Escape A Barson story

Chapter 12

Olivia guided her son to his room, and into bed. Quickly, she kissed him on the cheek, walked out of the room, turned up the thermostat, found her book, and sat down on the couch. The phone rang interrupting her reading plans. She picked up on the 2nd ring. "Hello", she said."What are you doing?" She heard Barba say."Hello to you too, Barba", she replied, secretly relieved that he called."Hello. What are you doing?""I don't know what you're talking about.""Don't do that." Rafael replied. "You know what I'm talking about, but if you want me to spell it out for you, I will." Olivia hoped he didn't hear her intake of breath. "Why are you dating Steven? Did Stabler break your heart again? Is that why you aren't dating him?""No." Olivia almost whined. "I don't want to talk about Elliot Stabler.""What did he do to you?" Rafael growled ."Nothing. I don't want to talk about him. I... I was stupid." It was silent, and that terrified her."Why are you seeing Steven?" Rafael asked, finally breaking the silence. Olivia took a breath, she knew he had to hear it, but she hoped that he didn't mention it. "I know you don't have feelings for him. You're not enchanted by him. You don't want him. You're not sleeping with him."
"I'm not that easy, not anymore, I used to be when I was younger—""Hey, stop, you were never easy when you were younger. Maybe you wanted acceptance and you went about getting it in a self destructive way, maybe you were easily manipulated, but you were never easy.""You didn't know me back then, Barba.""You grew up without a father, and you took care of your mother, she didn't take care of you.""I'm not a victim, and I don't need your psychoanalysis,Barba.""And I don't need you insulting yourself— not in front of me.""I'm not", Olivia replied, softly.
She heard Barba sigh loudly. "I know why you're dating him", Rafael stated.
"He's a nice guy", she said, softly.Barba huffed. "The Garlands fixed you up, you don't want to disappoint them, you especially don't want to disappoint Christian Garland, your ex-boss."
" Stop, I'm not a prize that can be won!" She screamed.
"What are you talking about?""Steven was your rival, you're playing a game with him, I am not a prize for you or him to win.""I am not using you, I have never used you! I'll say it as many times as you need to hear it! You don't want to be with Steven. You moved away when he came near you, he took your hand, and you took it back. You didn't kiss him.""I'm a mother, I was with my son.""Even if Noah wasn't with you, you wouldn't have kissed him. You didn't want to. You don't have to date him. He doesn't deserve you, Liv" Rafael almost whispered."Good night, Rafa", she whispered, hanging up before he could say anything else.BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
Olivia woke up the next morning angry at herself for dreaming about Rafael Barba. She slipped last night, again. On the phone she called him Rafa, she would never call him that again. She knew he would be having a light breakfast at The Garland Family Cabin at 10:30, so she avoided that cabin all morning. At noon she stepped out of her freezing cabin with an excited Noah. "Sorry I overslept, mom", Noah said, when they were on the snow covered ground."That's OK, sweet boy, you're growing, you need your sleep.""Mom, Steven is coming this way.""Olivia", Steven said, when he was standing in front of her. "I was worried, it's late.""I overslept", Noah informed him."Oh, well that's understandable, you're on vacation.,'' Steven replied. "Olivia, may I speak to you privately for a second.""Noah, I'll be right back, don't move." Olivia said, walking off to the side of the cabin where she could still see her son. "What did you want to talk to me about?""Well... I want to know if you would—"If I would?" Olivia asked, confused."Have breakfast with me at my cabin, tomorrow before snowboarding." Steven said. Noah was sleeping over at the much warmer Garland cabin, tonight. Olivia would be on her own."What time?" Olivia asked.
10:30, the same time as the Garlands are having breakfast.""OK, sure." Olivia answered, Steven was smiling from ear to ear. "Noah, come on." She called her son. Noah ran to his mother. Steven walked with Olivia and Noah to meet up with the Garlands.BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOlivia was sitting at a table with Lamai in The Winter Falls Ski Lodge watching Noah and Abby, who were sitting in front of them on huge couches across from the fireplace. Olivia was glad that she was developing a friendship with the younger woman. She was happy today that Lamai said nothing about Barba.
"I got you a peppermint tea," Rafael said, suddenly placing a cup in front of her, and then standing beside her chair. She stared at him with wide eyes. "I'd get you a coffee, but it's terrible here." Rafael continued. Olivia was speechless. "Drink it. It's your favorite tea."
"What... what are you... what are you doing here now?" Olivia asked.
"Rafael, sit down, I'll be with the kids." Lamai said, getting up from her seat."Thank-you", Rafael replied.Lamai smiled. You're welcome." She walked over to the kids. "Come on kids, I'm buying us some Hot Cocoa."Noah and Abby followed her. "Is my mom coming with us?" Noah asked, Lamai
"She's talking to your Uncle Rafa. Let;s go." She answered. Olivia watched as Lamai, and the kids disappeared to another area of the lodge."Liv?" Rafael called, there was no answer. Liv?" Liv, are you with me?" Olivia's eyes finally focused on Rafael who was now sitting in the chair across from her."What are you doing here now, Barba?" She asked"I need to talk to you, and I knew you'd be here.""Did you even ski?""Yes, and now I'm here with you", he said.
Olivia shivered, she picked up her tea, and took a long sip. "Thank-you very much for the tea." She said when she moved the cup away from her mouth.
"You're very welcome." He said, giving her a smile. "How do you like Winter Falls?""I'm so homesick, but Noah loves it, I hope he doesn't ask to move here.""He won't, he loves New York too much, he would miss Lucy, he would miss his friends." Rafael smiled at her again. She looked down, lifted her cup. and took another long sip of tea."I miss you, Liv." He said.
Olivia lowered her cup which she was using to shield her face. She let her brown eyes lock onto his green ones. She spoke just above a whisper. "I"—"Rafael!" Steven called, walking up to the table. "You didn't ski much.""I skied enough." Rafael almost growled at Steven. He wanted to tell the man to stop interrupting him and Olivia. "Celia is here." Steven informed, Rafael. Steven then looked at Olivia and spoke. "Hey babe, you look a little pale. Are you alright?""I'm fine", Olivia answered, Steven smiled, but Rafael didn't believe her answer for a second."Celia", Steven called.
Hearing Steven call her name, Celia walked up to the table "Yeah!" Celia said, cheerfully. She had jet black hair, and her dark brown eyes looked almost black, she stood at 5"3. She looked very young."This is Rafael Barba", Steven said to Celia . "Rafael Barba, this is Celia Martin." Rafael made eye contact with Celia, and Olivia felt a stab of jealousy, and a knot in her stomach. "Ms. Martin, I'm sure you are a very nice person, and you will find a very kind man who treats you well, but that man is not me", Rafael said to Celia. "I told Steven that I'm not interested in being fixed up."

