Challenge Part 7
Birthday Date
"Pope you're awfully quiet. What gives?" Olivia remains quiet, the charms rest in her open cupped hands on her lap. She keeps staring at the icing encrusted pewter trinkets as if expecting something magical to occur.
"Pope are you okay?" Olivia dangles the charms, a ring and a frog with a crown, in front of her. The occasion leading to her possessing the two harbingers of coming life changing events replay in her mind temporarily blocking all external stimuli.
Flashback
"Ladies, ladies, cake pull time. Line up", Candace shouts.
The bridesmaids gather at the cake table. All stand stationed behind the table giving guests an unobstructed view of the quaint southern custom about to take place. The bridesmaids line-up in order of eagerness with Keisha being first and Olivia last.
"Keisha get your thirsty tail behind Sydney, you know the youngest goes first".
"And why is that? Shouldn't pull order be random?"
Candace gives Keisha the no mood for bullshit eye and Keisha steps back letting Sydney move to the head of the line. Sydney studies the ivory ribbons laying decoratively from the bottom cake tier and decides to take position on the left in front of the ribbon with a little star on it. One by one the other bridesmaids fan out encircling the table, each in front of the remaining ribbons. Olivia stands between Sydney and Willow tapping her foot somewhat nervous.
"Okay ladies on the count of three pull your ribbon. One…two…".
"Wait, wait, are we pulling on three or three then pull", Cynthia asks sincerely. Everyone looks her, frowning but saying nothing.
"Never mind, sorry I asked", she mumbles embarrassed.
Candace resumes, "Once again ON three, one, two, three!"
The bridesmaids pull simultaneously, then one by one reveal their prize. Sydney pulls the cat, the perfect charm for a gamer because it promises extreme cleverness. Karina pulls the owl, another perfect match, wisdom for a detective. Grace pulls the lion, the conqueror of problems. Patrice selects the wishbone. Onika pulls the fleur de lys, prosperity and Cynthia the boot, for travel. Keisha pulls the castle which stands for happily ever after and Willow the mask, which means something fun and unexpected will happen to her. Olivia holds her charm tightly in her hand. Her face turns flush. She knows, the bridesmaids know, hell everyone at the wedding knows with the exception of Fitz what charm she has by process of elimination.
"Come on Liv, show your charm", Keisha teases. Olivia rolls her eyes and forces a trooper smile. With all eyes on her, she opens her hand, Sydney hands her a napkin so she can wipe the frosting away.
Candace and Karina giggle with glee. "Man Olivia, on your first try and you get a bonus. The bakery didn't tell me about the bonus charm.
"Mazel tov", Rebecca, a close family friend of the Popes yells from one of the guest tables.
End flash back
"Don't tell me you're superstitious Pope. You're not seriously contemplating what happened at the reception?"
"I don't want to talk about it. Can we please not talk about it?"
"Pope its just a wedding tradition not some inescapable fait accompli. You don't see me in a panic because I pulled the button charm. I took the same amount, if not more ribbing than you from all the guys since you pulled the ring charm first". Olivia shakes head.
After the bridesmaids finished their cake pull, the groomsmen pulled charms from the groom's cake. Fitz pulled the button charm which means his as a bachelor are numbered.
Olivia is nervous, no she's petrified. Every Pope family wedding she's been to the cake pull has proven prophetic. Whatever charm the bridesmaids pull comes true. At first, she attributed the marriages, travel and unexpected money to coincidence or the self-fulfilling actions of the charm recipient. But when the charm pull record went eight for eight she came to believe there may be more to the little innocuous wedding ritual.
"Normally I'm not in the traditional sense, I dismiss most things as coincidence. Pope weddings are the exception. Every family wedding I've attended the cake pull charms have been spot on".
"Well Pope, now I don't know whether to be concerned or insulted".
It takes a minute for Fitz's words to register. Olivia turns her head toward him confused.
"Wha… what? Concerned or insulted? What is that supposed to mean?"
"Simply put, should I be concerned this is affecting you so deeply or should I be insulted the very thought of marrying me is enough to send you into a stupor. Does the possibility of a life we me equate to a fate of unparalleled horror or something?" Olivia answers without thinking.
"No, I wouldn't say horror, I mean it's not the worst fate I can imagine. It's just the thought of... forget it, I don't know what I'm saying".
"If your comment was meant to make me feel better Pope you've failed miserably".
"I mean it's my first time participating in the cake pull and to get the marriage charm the first time out…I mean it just doesn't happen. Plus it was linked to the frog prince charm, for you know, happily ever after. I mean it has never happened as far as I know. You saw my family's reaction. Candace said she would take me to check out china patterns next weekend. She said in that annoying joke no joke way but I could tell she was serious. Dace pulled the marriage charm at her sister's wedding and two years later she's walking down the aisle.
Olivia leans back against the passenger window. "Oh god, my parents get in tonight and will be at the birthday party tomorrow. I guarantee the rest of my family is blowing up their phone with texts and voicemails telling them what happened at the wedding".
"Pope I think you're getting a little carried away. It was just another simple wedding tradition like the chicken dance, flinging the bride's garter or tossing the bouquet. Be logical, how many people who catch the garter or the bouquet actually end up married. I'm sure your family can cite plenty of examples where the bridesmaid never experienced the charm prediction".
"Yeah, you're probably right", Olivia sighs.
