AN: trace619 - re: "I may have misread something but I thought one of the girls mentioned when they come back from Rumspringa. Will they have to return to let everyone know their decision of whether or not to stay, or are they just assuming they will want to come back?"... You didn't misread, all 4 young adults must return after Rumspringa to let the Village Elders know if they are going to remain in the Village or going to live in the "English" world. From what I've read in my research (Yes, I research when I write my stories) after Amish have their Rumspringa (usually from age 14-16 to early-mid 20's), they are either baptised in to the Amish faith (ie: most stay) or they leave forever. Serena Benson had returned but opted to leave after Olivia was born, however readers know what happened there. A little later on, readers will find out which other L&O characters opted to leave too, and which ones are "English" :-) . trace619/IBME - re: "Miriam's behaviour after the announcements"... It will be explained this chapter :-). IBME/LBM - re: "I hope they are able to get away for Rumspringa/leaving for Rumspringa"... After this somewhat large chapter (which has some time jumps incorporated. There was no good place to leave off, sorry!), they will leave for/arrive at Rumspringa House next chapter. So... ;-)
AN2: I do not own any books mentioned in this or previous/future chapters. I make no money mentioning them whatsoever.
In the days following the betrothal announcements and her subsequent 'error of judgement' as Donald Cragen called it, Miriam Cabot had completely ignored her only daughter and also avoided her sister as much as she could. Miriam's cold shoulder attitude didn't bother either of them as they were used to it after all these years. Truth be told, it was a welcome relief for Elizabeth and Alexandra, but it made Miriam seethe. Being verbally reprimanded by her older sister, Lena Petrovsky and Donald Cragen was humiliating to Miriam because none of them truly understood old Village traditions.
To Miriam, offering her 'son-in-law to be' Trevor Langan to stay the night in Alexandra's bed after the announcement wasn't an 'error of judgement'. On the contrary, she was trying to revive an very old Village tradition known as 'bundling'. In older times within the Village, the tentatively betrothed young man stayed overnight at his wife-to-be's family house... with permission of the young adult female's parents, of course. He would be given separate linen, pillows and blankets and the couple would be expected to talk to one another throughout the night to become used to sharing their bed with each other. Sometimes if the parents of the tentatively betrothed female suspected that something more than just talking might take place, a bundling board would be placed to separate the couple to ensured that no heinous act would or could occur. If this old tradition had been allowed to stay and not have been removed from the Village lores, perhaps her own husband mightn't have been so... like he was... when they shared their bed.
Mara Langan had raised him perfectly, and Mirit too. Therefore, Trevor wouldn't have broken the rules and lay with Alexandra, he was a Langan. Her best friend's son! A fine young man from an upstanding old family from the Village. Miriam would never suggest bundling to Rafael Barba's family though. He would certainly break the rules being from a newer family, as would that English girl he was betrothed to.
Just look at what her own mother did! Lay with an English man during her Rumspringa.
The very thought: vulgar, disgusting and vile!
And then Serena had the audacity to come back and flaunt her pregnancy for those few weeks, even though she had told the Elders at the time she would leave the Village! All while Miriam was just as pregnant as Serena was! Her own sister, a Donnelly, and Elizabeth's best friend, a Petrovsky no less, pandering to Serena's beck and call when she returned... when Elizabeth should have been at hers! At least Miriam's own child would be pure, and another addition to an old family of the Village. A mixture of a Donnelly and a Cabot, both old Village families. What would Serena's child be? A mixture of Benson and who knows what... English.
That Benson woman got what she deserved by leaving this earth. The English girl she gave birth to should've followed in her weak mother's footsteps. But that English girl was strong, probably took after the English father that helped create her. He never came to claim the English girl after the birth either, but then again, maybe he never knew?
Serena Benson was obviously a trollop, and the English girl would probably be one too.
Like mother, like daughter.
"Are we ready?" Donald directed his question to both Lena and Olivia as he assisted Lena up in to the open buggy. She sat down to leave room for Olivia to sit beside her.
