Chapter 32

It was here. Wednesday. They were outside of the courtroom waiting. Tessa had found out that the mediation occurred outside of the actual courtroom. She and Thomas would meet in a room with their prospective lawyers and mediate. Supposedly they would hash out their differences, come to a conclusion, and present it to the judge. Whatever! She simply wanted this over. She wasn't asking for anything that she didn't deserve. Thirty years of penance came with a payoff. She wanted her name back and fifty percent of Thomas Pope's current holdings. She was only asking for what was on the books. She wouldn't venture into his secret stash. All the man had to do was to give her what she deserved by putting his signature on the bottom line. She wanted to be free.

When she and her lawyer arrived, Thomas and his lawyer were already there. Thomas spoke to her as they moved pass them. Suddenly, he got up out of his seat and placed himself directly in front of her. It startled Tessa. She wasn't expecting him to get in her path. She should have expected antics from Thomas Pope it was his forte!

"Good morning, Tessa. At last, we can sit down and solve our problems. This mediation has become necessary only because of your actions. You won't communicate with me. I'm your husband. We needed to talk."

Tessa's attorney immediately stepped in between them and put a hand directly in front of Thomas Pope. There was a determined look on the man's face and he was deadly serious. He'd been informed of the character of Thomas Pope. If the man thought he would get to bully Tessa Adderley on his watch he was sorely mistaken!

"Mr. Pope, please stand back and move away from my client. We are here for a mediation which will take place behind closed doors, not in a hallway. All that my client has to say will be said behind those doors through her solicitor, which is me. Please excuse us." Leading Tessa past the man, they walked to the other side of the waiting area and sat down. In the background the solicitor heard Thomas Pope tersely say, "It's Dr. Pope to you!"

"Thanks for intervening Mr. Huntington. I really have nothing to say to Thomas Pope. The sooner he realizes that the sooner this thing will be over. Do you think we will actually start at nine?"

"These things usually start on time. I expect we will be called in at nine. Past negotiations assure me that the mediators show up on time and are ready to go. We still have a few minutes. It's only eight-fifty. Someone will come out soon. You have your demands and they will be met or Thomas Pope will face a different type of reckoning. Based on what you have shared of your marriage I find it unbelievable that he had the gall to insist on mediation. We will know his reasoning shortly."

"Good. I want this to be over."

"Unfortunately, we have to entertain this part of the case, madame. It became a requirement of the divorce once he insisted upon it. You have eloquently presented your side of the facts to me. Once the mediator hears them, that will be the end of it. Relax Ms. Adderley. The ball is in your court."

At exactly nine o'clock a woman attired in a very colorful dress and shoes came into the hallway and called, "Pope vs Pope please report to room ten to start your mediation process. Pope vs Pope."

Tessa's attorney briefly went over a few things with her and they proceeded down the hall to room ten. Thomas and his lawyer were already seated on the opposite side of the mediator. Tessa and her attorney took the other side. As soon as they sat, the mediator introduced herself and asked for opening statements.

"We will begin with you Dr. Pope."

"Mrs. Kline, my client believes there has been a misunderstanding between he and his wife. He wishes for them to reconcile. Whatever their differences in the past, he believes they can be corrected. He's made some mistakes in the marriage that have been misconstrued. He hopes to get a chance to personally talk to his wife and get her to see that they are essentially on the same page. He's been unable to discuss this with his wife because she cut off all communications with him. During this mediation process he hopes to get them back on the road to solving their problems.

Their last child recently left the nest and a variation of ideas caused some very hurtful rhetoric to be exchanged. My client is very sorry for the unfortunate part he played in the dispute. He offers his sincere regrets and apology to his wife and his child. If in fact his wife will accept his apology, he knows there will be no need for a divorce. My client is asking for a few moments of conversation with his wife for them to put this ugly situation behind them. My client loves his wife and has no desire for a divorce."

Mr. Littlejohn sat down after his delivery. Mr. Huntington stood and began speaking.

