A/N: Sweetolitz, you're right, Fitz always reverts to his take-charge/controlling behavior when there is a problem in the marriage/family, although it comes from a good place. They both try to solve their problems individually rather than working together. Do they need a visit from Avril? Fifi, you're right, Fitz' behavior might seem strange to others but this is his way of trying to help his frightened daughter. He's been reading a lot about hysterical paralysis lately. As Calvin said, fathers have a special bond with their daughters. Fitz and Cena have a special bond. Yup, sometimes it takes the men in our lives to help us see things differently. Calvin helped Olivia and Gerry helped Fitz. Mm2009, did these two forget everything Avril taught them about managing conflict and communicating better? Maybe it's hard to apply those lessons when you're in the midst of a crisis. They will have to learn how to communicate and to work together on the critical issues or they will have more problems in the future. Each has to stop making independent decisions about critical marriage/family matters. Didi46, glad you're enjoying the story and thank you for the kind words. "Breathless" sounds like a good chapter or story title. 😉 Monica, you aptly dissected and analyzed the characters and their relationships. Glad you care about the characters because it's a testament to your personal investment in this story. I also have to care about characters depicted in any medium if I am to spend time with them. Guest, for clarification, the mayor did not admit to Marion any involvement in the crash, so she couldn't tell Olivia anything. Wilson just wants everyone in his administration to hate Fitz because he hates Fitz. Remember, Fitz is still a threat to him. Tamarral, it takes a lot of time/effort to overcome when someone has tried to murder your entire family. Kandyse4olitz, Fitz isn't necessarily suffering from PTSD, his suffering comes from guilt, which comes from shame. He feels he did not protect his family. Remember his big speech to Liv about being a man and wanting to protect her in an earlier. Also, remember Calvin told Liv that Jolie doesn't need her father right now, Cena does. Let's wait to read what Fitz says about this. Maybe Cena would have walked, maybe not. Swimming was Fitz' strategy for rebuilding her confidence to walk again and her trust in him. I guess we will now get some cold weather in Washington State. LaJoyMechell, the best chapter you ever read, that's saying a lot. Remember, Fitz is still sleeping and does not know his baby daughter is suffocating/smothering. The Popes have been helpful, but as Olivia discovered when she allowed Maura and Nora into her home, moving in family members can cause problems. Cleo, Marion is not older than Bennie. She, Bennie, and Olivia are all 30-somethings.
Chapter 34. Amazing Grace
Cena stands onto the small wooden step stool and pulls back the soft blanket from her sister's face and Jolie's gasp for air is instantly followed by blood-curdling screams. Lowering the front rail, the way she has watched her mother do so many times, Cena lifts her sister from the crib. She holds Jolie close to her chest and cradles her head, just like mommy does. Shaken from her sleep by her daughter's ear-piercing screams, Olivia rushes down the hall to the nursery; something is wrong with Jolie. With heart pounding, Olivia stops abruptly in the doorway when she sees Cena standing on the step stool in the dimly lit room holding Jolie in her arms.
"Don't cry, JoJo. Mommy and daddy are sleepy", carefully holding the back of her sister's head.
"My God", Olivia gasps, bringing a hand to her lips. Cena turns around when she hears her mother's voice.
"The blanket was on JoJo's face mommy. She was crying."
Immediately understanding what her daughter has said, Olivia flicks the light switch and rushes into the room. She carefully lifts the crying baby from Cena's arms and holds Jolie close to her chest.
"Oh, JoJo", Olivia cries, swaying side to side trying to calm her baby. "Is my baby all right?" Inspecting the infant's reddened face.
"Daddy is sleepy, mommy. He's tired."
"You're standing, Cena. You're walking", Olivia says in astonishment. Tears stream down her face as she wraps her arm around Cena's shoulders, holding both of her daughters tighter than ever. And Cena looks up at her mother with the widest smile.
"Mother of God", Calvin mutters as he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with his wife in the doorway.
"Praise God - praise God", Gwendolyn utters in exhalation as she lifts her folded hands skyward.
Startled awake by the commotion coming from down the hall, Fitz looks over at his daughter's empty bed and dashes from the room toward the sounds. Something has happened to Cena. Stopping abruptly in the hall behind his in-laws, he sees Cena standing on the wooden step stool and the tears well in his eyes.
"Cena", he says softly, in disbelief.
"Daddy, JoJo was crying and you were sleepy", she says innocently.
Fitz pushes pass his in-laws and lifts Cena from the step stool and covers her face with kisses.
"Your face tickles, daddy", giggling and squirming in her father's arms. He kisses her again and allows the pent-up tears to fall as he squeezes his daughter tightly.
"Why are you crying, daddy?" Cena asks with a look of confusion in her eyes.
"Because I'm happy, Princess. I am so very happy."
"JoJo was smothering, Fitz", Olivia blurts out, letting him in on what has happened. "The blanket was over her face and Cena removed the blanket from Jolie's face."
Fitz' eyes widen as he looks into his wife's panic-stricken face, then quickly looks down at his crying baby. He sets Cena back onto the small wooden step stool and carefully takes the crying baby from his wife's arms. Olivia drapes her arm over Cena's tiny shoulders and pulls the little girl close to her side.
"Should we call Dr. Jordan? Should we take her to the hospital?" Olivia asks with panic filling her voice.
"Shhh – shhh", Fitz says softly, cradling Jolie in his arms and rocking her gently as he paces around the room. Within a few minutes Jolie's cries diminish to whimpers.
"She's going to be all right", Fitz says, his thumb brushing away the tears from the baby's red face. "She's going to be all right", he repeats as he sits into the rocking chair holding Jolie close to his chest. "Right, Angel? You're going to be fine. You're going to be fine." Jolie's whimpers cease completely when she feels the rumble in her father's chest against her chest.
"Liv, put Cena back to bed", he says, looking down at his baby who is staring at him in wonder.
"Are you sure?" She asks tearfully, bringing a hand to her mouth.
"Yes", he says almost under breath as he strokes Jolie's cheek. "Kiss daddy good night, Cena."
Cena walks over to her father, places her hands on the arm of the rocker, and raises on her tip-toes to peck her father on the cheek.
"Night – night, daddy."
"Good night, Princess", caressing the side of her face his large hand. Calvin wraps an arm around his daughter's shoulder and ushers her from the room.
"Come, Livvia, let's put Cena back to bed."
Olivia nods, takes Cena by the hand, and they all walk from the nursery leaving Fitz alone with Jolie.
XXX
With Cena tucked safely back into bed, Olivia walks down the long hall to their bedroom and slowly crawls into bed. She silently thanks God for choosing to shine His favor on her family once again. Her baby almost died tonight and she feels like she is living in a perpetual bad dream. She wonders when it will end. She wonders when the dark cloud will finally pass from over her family. She is emotionally and physically exhausted and unsure of how much more of she can take.
For the next few hours Fitz sits in the nursery cradling and rocking his baby daughter, watching her to make sure she is all right. He smiles as Jolie smiles in her sleep and her tiny hand squeezes his finger. He feels like life is playing a cruel joke on him. While he was desperately trying to save one daughter, he almost lost his other daughter. He brings Jolie's balled fist to his lips and vows to be a better father. Carefully standing from the rocker, gently lay Jolie into her crib. He pulls up the rail, shaking it slightly to ensure it is locked in place. He removes the stuffed toys and sets them onto the dresser, then folds the pink and white fringed blanket and stores it into the bottom drawer of the dresser.
With shoulders slumped he walks into their bedroom he looks over at his wife who is curled into a ball. She looks so tiny and fragile in the large king-size bed. He knows she is not asleep and he exhales softly, running a hand through his hair.
"JoJo is fine. She's sleeping now. I removed all over the covers and toys from the crib." Olivia simply nods her head slowly and repeatedly. Jolie almost died tonight and she will no longer suffer his behavior.
"The madness ends tonight, Fitz. Cena will be going to counseling and she will return to school", she says flatly, not bothering to turn around because the matter is no longer up for discussion. She is taking back her family.
