Chapter 9
Later on that week Olivia sat on her sofa one afternoon. She was feeding Ava, and editing a speech that Mellie, and Abby had written. She couldn't focus because the only thing that was currently on her mind was her parent's odd behavior.
They had went to dinner the other night, and everything went perfectly. There was no bickering between her and her parents. They had even been cordial towards Fitz. Both her mother and her father often threw verbal knives at Fitz. Not this time. They were gracious hosts, they included him in conversation, and they doted over their granddaughter.
Olivia decided that she needed to make sure that she was keeping a proper eye on her parents. She picked up her cell phone off the table and dialed a number. When he answered she said, "Huck, I need a favor. Are you all working on anything big over there?"
Huck replied, "We have some things going on, but I can help with whatever it is that you need."
"I need you to watch Maya, and Rowan. They are planning to leave the country, but they're being strange. My gut is telling me that they are up to something. I need you to watch them, and let me know if you see anything suspicious," Liv explained.
Huck reasoned, "Liv, we were watching them before you had the baby. They weren't doing anything. I think in this instance you're being a little paranoid."
Ava had stopped sucking. Olivia removed her from her breast and laid her on her shoulder as she rubbed circles on the infant's back in an attempt to release the gas in her stomach. She said to Huck, "You know that with those two it's best to be on edge. That's when they strike, when you let your guard down."
Huck was quiet for a moment. He then said, "You're right, Liv. We can never be too safe. I still think that he has changed, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious."
Liv said, "Get on it. Oh, and Huck. Thanks."
Huck replied, "No problem, Liv. Anything for you."
Fitz walked into the family room as Olivia disconnected the call. He said, "Is daddy's little princess ready for her bath? Are you coming, Mommy?"
Olivia handed Fitz the infant. She said, "I'd love to, but I should finish editing this speech for Mellie."
Fitz gave Olivia a look then he turned to leave the room.
Olivia's brow furrowed. She stood and followed behind her husband. She said, "What?"
Fitz had stopped in the nursery. He placed Ava on the changing table and began to gather her things for her bath. He replied, "What?"
"You gave me a look," Olivia said.
Shaking his head Fitz lifted the baby and said, "It's nothing Olivia. Can you bring her clothes, and lotion? You can put them on our bed. I already have her towel and things in our bathroom. The water is ready. Hopefully she'll cooperate, and not act as if she is going through a severely traumatic experience."
Olivia squinted her eyes, "Fitz!"
"You still have two weeks before you return to work, and already you're pulling away from your familial duties. I just think it's funny," Fitz commented.
Olivia took a deep breath and counted to ten in her head. She asked, "What are you talking about Fitz? What familial duties am I pulling away from. I'm her mother. I do just about everything for her. Because I declined to do one bathtime I'm pushing away from my duties. I don't have duties. I am a mother. A mother who takes care of her child. You are her father, and you can take care of your child as well. I don't have to do everything."
Fitz chuckled humorlessly. "You do everything? Olivia you're a class A workaholic. We both know that as soon as you return to work you're going to become too busy to be bothered with us."
Olivia's eyes stretched wide. "Fitzgerald Grant, what in the hell are you talking about? Is this what you really think? Then why did you marry me then?"
Fitz put the baby in the seat that was nestled in their garden tub. To his surprise Ava didn't start wailing. He proceeded to wet the baby with a soft baby washcloth. He said to his wife, "I love you, Olivia. I have never known a love like what I have for you, but I often question how in you are. I've always wanted to marry you, and being married to you has been amazing. I pray everyday that when I die that I do so in your loving arms, but part of me married you to ensure that you went through with the pregnancy."
Olivia gasped, and her eyes immediately filled with tears. "You're a piece of work. You shouldn't have married me. You obviously think very little of me." She turned and stormed out of the bathroom.
She was almost in the family room by the time Fitz caught up with her. He said, "Olivia, baby what I'm-"
"Fitz! Where is Ava," Olivia screamed taking off at full speed back to the master bedroom.
When she entered the bathroom she found Ava in the tub with her fingers in her mouth. Olivia took off her cardigan, and threw it to the floor. She kneeled by the tub, and began bathing her daughter. Olivia said, "You have to be careful. You know that you can't leave her in here alone. She could've drowned, Fitz!"
Fitz looked at the floor. He said, "Livvie, I know. I just got so panicked for a moment. I thought you were leaving. I had to stop you."
