Therefore, she manages to maintain discretion, killing two birds with one stone as she leans closer to him, poking him in the ribs with her elbow subtly, to keep him at bay; as she whispers, "If you don't remove your arm from around my chair, and slide your ass back to your side of the table. I am going to spill my cold drink all over those white linen trousers. And despite ruining them; more importantly, we both know shrinkage doesn't look good on you, don't we?"
As Eloise and Barron finish up with the servers, they look across the table and see Eddie sit back in his chair, as he moves back to his side of the table in an obvious huff, and Olivia is sporting a smirk, as she picks up her glass of tea and takes a sip.
His parents share a look, and they know its show time. But before they begin, they both notice Olivia isn't wearing her ring. The realization does pose a concern, they wonder if they may be too late to be of any help.
In the interim, Olivia begins to feel like the turning point has arrived. Going with a hunch, she plays it straight up. She takes advantage of the silence as she asks, "So, who is going to be the first to share why we are all really here today?"
Eloise speaks with some sincerity as she says, "Liv, we know you and Ed have had some recent trouble. But, we want to help you work through it. Because we want you in the family." She appreciates her straightforward nature. It honestly confirms what she already knew about Eddie's reason for ambushing her with their presence. But still. She remains respectful despite knowing they were in on this pitiful attempt to keep her in this relationship.
Meeting her with a forthright response of her own, she replies, "Eloise, I am grateful for all of the support you and Barron have given us over the years. And I am appreciative of how close we've become during my courtship with Eddie. But, becoming his wife isn't something I want anymore."
Barron inquisitively asks, "Why Liv? What's changed?" She sees the frustration and concern in his eyes, and feels it in his tone. But, instead of doing what they all want her to do; which is agree to let them try to fix their situation by committee.
She plainly says, "Barron, Eloise, with all due respect. I'm not going to talk about the details behind our break up. Because it doesn't matter anymore. I have emotionally and mentally moved on. And nothing anybody at this table says or does will change my mind."
Eloise inquires further as she responds, "Liv, don't shut us down. Before you walk away. Understand we genuinely care about you two. You're the best thing that has ever happened to Ed. And you can have the best life possible, being the wife of a senator, and one day the first lady of the United States."
Barron adds his two cents, "She's right Liv. There's allot to gain here. Don't throw it all away because of a few correctable behaviors. You have my word. Eddie will be better. Just give him another chance. At least through the preliminary launch of the campaign if nothing else."
Olivia is a bit put off by his remark and she asks for clarification. "Help me out here Barron; what exactly am I throwing away by breaking up with Eddie? And when did his inability to keep his pants zipped become your issue?"
He can tell she has taken offense to his words; but he's not sure of how to fix it. Eloise jumps in to bail him out as she says, "Liv, we know that Eddie's struggles are his own." She interjects as she asks, "Are you sure about that Eloise? Because with you two both being here today, running interference for him, it doesn't seem that way. You're even assuring he will stay faithful, as if you have any control over his behavior, when we both know you don't" And it's blatantly clear he doesn't, or at least he chooses not to."
There's been a significant shift, the tension is steadily rising, it's felt by everyone. Eddie reacts as he responds, "Liv, come on. They're just trying to help. Don't bash them for being good parents who care about me."
Irritated, she looks at him as she replies, "Nobody is bashing them Eddie. I am just stating what I see. But, it doesn't matter. Forget I said anything. I am going to go before I say something I will regret."
She wanted to say more, but she holds off because she knows it will only hurt his parents and that's not what she wants to do. So, she bites her tongue and prepares to leave.
But, before she can grab her things Baron says, "Liv, you don't have to go. Please stay. I'm sure we can work something out." Olivia sighs as she responds, "No, we can't Barron. I'm sorry. Again, it was nice seeing you and Eloise, and I wish you both well. Even you Eddie."
As she again attempts to leave. Eddie's thoughts end up being stated for all to hear. He feels like she's being incredibly arduous; and he dislikes her dismissive attitude, prompting him to say, "Liv, you're making this very difficult. Far more difficult than necessary. Why leave me now, when everything is starting to happen for me. Do you realize how our break up could set me back in launching my political campaign? For goodness sake, the launch gala is this weekend!"
Barron, thinking he's helping adds, "He's right Liv, this couldn't be worse timing. Couldn't you just be considerate and hold out till after the preliminary launch?"
Olivia wants to slap both him and his father right across the face; for reaching for the guilt and shame flags. But she controls her urge as she simply responds, "Wow. You're actually trying to make this my fault." Eloise sees her emotion rising and tries to head her off as she chimes in, "No Liv. That's…"
But, her son over talks her as he angrily replies, "Well, I'm not the one breaking up with you. Causing you embarrassment and unnecessary drama. So if the shoe fits, wear it. It is your fault. You're trying to ruin me out of spite!"
Barron processes his son's remark and knows it wasn't the best thing to say. While Eloise puts her hand on her forehead, frustrated and knowing her son has made a mistake he cannot come back from. She gasps, "Damn it Eddie."
His expression goes from angry to confused as he looks from Olivia to his parents, and then they all here her say, "Embarrassed. You want to talk to me about being embarrassed. Let me ask you, how many times have you walked into a room with me on your arm, knowing that I've fucked at least half the men there and probably have a plan to fuck the other half when you're not looking?"
He tries to interrupt as he says, "Liv,," But she continues to speak as she puts her hand up, continuing on. "Then, you spent half the night talking to those men, with them smiling in your face as if everything is just fine. Tell me, how often did you experience that Eddie boy? Because Lord knows that's been my path for 4 regrettable years. So when you say I'm being difficult, and I am inconveniencing you. You know what I have to say about that? I say fuck you! It's about time you got to be affected by your choices. And not just everyone else around you, left scrambling to figure out how to get past another one of your bone headed, ill thought out ventures."
There's a pause after she ends her tirade; she's settling her mind in the moment, and she's no longer angry. Instead, she's rather calm, as if she lifted a weight off of her shoulders by expressing how she feels. Which, now she remembers that's exactly what this moment was supposed to be about, closure. And she is feeling like she has achieved it.
She then looks around, and she realizes her words have left them speechless long enough for her to grab her purse and sunglasses. And as she turns to walk away; Eddie says, "I can't believe I wasted all this time on you."
She smiles as she continues to walk away, despite his remark. And as she uses the garden exit, she turns back to him as she says, "The feeling is certainly mutual my friend. I do thank you for the lesson though. Tootles."
Pissed off beyond measure; Eddie yells, "Good fucking riddance!" Olivia keeps walking, without any desire to address his retort. After all, that's all he has.
With her still being in earshot of their table, she continues to grin as she hears Barron loudly scold him as he replies, "This is all your fucking fault. Running around here like a god dammed porn star." Eloise adds, "No wonder she walked out on you! You so don't deserve her!"
On that she and his parents can truly agree. He doesn't deserve her. And she certainly doesn't deserve him. As Olivia continues her walk to her car, she is feeling freer than ever. Like a much needed chapter of her life has finally closed. And she can move forward with whatever else she needs or wants to do, knowing Eddie is no longer a factor.
When she gets to her car she sits back and takes a breath, removes her sunglasses and looks at herself in the mirror, with a smile on her face. She looks at the clock and realizes she still has a half hour left on her lunch break. So, she takes advantage of it by visiting her favorite lingerie store for some celebration retail therapy, before returning to finish her work day.