Chapter 26
When the tea was finished Elliot got up to help her carry the cups to the table.
He asked her if she was okay and she said she was and added that she didn't want him to say something to Kathy about how she treats her today. He agreed reluctantly.
"We could play something." Lola suggested.
"Sure, do you have something in mind?" El asked her.
"What about pictionary?" she asked. The other's agreed.
"How do we team up?" Sarah asked.
"What about you and Olivia against Lola, your dad and me." Kathy said with a weird look towards Liv.
"Isn't that weird?" Sarah asked.
"Okay. You're right. It's two adults and a kid against Olivia and you. Let's make it children against parents and Olivia is on your team."
Liv almost couldn't hold back anymore, she had to concentrate so hard not to start to laugh. It was so obvious what Kathy was trying to do, she couldn't believe that this woman really thought it would be a problem for Liv to be on the kids team. It was ridiculous.
Oh my, this day will be interesting.
El looked a bit angry but Liv touched his leg with hers to calm him down.
"Sounds good. Let's get started." Liv said cheerfully.
A few rounds later Kathy started to get a bit frustrated because everyone was having so much fun and it didn't seem to disturb Olivia the slightest bit to be on a team with the girls. She had to try harder to piss her off. For once, Olivia has to be the bad one.
After the game Elliot told the kids that he had planned to go to the water park with them today. They were more than excited.
He asked them if it was okay if Liv joined them and of course they loved the idea of sliding with her but Liv didn't want to cause any trouble and said that she doesn't have anything to wear and that she will just stay here because it's their day with their dad and they should enjoy it.
"No, you have to come with us. It's way more fun with you!" Sarah said pleadingly.
"You can buy something to wear there. Come on." Elliot said.
She couldn't believe what he was doing. He knew she didn't want to upset Kathy and he wasn't helping at all, but she had to admit it was cute how they tried to convince her.
She had an idea how to make them happy and how to keep Kathy's anger down or at least almost make it impossible for her to say anything against Liv.
"What about Kathy's coming with you?" Elliot looked at her shocked.
"What? Why? I mean, I am pretty sure she has plans already and it's my day with the kids anyway."
He was so bad at improvising when his family was involved, it was hilarious to watch.
"Olivia, please come with us." Lola said. "We can all go together, right?" she said looking up to her parents.
Liv had to suppress a smile. The little girl knew exactly what she was doing.
"Alright. So we all go there. Everyone okay with it?" Elliot asked.
The kids looked pretty happy and Kathy nodded reluctantly.
"Okay, so I have packed stuff for the three of us," he said to the kids, "We only need a towel for Liv and what about you Kathy? We could drive by the house and pick some things up for you, okay?"
"Sure, sounds good." she said, pretty dissatisfied.
Liv sat down in the backseat with the kids before Kathy could say anything because she really didn't want another weird situation between them.
Elliot looked at her apologetically but she knew it wasn't his fault, not at all, she was the one who had invited Kathy.
Damn, this was a weird day, all she wanted was to be in her apartment in peace and she definitely didn't want to spend a day with the Stabler family, which made her feel really really weird and misguided.
At the house Kathy went inside to get her stuff and the kids went inside too, to get "things they really needed.''
"I am sorry. I don't even know how this happened." Elliot said apologetically.
"El, it's fine. I mean it's weird, like really weird but it's fine." she said smiling.
"Isn't it?" he said smiling too. "What is wrong with her? Acts like she is still my wife and you are one of Sarah's friends. And now you sit back there and she didn't even say anything."
"I don't care. Really! And it's really good that you didn't say anything to her. It's better for everyone that way."
"Yes, for everyone but you."
"I am fine. If it helps her to be like this when I am around it's fine for me. I'll tell her when she goes too far, don't worry."
"I know you wish you could go home but I am pretty happy to have you with me." he said smiling.
"At least one of us is happy about the situation." she said sarcastically but with a small grin.
After a long car ride, way longer for Liv who had to listen to Kathy talking about how this feels like one of their family excursions and her touching El's arm every five seconds to make Olivia jealous and uncomfortable, Liv was really happy when she could finally leave the car. They all got their bags and made their way to the entrance.
"Livia?! Is that really you?" an attractive looking guy shouted.
Olivia turned around and saw Alex, her ex- boyfriend. They were together in her early twenties.
"Oh my god. It's really you. I can't believe it." he said while walking towards her.
When he was close enough he grabbed her, picked her up and swung her through the air.
"You haven't changed a bit!" he said while putting her back on the ground.
"Oh my god, Alex! What are you doing here?" Liv said surprised. "I thought you were in Japan."
"No, I came back after three years, worked my ass off and now I own this waterpark chain."
"What? This is yours? What happened to your plans? You never wanted to end up like your dad. I mean, not that you did but.." He smiled.
