This Kiss

Chapter 13

While salting the steps outside and talking to Olivia, Natalia got a call. "Hello...oh my god, okay." Hanging up she looked at Olivia, "I have to get to the hospital I have to..."

"Wait what, what's going on?" Olivia received no answer as Natalia took off.

Walking into the hospital, who should Natalia run into, of course, Frank. Stopping her he muttered, "Hi."

"Hi, I didn't know that you were gonna be here. How's your dad?"

"He uh, he had a rough night, but he's sleeping now. The doctors are very optimistic though."

"Good, that's good."

"Yeah."

"I'm praying for him, for all of you. I know that this has been a really sad time for your family."

"Yeah well, thank you."

"I'm gonna actually come back when Buzz is awake, so will you please just let him know that I stopped by."

"Natalia, I've tried calling you, I've left you a bunch of messages, I, I.."

"I know, I'm sorry, just work has been crazy and I meant to call you back..."

"I know what happened, and I know it wasn't planned, but look, we were, we were both upset and one thing led to another and Natalia I really care about you a lot and I don't want things to get weird between us."

"Well they wont. Because you kissing me can never happen again. Oh God this is so awkward for both of us."

"But it doesn't have to be."

At that moment Lizzie Spaulding walked up slightly frantic. "Frank, Frank you have no idea how happy I am to see you."

"Lizzie this is not a good time."

"No, no listen to me. I don't know where Bill is. I haven't heard from him in a couple of days and the last time I saw him he had his phone he gave it to me and he played this message from me that.."

"Okay listen, have you seen your father?"

"Yes, yes I saw him at the police station."

"No, no I'm talking about today, he's out. He made bail."

"He's free?"

"Unfortunately yes."

With a terrified look on her face Lizzie ran off. Frank turned back to Natalia and she continued where they left off. "You've always been so good to me, but for me we are just good friends and I led you on and I feel terrible."

"Look, nobody led on anybody here."

"It was a sin."

"No, no it's not a sin when two people wanna help each other and be there for each other."

"It's a sin when you allow someone to believe a lie, it's a sin when you're not honest."

"What lie? Look I'll tell you what, how about we just pretend that nothing ever happened, we start all over again, we...."

"I can't." She stepped past him leaving him with his sad puppy dog look on his face.

Standing in the kitchen, Natalia was washing dishes and Olivia was leaning on the counter next to the stove. They were talking about the encounter with Frank at the hospital. "He's just so confused. And I did this to him." Natalia said turning to fall into Olivia's arms. Olivia ran her hands up and down Natalia's back letting her cry. Once she calmed she took her to the living room. Sitting her on the couch, she brought in a glass of water and sat next to her. Natalia leaned into her laying her head on her chest with her arm across her lap. Olivia held her head close and stroked her arm. Once the crying had subsided again Natalia told Olivia her fears. "I'm scared that God hates me for what I've done. He's mad at me."