Charleston, South Carolina
December 20th, 1941
Lewis reached over and took Olivia's hand in his as they sat in the front pew of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston. Her fingers had been curled into the muted black material of her skirt, so tight that the fingers were starting to turn white. He squeezed them to loosen them and then twined them together once they were loosened. She had been focused on the urns and pictures of her great-great-grandfather, uncle, and second-oldest brother since they had sat down, and it had turned into a thousand-yard stare. And it was making him nervous.
And it took a lot to make him nervous.
Maybe the stare was a way to keep her steel facade up and not to break down in front of her wicked mother and other members of her extended family. That only knew her as the perfect daughter and granddaughter.
As if she was relieved by his doing that, she squeezed his hand and scooted closer to him, giving her twin brother who was sitting next to her a little more room on the crowded pew. He turned his head and pressed a kiss to the side of her head, he had promised himself the night before after she drifted off to sleep still exhausted from not sleeping for almost 2 weeks and everything that happened the few days before at his almost wedding that he was going to do everything and anything he could to help and be there for her. Even if it meant going to South Philly for Christmas and celebrating there with them instead of in Nixon with his own family.
Though he was sure that his parents and sister would end up coming to South Philly too. Especially after Andrea, Olivia's stepmother extended the invitation to them all before James and Olivia came downstairs.
Willing himself to stop thinking about the whole thing, he pressed another kiss to the side of her head and squeezed her hands again.
Alice, who was sitting just opposite them, watched through narrowed eyes, for the last 12 hours she had been trying to piece together their relationship. But all she kept getting was getting more questions. She had tried to ask Olivia about what was going on between her and Lewis but she just brushed it off instead told her that she was coming back to Charleston for the rest of the school year and was going to join the Army Nursing Corp from there and she was offered a spot in the program too by Elizabeth Forbes, the head of the program. She had flattered when she was first offered it because of her family and her parents not wanting her to do anything that would end up getting killed herself.
She didn't feel like she was like Olivia who was willing to jump into this right off the bat without thinking. Alice supposed it was because of her brother she had lost, and for her 5 other older brothers, Bill and the man sitting next to her tracing a pattern on their clasped hands.
But after thinking about it, and searching her soul, she knew she would follow her friend into the thick of things even if it was to make sure she didn't get in too over her head and end up getting killed herself.
Stewart Family home
Katherine McHale was a mess once they returned from the cemetery and once she started going nothing was going to stop her. Her biggest pain was currently her oldest daughter and her new husband Lewis Nixon, the heir of Nixon Nitrates. And because of that announcement the night before that Lewis married Olivia, most of the attention was on the two of them. And not so much as a backward glance toward Katherine. She had just buried her second oldest son and she buried her 3rd husband in July before her three youngest children returned to Pennsylvania. She should be the one that had all the attention on her. Not Olivia.
"Mother, maybe, you should lay off the wine." Her eldest and favorite son, Edward, said pulling the wine glass out of her hand, "As much as you don't like it, Livvy is a grown woman now, and if she wanted to marry him without us there then that's on them. And she married him to protect herself from you."
"Edward. You don't know what you are talking about.' She started reaching to grab the glass that he held out of her grasp.
"I understand that you are upset about how everything has gone on since July but acting like this now isn't going to help anything." Edward started, "She, Robert, and Marla are finally in a healthy and happy place, and you aren't going to ruin it because you are upset."
Katherine's dark eyes cut to where Olivia was standing out with her husband, his arm was around her waist, and they were talking to Finnigan Stewart and his college sweetheart Elizabeth Forbes.
They almost looked like a perfect couple.
"Seriously, Mother, let it go. If there was anything that Nicholas would have wanted it would be for you to leave his sister alone. You have put her through enough."
Katherine took another look at her daughter who turned into her husband's form as he whispered something into her ear.
"Lewis, stop it." Her daughter's giggle came.
She shook her head and started taking angry steps towards the couple.