"We are," Lena replied as Donald helped Olivia up. Olivia took her seat beside Lena before Lena opened her arm to let Olivia lean closer, which she immediately did.
"We should be there in about an hour," Donald said before hopping in to the driver's seat, making sure his straw hat was snug on his head.
Lena gave a tight smile as she held Olivia that little bit tighter, "Take as long as Moses needs. There's no hurry to get there."
From the kitchen window of the house, Miriam Cabot observed as Donald slapped the reigns harnessed to the American saddlebred bay gelding, and watched as the horse trotted away from the Village with the buggy and its occupants.
"Good morning Mother," Alexandra yawned as she sat down to breakfast, expecting to be greeted with a scowl and utter silence like she had since the day after the announcement. The young blonde was taken aback when her mother spoke.
"How would you like to accompany me to Main Town? Maybe look for a lovely birthday present for you?" Miriam smiled.
"That would be nice, thankyou. Perhaps maybe would could go to Main Town tomorrow?"
"Why wait until tomorrow? Today is a perfectly fine day."
Alexandra's heart sank, "N-no. N-not today."
"Why not!"
"I-it's Olivia's birthday... t-today," Alexandra stuttered as Elizabeth entered the kitchen and sat down beside her niece.
"So? Your birthday is next week, Alexandra!"
Elizabeth tried not to roll her eyes, "It's Olivia's 17th birthday today. You know how important a 17th birthday is in the Village, Miriam!"
"Obviously not that important for Olivia seeing she just left with Donald and Lena for the day in their buggy!" Miriam indicated the kitchen window.
"You know very well that Olivia, Lena and Donald are going to the Village cemetery to visit Serena's grave today and that they will be back before lunch. Just like they do every year, dear sister."
Miriam was nonplussed, "Oh, I forgot."
"You don't forget anything, Miriam... unless it's selective memory loss. You know full well that Serena died only hours giving birth to Olivia. Maybe one day you'll realise that it could have very easily been you that died after giving birth to Alexandra," Elizabeth shook her head in disgust.
"Well, I didn't. Maybe if Serena had better breeding she wouldn't have died."
Elizabeth felt her anger rise, "Better breeding?! You uneducated, ill informed, ignorant woman! You live up to your name more and more every day, Miriam. Sometimes I wonder how we came from the same parents."
"Sometimes, I do too!" Miriam instantly retorted.
"If you want to go shopping with Alexandra, it will be tomorrow... not today! Alexandra is Olivia's best friend and Alexandra will not miss her best friend's birthday just because you decide you want to go shopping. I'm positive you wouldn't miss Mara's birthday just because I wanted to go to Main Town for the day!" Elizabeth buttered herself a piece of toast, "By all means, go shopping in Main Town today but Alexandra won't miss Olivia's birthday. Otherwise, haven't you got some gossip to talk about with Mara Langan?"
Fuming at once again being scolded by her sister, Miriam snatched up her shopping basket and stormed out the house.
Alexandra whispered after the front door slammed closed. "Thankyou, Aunt Elizabeth."
"No need to thank me because she's nothing more than a bully, you remember that!" Elizabeth placed her hand over Alexandra's before giving it a gentle squeeze. "Now, do you have Olivia's present ready for her this afternoon?"
"I finished it ages ago! I really hope she likes it."
"I'm confident Olivia will love her present!" Elizabeth reassured.
"I also made her that chocolate ganache pie yesterday at Lena's! I know she loves that!"
"Don't ever tell Olivia how it's made, it's our secret! And, be thankful the pie is in Lena's refrigerator and not ours. Miriam would've found something to try and ruin it for her. Probably either eaten a large slice of it, or dropped it on the floor... accidentally. Anyway, I hope Olivia likes the gift I bought for her."
"You bought her a present? You never told me! I was sure you'd make her a new dress or some English clothes to wear on Rumspringa."