"Mrs. Kline, my client on the other hands believes there is no misunderstanding between she and her husband. Nothing has been misconstrued! Tessa Adderley Pope no longer shares any affection for her husband. She wishes to terminate the marriage. The divorce was initiated by my client and she still wants a divorce in all haste. My client will attest to the fact that the marriage is in complete shambles. It has absolutely nothing to do with their last child leaving the nest. The child Mr. Pope, excuse me correction, Dr. Pope is referring to is twenty-three years old and on the verge of obtaining a medical degree from Harvard University. She did not leave the home she was kicked out because she refused to adhere to her father's will.

Dr. Pope has engaged in egregious behavior for years now. This behavior had mostly been toward my client but recently migrated to their children. This is a development that my client would no longer tolerate, thus the beginning of the end. Dr. Pope is a bully, a verbal, and physical abuser. My client contends that she has been a victim of that abuse for most of the thirty years of the marriage. On top of these abuses Dr. Pope is a serial adulterer. My client has proof of her husband's infidelity amongst a slew of women on this island. If necessary, she can and will present this proof to the court. My client is only here today because it is mandated by law that she show up here for this mediation. She expressed to Dr. Pope that mediation would solve nothing, but he insisted.

My client seeks a swift and decisive end to this marriage. She is rightfully asking for half of the monetary assets acquired during the marriage. According to the calculations of my client and I, we estimate the Pope fortune to be at the tune of fifty-million American dollars. My client is more than willing to turn all physical assets obtained during the marriage over to the plaintiff. She will faithfully disavow everything but what she had taken with her the day she left their shared home. My client was very miserable in this marriage. The marital home, all other properties to include all vacation homes, his medical offices, and rental properties she would renounce. An equitable distribution of all checking and saving accounts is all my client requires for a quick dissolution of the marriage.

If Dr. Pope wishes to pursue this matter under the full auspices of the court, then my client will be forced to defend her petition. If forced to do so she will insist that half of everything acquired during the marriage to include all physical properties, all bank accounts including those that he has under names other than his own. My client has irrefutable proof that Dr. Pope has been hiding assets from his wife valued at minimum of twenty-five million dollars.

My client will also have the court be advised of the total number of affairs Dr. Pope has conducted outside of the marriage over these thirty years. The affect this has had on my client and her children has been most detrimental and unfortunately, it's something my client is unwilling to forgive nor forget. If Dr. Pope wishes a long-drawn-out court proceeding, we are prepared to do so.

As I have said, all my client wants is an equitable split of monetary assets legally on the table and the signature of Thomas Pope on the dotted line acknowledging the end of the marriage. It is our contention that a split of the fifty-million dollars your client has amassed as Tessa Adderley stood by his side is a small price to pay for thirty years as a devoted spouse. As stated in the divorce documents from my client, the differences here are irreconcilable. The marriage is irretrievably broken. If your client doesn't intend to sign the divorce papers forth with, we need to secure a court date. My client doesn't see the need for further mediation after today. I can assure you Ms. Kline, there's no need!"

"Mr. Littlejohn? Any client rebuttal."

"Not yet, Ms. Kline. I would like a ten-minute recess if possible. If my client and I could be excused to converse in private where I can ascertain exactly where we are in the mediation."

"A ten-minute recess will be fine. We were allotted two hours this morning if you feel it will be necessary. We can also have another two hours at a later date if needed."

Thomas Pope had been staring at Tessa and shaking his head. He didn't believe she would do it, but she had. She had lain down the gauntlet to be taken up in a court of law. If he didn't sign the divorce papers as of today, she would see him in court. And she would ruin him. She didn't want much! Only half of his hard-earned money! He had worked the long brutal hours for that money! He had made those investments, not Tessa Pope! He was the doctor. She was a mere house frau! She had sat there in his mansion living the life with servants and an allowance. He had given that bitch everything a woman could want. What did he get in return? She was a frozen woman, a cold fish. What else could he do but go elsewhere and find a warm body?

Tessa had used him to elevate herself and now she would take him to the cleaners? Mild-mannered Tessa had fooled him. She was a very cunning woman. He'd underestimated her. He thought she was docile and malleable. She wasn't. She intended to ruin him and take half of his money in the process! The bitch was making his blood boil.

