Finding Home

by Jamey Moody

  “Thanks.”

  After lunch Olivia took Lucy and Jenna back to her house to get their car for the return trip to Houston.

  Lucy hugged her and said, “Let me know what you think, I’m leaning toward going, but like you, I do have things to consider. I’ll see you Thursday.”

  “Okay. Drive safe.” She walked around the car and Jenna softly pulled her into an embrace and held her.

  “I know this is hard. I’ll talk it through with you, anytime,” she whispered in Olivia’s ear.

  Olivia pulled back with a sweet smile on her face, “I’ll call you.”

  “By the way, I’m so proud of you competing in that triathlon. You’re such a badass!”

  “Thanks again for coming, it meant the world to me.”

  “And thanks for introducing me to Stella.”

  “She’s amazing. I knew you’d like her. Maybe I’ll be seeing you again soon then?”

  “Maybe,” she said getting in the car.

  “Text me you made it home safe,” Olivia yelled as they drove away waving.

  She decided to take the rest of the day off to look at her options. A little later she texted Frankie and told her to come to her house after work.

  In the middle of the afternoon she was laying on the couch looking at the Austin area on her iPad when she heard a knock at her front door. It was too early for Frankie. But when she answered the door, there she was. She was so glad to see her that she flew into her arms and held on tight.

  “Wow,” said Frankie holding her. “That’s a welcome!” She pulled back and looked into Olivia’s face, gazing over all her features. She leaned in and hovered her lips over Olivia’s. ”We’ve got this,” she whispered before kissing her tenderly. She felt Olivia relax in her arms and deepened the kiss.

  “Why are you here so early,” Olivia asked.

  “With a welcome like that, who cares,” Frankie chuckled, walking inside. “I asked Desi to take my last class because I knew something wasn’t quite right this morning when you told me about the job. Are you alright?”

  “I’m better now that you’re here.” Olivia almost decided right then and there that she wasn’t taking the job.

  Frankie sat down on the couch, pulling Olivia down beside her. “Tell me all about it.”

  Olivia took a deep breath and filled Frankie in on the project, where it was, and that she would be leading the team for the entire phase of the subdivision.

  “Wow, that’s awesome! I’m not surprised though. You are so good at what you do.”

  Olivia smiled at the praise but looked down.

  “Are you going to tell me or make me guess?”

  “What?”

  “You haven’t told me everything.”

  Olivia sighed, “Have you ever thought about adding a second Your Way location?”

  “What?”

  “Baby, I’d have to move there or be there all week, at the least.”

  “Hmm, so we may have to do long distance for a while?”

  “Unless you want to open a gym there,” Olivia said, teasing.

  Frankie smiled, “I’m not sure that could happen. Look, we will do whatever it takes. Do not worry about us. We will make this work.”

  “I knew you would say that.”

  “Tell me about the job. You’d be in charge of the whole thing?”

  “Yes.” Olivia went on with more specifics and described the things she’d be able to do that she couldn’t do in her current position.

  “It sounds like the dream job you described to me not that long ago.”

  Olivia nodded, “It is.”

  “Then take it. What’s holding you back?”

  “If I moved there, my life would be work. I know you would come visit and I would come here, but, I don’t know that I want to do that. The project will last five to ten years,” she hesitated for a moment.

  “And? Don’t be afraid to tell me what you’re thinking.”

  Olivia looked deeply into those green eyes that had given her such joy, “I don’t want work to be my life anymore. I have you and,” she took a breath. “And I want kids with you.”

  Tears sprang to Frankie’s eyes; she didn’t think she’d ever heard anything that made her happier.

  Olivia put her hand on the side of Frankie’s face, “If I take that job, it would be hard to do that. I know we’ve talked about the future, but that’s commitment, babe.”

  “There is nothing I want more than to have a family with you. You know that; I bought a house,” she said chuckling. “What if I moved with you? Do you think it’s the job that would keep you so busy or us being apart?”

  “You’d do that? You’d leave your business and move with me, when you’re buying a house?”

  “If it’s the best option for us and our family, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”

  Olivia was shocked for the second time today. She never considered Frankie coming with her. They looked at one another for a few moments as thoughts ran through Olivia’s head.

  “Lucy and I are supposed to go to the site Thursday and look it over. Let me do that and think about it. I mean just because it was my dream job at one time doesn’t mean it necessarily is now. Okay?”

  “Okay. That sounds like a smart decision, a good plan.” She took Olivia’s hands and looked around, “Did you have anything you were doing right now?”

  “No. I was waiting for you to get here and thinking about this damn job.”

  “Would you like to take your mind off it for a bit?”

  “I sure would,” Olivia said nodding her head.

  “Well, we haven’t really been alone in days,” Frankie drew out the last word dramatically. This made Olivia smile.

  “No, we haven’t.”

  “Well, it’s just you and me here now and we can be as loud as we want,” she said suggestively.

  “Frankie Dean, are you trying to seduce me?”

  “I’m trying to be a good girlfriend and relieve your stress.”

  “Relieve my stress, that’s what you’re calling it?”

  Frankie nodded her head seriously.

