Re: When Our Feet Touch the Ground (M/L, AU, TEEN) Ch 10 21/9/09
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:00 am
Hi All,
Sorry for the delay. I will try harder I promise!
I hope you enjoy the update!
Thanks for sticking in there.
11
“Michael? What’s going on?” I asked as I found Michael pacing the corridor in the emergency department.
“One minute Maria’s fine, nagging me to change the channel on the TV or something, and the next minute she’s doubled over in pain. She was bleeding Liz. She was bleeding…” Michael choked out, his face white with shock.
“Hey, hey.” I said, putting my arms around Michael and holding him tight. “She’ll be okay.”
“Th-they said that they had to take the baby out, but it’s too early.” Michael cried.
“The baby’s 35 weeks old. It’s old enough to survive.” I reassured him.
“What if it doesn’t? What if Maria doesn’t? I don’t know what I would do.” Michael sobbed.
“They will both be fine. I’m sure of it.” I comforted him. “Maria has done everything that the doctors have told her to, and she’s made it this far.”
“Mr Guerin?” A doctor approached. Michael stood up straight and wiped the tears from his face.
“How is she?” Michael blurted.
“Your daughter was delivered safely and has been taken to the nursery. She’s small and will likely have to spend the next month here until she can feed on her own.” The doctor explained.
“And Maria? How’s Maria?” Michael demanded to know.
“She lost a lot of blood.” The doctor explained, and I saw the blood drain from Michael’s face as he expected the worst. “We’ve given her a couple of transfusions and she seems to be responding well but the next 24 hours will be critical.”
“Can I see her?” Michael asked.
“She hasn’t woken up yet, but you’re welcome to come and sit by her bed.” The doctor allowed.
“Can you call Amy?” Michael addressed me. “She’s trying to get the first flight out of Florida in the morning. I told her I would keep her updated as to Maria’s condition.”
“Of course.” I agreed, before I watched Michael race down the hall to Maria’s room.
I called Amy and gave her the update of Maria and the baby. She would be in Roswell first thing in the morning and I offered to pick her up from the airport.
When I hung up the phone, I suddenly felt as though the room was closing in on me. I couldn’t breathe – my best friend could die tonight. My best friend could die! My knees began to wobble, and I clutched onto the nearest wall to support my downward spiral to the ground. Once I was sure I could not fall any further, I put my head in my hands and allowed myself to cry for my friend – and for me.
I know that Max walked out on me over a minor misunderstanding, and that I should be hurt or angry or both for giving up on us so easily. But the only person I wanted to call at that moment was him. I dialled the number.
“Hey, you’ve reached Max Evans. I can’t take your call right now but if you leave you’re name and number I’ll get back to you.” Max’s voicemail answered.
I hung up without leaving a message. What do you say to someone who has just walked out on you, but you still need them desperately?
I called another familiar number.
“Hello.” The voice answered.
“Phillip?” I confirmed. “It’s Liz.”
“Liz…” Phillip seemed hesitant. “Uh, what can I do for you?”
“I’m looking for Max. Have you seen him?” I asked.
“Uh… he’s here.” Phillip confirmed, but didn’t seem in a rush to put Max on the phone.
“How is he?” I asked.
Max was the one who walked out, leaving me when my best friend was possibly dying, and I was worried about how he was? I couldn’t break the habit of putting him before everything else – despite what he thought to the contrary.
“He’s been better.” Phillip replied.
“Can you please tell him something for me?” I asked.
“Sure Liz.” Philip seemed relieved that I wasn’t going to demand that he put Max on the phone.
“Could you tell him that I’m at the hospital and there’s a chance that Maria might die, and no matter what is going on between him and I at the moment, I really need my husband right now because I don’t know if I can handle this on my own.” I burst into tears.
“Oh, Liz.” Philip sympathised.
“Will you tell him?” I asked.
“Of course.” Philip replied.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” Philip asked sincerely.
“No, but thanks.” I sniffled.
