'A match to remember

Chapter 7

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Iowa or bust

It was the best night's sleep Olivia could ever remember. Or maybe there was the lack of sleep that made her feel like she was sixteen again. Remembering back, being sixteen she did not feel quite like this.

She soon heard her aunt and Marcus moving around in the house. After showering and getting dressed she joined them in the kitchen. They both had finished breakfast, but both were willing to enjoy a second cup of coffee with her

'Marcus, did you talk to Mary?"

"Yes, I called last night to see if they got home ok"

"Is that the only reason?"

"nope…. do you know if is she seeing anyone?"

"she asked the same thing about you"

"she did…... interesting… how soon can we go to Iowa?"

"You want to go to Iowa, why"

"I just like road trips, ok"

"sure, you do"

"when are you returning to DC, do you have a job that you absolutely can't leave"

"nope… I'm working for a non-profit where I wear a lot of different hats including teaching night adult classes."

"Not a lot of money in that."

"Olivia, blame my financial and employment status on Cyrus, he keeps talking about giving more back never about getting more for myself."

"How did you like working on the project we just finished?"

"I loved it, ….it set my can-do juices in motion…. it made me believe Cyrus was correct…... giving and doing is better than getting and making excuses for not doing."

"What do you think about us setting up a non-profit here. Help some people that need help, fill whatever void other groups can't or won't. Let's bring James in and see what's possible. We won't have any income for a while, so we will need to find paying jobs until we decide if it can be done."

Olivia's aunt was listening to them and after they both decided it was something they both would like to consider she decided to join their conversation.

"What do you guys need to start?"

"We both need a paying job to start…. we both have law degrees., that should make it easier to find something. We need an office... maybe James can help there, and we need a place to live. I know we are welcome, but I want to give you your space back" …Liv was talking as she was thinking about problems and solutions."

"'I think I have a solution that might work" her aunt looked at Olivia and Marcus...

"I will fund your project for one year to give it time to work.''

Her aunt continued …. "Liv, I told you I had a surprise I wanted to talk to you about. First, you can live with me forever, you too Marcus. Saying that, I know you both are young and need your own space... A friend owns a house near the university and she is interested in selling but she is very picky about who she will sell it to. You remember her Liv, Ms. Smith … she and my mom were close friends. It would be perfect for your idea. I have been talking to her about it for a couple of years, but I never had a need. I never wanted to move away from my friends but now, I see a plan."

"When you came her for your project, it seemed the perfect answer, but I wanted it to be your choice to stay here. …...Olivia, you like Chicago and I like having you here. You settled in DC because it was home but now I want to give you an option…..., if you want it. I talked to Ms. Smith, she agreed I could buy the house... She wanted someone to have it who would give it love and not turn it into expensive investment rental property. It has been her home for long time but now she really wants to move to a senior housing complex nearby."

"It doesn't need much work. It's three floors, a new roof was put on maybe 5 years ago, a new heating system a couple of years ago... It's yours if you want it. You could live in the top two floors and put your office on the first floor, how about that?"

"'Mrs. Alexander" …Marcus looked at her …..."do you know the cost of setting this up and paying salaries and all expenses?"

"You guys give me a plan and I'll get my brother to chip in, we will make it work"

"Mrs. Alexander, this type of investment is not… if you pardon me…. is more than chip in money.

"Give me a proposal, the same way you would if you were making a presentation to a bank or a group of men in shirts and ties. Heck, I'll even dress up and put on a business suit if it will make you feel like it's a real application for a real project, but I would rather stay in my comfy jogging pants. Some refer to them as them as yogi pants, but I think my yogi days are over."

"Get back to me as soon as you can. Helping with the water project was fun, I want to do more of the same. Now it's time leave for my Tuesday trip with my neighbors to play the penny machines at the Casino. It's a day out and we always have a great meal."'

As she left the table Marcus looked at Liv with a look that said, is she serious. She doesn't understand the money involved does she.

