Chapter 43
"This soup is delicious. The crab superb. Not quite as good as that served in my establishment but very good. In fact, the entire meal was excellent. Thanks again for including me."
"Uncle Jim, it's wonderful that you're here. You'll always be included in my life. Having you here is very important to me. You've been a mainstay in my life. The things that you've done for me go way beyond being a godparent. You were heaven sent and I know it. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that you and Father were best friends. Honestly, two men couldn't be more dissimilar. You are kind, honorable, and quite loveable. Whereas my father is, my father."
"Olivia, I think we have established some time ago that your father and your godfather are in no way similar. They're two different types of men. James is a kind soul. Your father is not. Let's change the subject, shall we? You two are setting a wedding date this fall. Are you excited?"
"I'm excited and elated. I can't wait to marry Olivia but I wanted her to be ready. She says she is! And that has been the best news for me. As far as I'm concerned all she has to do is chose a date. I promise I will be there!"
"I for one am very pleased to see you not waiting around Olivia. None of us knows the future and how much time we have on this earth. We must grasp the chances given us. True love isn't out there for everyone. You have found it. Hold on for dear life."
"I intend to Mother. We have already taken the giant step of moving in together, essentially living as man and wife. We share everything. Fitz has already given me so much. I have little to offer him other than my complete love and devotion at the moment. The reason I accepted his marriage proposal was because I love him and want to be his wife. Waiting was serving little purpose.
This first year of residency will in my opinion be the worst. I or rather we intend to go into it undeterred. Both of us know what it will take to sustain this relationship and we're all in one-hundred percent. Our commitment is the key."
"Olivia is right, we have a firm commitment. We've both made made concessions. That's as it should be. Loving someone is give and take. Truth is, I've established my lot in life. I'm part of a global billion-dollar enterprise. I have more money than I will spend in this lifetime. What I desire most in this world right now is to share my life with Olivia. Thankfully, she's agreed to share hers as well.
Although young and just beginning her journey, Olivia's dreams are paramount. They are hers to achieve. I intend to help her; all she will allow. I promised her never to interfere and I won't. I'm here if she needs me!"
"Olivia, you've hit the sweepstakes! Your young man is extraordinary. You are right to scoop him up and marry him right away! Don't you agree, James?"
"Marriage is a very special thing. From what I can see, marriage is the next logical step. I've known Olivia her entire life and have been very close to her. I know most of her hopes and dreams. She has always desired to help people and is destined to be a healer. What is to be known now is in what capacity will she emerge as this helpful healer? That is knowledge she must learn for herself. What I desire most for her is happiness. A profound happiness that she experiences each and every day for an eternity. If marriage is what you both want, why wait?"
"Exactly, Uncle! My epiphany occurred as I was watching Fitz sleep one night. He's the single most important thing in my life. His happiness is paramount too. He gives so much of himself. From day one of our relationship, it's never been just about him. We're in this together! We both want marriage and we hope to have a family. Not right away of course but as soon as is reasonably feasible. I so much want it all. I believe it's possible. So does Fitz. With that belief we're moving forward."
"That's very sound judgment Olivia. You both are young but life goes on and you must adjust according. Now, what are your plans? A June wedding with the all the Caribbean as your backdrop sounds divine."
"Mother, right now our plans are to marry. We'll set a date on our engagement anniversary. Beyond that we haven't any plans. I'm sure I will have the wedding of my dreams. I plan to meet with you and Gabriella at some point and let you two iron out the details. Like my fiancé I'm just eager for my wedding day and I promise to show up!
"Excuse us gentlemen. I need to speak to my daughter one on one. Come with me Olivia."
The two women left the dining area and retreated to the master suite. Tessa sat down on the couch and patted for Olivia to sit down beside her.
"Mother, I don't mean to dampen your enthusiasm for a big to do but I simply want to marry Fitz. Actually, the sooner the better. The wedding is something I know that his mother wants and apparently you do too. A justice of the peace would be fine with me."
"Surely you aren't relegating your impending wedding plans to the man of your dreams to me and your future mother-in-law? That's not how these things are done. You must have full input yourself."
"I'm not even sure Fitz wants a big wedding. He's done that once before. We've decided that there's no need to wait. We want to be together as husband and wife. I know his mother is expecting the wedding of the century so our marriage must be an event. I wouldn't want to disappoint his mother.
