A/N: Getting this chapter in under the wire. Be safe. Enjoy
Chapter 70. Ignorance Was Bliss
Fitz shakes with rage as he sits on the park bench replaying over and over in his mind the encounter he had with his father. The clash left him feeling off-kilter and disoriented. In a matter of minutes everything he knew to be true has been upended. His father admitting to leading a twisted group of people intent on shaping the country in their perverse image is disturbing, but learning his father funded the political campaign of the man that tried to kill Olivia and his girls is soul crushing.
Tears well up in his eyes as he stares down at his trembling hands, the hands that came close to strangling the life from the man he loved and revered his entire life. He cannot go home right now. He cannot face Olivia and the girls, not like this. Not in this state. He needs time to calm down. Stretching his arms across the back of the bench, he crosses his legs and tilts his head skyward, enjoying the feel of the sun warming his face.
XXX
Maura walks over to the bar in the living room and pours herself a hefty glass of sherry. She rarely drinks, and she certainly does not drink before noon. But her world has been turned upside down. Her reason for living is slipping away. Asha was going to give meaning to her life. She had everything planned: Bennie's old bedroom is newly decorated for a little girl and the closets are filled with clothes for every occasion. But once again, Gerry has ruined everything. She brings the glass to her lips and takes a long sip. She is tired of getting cheated out of the things she wants.
XXX
The sounds of children chattering and laughing arouse Fitz from his slumber. His eyes blink several times, trying to adjust to the bright sunlight. He looks over his shoulder, squinting at the children happily pedaling around the pond as fast as their little legs can take them. He smiles when he thinks about the day he, John, and Bennie bought Cena her first bicycle — red of course. He thinks about the red leather jacket John bought her and shakes his head. He has no idea what his brother was thinking when he insisted on buying his goddaughter the expensive jacket. His smile broadens when he thinks about weeks later, when Cena insisted that he remove the training wheels so she could pedal around the pond like the big kids. He knew then his Princess was growing up.
He watches the children ride around for a few more minutes, then turns his attention to the ducks floating atop the pond, seemingly without a care in the world. Ignorant was bliss he thinks as he stands from the bench and wipes the sweat from his brow. It is time to go home.
XXX
"Daddy's home."
Cena drops her doll and runs from the family when she hears the alarm system chime. Asha takes off running too. She jumps into her father's arms before he can completely close the front door.
"We missed you daddy."
"Baaba, you was gone a long time", Asha says, stretching her arms for him to pick her up, too. "Why is your face red?"
"He was in the sun. He was getting a tan", Cena informs her friend in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Why?" Asha asks, scrunching her face as she looks back and forth between Cena and Fitz. Cena shrugs her shoulders.
Fitz smiles at the excited faces as he scoops up both girls into his arms. He will never take for granted seeing the bright eyes and broad smiles waiting to greet him when he returns home. Ty is right, this is his Shangri-La.
"Where's mommy?"
"GoGo's in the kitchen. She's sitting down again", Asha says, starting to update him on the events of the day.
"Mommy's tired. She was chasing Jo all day", Cena reports.
"Baaba — guess what?"
"What sweetheart?" Smiling at Asha's excited face.
"JoJo said another whole sentence."
"She did?" Fitz replies with genuine interest.
"Then she told GoGo to stop when GoGo tried to put her clothes back on. JoJo took off her dress again."
"I guess Jo is hot again. Did you have dinner?"
"No. Mommy said we had to wait for you."
"Well — you better go wash your hands so we can eat."
"Come on, Asha — let's go wash our hands", Cena says, climbing down from her father and taking off running up the foyer toward the powder room.
XXX
Fitz walks toward the kitchen where he hears his wife pleading with Jolie once again not to climb on the farmhouse table.
"Jolie", he says in a stern voice. "Get down off the table. Now."
Jolie's stops crawling when she hears her father's voice. She looks over her shoulder and flashes him the biggest smile before quickly scurrying across the table.
"I can't do anything with her anymore. She's getting into everything lately. I'm exhausted", Olivia says, frowning at his red face.
"Come here, Miss Mischief", Fitz says, grabbing Jolie from the table and tucking her under his arm like a football. He walks over to the bench and pecks his wife on the cheek.
"Where have you been? Have you been sitting in the sun?" Frowning at his sun-burnt face. "You can't tan without putting on sunscreen, Fitz. You know that."
"I was sitting in the park. I lost track of time", dangling Jolie upside-down in the air by her ankles.
"Why were you at the park?" Watching her daughter's face turn as red as her father's face.
"I'll explain later," turning Jolie upright in his arms.
