Fifty-three.

A gray drizzly haze hovered over Bethany Beach the day before the Carisis and Caroline were scheduled to return to New York. The weather induced laziness, and the house was slow to come alive. Olivia and Noah were the first out of the bedrooms. They left Maggie and Wyatt on the bed with Ed and cuddled together on the porch swing. Olivia drank coffee and Noah sipped from a Capri Sun, a rare treat.

"Sweet boy, we haven't had a lot of time, just the two of us," Olivia said softly as she played with Noah's closely-cropped hair. "We've been having so much fun with everybody…"

"Yeah, da beach is for re-lax-ing but it's busy too!" Noah giggled at the irony of his comment.

"Yes," Olivia agreed, "There's a lot to do, that's for sure."

"Yep! Da boat and da board and jet skis and castles and kickball...and then cards and games!"

"You're going to have a lot to tell your friends about when you go back to school."

"When's school?"

"Not for about six weeks," Olivia replied, "We still have a lot of summer left."

Noah's eyes tracked a heron swooping in and out of the tall sea grass. "Lookin' for food," he remarked, "Gotta get his breakfast, or, Mommy, is dat bird a boy or a girl?"

"I'm not sure, sweetie."

A second heron flew into Noah's sightline. "Ope! There's another one! Probably da Mommy and da Daddy getting breakfast for da kids. Where they live?"

Olivia felt bad repeating I don't know, so she speculated they had a nest nearby somewhere. "If they have little babies," she explained, "They want some place where people won't bother them."

"Yeah, they prolly have a good nest and a password 'cause I don't think those birds have locks and keys, so they have a door with sticks and, and, maybe something sticky...like gum...so it stays together and they tell da baby birds, DON'T OPEN unless we give you da password."

"I bet that's exactly how they keep each other safe," Olivia said.

"But people have keys and locks!"

"Yes."

"And da 'larm."

"Exactly."

"Mommy, is it gonna rain all day?"

"No sweet boy. It's supposed to clear up and be sunny this afternoon."

Noah pumped a fist. "YES! Daddy said we're gonna go on da jet skis and Justy wants to do more skimboarding with me 'cause he was mad that he fell a lot last time!"

"I thought you were both really good," Olivia said, "I don't think I could do that."

"Yeah ya could! I show you."

Olivia chuckled and kissed his head. "I think I'm okay watching you do it, honey."

"Kay." Noah turned his head in response to a reflection off the glass due to movement inside. "There's Gramma!" he said gleefully, "Prolly with her puzzle book! I like those books, too, Mommy."

"We'll get you some."

"Thanks 'cause Gramma said da Irish are clever and good at puzzles and have good brains so we're super smart. It's in our blood."

Olivia pulled Noah closer to her chest and kissed him again. "Grandma Caroline is absolutely right," she said, "I am so proud of how super smart you are, sweet boy."

"And today when da sun comes out?" Noah looked at his mother with the brightest, most cheerful smile he had, "We're gonna be super fast on those jet skis!"

….

Fifteen minutes after dragging the distressed swimmer out of the ocean, Wyatt lugged buckets of sand, two at a time, to the spot Maggie claimed as their construction site. Olivia looked on from twenty or so yards away. Seeing them work in tandem like they'd done since they were old enough to play together on the apartment floor did wonders for her racing heart. She took deep breaths and talked to herself. Calm down. He's fine. Maybe starting to get a little annoyed at his bossy sister, but fine. Still shaky after thirty minutes, she picked up her phone and called Ed. After several rings, Noah answered.

"Hey Mom."

"Oh, honey, hi."

"Nice to hear your voice too."

Olivia smiled, "I'm sorry, sweetie. I was expecting your Dad to answer."

"He kept hitting the wrong spot on the screen," Noah said.

Now Olivia laughed. She and Ed recently upgraded to an SUV with all the bells and whistles and they were both occasionally stymied by the technology and how their phones functioned when synced with the system.

"We're both still learning," Olivia said, "Maybe you can give Dad a tutorial on your way back. How was the train?"

"A little crowded but smooth. Dad says we're about forty-five minutes away."

"Okay."

"Here he is."

"Thanks, see you soon sweetheart."

After Ed's typical "Hey, Liv," the rescue story came spilling out. Olivia told it seemingly in one breath and, bewildered, Ed didn't immediately respond. He finally asked if everyone was okay.

