Escape A Barson story

Chapter 10

"Hold on, Lamai. Lamai wants to talk to you." Steven said, handing his cell phone to Rafael."Hello, Mrs. Garland", Rafael said into the phone. "Yes, I would love to have dinner with all of you." His eyes studied Olivia. She looked nervous, and all he wanted to do was comfort her, he longed for Olivia to see that he wasn't a threat. "Oh that's nice to know, thank-you. See you tonight, Mrs. Garland." Rafael handed the phone back to Steven. "I will be having dinner with you tonight."Great, Uncle Rafa! I hope we get to see you a lot here.""You will, Noah, I missed you!" Rafael replied.

"I missed you too!" The boy exclaimed, throwing himself into his uncle;s arms. Rafael gave Noah a huge hug. He glanced at Steven who looked upset. Rafael's green eyes once again focused on Olivia who looked like she was about to cry, and run. She forced herself to smile, and stay where she was.
"How about I get you and your mom that hot Chocolate, Champ? Steven asked.
"I want to stay here with Uncle Rafa!"
"We can't stay in the store all day, Noah, '' Olivia said. "Why don't we have hot Chocolate with him?"
"OK!" Noah answered, still holding on to Uncle Rafa."That is the best idea I've heard in a long time", Rafael said with a smile. The group walked to the hot Chocolate line. Noah got into the line first, Olivia stood in back of her son, Steven said something to Olivia, and stood in line next to her, Rafael stood behind them. Minutes after the group entered the line, Rafael could see that Steven tried to pay for Olivia and Noah, but Olivia stopped him, and Rafael smiled again.
Steven found a table, and they all sat down. Noah sat next to Rafael, Olivia sat across from Noah, and Rafael, and next to Steven. For 45 minutes, as they sipped on their hot drinks, Noah talked to Rafael about all the things in his life Rafael missed. and Steven flirted shamelessly with Olivia.
"Noah, we have to go." Olivia said, very softly as she stood up."No, I want to stay with Uncle Rafa. Please, mom.""We 're going now." Olivia replied.
With a frown, Noah got up from his seat, and marched over to his mother. "I'm mad at you." He announced.
"Noah, listen to your mother," Rafael said. Olivia smiled at his words, and Rafael was thrilled."Noah, let's go." Olivia said after a long silence. Olivia turned away from Rafael,
I'll see you tonight." Rafael called, before Olivia was out of his sight.BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB"Noah don't sulk. You'll see him tonight." Olivia told her son, as they entered their cold cabin. Olivia closed and locked the door behind her and spoke again. "Go get ready.""I'm so mad at you!" Noah said."I know. Let;s talk about that."
"I haven't seen him in so long! You never call him Rafa anymore! Why? Are you mad at him? don't understand.""It's complicated, adult stuff, Noah.""I'm 12!""I know that, I know you're growing up, I know you're 12. You're still not an adult. Please, don't worry about this now. Get ready. You'll see him tonight."
Noah marched to his room to get ready, because he needed to see Uncle Rafa. "Mom! "It's freezing here", he yelled, closing his bedroom door.
Olivia turned the heat up, and ran to take her second hot shower that day. She got into the shower, washed quickly before the water could turn cold, and jumped out. Once wrapped in a towel, she ran into her bedroom, and looked for an outfit. After at least an hour, she made an outfit choice, but she had the same outfit in different colors. She got them on clearance right before taking this trip. Now she had to choose a color for tonight."Mom, are you ready!
"Soon, sweet boy." She called to her son."Hurry up, I want to see Uncle Rafa!"
