129.

Ed had a swagger about him as he brought up the subject. "Says here having sex once or twice a week can boost your immune system."

Olivia looked up from the mixing bowl in which she was combining ingredients for meatloaf. It wasn't a dish she would've chosen or even sought out on her own, but Sarah sent her the recipe from a television star and insisted everyone would love it. She and Justin had polished off almost half the pan the previous night. "Says where?" Olivia asked even though Ed was holding his phone and she was sure the fact came courtesy of his newfound Twitter addiction.

"Right here," he showed her the screen and put his chin on her shoulder, "Uber Facts."

His whiskers tickled her face. It had been a few days since his last shave. "Not sure that's the most reputable source in the world," she said, "But what do we have to lose?"

"That's the spirit." Ed kissed her cheek and put the phone in his back pocket, freeing both hands to wrap his arms around her waist. "Whaddya want me to help with?"

"Potatoes."

"How many?"

"I think five's enough," Olivia said. "Two small ones, three large."

"On it."

There was a bit of a ruckus going on in the living room. Olivia leaned across the island and saw Noah and the twins foraging through their toybox. Even without Noah's instructions, Olivia knew what they were up to-along the edge of the rug they had lined up their collection of musical instruments which would be used in about an hour to applaud the seven o'clock shift change. It was amazing to her how the twins, at their precious young age, followed Noah's directions and even asked questions for clarification. At one point Maggie held up a maraca that had long been broken and no longer made noise. Olivia wasn't sure why they'd chosen to hang onto it. Knowing its original purpose, Maggie looked to Noah for approval and he shook his head then changed his mind. "Uh-uh, Maggs, ope, well, we c'use it for da drum."

Maggie handed the maraca to Wyatt, "Dum, Wy!"

Dutifully, Wyatt placed it next to the snare drum, the matching sticks of which had mysteriously been misplaced.

Ed noticed his wife had stopped moving and followed her gaze. "Gonna give 'em a full concert tonight," he remarked.

"We sure are."

Ed went back to the stove and Olivia reflected on the past few days. A little over a week ago they'd been in Florida, scared but composed, and thinking merely wiping down airplane seats and obsessively washing hands would make everything better. Now, families all over the country were asked, in some places ordered, to remain in their homes. Businesses were shuttered. Schools were closed. Yet, medical workers, first responders, grocery clerks, delivery drivers, and other wage earners who almost everyone took for granted were now risking their lives and, in some cases, their livelihoods, to survive and help others survive. It was a terribly frightening but also uplifting time. Each day she and Ed watched the news early in the morning and then sporadically throughout the day, whenever Noah was occupied, and while they mourned the tragic loss of life, they were heartwarmed by the numerous reports of heroism. The Governor and President gave briefings each day and, though they often articulated stark realities, both Ed and Olivia agreed their elected leaders were acting in the best interest of constituents and were surrounded by and listening to the very best of the country's experts.

Brooke and Caroline nagged at her mind. She and Sarah had collaborated to send food to their Brooklyn and Riverdale homes. However, Brooke was still sick, but not sick enough to warrant any further medical attention. Out for a walk a couple of mornings ago, Sonny called Olivia purportedly to say a quick hello but he and his former boss ended up chatting for nearly an hour. He was distraught over Brooke and not being able to see his daughter. The shift to a "virtual court" system, had altered his job yet also delayed justice for the people he served. Adding to his misery was a form of what Olivia recognized as survivor's guilt-his friends and colleagues in the police department were still going about their shifts, sending him case reports, and essentially lining up work for him to finalize after they'd done the heavy lifting. Up in Riverdale, Caroline pretended to be compliant, but Olivia and Ed suspected she was not giving up her independent nature. The last two times they'd tried to make a Face Time call she didn't pick up but made sure to make a conventional call back. Ed guessed she was either out at one of her local stops or was hosting guests. Either way, he was unhappy and considering a reconnaissance mission.

Olivia transferred her ground beef concoction to a baking pan and slid it in the oven. She set the timer and surveyed the kitchen mess. Not bad, she thought. If the meatloaf turned out to be tasty, it would be an easy-to-prepare option for their regular rotation. Additionally, Ed sent a subtle message by setting out the family cookbook he purchased days after they closed on the apartment and had been, at times, a source of Olivia's playful teasing.

