All he had wanted to do was treat his kids to some ice cream at the establishment that had once meant something to him. A place he had mostly stayed away unless he was with those who meant something to him. Because in the past ten years he would have stayed away if it was his choice. And in the early years it had been. And then the kids had arrived, and once they became a certain age. They loved it.
The did not see how on the nose it was.
What they would realize would come later. But now, they were in a middle of an escalating soap opera. One that had real life implications for their own home. All they wanted was some ice cream. After going for Chinese with their dad, as it was a chance for them to spend time together.
They enjoyed and they even enjoyed that their father was going to spoil them at the Crashdown. Alien sundaes were their favorite.
They loved their décor.
It was lots of fun.
But they had not expected to walk into this scene. And Ella could see how her father was responding. He is pissed she was thinking.
Yvonne is pissed too.
It was not a good situation to be. And before Max could say anything more. He turned to his children. “Can you two take Callie to the Crashdown with you. Don’t worry, I won’t be too long behind you,” he said with a glare at his wife. As if to say, don’t say anything and Yvonne wisely did not.
“Mommy?” Callie asked.
“Go ahead,” Liz said softly. Because she knew she needed to get her daughter away from this situation.
A situation that is escalating out of control.
“Ask Mr. Parker if you see him to charge me. Don’t order too much,” Max muttered as he looked at his son when he made the request, and Noah only laughed. Really the boy thought. But Ella the eldest, took command. “Don’t worry Daddy.”
“Brown noser, suck up” Noah muttered as he and his sister took Callie the hundred feet to the restaurant, and before long they were out of sight.
Leaving the adults to a deteriorating situation.
“What is going on here?” Max said taking command of the situation. With his wife glaring at Liz like she was the problem here. Except she was not. Sure, Liz had not helped the situation but still, Max knew this was long coming.
Yvonne was not going to dwell on the trivial. She was going to get down to the basics. She did not care if this was not the place for this kind of confrontation. But it was a discussion that needed to take place, if only to make sure she was aware. “Is that kid yours?” Yvonne demanded, obviously of Callie.
Shaking his head. Max knew the question was warranted and even acceptable because it was only natural. But it did not mean he wanted it to take place here, and he did not want to be having it at all. Because I know the truth he muttered. “Of course not, why would you think a thing?” Max muttered as he looked at Liz, and Yvonne snorted.
Even though he was not batting an eye.
“Because I could not help but think that you might have had something between the two of you that would make you want to do crazy things,” Yvonne muttered as they all knew what she was daring the other two to say something that would help herself. “So, answer me Max. Is that kid yours?” she asked once again.
Because she was not believing his answers to this point. Obviously.
“No,” Max said simply. Because to say anything else was to get into the trouble that his father was telling him to not engage in. And because he didn’t want to be pulling Liz further into a deteriorating situation. And because of course, he had already posed the same question to his former girlfriend. So, he was going on what she had told him…
To his face.
And I believe her Max knew Now I do, he said softly, because common sense told him that Liz would have at last told him sometime in last eight years that he was the father.
Bu Yvonne looked like she did not believe her husband as she remembered the child. “She might not look like you, but genetics come in all varieties, and she appears to be in the age range that validates my question, so…”
“So, nothing” Max said. I wish she was my child he knew but knew enough about what you should say and not to say to know that it was not wise to say something like that, in front of your wife. Someone who is not the mother and unfortunately, it was something he had come to believe because as much as he did not want to be true, unfortunately, it’s true.
Liz could only sigh. And knew she had to step into the situation. A situation she did not want to be in and say something. She knew what Max was thinking. And it was not even using those dormant abilities of hers that she had tried not to use since she started to experience them back in high school. She never needed too. She had come through her luck in her career with her brain and not needed to add to it.
And really those abilities had been a product of the past. And she had tried to leave her past here in Roswell, and she had tried to be another person since she left these town limits. But she knew she had to say something. She needed to save Max from the inuendo that his wife was thinking. Even though she knew what he was thinking, and part of her was thinking of the same thing. Of course, she knew he was under a misunderstanding of the situation that involved Callie.
And how she was Callie’s mother.
