Chapter 14
"Confrontations!"
"Olivia my dear sweet daughter, what is this foolishness you have gotten yourself into? You must listen to me, your father. The American is using you like a tool in a box. You are the object of his lust for now but once he leaves this island, he won't even remember your name! You, Princess Olivia, should know better than this. Have you no sense at all?"
"Princess Olivia has plenty of sense Father. Have you not told me I was the brightest and the best that this island had to offer? I aced the SATS remember? I had enough sense to get into two of the best universities in the United States of America. I'm in the top ten of my med school class as I speak. By years end I could easily be number one. So, what's you point?"
"So, the sins of the mother now fall to the daughter. You would talk to your father so disrespectfully. I will not accept insolence from you either Olivia. I raised you to respect your elders and especially me, your father.
You dishonor me with your actions Olivia. You dishonor your mother as well. After all, it was she that was tasked with teaching you respect for your elders and enlightening your path into womanhood. She was also supposed to have instilled in you pride and respect for yourself. Instead, you have prostrated yourself for the first man to look at you and offer you flattery! My dear sweet girl, you were reared better than this. You have been shacked up with a man that isn't your husband for week. Who do you think on this island will have you knowing you have been sullied by an international rogue and a rich white boy from Tinseltown?
You have been squired around this island for more than a year by Peter Hansen pretending that you cared for him. Then overnight, you are all about town on the arms of an infidel! You were hugged up with him, kissing, and pawing at him like a whore from the streets. Yes, I know all about it. I have friends all over this island Olivia. You shame me with this brazen and tawdry behavior.
You are to become a doctor and serve the citizens of these islands. What will you do, serve them with a scarlet letter attached to your chest? You must end this sordid affair at once!"
Olivia was incredulous! Did he really think that she didn't know of the double life that he led? Did he believe she had been in such an isolated bubble that she would never know? Her mother had told her as much as she dared but the facts were still out there and they were the same. Her father was a lying adulterous fiend and he had the audacity to lecture her, to scold her, to try and put her in her place! How dare he talk of the love between she and Fitz like it is some unsavory street affair. And the way he was characterizing Fitz as an infidel had her at a slow boil. Fitz was a believer. He believed in the tenets of Christianity. Thomas Pope didn't know a thing about Fitzgerald Grant other than what he had pulled from the internet!
Her mother sat at the counter listening. Oddly she hadn't gotten up to attend to the mess in the kitchen. Still she hadn't spoken a word. Thomas Pope continued on his rant. The man had gone from calling Olivia a princess to insinuating that she was little more than an island whore shacking up with a white guy! He was unhappy with both Olivia and her mother. His obvious intent was to rant, rage, and let them know the full extent of his anger. Tessa Pope had sat there docile and silent as she had done throughout the marriage. Well Olivia Pope wasn't Tessa as Thomas Pope would learn today!
His wife had sat there listening to Thomas Pope berate their daughter for daring to love as her heart would dictate. His tactic hadn't been subtle. He initially had buttered Olivia up only to lower her to the ground and begin to kick at her! He had no right to do so. He had no right to open his mouth at all to Olivia. Tessa was so sick of it, every last bit of it, but most of all she was sick of Thomas Pope and all of his sanctimony. He was the devil masquerading as a man. She would have to rethink her life after today because Thomas Pope would probably throw her out into the street before this day was over! Guess what? She would gladly go with just the shift on her back. Enough was enough!
Tessa had been watching Olivia as her father berated her and her lover. Olivia had finally risen from her chair and you could tell that she was on the offensive. Her stance said it all, Olivia had seen and heard enough as well! The girl had known what her father was for years yet she had honored him in his house and kept quiet even knowing of her own mother's suffering. Olivia deserved some happiness in this world. If she loved the American, so be it! Thomas Pope hadn't any right to tell anyone how to behave. He was a lying fornicator and had no moral ground to stand on! She should have taken steps to end this mess years ago. She was only waiting for Olivia to leave the nest and she was out. Olivia was leaving and she appeared to be leaving today! It was written all over her face. She was done!
Tessa Pope knew that her husband was wrong about Olivia. She had been raised with highest of principles. She had led an exemplary life here on this island and in the States. She was a good girl that had blossomed into an exceptional woman. She was a brilliant mind that would go far in this world despite having been raised in Thomas Pope's house and existing in his bizarre world and kingdom! The man was in for a rude awaking. She was quite content at the moment to allow her daughter to have her say before she spoke a word.
"Father you have run this house and everyone in it as you have seen fit. As long as a family member plays the game as you want it to be played, they can be part of the kingdom. Tommy refused to play and you banished him without a thought. You have three grandchildren that you don't even know! Your own son doesn't bring his children around you because you may insult them or their mother! Your own wife is tongue-tied because she is afraid of your wrath. Your house is in a sad state of affairs, yet you would try to laud over me, tell me a woman grown, how to lead my life, what I can and cannot do? I was dating Peter Hansen and now I'm not. There wasn't a commitment from either of us. And if there was a commitment between us, am I not free to break it; as you have broken your commitment to your wife over and over again? You are a pathetic man that has made a mess of your life and now you think to ruin mine? Stand down Father and attend to your own business.