“You call me if you need anything, no matter what time. You know you’ll always be my daughter.” Philip smiled.
“Thanks.” I was too overwhelmed to say more. He was talking as if my marriage was already over.
“Hold tight there Liz.” Philip said before hanging up the phone.
My head was spinning. I felt as though my world was shattering – I was losing my husband and my best friend in the same night. What could have happened to turn my world to crap? Why was Karma trying to take a big huge bite out of me?
* * * * *
After all the tears had been spilled, and I was so sure that I was incapable of crying any more, I remembered something important - the baby. Maria and Michael’s baby was down the hall in the nursery all by herself. She had been in the world for less than an hour and she hadn’t had a chance to meet either of her parents. The least I could do was to be with her so that she wasn’t alone.
I found the nursery easily, and there were a few babies in there, but I didn’t have any trouble guessing which one was Maria’s. There was only one that was in an incubation crib.
“Are you a relative?” The nurse asked.
“No. My best friend…” I began before I choked. I couldn’t cry but I couldn’t say the words either.
The nurse noticed in sympathy. She had obviously been filled in on the status of the mother.
“Do you want to sit with her?” The nurse offered, pulling up a chair next to the crib.
I nodded, and took a seat. Looking at the baby I couldn’t believe how small and delicate she was. The details on the side of the crib said that she was only 5 pounds. So tiny…
I started talking to her. I don’t know how long for, but I filled her in on everything I could think of about both of her parents. How they met, what they meant to each other, and how much they were looking forward to meeting her.
“Liz?” A voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Philip?” I said surprised, and a little disappointed that Max hadn’t been the one to come.
“I thought you might need a shoulder.” Philip offered.
“Max isn’t coming.” I didn’t ask, it was a statement.
“He’s torn up about it.” Philip defended him.
“I’m sure.” I replied, and the sarcasm didn’t quite hit the spot as I intended. I really was sure he was torn up about not being here with me. You couldn’t be with someone for ten years and not be.
“You must understand that this whole … situation is hard on him. It brings up too many old memories - issues that he hasn’t properly dealt with.” Philip explained.
“It must be hard for you too.” I acknowledged – grateful that he had put it all aside to be here with me.
“It was a long time ago. I’ve put it all behind me.” Philip replied.
“How?” I asked.
“It wasn’t hard. It was the first time Max said to me ‘Daddy I love you’. It just put everything in perspective. Yes I lost my wife, but she left me a beautiful piece of herself behind. Maybe that was just how it was supposed to be.”
I wondered if that was what was happening – Maria was leaving a piece of herself behind…
No. Maria was going to be fine – she had to be.
Philip sat with me for an hour and was my shoulder to cry on before I eventually ordered him to go home to bed. I would be fine I promised him.
“I’m going to have to get you to leave.” The nurse said to be eventually. The shift was changing and the oncoming nurse wasn’t going to be as accommodating.
I wondered where I should go. I wanted to check on Maria but I was too scared to hear the news that I really didn’t want to hear – plus I didn’t want to bother Michael with my presence. Instead, what I really wanted was to beg and plead for Maria’s life. There was only one place I could do that – the chapel.
The chapel was small, dark and quiet. There was only one other person in the room when I entered, so I took a seat on the other side of the room from them – giving them their own personal space. I sat down and looked around, wondering how you go about asking God to save your best friend’s life. Should I promise something in return? Should I just come out and ask? Do I point out all of the good things about Maria that justifies why she deserves a second chance? Do I speak out loud or in the quiet of my head?
I chose the latter and used everything in my arsenal to convince God to save Maria’s life. I used Michael and their daughter – both of whose life would change forever if Maria was not with them anymore – Max was living proof of that.
I was on my knees, pleading for God to save Maria’s life, but also begging for him to save mine.
When I had run out of things to say, I let my head fall quiet and just wait. I was hoping that God would give me some kind of an answer that everything would be okay.
And I guess in a way he did.
