As they entered the large dining room, it had to be bigger than anything that Olivia had ever seen. The table took up most of the room with its length. All of the guests began to take their seats. Fitz took his place next to Olivia and pulled out her chair. He looked over when he sat down and then put his head in his hands.
"Imagine this Fitz! Never thought we would be seated together." Mellie exclaimed as she took a sip of her water.
Small world." He muttered. "Too damn small of a world." His eyes immediately went to the head of the table as his father took a drink from his glass.
Olivia picked up the silverware and then turned it over. She could only imagine how much each place setting was. She had passed through the bridal section in Bloomingdale's on her lunch break. Happy little former secretaries and debutantes walked around to pick out place settings for their registries. This was all foreign to Olivia because of her simple upbringing in Georgia. These were people who spent millions of dollars and were the movers and shakers. Maybe there was a place for her after all.
"I noticed that President Johnson wasn't going to run for a second term. I think it is a good decision." Olivia stated unsurely.
People were actually stunned that a colored woman had an insight on the political scene. They moved closer to learn more from this intelligent woman. Fitz was proud of himself of bringing this smart and sexy woman to one of his Dad's inane dinner parties. Maybe this would be just the woman that he could think about marrying. It seems that people were being more accepting here in California. He had truly fallen for her and it was pure poison for the two of them to be together. Why couldn't the world accept the two of them together?
"The man was not ready to take over the reigns of the Presidency. He was a novice who was formerly a schoolteacher from Texas. He was thrown in way over his head. Vietnam, civil unrest, it was all too much for a simple man to handle. Kennedy had been groomed for the Presidency. All of the boys have been well groomed, society wives, military, and Harvard. Robert will probably the one to take the nomination."
Fitz was puzzled by all this. "I thought you wanted to be in advertising. You know work on Madison Avenue?"
Olivia smiled. "No, ever since I worked on the Kennedy campaign. I have been interested in politics. I have studied campaigns and candidates. I know about polling and what the people want. I would love someday to help run a campaign. Maybe even yours." She said to Fitz.
"I would love you to run my campaign. If I ever run for office." He smiled. "But first, I want to go to the moon. I want to be the first human to walk on its surface."
"Haven' t you realized Fitz darling, that you were meant for the White House, not to be an astronaut. It's much too dangerous." Mellie popped up . Fitz realized that he had been set up by his dad. That would be the only reason that Mellie was sat next to him.
"I have worked hard, trained, and already made two missions. NASA has invested a lot of money in me and I am confident that I will be the man to make that trip." Fitz protested.
"But something could go wrong and then where will I be?" whined Mellie.
"Where will you be!" screamed Fitz.
"Fitzgerald!" said Mellie to calm him down.
"No this is it Mellie, I have tried to be nice. I have tried to give you advice, but you refuse to listen to me and continue to live in denial. I don't have any feelings for you. I will never have any feelings for you and I refuse to enter into a marriage that doesn't include love. WE Are DONE!" he yelled. He picked up his napkin and then took Olivia by the hand. "Come on Livvy." He said as he dragged he away from the table .
"You better watch yourself ,old man. If you keep pulling little stunts like this. You may find yourself all alone and the only ones that will love you will be the hookers that you pay." Fitz said to Jerry as they left the room. "You are going to get to experience the real California." He said as he went back upstairs. Olivia 's mouth dropped when Fitz came from his room. He was wearing a psychedelic shirt with beads around his neck. He was also sporting black bell bottoms and ankle high boots. Olivia decided to follow his lead by allowing her hair to go into an afro. She then pulled on a yellow crocheted dress with hanging fringe and put a wreath of flowers on the top of her hair.
"Let's split mama." He said as he took her hand. Getting in his red Mustang he drove to a party that was in the Hollywood hills. When the two of them got out, they were surrounded by people in bright colored clothes. Their faces had flowers and hearts painted on them. No one was yelling or screaming. They were twirling around and dancing. Up on the stage was a band that was playing and everyone was singing to the words. The music was loud and raucous. The lead singer of the band was a small woman who yelled the words of the song. There was a cloud that covered the party as well. Olivia knew that smell very well. For being the son of a rich, California Republican as well as an astronaut ,was quite a shocking development. It also could have been the result of his life changing experience when he was in the middle of outer space. After all, he almost died. Actually he was taking a break from training and its rigors. When he started to train for space again, he would be back to the strenuous , tiring, maneuvers that are required when astronauts get ready for a mission.
"Are you alright?" Olivia asked with surprise.
"Never better, I feel like a new man. No one can bring me down." Fitz said. "And it's all because of you. I thought that there was only galas, political fund raisers, and the most important things were a certain kind of people .
When the truth is found to be lies
And all the joy within you dies
Don't you want somebody to love, don't you
Need somebody to love, wouldn't you
Love somebody to love, you better
Find somebody to love
When the garden flowers baby are dead, yes and
Your mind, your mind is so full of red
Don't you want somebody to love, don't you
Need somebody to love, wouldn't you
Love somebody to love, you better
Find somebody to love
Your eyes, I say your eyes may look like his
Yeah, but in your head, baby, I'm afraid you don't know where it is
Don't you want somebody to love, don't you
Need somebody to love, wouldn't you
Love somebody to love, you better
Find somebody to love
Tears are running down and down and down your breast
And your friends, baby they treat you like a guest
Don't you want somebody to love, don't you
Need somebody to love, wouldn't you
Love somebody to love, you better
Find somebody to love
"These guys are groovy. They have been playing at festivals all over California. I really dig the chick. She sings about love." The party guest said.
"Nothing wrong with that." Fitz smiled. "I'm into love myself." He put his arm around Olivia and then kissed her.
"I dig you man and I dig your old lady." The guest handed Fitz a joint. He put it in his mouth and then took a hit. Olivia was shocked by this. Fitz saw this and he laughed. "Yes I do smoke, Livvy. I think for the day I have had. I deserve it." He then handed it to Olivia who just smiled and took the joint. She took it in her mouth and then let the smoke out.
"Hey I got some acid too, interested?" the guy said.
"No thanks, man. "Fitz said. "But thanks for the weed. I needed it."
"Peace and love man, nothing but peace and love." He said as he held up his fingers in a peace sign. "I see you dig." The man saw when he saw Olivia. "it 's so beautiful, love knows no color. It can't see black or white. It can only see rainbows."
He then walked away. "I didn't know you got high." Olivia was surprised.
"How do you think I got through MIT? There is a lot of me you don't know." Fitz laughed.
"You really shock me. I think that you are this stiff, Republican, astronaut and then you smoke weed and listen to rock. No wonder you fell in love with me. Deep down you are a rebellious California hippie. You do it to piss off your dad." She smiled.
"That's the idea." He said as he kissed her again.
"I think I just fell in love with you just a little more, Fitz." Olivia returned the kiss.
