"Fitz? Baby, I'll be back later."
Fitz turned away from his mixing boards and swiveled around in his chair to look at Olivia, who was standing in the doorway. "Whoa, where are you headed off to, babe," he asked, seeing that she was all dressed up and with Willow in her arms.
"Just to my mom's house."
Fitz nodded with relief. He's been home for two days and still hasn't found the balls to tell her about his encounters with her sister. He knows that prolonging the situation isn't right, but his fear of hurting Olivia and disappointing her is what's truly holding him back. The ink on their marriage certificate has barely dried. This type of situation isn't supposed to be happening to them right now, or ever! "Kat's not going," he asked, ignoring the voice in his head that was screaming at him to tell his wife the truth.
"Katie's still asleep. The boys are out with their friends but they'll be back soon. I'm only bringing Willow with me."
"Alright. I've got to work on some stuff anyway. I'll see you later. Tell mom I said hello," Fitz said, and Olivia smiled, "Alright, honey. Will do. I love you."
"I love you too, babe. Drive safe," he said to her as she walked out the door with Willow. After walking out of Fitz's in-home studio, Olivia walked through the garage to her car. She strapped Willow into her car seat then she got in and let the garage door up as she let the A/C circulated her car and cool it down. "You ready, girlfriend," Olivia asked as she looked at her daughter on the screen on her dashboard. The camera strapped to the headrest in front of the car seat gave a clear overview of her baby. Fitz had insisted that every car they owned had one of the monitors and Olivia immediately fell in love with it. It provided her a safe way to keep an eye on her daughter without having to take her eyes off the road for too long. During the car rides with just her and daughter, it really bugged Olivia how she couldn't see what her daughter was doing or why she was crying, and since Willow's car seat wouldn't get turned face forward until she hit a year old, the camera and monitor had been money well spent and it had been the easiest install ever. "Let's go see grandma!" Olivia smiled, beginning the drive to her mother's house.
It had been a while since she'd last saw her mommy and she was really missing her. Being the oldest, Olivia and Maya shared a special bond. Olivia could truly say that her mother was one of her bestest friends.
When Olivia arrived at her mother's house, she sighed seeing Tamia's car was in the driveway. God, she's always here, Olivia thought to herself as she got out of her car. She really just wanted it to be her, her mother and Willow but, oh well! "Come on, baby. Let's go see your grandma." She cooed grabbing Willow along with her baby bag, then she headed inside. "Mommy!" Olivia semi-shouted. She then shook her head at her own actions and snickered. She really had no room to get onto her kids about yelling in the house, because look at what she'd done?
"In the kitchen, baby!" Maya shouted back.
"Should've known. Hey, mommy!"
"Hey, sweetie! Look at my precious grand-baby! Hand her here! Ooh, hand her here," Maya said excitedly. Olivia laughed as she handed Willow to her. "Please take her. She is getting so heavy!"
"Livie, this child isn't heavy at all."
"Mom, she's heavy! She's like my own little Michelin man with those adorable rolls. Willow tell your Lovie (the name Maya wanted Olivia's children to call her), that you're now seven months old and weigh fifteen pounds. Say I'm able to turn around to reach for things, I can push myself up if I'm lying on my stomach, I can support my own weight on my legs and I love holding onto coffee tables so I can bounce up and down to my mommy's and daddy's music, aaand I'm crawling!" Maya cheered for her granddaughter. "You go girl," she said.
Willow turned her head so she could face her mommy and she began to babble, then she turn back to face her grandmother. She grabbed Maya's face and gave one her slobbery kiss. Olivia aw'ed and laughed. "Oh yes! I'm so sorry, Ms. Willow. Mommy forgot to tell Lovie that you love giving out slobbery kisses, too!"
Maya laughed as she wiped the baby's slobber from her cheek. "Well, thank you, you sweet girl, and you are moving on up in the world! You'll be a year old before we know it!"
"Right! Time's moving so fast!" Olivia grinned. "I'm already thinking of party themes for her, but I think we're going to got with Care Bears. It's her favorite show."
"Oh, that's going to be beautiful!" Maya smiled. "All those pretty colors, the rainbows! You know I can help if you'd like?"
"Of course I want your help, mom! You're like the best in the business!" Maya was one of LA's finest event planners. She smiled coyly and said, "Thank you, darling."