The Grant family is iconic and they are known for their extravagance, there's nothing new there. They're billionaires, real ones! I may never become accustomed to all of this money being at my disposal. I have a Black American Express Card with my name on it. I've never used it. I can have anything in the world I want and all want is him.
If I wasn't going into residency, I swear I would drag Fitz off to Vegas and marry him on the spot. I'd marry him, take this implant out of my arm, and fill his house up with babies. That's truly what I want. My dreams before Fitz, sometimes mother, they seem immaterial. It's like they are fading into the background of our relationship. I'm not sure that medicine is my top priority anymore. It's scary to love someone as I love him. When I'm with him everything else becomes miniscule, small, and diminished.
Everything isn't perfect but I'm living this relationship as if it were. Knowing he will be coming to me on Fridays keeps me sane through the week. When he shows up and says "Hi" I can breathe again. Sometimes I feel like I'm losing myself in all of this. Fitz already feels as if he's pressuring me and he hasn't been. I was the one that decided to have a short engagement. As I said, we're living together. In this modern world, that's a commitment."
"All you have said is true Olivia. It does all boil down to the fact that you and Fitz have made a commitment. As far as I'm concerned, moving in together sealed the deal. The man loves you without a doubt. Yet, you seem torn about something Olivia. I can sense it. What's wrong?"
"Fitz wants a family mother, with me. I've just committed my life to three years residency to be followed by another four to five years, possibly even more of specialty training. Where do I fit fertilizing eggs and gestating them for nine months into that? Fitz is thirty-six! From his own mouth he's told me he wants to be a father before he's forty. And I have a ticking biological clock."
"Olivia, you are only twenty-four years old. You will have plenty of time to make babies! Stop battering yourself with this nonsense. Fitz wants you to follow your dreams. He will support and still love you. I haven't a doubt. The man is honorable. He will wait for his babies."
"Yes, he would. The question is, should he have to? Mother, Fitz had a very complicated and disastrous first marriage. I will share something with you something that you must keep to yourself. It's private but relative information that Fitz chose to share with me. To be blunt, his first wife aborted a baby without even giving him the option of being a father to the child. If he weren't paying attention he wouldn't even have known! Her maliciousness affected him in the worst way. He grieves the baby, even though in fact the child may not have even been his. His ex-wife is a portrait of evil. When Fitz told me the level of her duplicity my heart hurt for him. How could anyone hurt him so?"
"I would imagine such a thing would slice a man like Fitzgerald Grant to the core. That abortion detail alone tells me that the man made a horrible mistake with his first marriage. However, Olivia you mustn't put a special cross upon your back. You're under no obligation, to right a wrong from a previous marriage. Fitzgerald Grant wouldn't expect that from you. He knows you will give him children. I think he will wait as long as you feel it necessary. The man would never burden you as you pursue your dreams."
"I know he wouldn't. The thing that jumps out me now at this moment is, can dreams change? I devoted my entire life to the prospect of a life in medicine. I promised Nana I would devote my life to it. I watched a dreadful disease strip her of all dignity and turn her into a shell of her formal self. I vowed to fight that disease to my dying day. I have plans to eradicate it!"
"Olivia, you loved your Nana. In the final years of her life even I came to care for her and see her as a kind and gentle soul. She parented you in your formative years whereas I did not. She was a gracious and caring woman. In spite of being the mother of Thomas Pope, there was goodness in her. Never would she want you to go through life being some sort of martyr to her and her illness. Surely you know that. She loved you more than anything, even her precious Thomas. She would want you to live a life of your choosing. She would want you to be happy with that life and living it to the fullest."
"Yes, I think she would. Momma, I must tell you that my Nana has often spoken to me since she passed. Her spirit still lived on the first floor of Overton Street. I could often close my eyes and there she was offering tidbits of knowledge, guiding me. She's been silent since I left there. I miss her Momma. As I have missed you. Having you here this weekend has been wonderful. And your being able to spend extra time with me this week is even better.
I have missed this! Being able to sit down and discuss things on my mind with someone face to face. Darcy says I'm being foolish. She thinks I should shuck it all. My past and my past endeavors should be done and over. It seems callous to have devoted my entire life to medicine and to now sideline it. I've never not faced a challenge head on."
