Chapter 145

It had been a week since the sentencing trial and Natalia's father and brother barging in on their celebration. It was mid-day on Monday and Natalia was swamped with Beacon business. Ava, Rafe, Ashley, and Isabel had flown to St. Louis the morning after the trial and things were going smoothly so far. Ava and Rafe had interviewed for all of the management positions and a chef as well as spoken to a security company and set up for them to start getting cameras in place. All that was left was to interview for general staff and then for Olivia and Natalia to fly out and approve the candidates chosen by their children. Which would be happening in two days and both wives still had plenty to accomplish before then. The opening was set to happen on the third of April, so there wasn't a moment to spare.

Isabel and Ashley had just about everything ready for the opening, but there was still plenty that Olivia and Natalia would need to approve on that front as well. Clara had started working in the laundry room, deciding she would start with just two or three days a week until she got used to working, something she had never done before. She had been staying in Rafe's old apartment in the basement and that was going really well. She and Emma were bonding on a level neither Natalia nor Olivia had expected, and Natalia was slowing learning to trust her mother again. As busy as they were, things were still going wonderfully, and they were only about to get better.

Natalia's phone rang, for the hundredth time that day, and she groaned as she answered. "Natalia Spencer-Rivera." She said, in a business voice she knew she'd picked up from her wife.

"Hello Mrs. Spencer-Rivera. This is Mr. Nolan."

"Oh, Mr. Nolan. What can I do for you? Did Rafe miss his phone check in on Friday? I know he's been very busy helping to staff our hotel in St. Louis but I told him he couldn't miss a check in with you." She said in a rush, fearful that Rafe had forgotten to call his P.O. and could potentially be sent back to jail for violating a condition of his release.

"No ma'am. I spoke to him Friday morning as planned. I must say, he is doing very well for himself. I know a lot of that is due to you and your wife. He's very lucky to have such a wonderful family and support system."

Natalia couldn't help but smile at that. It warmed her heart to no end when someone noticed how loving and caring her family was for one another. "We are lucky to have each other."

"Yes, well, I'm actually calling with some good news."

"Oh?"

"Yes. It seems a motion to have Rafe acquitted of his charges was submitted a few weeks ago."

"Oh?" Natalia said again. "By whom?"

"I thought you would have known. Mayor Wolfe submitted it."

"She did?"

"Yes. Were you unaware?"

"It was mentioned, a while ago, back in December, but then, so many things happened and I just didn't know she went through with it." Natalia answered, a little in awe of the mayor.

"Yes, well, the parole board has looked it over. They have based their decision both on Rafe's actions while incarcerated, and since his release. Along with the fact that he was a minor when the incident accord. And I am pleased to inform you that they have decided to speak on his behalf, in favor of having him acquitted."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"So, he could have his record expunged. No record of the shooting or having served time?"

"Yes ma'am. I tried to call him several times but kept getting his voice mail. Since this is a semi urgent matter, I decided to contact you in hopes of you getting the message to him."

"Yes, of course. I'm sorry he hasn't returned your calls. He and my daughter are doing rush interviews for the next few days in order to get our latest hotel staffed and trained in time for it to open."

"I understand, he said as much on Friday. Even asked if we could do our check in in the evening on the twenty-sixth instead of the morning since he would be quite busy at the hotel. However, if things go well, that phone call won't be necessary."

"What do you mean?"

"A hearing for his acquittal has been set for Tuesday the thirtieth at nine a.m. Will he be able to make it? Rescheduling could delay it by a few weeks, even a month or two."

"Oh, he'll be there. I promise. Thank you so much Mr. Nolan."

"No need to thank me. Rafael did the work to earn this chance, and madam mayor put in the request, I'm just the messenger."

"Well, thank you for getting us the message. Will you be at the hearing?"

"Yes ma'am. It will be my job to assure the court that Rafael deserves this, and that he won't make a mistake of this magnitude ever again. Which, I don't believe he will."

"Thank you, thank you so much."

"Just doing my job. I'd like to speak with Mr. Spencer-Rivera before the hearing. He has my cell and can call me when he's finished with his interviews. I know getting your hotel staffed properly is very important to him, so I don't want him to take time away from that, but he could call me tonight or tomorrow night, we'll need to go over a few things and it would be best if he could come to my office on Monday as well."