He thought he could get her back if only he could talk to her. Well, she was refusing to talk to him period. Now he knew why. She was truly leaving him for another life that she wanted him to finance! She didn't need to say anything. She'd had her pissant lawyer say it all. Look at her! He could tell she wasn't opening her mouth to say anything to him. He had been played!

All he had done and provided for this woman and she would turn on him like this. Call him an adulterer, liar, and thief in front of strangers. What choice did he have but to meet her demands? Those shell accounts could land him in prison. She had even threatened to expose his extramarital affairs. She could ruin him in the medical community. He had fucked more than one or two of his fellow doctor's wives. He had notoriously piled his wares through numerous nurses at his hospital.

There was a paper trail and for all he knew there was video of his comings and goings from Bellehaven! Tessa Pope could end his career, take away half of his money, and possibly take away his freedom. He would've never thought it possible that she was capable of such treachery. He hadn't known the woman at all. She was cruel and vindictive. The woman was capable of anything!

The lawyer of Thomas Pope looked bewildered and confused. Hadn't the man told him that his wife had agreed to mediation because she wanted to save the marriage? The man's wife hadn't spoken a word but her body language sure had. She detested her husband. In fact, he would say that her greatest desire at the moment was not to be in the same room with Thomas Pope. Surely not today nor in the future!

His client was playing some sort of game. The woman on the other side of the table wanted a divorce and only a divorce. What game was the man playing? Thomas Pope was a wealthy man. For that reason alone, he had taken the case a mere two days ago. Supposedly he would show up for this mediation, the man and his wife would talk terms of a reconciliation and he would have another twenty-five- hundred-dollars deposited into his account today. Instead, he had been blindsided by jarring information and conditions from the other side. Ultimatums really. If his client didn't capitulate, things wouldn't go well for him. He whispered to his client.

"Join me outside Dr. Pope. You have left out some things very important to your case."

They left the mediation room and Wilford Littlejohn led his client to a secluded corner. He looked at the man and said nothing. If this thing ran over two hours, he would start charging the man by the hour for his services. This would be outside of his five-thousand-dollar retainer already charged to the man. He was a very good divorce attorney for a reason. However, a lying client was something he didn't tolerate. And he had been lied to. He was still waiting. The man was standing there like a fool. Let him! After ten-fifteen his services would clock in at four-hundred-dollars an hour. That amount was the fee whether his time spent was one minute or sixty of them. He was still waiting.

"Look, there's been some type of misunderstanding, Littlejohn. I saw no need to air our dirty laundry in there. So, I didn't mention it to you. I thought Tessa and I would talk this out. I can't believe that Tessa would tell her lawyer such dribble. And all of it was totally unnecessary. We have been together for thirty years. My wife doesn't want to end our marriage. I may have had an affair or two, but she is very secure as my wife. We were supposed to talk it out this morning in private. She wants to put this behind us. I know she does. I simply needed a few minutes alone with her.

Someone is guiding her in this, keeping her away from me. I know my wife. If I could talk to her, we could put all of our problems behind us. She's angry because she discovered several indiscretions that meant absolutely nothing. I had planned to smooth all of this over and take her home after this mediation. Once I'm able to show her how much I love her, all of this would end. You get my drift, I'm sure. That high-powered attorney of hers is simply putting on a show for Tessa. He's robbing her blind no doubt. Go back in there and insist that I be allowed to speak to her privately. That's all this will take."

"I don't suppose you heard any of the declarations from your wife's attorney, did you? If not let me sum them up for you. Your wife wants a divorce. She has labeled you a liar and an adulterer. She accused you of mental and physical abuse. She claims you kicked her children out of the home. She also claims you are hiding assets from her. Her claims are very damning Dr. Pope. Rest assured I have no authority to insist that your wife speak to you privately. Her attorney would most certainly oppose such a move as he apparently believes you to be a threat to his client. They are ready to take this matter inside of a courtroom before a divorce judge. If you intend to fight this in court, I will need your full disclosure this time and of course it must be coupled with the truth. I don't tolerate clients that lie to me Dr. Pope.

