A Match to Remember
Chapter 6
Olivia sat looking at Fitz for a long time it was everything she wanted but she still could not believe it was happening. She refused to believe Fitz was sitting in a chair in her office. His blue eyes were looking directly at her, behind those eyes she could see a man who cared, a man who cared for her.
Those blue eyes were filled with compassion a little smirk on his face. Her Fitz, tattooed body and all. The man who had captured her heart and she never realized it. The Fitz that had made her break her rule of no souvenir shopping to relish going into small stores to look for, and find hidden treasures. The man she had walked away from, but it seems the man who would not allow her to stay away... Everything she thought was going wrong, wasn't, the last hour had been a rocky road now she felt like Aretha, she was riding on the freeway in a pink Cadillac….
Whatever she was running away from, it's over, now it was time to believe, in him and in herself. It's time to believe in what good can happen and not be afraid of the bad that will happen because, guess what, bad things happen to good people, but good things also happen to deserving people and she believed she deserved to have Fitz in her life. ...
'How did you find me?'
"Is that important… is that important right now?"
"How did you know where I was that I was collecting donations for the Hurricane victims in Puerto Rico?"
"wasn't hard, we do have radio and TV where I live. Also, newspapers that includes a lot of news other than the farm report and the grain prices. Your appeal for help is on every public broadcasting station in the nation. Every website I visited there was a notice, AND you had five former presidents talking about your efforts. It was hard to miss"
"But how were you able to collect so much in such a short span?".
"Tattoos and rural does not mean we don't care. My Iowa motorcycle group collects donations throughout the year for various groups. My mother's different groups and the churches were also collecting, so we just pooled it together and I was tasked to find a responsible group to give it to."
"How did you know I was involved?"
"Olivia…, Liv, those are answers that you will get when you come to visit. Right now let's spend the short time we have together. Mary and I are only in for the day let's not take the few hours we have looking for answers let's spend them making new memories."
What's a woman to do, here is her second chance, her do-over. She agreed to spend the day with Fitz doing whatever he wanted and whatever would give them a new start, to laugh again. They both wanted to enjoy a day of fun, much like the days they spent in New York, just enjoy being together.
"I just want to spend time with you, I want us together. We can talk about anything, but nothing heavy. Let's walk down the street holding hands, see a movie so you can rest your head on my shoulder. "
"ok, we can have a spa day, that's very neutral "
"Do I have to get a full body massage?"
"nope …... you can skip that and after our pampering we can do some shopping."
"Liv, I just left New York, what can I possibly find here I could not find in New York"
"a Chicago style Hot Dog"
"what's the difference?"
"no catsup on a Chicago hot dog. …., maybe one of the infamous Italian Beef Sandwiches. You do know Chicago was once the meat capital of the country. For years if you ate beef or pork, there was a good chance it originated in Chicago.""
"ok, I'm in as long as we are together"
"my suggestion, …. late breakfast at Lou Mitchells and then the spa. Later some window shopping along the Magnificent Miles or bar hopping on Rush Street, finishing up with a hot dog …without catsup. …. We can stop and get everyone some comfortable shoes if we need to. "
"Mary knows what happened she will not go with us".
"I'm not going to leave her alone
"alone, she has, James and Marcus I think she would rather we leave her alone ".
Let me send a quick text
Olivia…Thanks
Huck…...OK
The two treated September in Chicago like April in Paris. They fed each other food at breakfast, held hands as they browsed the stores in Water Tower Place and kissed over virgin cocktails on Rush Street.
All too soon it was time for Fitz and Mary to leave, this time he was going she was staying
"When are you coming out to see us Olivia" Mary asked
"I hope you can get an answer from her she will not give me a definite day" Fitz said to his sister.
"I think the two of us should spend some time together before we put family into the mix", Liv answered
"why, that's no fun, come this weekend. Pretty soon then only thing interesting to do is curl-up in front of the fire and watch the flames. OR curl up, in bed next to someone warm. The bed I like best. …Is Marcus seeing anyone?"
Both Fitz and Olivia looked at her with their mouths open
"why are you looking at me?...You guys know if I could read your thoughts that is what I would hear. Olivia my brother is hot, nice body, really nice body and he is a liar if he denies that he would love to be cuddled up with you right now alone, and naked"
The two just looked at her.