"I know what you mean. Well, I think I grew up. Something you thought I wasn't able to do." She shook her head, smiling and suddenly realized that the others were still standing behind her.
"Oh my god, sorry guys." she said while turning around. Elliot looked at them suspiciously.
"Well, um this is Alex, an old friend of mine." she tried not to react to the look Alex darted her. "And this is Elliot, my partner and his family. Well.." she didn't really know how to explain and she felt really uncomfortable speaking of El as her boyfriend in front of Kathy. So she was pretty glad about the interruption of Alex.
"So you really did it. You're a police officer. That's awesome."
"Well, to be exact, I am a detective."
"Oh my god. I am so proud of you, this is just great. I knew you could do it." He said hugging her again.
"Oh sorry." he now said to Elliot and the others. "I am so rude but I just didn't expect to see her here, it's just crazy." he walked towards Elliot and shook his hand.
"So you are her partner, wow, I would die for a few stories. I bet she is a badass cop." Elliot looked at him suspiciously but before he could say anything Alex turned to Kathy.
"And you have to be his wife…"
"Ex- wife!" Elliot said a little bit too fast.
Alex looked at him with a mix of interest and amusement.
"Kathy." Kathy said loud, while shaking Alex's hand. He grinned and winked at her.
"And these two girls are our kids, Sarah and Lola." Kathy continued clearly hurt and angry about Elliot's statement.
Liv tried to connect her eyes with Elliot's but his gaze was on Alex and he seemed to be pretty upset.
"Well, I think we have to go now but it was really nice seeing you again." Liv said, trying her best to defuse the situation.
"What about you guys go inside and Livia will follow. It's on me of course, just tell Jenny you're my guests."
But before anyone could react, Liv said,
"That's really nice of you, but it's not necessary and I really want to go with them now. It was really nice to see you again, Alex. I am glad everything worked out for you."
"Okay, well. I'll give you my card and you can call me when you're free, to catch up and stuff." he searched through his pockets and handed her a business card.
"And I insist on you being my guests, come on let me give something back, now that I can." he said with a wink.
"Thank you. That's really nice of you." Liv said with a smile and walked towards the entry with the others.
"Oh my god. This was crazy. You seriously know the guy who owns all of this?" Sarah said unbelieving.
Liv didn't want to continue talking about it, about him. She could feel El's piercing look on her back and she knew Kathy being here wouldn't make it easier.
"Well, I didn't know that. Haven't seen him in a very long time… So who's excited for the slides?" she said trying to change the subject and once again she was glad about Lola's existence.
"Meeeee." the girl screamed. "I wanna try them all! And Bailee, she's a friend from school, told me that they have a few really scary ones and there is one where you need a raft to sit in and another one …"
Liv didn't listen to her anymore. She was concentrating on Elliot. He was upset and she knew it was partly her fault, this whole situation was unexpected and weird but she knew he was thinking about the fact that she didn't call him her boyfriend and that Alex acted like they were still pretty close. Damn, this day sucked big time.
"Olivia?"
"Oh sorry. What did you say, sweetie?" Liv asked.
"I asked if you will ride them all with me?" Lola said looking eagerly at Liv with her huge blue eyes.
"Sure, if your mom and dad are okay with it, then I am in."
The rest of the walk to the entry, Lola was talking to her parents about the slides and the other amazing attractions the park has to offer.
Inside a young blonde woman walked towards them and guided them to the bathhouse. Obviously Alex had called her and told her that they were his guests.
Liv stayed behind to get a bikini and she was more than glad to have a few minutes on her own.
But when she walked to the bathhouse she heard voices and she knew who they belonged to. Kathy and Sarah were talking about her and Alex. Sarah of course was sweet and a little bit curious but Kathy was talking about how bad Liv had behaved and that she was surprised that she knew people like him, successful people.
Liv wasn't surprised about Kathy's behaviour and she really didn't care but Sarah was really sweet and protective of her.
"Mom! Stop it. It was a weird situation. I mean, she was standing there with an ex she hasn't seen in years, her boyfriend, his kids and his ex- wife.
How would you have explained that and you didn't make it easy for her either. You acted like you and dad were still together the whole day and she didn't even complain once. I don't say you are the mean one and that she is the perfect one but can you at least try to be nicer and please, stop treating her like she's a kid. She is with dad, accept it."
"I'm finished." Lola said while walking out of the cubicle. Liv rushed back around the corner before Lola could see her. She heard other doors open and knew they were all ready to go.
"Liv?" Sarah asked.
"Yes." she said while turning the corner. "You can go, I'll find you inside."
"Okay, but we can wait if you want." Sarah said. Liv was glad that they didn't suspect her eavesdropping.
"No, it's fine. I am there in a minute." she said smiling.