"Number 1: A 17th is an important milestone in the Village, and Olivia is Lena's Maedel and your beloved, after all. She's just as special to me as she is to you and Lena, and a special birthday requires a special gift. Number 2: Trust me when I say you'll want to buy English clothes, especially if you're going for the year."
"Oh Aunt Elizabeth, tell me what you got! Please?"
"You'll just have to wait to find out like Olivia does. I have a feeling that she's going to like all her birthday gifts."
"You know what she's getting?"
"I certainly do for the most of them. I know what you've made her, I know what I've purchased for her, I know what Donald and Lena have bought, and as you know Rafael is making the birthday chest for her."
"Betrothal chest," Alexandra corrected.
"Betrothal birthday chest."
Olivia's birthday always brought out conflicting emotions for the brunette. It was the day she was born, however it was also the day her mother died. How do you possibly celebrate the living and mourn the dead on the same day? Sometimes she wondered if she was responsible for Serena's passing. Miriam Cabot had voiced her opinion on more than one occasion over the years, and each time Lena had discovered this had occurred, she reassured Olivia that it wasn't her fault and Serena loved her no matter how she came to be. But sometimes that tiny element of doubt crept up on Olivia. If Serena hadn't had a heinous act committed upon her, she wouldn't have fallen pregnant and she wouldn't have died. Lena said even if Olivia had been created with love by whichever male Villager would have been Serena's husband had the accident not occurred, Serena still would have passed away after giving birth from postpartum hemorrhage.
As she crouched down beside Serena's headstone to run her fingers over the letters like she always did for as far back as she could remember, Olivia saw that Donald was over near Margory Cragen's gravesite, and Lena had just left Nora Lewin's burial plot and was making her way over to show her respects to John James McCoy. Lena would also visit the sites of Leonard Briscoe, Maxwell Greevey, Michael Logan and Joseph Fontana before they would return to the Village. Donald and Lena had decided early on while raising Olivia that the morning would be reserved for reflecting, and the afternoon would be for celebrations. Better to end the day on a happy note than a sad one.
Studying her mother's headstone, it made Olivia realise how truly young Serena had been when she died. 18 years old, 3 months. Basically only a year older than she would turn today. When Olivia was younger, 18 seemed so old but now she knew it was anything but old. In her inner thoughts, she conversed with Serena, telling her how Maemm and Daett had looked after her for another year; how Maemm and Elizabeth had helped her, Alexandra, Rafael and Trevor understand that they weren't wrong or broken, that they were normal; how she and Rafael, and Alexandra and Trevor had to pretend for their announcement ceremony; how much she truly loved Alexandra; and that their Rumspringa was just 2 weeks after Alexandra's birthday next week. But today was her 17th and she hoped her mother was as proud of her as Maemm and Daett were, even of she did love someone of the same gender... not that Daett knew.
"Olivia?"
"Yes, Daett?" Olivia stood up, dusted herself off then turned to face Donald.
"Is it alright if Eileen Switzer comes and wishes you a happy birthday today? After having lost her husband over 2 years ago, she's just starting to live her life again and-"
"Of course she can!" Olivia replied and saw a tiny smile appear then disappear just as fast on Donald's mouth.
"Do you mind if I... we let her know on the way home?"
"I don't mind, and I doubt Maemm will either."
"I can't believe your 17 today. Just feels like yesterday that you were learning to walk and talk."
"Daett, stop embarrassing me!"
Donald rested his hands on Olivia's shoulders while he crouched down ever so slightly to be at Olivia's eye level, "You might not be my daughter, Olivia, but I think you'll understand how proud I am of you when you and Rafael have children of your own."
Olivia felt her stomach twist in to a knot, "That's a long way off. Rumspringa first, remember. And who knows... maybe we'll go and live in the English world?"
A look of sadness could be seen in Donald's eyes, "That's your decision to make, and yours alone. Not even Rafael can influence your decision to stay in the Village or leave to live amongst the English. But whatever you choose, Lena and I will support it, just like we did with Serena before she..."