Olivia frowns, she is growing tired of him saying he is going to explain later what is going on with him but never does.
"I want to go to the park, daddy", Cena says, as she runs into the kitchen.
"Me too, Baaba. Can we ring the rocks again?"
"Did you feed the ducks, daddy?"
The barrage of questions makes him smile, and he willingly responds to each one.
"I didn't feed the ducks, Princess. We'll go to the park and ring the rocks another day, sweetheart", walking over to the refrigerator to get a bottle of water.
"Are you ready for dinner?" Olivia asks as Asha and Cena climb onto the bench seat. They are hungry.
"Just a little. I don't have much of an appetite."
XXX
The once-happy toddler is now upset, screaming, and not interested in listening to her father read the bedtime story. Asha and Cena put their hands over their ears in an attempt to block out Jolie's latest crying spell.
"Baaba - I can't hear. JoJo cries too loud."
"I can't hear either, daddy", Cena says, kicking her feet up and down on the bed. "Put her in her bed."
"Jo is just a little cranky tonight", lifting the crying girl onto his shoulder as he continues reading the girls' new favorite book.
XXX
Olivia sits on the bed rubbing her temple. She is mentally and physically exhausted. She is not sure how much more crying and playing and yelling and screaming she can take. Asha and Cena chatter nonstop, all day. And, depending on the day or hour, Jolie is either climbing on something, demanding something, or crying without cause. She looks over her shoulder when she hears the bedroom door close quietly, thanking goodness Fitz finally got Jolie to fall asleep. She sets the jar of cream on the night table and watches him start pacing around the room. She wants to know what is wrong. She will not be put off any longer.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on? You've been walking around here for the past few days like you've lost your best friend. You go to the park today and come back sun burnt. Don't tell me it's nothing or you'll explain later. Something is going and I want to know - now."
"I have some troubling information to tell you," sitting on the bed next to her. She holds her breath and braces for the worst.
"What is it, Fitz? What's wrong?" Concern filling her voice.
"Ty told me something unbelievable— incredible actually."
"What did he say?"Her anger rising. She knew Ty Granger had something to do with the shift in his demeanor.
"He said my father is the head of some secret political cabal. He said my father and other connected people use their wealth and power to pay off city officials to get legislation passed that benefits them and solidifies their agenda. Of course - I didn't believe him — not at first — but he had so much damn information, Liv."
"Gerry? Fitz – please. That's ridiculous. Your father is a very successful businessman with some political connections — but a political cabal? I tried to give Ty the benefit of the doubt. I thought he'd changed. But the man seems to get perverse pleasure in stirring up trouble for you — for us. I wouldn't believe a word he says."
"It's true, Liv — that's why Ty came to visit. He had some idea to replace the city's police officers with robots. He wanted dad's endorsement."
"Robots? That's even more ridiculous. What does Ty think he's living in Star Wars?" Laughing off the idea. "Besides why would he think your father has anything to do with the city's police department?"
"Because his people researched it. They learned that my father and his cronies have been trying to gain control of the department for decades - going as far back to the days of Marla."
"What does Marla have to do with any of this?" Still somewhat protective of her old friend.
"My father owned Marla, Liv."
"Owned her? What do you mean owned her?"
"Marla is one of the many city's politicians he helped get into office — going back over 30 years. He donates millions to their campaigns to get them elected — and once elected — he gets them to do whatever he wants - no-bid contracts - legislation …. He's been wanting to privatize the police department for years."
"There isn't anything illegal about lobbying."
"What my father and his network are doing is not lobbying, Liv – far from. It's bigger — more insidious. It's illegal. I never want to see the man again."
"None of this makes sense. How do you know Ty isn't lying? You're blind when it comes to that man."
"Because I know", he says sadly.
"Ty Granger is a troublemaker. He flies in here and opens his big mouth because he wanted to profit from whatever he thinks is going on."
"This has nothing to do with Ty."
"It has everything to do with him. The man just wants to hurt you. Don't you think he knew you didn't know about your father? I never want that man in our home again."
Fitz pinches the bridge of his nose. He cannot fight two battles at the same time. He needs to steer his wife back to the real issue, which is not Ty.
"Liv — please. Do you understand what I'm saying? My father is the head of the most powerful political organization on the West Coast. He and his friends think they are ordained to change the country into their image - what they think it should be. They are the hidden hands behind so many things.Fred Bryson is in league with my father. He's part of the organization."
"Are you out of your mind? Did Ty tell you that, too?"
"Olivia — will you listen to me?"
Her eyes widen at his raised voice, so he softens his tone and takes her hand in his.
