This idea has been rolling around in my head a lot recently. I am still working on my other story, but I just had to get this out of my head so I can focus on Changes.
Autumn in Vermont
Coming home from work that day she could tell that autumn had arrived. The leaves were changing colors and falling from their trees. The Vermont air was crisp and clean. Smoke was coming out of every chimney that she drove past on her way home. As she pulled into the driveway she could see the decorations adorning her front porch. A carved jack o'lantern with a crooked smile was lit up next to a smaller, painted pumpkin with a tiny little hand print plastered on it. When she thought about this life that she never thought was attainable for her. After putting the car in park and killing the engine she stepped out of the car. The driveway was still wet from the shower they had received earlier that day. The door was decorated with a wreath covered in gold, red and orange leaves.
"MOMMY'S HOME!" She heard as she opened the door and placed her car keys on the hook in the foyer. "Hi bug! Did you have fun with daddy today?" Olivia asked as she bent down to catch the toddler running at full force towards her. "YEAH! We went to the pumpkin patch today. And you know what we did mommy? We rode a train!" Her toddler said, eyes wide with excitement. "Where is your daddy? Is he making dinner for us?" She asked. "Yeah, guess what mommy?" Her toddler asked. "What pumpkin?" Olivia asked. "Daddy taught me how to write my name!" She said, proud of her accomplishment. "He did. You will have to show mommy when we get to the kitchen." She said as she let her toddler down.
"Hey babe, what's for dinner? It smells wonderful!" Olivia asked as she walked up behind Fitz to give him a kiss. "We are having beef stew with tomatoes, okra, squash, cabbage and potatoes. It just seemed like the perfect weather for a hot meal." He explained as he returned her kiss. "So what is this I hear about a train?" She inquired. "Come on Livvie, how can you go to the pumpkin patch and not ride the train?" He joked. "And you taught her how to write her name?" She followed. "It's a work in progress." He laughed. "Yeah well, she's only three." She laughed. "We did write my name mommy, come look!" Her child said as she grabbed her by the hand and pulled her to the table where she was now coloring. On the top of the page she was coloring in her Doc McStuffins coloring book she saw the name that was written: H-A-R-P-E-R. "Wow baby this is so good, did you write this all by yourself?" Olivia gasped. "Daddy helped." She admitted shyly. "Well, I think you are so incredibly smart. You are going to be the smartest girl in Pre-K next year." Olivia complimented her child. Harper only giggled.
"You need any help babe?" She asked Fitz. "Ugh yeah, I haven't started on the cornbread yet." He said, gladly accepting her help. "How was your day?" He asked as she began mixing the ingredients together. "Busy, I met with 8 potential clients today. Every single one of them is innocent, but their public defender convinced them to plead out rather than go to trial." She told him. "How were things here? What did you do after the pumpkin patch?" She asked as she poured the cornbread batter into a pan. "Not a whole lot, we stayed at the pumpkin patch most of the morning. Until it started raining on us. Then we got home and had lunch. She napped today from noon to about 2:30. Then this afternoon we decorated our pumpkins and practiced our spelling." He explained, recounting the memories of the day. "Wow, someone has definitely gotten in touch with their domestic side since leaving the White House." She teased. "Well, I've never gotten to do this before. I feel like there is so much that I missed out on with my older kids. I don't want to miss a minute of Harper's life." He explained. "Relax, I'm only teasing. I think Harper is extremely lucky to have a father who cares enough to stick around." She explained as she kissed his cheek.
After bathing Harper and putting her to bed Olivia made her way downstairs to help Fitz clean up the kitchen. "Did she go down okay?" Fitz asked. "Yeah, I tucked her in and read her story. She is still waiting on you to come in and give her kiss goodnight." She told him. "Okay, I'll go check on her after we get done here." He said as he placed a plate in the dishwasher. Picking up a washcloth Olivia began to wipe off the table. "Babe, you don't have to help clean up. I've got this, you've worked a long day, have a glass of wine and wind down." He told her. "Fitz, I am more than capable of cleaning a table. Especially after you have played Mr. Mom all day long." She said. "Suit yourself." He said placing the last of the dishes in the dishwasher. "I'm going to go say goodnight to our baby girl. I'm serious about what I said earlier. Pour yourself a glass of wine and put your feet up.
Olivia finished cleaning the kitchen and then took a glass into the living room and sat on the couch in front of the fire. As if on cue, Fitz came down the stairs after saying goodnight to their baby girl. "Finally." He said as he poured himself a drink and sat down next to her. "I love her so much, but how is it she has so much energy?" He asked, laughing. "You would have boundless energy too if you were three. Besides, everything is new and exciting to her." Olivia said taking a sip of her hot apple cider. "So how was the painting session today?" Olivia asked, referring to the painted pumpkin on their front porch. "That…" He began. "Was an adventure. Luckily she is washable." Olivia only laughed. "She is such an amazing kid isn't she?" Olivia asked. "She is. We did a good job making her didn't we?" Fitz teased, kissing her neck. "We did." Was all she said.
"What do you say about going to bed?" Fitz asked as he finished his glass of scotch. "I think that sounds wonderful, I am exhausted." Olivia said. Taking the last sip of her cider. Once upstairs Olivia walked into the bathroom to brush her teeth and take off her makeup. "I've been thinking about something." Fitz told her. "Oh yeah, what's that?" She asked him. "What if we had another one?" He asked her. She looked at him in bewilderment. "Fitz, we're old. Besides, do you really want to be a stay at home dad of with two children?" She asked. "We are. But she needs a friend. She has Karen and Teddy but they are both so much older than her she might as well be an only child." He explained.
After completing her night-time ritual, Olivia crawled into bed. She laid her head on his chest began winding down from her day. "I've been thinking a lot about having another baby too recently." Olivia admitted. Fitz smirked. "What happened to us being old?" He asked her. "We are. You're almost 60 and I am 40. Do you have any idea how old we will be when they graduate high school?" She asked him. "At least 18 years older than we are now." He said sarcastically. "Smart ass." She said playfully swatting at his chest. "Hey now. You asked." He said. "How do you feel about June?" She asked him. "What about J…" he began. Slowly what she said began to sink in. "Are you sure?" He asked her. "I went in for a check up this morning. We should really be more careful. This is the second surprise we've had." She told him. "We could be more careful, but I don't think a condom would do us much good now." He laughed. "Again, with the jokes. What's with you tonight?" She asked. "What? I'm funny." He told her. "No, you're not." She laughed. "Anyway, I really am tired. I love you." She said kissing him goodnight before she turned to her side. "Goodnight, I love you too." He said as he placed a kiss on her temple and wrapped an arm around her waist.