"I know," replied Olivia, hugging Donald as Lena approached.
"Are we ready to go home and celebrate your birthday, Maedel?" Lena queried.
"Slight detour on the way," Donald said as they began to walk back to the buggy.
Lena mouthed 'Eileen' to which Olivia grinned and gave a confirming nod.
"Donald's and my present is in your bedroom. We couldn't really wrap it... well, you'll see why." Lena indicated the spare bedroom that Olivia used when she stayed over at Lena's house at least once a week.
Being followed by Donald, Lena, Elizabeth, Alexandra, Rafael, Trevor, and Eileen, Olivia opened the bedroom door to see numerous green faux leather bound books with gilt lettering and embellishing on the bed. Charles Dickens Complete Works, Centennial Edition. 33 volumes in total. Olivia had initially seen the set at the book exchange over 6 months ago, but the next time she went there, they were gone. Even though the set was secondhand, it looked as though they had never been opened before, let alone even read. Olivia was overwhelmed by the generosity of her Maemm and Daett, knowing how much the set had cost. Holding back the tears as best she could, she thanked Lena and Donald profusely.
"You can take all of them with us-you... you for Rumspringa, to read." Alexandra hoped Donald didn't notice her slip up. Lena and Elizabeth had, but said nothing as they exchanged looks while returning to the lounge room of Lena's home.
"Why would you want to take all the books?" Rafael asked.
"I like to read before I go to sleep. I'm sure you'll get used to that, Rafael... when we share a bed." Olivia hoped that didn't sound too awkward, because it certainly sounded awkward saying it.
Trevor inconspicuously nudged Rafael to break the silence. "Oh! Right! Of course, Olivia. We'll have to get used to those sort of things... when we share a bed." Rafael hoped he sounded convincing enough, and by the looks on Donald and Eileen's faces, he was. The looks Trevor, Olivia, Alexandra, Lena and Elizabeth gave however were dubious.
Elizabeth handed Olivia her gift to keep things moving. Inside the wrapping paper was Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volumes 1 & 2 (the book made famous by Julia Child). Eileen had brought a large basket full of sweet preserves that Olivia would no doubt share with Donald, Lena, Elizabeth and whatever was left over would be taken on Rumspringa. While Trevor's gift was given under the guise of being from the Langan family, he whispered that it was actually from both him and Rafael seeing her chest wouldn't be complete until just before they departed for Rumspringa: a copy of The Joy of Cooking.
"We know how much you love cooking, so we thought you might like that cookbook... a-and by we, I mean my family." Trevor covered as best he could.
Only Alexandra's present remained. Olivia wanted to save the best and most special gift for last. As Olivia unwrapped the soft, bulky present it became apparent that it was a patchwork quilt. A beautiful patchwork quilt with a pinwheel pattern in a variety of colours on one side, and tumbling blocks pattern on the other side in an array of creams, browns, tans and chocolates. It was much more elaborate than the one she had made for Alexandra, showcasing her sewing skills perfectly.
"Thankyou so much! I love it!" Olivia hugged Alexandra warmly as everyone departed to bring the food from the kitchen to the lounge room.
Alexandra kept her voice soft, "We'll put it on the bed we share. I really wanted to do the double wedding bands pattern, but Aunt Elizabeth suggested I do something else."
"That was probably a good idea. I'm going to cherish it forever, just like I cherish you."
"I do have a couple additional presents for you as well."
"Oh?" Olivia's curiosity was piqued.
Ending the embrace, Alexandra whispered with a tone laced with desire and a twinkle in her eye behind her fine gold wire glasses. "You'll get your birthday kiss tonight... and you'll get the other present the first night of our Rumspringa."
Olivia felt the temperature in the room rise several degrees, struggling not to let out a shaky breath as everyone reentered the room. Why did Alexandra have to do things like that while other people were around? These last few weeks before Rumspringa would be a testing time.
