Naturally

Naturally (A Jacob Black Fanfic) -27-

Leah's POV continued...

Olivia still seethed but she didn't say anything. I knew it was sinking in and the understanding part of her would reason with her internal conflict and win. Her glare dropped as her stiff shoulders slumped again. Her temper was short lived, I see. Her eyes tore away from my stern gaze and back towards the brooding woods.

"He would've understood. He would have never denied his child," she meekly argued back. So maybe her inner fight didn't die yet. I just shook my head.

"You know you shouldn't be arguing with me on this, I'm not the one who made the decisions."

Her lips straightened in a firm line before she began to chew her bottom lip.

"But you support them," she mumbled. I rolled my eyes. I smiled a bit though. She was similar to Marisol in more ways than one. Her sass was just a small aspect that Marisol also possessed. The only difference was decibels. Marisol tended to speak louder than Olivia's whispers.

"Like I said, take this up with Merris, not me. It's my responsibility to have my best friend's back, definitely in her darkest hours. You have a problem with her choices as a parent so if you really want to, you can take that up with her." I smirked when I saw her face pale. "But I'd advise you not to, not when you're trying to befriend her. Trust me, I bet you heard stories about her fury." She meekly nodded. "Do you really want her to eat you alive? It ain't pretty."

But Olivia's worried expression told me I had won this battle. Even if she did want to debate this some more, she wouldn't confront about Marisol about it.

"Okay, okay, so she was scared about telling Jake and how it would affect his life," she summarized the whole situation for herself out loud. "I get it."

"Thanks," I breathed out. I really was relieved. She didn't judge Marisol as cruelly like I had feared. She may have her opinions but she wouldn't berate Merris with me. The last thing Merris needed was criticism.

"Both Jake and Merris's lives were chaotic. Liv, the best thing for them was to be apart, to deal with their issues separate. They were making each other's lives hell and it was best that they have their own lives." I looked at Liv who was shooting me a skeptical look. "I'm sure Marisol would've told Jake. It wouldn't be fair to the kid to live without his real father. She would just have to adjust to the situation. She might be bitter," though that was an understatement but she was entitled to, she had been through a fair share of hurt and betrayal.

Not everyone can overcome that and live as if that didn't happen. It would change anyone's lives and their perspective on people.

"But she's noble and knows that everyone has a right to make their own choices in life. She would have let that kid make his own choices on what he or she wanted, including if he wanted his father in his life or not."

Olivia tilted her head and squinted, obviously confused. "I... it sounds like... why are you talking about "what-ifs"? What happened to the baby?"

I sighed and avoided her eyes. "It didn't make it. She had a miscarriage."

Not really, I mentally corrected, but I didn't want to give Olivia too much detail. I'm sure if the accident didn't happen, Marisol would be a very happy mother but it did, and in the end it died in her womb which still would count has a miscarriage.

I heard her gasp and when I glanced to my right, she had her mouth covered with her hands and her eyes were wide once again. I steered my head away again and let the moment passed, hoping it would pass quickly.

"She wasn't the same ever again. She became reserved and cold. She's still generous and kind but she has a piece ripped out of her soul. She tried to fill it but it's reserved for that baby, I know. And it is heartbreaking knowing she won't feel fulfilled anymore. Maybe if another man came along and they had some babies, it could fill up that missing piece of her but I don't think you can replace your first child."