"No. you haven't my dear daughter. And you will accept this current challenge and do what is best for you and your husband-to-be. Have you discussed these feelings you are having with Fitz?"
"No. I haven't."
"And why not Olivia?"
"My mind is swirling Momma. This is the most important decision I will make in my lifetime. And at this point I'm uncertain. Why would I instill in the heart of this wonderful man than has chosen me above all others the prospect of children, if there isn't any right now. I must be sure that it is my choice and one that I can live with forever. Above all it must be the right choice because I can never turn back with a butt-load of ifs and decimated dreams. If Fitz and I are forever as I believe we are, I will make the right choice. You know for yourself Momma that I am a visionary. I have seen things from the future since I was a wee girl. I know I am to be his wife and the mother of his children. The only question is when?"
"Are you sure that you aren't ready to discuss it with Fitz? Surely, he has seen that you see bits and pieces of the future. I know it's why you didn't hesitate to lie with the man. He is the man of your dreams. You recognized him at once and although he isn't a true visionary, he too has seen visions of a future with you. I doubt anything can keep you apart Olivia. The decision you face is a dilemma of sorts but the love between you two is solid. Anyone watching knows that.
Don't hesitate to share your feeling with him Olivia. Be truthful. Fitz is a very wise man and he's deeply in love with you. Whether you give him children two years or ten years from now won't matter to him, believe me. Don't put off today what should've been said today. A misstep in one's future could be very costly."
"As well you know Mother. However, you have remedied your misstep and your future is now bright. I'm so happy for you. You finally stood up to Father and walked away. It was a very courageous thing you did. I know it wasn't easy. Father is such an evil sort. You were lucky the break was clean. The man has surprised us all by not showing up here. I expected him to come and cause some type of scene but he didn't show. I'm very grateful for that. For once in his life, he did the right thing.
You seem very happy Mother. I haven't seen a smile on your face, a real one, in years. Your joy has erased years from your face. You look younger and radiant. I'm so proud of you. I know it took a lot of courage to walk away. Promise me that this week we will talk about it. Father made all of our lives hell but you were always his main target. I know you shielded me and Tommy from the brunt of it. We only saw what you allowed us to see. I'm sorry that we didn't do more to spare you some of your strife."
"Olivia you and Tommy were children. It was my duty to protect you not the other way around. We will unfortunately get around to Thomas Pope in our discussion this week but not now. Promise me you won't wait too long to discuss your feelings with Fitz."
"As I said I will talk to him. I must be sure I'm ready Momma and right now, I'm not."
"Very well. What are your immediate plans then?"
"To schedule a wedding in between the hectic schedule of being an intern is my present dilemma. It must be done. It will be done. Fitz' mother is capable of anything. Fitz has a wonderful woman that runs his office in New York that will make sure he attends his own wedding. I will most certainly will show up. I know that I can count on you for your assistance. If my father refuses to attend my wedding as he has my graduation, I know that I can depend on Uncle Jim to step in. There will be a June wedding! I have some things swirling in my head but rest assured to be married to Fitzgerald Grant is what I want!"
"It good to see Olivia and her mother together again. Olivia has missed her. This week is going to be good for them. Olivia has been worried about her mother during all of the turbulence between her and Thomas Pope. The man is a fool and he was never deserving of the family that he had. I for one was very relieved when he basically denounced Olivia. I'm hoping he remains out of her life for good. I won't allow him to manipulate her as he's done in the past. Olivia's off limits for his BS! She's now under my protection. That crazy shit he had going on in the Cayman's, ruling everyone with an iron fist is done."
"I agree with you. Thomas Pope is a fool and he surely never deserved Tessa Adderly. I'm relieved to know that you realize the man is off kilter. He can't be trusted."
"Olivia and her family are now my main concern. That includes her mother. I suspect that Thomas Pope still believes he has a modicum on control over Tessa and by extension Olivia. I will very quickly divest him of that notion. We both know Thomas Pope to a degree. Tessa has secured a divorce from the man but does he fully acknowledge it? We don't know really. Men like Thomas Pope aren't predictable Uncle Jim.
