The Greatest Christmas Gift

"Fitz honey I understand how you feel."

"I don't think you do Olivia because if you did we wouldn't be going to a place we haven't been to in years."

"Fitz he's dying."

"And what? Am I supposed to forget he's a prick among pricks? Let's not forget Olivia when I had my accident and nearly died, it wasn't my father or mother holding your hand, it was Huck, Harrison, Abby and Quinn standing by your side. The loathsome son of a bitch would not let my mother come check on me. I could have died. His sudden epiphany changes nothing. He is not family. Our family is back in Rutland waiting for us to celebrate Christmas."

Olivia places her hand over Fitz's. "We're not here for him baby, we're here for you. There's a part of you keep closed off."

"Livvie when I have ever shown you or the kids anything but love and an open heart?"

"Never baby, but I watch you with the kids and every now and then you get this faraway look in your eyes and I know you're thinking about your parents. Thinking about how they're missing out on their grandchildren's wonder years, how your children have no idea your parents are alive and less than a two hour drive away. Fitz you've proven your father wrong on every count. You are successful, wealthy in your own right and you've never crawled back begging for a handout."

"You're wrong Livvie."

"Confused, Olivia pulls back. How am I wrong?"

"It's not me it is we Livvie. We proved him wrong on every count. We are a success in our own right. He told you, you were ruining my life, leading me down the path to mediocrity, making me a nameless face in the crowd. In less than ten years we've turned our bot-proof social networking platform into an almost billion dollar enterprise. With the love and support from our chosen family we have proven him wrong."

"Exactly my point baby. Every year he ignored us, or failed to acknowledge our accomplishments was a year he had to eat crow and wallow in his stubborn pride. I can just imagine the many times he had to explain to his corporate and political buddies why we never attended any event honoring him, never donated to any charity involving him or given anyone doing business with him the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of our lucrative ventures. For years now he's had to endure the whispers behind his back speculating on the unpardonable sin that drove a wedge between father and son. In every interview we've given he's never mentioned or acknowledged. Omission speaks volumes in his lofty circle Fitz."

"I'm still waiting for a point Olivia, he snaps."

"First of all, you better watch how my name passes through your lips. Second, you have never allowed your father to come between us and you are sure as hell not going start now. Third, you need check the attitude, not interrupt and let me make my point."

"Fine, make your point, we're almost there and I still have no reason to get out of the car once we arrive."

"Stubbornness must be hereditary," Olivia mumbles under breath.

"What was that?"

"I said I'll make my point after you apologize for being short with me."

Fitz rolls his eyes. He hates when she claims offense where no offense is intended.

"Whatever, I apologize."

"You really suck at apologies but I'll accept it this time."

"Livvie..."

"Okay, okay, my point is we are in a position to forgive. I'm not saying forget all the vile, reprehensible things he said which lead to this rift. I'm saying we are strong enough to overlook his faults and view the hurt he inflicted as the catalyst for our success and reason for our strong bond. He left us alone with only each other for support and it made us stronger, equipped us to overcome every obstacle and deepened our love. All the trials and tribulations, all of life's pressures we have endured has produced diamonds Fitz. We are tough, faceted and our love flawless.

"Why is it you're the only pregnant woman I know who never gets the hormonal weepies during pregnancy ? If anything you become more logical and insightful than normal."

"I know, weird ain't it."

"Fitz I love you more than I ever imagined possible. I want you to reconcile with your dad so when he is gone you have no regrets, no "I wish I would haves."

Fitz sighs. "If nothing else I'll get to see my mom."

"That's the spirit." Olivia sends a text on her phone.

"Checking on the kids?"

"No, I'm letting your mother know we're 15 minutes out. She wants to make sure your dad is presentable and ready when we arrive."

Fitz grips the steering wheel tighter. He does not want to do this but knowing his dad has mere days left to live he doesn't want to be a selfish prick like his father. He and Olivia are raising their children to be strong, forgiving, and empathetic. If the kids ask later in life why he chose not to reach out to his dad during his final days he cannot say because his dad was a jerk he abhorred, it will undermine all he has tried to instill in them and make him a hypocrite. No Olivia is right he has to walk the walk and back his talk.

Fifteen minutes flies by and before he knows it he is pulling into his parent's circular driveway in Albany. Not much has changed since he left, the stately home is as cold and gray as ever. Growing up it never felt like a home, it was a showplace, an homage to conspicuous wealth, a place where quid pro quo deals were made. Politicians and so-called friends eager or desperate to network or be seen with the elder statesmen flocked to the house attending every barbecue, holiday gathering and republican fundraiser. There were no birthday parties with clowns, a bounce house or fairytale characters. No high school pool parties, anniversary celebrations or simple family dinners. Any invite to the Grant Estate had an ulterior motive that served Big Gerry's self interest and only his self interest. Fitz and his mother Carol were window dressing, the perfect family photo op accessories. Until Olivia entered the picture, Fitz was on the career path Gerry had mapped out. She proved to be Fitz's distracting countermeasure, the perfect blend of qualities Gerry could not control, use or profit from political or socially and he hated her it.

