Chapter 19

"Mr. Lockheed, we've found her. She spent one night at the Wharton on Thursday. She checked out the next day and checked in at the Roma Resorts. It's the new place out near the airport. She registered at both places using a false identity. And sir, she has changed her appearance. She looks nothing like the woman we've been looking for. I can't say for sure what's she done, but she is hardly recognizable as the woman in the photograph. We traced her to the Roma through her Friday check-in. Fifteen women fitting the description of a middle-aged woman checked into resorts on Friday. She was the only one that was Black and age appropriate. That was the way we found her and determined she was who we were looking for. She has basically been in her room for five days. All of her meals have been taken in her room. Oddly she has established a cash arrangement for payment sir.

She has made calls to her children, her sisters, her lawyers all on a burner phone. The number is listed in the dossier. There hasn't been any communication with her husband. He on the other hand has been running around like a headless chicken. He's looking for her but trying to pretend he's not. The man has done a number of things that aren't normal Mr. Lockheed."

"Why am I not surprised? Good work, Owen. Unless Mrs. Pope should change locations that aspect of your work is done. However, I want a detailed accounting of the activities of Thomas Pope that in any way involve his wife. At this point I don't expect Thomas Pope to do normal things. Should he at some point make contact with her, contact me immediately. And if his actions toward her prove to be anything other than cordial, act accordingly.

"Act accordingly sir?"

"The man has a propensity for violence in reference to his wife. If any touch he applies to her is unwanted or repelled and he doesn't get the message, make it clear to him. Instructions are for the team member to intercede on the lady's behalf. Am I clear?"

"Yes Sir."

"What name is she listed under at the Roma?

"Gretchen Locks. Again, she looks nothing like the photo you gave us. How old is that picture anyway?"

"Four years old, it's from her daughter's college graduation. Did she appear injured in any way? Were her features distorted. How exactly did she look?"

"To be honest sir, the woman in the picture you gave us appears to be a much older woman. More or less a matron. I would say mid-fifties, maybe even sixty. The woman staying at the Roma, she appears to be a much younger woman. See the picture for yourself.

"Again, excellent work Owen. Your bonus will be with this week's paycheck. Thanks for getting right on this. It was important."

"No problem, man. We work for you. Goodnight boss."

"Goodnight."

What was Tessa doing? He was hesitant to look at the photo. Maybe it wasn't even Tessa. It could all be some elaborate scheme of Thomas Pope. He could have her some place. The man was capable of god knows what. This woman could even be a decoy. If Tommy had hurt her again. If he was responsible for her disappearance. He was going to hurt him if not kill him this time. He picked up the picture and stared. The image startled him! His heart pommeled inside of his chest. He was thrown back in time. It had been over twenty years since she had seen that face so calm, serene, and so beautiful. That woman was indeed Tessa Pope. That was his Tess. She had aged but it was Tess. What in the hell was she doing?

The Grant jet had landed at JFK. Fitz should be home in about forty-five minutes tops. He could've called Olivia en route but he was already down in the dumps about having to leave her. Olivia was very sensitive about this issue of them being apart as well. She knew it wasn't what he wanted but it was what was necessary. He couldn't simply show up in her life and rip it apart because he loved her. He had to be patient and get them through this. He had seen the future and he and Olivia were together. He believed in the visions he had seen. Those visions were the only thing keeping him sane!

He had found the love of his life. He had known it the first moment he had seen her. From that point forward he had no intention of ever letting her go. He should have married her right there in the Caymans. He probably could have convinced her to do it. Without a doubt she loved him. Without a doubt she wanted to be with him. There were obstacles ahead but they weren't insurmountable.

Olivia was fulfilling a dream of hers and he hadn't any right to take that dream from her. He was going to have to be patient. He'd done the investigative work himself. At minimum it would be eight or more years before Olivia's studies would be concluded including specialization. They were going to live together. They had more or less pieced that together but was it going to be enough?

He had never wanted anything so badly in his entire life. He wanted to marry her and start a family. And in his heart, he didn't want to wait almost a decade. Couples lived together for years. They married years later and had children years later. It had been done by any number of couples with demanding jobs. He had to simply get a grip and come to terms with where they were at the moment.