"Wine?" Ed asked, holding up a bottle they opened the day before.

"Sure, but let's, uh, not go too crazy tonight."

He poured two glasses and handed her one, "You're right. I think it takes more energy bein' home all day than it does when there're things to do."

"Maybe we should put ourselves on some sort of schedule," Olivia said, "I think it's more...I'm tempted to have a drink when we're bored, and I can't believe I'm using that word when we have three little kids."

Ed laughed and pulled out his phone again, "Let's not forget the immunity thing," he said with a smirk. "Cures everything, including boredom."

Olivia grinned and leaned in for a kiss. After trading a few pecks, they turned around and watched the kids play. With their instruments all lined up, they'd moved on to a game involving plastic dinosaurs and airplanes which Maggie and Wyatt must have considered to be space shuttles. "BASOFF!" They shouted over and over again. "BASOFF!" The toddlers bounced from obsession to obsession, and they were currently fascinated by all things outer space-related. The anachronistic dinosaurs were simply passengers out of convenience. Ed slung an arm around Olivia's shoulders and held her close. For the majority of the cooking time, they watched their kids play.

With less than ten minutes left on the timer, Olivia announced it was time to wash hands and set the table. Noah, a bit too accustomed to the new normal for his mother's liking, dashed to the bathroom and called out to Maggie and Wyatt. "C'mon, babies! Gotta scrub scrub scrub so da c'ronavirus goes away!"

"Go 'way, BIRUS!"

"BAD'IRIS!"

Olivia groaned.

Ed kissed her cheek. "It's gonna be okay, Liv," he whispered and repeated, "It's gonna be okay."

…

Another long day and part of the night at the precinct left Olivia with very little energy, and, but the time she arrived at home she was ready to crawl into bed. She unlocked the door, tossed her purse and coat aside, and said a quiet hello to Lucy. Noah's dedicated nanny had been reading, so Olivia wasn't sure what to make of the whimsical grin on her face. She did, however, notice a vase of assorted flowers on the kitchen counter.

"What are those?"

"I didn't read the card," Lucy said, her smile widening. "They're beautiful, though Liv."

"They are."

Lucy quickly collected her things. "I'll see you later."

"Right, thanks," Olivia said, "Goodnight, Lucy."

She made her way over to the vase. To her, the sender wasn't a mystery, but she was filled with nervous energy thinking about the card. She plucked it from the plastic and opened the envelope. Ed must have visited the flower shop himself, for the words were written in his angular script.

For no reason other than I was thinking of you, he had written, and hoped these brighten your day...or night. Olivia wondered if he'd hesitated before closing the note with a simple dash and his name. She bet he'd wanted to sign Love, Ed.

It was late, but she was sure he wouldn't mind a call. He answered quickly. "Hey, Liv."

"Hi," she said, drawing out the word into two syllables.

"Home?"

"Yes, just got here."

"Long night."

"Yeah, but...I get home, exhausted, and see these beautiful flowers from a wonderful man. Thank you. That was a nice surprise."

"You're welcome," he said, trying hard not to seem too proud of himself. "I was gonna send them to the office but thought that might put ya in a tough spot."

"It probably would have," Olivia said, "Thank you for sending them here."

"Try to get some sleep," Ed said, "You sound tired."

"I really am," though she was beyond ready for her pillow, she felt some regret that it was unreasonable to invite Ed over at that moment. She wanted to recline against him and fall asleep and she was certain he would come over if she asked. But, she didn't do it. Not on this night. "I'll give you a call tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure."

"Thank you again, Ed. This was really, really sweet."

"You deserve it, Liv," he said softly. "G'night."

"Goodnight, Ed." Olivia ended the call, half-stumbled to her room, and fell onto her bed. She stared at the ceiling while mustering some energy to change clothes. She was trying to clear her mind, but all she could think about was what it would be like to have Ed there, taking care of her, helping her out of her work attire and into pajamas and then holding her until she fell asleep. It was strange to crave someone's presence so badly, but she could not deny her attraction to Ed Tucker. It was time to turn a corner in their relationship. At the risk of seeming too desperate, she picked up the phone and send him a text.

I'll call tomorrow, but let's plan on dinner, she typed. Then, after biting her lip, she added, I miss you.

The reply came immediately.Miss you too. Name the time and place. I'll be there.

