"Hello Livvie."
Olivia was looking out the window, and she didn't notice Fitz come in her hospital room with Karen. She could see the jealousy in his eyes when he saw Harrison holding the baby and the newborn sports clothes in the chair.
"Mom can I take the babies out of the crib?"
"No."
"You let Harrison hold one of the babies."
"He needs to put my baby down."
"Your baby?"
"That's right. My baby. I know you want these babies to be yours. They are not yours Harrison."
"I've been taking care of these babies and your wife."
Olivia didn't want them to get loud in the hospital. She had to ask Harrison to leave.
"Thank you for the gifts Harrison. I need to speak with Fitz. Can you take Karen to get some ice cream from the cafeteria?"
"I can do that Liv."
"Thank you."
Fitz waited for them to leave. He made eye contact with Olivia. She was not happy to see him.
"I'm listening. What do you have to say to me?"
"I left because several of my family members in Scotland died in a boating accident. I'm sorry I couldn't deal with my emotions. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you."
"I am very sorry for your loss. Fitz, you don't need a marriage right now. You need a really good therapist in DC. I can't give you emotional support. I have four kids that need me. I don't get any breaks from being a mom. I also have to think about my health."
Olivia's words were like a punch in the gut. He should have expected that. "Livvie, I'm sorry."
"Thank you for apologizing. You should really start looking for your own place. You can't live with me right now. I have to get my babies on a schedule. You are welcome to visit our children whenever you want to see them. You cannot use them as an excuse to see me."
"I know you've been through a lot since I left you."
"I bought a house while I was in the hospital. I needed Harrison to replace you while I was pregnant. I'm letting him go live his life without taking care of me and my kids. He's my friend. He's not my husband. I will be hiring two nannies. My job wants me back in the office in four weeks. I'm going to lose my job if I can't figure all of this out in a month. I don't have anymore time off work. I was in the hospital four months. I am really sorry that you're hurting. I cannot be the wife that you need right now."
Fitz turned away from Olivia. His eyes were starting to water. He couldn't fall apart in front of his wife. What kind of man cries when his wife needs him to keep it together? The pain of losing so many people he loved at once. The pain of knowing he left Olivia when she needed him the most. Fitz took a deep breath.
"I'll call you when I get settled in my hotel."
