A/N: Hey guys! Surprise update because I needed a break from studying! Like if I look at one more quizlet question, I might go crazy! But, thank you again for the kind reviews! Much love to all of you! I was thinking of Eli as Mark Harmon. What do you guys think?
"Yes, this is she…..Can i ask what is your business here?" Olivia asked in confusion. She was so confused because this man was basically crying in front of her.
"Sir…." The man took a little bit to gather himself together and then spoke.
"Hello…..my name is Elijah Caldwell….."
"You're Ma's brother?" Olivia asked in shock because she remembered when she was younger Ma talking about her brother that was a lawyer.
"Um….yes….I am…..I am your father Olivia….." Eli spoke with tears in his eyes. After Sally left, Eli did a lot of thinking.
The more he looked at Sally's drawing of Olivia, the more he wanted to meet his daughter. The best of him and Maya. On top of that he's learned that he's a grandpa. He did his dance of denial, but now it was time to face the truth. Eli was alone living a life with no family. He wanted to meet his daughter and tell her how sorry he is that he wasn't there for basically all of her life. Eli, came out of thought when Olivia spoke up. Actually she laughed.
"Hahahaha right…..And I'm Abraham Lincoln!" Olivia was in shock and this was her way of responding. How does a African American woman react when she has a older white man telling you that you are his daughter?
"I know it is hard to believe, but I am your father…..You have grown up to be a beautiful and strong woman…...Just like your mom…"
"Sir…..I think you are clearly mistaken and delusional…...I am an orphan…..Aunt Sally picked me up while she was on her way to settle here because…...You know what I think this is all a mistake and you should probably leave." Olivia was getting upset now. It was too much for her to process. Her whole life has basically been a lie. Fitz hearing that Olivia was upset, tries to get up to see what in the hell is going on.
The children seemed to hear the commotion and came downstairs. Harrison was instalty by Fitz's side helping him get up and reach Olivia. The three of them reached Olivia and became very defensive. She was visibly upset and Fitz did not like that.
"Harrison…..and Carolyn…..Could you please go fetch your grandmother please!" Olivia asked her children. They silently nodded and ran off towards Aunt Sally's house.
"Is everything okay Livvie…..?" Fitz asked in a protective tone. Even though he was clearly still recovering from his bullet wounds, but he would lay down his life for Olivia and the children.
"No, it's not! I have no idea what's going on. When Ma get's here all will be settled." Olivia looked up at Fitz's concerning blue eyes. Her ocean eyes. They seem to calm her down. Eli observed what was going on and did not like it. The way that man was looking at his daughter was he way he looked at Maya. While Olivia looked at him the way Maya did. This was not good. A love like theirs will only end in tragedy. Eli cleared his throat and got the attention of Fitz and Olivia.
"Please come in until Ma gets here Mr. Caldwell." Eli nodded and went into the home. Everything reminded him of Maya, she was just like her mother. Eli, was proud of Olivia. She seems to be doing fine for herself. He prayed to God that those children weren't with this man in front of him. After what Maya and him went though, Eli would never wish that on anyone. Yes, he barely knows Olivia, but she was still his daughter and she deserves the best life possible. Although, in America he fears for her safety. No matter if she was in the north or the south.
"Would you like some coffee? Tea?" Olivia asked as she fussed around the kitchen and her hands were shaking. Fitz limped over to Olivia and held her hands in his. He looked at Olivia in the eyes and spoke.
"Deep breaths, Livvie…..Breath with me…..In….(inhale)...Out…(exhale)..." The two did that for a while and it seemed to calm Olivia down. She didn't even wait for Eli response and got him some tea. She loved tea, but didn't know what Eli was a tea person as well. She bit her lip as she was making the tea Eli observed. It was insane because he did the same as he was making his tea, with lots on his mind. Eli was going to comment on their similarities but decided against it. Olivia was already upset and he didn't want to add more fuel to the fire.
After a tense and awkward waiting period, Sally came bursting through the door. She felt like the wind knocked out of her when she saw Eli sitting there. Sally knew Olivia's heart was going to be broken because of the news she was about to hear.
"Ma….This man is claiming that he is my father…..Please tell me it's wrong…...That you haven't lied to me my whole life…..That you kept this from me Ma…" Olivia asked Sally with tears dripping down from her face. Fitz didn't like to Olivia cry, but the situation they were in he understood why Olivia would react the way she would.
"Livia…...Eli and I can explain…" Sally responded with tears running down her face as well.
"Oh my god…." Olivia gasped and held her stomach.
"I can explain all of it Olivia…" Eli spoke up. He did like seeing his daughter cry because of him.
"What is this some game? That one day you'd just pop in here and turn my life upside down?!" Olivia yelled at her father. "Where have you been all my life? You know what don't answer that. I know that answer. You were too ashamed of me. Did you take advantage of my mother. Is she alive?" Olivia angrily spat at Eli.
"Please…..Olivia….just hear me out okay…..?" Eli begged and after staring her supposed father down, she nodded.
