Happy Friday #Gladiators. Here is your new chapter for this Olitz Christmas Tale. Now I just wanted to let you all know before you begin to read this is a filler chapter. It gives a backstory on the very special Woman in White whom our favorite POTUS just saved from an incoming train.
So enjoy and be on the lookout for what comes next. Trust me it will be worth the wait.
Take care and thank you for reading.
Me's
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Chapter 3: The Woman In White...
"She was everthing real in a world of make-believe…" Atticus
City VT Girl…
The Woman in White parks her car at the Rutland Train Station. She is running a tad bit behind this morning. Before she left her residence this morning, she speaking on the phone with a close family member. They got into their normal banter of antagonizing the other into a playful argument.
Now because of this phone call, she is running late. Thank goodness she is only ten minutes away from the train station. Living in the city definitely has its perks- in the heart of Rutland. Her place is in the close to center city strategically by her favorite boutiques, Mom and Pop shops, library, deli, meat market, Dunkin Donuts, farmer's market and or course where she works.
She's a city girl born and raised – most of her life. She moved to downtown Rutland, once she graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in New York City. She was accepted into the prestigious cooking school on a four year scholarship after she won a regional cooking contest. She was a straight A student.
Her parents, along with the rest of her family moved from Boston, to Rutland Country, about twenty to thirty minutes from center city.
Her entire family relocated when she began her senior year of college in New York City. She truly loved the big city life taking in all the sites that New York had to offer. While she lived in The Big Apple she ate at many restaurants, the fabulous food trucks on the streets, and of course any place she heard was good.
She also took trips home on breaks. It was easy due to the train she was able to take home. The price of the ticket from New York's Penn Station into Boston's South Station was a quick and easy ride. She could not go home every weekend, but if she had three or more days off from school, she went home to her family – especially for the holidays.
Her family would plan a fairly large meal for Thanksgiving but for Christmas, it was a double in size. It was just her parents and brother who were there over the Christmas Holiday, but her Uncle, Aunt, cousins, her mother's best friend, her Godparents – especially her Godmother, and of course her best friend and his family.
Her best friend arrived for Thanksgiving and stayed through New Year's spending as much time with her as possible. They met in culinary school becoming friends quickly. He of course was from Europe choosing to study in the states where he met the woman in white – his first day of class. They instantly felt a spark between them, but it never developed more than that.
They graduated both at the top of their class. He spent the summer in Rutland, Vermont, before he travelled back home to Europe where he got a job as a sous-chef at The Witchery by the Castle restaurant in Edinburgh, Scotland. When head chef retired, he became the man in charge. He called his best friend right way informing her he got his dream job.
She travelled over to Scotland once to see him, staying in the hotel the restaurant is located inside. The Woman in White visited him for week where she got a tour of Edinburgh, his restaurant, and the surrounding area. She had a great time. He taught her a few things also and thought briefly about moving there but would miss her family too much.
She loved her entire family and is extremely close to her parents, Aunt and Uncle. So of course moving closer not overseas to Europe, into a fairly large city was the only choice after she graduated with her Culinary Degree. Now after a few years of working in the local restaurants, deli's, and bakeries, she achieved her dream and opened her own business.
The Woman in White arrived to in a Boston Hospital during one of the biggest Valentine's Day snow storms New England has ever seen. Her parents lived in the suburbs of Boston. Her mother, Miss Allie - Alice as she was fondly called by all, was due with her towards the end of February.
Her mother swore to the doctors she would not make her due date. "My baby girl will come early I tell yah," she warned her obstetrician. "She ain't going to wait till the end of the month. This baby is like her Momma. When iSHE is ready to come, she will. And I'm telling yah there will be a blizzard when she arrives just to make it more difficult."
The Woman in White's Father knew better than to argue with his wife. Their son came into this world one on of the hottest "dog days" of summer – mid July. His wife knew she would not make her due date of July 31st. It was her first pregnancy but women in her family always delivered one to two weeks early.
