Phoenix Falling

Chapter 16

   ******** Liam ********

    I was speeding, faster than I ever intended to. I wanted to get my bride home and take her to our bedroom. But when I turned onto our street I noticed far too many cars parked at Tim's house. 

"f**k" I said through my teeth. 

"You told Tim?" She asked. I smiled at her and nodded. 

"Of course, I had to ask his permission." I said, turning into the driveway. 

"Needed his blessing, it's the right thing to do." I said, getting out of the car and running around to open her door. I took her hand and led her across the street. Before I opened the door I kissed her softly on the lips. Then I led her in. The room erupted with cheers and shoutings of,

“Congratulations!” I could feel the heat rising in her body, she was so shy. This wasn’t exactly her scene. 

“s**t. I haven’t told Peyton and Norra.” She said, spying them in the corner. But they smiled and waved at her. We were ushered through a line of people that I didn’t know all congratulating us. Smiling at us. 

“Do you know any of these people?” She asked me. I shook my head no. She giggled. When we met the girls and Chuck they each took their turns to hug her deeply. The girls squealed with delight as she told them about the helicopter ride and the proposal. 

“Damn Liam, Why did you have to do such a good job?” Chuck asked me quietly. I looked at him confused. 

“She’s the one man.” Chuck said, seriously. Looking at her like she hung the moon. I smiled and patted him on the back. 

“Well bud, when you're ready to ring shop I’m here for you.” I said. He pulled me into a hug. Peyton walked over and hugged me.

“Liam, thank you so much for taking her away from Connor.” She whispered in my ear. I smiled at her. 

“Thanks for pushing her back to me.” I said, kissing her on the cheek. I held her tight for a minute. It was mostly thanks to her that Olivia was with me. She had influenced it from the very start. Then I hugged Norra. 

“I’m so excited for you!” Norra said as she held me tight. God Olivia had such sweet friends I was honestly very happy for her. When I released her I wrapped my arm around my bride again. 

“Guess What?” I asked her happily. She smiled up at me. 

“What?” She asked. 

“You are my bride.” I said, kissing her on the forehead. She smiled. 

“Well, I think I am your fiance.” She said. I smiled back. I guess she was right. But really I just couldn’t wait to see her in a white dress. There was a tinkling of glasses, we turned towards the sound. It was Tim. He was smiling. 

“I want to thank everyone for being here.” He said, starting out his speech. 

“I just want to toast to my daughter Olivia. She moved here two years ago and it has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I had missed her so much. She met Liam that year and I knew that they were destined. I’m very proud and honoured to be able to call him son. Congratulations kids. May you have a life full of happiness and love.” He said, raising his glass. Everyone toasted us. He called me son? I loved it. This was my family. s**t. My family. I hadn’t told my mother. She was going to freaking kill me. 

“You haven’t talked to Paisley have you?” I asked Olivia. She shook her head. 

“No? She hasn’t talked to me since…..” She trailed off not needing to finish that sentence. I nodded in understanding. We joined in the conversation with some old guy who was telling Olivia about the place his daughter had bought her wedding dress. She didn’t seem very excited about the wedding. I was a little worried about it. When I got a chance I asked her.

“Are you not excited about a wedding?”

She looked up at me. 

“I’m not, not excited. I’m just not really all that girly, the whole idea has me a little flustered.” She said, I really enjoyed the new honesty that she had become accustomed to using with me. I smiled at her. 

“Baby, we can do whatever you want for a wedding. It doesn’t matter to me. We can go to City Hall. We can go to Vegas. We can have a BBQ. We can get married in Mexico. I don’t care as long as you will be my wife.” I said. She smiled. I meant it too. I didn’t care at all what we did for a wedding. I just wanted to be with her. Tim came over to chat with us after awhile. 

“Olivia, There’s an envelope in the glove box of my car. Would you mind running and grabbing it?” He said smiling at her. She nodded and ran out to the garage. 

******** Olivia ********

I opened the glovebox. Inside was a light pink envelope. It had my name on it. I smiled as I pulled it out. A lipgloss fell on the floor of the car. I picked it up to put it back. Wait a minute? I don’t have this brand. I wasn’t sure what to do. So I slid it back into the glovebox. Did Tim have a girlfriend? Why didn’t he tell me? I’d like to meet her. I took it into the house and walked up to Tim. 

“Open it.” He said smiling at me. I slid it open. A ring fell to the floor. Liam picked it up and handed it back to me. It was a mens gold band with three diamonds in it. I slipped it onto my thumb while I slipped the letter from inside out and opened it. 

Dear Olivia, 

I am so proud of you my sweet sweet granddaughter. I am so sorry that I cannot be there to see the day you walk down the aisle. Your grandpa and I wore these rings for 72 years. I told your dad that he was to give them to you on the day you were engaged. I hope that my band will fit with your engagement ring. Remember honey, nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Every good relationship will take work. Never go to bed angry. Love him with everything you have. The most important thing to remember is that everyone is human. We must forgive one another. Mistakes will be made, just work past those mistakes. 

Love you Always

Nana

I smiled, then I slid her band from the envelope. It was perfect, it had diamonds all the way around it. I slid it next to my engagement band. Perfect fit. 

“Dad, it's perfect.” I said smiling at Tim. He smiled. 

“Told you I needed to get you a jewelry box.” Liam said, giving me a little kiss on the forehead. I smiled. Around 9 pm people started leaving. I decided I had better call my mom. I went upstairs to my bedroom and called the number. 

“Olivia, Hi baby.” She said on the other line. I smiled. I could hear heather in the background cooing at Harry. 

“Momma I wanted to let you know something.” I said, 

“Go ahead hun.” She said happily. 