"Mommy, isn't that Tamia's car out there? Where is she," Olivia asked, looking around curiously.
"I don't know." Maya sighed. "She's here, she's there, she's everywhere. Olivia, pray for your sister. She's really going through it. Her and Christopher are having martial issues and things have just been a mess.."
"Really? I mean, we haven't talked much recently...like we usually do, but I figured she was just busy." Olivia said, looking at her mom. Maya sighed again. "I believe there's much more going on than what she's letting on, but I can't get her to open up about any of the stuff. I just try to be there for her because I know it isn't easy dealing with a cheating husband."
Olivia shook her head as she thought about her baby sister and how hurt she must be. She couldn't believe Christopher had cheated on Tamia.. She knew she definitely needed to reach and talk to her baby sister, because she too, knew how difficult it could be. "So, how are the kids," Maya asked, bringing Olivia out of her thoughts.
"They're good. The boys were out with their friends, Katie was still asleep which is why she isn't tagging along with us. Felix and Teddy, they haven't been over in a while but Fitz and I have kept in touch with them."
"Mhm and speaking of Fitz, where is your other half?"
"I left him at home, too. He was working on something in the studio. He told me to tell you hello though," Olivia said as she pulled out her phone. She shoot Fitz a quick text to remind him that he needed to check on Katie. With the everyone gone and Fitz downstairs, she didn't want Katie to think that she was home alone whenever she decided to wake up. It was nearing one o'clock in the afternoon, so she was sure that it'd be soon.
"How was his trip to New York? Mia told me that she was over there the day he'd left."
"Oh yeah, she was! He said it was fine…"
X
Olivia, her mom and Willow spent over an hour together. The small child kept the two adults well entertained playing peekaboo, patty-cake, and having tickle time. Having Willow and Olivia in her home made Maya's heart swell and she began to reminisce about the time when Olivia was that age. She told many stories about all the silly things Olivia had done and how overprotective her father was over her. Hearing those stories always made Olivia smile.
Then suddenly, three became four.
"Mom!" Tamia yelled coming into the kitchen.
"Yes, Mia," Maya asked once Tamia come into her view.
Olivia silently watched as her sister joined her and their mother in the kitchen. Standing off to the side, Tamia slowly allowed her eyes to make contact with Olivia's and when they did, she rolled her eyes with a scoff and that took Olivia by surprise. What? What did she do?
"Uh- hi, Tay?" Olivia said confusedly.
"Hi." She answered dryly.
Olivia was really confused now. Tamia had never treated her this shallow. "What's going on with you, Tamia? Are you ok?"
"Nothing, Olivia. Just- just mind your business."
"Wow. Um...Ok." Olivia was taken aback again. She chuckled uncomfortably and shook her head. "Well, I'm here if you need me."
"Why are you here anyway?"
"Well, I'm here because this is my mother's house and I can come here whenever I get good and goddamn ready. Who do you think you are questioning me?" Olivia said. Just that fast, she was done trying to play nice. Who in the hell did Tamia think she was?
"Liv, today is not the day. I'm telling you.." Tamia laughed as she made a fist and began to crack every single knuckle. Olivia took that gesture as a threat. With her head tilted to the side and arms folded over her chest, she said, "If you're feeling froggy then I want you to do something, Tamia. You may be my baby sister, but I will lay you the hell out."
"Hey! Hey, I don't know what's going on with you Tamia, but you best start acting like you have some sense!" Maya semi-shouted as she held her granddaughter on her hip and pointed her finger at her youngest daughter. "You need to get your act together!"
"I'm not the one that need to get my act together! Her husband is! Putting his hands on women!" Tamia shouted as she flung her hand in Olivia's direction.
Olivia frowned confusedly as she looked at Tamia. She placed both hands on the counter and leaned towards her. "Now just what the hell are you talking about, Tamia? Whose husband? Because I know damn well you're not talking about mine. I've been with my husband since he's been back home. Fitz hasn't saw you since the day he left for his trip and that was what- a week ago? Honey, whatever you are smoking, please leave that shit alone," Olivia said dismissively.
"Olivia, do you really know what type of man you're married to? You must not know, because if you did, you'd know that when he went on his little trip, he called me up, particularly begging me to come see him, and so I went. He ended up having one too many drinks and I had to help him back to his hotel room. When I tried to leave, he pulled me into his bed. I tried to fight it, big sis, I really did." Tamia smirked. "But those soft lips and kisses felt too damn good to stop and now...I'm pregnant."