You know nothing about Fitzgerald Grant the man that loves me, nothing at all. Keep his name out of your foul mouth. He's a better man than you by simply breathing air. You know nothing about what goes on between us, nothing! I can assure you of this, my so-called "sordid" affair is nothing like the mess you conduct at Bellehaven. You dare to speak of one you do not know anything about while conducting a life of pure deceit? You treat your wife like a piece of garbage and your entire marriage is a sham!"
Thomas Pope was beside himself with rage.
"A child that would speak to a parent that has nourished her from the womb should know the wrath of God! A child should honor a parent. How dare you speak of the condition of my marriage and how I treat my wife. She has everything a woman could want. This house, cars, furs, jewelry, financial stability, community standing, and much more!"
He had shouted the words to his daughter and now stood directly in her face.
"This is the twenty-first century Father. A parent should also honor a child. In my case I'm an adult child and will give as good as I get. As an adult I will not tolerate you trying to manipulate me or my life. I will love as I chose. And I choose Fitzgerald Grant and that is that!
You are a man without morals or honor. You're fucking anything that has a vagina on this island and you have the nerve to chastise me for sharing my body with one single man that I love. What I share with Fitzgerald Grant I have shared with no other. If that makes me a whore in the streets, so be it! I love him. And he loves me Father. I know that is a concept you don't understand, a man truly loving a woman and attune to her every need. I'm willing to bet that he could give you some lessons!
You should learn to keep your penis at home and share it only with your lawfully wedded wife instead of every Barbara, Naomi, and Chantel you come across. By the way the "stipends" you give women to come to room nine-seventeen at Bellehaven classifies you as a john! That makes the women you bed prostitutes. There are your whores! The women that have an association with you! You are a shameless despicable man! You aren't good enough to buff the shoes of Fitzgerald Grant. I've known him for one week and I know he's a better man than you.
You have given your wife plenty of material things but you have never shown her love, loyalty or decency. And you sure as hell don't respect her. She has yet to realize that she deserves better that you. I pray to God that one day she does. You are unworthy of the respect she shows you. You have run my brother from his home and these islands. You don't have to run me off, Father. I leave of my own free will. I don't want to be here!"
"Good! Pack your bags and get out of my house. I won't allow a child of mine to speak to me as you have today and stay under my roof. In fact, I disown you. You want to be that man's whore and a vessel for the lust of that infidel, you go right ahead! Expect nothing else from me monetarily. I won't support your immoral life style."
"Listen to yourself. You have the nerve to call me immoral with the lifestyle that you lead! Where have you been for the last two nights? Not with your wife, that's for sure. You are nothing but a man whore yourself. Fitzgerald Grant isn't a married man dishonoring a wife. He's an honorable man that fell in love with me. I have not one modicum of respect for you anymore! You may take your monetary support and shove it! I will find a way to live my life without it. The bag I came here with is packed. Momma you may pack up the rest of my things in the apartment and ship them to Cambridge at my expense. I will contact you as to how to handle my bike and car. If the king won't allow that; give them to charity, burn them. I don't care! I will be glad to be from under your roof! We are done here."
Olivia turned to walk away and her father reached out and grabbed her arm and turned her around to face him. Olivia looked directly and boldly at where his hand connected with her arm.
"I suggest that you remove your hand from me right now!"
"Don't you walk away from me. I'm not done speaking with you."
Olivia was about to speak or was she about to cut her father down? The girl was highly trained in the arts of Tae Kwon Do. Tessa had seen her daughter dispatch opponents of more substantial build than Thomas Pope. Whatever was about to happen wasn't going to happen! Tessa stepped up from her seat and stood between her husband and her daughter. She put her hand on the shoulder of her husband. Her eyes were ablaze. She had heard enough and for damn sure Thomas Pope wasn't going to manhandle her daughter!
"She right Thomas. We are done here. You are done here. Unhand Olivia this instant and I mean it! You have no authority to speak to Olivia like that. I'm sure the truth hurts but that's nothing new right? You have shamed me on this island for years with your whorish ways. And not just me, your own children have been affected by your actions. Olivia's right. You have broken your commitment to me, your marriage, and to your children. She said to me days ago that you were a selfish man, one without honor and she is right.
This house you speak of isn't a home. It's a monument to you and the prestige you seem to think you hold. Fancy cars, furs I cannot wear, jewelry fit for a queen, and financial stability meant little to me at this point. Community standing? I'm the laughingstock of the island! You sir, will stay out of our daughter's business and I mean it. If you do not, I will pour yours into the streets of this island! Hear me well Thomas. I mean every word I say! Olivia, you go back to your apartment and await Mr. Grant. As you said, this conversation is done!
