Chapter 16
Let the Games Begin
Quinn couldn't contain her amused expression at the scene she encountered in the Grant's master bedroom. Olivia rested on the bed, propped up by a mound of pillows and shams with Gene beside her staring intently at what looked like a bright red toy syringe. Annie knelt on her knees beside Olivia's midsection, pressing a toy stethoscope to various points on her belly as she held the earpiece in her ears. Arthur was on his knees on the other side of Olivia's body. He adjusted the toy ice bag that lay on her head.
"Would you like me to take them, Liv?" Quinn asked.
"I don't know," Olivia answered. "Dr. Annie, are we well yet?"
"No. Sissa 1 and Sissa 2 need a shot and Mommy too," Annie said. She reached for the plastic red syringe Gene was holding, but we was chewing on it to sooth his swollen gums.
"Don't eat the shot, Gene!" Annie said.
When Gene ignored her and continued chewing, Annie scooted over to her Doc McStuffins doctor bag and pulled out another toy syringe. Arthur pulled one from his bag also.
"No, Annie! I am the doctor. I give the shot. You are the nurse," Arthur said.
"Mommy called me Dr. Annie. I am the doctor. You are the nurse," Annie said.
"You can both be the doctor," Fitz said. He walked into the room past Quinn with Benjamin on his hip. "Bennie, we have to get this doctor's appointment on camera." Fitz held up his phone and started recording.
"These are the best doctors I've ever had. They have taken such good care of me and the babies during my bed rest," Olivia announced to the camera.
Gene jibber jabbered and slapped his hands on the bed.
"Okay, doctors, It's clean up time so Mommy can rest. Doc McStuffins will be on soon," Quinn said.
Annie and Arthur put away their medical supplies immediately, and sang their clean up anthem.
"Clean up! Clean up! Everybody do your share! Clean up! Clean up! Cleeean up!" Annie and Arthur sang at the top of their lungs. Gene's gibberish grew louder as well. Benjamin covered his ears. Fitz continued recording until Annie and Arthur ran out of the room. Quinn reached for Gene and he immediately started to cry.
"Aww, Genie don't cry baby," Liv said. "It's been a week of no nursing and he doesn't want to leave my side. He must think I'm going to nurse him at some point. Poor baby. Olivia rubbed his back before Quinn walked away. Fitz lowered Benjamin to the floor and he jumped on the bed and scrambled under the covers.
"Where did Benjamin go?" Quinn asked as if she didn't see him escape under the covers.
"I don't know," Olivia said, over his giggles.
"Too bad he'll miss making ants on log," Fitz said. Benjamin enjoyed making and eating the concoction of celery, stuffed with peanut butter and sprinkled with raisins.
When Benjamin showed no signs of budging, Fitz pulled back the covers. He had rolled himself into a ball by her side. "Come on Bennie. Mommy needs to rest."
"No! I want to stay with Mommy!" he said. He wrapped both his arms around Olivia's forearm.
"How about you this, Bennie? You make enough ants on a log for me, Sissa 1, and Sissa 2. After I wake up from my nap, you can feed them to us, okay, baby?
Benjamin shook his head in the affirmative, hugged and kissed Olivia's belly, and scooted off the bed after Quinn.
They both watched him leave. "Bennie never pouts like that, Fitz."
He moved the pillows from behind her so that she could lie down. "Don't start worrying, Livy. They are okay. They're not used to seeing you in bed all day every day."
Olivia settled under the covers. "Yeah, I've practically been pregnant and active their entire lives so they don't understand why I need bed rest this time, I guess."
"What's on your schedule for the day?"
"I'm going to stay here with you until you fall asleep. I have a meeting at the Center to discuss our contingency plans for the next couple of months while I'm campaigning. After that, I have a meeting at the campaign office, and debate prep later with Emerson."
He lifted up on one elbow. "Don't think about reading anything about the campaign or calling Emerson, Hannah, or anyone at your office. The only business you can attend to is resting and maybe working with Quinn to narrow down your list of nanny candidates. I've called in reinforcements too. Aunt Diane is coming to stay with us for a few days. Between Quinn, Karen, your mom, and Diane, I think you'll actually follow the bed rest orders."
"Aunt Diane is coming? I thought she was in Toronto doing research."
"She was, but when she heard you were on bed rest and that I needed help, she changed her plans."
"I'm not that bad. You make me sound so high maintenance,"
He slid his leg between her thighs and wrapped his arm around her midsection. "Liv, honey, it's time to take your nap before Bennie comes back with a plate full of ants on a log."
"Okay." She scooted back against him, feeling him harden against her hip.
"How can you be attracted to me when I look like Old Mother Hubbard," Olivia said sleepily.
"You are the most beautiful, desirable, attractive woman I have ever known, Mrs. Grant," Fitz said, giving her a light kiss on the neck. She didn't hear him since she was already asleep. He watched her sleep for awhile before getting up to leave.
"Make sure the volume is up," Emerson whispered to Hannah. She checked the setting on her cell phone to ensure she recorded the entire question and answer session. Emerson and Hannah were undercover at a fundraiser for Americans for Freedom. The keynote speaker was Mitzi Connor, the wife of Fitz's strongest primary challenger. She had been going around using every opportunity to make snide, off hand comments about Olivia. Among the most egregious comments were, "baby making machine," "the president's baby mama", and "America's mammy". When questioned by the media, she dodged and denied making the comments. The reports were all secondhand. Emerson and Hannah had made a joint decision to crash the fundraiser and get 'the fake bitch'- as Emerson had taken to calling her-on a recording.
Mitzi Connor had finished her speech and was taking impromptu questions. Hannah inconspicuously handed the camera to Emerson and rose to ask a question.
"Yes, dear. You in the back," Mitzi said when she saw Hannah rise.
"I know we are still in the primary, Mrs. Connor, but have you thought about what your platform might be if you become First Lady?" Hannah asked.
"What's your name?" Mitzi said with a sugary sweet smile.
Hannah didn't know what to say. Emerson tapped her on the leg. " Umm…Elaine Koch," she answered.
