Chapter Nine:
The two children were sitting quietly on the bed when Olivia entered. Sensing something was wrong, she immediately drew the children into her embrace before asking.
"Love you," Bella whispered to her, burying her face in Olivia's shoulder.
"Oh, honey. I love you too," she responded, holding both children tighter.
"You never leave, right?" Josh asked, though his voice was muffled.
"I promise, I'll never leave you," Olivia replied before gently pulling back, "How about we go and see this apartment, huh?"
Both children nodded excitedly, and with the help of Olivia, were soon dressed. As they drove in the cab to the apartment complex, both Bella and Josh had a number of questions about the apartment.
"Is it nice?"
"Is it pretty?"
"Is it big?"
"Who stay with us?"
"What - " before Josh could complete his question, both Olivia and Elliot interrupted.
"How about we answer one of those questions at a time, huh?" Elliot suggested.
Both children nodded, and briefly Elliot and Olivia described the apartment to them. Although, they were unable to image the apartment properly, they now had some sort of idea of how it would look, and they were all the more excited.
They reached the building, and as Olivia got out of the car with Bella, she whispered, "It's nice, isn't it?" and Bella nodded, while snuggling into her embrace.
Riding up the elevator to one of the higher floors was a very terrifying journey for both children, and they clung to both adults tightly. However, as soon as they entered the apartment, they instantly ran around, trying to find room for everything. Almost immediately, the children had selected their bedrooms, while leaving the adults to figure what to do with the remainder of the rooms. The apartment had 4 bedrooms, a study, kitchen, dining area, lounge, 3 bathrooms, and a laundry room, and was therefore spaciously equipped. The view from the lounge and dining areas was magnificent, as it seemed to look out on the city and river.
While Elliot and Olivia were deciding what each room, would contain, or if, in fact, Olivia could afford the apartment, the children had another idea.
"You think Mommy and Daddy live here?" Bella asked.
"No," he replied, however noticing Bella's dropping expression, he quickly added, "Mommy live here, but Daddy not."
"Why not?" asked Bella, confused, "Daddy live with us now."
Josh shrugged, but said, "Ask Mommy. She can make Daddy live with us."
And so it was decided that when they were home that evening, they would ask 'Mommy' if 'Daddy' could stay with them too.
They wondered around the apartment for a few more minutes, before finding Olivia and Elliot, carefully planning everything in the kitchen.
"Bella, Josh," stated Olivia, as she realized they were present, "Do you like the apartment?"
Both nodded, while speaking, "Nice and big," and "I like my room."
Elliot laughed, "I think it's decided for you, Liv. They like the apartment."
"Oh, ha ha. I don't even know if I can keep paying this much rent by myself and support us. It's not as though we make much money, El."
Bella and Josh looked at one another, "We not live here?" they asked.
"Maybe," replied Olivia before enlisting the help of Elliot to pack up their work and go back home.
When they reached Olivia's apartment, Elliot left to get some take-out, and the two children decided that this was the perfect opportunity to question Olivia about their thoughts.
"Mommy?" asked Josh.
"Yes?" Olivia replied, while taking out some cutlery and dishes.
"Is Daddy going to live with us in the new 'partment?"
"Daddy?" Olivia asked, confused.
"Elliot, he's Daddy." Bella stated.
"Oh, honey. Before you call Elliot 'Daddy', you should ask him first. But I don't think he will be staying in the apartment with us."
"Why not?"
"Yeah, why not? A Mommy and a Daddy should stay together."
"That's not always the case. Sometimes a Mommy and a Daddy don't stay together with their children."
"Why?"
"Well, that's complicated. How about I tell you when you're older?"
Josh nodded, but continued with his previous questioning, "So why can't Daddy stay with us?"
"I'm not sure that he can. He has other kids too, and work."
"But you have work and you stay with us."
"But I'm your Mother. It's different for Elliot, he might not be able to."
"But I want Daddy to stay with us," wailed Bella.
"Me too," cried Josh.
Olivia pulled both children into her embrace, and relaxed on the sofa. "How about when he gets home you ask him if he wants to stay with you. How does that sound?"
"But what if he says 'No'?" Bella asked, her lower lip trembling.
"Then he might not live with us, but you'll still see him almost every day."
"But I want Daddy to live with us."
Olivia, although very patient, was starting to get annoyed. "When he gets home, you can ask Elliot if you can call him 'Daddy' and you can ask him if he wants to live with us, okay?"
Both Bella and Josh looked a little sad, but nodded regardless. Before much more could be said, the door opened and Elliot arrived.
"Hey, they only had -" he was cut off, by two little children throwing themselves on his legs, screaming, "You come live with us, Daddy? Please Daddy!"
Elliot looked up to Olivia in shock and saw that she wore an expression between laughter, shock and complete sadness. Unable to answer the questions immediately, he detangled himself and led the children to the sofa, where Olivia had remained seated.
"Well," he began.