"Yes," Olivia said, "They took the boy to the hospital as a precaution and...Wyatt and Maggie are building a sandcastle."

"Was he under at all? Did the paramedics see him?" Olivia heard Noah ask what was going on. Ed muttered to him that everything was alright.

"No...it was...it was like Wyatt went for a quick swim. He wasn't winded or anything," Olivia's voice started to sound panicked, "Do you think I should've made him go to the hospital too?"

"Nah," Ed replied confidently. "He gets more water logged doing his laps in the morning."

"MOM!"

"Hang on Ed."

Maggie jogged over. The front of her legs and her arms up to her elbows were caked in sand. "Mom, can you pretty please go get us two plastic cups?"

"Sure."

"Thanks!"

Maggie flashed her an appreciative grin and trotted away. Olivia assured Ed she was okay and said a quick goodbye. She hurried to the house, grabbed the requested cups, and hustled back to the beach setup. Though she had, by her assessment, done a remarkable job resisting being an overbearing helicopter parent, her overprotective nature resurfaced. The twins were seventeen. They would be starting their senior year of high school in a couple months. Yet Olivia spent the rest of the afternoon watching them like a hawk.

…

Brooke waited to join everyone else at the beach until Sofia woke up from her nap. She dressed her daughter in a pink-and-white striped bathing suit, white terry cover-up, a floppy beach hat with strings that tied under her chin, and the sunglasses purchased by Sarah who had an obsession with buying too-expensive, designer eyewear for the children.

"Here she is," Brooke handed Sofia off to Olivia, "De-crankified and clean."

Sarah bopped Sofia on the nose, "Are you in a better mood, now, baby girl?" Sofia smiled and babbled at Sarah. "Yes you are," Sarah cooed, "Much better than the screaming I got earlier! You almost burst my eardrums!" Sarah made a face and Sofia giggled.

Olivia bounced the baby on her knees. "A nap cures all," she murmured.

"Omigod," Sarah said, "Speaking of nap, lookit Grandma."

At Noah's request, Caroline was sitting on the shore in a low beach chair where she had a closer view of the jet skis. She watched dutifully until Ed and sonny steered the watercrafts toward the inlet and out of sight. Rather than drag the chair back with everyone else, Caroline stayed put, leaned her head back against the cushion, and dozed under the sunlight.

"I think she might want to stay and go back with you two," Brooke said to Sarah. She and Justin were staying two days longer than Brooke and Sonny. He had to go back to work and the annual Carisi family reunion was being held that weekend on Staten Island. "Of course, if that's alright with you and Dad, Olivia."

"Absolutely alright."

"She's a horrible backseat driver," Sarah said, "But we'll schlep her back. No problem."

"Olivia," Brooke said, "You're probably ready for some peace and quiet."

"Exactly the opposite. I like having everyone here." Olivia took a deep, contented breath. "It's almost like...something from the movies. Everyone all together."

Sofia was leaning forward, wanting to get down and play with Maggie and Wyatt. The twins had a variety of pails and funnels at their disposal and Wyatt was gleefully filling his dump truck with sand, rolling it to Maggie, and pouring the load onto her legs, burying them. Maggie would then kick her feet, say "ta-da" and then "GAIN!"

Olivia sat Sofia on a towel and she immediately crawled over to Maggie who paid the baby no attention. Wyatt, however, graciously gave Sofia one of their spare toy cars and said, "Pay, baby! Pay, sand!"

Sarah giggled. "Small sister still wants nothing to do with her niece."

"At least she hasn't knocked her over or poured sand on her," Olivia said weakly, trying to find some humor in Maggie's attitude.

"We'll keep an eye on them."

"Maybe they'll end up being best buds," Brooke said.

Sarah twisted her lips doubtfully and started to say something, but the jet skis were coming toward shore and Sonny was zigzagging across the waves. He managed to get some air and, in the process, throw Justin off the back.

"Omigod, he hit his head!" Sarah sprinted for the water.

Caroline, who had been jolted awake by the sound of the engines stood up and waved her arms, signaling to Ed who had been keeping his distance from the other machine when he noticed Sonny start to gun the engine over the waves.