"Of course. Whatever we need to do we'll do."

"Good. I'll speak to Rafael soon. Have a good day Mrs. Spencer-Rivera."

"Thanks, you too Mr. Nolan." Natalia hung up the phone and just sat in utter disbelief for a moment before springing from her chair and rushing across the hall and into her wife's office.

Olivia's head shot up as her office door was shoved open and her wife came running in, slightly out of breath, but wearing a radiant smile. Olivia held up a finger to signal that she needed a moment to finish her phone call. "Yes…yes…that sounds great Mrs. Lowell…Yes…we look forward to it…Bye." She hung up and then gave her full attention to the beauty standing before her. "Hey, honey. What's up?"

Natalia's smile widened impossibly as she circled the desk and placed herself in her love's lap. "Doris is the greatest women in the world. If I didn't already have you, it's possible I would marry that woman." She said as she wrapped her hands around her wife's neck and kissed her cheek.

"Oh? Should I be worried?" Olivia asked, mostly joking.

"Never." Natalia kissed her lips, making certain Olivia knew she was the only one for her. She was just so thrilled with what Doris had done; she couldn't hold in her excitement.

"So, tell me, what has our esteemed mayor done that bares my wife offering to marry her?"

"She got our son a hearing to have him acquitted of his charges and his adult record expunged." Natalia said, bouncing on Olivia's lap as she did.

Olivia's arms squeezed her wife reflexively as she too became excited. "Are you serious? That's amazing."

"I know. I remember Doris saying something about it back when Rafe punched Frank but, it hasn't been mentioned since, and as bad as it sounds, I kind of forgot about it with everything that's happened since then."

"Oh my god, me too. She thought it would help if Frank tried to press charges on him. But then Frank offered us that deal, and then the wedding, the attack, and your sister and your parents, I didn't even know she was working on it. She never said anything."

"That friend or your is awfully sneaky."

"That she is. It's a good thing we just offered her daughter a very well-paying position as our web page designer and coordinator, as well as Isabel assistant, or Doris would be holding this over our heads to make certain Ashley got a job."

"Well, Ashley deserves the job regardless."

"Yes, she most certainly does. She asked me about a job a while ago and I didn't really take it seriously. I had too much going on at the time to worry about Ashley Wolfe and a job, especially because she really wanted to be a party planner of some kind and I already had Greg as banquet manager and wasn't really thinking about expanding at the time."

"Well, you've made up for it now, and gave my sister an amazing job to boot. I can't believe you asked her to be the director of sales and marketing for our company."

"It's right up her alley, and we needed someone. I've been doing it myself for entirely too long, and even with your help, it's still overwhelming on top of everything else. What I can't believe is that our son is going to have a clean record."

Natalia's smile beamed again. "I know. I mean, it's not official, they could deny it, but, I have a really good feeling about it."

"Me too baby. I'm so happy for him. He deserves it. When's the hearing?"

"Next week on Tuesday, but his P.O. want him here on Monday so they can go over a few things. I know this will make it harder in St. Louis…"

Olivia silenced her with a finger to her lips. "Hey, this is way more important. Whatever we have to do, we'll do."

"I am just so happy for him."

Olivia squeezed her sides again and kissed her chastely. "Me too. Does he know yet?"

"No. Mr. Nolan called me when he couldn't get a hold of Rafe. I assume because they are doing rush interviews today and tomorrow, he has his phone off, or he's ignoring it until they take a break."

"Well, how about we give it a try. I bet we'll get an answer sooner than Mr. Nolan." Olivia pulled out her cell, knowing Rafe might ignore a call from the Beacon, but not from one of his mothers. Swiping the screen, she pressed the phone button and then clicked on a picture of Rafe. The phone started ringing and Olivia placed it on speaker phone so Natalia could talk to him too.

Rafe was in the middle of his tenth interview of the day when his phone buzzed, again. He had already ignored several calls from his P.O. and one from the security company, planning on calling them back when he and Ava took a break for lunch. When he glanced at the screen, he saw it was his mom calling and just couldn't not answer. Whenever a member of their family called, he answered, no matter what. As he swiped the screen to answer, he looked up at the women across from him. "You'll have to excuse me for just a moment, I need to take this." The women nodded and Rafe rose from his chair to step out into the hall.