Their son arrived on July 14th in the middle of a terrible thunder storm. It had been threatening to rain all day. The moment Alice's water broke, the sky opened up. It began pouring buckets as the amniotic fluid ran down her legs. With each crack of thunder her contractions increased and grew closer together. She swore the picture on the TV kept shrinking with each contraction.
By the time they hit the hospital, the baby was crowning. The Woman in White's olderbrother was born shortly after his parents were brought into the delivery room. Alice glanced at her husband and newborn baby boy with an "I told yah so" look on her face. She'll never forget the look on her Louis's face when the doctor ran into the room.
"Like I said I knew HE was not going to make his due date," Miss Allie proudly teased everyone in the delivery room.
When Miss Allie became pregnant with baby number two – a girl, the doctors warned her not to wait the moment she felt the first contraction. She swore up and down she'd inform Louis – her husband they would get to Labor and Delivery in plenty of time. Of course did Allie, listen, well not quite.
She played off being in labor until Louis saw her struggling making homemade preserves with her sister Josephine. Josie, as her older sister is called was cooking the fruit on the stove – their own mother's recipe. Allie's contractions had been sporadic all morning. It took Louis watching her almost drop the preserves on the counter for Josie to realize she was in active labor.
"No I'm not," Allie chastised Josie and Louis.
Josie's son came into the room asking, "Why did Aunt Allie pee her pants?"
"Allie your water just broke," Josie yelled at her sister.
"Yes it just did," Allie rolled her eyes. "Well there goes Valentine's Jam making," she rolls her eyes. "I told you all this baby would come early. But why did it have to be today. Momma was making Pumpkin Jam too. You screwing with my Jam sweet pea," Allie spoke AT her stomach while Louis and Josie freaked out.
Alice was ushered outside during the Nor-Easter snowstorm. Their normal ten minute trip to the hospital took a little over an hour. She was told to stay in the car, but the baby had other plans. Allie had to get out of the car because she felt the baby in her pelvis.
"This little pumpkin ain't waiting Louie," Alice yelled out standing in the middle of the ER.
Allie was rushed into the delivery room, while her doctor ran up the staircase just outside her room. The nurse checked to see if she was in labor. The baby's head was right there. Her clothes had to be cut off. The nurses instructed her not to push, but the baby was not waiting.
"She ain't waiting for no doctor," Miss Alice announced with Louis and Josie at her sides. Both holding each one of her hands.
The obstetrician rushed into the room, barely had time to put on a gown, before his hands were out catching Alice's baby girl in his hands. "I told you not to push and wait this long," the doctor huffed catching his breath with the baby.
"I was making Jam," Allie huffed. "It ain't my fault Little Miss Pumpkin…," she pauses as the baby is placed on her chest. She glances at her husband as the perfect name pops into her head. They had been going back and forth on names unable to decide. Now seeing her daughter with a mess of curly hair, full cheeks, a soft button nose, her name has been chosen.
"You sure Allie," Louis questions.
"Absolutely. Think about what I was making before we got here. Now that I think about it, my contractions started this morning right after I ate those pumpkin waffles," she glances lovingly into her husband's eyes then Josie's who agrees. "It's perfect. Just like our little…," she whisper her daughter's full name into her daughter's ear.
Since this moment, the Women in White was called by her sweet nickname because of what her mother and Aunt were making the day she was born – Jam. Her family only uses her full name when they are attempting to get her attention or she's in trouble. It would seem the day of her birth shaped her entire life.
Including this very moment of arrival to the Rutland, Train Station. She has been on time or extremely early for everything in her life. She count on one hand how many times she arrived by the skin of teeth. This woman hates being late and this morning's phone call and the extra person who said "Hi," to her threw her for major loop.
Her cousin has been trying since her last birthday to introduce to her to his boss who he has been working for the four plus years. She never breaks a promise insisting she'd come by the moment she has the chance. But with her business all of sudden taking off, she does not have the free time.
The truth is she hates leaving the city. She loves it. Of course she drives to local farmers markets to purchase the best fruits, and vegetables when they are in season, but she is city girl. Bigger the better. Rutland is not New York or Boston, but it is home. Her parents live outside the city limits in the suburbs. She does not mind driving there because of course it is family.