  “Then you’d better take me to that bedroom and have your way with me.”

  They jumped up and started shedding clothes as they ran to the bedroom.

  ***

  Olivia laid in Frankie’s arms and could feel her gently playing with her hair. She could stay here just like this forever.

  “You are the best stress reliever ever. Don’t tell Stella, but you’re better than meditation.”

  Frankie chuckled, “Your secret is safe with me.”

  “We’ve had some big decisions to make. You buy a house, me with this job.”

  “Yeah? Are you going somewhere with this or is it just an observation?”

  “Some people would say we’re rushing things and that we don’t know one another very well.”

  “Uh-huh, and who would those people be?”

  “No one in particular, just in general.”

  “Olivia, what are you trying to say?”

  “Do you think we’re rushing into this? I don’t want to pressure you into anything.”

  Frankie wondered where this was coming from but calmly said, “We’re not rushing for me. You know my last relationship wasn’t going anywhere and that’s why it ended. Just because this one is moving fast doesn’t mean it shouldn’t. Do you think we’re rushing?”

  “No. I know we’re in the middle of this new relationship and everything is beautiful and sexy and wonderful right now. And I also know It won’t always be that way. But I have no doubt in my mind that you are who I want to live my life with and want to raise kids with, so why should we wait around a certain amount of time to live the life we both want?”

  “I couldn’t agree more. You do remember that I’m older than you,” she teased. “Some people would say I’m too old to have kids.”

  “Who said that?” Olivia said sitting up and staring at her.

  “I’m sure there are peop
le out there that feel that way. But what I mean is maybe this is our time for our kids. I’m not saying we have to jump in and start having babies, but for us it will take some time to do that and if we’re certain then why wait? It’s our life, babe, no one else’s.”

  “Then, we’re on the same page. Life together, kids.”

  “Same page but, you left something out.”

  Olivia looked puzzled, she counted out on her fingers, “What did I leave out?”

  “How about marriage? Do you not want to marry me?”

  Olivia looked at Frankie like she was crazy, “Of course I want to marry you!”

  “Well, you never said it,” Frankie said, sitting up.

  “This is not a marriage proposal,” Olivia said firmly.

  “It better not be because if you were asking me to marry you, well, I thought you’d do a better job,” Frankie said teasing.

  Olivia grabbed her and kissed her, “You’ll never know it’s coming.”

  They laughed and Frankie thought this is going to be fun to try and outdo the other proposing. She kissed Olivia, feeling so grateful.

  ***

  Olivia was true to her word and hadn’t thought too much about the job until Thursday. As she pulled into the area north of Austin, she found the office and went in to find Lucy. She’d received a text that she’d be waiting.

  She went inside and found Lucy and met the current project manager. He gave them a run down on what the next phase looked like and then took them on a tour of the property. They looked at the first phase and through the second that was nearing completion. Then he took them to an area where streets were being completed, ready for new construction to begin.

  “I’m going to leave you with the golf cart. Feel free to look around and when you’re done come back to the office and I’ll answer any questions you may have,” he said as a pickup truck pulled up to take him back.

  They rode around, both deep in thought; seeing their vision as homes appeared in their minds on the lots. Olivia tried to see herself here. She was excited when she pulled in and thought the area was beautiful. The location was perfect and should easily sell. This job was indeed what she had always dreamed. But she didn’t feel comfortable, it didn’t feel like home. She knew right then, there was no way she could take this job the way it was presented.

  “What do you think?” she asked Lucy.

  “I think it looks like an incredible opportunity for me. I also think there’s no way I’d be getting it if it wasn’t for you.”

  “Wasn’t for me?”

  “Yeah, if you hadn’t come to Houston and trusted me as your assistant there’s no way she would’ve thought of me for this job.”

  “You earned that all on your own.”

  “Maybe, but you gave me the chance.”

  Olivia parked the golf cart and walked around. “There’s no way I can do this and move here.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, you know me. Trying different things. I’ve thought about this all the way down here. And now that I’ve seen the layout, I’ve got an idea of how I may be able to do the job and stay where I am.”

  Lucy’s eyes widened, “Tell me more.”

  “Do you have your phone with you?”

  “Of course.”

  “Let me get my iPad,” Olivia said, going to the golf cart. “I’m going to Facetime you.”

  “Okay.” Lucy picked up when her phone trilled. “Hey there!”

  Olivia laughed, “Here’s what I want you to do. Show me that lot two spaces down.”

  “What? Show you,” Lucy questioned, then she got it. “Oh! Okay.” She walked to the lot and using her phone she gave Olivia the tour.

  “Let’s go back to one of the houses and see if this works.”

  They drove back to the construction area and with Olivia still in the golf cart, Lucy went inside. Olivia asked her to show her various parts of the construction and lot. Then she asked her to come back.

  “We do so much remotely now, I don’t know why we couldn’t do this too.”

  “So, what’s your plan?”

  “I’m going to go back to Elizabeth and see if I can sell her on this idea. I’d still come to the site from time to time, but I really think this could work. One reason they want us for this project is because we are talented, so if we can give them what they want why should they care how we deliver it?”

