A/N: Thank you for following this story, all the great reviews, and for being patient. Happy reading. The next chapter will be the last and I will have it up before "Autumn Leaves" (Wink). Stay safe.
Chapter 9—Big Gerry
Wednesday couldn't have come soon enough. The void Liv felt when Fitz was away was hard to describe. She certainly knows the feeling of missing someone, but this was different. The need to be with Fitz was overwhelming, and Liv didn't like the feeling at all.
Although they spoke each morning on the walk, and it was only two mornings she still missed his presence. They spoke every night also, Liv falling asleep in the middle of the conversations. When she woke up in the morning, the phone was next to head by her ear. There was a text. Good night Livvie, I love you.
She wasn't through reading the text sometimes when he would call right on time for their virtual walk. Even though it was a short time, it was the seal Liv needed to know she didn't want a life without Fitzgerald Grant being a part of it. But, the thought of it still frightened her.
Each night, before his phone call, Liv worked on her paintings. The second night, she completed the painting of their trip to the bridge. She was finally happy with the details she added, the colors finally being on point.
The only thing that was holding her back was the view from above from her point. She guessed the elevation had her struggling, she never really painted with a view from above, but now it was everything she wished it would be and she added it to the chronological collection she had going.
What most surprised Liv was the completion of her final painting. She had spent most of the time Fitz was away working on it. The only other painting that kept her mind occupied was the one of the open fields with the mountain view. She couldn't understand why this one was giving such a hard time.
It was her favorite view thus far, and it shouldn't be so difficult to paint. She was baffled as to how it got into the final painting, but she couldn't bring herself to even begin the solo painting of the meadow. She took a deep breath, determined to get something on to the canvass. Not having anything was making her crazy. She wanted that view as its own painting, not only shared in the final one.
She began painting that one, and it was just the field with leaves everywhere on the ground, and the mountains in the back. She didn't want to draw any figures in this one, something just didn't feel right.
After Liv finished what she could of the open field and the mountains she placed it to the side. Then, she took another look at the final painting on the big canvass. She stared at it blinking back tears. She had completed her goal, what she came to Vermont to do. Create a painting that showed her life after Derek. She was still confused with some of the details, it would take some examining for Liv to fully understand it.
She didn't have the time now to really focus on this painting, she looked at all the ones she had done since she arrived. She looked back at the final one. She was drawn to it.
Liv swallowed hard looking at the completed final canvass. Like she did when she painted Fitz's eyes that first day, she just sat back into the corner and began to cry. She didn't know why it got her so emotional. Maybe it was because she couldn't believe she finished it with such ease, and it scared her.
She had, from the beginning of her trip to Vermont, told herself that once the final painting was completed, she would leave. It was the very thing that was going to drive her back to the living. This completed painting was going to convince her that her seclusion was over, and it was time to decide. Would she go back to medicine? Would she let Derek go? Could she love again?
These were all questions she arrived with at the resort. Now that had all changed. Her time with Fitz answered all those questions and now, looking at the painting, sobbing in the corner, it scared her in a way she couldn't begin to describe.
She had to get it together though, Mr. Grant, Fitz's father had texted her he was arriving tomorrow instead of Thursday. He had to be in Seattle on Friday and would be leaving Thursday night after dinner. He figured since he couldn't stay the weekend he would stay Wednesday and Thursday.
Liv was still anticipating his arrival and was eager to see Fitz interact with his father. She only heard conversations over the phone. This was something she was looking forward to. She thought about inviting her parents but figured it would be better to have Fitz alone with his father. They could wait on the invite of her parents, if she didn't leave before that.
Fitz had arrived in Santa Barbara, not wanting to be there at all, but having to do what needed to be done. He couldn't leave his responsibilities behind, that wasn't the type of person he was. Although his physical body was in Santa Barbara, his mind was thousands of miles away in Vermont.
He didn't want to bother Olivia with frequent phone calls, so he decided one at night and one on her morning walk would suffice. It would only be two full days and three sleepless nights, but he could do this. He just didn't like being away from her. He didn't want anything changing her mind about staying.
Being away gave her time to work on her paintings and he didn't one that final one finished just yet. He needed to convince her to stay, that their love was real, despite happening so fast.
He had meetings with his Santa Barbara staff, and as much as he tried not to be distracted, he found it difficult. He kept looking at pictures on his phone of their morning walks, the one on the bridge, that one being his screen saver, and the last one they took, the one with the open meadow in the background of this selfie. He knew that was her favorite view having even more of a reaction than she did on the bridge. He was quite sure he would see a painting of it soon.
