"Hi grandma!"
"Hi, where's Livvie?"
"She's sleep."
"She's sleeping while you're still awake?"
"Yeah, and mom let me have ice cream and cereal for dinner!"
"Karen, give Olivia the phone."
"Okay."
It was Maya's first day back from her cruise, and this was not the welcome she was expecting from Olivia and Karen.
"Hello?"
"Livvie, why are you sleeping?"
"What? I closed my eyes for a few minutes. I'm not sleep."
"What did you cook for dinner?"
"What time is it?"
"It's 8:00."
"Oh, I'll put some chicken nuggets and fries in the oven for Karen. I'm so nauseous. I don't want to smell any food."
"Where is Fitz?"
"I don't know. I haven't spoken to him in a week. He's probably getting ready for his trip to Scotland."
"Call that man and tell him to cook for you and Karen."
"I don't need Fitz."
"Livvie, call him or I'm getting his number out of your phone and calling him."
"I'm not calling Fitz."
"Okay, I'll be at your house after I drop my luggage at home."
"Mom, why are you being so demanding?"
"Because Karen can't have ice cream, cereal and processed junk for dinner."
Olivia turned towards the kitchen when she heard a noise. Karen was getting more ice cream and someone was coming in the house.
"Mom, I have to go. I'll cook. You don't have to come over here now. Get some rest. I know you're tired."
"I'm calling you back in a few minutes. If you're not cooking, I will be on my way over there."
"You're eating ice cream and cereal?"
Fitz was baffled seeing cereal spilled on the table and the quart of ice cream melting next to the bowl.
"Can you go to the store and get some more cereal?"
"Where's dinner?"
"Mom said I can have ice cream and cereal for dinner!"
Fitz put the ice cream in the freezer and left Karen in the kitchen. Olivia was on the sofa. Her house was a disaster. Toys everywhere and a cartoon on the TV. There were packages of graham crackers on the coffee table.
"Livvie."
"What are you doing here?"
"I came here to say goodbye before I leave for Scotland tomorrow."
"Okay, goodbye Fitz."
"I can't leave you and Karen like this. You're coming with me."
"We are not going to Scotland."
"I'm not canceling my flight, and I'm not leaving you here. Start packing now."
"I'm not packing anything."
"Okay, I'll take everything out of your closet and put it in my car. You won't have anything left to wear."
Olivia closed her eyes and laid back on the sofa. She was hoping Fitz would leave if she ignored him. She opened her eyes when he pulled her arm.
"Get up and go upstairs. Now."
"I don't want to pack."
"Let me order takeout for Karen and purchase your tickets, and then I'll pack your clothes. You can sleep."
Olivia begrudgingly followed his demand. Fitz looked through his phone. Last minute tickets to Scotland were going to be expensive. It was times like this he was thankful for his career. He already had the hotel.
"Do you want pizza for dinner Karen?"
"I want chicken nuggets and fries."
"Okay. Your food will be here in a few minutes. You can't stay up late. We have a long day tomorrow."