Chapter 3
A week went by and sitting on Johnny helped them make a move. They found him and Timmer in the trap house with underage girls and drugs. He actually held a girl at knife point and Olivia helped pull her to safety. It was Ariel, the girl that Kim talked about. Timmer died in the shootout. Johnny Drake was captured and to get her freedom and eventually her kids, Beth agreed to testify.
Olivia went to see Pippa, "Hey, I'd like to check on Kim and Noah. What's their placement?" Olivia had been thinking about them, but work had her busy. She also didn't think knocking on Amanda's door was best right now.
Pippa was confused, "With Amanda. I thought you knew. I told her you were the one running point on the case. She didn't contact you?" Pippa immediately became concerned. Amanda was young and didn't know the kids well. Olivia swallowed, "No. I'll go tonight."
Olivia got to Amanda's door and heard Amanda explaining it was healthy food from a good restaurant and she needed to eat. Then she heard yelling. "No! I'm not eating. Who wants broccoli and fish and Yuck! Brown rice! Ugghhhhh! You're not the boss of me!" Olivia knew that was Kim's voice. She must have been giving her hell this week.
Olivia knocked on Amanda's door. Amanda swung it open and yelled, "What!" Amanda saw Olivia standing there, "What the fuck do you want?" Olivia wasn't shocked at her language anymore. She just walked in and saw an angry Kim with her arms folded tight and heard Noah screaming.
She went to get Noah first, "Shhh, it's ok." Amanda watched as Noah stopped crying. Once he was calm, she handed Noah to Amanda and moved her hands to hold him just right. Noah cuddled in her arms and gave a little smile.
Olivia smiled at her, then she went on the attack, "Kimberly Jessica Rollins! Get over here!" Amanda saw something she hadn't seen, tears. Kim walked over slowly, "Yes ma'am?"
Olivia knelt down, "You do not get to behave like this! What did Amanda tell you to do?" Kim wiped her teary eyes, "Eat my dinner." Kim sniffed. She knew Olivia wasn't Amanda and she was in big trouble.
Olivia was stern, "Then first go apologize right now, then eat, then bed. Are we clear?" Kim heaved, "Yes ma'am." Olivia waited. She saw Kim walk over to her sister, "I'm…sorrrry…Manda."
Olivia didn't even give Amanda a chance to say anything, "Eat now and the next time I see or hear this, we will be discussing a spanking." Kim cried silent tears, but ate everything.
Olivia took Noah and gave him a bath and he was out. She checked on Kim who was asleep. Olivia covered her up and wiped her tears. She found Amanda sitting at the bar in the kitchen with her head in her hands. The entire apartment was a wreck. "Did you eat?" Amanda shook her head. She looked skinny. Olivia gave her plate just like the night at her place.
Amanda was stressed, "I'm not hungry." Olivia brushed back her blonde bangs to see her eyes. She loved looking into them, "Eat now, because you're already in trouble because of that mouth. Unless you want to discuss spanking." Amanda ate everything.
Olivia figured her and Kim were so much alike they needed a similar approach, "Take your shower and go to bed. Now!" Olivia just waited for the attitude, but she was ready. She had her and Kim's number now.
Amanda shook her head, "No." Olivia laughed, "No? Did you just tell me no?" Amanda twisted her hands, "I meant Noah will wake up and I…" Olivia kissed her forehead, "Go to bed."
Olivia realized Amanda took on too much. She cleaned the entire kitchen, put away the leftovers, then she tackled the family room, and checked on the kids. She grabbed the baby monitor from the room Noah and Kim were sharing. Then she checked on Amanda.
Amanda was stretched out completely across the bed with all her clothes on. Olivia shook her head, because she didn't listen. Olivia took off her shoes and socks. She rolled her on her pillow and covered her with a blanket.
She grabbed an extra blanket and the couch. Noah woke up around 3AM. She gave him a bottle and changed him. Around 6 AM, he woke up again, but this time she heard Kim talking to him. Olivia stood at the door, "Good morning!"
Kim blinked, "Morning Olivia. Are you still mad at me?" Noah cooed. "I'm not mad, but you aren't going to be disrespectful. Amanda's doing her best and she's your sister. Be nice." Kim nodded. She ran her a bath and picked out clothes. "Olivia, I've been in trouble at school." Noah wakes me up at night and I sleep in class."
Olivia pointed to her pancakes, "Ok, but he didn't wake you last night, so no sleeping today." Kim nodded and jammed pancakes in her mouth. Olivia watched, "Slow down before you choke. You have plenty of time." They had been late every morning and Amanda was always yelling to hurry, but Kim didn't tell on her.
Amanda came flying, "We're going to be late!" Kim laughed. Amanda saw breakfast and the kids dressed. She also saw the entire apartment was spotless. She was disappointed in herself. Olivia stayed one night and things were perfect. She started to doubt herself.
Olivia could read her face, "Amanda, have some breakfast." Amanda was about to say no and realized she didn't want to be embarrassed in front of Kim. She was pretty sure Olivia would say something.
Olivia took Kim's empty plate, "Are you full?" Kim nodded and jumped up to kiss Noah's fat cheeks. Olivia told her to get her stuff, so they could leave. Amanda wasn't tired for once and took a breath. Olivia looked at her, she needed to get to her place and change. "Amanda, I'll take Kim with me and get her to school. Have you been working?"
Amanda nodded, "From home until I figure out Noah." Olivia narrowed her eyes, "You should have called me. You don't have to do this alone." Amanda frowned, "I was embarrassed about…" she looked at Kim standing by the door, "about the kiss." Olivia winked at her, "Don't be. We can talk about it later."