"She was afraid to get into another car Liv, and I wasn't going to force her. I couldn't."
"She needed therapy, Fitz."
"I know that. Don't you think I know that?" Walking around the bed to look into her eyes. "That's why I would swim with her every day. Swimming was her physical therapy. Sure, I might have indulged her in some ways, but the swimming was all about getting her the exercise she needed to strengthen her confidence - to strengthen her legs."
"You shut me out, Fitz", she says tiredly, sliding up in the bed and leaning against the headboard.
"I had to do it my way, Liv. I had to get my daughter to trust me again. I had to get her to believe in herself again."
"She's my daughter too, Fitz", she says tiredly, running her fingers through her hair.
"I just needed to do what I thought was best, Liv. Cena didn't ask for any of this – none of us did."
"But your way was tearing our family apart."
"Do you think I could ever face you and Cena if she never walked again? I saw the look of disappointment in your eyes", and she looks at him in surprise because she did not know she ever looked at him that way. "Cena needed to know that her father was there for her, carrying her when she was too afraid to walk for herself. She needed to know that her father loved her and supported her when she was scared – when she was frightened from her sleep by another nightmare. She needed to know that her father was right there for her - that I didn't abandon her when she needed me the most. She needed that Liv, and yes, I needed it too."
"You abandoned JoJo", she says tiredly.
"I didn't abandon JoJo. Cena needed a father and Jolie needed a mother", sitting onto the bed desperately trying to make her understand.
"And you decided all of this on your own?" She shouts.
"Yes, I did", he shouts as adamantly, and they glare at each other with chests heaving, neither having the energy for another fight. "Charlie was a miserable son-of-a-bitch, Liv. Schuller said he wrote in that damn diary about being emotionally abandoned by his mother, and as a result, could never find happiness of any sort in life. I didn't want that for our daughter, Liv. Cena needed to know that her father would always be there for her – no matter what."
Her eyes widen, fighting back the tears as she wonders if Cena felt abandoned when she stayed at Mirage for two months. She wonders if she is as horrible and selfish as Charlie's mother.
"It's late, let's go to bed", she says, completely drained of energy. "Let's get some sleep", reaching for his hand. Fitz crawls into bed behind his wife and pulls her close, kissing her shoulder.
"I've missed you", he says before they both fall asleep.
XXX
When Bennie arrived at Marion's apartment to pick her up for their date, they were both impressed with each other's appearance. Well, he has always been impressed by her, but she definitely appreciated seeing a different side of the good doctor. Dressed impeccably in a navy blue suit, white shirt, and lavender tie, Dr. Grant looks quite debonair. Marion smiles as she grabs her small purse off the hall table by the door thinking he is definitely something she can work with.
"This is a very popular restaurant, Ben. It's quite difficult to get a reservation here - the chef is internationally known", Marion says as she slides onto the booth seat.
"Well, I gave him a new heart, so he is now a much kinder man", he says, not trying to be braggadocious, just trying to break the tension of being on a first date. "He told me I could come to his restaurant anytime I wanted."
"Wow, I'm impressed."
Ben smiles, thinking how impressed he is with Marion. She is obviously smart and definitely beautiful, but she also has a seemingly easy quality about her that makes him feel relaxed, that makes him want to be around her. He hopes she does not think he is gawking at her like an idiot.
Several hours later, dinner and dessert have long been consumed but Bennie and Marion continue to sit in the restaurant talking and enjoying each other's company and lamenting about how family and friends often seek their medical advice.
"Ben, you know physicians are often asked for advice about medical matters by relatives and friends. The requests can range from wanting simple information to more substantial involvement - as your family did", lifting her second glass of wine to her lips.
He looks at her with a frown, still thinking about his father's obnoxious behavior at Mercy Hospital after Fitz and Cena were airlifted to the facility.
"For me the requests started as early as medical school. When I would return home for holidays my brother or high school friends would always ask me what a pain they were having meant or how to get rid of an annoying rash on their arm or somewhere else unspeakable." And they both laugh.
"And later, when I was a fully trained physician, family members and friends would ask me to help them navigate the complexities of the health care system or to interpret lab tests and other medical information."
With a slight smile Bennie gazes at Marion with adoration as he listens to her easily contextualize what has been bothering him for the past month or so. Observing a break in the couple's conversation, the waiter walks over to their table to check if they need anything else. He can tell this is a first date and has made a point of not interrupting them too often.
"Sir, madam, can I get either of you anything else?" He asks with a polite smile.
"Nothing for me, thank you. But give the lady whatever she wants." Bennie looks at Marion and she smiles.
"I think I'll have another glass of wine", she says, feeling relaxed and enjoying Dr. Grant's company.
"Of course. I'll be back shortly with your wine, madam."
"And it doesn't matter if the relationship between the relative or friend and us is close or distant", Marion continues. "The common thread is they are relying on us as professionals who have medical knowledge and familiarity with the medical system."
"I get that, but my family - my father -does not distinguish among physicians with regard to their medical expertise. He views all doctors as capable of addressing most, if not all, medical matters. He thought I should continue to be involved in Fitz and Cena's case after they were transferred to Mercy. He didn't - or wouldn't - understand that my involvement ended when the specialists took over."
"Your father is quite the character, Ben."
"That's putting it mildly."
"I'm sure he means well. He was in unfamiliar territory - scared."
"I get that - and I wanted to help - but it doesn't make it any less bothersome."
As the waiter sets the glass of Chardonnay on the paper cocktail napkin in front of Marion, she stares at Ben, remembering the intimate scene in the hospital room when he stroked Olivia's cheek lovingly while she was still unconscious.
"Thank you", Marion says, smiling at the waiter, who nods before walking away. Marion takes a sip of the cool drink before continuing. "I'm sure you were motivated to help by your love for Olivia."
Ben frowns and looks at her curiously and she quickly tries to deflect.
"What I meant to say, your professional judgment might be in conflict with your emotional judgment. There could be a potential conflict between your roles as a relative or friend and as a physician. You might want to set expectations - boundaries - for your family moving forward, Ben. Maybe before another medical emergency occurs. Be clear up front about your role and level of involvement."
"Marion, I'm not sure my father cares anything about boundaries", he says as Marion finishes her wine.
"Well, I'm sure you can help him to understand."
"Perhaps", he says, looking at his watch. "I guess we should get going. I don't want to keep you out too late on our first date", standing and waiting for her to retrieve her purse from the seat.
Not really ready for the night to end Bennie takes the long route back to Marion's apartment. Driving slowly through the light downtown traffic, he thinks this is the best time he has had in a while. He likes Marion and decides to call her tomorrow and ask her out on another date. Marion glances over at his profile as he navigates the car through the downtown streets. The street lights cast a nice glow over his face. He is a handsome man who definitely comes from good stock. All of the Grant men are handsome, even old-ass Gerry, who was probably a real ladies' man in his day.
As Ben parks the blue Tesla Model S in front of her apartment building. Marion does not usually date doctors but she thinks she might make an exception for Dr. Grant. As they ride the elevator to her 17th floor apartment she decides to invite him in for a drink, she is not ready for the night to end.
"Would you like to come in for a drink?" Standing in front of her door and digging into the purse looking for her keys. "I think I might still have some of that craft beer you seem to like from when my brother visited back in August." He smiles to himself wondering why she cannot seem to find the keys in that tiny purse.
"Nothing else to drink for me. I have an early surgical procedure in the morning."
"Here it is", she exclaims, holding the keyring in the air. Now she is fumbling trying to insert the key into the lock.
"Let me do that", he says, taking the key from her hand and easily unlocking the door.
"You really are good with your hands, Dr. Grant", flashing him a smile as she flicks on the light switch. "Are you sure you won't at least come in for coffee? I have decaf", she says, looking over her shoulder and flashing him an inviting smile. He hesitates for a quick moment then consents to one cup of coffee.
"Okay, I'll have a cup", following her into the apartment and closing the door behind him.
