Part 32
"Don't tell me it's under control, because it's not! He's asked for a divorce Jerry!" Mellie shrieks down the mouth piece of her phone. She's had waited patiently enough, and now it was her turn to take action. "Who is she? I demand to know who this women is!"
"Mellie believe me, it's best you don't know… Look, I realise this is upsetting for you, it's upsetting for me too… but it's best you don't know too much, especially now… Clearly we under estimated the strength in their relationship, therefore our next move will require some underhand tactics, those of which you will not want to be implicated in."
"Do what you have to Jerry, because if Fitz files for divorce, neither Fitz nor the rest of your family will hear from me and my children again. I will not be made to look a fool because you haven't got the guts to follow through and play hard ball."
"Believe me Mellie, I have the guts to do what is necessary… I just hoped I wouldn't have to get my hands too dirty in the process, but it appears I have no other choice but to. But it will require some patience on your part too, because I can't guarantee that Fitz will come running back into your arms straight after."
"As long as you can remove this girl from the equation, I can handle the rest…"
"Good, I'll speak to my man and set plan B into action, in the meantime hold tight; continue playing the aggrieved wife, who only wants what is best for her children and leave the rest to me… I promise I won't let you down Mellie, we both have too much at stake here."
Xxxxx
"Liv, I think we should get you checked out, just to be safe." Fitz insists. Since coming round, much to his chagrin Liv has objected to him taking her to see a doctor. "I'm fine Fitz, please don't fuss… I was a little light headed and passed out, which is not uncommon in pregnant women, and considering what I've had to contend with over the last 24 hours, I'm surprised that's all I did."
"Even so Liv, Fitz is right, you do look a little peaky…"
"Peaky? Huck an hour ago I was convinced you murdered my father, forgive me for not looking my usual self." She was getting aggravated again, which was the last thing Fitz wanted. "Okay, please calm down sweetheart, I know it's been a lot to take in, and I know you're angry, but we have your health and the baby's to think about, and I don't want anything to happen to either one of you…"
"Look, maybe I should go; give you both some time to talk and sort things out." Huck turns to Liv, with an expression full of sincerity… "The last thing I wanted to do was upset you, but your father was out for blood and if I hadn't got involved Fitz would not have lived to tell the tale. All I can do is assure you that your father is alive, and hopefully he will now take heed to our warning."
She grimaces, unwilling to imagine what it would have taken to get her father to yield. Although she would be lying if she said she wasn't grateful for Huck being there, because as much as she is angry with Fitz for ignoring her advice regarding her father, to lose him now would completely destroy her.
"Huck I want you to know that although I not happy about what has taken place, I am however thankful that you were there, I don't know what I would have done if…" She can't even voice the words, it's too painful to even comprehend.
"Don't mention it Liv." He gives her a wan smile, before making his way to the door. "Take care of her Fitz…"
"I will."
And on that note Huck disappears through the door. Leaving Liv and Fitz alone.
"I'm sorry..." He apologises again, "I just... I was only trying to protect you, and stand up for our love, I wasn't looking for a fight... When you said your father wanted me dead, I didn't comprehend that he had every intention to follow through with his word!"
"After my mother died, it changed him... The Eli you know is a good and righteous man, he campaigns for equality and stays on the right side of the law, but Eli my father; well he's different, he's fiercely protective and above all he despises the Whites. Although he'll work alongside them for a common purpose, behind closed doors he avidly harbours hatred for every single one of them- because as far as he's concerned one of you are responsible for murdering my mother." She touches his hand... "You were probably one of the very few that my father trusted; well, he trusted you enough to give me a job and for us work together; but never in his wildest dreams would he have envisioned that you and I would fall for each other... And as angry as he might be with you and me, he's probably angrier with himself! He'll blame himself, and will be convinced that like my mother, I will succumb to a similar fate. Therefore, despite Huck's warning... I know my father, he will not give up... He won't stop until he pulls us apart!"
