Chapter 44: Caston Family Night

Elliot woke the next morning to the smell of food cooking in the kitchen. He went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face before heading downstairs. He looked into to the kitchen and see his wife making breakfast. He went over and kissed her on the cheek. "Morning honey" he said going over to the fridge and taking out the orange juice. He took down a glass down from the cabinet, poured himself a glass and took a gulp. "Morning" she said. He could tell that she had a bit of an attitude but he didn't know why. He'd barely been up five minutes so he couldn't have possibly done anything wrong. "What I'd do?" he asked.

"Nothing". Kathy continued to cook breakfast. It was too early for any arguing. Elliot stood against the counter and stared at her. She could feel his eyes on her but she continued to ignore him and went on preparing breakfast. Maureen bounced down the stairs and was walking to the kitchen when she saw her dad standing there staring at her mom. She stopped dead in her tracks, feeling an immense amount of tension in the air. Just as she was about to turn and head back upstairs, Elliot noticed she was there.

"Hey, Maureen. Come in here. I want to talk to you" he said stopping her from leaving. She took a deep breath and turned to face him. "Yes". Kathy walked past her daughter to the bottom of the stairs, "Kathleen, Dickey, Elizabeth, breakfast, now" she yelled up the stairs. A minute later, the three of them raced down the stairs. One by one, they kissed their mother and told her good morning before going over to the table and sitting down. Kathy went back over to the kitchen to get breakfast and put it on the table.

"Did you know about Olivia and Araeyah?" Elliot asked taking another gulp of orange juice. She looked down at the floor and tapped the kitchen tile with her foot. She was hesitant to answer him. She didn't know if he'd be angry with her. Kathy looked over at them from the kitchen table. "Hey, come sit down, both of you" she said. Maureen walked over and sat down next to her mother. Elliot grabbed his glass of orange juice and sat at the head of the table, opposite his wife. Everyone started to fill their plates with food. "Well..." he said waiting for an answer. Maureen looked over at him and sighed. "Yeah, I did" she said. She braced herself for his reaction. "How long did you know about this?". She shrugged her shoulders, "Not long". He looked at her unconvinced by that answer. "It's true. I just found out on Monday" she said. "So, that's what you two were fighting about when she came over here? Her and Olivia?" She nodded. "Why didn't you tell me about it?"

"I promised Rae I wouldn't say anything. They both knew you'd flip out, which is exactly what you did." He looked at her confused. She wasn't there when he argued with Olivia about being with Rae. "I talked to Rae yesterday. She told me what happened." Kathy looked across the table at Elliot, "What happened? What'd you do?" she asked angrily. "Wha...I...I didn't do anything. We got into a little argument, that's all" he said. "Really? That's all" she asked unconvinced. "I may have...said something I shouldn't have but...I already apologized to her for it" he explained. "What did you say?" Kathy asked angrily. Elliot opened his mouth and then closed it again. He knew Kathy wouldn't be happy about what he'd said to Olivia and he didn't want to say it in front of the kids. "It was...it was stupid. I apologized for it and you know, I really don't want to repeat it. Anyways, why am I getting the inquisition? She's the one in a relationship with a child? I think it's ridiculous that you're ok with that", he said in disbelief. Maureen couldn't help the anger that washed over her. As much as she didn't want Rae and Liv together, she didn't want to hear her dad putting them down.

"God, dad. You think you have the answer to everything, that you can't ever be wrong. Rae is not a child. You don't even know her. She's been my best friend for almost three years now and you just met her three months ago. You never tried to learn anything about her, even though she's my best friend and you claim to care to so much about who we spend time with." Maureen's yelling caught everyone off guard. Elliot didn't know what to say but it didn't matter. Maureen gave him no chance to interrupt her.