Olivia clutched the phone to her chest and smiled.

Of course he'd be there.

…..

The isolation nights bothered Olivia the least. It was the only time life felt normal. Their evening routines had not changed. The twins got their baths and stories an hour or so before Noah. The big brother was not required to read with the twins, but he always did. Afterward he enjoyed roughly thirty minutes of quiet time which he used mostly to play games on the iPad but sometimes opted to work problems in one of the puzzle books from his growing collection. When he was settled in bed for the night, Olivia and Ed tidied up the living area, tossed toys back into the toybox, and reminded themselves they needed to start requiring the kids to take care of that chore. The light housework accomplished, they sat together on the couch, avoided the news, and watched their selected reruns.

"Meatloaf was real good," Ed remarked at one point. "I never liked it much, but I'd definitely eat it again."

"Definitely a good tip from Sarah," Olivia replied. "And the kids loved it." She chuckled softly thinking about Noah's initial reaction. It hadn't occurred to Olivia that he'd never seen ground beef in that particular form before. Their phones were in front of them, face up on the coffee table, and notification after notification popped up on Ed's device. She noticed the familiar Twitter logo and laughed again. "Ed, you can turn those off."

"You can?"

"Yes, and, out of curiosity, why are you getting them?"

He leaned forward and grabbed the phone, "I dunno, let's see...a few people following me, oh, and I got into a conversation with a couple of people about the mayor and governor, so there are a bunch of replies...how do I turn 'em off?"

Olivia took the phone and navigated around the app but not before seeing Ed's dozens of notifications. Amused, she nudged him with her elbow. "You're turning into a regular social media guru," she said, "And, wow, over fifty followers already?" His bio warmed her heart. Husband, dad, retired cop, it read, and he'd included #NeverForget and #StayHomeSaveLives as hashtags.

"Good way to stay informed," he said, "And half of those followers, I have no clue who they are."

Olivia tapped on a few of the unfamiliar names and handles. It was odd to think strangers had seen something so interesting in Ed's replies, likes, and retweets that they decided to follow him. He had never posted an original tweet of his own. "I like your picture," she said of the sunlit Statue of Liberty.

"Didn't wanna put anything there with you or the kids. Never know what kinda crazies are out there."

"I appreciate that, but it's probably okay. You could always make your account private. Or do a private Instagram if you want to share pictures with people you know."

"Brooke mentioned Instagram," he replied, "She follows me on here. Posts a lot. I think she's startin' to really get cabin fever. Damn, I just wish she could get to the point where she can not be scared to get out and go for a walk."

"Yeah…" Earlier, when they called to check in on Brooke, her fever had gone away, but she was still coughing, achy, and under strict orders from her doctor to avoid leaving the apartment. Sonny was doing his best to take care of her and also appear upbeat on the call, but it was obvious there was strain at the Carisi household. At the very least, little Sofia was safe and well-cared for, but they both missed their little girl like crazy. Short of having one of the family in the hospital, being separated from her was their worst-case scenario.

"I hope Sarah's really bein' as careful as she says she is because, if not, what's the point of keepin' Sof away?"

"I'm sure she is, Ed. She wouldn't want that on her conscience. And Justin's there for extra security. He'd be the last one to take risks with other people's kids."

"You're right," Ed kissed the side of her head and pulled her closer, "If I have to be quarantined, I'm glad it's with you, Olivia Margaret."

Olivia kissed his fingers, "Right back at you, Ed Tucker," she sighed and added, "I'll feel a little better after the fourteen days, though. I'm still worried we may have brought something back from Florida...the airplane, the cabs…"

"We were as careful as we could possibly be, Liv."

"I know, but, every day when we take our temperatures I get so nervous."

"I know ya do, sweetheart," he said, "A few more days and we'll be in the clear."

They let the show be a distraction for a few more minutes until Ed felt Olivia's fingers scratch his belly. He kissed her a few times on the head and the scratches became more insistent.

"Ed?"

"Hm?"

"I couldn't help but...remember the immunity fact you found…"

He grinned. "All kinds of good facts on Twitter."

Olivia stood up and held out her arms, "Not that I need any extra incentives," she said, "But you are kind of cute with it."