Olivia went to her place. Kim walked in and immediately threw a tantrum about no TV. When Olivia knelt down she stopped immediately, "Kim, you're trying yourself." She made her read a book in her bag, while she took a shower and got dressed. Then she took her to school, talked with Alex, and headed to work where she made some calls.
Alex gave her the name of a good nanny who worked and dropped kids off at her school. Her name was Lucy Huston. The family she helped just moved and she was looking for work. Olivia called Lucy and she met her at the station. She was younger than Amanda. She was in school part time, but she answered everything correctly. "Lucy, meet me at this address for dinner at 6:00. You can meet Amanda and the kids."
She sent Amanda a text that she would get Kim. Olivia left and picked up Kim. Then she stopped by the store and picked up chicken breasts, salad, and potatoes. Kim wrinkled her nose up. Olivia gave her a stern look, "Don't start with me."
Kim blinked her eyes quickly, "Yes ma'am." She laughed because she was Amanda's twin. She let her pick out the dessert. Olivia had her hands full and told Kim to knock on Amanda's door. Amanda answered it without a curse word for once.
Olivia was on Kim's butt, "Kim, bath now, then do homework." Kim stopped, "Hi Manda. I had a good day." Amanda kissed her head, "I'm glad kiddo." Olivia smiled at their exchange. She headed to the kitchen to cook. Amanda frowned, "Why are you helping me?" Olivia sighed, "I just want to. Am I overstepping?"
Amanda shook her head, "I knew I shouldn't do it. I can't do this. You walked right in and did it all in one night. Now you found a nanny. I bet she's younger than me." Olivia stopped, "Amanda, I would need help too. I couldn't do this alone. That's why I said you should have called. I'm here to be your friend." Amanda sighed, "Ok."
Kim came out and just stood there. Amanda tried something different, because her old way wasn't working. "Hey, can I have a hug since you had such a great day?" Kim smiled, "You want a hug from me?" Amanda laughed, "Yeah, we all need hugs. They make everything better."
Kim wrapped her arms around her, "Manda, this feels good. Mom loves me but…" Kim looked at her and cried, "She can't all the time." Amanda knew Kim's life and relationship with their mom was very different than hers. She was also too young to hear the truth.
Amanda picked her up, "She does her best, remember that. You have me now and Olivia. And Olivia told you to do your homework, so I'll help you and hold Noah while she makes dinner."
Kim smiled and started toward the table. She turned to Olivia, "Olivia, do you want a hug?" Olivia held up her hands, "Yeah!" Olivia cooked and watched Amanda sit with Kim. Kim was smart and didn't need much help, but she loved the attention.
They met Lucy and had dinner. Everything was working out. Kim loved Lucy right away and Noah loved everyone. Olivia fed Noah and rocked Noah to sleep while Amanda read Kim a bedtime story. Kim's eyes started to get heavy and Noah was out cold. They grabbed the baby monitor and closed the door. Olivia smiled, "See, it gets easier." Amanda smiled, still unsure. She was terrified, because she knew Olivia couldn't keep sleeping on her couch.
Before she could say anything, Olivia grabbed her stuff. Amanda knew it would come to an end just not after one night. She walked away with an attitude, "Yeah well thanks for the advice. See you around." She felt stupid and was falling for her every minute. She should have known, she was just a kid and Olivia was a cop.
Olivia knew what this was when she heard the attitude. Amanda didn't trust anyone and Olivia gave her a taste of what it could be like to finally trust someone. She thought and doubted herself, but she liked Amanda and couldn't let her down. She saw her loading the dishwasher and walked up behind her. She tapped her shoulder, "Hey, look at me." When Amanda didn't turn around she tried again, "Look at me!"
Amanda needed the discipline just like Kim, hell she was Kim. Amanda turned around and Olivia saw the saddest blue eyes. "I'm going to my place to take a shower and grab some clothes. It will be easier if I have everything here in the morning. I'm not leaving you."
Olivia wanted to kiss her, she thought she was cute, but this was more than attraction. "Look Amanda, I know it's hard to trust me, because you don't know me at all. So I'm going to work on earning it. I said I would help and I meant it." As much as she wanted to kiss her, she had to take this slow. "So give me 30 minutes and I'll be back."
Amanda finally smiled. She felt bad that she reacted badly, but she knew Olivia understood her. That made her want Olivia even more. Amanda didn't trust anyone. She kept herself busy, finished the dishes, took her own shower, and sat on her bed waiting to hear the door.
Olivia on the other hand set a timer for 25 minutes. She knew it was that serious. She didn't know what her past trauma was, but she knew from Amanda's reaction it was bad. She grabbed a bag in less than 10 minutes and took her shower as fast as possible. She threw on PJs and even left her hair wet.
When Amanda heard the door she smiled. When she saw Olivia at her bedroom door she relaxed. "I told you I'd be back." Amanda nodded. Olivia sat beside her, "I need to dry my hair, but do you want to talk to me? Are you ok?"
Amanda knew she had to give her something. Olivia did something no one did, she was honest with her. "Do you want to know my story, why I don't trust people easily?" She looked up.
Olivia did want to know, but not like this. "I do and it goes both ways. I want you to know mine. You know Amanda, I didn't have all the answers at 25, hell, I didn't have any. I still don't. I was just a young cop trying to outrun my own difficult past. And I didn't necessarily want to tell anyone, so I'm not asking you to tell me on demand. Let's work on our friendship, work on getting Kim and Noah stable, and the rest will come in due time. I promise."