I was wondering can I count on you to help with Tessa now that she's made her break from the man. I will have a small unit intact in the Caymans looking out for Tessa's welfare. However, as Thomas Pope's best friend I know you may be privy to his life and how he's proceeding with it since the divorce. I know that he's more upset than he is letting on. Controlling Olivia's mother has been his life's work. He's lost in the courts but heaven knows what is being conjured up behind the scenes with such a man.
Could I ask you as Olivia's godfather to keep me abreast of what goes on with the man? Another set of eyes and ears are always good when one is unsure of what we are dealing with. My one personal encounter with Thomas Pope on Overton Place was a memorable one. He still harbors much emotion about his so-called family. I've talked to him once since leaving the Caymans. The man has vengeance in his heart. I don't want anything to happen to Olivia's mother. It would break her heart and I won't have that. I know that you and Tessa had been estranged but that is no longer the case. Can I assume that you two will continue to communicate?"
"Yes, I intend to continue to communicate with Olivia's mother. I love Olivia as my own daughter. Her happiness is paramount to me. By extension her mother is my concern also. You can count on me in any capacity regarding the welfare of Olivia and her mother. Tessa and I have come to an understanding. With older humans it's best to put bitterness and grievances behind you when dealing with the future. I assure you that Tessa and I will continue to communicate beyond this weekend."
"That's great news. Olivia will be pleased. You and Tessa are the parents she would have chosen if she could. She loves and admires the two of you so much. Speaking of those two, girl-talk can be tedious. There's no telling when the ladies will return to us. There's an excellent stash of the fine liquor here in the suite. Let's check it out while we wait for the ladies' return. In the meantime, tell me more about yourself Uncle Jim."
Elsewhere on the other side of Boston harbor in a tacky hotel suite Thomas Pope was at his boiling point. He was mad as hell. He had refused to stay at the hotel where Olivia and the Grant entourage were staying. He had watched his own daughter graduate from the most prestigious medical school in the world from the fucking shadows.
No, he hadn't gone to either one of Olivia's receptions because he hadn't liked the caveats attached to them. "Can you be civilized? Can you treat Mother with honor and respect? Can you acknowledge Tommy's wife as a human being and mother to your grandkids? Can you respect Fitz' family? Can you act like a proper human being?"
How dare Olivia threaten to have him removed from the premises by her rich boyfriend if he didn't act properly? He is a grown man and her father. Where was the respect for him? He was very pissed and decided he wouldn't go to any of the shit if they thought to put stipulations upon him. He did eventually decide to see Olivia walk across the stage and receive her medical degree. After all, hadn't Olivia followed in his footsteps? He was the reason she had chosen medicine. He was the reason she even existed. Tommy as well.
He had impregnated their mother when she wasn't even worthy of him or his sperm! Now the children he had so proudly bragged about had become one of his greatest disappointments. Second only to Tessa's defection. Tommy taking up with that tramp from university over his expressed objection and then to marry her because she was pregnant. That "boy" of his could've belonged to anyone as well as the other two that he claims are his. His wife is a whore for goodness' sake! A wife by decree from God only opens her legs to her husband!
And now Olivia has also chosen outside of her race and will undoubtedly produce more half-breeds for society to ooh and aah over. Not he! He had no son and now no daughter. Therefore, he would never acknowledge their children!
So why was he here then? He hadn't a daughter yet he traveled thousands of miles to watch her walk across the stage feeling proud. That was to be expected he had pumped all his hopes and dreams in Olivia. She would come back to the islands and practice medicine and eventually takeover all he had built. She would continue his legacy or so he assumed. The simpleminded girl had opened her legs and had a taste of something so powerful she couldn't resist it. Now she has turned whore. He should've kept his children in the islands away from the evil taint of America. He shouldn't even be back in this evil land!
Yet, he was here with a plan. He still believed he could lure Tessa back. He'd had little choice but to agree to that divorce. Tessa had played a card he thought her incapable of playing. She'd turned on him so quickly, blindsided him really. The woman had turned into someone he hardly knew before the divorce. He knew that, Tessa. It was the Tessa he'd known before he had married her and taught her the place of a woman!
