A/N: Wishing everyone a Safe & Happy Holiday Weekend Xo
Chapter 50: A Work In Progress
"When the root is deep, there is no reason to fear the wind." ~Unknown
It was mid afternoon when Fitz got word his mother in law requested to see him. He was in the middle of a staff meeting when Connie walked in letting him know he had a visitor. Maya's visit was a complete surprise and he wrapped up the meeting quickly hoping everything was indeed okay.
Nearly ten minutes passed when he finally made his way back up to the front of the development. Maya was at the new seating area they had just installed that week and she seemed to be comfortable despite the outside temperature. Several large trees covered the area and Fitz was pleased with how the landscaping was turning out. Rick recommended a friend he knew in the area that specialized in forestry and he was quite pleased with the work he had seen so far.
The moment Maya saw Fitz she extended her hand, almost as if she were waving a white flag representing a surrender of some kind.
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting," Fitz began, taking his work gloves off and shaking his mother in-laws hand. "I had to tie up some loose ends. Would you like anything to drink?"
Maya shook her head no and smiled, letting him know his secretary had already offered her earlier. She eventually sat down on a nearby bench and Fitz joined her from across the way removing his other work glove in the process. The silence grew thick between them until Maya mentioned how large the development site was. She made it clear she wasn't expecting something so large in scale and Fitz looked around at the area surrounding them.
"It's coming along...but we still have a long way to go. We're hoping to be completely finished by 2019."
The fact he purposely gave a year didn't go unnoticed but Maya didn't respond, instead cutting to the chase and sharing the reason behind her visit.
"I know Olivia is thinking of selling her condo-"
"Maya, if you want to talk Olivia out of it, you should really speak to her about it. This is completely Olivia's decision."
Fitz cut her off hoping he made himself clear. He in no way had any intention of coming in between Olivia and her mother. Maya simply looked at him with raised eyebrows as if she was mentally asking him if she could continue.
Embarrassment slowly set in and he somewhat felt chastised without any words being spoken in reply. After a few more seconds of uncomfortable silence, Fitz explained his statement, hoping to clarify his defensive behavior.
"I think I need to start over...I owe you an apology for what happened a few weeks ago. I let my emotions get the best of me and that's not something I'm proud of. And for that, I'm truly sorry. I'm also sorry for cutting you off just now. That is not the type of man my parents have raised me to be."
He spoke directly towards Maya and hoped she could sense his sincerity. To his surprise she broke eye contact with him and looked sad, almost as if a bad memory had entered her mind.
"I also owe you an apology, Fitz. It's been no secret I was worried about Olivia rushing into things-"
She suddenly paused and crossed her legs, placing her hands in her lap. At that moment, Fitz was reminded of his wife. Her facial expressions morphed into a range of emotions and for a split second it almost felt as if he was looking at Olivia.
"And now I have to deal with the consequences of behavior."
Fitz's eyes widened at her revelation and didn't know how to respond. Deep down he wondered if her response had more to do with Eli than Olivia but he didn't dare ask. Maya soon cleared her throat and continued speaking, finally sharing the reason behind her visit.
"I'm here to make certain you've completely thoughts things through before moving into your new home. As I said before, I know Olivia is thinking of selling her condo. One thing I've always loved about that building is the security. You won't have that in Jersey and Olivia's safety is my number one concern...I'm certain it's yours as well."
Fitz's mind began to spin and he knew a home alarm system wasn't exactly what Maya was talking about. The conversation completely took him off guard and he honestly didn't know how to respond other than with the truth.
"You bring up a valid point," he honestly replied. The condo does have solid security. I'll look into something immediately and if you have any suggestions...I'd love to hear them."
Maya smiled and seemed quite satisfied with Fitz's response. She stood a few moments later and let Fitz know she would be in touch. He also stood when she did and wasn't certain if there was anything else she was going to bring up before departing.
"Have you two decided on a date for the reception yet?"
Maya placed her purse on her arm and waited for Fitz's response. She wore a beautiful two piece suit and he wondered how someone could look so flawless in the middle of summer.
"Soon...we're still working on a few details. But it shouldn't be too much longer."
He had no idea if Maya knew about Olivia departing from Come What May and he wasn't going to ask. They were honestly just trying to deal with one thing at a time.
"Good. I'm pleased you two decided to have something for the family. I know that will mean a lot to Eli."
Her comment stung and again, he couldn't help but feel chastised. Their overall visit had gone good considering and he didn't want to say anything that would ruin their civil time together. Instead, he watched Maya turn and return to her vehicle parked in front of his trailer. She held herself in the highest regard and he couldn't help but admire her grace.