As soon as the door slipped shut behind him, he brought the phone to his ear. "Mom. Is everything okay?" He asked, slightly panicked. His mom knew he was doing interviews and would call them at lunch. Her calling could only mean something had happened, at least in his brain.

"Relax son, everything is fine."

"Then why are you calling? I told you I would call when I took lunch."

"Well, it is a little late in the afternoon." Natalia interjected.

Rafe let out an exaggerated breath at having both his mother's on the phone to nag him about eating properly. "It's only one thirty moms. Ava and I decided to get as many interviews out of the way this morning as possible. We are taking a late lunch at two and then will interview until six. And yes, I had a snack at noon."

"Good boy." Olivia said, smirking at her wife who was on the tip of scolding him for eating so late when he knew it was bad for his diabetes. "But, I'm not calling about that, your ma actually has some really good news to share with you."

"Hello Rafe." Natalia said. "How are the interviews going?"

"They're going well. I'm actually in the middle of one right now, so, did you need to tell me something."

"Yes actually. I just got a call from Mr. Nolan and…"

"I swear I called Friday. He's called me a few times too but I haven't had time to call him back."

"I know you called on Friday. He said as much. He also said that you have a hearing next Tuesday to see about being acquitted of your charges." She said as nonchalantly as she could manage.

You could hear the surprise and excitement coming from Rafe though the phone. "What? Are you serious. What? How? How can that be possible? I…"

"It seems we owe Doris a big thank you. She put in the request, and after being submitted to the review board, they agreed to put the request through. Doris pushed for a hearing as soon as possible and got one."

"Oh my god Ma. I can't believe it. I might not have a record anymore?"

"Well, you won't have an adult record as long as this goes smoothly."

"Wow! Just wow! That's so amazing. I can't believe she did that. I mean, I know she's changed, but she was the one that pushed for maximum sentencing in the first place."

"I know, and I think she feels really badly about that. Like you said, she's changed, and she really loves our family and wants what's best for us."

"I just, I can't believe it."

"Well, you better. And you better get back into that interview. We'll talk to you more in a little bit when you take a break." Olivia cut in. Not wanting their interviewee to be kept waiting any longer.

"Yeah, okay. I know. I just need a minute to get myself back under control before I go back in there."

"This is good news Rafe, just take a few deep breaths to calm down and then go finish up. Make this your last one until after you and Ava have lunch."

"Okay mom. Thanks."

"Anytime kiddo. We love you."

"Love you." Natalia added.

"I love you guys too. I'll call you in just a bit." With that Rafe hung up, jumped for joy, pumping his fist in the air much like his younger sister would, and then composed himself to finish with the woman who was waiting for him.

Natalia hugged her wife and nuzzled against her neck. "I can't believe we have such amazing friends. I mean, Doris has done so much for us, and now this." She said in almost a whisper.

Olivia wrapped her arms tighter around the body in her lap, kissing the side of her head. "I know. I never thought I would have so many people that care about me. We'll have to figure out a way to thank Doris."

Natalia sat up a little looking at Olivia's bright green eyes. "Yes, we will."

"But first," Olivia started and then without finishing picked up her phone and called Greg into her office. Natalia looked at her quizzically, but before she could ask what was going on, Greg was knocking on the door. "Come in." Olivia shouted, holding Natalia in place when she tried to get up.

"Mrs. Spencer-Rivera, you called." Greg said.

"Yes. Natalia and I will be leaving for the remainder of the day. I assume you and Robert can handle anything that comes up."

Greg nodded. "Of course, Mrs. Spencer-Rivera."

"And, if you could please arrange a ride home for Mrs. Rivera. She's off at five."

"Yes ma'am. Is there anything else you need from me?"

"Nope. Just make sure everything runs smoothly for the remainder of the day."

"Will do. Have a good evening Mrs. And Mrs. Spencer-Rivera. I'll make sure Robert knows only to call if there's an emergency."