"what…...you both know you do. You guys are not babies, you are both two experienced consenting adults, don't let too much of the good stuff pass you by waiting for what's proper by 18th century standards. The 18th century may have talked a good game, but they had their fair share of indiscretions and illicit affairs, …...you never answered me Liv, is Marcus seeing anyone?"
Both Fitz and Olivia started laughing,
"sorry Olivia I forgot my sister sometimes doesn't use a filter on her mouth"
"filter, bah humbug…... talking about sex isn't about not using a filter its about enjoying the most relaxing thing ever. Be honest if you both could where would you be right now except in bed together…...see…... look at you, dear brother you should see the look on your face" they both covered their faces with their hands, "you know I am right"
"Liv, I better get on the plane before you decide not to come to visit if this is what you have to look forward to."
Olivia grabbed Mary's hand and looked at Fitz,
"Mary, all I will say is, when I first saw Fitz I wondered how far up on his legs did the tattoos go. I'm looking forward to finding out".
By now Fitz's face looked like a beet, his ears were nearly purple.
Mary walked over to Olivia and put her arms around her shoulders speaking in a softer tone. "Look at his ears, not you know where one tender spot is. I'm going through security, kiss your girl and convince her to visit this weekend, bye Olivia"
"Olivia, I'm so sorry"
"about what, saying what we are both thinking, call me when you get home we will talk and talk about SEX."
Fitz leaned in and gave her a peck on her lips." you can have the rest when you visit."
Olivia watched Fitz disappear through security feeling like she should be going with him. She remained in the parking lot for a long time. Fitz sent her a text telling her they were about to board and even though she had no way of knowing exactly what departing flight was his she stayed in the parking lot watching the departing plane until she got a call from her aunt checking to see if she was ok. She wanted to say, no I'm not ok but I will be.
Olivia was ready to let her hair down, she was willing to let the old air out and breathe., she was looking forward to seeing those tattoos, all of them. It was time to live for today, that meant whatever happened between Huck and Fitz involving her, stayed between them. Someday she hoped Fitz would tell her, but she would never ask either of them.
When she got home her aunt and Marcus were on the computer playing cards. Now the woman who had no interest in anything electronic was talking about buying an iPad, so she could play in bed...
"Olivia this is fun, I haven't played spades since college. Look at this, I discovered I can play with real people… all over the world."
This has been an interesting turn of events. What started out as a project to help those in dire need had turned into a personal victory. She and Fitz had reconnected, her Aunt had entered the 21st century and Marcus had just asked about Mary. She felt like Dorothy, she may not be in Kansas, but she was going to Iowa and take Marcus along.
The three sat talking about the events of the last three days until a ping notified her of a text message, it was Fitz.
"he couldn't be home already then she remembered the flight was only 1 hour.
"Ms. Pope can we talk?"
"you are home already?"
"home, showered and I'm all yours, tattoos and all…. when are you coming out to see my tattoos, all of them?"
"very soon"
"Very soon…... what's very soon?".
"very soon, and I'm bringing Marcus along but don't tell Mary"
"you don't have to tell her he has already, you may not be bringing him out he may be bringing you out."
"that's a great idea, it would be great PR to come and thank everyone for their donations""
"…. And met my family Fitz interrupted."
"yes, thank as many people as we can and meet your family"
"so…. when?"
"I've got to talk to Marcus to see about his schedule, but pretty soon if only for a few days."
"can we talk for a while, I just want to hear your voice."
"what can we talk about that's neutral,"
"how about sex, it's about as neutral a topic as I can think about"
"are you suggesting we should have phone sex?"
"not really but after listening to Mary I thought it was something we should talk about… if you feel comfortable. Just tell me your likes if you leave anything out I will assume it's something you do not feel comfortable doing."
"Fitz, as Mary said, we are not children, but if we have sex we will use condoms."
'If… ! Did you say if Ms. Pope?"
"Yes, I said if, I don't want to assume anything, and I don't want you to assume anything"
"Please, my dear assume away because I definitely am doing a lot of assuming about us. Ok we will use condoms, Is that the only stipulation?"
"no not the only but one that we both should expect."