Olivia and Brooke sat on the edge of their seats. Justin's head was visible, they hadn't been very far from shore, and he was probably standing. Sonny idled to shore and killed the engine. Ed did the same. Olivia cringed when Noah jumped into the water from the back platform of the jet ski. He always did this after a ride, but given what she'd just witnessed, the leap was unsettling.

Sarah ushered Justin out of the water and to their setup. "I need to get him some ice," Sarah said sharply. "Sit down, I'll be right back."

"Justin, man, I'm sorry," Carisi said, looking sick with guilt, "Totally didn't mean to get that wild, man, we hit the wave just right and went flying."

"Is it your head?" Olivia asked. She removed her sunglasses, squinted her eyes, and circled Justin.

"My shoulder," he said.

"Oh...yes, it is your shoulder," Olivia touched the huge red welt forming above Justin's right shoulder blade.

"Justy, you got hurt?"

"I'm good, Noah. Bumped the back of the jet ski."

"You have your bag?" Noah asked.

"No, I left that back in New York. Sarah's gettin' me some ice. That'll make it all better."

"What 'bout da ouchie cream? Mommy? Justy needs it!"

"We'll start with the ice, honey. Then we'll get it."

Noah scrunched his nose in disagreement but did not protest further. Sarah came back, her lips pressed in a firm, straight line, and held the ice pack to Justin's bruised skin. The tension was palpable.

"Jus! Jussy!"

Maggie and Wyatt slogged through the sand to the towel.

"BAY PIE! Jussy! BAY PIE!"

Giggling and screeching, they dove at Justin.

"Babies! Justy's hurt!" Noah tried to stop them but Maggie and Wyatt were already fully-involved in baby-piling on Justin and, by default, Sarah.

"Sorry," Ed mumbled as he gathered both twins into his arms.

"If ya sit like dat," Noah said matter-of-factly, "You're gonna get a baby pile."

The twins squirmed in Ed's arms. "You wanna go in the water?" Ed asked them sweetly.

"Wa'er DAH!"

"SPASH!"

"Mamamamama! Wa'er!"

Olivia grinned, stood up, and tossed her flowy cover up onto the chaise. Ed put the twins on the sand and told them to run to Grandma. Noah led the way and they attacked Caroline with a modified baby pile. Not caring one bit about who was watching, Ed patted Olivia's behind, kissed her cheek, and winked.

"Ready for a swim?" He asked.

"Yes," she said, "Too much drama going on back there."

…..

Late that night, as she and Ed waited for the kids to return from a neighbor's bonfire, Olivia was still agonizing about Wyatt instinctively running to the rescue earlier that day. A low-budget weekly newspaper was published in Bethany Beach, and a reporter showed up at the house around dinnertime to interview Wyatt and take a few pictures of him posed with a lifeguard's buoy even though he hadn't used the implement. Wyatt explained that, after hearing "HELP", he simply reacted and didn't consider himself a hero. He was a good swimmer, and he used his skills in an emergency situation. The reporter smiled and nodded at the humble response.

"You must be very proud," he said to Ed and Olivia.

"We are," Olivia replied.

Proud yet shaken, Olivia took comfort in being in Ed's arms on the loveseat. The sound of the waves was surprisingly soothing especially since she'd considered them formidable and menacing that afternoon.

"Before I knew it he was in the water," Olivia said, talking with her hands even though she held a glass of wine in one hand. "It all happened so fast, people were cheering for him and clapping and there I was practically biting through my cheeks."

Ed kissed the side of her head three times and put his other arm around her, clasping his hands across her stomach and adjusting their position so he was propped against the arm rest and their legs were extended across the seat cushions.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that by yourself," Ed said softly.

"It wasn't like...I mean, I wasn't terrified...I was, I think, shocked, or, maybe it was, I didn't know what to do because I couldn't stop him."

"Of all of 'em," Ed said of their children, "Wyatt's the most cautious. He wouldn't have gone if somethin' wasn't right. He's got a sixth sense about that kinda thing."

"He does…" Olivia took a deep breath. "Please don't tell me he'd make a good cop."

Ed chuckled softly. "Good news, sweetheart. I don't think he'd make a good cop and I also don't think he wants to be one."

Olivia let out a relieved sigh.

Ed ran the back of an index finger across her cheek. "Hey," he rasped, "Don't do the what-ifs."