He wasn't sure when he had begun to think of thirty-six as old. He felt young and energetic. He had the stamina of a twenty-year old and not just in the gym. The generational gap between he and Olivia was one problem. If he were in his early twenties as well this entire thing would probably be a cakewalk. They both would be in their early thirties when Olivia completed residency and fellowship. They could move on with their lives and start a family. Problem was he was fast approaching forty!

All sorts of scenarios were running through his head as he sat there waiting for the captain to give the all-clear signal. Perhaps the ride home would purge him of some of his demons. He didn't want to call Olivia sounding down in the dumps. She was so smart and wise for her age. She could hone in on his thoughts so easily, it was uncanny. It could be a problem when the love of your life knew what you were thinking before you said or did one thing!

He wanted his head clear. He needed positive vibes and thoughts in his head when he talked to Olivia. She had invited him to live with her in her space. That was a good thing. They had spent eleven idyllic days together. They had fallen in love and discussed plans for a future, together. That was progress. It may not have been all he hoped for but it was progress. He was going to have to live with that for now.

Apparently, love did hurt, as Olivia Pope had found out about two hours ago when she had watched her boyfriend disappear down a tree-lined street. Olivia Pope didn't cry as an adult woman. Now in a matter of days she had two episodes of tears! She hadn't wanted him to go. She had been one step from begging him not to leave her! At the last minute she had wanted to break their pact of no lovemaking on his night of his departure. She was new at sexual allure but she knew she had power over him. She could've enticed him into her bed and kept him there for perhaps a marathon but what would it have accomplished? He still had to be back in New York City tomorrow. He had a court appearance at ten-thirty in the morning.

Olivia Pope, stop this foolishness! You're in a committed relationship. It doesn't matter that it's only eleven days old. Things are going to work out. You are going to marry Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III and he is going to father your children. You're going to become a doctor. So, get a grip. She had been staring at her cell phone for the last half hour. She didn't want to appear over anxious. He did say he would call once he got home. That was the plan. She needed to take a breath, calm down, and wait. Fitzgerald Grant hadn't disappointed her once in eleven days.

He called at exactly nine-nineteen. Olivia had been sitting at her study desk looking at her cell phone forever. She had some papers she needed to read but she knew she couldn't concentrate so she was going to do it after his call. She took a deep breath and answered the phone.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"I'm home. I miss you. How are you doing without me? To be honest Olivia, I feel lost right now without you but I will persevere I think."

"Saying I miss you, is such an understatement. I feel so incomplete without you. I watched you leave and I barely survived it Fitz. I love you so much and I feel such loneliness right now. I've concluded that love can hurt and it's not a good feeling. You don't know how much I wanted to beg you to stay with me. That being said, I even envisioned coming to New York with you. I'm so torn about what I'm actually doing and what my heart wants to do. It almost seems unfair that I've found you and we have to lead separate lives."

"Olivia, we can do this and we can do this well. You and I are vastly intelligent people. We have known what we have wanted from this life for ages. We were seeking the love of our lives. We have been looking for one another and finally we found each other. Unfortunately, we have didn't find each other at just the right moment in time. That wording doesn't sound like the best way to say that but it's true. You are on the verge of fulfilling your lifelong dream of becoming a doctor and the love of your life shows up to disrupt it all. I imagine you are very torn right now and I'm so sorry. All I want to do in this life is see to your happiness and love you every day for the rest of your life. Stop worrying Olivia. I won't let us fail at this. I promise!"

"I know you won't and I love you more because of it. How was the flight?"

"It didn't have the usual take on it. I've shared a flight with you Olivia and I will never see flying the same again. It was passable. I'm about to go into my study and go over some briefs for tomorrow. What were you doing?"

"I was sitting at my desk unable to think one bit about medicine. It was worrisome for me because I can usually decompartmentalize so easily. Being in love is so different from any other aspect of life, it has to be. I'm out of sorts Fitz. I need to pull myself together. I won't let us fail either. I know I'm considered young Fitz but I am a very formidable woman. I have never in my entire life had one goal that I didn't reach. You and I aren't going to be the exception."