Olivia dressed in a dark Caramel long sleeve sweater dress. It fit her perfectly, and reminded her of a good winter coast. It had buttons down the side, and it had pockets, She put a pair of black leggings underneath it. She was almost ready. She put on black boots, and ran to the bathroom. She had just applied her makeup when there was a knock on the front door.She ran out of the bathroom."You look pretty, mom." Noah said. Olivia grabbed her black winter coat, put it on, and answered the door."Hello Olivia, you look... beautiful." Steven praised. "So beautiful.""Thank-you!" Olivia replied."Mom, let's go see Uncle Rafa.""Hi Noah." Steven said."Hi Steven. Mom, let's go."BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBAs soon as Olivia walked into the Garland Family Cabin, Rafael's eyes locked on to her, and her eyes were glued to him. She felt the magnetic pull again, it was something she only felt toward him, it was more than attraction. Now, it almost made her forget that Steven was standing by her side. She watched as her son ran to Rafael, and hugged him. Noah called Abby over, and proudly introduced his uncle.
Lamai called Abby. and Noah over to her, she set them up at the table to eat dinner first. Noah insisted Rafael sit with them, and Rafael did as Noah wished. When Abby and Noah were comfortable and eating, Lamai walked over to Steven. "Steven, do you mind if I steal Olivia for a bit?" "Hurry back, Olivia." Steven responded, sadly."Is everything OK with the kids?" Olivia asked, worriedly."Yes, I just need you for a moment." Lamai answered, leading Olivia to the front door, and out of it. Lamai closed the door, and walked with Olivia down the steps."Are you mad at me?" Lamai asked, when their feet touched the snowy ground."No, why?" Olivia asked."I invited Rafael Barba.""Lamai, this is your place, it's your party, you can invite whoever you want to.""Olivia. if you watch a bunch of people in a room, and concentrate you can tell who in that room should be together, there is an energy," I belong with my husband, and you belong with Rafael Barba," Olivia was silent,,and when Lamai was sure Olivia was planning to remain that way, she continued. "You have been watching him since you walked in. The only reason you're not looking at him now is because I called you out here. He's been watching you. Right now, he's wondering why you're out here in the cold. He loves you, he loves your son. You don't have to lose your best friend, Olivia. Let's go back inside." Lamai , and Olivia walked into the cabin, and Olivia found Rafael's eyes on her again.Abby, and Noah fell asleep. Lamai carried Abby to her room. Olivia was about to wake Noah up, and lead him into a guest bedroom when Rafael walked up to her. "Go sit down. I got him." Rafael said,
Olivia stood frozen in place, finally after what seemed like hours, she found her voice. "I got him", she said. " Go sit down. I'll be right there." She began to lead a half asleep Noah to the guest room."Uncle Rafa?" Noah, questioned, groggily."I'm here, Noah." Rafael said, softly, following Olivia and Noah into the guestroom. Silently, Rafael helped Olivia get Noah onto the bed."Thank-you." Olivia said, as she walked out of the room with Rafael. They walked to the dining table. Christian sat at the head of the table, Lamai sat next to him, Olivia sat in the chair next to Steven, and Rafael sat directly across from Olivia.The group engaged in small talk for an hour while eating chicken. Olivia said very little, she mostly listened. She could see concern in Rafael's green eyes. He almost rolled his eyes., when Steven reached for Olivia's hand."Rafael, I heard you are one of the best lawyers of our time. My firm would love to work with you." Lamai said, suddenly
"I would consider an offer. Thank-you." Rafael replied.
"You're very welcome." Lamai said. "Olivia says you're brilliant, and my husband and I trust her more than most."
"It was a pleasure working with her, she is equally brilliant, and the most trustworthy person there is.""Barba." Christian said. "Why don't you hang out with all of us for the rest of the vacation. Tomorrow we are all going skiing at noon."
"Just tell me where to be, and I'll be there, Chief Garland .""Call me Christian.""Call me Rafael."Come here at 10:30. We'll have a light breakfast." Christian said.
"OK, great, I'll be here." Rafael replied. Olivia felt her stomach flip . "Liv, I didn't know you ski.""I don't. I want to learn. Noah enjoys skiing and snowboarding now." Olivia answered."The kids can't ski or snowboard for long, it's too cold. Olivia and I will be with them most of the day at the Winter Falls Ski Lodge." Lamai informed Rafael.

"That's good to know." Rafael thought to himself as he smiled at Olivia.