"Tummy mommy!"
"Hello!"
Karen tilted her head confused. She looked at Mellie's stomach. It was slightly round.
"Is there a baby in your tummy?"
"Yes."
"Are you giving the baby to mom?"
"No, Olivia has her own babies."
"Are you taking me home with you?"
"We're going wherever you want to go in DC."
"Her booster seat is in my car. I'll get it for you."
This was a very awkward meeting for Fitz. Mellie was his ex-wife. He was hoping Olivia would be back from the grocery store by the time Millie arrived.
"How have you been?"
"I lost my job."
"You'll find something better."
"How are you? Are you still with the guy?"
"Yeah, we are still together. I'm still working at the restaurant. Nothing to brag about."
"So you're keeping the baby?"
"Yes."
"Why is it different now?"
Karen looked between Fitz and Mellie. She was ready to go to Chuck E Cheese.
"Because I don't have an ex-husband asking me to give the baby away. You sound jealous Fitz. Are you?"
It wasn't jealousy, but Fitz didn't know what it was. He loved Olivia, but she was very different from Mellie. In some ways that was good, and in some ways that was not so good. There were things he missed about being married to a simple woman from Virginia. Mellie never asked for anything designer. They both loved nature and walking in the woods. Olivia was the exact opposite. She loved the ballet and fine dining. His relationship with Mellie was really one-sided. She was his therapist, and he was not getting that from Olivia. He often wondered why Mellie never tried to better herself, and he respected Olivia for her accomplishments. Despite his ex-wife's flaws, he still cared about Mellie. He wished he could pick up the phone and call her when he needed someone to listen.
"No I'm not. It's good that you're going to keep your baby."
"Dad, can you marry my tummy mommy?"
"No. I'm married to Olivia."
"You can get married to Mom and tummy mommy."
"We tried that Karen. It didn't work out." Mellie said.
"I want you to live with us. The baby can live here too."
"Okay let me get your booster seat."
"She is so adorable." Mellie said.
"We make cute babies." Fitz said, following Karen outside.
"You're married to my friend. Keep that in mind Fitz."
"I know that."
"Your brain knows that. I don't think your heart knows that."
Fitz didn't have anything else to say to Mellie. What else could he say that wouldn't be disrespectful to Olivia?