"Liv, Livvie — Fred Bryson is a member of the cabal. People like him donate money to social causes to pretend they're helping communities – but it's their way of controlling the people."
He stares into her eyes waiting for his words to sink in. She sneers at him.
"Are you saying Fred Bryson is manipulating me? That I'm some useful idiot? That's insulting."
"Liv - these people are shrewd. They've been playing this game for decades – if not longer. I'm sorry — I know this is difficult to hear. I know it'll be hard to walk away from Bryson —"
"Walk away? What makes you think I'm going to resign my position just because of whatever Ty said?" Looking at him as if he has lost his mind.
"Olivia. This is not about Ty. I get the work you're doing for Bryson's philanthropy is an opportunity of a lifetime — but this is wrong. What my father is doing— what Fred Bryson is doing — it's unconscionable. Their money is dirty."
"So - you want me to walk away from the work I love because you're upset with your father. Walking away solves nothing. It only hurts the most vulnerable in the city. You know that. These communities are already underserved - taking away Bryson's money only harms them further."
"How long are you willing to turn a blind eye to what's going on here?"
"Do you think the people who are helped care where the money comes from? They just want their children to receive good healthcare to fight the effects of drinking poisoned water for years. They want their children to attend good schools. They want books to read to their children at bedtime. Unlike you - they don't have the luxury of being self-righteous."
"Who are you? Do you think so little of the people - that they can't want a quality life and have moral standards? Are you willing to make a Faustian bargain with Bryson just to fulfill your dreams? You can't say you want to help the people when you're not willing to be honest with them - tell them who's really pulling the strings."
"How dare you."
"Yes - I dare, Olivia. I dare to speak the truth. I dare to say what you're unwilling to say."
With chests heaving up and down, they glare at each other from across the spacious bedroom.
"You want me to walk away from the opportunity to help so many people."
"Don't you see what I'm saying? That's how they control people. They give honest - well-meaning people money to support their cause – then they start asking for favors. You start to do small things at first - color outside the lines. Then - they ask for more. After a while - you realize you've compromised all of your beliefs – and by then - they own you. Once they own you there's no turning back."
"You make it sound devious."
"These people are devious. We have to be honest about what we're dealing with — even if it makes us uncomfortable. Now that we know the truth – we can't pretend it's something else. Don't you think Bryson is going to want something for the $10 million dollars he gave to set up the philanthropy?"
"Are you saying I'm being selfish? That I don't care about the people I'm trying to help?"
"I'm saying sometimes we don't see things clearly when we want something really badly. We can't let our self-interests get in the way of doing the right thing."
"What is the right thing, Fitz? What do you want?"
"You — we — have a responsibility to be role models — positive examples — for our children. We have to model for them the behaviors we want them to display as good citizens. They're watching us all the time, Liv — examining how we handle everything from personal relationships to stress to career disappointments."
She stares into his eyes for a long while, thinking about all the competing factors.
"He's your children's grandfather. What will you tell Cena? She adores her grandfather."
"We'll figure out something", continuing to pace around the room."I took an oath to serve the community. I can't ignore what is going on because my father is at the center of this scandal. The people deserve better, Liv. Marla — Mayor Wilson — now me - they're tired of being lied to. Besides — if this gets out - heads are going to roll. There are going to be investigations and indictments. People are going to jail."
Her eyes widen with fear and he sees her grab the side of her stomach. The babies know she is upset.
"Jail? Could you go to jail?"
"Shh. Shh. Come here", wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her lips. "I need you to calm down. Okay?"
"You said there will be investigations and indictments. Suppose the prosecutors think you were involved in your father's business? Suppose they think he helped to get you elected?"
He places his hand on top of hers that holds the side of her stomach and smiles into her frightened eyes.
"It won't be much longer before these little guys are running around here tearing up the place like Jo", he says, trying to calm her nerves.
"I'm scared, Fitz. Too much is happening."
"I know. I don't want you to worry about anything. I'm not going to jail. I'm not going anywhere."
"I wouldn't survive if you went to jail."
"We're going to be fine. Everything is going to be all right."
They stand in a silent embrace for a long while, each thinking about the ramifications of Gerry Grant's affiliations.
"This thing with you and your father — what does it mean about the agreement? Your mother is preparing for Asha to move in any day."
"My father is a horrible person, Liv. We can't let Asha live in that house."
"Your mother will be crushed if she doesn't get Asha."
"Do you think she didn't know what her husband has been up to all these years? Asha deserves better."
Olivia pulls away from his embrace and stares into his eyes.
