Chapter Text
It was Friday and she was in the kitchen preparing dinner for her and Noah. Mac and cheese for him, and for herself an easy to make salad. For the first time that week she’d finished at a decent hour at work and didn’t feel like spending a lot of time cooking. She was looking forward to spending some time with her son. He and Lucy had just finished watching Coco when she’d arrived home. The movie had made quite an impact Lucy had told her. She didn’t really know what the movie was about.
“Mommy?”
She turned around and watched her son join her in the kitchen. He was holding Eddie in his hand. He sat down and looked at her. “Yes, sweetheart.”
“When is it the Day of the Dead holiday?”
She had no idea. “I don’t know.” She plated the mac and cheese for him and sat it down on the kitchen table.
“Can you look it up?”
“Euuh.., sure.” She quickly put her salad on the table too and pored two glasses of water for the both of them. “How about we eat first and you tell me about school?”
Noah agreed, but wasn’t very talkative during their meal. His mind clearly occupied by something else. He did finish his meal rather fast. “Can you look it up now?” He asked his mother once more.
She hadn’t finished her meal yet. Noah was slightly bouncing on his chair, impatient for answers. “Why do you want to know?”
“For uncle Rafa.”
She smiled at the mention of Rafael’s name. He’d become a somewhat permanent fixture in their lives. He joined them on days to the park or dinners or Saturday afternoons relaxing and watching a movie at her home. Sometimes, after especially harrowing cases, he took Noah out to give her some time for herself to relax. To Noah his uncle Rafa hung the moon and he loved spending time with him. And she, she loved seeing them together. Her relationship with Rafael was still somewhat undetermined. They’d definitely grown closer. When in the park together he would wrap his arm around her shoulder and pull her against his side; or when they were at her house, watching a movie with Noah, she snuggled against his side. She loved their newfound closeness and sought it out as often as she could and he didn’t seem to mind. Their transition from best friends to whatever they were now, was easy and she was looking forward to even more. These days, when she pictured her future, he was always there at her side and it turned into their future. “Can you tell me a bit more?”
Noah got up from his chair and immediately started to tell her about Miguel and Coco and how Miguel becomes invisible and only his family who is already dead can see him. The movie had clearly made an impression. His explanation of the story full of big gestures and moves and his voice full with excitement. When he was finished though, and he looked at her with big eyes fully expecting her to understand it all now. She wasn’t sure what it had to do with Rafael or the Day of the Dead.
“Can you look it up now?” Noah asked again.
Olivia grabbed her phone and looked it up. She quickly found it. “It’s November 2nd.” That was a week from now.
“When’s that?”
“That’s next week, on Saturday.”
“Yes.” Noah clapped his hands excitedly. He quickly turned pensive again. “We have to watch the movie again.”
“Don’t you want to watch it Saturday with uncle Rafa?” She still didn’t know what her son’s plan was.
Noah shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe.”
“Do you want to celebrate with uncle Rafa?” If he did she had no problem with that.
“Maybe.” He said once more. “I don’t want to make uncle Rafa sad.”
She was really at a loss here. Why would he think Rafael would be sad? She held out her hand for Noah, which he immediately grabbed. She gently pulled him closer and lifted him on her lap. “I’m pretty sure you won’t make him sad. Tell me what you want to do. Maybe I can help?”
He leaned against his mother and started to explain. “Uncle Rafa told me about his abu.., abue.” He struggled with the word.
“Abuelita.” Oliva helped him.
Noah nodded. “He said he misses her. That she’s in heaven now. Maybe if we make an altar she can find her way back and visit?” He looked up at his mother. “Will you help?”
She smiled. “Sweet boy, off course I’ll help.” Noah’s idea warmed her heart. She loved that he wanted to do this for his uncle. “I think it would make him very happy. Let’s see what we can find about the altar and we’ll watch the movie again, okay?” Not only did she wonder when Rafael had told Noah about his grandmother, but also how the topic had come up.
“No.”
“No?”
“We have to call uncle Rafa and ask if we can visit next week.”
“Okay.”
“But you can’t tell him why. It’s a surprise.”
“How about I call and you can ask him?”
Seeing her son’s affirmative nod, she grabbed her phone and, found his contact information. Before she could dial his number though, Noah requested she’d facetime with him, which she reluctantly did. She hardly ever phoned Rafael, but Noah sometimes did when he wanted to tell him something and facetime had become their thing. Pressing facetime she handed the phone to Noah. He took the phone and walked into the living room.
It wasn’t long before Noah came back and handed her the phone. “Uncle Rafa wants to talk to you.”
“Hey.” She greeted him with a soft smile. It was good to see him, his warm smile and gentle eyes warming her.
“Hi.” He greeted her. “So Noah wants to come visit next week. I’m not really sure what it’s about. He was very secretive. Just wanted to check if it’s okay with you.”
“Yeah it’s okay. But if you have other plans…”
“No, I don’t. You two are always welcome, you know that.”
She watched him for a moment. She saw he was still in his work clothes, the blue tie loosened at the collar and the top button of his grey shirt unbuttoned.
“How about dinner? I’ll cook for you two and then Noah can surprise me.”
“That sounds nice. It’s a date.”
He stayed silent and looked at her, his head titled to the side. “Yeah…, it is.” He paused. “Have a nice evening, Liv.”
Her eyes softened at his gentle voice. “You too Rafael.”
“Bye uncle Rafa!” Noah added, appearing next to Olivia to bid his uncle goodnight.
He laughed. “Adios mi amigo.”
TBC...