"Damn it." He groaned before swallowing the rest of the wine.
"Go.' His wife Samantha had joined him with their son EJ on her hip, "I don't think Liv is going to this abuse sitting down again. And Lewis isn't as well versed in stopping everything like we are.' He turned and pressed his lips to hers before ruffling his son's dark curly hair before crossing the room to where his mother, sister, and "husband" were.
Thankfully their father had informed them of the pretend marriage between Lewis and Olivia and how he threw it out there to protect her from having to marry Davis Robinson who was now on the Enterprise with James Jr., so he didn't feel like he had to go off the handle at him for corrupting his sister at such a young age. Even if he had encouraged it.
"Relax baby," Lewis whispered into her ear, pulling her into his side more securely, her uncle and his college sweetheart had gone off to talk to James and Andrea. Something about the plans for after the twins were done with school. Lewis had stopped listening; he was more concerned with going upstairs and comforting Olivia in the same way he had been since they had found out about the deaths.
"I am fine." She forced a smile and took a glass of whiskey from him and took a long swallow of it.
"No, you aren't." He tugged the glass out of her hand, "I am pretty sure your father will kill me if you turn into a lush before you are 21." "I have been having sips of drinks since I was 13." She returned with a pout, "'Sides, I need it to deal with that woman."
"I know, sweetheart, but it's best for all involved if you don't drink and don't get the cops called to the house." He laughed, causing her to huff. and rolled her eyes in clear defeat, he had a point, especially with how quickly tempers could flare between her and her mother. "What are you and Finn talking about?" Katherine's voice cut in before she could answer him.
"Nothing,' Olivia shrugged as Lewis handed her a Coca-Cola instead, "It's been a few months since we have seen each other. You know he took me, Bobby, and Marla down to South Philly after we put Pawpaw into the hospital. This is going to be the last time we are going to be able to see each other for a long time. Or are you forgetting that we are now in this war?"
"I lost my son, of course I know this."
"Do you though? You only ever cared about yourself and got all the money you think you deserve and Nicholas and Edward, the rest of us you don't give a damn about." She didn't know if it was because of the whiskey she had been drinking or if Lewis had been standing next to her, but she felt confident in standing up for herself.
Finally.
"You have no idea what you are talking about."
"I don't? You do realize you tried to kill Marla and myself because we weren't your precious sons. And you pitched a fit because you weren't able to play the poor mother of the bride, my selfish daughter got married without me."
For the most part, only the pitch in her voice went up, the tone and volume stayed the same. She was hyper-aware of her younger siblings and the other littles milling around.
The last thing she wanted to do was frighten them. Being in the haunted family home was already frightening enough.
"If I had my choice I would do it all over again, only changing the fact that my father, mother, and siblings weren't there with us."
"So, you would want me there." Katherine beamed.
"Ha, no, my mother is Andrea. She is the one who talked me through everything. First crush, first date, first kiss. Everything. Where the hell were you? Oh, that's right! The hospital in Miami. Oh, poor pity me, my children hate me, my last husband faked his own death to get away from me."
There was a strangled cough from beside her as Lewis gripped her waist tighter, she had told him in a long letter a few months before about her relationship with Katherine and how she saw seen Nathan in South Philly months after his supposed death when she was downtown with Bill helping with deliveries for his father's laundry service. He never thought she would have the guts enough to throw that in her face.
"Nathan is dead, Olivia Franklin, I buried him." Katherine took a step towards her in a silent threat, something that normally would get Olivia to back down but this time she held fast as her twin brother joined them, standing at Olivia's elbow, his sandy hair messy, cheeks flushed from the cold and God knows what else.
"No, you didn't, Mother." He spoke after swallowing several long sips of his twin's drink. "You buried an urn filled with dirt from the garden. We saw him in Philly." He motioned between himself and his twin and then towards Marla who was standing at the top of the stairs watching their younger siblings and nephews.
"Impossible.' Katherine flattered.