Liv couldn't stop telling him how she loved the view, the open space, and the mountains in the background. She was so happy in that setting and her smile was everything to him.
His all-time favorite, though, was still one when Liv was looking up at the tree and he, unbeknownst to her, snapped the picture. He doesn't even think she saw it on his desk. It just showed her inner and outer beauty mixed with her passion for nature, and he loved everything about the picture.
Back to reality, Octavio was more than qualified to hold down the Santa Barbara resort. He had worked there since Fitz opened it five years ago. All the staff respected and listened to him, and Fitz couldn't think of a better person to leave the responsibilities to.
Although Octavio didn't need the reminder, Fitz let him know he was only a phone call away, and anything Octavio needed would be given to him.
"If you don't mind me asking, Mr. Grant, why the sudden change in the transition of power? You loved coming to Santa Barbara while the East Coast froze up in the winter." Octavio looked at Fitz's phone as Fitz held it up for him to see.
"I can't deny it, I fell in love, and there is no where I would rather be than with her. She has a life on the East Coast, and I am not going to expect her to change it for me, so I will adjust mine for her."
"Will you at least visit?"
"Are you kidding? The first chance I get, I am bringing Olivia out here to meet the staff and see the incredible things you've done with this resort."
"Good to hear. I can't wait to meet her, Mr. Grant."
Fitz nodded. "If you'll excuse me, I have some errands to run. I have a scheduled flight out earlier than planned, surprising Liv. I want to get back as soon as I can."
Olivia spent most of Tuesday into Tuesday night tidying up her cabin. She was expecting Mr. Grant to arrive sometime in the morning tomorrow. She would surprise Fitz by bringing him over to his cabin. She didn't think there would be any problems. She wasn't anticipating a "walk call". Fitz would be on the plane back to Vermont. It shouldn't be a problem keeping Fitz away from her cabin.
Having tired herself out and not wanting to look at her paintings anymore, Olivia texted Fitz that she was going to sleep. She was tired and was excited for his arrival back tomorrow. She apologized for not being able to talk and with him on the plane tomorrow, she was feeling guilty missing his voice.
Liv tossed and turned for a bit. She thought of what her life would have been had Derek not died. If anyone told her, as they tried to so many times, that she would find someone, she would close down and not want to hear it.
She turned on her side. One the pillow next to her, she saw Derek's face. She reached out to touch him, but he caught her hand. He brought it up to his lips, gently kissing the top.
"Let me go, Livia, go live your life."
Liv closed her eyes, she felt tears rolling down her cheeks, and when she opened her eyes back up, Derek was gone. The maple tree outside shook in the wind and Liv saw the shadows from the branches glowing in the moonlight. She drifted off to sleep.
In her dream, she heard a humming sound, different pitches, but a humming sound. She also saw light shadows, and Liv watched herself walk along the trail of all the changing colors. She couldn't find where the humming was coming from, but the different colors of lights flickering in front of her, caused her to jump out of her slumber.
"Liv, this is the best present ever. I couldn't wait another minute to see you and thank you for this." Fitz was in her room.
She rubbed her eyes, just to make sure she had really woken up. "Fitz? What are you doing? Did I sleep a whole day away?"
"No, no, I left early because I just couldn't be away from you anymore, but I found the package you sent, and then I couldn't wait even more. This is great."
Liv had forgotten she even sent the package. Judging by Fitz waking her up about it at, she glanced at her phone, 2 a.m., she guessed he liked it. She had no idea what she was purchasing, so she went with her gut.
It was a ZiaSabers Millennium Lightsaber with a sensor smooth swing sound. That must have been the humming she heard in her dream. With Fitz swinging it around like he was a modern-day Jedi, those were the lighted shadows she saw in the dream.
She stood on the bed as he walked over. He looked up at her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and he hugged her waist, looking down at him. "I am glad you like it, Mr. Skywalker, and Mister, did I miss you." She wrapped her legs around his waist as he held her up and their lips connected like they haven't kissed in three days, with Liv rubbing her hands through his rugged curls.
After Fitz spoke to Octavio and ran his few errands, he boarded the plane. It would be a long flight, not duration, anticipation. He couldn't wait to hold her in his arms. He couldn't believe how much he was missing her. There was an emptiness in his heart, and he never wanted to be away from her again.
Her parents were scheduled to arrive mid afternoon on Thursday. They would do some shopping tonight for the menu, and Fitz was wondering how he was going to explain to her that he wasn't going to her cabin tomorrow. He always went inside after the walk.
