Confessions and Olivia (Olivia #2) (7 page)

"I just want to no one thing. Tell me why he's so good to us? Tell me why Mauricio is good to us?"

She blinks. "What? Olivia, just get in we’re going to get soaked." I hold the car door open so she can't get in.

"Is it money mom? Is that why you’re with him? Not for love just for the money?" I spit the hurtful comment. I’m going below the belt now but I need to get this out. I’m too angry to stop. She looks on outr
aged, but I don't let her speak. “Is that why you didn't love my real dad?" I push my face towards hers, "Is that why you didn't stay with my dad? He didn’t give you money like Mauricio does?"

Out of nowhere I feel a stinging slap across my face making me let go of the car door. I hold my cheek in shock as she puts her face close to mine, screaming at me, letting it all out.

"Your dad was an abusive alcoholic who made my life hell. All he cared about was himself, and I can see him in you every damned day. He was a worthless human being and I’m glad he was murdered."

My eyes shoot open stunned as I take
a step back. The hair on the back of my neck stands to attention.
Murdered?

"What are you talking about?"
I choke, backing away from her. "You said he died of alcohol poisoning."

She suddenly realizes what she has just said and immediately regrets it, trying desperately to dig her way out of it.

"That didn't mean to come out Olivia. Don’t listen to me. I’m just angry that's all. I don’t know where that come from. Please don’t repeat that."

The rain falls harder making my hair stick to my face while my mom starts crying hysterically. The cars race past us as we’re parked on the side of the road, but it's like all sound has stopped for me. I’ve been stunned to deaf.

My real father was murdered?
Why was I not told about this?

She pulls on my
arm as I go to walk away slowly. "No, Olivia, don't go, please. I don’t know what I’m saying."

I snatch my arm out of her grip and she falls forward onto her knees on the side walk. I look down on her in disgrace. I don
't even recognize my own mother.

"Please," she screams, as I continue to walk away. Why would she lie to me all this time?

I walk slowly up the busy high street in a daze. People are pushing past one another, even me, trying to get inside and out of the rain or whichever destination they have in mind. I don’t have one. I’m trying to register what my mom has just said to me.

After a few minutes, I finally register a car next to me, honking the horn. I turn quickly and see a blue micra.

The window rolls down and I see Mayra. "Olivia? What the hell are you doing? Get in."

I walk around the car getting in while Mayra shouts
some rude words to the car behind her.

"What the hell are you doing walking around like that in the rain?"

I stare straight in front of me, not entirely sure what to say. Words fail me. My mind is blank.

Mayra doesn’t get anything out of me on the way home. She has left me in her car on the drive. I can’t go inside my house. I see my Moms car is here, I know I can't speak to her. What would I say?

I lay my head back on the seat headrest. I’m just about to close my welling up eyes, when I hear a loud bang on the car door. I jump up in fright shooting my eyes open in shock and see Mauricio’s face glaring at me insidiously on the other side of the glass.

"Get out!" He screams the order at me. I look at him bemused.

"Yeah you heard me right, get the fuck out of the car."

He’s scaring me, I almost don't want to get out, but I do as he says, climbing out of the car a little confounded and hesitant.

As I get out I notice blood on his white shirt, he sees me spotting it but ignores me.

"What the fuck have you done to your mother this t
ime?" He barks.

"What have I done?" I scof
f, coming back to life a little. "Why don't you ask yourself the same question Mauricio?”

“Don’t call me Mauricio. You will address me as your father.”

I scream back at him. “My father is dead! Did you know he was murdered? Or was everyone in the dark about that too?"

He looks taken back when I spring this on him but quickly composes himself.

"Who the fuck told you that? They’re lying."

"So my mom is a liar?"

His eyes flicker with rage. "I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. I have a good mind to chuck you out on ya ass. If I had my way you would have been out months ago or maybe when you were a fucking little brat all those years ago. Poor little Olivia, who couldn’t cope with having wealthy stepfather. No, you were just an ungrateful attention seeking little bitch. Who the fuck do you think you are? Your mother is beside herself because of you."

My back is flat against the car door, being pinned there by his glare, but I won't be seen to be intimidated by him.