But this morning when she finally realized HE heard part of their conversation she was ready to kill her cousin. She should have known he'd be there still pushing her to come by knowing full well she did not have time for this kind of nonsense. He swore there was no hidden agenda, in them meeting.
Of course she wanted to meet the man especially considering WHO he was, but she never had a moment to herself. Her cousin urged her to say "Hi," once she realized he heard her on the line. She was completely embarrassed. But before she could stop herself, "HI," slipped out of her lips. It was her heart took over. It slipped out.
It shook her when he said "Hi," in return. The phone literally dropped out of her hands. All of body reacted to his deep baritone voice. Every hair on her head wanted to stand straight up which was hard to do because she decided to wear her hair natural today. Her friend in Boston insisted upon it.
/
The Vermonter…
Then he called her back after she arrived the station. She picked up her phone very annoyed at her cousin. "What Marley," she huffs locking her SUV.
"No Hi. Hello. How are you," he teases.
"No. We already went through that the first time you called and made me say hello to your boss. Which thank you very much I am almost late for my train because your dumb ass," she growls. "What in the hell are these black SUV's doing here on a Saturday morning."
"Girl you have time chill out," he teases. Her cousin hears her comment about the black SUV's but plays it off. There is more than one train station in the area. There is no way she's at the same station as his boss.
"Look I have to go," she chastises walking inside the building. "My ticket is on my phone and there is all this extra security," she explains stopping to show her ticket to Amtrack personnel before being allowed on the platform. Before her cousin can protest she hangs up from their chat.
She glances around the building noticing it's empty except for extra security. "Some big wig must be on my train. That explains the security." She rolls her eyes as her bags are quickly searched. Her eyes glance up at the train's arrival.
Amtrack: Vermonter Express 752 - running 6 minutes late.
"Well it's nice to know I'm not the only one running late," she giggles walking past some dark windows on the building behind her. As she passes by a set a dark windows, she hears a deep voice utter, "Boysenberry."
She inwardly gasps semi-recognizing the voice – even through the windows.
"Nah he can't be here," she speaks to herself as she continues to walk by the building.
As she stands waiting for the train with her back towards the building she senses she is being closely watched by someone. She turns her body slightly not wanting to alarm the pair of eyes she knows is observing her. Out of her peripheral vision, even with her sunglasses covering her eyes, she sneaks peeks at the building.
She cannot see enough the through the tinted glass, but there is definitely someone there. Her head tilts to the side just enough to make out a tall, slender, but muscular figure leaning heavily as if they are entranced. She fixes her glasses up higher on her nose to shield her eyes while attempting to get a better look at her secret admirer.
"Well it's a man thank god." She smiles. "Maybe it's the white dress," she utters pretending to surf on her phone. "It is a little late to be wearing white but I was told to dress for the occasion."
As she continues to look up ingredients for a new recipe, this pair of eyes continue to observe her every move. She has had men watch her from a distance in the past. Her mother and her Aunt Josie's best friend always told her she was a beautiful woman. To allow herself to fall for Vermont and all the wonderful things it has to offer.
She did not believe in the fairy tale love. The kind of love her mother spoke of didn't happen in the real world. It is the love, where your vision locates pair of eyes from across the room and just know this person was always meant for you. Everything in your life would have brought you to this moment.
She cannot see the pair of eyes entranced on her from building, but just knowing just maybe her Momma was right causes her heart to quicken. "No," she scolds herself. "My life is not some Hallmark movie where I met Mr. Right or he saves me from death."
There is also a smaller figure inside the room, attempting to get the man's attention. She can see them tugging on an arm and waving a hand in front of their face. The movement is enough for her skin to prickle. She wonders why her body is responding to his unwavering gaze.
"What is my hair that bad," she wonders. "I knew I shouldn't have listen to her," she scoffs wondering why she listened to her best friend and did not straighten her hair for a more polished look.