"Why do you always think I'm leaving? Every time I left you I had a valid reason. You were married, or you and I had problems that weren't even close to being resolved because we couldn't even communicate with one another. I don't even know why I stay when now I know you're just waiting for me to walk out the door," Olivia said, as she bathed their daughter.
Fitz felt like the other show had finally dropped. He had been waiting. Waiting to see what her excuse would be to leave, and here it was. He asked, "So what are you saying, Olivia?"
Olivia scrubbed Ava hair with the little scrub brush. She glanced over at her husband, "What do you mean, what am I saying. I'm saying you're acting like I didn't have legitimate reasons to leave in the past. Every time I left was for a good reason.'
"So what is your good reason this time," Fitz asked, sarcastically.
Olivia poured water over the infants hair to rinse the shampoo. Ava started to whimper. Olivia frowned, "This time? What are you talking about this time? I haven't left."
Fitz stated what he knew to be the obvious truth, "You keep pushing this thing about "my" children being around your parents, but it's perfectly ok for "our" daughter to be around them. It's obvious to me that you're pulling away from your responsibilities as a wife and mother. Everyday you get pulled more and more back into the political arena. Save us both the trouble. Tell me the truth. This isn't the life that you're interested in, and you're planning your great escape."
Olivia lifted Ava out of the tub. She gestured towards Ava's towel. Once Fitz handed it to her she wrapped her daughter in it, and put the hood on her head. She said to Fitz, "You're an idiot."
He looked at his wife as she walked past him into their bedroom. He asked, "Excuse me?"
"Fitz can you stop playing the insecure role. It's not very appealing on you," Olivia said, as she hurriedly dried and dressed the now screaming infant.
Fitz didn't say anything. He just stood in the bathroom door staring at his wife. He hated fighting with Olivia it never did any good. They could both get mean when arguing. It just wasn't worth it.
Olivia finished dressing Ava, and cradled the baby to her chest. She spoke softly to her daughter trying to coax her to calm down. Olivia rocked from side to side continuing to speak softly. Little Ava started to calm down.
It was in that moment that Fitz knew three things. He was wrong, Olivia wasn't planning on leaving, and he was a paranoid ass. Olivia was a natural mother. She had said earlier that she didn't have to do it all, but if she were being honest she prefered doing it all. The fact that she was allowing him to do bathtime was actually a miracle. Olivia wanted to do most things for Ava herself.
If he were honest with himself, she only allowed him to help because he was the father, and she knew it was probably right that she share Ava with him. He owed her a huge apology. Maybe even a gift. Swallowing his pride he said, "Livvie, I'm sorry. I was completely out of line."
Olivia looked down at Ava, and noticed that she was falling asleep. So as not to raise her voice and disturb the baby she took a deep breath, and counted. She said, "What I don't understand is why you started the fight in the first place. You were that mad because I said I was going to finish my work instead of giving her a bath? She was going to get the bath. You were going to give it to her."
When Olivia said that, it made him feel even more stupid than her did originally. She was right he was an idiot. He said, "I don't know, Livvie. I guess it just hit me that you'll be returning to work soon. I will see you less. Ava will see you less. I was irrational. That's all I can say."
Olivia looked at him and asked, "You do know that I've worked the entire time that I've known you? You do know that when I return to work, I still intend on taking her to work with me."
Fitz thought about something Olivia had said when they had first had Ava, she wanted another baby. His wife wasn't leaving. She was committed. She was actively thinking about their future together. Fitz said, "Yeah, I know, Livvie. I just loved having you home. Like since you went on bedrest. Having you here has been amazing. I don't want that time to come to an end."
Olivia climbed into bed placing the infant into the center of the bed, and lying down next to her. She said, "Well, calling me a flake isn't exactly making home feel appealing."
Fitz said, "Olivia, I'm sorry. I should've never said those things to you."
Olivia pouted. She really was hurt that Fitz thought so little of her. She'd get over it, but she wasn't ready to forgive him. She said, "Fitz, can you put her in her crib? I need to finish editing that speech."
"Sure, babe can you forgive me," Fitz asked as he picked up his sleeping baby.
Olivia stood and said, "I can, and I will. Just not now. My feelings are still too raw."
She then walked out of the room. Fitz smiled to himself. He felt like he finally had the girl. He could now relax.