He didn't get beyond the hall when he picked her up earlier, so he glances around the space thinking her place is everything he imagined, maybe not the specific furnishings, but the high-end décor for sure. The apartment is so Marion, so elegant.
"Sugar - cream?" She calls from the kitchen.
"Just a little cream."
Ben sits onto the plush sofa and admires the décor, thinking this place is much nicer than his apartment. She obviously likes color. He never bothered to decorate his place beyond the basics since he does not spend a lot of time there. He might have to up his game. Marion returns to the living room carrying a coffee mug and sets onto the coaster on the table. She kicks off her shoes and sits onto the sofa. Bennie reaches for the mug and smiles when he sees she has painted her toenails a different color.
"This coffee is really good", he says, licking his lips as he leans over and sets the mug back onto the coaster. When he leans back against the sofa cushion, Marion slides over and slowly runs her tongue over his lips.
"Mmmm", she says, gazing into his eyes. "I've always wondered what coffee tastes like with cream, and he looks at her curiously. "I'm lactose intolerant", pressing her lips against his, and he responds, deepening the kiss. She moans and begins to tug at his tie, but he pulls back, looking at her questioningly.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Checking for consent. Marion has had a few glasses of wine and he does not want her to have any regrets later.
"Yes", she responds eagerly, tossing his tie across the room and straddling him quickly. She kisses him with intensity, running her fingers through his hair. Ben runs his tongue over her lips and she opens her mouth, allowing him to explore with his warm tongue. She tugs at his shirt, pulling it from inside his pants and sliding it down his shoulders. Nice she thinks as she caresses his biceps. They stumble toward the bedroom and quickly discard their remaining clothing. He lowers her onto the plush bed, which is covered with jewel-toned pillows of all sizes.
"You have a lot of pillows", he says, swiping the mountains of pillows onto the floor and pinning her onto the bed.
"I like pillows", she says breathlessly, pulling him down and devouring his mouth. It's been too long and she is not in the mood for small talk.
"Slow. Down", he whispers in a commanding tone.
She shivers from the warmth of his breath and his assertive, take-charge demeanor. She stops her movements and gazes at him seductively, and with a slight, closed-mouth smile, she nods. He deftly slides his tongue into her mouth again and she slowly glides the tips of her fingers down his neck and between his shoulders, feeling the toned rhomboid and trapezius muscles. Tracing her fingers along his latissimus dorsi and down his sides, she smiles wider in satisfaction. Dr. Grant obviously spends a lot of time in the gym lifting weights.
He kisses her neck, down to her décolleté, and her nipples harden in anticipation. He does not disappoint, suckling with the appropriate level of intensity while gently massaging the other nipple. He trails wet kisses down her flat stomach and she trembles, subtly widening her legs with each brush of his mouth. Her body is afire as he lifts her leg and slowly and teasingly runs his tongue around her knee, and she moistens. He slides down the bed, onto the floor, and he licks his lips when he sees her curling the brightly colored toes. He runs his tongue over her foot and begins to suck each toe as if they were a precious treasure. Well this is new Marion thinks feeling a sensation she has not experienced. His wet mouth travels from toe to toe and he slides his hand between her legs. She squirms as his fingers thrusts in and out and his mouth moves to her right foot. The dual sensation is mind-blowing and Ben smiles as she floods his hand. Fully erect, he slides from the floor and up her body.
"Protection", she says.
"What?"
"Condom. Do you have any?"
Their eyes meet in the dark and he looks at her somewhat embarrassed. He has not had a need to carry a condom in his wallet in quite some time and he definitely was not expecting to need one tonight. Assessing the expression on his face, Marion gestures toward the nightstand.
"Nightstand."
Ben slides open the drawer and sees two gold foil packets and tries not to think about what this means. Quickly sheathing himself in the rubber, he crawls back on top of her.
"Am I too heavy?" Resting his forearms on either side of her head, ready to go to work.
She shakes her head no, and he eases in, filling her fully, and again she is pleasantly surprised. They ride each other slowly and the exchange is somewhat awkward at first. But after a few moments the two strangers adjust to each other and he rides her with all deliberate precision. She presses her hands against his taut buttocks, pulling him in deeper, and the sounds of lovers, strangers or not, fill the air. She takes her time riding his hardness, bending her knees encouraging him to go deeper, and he does. She feels as if she is melting into the bed.
"Oh god", letting out a pained sound and her body quivers when he touches the magical spot. She is vibrating inside, all over actually, and her laughter fills the room.
Bennie rests his head in the crook of her neck and strokes her with intensity, but taking his time and savoring her tightness clenched around him. Quickening the pace, he pumps and thrusts harder, and she returns his every stroke. His breathing is more exaggerated and he pumps harder, trying to reach the sacred place. And in a moment, his body jerks a few times and the rubber sac fills with his seed. He
collapses on top of her thinking how much he needed this. And after a few moments he regains enough energy to kiss her on the lips and forehead before rolling onto his side. He discards the protection and Marion curls her body into his side.
"Well done, Dr. Grant. Well done", she says and they both smile before falling fast asleep.
XXX
A few hours later Bennie awakens from a satisfying sleep wrapped around Marion's body. He has a 7:15 surgery this morning and needs to go home, shower, and change before going to the hospital. He looks at her wild hair and kisses the side of the neck and shoulder before quietly sliding out of bed. Not wanting to waken her, he feels around the floor in the dark with his foot for his clothes. He knows they are somewhere in the room but he does not want to turn on the light and disturb her. He slides his phone off the nightstand and presses the button to light the screen. Shining the light around the floor he finds his clothes intermingled with hers and snatches up their clothes and carries them into the living room. He dresses quickly and folds her clothes neatly on the sofa. He takes his coffee mug into the kitchen and pours the coffee he did not drink last night down the drain. He washes the mug and sets it onto the dish rack. He lives about an hour away from Marion and he needs to get moving, so he quickly types a text as he walks into the living room, grabs his tie from the floor, and quietly closes the door behind him.
XXX
Marion begins to stir when she hears the birds chirping outside of her bedroom window. Slowly awakening from her slumber, she stretches a leg down the smooth, crisp sheet and curls her toes. When she stretches her arms above her head the covers slide down her torso, revealing her firm breasts and she smiles, feeling deliciously achy all over. Remembering the events from last night Marion rolls onto her side to greet him good morning and her stomach sinks immediately. Did he leave without saying good-bye? Perhaps he is in the bathroom, so she waits a few minutes, running a foot up and down her leg. After a few minutes, she reaches for her robe hanging on the arm of the chair and walks into the bathroom.
"Ben?"
No answer, so she pads down the hall toward the kitchen and smiles when she smells coffee brewing.
"Do you always get up so ..." Her voice trails off when she sees he is not in the kitchen.
At least he had the decency to wash his mug and make coffee. One-night stands do not make coffee, they just slither away in the middle of the night. So be it, she thinks as she fills her mug and sits down at the table. She chuckles because he obviously set the timer on the coffee maker, something she has not done since she bought the overpriced appliance. She bends her knee, setting her foot onto the textured fabric of the seat cushion and smiles when she looks down at her toes. Dr. Grant is indeed a man of many talents she thinks as she leans back in the chair sipping the hot coffee and savoring the memories from last night. The clock on the microwave catches her attention and she realizes she needs to check her schedule for the day.
Carrying the mug back to the bedroom to find her phone, Marion sees her clothes folded neatly onto the sofa and wonders if Dr. Grant is some sort of neat freak. Turning around and scanning the bedroom, she tries to remember where she put her phone last night. She sets the mug onto the nightstand, crawls onto the bed, and searches through the crumpled bed covers for her phone. She smiles when she smells his scent lingering on the sheets. Last night was a really good night.
No luck finding the phone on the bed, Marion gets down on all four and tosses around the pillows on the floor. Voila! The phone is tucked in the mound of sits cross-legged on the pillows and taps the Home button and sees she has a few text messages. She taps the text icon and smiles.
May I call you later?
She smiles, staring at the screen for a few minutes before quickly typing Yes.