Liv has never discussed the money left to her, her aunt and her uncle so she just shrugged her shoulders and returned a look that said, lets humor her.

Live got up from the table and washed her breakfast dishes then remarked to Marcus " If she can't fund it maybe someone else can. I do think we should look at the house to see if that part is workable."

Olivia called Ms. Smith to see if they could drop by, then called James so see if he could meet them. As described, the house was located about five blocks from James' office. It was old, but well- kept, located in the Kenwood- Oakland neighborhood. Not only was it well kept., so were all the other houses on the block.

James remarked as they got out of the car and walked up to the door, 'I've always wondered who lived on this block, it was always looks so homely. I heard the university was trying to buy some of the properties, but no-one wanted to sell. This is the first time I have heard any inkling that someone was willing to sell."

A door was opened by a young woman who introduced herself as, Betty, a neighbor who had dropped in to check the well-being of Ms. Smith. She exchanged greetings with the three and bid her farewell to Ms. Smith.

"Olivia, little Olivia, you are the spitting image of your mother. How have you been…. . Sorry that's a stupid question you are an attorney, so you are doing ok. Who are these two handsome men. They did not make them this handsome when I was available otherwise I would have never remained Ms. Smith. Come in, I had Betty fix a pot of tea."

Olivia began, "I am thinking about opening a non-profit business in Chicago and Aunt Dee said you were considering selling your house, which we could use as a residence and office."

"I heard about your success with Puerto Rico, I'm proud of you. I don't think my neighbors would like a business located on the block. I also own an office building about a block away that I could give you the entire fifth floor, you guys could have the house as your residence. Are either of you a couple?"

They all looked at each other shaking their head

"No problem, it's not a requirement … just asking. Olivia why aren't you interested in either of these two, or do you have someone else in mind…...from that smile there is. Bring him by to meet me I want to see if he's worth your effort. "

"Guys, this house if too much for me, it was too much when I bought it, but the price was too good to say no. I am moving to a new senior suite in Montgomery Place where my apartment comes with a view of the lake. I have been putting off the move for some time because I did not want to sell my house to just anyone and I did not want it to remain vacant. If you want it …...it's yours. "

All three just looked at her shaking their heads up and down, even James.

"Ok, the top floors need a good cleaning, but I will take let you take the tour, dust and all. There are two bedrooms and a sitting room on each of the second and third floor. I'll wait here, I hope you don't mind if I skip those stairs. "

The three oohed and awed through the old, but well-kept house. Returning to this first floor to say they were interested. Ms. Smith gave them address of the building and the keys, so they could look at it for office space.

Leaving their cars, they took the short walk to the address that were give, taking in the neighborhood as they walked. The fifth floor they were offered more than fitted their need... The space could easily be adapted and redesigned for their purposes... Plenty of rooms for offices, a conference room and a waiting room.

James went back to his office while Liv and Marcus returned to her aunt's house. The two mulled over the possibilities of both the house and office and decided it would work. Now it was up to them to find jobs and funding to set up their business but first they had to write a business plan...

Mrs. Alexander, greeted the two when she returned, both were hard at work with papers strewn across the dining room table. Making herself a cup of tea she joined the two at the table careful not to disturb their papers.

"ok guys, what do you think?"

"It's perfect, the house and she offered us an office, two blocks away… it will work, it's just perfect" Liv said

"I will start the paperwork tomorrow; you guys can start looking for furniture for the house and office. Ms. Smith has a guy who can handle any changes you want made at either place."

"I don't know about Marcus but except for a new mattress I'm keeping the bedroom furniture…. how about you…... Marcus?"

"A new mattress yes that's all for me …., maybe some more masculine furniture once we settle in."

"You are not seeing anyone, Mary isn't seeing anyone, and Iowa is an hour away. Maybe you should hold up on the "more masculine furniture "Liv said as she gave Marcus a wide grin.

