Part 25
"Here… drink this." Abby encourages, offering her friend a cold glass of water, whilst rubbing her back in small circles.
"I don't understand this, up until yesterday I didn't have one symptom, and then as soon as that horrible man confirms that I am pregnant, I spend the morning hunched over the toilet bowl…"
Abby gently sweeps her friend's hair from her glistening brow… "Sods law, I suppose…" She pauses. "How are you feeling now Liv?"
"Awful." She groans, swallowing down a second wave of nausea.
"And apart from the queasiness…?"
"You mean, how do I feel about the baby?" Liv verifies, to which Abby simply nods, and waits for her response. "Honestly, it feels surreal… Like it's not actually happening, you know? Like I'm in some sort of crazy dream that hopefully any minute now, I will wake up, and then all this drama will disappear."
"Oh Liv… I'm so sorry… If I didn't encourage you to go to the doctors at least you would still be in blissful ignorance."
"Hey, I was going to find out sooner or later, it's not your fault Abby, in fact I only have myself to blame… I should have been more careful, I was so stupid."
"The same could be said for Fitz too, you know…"
"I know… I know… to be fair, we're both to blame, not just him; speaking of which, he should be due here any minute now…"
"Well he said his flight was getting in 7.30am, so you're right, not long now."
Abby looks up at the time; it was just gone eight; she was running late for work. Whereas Liv was not, she had called in sick, literally. "Abby, go… I'll be fine…"
Reluctant. "I don't know, I don't really want to leave you like this…"
"Abby, I promise, I won't leave the flat… I swear. Besides Fitz will soon be here, so there's nothing to worry about, so will you please relax."
"Something's off, you seem far too calm for my likings…" Abby looks at her dubiously.
"It's called denial Abby," Liv jokes, despite how she's really feeling inside. "Now go…"
"Fine, but if you need me, just call the office- and if that fails…"
"I know, call Harrison or Huck… I've got it… now will you please go, you're making me feel nervous."
"Okay, I'm gone… I'll see you later, and good luck with Fitz. Although I doubt you need it- because he loves you, and he's going to get you both through this, I'm sure of it."
Liv places her hand on top of Abby, which is now resting on her belly. "I hope so Abby, I really do hope so."
Xxxxx
"Aaah Mr Pope, hello… how can I help you?" Quinn approaches him, although somewhat hesitant in doing so. However, being the only person in the office, she had no other choice but to deal with the formidable wrath of Eli Pope. And it was pretty safe to say, he did not look like he was up for any fun and games today.
"I want to see my daughter- where is she?"
"She's not in today," Quinn responds truthfully.
"Don't mess me around woman." He slams his hand on the desk, startling her. "I demand to see her at once!"
Reeling in her composure, Quinn responds coolly… "Like I said Mr Pope, Liv's not in… She called in sick this morning!"
"Nonsense, she's here, I know it… besides Liv is never sick!"
"You can look around the office and check for yourself if you'd prefer Mr Pope, but I can assure you she's not in. She's at home… SICK." She makes a point in emphasizing the word sick.
Funnily enough, he tends to believe her, and so he decides to change course, swiftly adopting a more agreeable approach as he asks… "Well in that case, I will need her address..."
"I'm sorry Mr Pope, but without Liv's permission, I'm unable to divulge that sort of personal information".
The transformation from calm, to positively fuming is almost instantaneous, and now on the fringes of blowing a gasket he seethes; spitting with unspent rage… "This is ridiculous, I'm her father for goodness sake! I have a right to know where my daughter is!"
But Quinn remains firm in her resolve, as she tells him in no uncertain terms… "I'm sorry Mr Pope, but at this time I really can't help you…"
Incensed and frustrated, Eli storms out of the office rather unceremoniously; slamming the main door behind him, and with such a force- Quinn is genuinely surprised that the glass panel in the door did not shatter in the process.
"What the hell was going on?"
Xxxxx
Eli was not about to let this matter rest. He was out for blood, Fitzgerald Grant's to be precise. However, before he laid his hands on him, he had to confront his daughter first, because despite the evidence that was staring him square in the face, he refused to believe it until he heard her confirm it with his own two ears.
Had he not taught her anything? The fact that white men had killed her mother- murdered her in cold blood, simply because of the colour of her skin… Was that not a deterrent in itself?! And yet here she was, willing to lay down and permit one of those vile creatures to happily use and invade her untried body. Just the thought of Fitz… He can't even bare to think about it; sickened by the idea of his daughter becoming the play toy for a man, that didn't even have the decency to honour the vows he had made to his wife. And the sad thing is, he can't help but hold himself partly responsible for this mess; after all, despite his better judgement he had entrusted Fitz to look out for his daughter, and instead he turned around and sullied her virtue, ruining her chances of marrying any decent, and well respected young black man. Someone who was good and wholesome; credentials that the likes of Edison had to offer.
God forgive him, but come hell or high water, he was going to make this right again. He was going to fix it, and finally bring an end to this torrid affair once and for all.
But first of all he needed to find Liv, and if he couldn't find her directly, although it pained him to admit it, he was certain to find her by tracking down Fitz.
Xxxxx
He had thrown his arms around her, swooping her up as soon as she opened up the door…
"My sweet baby, I will never leave you again… I promise, not for a second", he whispers movingly, as he adorns her with kisses; placing them upon her cheeks, her brow, her eyelids, and the salty tracks left in the wake of her tears. And in his desperate need to worship and provide her with comfort, those kisses soon travel down the slender column of her neck, bringing forth a series of breathy moans, before he takes them along her collar bone, and eventually lets them fall between the valley of her breasts, until he is on his knees, with his face pressed up against her belly.
Fervently, he looks up at her, meeting her watery gaze, before lifting her top up and kissing her ever so softly on her stomach; the spot where their baby now lies. "It's going to be okay, I promise you baby, I promise both of you." Liv squeezes him close, and bends down kissing him on top of his head. "I'm so glad you're here". She whispers, choked up with emotion.
Just having him here, made her feel stronger; renewing her faith, that as long as they had each other they could make it.