"Did you know that her dad died when she was eight and she's taken care of her mother since then. Did you know that she's taken care of herself and her younger brother since she was ten when her mom and stepdad were working all the time. She raised him all on her own. She helps her stepdad with his business and her mother with her practice. She has her own apartment and she's starting college and work in the spring. Her parents don't help her with anything, they never have. She's not a child but you wouldn't know that because all she is to you is an eighteen year old girl, just like me. You don't think I can do anything on my own. I can't go anywhere or make any decisions for myself without you being overbearing and overprotective. It's like I don't have a mind of my own. Rae's childhood ended ten years ago. She was forced to grow up and all I think about is how I wish you'd let me. So, you're wrong, dad. Olivia isn't in a relationship with a child. She's in a relationship with a smart, responsible, amazing young woman. Everyone can see it but you. For you to be a detective, you really dropped the ball on this one." She angrily got up from the table and ran up the stairs. The sound of her bedroom door slamming was heard clearly by everyone sitting at the table. Elliot wasn't sure if he should go after her or not. He looked across the table to see Kathy glaring at him. "Good job, dad" Dickey said getting a laugh from his sisters. They weren't sure exactly what was going on but they knew their dad had screwed something up big time. Elliot sighed and dropped his fork on his plate.

Rae woke up to the sound of her phone rattling on the night stand beside her bed. She rolled over and reached for the phone. She didn't check the caller id, figuring Olivia was finally free to call her. She picked it up and tapped the screen to accept the call. She put the phone to her ear but didn't say anything. She was too tired to talk.

"Hello" She recognized Liv's voice immediately. Rae groaned in response to her greeting. She didn't know what time it was but it didn't matter. She wasn't ready to get out of bed. Olivia laughed, "Someone sounds tired."

"Still working?" Rae asked. Her eyes were still closed and her voice was heavy with sleep. "No, I was calling to let you know that I'm on my way to your apartment. I'm walking out of the door now." she said. "Parent's house" she whispered. "What?" Olivia shook her head at Rae's two word responses. "I'm at my parents house" she said finally making a full sentence. "Oh, well I guess I'll just wait until you're back at home." Olivia started to turn and head back to her apartment. "Just come over here" Rae said. Olivia hesitated on the stairs of her building, trying to decide if her going over there was a good idea. "Call me when you're outside" she said before hanging up and turning over to go back to sleep. Olivia didn't have time to say anything else before she heard the line click. She turned and headed back towards her car to go see Araeyah.

Olivia arrived at Rae's parent's house twenty minutes later. She called Rae to let her know she was there but she didn't pick up. She got out of the car, went to the door and rang the bell. She heard the lock turn and when the door opened she saw Jimmy standing there. She smiled and gave a small wave. He gave a small smile back and told her to come in. She stood uncomfortably in the entryway while Jimmy shut and locked the door. He turned to her and gave her another meek smile.

"I just wanted to say thanks, you know, for helping me that night." he said looking down at his shoes, slightly embarrassed.

"You're welcome" she said. She knew Rae had said over and over again that she didn't want her in the middle of her problems with Jimmy but she felt like she had to say something. He needed to know how he was hurting her. "You know, your sister cares a lot about you. You should try to do better by her...and yourself. It would make her really happy." Jimmy looked up and meet her eyes. A part of him was angry that Rae had talked about him with her girlfriend but the other part of him knew that he couldn't be angry. He'd put himself in this situation. And she was right; he had to do better. "I will" he said simply. Olivia smiled and nodded. "Uh, Rae's up in her room. You can go on up. It's that one right there" he said pointing to the door at the end of the balcony.

"Ok. Thanks." Olivia turned and headed up the stairs to Rae's room. She knocked on the door but Rae didn't answer. The door was unlocked, so she pushed it open and went inside finding her girlfriend sleeping. This was the first time she'd seen this bedroom and it looked nothing like the bedroom in her loft. She remembered Rae saying that she'd decorated her loft all on her own and figured that this room must be the work of her mother. Rae was laying on the left side of the four poster bed, shielded by black and blue sheer curtains, clutching a book to her chest. Olivia smiled at how peaceful she looked. She took off her shoes and coat, parted the curtains and climbed in bed, cuddling up to her from behind. Rae turned over when she felt Liv put an arm around her waist and scooted in close to her, still fast asleep. The book Rae was holding onto was poking Olivia in the chest, so she reached down and tried to take it from her to put it on the night stand. When Rae felt it being pulled away from her, she clutched onto the book tighter, pulling it further into her chest. Olivia chuckled and let her hold onto it given that, in its new position, it wasn't poking her anymore. She kissed Rae on the forehead and drifted of to sleep.