The days that made up the week between Olivia and Alexandra's birthdays were once again met with silence from Miriam Cabot. Even half of Alexandra's birthday was met with being completely ignored by her mother. But when the guests started to arrive, Miriam was front and centre, and as talkative as ever.
"I don't recall you being invited, Olivia." Miriam sneered as she opened the door the see the brunette standing there with a pleasant smile. Miriam grabbed for the wrapped parcel in the calico tote bag that Olivia was holding, "I'll be sure that Alexandra gets your little... gift."
Olivia moved the tote bag out of reach and behind her, "That's alright Elder Miriam. I'll just wait here for Maemm and Daett."
Miriam snorted, "I don't know why you insist calling Lena and Donald those names. They are not your parents. They never have been, they never will be, and you should never forget it! Your mother's dead, and your father's Eng-"
"I hope you don't intend on finishing that sentence..." Lena said as she rounded the corner of the house, a decorated birthday cake on the plate in her hand. She gave Miriam a sweet smile as she rested her free arm protectively around Olivia's shoulder, but her voice was low and threatening as she continued, "... because Olivia can call me Maemm, and she can call Donald Daett for as long as she likes. She can call us those names because Serena said she could, and don't you ever forget it! Got it?"
Miriam pursed her lips thinly and glared at both of them.
"Good!" Lena said cheerily as Donald appeared from around the corner with a large gift in his arms. Lena ushered Olivia past Miriam and inside the house with Donald a few steps behind, "Good afternoon Elizabeth! Happy birthday Alexandra! Thankyou for inviting us!"
Alexandra received a copy of The Complete Works of Shakespeare from Elizabeth; a large accordion sewing box on legs that Donald had made. The sewing box was full of sewing necessities courtesy of Lena. A copy of The "I Don't Know How to Cook" Book from the Langans (Mara commented loudly that she'd heard from a 'little birdie' that Alexandra still needed help cooking and thought she might like that book. Trevor insisted that he didn't know his mother bought that, as his gift, aside from the chest, would be given under the guise of Rafael's present like they had done with Olivia's present); and a The Sewing Book with the companion The Knitting Book from Rafael (he said one was from him, and one was from Trevor).
Only Olivia and Miriam's gifts remained.
As Alexandra reached for Miriam's gift, Miriam moved it away. "Open your friend's gift first so mine will be last, Alexandra."
Alexandra's heart sank. She wanted Olivia's gift to be the last one she opened, but she dare not attempt to reason with her mother while there were guests in the house. Reluctantly, Alexandra unwrapped the present that was not dissimilar in weight and size of what she had given Olivia just a week ago. Alexandra opened the quilt to see the various blue squares and show everyone attending. Everyone commented positively about the quilt... well, almost everyone.
Miriam rolled her eyes and leant over to Mara, uttering "Checkerboard? Is that all she could manage?"
"I would have expected at least a 'Sunshine and Shadow' pattern, or at the very least: half square triangles. Looks like something someone would cobble together at the last minute."
"No motherly guidance for that one."
"And it definitely shows!" Mara murmured smugly, giving Olivia a look of disdain.
Alexandra couldn't wipe the smile from her face as she embraced her best friend, "I love it! Thankyou Olivia!"
"I used blues because it reminded me of your eyes," Olivia quickly whispered in to Alexandra's ear.
"Hmm, sounds familiar. I used the browns on your quilt for your eyes and hair," replied Alexandra, ended the hug.
Opening Miriam's gift with slight trepidation, Alexandra had expected to receive a new dress after the conversation on the morning of Olivia's birthday. She didn't expect to be regifted the same puce dress Miriam wanted her to wear on the night of the betrothal announcement. The stitching that Elizabeth unpicked under the full length of the sleeve had been resewn in white cotton.
"Thankyou Mother," Alexandra murmured while fighting back her tears and placing the dress back in the box it had been wrapped in. What a horrible gift to receive from her mother on the most important birthday of all. Was it retribution for not going shopping that day? Or was Miriam just that cruel?
