Part 21
"We need to talk…"
He instantly picks up on the anxiety in her voice… "What's happened?"
She closes his office door behind her, before walking over to him and taking a seat opposite him… "Abby knows about us?"
"What?!" He exclaims… "How?"
"I don't know, I suppose she picked up on something between us… Who knows? But when she asked me outright, she didn't need any confirmation, because believe me she knew…"
"But you denied it all the same, right?" He looks at her expectantly, hoping she has and affectively buying them some more time; because the longer they can keep their affair a secret the better.
"Well no…" She admits truthfully.
"What!" He seethes, angered that she could be naïve… "Why on earth would you confirm it!? My God Liv, what was you thinking?"
"She caught me off guard, what was I supposed to do? Lie to her; when it was already obvious in her eyes… I'm living with her for Christ sakes, if she feels I can't trust her and vice-versa I could be out on my rear again…" she defends; sounding incredibly hurt by his reaction.
He can tell he's upset her and immediately regrets it…"Look, I'm sorry," He apologises sincerely, reaching over to her.
"It's fine…" she replies, trying to appear strong and mask her budding emotions.
"No it's not, I really didn't mean to have a go. It's not your fault… I'm just a little stressed, and we really don't need this right now, it's awful timing… Ideally, we need to keep things undercover, at least until the divorce proceedings were underway…" He sighs, running his hand over his face… "So what now, do you think she will talk, is that it?"
"Honestly no, I don't think she will. Abby understands the implications of what will happen if this gets out, and she has insured me she will keep it a secret. And I believe her; she's just as worried about others finding out as we are- If anything she thinks we need to be more cautious, and watch our backs!"
"Well, I guess we should take this as a warning, and count ourselves lucky that it was Abby that found out and not someone else… And she's right, now is not the time to get careless…not that I believe we have been so far."
"Well, whilst we're on the subject of not being careless, I've decided to go on the pill as an added precaution."
"The contraceptive pill?"
"Yes, the contraceptive pill." She confirms, as she explains her reasoning behind her decision. "You and I both know that now is hardly the time to start a family… Not that I'm saying I don't want babies in the future or anything, because I do… but right now, we can't!"
"But I've read about the pill; doesn't taking it come along with a number of side effects?" He asks worriedly. The last thing he wants is Liv to put her health at risk.
"I've researched into it, and its fine Fitz… Yes, there are side effects, but the end result outweighs them by far…"
"I'm not so sure about this Liv, I don't want anything to happen to you…"
"If I get pregnant now, worse things could happen Fitz, and you know it… and I can't risk that- and let's be honest our use of condoms has been hit and miss as it is."
"I know, I'm sorry, that's my fault… Since being married to Mellie, they're not something I'm used to carrying on my person… And you have to admit, the few times that you and I have forgone them, wasn't exactly planned, now was it?" He adds suggestively, lightening the mood a little.
She blushes as she recalls the number of occasions where their passions had got the better of them. "Admittedly we've both been a little reckless… It's not just down to you, we're both to blame on that front… That's why I've chosen to do this. So I booked an appointment with my doctor, for Thursday evening."
"Are you going alone?" He feels bad that he can't be there with her.
"More than likely… Abby has offered to go, but I think I'd feel more comfortable taking about my sexual history in private… In the meantime, you need to increase your supply of condoms Mister…"
"But why? If you're going on the pill, then surely we don't need them..."
"That's not until Thursday… And who knows, you might just take my fancy before that…" She teases playfully.
"You're insatiable…"
"You're one to talk..." She laughs, but then turning serious again she adds... "Although putting all jokes aside, from now on, I'd rather we be extra safe than sorry…" She pauses. "I just hope that it's not too little, or too late…"
"You mean as in- What if you're already pregnant…?" He looks down at her stomach, suddenly afraid at the prospect. What a fool he's been; because the thought had not once crossed his mind. Although he's always been a firm believer that babies were a blessing sent from God, having one with Liv now could potential be very dangerous for the both of them; but despite the knowledge of that; as always, he puts a brave face on it.
He takes her two hands into his own and squeezes them reassuringly… "If you are, then I suppose we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it, but fingers crossed it won't come to that."
"Fingers crossed." She echoes his sentiment, silently praying, as she knows that he is; that they are in the clear.