"You want to keep Asha." It is a statement, not a question. "Is this all about Asha? Are you not seeing things clearly because you want her so badly?"
XXX
Fitz frowns when he walks into Bennie's apartment and sees his older brother, John, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows with the phone pressed to his ear. His is obviously talking to his wife, Abigail, and it sounds like she wants him to stop at the store on the way home and bring her more treats to satisfy her latest craving.
"I got it, Abigail. I'll stop at the store when I leave Bennie's. I'll be home when I'm finished", he says with a degree of annoyance. "I have to go. I love you —too."
John slides the phone into his pants pocket and turns to greet the reason why Bennie called the meeting. John is the firstborn, and like most firstborn children, he was thrust into a leadership role from the time his younger brother, Fitzgerald, was born. He is the one who stop things from going off the rails when the family is in crisis. Today, the family is in crisis and he must do whatever is necessary to end the war that Fitz has waged against their father.
"Brother — it's been a while", John says with a big smile as he walks across the room to give a skeptical-looking Fitz a hug. "How are Liv and the girls?"
"Everybody's fine", Fitz replies in a flat tone. He knows why John is here.
"Abigail is driving me crazy with her cravings. She just gave me her latest junk food list. This baby better come soon or I'm going have to buy stock in Bryson Foods", he chuckles.
"What's this all about? Why are we meeting here, Bennie?" Fitz says, staring at his younger brother. He is not interested in exchanging pleasantries or discussing the cravings of their pregnant wives.
"Mom called me - she's upset. I called John. I thought we should discuss whatever happened between you and dad a few days ago."
"What is there to discuss? Our father is a monster."
"What the hell happened, Fitz?" John asks with frustration. He is tired of the family drama. He just wants Abigail to deliver their new baby and enjoy a peaceful life.
"For the past 30 years our father has led a secret network of people that bribes politicians and manipulates unsuspecting people to progress their sick agenda."
"What? That makes no sense", John says, scoffing at what he believes is a tall tale.
"It's true", Fitz responds.
"If the network is so secret —how do you know about it?"
"I know."
"That's not good enough. If you're going to tear this family apart - you're gonna have to give me more than I know."
"He admitted to it. He admitted to every damn thing."
John looks at Fitz in disbelief, then he looks over at Bennie, who does not seem to be surprised by Fitz' revelation.
"Bennie - you're awfully quiet. What do you know? You lived home long after Fitz and I left."
"I don't have any specifics but — "
"You mean you knew, Bennie?" Fitz asks, stunned by his brother's admission.
"No — not really. I mean - dad certainly never confided in me – of course. But I overheard a few suspicious conversations he had on the phone."
"Does Nora know?" Fitz asks, still taken aback that Bennie never told him anything about their father's affiliation.
"No. I don't think so."
"Does mom know?" Fitz persists.
"Yes. I overheard them arguing about it once — when they didn't know I was home."
"Of course - she knows", Fitz says half to himself.
"God", John exclaims, shaking his head from side to side.
"I knew he attended a lot of meetings with a mysterious committee - but I didn't have any details", Bennie says, defending his years of silence on the matter.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me?" Fitz yells, running his fingers through his hair.
"It just never came up. It's not the kind of thing you have a casual conversation about."
"I never want to see that man again." Fitz spews, his face red with anger.
"What do you mean you never want to see him again? He's your father. He's family", John replies, ready to exert his familial position.
"I'm not backing down on this, John. I'm never going to change my mind."
"You're so pig-headed and stubborn. You're just like him. So - what are you going to do - tear this family apart because you don't like some of dad's business practices?"
"Business practices? Is that what you call the shit he does – has been doing for over 30 years? The man is nothing more than a mobster who bribes politicians and other government officials. He and his cronies have some warped view of how this country should look – and they're doing everything they can to make it happen. He needs to be stopped."
"What do you mean stopped?" John asks with frustration.
"He's gone too far."
"So now you're the moral authority? You're the judge and jury. You get to decide right and wrong?"
"I get to do what is best for my family."
"What about mom?" John demands, stepping closer to Fitz.
"What about mom?"
"She's upset."
"She should be upset that she's married to a monster", Fitz snaps at his brother.
"Are you prepared to turn your back on her, too — prevent her from seeing her grandchildren? She's already devastated that you might not allow Asha to live with her."
"I won't allow Asha to live in that house. The man is despicable", Fitz growls.
"Don't give me that holier-than-thou bullshit. You got mom's hopes up when you never had any intentions of turning that little girl over to her. I told you before you don't have the right to make decisions about Asha's welfare — where she lives — who she lives with. That's up to the courts."
