A/N: I was just reading the wonderful Harry Potter, and discovered that his mother’s name was Lily Evans before she was married. I was wondering why that name sounded familiar and then it dawned on me that was have a little Lily Evans of our own! Just thought that was interesting. Also, it was not on purpose.
It took me longer to write this chapter. Sorry everyone. We have to turn 3 essays in periodically throughout the summer over the internet on this “great and wonderful” site that sorts the essays and checks for plagiarism etc. So that’s what I’ve been doing this week. Plus my niece and her brother have been here and I’ve been in Palmdale, so we’ve been busy. HEHE. I’ll try to keep writing more frequently. Right now my niece is sleeping on the couch and she keeps grinding her teeth so I’m going to post this and leave. For those of you who don’t know the sound, I hope you never have to. See ya later!
Chapter 15
Watching Liz nap peacefully in his arms, Max wasn’t really sure on how much progress he had actually made between them. Sure, they had all grown closer over the month that they had been together, but Liz was still holding back and entire section of her life. They were on a don’t ask don’t tell routine. Max was curious and even willing to share his own story with her but Liz never seamed interested enough or sure enough with herself to ask those questions.
Max wondered whether he was moving too fast for them. He felt something different for Liz. Something he had never felt with Tess. He wondered briefly if it was love. He was the kind of guy that believed in that sort of thing. He wanted Liz to be his, completely, without walls or secrets.
Lily and Aidan were off somewhere with Isabel and Alex, they had promised to have them back before Aidan’s grandparents arrived for his party tomorrow. Max was rather nervous about meeting his paternal grandparents but he really knew there really shouldn’t be any reason to be nervous. Liz had assured him multiple times that they were perfectly good people.
Max carefully shifted Liz to the couch when the doorbell rang.
“Hi, Dada!” Lily squealed bouncing into his arms.
“Shh, Liz is sleeping.” Max told her. She put a tiny finger to her mouth and mimicked the movement.
He smiled. “Thank you.”
“We had a good time, Max.” Isabel said stepping into the door.
“Thank you for taking them, where did you take them by the way?” Max asked, ushering them inside.
“Oh, no, Max, we can’t come in, we’re going to Mom and Dad’s, we went to the Orange County Fair.” She smiled.
Lily and Aidan held up their bag of prizes.
“Orange County Fair?” Max asked. He wasn’t even aware that it was open yet. Max took Lily in his arms she smelled strongly of sunscreen.
“Yes, Max. Well, we’ve really got to be going, it’s almost five o’clock. Oh yeah, Mom wants you there too.” She said and pulled him into a hug. “You two have great children, Max, you’re doing a wonderful job.”
Max blushed. “Thanks.”
“Tell Liz, I say the same thing to her.” Isabel warned before returning to the car where Alex was sitting in the car.
“I will, Izzy, see you later, and thanks again.” He said before shutting the door.
“What do you two want to do?”
“Where’s Mommy?” Aidan asked.
“Mommy’s sleeping.” He said quickly.
“Can we wake her up?” Aidan asked.
“I’m already up.” Liz said from the doorway. “You shouldn’t have let me sleep that long.” Liz said glancing at her watch.
“You were tired, from planning, and Aidan was gone, so I let you sleep.”
“I have to go to pick some stuff up from the store before the Parkers come.” She said before greeting Aidan. “Hello, Sweet. Where did you get all those prizes from?”
“We went to the fair.” Aidan told her excitedly.
“The fair? Did you have fun?” Liz said bending down.
“Yes.”
“Max, I’ve got to go.” Liz said.
“Yeah, I guess we’re supposed to be at my parent’s house. Isabel informed me when she dropped them off.” Max started towards the door. “And I have to work tonight.”
“But it’s so late?” Liz asked.
“I know, I got night shift.” He shrugged.
“Oh. I’ll see you tomorrow morning then, for Aidan’s party?”
“Yes, certainly.” Max kissed her goodbye softly.
He studied her face with a once over. His eyes landed on her rings that hung around her neck. It hurt to see that but she kept them tucked away quietly under her shirts. Shifting Lily he moved silently out of the house and down the walk to his car.
