Olivia giggled as she ran through the sprinkler in her large backyard wearing her tiny little two piece blue bikini. She was going through a phase of wearing everything blue at the time. Her mother thought it was ridiculous but Nicole didn't mind. Olivia looked back at Nicole as she laid out on the lounge chair with a paperback book in her hand wearing her own plain t-shirt and shorts. "Nik watch me!"

Nicole grinned over at her, laying her book over her lap. "I'm watching Liv!"

With another giggle, Olivia took a long head start by the fence, running towards the water and jumped through with her arms in the air. "I'm flying!"

"You're so silly Liv." Nicole took a look at the gold watch on her wrist. "Come on it's time to get dressed for your mom's party. We can play again tomorrow okay?"

"Oh no fair! I hate mommy's parties. They're so boring and no one talks to me. Why do I have to go?"

"Because it's important to your mommy and your daddy. They're very important people that need to have their little girl with them."

Olivia pouted as Nicole turned off the sprinkler before taking her little hand, leading her back into the house. That's when they heard talking and footsteps heading towards them. "This party tonight is very important. We need to show we're a united front honey." Teresa then came into view with her husband James in tow. Her eyes went wide at the sight of her daughter. "Why is Olivia dripping all over the tile floor? Do you know how expensive it was to put in?"

Nicole sighed as Teresa went on another rant. "Don't worry I'll clean it up. Just let me get Olivia cleaned up and dressed."

"No do it now! I don't care what you have to do. Make Olivia get dressed in the backyard. I'll not allow this mess in my house."

Olivia started to cry, not understanding why her mom was yelling at them. She was only five years old. All she wanted was for her mommy to smile at her for once. Nicole patted her wet hair. "It's okay sweetie. Wait for me on the back porch and I'll bring your clothes out."

With a tear falling down her cheek, Olivia turned away to go back outside. Then she heard yelling again. "Why do you have to act like this in front of your daughter? She deserves better than this! Why can't you love her?"

More tears fell down Olivia's face as her mother yelled back. "You know I never wanted a child Nicole! She's a mistake! I wish I aborted her when I had the chance."

Olivia couldn't help but cry more as Nicole shoved Teresa back. "Don't you ever say that about that little girl. I can't believe we were ever friends!" Then the yelling ceased as Nicole stormed upstairs to gather clothes for Olivia.

A few minutes later, Nicole came back outside with a towel and a party dress as well as some hair products. "Oh Liv I'm so sorry. Come here." She opened her arms as Olivia ran into them and sobbed. Nicole rocked her back and forth gently. "Just remember you're better than her. Be strong. I love you darling."

Olivia sniffed as her crying slowed down. "I love you too Nik. Do I really have to go to this party?"

"Unfortunately yes but afterwards I'll take you out for ice cream. How does that sound?"

She brightened up at the promise of her favorite treat. "Yes please!"

Nicole kissed Olivia's forehead before starting to dry her off. "Good now let's get you cleaned up."

All of a sudden, the lights started blinking on and off. "We're now descending into Detroit. Please put your tray in the upright position and make sure all electronics are off. Thank you for flying Delta Airlines. We hope to have you flying with us again."

With a sigh, Olivia sat up in her chair, anxiously awaiting what was ahead of her. She really didn't want to see her mother after all these years but unfortunately she had no choice. If Olivia stayed home, she would hear about this for the rest of her life. That was not something she wanted. She tucked a stray piece of her blonde hair behind her ear as the plane lowered to the ground. This wasn't going to be easy, that was for sure.

About a half hour later, Olivia grabbed her suitcase from the moving carousel before heading outside to find a taxi. She wasn't surprised that her mother wouldn't send a car for her. It's not like she cared for Olivia's safety anyway even though Detroit wasn't really the safest city in the state of Michigan. It took several attempts to flag down a taxi. She gave the driver her home address in Southfield and he took off. It gave her the time to think about what was to come. The only good thing about coming home was seeing Nicole again. After Olivia left home, Nicole moved out of her parents' house to an apartment across town. It wasn't like Nicole and Teresa were still friends. Nicole only tolerated Teresa because of Olivia. Her childhood certainly wasn't easy.

Not long after, the taxi pulled up in front of a sprawling mansion that sat on several acres of land. It stretched wide nearly almost to the neighbors next door. Olivia never cared about how wealthy her family was. She never wanted the stuff like her mother did. She'd rather save her money and use it on something that actually mattered like college. It was unfortunate that her parents never sent her to one but it didn't matter anyway. Olivia found a job at the club in Miami when she first visited and never left. It was the best decision of her life. She loved her job and the people she worked with. When her mother found out about it, she went on a rampage. She wanted Olivia to come home so she can go to college to become one of those doctors or lawyers she kept telling Olivia she had to be. That wasn't what Olivia wanted by a long shot so of course she ignored her mother.