"Thanks for your question, Ms. Koch. I have so many issues I am interested in, but I think I would choose prenatal and newborn care. I believe that if we conquer these problems, there will be a positive impact on education and society as a whole. For example, there is a woman who shall remain nameless who has had four children in four years. She has two more on the way. Perhaps, this woman doesn't know that she should wait at least 18 months between pregnancies. Why would someone want to have that many children that quickly? It makes one wonder is she trying to atone for something. Maybe she and the former President slipped up and had a baby out of wedlock during their affair? She may have had an abortion or two and now she is trying to atone for that sin."
"Do you have evi-" Hannah said before Emerson pulled her to her seat.
Emerson shut off the recorder. "I have what we need. Let's get out of here," he whispered to Hannah.
They celebrated on the way to the car.
"Emerson, why did you keep kicking me under the table?"
"You looked like you practically wanted to tell her you were a mole when she asked for your name. Then you were getting ready to ask her if she had evidence of that load of crap she was shoveling. The objective was not to debate her. Next time, we'll have to practice the questions beforehand," he said.
"Do you think President Grant will go for us releasing the video and what we found about Mitzi's past?"
"I don't know for sure, but I think he will agree once he hears what she said about Olivia. I can't wait to nail her ass to a wall!" he said.
"Thank you, team! That was a great session," Fitz announced after three hours of debate preparation. The staff milled around the room for another forty-five minutes before the room started to empty. Once the room was empty, Emerson and Hannah sat down to share the news about the recording.
"I know Dick and Mitzi Connor from our delegate days. Honestly, I'm shocked she said these things. But this is politics and they want to win. If she wanted to sling mud, she should have only aimed at me, and me only. Do whatever you have to. Is there anything else because I need to get home?" Fitz asked.
"No, Mr. President. That's all," Hannah said with an admiring smile.
"Thanks for all your hard work. And a double thanks for letting Olivia rest."
Fitz walked out of the door.
"Hannah, you need to rein that in. The preening and prancing you do when he is around will get you fired and out on your ass. I don't want that to happen, but you have to be less, 'Mr. Grant, I'll do you in a heartbeat' and more 'I support your plan for America.'"
"I get it, Emerson. It was just a smile. He's hot, smart, and powerful. It's hard not to at least acknowledge that. Let's be honest though, you are totally in the bag for Olivia. You have some sort of gay man's crush on her."
"You remember what I said, Hannah. Now let's plan how we are going to leak this recording and the information on ditzi Mitzi."
Hannah giggled. They began putting their plan in motion.
"Olivia, get back in the bed this instant!" said Diane. "You are one stubborn woman! How does Fitz deal with you?" Diane rushed over to Olivia who was waddling through the family room towards the kitchen.
Quinn and Mildred were out shopping. Fitz was with Emerson and Hannah handling a full schedule of campaign events. Only Aunt Diane, Olivia, and the kids remained at the house. Diane was in kitchen feeding Gene and watching over the other children while they ate breakfast.
"Not you too! Walking from the bedroom to the kitchen won't hurt me, Aunt Diane. I've been waiting for everyone to leave because I knew you'd let me get up." She turned and slowly began lowering herself onto the couch. Aunt Diane grabbed her arm and prevented her from sitting down.
"No. No. No, baby. That sweet husband of yours made me promise to keep you in bed except to use the bathroom or shower, which you already did this morning." Diane escorted her in the opposite direction.
"May I at least say good morning to my children? I'll help you feed them, Aunt Di. Gene likes to play with his food and Bennie likes to line his up in rows before he eats. Arthur and Annie like to sneak food to Olitz and Patra."
"Sweetie, the babies were with you most of the morning before Fitz left. Quinn gave me the low down on each of their eating quirks. I put Olitz and Patra outside so Annie and Arthur won't be feeding them. I am not taking your bait. It's simple, Olivia. You have to get back in the bed. These last couple of weeks are going to fly by. Those two babies will be out soon, but we need to follow doctor's orders. Kids, let's tell Mommy to get in bed."
"Get in bed, Mommy! Get in bed, Mommy! Get in bed, Mommy!" they chanted.
"Do you really want something to eat now?" Diane asked.
"No, I'm still full from those pancakes you made earlier. How am I going to interview the finalist nanny candidates?"
"Yes, he did approve you laying on the sofa for the two interviews."
"Okay, Aunt Di. All this is making me tired. I'm going to lie down after I get my iPad. My tyrant of a husband can't continue insulating me from the campaign. I'm calling Emerson too."
Aunt Diane smiled as she watched Olivia walk away in a pregnant huff.
Olivia woke up with a start from her nap. There was a small sticky hand on her cheek. She peeked over it and saw Bennie asleep beside her. Ever sense she'd been on bed rest, he gave up all his favorite past times to lie in bed with her. It no longer worried Olivia. She reasoned that he needed more time with her.
She moved the hand from her cheek and kissed it, propped herself up against the pillows, and grabbed her iPad. Swiping through the screens she picked the first piece of media on her bookshelf. In addition to bed rest, Fitz had put her on a media blackout to reduce her stress. Olivia had gone along with it for two weeks, but now she was going to reconnect no matter what he said.
Olivia's eyes widened at what appeared on the front page of Vanity Fair magazine. The headline read, "21st Century Camelot: If Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III clinches the presidency again, Camelot emerges."
The first photograph was a personal portrait Olivia and Fitz had taken a couple of months after the twins were born. They had posed for Annie Leibovitz at her request. It was a simple black and white shot in which they both wore white buttoned down shirts and black bottoms. Fitz stood behind Olivia with his hands around her waist. She looked up at him while he looked down. All the other photographs included the children: The day Fitz announced his campaign with the family on the stage amidst the overabundance of balloons; Karen and Gerry holding Benjamin and Eugene, while Anne and Arthur stood around their legs; and the fundraiser barbecue. The pictures were masterfully done and arranged alongside a long flattering article. It was a fluff piece with the aim of attracting the female vote. Olivia clicked on the comments and braced herself for the vitriol.
Those kids are cute!