In that quiet moment, as I had my head bent and eyes closed, I felt a gentle arm wrap around my shoulders. It was as though I was being pulled into God’s own loving arms, comforting me, telling me that everything would be alright if I just trusted in him.
I let everything go, and cried more tears than I thought capable of, as he held me tight.
For the second time that night, I cried the last tear that I could manage. This time however, before I opened my eyes, a peace flooded my body. Everything was going to be alright. I felt it.
I let my senses return to the room. I could hear the other person in the room crying their own tears in the corner, and I felt the unsteady breathe of someone next to me. And smelled their cologne …
“Max?” I asked as my head snapped around and my eyes opened.
“Liz.” Max replied, without more than just a hint of a smile. He took his arm away from around my shoulders. I suddenly felt colder.
“I didn’t think you would come.” I stated.
“I wasn’t going to, but … I couldn’t not be here for you.” Max replied.
“Thank you. It means a lot to me that you came.” I replied, placing a hand on his knee, until his visible flinch made me retreat.
“But nothing’s changed.” Max explained. “My plane is leaving in a few hours.”
I looked at my watch. It was almost morning. I would have to pick Amy up from the airport soon.
I nodded.
“Well, thanks for coming.” I said as I went to stand and move past him. “I need to go and check on Maria.”
“Would you like me to come with you?” Max offered.
I wanted that more than anything.
“No. I think you should go.” I replied. “I don’t want to make this any harder for you. For us.”
Max nodded.
“Have a safe flight.” I said, slipping past him and not meeting his eye. I wasn’t going to beg for him to stay with me if he didn’t want to.
I walked out of the chapel and desperately wanted him to chase after me, but he didn’t. The chapel doors swing silently to a close behind me.
* * * * *
I checked on Maria, and found Michael asleep in a chair by her side, tightly holding onto her hand.
“Michael?” I whispered.
Michael stirred and opened his eyes. He gave me a quick glance before giving Maria a once-over.
“The nurse said there has been no change.” I updated him.
Michael nodded resignedly.
“I went and saw the baby.” Michael explained. “She’s so beautiful. She looks just like her mother.”
“I know.” I smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. “What are you going to call her?”
“We couldn’t agree. I liked the name Rose for a girl, but Maria liked the name Emily. Right now, I’d give Maria anything if it meant that she would be okay.” Michael replied despondently.
“Emily Rose…” I put the names together.
“Emily Rose…” Michael smiled.
We were silent for a while, watching Maria’s chest rise up and down, and the machine monitoring her heartbeat.
“Where’s Max?” Michael eventually asked.
“Long story.” I replied, dismissing the tears that welled in my eyes at the mention of his name.
“I think we have time.” Michael replied.
“I don’t want to burden you with this – you have enough to deal with.”
“I need the distraction.” Michael counter-argued.
“Fine…” I replied, before going into a long winded story about what we had been going through since returning to Roswell up to our argument the night before.
“So he left?” Michael asked. “I knew he was struggling, but I also knew how much he loved you.”
I flinched at Michael’s past tense.
“He’ll come around Liz. He’ll spend a few days away from you and realise how stupid he’s being and come crawling back.” Michael replied confidently.
“I don’t know Michael. I think it’s going to take a lot more than that to make him come home.” I said thoughtfully.
“Like what?” Michael asked.
“Some assurance that I will never get pregnant.” I decided.
“You would give him that? What about your dream to have kids?”
“Sometimes you have to make sacrifices…” I stated.
“Not that big Liz.” Michael warned. “I know that things aren’t so good now, but I have a daughter Liz – a daughter! I wouldn’t change that for the world. You shouldn’t have to do that either.”
“I don’t know what else to do.” I replied.
“Tell that jackass to get his ass back here and fix this mess.” A voice came from the bed.
“Maria!” Michael exclaimed, clutching her arm and smothering her with kisses. “You’re awake!”
“It’s hard to sleep with you two yabbering on over there.” Maria attempted a smile.
“Welcome back Maria.” I smiled, taking her other hand in mine.
“I told you that I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.” Maria smiled in return.