But she had to say something. “Max is not Callie’s father,” she said simply. “You don’t have to worry Yvonne.”
“Why would I worry?” Yvonne muttered. “We don’t have any kids together. I am raising someone else’s children,” she muttered. “So, why not add one more to the party?” she muttered and her contempt for the situation was evident. “At least I did not have to raise that one that he had in high school. Which fortunately, he gave up for adoption” she muttered. “Did you know about that?” she asked Liz as it became evident that Max’s wife was throwing the kernel around to make a scene, and to see whether she held one over on Max’s past.
Unfortunately, that was not to be.
Because I know everything about that Liz thought as Max winced by the public display of private information his wife was giving out to those who were witnessing this altercation. One that was spinning out of control.
There was no safe ground. No behind close doors.
Max technically had not been aware that Yvonne had been aware of his son with Tess. Very few people did. Because it had been dealt with so quickly, and he had not wanted to talk about it. Edie knew he thought of his first wife. She was good about it, but it was over, and therefore he did not have to deal with it.
Because the child had stayed with his family. And had not come looking. Of course, he would be almost a teenager now he thought. So, anything was possible in the future. But that is not now he knew.
Max did not know what he would do if that day ever did come to be, but he knew it was not going to happen anytime soon. So, I have some time.
So, to know Yvonne knew told Max so much. And made him wonder just what secrets his wife knew about him, ones he had not been aware that were out there, to be known. Of course, he had been living with his wife for six years so anything was possible. Which was troublesome to know, as he was suspecting that she was a lot more complicated than she appeared or had shown these past years.
It's clear he had been blind about many things in his home and in his marriage. And I am only now coming into the light.
“Did you?” Yvonne asked, pipping into the conversation once more.
“Yes,” Liz said simply. But of course, it was not a subject she wanted to be discussing, so she simply said it, and muttered something under her breath, that neither Max nor Yvonne could hear. Max had the same idea. “You don’t have to worry about me Yvonne,” she muttered. “The past the past. And whatever you and Max share together is the present, and you don’t have to worry about me. Callie has another father…”
And that is true. Unfortunately. Liz knew.
“Pity” Yvonne smiled as she smirked at her husband who only shook his head.
God Liz muttered. This woman she sighed. She did not know how Max could stand her. Oh, Max but she was trying to not make her problem. “I think I will head in and collect Callie. Because we should call it a night.”
There will be no more seeing the sights she thought. Callie and I need to vanquish from this scene she muttered.
“Don’t go on my account,” Yvonne smiled. “Max obviously wants to see you, which is why he brought the kids to your family’s establishment” she said as she looked at her husband. “Don’t think I don’t know why you take the kids here,” she said with a darker vibe to her voice.
One that both adults were quite attune too.
“So,” Max muttered. I don’t always come here he sighed because it usually had to be a good reason to come in the past. Tonight, actually was not about seeing Liz he knew because he had no reason to think she was here, and that is the truth. “It does not matter why I bring the kids here on any other day, but tonight, they wanted some ice cream, and I had no reason to think Liz was here.” She is not even staying here. For all I knew, she would have been back with Maria and Michael he thought.
“Sure,” Yvonne muttered a little sarcastically. “You really want me to believe that?”
It is your problem if you don’t Max thought. But he wanted to end this scene. “Enough of this Yvonne,” Max muttered. “You have said your piece, and that is all…” he said softly as he looked at Liz. “You are wasting everyone’s time here, and obviously, Liz and her daughter have things they need to do.”
“You really want me to think that?” Yvonne asked. “That I would leave you with your former girlfriend, so that you can continue to do what you want to be doing with her?” she said a little snidely. “You really think I am going to give you permission?”
“Yvonne” Max said. Of course, I would not think such a thing would be coming from my you, my wife.
This is all too much she thought. Because did not want to be in this drama anymore. So, Liz needed an out. I don’t want to be in this anymore. “I am going to find my daughter” Liz said. “Excuse me,” she said as she turned to face her parents’ establishment.
She has a right idea Max knew. “I am coming with you,” Max said as he turned to his wife. “I have to collect my children,” he said simply. As he faced his wife “Go home Yvonne. You knew I was spending time with the kids, and that time did not include you,” he muttered, and there were gasps at the cold brush off that Max was giving his wife. “Go do whatever you were wanting to be doing.”
