Chapter 30
It took Alex over an hour just to get Livy off the cold tile of the bathroom. The crying didn't stop but she was able to guide her to guest bedroom and into bed. She tucked her in and kissed her like she was a small child.
Alex got in on the other side and gently stroked the side of her sister's face. The woman was an absolute mess. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy from her tears. Her face red from all the muscles straining from the physical pain that comes with the utter desolation of pain.
"I'm so sorry," Livy finally was able to say when her voice could be used for something other than the soft wailing her tears brought on. Her voice was rough and scratchy from them.
"There is absolutely no reason to apologize," Alex said firmly. "I love you, I'm here for you. No matter what your decision is, I will stand by your side and give you whatever you need!"
"My decision is...I'm getting a divorce!" Livy repeated what her final words were in the bathroom.
"Ok, baby," Alex said with as much strength as she could bestow on her sister. "Then that is what we will do, we will get you a divorce."
"Is it the right decision?" Livy asked her.
"I don't know," Alex said softly. "I can't answer for you, only you will be able to tell yourself if it is the right thing to do!"
She stroked her sister's face constantly trying to comfort her. There were no words in the English language that would make the pain go away. She wished there were. She would use them all on Livy.
"I can tell you, you deserve happiness! I can tell you, it won't always be this pain! I can tell you, that I love you! But I can't tell you if this is right or wrong," Alex smiled gently putting her hand on her sisters chest. "Only this can."
"I want happiness," Livy whispered. "I want the fairy tale that I keep telling Nora is true."
"Life is not the fairy tale we see in our shows," Alex cautioned. "There are real life monsters and villains out there, we need to prepare ourselves and her for that as well!"
"There are real life knights as well," Livy smiled touching Alex's face. "One is here in this bed, the other is probably with my daughter caring for her, with the same love he showers you with!"
"My Gavin is what men should aspire to be," Alex smiled with a nod. "But even he is not perfect. He is only perfect...for me."
"What the hell is that?" Livy asked her eyes staring at Alex's throat. Alex touched where Livy's eyes were locked. She felt the choker. She had forgotten it was on. She smiled sheepishly. This was her collar, the one she was supposed to wear at parties to show she was owned, but there is no way she could tell her sister that!
"This is another Christmas gift," Alex smiled as she touched it with her sister. "The man is just going to spoil me rotten!"
This caused Livy to laugh with Alex, the final release of the pain for the night.
"Do you think the stones are real?" Livy asked her in disbelief.
"I know my Gavin," Alex nodded. "It's real."
"Holy shit!" Livy gasped which made Alex laugh as Livy rarely swore.
"I had the same response," Alex giggled.
***
Once Livy had finally fallen asleep, exhaustion from her pain filled night finally taking over. Alex watched her sister sleep for a few moments. She felt so sorry for her sister, she wanted to drive to Pennsylvania and beat the shit out of Don, but that wasn't going to happen.
She then thought the worst of worsts, what if Gavin left her? The thought snuck into her mind and caused as much damage as it could before she was able to push it out. If she thought that was a possibility, then it would poison the relationship. When she first entered this relationship, Gavin told her he would earn her trust. At the time she thought that meant sexually, now looking back, it meant she would have to trust him with everything.
Easing out of bed to not wake her sister, she quietly closed the door to the bedroom and went to the master bedroom where Gavin was. She quietly opened the door hoping Nora was asleep, she found them both asleep. She closed the door and leaned against it for a moment. Looking at Gavin as he held her niece protectively by his side.
A small smile crept across her face as she touched the necklace, she reached back and removed it. Finding the box for it she put it up and looked at it for a few seconds. It was a dream, all of this must be some elaborate, fantastically magical dream. One she hoped she never woke up from.
She eased into her side of the bed and Gavin opened his eyes, he looked to Nora then back to Alex. Shuffling closer to them she draped her arm over Gavin and he did the same with her forming a bridge of protection over Nora.
"How is she?" Gavin whispered.
"She has decided on the big 'D'," Alex frowned.
"Well that is unfortunate, but really, it's the only logical decision," Gavin whispered. "She forgave him once, this is not something that is forgivable in my opinion."
"I agree," Alex said with a small tear. Gavin caught it before it fell.
"Giving you doubts on marriage?" Gavin asked her.
"On marriage? Yes. On you? Absolutely not," Alex admitted firmly.
"I love you," Gavin told her and the words melted her. "I only need you."
