A match 2 remember

Chapter 5

Liv woke up the next morning to her Aunt Dee holding a cake singing Happy Birthday.

"sorry, I know it's early but you said you would be out all day. Make a wish and blow out the candles. I have made your favorite for breakfast"

"You remembered"

"of course, waffles with your favorite homemade strawberry syrup"

"thanks auntie, perfect start for my birthday."

Olivia quickly showered and took calls from two family members. She was about to open her stack of cards but was interrupted by her phone alerting her to a message. The messages were from Huck telling her to open an email from him. Huck had written a program that the group could consider using. He also suggested that she could consider forming a non- governmental group. That group would not be saddled with the restrictions a government group has.

Olivia liked the program and the suggestion for a group and decided to include it in the discussion later. She sent Huck off a message thanking him and said she would contact him as soon as the meeting ended

Meanwhile in Iowa

Between monitoring classes, collecting donations for the relief fund and finding that perfect card for Olivia, Fitz had been busy.

Huck had finally told him he met Olivia years ago, small world. Maybe his grandfather was right there being only seven people in the world the rest are an illiusion

One of the women he has know for years and had been a friend with benefits had been in his line of sight the past two week. She, Mellie Charles, seemed to show up everywhere he was. They were both single and they had dated before he enlisted when he returned home they did not seem to be on the same page anymore. They both had gone away to college and returned home. They shared common friends and most thought they would eventually end up together. There had been intimate encounters the past few years but nothing lately, he liked and enjoyed her company but he did not like her enough to make her his wife. He wanted more, he did not know if more was out there or if he would ever find it but he was willing to give himself more time to find out.

Since he had met Olivia he really did not have any interest in her but she seemed to be everywhere he was. Once she discovered he was collecting the donations for the relief fund she immediately started her own which meant they would run into each other. She suggested dinner to compare notes and although Fitz saw through her he accepted but brought along his mom saying she was working on collecting through her different clubs. It was the perfect cover which frustrated Mellie who then wanted to know about the upcoming bikers rally and if she could accompany him. Fitz dodged that by saying because he was short staffed he did not know his schedule for the rally and suggested she make plans to go with someone else. Fitz knows this would not hold Mellie for long but right now that was all he could think of. He has a chance to have a shot with Olivia and he was going to do everything he could to make it happen.

Meanwhile in Chicago

The meeting went well. The government groups were as usual stuck on bureaucracy excuses. When Olivia suggested a non-profit group, all jumped on board hoping someone would save them from deciding. Olivia and James said they would use the University as a base point for collecting donations. The program that Olivia had presented, that Huck had written, could identify the areas where help was most needed. Everyone was more than happy to pass the responsibility on to someone else. If it were successful they would get credit for being a part of it, if it was unsuccessful they could blame the failure on others.

This was something Liv lived for. She put a call in to Professor Bean and asked for his help. When she explained the problem, he chuckled at the avoidance of all government officials to accept responsibility for anything that isn't a slam drunk success.

" I'll grab a couple of my best students from this semester, see you tomorrow. "

"Good, I have a friend Huck, who is helping, he's here, I'll see if he will join us.

"ok, see you tomorrow "

Olivia met Huck for lunch at a restaurant, James joined them as an apology for running her birthday plans... It was everything she could have wanted for a birthday celebration great view of Chicago from the 35th floor and, a great meal at Indigo with two handsome men. They did not make up for Fitz but their lively conversation kept her mind off him.

James, a Chicago native volunteered to act as the their tour guide, driving Huck's rental car. The three took the ride down Lake Shore Drive detouring at one point to take in Wrigley Field. The tour ended at The University of Chicago where her office was and from where James would use the vast resources of the university to help... The three decided what they needed to get started and planned to meet after Dr. Beene's arrival tomorrow

Huck dropped Olivia off, when she entered the house Aunt Dee was still up so Olivia told her about Professor Beene. Aunt Dee volunteered they could stay with them.

"that's a lot of work for you, are you sure?"

"I'm sure we all have to chip in, I'll get the spare bedroom ready, males or females?"