****
Aidan’s grandparents arrived early from their hotel on his birthday.
“Oma, Opa!” He met them at the door.
“Aidan, your mother told you not to open the door.” Max came up behind them.
“Max, it’s Oma and Opa. Where’s Lewis?” Aidan asked excitedly once he was in his grandfather’s arms.
“Right here.” He brought out the little Scottie.
“Look, Max.” He said and bent down to pet the dog.
“Come here, Lily, this is Lewis.” Aidan called to her.
She attached herself to Max’s leg and sucked her thumb.
“Hi, I’m Max.” He held his hand out to the older couple that weren’t much older than his parents. “This is my daughter, Lilian. Liz was hoping to be back by the time that you arrived, she had to run to the store.” Max stood aside from the doorway. “Aidan, move out of the way so they can come in.”
“Yes, Max.” He took the leash and headed to the front room to play.
“So, Max, was it? Tell me about yourself.” Mrs. Parker said sitting in a chair her husband next to her.
Max studied the older couple. He could see where Aidan got his reddish hair. The pale brown eyes came from this side of the family. “I’m Max Evans.”
“He is Mommy’s boyfriend.” Aidan said helpfully.
Mr. Parker raised his brows at Max and leaned forward letting his elbows rest on his knees. “Is that so?”
Straightening, Max met his eyes and answered. “Yes.”
“You do realize, Liz is the daughter we never had?” Mr. Parker asked.
“No, I was not aware of that, sir. Liz doesn’t talk about anything from then. She keeps that part locked up inside. Although, I’ve only known her all of a month.”
“Liz!” Lily shouted.
“Mommy!”
“Aidan, do not open the door.” Max said sternly.
Aidan bounced by the door until Max checked the window and gave the ok.
“Hi, Mommy! Oma and Opa came.” Aidan said.
Max took the groceries from Liz after pecking her on the cheek. She smiled at him then went to greet Aidan’s grandparents.
Lily demanded up.
Liz held her in her arms. Lily relaxed against her and smiled at the Parkers.
“Hello.” Liz greeted.
****
At the party Lily attached herself to Liz’s side acting as little hostess.
Mr. and Mrs. Parker watched as Max and Liz interacted. Max would make his way over to Liz, give her a little peck and be off on his own way. Aidan would look up once in a while to make sure his mother was in view and returned to playing with his friends.
“Jeff and Nancy didn’t come.” Mrs. Parker commented.
“I noticed.” Mr. Parker replied.
“Nancy never liked Liz, and Aidan is Liz’s son.” She said and paused when Aidan came over to retrieve a ball that had rolled under Mr. Parker’s chair.
“Thank you, Opa.” He smiled.
“You’re welcome.”
“That doesn’t give an excuse for Jeff. This is his own daughter.” She shook her head. “I never like Nancy. I always thought his first wife, Liz’s mother, was so much nicer. Jeff changed a lot in the eighteen years he’s been married to her.”
Liz paused and stiffened as Lily found her necklace. Mrs. Parker watched curiously as Liz tried to take them away. “She still has the wedding rings.” She murmured this to herself since her husband was anything but interested.
“No, Lily, those are Liz’s.” She said quietly.
“Mine?”
“No, Liz’s.” Liz said and tucked them carefully back in her shirt.
“Ok.” She said and relinquished interest to Aidan Parker. “Down.”
“I thought you were my helper?” Liz asked setting her on the ground.
“Back.” She said letting her know that she would be right back.
“Alright.” Liz said.
“Up.” She said holding onto her father’s pants.
Max lifted her up. “Having fun?”
She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. “Night-night.” She said.
“You ready to go night-night?” He asked.
“Yes.” She said quietly.
He went in to lay her on the bed and found Liz. He laid her on the bed and walked back out.
Liz sat staring out the window. Aidan looked so much like his father at the moment Liz wanted to cry. His hair fell the same way; she was going to have to cut it soon. She had always had to remind John to cut his hair. His smile was every bit Jonathan.
“Hey.” Max said quietly coming up behind her.
“Max!” She started. “You startled me. I came to find Lily and I saw you putting her down for a nap.” She turned back to the window.
“Sorry, Lily was tired and I brought her inside.” He pressed a kiss to her head.