He was sure she would stay here in Boston with Olivia before returning to the Caymans. Olivia, as was customary would start into her residency right after graduation. His plan was to confront Tessa while Olivia was away at the hospital. It should be easy enough. He had been thwarted in the Caymans. Finally, he would get to confront her. He would be contrite. He was willing to make concessions to lure her back into the marriage. He would make it plain that he was a changed man.
If she had learned her lesson there wouldn't be any need for him to "correct" her. His sexual appetite was still robust. Without a doubt she was lacking in that area and offered him little succor. He would free her of any obligation to submit to him. He'd have all of his needs met elsewhere. In return for her compliance, he would restore her to the high echelons of Cayman society. Her coveted divorce had removed her from it.
Money and position were what she desired most thirty years ago. His promises to provide those things secured him a date at the altar. The woman had manipulated him out of a portion of his wealth with that dreadful divorce business. In retaliation he had personally seen to sullying her good name after the divorce. If she wished to once again become a grand dame of the island, she must return to him! As only he was capable of restoring her prestige.
"That was another excellent evening. If only you didn't have to leave me in a few hours the entire evening would've been wonderful. I can't tell you how it pleased me to see my mother and Uncle being nice and civil to each other. It's a miracle Fitz."
"I for one find it hard to believe that the two of them were ever enemies Olivia. They are very solicitous of the other in my opinion. To be sure Uncle Jim will watch out for your mother. He explicitly assured me that he would. Speaking of those two. I know they were enemies at one time. Could they possibly be more than friends?"
"What? You can't be serious? They've been bitter enemies all my life. You've heard Tommy express a similar sentiment. You're are so struck by the arrow Fitzgerald Grant; you see love blooming everywhere. Mother and Uncle Jim? Those two have zero in common. Plus, my godfather is my father's best friend. I'm telling you up until two days ago, they couldn't be in the same room together! I grew up watching their total indifference to each other."
Fitz wasn't going to argue the point with Olivia. She was happy with whatever friendship that had developed between the two people. Olivia's happiness was his life's work. Nevertheless, there was a connection between the two people that had just left this suite. His intuitive forces were telling him so. These same forces had helped propel his family into billionaire status. They had also led him to Olivia. He would be a fool to ignore them. At this point he didn't foresee whatever existed between those two interfering with he and Olivia. She was so happy for the connection that she couldn't see the interaction between the two. It was all eye contact but it is was soulful and yearning. Uncle Jim was in love with his best friend wife and Fitz suspected the sentiment was mutual. They were both attempting to hide their emotions but obviously they were too strong to cover completely.
He and Uncle Jim had spoken briefly about his security plans for Olivia's mother. He'd assured him that he would keep a watchful eye on Tessa and her ex-husband. Nothing about their discussion was off kilter. Fitz knew the man loved Olivia like a daughter. He had spoken of her with nothing but love and pride. The man was selling the house in Atlanta and intended to give Olivia the entire sale amount as a wedding gift. He intended to keep the house in Cambridge but it would remain deeded in both their names with Olivia as sole beneficiary. Fitz wasn't very surprised to know that Tommy and Olivia were his designated heirs. His role as their godparent was a serious one for James Lockheed.
"You're happy that the two of them are talking again and if you're happy Olivia, then I'm happy. My only sadness comes from knowing I must leave you in a couple of hours. I wish I didn't have to. This weekend as perfect as it has been is drawing to a close. I don't like leaving you."
"I know you don't and neither do I. Let's see where the rest of the year takes us Fitz. By next year this time our wedding will be pending. I will be starting my residency as well. And I'm excited at both prospects. I may as well tell you that in some of my spare time I'm doing tons of research and statistics on medical marriages undertaken with somewhat similar circumstances as ours. I'm in the early phases of the research of course. I intend for us to work Fitz. I will work tirelessly to assure we have a successful relationship and marriage."
"Olivia, I don't want you to feel as if you must carry some specific burden because you are following your dreams of becoming a physician. You don't. Your agreeing to marry me and on an accelerated time table has made me so happy. It's one of my dreams come. I couldn't be happier, believe that."
"I believe you. You don't lie. And I can feel your happiness because we're together and moving forward. I'm happy too but sometimes I'm sad. I want to give you everything Fitz. You want a family. A family of your own. You want babies. You want babies before you turn old and gray."