"Nothing is impossible, Mother," Olivia smirked, repeating the same thing she had been told her whole life by her father and grandfather. "Kind of makes me wonder though, Nathan was your fourth husband, what happened to the other two?" Lewis squeezed her hip in encouragement while her twin pulled the drink from her hand and finished it in three long swallows. "We know that Daddy got sick and tired of your lying and cheating and all-around bullshit."
Katherine inhaled angrily at that and took another step towards her, but Olivia held her ground, "What're you going do? Slap me? Beat the crap out of me? Go ahead Katherine, I promise it will be the last fucking thing you will ever do!"
"Liv." Edward, who was standing behind Katherine, scolded softly. All of the Stewart boys used that kind of language, but they never thought that their sweet baby sister would. Marla, yes because she was more like them.
But Liv, never.
"It's the truth Eddie, I am not going to apologize because I hurt her feelings, she has hurt me and my feelings ten times more than I have hers." Olivia started, "She is acting like she did nothing wrong in the last 18 years. Nicholas hadn't talked to her for the last 2 years."
Katherine's hand came out and slapped against her daughter's cheek which echoed throughout the now quiet house.
"What the hell is your problem?" Robert asked as Lewis pulled Olivia away so he could examine the handprint. "I am fine, I am fine." She promised as her stepmother Andie rushed over. "She is telling the truth, and you do that?!"
There was so much commotion going on, that they didn't hear the front door open up or the three uniformed police officers that came into the house.
"Is everything alright here?" The one standing in the center asked, his eyes on Olivia, Lewis, and Andrea. "Everything is fine, officer." Katherine answered, stopping her kids from saying anything, "No offense ma'am but we were talking to them."
"She was being disrespectful, so I hit her," Katherine answered, glaring daggers at her daughter. "What I should have done was kill her when I had the chance. Disrespectful selfish little bitch."
"Miss?" the second officer asked, crossing the hallway and going to Olivia's side.
"I am fine. Didn't do much damage this time." The officer's eyes found the cut on her cheek. "Long story, his ex didn't like me or like the fact that I was at his wedding."
"With good reason.' Her mother smirked, "Olivia is going to keep on ruining things. I am surprised that Lewis even wanted anything to do with her. I mean Bill cheated on her."
The bitter tears that she had been fighting rose and she turned her head so Katherine wouldn't see that she was winning. "Can I be excused?" She asked. "Yes, go ahead, we are leaving early in the morning to go back home," Andrea answered as Marla came down the stairs with their younger sister Katie following her, her bottom lip trembling at the sight of her oldest sister's tears.
"Katherine, you need to leave now.' Robert Stewart, Olivia's grandfather ordered coming fully out of the office fully, he had agreed that Olivia needed to be able to stand up for herself.
But they waited too long.
"Katherine McHale?" The officer in charge questioned, once the girls and the other little kids were out of the way. "You are under arrest for the attempted murder of Nathan McHale, and the murders of David Smith and John Michael."
The background noise had stopped, and all eyes were on Katherine and the officers. "Did I hear that right?" Marla asked, looking at her sister who's eyes were wide in surprise and was clutching her youngest sister's hand in hers.
"What?! This is insane! I never did any sort of thing!" The former Mrs. Stewart shouted. "Kids go upstairs now." Robert, their grandfather, ordered. Edward had gone around the group and was urging the other kids up the stairs.
"Actually Miss Stewart, we need to talk to you." The main officer said. "She isn't going to talk to you without myself or her husband present.' James Senior said, thankful that Lewis had the thought to twist the truth to protect Olivia. If she was surprised, she didn't show it, instead, she pursed her lips together and handed Katie's hand over to Marla.
"Go into my room, I will be up in a while." She assured.
4 Days Later.
South Philadelphia
Evie wasn't surprised when several cars pulled in front of the Stewart household. What surprised her was the good-looking dark-haired man who got out of the taxicab first followed by Olivia who clung to his hand pointing things out to him.
