2. Be careful.

"Mommy." Elisha approached me but her eyes were fixed on Olive. 

I looked at Olive. My friend was surprised, stunned even. Then she smiled at Elisha with tears in her eyes when she realized who the little girl was. 

"Hi," Olive said. 

"Elisha," I said. But it was more to remind Olive of her daughter's name. "I'm sorry, baby." I picked her up and sat her on my lap, directly facing Olive. 

"She's grown," said Olive, crying. 

"Go ahead, Liv. You can hug her." I smiled even though in my heart I don't like this scene. What if Olive changes her mind and then takes Elisha? Can I handle it? 

"Hi, Elisha!" Olive didn't move. "I'm Aunt Olive." 

I don't know if I would be happy with the introduction. But at least Olive spared me the trouble of telling Eliha about her real mother at the moment. 

"Hello," was Elisha's short reply in between yawns. 

"I see you're still sleepy. Want me to put you back in bed?" Olive asked her daughter softly. 

"No... I want my mommy." 

Olive smiled at me. A bit hurt, I knew, but she didn't voice that out. 

"Be right back." I stood up to take Elisha back to the room and put her back to sleep. 

"Who is she, mommy?" 

"My friend." I kissed her good night again. 

"Okay... Please say good night to your friend for me." Elisha said as she closed her eyes once again. 

"I will, Eli." If Elisha only knew that I was lying to her, she might not forgive me.

 

She had just met her real mother and I didn't tell her... A tear threatened its way down my cheek. I'm hoping that Olive won't take Elisha back. Eli is all I have.

"Don't worry, Hannah. I don't intend to tell Elisha that I'm her mother." Olive assured me when I returned to her, as if she read my mind to give me that assurance and ease my worry. 

"Are you sure?" I did not hide my fear. 

"Of course... You are my friend, Hannah. Besides, you played that mommy role very well when I was too cowardly to even think of the idea." 

"Thank you, Liv!" I hugged her tight.

That is what I needed to hear. That Olive appreciates the way I raised her daughter. I'm just hoping that is enough to keep her from taking Elisha back. 

"Get some rest, Liv." 

"Thank you, Hannah." 

----- 

"What's your name?" 

Olive and I's attention shifted to Elisha at her question. We are having breakfast and the moment we sat down to eat, Elisha never once took her gaze away from Olive. 

"I'm your Aunt Olive." Olive smiled at her daughter. "I told you last night, don't you remember?" 

"You were here last night?" She acted thinking by putting one finger on her right temple while her brows furrowed.  "I don't remember." 

"Because you were too sleepy, Eli," I answered.

"Why do you have a black eye?" My little girl curiously asked again. 

Olive and I looked at each other. Of course, we can't tell Eli that it was her father's doing. So instead, Olive told her an answer that was way too far from the truth. 

"I slipped and hit my eye." 

"Oh... Does it hurt?" Elisha's face had a hint of genuine concern. 

"Not anymore." Olive smiled and that satisfied Elisha.

"Okay." She resumed eating. 

Olive and I continued catching up. Too careful not to mention anything about her real relationship with Elisha.

"Don't let Nate see her." We already finished eating. I was doing the dishes when Olive approached me. "She looks so much like him... Like his female version actually." 

"H-he doesn't know about her, right?" I looked worriedly at my friend. The fear that rose in my chest at the mention of Elisha's father is also strange. 

"Yes. But I'm positive that once he sees her and connects the dots, he'll know. Be careful, Hannah. He's a dangerous man," she warned me.

"Well, he won't see her." I calmed myself. "I won't let their paths cross." 

It's not like Nate and I already met before. My friendship with Olive just lies in the background. We were of the same age. We became good friends when we went to grade school together, developed a one of a kind bond when we attended high school but were separated when Olive started her career in showbiz. 

When my father kicked me out, it was Olive who helped me. I owed my friend a lot, so that when she got pregnant with Elisha, I couldn't just watch her commit the sin of having her own child aborted. 

"By the way, Josh will pick me up tomorrow. I don't know if I'll see you again or Elisha." 

"Are you sure of your decision?" We sat in the living room. Elisha, on the other hand, was busy with her dolls. 

"I've never been sure in my entire life." She smiled. "Thank you, Hannah. For everything and for taking care of Elisha. You've done a great job of raising her. She's a wonderful girl." 

"Thanks, Olive... I just hope we'll see each other again. I can't hide the truth from Elisha forever. She will hate me if I let her live a lie. So I hope you're here when I tell her the truth. That would mean so much to her." 

"I appreciate that you still want to introduce me to her." Olive held my hand. "But I'm not really sure about coming back. Josh doesn't know about my daughter." 

I realized how Olive's life was such a mess. Contrary to the popularity and luxury that show business offers, Olive's life is very chaotic. She is always so scared and full of secrets. 

"Still, I'll tell Elisha about you." 

"Thanks, Hannah. You're the only right thing in my life." 

"You've helped me a lot, Liv. And know that I'll always be here for you." 

We spent the rest of the day trying to make the best of it. Olive bonded with her daughter without Elisha having the slightest idea about her real relationship with her Aunt Olive. 

The next day, Josh picked up Olive and we bid each other goodbye.