"No, we aren't. This is our first day apart Olivia and we are both out of sorts. We've had similar experiences in life. Thus far I've made just one foolish mistake and I corrected that one never to be repeated again. I have found you Olivia, the love of my life, and we are moving forward. We will get through this together and intact. Have you had a chance to look at your schedule? Are there any openings, anything no matter how remote?"

"It's looking like there's pretty much nothing until the holidays roll in next month. There is a nine day break available for us during that time. Students usually get together and decide who stays around for Christmas and who stays for New Year's. I applied for the Christmas break which includes Christmas eve, Christmas Day, and three days afterwards. My mother and I were planning to spend some time with Tommy and his family during Christmas. With her current situation I would say that is probably off the table. My mother will surely understand that have I decided to spend Christmas with you. And as much as I love my mother and brother, I choose you Fitz. I want to spend the holidays with you and your family in California, if the offer is still open."

"If the offer still open? You have a standing offer for life to spend holidays with me. Nothing would please me more than to have you with me at Christmas. Again, you have made me so happy Olivia. I can't wait for the holiday to arrive. Now that you know for certain you are coming will you please get the details to Audrey. You will fly out with me of course. This will be so good for us. No other openings in your schedule before then?"

"No Fitz, I'm sorry but there isn't. If there are any changes you will be the first to know. What time will you be out of court tomorrow?"

"I have two cases tomorrow and a negotiation dinner later in the evening. Business dinners in New York aren't known for their brevity. However, I will call you when I get in."

They talked for about two hours about them, mundane things, and anything really. Mainly they talked about them. Fitz made the suggestion that they consider professional help, a therapist to help them navigate their journey. He was open to it if she was. Olivia was slightly taken aback. She often saw things in scientific terms but opening up her private life to a therapist? Talking to Darcie was one thing but to talking to a stranger about her personal life she wasn't sure about that.

Fitz finally got her to see that emotional health should always be on the same scale with physical health. He had a therapist since he was twelve. Nothing had been wrong. His mother had simply wanted him to have someone help him negotiate the teen years and cope with the responsibility of being a child of privilege. He emphasized to her that he spoken to his psychiatrist when he had lost his virginity at fifteen. It had been very helpful. Having a therapist didn't type-cast you or put you into a box. He was saying that to say that in order for them to succeed they might have to go outside of the box.

Olivia didn't say yes to the proposal but she was willing to say nothing was off of the table. She wanted Fitzgerald Grant and she wanted their relationship to succeed. Finally, they called it a night. Olivia had to be up at six. Fitz would sleep in a little later but they both had jobs and needed rest.

"Will you call me tomorrow?"

"Olivia, not a day will go by that you won't hear from me. In fact, if you don't hear from me assume that something is very wrong."

"You meant it when you said I can call you anytime I want to? I can bypass Audrey if I choose to do so?"

"I meant every word Olivia Pope. I love you."

"I love you too Fitz. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Thomas Pope was on his way home, to a totally empty house. It was empty of humans other than himself. No son, no daughter, and no wife. Even the housekeeper was threatening to quit! He was beside himself with anger. All of this was Tessa's fault. If she had been a better mother and a better wife none of these things would be happening. He had made the trip by charter boat to a neighboring island. Tessa's oldest sister lived there. Tessa had a falling out with her years ago. She had never been as close to her as she was to the two monsters that lived on Big Island. They wouldn't tell him anything. They didn't even want to acknowledge they had a sister and that she was his wife. They had treated him with total disrespect. He wouldn't forget how they had treated him. He would jump at the chance to punish them for their disloyalty.

Naomi had at least let him cross her threshold. She had some manners. Why she wasn't answering her phone he didn't know. She had cost his unnecessary expense for the charter in order to come here and talk to her. If Tessa was here, he intended to take her by surprise. Naomi invited him in and asked if she could get him anything to drink. No, she couldn't. He was looking for his wife. He wasn't there for niceties and said as much! After that, their conversation went downhill.