"What about a little one like this?" Alex smiled with a nod towards Nora.
"One or two," he smiled. "As long as we buy a lock for the bedroom door!"
This made her giggle in remembrance of the panic she felt that Nora almost caught them in the middle of their sinning.
"You are so good with her," Alex lauded.
"I want one," he smiled. "Not right away, but soon."
"I want to give you one," she smiled. "Boy or a girl?"
"I don't care," he said kissing Nora's head as she mumbled in her sleep. "Healthy, happy, and looks like you, that are my only requirements."
"I want him to look like you," Alex countered.
"Him?" Gavin smiled.
"Him," she said firmly. She wanted the dream. The full dream. Gavin, her and a son.
***
Alex woke the next morning but Gavin had changed positions. He was no longer on his side of the bed, he was behind her and Nora was sprawled out on his side. Nearly sideways in the bed. She felt him against her backside and smiled. It brought back the memories of how close she was to pleasing him completely.
She reached out and stroked Nora's hair softly.
"You are going to wake her," Gavin's warm voice said from behind her.
"Nothing can make you forget about your problems like looking at an innocent child," Alex told him.
"Agreed," Gavin said nuzzling her neck. She rubbed her backside in a tease against his groin. "Hey now!" he warned.
"Sorry Sir," she smiled. "I was just stretching!" He kissed her from the side.
"How do we help her?" Alex asked him. "Livy is going to need a lot of help."
"With whatever she needs," he turned her head with his fingers. "I want you to listen to me, this is not up for debate, or refusal...if she needs something you take care of it, I don't care the cost."
"Gavin," Alex closed her eyes. "I can't spend your money like that!"
"You need to stop thinking of it that way," Gavin told her. "She needs lawyers, she needs a place to live. She needs a do over in life. That won't be easy emotionally, the last thing she needs is to worry about how to pay for it."
"But it's your money," Alex argued softly.
"And I can spend it how I see fit," Gavin said firmly. "I have the means, so take care of her. This is not up for debate, Little One."
***
Gavin was pulling a jacket on Nora as she smiled and hopped excitedly.
"Where are you two going?" Livy's voice stopped her from hopping.
"Uncle Gavin is taking me to the Aquarium!" Nora yelled.
"He is?" Livy forced a smile.
"Chicago has a great aquarium," Gavin told her. "Thought you and Alex could do some retail therapy, maybe a nice lunch."
"You don't have to Gavin!" Livy gasped. "You have your work!"
"I have taken the day off," Gavin told her.
"A day off?" Livy asked.
She was surprised as Alex had mentioned he didn't have off days with the type of physician he was. He only had days he may not work, for him to take an off day would take some sort of miracle.
"Yeah, it's a first for me," Gavin nodded. "Alex has been hounding me to do some days off."
"C'mon Uncle Gavin!" Nora pulled.
"Gotta go," Gavin winked. "The boss said it's time!"
***
Sitting in the food area of Shedd Aquarium, Gavin realized just how out of shape he was. He could barely keep up with the "Energizer Bunny" who seemed to run from tank to tank. The only time he got her to sit down was during the dolphin show they went to, and that was only when she wasn't jumping up and down in front of her seat.
They were planning their next move, they had seen all of the aquarium and now were debating a trip to the Adler Planetarium or the Field Museum. She was debating in her head after he gave her the choices.
"Uncle Gavin," Nora said after wiping her mouth off with her hand that had him grimacing and touching up her face with a napkin.
"Yes," he smiled with a shake of his head.
"Are my mom and dad going to get a divorce?" she asked and he frowned that she would even know to ask the question.
"Where did you hear that?" Gavin asked her, concerned that he heard he and Alex last night.
"I heard Grandma and Aunt Krista talking about it," Nora said looking at him. "What is it?"
"Um," Gavin stalled as his brain argued with itself whether he should address the question.
He let out a deep sigh. Perhaps it would be better for him to discuss it with her, that way she got the unclouded truth. Not the truth according to the religious zealots in Pennsylvania. Not the sad truth from Livy who probably couldn't get through it without collapsing in a fit of tears, understandably.
"A divorce is where a couple who are married, say they don't want to be married anymore. They decide to live separately," Gavin explained carefully watching the little girl's response.
"So they don't live in the same house?" Nora asked.
"That's part of it," Gavin agreed.
"My mom and dad don't live together anymore," Nora pointed out. "So they are divorced?"