I love Arthur's red hair. I wonder where the red head is in that family tree.
Where does she get her maternity clothes? I just found out I was pregnant and I don't want to look frumpy. Mrs. Grant wears it well.
POTUS Grant = hotness. Fanning self!
Where's his ex wife?
Bennie stirred beside her and sat up beside.
"Hi, Mommy," he said rubbing his eyes.
"Hey, Bennie. Did you have a good nap?"
He nodded and scooted closer to Olivia and the tablet.
"That is me," he said excitedly pointing to the screen. "That is Daddy! That is Karen! That is Gerry! That is Annie! That is Arthur! That is you, Mommy!"
"Do you want to show Aunt Diane and your brothers and sister?" Olivia asked, kissing the top of his head.
"Yes!"
Olivia laughed when he presented the tablet to her belly and said, "Sissa 1 and Sissa 2, look!" He hopped off the bed and ran out of the door to share.
Olivia grabbed the remote and flipped on the television. Her laptop was in Fitz's study and she mentally planned how she would allude Aunt Diane and sneak out of bed to get it.
'...regret my unfortunate comments about Mrs. Grant. I apologize to her family for any harm my comments may have caused.'
"This statement was released after the infamous recording of Senator Richard Connor's wife, Mitzi Connor's comments about Mrs. Grant at an Americans for Freedom fundraiser. The allegations of Mrs. Connor's multiple abortions during college and her job in the pornography industry have not been corroborated, but two videos have been released. Senator Connor's office released the following statement."
...rehab...ask for your prayers...Grant destroys opponents...unfortunate vitriol...not let this temper my resolve to fight...defend the Constitution...
Olivia laid back against the headboard, taking shallow breaths and rubbing her stomach. The girls were doing cartwheels. She tried to slow her heartbeat as reached for her phone. First she dialed Fitz.
"Hi, honey. I can't-"
"Hold on!" Olivia ordered before putting Fitz on hold and dialing Emerson.
"Mrs. Grant, hello. This is not-"
"Hold on!" Olivia ordered. She released the button which allowed all three of them to be on the line together.
"What did you two do! The Vanity Fair spread was one thing...actually a great move...but recording Senator Connor's wife! And what is this about abortions and pornography?"
"Livy, this has to wait, hon-" Fitz said.
"Mrs. Grant-"
"Emerson, stop it and call me Olivia!"
"Mr. President, please hang up. I'll take care of this." Emerson said.
"Oh, so now, I'm something to be handled."
"Mrs. Grant, he's taping multiple segments for MSNBC. We can't talk now," Emerson whispered. "Long story short, Olivia, Connor's wife went after you. Mr. Grant told me to take care of it and I did. I enjoyed every minute of it. We will talk later."
Olivia frowned at the phone. Emerson hung up on her. She dialed Abby.
"Hey Momma. You better be in bed. What's up?"
"Do you know anything about Mitzi Connor? What happened?" Olivia continued to flip through the channels. Her mouth fell open when she saw a video of Annie and Arthur.
...has gone viral inspiring a renewed patriotism and a general interest in the pledge of allegiance. One woman said, 'If two four year olds can say the pledge with such conviction, surely we all can. The next step is for this nation to come together against those domestic terrorists that sought to destroy America. The Vice President's death should not be in vain.
The next scene was a video of Annie and Arthur reciting the pledge.
"When did...? Abby, I swear I feel like I've been in a coma for a year or something. How long has the video of my children saying the pledge been in circulation?"
"Is it okay with Fitz if I tell you?"
"It's not Fitz you should be worried about. I swear if you don't tell me, you won't see my babies until 3 months after they are born. Spill it, Abby!"
Abby groaned. "Okay…Mitzi Connor started running your name in the ground about two weeks ago. Problem was the reports were always hearsay. She denied the allegations, but would use them to castigate you in a round about way. About a week ago, a video emerged of her making those and other comments. She hinted that you had abortions when you worked in the White House. Then two pornos were released on TMZ with her or a woman who looked like her...a younger version of her with black hair...doing the nasty in multiple productions. Those images would make your skin crawl but in a bad way. Apparently she had a career in pornography during college. A fellow actress came out saying Mitzi had multiple abortions. She did a 360 after meeting the guy who would soon be her husband. Now she is in rehab, for what… I don't know. You know how it is. Politicians and, in this case, a wife of one does bad and the answer is rehab. A video of your two little munchkins reciting the pledge went viral on Youtube two days ago, almost half a million hits."
"I've missed so much. How is everything at the office?"
"Fine. Harrison is in hog heaven…handling the office and our increased clientele. There are so many people spying on so many other people."
"That's great, Abby. What about Huck?"
"He's fine. Happy to be designing a new computer program we are trying to launch to help us with investigations."
"What about you and Harrison?"
"No developments in that area. He's dating a girl he met on the train when he was going to visit Nate…damn, Liv…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned his name."
"No, it's okay. I don't cringe at hearing his name anymore. I'm glad Harrison is visiting him. Let's hope it doesn't work out with this girl."
"It's okay. Some things are not meant to be. I'm glad he and I are friends."
"Mr. President, how am I going to make this up to Mrs. Grant? She sounded really upset," Emerson said. Fitz, Emerson, and Hannah sat in the back of the SUV on their way to the Grant estate. A long day of campaign events had been completed and checked off their list.
"I don't understand why she is upset. I would be over the moon to have someone fight my battles for me or come to my rescue like that. Mr. President, you were only protecting her." Hannah said. She stopped talking when Emerson scowled at her.
A big grin appeared on Fitz's face. "That's what sets my wife apart from anyone I've ever met. She would rather fight her own battles as well as everyone else's. She would rather be the protector than the protected. She is a lesson in contrasts. I love to watch her with the kids. She's nurturing and loving with family and friends. So she's upset that she wasn't involved in this debacle with Connor's wife. At the same time, she's probably feeling sympathy for the woman and mad that we've essentially ended her. She's a protector, but she doesn't like to play dirty. That's were I come in. Emerson, she'll be upset. Just take the tongue lashing and move on. I'll smooth it over. No strategy meetings tonight. Let's reconvene in the morning."
