"Ok piquita it's time to get going."

"Can we go through the maze just one more time daddy please?"

"No sweetheart we gotta get going we're already late."

"But I wanna go one more time its fun."

"I tell you what, after Thanksgiving when I come back down for your birthday we'll come back here and do the maze all day how's that sound?"

"Ok daddy that sounds fair."

"Sounds fair? Where did you learn to talk like that?" Nick scooped up his daughter and tickle kissed her, tossing her from one of his shoulders to the other. Zara went into a fit of giggles.

"Daddy stop that tickles….daaaaaaddy stttttop please!" Maria was waiting for them sitting her car when she spotted them pulling up, she got out.

"Nick you're late!"

"Hi mommy."

"Hi baby get in and I'll buckle you up, we're late, we have to meet nonna and nonno for dinner they're waiting."

"I know sorry, we went to a petting zoo in Maryland that had this giant corn maze and the traffic was horrible getting back. Zara just loved it, she wan-"

"Sounds good Nick I'm sure she loved it thanks but we're late, I'll see you next week." Nick stood there on the sidewalk feeling awkward. He watched as Maria buckled Zara in waving at her.

"Bye piquita I love you very much, see you next week." They did their usual blow you a kiss catch your kiss good bye. He watched them drive off then got into his rental car.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Olivia took out the container that housed her left over dinner she made last night. There was still some decent colored lettuce in the bag that she dumped into a bowl and proceeded to chop and add a few vegetables to toss in. She set the timer and made her call.

"Hartford General Hospital how may I direct your call?"

"Pediatric nicu please."

"Patient information or main floor nurses desk?"

"Patient information please." Olivia said. Suddenly her stomach felt knotted.

"One moment while I connect your call."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. It's ringing."

"Pediatrics nicu may I help you?"

"Hi yes I'm calling to check on my nephew, he was born there last month and I live quite a ways away and before I made the trek to see him I wanted to find out if he's still there or if he's been discharged?"

"Do you have the code for the nicu?"

"I'm sure my sister gave it to me right after he was born but I seem to have misplaced it sorry." Olivia could hear the inconvenient sigh in the nurse's voice.

"I'm sorry mam without a passcode I can't give out any information on the patients."

"Ok sure I understand it's just that I haven't been able to reach my sister or any family there in Connecticut and I just wanted to be able to see my nephew. Thanks for your time." The nurse sighed long once again.

"Mam the access code is 6261 for future calls. What's the last name?" Olivia could tell the nurse was now out of patience with her.

"Martin, Joshua." She heard the clicking/clacking of the keyboard in the background.

"Discharged yesterday."

"Thank you so much." The next thing Olivia heard was the receiver being put back onto he base hard. No you're welcome…nothing of the sort but she did get the information she wanted. She was melancholy, happy that he was out of the hospital because that meant he did well. Olivia could tell, she just could, when she let him wrap his little fingers around her one. He was strong and already had a grip at 33 and ½ weeks old but on the other hand she was deeply saddened because she wanted to have been the one to bring him home. She pressed her finger to the corner of her eye then wiped with the back of her hand at the liquid that pooled inside. Olivia placed her hands on her stomach rubbing all around staring blankly into space. The dinging of the microwave brought her to; she stood and walked over and removed her dinner.

Soon Nick would be home.

After dinner she wanted something to lighten her mood so she surfed for some program to make her laugh. She came across an old episode of Saturday Night Live with the original cast of Chevy Chase Dan Ackroyd, Eddie Murphy, Jane Curtain, Gilda Radner and John Belushi to name a few. It didn't take long to laugh at what made her laugh hysterically when she was a young teen. Olivia remembers pretending to be asleep when her mother checked in on her at bedtime, then when she was passed out drunk on the couch later or out at a local bar, was an avenue for her to release pent up energy through 90 minutes of pure laughter. She often had to bury her face into a pillow to muffle her laughter so she wouldn't wake up her mother. Those precious times she cherishes in memory.

She would have shattered the tv screen with whatever was in her hand at the time if she ever knew I watched programs like this she reflected. Olivia never wanted to show any happiness when it came to her in bits and pieces throughout her life when she was little because that made her mother feel insecure if Olivia was happy. To her mother it meant Her Olivia was growing up and soon her daughter would make her own decisions that would navigate her life down a better path. When Nick arrived she ushered him to sit and watch with her.