Is any of the information declared by Mr. Huntington true? Think long and hard before you answer that doctor. I'm an officer of the court. We have attorney/client privilege. However, criminal activity doesn't fall into the privilege category unless your attorney is unscrupulous and morally bankrupt. I'm none of those things, so beware and be sure of what you are saying from this moment forward."

"If what my wife is accusing me of is true what are my chances of remaining in the marriage? Even if some of it is true, why couldn't we attempt to work it out. I'm willing to change to save the marriage."

"Dr. Pope anything is supposedly possible. However, within a marriage there must be two willing people. You were in that mediation room, did your wife seem willing to you? Did she appear to want to discuss anything with you? Did she appear to even want to be in that room with you? Facts are delicate things Dr. Pope. They are always there even if we don't want them to be.

You may fight this thing in open court if you so choose. I will still represent you if you lay out the truth and pay my fees. The outcome may not be as you want it to be, I'm afraid. Mrs. Pope has the upper hand in this affair unless you have something untoward you wish to present about her to the court."

"I have nothing other than the fact that Tessa has always been indifferent and aloft. I've given her everything a woman could want for thirty years and this is what I get. She wishes to put me on trial in a courtroom. It's unbelievable!"

"Actually, it's not Dr. Pope. Many people simply have tired, loveless, thankless, and indifferent marriages. The love is long gone. Your children are gone. Mrs. Pope may simply want out. Perhaps unbeknownst to you, your children could've been your wife's reason to stay. With the children gone that could've very well been the catalyst for her actions. Women often stay in a marriage they dislike until the children are gone and then they flee.

Your wife is demanding only half of your listed monetary assets. If I understood correctly atop of the table is fifty million and under the table is another twenty-five to fifty million. She will accept twenty-five and be on her way, leaving you with close to seventy-five million and all of your properties. If you fight her, I can almost guarantee that you will have to come up with an equitable fifty/fifty split of everything you have. Your thirty-year marriage with the baggage it carries; it's almost a forgone conclusion your side will lose. Of course, you can fight it and try to lower the split but it could take years and thousands if not millions of dollars to do so. You could very well end up spending the bulk of your fortune in legal fees. Let me ask you something Dr. Pope. Do you love you wife or do you simply love to control her? Think about it before you answer."

"The answer to that is irrelevant. A wife belongs with her husband. Tessa is putting up a good front but she hasn't any idea how to get along in this world on her own. She's all blustery now but soon all of this so-called freedom of hers will wear thin. I'm only trying to help her as her husband. Instead of being grateful she's trying to ruin me, and in the process, ruin herself. She hasn't any money of her own. How will she live? No doubt that rubbish sister of hers is fronting her defiance right now to spite me. Once Naomi withdraws her support Tessa will run back to me!"

"Then perhaps you should wait for that occurrence. Right now, today, your wife seems interested in one thing according to her lawyer. To be divorced from you. That is what I heard and witnessed in the mediation room. Now, if you saw or heard something else, I recommend you remediate your understanding of the English language. Mr. Huntington was quite clear as were your wife's demands. I won't disillusion you Mr. Pope. Your wife's petition is very likely to be accepted before any judge that hears the case. Again, we can drag this out for perhaps a couple of months or maybe a year. We could make an appointment to take this case into another direction. However, a contested divorce changes many things. There will be official enquiries!"

"You seem very eager to take the words of my wife and her attorney to heart. You haven't any idea if she has been truthful or not. You hardly know my wife. Perhaps I would be better served to look for a more competent lawyer if I decide to go to trial."

"Dr. Pope, you may do whatever you please. You came to me two days ago begging me one of the most prestigious divorce lawyers on this island to represent you. You didn't doubt my competency then and you shouldn't now. According to filings in this case you are an adulterer, liar, and possibly a criminal. Huntington and Huntington would never mention those allegations they attributed to you unless there was ironclad evidence against you. I've seen for myself that you are a liar. You misrepresented every aspect of this case which as far as I'm concerned is reason enough for me to ask to be removed from it. Please remember Dr. Pope, I too live on this island. And your sir, have a reputation that is known by all. So please, remove yourself from your high horse. What do you want to do?"

