Combine Pink and Indigo (Part 2)

As the days passed Operation JAR, had begun, and was going according to plan. The only ones that were oblivious to it were Julia, Robert, and Ed. We kept Ed in the dark, because Olive said he was lousy with secrets, and if Robert were to ask for some fatherly dating advise, we didn't want Ed giving us away. Olive and I were sitting on the couch watching TV (which I now know how to work), when we heard Robert walking towards the livingroom. We started talking; it sounded like we were in the middle of a conversation, and not as though this was a planned conversation. We both spoke a little louder than we normally do, but we weren't too obvious. "...and she said I looked pretty too." said Olive "Julia seems like a nice girl. She has to be pretty awesome if you approve of her Olive. Why do you like her?" I asked. "I like her because she is beautiful and she always says how amazing my golden color is, because gold is her favorite color. She also is kind, even more kind than a regular pink person. She is one of the best most prettiest people I know...." She stopped after Robert had walked out of earshot. "How did we do?" she asked quietly. "Hmm he didn't seem interested yet, but he definitly heard us. You were smart saying she likes gold the best; because of his gold." I said. Days went on with these plotted half conversations. I went to work often, it was easier to schedule, now that I had a phone. Me going to work meant that Sin and I could continue plotting. Robert delivered mail to Julia every morning. Things were going slow, because my brother is rather dense, and Julia is so pure. Sin said that every morning their conversations were getting longer, as he gave her mail. This lasted for weeks. We were getting tired of this, when our work finally began to show.

Finally Robert started showing signs of a crush. On Sundays, when I worked, and Robert didn't, he would bring her up on his own; asking how she was doing, or if I had talked to her. Sometimes I would actually tell him what she said, othertimes I would say she was talking about another man, or that she was thinking about him. Hopefully all of these mixed signals I was feeding him would get him to confess. He had always been outgoing and cocky, but when it came to Julia, he was rather timid. These kind of personality changes happen for two things: love or hate, and I knew this wasn't hate.

The plans became even easier to pull off as I became closer to Julia as a friend. As I was passing by Julia's station, I had a marvelous idea. "Julia. Do you want to come over for dinner tonight? Olive loves seeing you, and I am sure Robert would enjoy your company as well." I said, not even trying to hide my intentions as a matchmaker. "We..Well.. I am not" Julia began, but before she could finish, Sin came up behind her. He dropped his arm around her shoulder, "Oh it would be lovely we would love to go. I mean if I am welcome that is. I have never even seen your house." he said, pressuring Julia to say yes. "Well Julia is my only female friend, so it would mean a lot to me if she came. You can come if it is okay with Julia." Julia knew she was defeated. She couldn't say no to her boss, and she knew I had ways of getting my way no matter what she said. "uhh" she sighed "Me and Sin will go. Sin will drive." As soon as she admitted defeat I gave Sin a high five. "She knew we were tricky devils trying to set her up with her crush, it was just my dense brother who couldn't figure it out. I knew blue eyes didn't suit him. Sin and I walked back to the dressing room where we began to plot for tonight's dinner. "Okay Sin, you talk with Ed about Olive's possible career in modeling, don't get his hopes up though. I don't want him depressed and angry if she doesn't become a model." I said. Sin nodded, "and while I am talking to Ed, have Olive pretend to have a tummy ache. She is a good actor, and is on our side. All she needs to do is make sure, that she only wants you to help her." he said. "If Ed insists on caring for her, I will get my phone under the table and call your phone. You can then say that it is a business call, and you need my help with it." we smiled at eachother. Our plan was fool proof. I worked until 3:30 I left waving at Sin and Julia, "See you tonight. Dinner will be ready at six. I hope you like my cooking."

I took a cab home and immediately began cooking. Ed walked into the kitchen to see me making steak stroganoff with carmelized onions and mushrooms. As I let the noodles boil and the vegetables simmer I began the sauce. Ed stood and stared. "I didn't know you could cook. You know I would have made dinner for you." Ed said. "Not tonight Ed. I am making a special dinner because I invited Sin and Julia over for dinner, and I told you before I am good at just about everything." he looked at me questionetly, but had no objections. We could both hear a knock at the door. "Robert! could you answer the door please?!" I yelled from the kitchen. I began to set the table. A nice chef's salad, stroganoff, and bread sticks. "Why so fancy?" Ed asked. "Because my boss is coming to dinner. I should impress him." I explained, though it was a lie. "Makes sense," Ed responded "but he didn't hire you on the spot for your culinary skills." I shrugged my shoulders "It would still be nice to impress him though."