"Oh man this is classic SNL." He said taking a seat on the couch.

"It doesn't get any funnier than this." she said.

"This show was taboo to watch in my house so me and my sister would wait until mom went to bed then sneak down stairs but we had to sit up close to the tv because we couldn't have the volume way up and she would cover my mouth if I laughed too loud."

"I had to put a pillow over my face otherwise my mom would have yanked the plug from the wall and thrown the tv out the window if she caught me watching this." They roared in laughter at the skits the same as they did years ago. On the commercial Nick told Olivia that his mom was looking forward to meeting her next Thursday for Thanksgiving. Suddenly her face became white as a ghost.

"What? What's wrong, I thought you were ok with meeting my mom?"

"Well yes I am but Thanksgiving Nick? It's such a…"

"Such a what? A time honored traditional family gathering?"

"Yeah." She said weakly.

"So let me get this straight Liv, you just want to continue spending holidays alone rather than come to my mom's and meet an incredible woman who wants to get to know you better and have a nice dinner?"

"That's not what I said. I do want to meet your mom I just didn't think it would be on one of the biggest American holidays."

"I think you're being foolish."

"Alright I'll come."

"Good I'm glad I just know you'll hit it off with my mom and my sister."

"Your sister too!"

"I only have one Liv and after Maria you're a shoe in. Olivia backhanded him on the chest not finding his remark funny.

"How much do they know?"

"My mom knows were involved and that you're pregnant with the neighbor's child." Her eyes were huge as she scoffed and tried to interject with her voice and hands at Nick's ill fate attempt at humor but he stilled them with his. "Annnnd...as I told you she's not a judgmental person. She wants to get to know you and she told me from what she knows of you she likes you a lot." Olivia gave him an uneasy stare.

"You know about her being abused so do you think she's worried that you know that about her?"

"Is she?"

"No, my mom is a much stronger and proud woman from it and thinks nothing of it that you know about that part of her life."

"Did you tell her I'm a product of rape?"

"No you'll do that on your own time." This earned him a small smile from her.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

It was Tuesday night his regular night with his son. It was a rainy evening so instead of going out to the arcade or taking in a movie or just hanging out doing guy stuff Cynthia offered Nick to stay and have dinner then rent a movie or play games afterwards. Nick was more than happy to accept the invite. After dinner, instead of watching a movie, Nick and Gil played on his gaming system a number of rounds of Super Mario with Gil beating Nick badly and Cynthia chuckling in the background.

"Hey no comments from the peanut gallery, I didn't grow up with video games and plus I have a daughter. I'm better at having tea with her Barbie's."

"Nick that's just sad." Gil told him twisting his body and gripping the controls maneuvering his character in the game.

"I don't play with dolls I…just…have tea with Zara and her dolls." When you get my age and have kids you'll understand what it's like to raise a girl."

"I'm never getting married." Gil retorted.

"You say that now, you never know who'll change your life for the better." Cynthia looked over at Nick when he said that but he didn't make eye contact with her, he was too busy trying to save some face from his disastrous score. The three of them ended the evening doing the Just Dance game. Cynthia scooted her son off to bed who naturally protested.

"Aw I want to stay up just a little longer I'm almost 10 and you said when I'm 10 I get to stay up an extra 15 minutes so can I have an early birthday present?"

"No you can't you slick salesman you." His mom told him giving him the needed push.

"Listen to your mom and I'll see you next week."

"Good night Nick tonight was fun."

"Yes it was even though you kicked my butt and I will redeem myself." Gil gave Nick a hug and kissed his mom before heading off to his room.

"You ready for that dessert now?" She asked him.

"Yeah I think I burned off dinner." he said patting his stomach.

"Coffee?"

"No I don't like coffee."

"Oh really what did you call that stuff you drank when you met me on your breaks?" she asked.

"That was different I drank it to keep me awake." She rolled her eyes back laughing. After dessert and casual conversation Nick made his excuses to get on down the road.

"Cynthia I meant to bring this up earlier but what are you and Gil's plans for Thanksgiving?"

"We're going to my sister's why?"

"Your sister's here?"

"Yeah she came here a few years after Gil was born, why?"

"I have Zara on Friday and I wanted to introduce them and I thought we all could do a post-Thanksgiving dinner.

"Sounds nice Nick thank you but sorry we already have plans."

"No problem we'll introduce them another time. Well it's getting late I better go, thank you for dinner, dessert and a nice evening."