"I loved your mother so much Olivia. There wasn't a single thing I wouldn't do for her. She was our new house worker and when I saw her I fell in love with her instantly…...Your mother was the most beautiful woman I have ever met. I am not just talking about physical beauty, but emotionally and mentally as well…..She was my everything…...Soon your mother and I became madly in love…..but our love was forbidden…..So we were secret lovers…..Mainly because my father would have killed her if our love was ever uncovered….I was studying to be a lawyer in Harvard….
After I came home for Christmas…..your mother got pregnant with you…...When I came home for the summer and found out…..I was the happiest man alive…..I was willing to give it all up for your mom and you…...She was my everything…...So, I planned to move out here in the unclaimed territory where my father couldn't reach us…..And I would be with my family…..Live a simple farmers life…...Everything was going as planned till it was time to bring you in the world….Your mom she was so brave and when you were born she and I were so happy….But….life….doesn't alway goes as planned….She was…..She was…..(Eli couldn't speak because it hurt so much to talk about Maya's death.) She was…..bleeding too much…..The housewives….there was nothing they could do for her…...Your mother loved it when I read to her…Her…...favorite book was Pride and Prejudice…..I carried it everywhere I went…...So her last request as she was taking her last breaths on Earth was that she holds you and I read to her….I held the both of you and started to read…..Not long after your…..mom….she….passed away….." Eli hung his head and cried.
Olivia was crying, Sally was crying, the children were old enough to comprehend what was occurring and they had tears in their eyes. Olivia didn't even noticed that she was in Fitz's amrs. He held her to his best ability.
"Why…..did you not….want…..me…..?" Olivia looked so broken….
"I…..had Sally take care of you…..because…..You reminded me so much of Maya and I was a broken man…...If you stayed with me…..your life would be in danger…..I already lost the love of my life…..I couldn't lose my daughter as well…..I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me…..I couldn't fathom a world without her…...I still can't…..I think about her everyday…..We were supposed to be together….raise you…..have more children…..grow old….and watch our grandkids…" Eli cried some more.
Olivia just stayed in Fitz's arms and took it all in. Right now it was too much she needs to process all of this.
"This is too much for me….right now…..Ma….Mr. Calwald…..Please leave…..I just….I just need some time…..Please…" Eli and Sally nodded and quietly left. When they did the children came rushing to her and she held them in her arms. Fitz tried to leave because he felt like he was intruding, but Olivia entered her arms and held him too. Fitz gave her a small smile and hugged her back.
"Mamma….what will you do?"
"I don't know baby….I just don't know….." Olivia responded to Carolyn. When the children felt that their mom has calm down they let her go but stayed in the kitchen with her.
"Livvie…..what can i do? Tell me what I can do to make it better….."
"Keep being you Fitz….." He cupped her cheek and kissed her on the forehead. Then Olivia realized that Fitz has been up for a while. She took him in her arms and lead him back to his bed.
"Read to me….." Fitz whispered. Olivia nodded and reached over for a candle.
"Please….would you light my candle." It was quickly becoming their thing. While Fitz rested the children helped Olivia make dinner. They knew she needed them the most right now. Olivia was blessed to have the children she has, because they didn't leave her side for one bit. As she was stirring the stew, Harrison hugged her from behind.
"I got you Mamma…..Love you….."
"Oh Harry…..Mommy love you so much my sweet boy…" Olivia turned around and hugged her son.
When dinner was ready Harrison got Fitz up and they were having their boy time. Dinner was with great conversation, although the children did everything they could to cheer Olivia up. After cleaning up for dinner, Olivia read some more to Fitz. Hearing her voice was like hearing an angels voice. Soon, Fitz was asleep. Olivia closed the book, blew up the candle, and kissed Fitz on the forehead. She tucked the children in and headed to bed.
Later on that night Fitz woke up to some rattling. He thought he was just hearing things, but started to hear noises. Fitz panicked because he thought the men have found him, he must do everything he could to protect Olivia and the children. He got up and went to grab the shovel that was across the room. When the intruders entered he yelled and hit the man. Olivia instantly shot up hearing Fitz yell. When she went downstairs Fitz was on the ground and he was bleeding bad.
She instantly grabbed her shot gun and fired. It hit one man on the shoulder. The children were up now and Harrison and Carolyn both grabbed sticks. One of the men pulled out a gun and as he was about to shoot Fitz grabbed his foot and pulled him down. He was wrestling with him on ground. The man was trying to shoot him with his other gun. Olivia and the children knocked out the the third man and were successful. They went over to Fitz and Olivia used the end of her gun to knock the man out. Fitz was relieved and he passed out. He ripped through all of his stitches and bandages.
Olivia and the children got sat Fitz up and worked on tying up the three men. When they were done, Olivia and the children took Fitz to Olivia's room. She quickly readdressed his wounds and got him situated. Olivia sent the children to go fetch Sally and eventually they would get the sheriff. Before she left she made them promise not to say anything to the sheriff about Fitz. After a little bit he woke up in a panic.
"Shhhhh….shhhhh….Your okay…...I'm okay….The children are okay…..You saved us Fitz….." Fitz let out a sigh of relief.
"You almost died…"
"I know….."
"Don't do it again…" Olivia cupped his cheek.
"Okay….."
