Saving Ma
Summary: After Frank proposed to Natalia, Rafe Ave and Emma team up to help their moms.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and I do not make any profit from this.
A/N: Here's the next chapter. Flashbacks in Italics.
Chapter 59
Three weeks had passed since their family day at the zoo. Olivia and Natalia were completely back at work, Natalio was with Jane again full time, and Emma and Mateo were nearing the end of their summer camp. The older kids were back to doing their own jobs and working seamlessly beside their mothers.
Many people had been shocked at Olivia being alive but relieved just the same. August was upon them. The new hotel would be having their grand opening in a few weeks and the family was looking forward to all getting away to the city for the festivities.
The case against Frank, Allan, and Miguel was progressing and the trial was to start the next day. The family had spent their Sunday as a family, as usual, going to church. After services they decided it was a good day to have a picnic at the gazebo in the park then take the little ones to play and feed the ducks.
Whitney was now a regular, going to church with them every week. The weekend of the zoo trip she had put in the request for the day off for church and the head chef was not happy about it.
The Monday after the request had been put in she was called into his office. After she sat he looked up at her. "You have worked here for months. Why are you just now putting this request in?"
Whitney folded her hands in her lap, "I didn't know it was an option before. I've been going to services on Wednesday nights but I would prefer to go in Sunday."
The chef sat back. "I think you found out the bosses allow this and you are taking advantage just to get a weekend day off."
Whitney was becoming agitated but was outwardly calm. "No sir. I would never do that. That would be wrong on so many levels. I would never."
The chef shook his head. "I am not approving this. You should have put in this request for your 'religious day' when you started. You will be here when schedule or you will be finding a new job."
Whitney sat forward. "I have never missed a shift and I don't intend to now. I was told that it was an option for me to get the day off to attend church and that is what I did. I am not understanding the problem here."
The chef stood and put his hands on the desk leaning forward, raising his voice. "The problem is that you are trying to get out of work by this farce of a request to attend church on Sunday's. Just because it is offered doesn't mean it can be abused."
Whitney was about to reply when Olivia walked into the room. "What is the problem here?"
Chef straightened and crossed his arms. "This employee is trying to pull a fast one to get out of work."
Olivia looked down at Whitney and scoffed. "I highly doubt that. What is it that she is doing?"
The Chef sat back down, "She is filing false requests for Sunday's off."
Now Olivia was getting irritated. "What makes you think that it is false?"
He looked up. "She has worked here for months and is just now putting in the request. She says she didn't know it was an option and has been attending Wednesday services. I attend ever Wednesday and I have never once seen her in the church. So I have to believe it is a farce to get out of weekend work."
Olivia shook her head. "I have to ask, you do realize that there is more than one church in this town? There are actually five different churches, and one temple. So why is it so hard to believe that she might not attend the same church as you? I know you are catholic, not everyone is. My family attends church every week but it is not the same as yours. Sign off on the request."
He just looked dumbfounded. "But Mrs. Spencer, she has never wanted it before."
Olivia looked to Whitney, "Can I tell him?" Whitney nodded. "She attends the same church we do. She was there yesterday with us. If she wants Sunday's off to continue to do so, give it to her. She did not know that it was an option until Friday night."
He was flustered and didn't know when to quit. "But why would she go to your church? She's straight for heaven sakes?" he knew the second it was out of his mouth that it was the wrong thing to say.
Olivia curled her hands into a ball. "Are you honestly that stupid? Never mind, don't answer that." She took out her phone and sent off a message to Natalia that she was needed immediately in the kitchen office. If she spoke to this man any more she would lose it. The staff was Natalia's forte.
Luckily Natalia was in the bar area talking to the bar manager and was in there in a few short minutes. She walked in and saw a very scared looking chef, a worried looking Whitney and a pissed off Olivia.
She moved to Olivia, "Ok, what's going on?"
Olivia looked to Whitney to answer before she said something she couldn't take back. Whitney sighed. "I put in a request for Sundays off to attend church. Chef here thought I was lying and trying to take advantage of you because he has never seen me at his church and refused my request. Mrs. Spencer told him I go to the same church as you and he asked why I would do that if I am straight."
Natalia just stood, shocked and slowly losing her own temper. "95% of our church is straight, but that is not the issue here." Natalia took out her phone and fired of a text. "The issue here is that we have a policy in place that allows any employee, regardless of religion the option of not working on Sundays or any day they practice their religion. You are not allowed to question them as to their religion or deny a request that is given to any that want it. That is against so many discrimination laws and our own policies."
Natalia took a deep breath and Olivia lay a hand on her back to calm her a bit. "Everyone here gets the same options, you cannot deny that request, and in doing so you are going against the contract you signed when you were hired on here. Just because someone does not share your religion or go to you church does not mean they do not worship somewhere else. We had this discussion when Jed wanted Saturday's off to go to Jewish temple."
She paused again as Amanda from HR came in with one of the security guards. "I gave you a written warning last time that if you went against company policy again and against the discrimination policy again that you would be replaced. You have thirty minutes to clear your desk and turn in your Chef's jacket and keys. Mr. Simon here will escort you out."
With that she grabbed Whitney and Olivia and headed for the door. She stopped to tell Amanda that they would be in her office and when she was through with the Chef that Whitney would need the forms for a formal complaint. Then left the office with Whitney and Olivia in tow.
Once they entered Rafe's office on the way to her own she started mumbling about useless people and the nerve of that man. Rafe stood and looked to Olivia. She shook her head and turned to Whitney. "Go wait in Natalia's office, we will be in in a moment." She turned to Rafe. "Go with her and she will explain." He nodded and they disappeared into her office.
Olivia grabbed Natalia's hand and pulled her into her own office. When the door was closed she spun them around and pinned Natalia to the door and crushed her mouth in a searing kiss. Natalia responded immediately, all tension leaving her body, replaced with need for her wife.
Olivia pulled away after a heated moment and rested their foreheads together. "That was so hot. I love seeing you fired up, and you needed to calm down. I think you scared Whitney."
Natalia slapped her arm playfully. "I did not." She sighed and leaned into her wife. "I hate firing employees."
Olivia lifted her face. "I know you do, but that was not acceptable. I kept telling him to approve it and he kept arguing with me."
Hearing the door of the outer office Natalia leaned up and pecked her lips, "Thank you for calming me down. Let's go take care of this." Olivia nodded and they headed to Natalia's office.
Since then they had all the sous chefs that were interested in the job draw up a menu and prepare a taste testing to see if any of them would be taking over or if they would be looking for someone new. The taste test and menu was done with them not knowing who prepared which until they chose the winner. This way no one could say it was done unfairly.
A week after the chef was fired, they named the new head chef a woman named Heather, but Whitney came in a close second and was named second in command. They were both doing a wonderful job.
Monday rolled around and Olivia, Natalia, Ava and Rafe were all present to see how this would play out. They all would have to testify as well as Mateo at some point. They arrived early and were seated behind the district attorney and Mel.
The doors opened and all three men were led in.
