CIAAA A New Day

Chapter 3

Olivia and Fitz looked at each other for a long time. Olivia was not certain what she should say or how she should react as her emotions were all over the map. Olivia was aware of too many things that should not be said.

She couldn't get mad at him for withholding the information from her because she had withheld similar information from him.

She did not dare ask how long he had known because she was afraid it would bring out the worse in her.

She did not want to ask what else he knows because she did not want to hear the question from him…. who else knows.

Being the modern woman, she decided on the best way to handle what was happening now and what she could control…...

Olivia leafed through the notebook then placed it the drawer of her bedside table. Pulling the covers back she looked at her husband ... then motioned for him to lay down. Once Fitz, who was waiting for her reaction, laid down facing her…she kissed him then turned so they could lay in a spooning position.

Fitz laid there for a time then pulled his wife closer and decided the next move was hers.

FPOV

After talking to his father, he decided, while he was not happy with his wife deceiving him, he was not going to let it destroy their marriage. He decided they would talk when he got home and then he would give her an item that belonged to her that he had been holding for a while. Fitz understands his wife… he is not sure he will understand his wife or her reaction when she learns that he has known her secret for a long time. He knew, or suspected, her identity before their trip to California. That knowledge is what pushed him to tell her how he felt because he knew how she felt about him. While he was concerned about a relationship between them he knew it was what they both wanted. As is often said it isn't rocket science…. its love…. which is far more complicated than rocket science.

He, like her, understood why she had acted the way she did. She was waiting for the right time and he has been doing the exact thing…, waiting for the time and now was the time.

After putting Thomas down, he decided this was the right time. He gave the envelope to Olivia …. she looked at the contents first with a question as her eyebrows pinched inwards then in surprise as her eyes widened as she looked at the notebook she held in her hands. He saw the expressions on his wife's face change, change and change again before she looked up at him.

She did not say anything and neither did he, just shook his head to say in the affirmative. When she returned and began leafing through the notebook he started to smile because he knew she now realized…... he knew all along. When she looked up again he could not help but smirk at her discovery. He sat on the edge of the bed waiting, waiting for some reaction from her.

Fitz waited, and nothing happened…finally Olivia pulled the bed covers back and motioned for him to lay down. Fitz laid down facing his wife who kissed him gently then turned her back pulling his arm around her, so they were in a spooning position. She then turned over and grabbed his hand pulling it around her which meant she wanted to be held. He pulled her close, laid his head in her hair and waited to see what would happen but nothing came. Instead his wife pulled his arm tighter around her.

The next morning Fitz woke up to an empty bed. Thomas usually slept through the night now, but he was an early riser. He assumed Olivia had heard the baby monitor that he somehow missed, or she got up before Thomas and shut it off. After making a trip to the bathroom for his morning ritual he went in search for his family.

As he started down the hall he could hear his wife talking to his son…they were in the nursery. Olivia was talking baby-talk to Thomas. Just as he rounded the door she said…" come on let's see if daddy is awake."

Thomas saw his dad before his mom did and immediately reached his arms out for him to take him as Olivia looked around to see Fitz entering the room.

"Oh, there is daddy are you going to have breakfast with him or are you going to stay with mommy?"

Thomas continued with his baby chatter, smiling as he continued to put his arms out for his dad to take him. Olivia looked from one of her men to the other shaking her head.

"Buddy we may be in trouble you especially... mom got you cleaned up and changed and now you are giving her the cold shoulder for me. We both are going to be in the doghouse for a while." Secretly Fitz was happy he could hide the first moments of the day behind Thomas because he did not know what was going to happen.

'Ok guy's I'm going to start breakfast any special orders?"

"Thomas what cereal are you having this morning, and are you going to let your dad feed you?" Fitz said as he raised his son up to his eye height.

Thomas continued to look between his mom and dad as if he were thinking "what's with these two. Don't they know I would rather have a steak, but I don't have any teeth. Until then just mix that cereal and this time use less milk... I drink 3 bottles of milk a day ….enough already."

Fitz looked at his son who was looking directly at him…'" Hi you… what are you thinking?" …Thomas gave him a look that said "'dad you really don't want to know"

Olivia put a cup of coffee in front of Fitz along with a bowl of fresh fruit , yogurt and several slices of toast.. … then she poured some hot water over the tea bag in her cup. Thomas was content with his mixed cereal but kept an eye on the bowl full of fruit.