When they reached the main house Fitz said his goodnights and left them in the SUV.
"We killed it today, Emerson, so don't worry. Olivia will get over it. Some women just don't get it. If I had a man like him who was willing to protect me, fight for me...I wouldn't-"
"Hannah, shut up! I am getting sick of your school girl crush on our candidate. You have the potential to become a serious liability to this campaign. Consider this your last day in that capacity Hannah. I value your contribution so I am putting you over organizing our field office directors and district volunteers. We can talk about it more-"
"What? You can't do this! I'm sorry. You know me and how often I put my foot in my mouth. I would never do anything to jeopardize this campaign. Despite evidence to the contrary, I am committed to Mr. and Mrs. Grant being the next First Family in the White House. I eat, sleep, am totally consumed with this family. Please don't," Hannah said.
"Hannah, that's my final decision, okay? I don't want to talk about it anymore. You will still have a valuable role in the campaign."
"I thought you were my friend above all else, Emerson, but you prove to me time and time again that only a Grant will inspire loyalty from you."
"Where's everyone? Aunt Di," Fitz said. He yawned and he kissed her on the cheek. She was sitting in the dark dozing off to a late night talk show.
"Quinn put the kids to bed, and I'm certain she's at the cottage with Tom. I didn't know they were a couple. Then I noticed that when Tom is off duty, Quinn is never in her room after the children have been put to bed. I finally put two and two together. Karen seemed especially blue tonight. She and Bennie are in the bed with Olivia. I swear those children treat her like their Teddy Bear. Whenever they are upset, they go in search of Olivia. Little Bennie is still spending all his time with her. There's lasagna in the oven if you want some."
"No, I'm tired not hungry. I'm going to throw my children out of my bed and go to sleep," Fitz said.
"Be warned that Mrs. Teddy Bear is angry with Mr. Teddy Bear," Aunt Diane warned.
"I know. I know. Good night, Diane."
"Kare, honey. Get up. It's time for bed," Fitz whispered. He had Bennie in his arms.
"Nnnn," Karen moaned in protest.
"Karen, you have to get up and get in your own bed," Fitz said, pulling the covers off her.
"Fitz, just let her stay here. Let them both stay. You go to the upstairs guest room."
They never intentionally slept apart and he knew she knew that. She was mad, and he could feel it. He returned Benjamin to the bed and scooped Olivia into his arms.
"What are you-? Fitz, put me down. Where are you taking me?"
"You obviously want Karen and Bennie to sleep in our bed, so I am taking you to the upstairs guest room. I know you are mad at me for the Connor thing, but I am not sleeping apart from you tonight, Mrs. Teddy Bear," Fitz said, burrowing his face into the crook of her neck.
"I'm not mad at you," she said with a pout in her voice.
"Really? You wouldn't return my calls all day."
Olivia didn't respond until he placed her on the guest room bed.
"Okay. I may have been a little made at you for once again making all these decisions without me. You destroyed that poor woman, Fitz. I could have taken her on when I was back on my feet. Now she is in rehab and everyone is thinking that you don't play fair. Connor said that your political attack machine destroyed his family. There is some truth to that."
"Olivia Grant, anyone who knows me knows that my family is off limits. Connor knows this and I'm sure his wife does too. Maybe they forgot since I've been off the trail for some years now. In any case, that's why you hire people to do your research. I'm not going to apologize for exposing her. Remind me to thank the person who brought Emerson Grant to my attention. Oh wait that is you. I don't think I thanked you for that. He is a gem. Hannah, well they work well together, but she is too clingy." He rubbed her cheek and gave her a gentle kiss.
"I know, but-"
"No, buts. Off limits," he said.
"What about the Camelot article in Vanity Fair and my children on YouTube?"
"The article was Emerson's idea. He made this big production about our brand and how we are the inhabitants of the new Camelot in the inspiration of the Kennedys. He pitched the idea to me and it sounded harmless. Hannah leaked the video of Annie and Arthur on YouTube without checking with us first. I would never do that without consulting you since videos are a different medium. Fortunately, it worked in our favor," Fitz said. He unbuttoned her nightgown.
"You know honey? Hannah had grown on me, but now I want to crush her again. What do you mean clingy?"
"She hangs on my every word, and compliments me excessively. I feel uncomfortable for her."
By now half the buttons were undone, exposing her breasts and the rise of her midsection. He bent his head to take her lips in an intimate kiss while he released the remaining buttons. His tongue explored her mouth and his hands traveled over her body.
"You are beautiful, Livy. I love your nipples when they are full like this. I want to suck them, baby, but you won't let me."
He licked them instead.
"I love the way you feel here." With his palm, he massaged between her legs, feeling the wetness against him.
He kissed her again. She moved against his hand.
When he pulled away, she squeezed her thighs to keep his hand in there.
"I want to feel you inside me."
"But we can't, Livy. I want that too, but-"
"Please. I want you to slide inside and just…stay there."
Fitz kissed her deeply again, trying to ignore her request.
She reached inside his boxers and caressed him. "Please, Fitz."
He peppered kissed between her breasts and over her belly.
"No, Fitz," she said when she realized the alternative he was offering. "I want you, all of you inside me."
He leaned over her and placed a pillow under her hips. He entwined his fingers with hers and positioned himself between her legs as best he could. He began the slow descent into her. The sensation was intense, his solid full length submerging into her softness. With every inch of his descent, her flesh contracted around him. He covered her mouth to quiet the moans that were breaking his concentration.
"No!" he said when she lifted her hips involuntarily. He grabbed her hips to hold them still as he continued to fill her. At that moment she came, making her quiver and quake around him. He continued to focus on his goal to fill her to the hilt. When he finally reached his goal, his explosive release made him cry out in a mixture of pleasure and pain.
"Livy?" Fitz said after a while.
"Mmm," she mumbled.
"You okay?"
"Mmm," she mumbled again before he heard what sounded like a light snore.