Go! Go now Olivia. Pack your bag and get away from this wretched place. Go to your home in Cambridge and stay there. This place, this island, this house holds nothing good for you here. I suspect your life is to be built in America with the American you've chosen to love. Go Olivia and don't look back!"
Thomas Pope had dropped Olivia's arm as soon as she had turned around. His daughters' eyes were filled with rage and disgust. It was all aimed at him. He couldn't believe that his sweet little Olivia had turned on him in this manner. He had hoped to talk some sense into her but he could see she was determined to stay on her disastrous course. And his own wife was encouraging it! She jumped in between he and his daughter like an avenging demon. Her eyes were and ablaze and she was very angry. However, he wouldn't stand for her disobedience today and she was going to know it!
"Tessa Pope, you are out of line! You will not talk to me in this manner, in my own home, in front of my child. You are a disgrace! You must be drinking to speak to me like that. You have never sat a good example for Olivia. I suspect that is why she now stands before us disgraced. How dare either one of you to speak to me as you have! Both of you turning on the hand that fed and clothed you? And that tone from you Tessa, I will not stand for it!"
"How dare I? How dare you? You are out of line! You won't stand for my tone? Well, that's too bad. My tone is what it should've been years ago. Why did you come back here anyway? Isn't there a nurse, intern, or islander for you to fuck today? You didn't get your fill of whores from the last two days? As for my tone Thomas Pope, if you don't like it, you may not listen! You have a home away from home, do you not? You are free to go back there this day or any other. The sight of you sickens me! And Thomas, I assure you I haven't had a drop of alcohol today!"
"You had better check yourself Tessa. This is still my house. I own everything in it. And according to law that includes you. Your sass and backtalk had better stop or I swear I will throw you out into the streets. You serve little purpose here in this house other than glorified maid and occasional bedmate! Thirty years and you know nothing of pleasing a man. I wouldn't seek sexual release elsewhere if you knew your job! You are a pathetic excuse for a woman and a wife. And your disgraced daughter seeks to emulate you."
"Throw me out Thomas. I don't care! Contrary to your belief, you don't own me. You may have thought because I never spoke up before today that you can say and do anything to me but you can't. I won't allow your abuse anymore for me or my daughter. Thirty years and you are the one that knows nothing of pleasing a woman. At least not a real one, a street whore perhaps, which is your specialty; but for pleasing your own wife you are incapable. I lie there like a board because your touch is disgusts me. You are like a rutting boar. I pray never to feel your touch again."
He jumped into her face breathing fire and screaming at her with spittle flying. How dare she insult him this way? He wanted to strike her just as he had wanted to strike Olivia. Tessa would have him arrested if he struck her or Olivia and he knew it. What they both needed was a good knock on the head to yield them some sense. It was too bad that men could no longer be men when it came to wives! Perhaps he should kick Tessa out too. If he kicked Tessa out, where would she go? She had better watch herself. He'd had enough of she and Olivia today.
"Get out of my sight you wretched woman. I had best not lay my eyes on you again today unless I summon you or I swear I won't be responsible for what happens. You deserve punishment for your actions today and I guarantee you that you shall have it before the sun sets."
Tessa had decided that she would no longer be in residence when the sun set. She was doing the same as her daughter. She was leaving this place and she knew she would never come back. Thirty years was enough penance. When Olivia walked out of that door she would soon follow. She saw no need to let Thomas Pope know of her plans. Her days of crime and punishment were over. She was done!
Olivia could've said more to her father. There was much that she could lay at his feet but she had decided to go when her mother had told her to go. She would miss the exchange between her parents which was for the best. She was done interfering in their marriage or whatever it was! It was futile to continue this. Her father was who and what he was. Nothing she said was going to change that! It was shocking to hear her mother stand up for not only herself but her as well. It was good to see and she hoped for her mother's sake that it continued. Tessa Pope should wrest control of her life from Thomas Pope while she could.
Olivia deadbolted the door and descended the stairs to her apartment. She had wanted to confront her father and she had! His tyranny had gone on long enough. Tommy had broken free and so would she! He had told her long ago that they couldn't save their mother. Only Tessa could save Tessa. Based on the performance she had just seen, perhaps she would.
Olivia took a calming breath and went into the kitchen. She sat at the huge island and put her head down on her folded hands. The scene could have been worse. She knew that it would've been if her mother had not interfered when she did. If Thomas Pope had dared to strike her, she would have struck him back. She had been mad enough to use her Tae Kwon Do skills for something other than self-defense and in competition. It would have been a sadder day than it had become. A lot of her joy had been sucked from her upstairs but not all of it. Fitz would be coming for her soon and she would share hours with him in the sky. Olivia knew those were going to be magical hours!
