Chapter 52

Shopping with Kat was easy. She found a coat, hat, scarf, and gloves at the first store. Amanda was the difficult one, she wanted blue everything and a certain brand. For a kid that never had much and didn't care, Olivia was beginning to think she had created a monster or at least a princess who got anything she asked for. She wondered what Christmas was gonna look like. "I wanted a blue North Face coat, there layered." They found the hat, gloves, and scarf. She even got three new hoodies, but no coat. "Ma'am we can order the blue one online and have it shipped to you. It will arrive Monday or Tuesday. We can just try the black on for size." Finally they were getting somewhere, The sales lady grabbed the medium, "It's a little big I usually wear a small." She shook her head, "You want it to have room, I see you like hoodies. Your coat will fit nicely on top."

Olivia's work phone went off, they needed her at the squad room. "Hey they need me, but not all day, can we run there and come back for the coat." Amanda shook her head, "I've got this, you go now and I'll call when I'm done. If you have to stay, I'll come to the squad room if you're not going to be long. I'll meet you at home." Olivia was very nervous, "Baby are you sure, I know you've been doing more on your own, but riding the subway and wandering in the city, I don't know Amanda." The sales lady looked up the code for the coat, "Trust me. I'm okay." Olivia wanted to trust her, she kissed her cheek and gave the sales lady her card. "Here's my card, but I have to run, put everything on here." She looked at Amanda, "You bring my card back. No shopping spree. Got it?" Amanda smiled, "Yes mom!" The sales lady smiled not knowing they were together, "Your mom is so sweet." Olivia leaned in and whispered in Amanda's ear, "You're gonna get it, when you get home."

Amanda ordered her coat, paid for the remaining stuff, put Olivia's card away safely in her bag, and got a tracking receipt for the coat. She looked on Google maps and checked the subway schedule. She promised Liv she would be okay, so she had to be. It was time, Liv couldn't babysit her forever. She was walking and texting Liv to find out how long she would be. Liv told her to come to the squad room. She headed for the subway not wanting to walk. That's when she was pulled in an alley. "What the fuck!" Amanda froze when she realized who pulled her in that alley.

"Mom! What the fuck are doing?" She slapped Amanda hard right in her face. Amanda was dazed by that slap. Olivia punished Amanda if she got too far out of line, but she never treated her bad like her mom did. Olivia never slapped, punched, or kicked her so it was a shock. She grabbed Amanda's bag, looked inside, and threw it down. She grabbed her by the jacket and looked at her, "Who the hell are fucking, that has you living this rich life. And who the hell gave you 1000 dollars to throw at my daughter for an abortion." Amanda was terrified, but this wasn't Liv. She had better answer and quick, "I'm not rich, I'm just staying with friends, going to school, and working." Amanda lied no way could she tell the truth about Olivia. "That money was my only savings left and I gave it to her because you weren't around." Amanda realized she made a mistake when mom grabbed her side and pinched it, "Don't you dare talk to me like that. Stay away from her, I mean it." Her mom pinched and twisted her skin tighter before letting go. Amanda rubbed her side. She knew shouldn't say anything else but, "How about you keep her away from me. I didn't go looking for her." Amanda's mouth was something that Olivia had warned her all day about, her mom had a different way of teaching her though. She turned around and punched Amanda right in the stomach. "Oh my God! Ouch!" Amanda cried. She looked up holding her stomach, and her mom warned her, "Don't even think about sending your boyfriend cop back to threaten me or I'll end you."

Amanda got up from being doubled over in pain. She pulled out her cell and looked in the camera, "Please don't let it be a mark! Please don't let it be a mark!" Amanda's face was red, and she knew a bruise was coming. "Shit! Liv will know something happened." She hauled ass to the subway. Once she sat down, her side and stomach throbbed. She dusted off her jacket and jeans, thank God they were black. She jumped off the subway and headed to the squad room.