Naomi Adderley was a shrill old bitch that had owned a juke joint and more back in the day. He thought she had retired from her former livelihood but he wasn't sure. Right now, she had a cigarillo hanging from her mouth and she was dressed as if she might have been expecting company. Naomi was at least ten years older than he was but she was still a stunning woman. The Adderley women aged well. She looked good in that dress with all that cleavage, that tiny waist, and those shapely legs. His dick jumped in response to some very old memories. Naomi stifled his memories by letting him know she wasn't into niceties either!

"You're looking for your wife? You've lost her? I thought you kept a tight rein on Tessa. Last I heard she couldn't take a shit without your permission Thomas. What's going on over there on the Big Island that so-called "big" men can't keep track of their womenfolk?"

"Now see here Naomi. I have always treated you respectful. There isn't any call for your sass. Have you seen or talked to Tessa or not? Is my wife here?"

"Careful Thomas. Remember my name is Naomi Adderley, not Tessa Adderley Pope. You are in my house and I will speak as I choose, including sass to you, boy. I haven't seen or heard from my sisters in years and that includes Tessa. They tend not to speak to me. As for your wife, she's not here."

"Thank-you for your time then." Thomas Pope got up and walked toward the door. The old strumpet knew nothing. Why was he wasting his time here? She woman continued to speak from her sofa.

"Thomas Pope you are a no-good scoundrel. Your exploits and how you treat your wife and children are well known. How they have put up with you all these years is beyond me. And especially Tessa, my sweet little baby sister deserved so much better than you. I tried to talk her out of it. You were a nightmare waiting to happen. You were fucking everything that moved before you married her and you never stopped. I knew you would never make a good husband."

"Unless my memory fails me Naomi you actually sampled the husbandly goods yourself and I had no complaints from you back in the day! I married your sister and gave her everything a woman could want. Right now, she's mad with me because I wouldn't allow my daughter to sass me in my own home and I kicked her out. Impertinence must run in the family. Olivia must show respect to her father and it's a wife's sacred duty to back her husband in all things. I was a good husband. Problem was your sister didn't know how to be a good wife and the truth be told, Tessa is as frosted as the North Pole. Too bad you couldn't have taught your sister how to please a man between the sheets. Maybe things would be highly different right now!"

"Boy, all those years ago, you came to my house to learn what to do with that pee pee of yours. Unless my memory fails me, you weren't working with all that much. So maybe your wife had cause not to defrost herself. As I said, I tried to talk my sister out of what I saw would be pure calamity. A narcissist like yourself rarely puts anything before their own selfish needs. Back in the day, what were you, a two or three minute man? Wherever Tessa is I pray the gel has the good sense to stay put. Your poor momma worked two and three jobs to send you to fancy schools including to America to study medicine, and what do we still have here? Proper trash. Get out of my house, Thomas Pope."

He walked out of the door and slammed it. He could've retaliated back with a verbal sally. After all the woman had owned an establishment of ill repute years ago. He had been a young boy and she had taken his money regardless of how long he had fucked her. She made a fortune lying on her back. Just because she got out of the whoring business, she now feels she can look down on him, a man in the noblest of professions. Who did she think she was to chastise him? This is why men become brutes because of the Tessa and Naomi Adderley's of the world.

By the time the boat had made the return trip back to Grand Cayman he was even more livid. Where in the hell was she? He was beginning to think she had gone out of the country perhaps to Tommy's. Where else could she be? He would rather cut off his arm than place that call to the states but he was getting desperate. A mother might run to her son. He wanted his wife back! He had never in a million years thought she would ever leave him no matter what he had done. And he had done just about everything possible including having sex with her sister in his youth. Of course, he had been one of her johns. That put a different perspective on his case. Naomi Adderley was a pistol but she loved her baby sister. She had come to him just days before their wedding demanding a promise from him never to disclose their prior association. There was a vow of silence he never intended to break!