There were several plusses about today and her flight to Cambridge was one of them. Another one was that her mother had found her voice. As unfortunate as that scene upstairs had been, some good had come of it. Perhaps her mother would break free from the chains with which her father held her. There was that! As for Olivia, she had made herself plain to her father. She was leaving this place and he wasn't going to run her life. Fitzgerald Grant loved her and she loved him. She was out!
Her phone was ringing. Where was it. She hadn't taken it up stairs. Her purse was on the couch. It wasn't in there. Finally, she remembered she had left it in the master bath. She ran to retrieve it. She knew it would be Fitz. As soon as the phone had started ringing she had seen a vision of Fitz holding a ringing phone! Knowing it was him made her smile.
"Hello Fitz."
"Hello Olivia. How did things go. I tried to wait for your call but I couldn't. I knew that this confrontation was going to be had for you."
"I'm sorry to have worried you. I had gone up stairs without my phone to avoid distractions. I knew the confrontation would be intense and it was. However, it is over and done. I'm simply here waiting to be picked up. I was sitting in the kitchen going over the events of today. There wasn't any way today could be avoided. It was brutal Fitz but I'm okay."
"Are you sure. You don't sound okay. What did your father say to you Olivia? This is why I didn't want you to face that awful man alone. Are you ready? I'm coming to get you right now Olivia. You will come with me and we will go to my parent's home early."
"My father was ugly and vengeful but his words can't hurt me. He called me a whore and banished me from the kingdom. None of what he said was surprising. When he is angry and full of rage, he is like the devil himself. When he grabbed my arm, I was tempted to send a debilitating blow straight to his throat. I swear I wanted to strike him. I didn't because my mother stepped between us. I stood up to him though. I know that you love me and what we have done and shared was supposed to happen. I wouldn't take any of it back for anything. And I refused to accept what my father wanted to make of us! Thomas Pope is hardly the man I thought him to be and I have faced that fact. I do want to leave this place Fitz. I need to be gone from here. Please come and take me away from this place."
"I will be there shortly Olivia. And remember I love you more than anything."
He was going to get Olivia but not before speaking to her father. The man was very confused and he had made a resounding mistake today. He had dared to place a hand on Olivia? Every pore of his body was filled with anger!
"McKinley, we need to go and pick up Miss Pope right away. Are you ready to roll? Okay. I'm sending my bags down and I will be ready to go."
Fitz was livid. He could hear the pain in Olivia's voice. She had tried to mask it with platitudes but he could only imagine her despair right now. Her own father treating her like this. To denounce and degrade your adult child for their adult choices was beyond his comprehension. What type of man was Thomas Pope to put both of his children in the wind as if they were rubbish? Who treated their flesh and blood this way? And to call Olivia a whore and then to touch her in anger. Olivia said he grabbed her by the arm! All of it was inconceivable and it would not stand. Thomas Pope had touched Olivia in anger and with apparent malice. The man would be given a warning, only a single solitary one. He was never to touch Olivia in anger again. If he did so, it would be at his own peril!
"McKinley when we arrive, please stop on the other side of the Pope house. I have business in the main house before we pick up Miss Pope. I'll call you when you may come around to the other side of the house. I shouldn't be long. I need to speak to Miss Pope's father."
"No problem, Mr. Grant."
Ten minutes later they arrived at the home of Thomas Pope. Fitzgerald Grant was still simmering. He should've never agreed to let her go alone. He had an idea of what the man was capable of but he wanted to allow Olivia the freedom to do what she always had been accustomed. She had always fought her own battles and she had wanted to do this. Against his better judgment he had stood down. Olivia had gone into the devil's own workshop and he had hurt her. He would've kept the fool in line if he had been there. The man was obviously an idiot and he still didn't get that Olivia was now his to protect even from him! He had called her names and he had threatened her with violence. His anger knew no bounds. He could barely wait to confront the man!
Fitz left the parked car and walked up the steps to the main house. He rang the bell quickly and continuously. The rings were relentless! There would be no niceties! He wanted no confusion. He was at the door and he was demanding entry immediately! He heard the footsteps approaching. Without a doubt, it would be Thomas Pope. The man opened the door and looked Fitz up and down before speaking. Fitz sized Pope up as well. So, this was the fool that thought he was a king?
Thomas Pope recognized Grant immediately. His first thought was to slam the door in his face! On second thought he would play along with the farce the American thought to play.
"How can I help you? Why are you ringing my bell like that? No solicitations are allowed here. What do you want?"
"My name is Fitzgerald Grant and I'm not a soliciting. I urgently needed to speak with you. It concerns your daughter Olivia."
"So, you are Fitzgerald Grant. You have the nerve to park yourself at my door, ringing my bell like a mad man? Why? My daughter isn't any concern of yours. You may have talked her out of her drawers Grant, but Olivia is no concern of yours. I suggest you get back in your chauffeur-driven automobile and go back from where you have come. I haven't any time for you and I don't want you here!"