It reminded him so much of his wife...
Olivia sat across from Samantha and kept the focus on her friend for as long as possible. They were meeting for a late lunch and both of them were enjoying their much needed time off. It was customary after the Tony Awards for Broadway shows to take off in the summer and they were both equally thankful for the break.
It was a beautiful day and despite the temperature they both decided to eat outdoors. During their entire conversation Olivia's mind couldn't help but drift on the fact she was for certain leaving the show. Mitchell was making the necessary preparations and it was only a matter of time she would need to tell her cast mates...and best friend about her departure. The secret she carried began to manifest within and the longer they sat together the more she realized she could no longer keep this news to herself.
"I need to share something, Sam. And I don't even know how to say it without just coming out and telling you."
"Oh God, you are really pregnant, aren't you?"
Her response was instant and Olivia's eyes widened at the accusation. Several media sources were speculating Olivia being pregnant but she never imagined her best friend would be one of them. Irritation set in and an imaginary wall suddenly went up suddenly giving her all the strength needed to continue.
"No...I'm not pregnant," she replied casually. "I'm leaving the show."
Samantha's face grew ashen and the fork in her hand dropped onto her plate causing a loud shatter that startled both of them. Tears filled her friends eye and Olivia immediately grabbed her hand from across the table. Seeing her face made her instantly regret the manner in which she so callously shared the news.
"Just hear me out-"
Samantha sat across from her stunned unable to reply. Olivia watched her friend swallow several times and she felt horrible bringing something like this up in the middle of her eating.
She began to quickly explain the proposition she received from Rus and Mason, as well as her idea about selling the condo so she could produce the movie. Hearing her own words spoken out loud sounded odd and for reasons she couldn't explain, doubt snuck it making her second guess herself.
"Filming should begin late summer...early fall. I wanted to tell you first before I talked with Pete and the rest of the cast."
"I think I'm going to be sick."
Samantha snatched her hand away from Olivia's grip and placed it below her nose. Her reaction continued to mortify Olivia and once again the wall that had just come down headed straight back up."
"I'm sorry, Sam. I know this is a lot. But I'm doing this for me...I need a change and this opportunity is something I don't want to pass up. I've never taken on a role like this."
Her reasoning was more for her than Samantha and watching someone she cared for so deeply be so upset certainly didn't make things easier.
"Pete's gonna flip."
Olivia inhaled slowly at her words and didn't disagree. Her long time director would be upset but she knew he had been in this business long enough to respect her decision- even if it wasn't the right one. It became clear by Samantha's mannerisms she wasn't going to be supportive so she decided to motion for the check and end their lunch date.
"I know you're upset. And I realized now, I shouldn't have told you over lunch."
A mixture of sadness and frustration set in and she began to shuffle through her purse looking for her wallet- a pattern she developed when dealing with something she wanted to avoid. She could feel her friends eyes staring at her when thankfully the waiter approached, letting Olivia know their lunch was on the house.
"Complements of our manager. Congratulations on winning the Tony, Ms. Pope. It was about time."
"I'm actually, Mrs. Grant now," she replied holding up her ring finger, smiling. "And thank you...that is very kind of your manager. Please, give him my best."
Olivia stood and faced Samantha one last time.
"I'll touch base with you soon," she said, trying to keep her tone even. "I know I just threw you a curve ball- but I could really use my best friend now more than ever."
She didn't wait for a reply and turned on her heels heading inside towards the exit. She could see the manger approaching out of the corner of her eye and she quickly placed her sunglasses on before she came face to face with him.
It was always awkward when she was thanked for eating in a public restaurant and this time was no different. This past week her presence seemed to create a stir wherever she went and as she listened to the manager thank her for choosing their establishment her mind began to drift.
After a picture with the manager and the staff were finally taken, Olivia walked to her car and spotted the lurking photographer a few feet away. She was grateful her sunglasses were already on and she kept her head low walking through the semi busy streets of Manhattan. His approach wasn't anything out of the ordinary but his line of questioning was. It focused solely on Fitz and even included questions that centered around his former fiancé.
This was the first time she encountered something so blatantly targeted and she found herself having second thoughts on any and everything regarding show business. Of course, Olivia did what she was taught and showed no emotion whatsoever- simply keeping her tempo and walking towards her destination.
The moment the parking garage came into view she was elated to see the same security officer sitting in the small space as before. He stood when he saw Olivia and the photographer seemed to get catch the hint. It wasn't too long before she was able to slip into the front seat of her own car and the second her bottom hit the leather she exhaled and remained still, staring at the steering wheel deep in thought for quite some time.