When he got home, he found Tommy's number. He held it in his hands but he couldn't bring himself to dial it. He hadn't spoken to his only son in years. Tommy had three kids now. One of son's was named after him. He has disowned his only son because he had married that slutty girl she met at college. She had pussy whipped the boy and he couldn't get enough. He wouldn't give her up even if he disowned him. He had! Did he have regrets? Of course, he did but he had to let his family know that they couldn't defy him. He had given his children everything he never had. A beautiful home, a stay-at-home mom, home cooked meals, the best clothes, and schools. He had given them everything and they appreciated nothing. They had forsaken him for love. You could find love anywhere but not your family. He would never forgive his children for their abandonment.

Olivia had at least called him even if it was to find out what she could about her mother. She had left the lines of communication open. He would call Olivia and present his worry for her mother. He would ask her to call Tommy. That would work. Olivia would do that wouldn't she? She would call her brother to see if her mother was there. If she were there he would go there and bring her home. He would promise to mend fences with their children. He would do anything to get her back. It was all so very clear to him that whatever it was that existed between him and Tessa, he needed it!

"Hello."

"Hello Olivia, I know it's late and you are probably in bed but I'm terribly worried about your mother. It's been days now and still I've not heard a word from her. She has been seen by no one on this island. Your aunts, no one. I asked your Uncle Jimmy to help me find her and he won't lift a finger to help me. I've been scouring this island and the neighboring ones looking for her. It's as if she had dropped off of the face of the earth Olivia. I know your mother and I have our differences but I need her here at home. I'm having a very hard time without her.

Maybe she is at your brother's house. Could you call him and find out for me? Even though we are estranged Olivia, I still want the best for you and for Tommy. You and Tommy have made our choices and I will have to live with that. That however shouldn't affect what goes on between me and my wife. We have built a life together. We should be getting closer with our grown children no longer in the nest. I know she is very angry right now. If I can talk to her, I'm sure I can get her to see reason. You have gone on with your life Olivia with your American boyfriend. I'm sure you want to see your mother safe and secure in her own home. I'm asking for your help in finding your mother and bringing her back to me."

"Dad, I haven't any idea where Mother is. I do know that she isn't with Tommy. She has let both of us know that she is well. She chose not to disclose her whereabouts. I can't say where she is because I don't know where she is. What I do know is that she gave me no indication that she intended to return to Overton Place."

"Well, since you have spoken to her what is her new telephone number. She no longer carries the mobile phone I provided for her. Your mother is doing things so uncharacteristic of her Olivia. She could put herself in harms' way. Your mother has never really been on her own. She hasn't any idea how to navigate in the real world! No matter what you may believe of me Olivia all I have wanted for you, your mother, and Tommy is the best of everything. I may have had a heavy hand and a great deal of restrictions but surely you of all people know that all I've done has been for the family. I've provided for all of you highly above the average means of this island. All of you have had the best of everything, your mother especially. How she could do this to me I will never understand? How could you possibly know she hasn't any intention of returning to Overton Place? This is her home. I'm her husband. She belongs to me."

"Mother belongs to no one Dad. Your family isn't your personal property! Mother, me, Tommy; none of us belong to you! We aren't chattel on a plantation. You don't own your family! Perhaps this is where you have gone wrong with your children and most especially with your wife. A family and a wife deserve more than ownership."

"Olivia you are twisting my words. None of you were mistreated. There wasn't any plantation life on Overton Place. Everyone in that house received special treatment. I gave all of you lives fit for royalty and you know it. All of you had the best of everything. And yet all of you have betrayed me. Every last one of you are ungrateful. Your mother was to teach you and Tommy humility and respect instead I get this. I have a daughter on the other end of a phone line insinuating that I Thomas Pope have somehow failed my family because I gave them everything that money could buy!

Surely this is comedy. I don't believe you Olivia! You are a girl raised in the church taught to obey the scriptures and your parents. Yet you have taken flight with a man that isn't your husband and flaunted your sexual affair with him. You now have the audacity to lecture me on the way I have pampered my family. You would accuse me of somehow mistreating the lot of you? Once again I don't know who you have become Olivia."