"I suggest to you Mr. Pope, that you make time. There are things that need to be addressed between you and me. We need to have a very pointed conversation. I assure you that we will have it and we will have it now! If you wish to have this conversation out here for your neighbors and passersby to hear; that's fine with me. I have no qualms about this discussion being had out front and in the open. However, I suspect this could get loud and ugly. I have parked myself outside of your door because I will discuss Olivia with you and it will be today. You should understand Mr. Pope that Olivia is now mine to protect from any and all. That includes you. May I step inside or shall we continue this where we stand?"
"Step inside Grant. What could you possibly have to say to me? Be quick about it. I'm a very busy man. You have a lot of nerve to come here after what you have done. You have turned my daughter into a whore and brought shame upon this house. State your business and then leave here!
Fitz stepped in the Pope home and Thomas closed the door. They would speak right here next to the door. Thomas Pope didn't owe this man courtesy and he wouldn't get any. Let him stand here and state his purpose for this intrusion!
"You sir are on thin ice. Because you are Olivia's father, I won't beat your ass to a pulp for your words on this day, right here, right now! I'm warning you. I put you on notice. If you ever refer to Olivia as a whore after our conversation is finished, in my presence again, you will live to regret it. That is if you live. Another thing you should be aware of is that I don't make threats, idle or otherwise. You disparage Olivia at your own peril!
Your daughter is the woman that I love. She will become my wife and the mother of my children in the very near future. Wife and mother are exalted titles for me. Therefore, as my wife and mother to my children, Olivia is mine to protect on all levels. You have hurt her today. You have disturbed her well-being and her mental psyche with your words and actions not just today but in days past. You are to NEVER in this life EVER again to refer to Olivia in any derogatory manner. Please hear and understand my words. I don't plan to repeat them.
Olivia isn't a whore and you know it. I was the first man to touch her intimately. She gave herself to me because she loves me. Nothing that has happened between she and I isn't as it should be. We have chosen to be together because we love each other. I get that you want to make much to do of the two of us falling in love at first sight. You are allowed to be skeptical; anyone would be. You also want to put up race as a barrier between us. That is ridiculous in this day and time. The two of us were meant to meet and fall in love. Your aversion to the meshing of races says more about you than Olivia. She is your daughter. You raised her. You know her real values and how she has lived her life up until last week. As I believe in destiny, I know that me meeting Olivia was inevitable. Nothing was going to stop it. Yet here you are, insinuating everything in the world but truth. Your daughter loves me and I love her. For those reasons you would condemn her and banish her from her home and family? What you have done is unconscionable!
I understand this isn't the first time you have demeaned and denied one of your children. You forced Olivia's brother from your home and the love of his family for sick and demented reasons. Are you a racist, Mr. Pope? People of opposite races fall in love as easily as other people. You would shun your own grandchildren because they are biracial. What kind of a man does these things? Who would label and abandon innocent children?
I'm not sure what type of man you are or even if you are a man at all. Olivia has told me of the way you disrespect your own wife. It's despicable. Since you have the unmitigated gall not to be ashamed, I'm ashamed for you. Olivia is leaving the Caymans today and I encourage you not to speak to her again in the future, if what you have to say to her isn't loving and respectful. You may treat your wife like shit but never mine, never Olivia. It. Will. Not. Happen! Am I clear?"
"What is this? You come to my house all big and bad threatening me about my own daughter! You dare to try and tell me what to say to her? You lecture me about how I run my household and treat my wife? America is indeed a country of fools. You don't step foot on my island and begin to lecture me and tell me what my position is with my wife and daughter boy. You have lost your mind. Your white privilege doesn't extend down here.
You are down here on holiday looking to dip your wick and foolishly my daughter accommodated you. She thinks she's in love and apparently you believe that you love her. What nonsense!"
"I do love her."
"No, you are infatuated with what lies between her legs. No doubt you are mesmerized by it. You are pussy-whipped boy. Go home to your wealth and privilege and leave my daughter alone. Find someone else to tickle your fancy. That Ivy League education of yours should have led you down a different path. I'm sure mommy and daddy won't be pleased with whom you think to bring home to dinner. Wise up Grant and call this thing between you and Olivia what it is. You were on a Caribbean holiday and it was filled with Caribbean heat and lust. It was a first for the both you. You both were overwhelmed by the intensity of it. Down here we call a spade a spade."
"What an overbearing fool you are Mr. Pope. Olivia deserves much better than you but we can't choose our parents. Thank God my parents are capable of loving me unconditionally. They already love Olivia because I love her. They have accepted her with open arms. You know why? Because my parents trust me as an adult to make my own decisions. They don't turn their backs on me when they should love me most. I have warned you Pope. Olivia is mine to protect. Tread softly or I will cut you down. Good day, I'm here to pick up Olivia."
"Take her. I've already told her she's no longer welcome here."