“I’ll go and get the nurse.” I announced, wanting to give Maria and Michael some time alone.
“How’s the baby?” I heard Maria ask Michael as I left.
“Beautiful. She’s so beautiful.” I heard Michael reply.
* * * * *
“She’s okay.” Was the first thing I said to Amy as I saw her race from the airport bridge and through the gate to the arrivals hall.
“Thank God for that.” Amy hugged me with a lifetime of relief in her voice. It must have been a long hard flight for her not knowing what condition Maria would be in when she got here. “And the baby?”
“Beautiful.” I replied, using Michael’s description.
“Let’s go Grandma.” I smiled, taking Amy’s hand-luggage from her.
“I’m a Grandma!” Amy smiled. “Oh that makes me sound old, but I still love hearing it.”
After picking up the rest of Amy’s luggage and the baggage carousel, we headed to the exit.
“Hey, isn’t that Max?” Amy asked the moment we stepped outside. Sure enough, Max was getting out of a cab a few metres away from where we stood. “What’s he doing here?”
I didn’t reply, but tried to fight the impulse to run to him and beg him to stay.
I didn’t win.
“Max!” I called, dropping Amy’s bags and racing towards him.
Max turned around in surprise as I hurtled towards him. Lunging into his arms I kissed him with so much force that I took both of our breaths away. To my surprise he kissed back.
But only at first. Eventually he disentangled me from around his body and rested his forehead against mine as he caught his breath.
“Stay.” I begged. It seemed I would stoop so low as to beg after all.
“I can’t.” Max replied.
“I don’t want to have a baby. I just want you.” I promised. “I’ll do anything.”
“Don’t say that.” Max’s voice quavered. “I’m not going to make you give up on your dreams for me.”
“But you’re making me give you up.” I pointed out.
“I don’t know how else to fix this.” Max replied.
“I told you – stay.”
“No.” Max gave a strangled reply, pulling away and making a hasty exit before I could react.
I watched him walk away.
It seemed there was nothing I could do to make him want to be with me.
It was over.
I was now officially empty inside.
Sorry for the delay. I will try harder I promise!
I hope you enjoy the update!
Thanks for sticking in there.
11
“Michael? What’s going on?” I asked as I found Michael pacing the corridor in the emergency department.
“One minute Maria’s fine, nagging me to change the channel on the TV or something, and the next minute she’s doubled over in pain. She was bleeding Liz. She was bleeding…” Michael choked out, his face white with shock.
“Hey, hey.” I said, putting my arms around Michael and holding him tight. “She’ll be okay.”
“Th-they said that they had to take the baby out, but it’s too early.” Michael cried.
“The baby’s 35 weeks old. It’s old enough to survive.” I reassured him.
“What if it doesn’t? What if Maria doesn’t? I don’t know what I would do.” Michael sobbed.
“They will both be fine. I’m sure of it.” I comforted him. “Maria has done everything that the doctors have told her to, and she’s made it this far.”
“Mr Guerin?” A doctor approached. Michael stood up straight and wiped the tears from his face.
“How is she?” Michael blurted.
“Your daughter was delivered safely and has been taken to the nursery. She’s small and will likely have to spend the next month here until she can feed on her own.” The doctor explained.
“And Maria? How’s Maria?” Michael demanded to know.
“She lost a lot of blood.” The doctor explained, and I saw the blood drain from Michael’s face as he expected the worst. “We’ve given her a couple of transfusions and she seems to be responding well but the next 24 hours will be critical.”
“Can I see her?” Michael asked.
“She hasn’t woken up yet, but you’re welcome to come and sit by her bed.” The doctor allowed.
“Can you call Amy?” Michael addressed me. “She’s trying to get the first flight out of Florida in the morning. I told her I would keep her updated as to Maria’s condition.”
“Of course.” I agreed, before I watched Michael race down the hall to Maria’s room.
I called Amy and gave her the update of Maria and the baby. She would be in Roswell first thing in the morning and I offered to pick her up from the airport.