"I have every right."
"You don't have any fuckin' rights to her, Fitz. Why can't you get that through your thick head? Just like dad you think you can bully or buy your way through everything. You never change."
"Go to hell", Fitz replies. He is not in the mood today for one of his brother's sermons.
"If Social Services finds out what's been going on with that little girl all these months - you're going to have hell to pay. They'll snatch her away faster than you can say Jack Rabbit. They'll put her in foster care. You don't know every goddamn thing, Fitz."
"I have a legal document. The grandmother signed it."
"That document isn't worth the paper it's written on and you know it. Don't you think the courts will wonder why the grandmother signed over her granddaughter to complete strangers?"
"First —I'm not a stranger. Second — I negotiated a deal with the grandmother."
"You're a goddamn stranger. You're not a blood relative. You have no rights to her and neither does mom. And this is not one of your business deals — it's no longer legal to buy human beings if you've forgotten."
"You're disgusting", Fitz says, walking away from his brother.
"What the hell do you call it? You paid money for that little girl", John shoots back.
"Fuck you, John."
"No — fuck you, Fitz."
"Okay — let's just calm down", Bennie the Peacemaker interjects.
"I told you not to give that woman money — but you did it anyway. I don't know how much you gave her - and I don't want to know. But it was enough for her to sign phony papers."
"There's nothing illegal about those documents."
"You're being too clever by half. Did the courts approve them? Is there a goddamn State seal on them — or did you falsify that — too?"
Fitz looks stunned. He cannot remember if Gregory affixed the State seal to the document.
"Why is this little girl so important to you? Why are you willing to risk everything for her? Why are you willing to ruin your family — risk your freedom? If it gets out that you paid for her — that you falsified documents — you could go to jail. Is that what you want for your family? Do you want your children visiting their father in prison? Don't Cee-Cee — Jo — and the twins mean anything to you? Doesn't Liv mean anything to you?"
"You know they're everything to me." Fitz replies through clenched teeth.
"You're not acting like it. This thing could ruin the two of you financially. The dreamworld you created will all be gone. And, Liv — she will be devastated if you were to go to jail. She'll have to raise your children alone."
"What the hell does any of this have to do with our father – the shit he's been up to?" Fitz snaps again.
"It has everything to do with him. Every snake has two fangs. If you come after him - he's gonna come after you. He'll make sure it gets out that you paid off the grandmother. He'll make sure you're sitting in the prison cell next to him."
With lips pressed together in a frown, Fitz shakes his head from side to side. Everything is getting out of control.
"Leave this shit with dad alone — let it go. If what you say is true - you're not going to change what he and his kind do — it's too big. If you want to keep Asha — then follow the process — do it the right way. Go to Social Services and become her legal guardian. I'll talk to mom — help her to understand everything. She won't get over this easily."
Hands pushed deep inside his pants pockets, Fitz stares down at the patterns in the rug, trying to fight back the tears that always threaten to surface when he thinks about that day on the side of the mountain when he could have lost his family. He looks up at John and his brothers grow concerned when they see the tears rolling down their brother's cheeks.
"Our father financially supported the man who tried to kill my family. He was supporting Charlie Barber's political campaign the whole damn time. He wanted Charlie to be council president so he could get his sweetheart policies passed. Does that sound like a fuckin' family man?"
"What?" Bennie exclaims, immediately springing to his feet.
"My god", John gasps in disbelief.
"He comes to my home, John. He plays with my children. He shares meals with my family. And he knew all along. What do you expect me to do — turn a blind eye — act like nothing has changed? Would you let it go?"
"Shit", John exclaims, pacing around the room running his fingers through his hair.
"Does Liv know?" Bennie asks quickly.
"I couldn't bear to tell her — not with everything else that's going on. I won't risk upsetting her further — not now."
"Don't you think she has the right to know that our father supported the man who tried to kill her family?"
"I decide what my wife needs to know, Bennie", glaring at his younger brother.
Son against father. Husband and wife at odds. Brother against brother. The revelation of Gerry Grant's affiliations is, perhaps, a bittersweet presaging of the fall of the Grant family.
XXX
Holding Jolie in her arms, Olivia paces around the bedroom trying to console her crying daughter. Jolie is having another crying spell for no apparent reason. Lately, her baby girl waffles between crying incessantly and demanding that her every need is immediately fulfilled. Olivia groans when she looks down at her ringing phone on the night table and sees Abby's name and phone number displayed on the screen. She knows what Abby wants to talk about, but she is not in the mood this morning to hear her sister-in-law's gossip about the family. She finally swipes the green phone icon to the right as she struggles to stop Jolie from squirming out of her arms.
