This Kiss

Chapter 51

Rafe had a lot to think about. He walked slowly back to Frank's apartment thinking about everything his mother had said. He had been slowly changing his mind about Olivia, but he still wasn't there yet. He didn't know if he ever would be, but he did know that his mother loved Olivia, that she was happy with her. Knowing that, he decided to do what he should have done weeks ago. After stopping at Frank's, he went in search of Olivia. He called the Beacon and discovered she wasn't there today, so he went walking. After a long while he found her sitting on the old bridge.

Walking up briskly, he called to her. "Hey you. Olivia, I have something for you." She looked at him quizzically. "Before I do, I want you to know. That I want my mother to be with Frank, not you."

"You came all the way here to tell me that?"

"Yes. I want it to happen, and I want you to be alone."

"That's important."

"Just please..."

"Just wait..."

"Just..."

"No, my turn to talk, my turn."

"Go ahead."

"She wants to be with me. I'm the one who said no. okay?"

"Olivia, she should not be with you."

"Yes, but I should be alone?"

"Look, I just came to give you these." He pulled the letters from his back pocket and handed them to her.

"What? What is this?"

"They're letters, from my mother. I didn't want you to see them but, well whatever. Just take them, and please, please don't hurt my mother." Before she could respond, he turned on his heel and strolled away.

Olivia looked down at the envelops in her hand. Natalia had been telling the truth. She had written her. She noticed that all but two of them were already opened and assumed Rafe had read them. At the moment she didn't care. As much as she wanted to read them, wanted to know if they made a difference, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She was too afraid to risk her heart again. She tucked them in her purse and started her walk back to town.

After giving Olivia the letters, Rafe didn't want to think anymore. He acquired a six pack of beer and sat at the ballpark drinking them while he waited for Ashley.

She arrived shortly after he started on the first beer. Walking up behind him on the other side of the fence. "Hey. I got your message."

"How's Reva doing?"

"I don't really know. How's your mom?"

He burped from drinking too fast. "Excuse me, let's see. Um, she's a lesbian, which is interesting enough, but uh, she, she already plans to marry a woman. So..."

"What?" Rafe's phone rang. "Wait, is that her."

He ignored the call and put the phone back in his pocket. "Yeah."

A few days passed and Olivia was thankful that she hadn't heard from Natalia. She wasn't sure her heart could take it. What she didn't know, was that Natalia had taken that time to form a plan, to win back Olivia's heart that she had so badly and carelessly broken.

Olivia walked into her office to a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Calling to her assistant she inquired. "Kiera, Kiera, who sent the flowers?" She received no response, but she had a feeling she already knew. Attached was a card that simple read, 'I hope these flowers are as beautiful as you are. Love Natalia.' Without her permission, her faced formed a small smile. Quickly, she schooled her features as she removed the flowers from her office.