"Thank you Greg." The man nodded and turned on his heel to walk out the door, leaving the two women alone once more.

"We're leaving?" Natalia asked once the door shut behind him.

"Yup." Olivia kissed her shoulder and neck, continuing until she reached her ear where she nibbled before whispering. "I have plans for you."

Natalia's breath hitched as Olivia continued her assault. "Oh? And what kind of plans…do you have?"

Olivia released her ear, leaving a kiss just below it. "Well, since Rafe and Ava are in St. Louis, and Phillip has Emma for the week since she's doing so well and no longer needs Doris to sleep, I thought we might take advantage of that big empty house of ours while your mom's at work." She stated, wiggling her eyebrows.

Natalia's pupils dilated at the thought and she leaned in for a deep heady kiss. "I like the way you think." She muttered into the kiss before rising and pulling Olivia up with her.

As she went to walk away to gather her belongings from her office, Olivia caught her around the waist from behind and peppered kisses to her neck. "Where do you think you're going?" She asked between kisses.

Natalia leaned back into her, reveling in the attention. "Well, if we're going to take advantage of our big empty home, we'll need to actually get to our house. Don't you think?"

Olivia didn't stop her reign of kisses as she grabbed her own purse and led Natalia to her office across the hall, the two walking in tandem with Olivia's lips glued to Natalia. "Yes, and now." She grunted against Natalia's skin as her hands wandered the curves in front of her.

Natalia stopped Olivia's hands just before they reached her breast, knowing if she let Olivia get started, they would be making love on her desk instead of in their bed. Olivia's whine caused her to chuckle. "Honey, you need to stop so we can leave and get home." She said, disentangling herself from her wife and walking behind her desk, picking up her purse and laptop bag before grabbing Olivia's hand and dragging her out of her office and down the hall to the elevator.

It took longer than it should have to make it to the farmhouse, between the make out session in the elevator, at the car, and at every stop sign and stop light along the way. The two finally stumbled through the front door, lips sealed together. Natalia fumbled to disarm the alarm system as Olivia was already unbuttoning her shirt. They hadn't been intimate in the last week, between getting the kids off to St. Louis, making sure Emma was alright since Doris was no longer staying with them, everything they needed to get done at the hotel and for St. Louis, and with Clara staying with them, they just hadn't found the time, and when there was time, they were too exhausted.

Now they were both feeling the loss and Olivia was determined to put an end to their misery this afternoon. Before Natalia could even get the door shut and locked, Olivia had already ridded them both of their tops and was working the clasp on Natalia's bra. Kissing every piece of skin, she could reach along the way. Once she had Natalia's bra off and flung behind her somewhere, she reached for her wife's pants, wanting her naked and withering as soon as possible.

Natalia placed her hands of her lovers, stopping her before her trouser could end up on the floor by the front door. "Baby." She tried, but Olivia wasn't listening as she tried to free her hands and continue to disrobe the tempting women before her. "Honey." Natalia tried again a little more sternly but was also fighting off moans as Olivia began to suck on the spot where shoulder met neck. "Baby, we need to get upstairs."

"Why?" Olivia grunted without stopping her sucking.

Natalia couldn't stop the moan as Olivia's teeth sank into her tender skin. "Because…ah…I don't...oh god…I don't want my mother to walk into us naked with clothes scattered around the house." She finally gritted out. Not really wanting to stop, but knowing they needed to. It was going on two and her mom would be home in about three and half hours. Something told her they may not be done by then, and if they were, they would be passed out wherever they were, even if that was the living room floor.

Olivia finally got herself under control and pulled back. "You're right." She grabbed Natalia's hand and started for the stairs. "Three hours is definitely not enough time for what I have in mind."

Natalia chuckled as she pulled her hand free and walked to the couch to collect her bra, grabbing both of their shirts on her way back to the stairs. "I had a feeling."

Once Natalia reached her again, Olivia retook her hand and all but dragged her up the stairs to their room, but just as she was pushing wife onto their bed, Natalia's phone started to ring. "Really?" Olivia asked as Natalia fished the phone from her pocket and answered.

"Hi Rafe. How were the interviews." Natalia answered with a smirk and raised eyebrow at her wife, knowing she had forgotten that Rafe and Ava were going to call soon.