When I hung up the phone, I suddenly felt as though the room was closing in on me. I couldn’t breathe – my best friend could die tonight. My best friend could die! My knees began to wobble, and I clutched onto the nearest wall to support my downward spiral to the ground. Once I was sure I could not fall any further, I put my head in my hands and allowed myself to cry for my friend – and for me.
I know that Max walked out on me over a minor misunderstanding, and that I should be hurt or angry or both for giving up on us so easily. But the only person I wanted to call at that moment was him. I dialled the number.
“Hey, you’ve reached Max Evans. I can’t take your call right now but if you leave you’re name and number I’ll get back to you.” Max’s voicemail answered.
I hung up without leaving a message. What do you say to someone who has just walked out on you, but you still need them desperately?
I called another familiar number.
“Hello.” The voice answered.
“Phillip?” I confirmed. “It’s Liz.”
“Liz…” Phillip seemed hesitant. “Uh, what can I do for you?”
“I’m looking for Max. Have you seen him?” I asked.
“Uh… he’s here.” Phillip confirmed, but didn’t seem in a rush to put Max on the phone.
“How is he?” I asked.
Max was the one who walked out, leaving me when my best friend was possibly dying, and I was worried about how he was? I couldn’t break the habit of putting him before everything else – despite what he thought to the contrary.
“He’s been better.” Phillip replied.
“Can you please tell him something for me?” I asked.
“Sure Liz.” Philip seemed relieved that I wasn’t going to demand that he put Max on the phone.
“Could you tell him that I’m at the hospital and there’s a chance that Maria might die, and no matter what is going on between him and I at the moment, I really need my husband right now because I don’t know if I can handle this on my own.” I burst into tears.
“Oh, Liz.” Philip sympathised.
“Will you tell him?” I asked.
“Of course.” Philip replied.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” Philip asked sincerely.
“No, but thanks.” I sniffled.
“You call me if you need anything, no matter what time. You know you’ll always be my daughter.” Philip smiled.
“Thanks.” I was too overwhelmed to say more. He was talking as if my marriage was already over.
“Hold tight there Liz.” Philip said before hanging up the phone.
My head was spinning. I felt as though my world was shattering – I was losing my husband and my best friend in the same night. What could have happened to turn my world to crap? Why was Karma trying to take a big huge bite out of me?
* * * * *
After all the tears had been spilled, and I was so sure that I was incapable of crying any more, I remembered something important - the baby. Maria and Michael’s baby was down the hall in the nursery all by herself. She had been in the world for less than an hour and she hadn’t had a chance to meet either of her parents. The least I could do was to be with her so that she wasn’t alone.
I found the nursery easily, and there were a few babies in there, but I didn’t have any trouble guessing which one was Maria’s. There was only one that was in an incubation crib.
“Are you a relative?” The nurse asked.
“No. My best friend…” I began before I choked. I couldn’t cry but I couldn’t say the words either.
The nurse noticed in sympathy. She had obviously been filled in on the status of the mother.
“Do you want to sit with her?” The nurse offered, pulling up a chair next to the crib.
I nodded, and took a seat. Looking at the baby I couldn’t believe how small and delicate she was. The details on the side of the crib said that she was only 5 pounds. So tiny…
I started talking to her. I don’t know how long for, but I filled her in on everything I could think of about both of her parents. How they met, what they meant to each other, and how much they were looking forward to meeting her.
“Liz?” A voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Philip?” I said surprised, and a little disappointed that Max hadn’t been the one to come.
“I thought you might need a shoulder.” Philip offered.
“Max isn’t coming.” I didn’t ask, it was a statement.
“He’s torn up about it.” Philip defended him.
“I’m sure.” I replied, and the sarcasm didn’t quite hit the spot as I intended. I really was sure he was torn up about not being here with me. You couldn’t be with someone for ten years and not be.
“You must understand that this whole … situation is hard on him. It brings up too many old memories - issues that he hasn’t properly dealt with.” Philip explained.
