Minutes later,
"I have a brother," was all Liz could think and say to Max because it was a confusing story that still did not make a lot of sense even today, well after coming to terms with it. And it’s taken a lot to get me to this point she knew. "Or I did..." she said, "Because he's dead now" she said softly, and she could see the confusion on Max's face. A confusion that she also felt.
Because it was quite a story.
"I don't understand," Max said softly. "Because it’s not like I come into this story this past weekend Liz; I knew you and your family when last we were together" he muttered. "When we were teenagers. And even before we were ever together. I saw you growing up, I know your family. I ate at your family restaurant. You did not have any siblings, right?" he asked. "You were an only child?"
You would think so, right? Liz asked because she knew that was the prevailing knowledge of her story. "I was at the time, but it turns out I wasn't" she muttered. "My father had a son, years before I was born."
"That he put up for adoption, and never told you or your mother?" Max asked, well it happens he thought. Because it happened to me, he thought as he still thought of the son that he had given up for adoption more than a decade before. As far as he knew, the boy was happy and healthy across the country with his parents.
It had been a closed adoption. Because who knows what I was going to be doing Max muttered, whether I would still be on this planet, or even alive so the only updates he had gotten was one, when the boy was five and therefore, he knew he was still alive. But as the child was now approaching his teen years, who knows what that would mean one day.
When the boy wanted to know his origins. If he does.
That might not be any guarantee. Everyone is different.
But that day is not today Max thought. Because the boy would only be 11 or 12 by now, he sighed. Still, he thought of the boy occasionally.
So, I know it happens and maybe it happened to Liz's father he thought.
"No," Liz said simply. "Dad was in the dark," she said softly. "Completely."
What on earth? Max asked. Because it did not make sense.
"You know my Dad had a lot of trouble in in his youth?" Liz asked.
"Yes," Max nodded. "I remember you telling me about it, and it is why your father was concerned for you when we were up to no good back in high school" he asked. That was a time he knew. A time where we had no idea what side we would land on, on any given day he thought. "Your mother told you?"
"Right," Liz said softly.
"So?" Max asked.
"So," Liz said softly, "It turns out the girlfriend who died when he was at the wheel," she sighed. "Turns out she did not die when they said she did," she said softly. "Her family led my father to believe that she was dead. But she was put on life support."
"Wow, that is cold" Max muttered.
Yes, it is Liz muttered as she shuttered at the thought. “Well, he was at the wheel so apparently they were blaming him for the crash," Liz muttered. "Surprisingly, Dad does not blame them for that," she sighed. "Even he admits, in my mother's terms, that he was quite the hellion and not the best influence for anyone..."
Max nodded. Something they thought me to be he told himself of all the words the Parker's could have described him to be back when their daughter was seventeen and robbing convenience stores... "Go on" Max asked.
"Dad does not blame them for not telling him, because he has a lot of guilt about the crash, but he does blame them for not telling him that she was pregnant." Liz muttered.
"Whoa," Max whispered. "Really?" he asked.
"Yes," Liz nodded. "Apparently she did not know, or only recently found about it and she was quite far long but one of those people, that if you wear loose tops that it would not be too apparent and my Dad was not the most observant of people in those days, so he never noticed. Anyways, after the crash. They declared the girlfriend brain dead, but the baby was viable, and they wanted to save it if they could."
"So, they were successful?" Max asked.
"Apparently," Liz acknowledged. "Dad never knew, until his son was an adult but was already dead."
"What?" Max asked.
"Apparently my half brother, Liam was born. At the beginning, It was touch and go, and his mother died officially. Once declared healthy. He would go one to be raised by his maternal grandparents. And never told the truth, until they died themselves and he found in the papers, who his biological father was..."
"Your father?" Max asked.
"Yes," Liz said softly. "But he did not want to rock the boat," she said. "He married, and they had a baby girl."
"Callie?" Max asked.
"Yes," Liz nodded. "But when she was a little more than 12 months old, they were in a car accident and both Liam and his wife, Bonnie died. Callie somehow survived the crash, but she was left an orphan. With no family on either side left to be able to care for her. So, they came looking at Dad."
