Walking Fragile Lines

Only Love Can Hurt Like This

Bessy leaving was the first time Liv had been alone since she had told Brian she couldn't be around him and she was painfully aware of how empty her home was. For three hours, Liv silently sat watching the clock, eagerly waiting for the moment her mother-in-law would pull up into her driveway with her children. They were the only two faces she really needed to see. She agreed with Bessy that she needn't explain anything to them whilst ever she was left unsure of what she wanted, and that only made her crave their love more and the normality they would bring. And suddenly, she heard the car pulling up outside and Liv got up out of her seat, practically racing towards the front door as she waited for them to enter.

"Mommy!", Zac was the first to rush towards her. Liv collapsed to her knees, wrapping her arms around him in a firm hug as she spotted Maci and invited her too. Without questions asked, her children hugged her back as she kissed the tops of their heads repeatedly.

"Are you okay mom?", Maci asked as she pulled back to look at her. Liv sniffed, nodding as she looked her daughter in the eyes, her own now rimmed with tears.

"I'm fine bunny. I just - I just really missed you guys is all", she half lied as she kissed the top of Maci's head, pulling her in for a hug once more. Liv hadn't even noticed Carol standing by the front door as she watched her embrace her children.

"Kids, why don't you go and take your stuff upstairs and play for a little while whilst I have a quick talk with your mom", she suddenly suggested. The kids nodded before Maci took Zac's hand, leading him up the stairs and leaving Liv alone with Carol. "Is everything okay sweetie?", she asked as she approached her, reaching out and gently rubbing her upper arm. Liv couldn't stand it and, without warning, her tears began to flow freely, streaming down her face as she struggled to hold it together. Carol didn't say another word, she pulled her into her embrace, softly patting her upper back as she comforted her.

After Liv had calmed down, Carol lead her into the living room, sitting her on the couch and making her a cup of coffee before sitting down beside her.

"You know you can talk to me about anything Liv", she told her with a warm smile. Liv nodded, smiling back at her before taking a sip of her coffee. There was a moment of silence as she spotted Carol looking around the room, for any sign that Brian was home Liv assumed. "Where's Brian?", she finally asked.

"He - he's staying over at Joe's place", Liv told her nervously.

"Liv, honey - has something happened?", Carol asked, a hint of concern in her voice. Liv sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"It's - it's really not my place to tell you", she stuttered as she struggled to keep her emotions together once more.

"Whatever it is? You can tell me. You're family too sweetie, it's okay", Carol smiled sincerely at her, taking her hand within her own and giving it a slight squeeze of encouragement. Liv took a deep breath as she readied herself to tell her mother-in-law what had happened.

"Brian", she stopped, struggling to even speak as she stared down at her lap. "Brian slept with someone else", she told her shakily, fresh tears escaping her eyes as they dropped onto her jeans. Carol's grip on her hand suddenly got a little tighter as she dared to look up at her. She looked mortified, and Liv only felt terrible that she had been the one to tell her what her son had done.

"Oh sweetheart. I'm - I'm so sorry", she said, pulling Liv into a hug. Liv didn't know what to say as she just allowed her to hold her, only imagining how she must be feeling right now. "I don't know what's got into him", she told her as she parted from the hug. "Have - have you decided to separate?", Carol asked nervously. Liv sighed as she thought over the last 24 hours. It was something she was considering, but also the very thing she had been terrified of this entire time.