Olivia woke a few hours later to find that Rae was gone from the bed. She sat up and looked over to find the bathroom door open and no one inside. She parted the curtain and got up from the bed and walked out of the room. Looking over the balcony she could see Rae down in the living room with her brother, watching a movie and eating popcorn and ice cream. She walked down the steps and went over to join them. Rae looked up and smiled when she saw her, sitting forward so Olivia could fit behind her. She leaned back against her chest, tilting her head back and kissing her on the lips.

"Sorry I disappeared" she whispered. "I didn't want to wake you."

"It's ok." she whispered back. "My mom is bringing home pizza and Jimmy likes meat lovers so I guess it's ok if you have that instead of the veggie" she said smiling. "Isn't it your family dinner night?" she asked confused. "Yeah. We're doing a movie night with pizza, popcorn and ice cream." She noticed the nervous look on Olivia's face. "Don't worry. It'll be fine." Olivia opened her mouth to say something but Rae cut her off before she could speak. "You're staying" she said leaving no room for negotiation. "I'm so excited" Olivia said sarcastically. Rae laughed and turned back to the tv, resting her head on Olivia's chest again. Fifteen minutes later, Soraya walked in with dinner. Jimmy jumped up from the couch and ran over to help her with the bags and pizza boxes. Rae sat and watched him in shock. Jimmy was never helpful to anyone...ever. She smiled, "Maybe he really is gonna change this time", she thought to herself. Jimmy brought the pizza and drinks over the living room and sat them on the table. Rae continued to smile at him as he sat back down on the couch. He blushed when he realized she was staring at him.

"Olivia, it's wonderful to see you. Rae told me you'll be joining us for movie night" Soraya said walking into the living room. Olivia lightly pushed Rae forward so that she could move her legs to sit up properly on the couch. "Yes, I am" she said politely. "I'm glad. Help yourself. There's more than enough for everyone" she said motioning to the food on the table. "I'm going to go change into something more comfortable" she said before walking off up the stairs to her bedroom. Rae waited for Olivia resume her position so that she could lean back against her but Olivia stayed in her upright position. She kept staring until she looked over at her. "What?"

"Are you gonna sit back?" Rae asked. Olivia looked up at the balcony towards Rae's parents room and then back at Rae.

"Your mother is gonna be down here" she whispered. "So. We're just sitting" Rae said. She didn't know why Olivia was so uncomfortable. "It's not gonna bother her. She won't care" she explained. Olivia hesitated for a moment before repositioning and sitting back on the couch. Rae leaned back against her again, her head laying on her chest. Just then, Charles walked through the door. He looked over and noticed Rae cuddled up with Olivia and rolled his eyes.

"What have I told you about that in my house?" Rae sat up at the sound of his voice. "I don't wanna see any of that gay shit here" he said disgusted. "Bite me Charles" she said under her breath, preparing herself for whatever was about to happen. "For big dinners or whatever, you can have a guest, but this isn't a big dinner." He walked over and stood in front of her and Olivia. "This is family night. So you", he said pointing at Olivia, "you need to go."

"She's not going anywhere. She's staying for movie night. Jimmy's fine with it and mom is fine with it. You're not fine with it but I don't really care what you think" Rae said glaring at him. "Who invited her?"

"Who invited you?" she smart alecked. "It's ok, babe. I'll just go" Olivia said moving to get up from the couch. "No", Rae said stopping her. "I want you to stay" she said taking her hand.

"I'm good with it" Jimmy said with a shrug of his shoulders. "No one asked you" Charles said dismissing his son, as always. Soraya walked back downstairs and saw her husband. "Oh, good" she said walking over, "you're here. Go upstairs and get changed so we can start the movie" she said giving him a light kiss on the lips. Rae rolled her eyes. She couldn't stand seeing the two of them together. How her mother could go from her father to...that was beyond her comprehension. Soraya felt the tension in the room and looked around. "Cheh? Cheh eshtabah ast?" she asked seeing the anger on her daughter's face.

"Charles is being an as..." she stopped before the word could leave her mouth, "rude as usual. He told Olivia to leave" she explained. "That's right. It's our family night. She's not family" he said bitterly. "If she has to leave then I'm leaving" Rae said strategically. She knew her mother wouldn't want her to leave.