"Dad this conversation has become tedious and unproductive. I haven't any idea where your wife is so obviously, I can't help you. I can tell you this. A house isn't a home because it is filled with the best money can buy. There has to be love in a house to make it a home. You have spoken so eloquently about all you have done, all that you have given. Yet, not once have you mentioned love. 'I love my wife. I love my family.' Such simple little declarations. These are foreign concepts to you because you are incapable of the emotion of love. And never talk of the church and scriptures when you are a man that reviles them every day of your life. Maybe if you had loved your wife, you would know where she is right now."

"Olivia…"

"Goodnight, Dad."

Olivia hung up the phone and shook her head. The man was unbelievable. He still doesn't get it. If he has lost his children and now his wife, it's no one's fault but his own! She could hear the panic in his voice. The man was lost without a castle filled with subjects to hoard over. He had cast out his children and now his last prized possession had flown the coop and he was in turmoil. There's no one to berate and watch grovel at his feet. His wife was his last bastion of hope to remain king of the castle. Olivia suspected her father was unraveling. Her mother would do well to keep to her plans of never going back to the castle. When her mother next called her, she would speak plainly with her. She should avoid Thomas Pope at all cost.

Her father's call had awakened her from dreams of she and Fitz. Her dreams were so real. He had been making love to her and that was a good thing. She wasn't going to dwell on her father's midnight call. Tomorrow she would call Uncle Jim and make him aware of the situation. He was her father's best friend. It was very possible that he already knew everything. Uncle Jim may be privy to something she didn't know. In the meantime, her father needed someone to talk to obviously. Uncle Jim had always been the voice of reason. He would get her father to see that he should recoup his losses and move on! His wife wasn't coming back to him. She closed her eyes, fell back asleep, and into her dreams.

Olivia Pope wasn't the only one dreaming. Tessa Pope was dreaming as well. Since her very first night on her own she had begun to have dreams of the two of them again. She had stopped dreaming of them when she had gone back to Thomas Pope all those years ago. She had ended all hope for them with her actions. What good would it have done to dream of what she had given up.

Things were different now and even her psyche had picked up on it. She had left the stifling confines of Overton Place and her heart was free to dream again? Apparently so. She had loved him so fiercely once. She had known she would never love that way again. She had turned her back on him to become a doctor's wife. Choices. She had made a few bad ones. She had been an adult when she had lost her mind and chosen Thomas Pope. She would have to live with it. However, if freedom meant she could dream again why shouldn't she? She had dreamed almost nightly. Tonight, she had dreamed of their beginning. He had started joining her on the beach as she walked. He had never said a word. He would simply walk with her for a spell and then he would be gone. They had walked the beach side by side saying nothing. And then one day it was different.

On a sandy white beach with the Caribbean heat bearing down on them he had extended his hand and she had taken it. She had a fiancé yet she had taken his hand and held it tightly. She shouldn't have done it but she had. She wanted to. She had wanted to be with Jimmy Lockheed so she had taken his hand. She had loved him forever but he had ignored her basically her entire life up until that day. They had walked along hand in hand saying nothing. She was looking down at her feet treading sand and he was staring straight ahead. Where were they headed? What in the world could this lead to but unhappiness for them both?

She was the fiancé of his best friend. It was wrong to even think of Jimmy Lockheed the way she was thinking. By taking his hand she was sending out signals. He would think that she wanted him instead of Tommy. Which she did. That one simple act was going to take them down a precarious road. And it did. Finally, he stopped walking which meant she stopped walking. He reached out with his other hand and turned her face towards him. He was such a handsome man; he made her heart soar. He looked so serious. He had a habit of running his hands through his dreads when he was nervous. You could tell he was torn about their situation.

"Tessa, do you love Tommy?" Her answer was short.

"No, I don't."

His entire demeanor changed. A huge smile appeared on his face. He was still holding her face in hand. She thought he was going to kiss her and she was going to let him but he didn't. Instead, he brought their entwined hands to his lips and placed a kiss atop of her hand. He hadn't kissed her lips but that kiss had put a tremendous smile upon her own face. They were looking into each other's eyes and they both saw love shining back at them.

"I'm so glad that you don't love him Tessa because I love you with all my heart."

"I'm glad too because I have never loved any man but you Jimmy."

They started back walking. That had been their beginning and now it was just a dream.