same for Natalia as she had for Olivia and then headed for the door. "Eat, both of you. Then take a shower, you'll feel good as new afterwards."
"Thank you Doris." Olivia said sincerely. Already feeling a bit better as she took her first bite of the omelet.
"Yes, thank you Doris. You are a miracle. I already feel slightly better." Natalia added. Smiling at their friend. Doris nodded and exited the room, smiling to herself that she was able to give her friends an easy-going evening and then cure their hangovers in the morning. She felt they might actually be able to tackle the emotional day that lay ahead of them now that they had at least one carefree evening between all the chaos that is their hectic lives.
By the time the Spencer-Rivera women ate, showered, and dressed, it was about time to head to The Beacon to meet Isabel. The two descended the stairs into the living room where they were greeted by their children.
"Morning mommy. Good morning Ma." Emma exclaimed, jumping up to greet her mothers. As Rafe and Ava both muttered similar greetings to their moms.
Olivia hugged her daughter tight. "Hey there Jellybean. Did you have fun with your brother and sister last night?"
"Yeah! It was awesome. We played Mario Kart, and we ate popcorn and candy and cookies, and we watched Cars cause Rafe said it was time for a boy movie."
Olivia smiled at her son, giving him a wink. "Sounds like you had a late night there Em."
"Umm…." Emma looked away; afraid she would be in trouble for staying up past her bed time.
Olivia tipped her chin up. "Don't worry Jellybean, you're not in any trouble. I'm glad you had a good time."
"It was the best. We all slept in Ava's bed and I got to sleep in the middle."
Olivia raised an eyebrow towards her elder children. She knew how bad Emma kicked at night. It seemed the only time she didn't was when she was pressed against Natalia. "Oh yeah?" She asked with a genuine smile.
"Yup. Ava even read me Fancy Nancy and Rafe did all the 'fancy' voices."
"He did, did he?"
"Uh-huh. And guess what?" Emma's excitement and joy was infection and the entire family was smiling at her as she talked about her night.
Olivia let out a small laugh as her little girl jumped up and down like an excited puppy. "What?"
"Ava said that we could sleep there again tonight if you and ma said it was okay. So, can I mommy? Please?"
Olivia looked to her daughter, searching her eyes to make sure she was indeed alright with this. When Ava nodded, Olivia grinned at her and then returned her gaze to her youngest. "Ma and I will talk about it and let you know when we get back from The Beacon."
"Okay." Emma pouted slightly, disappointed that it wasn't an immediate yes.
Olivia bent and kissed her daughters head, tickling her sides as she pulled back. She dug her fingers in and wiggled them until Emma was panting for breath and begging her to stop. Finally, she released her and sent her to finish the last of her homework from the previous day, promising ice cream and cookies after dinner if she got all her homework done in a timely manner.
As Emma rushed up the stairs after kissing both her mothers, Olivia moved to sit on the couch next to Ava, Natalia sitting on the arm next to her. "So, did you two have fun last night as well?"
"I really did mom. It was kind of nice to spend the night acting more like a nine-year-old then an adult. It kind of cleared my mind a little." Ava told her.
"Good. I'm so glad you had some fun my darling daughter. And what about you bub? Did you enjoy your night with your sisters?"
"Yeah, it was pretty cool. I totally creamed them at Mario Kart, and I must say, I make an awesome Fancy Nancy." He said the name of Emma's newest favorite character in his 'fancy' voice, causing everyone to chuckle.
"I bet you do." Olivia replied, reaching behind Ava to ruffle his hair.
"You are such a great big brother Rafael; I am so proud of you." Natalia praised reaching over to pat his knee and causing him to blush.
Ava threw an arm around his shoulders and pulled him to her, rubbing her knuckles against his skull. "He makes a pretty good little brother too." She laughed out, giving him a sloppy kiss on his cheek.
"Gross." Rafe whined, wiping the slobber from his face, and smearing it on Ava's cheek. "Take your spit back. Oh, and here's some of mine." He hurriedly grabbed her by the head and licked her whole face.
Natalia swatted her cackling wife as she stood from the arm of the couch and broke the two siblings apart just as Ava pulled her saliva-soaked finger from Rafe's ear. "Alright children." She shook her head. "You two, I swear. And you," She pointed towards her lover. "Are just encouraging them. Sometimes I'm certain I have four children." She shook her head again but was smiling from ear to ear. "What am I going to do with you three?"
Three matching grins looked up at her. "Love us?" They asked/stated in unison.
"Yeah, yeah. I guess." She mumbled good naturedly as she turned and headed to the kitchen. Her family following behind her. "Where's Doris?" She asked over her shoulder.
"She said she needed to run to her office. She'll be back by dinner." Ava answered.
"So, moms, you gonna tell us why you're really going to The Beacon? We know it's not to catch up on work. What's going on?" Rafe asked as he took a seat at the table, watching his mom pour herself and his ma another cup of coffee.
"Yeah moms, what's going on?" Ava added from her position leaning against the door jam. Knowing her mothers had been lying when they told them they had some business to attend to at dinner the previous night.
Natalia sighed and lowered her head. Olivia placed a hand on the small of her back and kissed her temple. "It's going to be okay sweetheart." She whispered in her ear and then raised her head back to face her children and guided her wife into a chair at the table. "Ava, please sit. Your ma has something to tell you."
