Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Mum •|| MARJOREECE + OLIVE ||•

Prompt: Olive calls Marjorie "mum" for the first time.

Reece and Marjorie stepped out of the car, scanning the busy school courtyard. The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air as students moved in clusters, oblivious to the two adults trying to navigate the chaos.

“There she is,” Reece said, pointing toward a familiar figure by the benches. Olive stood among a group of friends, gesturing animatedly as she spoke. Her laugh carried over the noise, light and carefree.

Marjorie hesitated, smoothing her coat nervously. “Are we sure she’s going to want us crashing her social hour?”

Reece chuckled. “She’s going to be thrilled. Trust me.”

As they approached, Olive turned and spotted them. Her face brightened, and she waved. “Dad! Marjorie!” she called, breaking away from her group and hurrying over.

Her friends trailed behind her, curious about who she was greeting so enthusiastically. When Olive reached them, she threw her arms around Reece in a quick hug before stepping back, her smile as radiant as ever.

“Guys,” Olive said, turning to her friends, “these are my parents.” She motioned to Reece first. “This is my dad, Reece.” Then, with a slight hesitation that turned into a shy smile, she gestured to Marjorie. “And this is my mum, Marjorie.”

Marjorie froze, the word echoing in her ears. Mum. She felt a lump form in her throat, but she managed to keep her expression steady, offering Olive’s friends a small smile.

“Nice to meet you,” Marjorie said, her voice calm despite the emotions surging inside her.

After a quick round of introductions, Olive glanced back at her parents. “Ready to go? I told my friends I’d catch up with them later.”

Reece nodded, slipping his hand into his pocket. “Sure thing, kiddo. Let’s get out of here. Dinner’s on us tonight.”

°•°•°--**--°•°•°

As they walked to the car, Olive fell into step beside Marjorie. The silence stretched for a moment before Olive cleared her throat, her tone casual but tinged with nervousness.

“So… you’re okay with that?” she asked, her eyes fixed on the ground.

Marjorie tilted her head. “Okay with what?”

Olive looked up at her, her cheeks flushed. “Me calling you Mum.”

Marjorie stopped in her tracks, turning to face Olive. Her expression softened, and for a moment, she struggled to find the right words. “Olive, you have no idea how much that meant to me.”

Olive’s lips twitched into a small smile, and she looked away, fiddling with the strap of her bag. “I wasn’t sure if it was, you know… okay to say. But it felt right.”

Marjorie swallowed hard, her voice thick with emotion as she placed a hand on Olive’s shoulder. “It’s more than okay. It’s… perfect.”

Olive looked up at her, the shy smile widening into something brighter. “Good. Because it felt perfect to me, too.”

Reece, who had been walking ahead, turned back to see them standing there. “Are you two having a moment without me?”

Marjorie rolled her eyes and smirked. “You’re ruining it now, Reece.”

“Always,” he said with a grin, motioning for them to follow.

As they climbed into the car and drove off, Olive sat in the backseat, leaning forward between them to join the conversation. For the first time, Marjorie felt something new settle in her heart—a quiet, undeniable sense of belonging.

And when Olive leaned her head on Marjorie’s shoulder while they waited for their food at dinner, Marjorie knew she’d never forget this day.