"You're welcome." She said walking him to the door. "Nick how is your divorce going or are you and Maria still planning on divorcing?"

"It's on hold. Maria just went into remission a month ago so I didn't want to push it. That would seem callous of me."

"Oh of course, that's good she beat her cancer."

"It sure is and I couldn't be happier for Zara, she really didn't handle it too well."

"I'm glad for her and for you too."

"Yeah…well thanks again good night." As he walked to his car he wondered why Cynthia would ask about his pending divorce but there could only be one reason why she would he thought as he opened the door and got in.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"What should I bring?" Olivia asked.

"I'll call." He scrolled down through his recent calls and selected mom mobile knowing she would be out at the grocery store at this time.

"You're shopping aren't you?"

"Yes what do you need son?"

"Olivia wants to know what to bring Thursday?"

Just yourselves I have it all under control."

"Nothing she has it all under control." He whispered.

"I'm not going to dinner without bringing something. Dessert or side dish?"

"Ma Olivia wants to bring something so please let her bring something."

"Ok tell her a pumpkin pie or apple will be fine and thank you."

"Pumpkin pie ok?" he looked at Olivia. She nodded her approval. Nick continued listening on the other end. "She said thank you."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"Son would you like to say the blessing?"

"Sure but ma you're the matriarch it always came from you."

"I give the exception today mijo." Nick smiled at his mom and grabbed for Olivia's hand as the rest of the table joined hands.

"Lord today we bless this food we are about to eat and we give thanks to you and for all the people who taught and gave us this wonderful family tradition. We bless and thank our United States military who fight and die for our freedoms home and abroad every day and Lord I want to give a special thanks to Olivia, a lovely person whom we are all happy that she was able to grace our table today and share in this incredibly delicious and magnificent feast. Through Christ our bounty in Jesus name amen." All reciprocated with an amen. Mrs. Amaro winked at Olivia smiling raising her glass of wine.

"Salud!" Everyone raised their glasses to meet the matriarch's offer.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

As Nick and Olivia prepared to leave his mom was packing up food for them to take with them.

"Olivia it was so nice having you here today. Your pies were delicious." She said covering her hands with her own.

"Thank you and thank you for having me, the dinner was just delicious." Nick held her coat so she could slip her arm in then the other. "I'm so glad everyone liked the pies because making them was a first for me. I don't do much cooking for myself."

"Oh she's just being modest ma; let me tell you the pork chops she made the other night were out of this world."

"I bet they were, Olivia you look like you take wonderful care of yourself, you're your skin is so beautiful and for being with child that is a blessing. With both of my children I had the driest skin and I tried everything…nothing worked, one day I will show you my stretch marks. The three of them enjoyed the laugh. His sister walked in with a dirty diaper in a plastic bag and a cranky three year old.

"We're gonna get ready to shove off too mom."

"You sure, because by the looks of Bob he is nowhere near ready." Nick, Olivia, his mom and sister Anita turned their attention to the living room where Anita's husband had been passed out shortly after the start of the 4th quarter.

"It was a pleasure meeting you Olivia and congratulations once again; I wish you all the best."

"Thank you it was a pleasure meeting you too Anita. Bye little man." Olivia said trying to shake Nick's nephews hand but he was safely in his mother's arms and wanted nothing to do with anyone who wasn't her. Even his grandmother couldn't coax him into kissing her good bye kisses.

"Come back soon." Nick's mom told her hugging Olivia. Nick looked on very happy.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"You really enjoyed yourself today didn't you?"

"Yes I did and you enjoy this, seeing me happy thinking I wouldn't of."

"When you told me that none of your relationships ever got this point and you seemed kid of relieved that they didn't I wasn't sure how toady would turn out but I did have hope."

"Well…things change what can I say." Nick gave her a sideways glance smirking loudly and enjoying every minute of it. What he didn't enjoy was her giving him a slap to the arm.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

It was a week before Christmas. Nick had Zara for the weekend and he invited Olivia to go ice skating with them then a bite to eat before he had to meet Maria at the train. Olivia said her good byes to Zara and Nick and went on her way. She wasn't at home long making herself a cup of tea when she heard the doorbell. Nick has his key or did he lose it? She thought as she walked to the door but first pulling back the side curtain seeing who it was at her front door. Olivia was stunned as she saw with her own eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

***I wnder who could be at Olivia's door?***