He realized a stiffness in her that hadn’t been there earlier. “You ok?” He asked concerned.
“Yeah.” She nodded and moved out of his embrace.
“Look at my brother.” She said pointing out the window.
Max looked out and Alex was rolling around the boys totally into whatever game they were playing.
“Yeah. Marriage suits him.” Max commented.
“I think it does very well.” Liz agreed.
Max glanced down and studied her face, knowing something was wrong. It was then he noticed her necklace was out. The two rings dangled from her gold chain. For once they were out.
For the first time understanding dawned on him. His eyes drifted down to her chest where her necklace lay, he followed her eyes to Aidan and he finally registered the far away look on her face.
Max slipped away without Liz noticing his absence. Marriage had obviously suited Liz very well.
TBC
Short chapter I’m sorry guys!
Two Kinds of Wonderful TEEN; M/L [COMPLETE]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Rowedog, ISLANDGIRL5, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, FSU/MSW-94, Erina, Hunter, Forum Moderators
I know this is a short part but I wanted to post something before I left on two weeks vacation. First week I’m taking a trip through the Southwest which happens to run through Roswell, no idea how that happened, and second I’m going sailing around Catalina so it will be two weeks before I post. I was planning on it being longer but then I realized that I have an essay due Tuesday so I had to do that in a last minute rush. Sorry! This is what I have.
Mattie.
Chapter 16
Max let the conversation that he had wanted so desperately to have with Liz slide. Their relationship progressed as far as it could without stories being shared.
Max and Liz were out late one night following one of Liz’s concerts.
“You play very well, Liz.” Max said pulling her close as they exited the music hall. Lilian and Aidan were with Max’s parents.
“Thank you.” She nodded and moved her head to his kiss.
“Let’s go for a walk.” Max suggested.
“What about the kids.”
“They’ll be fine. Plus, you don’t have to be in class tomorrow till noon, let’s go.” He asked.
“Alright.” She finally agreed. “Where do you want to go?”
“The park?” He said quickly. “It’s up the street, on the way to my parent’s house.”
”That’s fine.” Liz agreed with a reluctant smile.
He wanted to say something and he was holding back. “Say whatever it is you wanted to say, Max.” She prodded.
Max smiled and glanced down to her low cut dress. Her rings were dangling menacingly for the world to see. He didn’t want them there anymore. He respected her wish to keep Aidan’s father’s memory alive, but why so openly. He didn’t another man’s rings on her.
“Why do you still wear his rings, Liz?” Her eyes widened and her hand flew to her throat.
She turned angry eyes at him. “Why does it matter?”
He looked at her with astonishment in his own eyes. “Why does it matter? It matters because every time I look at you, I see them.”
“Why does it matter if you can see them?” She really didn’t get why they bothered him so much.
“Because, they’re a symbol of what once was, of you being somebody else’s. Of him loving you before I had a chance to. He still has his hold on you.”
“His name is Jonathan, Max. We created a son together, Max. I’m not asking you to let go of Lily’s mother am I Max?” She was confused. Everything had been going so wonderfully and now he had to open a tender spot.
“Tess if you insist on using names, and I also share a child. I’m not letting that get in the way of us progressing.”
“I’m not letting anything get in our way.”
“Liz, your rings, I’m not asking you to get rid of them or not wear them, just not when we’re together, it hurts.” He told her truthfully. Searching her eyes, pleading for him to understand. “I feel like I’m losing it Liz. The closer we get to the end of the year, the farther you seem to drift.”
Liz pulled her light shawl around her shoulders as the cool November air floated around her. The night was warm, not as chilly as most November nights but still far too chilly to be in an argument from someone you cared deeply for.
“I can’t, Max.”
“Can’t or won’t, you don’t even have to do it right away. Just try work on it, and when you’re ready.”
“I can’t. I loved him, I still love him.”
Resigned to the fact he wasn’t going to get any farther with her, Max turned back to the car without touching her. “Let’s go pick up Lily and Aidan.”
Liz didn’t say anything but followed him silently to his car. It was the first time Max hadn’t held her hand since they had gotten serious.
