Everything appeared to be running smoothly until a tense whispered conversation began to erupt between the twins.
Maureen kept looking over at them frantically. She was trying to get their attention so she could give them her 'cut the crap' face, but they were too embroiled in their argument.
Carl seemed to be too busy checking sports scores on his phone to notice the rising tension in the room and Eli kept his phone discreetly in his lap, probably still texting his girlfriend.
Kathleen kept frantically making small talk in a futile attempt to distract everyone from the impending family meltdown.
"I can't believe you," Liz muttered bitterly, "I don't know how it's possible for you to be such an ass."
Olivia's eyes drifted to the kids table, hoping they were oblivious to the rising emotional temperature of the room. As expected, they were in their own little world, talking about the logistics of Pokémon battles.
"Why am I always the ass? I can't always be the problem!" Dickie's voice rose.
"Yeah. Yeah you can," Liz didn't try to hide her obvious anger.
Once it became evident her well placed glares weren't being received, Maureen sent out a hushed warning through her gritted teeth, "Dickie. Liz."
Unfortunately, they were already too deeply enmeshed in their argument.
"Weren't you ring shopping last month!? And suddenly, what, the coffee shop girl came onto you, and you thought, what the hell, I'll bang her before I commit to Sarah?"
This time it was Elliot voicing his warning. "Elizabeth!"
Her eyes turned to her dad, "Don't you care that your son cheated on his almost fiancé?"
"Never a dull moment," Carl mumbled, and Maureen shot him a dark look.
Olivia tried to change the subject, "This ham is great Maureen."
"Thanks," she whispered, but she was obviously holding back tears."
"Seriously Dickie? You are an ass!" Sounded like Katie, despite her best efforts, got roped in.
"I swear all of you," he motioned towards everyone at the table, "always think the worst of me. I can't do anything right so why bother trying?"
Olivia noticed Eli was still texting, and Elliot must of followed her line of sight and noticed as well. "Eli put the damn phone away."
He looked up without dropping the phone, "Why? So I can participate in this 'fun' family time?"
"Good point," Carl muttered, which made Maureen actually start crying.
She could almost see Elliot's blood pressure rising, "Just give me the damn phone."
"Whatever," Eli huffed and tossed him the phone.
Elliot snatched it up and threw it onto the island.
Suddenly, Maureen looked pale, and she shoved her chair away from the table and hurried down the hall. Olivia heard the sound of the bathroom door slamming shut. Her eyes moved to Carl who just watched helplessly. Elliot was now engaged in the 'Dickie cheated on his girlfriend' conversation, and Olivia knew it was only a matter of time before something accusatory was flung in her direction so she decided it was best to sneak off and check on Maureen.
She knocked on the bathroom door. "Maureen, it's Liv, can I come in?"
She heard a couple sniffles and then a soft, "yeah."
She opened the door to find Maureen leaning her head against the toilet and tears streaming down her face. "Hey," Olivia soothed, "it's okay…"
Before Olivia could say anything else, Maureen heaved into the toilet. Olivia hurried to her, gathering her long blonde hair out of the way. She heaved a couple more times before settling back. More tears filled her eyes.
Olivia continued to hold her hair. "I think l left a clip in here. Just a second sweetheart." She reached into the top drawer and found one of her claw clips she often left around Elliot's apartment. She twisted Maureen's hair back and secured it with the clip. Once Maureen's hair was out of the way, Olivia sat on the floor next to her and leaned back into the bathroom vanity. She glanced over at Maureen. She looked exhausted. "Are you doing okay?"
Maureen looked like she was swallowing back more tears, but she shook her head. Olivia sat next to her quietly, "Do you want to talk about it or should I just sit with you?"
She heard a sniffle, and Maureen turned her head towards Liv. "I'm pregnant again, and its another twin pregnancy, and I can't do this." The tears started streaming down her cheeks again. "Last time I had Mom to help, and now she's gone, and I know I have Carl and all of you, but I just," she hesitated, and wiped her arm against her face, trying to clear the tears from her cheeks. "I just can't do this without her."
Olivia put her arm around Maureen's shoulders and tugged her close. Maureen dropped her head onto Olivia's shoulder while she continued to cry. Olivia rested her head on Maureen's. "I can imagine how impossible this all feels for you." Maureen nodded her head against Olivia's shoulder. "And if I could change any of it for you kids I would." She sighed, "There are going to be times when things feel impossible without her, times you will miss her excruciatingly, and times where you want her there to share your joy," she cupped Maureen's cheek lightly, "but she's always with you kids." Olivia tucked back some of her own insecurities and continued, "I see her in all of you. She's here in Lizzie's goodness and in Katie's kindness. I hear her in every cheeky quip from Dickie, and Eli's quiet reserve. And you," Maureen's eyes watched hers, still filled with tears. "You are so much like her. The way you look, the way you move. I see her in nearly everything you do." Olivia wiped away Maureen's tears with her thumb, "She will always be a part of you, all of you." She tried a smile, but she knew it probably held a level of sadness and insecurity she currently felt. "She raised you, and you were allowed the most amount of time with her. She taught you what to do, and how to live. Trust yourself, and trust her. She gave you everything you needed to do this life with or without her."
Maureen was bawling now, and dropped her head into Olivia's lap. Liv let her cry, and traced soothing patterns on her back, waiting for the emotion to run its course. Minutes passed, and they continued as they were until Maureen's sobs calmed into periodic sniffles.
"When was the last time you had a full night's sleep?" Liv asked.
"Never," she joked. "Um. I don't know. I have been so sick, like all hours, and then the boys have been extra needy, like they know things are about to change so they have been up at night a lot."
Olivia took her hand, "Come with me." She stood, and reached her hand out so she could help Maureen up. She cracked the door open, and it appeared that the drama was continuing its course at the table. She opened the door the rest of the way and motioned for Maureen to follow her across the hall into Elliot's room. Once the door was shut behind them Olivia guided Maureen to her bed. "You. Sleep." She all but commanded.
"But, I…" Maureen started to argue, but Liv hushed her.
"You need sleep. I keep a couple extra packages of toothbrushes in your dad's bathroom because Noah always seems to forget one when we stay here. You are welcome to one if you want."
"Ill take you up on that. The nausea eases up with the mint toothpaste taste."
"Good." Liv patted her shoulder reassuringly. "I'm going to diffuse the situation out there, and you rest. I promise we can get on fine." Olivia squeezed her hand, "Okay?"
Maureen's eyes filled with more tears. "Thank you, Olivia."
Olivia swept her into a tight hug. "I'm here for whatever you need," she promised. She withdrew, and leaned her head towards the bed, "Sleep. I'll take care of the rest." With that said, she braced herself for her return to the flaring tempers in the other room.