“Ungrateful? Because I didn’t go around boasting? Because I didn’t join in with your circus act and get on with the fact I had money thrown at me? And my mom is beside herself because you’re making her that way! Making her walk on egg shells. You’ve turned my own mother against me."

He prods
a firm finger into my shoulder. “You’ve done that all by yourself. You’ve turned us both against you.”

“And why is that? Because all of a sudden I’m a disturbance to your perfect family life? All of a sudden I realize I have a choice? Olivia’s choice, not Mauricio’s choice. All of a sudden your perfect li
ttle untouched step daughter had a man in her life who shown her a different path and you couldn’t stand it. All because you lost influence on me, you hate it. And now you’re making my life hell!”

I’m shaking in anger, trembling out of bitterness towards this man. I
am no longer a part of his life and he hates it. I’m slowly becoming to realize what Mauricio Fahoney is all about. I know it, he knows it. And he hates every second.

He til
ts his head back to laugh at me. “A choice? You have no fucking choice. You do as I fucking tell you Olivia. You want to continue to cross me? I’ll show you a life on hell.”

I stand staring at him as he’s about to lash out, but he stops as soon as he hears Elise calling my nam
e. She’s getting out of her car when I turn my head.

"Olivia? Dad? What the hell is going on?"

Mauricio straightens himself up and gives me some space to breath when he sees her coming towards us. I deflate automatically.

"What's that on your shirt?" Elise points out the blood I spotted. I think she thinks it’s from me.

"I cut myself that’s all, no big deal." She narrows his eyes at him then turns to me.

“Olivia? Everything alright? I have tried numerous times to contact you and you’re not answering me.”

I stare towards Mauricio whose glare couldn’t be warning me to stay quiet anymore if he tried.

“I’m fine and I lost my cell.”

Mauricio pips up all snidely. “Maybe you should take care your things a little more.”

Elise
turn’s back towards her father, folding her arms. “It don’t look that way to me. Dad? You have anything to say?”

Mauricio smiles towards her,
going to touch her arm fondly but she steps back out of his touch.

“Elise, my angel. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Olivia, get in my car. You’re coming with me.” She demands.

Elise glares at Mauricio as his eyes follow me when I walk away from him. She has a few words with him before she slides in the driver’s side of her car next to me. Mauricio stares after us as Elise backs off the drive way.

What the fuck was that?

He really scared me. I’m sick and tired of my parents. I have too much going on already and now this? Why did he looked so shocked when I asked him about my
real father? Did he know? Does he know who killed him? Was my mom telling the truth? The last time she blurted something out in an argument was about the fact my father was dead, and that was true. This time that he’s actually been murdered. It must be true. Why would she lie about that?

Now I know why Mauricio has been acting like I’m the bane of his life. He’s lost that control over me, and now he wants me out? He would do that to me? All because I want a life of my own? I don’t understand it. That can’t just be the sole reason of all this.

"What did he just do?" Elise asks no nonsense tone parking up in the street at the bottom of my drive.

"Nothing." I answer quickly,
keeping my eyes focused straight ahead. I’m a little shaken by his continually vindictive attitude towards me and it shows.

What the fuck has just happened in the last half hour? I found out my real dad was actually murdered. Finding out my mom was lying to me the whole time. My step dad threatening me over anything he finds worthy. I don't know how much more I can take.

"Why are you hear Elise?" I mean that in the nicest possible way.

"Mayra called me and told me where she found you, what were you
thinking? I tried to call you and I tried this morning. I had to leave for work before you woke. How have you lost your phone?”

“I thought you might have it, but no?” I start to panic again. I can’t live without my cell. Where the hell is it?

Elise frowns annoyed. “No. I came to take you to mine for a few days. You need a break. You’re not in the right frame of mind, and here, you won’t get better. I’m going inside to get some things for you and we’ll leave right away. I knew I should have intervened months ago."

I don't have to say anything, she locks me in her car and runs up towards my house and is back within moments with my small pink suitcase.

"I just grabbed you some bare necessities and I’ll call your works for you so don’t worry about anything. That Okay?"

"Thank you." I smile warmly, meaning it from my heart. Elise taking care of me is what she always has done. I can tell she’s angry with something but it’s not me.

We get around two miles away from my home when I ask Elise if I can use her cellphone.