“It must be hard for you too.” I acknowledged – grateful that he had put it all aside to be here with me.
“It was a long time ago. I’ve put it all behind me.” Philip replied.
“How?” I asked.
“It wasn’t hard. It was the first time Max said to me ‘Daddy I love you’. It just put everything in perspective. Yes I lost my wife, but she left me a beautiful piece of herself behind. Maybe that was just how it was supposed to be.”
I wondered if that was what was happening – Maria was leaving a piece of herself behind…
No. Maria was going to be fine – she had to be.
Philip sat with me for an hour and was my shoulder to cry on before I eventually ordered him to go home to bed. I would be fine I promised him.
“I’m going to have to get you to leave.” The nurse said to be eventually. The shift was changing and the oncoming nurse wasn’t going to be as accommodating.
I wondered where I should go. I wanted to check on Maria but I was too scared to hear the news that I really didn’t want to hear – plus I didn’t want to bother Michael with my presence. Instead, what I really wanted was to beg and plead for Maria’s life. There was only one place I could do that – the chapel.
The chapel was small, dark and quiet. There was only one other person in the room when I entered, so I took a seat on the other side of the room from them – giving them their own personal space. I sat down and looked around, wondering how you go about asking God to save your best friend’s life. Should I promise something in return? Should I just come out and ask? Do I point out all of the good things about Maria that justifies why she deserves a second chance? Do I speak out loud or in the quiet of my head?
I chose the latter and used everything in my arsenal to convince God to save Maria’s life. I used Michael and their daughter – both of whose life would change forever if Maria was not with them anymore – Max was living proof of that.
I was on my knees, pleading for God to save Maria’s life, but also begging for him to save mine.
When I had run out of things to say, I let my head fall quiet and just wait. I was hoping that God would give me some kind of an answer that everything would be okay.
And I guess in a way he did.
In that quiet moment, as I had my head bent and eyes closed, I felt a gentle arm wrap around my shoulders. It was as though I was being pulled into God’s own loving arms, comforting me, telling me that everything would be alright if I just trusted in him.
I let everything go, and cried more tears than I thought capable of, as he held me tight.
For the second time that night, I cried the last tear that I could manage. This time however, before I opened my eyes, a peace flooded my body. Everything was going to be alright. I felt it.
I let my senses return to the room. I could hear the other person in the room crying their own tears in the corner, and I felt the unsteady breathe of someone next to me. And smelled their cologne …
“Max?” I asked as my head snapped around and my eyes opened.
“Liz.” Max replied, without more than just a hint of a smile. He took his arm away from around my shoulders. I suddenly felt colder.
“I didn’t think you would come.” I stated.
“I wasn’t going to, but … I couldn’t not be here for you.” Max replied.
“Thank you. It means a lot to me that you came.” I replied, placing a hand on his knee, until his visible flinch made me retreat.
“But nothing’s changed.” Max explained. “My plane is leaving in a few hours.”
I looked at my watch. It was almost morning. I would have to pick Amy up from the airport soon.
I nodded.
“Well, thanks for coming.” I said as I went to stand and move past him. “I need to go and check on Maria.”
“Would you like me to come with you?” Max offered.
I wanted that more than anything.
“No. I think you should go.” I replied. “I don’t want to make this any harder for you. For us.”
Max nodded.
“Have a safe flight.” I said, slipping past him and not meeting his eye. I wasn’t going to beg for him to stay with me if he didn’t want to.
I walked out of the chapel and desperately wanted him to chase after me, but he didn’t. The chapel doors swing silently to a close behind me.
* * * * *
I checked on Maria, and found Michael asleep in a chair by her side, tightly holding onto her hand.
“Michael?” I whispered.
Michael stirred and opened his eyes. He gave me a quick glance before giving Maria a once-over.
“The nurse said there has been no change.” I updated him.
Michael nodded resignedly.
“I went and saw the baby.” Michael explained. “She’s so beautiful. She looks just like her mother.”
“I know.” I smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. “What are you going to call her?”