Olivia smiled. "You know me too well."

"No such thing."

"Maybe...well, I need to listen to Wyatt, what he said to the reporter. He's a strong swimmer, so, naturally he was going to help."

"Right."

"And I think the kid was panicking more than he was drowning," Olivia swelled with pride as she retold the next detail, something she'd forgotten to tell Ed, "And the whole time Wyatt was swimming to him, he was yelling at the kid to calm down. I could hear him. His voice. He sounded like he was taking a walk on the beach rather than swimming. And he was yelling, but he didn't sound...worried, he was so...in control."

Ed smirked proudly. "Good quality to have."

"He gets that from you."

"Nah," Ed buried his face in her hair. "He gets it from you."

…..

Dressed in their pajamas, Noah and the twins ran around the bedroom, chasing each other, while Ed and Olivia changed into their own sleepwear. The sleepy morning, only a half day at the beach, and a boisterous night of card games were not conducive to adherence to regular bedtimes. Ed watched the trio from the bathroom doorway and said they were getting a good workout before going to sleep. Hearing this, Noah stopped in his tracks and reminded Ed they hadn't done bench presses for a while.

"C'mon, Daddy! Let's do da workout!"

"Alright," Ed positioned himself on the rug. "Let's go. Noahs first." He counted off ten reps, sat up, and smirked at Olivia who was observing with a smirk of her own.

"Mommy!" Noah jumped up and down, excited at his idea, "You and Daddy RACE with Maggie and Wyatt! You see who gets ten first! Den you win!"

"Sure," Olivia said, "I'm up to the challenge."

"Mommy, you have Maggie and Daddy has Wyatt."

"No," Olivia said, "Give me Wyatt. He's a couple pounds heavier and I don't want your Daddy using that as a reason he lost."

Noah nodded his approval even though the trash talk went over his head. Ed and Olivia held Maggie and Wyatt at their chests and their thighs. Noah acted as the starter. "On your mark! Get set! GO!"

Ed and Olivia pumped their arms and the room filled with shouted numbers and the laughter of both the kids and the adults. Maggie and Wyatt shrieked and giggled. Ed and Olivia half-grunted, half-laughed. Finally, Noah shouted "TEN" and declared Olivia the winner.

"Mommy wins! Mommy wins! Wanna go again?"

"One more time," Ed said.

"Same baby?"

"Yes," he said, slightly short of breath, "Same baby."

Downstairs, Caroline and Sarah were having a nightcap and watching a cable channel that aired classic reruns.

"What in the hell is going on up there?" Caroline asked.

"Oh, you know how they are," Sarah said, "Can't keep their hands off each other. It's so hotttt."

"With the kids in there?"

"Well, um, nooo...I don't think they'd do it with them in there, so something else might be going on. Unless," Sarah's face brightened, "...they're in the bathroom behind locked doors!"

"I hear the kids."

"Oh, c'mon, Grandma, you don't think they've woken up the kids before?"

"Touche my dear granddaughter," Caroline lifted her glass, "Touche."

"At any rate, I'm not goin up there."

"Nor am I," Caroline said. "Refill?"

Sarah grinned. "Allow me."

…..

After a long stretch without seeing Dr. Lindstrom, going back to his office made Olivia feel like a regression. She sat in an armchair and dug her fingernails into the armrests. Lindstrom waited patiently for her to speak; the familiar, pensive expression was plastered on his face.

"This whole Yates…saga...has brought back Lewis," she said, sounding both dour and angry with herself. "It has...similar markers...an elusive, crafty perp, signatures...torture…obsession…"

"But this time the obsession isn't you."

"No...it was his sister, and Erin Lindsay, one of the Chicago detectives." Olivia briefly closed her eyes, "I can't help but replay the whole thing, the whole case in my mind and wonder if I screwed up somewhere, because of my own assault, I'm second guessing things, could I have done something? Anything? To save a life? Lives?"

Knowing her questions were mostly rhetorical, Lindstrom merely listened. She talked for a few more minutes, mostly about Yates but then drifted into other topics. She was tired. Noah was doing well but in full-blown toddlerhood complete with an occasional tantrum and roughhousing. Then she mentioned Ed Tucker.

"I've been seeing, well, I'm not sure if you can call it that but, well, yes, seeing someone, from the job, socially."

