Olivia was starting to look more cheery these last few weeks and she tried her hardest to repair her relationship with her father, with Eli's support. Her phone was finally given back and she made an effort to call her father every morning and evening.
Half the time he didn't bother picking up and flat out refused to respond to her text messages but she kept trying and always left him a voice message.
Avery used the excuse that work was piling up on him and he was trying to make time for his honeymoon with Agni. However Agni convinced him to take a family vacation over the winter break instead, since the girls shouldn't be missing a day from school when they were in their last year and were too young to be left alone unsupervised.
Avery agreed and allowed Agni to book the flight and make all the reservation for their first family trip. They would be going to the Canterbury Isles for two weeks of nothing but sand, sun and fun starting on the 21st.
.....
The Steel family made their holiday rounds and and drop off their Christmas presents to their friends, colleagues and business partners. Their final stop for the week was to the Alegria estate to finally visit the triplets. Olivia was quietly binding her time and waited for the perfect opportunity to start her plan.
"They are little angels!" Mrs. Steel shouted as she tried to reach out for one of the little balls of cuteness. She looked at Amy as she carried one of the boys in her arms "Sweetie you must be exhausted from all the work." Amy gave a small laugh "No actually. You are right though they are little angels, they sleep through the night and barely cry they are all so well behaved but everyone just keeps telling me to wait for them to become fully awake."
Avery was happily looking at the little girl smiling at him from her dad's arm. "She looks a lot like Grace doesn't she." he said with a sigh "They both do..." Robin said as he glanced at Olivia. Avery flinched at his comment.
Robin took a gulp and dared to ask as loudly as he could "Are you going to visit Grace's resting place before you fly out?" Olivia heard her que and looked at her father. Avery took a pressed his lips tightly together before he answered matter of factly "We fly out this Friday night so I will go visit her in the new year."
Robin's face paled at Avery's words, rage was starting to boil under his skin and he stood up to try and fight back the urged to strangle his brother-in-law "What do you mean in the new year?!" he hissed. Benjamin, Walter and Gracie all started to cry simultaneously and Amy started to make a fuss. Agni looked confused as she handed Benjamin over to Amy "What's going on? Did I miss something?" she asked in her sickeningly sweet voice.
Avery couldn't help but bite his lower lip and stare at his feet. "It's Olivia's mother's death anniversary on the 23rd." Loreley said bluntly as she and Laila tried to calm down Walter with some stuffed animals. "Olivia told us a few days ago and was heartbroken whether she should speak up or go along with our plans... but you know she loves you so much that she decided to keep quiet and asked us to not say a word to you." Laila chimed in while she peek-a-booed Walter.
Olivia was taken a back as she barely exchanged a few words with the twins since they moved in. They usually rushed into their room and locked themselves in but for them to know about her mother and lie to Agni, she couldn't help but feel touched. She owed them and would never forget what they had done for her tonight.
Olivia looked teary eye at Agni and gave her a gentle smile "They're telling the truth." she said softly to her family, well only part of the truth but they didn't need to know that. The triplets started to calm down, their cries turned to mere sniffles and the room was virtually quiet. Avery looked up at Olivia showing signs of his old self "Livy... I don't know what to say..." Avery whispered as he looked into his daughter's eyes.
"Father... mother... can I fly out later I want to visit mom, please?" she pleaded with a bitter-sweet smile. Olivia was the only one who could see Agni's face and seen the anger boiling behind her eyes, this women was ready to blow. Olivia held her breathe, she didn't know how Agni was going to act and hoped that by asking in front of others it would carry in her favor but she couldn't predict how she would act in front of family, let alone her father.
Agni gave her a sinister smile before she turned around with tears falling from her eyes. "Honey I had no idea! I mean... you never talked about... I wish you had and then I could have..." Agni wailed Avery shot up and ran over to Agni, embracing her as he stroked her hair.
"No it's my fault! I couldn't bring the topic up and I have been so busy lately." he murmured against her hair. "But we can't leave little Livy bear behind! I want us to be... to be... all together for the holidays!" she wailed loudly against his shoulder. Avery gave Olivia an apologetic look "Sweetie can't we all take a trip together to see your mother in the new year?" he pleaded.
"Shit!" Olivia thought. She was so close but she had to try and push her luck. Olivia let tears start to run down her face as she gave everyone the biggest smile "I see... family does have to come first, right?" she said with the saddest tone she could muster, hoping that Robin would take the bait.
Robin's face contorted with a mixture of pain, sadness and anger. "Avery.." he started "Olivia can still spend the holidays with all of you as a family after she visits Grace. I can have her spend the night here and send her on the first flight to the Isles to be with all of you. Does that sound ok?" he wearily suggested.
Agni froze, her loud sobs finally stopped while Avery contemplated on Robins words. "Will you take care of her properly and not allow her to go see Grace alone?" he said cautiously. "I swear she will be under the best of care!" Robin swore with one hand raised in the air.
Agni slightly pushed Avery back and her delighted face appeared "Darling that sounds wonderful! Everyone wins if we do this!" she proclaimed gleefully. Olivia let out a sigh of relief and thought "So she does care how she looks..."
Avery nodded at Agni and turned to look at Robin "Can you?" Robin nodded with pride "I'll tell you what I can take Olivia back with me after we drop you off at the airport."