"If I sign those papers what will happen?"

"Essentially your marriage will end in about eight weeks or less. It will be considered uncontested. It's even possible that Huntington will ask for an expedited decree. There's nothing to be divided. The terms are very simple. Your wife wishes a divorce. Her demands aren't unreasonable. She has every right to ask for half of the marital assets. She also has every right to request for her last name to be returned to Adderley, her maiden name. Those are the terms. If met your marriage ends.

"I can't believe this shit! You are telling me a wife can discard a fucking husband of thirty years so easily? It seems wrong to me."

"Dr. Pope, I'm telling you what is real. If your wife only petitioned the court with let's say your adultery and it's proven, you're toast. Couple that with the all those shell companies you felt the need not to tell your wife about and you have a problem. The Cayman judiciary frowns upon lying and adultery with a passion. Over the last twenty-years it has become chief cause celeb of divorce here. Most of our judges are very pious. And you sir, have not led a pious life."

"Are you sure I will lose nothing more than what she is asking for if I sign those papers?"

"Have you not read the petition at all Dr. Pope?"

"No, I haven't. I didn't think I needed to! I would never have thought Tessa capable of such treachery. What she is doing, it amounts to blackmail, does it not?"

"It's the hardball of marital politics. Playing loose with the truth and having a loose zipper has consequences here in the Caymans. It's hardly blackmail, Dr. Pope, when facts are involved."

"Let's get back in there. I will sign her damn papers! When she comes running back to me, it will be a necessity that she be on her damned knees, begging me to take her back! And I promise you I won't remarry her. She would have to live with me in sin. I will see that she pays for her perfidy!"

"Dr. Pope, you would be wise to sign those papers and get on with your life. Your wife hasn't any intention of returning to your marriage. As one that has been in this business, processing the ending of marriages, let me be clear. The body language of your wife says she's moving on."

"Are you sure my holdings that were held jointly in my name and in my dearly departed mother's name will not fall into the clutches of Tessa Pope? Those investments were my mother's. She left them and everything she had to me! She would spin in her grave if a penny of her money went to Tessa! If you are sure of that, I will sign the damned papers"

"Well then, let's get back into the mediation room and let Huntington know that we agree to his terms. As I said, in about eight weeks or less you should get your divorce decree in the mail. I've given you my best advice. Are you sure you are prepared to sign? You look as if you may pop a vessel in your brain. Rage is overrated Dr. Pope. You of all people should know that. I would sign those papers and call a paramour. I understand you have many. Besides, after you sign you will be technically free to dip your wick where you choose."

Thomas Pope looked at the tall, dark, and handsome Black man. He was confident and cocky. He was the type of man that made you want to smack the shit out of him. He was reveling in the fact that he had lost the case. He thought it was fine that a cold-hearted bitch would walk away with twenty-five million dollars of his money after laying beneath him like a board for ten or twelve times a year for thirty years. His marriage was a fucking joke. Tessa would come crawling back one day and he would have his sweet revenge.

Tessa Adderley walked from the court house. It was over! She couldn't believe it. Thomas had signed her divorce papers. He was simmering with rage. His anger all but burst from his body. In another forum and on another day, she would've been on the other end of that rage. Today was one of different circumstances. Thomas Pope was at her mercy. She had watched his trembling hand sign on the dotted line. After he had placed his signature on the divorce papers, he had looked at her with such malice for a moment she staggered back. She regained her composure quickly. Never again would she recoil from his anger and vileness. Thomas Pope was nothing more than a man. A man that was a vile bully! He would never control her again. She was free! Thomas Pope was out of her life. God be the glory!

Tessa Adderley was starting her life thirty years late. It was time! She could finally start to rebuild her life. Her house, she could set a closing date! She needed a car. She wanted something that exemplified that she was brand new! And she needed to come up with a plan to get James Lockheed back. That was her trifecta, a house, a car, and Jimmy. The last thing wouldn't be easy but she believed it was doable. It had to be. She loved the man!