Olivia's heart sank as breathing became a task. With her ears ringing, before she knew it, she had raised her hand and slapped Tamia across her face.
"Olivia!" Maya gasped.
Tamia looked at her with a stoic grin as she held her hand against her hot cheek.
"You fucking bitch," Olivia yelled as she charged at Tamia. Maya moved quickly to grabbed Olivia's arm and hold her back. "Olivia! Stop! Stop it right now!" She shouted.
"You're a lying ass bitch! Fitz would never lay down with you!"
Tamia chuckled at she watched Liv pace around like a Lion in a cage and said, "Oh that's funny, Liv. He had said the same thing until I asked, 'why just fuck one sister when you can have us both?'" Tamia shrugged. "If you don't believe me, just ask him and see how much he remembers."
Olivia nibbled on her bottom lip as she glared at Tamia. There was so much rage and anger in her eyes that even if she caught a glance of her own reflection she wouldn't recognize the person starring back at her. What she felt was betrayal. So much betrayal. She'd never been this angry before. Not ever. She had never wanted to cause so much pain to her own sister... No, not until now.
Tamia knew Fitz's memory of that night was probably gone to shit thanks to the drug she'd given him, but if he couldn't tell Olivia the full truth then he would look like he's lying which would certainly work out in her favor.
Tamia glanced at Willow who was still in her mother's arms and caressed the little girl's cheek. "Auntie Tamia is having your little sister or brother, pumpkin."
"Tamia! Stop! Stop it right now before I knock you out myself!" Maya yelled as she pulled Willow out of her reach, she knew if she didn't then Olivia certainly would. This was not the way she raised her children to behave. Maya felt sick to her stomach thinking about the mess her family was in. "What is wrong with you, child? Where did I go wrong with you! Just listen to yourself!"
"You are always taking up for Olivia! What about me, mom? Huh, what about me?" Tamia cried.
"What about you, Tamia! Do you want me to applaud you for ruining your sister's marriage, huh? Is that what you want?! You are an adult, Tamia! Grow the hell up! Please, don't you dare say another word to me! Livie, baby, take Willow and go home. Figure out just what the hell Tamia is talking about."
Maya handed Willow to Olivia and she kissed both of their cheeks.
With her daughter in her arms, Olivia said, "It's all a bunch of bullshit, mom. My husband would never do something like this to me." She turned to her sister and continued, "And Tamia, I can't believe you would scoop so low. You are my baby sister, I would have never ever hurt you the way you just hurt me. Just because your life is falling apart doesn't mean that you have to ruin mine. I am disgusted by you and I never want to see you again. You are fucking dead to me." Her eyes filled tears as she grabbed Willow's baby bag and her car keys.
"Olivia, please, be careful. I know you're confused, angry, upset and you want to get home as quick as you can to get some answers from Fitzgerald, but please drive safely," Maya said as she walked them to the door. "I will, mom.. I just- I'll see you later." After getting Willow strapped in, Olivia settled into the drivers seat and took a few calming breaths to steady her shaky hands before she drove home.
Her mind raced with all things Tamia had said. Why would she lie? Is she even lying? Why didn't Fitz say anything? Is this why he'd been so vague about his trip? Did she really see him? Did she just make all of that up because she's having her own marital issues? Tamia's pregnant...with my husband's baby? God, no. This can't be real.
Once she got home, she found her family playing on the game system. They were all having so much fun and looked so happy together. She smiled with teary eyes as she thought of this all coming to an end, because certainly, if what Tamia said was true, this would be the end. "Ahem." She cleared her throat to make her presence known.
Katie and the boys waved to her but that's all she got, they were too focused on the game, but she was happy about that for once.
Fitz put down the game console and walked over to her as the kids groaned, "Dad, come back!" With a grin on his face, Fitz leaned down to kiss her cheek, but she dodged his lips and stepped out of his embrace. "Liv... Livie?"
With sadness in her brown eyes, she looked up at him and said, "We need to talk. Now, Fitz."
To the guest that left the review saying that this story is written in a childish manner, lol, I guess I'm doing a great job at keeping your childish self entertained, because you're still here...after 34 chapters... Hilarious.