"Olivia — are you there?" Abby's excited voice flows through the speaker.
"Good morning, Abby", trying with little success to console a crying Jolie.
"Is that Jolie? What the heck is wrong with her?"
"One day she wants to be independent — climbing on top of everything. The next day she is clingy and doesn't want to leave my side. And — other times she is cranky and has a full-blown meltdown — like right now. Yesterday she got so upset when I gave her juice."
"You put it in the wrong cup. Right?"
"Right. I didn't get a chance to wash her favorite yellow Sippy cup — so I gave her a blue one. You would've thought I committed a federal the way she cried and fell out on the floor kicking and screaming. She wouldn't calm down until I gave her the yellow cup."
"Remind me why we keep having babies?"
"I don't know.", Olivia replies, and the two women laugh out loud.
"She'll get over it, Olivia."
"I know. How are you doing, Abbs?" Walking around the room rocking Jolie.
"I'm bored. I hate being on bed rest — being stuck in this house. All I do is eat and watch Netflix all day. I can't wait to have this baby. Thank God for Irma. I don't know what I would do without her."
"It'll be over in two months — then you'll have a whole new set of issues to deal with. I'm sorry I haven't been over to see you. I've been a little busy."
"How are you doing, Olivia? How's your pregnancy?"
"It's been a little crazy around here this past month, but the babies are fine. Four more months to go."
"Good — now let's get to the juicy stuff - something that'll cure my boredom. What the hell is going on with Fitzgerald and Gerry? Jonathan says they had a big fight and Gerry is the head of some secret organization. I always knew the man was a fraud."
"It's a mess, Abbs. Fitz learned that Gerry is the head of a network of wealth people who have plans to redefine the country – whatever that means."
"How did he find out?"
"It's a long story – but to make a long story short — a friend told him."
"Wow — some friend."
"Exactly", Olivia replies as she continues to console Jolie.
"This is incredible. This is going to tear this so-called picture-perfect family apart. I always knew they were a bunch of phonies — all those traditions."
Olivia shakes her head. Abby has never bought into the Grant family values, perhaps because she was never really close to her own family.
"Jonathan says Fitzgerald has changed his mind about letting Asha live with Maura and Gerry - not that I blame him. But are you okay with that?"
Olivia rolls her eyes.
"Abby — Jo is in full meltdown — I'll have to call you later. I promise."
"Wait — wait", Abby calls through the phone before Olivia can end the call. "For the record — I'm team Fitzgerald. Actually — I'm team Olivia — so I have to be team Fitzgerald since you're married to the man. I never liked Big Gerry anyway."
"I gotta get downstairs, Abbs. Fitz is taking Bowtie to the groomer this morning. Take care."
XXX
Olivia shakes her head from side to side when she looks down at a frightened Bowtie cowering on the floor under the farmhouse table. He knows today is haircut day and he does not like it. She smiles when she sees Cena walk into the kitchen carrying Bowtie's leash.
"Come on, Bowtie — it's time to go", Cena says, bending at the waist and looking under the table.
"Where is Asha?" Olivia asks her protective daughter. Cena has such a big heart.
"She's sleeping, mommy", Cena says, trying to coax the frightened dog from under the table. Bowtie. whimpers when he sees the leash in her hand.
"Sleeping? Is she all right?"
"She went back to bed after breakfast because she's tired. She stays up late at night talking to Freddie."
"Are you ready, Princess?" Fitz asks as he walks into the kitchen with Jolie following behind him.
"Really?" Olivia says in a tone of surprise. She looks over at her husband with a did-you-know look on her face, and he shrugs his shoulders. He had no idea Asha was staying up late at night.
"Well — let her sleep. Babe - take Jo with you. I have work today and Miss Jo has become too demanding lately."
"We'll be back in a few hours", Fitz says, pecking Olivia on the cheek. "Come on Boss Baby", taking Jolie by the hand as he walks from the kitchen. Jolie turns and gives her mother a big smile.
"Bye-bye, mommy", Jolie says. Olivia's heart swells when her little daredevil flashes her the biggest and brightest angelic smile.
XXX
Settling down at the farmhouse table, Olivia takes advantage of the quiet house to catch up on her research of safe injection sites in the United States. To her surprise, there is just one city in the entire country that offers this kind of support to those addicted to drugs, although the sites are common in Europe. Unfortunately, she is unable to focus on the article for long. This thing between Fitz and his father has her rattled. She closes the tablet, stares blankly out into the distance, and shakes her head as she thinks about Marla. Now, it all makes sense why Fred would pay for Marla's daughter's medical care.