"We all have to be on our best behavior when we meet our new nanny. Her name is Shakita Jackson. Can you say, Ms. Shakita?" Olivia asked. She sat on the sofa with all the kids around her. Quinn sat close by along with Fitz and Karen.
"Ms. Kakia," they said.
"Okay, you can go play now until she arrives," said Quinn.
They ran off to play, leaving Gene to crawl around on the floor.
"Come here baby boo. You'll be walking soon," Olivia said. "Quinn, I wasn't finished with my talk."
"Quinn, are you okay?" asked Fitz. He noticed that she seemed off today.
"Mr. Grant, can I speak with you alone?"
"Yes, of course."
Olivia didn't say a word as they walked to Fitz's study. She and Fitz exchanged a look of confusion and worry.
"What's wrong with her?" said Karen. She plopped on the couch, laid her head in Olivia's lap and flipped on the television.
Quinn had many regrets. Her life had been a comedy of errors until she began working for the Grants. Before this job, she wondered hither, thither, and yon trying to escape from everything, but mostly herself. After the rape, she never stayed in one place for very long. This wondering had gone on for 5 years. That all changed when she started working for The Grants. Finally, being a legacy in The Organization brought a tangible benefit. In their world, she belonged. She had a purpose. Her life had a shape that was evident and purposeful. No one looked at her as a victim, pitied her for being the one he chose, tried to comfort her with perfunctory expressions of sympathy, or shunned her for things out of her control. She was the caretaker for the Supreme Eminence's children. But now she was most certainly going to lose everything when she told him.
"Mr. Grant...I..." Quinn couldn't bring her lips to form the words.
"Quinn, what's wrong?"
Out with it she demanded of herself.
"I'm pregnant," she said.
Fitz didn't know how to respond. Since she seemed distressed, he reasoned that the news was not desirable. "What does this mean…for you?" he asked,
Her eyes watered to the brim, but no tears fell. "You hired me care for your children and now I won't be able to fulfill my-".
"Quinn, no…don't cry. Olivia and I will support you and Tom in this. When you need time off for doctor's appointments and when you give bir-"
Quinn's head shot up. "Tom doesn't know."
"Why?"
"I'm not keeping it."
Fitz looked confused. "But I thought...you and Tom are...I'm sorry Quinn. I don't understand."
"This pregnancy was not...it's not what we want. I appreciate your support. I want to continue working for you. I won't need any time off. I can see the doctor on my day off."
"You plan to have an abortion...on your day off and you're not going to tell Tom?"
"Yes."
"I respect your privacy, Quinn, but I…I think you should at least talk to Tom, first."
"Mr. Grant, as long as you continue to employee me, I promise I will continue to do my job. Thank you for talking to me. I'm sorry for this. I'll apologize to Olivia. I'll get the kids so we can be ready when she arrives." She smiled briefly and left the room.
Fitz didn't immediately follow her. He felt weighted down by her revelation.
"Kare, honey. I don't have much lap left," Olivia said. She moved Gene out of Karen's way. When Quinn and Fitz left the room, Karen made herself comfortable, using Olivia's lap as a pillow.
"It's fine, Liv," Karen said. Olivia sighed and pursed her lips to the contrary as she placed Gene between her and the end of the sofa. He immediately stood up, using the arm of the sofa as a prop. Olivia held Gene as he bounced up and down.
Olivia was doubly worried. What's wrong with Quinn? Then she looked down at Karen who pushed her head further back against her belly.
"Karen, you're not going to get comfortable. There are two babies in here." I'm uncomfortable Olivia thought.
"Liv, I can feel them kicking through your shirt." Olivia was thankful for the kicking because Karen sat up. She placed her hands on Olivia's belly and looked on with delight, pushing away the irritation Olivia felt. That irritation turned to worry because Karen's expression turned quickly to distress.
"Karen, really. What's wrong? Don't say there isn't something wrong. You've been-"
"I don't want to move back into the White House, but I don't want to live with my mom either."
Olivia grabbed Gene who was bouncing perilously close to the edge of the sofa and placed him on her lap. He straightened his legs, refusing to sit. She placed him on the floor so he could stand up again.
"We still have some time before we have to think about The White House. Your dad is still in the primaries-"
"Everyone knows dad is going to win. It's all over the TV. Those stupid reporters are going to start following me again. Gerry's in college and he's perfect so no one cares about him. I'm still the freak who doesn't know how to act."
"That is not true, Karen. The press knows that you are off limits. All the kids are. You are a senior. You're doing great honey. Don't worry about that. A lot has happened since the last time you lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Your dad and I are going to protect you. You'll be going off to college soon anyway," Olivia said.
Gene was carefully maneuvering himself down the length of the sofa. He grasped the sofa, Olivia's knees, the coffee table surface, and anything he could use for balance to aid him in his "walk."
The doorbell rang just as Quinn appeared in the door with Arthur, Annie, and Benjamin walking with her. Fitz appeared shortly thereafter. Olivia looked at him questioningly, but he didn't meet her eyes.
Gene, who was oblivious to anything but his keen desire to walk, squealed loudly and took off in a precarious toddle away from the sofa and towards the door where his siblings, Quinn, and Fitz stood.
Everyone forgot about the doorbell. They watched in awe as he waddled unaided across the family room floor. His arms were outstretched as if he were a marionette. It was a comical and beautiful sight.
Annie and Arthur giggled.
Benjamin was the only one with the presence of mind to open his arms to beckon Gene forward. "Here, Genie! Here!"
In what seemed like an eternity, Gene finally made it across the room. He careened into Bennie's arms and they both fell on the floor. This seemed to break the frozen spell that had fallen over everyone. They all rushed forward.
"Genie Weanie can walk!" said Karen.
"Smart boy, Genie!" said Quinn.
"Wow!" said Fitz.
"Can someone help me here?" Olivia said, trying to lift herself to her feet.
"I'm sorry, honey." Fitz walked Gene to Olivia.
"Genie boo! I'm so proud of you!" Fitz placed him on her lap.
Gene immediately scooted off. Olivia couldn't stop the tears of joy that flowed down her cheeks. She forgot about the issue with Quinn and Karen.