"I don't know"

"doesn't matter the beds in the guest bedroom converts to trundle beds as does the sofa in your room. There are two full baths on this level and a shower in the basement. We can easily accommodate three people. I'll pick up what we will need for breakfast foods, something for snacks, water, juices. Maybe we will put something on the grill. Call Huck tell him to come by early, we will pick whatever we need for an office and set it up in the dining room., WOW, This Is exciting"

"this is too much, I don't want to put you through all this"

"all what, this is fun it's great to be involved again, saving lives solving problems"

"what can I say, thank you"

"thanks, pooh….you are family this is something that needs to be done and you are doing it, it's the least I can do. "

"the extra expense…."

"what expense, putting your grandfather's money to good use, he would approve. I have traveled as much as I want to. I have bought clothes a will never wear, I never moved because I like my neighbors. This is something good to do and it's for a good cause. I will call my neighbors they will help, especially with the cleaning and food. Mrs. Jackson makes the best lunchroom sugar cookies you will ever taste. I better get busy making calls. . By the way I put the cards and the flowers in your room"

"what flowers?"

"the flowers that arrived today, you know the flowers someone sent for your birthday., I'm going to make those calls, see you in the morning. Oh, don't forget to call Huck and you can use my car if you need "

"Olivia went to the guest bedroom then her bedroom where she finally noticed the set-up. It looked like something that been planned for just this event".

Olivia saw two beautiful flower spreads that only had happy birthday on the card, no name nothing to indicate the sender.

She called Huck who said he would be there at 7am to see what help her aunt as needed then decided to open her cards while enjoying a glass of wine after a warm bath. All the cards were from the usual suspects except one. This card without any sender's name only said, "I hope next year we can spend this day together, happy birthday. No name no return address. Olivia thought for a moment, maybe a secret admirer, maybe someone from the water project group, maybe Huck. No not Huck they had spent this birthday together. The envelope had a familiar scent but her day had been so long she decided to put off thinking about the sender until tomorrow so she finished her second glass of wine and called it a night.

Olivia sat straight up in bed and grabbed the envelope containing the mystery card, it smelled like Fitz. Did it really have his scent or was she wishing it did. She took a deep breath, …. yes. She had spent five days inhaling his fragrance, the envelope smelled like him. She checked the writing nothing to compare it with she checked the postmark on the envelope…..., Iowa.

Is it possible, could Fitz have located her, but how…. Huck…...!

The tattoo on Huck's left hand was identical to the ones on Fitz and Jake. Was it possible, did Fitz send Huck to find her?..., did they know each other? …How did Fitz find out she and Huck knew each other in the past?

She sat out and took out her paper and pencil, certain things she knew, or thought she knew. She had to see her thoughts on paper, can erase, correct, line through, seeing her mistakes in real time made it possible to check her guts against her brains.

She listed what she knew or thought he knew.

Huck was not a real homeless person when she saw him in the metro station.

He could locate her at Georgetown and put a note in her bag, unseen.

How, was he able to locate and reconnect with her and why would he reconnect with her now, a month after she returned from New York?

Why was Huck so adamant about talking about her trip?

Did Huck really get her location from Professor Beene or in some other way, he said he was a consultant in town on personal business. She never asked, he never offered another explanation.

Is it possible… is Fitz the person behind the flowers, the card and Huck's reappearance in her life?

Her head was filled with questions and anticipation, hoping it was Fitz, hoping their short platonic time together was more than platonic… maybe he did have feelings for her, maybe they were not just two ships passing in the night... That it wasn't just another case of another city another soon to be forgotten encounter. She had to find out but she also had to work of the project at hand, this mystery will have to go unsolved for the near future.

Olivia was still clutching the envelope when her phone chimed at 6am. It was Professor Beene giving her his flight information. Plans were made to meet him at the baggage check. He was bringing one male and one female with him.

Olivia called James, then Huck and passed this info to them. Huck agreed to pick up her aunt to get everything they needed to set up a small officer at the house. James would join them and if needed would work at the university using their enormous resources...

With everything in place Olivia began her day. She could hear her aunt in the guest bedroom talking to someone. When she exited her room, she was met by a group of people. Some were moving furniture, some were cleaning and some were cooking breakfast.

"Liv, meet my neighbors. We are getting everything out of the way and preparing for our guest. Everyone gave a good morning as was offered a cup of coffee. She entered the kitchen where she saw Huck sitting having a cup of coffee talking to James.

Olivia did not want to discuss her suspicions with Huck now so he waved to him as he got up to leave the house... She was amazed how did all this happen and how was her aunt able to pull this together so quickly...