“I need to call Tyler, if I don’t answer he’ll have a hissy fit.”

Elise chuckles at the thought. “He’s already called me. Here.” She passes me her cell.

Tyler talks before I do when he answers. “Elise?
Have you found her yet?”

Just as I suspected Tyler would have had all sorts of crazy scenarios in his
mind to why I wasn’t answering his calls. “Ty, it’s me.”

“Olivia!” he gasps.
“Why the fuck haven’t you been answering your god damn phone? All sorts have been running through my mind. You could have been human trafficked for all I knew.”

Just as I expected.

“Ty, don’t exaggerate, I lost it my cell, besides what’s wrong?”

I can sense him shaking out any crazy thoughts he had now he knows I'm safe and I can hear him place his cell on loudspeaker. Where is he?

“I wanted to see how you were. I'm on my way back to New York.”

Oh! Already? I wish he would stay here. He makes my life so much more bearable when he is. But that’s selfish of me.

“That was quick, I hardly got to see you. And I’m alright Ty, well I'm not but it’s better to pretend I guess.”

Tyler moans his agreement that he wasn’t home for long, but he has a life. Even if I don’t.

“I know honey, I'm sorry. What the hell happened last night? I don’t believe it. Calvin is back and with that oversized titage women.”

Titage? Oh he must be talking about her breasts. Elise speaks before I do. “I wouldn’t read too much in
to that. That women set that up, I guarantee it.”

“I don’t see how.” Tyler adds, “She didn’t force Calvin to come and meet her. What the hell did she have on anyway? She looked like a fucking canary!”

I can’t deal with him. Sometimes he makes me feel worse even if he doesn’t intend to, but he’s right. She didn’t force Calvin to meet her.

I talk to Tyler a little more
and tell him I will come and visit him in New York on the weekend. He pleased as punch so I can’t let him down.

It will be
nice. I may see if Madison want’s to come along. I miss her.

Chapter Six*

Elise’s home is out in the wilderness, near forests. It’s so quiet and peaceful, not too far from the city but far enough for it to be tranquil. I’m so grateful for her right now.

I stay silent for the whole car journey down to Elise and Dante’s home. I stare out of the window like a zombie. I just don't
have the energy to hold a conversation.

Elise is fully aware that there is so much going on inside my head right now so she doesn’t push me for one. She's so understanding.

I honestly don’t think I can cry any more than I have. How have I even got anymore tears left? I feel like I have nothing more to give. No more words. No more actions. No more tears.

It's late when we arrive, and the house looks stunning all lit up in the dark. Her driveway is about half a mile long surrounded by woodland. You can hear wildlife in the distance. It really is beautiful here. It's not a huge house but it's not small either. It's more like a chateau if I had to describe it. Elise and Dante bought the land first and had it built from scratch just the way they like it. She and Dante have done a brilliant job. Not that I can imagine Dante having much input. Elise likes to have full control with things like this. It has Elise all over it, not too over the top, unique, warm and peaceful.

We get inside and the smell of oak wood hits me pleasantly.

She helps me get settled in the quest room upstairs. It's lacy and bright. All creams and whites, so clean and serene.

"
You want me to fetch you anything?" She asks rubbing my arm for comfort as I sit on the bed.

"No thanks, I’
m good." Trying to reassure her. “I’ll be down in a bit."

"Okay Livs, I’ll let you unpack." She takes another sympathetic look at me then leaves me to it when she's happy.

I start to unpack my things in the white sand washed antique chest of draws. The room is just big enough for the single bed, the chest of draws and a small dresser, it's perfect for me.
I can’t believe I’m actually unpacking.

When I’m done I sit down on the dresser
chair and look out of the window. It’s too dark to see anything, so I stare at raindrops running down the glass.

I can't let this get me down anymore but it is.
Constantly.

I need to clear my head here and try to see this as a fresh start for when I get back.

I try to stay positive in my mind but it’s instantly banished by negative. I need so many questions answered, which it would seem I will never get. I hate that I’m in two frames of mind. How can I move on from Calvin when in a way I don't want to? It feels too soon and I still love him. I want to ask him so many things, if not to get back together, even though I want that more than anything, but just for closure. Why did he bother with me at all? Organizing romantic days and nights for me. Spending all his time with me. Taking me to his grans when he has never done that before with any women, yet he doesn’t love me? Then what was I to him? Why did he choose me to use when he could have had his pick. Why do it to me? I hate it that he didn’t even have the guts to call me that night he was with Georgia. Did he think that little of me? Or did he ring? I have no idea because I have no damn phone.