"Ready baby? Olivia asks warmly.

"By my side."

"Always and forever." He kisses her hand.

"Let's do this. We have a tree to decorate tonight." He exits the car, frigid cold air smacks him in the face. Welcome back to Albany he groans. He helps Olivia out next.

"Burrr", Olivia tightens her coat. "Geez, I thought Vermont was cold."

The front door flings open surprising Fitz and Olivia. A tremulant voice cries out.

"Fitzgerald, oh my God. It is you. You're here. You're really here!" With eyes filled with years of unshed tears., Carol Grant barrels down the front steps swathing her son in a bittersweet embrace. Losing one shoe in her dash to reach Fitz , she doesn't even feel the crunching cold ice beneath her foot, the warmth this reunion dispels the cold from the snow covered ground.

Wrapped in his mother's arms, some of the indifference and the resentment Fitz keeps buried deep, cracks through his protective mental wall, escaping to go wherever negative emotions go to die and be forgotten. Olivia can already see a change in her husband's demeanor and she is overjoyed.

Carol releases Fitz to regard him with clear eyes. Having not seen her son in ten years, she stands in awe of the man he has become. Confident, handsome, muscular, somewhat taller than she remembers, with the same dimple and crooked smile she adores.

"You look good son. Did you grow an inch or two?" Carol twists him from front to back looking for other changes.

"You look good too mother. You remember my wife Olivia." Olivia steps forward. Carols hugs her with the same enthusiasm she gave Fitz.

"Thank you Olivia, I can never repay the undeserved kindness you've shown us. If this one day is all that's possible, it will be enough for the rest of my life." She hugs Olivia again hoping the hug conveys her immense gratitude.

"Now you two come in from the cold." Happy her son is finally home, Carol forgets her missing shoe or the fact she's outside in the snow with one bare foot. Olivia picks up the shoe and hands it to Carol, who then realizes her current state of footwear.

"Have a seat by the fire. I have coffee and pastries in the kitchen. We can sit and chat while the nurse finishes up with your father."

"How long will that take, we need to get back to our kids." Olivia glares at Fitz warning him to be nice through gritted teeth.

Carol's shoulders slump a little, she was hoping for a long visit.

"Oh, I see. Probably no more than twenty minutes or so." Carol gives Fitz a half smile then goes to the kitchen to retrieve the snack tray she prepared.

"Fitz, you promised. The kids are fine. Using them as an excuse is not happening today. Did you see the look on your mom's face when you said we needed get back to the kids. Fitz you took your mom from a place of joy to a place of despair in the span of three minutes. Are you happy now? This not what we are here to accomplish."

"I'm trying Olivia, this is not easy for me. Being in this house, reliving past memories, knowing I'm about to face my father, I...I..., it's hard okay."

Olivia moves to sit on Fitz's lap. "For better or worse, in sickness and in health, till do us part. When your father dies I don't want a piece of you to die too. I'm all in and need you to be the same. I love you too much Fitz to let you miss this opportunity. I'm here, by your side where I promised to always be. You can do this and silence the ghosts of the past forever. Do this for us, our family, your mother. Do this for you." She kisses him tenderly and rest her brow on his, centering him.

"Do this and you might get lucky tonight after the kids go to bed." He laughs and holds Olivia tight. This woman is definitely the love of his life.

Standing outside what used to a guest room, now turned hospice room, Fitz and Carol wait for the nurse to finish tending to Gerry, which is taking longer than expected.

"Thank you for agreeing to this son. I know being here is hard for you but it means a great deal to me and your father. "

The nurse eventually leaves allowing Fitz and Carol to finally enter.

"Gerry, Fitzgerald is here. Do you need anything before I leave you two alone?"

"No dear. I'm fine. Go catch up with Olivia, I'm sure she has a lot to share." Carol pats Big Gerry on the shoulder and kisses Fitz on the cheek before leaving the room.

Gerry is sitting in a recliner, a red and black checkered blanket covers his lower half and an IV is in his arm. His 6'3 physique is a shadow of its former self, his eyes are dim and opaque, a slight tremor racks one hand and his lips are dry and flaky. Gone is the man whose entrance into a room thundered , whose presence commanded attention and whose eyes destroyed careers with a glare.

"Son, it's good to see you. Thank you for coming. Have a seat."

"Gerry, Fitz responds with the same coldness as outside. He takes the seat in the corner farthest away instead of the chair set up next to his father."

Cough, cough. "I guess I deserve some distance seeing as I'm responsible for the gulf between us. Can you at least move a bit closer so I don't have raise my voice?"