"Done. Before we end this, I'd like to make you an offer for the floor length mirror in Olivia's apartment. She's told me it belonged to her grandmother. She wants to keep it as her own. Name your price."
"You think I would sell anything to you. You have ruined my daughter!"
"Let it go Pope. Olivia isn't ruined. Not at all, but I promise you, you will be! You should know that I can break and bend you. I guarantee you I can. I can make your life one of total misery. In fact, I want to. You deserve to be stripped of the veneer you have covered yourself in. You deserve pain and misery just like that you have heaped upon your family. Don't take heed of my warnings about your daughter and continue your degradation and harassment of her. You will live to regret it. Try and keep that mirror from her and see what will happen.
You have ruled over this house and its inhabitants for years. Inside of this house you have been little more than a tyrant. Truth is inside of this house you are a contemptable coward preying on your family. You are a complete and abject failure as a husband and a father. Your wife has been turned into a Stepford wife. As of today, both of your children after seeing what you truly are, have fled! What does that say about you?
You claim to be a man but I know and see differently. You are masquerading as man. You like to throw around the word boy quite a lot. I assume most of your dealings have been with boys. I suppose that is what you are accustom to, Thomas Pope. Today be assured that you are dealing with a man. I am a man, not a boy! You would do well to remember that!"
Fitz walked out the door, slammed it and strode down the steps. He had said what he had come here to say. The man had been duly warned and apprised of his situation. Thomas Pope was a fool and he spoke like one. Whether or not he realized that Fitzgerald Grant was deadly serious was yet to be seen. Fitz hoped some of what he had said had sunk into the fool's head. He was Olivia's father but he would crush him like a gnat if he had to. He hadn't seen one redeeming quality in the man over the last fifteen minutes. The man was irredeemable. The entire planet would be a better place without him.
Fitz walked around the main house to the entryway of Olivia's apartment. He rang the doorbell. Olivia opened the door. She was glad to see him. There was a real smile on her face but there was a sadness in her eyes. He saw it right away. He closed the door and took her into his arms and held her tightly
"It's alright Sweet Baby. I won't let him hurt you again. I promise you my parents will love you like you are their own daughter. And I have pledged my entire life to you Olivia. Everything I have, is yours to command. Are you ready to go onto our latest adventure?"
"Yes, I'm ready. Fitz, I just want to leave this place and all the ugliness. My father is a lost cause and I need to move on and away from him. I will communicate with my mother if I can but I see no hope of a relationship with my father. I have accepted my plight just as Tommy did. It hurts but I can bear it. Especially now that you are here. I didn't hear the car come up. I was listening for you."
"McKinley is parked on the other side of the main house. I wanted to talk to your father Olivia and I didn't want you compelled to feel you needed to be there. Your father and I needed a one on one. I'm not sure as to how productive it was but I think we understand one another. As you like to say, I made myself plain. I was crystal about you and me and what I won't tolerate from him. If he is as brilliant a mind as he professes to be, he understood me. For his sake I hope he did."
"Did you threaten him Fitz? This is why I dreaded an altercation between you two. It didn't come to blows, did it?"
"No, at least, not physical ones. There were quite a few verbal ones thrown. I also threw down the gauntlet Olivia. If your father chooses to pick it up, he will find himself on the receiving end of a Hell of his own making. That I can promise him."
"Fitz, I'm moving on from this house and my father's foolishness, whatever it is. You and I are together. For me that is all that matters. Shall we go?"
"Yes. Let me call Mac to come on around. Is that all you have, that one bag?"
"Yes."
Fitz made the phone call and they walked out of her apartment. For Olivia it meant the end of her life as she knew it. There was some sadness there of course but not much. She had known she would embark on a new life in the United States when she became a full-fledged physician; it was simply happening earlier than planned. She had left her keys on the kitchen island. She wasn't coming back. She had made her peace with that fact when she had talked to her Nana while standing in front of her mirror about thirty minutes ago. She wondered if she would feel her Nana's spirit as strongly now since she wouldn't be coming back here. As she had told her Nana, her knight had come for her just as she had predicted. Overall, this was a happy day. She had promised herself she wouldn't cry about today and she hadn't so far. Nonetheless, a part of her was totally shaken and bereft. She looked up at Fitz and held tightly to his hand as she pulled the door closed.
McKinley was there with the car. Hand in hand they left the apartment. Fitz opened the door for her and they got in. Once inside he gathered her in his arms and brought their joined hands to his lips. He placed a kiss upon her hand.
"I love you Olivia and I promise you will never have one day's regret in choosing to love me back."
"I know."
Olivia's parents watched her departure from different positions in the Pope house. Thomas Pope stood in the large bay window of his family room. He was still angry. The infidel had come to his homeland and now his home. In the interim, he had stolen his daughter from him. Not only had he stolen Olivia, he had come to his home and threatened him. The man had made threats like someone from a mob movie. He had threatened to crush him, to destroy him. For some reason Thomas Pope believed the man would try. Grant hadn't blinked an eye when he had berated him and Olivia. There had been fire and madness in the man's eyes. He had seen it for himself. There had been obvious restraint from the man. If looks could kill, he knew he would already be dead! Fitzgerald Grant had taken his most prized possession and dared him to try and get it back. Americans were so tactless.
