"I won't have an abortion if you keep the baby."
Veronica spit out her cider. Being a psychologist, she was used to strange request. This was another level of crazy. She dried her mouth with a cloth napkin.
"I wasn't expecting that reaction. I'm serious."
"I thought this was supposed to be a vacation? I'm working overtime with you Olivia."
"It's what you want."
"No, I don't want your baby, and you know that. I want you to raise your own baby."
"I can give you money. How about a million from my own bank account?"
"I'm not rich, but I've never been desperate for money. I can get a million right now from both Fitz. You know that."
"You think so?"
"Do you want me to call and ask?"
"My Fitz will give you that much money?"
"He paid more than that for my house and tuition."
Veronica clarified her answer. She didn't want to make Olivia jealous. They were supposed to be enjoying dinner on the beach not fighting.
"I wouldn't accept the money from your Fitz. It's much easier to get money from my joint account with my fiance. I'm sure he will have a few comments about my spending, and he will probably want to talk about budgeting after getting that much money out of the bank, but I can get a million dollars right now."
"He added you to his bank account and you're not married yet?"
"Of course. He got tired of me asking for money. Credit cards have a limit, and I have a lot of bills. I'm sure your Fitz would add you to his account if you asked him. You have his credit card already."
"I don't want to ask him that. I like spending my own money."
"How much do you make?"
"250,000 a month."
"Wow, that's almost what I make in a year. If I made that much, I wouldn't need Fitz money."
"I don't get to keep all of that money. I have a very expensive staff. I would probably be middle class without my endorsements."
"I won't raise your baby. I will be available whenever you need me. You don't have to pay me for that."
"I don't know if I can handle it."
"You can hire a nanny or several nannies."
"That's still going to be more stuff I have to manage. Paid help can't do everything. I will have to keep up with Dr. appointments, research schools, keep track of favorite foods and toys."
"Get a planner."
"I have...had a personal assistant."
"Are you going to hire another assistant?"
"I have to hire someone to manage my work life."
"Are you going to Vermont when you leave Canada?"
"Yeah, I don't have a reason to be in California when I'm not working."
"I might go there for a break. We can be pregnant together, and live in the same house again."
Olivia smiled, Fitz house was huge, so the singing wouldn't be annoying. It would be great having Veronica there for the pregnancy.
"We could stay up late eating onion rings and drinking cider." Olivia said.
"Maybe I'll ask my Fitz to build a house next to yours."
"Yeah, that would be great!"
Veronica laughed at Olivia's excitement. The idea wasn't practical. How could she move her whole life to Vermont? It could be their second home when she needed a break from work in California.
"How about you move back to New York. I'm sure you can be successful there." Olivia said.
"Leave California?" Veronica asked.
"Scandal is almost over, and I'm thinking of doing a show on Broadway. It might be my next project."
"When are you going to start your psychology degree?"
"Soon I hope."
"Why can't you start next fall?"
"I haven't chosen a university yet."
"Do you really want to be a psychologist, or do you simply like the idea?"
"I want it."
"It's not like tv. You will get calls that will make you rethink your career."
"What has been your most difficult work call?"
Veronica looked at the beach for a few seconds. She didn't like internalizing the hard parts of her job. Olivia wanted an answer.
"A patient called me when I was getting ready for work. He asked for an appointment, and I told him I had a full schedule until the next week. He screamed at me and I told him we could talk on my lunch break. He said don't bother returning his call. I heard a gunshot. He killed himself."
Olivia's fork trembled in her hand. She didn't want to deal with that. Maybe she should stick with acting.
"It's not like that every day. What's the most difficult thing about your career?"
"Not being a real person anymore. I'm a brand and a corporation. I'm really glad I ran into Fitz in the grocery store. I love that he wants me not the celebrity Olivia Pope."
"I love that about my Fitz. He likes my personality."
"He said you're cute and goofy. He really does love you."
"Do you think they would ever try to trick us? You know they could be twins."
"That would not be a funny joke." Olivia said.