"Wow," Max sighed. "That would be an awful way to find out that you have a son that you never knew about..."
"Right, and that you are also an instant grandfather." Liz sighed.
I cannot imagine he thought but then he knew his own parents probably had a little more of a rude awakening when his own son had shown up months after being born with Tess, that got them going he thought, right in the middle of them finding out some earth-shattering news about us, their children he muttered. But still, he could not imagine because he knew he had a child out there, as he looked at his former girlfriend, and the woman he loved in a new light. "How do you come in?" Max asked.
"Mom was understanding but it was a lot for both of them to come to terms with. As much as Dad wanted to raise Callie. And Mom would have taken her in, still, he had the restaurant and was wrestling with his own guilt about causing the accident that eventually would take the life of his late girlfriend. So, they came to me and told me. And because I knew much of the burden would be placed on my mother, I did not want that. So, I elected to take the baby because if I didn't then she would have been placed in foster care."
"And your family did not want that?" Max asked.
"Not if we could help it," Liz sighed. "Given how it was for Michael, well, I could help it. So, I took the baby in and became an instant mother. So, legally, she might not have been a Parker from birth, but to us, she is our blood, and we wanted her to be raised by our family."
"That takes guts," Max said softly. “Lots of them.”
"I don't think I really knew what I was doing at the time, but I had to do it. I knew my parents could have not handle it, and really, they were getting used to being in their empty nester phase of life, so I felt it was my duty. I was young enough to take on the challenge, and plus, whether her father was raised a Parker or not. She was and is family, so I had to do it."
"You are amazing Liz" Max said softly.
"I am only me," Liz said softly, unsure she wanted the credit.
Or deserved it.
"You really are amazing," Max said softly. "You were trying to get your degree, and suddenly you were a mother without the months to prepare for it" he murmured, as he picked up her hand, and touched her again.
The sensation was startling for Liz. As much as they had been so close, still to be touched by Max was amazing, and erotic almost. It feels good to be wanted.
After all, she had closed herself from men this past decade.
Since Max.
Sure, she had gotten requests for dates. But she always resisted because none of them could come close to how she had felt for Max, and how Max had captured her heart and her heart was still with him, even when she should have moved on.
She might have moved on in other aspects of her life. She had focused on those aspects of her life. And it’s not like work and being a mother did not fill her life. But she never could go there with another man. Not after Max.
Maybe if I had not come back. And stayed away, maybe I would have found someone who could measure up to Max but nope, there was never anyone else...
No one could match my dark hair mystery man from a foreign locale.
Everyone was so ordinary after Max Liz thought. Maria is right on that score she thought. Our aliens are quite the feat.
"It was something I had to do, and I don't regret it" Liz murmured.
"You shouldn't," Max smiled. "Because you did a remarkable thing. Giving an orphan child a home, and a family,” he murmured. She really is amazing because he did not know if many people would have done the same.
Liz smiled.
"Does Callie know?" Max asked. As he was thinking of the child with different eyes. "If she was so young, you are the only mother she remembers, right?"
"Yes," Liz acknowledged. "We have not had the conversation yet, but she knows. Apparently, she did a little snooping and hit paydirt," she said with a smirk. "She has always known that I adopted her, but she did not know the truth of it, or I assumed she did not. Apparently, she tried to have a conversation with my father."
"Oh, boy" Max smiled. "That must have gone over well."
"The resulting conversation was abbreviated, and cut off, so they did not get into the whole story" Liz murmured. "But its something I will probably have to have one of these days with the child."
Max nodded. "I am sorry Liz."
"For what?" Liz asked.
"For losing your brother like that..." Max murmured softly.
"I never knew him," Liz said softly. "But everything I do know of him, and his wife Bonnie was that they were compassionate and amazing, and I am sorry I never knew him. Because I always wanted a sibling. A brother or sister, but it was never to be, so I feel for my father to have not known that he had a son, until it was too late. Sure, I get why my brother's family did not want to go there, and involve my father, but they still deprived him of us," she said softly. "My father deserved to know."