Tessa Pope watched her daughter leave with her lover from the window of the master suite. The man was most solicitous of Olivia. You could tell by his stance and demeanor. His love and concern for her was there for all to see. Thomas Pope had best be careful. Tessa had heard the bell ringing incessantly. She should have known that Fitzgerald Grant would come here.
When Tessa realized to whom her husband had been speaking to in the foyer, she had come into the hallway to eavesdrop. She had missed the very beginning of their conversation but she had heard everything else. Fitzgerald Grant was a formidable man. He was obviously accustomed to getting what he wanted and he wanted Olivia. There wasn't a chance in hell of Olivia ever coming back here and she was happy for her. Tessa now stood here watching her daughter fly the coop. She moved once again out of her bedroom into the foyer area. Only this time she wanted her husband to see her. She wanted him to know she was there. She wanted him to know that she had heard him and Fitzgerald Grant.
Thomas Pope was still standing in the family room window watching his only daughter leave with that man. His eyes had brimmed with tears and his sadness was profound. How could this be happening? Not again. Not Olivia. She was the best thing in all of this madness. His loveless marriage, a defiant son, a house that wasn't a home, somehow knowing that his daughter would grow up to take his place; he had been comforted. Now she was gone and thanks to that wicked man from America she would never return here. He blinked back the wetness in his eyes and allowed his rage to consume him once again. Someone would pay for this day. He would see to it! He turned from the window and saw his wife standing in the foyer. She was such a distasteful woman, no spirit, no backbone, no fire. He should never have married her!
"I heard most of your conversation with Mr. Grant. You continue to make a complete fool of yourself Thomas."
"So, you have lowered yourself to even listening to my conversations which don't concern you. You are more disappointing every day Tessa. I have allowed you entirely too much freewill around this house. Things are about to change. If you ever think to lock me out of my bedroom again you will be sorry. I'm your husband and I will sleep in my own bed when I choose to. Also, I have a legal right to your body should I desire it. You had best remember that the next time you decide to deny me. And if you ever again dare to contradict me and side against me as you did with Olivia this morning, I will strip you of everything. That includes your credit cards and monthly allowance. I see I must remind you that everything in your world is belongs to me!"
"Once again you haven't failed to disappoint me, Thomas. Every word you have spoken just now, I expected. I have lived here in this house with you for thirty years. Olivia hadn't been born when you built YOUR house. You installed me here and began thirty years of tyranny for me and everyone in it. Material things have always meant a lot to you Tommy. You apparently live for what you can amass in this life to show people how important you are. So, everything you have now belongs to you? My contributions have meant nothing! You will disinherit both your children and deny me even a penny for years of servitude. Sounds about right, sounds very much like your demented self. What a braggart that you are. Take my word for it. It's a bad look Tommy but you go on, continue as you have."
Her purse lay atop of the one bag she had packed. She had only packed the basics, two days of clothing, her passport, government ID, her meds, and the cash she had amassed over the thirty years she had spent in Thomas' house. It was a considerable amount; every crack and cranny of that suitcase was packed with money. Over the years she didn't dare put her bounty in a bank for Thomas Pope to find. She had hidden it in places he would've never thought to look, right in his own castle. She smiled to herself. Every time she had stashed away one hundred dollars she would go to the bank and get herself a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill. She foresaw this day and she was ready. She picked up her purse, placed it on her shoulder, and she rolled the piece of luggage next to her. It would be difficult getting it down all those steps. It was heavy with all those hundred-dollar bills but she would manage.
"What are you doing Tessa? What is this?"
"What does it look like Thomas?"
"Where are you going?"
"From this house, from you! Sleep in your own bed Thomas. In fact, now you won't have to wait for me to leave town to bring your whores in and have that sexual variety you claim you need. You can fuck them anywhere in this house including your own bed all day every day. You can save money on the room you have at Bellehaven. You can save money for the "stipends" for your trollops. Thank the Lord that I'm done with you!"
"You are out of sorts right now Tessa with this Olivia mess but you can't do this Tessa! You can't leave this house. Put that bag down. You are my wife. I forbid it!" He stepped in front of her.
"You forbid it? Step aside Thomas or I will call the constable myself! Move out of my way. Your days of forbidding me anything are over. My Uber should be here any minute. I mean it. Step out of my FUCKING way. My son and my daughter were thrown out of this house while I watched. I can only hope that one day I can regain their trust, love, and forgiveness. Now move before I'm compelled to strike you! I swear it will give me the greatest of pleasure. I say move out of my way!"