Was she truly making the right decision leaving the show? Could she handle the next level of fame that seemed to be taunting her...as if saying this is exactly what you'll be dealing with for the rest of your life.
These thoughts centered around her mind until something within eventually stirred. Once she was ready, she slowly entered the busy streets of Manhattan and found herself needing to get away from the city, knowing just the place to go. Before long, her sunroof was open and her favorite music mix was playing through the speakers. It felt good to drive and without even thinking she found herself heading straight for the highway.
To a home she couldn't wait to begin the next chapter of her life in...
Olivia found the drive into Jersey quite calming and she enjoyed the sunshine peering from above. Even though the temperate out was warm it didn't matter. She craved the open air and used this alone time to think. Thoughts of her husband soon entered her mind and she couldn't help but wonder what he would think about her lunch date with Samantha.
To her surprise the traffic was heavy for a weekday yet she still arrived much faster than she anticipated. Their home was finally complete and it felt good knowing their furniture would be arriving soon. When she turned down Cherry Blossom the amount of trucks in front of the home instantly caught her attention. It didn't take long for Olivia to spot Fitz who was speaking with several other men in the middle of the street. Hudson was laying underneath a freshly planted tree and she smiled knowing her husband made a special stop by the condo just to pick up their pup.
They were the only official house on the entire street and she wondered if something happened that would warrant Fitz's attention. It was late afternoon and she wasn't expecting to see him here. The last time they chatted they planned on seeing one another back at the condo once Fitz was done at work.
One of the men nodded in Olivia's direction and Fitz followed the gentlemen's stare. He quickly excused himself and waved hello to Olivia. She slowly entered into their driveway and turned off the ignition waiting for Fitz to open her car door. When she finally stepped out he kissed her gently before leaning against the window.
"This is a surprise...I didn't know you planned on stopping by today."
Fitz cocked his head to one side and closed one eye, hoping to block out part of the sun. Hudson was soon to make himself known and jumped up several times for attention. Olivia bent down to pet Huds and couldn't help but admire how handsome Fitz looked despite the temperature outside. He was drenched in sweat and the front of his hair was beginning to curl from all perspiration.
"I needed a break from the city," she began, focusing her attention over Fitz's shoulder. "So what's going on? Why all the people?"
Fitz turned to look at the cluster still gathered in the street and smiled grabbing Olivia's hand. He led her inside their new home straight upstairs and into their master bathroom. She spotted her Tony still standing proudly on their mantle and tried her best not to openly laugh at the large mattress in the center of their living area. It looked ridiculous and out of place yet she knew deep down neither one of them had any intention of moving it until it was absolutely necessary.
He walked fast through their home and she quickly tossed her purse onto a nearby counter before finally following him upstairs.
"I'm filthy...I need a shower."
Olivia watched her husband undress before her eyes while turning the shower knob to warm. Minutes later he disappeared inside and Olivia made herself comfortable on the granite next to the sink. The bathroom itself was extensive in size and incredibly beautiful. She loved the oversized tile on the floor and surveyed the room slowly as Fitz began to ask about her day.
So far, the room had the bare essentials...soap, a few towels and some toiletries they each needed. It definitely still needed some TLC and she mentally made a never ending list of things that still needed to get done.
"Stop avoiding my question, Mr. Grant," she finally replied. "Why are those men here?"
By now, steam from the shower filled the glass and Fitz smiled rinsing the soap from his eyes.
"I'm not avoiding anything, Mrs. Grant. It's called having a conversation."
His voice was curt and he spoke into the wiped area he created on the glass with the palm of his hand, making direct eye contact with Olivia.
Olivia rolled her eyes and at his charm and shook her head. For once in her life she was matched evenly with someone who wasn't afraid to go head to head with her. She eventually gave in and began telling Fitz about her conversation with Samantha.
He could sense the disappointment in Olivia's voice and that was his cue to begin rinsing off. As soon as he stepped out of the shower, Olivia handed him a towel and he didn't shy away from sharing his take on what happened with her best friend.
"It sounds to me like she's scared. I'm sure she won't be the only one who will feel that way, Liv. You know you're the main reason the play has done so well. You said yourself sales took a hit during the break you took last winter. This is her career and you're jeopardizing its future. You know she'll come around...just give her some time."
"But the way she asked me if I was pregnant...as if that would be the worst news possible. It was beyond rude."
Finally the truth surfaced and Fitz tried not to read too much into why this made her so upset.
"Baby, she's single and doesn't have what we do. In a lot of ways, you're actually all she has. Try to look at it from her perspective."
