Sinners and Saints II

Chapter 54

Olivia opened her eyes slowly the moment she heard the sizzling sound coming from the kitchen, the aroma of fried plantains slowly wafting in the air. Olivia took a deep breath, she caught the sweet aroma of fish stew too from that very same kitchen. Her favorite. Olivia could suddenly feel her belly rumble. All that hunger she had been bottling up for the past three days were beginning to hit her at once. She took another deep breath, slowly sitting up from her bed. It smelt so familiar like Benita's cooking.

Olivia hurriedly threw her legs down the bed and into her flip flops. She hurried as fast as she could to the door, holding on to her long night dress and then hurrying out of the small room as fast as she could and finding her way to the kitchen.

She could hear soft chuckles coming from the small kitchen right beside the small dining section and it made Olivia reduce her pace for a second, taking little steps, wondering who it was Amy was laughing with. She watched them turn the moment they noticed her presence inside.

"Olivia." Amy hurried to her and then grabbed her arm.

Olivia narrowed her gaze at the elderly woman that stood right in front of the cooker, with Amy beside her.

"Guess who came to pay us a visit today?" Amy led her further into the kitchen just so Olivia could have a better look at the woman standing there in an apron.

"Nanny Benita?"
Olivia had to call her name just as the woman smiled brightly. Olivia walked to her. She stopped when she got so close and then turned her attention to the silver sieve bowl right on the counter so she could see the fried plantain that filled it. God, they looked so good. Olivia swallowed hard and then turned back to Benita, "Nanny, what are you doing here?"

The woman's face brightened the more.

"What do you mean by that? Amy told me you had been sick for a while now and so I came over to make you breakfast. Your favorite." She scanned Olivia's face for a while. "It looks like you're getting better." She turned back to the cooker. "It looks like you and Rafael are really soulmates. Your bodies work together. He's just recovering from his own sickness himself. I don't know why you both won't stay together and sort things out."

Olivia let out a tiny sigh at the sound of his name. She had a lot of questions to ask. Did she say he was sick? How was he? Was he eating properly? Even though she was so far from him, and mad at him, Olivia couldn't help but worry about him. Worry about how he was doing.

"It's been three days Olivia." Amy took slow steps towards her. "It's been three days since you left Rafael's side. If you really miss him that much, it's okay to admit it. You've locked yourself inside your room, you won't even come out to eat since you left him. If you miss him that much, you should go back and be with him. Go back and work things out. No matter what it is."

"Stubbornness would actually lead you both no where." Benita slowly turned to Amy. She slowly reached for her hands. "Olivia, whatever it is happening between you two, it can always be solved."
Olivia exhaled.
"I'm actually upset with you for leaving the house the way you did. I'm upset you didn't even say goodbye."

"Nanny," Olivia looked at the woman, running her soft hands gently. "Nanny, I'm really sorry I left the way I did. I just realized I needed sometime to myself. I realized Rafael and I needed some time apart from each other to figure things out. There's a lot going on. A lot we can't tell you both for your own safety." She took a quick glance at Amy. "But when the time is right, I promise, I'd explain everything but for now, please don't pressure me to go back to that house because I might end up listening to you. "

Benita exhaled and then slowly reached for her face. She placed her hand on it.

"You look so pale." She rubbed Olivia's cheek. "You've lost a lot of weight too. Are you sure you're okay?"