XXX
Jolie almost smothering to death was jarring for Olivia and Fitz - a wake-up call for both of them. Olivia needed to take control of her family and Fitz needed to allow her to help him to make Cena whole again. Although she is walking, Olivia wants her to attend counseling so she can learn how to articulate the fears she has bottled up since the crash.
They both take to their daughter to counseling sessions every Tuesday and Thursday. They always sit in the waiting room while Cena meets with Dr. Boyd, the child psychologist Dr. Brennan recommended. Cena seems to be responding well to counseling and has begun to open up more about the crash and express her fears.
"What do you mean everything is gone? What's gone, Cena?" Dr. Boyd asks in a kind voice.
Cena looks down at her lap, nervously twisting her fingers.
"Take your time, Cena. You can tell me when you're ready."
And after a few minutes of trying to find the words for what she wants to say, Cena looks up at the doctor with tears in her eyes.
"Everything my daddy gave me is gone", she says softly.
"And what is that, Cena?"
"Biker Princess", she says, eyes filling with tears.
"And who is Biker Princess, Cena?"
"She rides a red bike just like me", she says through the sniffles. "My daddy buy her and now she's gone."
"And what else is gone, Cena?"
"My sunglasses - just like daddy's. My daddy buy them for me", and Dr. Boyd scribbles notes onto the yellow legal pad.
"And my tiara daddy buy me is gone. Is my daddy going away too?" She asks innocently and the tears begin to stream down her face.
"No - no, your daddy isn't going away", Dr. Boyd says, trying to comfort the little girl.
"He's not?" Cena says in amazement. The thought of her father not going away never occurred to her.
"No, he's not. Would you like to see your daddy now?" Cena shakes her head up and down as the tears continue to flow. Dr. Boyd stands from the small table, opens the door, and asks Fitz and Olivia to come into the office.
"Mr. – Mrs. Grant. Will you join Cena and me in here, please?"
Fitz and Olivia look at each other with concern because the doctor has never asked them to join Cena in any of her sessions.
"Is there something wrong, doctor?" Fitz asks with panic on his face and Olivia squeezes his hand.
"Everything is fine. Cena had a breakthrough today and she is a little upset." They rush into the office where Cena is sitting at the small table still fidgeting with her fingers.
"Biker Princess, are you all right?" Fitz asks anxiously as he swoops her up into his arms.
"I'm not Biker Princess anymore, daddy. Biker Princess is gone." Fitz looks at Cena in shock then at the doctor, wondering what has happened.
"Have a seat, please, Mr. and Mrs. Grant", Dr. Boyd gestures a hand toward the chairs in front of her desk. Olivia looks at her husband worriedly before they both sit down.
"Cena has opened up today to talk about her fears", and Fitz looks at his daughter sitting on his lap and holds her tighter.
"Cena experienced a great deal of loss as a result of the accident. In addition to almost losing her family, she lost many things that were dear to her." Olivia and Fitz look curiously at Dr. Boyd as the doctor picks up the yellow legal pad and recounts what Cena told her.
"She lost Biker Princess, which you gave her, Mr. Grant." Olivia and Fitz look at each other wide-eyed because they never thought about Cena's losses. They were so concerned about her not walking they never thought she might be mourning as well.
"She also lost her sunglasses, Mr. Grant, which apparently were just like yours."
"Do you want daddy to buy you another pair of sunglasses, sweetheart?" And Cena shakes her ahead no.
"Cena also lost the tiara you bought her, Mr. Grant. All of these things are symbols of you – her father. Since the crash she has been afraid that she was going to lose you the way she lost all of the things you gave her. And in the mind of a child she believes if those things can go away then so can the person who gave them to her."
"Aww, sweetheart. I don't want you to worry about daddy. I'm not going anywhere", he says, kissing her on the top of her curly head.
"You're not?" She asks happily.
"I'm not."
"And mommy and JoJo, too?"
"We're not going anywhere, Cee", Olivia says with tears in her eyes, reaching across Fitz to give her daughter's little hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Princess", he replies, smiling down at his daughter.
"May I have ice cream?" And all the adults chuckle.
"You can have whatever you want, sweetheart."
"With sprinkles, too?" Her eyes brightening.
"With sprinkles, too", he says, pecking her on the head again.
"I think Cena is going to be fine", Dr. Boyd says, smiling at the parents.
"Thank you, Dr. Boyd", Olivia says. "Thank you so much."
"Cena, why don't you go play with the toys in the next room while I talk to your mommy and daddy? Will that be all tight with you?" Cena looks at her mother then father.
"We'll be out shortly, sweetheart. Okay?" Cena nods at her father, climbs down from his lap, and skips out the room.
"Is something wrong, Dr. Boyd?" Olivia asks with brow furrowed.
"No – no. I believe Cena is going to be fine", and Olivia relaxes in relief. "But I do want to talk about ongoing support for Cena." Fitz reaches over and squeezes Olivia's hand.
"Mrs. – Mr. Grant, while I believe Cena no longer requires counseling, I want to give you some gestures you can use daily to help her to continue to feel safe." Fitz and Olivia nod, willing to do anything to ensure their daughter feels safe.
"Continue to comfort Cena as you obviously having been doing since the crash." Dr. Boyd watches as Fitz blanches at her articulation of what actually happened. "Creating a safe environment is one of the most valuable ways to help Cena to re-establish a sense of security and stability."
They both nod.
"Listening is another way to help Cena. Listening attentively to what she has to say will show her you care that her thoughts matter. Whether she shares happiness, sadness, anger, or fear, having someone truly listen to her matters."
They listen attentively and nod.
"You should also find ways to motivate and encourage Cena. This is a way you can help her to recognize her potential and believe in possibilities in her life and the future. Children who have experienced traumatic stress aren't always inspired in the same way. They can become negative, often have a low sense of self-worth, expect to be unsuccessful, and fail to foresee a positive future."
"And finally, celebrate. Celebrating is a small everyday gesture that can make a world of difference in a child's life. When we acknowledge birthdays, graduations, or everyday accomplishments like completing homework, meeting new friends or doing chores, we help children to build positive self-esteem."
Olivia and Fitz nod, each processing what the doctor has said.
"I will send all over this information to your email address that's on file", Dr. Boyd says before giving them a few parting words.
"Remember, Mr. and Mrs. Grant, no one is immune to the effects of psychological trauma. A one-time traumatic event can cause severe emotional damage to children as well as adults", eyeing the couple closely.
"Thank you, Dr. Boyd", Fitz says, standing from his seat and shaking the woman's hand.
"Yes, thank you for everything you've done for our daughter, Dr. Boyd", Olivia says, quickly standing and shaking the doctor's hand as well.
"Who wants ice cream?" Fitz calls out to Cena as he walks into the waiting room.
"I do. I do, daddy", running over to her father and wrapping her arms around his legs.
XXX
Charlie's attempt to murder them has changed the course of their lives forever and the Grants are working hard trying to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives. For almost two months their world has been turned upside down, everything has been topsy-turvy, and their survival as a family was not a given. But they have seemingly made it through it all. While they could not control what happened on that mountain, they can control how they choose to deal with the effects moving forward. And for now they have chosen to celebrate.
Olivia and Fitz have decided to host Christmas dinner this year. They want this holiday to be extra special for their family, especially for Cena. They want their daughter to have two distinct celebrations - one for birthday and one for Christmas. Cena was cheated out of the opportunity of celebrating turning six years old last month and they plan to make it up to her in a big way. They decided to decorate half of the downstairs rooms in the traditional holiday theme to honor the birth of Jesus and the other half in a princess theme to honor Cena. Everyone invited to celebrate with them at their vacation home last month has been re-invited to the celebrations.
Christmas is only three days away and there is so much that needs to be done. Everyone in the Grant-Pope families is pitching in to make this a joyous occasion. Maura, Abby, and Gwendolyn have planned all kinds of games for the children to play before the birthday and Christmas gifts are opened. Olivia and Hildie have planned the menu. The cake has been ordered, although Hildie wanted to bake it. Fitz has paid a small fortune to have two ponies delivered on Christmas Day for the children. The bounce castle that Cena loves so much will be delivered and installed in the backyard tomorrow. The only thing left to do is to get the tree, which Fitz and Calvin have been tasked with doing.
