"Hello?"
"Were you sleeping?"
"No, are you okay?"
"Not really."
"Okay, now I'm worried."
"I came to Vermont with Fitz for a party. You know that. It was more than a party. We got married."
"What? You're not making sense."
"Mila, he asked me to be his wife and I said yes."
"He proposed? Mom, I know you think you have to be friends because he saved your life, but this is going overboard."
"It's a long story. We are here to claim his inheritance. He wouldn't have been able to get the money without me being his wife."
"How much money?"
"A hundred million dollars."
"Are you serious?!"
"Yes, I'm very serious."
"You're rich! Congratulations mom!"
"I don't want his money."
"Why not?"
"The money belongs to Fitz."
"You're legally entitled to a lot of it."
"That's not why I'm calling. I have more important things I need to talk about with you. I know this isn't a conversation I should be having with my child. I don't have anyone else I can talk too, and unfortunately I think you know more about this than me."
"Are you talking about sex?"
"Yes, and I can't."
"You don't have to rush anything. I don't care if he is super rich. He doesn't own your body. I hope you know that."
"I'm afraid, but I don't want to be alone forever."
"You're not going to like my answer."
"I'm listening."
"You have to take a chance. You might get your heart broken again, but you can't give up if you don't want to be alone."
"Okay."
"Don't be like me though. If he does break your heart, take time to heal before you move on or you will have a different kind of emotional baggage. I know I talk badly about you being a single mom, but I envy you. Not being experienced can be a good thing."
Olivia smiled, "You can always stop being a hoe."
Mila laughed, "I couldn't ask for a better mom. I think I'll take your advice."
"There's one more thing. I lost my job."
"You don't need it. Mom, you are very rich."
"You're right. Goodnight Mila."
Olivia hung up the phone and checked the time. It was almost daylight. This was moving too fast and Fitz did not want to slow down. Maybe it was time to give someone a chance, but she wasn't ready for that. Fitz saving her life complicated her love life. Why was she still in Vermont? They were legally married, so he wasn't going anywhere. That didn't mean she had to be by his side every day. She considered him a friend, and maybe she would fall in love with him someday, but not today or tomorrow. She knew what she had to do. Olivia took a note pad out of her purse and wrote Fitz a quick message. She was going home early. She needed a few weeks to herself, and if he really loved her he would give her space. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to call him before then to help with a medical emergency.
The taxi came shortly after she called, and she arrived at the airport in time to be on the next flight. At 7:00 am, Olivia was walking into her home. Her phone hadn't rang, so she assumed Fitz was still sleeping.
"You're back this early?"
"I wanted to leave before he woke up."
"Why?"
"Because it's easier than arguing about me staying with him."
"Mom, do you even like him?"
"I don't know."
"How can you not know?"
"I will forever be grateful to him, but I don't know if I like being married to him. I hated him two months ago and now I consider him a friend for saving my life. In seven years, this past month has been the longest I have ever talked to Fitz.
"You're not calling him Fitzgerald anymore. That must mean something."
"I think I'm afraid. I don't even want to give Steven a chance, and I know he's a great guy."
"I think you need a vacation. New surprise marriage, no job, recovering from the accident. Go somewhere and don't accept any calls."
"I do need a vacation."
"I'm going to get fresh doughnuts from the bakery. Do you want anything?"
"No, I'm going to sleep."
"If he's the man for you, he will wait."
"Thanks Mila."
XXXX
One week later, Olivia still hadn't heard from Fitz. She appreciated him giving her space, but she was kind of upset that he hadn't called to make sure that she made it home safely. She decided not to take a vacation. She did not want to be thousands of miles away from Fitz and have a medical emergency. When her doorbell rang, she knew it would be Fitz and she was very wrong.
"Steven, what are you doing here?"
"I heard you're taking a leave of absence."
"Yes. It wasn't my decision."
"Your doctor is making you take a long break?"
"No, Fitzgerald Grant's dad. He deactivated my access card."
"Why?"
"Because I'm married to Fitz."
"What are you talking about Liv?"
"Fitz and I are married."
"What? Why would you marry him? You hate Fitz."
"He saved my life. You do know we both have a rare blood type, and I needed more than one transfusion."
"I didn't know that. You never talk about your personal life. I knew about the accident because it was on the news, and our boss called a meeting to let everyone know you would be out of the office for a few weeks."
"I should have told you about out marriage."
"You didn't have to marry him. Why would you legally attach yourself to Fitzgerald Grant?"
"Steven, I don't hate Fitz. Not anymore."
"I know you don't love him."
"I don't know, but I know I need him."
"That's not a good enough reason to marry him."
"What if I need him, and he's not there. I can die if he isn't there for me."
"You might not ever need him again."
"I'm not going to find out. Goodbye Steven."