Olivia had just gotten home from school. She had been so lonely this week. Fitz had dropped her off days ago and she still hadn't fully recovered from the loss of him not being around. They talked every day of course, sometimes more than once if they could swing it. When he had walked out of her front door and closed it, she had burst into tears. She didn't want him to go. It would be almost a month before she would see him again. Even knowing he would be moving in with her in a few weeks didn't help her melancholy. It was excellent news but she still was unhappy. She wished he were here.

The flight home had been wonderful. They had talked for several hours about their plans and how much fun they'd had in California. They both envisioned a life between them very similar to what they had experienced in California. They would be spending time together, sharing their thoughts, and making love as often as they could. Everything wouldn't be one-hundred percent rosy because as of right now they wouldn't be together on a continual and regular basis.

They had only spent a good solid hour on lovemaking amongst the clouds. It had been blissful though. Fitz had been on his game. That hour had been exquisite. Her fiancé had brought them both to new heights. She had given him the reins and simply concentrated on feeling! Fitz had long ago spoiled her for other men. He was powerful and masterful. He lit them both on fire and only he could extinguish the flame. That lovemaking in the skies would have to sustain them both for weeks.

Her body was adjusting very well to sex without a condom. She could tell she'd been well fucked on Monday morning but she wasn't sore the way she had been on the first night of their new reality. She had surmised that single bit of information and kept it to herself. Her worrywart fiancé didn't need to know that!

It hadn't been anything like Christmas night nor the night they had when they had first gone to California. Her fiancé was somewhat restrained but he was thorough. They had come together the first time. It had been extremely satisfying. Round two was for her. He said it would keep him in her memory for the next couple of weeks. He was right. She wouldn't forget. She came on his face twice and then he was inside of her making unbelievable magic. Twice more he made her scream before he emptied himself inside of her. It had been folly to buy her fiancé the Kama Sutra. Surely, he already knew all!

Today she would be done early. Begrudgingly she was considering going to look at houses alone. Her security detail would be with her. A four-man team rotated with her at all times. Her security was tight. A team slept on the premises in her basement. She was driven to school. In fact, she was driven everywhere. It was amazing the security in place for her now that she was the fiancé of Fitzgerald Grant. If she were in danger, she welcomed the security. She wanted to marry Fitz and live a long and happy life with him. Whatever it took to facilitate that she would endure.

Her mother had called today. Her father had signed the divorce papers. Would wonders never cease? Tessa was expecting the final decree in perhaps as little as a month's time. She was buying a house herself. Also, she was going to start driving again. Tessa Pope was buying a car. Her mother hadn't driven a car since she was a little girl. Father took her everywhere! Amazing changes were occurring in her life and her mother's. Olivia was happy about that. If she didn't have to worry about her mother that was a good thing.

Tommy had called her today as well. He couldn't believe it! Their mother had broken free from her tormentor. He was greatly relieved as he had always considered their father unpredictable and capable of anything. He had invited their mother to come and stay with him until she made her next decision. He and his family would love to have her. Olivia hadn't made a similar offer to her mother because her own situation was so new. She wasn't in a mood to entertain her mother just yet. Perhaps in the months after graduation when she had her new house, she would consider having her mother for a visit. She wished her mother well and offered emotional support.

Just as her mother was taking control of her own life, so was Olivia. Her fiancé would be moving in with her in a few weeks and she was very happy about it. Fitz was willing to reorganize his life to be with her. It was very encouraging to Olivia that Fitz was willing to turn his life upside down to accommodate her life at the moment. He loved her and he wanted to be with her. He loved her enough to propose marriage to her and she'd readily accepted his proposal. It was what she wanted. In fact, it was what she wanted more than anything! In the back of her mind, it worried her a little. True she had never been in love before but she'd had the goal of becoming a doctor in her head from the time she turned ten.

It had been "declare" your occupation day. She had shown up at Bridgewood Academy dressed in the school uniform. She wore Tommy's suit jacket, her mother's reading glasses, and a stethoscope around her neck. Everyone assumed she planned to be a nurse until she pointed to one of her father's name tags. It had read T. O. Pope, Md. She had proudly worn her father's name back them. Now he was just the man that had raised her and spend a lifetime abusing her mother. He had inspired Olivia into choosing a career in medicine and that was it! Today at this moment she still aspired to become a world renown endocrinologist but she would never give up what she had found with Fitzgerald Grant!