Olivia decided not to knock as she carried her suitcase inside. She didn't want anyone else touching her bags. Going up on the winding staircase, she glanced around noticing how it was spic and span clean. Her mother always made sure the maids did a good job with the house. Like it really mattered. Olivia never understood why everything had to be super clean. Her apartment now was a bit cluttered with things but that was just how she was.

It didn't take long for Olivia to find her room. It still looked the same as when she left it. At least her mothers' maids didn't touch her room. Her Bon Jovi posters were still up along with a few Michael Jackson ones, her vanity was filled with old magazines from her childhood, several of her old videos cluttered her floor near the TV, and even her favorite movie of Back to the Future was still on her nightstand next to her neon lamp beside the queen sized bed.

A slight smile went across her face as she laid her small suitcase on the floor by her closet. It still had some of her old clothes in there as well as her old Halloween costume of a go-go dancer. Olivia laughed remembering the night Nicole took her trick or treating in that outfit. All her neighbors thought she was the cutest thing. Then she plopped herself down on her comforter that was a bit messed up since she never made her bed. What's the point when you're just going to go back into it later that night?

That's when her phone started ringing All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor. Olivia sang along before looking at the caller ID. Oh boy, it was her mother. What did she want now? She was already here. With a scowl, Olivia picked it up. "Hello mother, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Where are you? I expected you home a half hour ago. We're going to the hospital in fifteen minutes."

"I'm already here and in my room. I'll be down shortly, I just need to shower and change. I had a long flight."

"Well, make it quick. I don't have time to waste."

Olivia was disgusted as she hung up on her. She knew her mother would be like this but it bothered her every time it happened. All she could do was remember what Nicole told her. Be strong.

Ten minutes later, Olivia was showered and dressed, ready to go. It only took a minute to throw her hair into a ponytail before running back down the stairs. Her mother stood in the foyer waiting for her. Teresa had her sleek red hair straightened down to the middle of her back and even her roots were dyed to match. Olivia looked her over seeing how she was dressed to kill. What kind of mother wore a short black dress to a hospice? With a sigh, Olivia walked towards her. "Well lets go. Time's a wasting," she said quoting her mother's words.

Teresa raised an eyebrow but didn't say a word as they walked outside to the limo that drove Teresa around. Obviously she liked the finer things in life. Olivia did her best to hold her tongue as they got in. She really didn't feel like arguing right now. "Okay so tell me about my grandmother. I know nothing about her."

"I plan on keeping it that way. I just need you there so I don't fall apart." Teresa looked down at her newly manicured nails trying to keep it together. Her mother was the only person besides her husband that she actually loved.

Now that hurt, Olivia thought to herself. Of course her mother wouldn't tell her anything. That's just how she is. If only......well Olivia couldn't think of what ifs. She just had to think of the future. Oh yeah, a future without Ben. Just thinking of Ben made her heart hurt. Olivia bit her lip trying to think of anything else other than him for once.

The limo finally pulled up to the hospice where both Olivia and Teresa got out. Teresa went on ahead as Olivia lagged behind. She really didn't want to be there. Olivia didn't even understand why she was even here to begin with. Since when did her mother need her? She never needed her before. Why start now?

Teresa went straight to the desk. "I'm looking for Marguerite Hammond."

The young receptionist looked up and smiled at her. "Of course. Room 220. Head down the hall, turn left, and it's the third door on your right."

Teresa turned around, dismissing the young girl, before heading that way. Olivia followed close behind her hoping this would be a quick visit. She watched her mother walk into the room and instead of walking in with her, decided to hang out in the hallway until her mother wanted to leave. There was no need for her to go in anyway.

Luckily, Teresa came back out after ten minutes. "Lets go," she mumbled to Olivia as she walked back down the hall again. Olivia was surprised to see her attitude change so quickly. Maybe her grandmother was worse off than she thought. She knew her mother would never tell her what transpired in there anyway but she wished Teresa would love her enough to confide in her only daughter. With a sigh, Olivia followed her back to the limo.

After getting back in, Olivia turned to her. "You know, if I'm that much of a burden, I don't have to be here. Let me go back home. You have dad for this anyway."

Teresa shook her head. "No you're staying and that's that. You'll be here for at least a month. Then when I say you can go home you can go."

"Oh come on that's not fair! I have a life you know. Plus I have bills to pay. I only packed enough for a week at the most. You can't make me stay here."

Teresa's eyes sharpened into laser beams. "You'll do what I say or else. Don't make me say it again."

Olivia was so mad that Teresa would do this to her. She can't control her life like this! If looks could kill, Teresa would be dead. This was not how a normal mother would act. Looks like Olivia will be calling Nicole to deal with this.

Otherwise, this will be a long month in Southfield, Michigan.