His wife had gone mad! She had shocked him speechless. Tessa was leaving him. He stepped aside. He had never seen Tessa so passionate about anything. She had meant it. She would've struck him if he hadn't moved. She was very, very angry. Again, he had possibly gone too far with her. Perhaps he should just let her go and cool down, then he could talk some sense into her.
She had only packed a small suitcase so she only intended to be gone for perhaps a few days. He was sure she was off to her sisters' place. That fire that he was now observing in Tessa reminded him of the days when he had desired her above all others. More than anything he had wanted to get underneath her skirts. She was such a fiery little thing. She'd had so much spirit. Then he had married her and there had been no spirit and no fire.
A man needed fire, spirit, and a willing body to alleviate stress. Sex was a stress reliever and he had thought Tessa understood that. Women were created for that purpose. The fact that she was frigid wasn't really her fault. She seemed to understand that he needed more that her indifference in the bedroom. She had sent him out into the street. When he had no choice but to accept what Tessa did offer and he turned to her. She had always accommodated him except for two days ago. She had refused to lie down with him. She had said nothing for thirty years about his affairs! Why now? Their marriage wasn't the best but it had been working.
He had taken the week off hoping to find Olivia and talk some sense into her. It didn't happen. Nothing had worked out as he had planned. When Tessa had refused him what else was he to do but go to Bellehaven? He was stressed out! He needed sex. He was doing Tessa a favor and once again she didn't understand how good she had it. And apparently neither did his daughter.
Olivia had taken up with a man way beneath her and now he had lost another child. Lost to the damning ways of the USA! Olivia had left her home with the American. And now his wife was about to leave him. He was angry as hell with Tessa but he didn't want her gone from this house! He would make another attempt to stop her. He didn't love her but she was his wife and he needed her! She belonged here. Once again he tried to reason with her! He had gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Tessa, this is wrong what you are doing. There is a price to pay for what you are doing. Turn around and come back into the house. I'm very upset with you but you are my wife and I am willing to show you leniency and forgiveness for your behavior today. I only need for you to turn around and apologize to me. And of course to do as you are told from this point on. We could go on as if this never happened. It's just you and me now. Our children have moved on. We could talk through this. After we talk, you can relieve my stress. I need you, Tessa. I need to be with you. Olivia taking up with that man is driving me crazy. I need the comfort of a wife. Please Tessa, don't leave me."
Tessa had been standing at the door waiting on her ride. She should go to a hotel for the night and clear her head. She knew what she wanted to do but did she have the guts to do it after all these years. She was assuming that he was still free. Maybe he wasn't. After all these years would he even want her still? She was no longer the raving beauty she once was. Would he even want an older woman? Middle-aged men were usually attracted to young beautiful nubile women. Tessa wasn't that! She could easily become a spectacle if she did what she wanted. Could she even become more of a spectacle than she already was? Everyone on this island thought her a complete fool.
She had caused her own situation. Tessa realized that. Was she too old to start her life over? Was she was prepared to step out of the door of Thomas Pope's house like she thought she was? She had finally spoken her truth to her husband and she had felt good about it. She had a suitcase filled with money and she was about to walk out of the door in front of her. Her husband stood behind her now with his jaws jabbing, as she was about to exit. If the truth be told, Tessa Pope was floored by the pleadings of her husband. The great Thomas Pope was making her an offer she couldn't refuse, right?
What was she hearing right now? She couldn't believe her ears. Thomas Pope was trying to talk her out of leaving him! Her nightmarish marriage had just taken on comedic proportions. Did he think she couldn't see through him? He wanted her to turn around and come back into his house as if two days ago didn't happen. Two days ago, he had left this house to go and fuck women in a hotel room he had for that sole purpose. And what of the last thirty years of misery she had suffered at his hands? The man wanted her to pretend that her children weren't gone from her because of him! Was she to pretend that she hadn't been both mentally and physically abused behind the walls of this place? He wanted her to pretend that he hadn't subjected her daughter to perhaps the most vile and profane conversation of her life. He had called his daughter a whore for loving a man that loved her back. He had promised to punish her for coming to her daughter's defense. He would take her credit cards and monthly allowance for being disobedient?
Tessa was shaking her head. She had to be living in an alternative universe! Thomas Pope, son of a bitch that he is, wanted her to turn around and walk back into a world of servitude, degradation, and humiliation. And for some reason, today right now, Thomas Pope wanted to fuck her, his wife. She had noted his erection as it had formed and now the bastard stood close enough to her that she could feel it! Apparently anger and the desire to punish her was the Pope method of foreplay. Well, Tessa Pope was unavailable for that shit ever again!
Her phone made a sound. She had received a text. Her ride was here. She opened the door and stepped outside. Tessa Pope wondered if her stepping through that door and closing it behind her had made herself plain! She still had not looked back at her foolish husband. Tessa had no more words for him. She looked directly into the Caribbean sunlight. She was free!