He had thought about giving his father a call, not knowing when he would return from Thailand, but decided against it. As much as he missed his dad, he figured the dinner just be between Liv and her parents.
When his father arrived back from Thailand, they would arrange a meeting. He wanted Olivia to know his dad, as much as he wanted to know her parents. Focusing on the morning now he was thinking.
Liv didn't even know he was going to be there for the walk, and maybe they wouldn't walk at all. He had hoped she had missed him as much as he did her, and maybe they would be too distracted to walk.
On the other hand, he wanted his first meeting with her parents to be special. Fitz knows how much Olivia loves her parents, they're really all she has since she shut down two years ago. Fitz wanted everything perfect.
When he arrived back at his cabin, he had no intentions of going over to Liv's place that late in the evening. He was just going to surprise her in the morning by showing up for the walk and not calling her. Those plans changed when there was a box sitting outside his cabin door.
He opened the box to find a card. "May the force always be with you; I know I would like to be. XO, Livvie". He smiled at the card and looked at the contents of the box. It was one of the best light sabers on the market, and she bought it for him.
He found himself a woman who fed his Star Wars addiction, something he never thought he would find. Olivia understood it though, just like Fitz understood her need for nature in her life. He couldn't wait another minute, and that's when he ran over to her cabin, light saber on, like he was outrunning the storm troopers on the Death Star.
Now, in the darkness of her cabin, in her bedroom, her lips locked with him, he knew it was the best decision to come home early. He gently placed her back on the bed as he undressed. She pulled her top off and as he descended to her, she couldn't wait for his skin to touch hers.
Their chests met as he caressed her face. He looked at her. "I am sorry to wake you, I just couldn't be away from you any longer Liv."
She shook her head. "It's fine, I've been doing nothing but thinking about you. I take it you like the gift."
"I love it, but not as much as I love you Ms. Pope." He slid her lace panties down as she kicked them off her ankles. He found her entrance, and Fitz found himself at the place he loved the most, connected to her, inside of her, as their lovemaking brought them together as one.
He glided his way into her, as her one hand rested on his hips and her other caressed his curls. Her heavy breathing, and suspension of her kiss, he knew he had her close. She turned her head, so his lips bore down on her gorgeous neck as he continued make his way deeper inside her.
"MMM, Fitz," She turned her head back to him, but landed in the crook of his neck as he continued to stay on top, in steady thrusts. It hit her unexpectedly, and her body just rose to his. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her on top of him, never disconnecting, gliding her down, until his pleasure rushed through him.
She leaned forward on his chest, not wanting to disconnect, and just kept her head on the base of his shoulder. He caressed her hair softly. "You alright Livvie?"
She shook her head yes. "Just happy you surprised me like this, I missed you." She buried her head deeper into his shoulder taking in his smell.
"I missed you also, and you surprised me just as well."
Liv lifted her head to right above his. She gave him a peck on the lips before getting up, freshening herself and heading back into his arms, topless.
"I don't want to walk in the morning. I want to stay here, in your arms, but you need to be out by nine, I have some paintings to finish." Liv put that little fib in there.
Fitz nodded in agreement. He didn't want her to finish any paintings, but he couldn't let her know that. "Deal, but don't forget we are food shopping in the afternoon." The flight and the anticipation and no doubt the nonstop run to Liv's cabin caught up to Fitz and he drifted off to sleep.
Liv watched his eyes close and saw him fall peacefully into a deep sleep. It was so beautiful to watch someone you love to drown in comfort and bring their body to peace as you were being held. Suddenly a knot formed in her stomach. What if she lost Fitz? What if it was destined for her not to be happy? She shook the thought away. She had to stay focused in the moment, find peace in her love she had for him.
She had to find the right time to tell him about the painting, that she had finished it. She fell asleep wrapped in his arms, as she dreamed of his smile when Fitz would see his father walked into his cabin.
When the morning sun woke them up, Liv pulled the comforter up to her shoulders, staying in his arms. She shared gentle kisses up and down his chest, up to his neck. She caressed his face, and he held her close. It was mornings like this, waking up to this man and kissing him all over, that she wanted in life.
"I better get going before we start something, and I cannot hold back. You sure you ok without walking today Livvie?"
"Yeah, it's fine. I'll get to your place a little after one this afternoon. We'll walk in the supermarket."
Fitz placed a gentle kiss on her forehead as he got up to leave, grabbing his light saber. He admired it. "Best gift ever, Livvie, besides meeting you."
Fitzgerald "Big Gerry" Grant knocked gently on Olivia's door. Liv looked at the clock. He was punctual. It was five minutes to noon, but when Olivia opened the door, Fitz's father was leaning on the doorway for support.