"I'm thirty-six Olivia. I don't think I'm about to turn gray. My father and Papa Joe didn't show signs of graying until they were in their fifties. Of course, I want babies, with you. And we will have those babies when you are ready. You aren't on a timetable Olivia and please don't attempt to put yourself on one. I love you, Olivia. We are to be married and soon I might add. You can't possibly know the joy I feel because of that. Fulfill your dreams Sweet Baby and know that I will always be there for you."
"I'm the luckiest woman in the world to have found a man like you. Let's get to bed. You have to be up soon. You should get some sleep before court tomorrow. I have all day to sleep if I want to. However, I intend to be up early to spend the day with my mother. Knock that gleam right out of your eyes. We'll be sleeping for the next few hours, Sir Fuckalot!"
"You're cutting me off Lady Olivia?"
"I am. I asked for a marathon earlier and I got it. I'm tired. You wore me out, babe. I'll make it up to you on Friday, I promise."
"I always have a gleam in my eyes when it come to you Olivia. How could I not? I love making love with you but I am tired. We showered before dinner. Let's hit the sack. Anyway, Friday is only four days away!"
"Here's my cards. The Grant fleet is at your disposal as long as you're here. Fifteen minutes notice is all that will be needed. That includes both you, Mrs. Pope and Mr. Lockheed. Would you like to return to Cambridge with Mrs. Pope tomorrow morning or are you planning to go there later in the day?"
"No, not today."
"Mr. Hughes, what time is my daughter returning to Cambridge?"
"It's just Hughes, Madame. Ms. Pope is returning to Cambridge after Mr. Grant is dropped off at the airport which we be at two-thirty this morning. I suspect they will leave the hotel before two am."
"Then I wouldn't want to intrude on their good-byes especially at that time of morning. Something much more reasonable for me would be something closer to noon. Olivia starts her very first twelve-hour shift as a physician tonight. I only plan to spend the afternoon with her."
"Would a noon pick-up suffice, Mrs. Pope?"
"Hughes, please call me Ms. Adderley if we must be so formal. I'm no longer Mrs. Pope."
"No problem, Ms. Adderley. Sir, what are your plans?"
"For sure I won't join Ms. Adderley in the morning. I have a two o'clock with an attorney on Broad Street. If you could work that into your schedule, I would appreciate it. After that I plan to lounge around the hotel."
"Very well then. I shall see you both at the times we discussed. Good night."
Tessa and James wished the man a good night and they walked into the hotel.
"Are you spending the night with me again, Jimmy?"
"I am. I'm going to my suite to pick up some necessities but I'll be right back. Do I need to ask you to wait up for me?"
"You don't. I'll see you shortly then."
Tess retired to her suite with a smile on her face. This was their third night together falling asleep in each other's arms. She felt so safe and secure. She hadn't felt that way in years. Being free from Thomas Pope was a reason to smile and be happy. And there was her upcoming American holiday with Jimmy. What and wherever his plans took them she was going to go with it. Jimmy was back in her life. They had a daughter and he wasn't even angry about it!
He had slept with her cradled in his arms for two nights. She had felt the evidence that he desired her and that was a good thing. She wanted him too in the worst way. Remembering their last night together when Olivia was conceived was imprinted on her brain. It had been everything to her. Tessa wanted that intimacy again. He wanted to wait, for what she didn't know. She was trying to be patient, sort of.
She reached into the chest of drawers and pulled out one of the new night gowns she had recently purchased in the Caymans. It was provocative and meant for seduction. In fact, she had bought the thing with Jimmy in mind. As she said she was trying to be patient, sort of. For two nights he had held her in his arms like she was a porcelain doll. His kisses weren't really kisses. They were pecks. He was still avoiding intimacy.
Her mind flashed back to their past two nights together. They slept in companiable silence. He did hold her close though. On the first night he had whispered in her ear words that had her heart thumping.
"I love you, Tess. I never stopped in all these years. I want you to know that and believe it."
"I believe you Jimmy because I never stopped loving you either. I love you so much. Why are we waiting to express how we feel about each other? Why can't we make love? I know you want to."
"Of course, I want to Tess. I can't begin to tell you how much. I want to do things differently this time. Even before, we didn't rush into a sexual relationship. We waited."
"We waited because I was hung up on chastity and other nonsense. I had been taught that sex before marriage was wrong. We held back because of me."