"Sure I am, I bet your family was pulling your leg. They teased me too and I took in stride".
"Yeah, I guess".
"Don't let them rattle you Pope. Never let them see you sweat".
Olivia looks over with a raised eyebrow. "Are you quoting deodorant commercials?"
"Hey if it illustrates the point, the source doesn't matter. Commercials can be profound as well as inspirational and sentimental. Look at Hallmark, I bet you tear up every time you see one of their commercials".
Olivia rubs her temples. "We may be the topic of discussion tomorrow at the birthday party. At least as far as my parents are concerned". Olivia sighs deeply.
They reach a red light and Fitz takes Olivia's hand. "Don't go looking for drama Olivia. Your parents will love me. Seriously, what's not to love. Tomorrow will be a piece of cake", he grins.
Olivia rolls her eyes and snatches back her hand. "Ha ha, very not funny Fitzgerald".
Fitz laughs even though he is nervous about meeting Olivia's parents.
"Did I mention Sterling volunteered to take me ring shopping next week. He says he knows a guy who can give me a great deal". Olivia punches Fitz in the arm grinning.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Be Prepared
"Enlighten me again why we had to park five blocks away from your uncle's house".
"Trust me on this, we'll lose the tactical advantage if we park in plain sight".
"Tactical advantage?"
"Yes, you may think this is an innocent birthday party for a sweet old lady but trust me, word has spread about the cake pull and my grandmother is going to interrogate you like a war criminal, not to mention my parents are back and are going to want to know why I haven't brought you around or told them about you".
"Pope I think you underestimate your family. They've been nothing but welcoming towards me. I'm sure your grandmother and parents are not the exceptions".
"Look follow these simple rules and you will survive this day unscathed".
"What...what are talking about Pope?"
"Just do what I say, it may save your life".
"Pope!"
"Do not make direct eye contact with Miss Minnie. If she senses fear, you're a dead man. Do not try to tell a joke. Richard Pryor and George Carlin are the only people as far as she is concerned who can make jokes and since they're both dead...well you get the picture. Her sense of humor these days borders on the acerbic and is usually at someone's expense".
"Olivia, really, come on".
"Shut up and listen. Do not discuss politics within her earshot. You'll regret it. She's apolitical meaning her disdain for the right, the left and all political persuasions in between is equal across the board".
"Do not whisper around her. She pretends to be hard of hearing but it's just a ploy so she can hear what family is saying about her or what they don't want her to know".
"Do not play cards or dominoes with her. She's a sore loser and has injured many unsuspecting winners by hurling boxed decks or domino bones at unprotected heads after suffering a defeat. Nowadays we give her a run for her money then fade out at the end so she is victorious".
"Never use the phrase back in the day because apparently no one under the age of eighty has lived long enough to know what the day used to be like. Wait, what am I saying, that phrase would never cross your lips".
"Excuse you!" Olivia huffs and gives Fitz a dismissive wave off.
"And for the love of god and all that is holy and descent, do not identify yourself as my boyfriend, unless you want to be strip searched, tied to a tree and a subjected to a thousand questions while being deprived of food and drink".
Fitz looks at Olivia as if she has lost her mind.
"What? Why are you looking at like I should be wearing white socks, paper slippers and standing in line for my cup of meds?"
"Olivia were crouched behind shrubs, whispering as if someone six houses away can hear us and you're basically giving me instructions to hide in a corner somewhere and remain silent".
"Oh, thank goodness you understand, you had me worried for a second with the look on your face", Olivia says relieved.
"Olivia you cannot be serious."
"Oh, but I am. Look Grandma Minnie is not just a force of nature, she is in class all her own. Compared to Minnie, Madea is a rank amateur. Your mission tonight is to stay as far away from her as possible".
"Olivia do you have some time portal you're hiding because unless you can undo the last couple of weeks I'm pretty sure my presence at the hair salon, rehearsal, participation in the wedding and confrontation with Edison pretty much establishes my boyfriend role. Oh, and let's not forget the cake pulls. It's ludicrous at this point to try and introduce me as casual friend."
He tilts her chin up to look her in the eyes. "Do you regret what happened at the wedding or the direction our relationship is going?"
Olivia places her hand atop his and without hesitation replies, "No I don't".
Fitz caresses Olivia's face, they share a minute, focusing only on each other.
"Ready to venture into the belly of the beast?"
Fitz takes her hand and helps her stand from their squatting position.
"Come on. By the way", Olivia says casually. "My father works for the CIA and my mother is a coroner. If they mention anything along the lines of no one ever finding your body, they like you or at least think you have potential". Fitz stops in his tracks, unsure whether Olivia is joking or making a statement of fact.
"And if they don't?"
"Pass on any food or drink they offer and always check under the hood before you start your car".
"What!"
"They're going to love you like the rest of the Popes, don't worry". Holding hands they head down the street to Uncle Bobby's house.
Suddenly Fitz stops. "Fitz what's wrong? Did you forget something?"
"Who's Madea?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
AN -Well, what do you think? Is Olivia overreacting? What about the challenge? Is it over? Is it abeyance until after the birthday party? Grandma Minnie sounds formidable, what do you think her reaction to Fitz will be?
Thank for all the DMs requesting updates. Reviews and DMs are such a source of encouragement. Love you all. Happy Easter and have a great week.