This Kiss

Chapter 26

Sitting at the table the following morning, Emma smiled up at Natalia. "Can you make us pancakes with the shapes?"

"You mean ones that are shaped like hearts?" Emma nodded. I already did." She answered holding out a plate of heart shaped pancakes to Emma.

Emma pushed the plate away from her, causing Natalia to spin from the stove and look down at her. "What's wrong sweetie?"

"Why couldn't we go with mommy to see Ava."

"Oh, sweetie. She's going to be busy helping Ava move, and you have school, and I have work, so, come on. Finish your breakfast so we can get you to school on time."

"The bus isn't coming yet."

"Well, I thought I would drive you while mommy's gone. Give us some extra time in the car together. Sound good?"

"Yeah."

"Now, give me a hug and finish your pancakes."

Emma walked around and gave Natalia this biggest hug her small arms could manage. Then returned to her chair and dug into her pancakes.

After a long day at work, and a run in with Buzz at the mini mart, the last thing Natalia wanted was a visitor, but there was a knock at the kitchen door and it would've be rude not to answer it. She opened the door and was a bit surprised to find Mayor Wolfe standing before her.

Doris gave a forced smile. "Hi"

"Um, hi."

"Is um, is Olivia home?"

"No, Olivia's out of town."

Walking in uninvited Doris sat down her purse and turned to Natalia. "Oh, that's funny. I saw the little pink sneakers and I just thought.."

"Oh um, Emma's here. I uh, I'm, Olivia just went to see Ava for a few days. I'm sorry. I just got back from a trip. I haven't even unpacked, and I was supposed to start baking an hour ago and I just..."

"Oh, you bake, how sweet."

"Yeah. You?"

"Bake? No. no."

"Um..." Natalia shook her head back and forth.

"You seem a little raddled. Is it the baking?" Doris asked with a nervous laugh.

"No, I'm fine."

"Yeah."

"Yeah. I mean, I just got back. Olivia and I went away for a few days. Just a weekend trip. And it was good we had a nice time."

"And now you're back and reality's a little different. Look, I know, you go away and you're in your own little bubble and, well, I hate to burst that bubble, but it is all part of coming out."

"I don't know what..."

"Look, really I just came over here to let you know that I'm petitioning to get Rafe a new hearing."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because I owed Frank a favor, and he used it, to help you."

"What, I..."

"Just a warning, Frank may not be done yet. I know you and Olivia think he is, but...enjoy your baking." She walked around Natalia and out the door.

As soon as she shut the door, Natalia sat at the kitchen table to call Olivia. Disappointment was evident in her voice as she left another voice mail. "Hi, Olivia, it's me. Please call me back. It's not an emergency or anything, uh, everything's fine. Emma's doing great. Um it's just, it's really kind of hard here without you. So, I, you know, I just um, I guess I just really want you to come home. I miss you, and I love you." Sighing she hung up the phone.