"Then Liv, you must understand why I need to get you out of here, sooner rather than later... By your own words your father is a continued threat, and whoever is trailing us is another..."
"And now Mellie's threatening to take your children away... This is a mess!"
She touches her belly, as a feeling of melancholy takes root... "I just wish..." she begins, but then trails off reluctant to continue.
"Go ahead, what is it?" He encourages gently.
She shakes her head, pausing briefly, allowing herself time to wisely rephrase her thoughts. "You know, before I took the test, the thought that I could be pregnant had terrified me, I had even prayed that I wasn't... mainly because I knew a baby would only complicate matters. I also knew that if things developed between us, it would eventually come to this, a choice between me and your kids... But if I wasn't pregnant, at least the choice would be easier for you..."
"Stop it, I won't hear another word... Don't you know how much I love you and our baby… Of course I would choose you!?"
Tearfully. "Maybe, but you have to admit it Fitz- if there was no baby, then we probably wouldn't be here now..."
He pulls her in front her, looking at her dead on... "Where is this coming from Liv, because I have never given you reason to believe that... Unless this is how you feel? Do you not want this baby?"
"I've never wanted anything more!" she retorts powerfully.
He immediately softens. "Then why are you saying this? Do you not want me anymore, is that it? Because we always knew it was going to be hard... So what's changed?"
"What's changed?" She looks at him, fear tolling in her eyes... "You could have been killed! You still could be... And no matter what anyone says, I would be responsible! And I wouldn't be able to live with that Fitz... I wouldn't..."
"No Liv, this is not your fault..." He tries to quell her tears, but she doesn't want to calm down, or hear him reassure otherwise. And she knows that if she doesn't say this now, she may never find the strength to say it again. Because carrying his baby, is only making this harder. "I love you more than I ever thought possible, but if being with you means risking your life, then I'd rather not have you."
"No Liv..." He protests, but she cuts him off determinedly.
"I think you should sell the house in Vermont and go back home to your wife... I think it's for the best, at least this way you won't lose your children; your career won't be in jeopardy, and above all you'll be safe."
"No, I won't lose you Liv, I can't..." He sounds like a broken and desperate man... and it's breaking her, but she cannot, will not, allow herself to faultier now.
Almost stoically. "Then you understand how I feel... It's time we face the inevitable Fitz, before the price we have to pay becomes too great to bear..." She swallows, fighting to keep her emotions in check, for both of their sakes... "I'll leave Washington, D.C. within the week, it will make it easier for the both of us..."
"Liv, you're having my baby, you can't possibly do this alone..."
"We'll manage... I'll find a way to cope... All I know is that the love I carry for this child overwhelms me, and he or she is not even here yet... So rest assure I will do whatever it takes to keep our baby safe... Even if it means staying away from you, although it will surely break my heart..."
Fitz refuses to accept it... "My life means nothing without you Liv... I know you're scared, I am too... But we will make it, as long as we stick to the plan, and stand by each other."
"And who will I stand by if you get shot, or worse... What then? What if the person tailing us goes after me instead...?"
He had not even thought about that... The prospect of which now makes him feel sick to his stomach. She senses it too. "I wanted to make this work more than anybody, believe me, I did- but now I know I was naive to think we could. I have to think about what is best for our child... Fitz, think about it- it won't be long before my pregnancy becomes public knowledge, I can only hide it for so long... And what better way to pull us apart then to target our child... I can't let that happen, and neither can you... How I see it, we have no choice, we have to end it now…"
XxxxxX
Impatiently, Jerry waits for Jake to finish voicing his point; Jake doesn't think they should rush in and make rash decisions but Jerry tends to agree with Mellie on this one… This charade had gone on long enough…. "Jake you don't seem to understand, Fitz is leaving Mellie, he has asked for a divorce, therefore we can no longer rely on Eli to pull them apart... we need to take action ourselves..."
Somewhat reluctant, but aware that he has no choice but to follow through with his orders… "Then what do you suggest Sir?"
"I think it's time for your boys make a visit to Miss Pope, don't you?"