Needing someone younger and healthy to chop down the tree and haul it home, Fitz and Calvin enlisted the help of Bennie. So Bennie arose at six o' clock a.m. to meet Fitz and Calvin at the farm by seven.
"Boundaries", Marion says, as he sits on the side of the bed pulling on his boots.
"They're family and I don't mind doing it. Besides, the party is this weekend and they need to decorate the tree."
"Okay", she says, rolling onto her side and promptly falling back to sleep.
XXX
It is Christmas Day and the house is abuzz with activity as holiday music plays softly in the background. The parents and their children are all in the backyard riding the ponies. John is supervising the activity as he holds Ethan. Calvin and Olivia watch as Fitz holds Jolie and pretends to let her place her first bulb onto the tree. Maura, Abby, Gwendolyn, and Hildie are all in the kitchen checking that the food is ready for the children after they have finished playing.
"I'll do it Mrs. Grant", Hildie says tightly, giving Maura Grant a cold stare.
"That's quite all right Hildie, I'll do it", pulling the small box away from Hildie's hand.
"Hildie, you won't have to worry about me getting in your way", Abby says with smirk as she watches the two women battle to put the six candles onto the cake.
"Me either", Gwendolyn says. "I've certainly learned my lesson when it comes to trying to displace Hildie in her kitchen.
XXX
As Olivia snap another picture of Fitz holding Jolie in front of the tree, the doorbell rings. Everyone one has arrived except Marion. Maura said Bennie has to work today.
"I'll get it babe", Olivia says, sliding the phone into her pocket as she walks down the hall. Her eyes widen when she opens the door, looking back and forth between the two people standing on her front steps, each holding gifts. She does not know if the two just happened to arrive at the same time or if they came together.
"Hello Olivia", Marion says with a big smile. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Liv", Bennie says, kissing Olivia on the cheek. "Can we come in or do we have to stand out here all day?"
"Oh - sure. I'm sorry. Come in - please", she stutters. "Let me take your coats."
"I'll hang up our coats, Liv. I know where the closet is", Bennie smiles.
"Sure - certainly", still in shock at seeing Bennie and Marion together. "I'm glad you could make it, Marion. And Merry Christmas to you as well", opening her arms to embrace the woman.
"Thank you for inviting me, Olivia. We have a few things for Cena's birthday and something for both girls and you and Fitz for Christmas."
"Oh - okay", quickly glancing between the two. "Let's put them in the living room with the other presents." Olivia stares as Bennie wraps his arm around Marion's waist and guides her down the hall to the living room.
"Wow, that tree is a huge", Marion says as they now enter the family room where Fitz, Gerry, Maura, Abby, and Calvin are sitting.
"That's why they needed my help", Bennie says, pretending to make a muscle with his arm.
Everyone in the room stops talking and looks over at Bennie and Marion. Fitz gives Olivia a puzzled look from across the room and she shrugs her shoulders as she stands in the doorway behind the newly arrived couple. Abby looks over at Olivia and she shrugs her shoulders again.
"Marion, let me introduce you to everyone", Olivia says, walking into the room.
"I'll do that Liv", Bennie says, holding Marion's hand.
"Oh – okay", Olivia stutters. Never to let anything escape her, Abigail smirks.
"Marion, these are my parents Gerry and Maura Grant, my sister-in-law, Abigail, who is married to my brother. And this is Mr. Pope, Olivia's father."
"Hello, everyone", Marion says, glancing around at all of the smiling faces. "I think I remember all of the faces."
"Marion and I have been seeing each other since - well for a few weeks now." Heads nod up and down and lips smile at Bennie's announcement. Abby's eyes quickly dart between Olivia, Fitzgerald, and Benjamin.
"Oh, Bennie, that's so nice", his mother says.
"Welcome to our home, Marion", Fitz says, giving the woman a hug. "And we will talk later", whispering into her ear. "May I get you something to drink?"
"Thank you, Fitz. I'll have a club soda, please."
"Club soda it is", Fitz says before walking to the kitchen.
"So, Marion, I understand you're the Director of the city's health department", Gerry booms.
"I am, Mr. Grant."
"You mean you went to school all of those years just to become an administrator?" Gerry says without an ounce of tact.
"Dad ..." Bennie says.
"That's all right, Ben. Mr. Grant -"
"Gerry - please call me Gerry."
"Gerry, I stopped practicing medicine because – well frankly, it became too stressful."
"I see", Gerry says, leaning back in his seat.
"Those kids are driving me crazy", John says as he bursts into the room carrying Ethan in his arms. "I'm glad their parents are out there to put them onto those ponies. Hiram is now the official supervisor. I delegated the job to him."
John stops talking when he sees the latest guests that have arrived.
"Bennie", walking over to his brother and giving him a hug.
"You smell like horse, brother", Bennie says with a chuckle.
"He always does", Abby smirks and her husband sticks out his tongue at her.
"Take your son. He smells like something, too", handing Ethan to his wife.
"You remember Marion, right?" Bennie asks.
"Olivia, I'm going to take Ethan upstairs and change him", Abby says.
"You'll find everything you need in JoJo's nursery."
"From the hospital?" John asks, still trying to make the connection between his brother and the doctor.
"Yes", Marion says.
"So you two are a thing? I didn't know you were seeing each other. You sly dog", slapping his brother on the back.
"I'm going to see what is taking Fitz so long with that club soda", Olivia says as she quickly exits the room.
"Bennie whatever cologne you're wearing maybe you can give some of it to John to take away the smell of those horses", Gerry chuckles. "What the hell are you wearing anyway, Bennie? You smell like one of those …. "
Flushed with embarrassment, Bennie silently wishes he had showered away the oils Marion kneaded into his tired muscles. He loves when she massages the warm oils onto his body, kneading his achy muscles after a long day in the surgical theater. And today like the other times she has massaged him, he was fast asleep within minutes of her starting. He has no idea what kinds of oils Marion uses and nor does he care, not until now. So he shifts uncomfortably in his seat as his father, John, and Mr. Pope all stare at him, seemingly waiting for an explanation. Marion chuckles to herself as she listens to Gerry while continuing to talk to Maura.
"It's nothing, dad."
"Nothing? Well it certainly smells like –"
"Ylang-Ylang, helicrysum, peppermint, turmeric, and cayenne – with a touch of something special, just for Ben", Marion says, turning and looking Gerry squarely in his eyes. "Mr. Grant – Gerry – your son works very hard. Some of his surgical procedures can last for hours, and sometimes he performs two or three a day. Standing on his feet for an extensive amount of time takes a toll on his body so I made a special muscle rub – just. for. him", sliding her hand onto Bennie's thigh and giving him a devious.
"After a long day in the surgical theater, I slather Ben's special muscle rub all over his body, slowly massaging it into his tired, achy muscles and –"
"I think we all get it, Marion", Gerry says, clearing his throat as he holds up a hand for her to cease the graphic – bordering on pornographic explanation.
"I call it Ben and Gerry's Muscle Rub", Marion continues, and everybody bursts out laughing as Gerry's face is a now a deeper shade of red than his son's.
"She really got you good, Gerry", Calvin says through his laughter. John nods, thinking Marion is going to fit in quite nicely with the family.
XXX
"Did you know they were an item?" Fitz whispers to his wife as he unscrews the top from the bottle of club soda.
"I knew nothing. I was just as surprised as everyone else when I opened the door and saw them standing there. I didn't know what to think. I didn't know if they had come together or if they just happened to arrive at the same time", Olivia whispers as well. "Ben looks happy, don't you think?"
"I guess", reaching in the cabinet for a glass. "He was just with your father and me at the tree farm - he didn't say a word. I wonder why he kept it a secret?" Filling the glass with club soda. "Should I put ice in this?" Fitz asks, still whispering.