"Yes, we did until I convinced you otherwise. I knew that you loved me Tess and I loved you. I intended to marry you, before God, I intended to. I saw no reason for us not to be intimate and I convinced you of that. I was older and experienced. I seduced you. I introduced you to sex. I gave you intense pleasure and taught you how to please me without the benefit of intercourse. You were virgin a Tess. In a sense I corrupted you and then hand-delivered you to another man. I realize that you aren't looking at things exactly the same way as me, I can understand that. I want closure of that part of our lives and It's not just the two of us anymore."
"You mean Olivia, the fact that we have a daughter?"
"She's the biggest part of it of course but it's deeper than that Tessa. We have a son as well. Tommy will have to know the facts as well. I've told you that I always considered him as my son. I've treated his wife with respect and his children as if they were my own grandchildren when they visited the island. Thomas did his son a grave disservice by disowning him and shunning his own grandchildren.
Cassandra was a troubled young woman but Tommy is committed to the marriage and they appear to be happy at this moment in time. I want to tell him the truth as well. Telling both Tommy and Olivia isn't something we will simply blurt out. They must be told the entire story, our story. Don't you agree?"
"Yes, I agree. I also think the sooner they both are told the better. I don't want to stretch this out for months and months. Fitz needs to be present when Olivia is told of her true parentage. She will need his love and support when she absorbs this new revelation. I can't imagine her rejecting us, but she might. At any rate, he needs to be there. Would you consider telling Olivia about us this weekend when Fitz returns to Boston too soon?"
"No, I think it would be perfect timing. I was hoping that we could tell Olivia this weekend and head to Tommy's at the beginning of the week assuming that Tommy is available and in town. This is all contingent on how Olivia takes the news."
"It's settled then we will talk to Olivia this weekend and head to visit Tommy shortly thereafter. After talking to the children, you and I will begin our lives again, correct?"
"Correct. Assuming there aren't any issues with the kids receiving the news we move ahead with our American holiday. Of course, I could be wrong. The revelation that you and I once shared a loving and intimate relationship will be shocking, but I believe they will understand. The fact that Olivia is the product of that relationship and was denied her true parentage for twenty-four years will be offsetting to them both. Tommy is older and has had diversity in his own relationship. I think he will accept our position right away. I think that Olivia maybe hurt and possibly disillusioned with us both. However, she loves us and she knows that we love her."
"I'm the villain Jimmy. I accept that. I deceived Thomas Pope. I lived the lie for twenty-four years not you. I will make that clear to everyone, especially to Olivia. I won't have anyone blaming you. I must bear the entire burden for what I did."
"Never, dear Tessa. Listen to me! I bear most of the blame for this unfortunate episode of our lives by not claiming you as my own. You did the things you did including not disclosing Olivia's true parentage to avoid the inevitable. A predictable pattern of continuing spousal abuse! Once that is made plain, Olivia will understand. You have raised a smart dependent woman, Tessa. Have faith in our daughter!"
"You're right again. Olivia has our blood running through her veins. She's ours. I have to believe she will forgive me."
"I will be right beside you when you tell her, my love. We will make her understand. Come on. Let's put our troubled thoughts behind us. Come to bed. Lie in my arms and have sweet dreams of us."
"You know I want more than sweet dreams Jimmy. I want true intimacy between us."
"So, do I. We will get there, I promise."
Their second night together was very similar to the first. Again, she went to bed dressed in a basic night gown and Jimmy stripped down to his briefs. They retired to the bedroom suite in compatible silence. He had gathered her in his arms, kissed her briefly on the lips. They exchanged a few words and said good night.
Well, that was last night. Tonight, her night gown was hardly basic. The body of the way-above-the-knee frock was of the finest black silk and the bodice sheer. Her ample breasts and nipples were on full display. Her hair wasn't pinned up tonight. It framed her face and hung loose on her shoulders. She had covered herself in a simple long robe knotted at her waist.
She was sitting at the island in the kitchen area waiting for Jimmy to return and spend yet another night with her. As she had last night, she had ordered them both a glass of his favorite wine. They would finish their wine and retire to the bedroom. She didn't want to just sleep tonight. She heard Jimmy at the door. It made her smile knowing he had his own key. She got up to meet him at the door with two glasses in her hand.