All her parents and the Guarneres had been told was that Nicholas was killed in Pearl and the elderly head of the family had passed away and they were going to their services. And that Liv had gone to Helen's cousin's wedding. But there was nothing said that she was bringing a man home. There were shouts of excitement from Henry and several of the other older Guarnere brothers as they rushed down the street and scooped Olivia and Marla into hugs.
They hadn't been home when they returned in August having joined the Army to help their family out. Evie peered out of the window in time to see Bill extend his hand to the dark-haired man who was with Olivia and heated words being exchanged.
Grabbing her coat, she slipped out of the house. As much as she knew she hurt her friend, she was still curious and wanted to hear things that she did and most of all, she wanted to know who the man was that was them. She knew all of Olivia's uncles, older brothers, cousins, and step-brothers, but this one she didn't know at all.
"Fellas, this is Lewis Nixon, he is my Aunt Helen's cousin." Olivia introduced once Henry put her down, "He is staying with us until he has to report to boot camp." "Why?" Bill questioned, not liking how close Lewis was to his Livia. His gloved hand had caught her waist and pulled her back towards him once she had settled on her feet. She glanced up at Lewis then at Bill, "Because he is covering for a white lie we told to Katherine."
"Olivia Stewart? Lied? Really?" Henry teased Olivia had a reputation for lying to protect her twin and younger sister and then himself and Bill.
"To save her having to marry a man that is James' age and having to live with Katherine and his parents, absolutely." Lewis answered for her.
"He pretended to be my husband." She added her eyes on Bill who looked unbelievably hurt, he knew that it was possible that she would move on and someone could take care of her better than he could. "Saved my butt and saved Marla's too.'
"Well, then," Bill started, his anger and hurt barely contained and, "Thank you for doing that.' He extended his hand for him to shake.
"Bill.' Olivia started. "Livia.' He returned, not looking at her.
She cringed and lowered her eyes ashamed, she knew that she had lingering feelings for him and she knew that she loved Lewis. She was glad that she was going back to Charleston for the rest of the school and then going to the Officer's Candidate School with Alice and two other girls from other parts of the country.
Hopefully, that time would help her figure out what she was going to do in this sudden mess she found herself in.
"Don't hurt her." Bill started once Lewis had taken his hand. "Don't worry, I am not you." He returned as the shorter man jerked him towards him causing Olivia to stumble and to be pulled away from him by her twin who was watching the scene with eagerness. As much as he tried to act like a good Southern boy, he enjoyed fighting too much not to be involved in it.
"What's going on here?" Evie's voice asked.
"Nothing.' Olivia answered, 'We should go inside, we have a lot to do before Midnight Mass.' It was a neighborhood tradition that they all went to midnight mass together and a little gathering before Christmas Day dinner. And since her family had left in a rush to get to Charleston in time, she wasn't sure what was done.
"Go ahead, I will be right in." Lewis returned, he had a few select words for not only Bill but Evie for what they did to Olivia.
"Don't do anything you are going to regret Lew, please. We have had enough fights in the last couple of days, we don't need more."
"Promise." He pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. "Goes for you too, Bill. Nothing stupid." He grunted in return, not trusting his voice or his anger yet. He didn't want to say anything that he would regret.
"You have to forgive me sometimes, Olivia." Evie started catching her friend's arm stopping her from going towards the stairs. "No, I don't.' She returned icily, yes, she forgave Bill for the most part. But that was because she couldn't handle not having his friendship. They had been good friends before they started dating and she couldn't see her life without him in but the more she grew and understood her own feelings, she realized that Evie wasn't in the picture anymore.
And she was okay with that. "Excuse me." With that, she went around her and towards the house. "Olivia! Don't walk away from me." Her friend spun on her heel, and Evie took a step back, she had never seen so much anger, hurt, and hatred before. Not directed at her at least.
I don't have to do a goddamn thing, Evelyn." She spat, "You and Bill were the ones that hurt me not the other way around."
Evie took a step back surprised, Olivia rarely cursed or lost her temper.