"No, you just got it out of the frig. Just because we didn't know doesn't mean he was keeping it a secret."
"Well it doesn't seem like anyone knew."
"Maybe they were waiting to see if things worked out", Olivia whispers and he nods. "Babe, we can't stay in here all day gossiping. Take Marion her club soda."
With her friends hot on her heels, Cena runs into the kitchen nearly out of breath, stopping in front of her mother and wheezing as she tries to speak.
"Slow down, Princess", Fitz says as he picks up Marion's club soda from the granite island top.
"Mommy, mommy" patting Olivia on the hip. "Can we go into the bounce castle now?" Cena asks excitedly as the other children look on in anticipation.
"Okay, but -" The children take off running from the kitchen when they hear the one-word permission. "And no kicking - just bouncing and jumping", Olivia yells after the children who are already making their way toward the French doors that lead to the backyard.
"You supervise them this time, Bennie. I'm sure Hiram is worn out by now", John says, slouched onto the sofa.
"I'll assist you, Ben", Marion says with a big smile.
XXX
Bennie and Marion watch Cena and her friends laugh hysterically as they jump up and down in the bounce castle filled with balls.
"Olivia and Fitz really went all out for this party", Marion says as she smiles at the children springing in the air. "I can't believe they even hired ponies for the children to ride."
"They've all been through a lot. I guess Liv and Fitz wanted to make up for everything Cee missed out on over the past month. The accident happened the day before her birthday."
"I can certainly understand. If I had a child who has gone through everything that Cena has gone through, I would want to give her the world", smiling at the children falling in the pile of balls.
"So, do you want children one day?"
"Yes", she says, with eyes are fixed on the rollicking children.
Bennie smiles and intertwines his hand with hers.
XXX
The children have worked up an appetite after jumping up and down in the bounce castle for the past hour and are ready to get out and eat cake and ice cream. Bennie and Marion help the children out of the cast and they dash into the house.
"Mommy, mommy, is it time for my birthday cake?" Cena yells as she runs into the room followed by her friends.
"Are you children ready for cake and ice cream?" Olivia asks the other four eager faces.
Timmy, Asha, Deon, and Janae all shake their heads up and down vigorously.
"Okay, follow me so you can all wash your hands."
"Can I help you Olivia?" Timmy's mother, Becky asks.
"Sure, I'll wash and you can dry."
"Mommy, the horse was fun. Deon was scared to ride at first but I told him not to be scared", Cena reports as the children follow Olivia and Becky down the hall to the powder room.
"I wasn't scared. I ride horses all the time", Asha says.
"Me too", Timmy says, and his mother smiles at Olivia and shakes her head from side to side, letting her know Timmy is telling a tall tale.
XXX
After all of the little hands are scrubbed clean, everyone gathers in the dining room, which is decorated in a princess theme. The room is tastefully adorned in pink, white, and green sheer organza, ribbons, and balloons. All of the children sit at the dining room table wearing birthday hats and Cena sits at the head of the table wearing the special birthday hat Abby made for her. The adults stand, filling in the space and smiling brightly as the children's eyes grow wide at the sight of the cake.
"It's so pretty", Asha says in awe, her big brown eyes wide with wonder.
"And big", Timmy says.
"Are we ready to sing happy birthday?" Olivia asks and the children and adults shake their heads up and down. "Light the candles, babe."
When Fitz finishes lighting the six candles, Cena brings her hands to the sides of her face as everyone begins to sing happy birthday. Fitz captures the moment knowing he is going to put that picture in his new office.
"Make a wish and blow out the candles, Princess", Fitz says, still videotaping the scene.
Cena closes her eyes for what seems like forever as she silently makes her wish. Then she opens her eyes and tries to blow out the candles from her seat, but they only flicker.
"Let me help you, Cee-Cee", John says, lifting his niece and bringing her closer to the cake so she can blow out the candles. "Now blow", John says. Cena blows out the candles and everybody claps at her achievement.
"I'll get the ice cream", Maura says.
"And I'll help you" Jeanette, Deon's mother, says.
"Those kids are going to be bouncing off the walls tonight", Gerry whispers to Calvin.
"Not our problem, Gerry." Calvin smiles as he watches the children devour the cake and ice cream. "We've raised our children."
After cake and ice cream is eaten, the children charge down the hall to the living room and sit on the chairs anxiously waiting for Cena to open all of her presents.
"Sit here, Cee", Olivia says, steering her daughter to the birthday chair she and Abby decorated with pink, yellow, and white balloons and streamers. Cena sits onto her throne swinging her legs excitedly and waiting to open her presents.
"Are you ready to open your presents, Princess?" Fitz asks, grinning goofily as Abby snaps pictures.
"Yes, yes, yes", Cena says, bouncing in the chair.
"Open this one first, Princess", Fitz says, setting the box onto his daughter's lap.
"Slow down, Cee", Olivia says, smiling as her excited daughter rips the wrapping paper someone obviously took a lot of time and care to wrap. With wrapping paper tossed onto the floor, Cena lifts the lid off the box and her eyes widen and her mouth drops in surprise.
"It's so pretty, daddy. I love it", staring in wonder at the gold tiara covered with gemstones. Fitz places the tiara onto his daughter's head and tears fill his eyes.
"She looks like a real princess", Asha says in awe. Her mother pulls her close and rubs a hand up and down her daughter's arm.
Gift wrapping paper litter the floor as Cena opens gift after gift. Olivia has tried to clear the paper from the floor, but her daughter is ripping open the presents faster than she can remove the paper from the floor. After about 40 minutes, Cena has opened all of her presents and the room looks like a tornado has hit it. The children are all gathered around Cena's chair looking at her gifts when the doorbell rings.
"I wonder who that could be?" Olivia asks, looking over at her husband.
"I'll get it", handing the camera to Bennie. "Don't miss this moment", he whispers to his brother.
"So do you like your gifts, Cee?"
"It's the best birthday-Christmas ever, mommy", and everyone laughs out loud.
"Princess", Fitz calls to his daughter in a sing-song voice, standing in the doorway of the living room. "Someone is here to see you", he smiles brightly. Olivia looks at her husband with an arched eyebrow, wondering what is going on. "Happy birthday, Princess", Fitz yells and Olivia's mouth drops open in shock.
Cena looks over at her father and the biggest smile spread across her face when a clown walks over to her chair and presents her a puppy with a big red bow tied around its neck. Ignoring his wife's stares, Fitz looks over at Bennie to make sure he is capturing the moment. The look on his daughter's face is priceless as she hugs her new pet.
"I just love him daddy. I wanted a dog forever", squeezing the animal tighter.
"Not too tight, Cena", Gerry says.
"I'm so happy, daddy", hugging the dog with the biggest smile on her face.
"He's beautiful, Fitzgerald. What kind of dog is he?" Gwendolyn asks, stroking the dog's head as she holds Jolie who is bouncing up and down in her grandmother's arm.
"He's a bassett-begal mix", Fitz says proudly.
"A lazy breed", Gerry whispers to Calvin, who nods his head in agreement.
"They're happy dogs - great with kids - and calm", Fitz says, glancing at his wife, seemingly trying to convince her of his claim.
"His tail is wagging, mommy", Cena yells, watching in awe as the dog's tail wags.
"That means he likes you", Fitz says, beaming proudly.
"Fitzgerald doesn't know what he has gotten himself into", Calvin whispers to Gerry.
"Cena can't take care of a dog. He and Olivia are going to be stuck walking that thing and cleaning up behind it." Calvin nods in agreement as he frowns at the frightened puppy.
"GranPop, we can show him to Rufus tomorrow", Cena yells, and Calvin plasters on a fake smile for the sake of his granddaughter.
"So what are you going to call him?" Bennie asks, still recording the scene. Cena looks over at her mother who simply shrugs her shoulders.
"Can I call him Bowtie, daddy?" Looking at the large red bow tied around the puppy's neck.
"That sounds like a good name, Princess. Would you like to take him for a walk?"
"Can Asha come, too?" Fitz looks at Kelly, Asha's mother.