"Liv I'm not seeing anyone, are you?"
"nope"
"and I haven't been seeing anyone in a while"
"are we about to give each other our sexual history, the number of partners?"
"nope I'm not asking you, but I will answer any questions you ask"
"Fitz, unless it will make a big difference between us, maybe we should leave the past in the past."
"There is a woman that I dated as a teen and have been intimate with several times with over the past five years but it's nothing that should have a bearing on us, but I want you to know. She lives here, we have the same friends and run in the same circles. She has been making overtures lately, so I am not sure what her reaction to you will be. I would not ask you to come here if I thought it would create any type of problem."
"Fitz,,,She's called a friend with benefits, …'" I appreciate you being candid. We are experienced adults with a past. Let's see how things develop and go from there. No great expectations, no pressure. If things develop and we develop an intimate relationship, it's good that we have discussed the most recent people in our life'"
"no… it's not If we develop an intimate relationship it's when, ok. What about you, anything, or anyone I need to know about that I would have to meet under the Oaks at dawn for your hand? 'and the rest of your body he wanted to say and wished he could add.
"nope, no one. I am still in touch with a guy I dated in college, I don't think he will be calling you out for a duel for my hand."
"good, let's not look back, I really enjoyed today, short as it was. I'm still trying to figure out why you guys don't put catsup on your hot dogs."
"I don't know, I'm a Chicago newbie but I will ask James he's a local. As for our time today consider it was quality over quantity."
"what's next for you., how soon will you finish writing your paper and will you return to DC.?"
"I will finish my paper at the end of the year and about DC, I haven't decided"
"do you have a job waiting in DC?"
"not really, after helping with the water problem, I would really like to continue doing that, helping people…. solving problems. I will think about opening an officer here or DC."
"or Iowa"
Olivia was quiet for a time not knowing what to say, not knowing how to answer. Was he asking her to relocate there.
"Olivia, are you there was that too much too soon?"
"No, to be honest I never thought about it. I never thought you would ever be back in my life, so of course I never thought about living in Iowa"
"" I never doubted you would be in mine unless there was a husband involved, anything less and I would fight for you. I want you in my life and if you are thinking about your next step I want to put Iowa in the mix. You can teach, you can open a business, you can become a farmer, or you could just become a farmer's wife."
"Fitz are we moving too fast. Yesterday I never knew I would see you again, today you are inferring I could become a farmer wife"
"not inferring, stating it as a fact, we are not children, there is no need to play coy. I am not going to string you along and I am not going to let you play hard to get. We have a finite time on this earth, lets grab it, let's grab it together'"
'Fitz, we don't know each other"
"We don't know everything about each other but let's talk about what we do know about each other. When I first saw you, I fell for you., I kept sneaking peeks at you when you were not looking... Don't dismiss my feelings, I was smitten. I kicked myself for not talking to you. I hung around during the next day session to see if by chance you would sit in the same seats or by a slight chance wear the same colorful jacket. I sat in the food court before the evening session started watching for that jacket, then I saw it and followed it into the stadium hoping it was you. When I saw it was you that's when I made my move."
"Fitz, you were stalking me"
"If fearing I had lost my opportunity the day before and trying to rectify it is consider stalking, I'm guilty. I'm just trying to say, fate brought us together in so many ways, let's not lose time trying to do it just right, take all the right steps because nothing about how we met, lost each other and found each other is usual. I want you in my life, let's work towards that."
By now Olivia was near tears, she hoped her voice did not betray the feelings, but she knew if Fitz kept talking she would start to cry, she would start to cry if she said anything she would start to cry so she gave in and she started crying, she could not help herself
"Olivia… Liv what's wrong, I did not mean to make you cry, did I say something wrong?"
Wrong, everything that he said was right. She knew she really liked this man, maybe even loved him and she wanted to give him, give them a chance.
"Fitz nothing is wrong, I'm so glad we reconnected. This easy light conversation has gotten heavy, let's talk about you. Your family, school and the farm let's talk about the farm."
"The farm…. after all I said you want to talk about the farm, ok let's talk. And talk he did …she listened …until she smelled fresh coffee and heard the city waking up to start a new day, the first day of the rest of her life...
"