So, what did her feelings mean? She still had plans to become a world class physician. She wanted to study at the best hospitals. She also loved Fitzgerald Grant with a passion. She lived and breathed him every day since she had met him. In her mind they would never be separated again for any reason. She belonged to him and he belonged to her. Their lots had long been cast. They were together. That was all that mattered!

Olivia needed to get her head into the task Fitz had given her. Find them a house that they could turn into a home. If he could be with her, he would. He couldn't be in Boston and make the necessary arrangements to leave New York City. His business and office would be in good hands but he had to make sure he left for Boston with everything in place to run smoothly. Olivia had finally faced the fact that house hunting was something she would have to do alone. Or did she? She had a sudden epiphany!

Gabriella Garnier Grant was going to one day be her mother-in-law. She knew her son better than anyone. To be honest, Olivia didn't have a style or flair. She had always dealt in terms of practicality. Her homes in Atlanta and Cambridge had been purchased by Uncle Jim. The two of them had looked at profiles of house after house in their quest until they found what they wanted. She hadn't seen either home personally until the day she moved in. Uncle Jim had allotted her a furniture allowance. She had filled her homes with the items of her choosing and moved in. After living in both homes for years they obviously had her stamp on them. She knew how to furnish a house but she didn't really know how to buy a mansion or furnish one on her own. Especially not for one of the richest men on the planet!

When she and Fitz moved into their new home, she wanted it to be a place that he would truly be comfortable in. They were deeply in love and planned to be married. They were conducting a long-distance relationship. They had spent twenty-two idyllic days and nights together. They had talked for hours and hours learning about each other. Yet, they were still brand new! Olivia knew Fitz was rich and lived a life as someone rich and famous. He would be expecting to live as he had always lived. She needed help on this front. She was calling Gabriella. Hopefully she would help her.

"Hi Gabriella, it's Olivia. I hope all is well in California. How is Jerry and Papa Joe?"

"They're fine Olivia. We all are. Is everything alright? Nothing has happened between you and Fitzgerald I hope?"

"No, everything is wonderful. Everything is going as planned. In fact, Fitz will be moving to Cambridge very soon. I know I told you some of our plans which includes Fitz commuting from New York City on weekends. That for me will be a very momentous occasion. I miss him so much. As you know we plan to move from Cambridge to Boston proper after my graduation in May. Fitz wants me to start looking for a house for us now. I've never house hunted on my own before. I haven't any idea where to start but Fitz wants me to do it. He says I will be mistress of the house, so I should pick it out. I argued that he will also be head of the house, therefore he should be in on this too. So far, he hasn't budged from his position.

He's assigned me to a realtor and given me a list of five of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Boston to start my search. I really don't want to do this alone. You know your son better than anyone! Would you consider coming here to help me find a house that Fitz will love? It has occurred to me that a house on the scale that Fitz wants to purchase will need so many things. I haven't any idea how to assemble a staff or anything. There's staff and also security in our case. In our house in the Caymans, we had one fulltime person that cooked, cleaned and laundered. She didn't live in and she was very much underpaid. I don't think Fitz would mind if you assisted me. I'd very much like to get this right the first time around."

"I would be happy to assist you, Olivia. I could get out to the East Coast as early as the first of next week. Would that be early enough?"

"That would be great Gabriella. This is a place that Fitz and I may live in for years. I want him to be totally comfortable and at home in our new place. I anticipate that my schedule is going to keep us apart a lot. When we can be together, I want us in a house that has been turned into a home. Fitz seems to see this house as another gift for me and it is, I suppose. I can't quite see it as that. A house is turned into a home by the family within it. I've only seen his personal style in the west wing of the Santa Barbara mansion. I know he has other homes. I imagine that they are beautiful! You've seen them Gabriella and would know his personal taste. I want our first home together to represent the best of both of us. Your input would be priceless!"