"Quinn, how have you kept yourself from absconding with these kids," said Shakita who sat on the floor with Annie, Arthur, Bennie, and Gene. They were each trying to monopolize her time by showing her their favorite toy, wrapping their fingers around her long dreadlocks, or touching her eyeglasses.
"Aside from the multiple security guards with guns and the fact that I love this job, it's pretty difficult not to run off with these babies," Quinn said. She was no longer distraught about her predicament after talking to Fitz.
"Kakia, I want your hair!" said Annie.
Not to be outdone, Arthur said, "I want your hair, too."
"I want your glasses," said Benjamin.
Gene alternated between standing and sitting, using Shakita's arm to pull himself up.
"Shakita, they love you. It's going to be a little daunting at first. My little darlings can be a handful, but you'll be okay. I wasn't planning to take my days off this week, but I really have something to take care of. I'll ask Mildred to come over to help you those two days I'm gone. After that, I'll just take one day off."
"Thanks, Quinn. I don't want you to ever give up your days off because I plan to take all mine," Shakita said as she rubbed noses with Annie.
Despite her parents' reservations about her taking a nanny job right out of college even if it was for the Supreme Eminence, Shakita was happy with her decision. 'Besides," she had argued to her dad, "working for a family that was most surely going to be the First Family was like using her political science degree. She had been nervous about meeting The Grants, but they had been down to earth, nothing like the high maintenance people she thought they'd be. The only strange aspect of the entire experience from the interview, to the job offer, to her first day, was Quinn. Shakita found her to be nice, personable, and totally dedicated to her job. In Shakita's mind, she was too dedicated to the family. It seemed as if her job went beyond just caring for the kids. She knew everything about each member of the family, their habits, likes, dislikes, everything.
"Fitzgerald Grant, I can undress myself, not that I need to undress. I'm only taking a quick nap. That's all. I need to be available if Shakita has any questions," Olivia said.
Fitz sat on the bed. She stood in front him as he unbuttoned her maternity blouse. "You need to get back in the bed. It's obvious that you think I've forgotten about your bed rest orders. I have not, Livy. Of course, I never pass up an opportunity to see you naked, especially when we are alone." Now that the buttons were undone, he pushed the blouse off her shoulders. "Quinn will know the answers to all those questions, Livy."
"What did Quinn want to see you about?"
Fitz averted his eyes to Olivia's breasts and released the front clip of her bra. He was planning to tell her about Quinn's pregnancy, but he knew she would immediately go into crisis manager mode.
He slipped his fingers under the straps and pulled them off her shoulders. He liked the way her nipples puckered in response to the air.
"She was apprehensive with all the changes going on right now. We can talk about it more later, after you are well rested."
He lifted her skirt and reached for her underwear, pulling them down.
"Fitz, we can't do this. We've been bad, bad, bad." she rested her hands on his shoulders and lifted her feet to step out of her underwear.
"You were bad, bad, bad, when you demanded that I put and I quote, "all of me inside you." He pulled down her skirt. "I'm prepared to be bad, bad, bad again."
Fitz licked a circle around her nipple and drew it into his mouth without warning. A sliver of pleasure sliced through her, catching her totally off guard. Her knees buckled and she moaned loudly. The unfiltered sound of her desire aroused him even more. He drew her nipple deeper into his mouth.
He switched nipples, enjoying every minute of this forbidden feast. She was enjoying it too if her nails pushing into his shoulders and the moans coming from her mouth were any indication. It was time to stop because his manhood was growing and insisting on going home. He reached for his belt and zipper releasing himself.
Olivia grabbed hold of his thighs and used them as leverage to lower herself to her knees. Fitz squeezed his eyes shut for a second. His erection hurt at the thought of what she was preparing to do.
"Livy, you don't-"
But then her mouth was on him and it seemed as if all his muscles tensed at once. Between the sounds she had made earlier and the oral assault of her tongue and lips on his distended manhood, he knew he wasn't going to last long. He grabbed a handful of her hair with one hand and leaned back against the bed, propped on his elbow. When she swiveled her tongue around his tip, he came undone.
After he got his bearings, he lifted her up on the bed.
"How are things with Quinn?" Tom escorted Fitz to the morning meeting with Emerson. They were in the SUV. Tom glanced at Fitz in the rearview mirror.
Tom was surprised at the question. It was common knowledge that he and Quinn dated, but Fitz had never directly asked him a question like that.
"Good," he answered.
"How good...I mean, do you love her?"
"Yes, sir."
"What are your intentions?" Fitz asked.
"With all due respect, Mr. President, is there a problem?"
"No...no problem. I'm just curious. You and Quinn seem to be getting serious which will have implications for her job with us," Fitz lied. He was trying to figure out what to do with the information Quinn had revealed to him. He hadn't gotten around to telling Olivia yesterday. They'd both fallen asleep after making love. Mildred had stopped by for dinner, and the remainder of the night had been occupied with the kids.
"I've known you for a long time, Mr. President. I would gladly take a bullet for any Grant, but that feeling is multiplied tenfold when I think about Quinn. I want to marry her, but she isn't ready yet. She is totally committed to working for you, sir. Having the other nanny will be good for us. I am hoping she won't see herself as indispensable."
As Tom drove, Fitz realized this was getting more complicated than he thought. He planned to talk to Olivia about it later.
"Mr. Grant, how's the new nanny working out so far?" He was dressed to perfection in a grey tailored suit.
"It's only been one day, but Olivia is happy. When Mrs. Grant is happy, I'm happy. How are we doing?"
Emerson walked to the blinds that covered the windows of the office and closed them.
"Emerson, you are paranoid. Do you think there is a mole in our camp or what?" Fitz asked.
"You can never be too careful. I like to play my cards close to the vest. Many of these folks are volunteers so I have no leverage. In any case, we are doing fabulously in the polls. Since Connor has been neutralized, the primary is pretty much a forgone conclusion with the win in our column. It's time to set our sights on our general campaign contender, Governor Constance Walsh."
