Keeping Love

Chapter 22

The next day I woke up and Olivia was still asleep against me. I knew she needed her sleep so I didn't move until she woke.

"You're awake." She said stretching over the top of me.

"We should get up before anyone finds us together." I told her. It was already quite late in the morning.

She nodded agreeing with me and we got out of bed. I let her get ready in the bathroom first and then went in after her.

After we were both ready we went downstairs for breakfast.

"I should phone the airlines." I said once we had eaten.

She pulled a face but nodded coming with me as I made the call.

I got a flight in two days time for 3 o'clock in the afternoon to Birmingham airport.

I then phoned my mum.

"I haven't heard from you in ages Joe!" She scolded, "could you not of checked in."

"I'm sorry." I said, "I was busy."

"Where are you?" She asked me.

"Belfast." I answered confused, "with Olivia." She knew that.

"I thought you might have flown home by now." She said.

"No that's why I'm phoning you. I've booked my flight home. Can you pick me up from the airport?" I asked.

"Very well." She sighed, "when is it?"

I told her the time and date and she said she'd be there.

The rest of the day I spent hanging out with Olivia and Ethan. The house felt empty now without all those people.

We found that as long as we were talking about topics that had nothing to do with her grandpa Olivia wouldn't cry. As soon as her grandpa was mentioned she didn't seem to be able to help the tears that flooded down her face.

In the evening after dinner Olivia asked me to go on a walk with her and we settled under the same twisted tree we had sat under before.

"I'm going to miss you." Olivia said sitting between my legs and playing with my fingers that sat in her lap.

"I'm going to miss you too." I kissed the side of her neck thankful for the privacy the riverbank gave us.

She turned to face me, "you've been my strength these last few days. What if I can't do it on my own?" She asked with large eyes.

My heart swelled hearing those words.

"You're more than strong enough all on your own." I told her, "trust me."

She leaned forward and kissed me.

We kissed by the riverbank not taking it any further. I knew she wasn't ready to take it any further at the moment she was too vulnerable.

"I love you." I told her when we broke apart, "you've got this."

"I love you too." She said leaning back against me.

We fell into a comfortable silence, happy to sit together.

"How do you think Joanne is getting on?" She asked me breaking the silence.

I shrugged, "we could phone her when we get back." I suggested. I had been wondering about my cousin too.

Olivia nodded, "I'm worried for her." She admitted, "she must be so scared."

"I think she is." I think about how she cried when she told me the news of her pregnancy.