This Kiss

Chapter 122

Almost a week later, Natalia woke with the sun. She was wrapped tightly in her wife's arms, the sun just peeking through the curtains of their master bedroom. As predicted, it had been hard returning to their room. She and Olivia had both shed more than a few tears. They had melted to the floor of their walk-in closet that first night. Both clinging to one another, tears rushing down their cheeks. They slept with all three of their children piled in with them that night.

Sam had left on the Spaulding jet after helping Rafe and Ava return their downstairs room to the office it once was. Storing the furniture, they had used in the newly finished loft space of the barn. Doris had invited Jamanda to spend the night in the guest room Sam had been using and when Emma joined her mothers in bed, Doris joined her girlfriend. Rafe and Ava had come in to say goodnight to their moms and Emma when they found the three cuddled in bed, all of them crying. The two eldest were quick to change into pajamas and join them in the master bedroom.

The following morning, the five Spencer-Rivera's stayed in bed all snuggled up together. Emma pressed against Natalia, Rafe with his head on Olivia's stomach, and Ava in her usual spot between her siblings. The five talked about what had occurred in that room. They mourned the loss of safety that their home had always held, and then, they dusted themselves off, vowed not to let what Frank had done ruin their home and went to eat breakfast together followed by a short walk in the yard down to the pond.

Sunday night Rafe and Ava returned to their rooms and convinced Emma to sleep with Doris again so their moms could spend a night alone back in their room. It had been a nice evening, the two wrapped in each other's arms, whispering to one another. Exchanging light kisses that turned heated and heavy and before they knew it they were locked in a long slow session of love making.

Monday and Tuesday came and went with Doris, Rafe, and Ava all returning to their jobs and Emma returning to school. Wednesday had been filled with work and visits to Felicia. They had another family session in the morning followed by Rafe's individual session and then in the afternoon both Natalia and Emma had individual sessions. Ava and Olivia still refused so see her alone. No matter how much they both needed to.

Today was Thursday. It was going to be a full day. Olivia had a doctor's appointment to see if she was cleared to go back to work. They had a meeting with Josh scheduled at the house to discuss how the St. Louis project was going. Doris wanted to speak with Emma about her staying in the guest room and Emma attempting to sleep on her own now that Frank was staying in jail. and Ava's apartment was finally complete. She smiled to herself as she thought of just how well things were falling into place since the trial had ended.

Olivia was walking more and more without her cane every day. In fact, it was more there as a precaution then a necessity. Her speech was improving exponentially, she rarely stuttered anymore, mainly only when she was tired or if she talked for too long at once. Emma was nightmare free for the past three nights and no longer clung to Doris like a lifeline in the night. Rafe and Ava had both returned to full days at work and Natalia and Olivia had been working more from home on both Springfield and Chicago business.

Life almost seemed normal again. It was as if Frank being found guilty had flipped a switch and now everyone felt able to actually more forward. Olivia was more like her old self then Natalia could have hoped in such a short time. Rafe seeing Felicia seemed to be making him feel more like himself too. He was self-assured again, stronger, so much like Olivia one would think he had been born a Spencer. Natalia felt confident to leave Olivia for small amounts of time now. She would go to the grocery store or to pick up prescriptions without rushing and calling Olivia every ten minutes.

Ava, although back to full days at The Beacon, and not working herself to death, was still a little off, but definitely getting better every day. She no longer rushed to Olivia with fear in her eyes upon returning home after work. Instead, she causally walked in, removed her coat and gloves, placing them where they belonged, and walked into whatever room she thought Olivia and Natalia might be in. She would greet them both with a kiss on the cheek and then usually head to her room to decompress before dinner.