"Of course", Kelly says, waving her hand with approval.
"I wanna go", Deon yells.
"Me too", says Timmy.
"Me too", says Janae.
"Okay, everybody get their coats on and meet me at the front door", Fitz yells, and the children take off running from the living room in search of their coats. Abby sidles up to Olivia and whispers into her ear.
"I would kill Jonathan if he pulled a stunt like that."
"So you think my husband is going to survive the night?" She says with arms folded across her chest glaring at the timid little puppy.
XXX
The Christmas-birthday celebration has been over for a few hours and all of the guests have gone home. The house is clean and everything is back in order. It has been a long day, and Fitz sits in the bed with his back against the headboard smiling as he stares down at his tablet. He has been posting pictures of the celebration on Instagram and his followers having been responding with excitement. He has been absent from social media for a long time and they are happy to see he and his family are doing well.
"You bought her a dog, Fitz? A dog?" Olivia yells, flailing her arms as she paces around their bedroom.
"Bowtie is a puppy. You know Cena has wanted a dog for a long time."
"She wanted a goat too, so does that mean we're now going to have livestock around here?"
"I just want her to be happy, Liv. She's been through so much lately."
"Fitz, a dog is a lot of responsibility. You said that yourself. Cena can't take care of a dog, she thinks it's a toy for god's sake."
"I'll help take care of her." Olivia stops yanking open her dresser drawer and looks at him in disbelief.
"What?" Looking up from the tablet at the pictures he posted of Cena and the puppy on Instagram.
"Help? What do you mean help? This is all on you. Don't think I'm going to get involved with taking care of a dog. I already have too much to do."
"Well, I'm sure Hildie –"
"Hildie? Do you even know if Hildie likes dogs? Besides, she did not sign up to do dog sitting."
"Well your parents are here - they can help. I'm sure your father likes dogs. Your mother took to him right away."
"One", holding up an index finger. "My parents won't be here forever. They're going back to Senegal. Two, my father hates dogs. I told you I never had any kind of pet as a child - he wouldn't allow it. Did you even think any of this through before you ran off to the pet store?"
"Fine, Cena and I will take care of the dog", tossing the tablet onto the nightstand.
"Is he even potty trained?"
"Potty trained?" Looking at his agitated wife and smiling. "Did JoJo come potty trained?"
"So you now you're comparing your baby daughter to a dog?" Snatching back the bed covers and climbing into bed.
"Don't worry about it, Liv. I'll take care of Bowtie."
"You bet you will", flopping onto her side of the bed and turning off her lamp. "And I don't want that dog sleeping in bed with Cena."
"I bought a doggie bed, Liv", shaking his head, unable to understand her reaction to the puppy.
XXX
A few days later Cena is sitting on the floor in the family room stroking Bowtie's back while he sleeps. The two have become inseparable. And Jolie, at seven months, who has been sitting up by herself for a while, is now testing her ability to crawl. Olivia smiles as she watches Jolie get on all fours and rock her chubby little body back and forth on the play mat. After a while Jolie realizes she can move her body by pushing her hands and legs backward, mastering the art of crawling, albeit backwards.
"Mommy, mommy, look at JoJo, she's going the wrong way", Cena yells from across the room, and Bowtie looks up from his nap. Olivia laughs and Fitz slides the phone from his pants pocket and starts to videotape his baby daughter's first attempt at crawling. Realizing she has become the center of attention, Jolie drops her head and begins to cry.
"Aww, don't cry Angel", Fitz says, bending down to pick up his daughter. "You'll get it together soon", placing Jolie on his shoulder as he sits back onto the sofa.
"Do you think you're ready to go back to work?"
"I have to be. The people elected me to do a job, Liv."
"The people will understand if you need more time, babe."
He nods, kissing Jolie on the cheek.
"Your father and I are going out to look at cars tomorrow."
"Have you decide what you want?"
"I don't know. I really liked my car."
"Well I'm sure you'll find something you like equally as well", looking at her watch. "Mom and I are leaving shortly to visit Marla. Mom wants to see her before they go back to Senegal."
"How is she doing?" Stroking Jolie's back as the baby dozes off to sleep.
"The doctors say she isn't progressing as well as they expected. She now has pneumonia."
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart", Fitz says, squeezing his wife's hand.
"We should be back in a few hours", she says, pecking Jolie on the forehead before walking from the room.
XXX
Calvin walks into the family room carrying a mug of steaming hot Café Touba and frowns when he sees his granddaughter sitting on the floor between her father's legs and that beast lying on the floor next to her.
"What are you doing, Fitzgerald?" Calvin asks with a puzzled look on his face, as he watches his son-in-law stare at something on his tablet.
"Cena wants two braids. I'm trying to learn how to braid her hair", frowning as he looks at the tablet that is placed on the table next to the chair in which he is sitting
"So what are you looking at?" Calvin asks, walking over to the table where the tablet is placed.
"Queen B."
"Beyonce?" Calvin asks logically.
"No. Britne, the Queen of Braids. She calls herself Queen B. She has a lot of YouTube videos. She's very popular", still looking at the screen and trying to follow the Queen's instructions.
"Really? You mean she teaches you how to braid by watching a video?"
Fitz nods as he tries to braid his daughter's hair.
"Let me see that", Calvin says, picking up the tablet and looking at the screen as the video comes to an end.
"You might want to hit PLAY and start it from the beginning", Fitz says as he tries to untangle the mess he has made of Cena's hair.
Calvin watches the five-minute-long video, nodding his head as Queen B demonstrates her techniques on a woman sitting in a chair.
"Ahh, I see how it's done. It doesn't look difficult at all", Calvin says, setting his mug onto the table. Fitz frowns because he has been at it for an hour and Cena's hair looks nothing like Queen B's model at the end of the video.
"Fitzgerald, I think there are supposed to be three sections", Calvin says, looking at his granddaughter's hair.
"Are you sure? I don't remember her saying that."
"Well, I'll start the video from the beginning so you can see", Calvin says, balancing the tablet in one hand and tapping the video play button with his right index finger. They wait for the video to load, and finally the Queen of Braid smiling face appears on the screen and begins her spiel.
"Heeeey, my name is Britne, better known as Queen B, the Queen of Braids, not to be confused with the other Queen B", Britne chuckles.
"Can you fast forward it, please?" Fitz asks since he has already watched the video several times. Calvin slides the bar to fast-forward the video to where Queen B sections the model's hair.
"I think I've gone too far", Calvin says. "I'll start it from the beginning", and Fitz groans silently.
"Heeeey, my name is Britne, better known as Queen B, the Queen of Braids, not to be confused with the other Queen B."
"Why must she say that each time? It's so annoying", Calvin says, scrunching his face as he watches the video.
"It's a video, Calvin", and Calvin rolls his eyes.
"Just let it play all the way through this time. We might learn something new", Fitz says.
Calvin nods as he looks down at a yakking Britne.
"Here it comes. Here's the part where the Queen discusses how to section the hair", pushing the screen toward Fitz' face."
"Hit PAUSE, Calvin so I can look at it closely." Not wanting to have to start the video from the beginning again, Calvin slowly hits PAUSE.
"That's good. That's good", Fitz says, looking intently at the screen. "You're right, there are three sections. This is more complicated than what I'm used to doing. Can you play it in slow motion?"
Calvin presses the Slo-Mo button and they both watch as Britne's fingers intertwine the three sections of the model's hair.
"Stop it right there, Calvin", Fitz says excitedly, and Calvin hits PAUSE, freezing the video.
Cena sits on the floor stroking a sleeping Bowtie and waiting patiently for her father and grandfather to figure out how to give her two braids like the nurse did at the hospital.
"Perfect, Fitzgerald", Calvin smiles approvingly at his son-in-law's handiwork.
"Well it's not quite like the model's, but it's pretty close. Look, Cee", handing his daughter the mirror.
"Let's put some of those things on the ends like the model is wearing", Calvin suggests and Fitz nods.
"Well I don't have any ribbon, but maybe we can use some of Cena's string."