"Nobody is leaving" Soraya said. "We're all going to sit down and have pizza and popcorn and ice cream and watch movies together." Rae looked smugly at Charles when her plan worked. He rolled his eyes and went upstairs to change out of his suit. Soraya turned to her daughter, "You" she said eyes on Araeyah, "in the kitchen." She turned and walked to kitchen expecting her daughter to follow. Rae looked at Liv, before getting up and following behind her mother. She knew she was in trouble by the look on her mother's face.

"Bebahkshid" she said before her mother could say anything. She always managed to cause problems on family night by arguing with Charles instead of just letting it be.

"Motevajeh nemishavam. Why can't you two just get along?" Soraya asked. She desperately wanted all the fighting between them to stop but it only seemed to get worse as Rae got older.

"Nemidanam. Maybe because Charles is always being such a jerk" she said. Soraya looked at her unhappy with her attitude. "Cheh? Che bayad begoyam? You want me to lie?" Soraya shook her head, "This, whatever it is that is between the two of you, it needs to stop. In bimani ast. Man in ra doost nadaram." Rae looked down at her hands and then back up at her mother. "Ok but you can't just keep telling me this. It's on him too and..." Soraya put her hand up to stop her from talking. "I have spoken to Charles as well. I will speak to him again. Enough is enough" she said firmly. Rae let out a loud sigh and nodded her head. They went back to the living room together and sat down for movie night. Charles came down and sat Soraya on the loveseat while Rae, Olivia, and Jimmy lounged on the couch. It was Jimmy's turn to pick the movie and he chose Miss Congeniality. Rae threw a pillow at him, knowing that he only chose that movie because she had a slight obsession with Sandra Bullock. After that, they decided to make it a Sandra Bullock movie night and watched some of her classics: Speed, While You Were Sleeping, and A Time to Kill. By twelve thirty, Soraya and Charles had gone off to bed and Jimmy had fallen asleep at the other end of the couch. Rae turned off the tv and got a blanket from the guest bedroom to put over him before going upstairs to her room with Olivia.

"What are you doing?" Rae asked when Olivia started putting her shoes on.

"Uh, I'm gonna go home" she said. She tied her laces and went to grab her coat.

"Why?" Rae asked confused. Olivia turned and looked at her, "Your parents are down the hall." The look confusion didn't leave Rae's face. If anything, it became more apparent as she tried to figure out what that had to do with Liv staying the night. "It's inappropriate, Rae. It's disrespectful. Charles doesn't even want me here."

"Fuck Charles. Why do you care what he thinks? I don't. And I don't recall you caring about being appropriate or respectful when you snuck off to the bathroom with me during the dinner party two nights ago."

"And that was wrong" she said back. "I just...I just don't feel comfortable staying the night here." Rae rubbed her hands over her face and through her hair then folded her arms over her chest. "Fine" she said softly. She stood there for a moment before parting the curtain surrounding her bed and climbing in, getting under the covers. She turned her back to Olivia and stared at the wall. Olivia walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. "Don't be mad" she said placing a hand on Rae's hip. Rae moved her hip from under Olivia's touch and continued to stare at the wall. She wasn't angry with Liv. She just really missed her dad. She knew that if he were here, he would love and accept her for exactly who she is and he would never make Olivia feel unwelcome. He wouldn't be anything like Charles. Olivia didn't know what to do. She didn't want to upset Rae but she didn't want to upset her parents either. She definitely didn't want to stay where she wasn't wanted. "Uh, I will call you. Maybe we can go to dinner or something?" she said slightly asking. Rae didn't say anything back. Olivia sighed and got up from the bed, grabbed her keys and left the room. Through the silence of her bedroom, Rae could hear the front door open and shut and the lock turn. A moment later, she heard the door to Jimmy's bedroom open and then close. She closed her eyes and drifted of to sleep.

Persian- English Translations

Cheh? Cheh eshtabah ast?- What? What is wrong?

Bebakhshid- Sorry

Motevajeh nemishavam- I don't understand

Nemidanam- I don't know

Cheh? Che bayad begoyam?- What? What should I say?

In bimani ast. Man in ra doost nadaram- This is nonsense. I don't like it.