Chapter Two
Olivia tried dressing up on Saturday to meet Sophie. She knew what the visit to Sophie’s parents’ house was going to entail: lazing by the pool in their bikinis and trying to get a tan while sipping cocktails.
Sophie was nearly unrecognizable these days, at least from their time growing up together. She had her brother’s fair blonde hair, which fell in waves around her shoulders. When Sophie greeted her at the door, falling on her with a tight hug and several wet kisses on her face, she was already in a black bikini and had a breezy white sarong wrapped around her waist.
“Get out of those clothes, Olivia. I already have a jug of mojito placed by the pool for us,” Sophie said with a laugh, as she led Olivia outside.
Olivia smiled and started peeling off her well-thought out outfit for the day. It was only on the occasions that Sophie visited that Olivia had a chance to dress up these days. There were no other reasons to.
She had dug out an old black and white polka dot bikini from her college days that she thankfully still fit into and had worn it under her clothes.
“It’s hard to tell you’ve ever given birth,” Sophie said, watching Olivia undress.
“You’re too kind,” Olivia said, as she lay down beside Sophie on the pool chair.
Sophie handed her a pair of sunglasses which Olivia put on, smoothing her brown curls on top of her head. She’d taken great care to make her hair look good this day, as she didn’t want any untoward comments coming her way from Sophie about how she had “let herself go”.
“So how’s the little brat, anyway?” Sophie asked as she faced up towards the sun. Olivia shut her eyes behind her sunglasses and breathed in. Sophie had never been one to develop any motherly feelings towards kids. Maya was no different. Sophie only tried to tolerate her because she was Olivia’s kid.
“She’s well. Growing up faster than I can keep pace,” Olivia said, a smile creeping onto her face as she spoke about her daughter.
“You should try looking for a job in New York. Your mom can take care of Maya, can’t she?” Sophie turned to her, and Olivia shook her head.
“No. I can’t just leave my daughter behind here. I want her to grow up with me,” Olivia said, not looking at Sophie’s judgmental stare.
“Oh, Olivia! You’re so old fashioned. You’d be more useful to Maya if you made more money. You’re no use moping around over here. She won’t ever see her mother happy.” Sophie reached for the glass of mojito she had placed next to her.
“She’s happy with me. I’m happy here with her. You’ve got it wrong, Sophie,” Olivia said quietly, the familiar feeling of regret creeping up on her. She wasn’t on Sophie’s wavelength anymore. She should never have agreed to this meeting in the first place. Sophie wasn’t a mother yet, she’d never understand.
“And what about Craig?” Sophie asked. Olivia’s brows creased.
“Craig? What about him?” Olivia asked, still a little confused.
“Isn’t he the father?” Sophie straightened up to look at her more clearly. Olivia threw her friend an irritated look.
“What about him? I don’t talk to him anymore.” Olivia reached for her own mojito now. She wanted the conversation to end.
“Hasn’t he like moved to California and tried to get into the film industry? He must be making some money. Can’t you ask him to help out?” Sophie was still looking into Olivia’s face as she sipped at her drink.
“Drop it, Sophie. My mom and you seem to be after the same issue. I don’t want Craig to be involved in Maya’s life.” Olivia shut her eyes again, thankful for the sunglasses that could hide her anxious eyes.
“I’m just saying that you shouldn’t be doing this by yourself,” Sophie added and sank back into the chair. Olivia didn’t respond to that.
“When did you and Craig get together, anyway?” Sophie threw another round of questioning at her.
“Sophie!” Olivia threw her a friend a look of disapproval.
“I’m just asking. I had no idea it had happened. You only told me about it after you were pregnant with Maya.” Sophie wasn’t going to back down, it seemed. It was almost as if Olivia’s mother had set her up to the task.
“I told you before, Sophie. It was a drunken night at Melissa Lasi’s house party. It’s not like we were in a relationship or anything,” Olivia said, sitting up in her chair now. “What’s with the interrogation anyway?”
“I’m just curious. And a little worried for you. You’re not the same Olivia as before.” Sophie sighed as she said it, and drank some more of her cocktail.
“You don’t have to worry about me. Of course I’m not the same, I have a child now. Things can never be the same. That doesn’t mean you have to feel sorry for me. Neither does it mean that I’m a completely changed person either.” Olivia sighed. She felt like all she did nowadays was console people around her and try and convince them that she was alright.
The two of them were quiet for a while until the silence grew too long.
“How are your parents? Are they home?” Olivia asked casually, hoping a change in conversation might clear the air a little.
“They’re good. They’re not home right now. They went to the airport to collect Rufus. He’s coming home too, for my dad’s birthday tomorrow,” Sophie answered, as casually as Olivia had asked the question. Her words made Olivia sit up in her chair, though. Rufus was returning? Here? She wanted to scream, throw her hands in the air and disappear from this house…but Sophie could never know that. Olivia had kept her feelings for Rufus a complete secret.