  “Brilliant!”

  “Would you be able to do this? A lot of the day to day at the site would fall on your shoulders.”

  “Hell yeah, I can do it!”

  “I thought you’d say that.”

  “What now?”

  “I’ll present this to Elizabeth in the morning. You start thinking of the best way for us to show her because we’ll need a kick ass demonstration when I do.”

  “Okay, let me think about it and you do the same.”

  “I’ll call you when I get home and we’ll plan it out.”

  ***

  Olivia and Lucy worked on the presentation until late that night. Frankie marveled at her skills. Watching her talk through issues and come up with a solution, even though Frankie wasn’t sure what it all meant, she was still mesmerized. Olivia looked over at her and smiled. She disconnected with Lucy and told her they needed a break.

  “Whatcha looking at?” she said playfully.

  Frankie gave her a seductive smile. “You have no idea how hot it is watching you work through this project.”

  Olivia’s eyes widened, “Oh really?”

  “Really,” Frankie said nodding her head fervently. “If this wasn’t so important to you, I’d have been over there telling Lucy you’d call her back.”

  Olivia chuckled, getting up and walking over to the couch, “Well, I needed a break and might have time for a little…” She didn’t finish her statement as she straddled Frankie and put her arms on her shoulders. She leaned over and captured her lips with a searing kiss. A few minutes later her phone trilled. Olivia sighed, “Gotta get back to it.”

  “I’ll be waiting for you in the bedroom.”

  “It may be a while.”

  “That’s okay. Wake me when you come in.”

  Olivia watched Frankie walk down the hall as she connected the call. This was a crazy idea, but it just might work. She knew there was no way she could leave Frankie; she didn’t want to and she wouldn’t need to if Elizabeth took a chance.

  ***

  Elizabeth walked in and sat down across from her. “So, you wanted to see me.”

  “Thanks for coming out today. I’ve been thinking about the project and as you know, I toured the site yesterday. If you would’ve offered me this six months ago I probably wouldn’t have thought twice. But now, my life is much different. And as I looked at the opportunity, the increase in pay and benefits, and the area, one thing kept coming to the front of my mind.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You told me once that you had to stop traveling and step back because you wanted to be present with your family. If I move there, that job would take all my time and I wouldn’t be able to have a family.”

  “But you’re young, Olivia.”

  “That phase could last ten years.”

  “I really hate to see you turn this down.”

  “Well, I may have a way for me to stay here and still run the project.”

  Elizabeth tilted her head, “I’m all ears.”

  Olivia presented her idea and showed how it would work with Lucy. They demonstrated several different examples of design issues that could arise along with solutions. When they were finished, she disconnected the call and sat back, trying to read Elizabeth’s face.

  ‘You’ve given me a lot to consider. Let me ask you one question: why not just turn the job down? Why go to all this trouble?”

  Olivia smiled, “You know I love a challenge and being in charge of that project would be so… but I’ve found my love and we want to have a family.”

  “I’ll get ba
ck to you.”

  “Thanks Elizabeth, for coming down here today and for the opportunity.”

  Elizabeth nodded and left.

  Now Olivia had to wait.

  She didn’t wait long because that afternoon Elizabeth called her and approved the idea. There would be guidelines and it was a pilot program, but it had the potential to be groundbreaking. Olivia disconnected the call and sat back, looking at her life. What a difference a few months could make, what a difference love could make, what a difference community could make. She smiled to herself, got up and went to her car. She was going to get her love and celebrate!

  Epilogue

  Six Months Later

  With Elizabeth’s approval it didn’t take long for the project to begin in Austin. Lucy moved there and set their office up to her liking since she would be spending more time there than Olivia. The lots were being purchased quickly and construction had already begun on several homes. Olivia came to the site when needed and would often bring Frankie. They would stay for the weekend and make it a mini vacation, exploring Austin and the surrounding area.

  Today was moving day though, and Olivia thought back to the day Elizabeth approved the project. She went to Your Way and picked Frankie up.

  “Where are we going?”

  “To your place?”

  “To my place? Why?”

  “You’ll see.” They drove up and walked on to the porch. Before Frankie could unlock the door, Olivia took her hand and turned her around.

  “We’re here so you can pack a few things.” She placed her hands on either side of Franke’s face and looked into those green eyes that had become hers, “I want you to move in with me until the house is finished.”

  A huge smile lit Frankie’s face. As she began to answer, Olivia put her finger over her lips.

  “And when the house is finished, I want us to move into our home together.”

  Frankie stared into Olivia’s soft brown eyes thinking, you are my home. “That would make me the happiest person in the world.” Olivia returned her smile as she brought their lips together in a tender kiss.

  A couple of months later, on a beautiful autumn day, Frankie took Olivia to what had become their place on the lake and proposed. Olivia was surprised and had planned her own proposal, but Frankie beat her to it. When Frankie slipped the engagement ring on her finger, Olivia held it up and stared, eyes wide. Then she jumped up and ran to the Jeep to get her purse. She came back and slipped Frankie’s engagement ring on her finger. It was Frankie’s turn to stare.