He nearly fell into Olivia's arms, and Liv felt his forehead to be cold and clammy. "Mr. Grant, are you alright?"
His eyes closed slowly then opened back up. He tried to stand up straight, but still needed Olivia's support. "Just some serious jet lag, and not eating in the past few hours, first class food on planes isn't that great, even if it is your own plane. I just need to sit down."
"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Grant, would you like something to drink, maybe a light snack?" Liv was concerned, as Gerry still didn't look fully healthy yet.
"I'm good, thank you, and the pleasure is all mine. Fitz has told me all about you, a painter and a doctor, that's impressive. What brought you to Vermont?"
"Not quite a doctor, close to it. I am a nurse practitioner and yes, I do paint." She nodded towards her art room. "I came to Vermont to find a meaning in life, and I met your son."
Gerry nodded with a slight laugh. "I knew that son of mine had it in him to be a successful business guy, but winning your heart, he struck gold. You are as beautiful and smart as he told me."
"Thank you", Olivia blushed. "Would you care to see some paintings before we head over to Fitz's place?" Liv had hidden the final painting and was comfortable enough showing the others.
"Wow, such talent Ms. Pope." He stood looking at the one with Fitz's eyes. "I would know those eyes anywhere."
"That was painted less than an hour after I met your son, his eyes are just amazing."
Gerry went to move to the next painting and almost lost his balance. Liv ran over to him. "Are you sure you are ok? Let's get you back to sitting down."
"No, dear, honestly, I am fine, let's walk over to Fitz's before I am too tired to tread through the woods he has here on his property."
They headed out the door, but Liv grabbed her medical bag just in case. Something was off, and she wanted to be prepared.
Liv wrapped her arm in his as they began the short walk to Fitz's cabin. He seemed a bit shaky on the knees and Liv had an idea of what may be ailing him, but for now she needed to keep him alert, if just for five minutes.
"The property here in Vermont is amazing. The foliage alone attracts so many visitors."
Big Gerry nodded in agreement. "I am not one for the east coast, Fitz is like me in that sense. That's when I knew you had to be special for him to cancel a Caribbean vacation. He had been talking about that trip for months."
"Really?" Liv was a bit surprised not knowing how long he had planned it.
"I had to sit him down and tell him to ease up on the frequent dating, it wasn't going to look good eventually, especially with him moving up in the resort real estate world. Something was bound to go wrong." Big Gerry stopped, and Liv saw beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Just a few more steps Mr. Grant, we're almost there." This was not the way Liv wanted Fitz to see his father, but he needed medical attention.
"Imagine, he took my advice when he told me after that trip that would be it for him, no more parties filled with women, no more one shot dates, he was going to change because he thought about what I said. I was pleasantly surprised as a parent that he had finally listened to me." Now he was leaning more on Olivia, and they stepped up to Fitz's door and knocked. He looked at her trying to say thank you, but said "and then he met you."
Liv smiled, weakly and knocked rapidly on the door.
Fitz's eyes bulged out when he saw Liv standing there holding his father up for support. His eyebrows suddenly crossed in confusion. "Liv, Dad, what's going on? You ok Dad?"
"Surprise." Liv said it a bit sarcastically. "Help me get him the couch, I want to take his blood sugar. Do you have any orange juice, apple juice, and crackers?"
Fitz was still confused but poured a cup of orange juice and reached for a box of saltines in the cabinet.
Liv took the glucose meter out from her medical bag. She took hold of Big Gerry's finger and snapped the needled into it. "Oh, oh my that hurt."
Liv squeezed his finger for blood to come out. "Really Mr. Grant, it's just a little prick." Liv couldn't stop the words from coming out and heard the laughter come from both men after she said it.
"Son, something you would like to tell me?" He raised his eyebrows at Fitz. "A little prick?"
"Alright you two, stop it and you know what I meant Mr. Grant." Liv looked at the monitor. "Yeah, take that cup of orange juice and finish it, your blood sugar is at 65, Mr. Grant. It could be from a mixture of not eating and something going on with your body."
"What should we do Liv?" Fitz was genuinely concerned.
"After he drinks this, I am going to check it again in 15 minutes, it's a 15-15 rule, and see if it goes up any, if not, a bit more should do the trick, but he really should see a doctor sometime tomorrow, he'll need bloodwork and he may need medication to stop this from happening again."
She turned back to Big Gerry, "and you, no more skipping meals, that's not healthy even for a young man such as yourself."
