"Mom how long until these people are done with the backyard?"
"Livvie it's only been a week now. It'll be all over soon and you'll swoon over the outcome."
Olivia came by the house to have lunch with her mother.
"I must say, it's coming along nicely." Liv peered out the kitchen window.
"You have to meet the guy in charge of this project. He's just so lovely and we've formed a nice relationship over the past few weeks. He's like the son I never had."
"Oh really?" Liv asked, sliding onto at the island.
"Yes, I think you'll like him." Evelyn replied and made a plate for both of them. "How's Chris?"
"He's good. We're going to visit his parents over the weekend."
"And work? Is business still good?"
"Yes, we've got loyal clients so I think we'll be okay for a while." Liv chuckled.
"Your father was talking about retiring by the end of the year."
"Woah. For real?"
"Yeah. Well we still have shares in the company so we'll be fine. I think he's finally tired of all those years of working and we're at that place Livvie..ready to become grandpare--"
Olivia was quick to cut her off. "Uh uh, nope. Let's not even go there right now. Why don't you two go travelling through Europe or something?"
Evelyn found her daughter's deflection hilarious until the doorbell pulled her attention away.
"That must be Fitz."
"Fitz? Who's Fitz?" Liv asked with a curious frown.
"My landscaper."
Evelyn was gone for a short while before Liv heard her mother and the landscaper talking. She could've sworn she heard that deep baritone voice before but couldn't exactly make sense of where and when.
"My daughter's here. Come on, let me introduce you."
Fitz simply nodded with a smile.
He was wearing worn out jeans and an old t-shirt because he came ready to work.
"Livvie, meet Fitzgerald. The man responsible for the soon to be masterpiece outside."
Olivia was replying to a text before she looked up into a pair of familiar blue eyes staring down at her.
Fitz was in a state of shock. He couldn't believe his luck.
It's her. The goddes with the magic touch.
"Olivia. ." He said. The surprise evident in his voice.
Liv stood up and tossed him a polite smile. "Mr. Grant."
Evelyn's head went from side to side like someone watching a ping pong ball being wacked from one side to the other.
"You know each other?"
Liv chuckled faintly. "Not really. Mr. Grant was a client at the spa."
"It's good to see you again." Fitz spoke up with a bit more clarity this time.
"You too."
"Wow. Small world we live in." Evelyn said with a smile.
Olivia picked up her beverage from the counter and Fitz blinked several times to make sure that what he was seeing was real.
Her ring finger was carrying a shiny object.
She's married?
Fitzgerald Grant has had many disappointments in his life. This moment being one of them.
Of course she was taken. Was there really even a slight chance that a beautiful woman like her would still be single?
Fitz felt disappointed in himself.
Being attracted to a married woman was just his luck.
"Well ladies I've got to go and get my hands dirty. If you'll excuse me." He left that kitchen a dejected man.
Why?? He thought to himself.
Liv threw another glance out the window. "I can see now why he enjoyed that back massage so much." She said mindlessly, watching him pick up a bag of cement.
"Care to elaborate?"
Olivia turned back to face her mother. "Oh. One of my girls had a urgent family emergency and had to leave before she could start with his massage so I stepped in for her. And you were right earlier, he's a nice guy. We talked briefly at the spa."
Fitz and his small crew worked until 7pm when they decided to finish off for the day.
He was going to follow his guys out by the side gate but Evelyn called him inside.
He made sure to wash his hands under the tap outside and kick off the dirt under his shoes before he entered the house.
"Take this home with you." She handed him a container with her infamous cinnamon rolls.
"Wow. Thank you so much Mrs Pope. I can tell you now that I'm about to devour these once I get home."
"It's a pleasure but aren't you going to share with anyone?"
"No. Well, actually I might have to give my dog, Booger, a few crumbs."
Evelyn touched his arm in a motherly way and laughed.
Soon there were multiple footsteps heading their way. Olivia, her father and another man, who Fitz didn't recognise, entered the kitchen.
"Fitzgerald, should I be getting worried about my wife giving you sweet treats behind my back?"
"Now that you mention it, she has been giving me some special treatment. Maybe you should ask her." Fitz played along.
"Evelyn. Anything you wanna tell me?"
"Oh shut up Maurice. Fitz is like a son to me. So if I spoil him, that's none of your concern."
Everyone laughed heartily at the silly bickering.
"Oh, where's my manners. Fitz meet Tyler, our Livvie's fiancé."
Fitz bit the inside of his cheek.
Working in the backyard has put all other thoughts out of his mind but now being introduced to the man in Olivia's life..the disappointment was back.
"Hey man, you've made this lady very happy." Tyler nodded his head over at his future mother-in-law.
"She has made my job very easy so I have to keep her happy. Um I should be on my way. Have a good evening everyone."
Evelyn and Maurice walked him out.
"Too bad the pool takes up most of our backyard otherwise we could've asked him to do a little something for us." Tyler said snaking his arms around Olivia's midsection.
"Yeah.. Hey we should get home. You must be tired after leaving so early this morning."
"Baby you know sometimes I work crazy hours but you're right. I would very much like to just relax with you in my arms."
Tyler worked as a photojournalist for a well established news site.
"Well we gotta wait for mom to say goodbye to her new friend." Liv replied with humour.
xxx
"What's with the long face?" Michael, Fitz's dad, asked bumping into his son at work.
"Nothing. Just got a lot on my mind I guess."
"Hey, talk to me son."
"Dad c'mon. I'm a grown man and really it's nothing."
