Sinners and Saints II

Chapter 42

Olivia quickly took her phone away from her ear, biting on her fingernails as she paced around the living room, stopping after a few seconds to check the time on the wooden wall clock . She could feel her heart race out of nervousness. She was so uncomfortable. So nervous.

One A.M and still he wasn't home. He wasn't picking his calls either and neither was Tony. She was slightly having a migraine.

Where was he?

Olivia let out another frustrated sigh. She could feel all her energy leave her slowly from all that worrying.

"Nwam." She stopped thinking for a while and then rose her head to meet Benita who just hurried into the living room with a mug of hot coffee and a blanket wrapped around her shoulder. It was a cold night. Really cold. Even more reason why Olivia couldn't help herself from getting so worried. "Here," Benita slowly gave her the cup. "Drink this to keep yourself warm."

Olivia slowly reached for the cup and then took a quick sip from it. It was really hot. She felt a bit warm just by holding it.

"Nanny," Olivia looked at Benita. "Nanny, I can't help but worry about Rafael. He's not home yet and it's unlike him. I'm scared something might have happened to him." The look of concern on Olivia's face was really obvious.

Benita let out an exhale.

"I am worried as well. But we have no other option than to wait and pray for him to come back safely. I'm sure nothing is wrong. Maybe he just lost track of time."

"I just wish I could reach him on phone. Or Tony. None of them are picking my calls." She exhaled and then thought for a while. "Maybe I should just call them again."

Olivia's words were cut short the moment she heard a loud knock on the front door. She slowly turned to Benita who was just as surprised as she was. Olivia dropped her mug hurriedly on the center table, making her way to the front door with Benita tagging along right behind her.

She halted the moment she watched Tony hold on to Rafael, helping him walk as he carried him into the house. It was almost like he was unconscious.

"Rafael!" Olivia hurried to them as fast as she could. "What happened to him?" She asked not getting in their way.

Tony rose his head to her.

"He's drunk." He answered just as Olivia's expression fell. That was strange, really strange especially since Rafael was never the kind to get himself drunk. She could smell the alcohol from where she stood. She blinked hard, holding her breath. "Help me get him to his room please." Tony continued, hurrying faster to the stairs as Olivia hurriedly reached for Rafael's other arm. Benita was so confused. She had no idea what to do. She turned to Lucy.

"Get a bowl of water and some towels." She instructed just as Lucy nodded and then hurried away from the door.

Olivia rushed into the room first and then turned on the lights just so Tony and Rafael could walk in after her. Thank goodness the bed was laid. She watched Tony help Rafael up the stairs and then he dropped him on it, while Olivia rose his legs gently so he was sleeping comfortably in it.

She slowly turned to Tony who was taking his time to catch his breath. Rafael was quite heavy and carrying him all the way really exhausted him.

"Tony," She looked at him. "Tony what happened? How come he's home like this?"

Tony slowly turned to Olivia. He really wished he didn't have to. Everything Rafael had told him kept echoing in his head and he hated to be the one that had to keep it from her. He hated that he knew what he knew at that moment. He hated that he had to look her in the eye and keep the truth from her too.

"I uh-" he started and then exhaled. "Look, Olivia," He turned fully to Olivia. "You just have to give him some time, be patient with him. He's going through a lot right now and he needs you more than ever." Tony slowly placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently just as she looked at him, her confusion even escalating. "I'm sure he'd tell you everything in the end. For now, you just have to give him some time to figure some things out."

He tapped her shoulder and then turned to leave just as Benita and Lucy rushed into the room with a bowl of water and some towels.

"Madam Olivia." Olivia shifted her attention to them as Tony walked away from the room. She wanted to think more about what he had just said but she knew Rafael came first. She knew she had to take care of him first.

"You don't have to worry." She took the towels from Benita's hands. "I'd take it from here."

"Are you sure?" Benita lowered her gaze to her.

"Mhhhn." Olivia forced a smile on her face, nodding quickly, pretending to be okay when she was slowly falling apart on the inside. They could all see it. She slowly turned to Lucy. "You can drop the water right there on the table." She pointed at the bedside table.

Lucy nodded and then hurried to do what she was told.

Olivia could feel Benita's gaze on her. She knew Benita could see how she was really struggling to keep herself together while playing strong on the outside.

"If you need anything," Benita slowly reached for her hands, "Just let us know."

Olivia nodded hurriedly.

"Okay." She said almost in a whisper.

Benita watched Olivia turn and then walk towards the bed, holding on tight to the towels in her hands, squeezing them dry the moment she soaked it into the water and then brought it out.

She gently dabbed it on Rafael's head, holding her breath as Lucy slowly led Benita away from the room. Olivia sniffed as a drop of tear fell from her face the moment she heard the door close shut.

Why on earth was she even crying?

Seeing Rafael in the state he was, seeing him so sad even in his sleep broke her heart a lot. Not being able to even help him broke her heart even more.

She hurriedly cleaned her tears. Tony was right anyway. She knew she didn't have to push it. She didn't have to force him to say anything if he wasn't ready. She let out an exhale. Patience. Understanding. She knew she needed to apply both. She turned back to the water and then soaked the towel in it. She squeezed and then turned back to Rafael.

That was going to take her the whole morning.