With her help, Ed rose to his feet and planted a passionate kiss on her lips. They started making their way to the bedroom and Olivia pointed out he'd left his phone on the table. She always had hers at arm's length at night.

"It's stayin' there," he said, "Don't wanna accidentally tweet this."

Olivia covered her mouth to mute her laughter. There was absolutely zero possibility of that happening, but Ed sounded completely serious and sincerely worried. When she looked at him, though, the smirk on his face revealed he'd been joking all along. She grabbed his wrist and seductively whispered in his ear. "You'd have way more followers after that."

His cheeks were immediately on fire.

She jerked her head toward their bedroom. "C'mon Captain. Time to boost that immunity."

"Yes ma'am."

…..

While the storm dithered a couple hundred miles off shore, the Tucker kids grew increasingly restless. The coastal towns were perpetually sprinkled with a fine sheet of mist which was heavy enough to deter trips to the mini golf park or walks along the boardwalk. Ed and Olivia toyed around with the idea of returning to New York, but then they would have to come back to the beach to put the house back together after the storm. Besides, when it passed, the sun would come out again and they could enjoy the rest of July.

One morning, Olivia awoke earlier than everyone else. Ed didn't stir when she left the bed and she smiled at him and how his face was smashed against the pillow and his mouth open. Though in his sixties and unshaven, he looked like a child. Instead of kissing him awake, she let him sleep and went downstairs to drink coffee on the back porch. Even under the threat of a hurricane, she loved the spot. The swaying sea grass, the soft crashing of the waves, and the occasional squawk of seagulls brought her a great deal of peace.

When she heard noise from inside, she predicted Wyatt or Ed would be joining her soon. Teenage Noah had fallen into a summer habit of sleeping late and Maggie rarely left her bed before eight a.m. Even if she was awake, she preferred to lounge in her pajamas, page through her magazines, or turn on the television Ed and Olivia reluctantly allowed her to have in her beach house room. So, Olivia was pleasantly surprised when it was her ten-year-old daughter who emerged from the kitchen with a glass of fruit punch in her hand.

Maggie crawled under the beach towel Olivia was using as a blanket, "Hi Mommy," she said sweetly as she snuggled into her side.

"Hi sweet girl," Olivia kissed Maggie's head. She hadn't taken a bath or shower the night before and her hair smelled like a combination of ocean breeze and sunscreen. "You're up early."

"I know!" Maggie grinned, shocked at her own internal clock, "Super early! Prolly 'cause I fell asleep at nine-oh-two last night."

"Nine-oh-two, huh?"

"Yeah, I fell asleep during the movie, 'member?"

"I remember. I did too actually, but before you."

"It was boring."

Olivia laughed. It had been Noah's turn to choose the movie and the futuristic thriller was definitely geared for kids in his age bracket and appealed neither to Olivia nor Maggie. The Tucker males loved it, and, when Olivia woke up and went to bed, Ed and the boys were hitting play on the sequel. As she always tried to be with her kids, she responded to Maggie's criticism diplomatically. "It wasn't my favorite type of movie," she said, "But, the good news is, you get to pick tonight."

"C'we watch one we have to pay for? A new one?"

"Sure, honey."

Maggie took a satisfied sip of the fruit punch and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand leaving red streaks on her skin. "Wanna go look for shells or somethin? Or throw the frisbee? It's not raining hard right now."

Olivia tried to discern how hard it was actually raining or, if it was merely fog she was seeing in the yard and in the distance. "Yes, let's go," Olivia said, "Want to take the shell bucket or the frisbee?"

"Both!" Maggie ran over to the outdoor fridge and grabbed a water bottle. She squinted at her mother, "You gonna go in your pajamas, Mommy?"

Olivia looked down at her attire-cotton shorts and a long-sleeve t-shirt over a tight-fitting tank top. Technically, the outfit should have been considered pajamas, but nobody but her family would know. Maggie must have planned ahead, for she'd changed into regular Nike running shorts and a t-shirt. "I think I will," she replied, "Unless you don't want me to?"

Maggie shrugged and grinned, "It's okay. Nobody'll know."

"Don't tell."

Maggie threw her head back and laughed, finding extra hilarity in her mother's request. She grabbed Olivia's hand and tugged her toward the yard and the beach. "I won't tell," Maggie assured her, "You wanna do Frisbee or shells first?"