"Constance Walsh? How did she become our biggest contender? She's inexperienced. There's that video of her forgetting the branches of government and mispronouncing Desmond Tutu's last name, Desmond TeeTee? How did this happen?"
"Well, she's been overseas touring, speaking with world leaders, women's groups, looking presidential...she gave this killer speech at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser which raised her profile considerably. There is a hunger for a female president so there are a lot of powers out there who want to help her. Don't get me wrong. We can still win. We are going to win, but it is not going to be as easy as I thought. We're going to need Mrs. Grant to hit the ground running as soon as she has the twins," Emerson said.
"I won't compromise her health or the health our babies. She won't be able to help until she is rested and ready," Fitz insisted.
"'Hit the ground running' were her words, sir. But of course I won't let her work too hard."
"Okay, let's bring everyone else in so we can plan our next media buys."
"Sounds good," encouraged Emerson. "So, I'll come over soon to meet this new nanny. What's her name again?"
"Shakita Jackson. I love that name, by the way. It reminds me of Chiquita bananas. You should hear the kids. They call her Kakia. Oh, and Gene took his first steps yesterday. We are going to need a managing team just for the kids. Those four monsters running around The White House will be...I can't think of the right word."
"Your kids are our ace in the whole. They are one of our biggest advantages. And when America sees these next two additions, they are going to vote for you in their sleep," said Emerson.
Fitz laughed. "I love your enthusiasm."
Quinn couldn't stop crying. She was alone and on a walk around the estate. She scheduled the abortion for tomorrow. This morning when she had gotten the routine reminder call for her appointment something inside her had broken apart. She had been picking up toys in Gene's nursery. She hung up and looked at the giraffe in her hand that she bought for the twins. That was the beginning of her limitless tears. She had wiped her eyes and continued working, but seeing the kids only made it worse. Once Shakita arrived, she'd complained about a stomach ache and said she needed to run to the pharmacy for medicine. Instead she'd driven to the cottage and gone for a walk.
She was angry with herself for the regret that was swirling around in her. As the day wore on, she was regretting her decision to have the abortion. This would be yet another regret to add to her long list. She walked to a tree and slid down until she reached the ground. She felt the bark scratch her back, but she didn't care. She grabbed two big handfuls of her hair on either side of her head and pulled. The grating memories of the rape started to flicker behind her eyes.
"Baby…Quinn…what's wrong?" Tom said, pulling her into his arms. He'd been searching for her. After a full hour of combing the woods, he'd finally found her deep on a trail about half a mile from the cottage.
"Get off me! Leave me alone! Don't do this! I hate you!" Quinn screamed between pummeling him with her fists.
Tom saw the far away look in her eyes. He was certain she had no idea who he was at that moment.
"It's me, Quinn. It's Tom! Quinn! Quinn!" he screamed at her.
Finally she saw him. "Tom?" she said before hugging him tightly. The flow of tears began anew.
"Fitz, we can't let her get an abortion. We have to tell Tom. I don't give a damn if she doesn't want him to know. Once she does this, it can't be undone. It doesn't make sense. Why would she make this decision all on her own? But then if she was really intent on doing it why did she tell you? She could have had it without telling us. But she told you, honey. She had to know you were going to tell me," said Olivia, "Shakita said she was complaining about a stomach ache this morning and was gone for two solid hours. Tom brought her back home. I'm sure he doesn't know. It is no telling what she told him. First thing in the morning, we are calling a meeting with the two of them."
"Livy, don't get yourself worked up. Tomorrow is Quinn's day off. I think she is going to have it done tomorrow. We have to be prepared for her resistance."
"I'm going to text her right now to say that I need to talk to her about Gene before she leaves the house. She'll always defer to the kids," reasoned Olivia.
"This is an ambush!" Quinn said. Her eyes, filled with a mixture of surprise, anger, and shame, darted from Olivia to Fitz. Her gaze finally landed on Tom, her expression morphing from anger to sadness.
All parties concerned stood in Fitz's study. Olivia was stationed by the sofa gripping its back corner. Fitz stood behind her. Quinn stood at the door. Tom was at the other end of the sofa. Everyone faced Quinn who instantly knew the reason for the meeting when she entered the room.
"Mr. Grant, I told you in confidence. There was no need...you could have waited until after..." Quinn pleaded. "Why am I here?"
Olivia stepped forward. "Quinn, don't blame Fitz for telling me. We are married. He doesn't keep anything from me-" Olivia said.
"Except when he does, right? You didn't know about the Organization. This..." Quinn hesitated, looking over at Tom. "My personal health decisions are mine alone, Olivia. You don't have to agree with them, but you do have to respect them. Working here is my whole life. You all are like my family, but my personal life is mine," Quinn said.
"See, that is it, Quinn. You are our family. Why are you doing this? We will support you. How can you terminate the pregnancy?"
Quinn glanced at Tom again. His expression was stoic, but she knew he was devastated. She could read all of his expressions. "I'm sorry, Tom, but I have to do this. It is for the best," Quinn said softly.
"Quinn, why don't you sleep on it. We will give you the rest of the week off. You too, Tom," Olivia suggested, walking toward Quinn.
"Ugh! Olivia, just butt out. This is my life. I don't need your interference. Everyone's life isn't as perfect and protected as yours!"
"Quinn, you should stop," said Fitz.
Quinn turned on her heel, reached for the door, and then hesitated. "We shouldn't be talking about this. Maybe...maybe I shouldn't...come back," Quinn said. Her voice was shaking.
"Quinn, please-" Olivia said.
"No!" Tom interjected as if he had just been roused from sleep. "Mrs. Grant, Mr. President, I thank you for all you are trying to do, but this conversation is between Quinn and me." Tom walked over to Quinn and took her hand. "We are going to talk about this now, Quinn. You won't do this without talking to me."
Tom pulled Quinn out of the room.
"We can't let her-" Olivia began before Fitz interrupted.
"Livy, Livy, let it go," Fitz said. He grabbed her hand. He grasped either side of her face and peered down at her. "Honey, I understand your concern, but I made a mistake telling you this. Now she feels double-teamed."
Olivia frowned. "You had to tell me Fitz. She doesn't have any other support in her life."