“Liam asked me to Marry him.” I said quietly. I hoped she would take it well. She had been so mad about the fact that I was pregnant. She was quiet for a minute. 

“And?” She asked. I giggled. 

“I said yes.” I said happily. 

“Congratulations baby.” She said, she sounded authentically happy. 

“Send me a picture of the ring ok?” She asked. 

“Of course momma I can do that.” I said, 

“I was thinking too, grandma's wedding dress.” I started trailing off. My mom's mom had been married in the most perfect dress for me. 

“It’s yours baby, you can do whatever you want with it. I can ship it to you?” She said, 

“I’d love that. I may want to alter it a little bit if that's ok?” I asked her. 

“She left it for you Olivia. You can do as you please with it.” She said. 

“I’ll send it tomorrow. Ok hunny?” She said 

“Yes please momma. I wish you were here to help me with it.” I said, I was really lost. 

“Well baby, you set a date for the wedding and let me know when you want me to come I’ll be there. It’s just one flight.” She said, I smiled to myself. That’s what I needed. 

“Thanks momma.” I could hear Heather getting fussy in the back. 

“Say Hi to Harry for me and let him know ok?” I said. 

“Of course hunny. Congratulations and say hi to Liam.” She said. I let the phone go dead. When I looked up Liam was standing in the doorway. 

“Soooo. Everyone is gone.” He said, a sexy smile on his face. I laughed a little. He undid a button on his shirt. Then another as he walked my way. 

“Even Tim, He went out with a friend.” He said, dropping his shirt to the floor. I swallowed a little. He undid a button on his pants. I smiled a little more. The zipper slid down, revealing his sexy treasure trail. 

“We are all alone and I would love to return the favour.” He said. 

CRASH!!!!!! 

Glass broke all over my room. The patio doors shattering. 

“What the fuck.” Liam shouted, doing the button back up on his jeans. He took off out the door and down the stairs. I followed. Connor was on the front lawn. 

“Stay back Olivia.” Liam said trying to stop me from going out the door. 

“Olivia, he's really high.” He said. I looked around him. Connor was standing on the lawn. No shoes, swaying back and forth. God he looked awful. He was so skinny. His skin pale. 

“What do we do?” I asked, unsure of what to do. 

“Liam don’t get near him.” I said. 

“Call Peyton, let her know ok?” He said. I nodded and dialed her number. 

“Peyton, I need help.” I said, trying to remain calm. 

“Whats up?” She asked. 

“Connor is on my lawn. He threw something through my french doors.” I said. 

“We will be right there.” She said hanging up. 

“She’s coming.” I said to Liam. He nodded, 

“Liam come inside please.” I said, trying to convince him to come back to the house. Too late, Connor spotted us. 

“You!” He said, I wasn’t sure if he was screaming at me or Liam. 

“You have my child!” He screamed. Pointing this time. 

“In the house.” Liam said, rushing me back through the door and locking it behind us. Connor began pounding on the door. 

“Out here slut!” He screamed. Dam he’s so out of it. This is bad. I saw Liam’s fists clench. 

“Liam no.” I said, trying to calm him down. 

“b***h!” Connor screamed. Liam began getting red. 

“Liam, we cannot react to this. Peyton's family is on the way. They need to handle this.” I said, trying again to calm him. He nodded, he knew I was right. 

“I hate you! I hate you! Look what you did to me!” He screamed. I began crying. I lowered myself onto the floor. Liam sat beside me. Wrapping his arms around me as Connor continued kicking the door. Screaming rude comments at me. 

“w***e! Skank!” He screamed. I stayed quiet. Silently crying behind the door. I saw lights pull in the yard. Peering through the window beside the door I saw that they were Peyton’s dad's car. I sighed a breath of relief. 

“Dad! Dad! This b***h she’s hiding my baby!” He screamed. I watched as his dad wrestled him onto the ground. Then Peyton knocked on the door. She came in and hugged me. 

“I’m so sorry.” She said, holding me tight. 

“It’s Ok. Peyton, he needs help.” I said. She nodded. 

“We know. He’s going. We called the rehab on the way over. Dad’s taking him there right now. Mom’s coming to pick me up.” She said as a second set of lights pulled in. Then a third. Peyton’s mom and Tim. 

“I better stay in here.” I told Peyton, holding Liam back from leaving. She nodded. 

“You better stay here too. Let’s not make this worse Ok?” I asked him. He nodded. Soon Tim came in. 

“What the hell happened?” He asked. I shook my head. 

“He threw something through my french doors.” I said. 

“Jesus. That boy needs help.” He said. I nodded. Liam and Tim covered my doors with plywood while I vacuumed up the glass. While Liam was downstairs putting the tools away I looked over at Tim, checking the job on the doors. 

“Dad.” I said, 

“Hmmm.” He asked me. 

“Do you have a girlfriend?” I asked him. He spun around. 

“What?” He asked me. I smiled at him. 

“Dad, it’s ok if you do.” I said, it really was. I was sad for him actually. I had left him, gone to California for school. Now I am getting married. He needed someone. He was quiet. 

“I found lipgloss in your glovebox when I was grabbing that envelope.”  I said. He was still quiet. But then he said, 

“I have been seeing a lady. I wouldn’t call her my girlfriend yet.” He said. I smiled at him. 

“Well dad, I’m happy for you. I don’t want you to be lonely.” I said. He smiled at me. I walked over and pulled him into a hug. 

“I love you daddy.” I said. He kissed me on the forehead as Liam came back in the room. He let me go then headed off to bed. 

“Night kids.” He said as he closed the door behind him. I looked at the alarm clock. 3 am? 

“Liam.” I said. He nodded. 

“Let’s just go to sleep?” I said. He smiled. 

“Ah this is what married life is like.” He said. Giggling to himself. We curled up in bed and drifted off to sleep.