Fitz moves his chair closer but not as close as the chair next to Gerry.

"How are Olivia and the kids?"

Fitz glowers at Gerry with incredulity. He cannot believe this man has the gall to ask about the family he disowned years ago.

"Can we get to the point please? I'd like to get home so I can spend more time with my children."

Ouch, Gerry thinks. if Fitz's statement was meant to be a jab, his barb met the target.

"Fitzgerald is it too much to ask we exchange pleasantries first? I know this is difficult, I'm merely trying to start off our conversation on a positive note."

"Sure okay, Fitz snarks. My wife Olivia, you remember her? She's the woman you said was unfit to bear the name Grant. She is fine and expecting our third child. My children, who you have never seen fit to acknowledge are fine too. I hear you're dying, sorry to hear it. Can we move on now?"

"Fine, I get it son. Why waste time with a prick when you can be doing something else?"

Fitz says nothing, preferring to respond by overtly checking his watch.

Gerry sighs feeling his efforts may prove futile. "First, I want to apologize for all the disparaging comments I made about Olivia. I saw her as a threat, my rival for control. I resented her for the power she held over you. She was my competition ."

"Olivia held no power over me, she simply loved me, believed in me and my dreams, she only wanted the best for me. She was never competing with you."

"I realize it now, back then all I could see was I was losing you to her, and all my plans were disappearing with no hope of recovery. You were my legacy Fitzgerald and you siding with Olivia equated to nothing less than a f-you dad to my face in my mind."

"Olivia never said one cross word against you. Olivia believes in family. The reason I'm here is because of her. You never gave her a chance. You saw her color and middle class background and dismissed her without cause. Olivia is the most wonderful person I've met. It is a privilege and honor to be her husband."

"Yes, you are lucky to have her. Make sure you say and show her every day she is your universe, your core, your very breath. A wife deserves no less from her husband. Always make her feel loved and cherished. "

"What's in your IV old man? Since when do you believe in love and sentimentality?"

"Since death sent a memo telling me to get my affairs in order."

"So it took a wake up call from the grime reaper to show you the error of your ways."

"Fitzgerald, dying slowly with an IV in your arm everyday is like receiving a daily dose of truth serum. Ego, being ruthless, lack of inhibition, pride, none of the things you think make you strong or notable can match the realization of your own mortality. Son, I asked you here to share what I have learned in hindsight. I know you will never live life the way I did and I commend you for it. Nonetheless, there are some things I want to say to you father to son. May I?"

Fitz nods and moves his chair a little closer.

"Son, do not let the pain and disappointment I inflicted on you taint your life, your relationship with Olivia or impact the way you treat or relate to your children. I am a poor example of a father, I can admit it, I own it. This last year my days have been marked by regret, anger for the choices I made and sorrow for the unredeemable time I lost not being with you and your mother. It's a humbling revelation to realize your idea of success at the end of your life is meaningless and your accomplishments worthless. A true legacy is built through bettering the lives of others, caring for others, and not being a afraid to love no matter the consequence. How you made people feel while you were alive is your testimonial not acts of power or control. I know I have no right to ask, but promise me you won't hold onto one iota of bitterness because of me. I'm not worth it. I won't ask for your forgiveness because I don't deserve it."

Fitz can see and sense the sincerity in his father's plea. Big Gerry Grant is a broken man who at the end of his life sees power means very little in comparison to the important things in life. Fitz's protective mental wall completely collapses, leaving him with a feeling of freedom he had no idea he was missing.

"Dad, I forgive you. We both need to let go of the past. No good can come from holding unto old hurts and memories we cannot change. If you want, we can start anew and make the most of the time you have left."

"I'd love to son. Thank you for giving me a chance. I'm so sorry for squandering the years we should have spent being father and son instead of strangers. Do you think Olivia will forgive me?"

"Olivia always says love allows for forgiveness."

"Merry Christmas son."

"Merry Christmas dad."

Epilogue

Relived from the burdens of the past, Gerry went into a brief remission. He lived long enough to meet his grandchildren and see Olivia give birth to his third grandchild. Every day he told Carol he loved her because she was kind, caring, special and unique. And every day he told Fitz he loved him, was proud of him and that he was best man he had ever known.

The glint Olivia used to see in Fitz's eyes returned and she never felt her husband was closed off in any way ever again.

The end.

AN - My hope this year is we all go into 2020 with a lot less emotional baggage and live the life we are meant to live. We all deserve to be happy and if we have toxic people people in our life or old hurts we hold on to, it is time to forgive and move on. We cannot change people or the past. Toxic people rarely recognize the pain and suffering they cause so there is no point in arguing with them. Promise yourself not to spend another day being a people pleaser, punching bag or ATM machine. You are beautiful, brilliant, wondrous and worthy of love and appreciation.

Happy New Year