“We couldn’t agree. I liked the name Rose for a girl, but Maria liked the name Emily. Right now, I’d give Maria anything if it meant that she would be okay.” Michael replied despondently.
“Emily Rose…” I put the names together.
“Emily Rose…” Michael smiled.
We were silent for a while, watching Maria’s chest rise up and down, and the machine monitoring her heartbeat.
“Where’s Max?” Michael eventually asked.
“Long story.” I replied, dismissing the tears that welled in my eyes at the mention of his name.
“I think we have time.” Michael replied.
“I don’t want to burden you with this – you have enough to deal with.”
“I need the distraction.” Michael counter-argued.
“Fine…” I replied, before going into a long winded story about what we had been going through since returning to Roswell up to our argument the night before.
“So he left?” Michael asked. “I knew he was struggling, but I also knew how much he loved you.”
I flinched at Michael’s past tense.
“He’ll come around Liz. He’ll spend a few days away from you and realise how stupid he’s being and come crawling back.” Michael replied confidently.
“I don’t know Michael. I think it’s going to take a lot more than that to make him come home.” I said thoughtfully.
“Like what?” Michael asked.
“Some assurance that I will never get pregnant.” I decided.
“You would give him that? What about your dream to have kids?”
“Sometimes you have to make sacrifices…” I stated.
“Not that big Liz.” Michael warned. “I know that things aren’t so good now, but I have a daughter Liz – a daughter! I wouldn’t change that for the world. You shouldn’t have to do that either.”
“I don’t know what else to do.” I replied.
“Tell that jackass to get his ass back here and fix this mess.” A voice came from the bed.
“Maria!” Michael exclaimed, clutching her arm and smothering her with kisses. “You’re awake!”
“It’s hard to sleep with you two yabbering on over there.” Maria attempted a smile.
“Welcome back Maria.” I smiled, taking her other hand in mine.
“I told you that I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.” Maria smiled in return.
“I’ll go and get the nurse.” I announced, wanting to give Maria and Michael some time alone.
“How’s the baby?” I heard Maria ask Michael as I left.
“Beautiful. She’s so beautiful.” I heard Michael reply.
* * * * *
“She’s okay.” Was the first thing I said to Amy as I saw her race from the airport bridge and through the gate to the arrivals hall.
“Thank God for that.” Amy hugged me with a lifetime of relief in her voice. It must have been a long hard flight for her not knowing what condition Maria would be in when she got here. “And the baby?”
“Beautiful.” I replied, using Michael’s description.
“Let’s go Grandma.” I smiled, taking Amy’s hand-luggage from her.
“I’m a Grandma!” Amy smiled. “Oh that makes me sound old, but I still love hearing it.”
After picking up the rest of Amy’s luggage and the baggage carousel, we headed to the exit.
“Hey, isn’t that Max?” Amy asked the moment we stepped outside. Sure enough, Max was getting out of a cab a few metres away from where we stood. “What’s he doing here?”
I didn’t reply, but tried to fight the impulse to run to him and beg him to stay.
I didn’t win.
“Max!” I called, dropping Amy’s bags and racing towards him.
Max turned around in surprise as I hurtled towards him. Lunging into his arms I kissed him with so much force that I took both of our breaths away. To my surprise he kissed back.
But only at first. Eventually he disentangled me from around his body and rested his forehead against mine as he caught his breath.
“Stay.” I begged. It seemed I would stoop so low as to beg after all.
“I can’t.” Max replied.
“I don’t want to have a baby. I just want you.” I promised. “I’ll do anything.”
“Don’t say that.” Max’s voice quavered. “I’m not going to make you give up on your dreams for me.”
“But you’re making me give you up.” I pointed out.
“I don’t know how else to fix this.” Max replied.
“I told you – stay.”
“No.” Max gave a strangled reply, pulling away and making a hasty exit before I could react.
I watched him walk away.
It seemed there was nothing I could do to make him want to be with me.
It was over.
I was now officially empty inside.