“Sister!” Rufus’ voice filled the air at that very moment and Olivia felt her stomach sink. All this was happening too quickly for her to know what to do.
“Brother!” Sophie shrieked, jumping off her chair to run towards her older brother. Olivia tried to not look at the man hugging Sophie, but she couldn’t take her eyes off him. He was the man of her dreams.
Rufus was in linen pants and a loose cotton shirt, opened wide at the neck. His shining blonde hair was longer than she remembered it being from college, which was the last time she had seen him in person. It was wavy and neatly tucked away behind his ears now. He was in sunglasses too, but she didn’t have to see them to know that his green eyes were sparkling in the sun.
Sophie and Rufus hugged for a long time before she dragged him in Olivia’s direction.
“And look who else is here,” Sophie said, leading her brother by the arm towards Olivia.
She could feel her body shrinking, her cheeks flushing in agony. His eyes were on her now, and she was immediately conscious of her clothes, if she looked slender enough, if her hair was in place, if she should have put more makeup on.
“Olivia,” Rufus said, matter-of-factly. His voice was at once warm and friendly. She tried to smile at him, sitting up in the chair, while he stood in front of her, looking down.
He was as gorgeous as ever, if not more so. National stardom suited him. He was more sharply dressed now, his jaw looked more sharp and chiseled and he smelled great. Like the sea.
“Hello, Rufus,” she said. It had been three years since she last laid eyes on him, but nothing had changed. She still felt the same about him.
He stretched out a hand to her and Olivia gingerly grabbed it, and they shook. Since when did they shake hands?
“Stop being such a celebrity, Rufus! Give her a hug.” Sophie rolled her eyes and sat down next to Olivia again.
Rufus laughed, revealing his perfect set of white teeth. A long, deep dimple occupied his right cheek as he laughed and Olivia felt her knees buckling.
“I don’t want to have to get up for this. How have you been?” Olivia asked, making herself say the words, though she didn’t know where they were coming from. It was as though her mind was working in two parts. One part was admiring him, going through all the memories of spending her childhood around him, being in love with him, like a film reel. The other part was trying to hold a conversation with him at the same time.
“I’ve been well. How are you? Are you still in town? Did you move to New York?” Rufus asked, pushing his hands into the pockets of his pants.
“Where have you been all this while, Rufus? Olivia is still in town. She never went to New York. She has a kid now.” Sophie was drinking her mojito again, looking from Olivia to her brother.
Olivia thought she saw Rufus’ face change, perhaps in surprise. She cleared her throat and tried to lighten the mood again.
“I’m sure Rufus has other things to worry about and discuss than local gossip.” Olivia forced a giggle and reached for her nearly empty glass of mojito again. She couldn’t take her eyes off him, though, just his presence was stunning enough. It wasn’t that hard to see why the whole nation was enthralled by him.
“This isn’t just local gossip. You’re my best friend. We all grew up together. I thought I told you about it, Rufus.” Sophie looked like she was a little annoyed by her brother, like he had embarrassed her in front of company. Olivia smiled.
“It’s really no big deal,” she said, turning to Rufus again. He had been standing still, looking at the two girls in turn.
“You have a baby now?” Rufus repeated.
“With Craig Walker of all people!” Sophie added, nudging Olivia with her elbow and then breaking into giggles.
“Craig Walker? Isn’t he a model in California now?” Rufus asked, the look of surprise had turned to confusion on his face. He looked angry, surprised, confused, relieved…all at the same time. Olivia looked away from them, placing the empty glass on the table beside her.
“Anyway, I’m sure Olivia doesn’t want to discuss it this way, Sophie. I’ll leave you girls to it then. I need a shower,” Rufus said, smiling at Olivia politely.
Olivia threw him a half-smile and settled back into her chair again, as did Sophie.
Rufus walked away from them, rushing into the house now.
“I can’t believe my brother is an actual celebrity,” Sophie said with a sigh after he had gone.
“Are you seriously competing with your own brother now, Sophie?” Olivia hissed at her friend, shaking her head.
“Not competing with him. Just stating that he is. It is quite marvelous, isn’t it? Who would have thought?” Sophie said, adjusting her back on the chair.
“I did. He was always meant to be in the NFL. He was meant for all this fame,” Olivia said wistfully, back to daydreaming about him again.
“You always did have a soft spot for him. Rufus can never do any wrong. Please tell me you didn’t have a crush on my brother,” Sophie said with a snort, and then laughed. Olivia joined in the laughter as well, hoping that would convince her friend that it was an absolutely silly suggestion to make.