Keeping Love

Chapter 15

Olivia stayed in the front room until late at that night. She made it clear she wanted to sleep in there.

No one thought that was a good idea. Some of the older men said they would do the night in there.

"I'm an adult too!" Olivia said standing up to them and staring them down.

They laughed at her, "I know you are sweetheart. But we've got this." One of them even patted her on the head.

She huffed and stormed out of the room. I followed after her.

"They think I'm a child. They think I'm not up for it!" She seethed pacing around the back room.

"They're just looking out for you." I said, "it would be best for you to get some rest in a proper bed."

"You don't think I should stay up all night either." She narrowed her eyes at me.

I raised my eyebrows at her, "No of course I don't think you should do that! Olivia you still have to take care of yourself."

She huffed and sat down on the sofa harshly waking up Ethan who had fallen asleep there.

I sat down next to her but she refused to look at me.

Her parents walked in, "time for bed I think."  Her mum said, "Joe you're ok sharing with Ethan? We'd offer you a sofa but they're all taken I'm afraid."

"I'm fine. Thanks for letting me stay." 

"Of course." She shook her head like it was nothing.

Olivia used the bathroom to get changed first. When she came out I bent over and gave her a kiss, "goodnight." I said, "I'll see you in the morning."

She kissed me back and said, "good night, but I'll see you in a minute. Me and Ethan share a room here. You just have to sleep in Ethan's bed."

I was surprised no one had a problem with that and went into the bathroom to get changed and brush my teeth.

Ethan and I settled awkwardly into his single bed top to tail. The only thing I was glad for is that it made Olivia laugh at how squished we were.

Soon all I could hear were the sounds of Ethan's snores and Olivia's gentle sobs.

I couldn't lie there and pretend I couldn't hear her crying. I got out of Ethan's bed and went over and sat on the edge of hers.

She jumped when I sat down. She clearly hadn't seen me coming. When she saw it was me she rolled towards me a cried into my side.

I laid down next to her putting my arms around her. I didn't say anything. There was nothing I could say.

"You can't stay here." She said eventually lifting her head from my chest.

"I know." I nodded, "once you're asleep I'll go back to Ethan's bed."

She seemed to think this was a good idea because she snuggled into my side.

I had meant to go to Ethan's bed but I must have fallen asleep because I woke to Ethan shaking me awake.

"What are you doing?" He whispered to me. He'd somehow only woken me up and not Olivia.

I gently removed my arm from around her and got out of her bed. I was still lying on top of her covers he couldn't be that mad I thought.

"Sorry." I said to Ethan sitting down on his bed, "she was crying and I couldn't just leave her. I was only lying with her until she fell asleep but I must have fallen asleep myself. What time is it?"

"Middle of the night. I was going to the toilet. Just be glad I found you and not someone else." I was grateful that Ethan wasn't mad. He'd been known in the past to overreact about Olivia and my relationship.

I went back to sleep in Ethan's bed.

When I woke up next Ethan was snoring again and Olivia's bed was empty. I went into the bathroom to get changed and ready for the day before going downstairs.

I went into the kitchen as was happy to see Olivia sitting there with her mum and her granny and a cup of tea in front of her.

I sat down next to her and she turned to me, "hey." She said taking my hand briefly before letting it go.

"Hey." I gave her a small smile.

Her granny placed a plate of food in front of me without me having to ask for anything.

"Thank you." I smiled at her. She smiled back.

"Have you eaten anything yet?" I asked Olivia.

Olivia didn't answer. She sipped her tea.

"She hasn't." Her mum said.

"I've got tea." Olivia said in a small voice. She sounded like she was going to cry.

I didn't know why the idea of eating was so bad to her but she needed to eat something.

"Olivia you can't go on like this." I said gently, "please just eat one thing from this." I pushed my plate so it was in between both of us.

She looked at me like she was going to argue. I just looked at her back. Her eating was important.

"Fine." She said eventually picking up a sausage with her hands and taking a tiny bite out of it.

I smiled.

"Thank you." Her mum said to me.

It took Olivia longer to eat her sausage than it took me to eat the rest of the plate of food.

Once she was done eating Olivia went into the front room.

I stayed in the kitchen to help wash up my dishes.

"Is there anything you need help with?" I asked Olivia's mum and granny.

"Oh on dear, that's very sweet of you." Her granny said.

"Just you being here." Her mum said, "she needs all the support she can get." She looked in the direction of the front room with a worried look.

"Would it be alright if I used your phone quickly?" I asked. The phone has been going off all day yesterday but had been relatively quiet this morning, "I just need to speak to my mum quickly, let her know I got here alright."

"Oh of course!" Her granny rushed to show me where it was, "you should have said sooner! Take as long as you need."

I thanked her and dialled the number to my house.

My mum picked up.

"Mum, hi, it's me." I said.

"Oh thank god you're ok!" She sighed, "when I didn't hear from you at all yesterday I assumed the worst."

"No, I'm fine." I rolled my eyes.

"When are you coming home? I don't like you being there. It's not good for my health."

"Your health is fine. And I'll come home in a few days but Olivia needs me right now. The funeral is in two days so I'll stay for that and maybe a day or two after."

"I don't want you wondering around Belfast."

"I haven't even left her grandparents house!"

"Yes I think that's for the best." Her attitude then turned from worry to annoyance, "and how dare you just leave the country without so much of a word? Sending your cousin round for your passport in the middle of the night!"

"Mum not now, you can have a go at me when I get home, ok?"

"Oh you'll be hearing it when you get home alright. Your father isn't pleased with you either."

"Great." I said sarcastically, "listen I've got to go. Can't be hogging the phone." I put the phone down so I didn't have to listen to her more.