A Case Reopened [Book Two]

Twenty-Five

"Olivia Mar-"

"You were a fucking mess. You tried to kill yourself many times because you didn't want me. You used to strip to make money for school. You-"

"Stop bringing up my past! It's not fair!" Serena yelled.

"Then stop bringing up mine! Stop making it seem like everything that happens is my fault! I tried to call. I really did. I dialed the number and let it ring, but as soon as Lena picked up I hung up. But no matter how many times I tell you that I didn't do something, that I don't cause everything bad to happen, you still believe that it's my fault."

"If you-"

"If I could go back, I wouldn't have told you that I was your daughter. I don't want to be your kid." Olivia spat.

"Good! I don't want to be your mother! So leave us-"

"You are the one that can't stay the fuck away! So why don't you just leave me alone! Just go away. Go spend time with the kids you actually love!" Olivia yelled, before slamming the door in her mother's face.

Olivia took a shaky breath and expected to start crying. But instead, she felt lighter. She felt amazing. Yelling at Serena truly calmed her for some reason.

"Mommy?" Hunter yawned, and Olivia turned around and looked at her daughter with wide eyes.

"What are you doing up, Hunter?" Olivia asked, as she moved to her daughter and lifted her up.

"I heard you yell, Mommy... Are you okay?" Hunter asked, and Olivia nodded.

"I'm fine, babe. Now, let's go upstairs. You can nap with me." Olivia smiled.

///

Months went by and everything got better. There was absolutely no contact with Olivia's family in Phoenix, Amanda's family was still completely out of the picture, and everything was calm. Hunter and Teddy were growing like weeds. Before everyone knew it, Hunter was three, and Teddy was two. Hunter was starting preschool, and Teddy was quickly showing off everything he was learning from his lessons at home with his Mommy.

"Look at you go, Teddy." Amanda cheered, as she clapped her hands and smiled as her little boy danced.

"Mommy! Join me!" Teddy grinned, as he waved at Olivia as she came out of the kitchen.

"Why don't you get Mama to join you." Olivia smiled. She handed her wife her iced tea, before sitting Teddy's sippy cup on the coffee table. Olivia moved from the living room and up the stairs. She slowly walked down the hall before opening the door to her bedroom. She opened it and smiled as she a small hand moving around in the bassinet.

"Did you miss me, Cora?" Olivia asked, as she gently caressed her daughter's fiery red hair. 

Cora came into their family in a way that Amanda nor Olivia had expected. Amanda had gotten close to a victim who was a prostitute. She was not even fourteen and decided to give her baby up for adoption. Olivia met the girl, and it wasn't long before she and Amanda were picked to adopt the baby. Cora came just a few days later and had been in their family for a little under two months.

"Did you wake her up, or was she awake when you came up here?" Amanda teased, as she came into the room with Teddy. The little boy went running to Olivia, and Olivia picked him up so he could see his baby sister.

"She was awake when I came in." Olivia smiled. 

"Mommy?" Teddy asked.

"Yes, baby?" Olivia asked with a smile.

"Why couldn't I get a brother?" Teddy questioned, as he scrunched up his face.

"Because you were meant to get another sister. You love your baby sister and Hunter, and you know it." Amanda answered. She came over and lifted Cora up before snuggling her close.

"You know, Mandy... we could always try for another son." Olivia trailed off as she looked at her wife. Amanda smiled before nodding slowly.

"I'd be okay with that." Amanda grinned before she kneaded her eyebrows together when the doorbell rang.

"Give me Cora and you go answer that," Olivia spoke. She sat Teddy down before taking Cora from her wife. She went and sat on the bed with Teddy and Cora, but was disturbed when Amanda came upstairs.

"Darling?" Amanda questioned.

"Yeah?"

"You have a visitor," Amanda spoke with a gentle smile.

///

Olivia went downstairs and into the living room. She swallowed hard when she saw Lou sitting there with Mathias and Nicole sitting beside her.

"Lou?" Olivia asked.

"Hey, Liv... uh, can we talk real quick?" Lou asked. Olivia nodded hesitantly before motioning her to follow her into the kitchen. 

"So, what are you doing here? I thought we weren't going to be in contact with each other..." Olivia trailed off.

"I've been trying my hardest to tell the kids about you. Mathias and Nicole ask about you a lot, and I thought that maybe it would be a good idea to have them come to see you..."

"What about-"

"Stephanie is legally Ava's daughter now... I just haven't moved forward with Ava adopting Mathias and Nicole." Lou spoke.

"Uh, so what am I to them? Because when they were babies, I was their Momma... but now am I just Olivia?"

"I told them about how you took care of them. How you love them."

"You used love instead of loved?" Olivia asked with wide eyes.

"Do you still love them?" Lou asked, and Olivia nodded.

"Of course I do, Louanne. I talked to them when they were in your stomach... I was there when they were born. I changed so many dirty diapers that it wasn't even funny."

"I'm sorry that I was such a bitch when we were married and when you came back into town. I'm so sorry that I had another baby as a way of getting back at you."

"Uh... it's okay... so can I go see the kids?" Olivia asked.

"Of course. I told them that it was my fault that you left. That I made you leave." Lou breathed. Olivia didn't respond back. All she did was turn around and walk into the living room. She looked at the kids, before clearing her throat.

"Mathias? Nicole?"

"Momma?" Mathias whispered.