"I'm back pretty lady. My favorite wine again tonight. A woman after my own heart."
"Actually, I'm after more than your heart. Grab your glass and let's go to bed."
Jimmy followed her, took a gulp of wine for courage. Tessa was up to something. He was already hanging on by a thin thread where Tessa was concerned. She looked amazing standing there gazing up at him. Desire was pooling in his nether region as soon as he saw her. These previous two nights had taken will power, especially knowing that she was willing. In no uncertain terms she had said let's start where we left off.
He wanted to but Tessa deserved more from him this time around. Naturally with her kind heart she didn't completely see the part he had played in the course of her life. She had loved him as she did now and she had trusted him with her body and her heart. No one knows better than James Lockheed what he should've done when the minister had said, "Does anyone here amongst this body object to this union? If so, speak now."
He had bitten the inside of his mouth and jaw until it bled and said nothing. He had stood there swallowing his own blood while another man walked away with his woman. HIS! Tessa had looked back before the couple walked down the aisle. Her eyes were pleading. She appeared dazed and confused at first, he saw it. Then Thomas had whispered something in her ear and she smiled. She beamed at the congregants as she walked away from him. He stood there immobilized and did nothing.
Subsequently Tessa lived a life full of degradation and abuse for his cowardness. She was used as if she were a call girl rather than a wife. She gave birth to their daughter and had to lie about as to not suffer God knows what from Thomas Pope. Tessa had his love and complete devotion now as she always had but he wanted to honor her by waiting for marriage this time. As he followed her into the bedroom suite, he downed the rest of the wine in the glass.
He walked in, turned around, and locked the door mostly out of habit. When he turned back around, he did a double-take. He had already known that tonight was going to be a struggle. These last two nights had left him hot and bothered. He had to bite his mouth and jaw to keep his mind off of the beautiful and willing woman in his arms. Tessa moving around every which way, with her hands and body inadvertently glancing his body in certain places made him want to take her and his plans be damned!
His plan was to whisk Tessa from here once they talked to Olivia and made sure she was handling the news okay. Then they would head out to Arizona and tell Tommy the news. Then they would head to Las Vegas. He had been assured that you could get a license and be married there within three days. He had promised himself the next time he was inside Tessa Adderley she would be his wife. It was what she should have had from him all those years ago. Now back to right now!
He'd almost dropped his wine glass. He was holding it so tightly he could easily break the delicate stem. Tessa was standing beside the bed they had slept in the last two nights. She had ditched the gawdy robe she wore. She was in a black silk nightie. He used to buy her the sexiest black silk lingerie. She would parade around in it for a hot minute before he literally ripped it off of her. He was young and in his prime back then. It was true they'd only had vaginal intercourse on that one night when Olivia was conceived, but boy were they adventurous before that. Over the course of almost two years, they tried everything. EVERYTHING! If they didn't both didn't like it, the activity went on the shelf.
His eyes were glued to her. Her body had to have been poured into the gown. Little was left to his imagination. She looked older but her body was just as he remembered it. In fact, she looked better than he remembered. She looked firm and supple. Her legs were perfect. Her waist was still tiny. He could see her breasts clearly through the diaphanous silk. Her nipples were hard and straining against the fabric. He was guessing that piece of black silk she wore was all that stood between him and heaven on earth.
He had been semi-erect anticipating sleeping beside her again tonight. Now, all the blood in his body had rushed to his dick. He was slightly embarrassed. Pup-tent wasn't the word for his hard-on. He was threatening the integrity of the zipper on his trousers. Tessa planned to seduce him! Heaven help him! It was one thing to resist her in a granny gown. What she was wearing right now offered no resistance!
Right on cue images of them in sexual congress entered his head. He closed his eyes and there they were! The two of them pleasing each other with their mouths. Back in the day they called sixty-nine. He remembered spilling himself between her breasts, her thighs, and her hands. Her hands had felt like a silken glove while caressing him to climax. He shook his head to return to the present. He opened his eyes to Tessa staring directly at his erection with a smile on her face.
"Well, I'm glad to see you too Jimmy. I'm willing to let you check for yourself if you want. We are both mature adults. Both of us want this. Let's not play anymore games."