"Yes, he did" Max said softly. Right or wrong, you should not keep that kind of secret.
"So, I feel for my father, to find out that way," Liz said. "Mom has been amazing. Sure, it's awkward with Callie, but my mother is trying, and it is why she wanted to take Callie shopping today. To get to know her, because we have lived in Maryland since I got out of school, and therefore, our visits have not been that many because of course they had the restaurant, so there were only so many times they could close and come and visit."
Max nodded. "So, they must be glad you are back now..."
"They are," Liz said softly. "But we are only back for a visit Max..."
"Are you?" Max asked.
"I have a job in Maryland Max," Liz said softly. "I have built something there, and I don't want to leave it..."
"Wouldn't Callie be better served knowing her family back here?" Max asked. “I am sure there are facilities near here, that can do that same kind of research you are known to able to do?” he asked, knowing what he was asking of her, and that it was a bit rich for him to ask her to pack up her life, and come back when it’s not like he was fancy free…
"We can always come back and visit," Liz said softly. Now, we have bit the bullet and come back, now, I know it's possible she muttered to herself. “But this was never designed to be a permanent return,” she said softly. “No matter how good it feels to be here, or to see you. My life is in back in Maryland. I have started something there..."
Why can you not start something again here Max stubbornly asked himself. Sure, he knew she had a life elsewhere. But this is her hometown, so why could she not come back he selfishly muttered to himself. Yes, I am being selfish. But I want Liz near me.
I want her back.
"Max," Liz said softly. "You are married."
"We could be together," Max said softly as he touched her once more, and she felt the sensation of his touch. "You know you want us," he asked. "Don't you?"
God yes Liz whispered, but not out loud so not to wake the gods.
"Liz, come on because you cannot possibly want to give up on this," Max asked as he moved her hair off her shoulder and leaned down and kissed the nap of her neck... "Don't you want this everyday."
"God Max," Liz moaned. "Please don't..."
"Don't what?" Max asked. "Don't love you, need you, because I love you so much. You are my passion. You are my everything. I would not be alive without you," he whispered. "You brought me back to life," he whispered as they both recalled that fateful day when he should have been dead and gone, and yet he came back to her...
He fought to the death to come back.
To come back to Liz...
"Oh god," Liz moaned as he continued to rain down the kisses on her, and she felt her resistance slipping. "Max, you are married. Your wife."
"Is not you…"
"IS that supposed to make it better?" Liz asked as she stepped back from the kisses. Mutual kisses by this point. "You are married. Which means that we should not be doing this, please Max, we need to respect that you have a ring on your finger," she asked. "Don't ask me to be the other woman, the mistress" she asked. “Coming back would make me one, and I am not going to be your mistress Max, I am not going to be set up in some apartment and wait for you to call when you have time for a quickie.”
You will never be the other woman or a mistress to me Max muttered of the uncomfortable situation, it was always you. "I am leaving Liz," Max said. "I am getting a divorce."
"Are you?" Liz asked softly, as she gave him a weary look as if to say you are only saying this to get me to come back to you, and to be okay with be the one on the side while you do your dance with me and go home to your wife at night, until you finally are free.
If you are ever free, she thought.
“Yes,” Max asked as he was making the final decision. No matter the consequences, he muttered to himself. I need this woman in my life he muttered.
"I am not going to be here next week Max," Liz said softly. “I am not going to put myself in the position to be your mistress,” she asked as if she did not believe he could get his freedom. And she almost did not. Because she could not believe it would be that easy to get his freedom. “I am not going to be at your beck and call.”
Of course, Max knew it would not be easy. So, it would be asking a lot of the woman he loved to hang on for an uncertain future. Because the last thing he wanted was for her to be seen as his mistress, because that is not Liz.
When she is everything.
She is why I am still living Max muttered.