"Frisbee," Olivia said, "It'll be nice to move a little bit."

"Yeah, we've been doing a lot of sitting around."

Now it was Olivia's turn to laugh. She side-hugged Maggie and they walked to the sand arm-in-arm.

…

At last, Mia showed up in the classroom meeting, and, after the lesson was over, Noah begged Olivia to Face Time his friend. Olivia wasn't sure who to call, for Mia was entrusted to many adults' care depending on her parents' schedules. She started with her Manhattan-based father and Mia was, indeed, hunkered down in his apartment. Noah practically ripped the phone from Olivia's hands when he heard Mia's voice greet her with a cheerful, "Hi Livia!" Olivia barely got in a hello before Noah took over.

"Mia where ya been?" He frowned and held the phone close to his face.

"At home with my Dad!"

"You didn't go to school 'til today!"

Mia giggled. "We forgetted!"

Ed rolled his eyes at Olivia. He picked up Maggie and Wyatt and set them on the island to wipe their hands and faces clear of the remnants of their spaghetti lunch. Olivia noticed he was extra attentive and kissed and hugged them both before returning them to the floor. The lack of attention paid to Mia by her parents never failed to baffle Ed Tucker. Olivia passed by on her way to the refrigerator and reassuringly patted his hip.

He gave her a wink and tossed the dishcloth into the laundry bin. "While he's on the phone I think I'll give Carisi a call back." Ed's eyes clouded over. Since the courts were closed or operating virtually for essential proceedings only, the case against Gary Wald was indefinitely put on pause. There was no telling when the grand jury would convene, and, until it did, Ed was trapped in uncertainty. He tried to keep his mind on other things, but there was too much downtime for him to shove the case into a temporary black hole. Maybe, he figured, helping Carisi put together his testimony would help put him at ease.

Olivia hugged Ed from behind and held him long enough to listen to Noah and Mia talk more about their lives under quarantine. Noah griped about not being able to go to the roof because there were always too many people, and Mia said her Dad was taking her out every once in a while to go to the store and pick up food.

"So irresponsible," Ed grumbled. They were taking the kids out to get fresh air each day, but they tried to go first thing in the morning or right before dinner when the streets were less populated and they never actually went inside of a store. Wyatt's fight to breathe when he was born, Noah's early-life lung issues, and Ed's cancer scare of years' past, Olivia was adamant they take no unnecessary chances with the family's health and Ed wholeheartedly agreed.

"Mia?" Noah asked with a sly grin, "You wanna play a game with me?"

"How we gonna play a game?"

"I have da Sorry game," Noah explained, "You jus' tell me what ta' do when it's your turn!"

"OKAY!"

"Jus' a minute." Noah ran into his room and returned with the board game. He set out everything on the dining room table, and the twins, of course, ran over to see what was going on. "Maggs and Wyatt," he said, "I'm playin' with Mia but you can watch."

"Wa'pay tubble, NO!" Maggie furrowed her brow. She was requesting to play Trouble because she and Wyatt loved to pop the dome.

"Sorry small sister! I'm playin' Sorry with Mia. See?" He turned the phone to show them Mia's smiling face.

"Hi BABIES!"

To Noah's relief, Olivia intervened. "I'm going to take these two to their room to settle down for a little while," she said, intentionally not using the word nap. "You two have fun playing. Very creative, sweet boy." She touched her knuckle to Noah's cheek and smiled at him before grabbing a twin under each arm. "Let's go, Maggie and Wyatt. Want to read some books with Mommy?"

"NO! TUBBLE!"

"We'll play Trouble later with all of us," Olivia kissed the side of Maggie's head and sat in the rocking chair, thankful she and the twins still comfortably fit there. She grabbed the first book within her reach and groaned at the title-Dragons Get Colds, Too. "Let's try this again," she said and blindly grabbed another one. Coincidentally, the title also involved dragons, but the topic was much better. "Here we go, sweet twins," she kissed each of their cheeks, "Dragons Love Tacos…"

Wyatt giggled and pointed at the title page, " Tah-oh, Mama!"

"Lotsa tah-ohs!" Maggie added gleefully.

Olivia started reading while mentally thinking about their grocery stock. Yes, she was sure they had ingredients for tacos which was good news, for she was certain the twins would request their favorite meal later that evening.

….

#Tuckson