“Hell, I am” Yvonne muttered. I am not going to allow you to play footsies with that woman she thought.
This is a mess Liz could only think as she wanted to take herself out of the situation. “I am not looking for trouble,” Liz said softly as she glanced at the conflicted emotions on Max’s face, he’s in hell she knew but also had to get away from this situation. So, she turned and walked away. Leaving the combative husband and wife looking at each other with anger on their faces, which was a very mutual feeling at the moment.
“Sorry I busted your attempt at cheating on me” Yvonne muttered before she yelled after Liz. “Stay away from my husband.”
Liz did not look back, as she turned and walked into the Crashdown.
“Jesus Yvonne,” Max said softly. “What is up with you?” he asked of his wife. Even if he knew she had a reason to be angry, but it did not want to be dragging Liz down into the mud with him, It is my fault I brought her down to my level.
“What is up with me is that you are playing me for a fool” Yvonne muttered. “And I am not going to put up with it.”
You don’t have any proof he would mutter. And that was the truth. “You are living in a fantasyland Yvonne. So, go home, and leave me and the kids alone.”
“I won’t have you try to gaslight me Max,” Yvonne threatened. “I know the situation at play, and if you go off with her Max,” Yvonne threatened. “I will skin you for everything you have, and then some.”
Hell Max muttered. “Your delusions are too numerous,” he would say. “I am not playing mind games with you,” he thought. I am not Tess he muttered of another mistake. Now, that was someone who could play mind games with the best of them he thought. And I am still paying for those games he thought. “All I want is to do is spend time with my children. I am going to join Noah and Ella, and I hope by the time we come home. You have straightened yourself out.”
“Or what?” Yvonne asked.
“Or you won’t like what I will do.” Max said. “As I have said before. I don’t have to take your behavior.”
“And neither do I,” Yvonne. “Because you won’t like what I will do” Yvonne muttered. “I don’t like being played for a fool. So, if you think the same someone who walked away from you in the first place, wants you now. She definitely won’t want you when I am done with you…” she said softly. “You will rue the day you met me.”
“I already do” Max said simply as he walked off.
*
Inside,
The Crashdown,
The Crashdown,
Before Liz walked back into the establishment she had only just walked out. This time in search of her daughter. She knew trouble was in the offering. She knew she did not help matters with what she and Max had done. But given the face that Max’s wife was showing, she was not feel that much guilt. But she did feel worried for those who will be caught in the fire, and the battle zone.
But before this, the children who were so young and were right in the middle. Whether they really knew it or not. Fortunately for all involved, they were only children, and they were trying ride out the turmoil that existed outside, and they wanted to spoil themselves. Jeff Parker who was now down in the restaurant, was surprised to see his granddaughter come back but this time, with the Evans twins.
Ella and Noah.
Obviously, he did not know about the scene going on outside. And so, he was surprised to learn of it from a very upfront Ella. “Daddy will join us,” she said softly and forcefully. “He’s in the middle of something with our stepmother and Callie’s mother.”
Oh, shit Jeff said.
“Daddy told us that we could ask you to charge him in case he does not come in right away” Ella asked.
Oh, I will Jeff smiled. Of the tab that had been building because of the twins adventures “What do you want?”
The table of three children ordered Alien sundaes. “I will be back” he said softly as he left the table with an eye to the doors, but he could not see anything. And that troubled him, but his daughter was an adult now, and he could not go out and get in the middle of his daughter’s private life, I wish she would not be so blatant about it he thought, but it was not something he could manage, so he would guard the innocent minds inside as he walked away with the children’s orders.
“You like cherries,” Callie asked because both twins had asked for extra strawberries on their sundae.”
“They are sweet, they make everything better.” Noah said. “So, are you new to town?” he asked, because he had not spent too much time around the new kid the night before because he had been on his need for adventure.
“We came to go to Aunt Maria’s wedding” Callie murmured. “We live in Maryland,” she said softly.
“Wow, cool” Ella smiled. “Long way.” That sounds different she thought as someone who had only known one town, Roswell.
