" . . . Superstar Kate Ashton caught in racy new secret video with her co-star Stephen Harris. How does her fiancé Michael Tanner feel about all of it? We have . . ." CLICK. . . . "Coming up, we'll have an encore presentation of BNC's exclusive interview with President Grant and freed hostage Olivia Pope. Hear them speak for the first time on their love affair . . ." CLICK . . . "Details are emerging of the shocking arrest of a prominent New Jersey socialite accused of keeping her 10-year-old son chained to a radiator . . ." CLICK . . . "Billionaire oil tycoon Hollis Doyle was found dead in a Pattaya, Thailand hotel room yesterday. Traces of cocaine were found in his system but the cause of death appears to be a heart attack . . ."
CLICK . . . Harrison finally found the Friday late night political talk show he was seeking as he leaned against his desk. The panel consisted of a Democratic strategist, a former Republican governor and a popular comedian who focused most of her stand-up routine on political satire. "What I'm saying is that you know," the comedian stated, imparting her wisdom on infidelity to the panel. "You may not want to know, but you just know. And that's when knife comes out and the dick goes off . . ." The audience burst into laughter and the governor was getting red faced, trying not to laugh.
Harrison turned around when he heard the door to his office open. "This is a Friday night. We should be out for a drink. We should be finding some hot people to date. We should be partying," the red head complained as she strolled over to sit next to him on his desk.
"We did party," he said with false indignation.
"Hmm, yeah, a two year old's birthday is not exactly my idea of a party," she smirked.
"Hey, we rubbed elbows with the big dogs. Got down at the White House," he bragged as he did half a body roll. With that, Abby laughed out loud. The party for Maya had been a sweet affair. It was just Olivia, the President and his kids, the original members of OPA, Cyrus and his family, and a few other staffers and their toddler kids who attended the private gathering.
Karen seemed to be doing better. She doled out the party hats, and placed one on the head of each person. She hesitated for a moment when she came to Huck, who silently stared at her; she then shrugged and placed it on his head anyway. The former assassin wore the Disney princess fairytale hat rather well.
The oldest son looked so much like the President that Harrison frequently did double takes. Jerry seemed to follow Liv around like a puppy when he wasn't occupied with his young brother. Harrison wasn't surprised that the kid had a crush on her, not many could resist falling for her once they got to know her. Harrison watched Olivia as she casually made her way around the party and greeted people. He was struck by how different she was from the tense, moody person she was right before the interview. He seriously thought for a moment that she would bail, but then she stepped up to the plate and put her game-face on. That interview showcased the strong, determined woman he had always known. It also showed a side of her that he never really knew existed; she was a woman who knew what she wanted and was not afraid to show it. She walked up behind Grant who held their daughter in his lap, slipped her arms around his shoulders and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He turned his head slightly and returned the kiss on her mouth.
Maya played with a wand that lit up when she moved it. She waved it in front of her Dad's face and chuckled when he claimed that she had turned him into a frog. Olivia gave him a quick peck on the cheek and declared; "Now you're a prince again." Liv reached down and traced her daughter's ear, totally engrossed by the little girl. They both were. The little girl at the center of a controversy that spanned continents and almost led to the fall of a presidency was completely oblivious to her fame. She had two of the most powerful people in the world wrapped around her chubby little toddler fingers, at this moment she chose to make them laugh and smile. Yet their hearts were open, vulnerable and easily exposed to the grief and the joy of parenthood.
The White House pastry chefs had outdone themselves; the pink castle-shaped cake had amazing detail. He could see furniture they painted in the windows of the castle. Along with the cake, the cooks served a fabulous meal. When a plate of sweet little fried dumplings were served, Maya got excited and exclaimed, "luck, luck, luck!"
Olivia looked a little overcome with emotion and turned to Karen. "You got them to make this? Karen, that was so thoughtful." Karen gave a shy smile and ducked her head in embarrassment.
All in all, it was a nice way to celebrate the end of several weeks of stress and worry. After the party, Harrison soon found his way back to the office. There was no rest for the wicked, the not so wicked or the people that served them.
He and Abby watched the political panel dissect the affair and the interview at length. They were mostly easy on Olivia reserving their stings for the President. When the host made another joke at Grant's expense, Abby sighed and turned to Harrison, shaking her head. "They are never going to live this down. I'm not sure what good we actually did for their repu . . ."
Harrison interrupted, "Shh . . . wait for it." He held up his hand in anticipation as the comedian started to talk again.
The satirist began to speak about how Olivia and the President interacted during the interview. She then talked about the lengths Grant went to rescue Olivia and his daughter. "That man went balls to the walls to get his girls back! I'm saying balls to the walls!" The crowd roared with laughter and applause. The comedian continued, "OK, you know, if I was Mellie, well the man would be in trouble . . . but . . . well, damn, how can you not feel something after watching those two together and hearing what they had to say?" She smiled sheepishly and added, "I admit it, I'm crushing on them. I'm crushing on them real bad." One person on the panel groaned while the others laughed and clapped their hands.
Harrison stood up and yelled, "Yes!" He then pumped his fist in victory. He pointed at the screen and turned to Abby, "Now that's what I'm talking about! We've got it! We. Have. Got. It! Thank you and you're welcome," he said as he took an exaggerated bow. He could feel the tide shifting already. If a cynical comedian could come onboard with what they were spinning, then surely the general public would follow suit.
"It's just one person," she said skeptically. "You really think American public is going to forgive and forget so easily?"
"Enough of them will. Aw, come on Abby, it's a love story." He held out the palm of his hand which she reluctantly took. He twirled her in his arms and started slow dancing. "Everybody loves a love story." She couldn't help but smile and shake her head.
Harrison knew that they couldn't take all of the credit. Most of the positive responses were a direct result of that interview that Olivia and the President planned on their own. Still, he liked to think that Harrison Wright and Associates did their job. They helped bring their former boss who was the heart of their rag-tag little family home safely. They crafted a media story that would become the bedrock of the public's understanding of Olivia Pope. Amid the complications, the moral compromises and the secrets that ran so deep they would never see the light of day, it was really a simple story. It was a story of two people who loved each other, who were ripped apart by circumstances and finally moved heaven and earth to be with each other again.
The comedian continued talking about the President and Olivia's relationship on the television screen, "OK, OK, OK, fine, call me a sap. You win. What can I do?" She shrugged her shoulders. "I can't help it, I love love."
Harrison watched the television screen, grinned and then twirled Abby around again, "See? Everybody loves a love story."
Finito
Stay tuned in the next couple of days for the Epilogue. Thanks so much for taking this journey with me. Your feedback has taken this story in directions I had no idea it would go.