Learning about Fred's connection to Gerry's organization, makes her question all the work she has been doing with the Bryson philanthropy program. She wonders if Fitz is right. Would she be compromising her values if she continued to work for Fred Bryson? She wonders if she misjudged the man. Maybe he is not as honorable as she thought. She runs her fingers through her hair wondering if Fred would care about what happened to Kelly at his business headquarters.
The sounds of tiny feet interrupt her reverie, and Olivia looks over at the kitchen entrance where she sees Asha standing with Freddie the Robot tucked under her arm.
"Hello, Miss Sleepy Head. Are you feeling okay?" Olivia asks as Asha rubs her eyes.
"Yes", Asha says softly. "Where's Cena — Baaba — and JoJo?"
"They took Bowtie to the groomer to get a haircut. Do you want something to eat?"
"No", Asha says, climbing onto the bench seat next to Olivia.
"Do you want something to drink?"
"No – thank you", Asha says, twisting Freddie's arms back and forth. Olivia sees the sadness is beginning to creep back into the little girl's eyes. Grieving is a long process.
"Guess what I bought from the store?" Olivia asks as she smiles at the girl's puzzled face. "I bought everything we need to bake chocolate-chip cookies."
"You did?" Asha's eyes lighting up with excitement.
"Would you like to bake cookies today?"
"Yes", Asha's smile becoming wider than the Cascade Mountains. "Can we put extra chocolate chips in them? My mommy always let me put in lots of chocolate chips."
"You certainly can. Go wash your hands while I get the ingredients ready."
"Okay. I'll be right back, GoGo."
Asha leaves Freddie on the table and dashes from the kitchen, through the family room, and down the hall to the powder room. Olivia turns on the oven, letting it preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then walks into the pantry to gather the ingredients for baking chocolate-chip cookies. She is grateful she remembered to buy everything they need to bake cookies when she stopped at the market the other day.
"My hands are clean, GoGo. See", Asha says excitedly, holding up her hands for inspection.
"They look really clean to me — too. Let's get started", Olivia says, walking over to the table and Asha quickly follows her.
"Read the recipe and let's put all the ingredients we need in these bowls.
"Okay", Asha says, climbing on the bench. She stares down at the tablet and reads the recipe. "We need one cup of butter — softened. What does softened mean?"
"It means letting the butter get room temperature so we can mix easily with the other ingredients."
Asha nods her head and continues to read.
"We need one cup of white sugar. Can I get the sugar, GoGo?"
"Of course -", handing Asha the stainless-steel measuring cup.
Asha scoops out a heaping cup of sugar and Olivia slides the knife over the top, letting the excess sugar fall back into the container.
"Never put in more than what the recipe says."
"One cup of packed brown sugar", Asha says, already reaching for the container of brown sugar. Asha uses the measuring cup to scoop the brown sugar. She smiles at Olivia as she holds up the cup for Olivia to swipe away the extra sugar.
"We need two eggs and two teaspoons of va — va …"
"Vanilla. Extract", Olivia says, pointing to each word.
"Vanilla extract", Asha repeats. "One teaspoon of baking soda. We use soda to make cookies?" Looking up at Olivia with confusion in her eyes.
"Not the kind of soda you drink. This is baking soda. It's a white powder that is used for baking and so many other things." Asha stares at the box and nods her head.
"We need two teaspoons of hot water — a half teaspoon of salt — and three cups of flour."
"Use the same measuring cup you used for the sugar to scoop the flour."
"But three times. Right?" Smiling up at Olivia.
Olivia returns the smile, remembering Asha is good with numbers.
"GoGo — we need two cups of sem …"
"Semi-sweet", Olivia says.
"Semi-sweet chocolate chips. We need one cup of chopped walnuts. I can't eat nuts. Mommy said I have a allergy — like JoJo."
"Really?" Olivia says, once again realizing how little she knows about the little girl's medical history. "Are you allergic to anything else?"
Asha shrugs her shoulders as she concentrates on reading the recipe.
"What else do we need?" Olivia asks, setting the bag of walnuts across the room on the granite island top.
"It says cream together the butter — white sugar — and brown sugar until smooth."
"Let me show you how to cream together the ingredients", Olivia says, pouring all the ingredients into the large red- and white-striped ceramic mixing bowl. She turns on the hand mixer to blend together the ingredients, and Asha stares into the bowl, watching the ingredients transform into a smooth creamy mixture.
"That's how you cream the ingredients", Olivia says, setting the mixer aside on the table.
"Can I taste it?"