She was always so well reserved.
"Liv? Can you come in?" Andrea called, "I need some help.'
"Coming Mama.' She returned and turned on her heel to go back up the stairs. "Seriously Olivia, you shouldn't run from your problems."
"I am going inside so I don't end up saying something I will regret. I am not running.'
"You ran to Charleston after it came out and you couldn't face us."
"How dare you! Fredrick was asking for me, he wouldn't let anyone else take care of him. I am still so extremely hurt by both of you."
"But you forgave Bill but you can't forgive me?"
"Think about why that is Evelyn. And if you figure it out, I am here until the start of the new year and then I am going back to Charleston and finishing school so I can go to the first open OCS they have available for the Army Nursing Corp. I won't have the distraction of Bill and my siblings. Come and talk to me."
Evie felt her heart drop down to her feet when Olivia said that, of course, she was going to join the Nursing Corps and do her part, something that Evie didn't think she could do. She was too scared to do anything that took courage.
Giving her former friend one final icy look, she turned and climbed the stairs going into her house and shutting the door firmly.
Andrea was standing in the doorway to the kitchen with Steven standing next to her holding her skirts both smiling at her. "Good for you kid. Good for you."
Evie had stormed down the street towards the group of boys, angry and hurt and wanting to bring something back around to Olivia.
"Did you know about your sister joining the Nursing Corp?" Bill, who had been pulled back by his brothers, turned to look at Bobby and Evie.
"Yes, General Forbes wants her to be in it. She is joining in a few months after she finishes school.'
"They got her into an accelerated program at the high school the twins and Marla went to." Edward who had followed the twins and Marla over to the group.
"Liv is joining the Army? Is your father out of his goddamn mind?" Bill questioned, his anger being replaced by sudden fear. He was fine with going to war but the thought of Liv donning a uniform and going anywhere close to war zones.
Terrified him.
"You of all people, Bill, should know that Liv will do what she wants regardless. And this way she doesn't have to pay for the rest of her nursing degree.' The older Stewart brother explained, "She has some credits from her volunteering at the Veterans hospitals. You aren't going to do anything to ruin this for her, Bill, if you thought she hated you for cheating on her with Evie, then she will hate you like she hates Katherine."
"He deserves it," Lewis muttered as he took steps back to gather his and Olivia's luggage to carry upstairs, he hadn't thought much of Bill other than he was stupid for letting a girl like Olivia get away from him.
His loss was Lewis' gain. But the fact that he was thinking about ruining something that meant a lot to her made him dislike him.
Bill waited until Lewis had disappeared back into the house after midnight mass to approach Olivia who was finishing one final cigarette before going into bed. "So, the Army Nursing Corp, huh?" he asked, waving off the pack that she held out to him.
"Yes, I got an offer from General Forbes herself and I took it. And we both know that once school is over with you are going to join up and break your mama's heart." She returned keeping her voice low so they wouldn't wake up the younger Stewart kids who had fallen asleep on their way home being carried by the others.
'You are right but Liv baby, I am worried about you." "Me?' she laughed, 'Honey, they don't really send many nurses to active war zones. I will be in the hospital with wounded soldiers. I'm terrified that I'm going to lose you. You are the one I am worried about.'
He took steps forward and pulled her into him, 'because I know no matter how much I love that man who is upstairs in my bed, I still love you. And that scares me." She sniffed back the tears back, "Because you have hurt me so much."
"Liv." He started but flattered when he saw how upset she was getting. He wanted to tell her the same thing, but he couldn't.
"I am doing this because I can't sit at home and do nothing. I am doing this because I can't lose anyone else. I lost my great-great-great-grandfather whom I loved dearly. I lost my brother who had his whole damn life in front of him. My aunt Careen lost her husband, and they have a baby on the way. A child that is going to grow up without their father because of the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor." She shook her head to stop the tears that rose up, "I'm sorry, but Bill, you can't tell me what I can or cannot do. Not with this."