Fitz smiled at Liv's treatment for his father. "I can go to the store Liv, you don't have to come, I shouldn't be more than a half hour, this way you can monitor him."
"Sure, Fitz, leave your dying father. That's so nice of you." He smirked.
"You're not dying Mr. Grant, you'll be fine, but this sugar level has to go up and it could take as long as an hour to get it back to normal."
"Fitz, as my last meal, get your father his favorite please, a Hershey bar with almonds."
"No, Fitz, no chocolate. Even though it's filled with sugar it's a dangerous way to raise his sugar level, so no chocolate."
Big Gerry shrugged his shoulders. "Feisty one you have here Fitz, I like her. Keep her, would you, and get a damn ring on that finger."
Fitz looked over at Liv. Her eyes turned away, but she didn't hold any anger towards Big Gerry. He didn't know her whole story, only what Fitz had told him, and Fitz hadn't told him about Derek. Fitz mouthed the words "I'm sorry" to Liv, but Liv shrugged it off.
Big Gerry fell into sleep. Liv walked over to Fitz. "I wanted this to be a surprise, I wasn't aware it would turn out so bad." She put her forehead on his chest.
"It's fine. I am happy to see him, and I am happy he has you here to help him. This could have happened in a hotel room by himself and who knows what could've happened to him."
"He could have had a seizure, lost consciousness, or he could've…." And Liv stopped. "Go to the store and get your things. Make sure you get white meat chicken and some hard candies. Those will be good for him."
"Yeah, anything else for him?"
"Not sure what he really likes, but peanut butter is good to have and some yogurt, but his doctor should see him to make sure this isn't recurring. Oh, and with the chicken, my mom used to make this delicious pot pie, a good healthy one. I will call her for the recipe."
"No, it's good, I can handle that. Be back soon."
While Fitz was gone, and Big Gerry asleep on the couch. Liv thought back to his words. "Get a damn ring on that finger." Liv's stomach began to turn, and she suddenly felt nauseous. Could she ever be ready to say yes to another man?
She thought back to her painting, and she could feel heat rise to her face. What if that painting was telling her no, she wasn't ready? She closed her eyes trying to think about it but stopped. The one person she could talk to was her mother, and she wasn't going to call her when she had to monitor Big Gerry. She'll talk to her in the morning.
Would Fitz be so bold as to propose to her without ever meeting her parents? She couldn't say yes, could she? Would she be able to get the scene of Derek's proposal in the moonlight out of her head? She sighed with a deep breath and saw Big Gerry stir awake, taking her away from her thoughts. She took the moment to let him know she was checking his blood sugar again.
While at the market, Fitz called Liv's mother. He had arranged for them to come a bit earlier than anticipated and explained Liv's surprise to him with the arrival of his father. He told her how Liv was tending to him, and Maya couldn't help but notice Fitz's voice.
"Young man, you are in love with my daughter, aren't you?" Maya could tell it in Fitz's voice, this man had fallen hard. Did he know Olivia, she wasn't going to be so quick to jump back into love, or would she?
"Yes ma'am, very much so, and seeing her tend to my father like she was, she is just so amazing. Her art, her love for nature, and her passion for medicine, what's not to love?"
"Wow, well in that case, we will be there around 10 a. m, would that work?" Maya asked.
"That's perfect. I look forward to meeting you and Mr. Pope."
As they hung up, Maya was a bit concerned. Liv had made it clear she was going to Vermont to close out her sadness. She made it adamant her paintings would reveal to herself what she wanted next. She just hoped Olivia wasn't destined to break this man's heart, she obviously made quite the impression on Fitzgerald Grant the Third.
After Fitz checked out, having everything he needed for a fulfilling dinner tonight and tomorrow and an added brunch in the morning, he sat quietly in his car for a moment. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the ring box.
His jeweler in Santa Barbara took great care of him and did a magnificent job on the ring Fitz requested. He looked down at it now, having some doubts. He wasn't certain she was ready to move on, she came with a ring on, and had every intention of leaving with it off, but not because of Fitz.
Could he now convince her to put a ring back on? Would she want to be his forever? He thought he had the perfect plan, take her the meadow with the mountain view after meeting her parents. He would talk to her father of course, talk to both of them about his intentions.
Once they got to the meadow, her favorite view, that's where he would propose. That's where he would ask her to spend her life with him, right there, on the very property that would be their very own, custom built Vermont home.
Fitz put the ring back in his pocket. He began driving back, deep in thought. He loved her, and yes, he would do it, he would ask her, because he had to know. He wasn't letting her go without having her thinking about their love, he wasn't letting her go so easily when Autumn leaves.