"Go and put it on so everyone, especially Trevor, can see the pretty dress!" encouraged Miriam.
Elizabeth instantly came to her niece's rescue, "I think Alexandra might like to keep the dress from getting dirty today, Miriam. Wouldn't want her spilling anything on it, would we? Alexandra, I'll help you take your birthday gifts to your room. You bring your lovely dress to hang up in your wardrobe so it won't crease."
Alexandra closed her bedroom door, "Aunt Elizabeth you can't want me to keep this horrid dress? You said so yourself that it's a monstrosity!"
"You're not going to keep it. You're going to take with you on Rumspringa..."
"What?!"
"... And burn it! Make a bonfire, or have a barbecue one evening. Just get rid of it! I'd put that dress at the bottom of the cleaning cloth pile, but looks like Miriam 'rescued it'. I never want to see this dress again, and I'd be safe in saying that you don't either."
"I like the way you think, Aunt Elizabeth!"
"I bet Miriam did this because you wouldn't go shopping on Olivia's birthday. She really is a bitter woman."
"Speaking of Olivia, did you help her make this quilt?" Alexandra opened the quilt and placed it over her bed linen.
"I guided her with what to do, but Olivia did everything to create it."
Returning to the small party, Alexandra locked eyes with Olivia as she sat down beside her. Olivia reiterated in a whisper that Alexandra would receive her own birthday kiss tonight, and the other gift on the first night of Rumspringa... somewhere around the same time as her own belated birthday gift. Olivia also took the opportunity to tell Alexandra that she loved her.
No matter what Miriam had done to try and ruin her birthday, Alexandra knew that being loved by Olivia Benson was the best gift of all.
Lena was sitting up in bed at night, dressed in her mid sleeve night gown but her hair still pinned in a bun, when a light tap on her door drew her attention away from the book she was reading. She marked the page with her bookmark and called out, "Come in, Olivia."
"Maemm? Can we... talk?" Olivia asked from the door. Her head was free of her white organdy bonnet, her hair down as if she'd just finished brushing it moments earlier.
"You know you can ask me or talk to me about anything. Come in."
Olivia sat down on the edge of the double bed and opened her mouth to ask her question, but no words came out. She wanted to ask Lena questions about certain things but had no idea how to ask or where to start. She sighed as her eyes traversed the bedroom. She had stayed over at Lena's house several times more than she usually had since the betrothal announcements, each time promising herself that she'd ask what she needed to ask, but each time she chickened out. She finally built up the bravado to now broach the subject, but her courage had left her once again.
Lena could see Olivia was struggling and decided to ask a question in the hope that Olivia would open up, "Rumspringa's only a few days away now. Are you looking forward to it?"
"I am. I really am... and that's what I want to talk about."
"Alright then, I'm listening whenever you're ready to speak."
"Alexandra and I... we will be... well... ahhh... we'll be... ummm... IdontreallyknowwhattodoandIwantittobeperfectbuthowcanitbeperfectifIdontknowwhattodo?" Olivia blurted out before she lost her nerve.
Lena had to bite the inside of her cheek so's not to laugh. She could see it had taken a lot for Olivia to say what she had just said, and she gave her answer with the respect it warranted. "Maedel, the first time is never perfect. I can attest to that."
"But you and Elizabeth... in the... stable," Olivia hoped she wouldn't be in trouble for bringing that 'incident' up.
"We've had a lot of practice over the years, Maedel. For as long as you and Alexandra have been alive, no less." Lena thought a moment before asking, "I bet you want Alexandra to... see stars!"
Olivia tried her best not to blush, "Yeah."
"I definitely made Elizabeth see stars our first time... but not in the way you're probably thinking."
"I don't understand."
"I... ahh..." Lena cleared her throat, "... I poked her in the eye."
"What?!"
"You heard."