Lily and Aidan were looking out the front window for their parents. Liz smiled when she saw their faces in the light. It was almost 10:30 she was shocked Diane had let them stay up.
“Hi, Mommy.” Aidan met her at the door.
“Aidan, what are you doing awake?” Liz asked not looking at Max or Lily.
“Liz, how was the concert?” Diane asked avoiding the question.
“Great, why is he awake?” Liz stood up holding the happy three year old.
“Phillip snuck them some candy before he left for the airport.” Diane said.
“Oh.” Was all Liz said. Lily was quiet in Max’s arms. She knew something was wrong and hadn’t greeted her.
Lily looked at Liz and smiled finally. “Hi, Liz.” At nineteen months she had a good vocabulary, when she chose to use it.
“Hi, Lily. Did you and Aidan have fun?”
”Yes.” She nodded then yawned. She caught Aidan’s at the same time and silently jumped for joy. There wouldn’t be a fight about bedtime tonight.
“Daddy, I tired.” Lily laid her head on his shoulder ready to go.
“Alright, we have to get Liz and Aidan home too.” He said. “Say goodbye to Nana.”
“Night night, Nana.” She waved.
“Good girl. Goodnight, Mom.” Max hugged his mother around Lily.
“Good night, you guys.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Evans.”
”You’re most welcome, dear.” Diane beamed. She already loved Liz like a third daughter and Aidan as her grandchild. She sensed there was tension between Max and Liz and she didn’t like it. She kissed both of the children goodbye once more before letting Max take them home.
Max walked Liz to her door after a silent car ride back to her home. He stood at the doorstep staring at her, Aidan asleep in her arms.
“I’m sorry, Max.” She said quietly.
“You can’t try to move forward? I’m not asking anything huge, just a small step?”
“I’ve already taken a huge step for me, Max. We really loved each other. He’s part of who I am. If you can’t accept that, then we can’t be together.” She said firmly, yet not looking at him.
Those final words cut through Max like a knife. We really loved each other.
Did it not matter that he loved her, or did she not love him back.
“That’s too bad, Liz. I really love you now.” He said before turning and walking back to his car where a sleeping Lily awaited him.
Liz stood there speechless on her front doorstep, unshed tears in her eyes. She had no idea how bad she had just messed everything up, and at once she did. Silently she shut the door to the outside world and Max.
TBC
Mattie.
Chapter 16
Max let the conversation that he had wanted so desperately to have with Liz slide. Their relationship progressed as far as it could without stories being shared.
Max and Liz were out late one night following one of Liz’s concerts.
“You play very well, Liz.” Max said pulling her close as they exited the music hall. Lilian and Aidan were with Max’s parents.
“Thank you.” She nodded and moved her head to his kiss.
“Let’s go for a walk.” Max suggested.
“What about the kids.”
“They’ll be fine. Plus, you don’t have to be in class tomorrow till noon, let’s go.” He asked.
“Alright.” She finally agreed. “Where do you want to go?”
“The park?” He said quickly. “It’s up the street, on the way to my parent’s house.”
”That’s fine.” Liz agreed with a reluctant smile.
He wanted to say something and he was holding back. “Say whatever it is you wanted to say, Max.” She prodded.
Max smiled and glanced down to her low cut dress. Her rings were dangling menacingly for the world to see. He didn’t want them there anymore. He respected her wish to keep Aidan’s father’s memory alive, but why so openly. He didn’t another man’s rings on her.
“Why do you still wear his rings, Liz?” Her eyes widened and her hand flew to her throat.
She turned angry eyes at him. “Why does it matter?”
He looked at her with astonishment in his own eyes. “Why does it matter? It matters because every time I look at you, I see them.”
“Why does it matter if you can see them?” She really didn’t get why they bothered him so much.
“Because, they’re a symbol of what once was, of you being somebody else’s. Of him loving you before I had a chance to. He still has his hold on you.”
“His name is Jonathan, Max. We created a son together, Max. I’m not asking you to let go of Lily’s mother am I Max?” She was confused. Everything had been going so wonderfully and now he had to open a tender spot.
“Tess if you insist on using names, and I also share a child. I’m not letting that get in the way of us progressing.”
“I’m not letting anything get in our way.”