"A relationship," Lindstrom said with a smile, "That's great."

"It's new," Olivia replied, "And, a little strange, given the fact that we spent most of our careers as adversaries."

"So you have history. You know each other."

"You could say that." Olivia felt her face turn red.

"And could you also say you understand each other?"

"Yes. We've...spent a lot of time over the past few months getting to that point."

"Sounds like a good thing, Olivia."

She smiled. "I think it is."

Olivia didn't tell Lindstrom, but she had a date with Ed after the appointment. They were meeting at a swanky hotel bar with panoramic views of the city. On the cab ride there, Olivia scrolled through pictures and hoped she'd chosen the right outfit. She was wearing tight black jeans, gray sweater, a chunky eggplant scarf and a sleek black leather jacket. It'll have to do, she thought, no time to go home and change now.

Ed was waiting for her in the lobby. Seeing his date, he broke into a wide smile and any reservations she had about her attire were immediately forgotten. "Hey," he said softly, greeting her with a kiss on the cheek, "You look great. I like this scarf."

"Thanks," she said, "I don't get a chance to wear it much."

"Well," he said, "Good thing I asked ya out tonight then."

They rode the elevator with three other couples and, upon exiting, were greeted with the vaunted floor-to-ceiling windows and a pristine aerial view of the west side. Ed checked in and they were escorted to their table, a banquette for two facing east. They could see both the Empire State Building and the Chrysler building gleaming in the distance.

"Kinda a younger crowd," Ed said, looking behind them.

"It is," Olivia replied, "But it's not a...club...I like it. And, can't beat this view."

"Or this one." Ed gently held her chin between his thumb and forefinger to guide her lips to his. After the kiss, he smirked, stared into her eyes and whispered, "Hi."

Olivia grinned and returned the coy greeting. A server arrived and took their drink orders. He returned promptly, poured the wine, and Ed and Olivia shared a toast and another kiss. Olivia inched closer to him. She loved the sultry ambiance and the cozy, semi-private booth.

"Get to see any sights in Chicago?"

Olivia laughed sarcastically, "Not a one."

"Well, I'm glad you're back."

"Me too," She turned and smiled at him. "I, ah, I'm sorry I've been a little out of touch the past couple of days. This one...took a lot out of me."

Ed draped his arm across the back of the booth and looked at her with utmost concern. "I figured you were exhausted," he said, "But, what else is goin on? If...if you want to talk about it."

"I saw the shrink today," Olivia said. She quickly assessed his reaction. Ed's expression remained unchanged-calm, sincere, and worried about her well-being. "This whole thing-escape, the assaults, tormenting law enforcement, I started to have some flashbacks, not full-blown panic attacks, but close."

"I hadn't thought of comparing the two."

"I hadn't either, until, well, I think it was the juror, the one-"

Ed didn't want her to have to say Lewis' name. "-I remember her," he interjected.

"That night, I couldn't sleep. Not that I had time to sleep anyway, but, when there were moments of quiet, all I could think about was her, and him, and I powered through, but I called Lindstrom before I got on the plane."

"Good," he said in a low voice. "You gotta take care of yourself."

"The funny thing is," Olivia said, "The rest of the hour I spent talking...about you."

Ed raised his eyebrows and the corners of his lips curled upwards in a shy smile.

"I, um," Olivia continued, "I was talking about how...how I have so much to look forward to, now, as opposed to then."

"Well yeah," Ed said, "You have Noah."

Olivia put her glass down and reached for his hand. "And you," she said.

"That's really good to hear," Ed smirked and kissed her fingers, "I look forward to seein' you, too."

"Sorry," Olivia ducked her eyes, "We're supposed to be enjoying our evening, not talking about my...issues."

"You don't ever, ever have to say you're sorry. Not to me." His words dripped with sincerity. "Or to anyone for that matter. And I'll talk to you about whatever you want, anytime."

Olivia smiled and there was a teasing twinkle in her eye.

"What?"

"Your voice," she said, "You go back and forth between sounding like you're IAB and sounding like you're…" Olivia paused. She was stuck, trapped by her own words.

"A friend?" He offered.

"I think we've kind of...outgrown that label, haven't we?"

"Yeah," he played with a lock of her hair, "Yeah we have."

…

#Tuckson