"Count me in. I'm sure Fitzgerald wouldn't mind me helping you out with this. I will tie up some loose business ends I have here and make plans to come to the East Coast."

"Gabriella, you can't know how this lightens a great deal of all the anxiety I had of tackling this alone. I'm so grateful to you for agreeing to help me. I presently co-own two homes with my godfather. This will be different.

"Yes, it will be. I understand that the rush is mainly because of security concerns. I know Fitz wants a more sanitized environment in terms of your safety. I know that even now he has concerns for you. Once the purchase is made, security of the home may involve renovations. Your husband-to-be is very thorough Olivia. He leaves little to chance. He won't leave a stone unturned until he's satisfied the house is secure. I'm so glad that you called and enlisted my help. You've been part of this family since Fitzgerald brought you home to Thanksgiving dinner. We're family. Call on me, call on any of us when you need us. We're there for the both of you now."

"That's wonderful Gabriella. Please let me know the particulars of your arrival. I know Security will know the details but as soon as possible I would like to build a schedule around your arrival and how long you can stay."

"My dear girl, my next film doesn't start production until April. We will have this adventure finished long before then.

They chatted for about another twenty minutes and they said their goodbyes. Olivia felt so much better now that she had Gabriella to help her. Fitz had basically orchestrated their love affair from the start to where they were presently. She considered them perfection right now. She'd like to keep it that way. She, along with the help of her fiancé's mother, would find the perfect home for them. Olivia's face had the widest grin. Her phone was ringing. It was Fitz. Her smile widened farther.

"Hi. It's so good to hear your voice. I've missed you."

"Hi. Your voice is like a balm to my very soul. I can't wait until I see you again. I assure you that I've missed you more. These weeks can't go by fast enough. How was your day, Sweet Baby?"

"It was another relatively easy day. I spent the morning in lecture and the afternoon at an Urgent Care facility with a physician seeing patients. Tomorrow I will do just the opposite. There's nothing exciting there. We are basically just getting comfortable around patients. We may be asked to do some vital signs and our opinion occasionally. I can't wait to actually get into a rotation at the hospital. Right now, I'm still feeling like a student more than a physician. What about you? How was your day?"

"I had two court appearances today. Nothing out of the ordinary. My clients are making lots of money and my job is to see that they keep it. Some days can be more involved but not today. I have a case on the docket for tomorrow so I'm deep into the court packet Drey has prepared for me. I was thinking about you so much I decided to call. How's the house hunting going?"

"Well actually, I've made some progress. I call it a move in the right direction. I hope it meets with your approval. I've asked your mother to help me with the house hunting. It's true I will be mistress of the house but you are my counterpart. I wanted some input from someone that knows you. Who better than your mother? I called her and asked for her help. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course, I don't mind. This will be chance for you and Maman to continue bonding. The two women that I love most in this world, house hunting. It's an excellent idea Olivia. Now you won't feel so alone as you do this for us. The sooner we find a house the sooner we can turn it over to security. When we move in hopefully the first week of June, I want everything perfect and maximum security in place. If I decide I want to make love to you outside on the veranda, or outside in the jacuzzi; I don't want obstacles. And I'll need lots of privacy. My fiancée is a screamer."

"So, is this about security Sir Fitz or is it about your home being a place where you can ravish me in private whenever, wherever, and however you want? You sound like someone that intends to fuck a lot, Sir Fitz. You don't sound very chivalrous."

"As your own personal knight, I pledge my undying love and devotion. And sweetheart chivalry isn't dead. Rest assured that security in our home will be tight, because yes. I intent to fuck a lot with you Lady Olivia, whenever your schedule allows. Day or night, I intend to have you, all over our mansion. Keep that in mind as you hunt."

Olivia did have a clear picture of it in her mind. She had closed her eyes. She was seeing a place. She and Fitz were outside and in water. The night air was nippy and crisp. The water was hot and soothing. It wasn't a pool, perhaps it was a jacuzzi. He was standing and her legs were locked around him. She could feel him moving inside her. She opened her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Fitz…"

"I know Sweet Baby; I saw it too. Dammit girl, what are you wearing?"