"That's OK", Celia answered, sweetly. "I told Steven the same thing, you're not my type anyway." Celia looked at Steven."How old are you, Celia?" Rafael asked, as though he was in a courtroom, asking a victim a question on the stand"25", Celia answered. "My husband just left me, I'm raising my 4 year old by myself. I was able to ski today because my parents are watching him. I come to this town every year with my parents who want me married off as soon as possible again. We live in Massachusetts. Well, have a nice day."
Celia walked away from the table, and Steven glared at Rafael. "You didn't have to be rude to her, Rafael.""I wasn't rude to her, I was honest. I told you I wasn't interested", Rafael said. Olivia picked up her cup, and hid her face. "I already have someone who I love unconditionally.""Where is she, why isn't she with you?" Steven inquired."Why do you care about my love life so much? Furthermore, how can you even think about fixing up a woman as young as Celia with a man my age? Your age?""A lot of men like younger women, she's not a child, I thought you would like her." Steven replied. Olivia rose from her chair, and ran out of the ski lodge, leaving both men, and her tea behind.Olivia shivered, it was cold, and the wind swirling around her made it even colder. She stood alone, and that's what she wanted to be, alone. She needed to be alone. "Hey." She jumped at the sound of Barba's voice. He came out of the door she was standing next to. It clicked shut, and Barba walked to her."I needed air," she said softly."You didn't think I'd leave you out here by yourself did you?""Where's Steven?""Inside where it's warm. It was silent for a few seconds before he spoke again. "I'll buy you another tea, the one you left on the table is cold by now.""Thank-you, but I don't want tea right now.""It's freezing out here.""Then go. I need to be alone, Barba.""No, you don't." He took one step closer to her, Olivia took 5 quick steps back. Liv?" She turned away from him, and didn't answer. "Why are you afraid of me?"Olivia turned to face him, she could see the hurt in his eyes. "I'm not." She answered, softly."Yes, you are, you have been ever since I became a defense attorney. You try to hide your face from me, you jump and back away when I come near you. What did I do to make you so fearful of me?"She stepped right up to him. "Nothing", she whispered. "You didn't do anything to make me fear you, I know without a doubt that I am physically safe with you."Liv", he whispered back. "Please forgive me. I don't know what to do, tell me what to do to help you forgive me, tell me how I can make you feel safe."Olivia stepped closer to him, their faces were inches apart. "Rafa", she whispered . "I... I...  I can't... I can't do this with you now.""Yes, you can, we can. Please, let's just talk the way we used to. I miss you so... much.""Rafa". she whispered."I won't hurt you, Liv." He whispered back.
"Olivia, come inside." Steven called, he had opened the door, but did not step outside. "Am I interrupting?"