EXTRACT FOR
Olivia - Part Seven
(Kelly Addams)

"Since when did you have the right to question my movements?"

Same time, same crap, different day Olivia thought as she glared across the breakfast table at her pitiful husband.

Once again he had crossed a line. Admittedly, just a handful of months earlier that line hadn't existed, and asking where she was going wouldn't have sparked such hostility.

But it's there now she thought, and he should be bright enough to know that stupid questions like that would be met with the derision that they deserve.

"I don't need to explain anything to you, and I certainly don't need your fucking permission, I'll go where I like, when I like." she snapped.

Jeff held up a hand as though it could deflect the hurtful words. "I didn't mean to upset you love," he said quietly, "I was just curious."

"Love?" she spat, "I think that died a long time ago."

Olivia knew that she was being grossly unfair, the man might have been lazy, irritating and tedious company, but it couldn't be disputed that he actually loved her. Not passionately, like it had been in their first few years together, his was a more comfortable form of love, the love that was rarely spoken or expressed, but felt and understood by both. His was a love based on familiarity and the knowledge that there was nothing left to prove in their relationship.

"I do love you," he protested weakly, "But just recently you've been so distant, and snappy, and cold."

"Oh, so that's how it is? That's how you see me?" She instantly pounced on his words and made him regret having opened his mouth, "After everything I've sacrificed for this family, the hours that I've slaved away so that you can have a nice home, food on the table and comfortable lives... you accuse me of being an Ice Queen?"

"I didn't say that," he defended, "You're twisting my words."

Olivia snorted and pushed her plate away. Now she would treat him to a little silence and watch him squirm as he tried to repair damage that didn't exist. If I didn't despise him so much I'd probably feel sorry for him right now. She suppressed the small grin that was threatening to ruin her display of chilling frostiness.

He does love me in his way I suppose, but more than that he loves his comfortable life... and the colder and more distant I become, the greater his fear that he might lose it all. A jaundiced view maybe she thought, but probably quite accurate.

Glen had taken breakfast earlier, Olivia knew that he was avoiding her, and in a small way she felt a tiny spark of respect for the boy, at least he seemed to be getting a grasp on the situation. He avoided confrontation. He isn't giving me any opportunity to attack him directly, he's still doing things to piss me off, but he's rarely around for me to berate in person.

So unlike his idiot father who seems to relish crossing swords with me, always

 

sitting there wearing that stupid grin, just waiting for me to tear him a new one. It's almost as though the retard enjoys being belittled and insulted.

Olivia had considered making an excuse for her upcoming absence, a carefully crafted explanation to justify the time away that she'd arranged with Russell, but decided not to bother, she'd offer no explanations, and counter any question with aggression.

They were making plans, and every other consideration in their lives was gradually falling by the wayside.

Russell was still faithful to the butchery, but it was no longer his priority, his sights were set now on another goal. Every day the dream of owning his own restaurant was becoming so much closer to reality than fantasy. Not once did he think of Olivia as a source of finance, his pride wouldn't permit him to accept any hand-out, regardless of the sincerity of the donor, or his love for her.

It was simply the fact that Olivia gave him confidence, in himself and his abilities. It was always maintained that behind every successful man was a strong woman, Russell had begun to believe the saying was true because his lover made him feel strong, invincible.

For Olivia, and her partnership in the firm, more and more often she was passing cases over to the younger lawyers who were still trying to make their mark. She used her pregnancy as an excuse, but in her heart she knew that she was gradually winding down.

To continue as I am would be unfair to everyone that I care for she told herself as she diverted her thoughts from her white family and concentrated on the black family that would soon surround her. I know Russell would understand, but I don't want to abandon our son and put him in the care of hired help. For a while she'd considered finding an experienced nanny, someone to stand in her place while she continued her career. But I don't want anyone taking my place she'd told herself. She didn't need to work again, she had her own personal savings, more than sufficient to keep both herself and her new family very comfortably far into the future. And when my savings plan matures she reminded herself, that would be a life changing sum, even by her own standards.

I can walk away from the firm and never work again. And besides, if I did stay on it wouldn't be fair in the other partners she thought as a warmth spread through her body, the warmth of total happiness, because as soon as our son is born I want to start working on a brother or sister to keep him company. What kind of lawyer is only available when she's not either giving birth, or nursing a new born. I'd be on maternity leave half of every year.

A clean break is best, for everyone concerned, and being a mother is a far better profession than being the person that uses her advanced intellect to ensure that guilty-as-sin scumbags walk free on technicalities. I'll like myself better as a loving mother, and dutiful, faithful wife to the finest nigger that ever graced this planet.

Saying the word, even thinking it still felt wrong in her mind. It was a word that would bring her a sharp reprimand if used in court, and raised eyebrows if used openly in the office. But Russell loves it, he loves it when I call him that... and what

 

right do I have to judge what is right or wrong on his behalf, it is entirely his decision if a word is offensive to him or not.