You Get It

Combust, Part 4

A/N: Had a little downtime after Christmas Eve dinner, so I figured I would post! Please excuse any mistakes, and have a great holiday for those who celebrate. 💛

Sunday morning, three days post fight.

Olivia's POV

Getting ready that morning, her heart felt a little heavier than it had in a long time. Not quite sure how to prepare for the conversations she knew were going to happen, the events of the past few days played on a loop in her brain. The hurt she felt never really leaving and the guilt of her words feeling like a weight she couldn't shake off. Though some progress seemed to have been made last night, the conversation being delayed made her nervous. She couldn't help but feel like there may not be a window this time. Like the crack had been hard enough to possibly split open all she had worked for. All they had built. The only thing she knew for sure, was that she wasn't going down without a fight. With that strengthening her heart and the determination etched in her brain, she made her way over to Maddy's room to get her ready to go to Ms.Grace's house as Spencer requested.

She wasn't too sure of the details but decided to go along with it if it meant the chance to truly talk this out. Figuring it would also give her an excuse to catch up with woman she now considered a second mother, she dressed and then took the drive to Crenshaw.

The drive was filled with questions from Maddy and she did her best to answer, trying to maintain a present focus with her daughter. The events of Thursday and the impending conversations still largely hanging over her head. It wasn't until Maddy asked a question she never thought would come up, that her focus was at full capacity.

"Mama, are you still sad about Daddy?" the little girl asked with a sad tone.

Olivia's ears perked immediately and her heart sank a little. "What do you mean, baby? I'm not sad."

"Yes you are. You didn't want to talk to him when we were playing a few days ago. Did you guys be mean to each other? When Lily's brother is mean to me, I don't talk to him either." Maddy spoke as Olivia's mind began to race of ways to handle this.

"Yeah, I was a little sad. It's okay to be sad sometimes but it'll be okay."

"Did you feel all your big feelings? Remember, you can feel all you feel but you have to be nice because you're a big girl." Maddy said, repeating what she had heard many times from her parents.

"Oh yeah? Well, do you do when you aren't nice to someone or you use unkind words, Miss Big Girl?" she questioned the all too wise toddler.

"You have to use your nice words and say sorry, duh Mama." The three-year-old added, a hint of sass coupling an all too familiar eye roll.

"Obviously." Olivia said, playfully mimicking the sass she knew her baby girl got from her. "But don't you worry, baby girl. Me and your Daddy may sometimes say unkind words but we love each other and you very much. Sometimes grown-ups have to have big talks to feel better. Just like when you get upset with a friend and we talk with you to help you feel better"

"Oh yeah." Maddy replied with a satisfied head nod. "Mama, do you think Grandma will let me have cupcakes? She's the best at making them." She asked, clearly over the subject.

"I'm not sure, you'll have to ask Grandma. Lucky for you we are already here, Miss Thing." Olivia answered with a smile, grateful for her little one's change of conversation. Pulling over and parking outside of the James matriarch's home, Olivia mentally prepared for what was to come in just moments.

They got out of the car and walked over, gently knocking on the door and being welcomed by Ms.Grace's warm smile and tight hug. "Grandma!!! Can we make cupcakes?" Maddy yelled out as she bounced up and down before even getting her jacket off.