Ava worried her bottom lip as she took the empty chair next to Rafe that sat across from her mom. "Is something wrong?" She was so ready for the hits to her family to just stop and she wasn't sure she could take any more bad news. She leaned on Rafe's shoulder and he wrapped an arm around her back, rubbing it up and down her arm.
Natalia took a deep breath and slowly raised her head from where she had been staring into her coffee mug. She felt Olivia's hand drawing soothing circles on her back and drew strength from her lover. After another few calming breaths, Natalia sought Rafe's eyes.
"I received a call Thursday afternoon, when we got home from your moms doctor appointment." She paused for a second unsure of how her son would take this news. She swallowed thickly and continued. "It was from my younger sister, Isabel." After dropping the bomb, so to speak, she waited for his reaction, glancing a peak at Ava, but keeping her attention firmly on her son.
Rafe's jaw fell open for a second, before he closed it again and worked his brain to come it with a proper response. He could tell his mother was scared, but he could also see so many other emotions swirling in her eyes. He didn't want to make anything harder for her. After a moment of thought, he spoke. Asking a mere simple question. "You're meeting her at The Beacon today?"
"Yes. Olivia and I are meeting her in about thirty minutes."
"Why?" It slipped from his mouth with distain before he could stop it. He didn't want to make things hard for him ma, but he wasn't sure if he was okay with this or not. Natalia had told him very little about her family. Mostly just that she had a brother and a sister and that her parents kicked her out when she was pregnant with him. The only memories she really shared were related to cooking or holidays and most of them were about her abuela.
"Rafael!" Olivia chastised for the tone in which he had used.
Natalia placed a hand on her arm. "No, it's okay. He has a right to feel upset. He was abandoned by them just as much as I was." She turned back to her son with a sad smile. She reached a hand across to hold one of his. "Because Rafe, she is my sister."
"Yeah, and where the hell has she been for last twenty years?" His anger was building inside him and he withdrew his hand from his mother's. Ava tried to calm him with a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off and pushed his chair back, standing from the table.
"She is my family Rafe. I…"
"No, no. She is not family ma." He screamed. Anger stemming from both his mother's ease with meeting her sister after all these years, and the feeling of rejection he felt from his mother's biological family. "My family, our family, they are all right here, in this house. These are the only people that have ever been there for us. Mom, Ava, and Emma, that's our family mom. Not some women you knew as a kid and haven't heard from in twenty years."
"Rafe." Natalia started but was cut off by her wife who held up her hand and rounded the table to stand before her son.
Olivia took him by the shoulders and forced him to look at her. She could see in his face that he was feeling a sort of betrayal from Natalia, the same betrayal he had felt when he first found out about her and Natalia's relationship. She needed to get him under control. He wasn't the same kid he had been back then and she didn't want him to slip back into that style of thinking.
"Son, bub, look at me." When he refused and tried to break away from her, halfheartedly, she tightened her grip just a bit. "I said look at me Rafael Spencer-Rivera." She demanded in her business voice. When his eyes finally met hers, she loosened her hold on his shoulders. "Breathe baby, big deep breaths. There you go," she encouraged as he compiled with her wishes. "That's it. One more for me." She waited while he breathed in deep and released it slowly. "Feel better?" At his nod, she slid her hands down his arms to meet with his and went on. "Good. Now, I need you to really hear me. Can you do that?"
"Yes."
"Good boy." She held his eyes as she spoke, trying to keep him grounded. "Rafe, your ma isn't just jumping back into a relationship with Isabel. We are just going to meet with her, see what she has to say. It's not for her Rafe, it's for ma. She deserves the chance to try and get some answers. More than that, if she decides this will be her only meeting with her sister, she deserves to have some closure this time. Don't you agree?"
Rafe looked down at his shoes and sighed. He was ashamed of himself for lashing out. He was better than that now. "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry I got so upset." He turned to face his ma. "I'm really sorry ma. If you want to talk to her you deserve to be able to."
Natalia came around the table and took him into her arms, stroking his hair as she did when he was young. "It's okay mijo. I understand why you're upset, but I need you to understand that Isabel was only fourteen when my papa forced me to the home for unwed mothers. She was very upset with him. She begged him not to make me leave. I owe it to her to hear her out."
"Yeah, okay ma. Just, be careful alright. This family has been through enough lately."
"I will mijo. And mom will be there with me. Everything is going to be just fine." She kissed his forehead and released him, then reached a hand for Olivia. "We really need to go now. We're already late."
"Sorry Ma." Rafe said again.
"It's alright Rafael, you are more important. Are you okay for us to go now?"
"Yeah, I shouldn't have let myself get so angry. You deserve this chance. And if moms going to stay with you, I feel better about you going."
"Mom will be with me every second." She cupped one of his cheeks and kissed the other.
"Be careful ma. And call us if you need us." Ava said, standing from her chair to hug her mother's before they left.
"We will." Olivia promised, kissing her daughters cheek, and then moving to her son. "I won't let Isabel hurt her. I promise." She whispered. Kissing his temple before walking out the door with her wife. This kiss held the strength of Olivia freakin' Spencer. Reassuring her son that she would always protect his mother, from anyone, family or not.