"How did you manage... I mean-"
"You can never repeat what I'm about to tell you. Elizabeth and I... our first time... first night at Rumspringa House. We wanted it to be perfect too, and it looked as though it was going to be. I was on the bed and Elizabeth was... down there. Things were... progressing nicely... and I moved my hand to push a lock of her hair back behind her ear, so I could see her face... Just as I did that, she moved her body forward... I guess she was coming up to kiss me... and I poked her in the left eye."
Olivia hand shot up to cover her mouth, "Ouch!"
"Elizabeth said much more colourful words than 'ouch'. But yes, ouch! Anyway, I poked her eye and certainly bruised my ego... and I thought I'd ruined everything because it was supposed to be perfect. We look back on it now and laugh... well I laugh, Elizabeth doesn't like to be reminded. So as you can see, the first time isn't perfect."
"I really want it to be."
"Look at it this way: it mightn't have been perfect, but it was definitely memorable!"
"I guess memorable is just as good... but it's not just that. I don't know... you know. I mean I have an idea... after the... stable, but..." Olivia sighed.
"I think you know more than you actually realise."
All Olivia could respond with was to raise an eyebrow in curiosity.
"You know how to pleasure yourself?" Lena asked as if the question was a normal topic of conversation like the weather.
"MAEMM! Oh geez!" Olivia cradled her face in her hands in sheer mortification. This was not happening! This was not happening!
Lena shrugged, "What?"
Olivia kept her face covered, "I don't do... NO!"
"Liar."
"I DON'T!"
"Then if you don't, I can't help." Lena could see the internal struggle Olivia was battling, even with her face covered, and took pity on her. "For what it's worth, I do when Elizabeth's not around when I'd like her to be."
Olivia removed her hands from her face and stared at Lena in stunned silence.
"What?! I'm only human."
"Yes," Olivia groaned in humiliation, covering her face again. This was even worse than when Lena talked about her first period in front of Elizabeth. Thank goodness Elizabeth wasn't here for this discussion.
"Then if you know how to pleasure yourself, you'll have a good idea of what to do. But the best advice I can give you: talk to Alexandra." Lena waited for Olivia to uncover her face again before continuing, "Ask her questions, seek reassurance from her if she likes what you're doing, let her know if there's something you like or don't particularly like. Communication is the most important thing when you're intimate with someone."
Olivia looked down at the floor, "What if I do something wrong? I want it to be perf-"
"You keep worrying that you're inexperienced, but you keep forgetting that Alexandra is too! You know that you don't try and run when you're just learning to walk. You take things slowly when you're learning, and you'll learn together. Believe me, I'm speaking from experience." Olivia still wasn't totally convinced, but Lena reassured her. "You'll be fine. Just don't poke her in the eye! Oh, and my other piece of advice: short nails."
"They are short!" Olivia glanced down at her nails for a moment, just to make sure.
"Then stop worrying and trust me. I'm proud of you for coming and asking me about what you wanted to know, Maedel. I know you were very embarrassed."
Olivia rolled her eyes, "That's an understatement!"
"Be lucky I didn't give you the speech I was given by my mother after my announcement to John James McCoy."
"Do I want to know?"
"Probably not. But I have a feeling that Alexandra will be unfortunate to receive one from Miriam. I'll make sure Elizabeth corrects the... errors."
"Do you suppose Rafael and Trevor be given speeches?"
"I honestly don't know. I can only assume whey will be by their fathers... oh, poor Jungs."
"Thankyou Maemm, for everything you've helped with." Olivia hugged Lena warmly before she stood up to return to her bedroom in Lena's home, "I'll let you get back to reading your gardening books."
"Gardening books?"
Olivia indicated the 2 books on the bedside table, their titles clearly visible. Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and Rubyfruit Jungle.
Lena burst out laughing, "Oh Maedel! Not even close!"
END ENOTE: Yes, the 'speeches' for Alex, Trevor and Rafael will be posted next chapter ;-)