Where she had been born and lived her nearly nine years of life.
“Yeah,” Callie nodded.
“How long are you going to stay in town?” Noah asked as he looked at his twin sibling and both wondered about the new girl. And because they could understand the vibes that were going between their father and Callie’s mother, and it made them curious about her.
“I don’t know, I don’t think my Mom even knows” Callie murmured.
Both twins nodded.
“But I hope it’s not anytime soon,” Callie murmured. I like this place she thought as she could not help but think about the scene outside, and the many questions poised by the strange lady. “You know about what that lady was saying outside…”
“Our stepmother” Noah piped into the conversation. As he looked at his sister once more. And Ella nodded too.
“Is she?” Callie asked.
“Yeah,” Ella nodded. “Our dad married her when we were kids,” she said with a smile, without acknowledging that they were still very much young kids. “After our mother died.”
Impressionable.
Callie nodded. “Sorry about that. That sucks. But I know something about that. Because Mommy was right. Your father is not my Dad,” Callie muttered. I know what is, what she thought. “Because I am not even her real kid,” she said as she did not know why she was even saying any of this, because it was not like she had ever really acknowledged it back home, with her friends. Because she had kept it a secret. So, she did not know why she was saying it now.
“What?” Noah asked, as he looked at his sister.
“I am adopted” Callie muttered. “My mommy took me in when I was very young. So, she’s right, your father is not my father. Because she is not really my mother. She might be because she’s raising me, and because she loves me, but my real parents are dead too.”
Whoa both kids thought.
*
Yeah, very Whoa material as Liz walked in moments later and spotted the three kids talking to each other. She sighed. God, you are being funny again aren’t you she thought to herself. I believe in you she muttered as she looked at the children. She might want Callie to have friends. But she could not help but acknowledge that this whole situation was messy. Therefore, she did not know how much time she and Callie should be spending with Max, or his children. But there was nothing she could do, not today anyways. But she saw her father spotting her. “Dad,” she said softly as she walked over to her father. “You did not expect to see me so soon, did you?”
“No, I did not” Jeff muttered. “I did not expect Callie to be wanting more ice cream?”
“I had to get her out of a tough situation,” Liz muttered. “So, it made sense at the time. I hope you know she should not have a full sundae” she said with a smile.
“Don’t worry, Greg is doing her order personally” Jeff said softly with a hug for his daughter. “Are you okay?”
“I am fine Dad,” Liz said with a mutter. The last thing I am, is okay. “I just had to get into the middle of a war…”
“Max and his wife?” Jeff asked quietly. Oh, Lizzie he would think because this was not what he wanted for his daughter. It is the last thing he would mutter. She does not deserve this he would think, because he had no reason to understand the depth of the bond that existed between his daughter and Max, and that she cannot help herself.
Liz nodded.
“Honey…” Jeff sighed.
“Don’t okay Dad,” Liz muttered. “I am trying to be bigger than what the situation is. I need to because I have Callie to worry about. Therefore, I am not trying to get in the middle of their drama,” she sighed. “Really, I am not. Max’s wife came up to me. And got in my face. And made assumptions,” she muttered even if some of the assumptions were right on the money, by a large margin she muttered. Even if at this point, we are only talking about one night she was thinking. It is not this giant affair or anything she muttered. “I tried to be the bigger person, and not get in the mud, so not to add to the mess.”
Jeff nodded. “Yvonne Evans is very unhappy,” was all he could say. “And has been for awhile, but…”
“My return has made things worse?” Liz asked.
You can say that Jeff thought. It certainly has escalated things “I don’t know much about it. But I know things are not good, and so you have to be careful honey.”
“You and Mom don’t have to worry about me, okay” Liz said softly. I know how to take care of myself she thought.
Yvonne does not want to mess with me.
“I know you can handle yourself. You have been on your own for a long time now,” Jeff muttered. Even if I wished you were a little closer, he sighed, but he knew fully well that it might have been worse for all parties if Liz had been. “Your mother is a little more worried. She knows how attached you are with Max…”
That is an understatement Liz knew.