As Liv drove to the airport she thought of what she was going to do. Would she ask Huck how he's involved of should she leave him out of her plans? Should she make as much of an effort as Fitz has done, that is if the card and flowers are from him. She had to know and she would not ask Huck she would ask Fitz. She would try to re- open the door she has closed but first she had to get the program up and running. Her personal life would be put on hold the next few days.

Olivia saw Professor waiting in the pick-up line with two other people the male she knew the younger female she did not. The three got into the car and they headed to her aunt's house. Olivia knew the male, Marcus Hill, Cyrus introduced the female as Quinn Boxer a graduate student. Cyrus got right into a discussion of the problem and asked to explain how he could help.

"Cyrus, you know about the problems in Puerto Rico, we need to set up a way to provide clean water especially to the rural areas. Can we get enough purification and testing kits to make a difference.?"

"Why isn't that being handled by the government, Puerto Rico is a part of the US, it's citizens are US citizens."

"Those government officials work harder hiding behind red tape than cutting through it"

"So how can we help"

"we need the kits and we need money to pay for them... James Andrews, is my contact person at the University of Chicago. He will use their various network to help. Right now, we need the kits, the money to pay or them and find a way to transport them there."

"ok let's get started, let's see what we can do"

"If you don't mind you can stay with me it's only for a few days, we have the room. "

"that's a good idea, that will make it easy to work"

"Huck is setting up a temporary workplace and James will add whatever else we need. Let's get home and get started.

After getting settled and eating lunch the group got busy, each settling in and focusing on their special skill. By the time they quit for the night they had set up the framework and the complete program should be completed within the next two days.

Liv was exhausted by the time her head hit the pillow but she could not sleep because when she looked over she saw the envelope laying on the table. She opened the bottom drawer and pulled out her old phone and plugged it in, tomorrow she would call Fitz.

The next day they completed setting up the program, A bank account has been opened for donations, radio and TV ads were purchased, he suppliers for the kits were contacted and orders placed and government officials cut through the bureaucratic red tape to provide the transportation. From the time Cyrus had arrived until everything was in place was less than 48 hours. Olivia had a feeling that she had not felt before, total satisfaction. Maybe she had found her career, solving problems.

By Sunday the house was back to normal except Aunt Dee now had a brand-new computer and printer with all the bells and whistles she would ever not use. Marcus will be staying a while to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Olivia sat holding the fully charged phone, staring at the name and number, would he accept the call. If he had treated her like she treated him, would she. She dialed the hit he calls button to call the number but hung up before it rang. She had repeated in her head what she was going to say, but now hose words sounded like excuses. She wanted to tell him e was sorry, but what words could she us to make him understand, that is if he wanted to. Everything depended on, did he still want her in his life, has he ever wanted her in his life.

The longer she sat, the more doubt she had, the same doubt she felt on the plane home she was feeling again. She was scared to death of being rejected but she had to know. If she was going to spend the remainder of her life alone she had to know. Did she throw away last life she could have had or was she pining over a life that she would never had any hope of having.

-Olivia, hit the green send button and the phone rand three times before a woman answered,

"hello"

Olivia sat there with the phone to her ear listening to the female voice say hello several times before the phone went dead. That's it, what happens in New York, ends in New York. She turned the phone off and put it back in the bottom of the drawer.

Fitz came into the room where his sister Margie was going through some lesson plans.
"sis, I just came to pick up my phone, any messages?"

"nope, you had one call but when I answered no one was there"

"ok, ill check the call log,"

Fitz stuck the phone in his pocket and headed out the door home. It had been another full day of collecting donations and setting up a time to make the trip to Chicago. Many of the Churches in the area had pooled their donations and the money he had collected he would have a sizeable donation to make. He decided to take a bath before calling Huck.

Fitz poured himself a double shot and picked up his phone to make the call but decided to check the call log. His heart nearly leapt out of his chest when he saw the number, Liv had called

He immediately hit the recall button but the phone went immediately to voicemail, the same as it has been doing the past month. If Liv had called why was her phone off an hour later. Why hadn't she left a message. Then he remembered his sister had answered the phone. Darn right in the middle of trying to make things right everything is going in the wrong direction.

Fitz placed a call to Huck, this call was a call for help rather than a call for an update.