From across the platform, the train going in the other direction stops to pick up its passengers right on time. The train stops for about thirty seconds to a minute permitting everyone to board the train. The whistle is blown and then it leaves the station headed to its next destination.
Out of the corner of her eye she notices movement. She glances up as a man approaches her. "Yes can I help you Sir?"
"Very much so," the man speaks to her with a sinister tone. "How about you forgo your train ride and come with me for a drink."
"Um sorry but I'm not interested. I have to board the train. It will be here any minute. Maybe some other time," she deflects his offer hoping he'll go away.
"I want you to come with me now darling," he coos brushing his hand over her arm. She moves away from him. "I swear I'll make it worth your wild."
"I'm not interested," the Woman in White replies with conviction. "No please leave me alone." She begins to walk away but she is jerked into his arms. "HEY!"
"Come on baby you know I'd give you a good time," he leans forward ready to press his lips to hers. "Can't you feel how beautiful I think you are?"
"Get off me you Son of a Bitch," she hollers shoving him away from her then scratching his face. "I Said No. I am not interested."
"Fuck you," he rushes to her pushing her over the edge of the platform.
She screams out in horror just before she crashes onto the iron rails. The man who hurt her takes off running but does not get very far due to the extra security. As she lays on the tracks helpless, she hears muffled sounds above her. She hears a deep indistinct voice calling in her subconscious mind. She cannot make out the words, but he is speaking to her.
Then her body feels a warmth above her. The vibrations from the man's voice barely stir her from the darkness until she feels his hands on her face as he speaks. His warm breath tickles her skin as she swears she hears his name. His words are slurred together, but she swears he is asking her to open her eyes.
She can't open them. They won't work. There are weights are her eyes not permitting her from open them into the light. Her entire body feels heavy and lifeless.
She hears it. "WOO. WOO," the whistle from the train and jumbled words from the rich voice of the man trying to save her life.
"I am NOT leaving her. She'll be killed," Fitz screams at his agents and Theodora. "Miss the train is coming," his face hovers over hers. "God you smell like boysenberries," he coos as the smell engulfs his senses briefly.
Boysenberries she clearly hears him speak while she is unconscious. "That voice," she wonders. "Why do I recognize it? It's eerily familiar."
"FUCK," Fitz screams as he wraps his arms around the woman. Her body instinctually molds against his as is if was always meant for his. His face is buried in her neck. She feels as if she's being spun around in circles as the man presses his body into hers as a gush of wind blows past them as the train flies by. Her body is flat on a hard surface safe from the train and harm.
Her nose picks up woodsy spice scent. Its aroma permeates into her body as a large hand with long fingers lace into her hair holding her head up from resting on the hard ground. Her heavy eye lids begin to lift open just as the man who just save her life raises his head off her shoulder.
When their eyes connect his eyes widen. His pupils dilate quickly taking in the soft pair of molten chocolate eyes staring back into his. These eyes he's been searching for his entire life just became the most real thing in his world he's lead himself to believe.
The fairy tale moment they were both waiting for – just happened. Boom just like that!
She blinks rapidly as her eyes focus on the man who is on top of her.
"Hi," Fitz speaks with the softest most reassuring smile at on his face she's ever seen.
Her eyes lids become heavy once again gazing into this strangers eyes. She partially recognizes him, but why. Before her mind has a chance to process that this man who just saved her life is none other than Former President Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III, her eyes start to close.
Her body begins to shut down to shield itself from the injuries from landing on the tracks. Her eye lids feel as if there are switches threatening to block the light of from her hero keeping her safe.
Before she the darkness swallows her once again she silently mouths one word. One word only.
"Hi."
Her eyes flutter closed before she has a chance to respond to the man who just saved her life.
/
TBC.
Yes is it for this filler chapter. I know it was not probably what you were looking for but I think you needed some history on this mystery woman Fitz just saved. Now who do you think she is? Any ideas? Oh come on I'm sure you all MUST have a clue by now. I dropped lots of breadcrumbs in this chapter for you to find.
If you are eager for what happens next please leave a review to let me know you still want more and are interested.
Thank you for reading and have a good weekend…
ME's