... They had mainly continued their breakfast pre marriage rituals. Now instead of just a beverage they shared something light at home together which gave them some extra time to spend together with their son together. Fitz still had either a full breakfast or a cup of coffee with his dad Olivia the same with her group. A bagel with cream cheese, every Monday. This was her weekly daily pleasure especially since it was the start of the week and with this treat her week always seemed to start out in mama bear fashion…. just right.

Olivia's mother arrived as did their nanny/housekeeper, Mrs. Gold.' Mrs. Gold did light housekeeping on Mondays and Fridays. The other three days she was Thomas' nanny. On Mondays and Fridays one of the grandmothers whisked Thomas away for the day. Both wanted to be a part of his life and these visits were theirs alone with him. Their own version of Mama Bear time…. just enough not too many and not too few.

Both had complete nurseries in their houses and both refused to take no when they insisted on helping with Thomas. They both understood the balancing act Olivia was facing and this was their way of helping. Both granny's saw him once a week. The dual job worked for Mrs. Gold. She had the hours and salary she wanted and a workload she could easily handle. Thomas has seen more museums and parks than most adults. He was becoming more at ease with crowds and was becoming more comfortable. Most of the time he was well l behaved…most of the time he has had a couple of meltdowns. Today the grannies had teamed up for a play date with the other Grant grandbabies. This would give their mother a break. The two figured three children, two adults it would be ok.

On the ride to the office their entire conversation was filled with their work schedule with no hint of what had happened the night before.

"Fitz, I checked your schedule do you want to go over my west coast trip after lunch?"

"What's to go over I told you the trip was not necessary."

"Yes, it is…. it's the same trip I made before we were married and a trip that is expected of the person holding my job."

"Olivia…. our baby is just seven months old and you are willing to leave him for three nights."

"I wanted to take him with me…. with Mrs. Gold…you nixed that. The other solution is to leave him with his very capable father. You have both our parents as back-up, so you should be fine. Or I can take the baby with me. He would only be away from me the same time he is away now."

"I told you I don't want him in a hotel room at his age…. it's too soon. The ranch ok…...a hotel room no."

Olivia took a deep breath…. they were flying on a private plane and staying in a five-star hotel …. but she understood Fitz was right. She had to be more understanding about how Fitz felt and traveling with Thomas now was not a smart decision. Fitz also did not know Olivia's state of mind…If she left with Thomas would she return. She still had not said anything about last night which was leaving Fitz a tad rattled. He did not know and his argument about their baby in a hotel room seemed a pretty good offensive move on his part.

Olivia could see the wheels spinning in her husband's head. He was waiting for her reaction to last night's news. Guess what Mr. CEO, I'm going to wait this out until I can find just the right words with just the right tone. He is going to be the one to bring it up and knowing Fitz he would. She had decided, as much as she wanted to know, she never would be the first to bring up last night..

The two made their customarily parting at the elevator. Fitz continued to see his father, Olivia joined her group for breakfast. Gerry would tell him every morning. If he wanted to they could stop their breakfast meetings or make it just a couple of times a week. Fitz kept repeating….. it's what both he and Olivia decided on…. together. They wanted to make their work day together less like an extension of their home as possible and it was working.

Fitz gave two raps to his father's door as he entered. Gerry who had been told Fitz was on the way was at the buffet fixing his plate. They had breakfast, as before, every morning either was available. On Tuesdays they were joined by other senior executives. On Thursdays Gerry had brunch with members in middle management . Several times a year he rotated among the different divisions and had lunch catered for everyone in the division. This was usually a two-hour lunch open to all, but no demand was made that all had to attend. This way meeting and mingling with everyone he could see any discord before it had a chance to take hold. Employees loved his relaxed style and his willingness to rub shoulders with them. During the all division lunches employees were encouraged to ask questions or leave suggestions. Even complaints were encouraged. One dissatisfied employee could easily morph into an unsolvable problem. Fitz sometimes joined him but since his job was running the company his time was better spent running the company. Gerry's job as President was, in his mind make sure the company his son was running ran as smoothly as possible. He was more the diplomat that the president …it was a hat he was very happy to wear.

"Morning son…did you figure out the problem we discussed yesterday?"

"Yes, I did."

"And."

"And what dad?"