Now my mom tells me that m
y real dad was in fact murdered. I know I didn't know him but the thought of being lied to for so many years is wounding, completely deceitful. Why would she keep that from me? To protect me? Or protect herself? How was he murdered? And who by?

So many things I need to know. Why can’t I just let it go?

I head downstairs to join Elise and find her out the kitchen.

Elise’s kitchen is so homely, with signs and quotes on canvas plaques scattered around.

She has a huge farm style stove which she loves to cook on. Her kitchen has a rustic French feel to it. I love how all of her home is unique and different but at the same time it's a great family home. I bet it won't be long until I have a niece or nephew running around the place. Elise would make a great mom. That thought brightens my mood a little.

She
met Dante through one of my step dad’s cousins. He's Italian also, so of course Mauricio loves him and because he's a successful business man. He couldn't wait to give them his blessing for marriage when Dante asked for permission. Not that Elise cared of course if he granted permission or not. She would rather Dante didn’t ask Mauricio for her hand at all. Mauricio was also hurt that Elise wouldn’t take a dime from him for the wedding. She did it all by herself, along with this house. She doesn’t want handouts from her dad unlike Sophia. Elise likes to work hard and likes to see the results of her hard work being paid for with her own money and her own sense of pride.

"What?" Elise asks curiously, catching me smiling to myself. I take a seat at her square wooden table with has four different types of chairs around it.

"I’m just so happy for you that's all."

She smiles surprised. "Why thank you
."

"No I mean it, you deserve all this happiness."

"So do you," she says pointing a wooden spoon at me.

"I just wish it for me one day." I sigh and Elise turns acting stunned.

"Now where's my little sister gone who once thought marriage, commitment and love was for idiots huh?"

"I know I was stupid to hav
e lost her." I sigh with regret, twisting my fingers in my lap.

She exhales softly turning to me
from the stove. "No Olivia, you fell in love and that’s not your fault, it happens whether you want it to or not."

It is my fault for letting it happen.

She turns back to the stove when I don’t look up. "Something else is bothering you isn’t it? I know it." She says without turning to look at me.

I swear she should have been a cop. I change the subject not wanting to get into it.

"Whatcha cooking, it smells good." I walk to her side to have a peak.

"These," she points with her spoon,
“are going to be muffins and you’re going to help me with lasagna." She chucks me some vegetables to chop.

"Aren’t you the perfect little housewife?" I tease bumping shoulders with her as I grab the chopping knife.

"I so am." She beams. "Now get chopping."

Dante returns from home work from his Advertising firm, in his black suit and tie ensemble. He has his dark hair tied back into a pony tail. He has great hair for a man.

We sit around Elise’s small dinner table, and tuck in. The food is delicious. Elise is a brilliant cook.

"Hmm." Dante murmurs in appreciation between mouthfuls. We both giggle as he drops a bit of sauce down his chin. Typical man.

"So how long you staying for Olivia?" he asks with a mouth full of food. Elise scowls across the table at him.

"No I didn't mean it like that," he panics explaining himself.

I laugh at his worried face, waving my hand like it’s not a big deal, and speak after swallowing my food. "I know you didn't its fine, and I won’t be in your way for long."

"You’re not in the way." Elise tells me firmly glaring at Dante who shrugs clueless
.

Dante is really good to my
step sister. He’s a good man and that's rare to find.
Obviously.
The only thing they ever argue about really is the fact she doesn’t like him getting into Mauricio’s investments, which he normally does with her disapproval and behind her back. But Elise being Elise, finds out everything. He says the things he does with Mauricio are easy money whatever that means. I don’t ask questions about it, it’s not my business but I no easy money can’t be legal.

The happy couple chat about their days at work as I listen blissfully adding my opinion on things now and again.

We do the washing up when we’re finished, and Elise heads upstairs to fetch her wedding album. Dante twirls the stem of his wine glass acting sheepish when it’s just me and him. “Are you Okay?” I finally ask him.