Robert led Julia and Sin to the kitchen where the table was set perfectly. "Welcome you two, please hang up your jackets and take a seat." I winked at Sin who knew it was his duty to make sure Julia and Robert sat across from eachother. "I will fetch Olive." I said. I walked up the stairs to the second floor, where Olive sat on her bed already in her pajamas. I waited in her room talking about our plans for a few minutes, then walked downstairs. "Olive said her tummy hurts." Ed stood up "I will take care of her.". I was prepared for this. "No it is fine, she said she wanted me to take care of her. I will make her some toast, and go back upstairs." at my explanation Ed sat back down. I stepped to the toaster to quickly make toast. As soon as it was done, I walked past the table to the stairs. "Oh she is just as good as the models I have working now." I overheard Sin's acting. I went upstairs and left the toast on the side table. I had already fed her macaroni and cheese beforehand, so she wouldn't be hungry after not eating dinner. "This plan is going perfectly." I said. "It better be. That cousin of mine is as thick as a rock when it comes to love. I am five for goodness sakes, and I can tell they both like eachother." Olive said. "Why can't they just say their feelings, and we can get this whole act over with?" Olive said raising her arms in exasperation. "Well where would the fun in that then." I answered "Think of it this way, someday if they get married we can hold the fact that we were the whole reason they are together." She rubbed her chin trying to weigh the benefits. "Okay Squirt think of it this way, you are the whole reason they met; because Julia works with your photographer. You are also helping in getting them together, with this plan. You can use these facts to your advantage for years to come...if it works. I explained "Well if that is the case we just have to make sure it works." I grinned closing my eyes "Exactly!" When I opened my eyes a second later Olive and her pajamas were running down the stairs. This can't be good I thought as I chased down the stairs after her, but I was too late she was in front of the table. "Cousin Robert, we all know you like Julia. Julia we all know you have liked Robert since day one. This idiot is just too thick to see it. All of this she jestured to the whole meal and her pajamas, are an elaborate plan to make you two date. So hurry up! Go outside, fall in love, kiss, and then give me all the credit!" Sin and I both had wide guilty eyes, Robert and Julia were both blushing as red as humanly possible, and Ed was utterly confused. "That's why we had dinner guests. I thought you wanted us to meet your friends." Everyone looked at Ed. "Read the room dad, read the room." Olive said. I chimed in meekly, "It might not be the most important topic right now." Ed butted in again "Well why not? It is offensive I thought maybe at least it was for me to meet your boss, but nooooo you had heard alterior motives." I hit my head with my palm. "Ed seriously. It is obviously about them!" I jestured to where Robert and Julia were, but neither of them were there. "but...where did?" I stammered. Sin looked just as confused. "Well those two kids wouldn't have gotten up and go outside while everyone was watching them. So...this wise man, started a distraction." Ed explained with pride on his face. Olive, Sin, and I were dumbfounded. "I might not have noticed your big reveal, but the hints you 'casually dropped' around both of them was obvious. I love my baby to pieces, but she is five. Any plan that relies on a five year old is sure to fail. Example A." He gestured to us after speaking. "Damn on the spot thinking and acting." Sin said clapping his hand to his thigh. "Sin there are children present." I scolded. "Olive, did you hear me say a bad word a second ago?" She smiled a devilish smile "That depends..." I looked at her with a stern face. "Fine. Yes Sin you said a bad word, even grown ups shouldn't swear blah blah blah." she said dramatically. I spoke up "Why did you go rogue, Ed rescued us, but you could have ruined it." I said. Tears welled up in her eyes, real tears, not the crocodile ones that she had mastered. "I just thought I could make things faster. I...I..." she began to choke up as she sobbed, I di...didn't want to make you m... mad!" Olive cried. I pulled her into a hug. Olive you didn't make me mad. I am not mad at you, not even a little bit." I said. I held her in front of me, she had mostly stopped crying, but there was leftover tears and snot running down her face. I picked her up and headed towards the bathroom, leaving the men behind. "Let's get you cleaned up." I said. I braided her hair back, washed off her face, and lathered her in her 'special' lotion. She was already in pajamas from earlier, so I carried her to bed. She was nodding off as I held her. I didn't even get to read her a story. Olive was out like a light the minute she was tucked in. I left the room silently.

When I left the table I expected Sin would leave, but he and Ed were still sitting down. "You have come a long ways with that girl. Her selfishness level is through the roof, yet she cried for you." said Sin. Ed interjected "My darling Olive who is NOT selfish, has never cried for anyone ever. She has only cried for her mother after her death. She just cried because she thought she hurt your feelings, it wasn't a tantrum. How are you doing this?" Ed asked me. "Well from my first day on the job, I made sure she behaved, I got some respect from choosing her outfit, which Sin was impressed by, and being strong, but that wasn't enough. Don't get me wrong Ed I love Olive now too, but I blackmailed her into submission on the first day of work. All I asked of her was to politely say goodbye to Julia, I wasn't having her do anything hard. A child will learn to respect those whom are dominant, yet still respectful as them as a person. Also saving her life, being on TV, and being able to say a real stylist does her hair, make-up, and wardrobe everyday helps too. Ed you spoiled that girl rotten, but not to the core. She doesn't respect those she can walk over." I lectured. Sin and Ed just stared at me I couldn't tell if it was awe or confusion. "Well she is a costumer of mine so none of that will work with me." I stopped him. "Sin, I know compliments are part of your job description, but giving her some constructive criticism might work, use me as a backing if you absolutely have to." I stopped and turned to Ed. "Ed there are a million things I could tell you, but you are my dad now too, so it wouldn't be respectful. If you want to know how I do it just watch, and figure out your own way, being a parent is hard. I have done it several dozen times, up to the age of twelve. You will figure it out." I explained. Sin looked at me and shook his head, "How did God cram so much knowledge into that little teenage brain of yours. You just gave professional advice to a professional, and told your dad you have the secret to raising children, but won't tell him." He stood up and waved his hand. No work tomorrow for any of us. Julia has some things to think about, and my makeup artist needs some time for herself, and maybe to get details out of your brother. Those two have been gone for an hour. Ciao." He waved goodbye as he saw himself out.

Ed and I began washing the dishes. "Ed, when is the night nanny coming in?" I asked, realizing she was a half hour late. "Violet we haven't had a night nanny since you and your brother moved in." I was shocked. How did I not notice that, was it because I was so interested in Robert's love life? "Why did she leave?" I asked. "Well with three adults living under the same roof, I figured we could handle a five year old, who for the majority of the shift, sleeps." I nodded in agreement. It was understandable that an extra nanny was useless, especially since we all knew Olive would only want me if she had an accident or a nightmare. What else has changed I wondered. Then Robert walked through the door, with a look of horror, and his hands and face covered in blood.