His words made Olivia feel worse so she hopped off the granite and was about to leave when Fitz grabbed her from around the waist pulling her against his chest. The towel he dried off with was now around his waist and he smelled incredible. He hadn't shaved in several days and his stubble began to rub the side of her face, somewhat tickling her exposed skin.
"She hurt you and I get that. I do. Don't leave."
Olivia stared at her husband through the reflection in the mirror and they couldn't have looked more attractive together if they tried. Her smooth caramel skin complimented his Sunkist tan and there was no denying they looked stunning together. Her hair flowed long and wavy and Fitz purposely brushed up against it several times. Although their beauty was mesmerizing, she still felt annoyed and made certain he knew just how much.
"You still haven't answered me."
Her voice was straightforward and Fitz knew by the tone she meant business. He reluctantly let go of her waist and went to the sink looking through the top drawer for a few items. His silence only made things more awkward between them and he knew he couldn't avoid this conversation any longer.
"You're mom paid me a visit today," he began, slowly putting some deodorant on.
Olivia at first thought she misheard him but when he continued her heart began to race and an unsettling feeling entered the pit of her stomach.
"And I'm glad she did. She brought up something that wasn't even on my radar and it honestly should have been."
Fitz was now looking through a small suitcase that rested against the wall near the closet. It was the same suitcase from the night they spent together after the awards show. Olivia watched as he got dressed and continued to explain the purpose of Maya's visit.
"She's worried you won't have the same security here like you have at the condo."
Olivia immediately connected the dots and it now made sense why there was a crew out front of their home.
"What do you have planned?"
She kept her voice steady but more uneasiness continued to set in. Fitz was now dressed, with the exception of shoes and they both began walking downstairs towards their main living area. The hard wood echoed throughout the house with each step taken and the natural light from all the windows made the space feel so open. Their home was perfect as is and Olivia prayed Fitz wouldn't do anything too drastic.
"I want to put a gate around the perimeter. I was thinking something rustic looking but their several designs we can choose from."
His words dangled into the air and Olivia kept quiet trying to envision exactly what this would look like. They were now in the kitchen and Fitz was helping himself to some juice in the refrigerator. The inside itself was bare and Olivia was glad they at least had something cold to drink.
"I did have some other ideas but wanted to discuss them with you first."
Olivia leaned against the large kitchen island and listened as her husband shared the rest of his vision. He looked so relaxed wearing jeans and a t-shirt and she loved when he didn't bother wearing shoes.
"I'd like to buy some more property around us...possibly all the way up to the main road. We could really have a nice, secluded area here...I want to draw up some plans for you to look at soon. I have the idea of what we could do with the land in my head."
"This land we're standing on wasn't cheap, Fitz. And it sounds like you're basically wanting to buy the entire neighborhood."
Her delivery was purposely sharp and his response, although genuine, about sent Olivia over the edge.
"I could always sell the house in Troy."
Olivia couldn't hear another word and made it clear that idea wasn't something she was going to approve of. Unfortunately, this was the last thing she expected to hear which only added to the stress she was already feeling. In her mind she planned on using this time to get organized and focus on what needed to get done...like making a grocery list. Instead, she was hit with more change and it just wasn't something she wanted to deal with at this particular moment in time.
She left Fitz alone in the kitchen and went back outside to the front porch. Hudson instantly greeted her and she rubbed the back of his ears before sitting on the swing. It was made of solid oak and reminded her so much of his home in Troy. The idea he wanted to sell it made her stomach turn and out of nowhere tears began to well up in her eyes. Samantha's face suddenly entered her mind and so did her last words spoken.
Maybe this is exactly what Sam felt like when Olivia shared she was leaving the show.
Fitz soon followed Olivia outside but didn't say anything. The crew in the front continued walking around different parts of the land and appeared to be taking measurements of some kind. She could feel Fitz's eyes looking her way and after a while finally spoke, asking for some privacy.
"Can you have them come back and do this another time?"
"They're almost done," he assured her, not offering any other information.
Olivia didn't bother asking how he knew this to be true. Silence soon filled the porch and for a while all that could be heard was the distant voices of strangers from time to time. Just as promised one of the men turned to look directly at Fitz holding up his hand up indicating a signal of some kind. Moments later, the rest of the gentlemen began to make their way back to their own vehicles and one by one head back up towards the main road.
Hudson eventually stood from Olivia's feet and she watched him sniff his way to the opposite end of the porch inspecting something that caught his attention. Once the crew left, Fitz joined her on the swing setting his drink down on the ledge. In one fell swoop, Fitz placed Olivia onto his lap- a tactic he often used when his wife resorted to playing the quiet game.