"She has Tom, Livy. Do you think Shakita would be able to take over for a while? I'm sure Quinn isn't going to be up to it, whether she has the abortion or not. She is too fragile right now to manage our brood," Fitz explained.
Olivia covered his hands with hers and sighed. "I don't like this," she whispered.
"I know, but we have to allow Quinn to run of her own life. Let's let her be, but we can show her we support her no matter her decision. But there is more to this than meets the eye. I am going to do some more checking into her past. I thought she had been vetted, but we obviously missed something." Fitz said.
"Okay."
"Mrs. Grant, how long would you want this change in arrangements?" Shakita asked, pushing her glasses further up her nose. She was excited at the turn of events. The offer to move in and the increase in salary appealed to Shakita, but she was a little uneasy, not knowing what had happened with Quinn.
"Please call me, Olivia. I can't deal with all the formalities, especially if you are going to work so closely with my family. It becomes up close and personal very soon, Shakita, since you will be doing much more than teaching my children."
"Okay...Olivia. What about Quinn? Is she okay?"
"Quinn has some personal issues she is dealing with. It was all unexpected, but she is still in our employ. We consider her like family, but Shakita, we need help. My mom will help as much as she can. It is just going to be hectic once the babies come in addition to the campaign."
"I will accept the new position as the primary nanny, Mrs. Gr-Olivia," Shakita said. "I can move in tomorrow."
Olivia smiled and extended her hand. "That's great, Shakita.
"Thank you, Tom," Quinn managed through her lethargy. He had just tucked the covers around her shoulders and removed a half eaten bowl of soup from the night stand.
Quinny, baby, you don't have to thank me, okay. We are in this together." Tom leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.
She smiled and snuggled deeper into the pillow. "You made today more bearable, Tom. I could not have done it without you. I love you," Quinn whispered.
"I love you, two, Quinn," Tom said. He walked to the door where and lingered for a moment.
Padding into the kitchen, Tom wondered about Quinn and the trauma she had experienced that she refused to talk about.
He pulled out the two pill bottles from the white pharmacy bag resting on the counter. He perused the bottle of prenatal vitamins and the slightly larger bottle of iron pills. He was interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone.
"Hello, Mrs. Grant, how can I help you?"
"Good evening Tom, I was calling to check on Quinn. How is she doing after the... procedure?"
"Quinn is doing well so far. She did not have the...um...procedure."
"You mean...she is still...?"
"Yes, Mrs. Grant, she is still pregnant with my child. I went with her to the doctor's office. When the nurse called her, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the waiting room without any explanation. She asked me to drive her to her regular physician's office. She was able to walk in and get an appointment. We have prenatal vitamins and iron pills," explained Tom. "On the way back to my apartment, she told me that the practice belonged to her father."
Olivia was silent as she listened to Tom explain. Tears of joy rolled down her cheeks.
"Thanks, Tom," Olivia said before hanging up.
"They are all asleep, Livy. Why do we have so many children?" Fitz asked when he entered the bedroom and joined Olivia in the bed, "And who was that on the phone?"
Olivia chuckled and wiped the tears from her eyes. "It was Tom. Quinn decided to keep the baby. At the last minute she decided not to go through with it. And we have so many kids because you can't keep your hands or other appendages to yourself."
"I hope she is settled on her decision, Livy."
"Me too."
They lay there for awhile, spooning, Olivia in front, Fitz behind. They listened to each other's breathing.
He cupped one of her breasts through her cotton nightgown. Her nipple immediately responded pushing through the fabric.
"Fitz..." Olivia moaned seeing the desire in his eyes. At the same time, she felt liquid pool between her legs.
"Hmm?" Fitz asked. He sucked her breast through the material.
"We can't, honey. We are getting too close...the babies."
"It's okay, honey," Fitz whispered in her ear. "I just want to see you come."
Olivia took a ragged breath as the deep ache rolled across her abdomen. She wanted to pull her gown up so he could suck her nipples without a barrier, but the sensations produced by the heat and the wetness of his mouth rubbing the fabric against her hard nipple caused her to arch her neck.
"Fitz..." Olivia moaned again. She grabbed hold of his neck.
Fitz began to kiss her deeply as he rubbed circles over her enlarged belly.
"I love you, Livy," he breathed against her mouth. He cupped her mound and massaged, moving his hand in deep circles. Her thighs spread involuntarily and she bent her knees.
"Just enjoy it," he whispered.
She nodded her head in agreement. Fitz slid two fingers inside her. She didn't produce as much liquid as usual during pregnancy. He released the two fingers that were now covered with her essence and searched for that nub of flesh at the juncture of her womanhood. When he found it, he rubbed over and around it while looking into her eyes. As his fingers deepened their rhythm, Olivia began to feel the deep sensations unfurl from top to bottom. After a couple of minutes, their breathing slowed and their heartbeats normalized.
"Fitz, could you help me up? I have to pee."
Fitz jumped off the bed and lifted her into his arms in one scoop.
Olivia smiled sleepily. "Are you ready for tomorrow, honey? We are moving into the next stage of the campaign. It's just you and Governor Walsh now. Tomorrow's photo op is all about the optics of the ensuing campaign. Every time she comes close to you, you need to smile and try to shake her hand. It sounds really shitty, Fitz, but we need her to look like a woman shaking the hand of the president and not a candidate-"
"Livy, Emerson and I have beat this like a dead horse. I know what to do. Why does everyone treat the candidate like they can't hold two thoughts at a time? I have it honey," Fitz insisted.
Later that night, Olivia was awakened out of her sleep by a deep ache across her belly. The cold air caused her to shiver. She felt for the covers and realized that she was drenched in sweat. Her heart was beating furiously and she could hardly catch her breath.
"Fitz. Fitz," Olivia called."
He stirred and turned to face her. His leg slid to her side of the bed, encountering the damp bed clothes. He frowned.
"Honey, you are soaking wet," Fitz observed.
"We have to get up. I'm in labor!" Olivia cried.
Stay tuned. The next chapter will end this story.~BP