"How far are you working on that backyard?"
"Just a few more days to go. Don't worry we'll finish on time."
"Okay."
"If you want, you can go and have a look. I had fun with this one." His mood improved.
"Maybe I'll pop in when I'm in that area. I'm on my home at the moment. Taking your mother out."
"You gotta stop spoiling that woman. She gets outta control whenever you don't give her what she wants."
They grey haired man laughed and patted his son on the shoulder. "I like 'em a little crazy."
"Let's end this conversation right here." Fitz replied, scrunching his face.
"See you later son."
"Bye dad."
After work Fitz drove to the nearby takeout restaurant called Sizzlers, owned by a good friend of his.
He usually cooked but he didn't feel like it tonight. Getting grilled chicken, fried potatoes and a salad wasn't a bad replacement for his usual home cooked dinners.
"Yo! Fitz, my man. What's up?"
The two men bumped fists.
"Hey Marcus. I'm good man, just starving."
"Well you know I got you. What will it be tonight?"
Fitz have his order and Marcus hollered over the counter to his kitchen staff.
"The guys are having a get together next Saturday when Adam's in town, are you game?"
"Uh yeah. Sure. Why not."
"Awesome. I'll text you the details since they haven't decided what exactly the plan is. All I know is that they're up for a good time."
"Cool man."
The two chatted for a while until Fitz's food was ready. He decided to just sit down and eat there because that's how hungry he was.
"Hey I gotta get back to work. Enjoy your food."
"Alright man, text me those details like you said."
"Sure."
After 20 minutes Fitz stretched out in the booth he was occupying. His stomach was full and now he felt lazy.
Timingly he got up and left.
In the car he remembered that Booger was almost out of food so he made a detour to the store down the road.
He pushed his trolley carrying the large bag of dog food and some extra doggy treats through the isles when he heard a voice behind him.
"Is all of that for just one dog?"
Fitz whipped his head around. "Olivia. Hi. Uh yes, one dog. My buddy Booger."
She was carrying two bags of popcorn in her hand.
They fell into stride as they talked.
"So, have you had any massages lately?"
"Actually I have. My sister kind of bullied me into going again."
"Bullied?"
"I mean.. she was persistent."
"So it was a one time thing for you?"
"No. I didn't mind going again. It's just that, my first time lived up to such high expectations. Not that the girl at my follow up appointment didn't do a great job, I enjoyed it. I was just expecting to be put to sleep again." He said cheekily.
"Funny." Liv replied with a chuckle.
"So, did you find that name tag of yours yet?"
He allowed her to step in front of him in the queue.
"I did not actually."
"You know, my mom is a regular over at the spa but she didn't seem to know you when I told her about my session."
"That's probably because I don't usually provide massage therapy."
"Then what is it that you usually do over there?"
"I own the place." She replied with a humble smile.
"Wow. That's great."
"Which is why I wasn't wearing a masseuse uniform or a name tag."
"I see."
"So you told your mother about tour first spa experience?"
"Oh yeah I had to. She's the one who sent me. Actually she made the appointment for my dad but he chickened out."
Olivia paid for her things ahead of him.
"See you around Mr. Grant."
"Please, call me Fitz. It's weird having you call me Mr. Grant everytime."
"I'll be sure to remember that if I happen to run into you again."
Throughout their conversation Fitz's eye kept on falling on the diamond on her ring finger.
It wasn't that he was falling for her. He barely even knew her.. But her beauty and personality definitely attracted him.
She was off limits though.
xxx
One week later. . .
Today's the day.
After two weeks of hard work, Fitz finally finished Evelyn's dream backyard.
His crew had already left after they all cleaned up, leaving him to just adjust a few minor details here and there.
Colourful blooms and lush plants were nestled alongside the tree that Evelyn originally wanted gone.
A long pond ran down the grass from one end to the other. In the evening the LED lights would give it an illuminated glow.
The backyard had a shaded patio. Sophisticatedly decorated with a fire pit in it's center.
He went with the patio idea because ultimately Evelyn's main goal was to have a feel of relaxation. Not to host guests for dinner. She stated that her dining room worked just fine for that.
In the far corner was a small vegetable garden. Something for the Pope's to keep them busy with.
The rest of the space was rounded off very elegantly. With contemporary topiaries adding just the right ambiance.
Evelyn was elated when she saw the end result.
She barely even recognised the place from what it looked like before.
She gave Fitz a big hug.
"I think my wife is just about ready to have you move in with us." Michael teased, looking at the two of them.
"If she ask I wouldn't say no. Although my mother would probably be upset that she's not the only one spoiling me with delicious pastries."
Evelyn stepped out of his arms to stand at her husband's side. "Your mother bakes?"
"Yes ma'am. Between the two of you I've most likely gained a few pounds these past two weeks."
"Are you complaining?"
Fitz laughed, "No."
"Good. I can't thank you enough for my beautiful backyard."
"I was just doing my job." He shrugged.
"You should come over on Saturday. I'm planning a little something to show off this masterpiece."
"Uh, I'll see. Thanks for the invitation though." He remembered that he already had plans with Marcus and the guys.
"Alright. Well if you do decide to come, it starts at 6."
"I'll keep that in mind. It's been a pleasure working for you guys."
Maurice gave Fitz an appreciative handshake.
On his way to the office Fitz thought about making an appearance at the Pope's home on Saturday.
It might be his last chance to see and speak to Olivia again.
His work with her mother was done and he wasn't planning on going back to the spa anytime soon.