She was very attached to her former boyfriend. 10 years has not dose the fire she thought. It has only increased the desire she knew. “I am trying Dad,” she said softly. “I never wanted any of this” she said. “I did not come back to this town to get in a middle of a faltering marriage.”
“So, you blame your mother and me for not letting you know that Max was taken?” Jeff asked softly as the kids’ ice cream was now being served to their table. And as Jeff promised, Callie only got a small serving.
Hearing the word taken was not sitting well with Liz because she knew she should be taking the word at face value and not engaging but she had made things worse of course and she knew it. Weddings are notorious for ill timed misjudgments she thought as she knew that was something she was saying to herself to make it go down easier.
It was also something she did not want to be talking to her father about.
“I don’t blame you” Liz said. “Of course, I had to come back for Maria’s wedding” she said. In no good conscious could I stay away even if I knew that Max was married, she thought. “But...”
“You would have flown in, and flown right out this morning?” Jeff asked.
“Probably,” Liz said softly. If I could have gotten to the airport after seeing Max again and she knew it was no guarantees the same thing would happened even if she had more resistance and not done what she had done the night before.
Now my lemon of car has gotten me stuck in this town until it gets repaired, she thought. She knew she would not get an answer into how long it would take until the next day. She was waiting on word.
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore, I need to join my daughter” Liz said softly as the door swung open, and she sighed as she spotted Max walking in. Damn it she thought. Still, she had to acknowledge her daughter.
Jeff felt for his daughter’s very mucky personal life. It was not something he wanted for her, even if he wanted her to find love and to settle down. “I am here if you need someone to talk. Or you can go to your mother.”
“I know I can” Liz said as she hugged her father, and she saw Max staying back.
It was a very messy situation.
But she took the first step and even know she knew the heads were turning. She walked over the threesome of children. Even though she was also on the intended path for Max too, but he knew how complicated the situation and waited for her to make her journey to the table, as he gave it a few more minutes.
“Mommy?” Callie said softly.
“Kids,” Liz said softly. “I hope you can eat all that?” she said to her daughter of the lump of ice cream.
“Come on, of course I can, it’s too small” Callie smiled. “Because you told Grandpa to lowball me, huh?” she said of her mother, and it got the table to laugh.
“No, your grandfather thought of that all on his own” Liz said with a laugh. Because it felt good to be focusing on her daughter and not thinking of the intensity of someone else’s marriage or how her feelings were impacting it. “Hello again,” she said to Ella.
“Ms. Parker,” Ella acknowledged. “Nice to see you again,” she said ever the polite young girl. “You didn’t meet my brother last night,” she said of the boy next to her. “This is my twin brother, Noah Michael” she said as she made introductions.
He looks exactly like Max Liz thought as she looked at the young boy. And saw miniature version of the boy she remembered from her childhood. A time where it was all so tame, she thought. As she thought of the boy she had grown up with and did not even think she was seeing until they were teenagers, and she was awoken to who Max was. “Nice to meet you. I am an old friend of your father.”
Noah nodded.
Because he knew a little but about the situation because of what his sister had witnessed and spilled to him. But he had not met Liz before. And he could see why his father was supposedly taken with the woman.
She seems kind. Noah could not help but think. Very different from Yvonne he muttered to himself.
“Can you eat all that?” Liz asked the twins of their own ice cream creations, that were much bigger than Callie’s, along with plenty of cherries.
“Sure,” Noah said, “No problem,” he said with confidence.
“We shall see about that,” came a familiar voice and a voice that brought shivers to Liz’s skin, damn it, why does he have this effect on me? as she turned, and yes, it was not some clone version of Max. But the real thing.
She certainly knew it by the way he was looking at her… It is all so real.
Oh god Liz thought to herself, but she could voice them to a table full of young and impressionable minds.
“Daddy” Ella said softly. “Did you want some?”
“No, I am fine” Max said. “Because we will have to see if I will be called into action to take some of yours or your brothers of your hand.”
“Do you usually have to play hero?” Liz said softly and knew that the way he was looking at her, and the way he had taken her words. Her words had different meanings to them, and meanings that she and Max would be the only ones who could know what they meant. Certainly, three eight years olds would not know.