Olivia let out an exasperate breath as she fell down beside her wife on the bed and listened to their children chatter on about their morning through the speaker phone. Both of them had a busy morning and afternoon so far. Rafe completing ten interviews and Ava twelve.

"Ava?" Olivia cut in, wanting to tell both her wife and children the new plan since Rafe needed to be home in a week.

"Yeah mom?" Ava answered, finally taking a breath from her excited rant about their progress.

"Has Rafe told you the good news?"

"Oh my god yes. It's so amazing that Doris set that up."

"Yes, it is. However, we need to make a few adjustments to the plan since we all need to be here next Tuesday."

"Wait, you're all going to be at the hearing?" Rafe asked, surprised but then again not, at the news.

"Of course, we are Rafe." Natalia said. "There's no way we are going to miss it. This is huge."

"I know ma, it's just, we still have so much to do before the opening, and I know things are still really busy at the Beacon Springfield too."

"Rafe, you are more important than any hotel. This family is there for one another one hundred percent. For the bad and for the good." Olivia stated, wanting her son to know that she would do anything for him. She would push back the opening a month if she had to, hell, she'd forgo opening another hotel all together if he needed her. If any of her family did. "Besides, I have a plan."

"You do?" He asked.

"Of course, I do. I'm Olivia Spencer-Rivera, business mongrel extraordinaire. So, here's the plan. You and Ava will hire the general staff you see fit once you've finished the interviews today and tomorrow. Ma and I will come out tomorrow instead of Wednesday, since Emma is already staying with Phillip, to start approving the management team and help with the security team. Then we can help Ashley and Isabel and make sure we have good venders in place while you two finish hiring. We will come back Sunday night so you can meet with Mr. Nolan on Monday and then we will all go to your hearing on Tuesday. Jordan can start training on Monday and we will meet him on Tuesday after the hearing so we can help with training the rest of the week and be ready for the party on Saturday." She said, barely taking a breath in between sentences.

"Wow mom, you really do have a plan." Ava said, not at all surprised.

"Well, Ma helped me come it with it on our way to the farmhouse from the hotel."

"You two are at home?"

"Yes, we decided to take the afternoon off and … relax a little." She answered, dropping kisses to Natalia's shoulder.

Natalia shivered at the attention as Olivia's hand started to draw abstract patterns on her stomach. "So, you two think you can do your part?" She asked, trying very hard to keep her breathing even while her wife's hand drifted lower.

"Of course. We got this, right little bro?"

"Sure thing moms." Rafe replied. "Ma, you okay, you're breathing a little heavy.

Olivia had undid the button to Natalia's pants and her hand had slid inside them, no longer paying attention to the phone call since the important stuff was out of the way. "Yes…" She muted the phone for a second. "Olivia!" She scolded. "Let me get off the phone with our children."

"Hurry." Olivia muttered while she placed kiss after kiss to her lovers neck and clavicle.

Natalia unmuted the phone. "Your mother is just being…" She repressed a moan as she tried to finish speaking with her eldest two. "Silly." She finished.

Ava's eyes widened as she connected the dots. Her parents were at home, where the house was empty because Clara was at work, Emma was at school and then Phillips, and she, Rafe, and Isabel were in St. Louis. She laughed out loud as a semi moan came through the phone. "Okay Ma, we're uh, we're gonna let you and mom get back to…relaxing. You two have fun now." She said with another chuckle. "We love you."

"Yeah, love you." Rafe added, having not quite caught on to what his sister had.

Olivia grabbed the phone, shot off a quick 'we love you too' and then ended the call, tossing the phone to the side as her lips found her lovers and her hand urged the pants in her way down her wife's hips. Natalia kissed back just as fiercely. Guiding her tongue alone Olivia's bottom lip until she was granted access. As their tongues dueled, she quickly rid Olivia of her bra and slid down the zipper on her skirt, wanting them both naked and pressed together just as much as Olivia did.

Their kisses soon became rough and hard, lips, tongues, and teeth meeting over and over as they quickly rid one another of their remaining clothes. These kisses were for nothing more than the passion and lust that was sparking between them.