His eyes glance
up from the wine glass to mine. “Fine.”

Okay, his answer was t
oo quick and short to be fine. I raise a quizzical eyebrow and push him. “Dante?”

He bites
down onto the side of his lip before speaking in a low voice, and leans over the table towards me. “I have organized a surprise honeymoon for Elise. You know we didn’t get to have one because of work commitments,”

I burst with joy. “Oh, that’s brilliant, where
and when?”

“Egypt, she wants to see the pyramids,” he answers coyly then
scratches the back of his neck. “And it’s Sunday morning.”

I go to smile then it falls realizing why he wanted to know how long I was staying for. That explains his uneasiness.

“Dante, that’s completely fine. I will go home Saturday night. And don’t look so worried, I will tell her I want to go. I can’t stay here forever anyway.”
Even though I would if I could.
I make sure I sound as confident as I can because they need this break. Their belated honeymoon.

He deflates feeling
relieved no doubt. “It’s a secret though, right.” He quickly adds.

“It's safe with me.” I grin

We take Elise’s wedding album upstairs in to the room I’m staying in with our freshly made muffins. I haven’t seen any photos, only the ones I snapped myself. I flick through the photo album feeling overjoyed seeing them all. The beautiful photos and the wonderful blushing bride are stunning. The only time I stopped grinning was when I saw one of Mauricio.

It's so nice to take my mind off things for a few hours. I know Elise is doing this on purpose for me and it helps. I’m not sure whether to let her know what my mom said though. I’m still confused about it myself and I don't want to confuse her as well. She obviously knows nothing about it. I’m not sure how she would react.

"Elise, how
did
your mom die?" I ask being careful to act cautious. We had this conversation before and I thought it was leading somewhere before my mom interrupted us about her dinner party.

She shuts t
he photo album. "It was a supposed car accident remember. My dad says it was karma for leaving us, and I hate that he said that."

I frown not quite understandin.
"So why you are not allowed to talk about it?"

"That’s a good question right? He hates her for what she did, so doesn’t want her name being mentioned. He said another car collided
with hers, but the other car wasn’t found at the scene."

"You’re joking?"

"Nope, it makes you think doesn’t it?"

“Of what?”

"Was it set up?"

I have a small thwarted feeling in my chest about what she's insinuating.

"The look on your face Olivia, you think it too?"

I think for a moment.
"Your dad wouldn’t have done that Elise, surly he had nothing to do with it?" I’m unsure to whether or not I believe my own theory.

She si
ghs looking up to the ceiling. "You know, I wouldn’t put it past him. She left him Olivia, but she loved me and Sophia dearly so she must have had to have a good reason to leave. My theory is that he hated that she left. He hated that she betrayed him, that she wasn’t in his control anymore. She ruined his perfect little family. Was he going to let her get away with it? Who knows? You know, I hate to accuse my dad from an unsolved assumption, but I just have this feeling. Since then, I can’t be around him, he isn’t a good man, it’s all bravado. Sure he does things for charity’s with your mom, comes across to outsiders as this generous kind respected man, but really it's all for show."

I think about it for a while. Before all this with Calvin I always regarded my step father as being incredible. He was the best man I could have ever asked for in my life. Now he's showing his true colors, and why? Because I’m finally finding my own? Was he oh so nice to me before all this because I gave in to him every time? I listened to him and did what he asked because I wanted to keep him happy. Was that all beca
use he ran my life and can’t handle not being in control? Whoever defies him, will they get punished? Will he punish me if I keep defying him?

“Elise, you don’t do what he asks, he hasn’t got you in his power. Yet
, he still adores you.”

She frowns then realizes
why I’m asking such a question. “But I’m still his daughter, his first born. I don’t argue with him Olivia, I don’t question him and I’m not an inconvenience to him. I just stay out of his way because I don’t like the person he is.”

"Elise, do you know what happened to my real dad?" I throw it out there.

She looks at me not shocked by my question at all. "They told you alcohol poisoning right?" She scoffs.

Does she know? She quickly places her
hand on my knee, reassuring me. "I don’t know of anything else, don’t worry it's just, I wouldn’t be surprised if they lied." She shakes her head in astonishment and stands to look out of the bedroom window.