“Sometimes,” Max said softly as he glanced at the woman he loved. “If it’s called for…”
“Daddy is a Sheriff deputy; he loves to protect people” Ella said with a smile at her father as she interrupted the display by the adults.
Clearly, a lot of hero worship existed between father and daughter. Because of course, Liz knew the feeling, and she hoped that the young girl could keep it alive once she was older, and life becomes harder and more unpredictable. But she also knew that Max was indeed very good at protecting people, unless things get out of his control she knew but at least he could control the safety of his children. “Yes, I know, your father helped out Callie and me the other night. “
“Cool” Noah said.
“You and Callie did need it,” Max said softly. “So, did you want some ice cream yourself?” he asked of his former girlfriend. As she tried to keep it professional, and above board for the sake of their children.
Even though he knew he and Liz were being whispered about all through the restaurant. As Liz had seen it. He had also seen the stares once he came into the restaurant. Roswell is a small town he knew.
One of the reasons he sticked it out. Because it’s better to be here than anywhere else, more unpredictable but it almost meant most people knew his life more than he did. And certainly, had long memories.
Memories of a time when he and Liz had given Bonnie and Clyde a run for their money.
So, Liz could understand what Max was thinking about.
She brought him back to reality with a simple ‘No’. “It’s getting late, and as soon as Callie finishes up. We have to get back to Maria’s place” she muttered even though the sugar rush from the ice cream will mean her daughter will not be going to be bed anytime soon, even if she forced the girl to go to bed.
Just like Liz was experiencing her own sugar rush in the form of Max.
A Max rush she though. “We should have gone back already.”
“I know,” Max said softly. “Liz, again, I am sorry about the scene outside. Yvonne should not have said that to you.”
“She had a right to have some questions,” Liz said softly. “Everyone is going to make some assumptions due to our history,” she muttered, more softly and only Max really caught the implications of what she was saying. Certainly, the three impressionable minds would not know what it really meant.
“Even so, she should not have done it so openly” Max said. Not in the middle of main street he muttered of outside. “So, I am sorry for my wife.”
Liz nodded, and hating to have to be reminded that he had a wife. I don’t need the constant reminders, because it is not something I can easily forget she muttered to herself as she remembered the venom on Yvonne’s face.
“I don’t think she’s that sorry,” Liz said simply. But she was not anxious to get into it. “Are you finished Callie?” she asked of her daughter.
“Almost,” Callie said softly. As she could sense the undercurrents between the two adults, but she did not know what it all meant. Both Ella and Noah, as capable with added abilities, they certainly knew that there was more to what was going on. But it was odd for them to see their father interact with someone like this.
With Liz. Because they had never seen it before. Not even with Yvonne they would both think of the uncomfortable environment that often was at home.
Fortunately, they had been too young to truly know what existed between their father and biological mother, Edie. But they were old enough to know what was happening in their own home, around them, and to be able to see how it differed with their stepmother. They might not be able to define the kind of intimacy they were now seeing between their father and Callie’s mother, but they knew it was different between their father and stepmother, Yvonne.
Very different they both would think as they saw how their father melted around the woman.
“It was nice to see you again,” Max said simply, and left it at that.
Liz nodded. “Thank you for keeping my daughter company,” she said to both of the twins who only nodded as she saw that her daughter was finished with her ice cream. “Are you ready?”
“Ready,” Callie said as she got that her mother was anxious to leave this situation as she got out of the booth. “We can go back to Aunt Maria’s” she said softly. “Nice to meet you both,” she said the twins. “Officially,” she said acknowledging that they had seen each other at the wedding. “Thank you for keeping me company.”
“No problem,” Noah said with a smile. “I am sure we will be seeing you again.”
“Maybe,” Liz said softly.
Max only nodded as he watched as mother and daughter walked out of the Crashdown. Opening sigh, as he spotted Jeff Parker, and most of the restaurant watching, we create a lot of eyes on us he knew. “Are you two going to need some help with your dessert?” he asked as he tried to take ownership of today, and his present.
Because it was more than what that past was…
It was a lot more complex.
“Maybe,” Ella said.
Smiling, Max sat down and concentrated on his present. Being a parent as the restaurant got back to it’s normal functioning, and Jeff Parker walked into the back of the restaurant.