"ok, no new furniture but a new man size mattress and bed"

"Who is Mary, and what is happening in Iowa. Marcus, you have only been in town for two weeks?"

"Auntie it's a long story but let's talk business before discussing our personal life."

"Our personal life" …Mrs. Alexander gave both a look over her glasses." What haven't you told me. Who wants to start, Olivia…Marcus?"

"Mary lives in Iowa and she is the sister of a friend of mine"

"Does this friend have a name and is that unnamed friend the reason you, both of you, so quickly deciding to stay here…... was something you both wanted to consider…from the looks on both your faces I can rightly assume I am right.'"

"Is that a correct assumption?"

"yes" …both answered at once.

"Tell me more"

"His name is Fitzgerald Grant, I met him when I went to the open in August. Both he and Mary were in town last week with a donation for our water project."

"I want to know more but first let's talk about setting up your business then we can talk about your personal lives. This does not in any way make a difference. I talked to my brother and he said he would donate 30% of what you need for one year I will donate 50% I believe there is another unidentified donor, who wishes to remain anonymous who would back the final 20% right Olivia, as she gave her a look."

"yes, I think your 80% with 20% coming anonymously is great."

"Marcus looked at them both in disbelief, "do you know how much you are talking about?"

"Nope, do you Marcus…... Get the business plan done as soon as possible then we will all know. Guys It's been a long day, chasing pennies is very hard but playing pennies lets everyone have a good time and a day away. I'm off to bed…... I had dinner already."

"Even if the business doesn't take root the house is still a great place to live. The first-floor bedroom that Ms. Smith is using is good as a guest room. Marcus if it's ok, let's start making plans to move."

"I'll have to return to DC and close everything up, maybe 2 months. Let's plan on moving in after Christmas, a new start for the New Year. Who knew when I answered the call to help you it would lead to this."

"Marcus, good things come to good people", goodnight you two

Marcus and Olivia opened a bottle of wine she picked up on the way home.

"This is kind of fancy Olivia."

"Yes, it is but we have something to celebrate."

"We have a house, we have a business when do we plan that trip to Iowa, Olivia?"

"Why not next week, we leave Friday stay a week. I don't think we should leave this week. We need to decide when to have the whole house cleaned and order what we need immediately for the house. We also need to see when Ms. Smith is moving. If we aren't here for the deliveries I am sure my aunt would help."

Marcus walked over to Liv and pulled her up on her feet, giving her a hug, no words just a hug.

Olivia was so excited, about everything that has happened today, and she was eager to tell Fitz, so she settled in with her ear buds and called him.

"Hi"

"Hi, you"

"how was your day?"

"busy and someone kept me up all night talking, I fell asleep twice today."'

"I won't keep you then"

"nope keep me, how was your day"

"It was good, I think I have made my decision about what to do next, do you want to hear?"

'Of course, that means you are going back to DC soon. When are you leaving, and will I see you here before you go.?"

"Why do you think DC is in my future?"

"Because I feel something else is going to happen that will keep us apart, nothing that's good is easy to achieve."

"Fitz, maybe something that's good takes an effort"

"I know, but you in DC me in Iowa, long distance relationships are hard, but I am more than ready to make it work. We can meet once a month, maybe someplace in the middle. I want to be in your life Olivia if it's long distance, I will, no… we will make it work"

Olivia realized, as she listened to Fitz, she is a lucky woman. He was willing to compromise, he did not demand she change her life for him. It was going to be fun telling him about her day, but that would have to wait a while longer. She wanted to make sure more was in place before she said anything. Maybe she would wait until she saw him, that would be even better, so she just let him talk about the compromise and adjustments he was willing to make to be in her life.

They talked until Fitz started to yawn and she called it a night. It was the end of a night but the beginning of a future, together, she hoped.

Huck is still around and will be soon part of the story again... It is about to change to mature but first it needed, I thought some legs. This was supposed to be a one-shop, but your comments made me try to see if I could write something that was entertaining.

I truly appreciate your interest.