Olivia: A Love Story

Thank God for Olivia and her tech savvy mind as she helped me set up my computers and integrated what I needed to interface with work. At first, I had a hard time adjusting but gradually I found I was able to work smarter without the commute and expense. Janey, my assistant loved the new arrangement and our efficiency improved.

The twenty-four seven with Olivia was a true test of our relationship and if anything, strengthened it. That fall Olivia's classes were done entirely with Zoom or something similar. We converted two spare bedrooms into our offices and since no guests were coming anytime soon, it worked rather well.

Since we were across the hall from each other, I'd occasionally hear Olivia lecturing and was totally clueless as to what she said.

"Can you hear me, babe?"

Olivia started calling me babe, as I did her, when the Pandemic hit and our forced incarceration.

"Sometimes, but only if I listen hard...I might find it interesting, but I have no clue what you're talking about."

"Babe, engineering is a very dry technical subject and not the easiest to understand. It comes naturally to me. My father and grandfather were engineers so..."

The topic of getting hitched came up but it was put on hold. When restrictions eased and travel was permitted, we both were eager for matrimony. Olivia's choice of venue surprised me.

"What do you think about Las Vegas?"

"I'm not sure...it's not very conventional but it is unique..."

"We'll take Walter with us. I'd really want him there."

Walter had survived the Covid nightmare, but he had been ill for nearly three months and really put a scare into us. Olivia and I fared better with mild cases, so we considered ourselves lucky.

"Ok, but why Vegas?"

"I'm not sure but it's like you said, it's not conventional and I want something different. The tough choice will be finding the right venue. Plus, what a fun place to Honeymoon."

In Las Vegas we found a lovely upscale wedding chapel for the ceremony, it was pricey, but it suited both of us. We hired a photographer with Walter as our witness. But a real surprise awaited me when Rhea and her husband Jules, walked into the chapel. Then, Olivia's sister Cheryl, husband Brad and their two sons. Since Rhea was the one that brought us together, Olivia was insistent that she also attend the wedding. I believe the two first class airline tickets we sent her were a great incentive.

With Olivia, on Walter's arm, she walked down the aisle in an elegant off white, cream color dress that fit her perfectly, the tears sprouted from my eyes. I fought like hell to gain some self-control and succeeded.

Olivia read her vows with tears rimming her eyes, but I managed to stay dry eyed and recited them with passion. She found them on a website, and after we agreed, I edited mine and she, hers.

I looked into her soft brown eyes and my heart throbbed uncontrollably in my chest.

"Olivia,

I love you more than life itself. You are my best friend, my inspiration, my rock, my confident. Every day you fill my heart to bursting with love. You've brought me joy, happiness, peace, and contentment the likes of which I have never known. You make me laugh, challenge me, and support me even when I'm behaving like a naughty little brat. You are an amazing, beautiful woman fiercely loyal, trustworthy, and selfless to a fault. You've helped me become a better person.

I vow to take care of you and support you in every way. I will be patient and trustworthy. I vow to always love you.

You are my world, my everything."

Olivia was crying and she hugged me tenderly. It took a few minutes for her to gain some self-control, then,

"Jason,

because of you, I laugh, I smile, and I dare to dream more than I ever have. You are and always will be the love of my life, my soulmate. You repaired my heart when I thought all was lost and needed it most.

I see these vows not as promises but privileges. I get to laugh with you and cry with you, care for you and share with you. I will listen to you with compassion and understanding and speak to you with encouragement, even when you're that bratty little boy, I love so much.

I promise to always be your friend, your lover and, most importantly, your family from this day forward.

I vow to take you as my husband. My heart is yours, and always will be."

Well, that did it for me, I broke down and cried. Olivia took me in her arms and held me with a gentleness that inflamed my heart.

"I love you, Jason." She whispered in my ear.

I couldn't respond, overcome with emotion. Thankfully tissues were passed around because Walter, Cheryl and Rhea were crying too. When the ceremony ended there were hugs a plenty. When Walter embraced me,

"Welcome to the family, son."

"Thanks, dad." I responded.

That started a fresh round of tears.

We went to Bardot Brasserie to celebrate and had an incredible dining experience with many courses and wines. Olivia nearly passed out when she saw the bill, but it was a small price to pay for an unforgettable night.