"Of course", Olivia says, smiling as Asha carefully sticks her index finger into the creamy mixture.
"It's sweet, GoGo", smiling with delight.
"What do we do next?" Olivia asks.
"Beat in the eggs — one at a time. Then — stir in the vanilla."
Olivia cracks one egg and drops it into a small bowl. She lets Asha pour the egg into the mixture, then turns on the hand mixer again to incorporate the egg into the batter. She cracks the second egg and Asha pours it into the batter. With eyes wide, Asha watches with awe as Olivia beats the egg into with the other ingredients."
"GoGo — did you teach Baaba how to cook?"
"I most certainly did — many years ago. He's a really good cook now."
"Baaba can cook anything", Asha says admiringly, as she looks down at the tablet.
"Di- di", trying to pronounce another word.
"Dissolve", Olivia says.
"Dissolve the baking soda in hot water and add to the batter along with salt."
"Done", Olivia says.
"Stir in the flour — chocolate chips — and nuts. We won't put the nuts in", Asha says.
"No nuts. We don't want to go nutty", Olivia says, winking at her little helper.
"GoGo — you're so funny", Asha laughs as she pours the chocolate chips into the measuring cup. I have to do this two times, GoGo because this is only one cup."
"That's right."
Asha pours two cups of chocolate chips into the bowl, then looks up at Olivia.
"I think we're going to need a lot more", Olivia says.
Asha nods and pours another cup of chocolate chips into the large bowl and Olivia stirs in the flour until the mixture transforms into dough.
"Now we have to shape the dough into cookies and put them on the cookie sheet. Do you like big cookies or small cookies?"
"Big cookies — and crunchy."
"Big and crunchy it is", Olivia says.
Olivia spoons cookie dough onto the cookie sheet, then hands Asha the large wooden spoon.
"Now you make one", smiling as Asha scoops a huge spoonful of dough from the bowl.
"Wow — that's going to be a really big cookie."
Asha smiles, nodding her head knowingly.
"We'll make a few big ones — then make rest regular size. All right?"
Asha nods her head up and down. She is so excited to be making her favorite cookies again.
"These are going to be so good, GoGo."
"Let's put the first batch in the oven. They should be ready in 10 minutes", Olivia says as she sets the time on the stove.
"GoGo."
"Yes, baby", bending at the waist to slide the cookie sheet into the oven.
"Am I going to live with you and Baaba and Cena and JoJo forever?" Looking at Olivia with her big brown eyes.
Olivia stares into the little girl's innocent face and is suddenly awash in a tsunami guilt. If Asha does not live with them, then where will she go? Maura and Gerry are no longer a viable option.
"Of course," caressing Asha's cherub-like face.
"I love you, GoGo", Asha says, wrapping her small arms around Olivia's broad waist.
XXX
Fitz hardly has the door open before Bowtie dashes into the foyer and up the long staircase. He jumps into his bed outside of Cena's bedroom and covers his eyes with his hairless paws. He is traumatized. He is always anxious after returning from the groomer.
"Daddy, Bowtie is still scared", Cena says, looking up at her father.
"He'll be fine, Princess. He's always a little jittery after getting a haircut."
"He doesn't like getting his hair cut", following her father up the hall.
"I know – but when his coat gets too long it covers eyes and he can't see."
XXX
"Something smells good", Fitz says, walking into the kitchen carrying Jolie in his arms.
"Bowtie got his haircut, mommy", Cena reports.
"Is he okay", knowing Bowtie is always edgy when he returns from the groomer.
"Baaba, GoGo and me made chocolate-chip cookies. They're my favorite."
"I can't wait to taste them", smiling down at Asha's beaming face.
"Cena, do you one?"
"Yes — but I have to sit with Bowtie first. He's nervous."
"Baaba —GoGo said she taught you how to cook."
"Well — she showed me how to do a few minor things a long — long time ago", pecking his wife on the lips. "I'm going to take Jo up for her nap", giving his wife a devious smile.
Olivia sticks out her tongue when her smarty pants husband turns and walks from the kitchen.
"I told you, Liv — I always know when you do that."
"I wonder how he always knows?" Olivia wonders out loud.
"Because after you do this", Asha says, sticking out her tongue. "Then you do this", clearing her throat the way Olivia does after she sticks out her tongue behind her husband's back.
"I do?" Looking at Asha with surprise.
Swinging her legs back and forth, Asha nods her head up and down as she enjoys the best chocolate-chip cookie ever. Olivia smiles, then starts doing the chicken dance around the kitchen. After all these years of thinking her husband has eyes in the back of his head, she finally knows the truth.