Yet he could not help himself. Seeing the woman that he loved looking at him and wanting him despite all it meant. Yet, trying to restrain herself. Which is something he should be doing but it is Liz, so he could not help himself. "But you are here now, right?" Max asked.
"Yes," Liz said softly. “I am. But only for now.”
"Then let's have now and talk about tomorrow, well tomorrow" Max said softly as he pulled Liz into lingering passionate kiss that blew both of their minds and tore apart any resistance that she might have about the situation or what she was potentially setting herself up for, and to be.
Because Liz, being determined to get a divorce does not mean he is not still married she told herself. You are still going to be the other woman, the mistress if you make this more than a one-night stand... which it was and will stay unless you go further.
But it was Max she knew. And he was looking at her with those eyes she whispered to herself.
"Do you want me?" Max asked with tantalizing tenderness.
"God yes," Liz said softly because she was too far gone to say no, I can never say no to Max she knew as he smiled as gave her a passionate kiss, and lifted her up in his arms, and walked up the stairs to the spare room.
A room that once the door slammed, would not be exited for hours...
As a door slam rocked the house.
And there was no one around to stop it.
*
Meanwhile,
But there was someone who could rain on their parade. A couple of miles away, "I cannot find your husband's car," came the man on the phone with a woman. A woman who was determined to prove that her husband was straying. "There is no evidence that he is anywhere near the Guerin household," came the report that he was supposed to be giving to his client. "You are currently out of luck."
Hell I am. "Find my husband," came the threat over the phone. "You know what my husband drives, and his license plate. How hard is it to find the damn car in this damn town?" Yvonne Evans muttered into the phone as he sat outside on the patio, near her house. We are not in Los Angeles here, Yvonne muttered. We are in Roswell, New Mexico. "I have it on good authority that my husband ran out of that damn restaurant he likes to frequent, that is owned by his slut's parents, and I know he got a message from that woman. And there is only one place where he would be going. So, find my husband."
"I am trying," came the man. "I am stationed near the house. There is no evidence his car is nearby..."
Obviously, he showed up after Max appeared at Michael and Maria's house.
"Damn it, then get closer, because I know he is there" Yvonne muttered. "So, find him, and get me the information I need to render the prenuptial useless" she demanded Yes, I know the grounds won't give me my money because I was stupid not to insist on it when my father-in-law demanded an agreement after the wedding she muttered. So, she could not render it useless by adultery. But I can certainly threaten to drag the slut through the mud until he gives me my money that I am due, she muttered. "Or deal with him. Whatever gets me the results that I want..."
"You did not want me to report to you until it was over, remember" the man asked. "You are the one who called me with this other job. Which will give me more money, remember..." he said in a quiet tone. “You have to listen to my reports.”
"Then do your job or you don't get any of the money" Yvonne demanded. "My husband is cheating, and I am not going to allow him to leave me and have the woman he wants and my money. Which I deserve for putting up with him, and his whole damn family."
"There are no signs of anyone is at the house" the man muttered.
Obviously, he was only doing part of the job...
"Well, I know she is there, because that bitch Deluca and her husband are now on there honeymoon. Where else could they be?" she moaned. And get the privacy they require to cheat on my marriage. "Get me my money," she demanded, and she slammed down the phone. "What," she said to the cleaning lady that had been cleaning the house all morning.
You really think I am going to lift a finger to clean the damn house, Yvonne asked the gods.
"I only wanted to let you know, I am finished" the woman said.
"Bill my husband" Yvonne muttered.
"Yes, ma'am" came the woman before she went back to the house, and Yvonne seethed at how things were spinning out of control. She was determined to get her money, one way or another...
"You owe me Max" Yvonne swore. "I am not letting you go without my money."
*
All the while Max was too involved in his illicit passionate tryst with the love of his life to get the active plotting that was being overheard or was overhead for that matter...
Max better be OK and Liz!! What a cliffhanger. Can't wait for next post, edge of my seat here. And for 4 nights and 3 whole days Max and Liz have been engaged doing extracurricular activities. I wonder if there using protection, if not I'm ok with a new little bundle making an appearance 