Ava - Unraveling Olivia Visser

They say that time eventually tells all, but I am impatient. I want Olivia to fill in all the blanks and missing pieces to complete the full picture my brain is trying desperately to put together. There are more blank spaces and more holes in the picture so nothing makes sense. Realising my train of thoughts I mentally scold myself as I remind my hasty self that she has been through trauma and a great ordeal she deserves to open up when and how she wants to. When she is ready.

Night approaches and my family as usual gathers together in the kitchen to help set the table and lay out the food. "Mary-Anne could you pass the salt please, add more pepper into the chicken soup and give it a stir," orders our mother.

"Ava, quit dreaming and lay the plates and cutlery." She half yells breaking me out of my musings.

"Jedi, can you help me carry the tray of baked potatoes and garlic bread to the table, thank you."

"Honey, you can take your seat dinner is ready!" She tells her husband, our father.

"Alrighty," says Brad Calistar the head of the Hartwell Home. He folds his newspaper and sits at the dining table, taking a sip of his glass of wine. He observes his family as each one eventually comes to sit at the table.

"Father, God we give thanks for this bountiful food, bless the hands that prepared it and our time together," Dad prays.

"Amen", we all say in unison.

"Mrs.Calistar the soup is so appetizing," comments Olivia, seated opposite Mary-Anne and beside me.

"Thank you, dear your welcome to take more if you want," says mom.

"So, you wrote your email. Is everything ok?" Brad Calistar asks turning his gaze onto Olivia.

"Yes, sir. My father will be relieved to know I am in the presence of good company," replies Olivia.

"Glad we're able to help," comments Dad.

"So any plans yet?" He asks.

"Not at the moment, I think my father would want to visit me as soon as he receives my email,I've not seen him in the past month. Which is the longest I've been separated from him."

"I see, well he is welcome here. If he chooses to visit you."

"Thank you for your hospitality, sir. I will let him know."

"I don't believe you mentioned your father's last name."

"I didnt sir, but if you must know it's Visser. Bruce Visser."

Conversation gradually moves away from Olivia as Dad asks Mary-Anne and Jedidiah questions each. He is trying to figure out how serious they are about each other and ignoring the fact that all is said in the presence of far too many witnesses, this I mean jokingly of course. I escape inspection, as conversation conveniently is diverted to politics again and issues arising within our nation.

Before I know it, dinner is wrapped all the leftovers are out into the fridge, the dishes are placed in the sink and washed by Mary-Anne and Jedidiah, who enjoy making each other laugh in the kitchen over some lame love jokes. I try not to roll my eyes for the millionth time. Which leaves me alone with Olivia in the dining room.

"Hey do you want a head massage?" I ask her.

"You do massages?" She asks a little shocked with eyebrows raised.

"Yeah I do." I smile cheekily at her.

"Sure, why not", she invites me to the guest room.

Finally, this is the opening I've been waiting for.

"Okay, I need you to lie down and I'm going to give you a good head rub. Try to relax and let me know if I press too hard."

I switch of the bright lights in the room and switch on a dim lamp at the corner of the room.

"Okay," she replies.

She lies down and I tie her hair away from her forehead, I wash my hands first and apply soothing oils, a mixture of lavender, rose, eucalyptus and peppermint to her forehead.

I begin to rub her head in upward circular motions with my fingers, pressing a little harder at the temples and pulling upwards.

She soon relaxes and starts talking about her email to her dad and how she is worried what his reply might be.

"Don't worry too much", I tell her. "I'm sure so long as he knows you're safe he shouldn't be too mad about your long absence or lack of contact."

"It's just lately he has been on edge with me especially after the Andreas fiasco he has been very protective always asking where I am and what I'm doing. Thank God I don't have my phone with me."

"Who is Andreas?" I ask curious.

"My ex boyfriend. It was a forbidden affair." She says with a sad smile and a faraway look in her eyes.

"I sorta know the feeling, I just got out of relationship too."

"Oh, but I guess it's for the better if they aren't willing to fight for you what's the use. I mean look at Romeo and Juliet."

"Yes, dear but they died in the end, after being terribly misinformed about each other."

"True." She finally concedes.

"I'm falling asleep, Ava your massage is successfully putting me to sleep."

"I shall take my leave then."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight," She replies softly before falling asleep.