The Honeymoon with our extended family was simply wonderful. We took in all the touristy sights, but Olivia's absolute favorite was the Hoover Dam technical tour because it appealed to the engineer inside of her.

****

When we settled into our time as husband and wife, our lives were almost complete. There was another issue that we needed to address. One night, in front of a warm comforting fire, we were holding each other on the sofa, listening to the soft jazz that Olivia enjoyed.

"Jason?"

"Yeah, babe?"

"I was wondering, do want to have any children?"

It was the one topic we'd never discussed. Despite the fact my ex, Shannon, never wanted kids while we were married, I learned through the grapevine, she now had two rug rats of her own.

"Yeah, I would love to have at least two."

Olivia snuggled closer pulling me tight to her body.

"We'll need a surrogate?" I said wistfully.

Abruptly, Olivia sat up with a very earnest expression.

"I could ask my sister Cheryl. Since she and I share close genetic material, perhaps her egg and your sperm?"

"That's an awfully big favor to ask anyone."

"I know it is and I don't want to be presumptuous but I'm certain she'll do it for us. She has two of her own and has made it clear that two is enough."

Cheryl's kids were typical boys, prone to mischief and exceedingly energetic. But they were well behaved.

We discussed the matter further and Olivia invited Cheryl for dinner and a chat. When Cheryl arrived that night, she gave both of us a big hug.

"Hey, you two, what's all the mystery...you said not to bring Brad or the boys. I can't say I'm not grateful, I needed a break from them."

After we ate dinner, we were relaxing by the pool with our wine when Cheryl started again,

"Ok, what gives? I can cut the tension with a knife. You bring me here, serve a great meal with lots of vino, somethings up..."

"Sis, I ah...want to ask you for a favor...a really big, no huge favor." Olivia said nervously.

Cheryl was leaning forward, listening intently.

"We want to have a couple of kids...but don't want to adopt." I stated, equally nervous.

Olivia's dear sister had a confused look on her face.

"And this involves me...how?"

Suddenly the curtains parted, and Cheryl had that 'ah ha' expression plastered all over her pretty face.

"You want me to...you're asking if I'll..."

Olivia and I nodded sheepishly.

"Well, what would I have to do? Do I get to sleep with handsome here? That might just be all the incentive I need!"

"No." Olivia said blushing crimson.

"Turkey baster?"

"Yeah," we both replied.

"Not very romantic, if I say so myself. I'll have to talk to Brad but for my beautiful sister who I love very much, yeah, I will."

Olivia was in tears and embraced her sister tenderly.

"I love you sis." My beautiful wife said crying.

"My god, Olivia...after all you've been through, the heartache and the sorrow, how could I possibly say no."

"What about Brad?"

"I'll take care of Brad. I know how to handle him, but I don't see it as much of a fight, he loves you, Olivia. He'll just have to put up with me bare foot and pregnant again."

All three of us hugged and the good feelings had me in tears.

"Poor Jason, he's the sentimental type and...I love it." Olivia spoke tearfully.

"I only have one regret about all this." Cheryl added.

"What?" Olivia and I said simultaneously.

"I don't get to sleep with muscles here."

Cheryl poked me in the side, and I felt very sheepish.

Well dear readers, the turkey baster was successful and to our great surprise, Cheryl is pregnant with twins. Seems that twins appear on their father's side of the family every other generation. She's due in about five months and we're just ecstatic.

Olivia's having a great time preparing the nursery and wants to play the part of stay-at-home mom for a while. She'll take a leave of absence from Penn but will keep her teaching position open. With the advent of many online classes, she'll be able to teach from home when she decides to return to the workforce.

The event has brought us closer as an extended family, Walter, Cheryl, Brad, and the boys. We spend more time together and as an only child it means so much to me. Sadly, my mother passed away and will never get to see her grandchildren, but she probably wouldn't have known. Alzheimer's took her from me long before this.

Occasionally, Olivia runs into Rhea at the university and tells her how happy we are, enjoying married life. I know it tickles Rhea, who can't stand to see anyone single. Her matchmaking was wildly successful, and I couldn't be happier.

So, there it is, a most unlikely love story with an ending that remains to be written. Maybe someday, in a few years, I'll continue where I left off. That's if I have anything new to tell. I hope I'm a loving husband and father, living the life, I always dreamt about with my beautiful Olivia and the people who mean the world to me. Adieu mes amis, (farewell my friends)

END