"We're gonna sit here until you're ready. to talk. I'm not going anywhere."
Olivia pressed her face into the crook of Fitz's neck and closed her eyes. Her legs were spread across his lap and Fitz began to swing back and forth creating a nice breeze between them.
"You're not selling that house. If we ever have children, I want them to spend time in the place we fell in love."
Her words were final and spoken with such sincerity, Fitz couldn't help but still his feet into place. When the swinging stopped he patted Olivia's leg mentally asking her to reposition herself. It wasn't long before his wife was now straddling him, her face once again pressed into his neckline.
She did say the word "if" and he didn't want to get too excited but just hearing her verbalized this possibility made him feel a happiness he couldn't explain. More silence fell between them and he simply wasn't certain what to say. He knew there was much on her mind but she didn't seem to want to share anything so he patiently continued waiting, lightly stroking her back up and down.
"What else did my mother say?" She eventually asked, lifting her head up for just a moment to speak.
Evening was soon upon them and the air was beginning to cool setting the tone for a beautiful night. Fitz began to swing again and shared some more about her mother's visit speaking each word soft and low. Olivia found his voice soothing and felt her soul beginning to calm within. This was exactly what she needed and it didn't take her long to lift her head again, studying her husband closely.
"I hate when she's right," she admitted.
The home was large and fairly secluded and she knew deep down any extra protection was never a bad idea. Fitz smiled and brushed part of her hair out of her face. Her skin felt hot and he could sense her slowly begin to allow her walls to come down.
"I'm glad she stopped by, Livvie. She loves you very much."
Olivia leaned in to kiss her husband who quickly embraced her into his arms. They remained quiet again for some time until Hudson began to whimper near the door. That was their cue to stand and go back inside so their pup could get a much needed drink from his water bowl.
"Will installing the gate postpone us moving in?" If there was any room for disappointment, she wanted to know upfront."
Fitz went to the mattress and laid down looking at the ceiling fan directly above. It felt good to be inside the air conditioning and his body instantly relaxed from the coolness around him.
"I don't think so. Our furniture will be here in a few days- if I have them start tomorrow it shouldn't take too long."
Olivia was relieved to hear this news and grabbed her phone before joining Fitz on the mattress. She had several text messages from Samantha, all of them apologizing for her behavior at lunch. Fitz lifted his head up and reached for Olivia when she sat down next to him. She handed him her phone and snuggled up close allowing him to read the messages.
When he finished, he didn't respond, simply handing Olivia her phone while kissing the top of her head.
"Don't sell the house, Fitz. Promise me. There has to be another way. Maybe we can use the money from the condo for the land. I haven't technically broken my contract yet."
Fitz sat up at the offer and shook his head.
"Liv, no...you're doing the movie. Buying more land was just an idea."
Fitz stood and headed back towards the kitchen not willing to give Olivia's suggestion another thought. She set her phone down and watched him from across the room finally resting her body on her elbows. He seemed to be opening and closing different cabinets looking for something. When he returned, he handed Olivia a menu.
"Let's order dinner," he suggested, kneeing down in front of his wife.
His hands rested on her legs and he slid his hand underneath her sun dress massaging her thighs back and forth.
"Only if you finish telling me about your idea. I want to hear it."
Olivia wrapped her arms around the love of her life and interlocked fingers behind his neck. Her world was once again back in order and things made sense. This made sense. And deep down she knew being here was exactly what she needed.
"I need to draw it first, baby."
Olivia accepted this answer and dropped the subject, looking over the take out menu. Before he stood to order the food, she stopped him wanting to express her appreciation the only way she knew how.
"You're good for me."
Fitz suddenly pinned her underneath him placing his arms on either side of her head making certain his response had her full and undivided attention.
"You're good for me, too."
The remainder of their evening consisted of eating a quiet dinner on the floor discussing plans of their impending move. It didn't matter there was no real furniture to sit on or that they were eating with plastic ware. What did matter was they were together and working out all the details as a team.
Their marriage was a work in progress and they were committed to working things out just like any other couple. Her fame was a big part of their relationship and something that couldn't be ignored. But it didn't control their lives and that was something they both refused to allow.
When night fell, and their bellies were content, Fitz placed some candles on the porch and they enjoyed sitting on the swing watching the stars twinkle in the distance. The night sky wasn't as crisp as the one she remembered in Missouri but it came awfully close making her confident this was definitely the right place to call home.
They chose to stay the night again in their self created bubble - a home that came to mean so much in such a short amount of time. Their lives together were changing and they were facing each challenge together, not as a two-time Tony Award winner and successful Architect.
But as simply Olivia and Fitz...
