Part 16
"Remember Liv if you don't find a place today, you can stay with us until you do."
She smiles. "Harrison, you and your folks have been so kind to me, honestly I don't know how I will repay you- but I'll find a way."
"Nonsense, we're just happy to help. Besides, mum has enjoyed the company, it's been nice to have the male to female ratio balanced out for once."
She laughs, "Oh, I suspect your mum can hold her ground better than the rest of us. She's such a strong woman… I've never met anyone that works as hard as her."
"She's pretty amazing, watching her and Pops over the years, they've taught me that nothing comes free in life, you have to work hard for it. Whether it's money, friendship or love, it's all relative."
She thinks upon her own situation with Fitz… "She's so right", she replies all too knowingly.
"So, your dad…" He's reluctant to bring it up, but he wants to make sure she's prepared… "Are you ready to face him today?"
She shrugs her shoulders. "I don't know… Honestly, I'm not really looking forward to it. The last time we exchanged words, something within me shattered… My trust, my confidence in him, or the notion that he will always love me no matter what- it's all been destroyed, and I don't think it can ever be repaired."
He sighs, realising the impact of her father's actions had not only left her incredibly vulnerable it had also left her emotionally scarred as well. "Liv, what your Dad did was awful- we all agree, but I find it hard to believe that after one fight, he can stop loving you… Not only because you're his daughter, cause everyone knows that sort of love is unconditional, but if anything, the death of your mother inevitably brought the two of you closer than ever; and for the last 10 years or so, you have been the only person in his life that matters."
Harrison had a fair point, but none of it made a difference, because two nights ago she had witnessed a side of her father that she did not know, and never wished to see again… "You don't understand, I've never seen him so angry before…" she recalls painfully, "It was like he was another person- no longer my father, but instead this heartless man, who was hell bent on crushing me under his foot. All because he couldn't get me to conform to his will. It was scary and quite frankly, even if I forgive him; which I probably will, I don't think I'll ever be able to forget."
Considering he's only known her for a few days, it's amazing how much it affects him to see her like this; so despondent. He's not sure where she went yesterday, or who she was with- although he highly suspects she was with the very guy that had come in between her and her father, but regardless of that- when she returned he thought he saw a renewed spark in her- only now, waking up and having to face reality once again, that spark had disappeared. And what was left was the woman he was first met. She might not be laying aside a gravestone, soaked through to the bone, cold and defenceless, but right now- emotionally she wasn't far from that place.
"Liv, just give it time… I know it's hard, but I'm sure things will sort themselves out in the long run."
She gives him a wan smile… "Maybe… I hope so."
And in response he gives her a much needed hug, and she reciprocates gratefully. "Sadly I've got to rush off, work calls… but l just want to say, if it all works out well, and you manage to find a place today; which for your sake I hope it does- remember you are always welcomed here… for dinner, for a rant, for whatever takes your fancy."
"If I didn't know you had a girlfriend, that you were head over heels for, I'd think you were hitting on me Mister…" she teases, blinking away her unshed tears.
"Hey, that would be wrong on so many levels… If anything, you're more like the little sister I never had, even if you are technically older than me…" he winks.
She laughs, "Damsel in distress here, the title of "little sister" sounds about right to me."
Sounding hopeful... "Promise you'll keep in touch."
"I will, I promise."
He leans in and gives her a chase kiss on the cheek. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
"You too Harrison, and thanks for everything, you've been a life saver."
"Don't mention it, see you around Liv."
Despite all the madness going on in her life, she was certain on one thing, Harrison was a true friend. And as his mother presently calls her to the table for breakfast, she realises just how fortunate she was to have met such a welcoming and generous bunch of people. "Coming Mrs Wright."
xxxxxx
"When Liv got into work, she was all about the house hunt, or in her case- more like the tiny affordable flat hunt… But either way, she was determined to find something today. Despite the Wrights, who had kindly offered her a place to stay in the interim, the urgency to find a flat was now solely driven by the need to secure her independence, and sort her life out. Her life had become unbalanced, and she needed to fix it.
Fitz said he'd be in early and help her with it, but in the meantime she would make a few phone calls of her own; but from the confines of his office, to afford her a little privacy. Quinn and Abby had been fishing ever since she arrived, immediately noticing her dowdy attire and appearance, hardly the immaculately dressed, and straight laced Olivia Pope that they had grown accustomed to. Something was definitely off. Although, in fairness they had been thinking that for a while now- but Liv had been a closed book on the matter. So instead they kept a constant vigil on her, spurred on by their concerns. They were extremely worried about her.
"Hi ladies." Fitz announces his arrival brightly, clutching a bag of freshly baked pastries and dressed in weekend attire. Which was a first, because neither lady had seen him in anything but a suit.
First Liv, now him, what was going on with the universe?
"You look remarkably casual today, Mr Grant." Abby points out poignantly, "Are you slipping off somewhere nice?"
"Something like that, I won't be working in the office for very long today, because I have plans to help a friend out later on, so a suit and tie was hardly practical." He offers as a reasonable explanation, whilst looking around for Liv. He has yet to spot her. "Where is everyone? Where are the founders, where's Miss Pope?"
"The founders are in the conference room with members of the NAACP, and Liv is in your office…"
"My office?"
"Yes, she said she needed to make some private calls…" Quinn tells him sceptically. As Abby adds matter-of-factly... "Something's going on with her Mr Grant."
Liv was right, these two women didn't miss a trick. "No, I'm sure she's fine…" He tries his best to down play the situation. "You know how Miss Pope gets when she's in the zone, she will throw herself into her work, and forgets everyone else…" Oh boy, he can tell they're not buying it, not today, Abby especially… "No, workaholic Liv we know and love, the Liv in your office right now is different, she's completely closed off and distant; she's hiding something, and whatever it is it's big."
Not wanting to give anything else away, he remains expressionless as he says… "Okay, well in that case let me have a word with her… I've known her a long time, so if anything is going on, I'm sure I can get to the bottom of it… Leave it with me Ladies."
"Thanks Mr Grant, we appreciate it."
For now, crisis averted, as he strolls over to his office, with a bear claw in tow.
xxxxx
When he enters, she looks up at him from the desk, appearing incredibly stressed out and fed up.
"Hey, you alright?"
"No not really".
He quickly closes the door behind him, and rushes to her… "What's going on?"
"There's nothing out there, well nothing I can afford anyway, even with my savings, it won't be enough… I'm screwed!"
"Hey, now… enough of that defeatist attitude Miss Pope, it's not becoming of you. Not only that, certain friends of yours are starting to figure things out."
"You mean, Quinn and Abby?"
"Indeed, they're worried about you, and you getting so worked up over this housing situation is not helping matters… Didn't I say I'd help you with that- why didn't you wait for me?" He scolds her in jest.
She looks at him straight- faced… "Please don't act surprised by this, it's me we're talking about."
"Touché, and that is why I come bearing sugary treats, to keep you happily distracted." He tears off some of the Bear claw and feeds it to her.
"Mmmmm, delicious..."
"I know! Now off you go, go act normal- if that is at all possible, and leave the rest to me. I'll sort it out, okay?"
She gives him a quick peck, leaving frosting in her wake… "Thank you".
Licking the frosting from his lip, he smiles pleasantly… "No thank you, and remind me to kiss you more often after eating bear claws- I didn't think you could taste any more delectable, but I was wrong". He says suggestively.
She blushes. "You're a naughty boy Mr Grant".
"Only with you, sweet baby."
She leaves the office feeling lighter, knowing she can always rely on him to make her feel better… Albeit short lived it seems- if Quinn's expression is anything to go by…
"Liv, your dad's here."