"Fitz, nothing new to report, we have finished setting up everything you should follow through on your plans to come next week as planned"

"Huck, we have a problem"

"ok, how serious"

"Liv called and my sister answered the phone, Liv hung up "

"so why is that a problem …oh shit…. that is a problem, tell me what happened

"I was talking to my mom and my phone kept ringing, so I gave it to my sister so she could take any important messages. When I went through the calls there was one from Liv."

"I told you she's smart, she either put it together the flowers, the card maybe evens me. She did not say anything but she quieter than she has been the past few days, acting more professional …., I thought it was because of the project"

"did she say anything"

"nope nothing, are you still coming next week?"

"nope… I'll be on the first flight tomorrow"

"ok, I'll book you a seat, and call you right back what do you need?"

Twenty minutes later Fitz received a call from Huck telling him he was booked on a 9am flight the following day.

"ok, I'll pick you up we can figure out what happens when we get there …...in the meantime I'll call Liv."

Liv was laying in a fetal position when her phone began to ring. She just could not talk to anyone, about anything now. The phone rang several times again then stopped. Her aunt knocked on her door, "Liv is something wrong Huck said he has been calling you on your phone"

"ok, I'll call him back….

Olivia put on a happy face and hoped Huck could not hear the sadness in her voice.

". Huck…. sorry I did not hear the phone…. anything new?"

"a couple of groups are coming in tomorrow to bring donations what time should I meet you at the office"

"let James handle it I'm taking tomorrow off, it's a holiday remember."

"never a holiday when money is involved"

"Huck, I can't… let James handle it"

"Liv… what's wrong?"

"nothing… everything. I knew I was right "

"right about everything, wrong about you I apologize"

"what were you wronging about? "

"nothing, goodnight Huck"

"Liv talk to me"

"night, … I will see you at the office tomorrow, what time will the first group arrive?"

"I talked to James, about 10, it's a holiday remember, everyone is having a late start"

The next morning Liv sat at her desk trying to give herself the willpower to make it through the day. She really thought her dreams had come through only to discover it had all crashed, her dream was now a nightmare. She hoped Fitz never saw she had called but she knew that was just wishful thinking. He is probably having a good laugh about now.

James called to say there was someone here with a donation that he wanted to present to her personally, Liv agreed, and told James to send the person in. Liv moved to the door and saw two figures walking towards her with James., a man and a woman. The man looked so familiar very familiar, it was, Fitz…... Fitzgerald Grant.

Why was life doing this to her, it's ok she is a professional, she can handle this. Meet them, thank them for the donation then make an excuse and leave... She can handle this.

"Liv, this is Fitzgerald and Mary Grant, they are here to bring a donation for our project"

"please, Mr. & Mrs. Grant, please come in we appreciate your help. Thanks for bringing the donation in person Liv said as she reached out to shake their hand.

"hi Olivia, good to see you again,"

"Good to see you again Mr. Grant"

"it's still Fitz, …...this is my sister…. Mary, I think you talked to her when you called."

Olivia felt her legs start to weaken so she backed up to the desk for support as she struggled to hold her emotions in check.

"James, Mary may we have a moment"

Fitz stood looking at Olivia who felt like she was going to pass out

"Why did you call and why didn't you leave a message?"

"Fitz"

"when are you coming for that visit you promised, you would love the activities now and the weather is perfect."

"Fitz"

"when can I expect you?"

"Fitz"

"Why did you call, why didn't you leave a message and why did you turn your phone off after you called? …...Liv, talk to me"

"what can I say, I did not have enough faith in you, enough faith in us, I thought the two of us were just two strangers enjoying a moment, no past or future, just enjoying the moment"

"if that was what you thought, why the call?"

"Why the flowers and the card?"

"How do you know I sent them?"

"Did you?"

"would it matter if I did?"

"does it matter that I did not leave a message?"

"how did you know I sent the card?"

"your scent was on it, why did you send it?"

"because I did not think of us as two people with only the present, we don't have a past but I want us to have a future, is that possible?"

"how long have you known Huck?"

"how long have you known him?"

"Fitz"

"Liv, let's enjoy a few hours together, I have an 8pm flight back home, let's enjoy the time we have, please. We can talk about anything you want some other time. I will truthfully answer all your questions but today, let's just be Fitz and Liv. Can you do that, please. Give me the rest of this day."

"

.