"What happened…... did you tell Olivia, or did you decide it wasn't important enough to create a possible problem?"

"I handled it dad and I don't see it as a problem now or one that will develop in the future. Olivia is leaving for her west coast trip tomorrow night."

Gerry stayed silent knowing there was more to come. Fitz took a sip of coffee

"I don't agree with her leaving …the baby is still so young,…. how did you feel when mom was a working mother and wife?" Fitz looked at his father

Gerry was waiting before making a comment

"Fitz…. Olivia is different from Irma…times are different. Don't take this wrong but Olivia is an exceptional human who happens to be a woman. Your mother was…. sorry is…. smart …Olivia is exceptional. Grant could have easily moved along without her organizational input, but I am glad we did not have to. She was willing to sacrifice her happiness for the company, which in hindsight I want to kick myself."

"She is a career woman who happens to be your wife and a wife where her boss is her husband…. she walks a thin line. Look at us, having breakfast daily together, that's the business career woman . She understands why it's needed and necessary for both of us and the company. Olivia is not threatened by your sometimes long hours, breakfast with your father, lunch with other women or that from 9 to 5 you are her boss."

"I pity cultures where the excellent input from 1/2 of the population to the success of the company, or country, is thought to be better served when she is wearing an apron and loading the dishwasher. The trip west is part of her job description, she knows it, don't make her feel bad by asking her to not do her job. If she wasn't your wife would you have the same reservations.?"

Fitz hung his head "nope I would not have given it a second thought."

"Do you think she is happy to leave her young child for three days?"

"No…she considered taking him , but I was concerned about Thomas staying in a hotel room for three days."

" Fitz….She's taking our plane and she is staying in a five star hotel."

"It's still a hotel filled with germs. It's not in and out it's for 3 days."

"Fitz…you are the CEO of Grant…Grant has a private plane at your disposal …does that give you any ideas?"

Fitz who was sitting with his left elbow resting on the table …his chin resting in his hand….. looked up at his father.

"What are your plans the rest of the week?"

'I'm flexible…why?"

"Can you…...sorry would you fill in for me the rest of the week?"

"Where are you going to be?"

"In California with my wife and son. I guess I could ask Mrs. Gold to come along but she it's such short notice."

"Thomas has two very willing grandmothers."

"Do you think mom would consider taking the trip for such a short stay at such a short notice?"

"Ask both grandmothers…if both say yes you can work around that…if one says yes works around that, if both are busy you are on solo daddy duty during the day. Thomas has his own room at the ranch…Olivia can fly back every night it's about the same distance as the drive from the ranch to the Ca. office. Think about it…. How is my grandson today?"

"He 's great…when I was talking to him this morning he kept making noises like he was trying to answer."

"You did the same thing as a child and he does the same thing when I talk to him…maybe it's just a Grant trait…are you going to go to California?"

"'I never thought about going with her. Do you think she will feel like I am, smothering her?"

"You have been married long enough to know that answer…. will she?"

"Dad how did you get so wise."

"By making mistakes."

The two men finished their breakfast…Fitz packed Laurens treat and headed down to his office.

Olivia and her group had finished their breakfast break. They were busy double checking all the reports she would need the three days in California. As he was returning to the office he heard Lauren talking to Olivia saying…I'll tell him when he gets back. Holding up a finger he told Lauren to have Olivia met him in his office. Quick as a flash they entered his office, through different doors, at the same time.

"What can I do for you…. boss?"

"Your husband would like to talk to you."

Olivia gave him a serious look…

"Is this a good husband talk, or bad husband talk?"

"I'll let you decide."

Olivia stood silent waiting for Fitz to continue.

"I changed my mind about Thomas going with you."

Olivia remained silent…...Fitz let the statement hang without any explanation

"May I ask why?"

"He can go…if you let his father tag along."
A smile filled her face and Fitz saw this woman did not feel smothered by her husband.

In this chapter I wanted to give the sense of a family working together as families did for centuries, and still do . Gerry is wearing the father, grandfather and father-in-law hat well. Both grandmothers willing to do what ever it needed to support Olivia Grant the Mother, wife and careerwoman by taking some of the load off her. Now her husband acting as her husband and not boss knows she is fighting the idea of leaving her young child for the first time…...solved that problem. He threw he a life raft.

This was my first, but not last, try at dialogue from Thomas. Let's see what kind of interesting input will come from the mind of a baby.

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