"Good idea. I go upstairs and get", Calvin says, dashing from the room and upstairs to Cena's room to find her string.
After a few minutes of rummaging through Cena's belongings trying to find the string, Calvin returns with Cena's craft yarn and ties it at the ends of the two braids. When Cena hears the alarm system chime she takes off running down the hall to show her mother and Nana her new hairstyle. Gwendolyn stumbles backward and Olivia's mouth falls open as they watch Cena model her new hair-do.
"Look, mommy. Daddy and GranPop braid my hair just like the nurse did", smiling proudly.
"Oh my god", Gwendolyn says, holding her chest trying to recover from the shock.
"Does that hurt, Cena? Did it hurt when daddy and GranPop did it?" Olivia asks, setting her purse onto the table in the foyer and gently touching her daughter's hair.
"No, they watched YouTube, mommy."
"They even put ribbons in her hair?"
"That's not ribbon, mom. That's Cena's craft yarn."
"What on earth were they thinking? Cena, would you like Nana to show you how the little girls in Senegal wear their braids?" Cena nods her head up and down.
XXX
As Olivia finishes cleaning the kitchen after dinner, she delivers the heart-wrenching news to her husband who is sitting at the island looking down at his tablet at the latest pictures he posted on Instagram of Cena, Bowtie, and Jolie.
"Babe, you can't comb Cee's hair any longer - you have to know your limits."
He looks up with confusion on his face.
"Cena wants to wear her hair in styles that you cannot do. I can't even braid like mom. You can comb JoJo's hair."
"Well your mother isn't going to be here forever so we have to learn how to do it."
XXX
Olivia slides onto the hard bench at Triumph Tabernacle, next to her mother, who sits where Marla has always sat. Fitz slides onto the bench next to his wife and Calvin leans across his wife and gives his daughter's hand an encouraging squeeze. Fitz drapes an arm around her shoulders and looks straight ahead, listening to the choir. The church is filled to capacity, everyone is here to celebrate the life of Marla Briggs. Olivia dabs her eyes with the lace handkerchief her mother gave her before they left the house this morning and watches as the mourners stop at Marla's casket to say their last good-byes.
"Are you going to be all right? Can you do this?" Fitz asks, holding Olivia's hand in his lap as he whispers into her ear. She nods and closes her eyes because the warmth of his breath always has a calming effect on her. He kisses her temple and pulls her close.
A long list of friends, city officials, and citizens give speeches that extol the virtues and accomplishments of Marla Briggs. And when another woman finishes her testimony of how Marla helped to secure housing for her family and helped her to get a job at a local grocery store, Rev. Walker nods to Olivia, beckoning her to come forward. Gwendolyn squeezes her daughter's hand and Fitz kisses her on the cheek before she makes her way down the aisle and up the seven steps that lead to the sanctuary. She rests her open tablet onto the lectern, closes her eyes, and takes several deep breaths to calm her nerves before beginning to deliver her farewell message to Marla.
"I could stand here all day and speak about the wonderful contributions Marla Briggs has made to this city. I could stand here all day and talk about all of the people she has helped. But a day would not be nearly enough time to talk about all of Marla's good works and the many lives she has changed. And Marla would also not want me to stand here and list all of her good deeds, so I will not embarrass her by doing so. Those of you who knew Marla, who really knew Marla, knew she shied away from public praise, which is an anomaly for a politician." The church chuckles.
"Marla did not enjoy public praise. What she did for the people of this city came from a place deep within her heart. She did not do what she did for adulation or reward. So my eulogy will not be about Marla's accomplishments. It will not be all the people she helped. It will be about Marla's deep and abiding faith, and God's amazing grace."
With hands folded across his round stomach, Rev. Walker sits in his chair to the right of the lectern and nods slowly.
"Wikipedia defines grace as the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowing of blessings."
And the church says amen.
"But scripture teaches us about and illustrates God's grace and what it does for us. The grace of God brings salvation. The grace of God teaches us how to live. The grace of God gives us hope."
Preach.
"I think, perhaps, there are a great many of us who truly believe we deserve every good thing we have gotten in our lives, or we have accomplished everything we have on their own. But Marla knew otherwise. She knew that God receives us by grace and good gifts come to us because of God's abiding grace and not because we deserve them or we authored them."
Amen. Amen.
"As we sojourn through this life each of us is prone to stray because we are all weak. In some way, each and every one of us has sinned – has fallen short of God's glory. But, because God is full of grace He continues to bless us with good things and offers to us eternal life through faith in His Son!"
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
"The scripture also says in Ephesians 1:7":
'In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.'
Teach.
"And Matthew 7 says:
'Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and the measure you use, it will be measured to you.'
Olivia closes her tablet and looks out at the mourners then back at the casket. She dabs her eyes with the lace handkerchief before concluding her farewell.
"Marla, you were more than a mentor to me. I loved you like a second mother and I will miss you dearly." The church is eerily silent as Olivia walks from the sanctuary and back to her seat.
"Glory to God. Glory to God", Rev. Walker says, clapping his hands and walking toward the pulpit as the choir begins to sing a soul-stirring rendition of Amazing Grace.
XXX
Fitz awakens early the next morning and quietly slips out of bed, trying not to disturb his wife. Yesterday Marla's funeral was emotionally draining and he wants her to get all the sleep she needs. Planning the breakfast menu as he walks into the kitchen, he knows Hildie will not like it too much, but he is feeling the best he has felt in a long time and wants to do something special for his family.
"Fitzgerald?" Gwendolyn says in surprise when she sees her son-in-law standing at the stove whistling.
"Good morning, Gwendolyn - Calvin", he says cheerfully, turning around and looking at his in-laws.
"Good morning, Fitzgerald", Calvin says suspiciously. "Is everything all right?"
"Everything is fine, Calvin. I just wanted to get up early and prepare breakfast for a change."
"Well you better watch out, Fitzgerald. Hildie won't like it very much if she catches you in her kitchen", Gwendolyn says with a chuckle as she takes a seat at the island.
"Cafe Touba, Calvin?" Holding up the coffee pot.
"Good man, Fitzgerald", Calvin says with a smile as Fitz fills his father-in-law's mug.
"Dad, don't tell me you have convinced my husband to start drinking that spicy coffee, too?" Olivia asks carrying Jolie into the kitchen as Cena follows closely behind with Bowtie. Bowtie stops at the kitchen door because he knows Olivia does not like him and does not want him in the kitchen.
Fitz looks into his wife's eyes and sees that she is sad and tired. So much has been going on in their lives over the past few months and Marla's death was the capstone.
"Good morning, Nana. Good morning, GranPop", Cena says as she climbs onto her stool. "Good morning, daddy."
"Good morning, Princess. What can I get you for breakfast today?"
"Panny cakes, daddy", she says excitedly. "And Bowtie wants breakfast, too." Calvin and Olivia roll their eyes at the mention of the mongrel's name.
"Panny cakes for Cena and puppy food for Bowtie", Fitz says cheerfully.
"Give me Jolie", Gwendolyn says, stretching out her arms toward the baby.
"Good morning, babe", Olivia says, giving her husband a chaste kiss, but he pulls her close and deepens the kiss. With an arm around his wife's waist and holding a spatula in his other hand, he turns to his in-laws.
"Gwendolyn – Calvin, my wife and I are going away for a few days. We would appreciate it very much if you would babysit the girls while we're away."
"We are?" Olivia says, looking bug-eyed at her grinning husband.
"We are", he says, kissing the tip of the nose.
"I guess we are then", she says, smiling for the first time in a long time.
"Go - have fun", Calvin says, bringing the mug to his lips.
"And for the record, Fitzgerald, I don't consider it babysitting when I have the pleasure of spending time with my two beautiful grandbabies", Gwendolyn says as she tickles Jolie under her chin. "We're going to have so much fun while mommy and daddy are off playing and doing whatever", winking at her daughter.
"And Calvin, you're going to have to walk Bowtie while we're gone", Fitz says, smiling at the man's dour face.