“Liz, your rings, I’m not asking you to get rid of them or not wear them, just not when we’re together, it hurts.” He told her truthfully. Searching her eyes, pleading for him to understand. “I feel like I’m losing it Liz. The closer we get to the end of the year, the farther you seem to drift.”
Liz pulled her light shawl around her shoulders as the cool November air floated around her. The night was warm, not as chilly as most November nights but still far too chilly to be in an argument from someone you cared deeply for.
“I can’t, Max.”
“Can’t or won’t, you don’t even have to do it right away. Just try work on it, and when you’re ready.”
“I can’t. I loved him, I still love him.”
Resigned to the fact he wasn’t going to get any farther with her, Max turned back to the car without touching her. “Let’s go pick up Lily and Aidan.”
Liz didn’t say anything but followed him silently to his car. It was the first time Max hadn’t held her hand since they had gotten serious.
Lily and Aidan were looking out the front window for their parents. Liz smiled when she saw their faces in the light. It was almost 10:30 she was shocked Diane had let them stay up.
“Hi, Mommy.” Aidan met her at the door.
“Aidan, what are you doing awake?” Liz asked not looking at Max or Lily.
“Liz, how was the concert?” Diane asked avoiding the question.
“Great, why is he awake?” Liz stood up holding the happy three year old.
“Phillip snuck them some candy before he left for the airport.” Diane said.
“Oh.” Was all Liz said. Lily was quiet in Max’s arms. She knew something was wrong and hadn’t greeted her.
Lily looked at Liz and smiled finally. “Hi, Liz.” At nineteen months she had a good vocabulary, when she chose to use it.
“Hi, Lily. Did you and Aidan have fun?”
”Yes.” She nodded then yawned. She caught Aidan’s at the same time and silently jumped for joy. There wouldn’t be a fight about bedtime tonight.
“Daddy, I tired.” Lily laid her head on his shoulder ready to go.
“Alright, we have to get Liz and Aidan home too.” He said. “Say goodbye to Nana.”
“Night night, Nana.” She waved.
“Good girl. Goodnight, Mom.” Max hugged his mother around Lily.
“Good night, you guys.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Evans.”
”You’re most welcome, dear.” Diane beamed. She already loved Liz like a third daughter and Aidan as her grandchild. She sensed there was tension between Max and Liz and she didn’t like it. She kissed both of the children goodbye once more before letting Max take them home.
Max walked Liz to her door after a silent car ride back to her home. He stood at the doorstep staring at her, Aidan asleep in her arms.
“I’m sorry, Max.” She said quietly.
“You can’t try to move forward? I’m not asking anything huge, just a small step?”
“I’ve already taken a huge step for me, Max. We really loved each other. He’s part of who I am. If you can’t accept that, then we can’t be together.” She said firmly, yet not looking at him.
Those final words cut through Max like a knife. We really loved each other.
Did it not matter that he loved her, or did she not love him back.
“That’s too bad, Liz. I really love you now.” He said before turning and walking back to his car where a sleeping Lily awaited him.
Liz stood there speechless on her front doorstep, unshed tears in her eyes. She had no idea how bad she had just messed everything up, and at once she did. Silently she shut the door to the outside world and Max.
TBC
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
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TrudyGill23
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2002 3:52 pm
- Location: Indiana
Chapter 17
Liz sat with Aidan sleeping contentedly in her arms. It was a chilly Christmas Eve and she was now sitting in midnight service. She hadn’t expected Aidan to stay awake through the first few minutes.
Max had shuffled in quietly a few minutes following her with Lily smiling brightly. She too was now sleeping. She sat a few pews ahead of him and she could feel his stare causing the hairs on her neck to stand up.
He had given her a slight smile that had weakened her knees. He let Lily walk over and greet her and Aidan than quietly called her back. That was the most contact she had with them over the five weeks since they had seen each other.
Always a polite hello at church if necessary and a small chat with Lily at daycare.
The five weeks had given Liz time to think, too much time she thought. “You wanna hold the candle, Aidan?” She asked as his eyes opened sleepily.
He yawned and nodded. He sat up and stared back at Max. He gave him a shy smile before turning back and taking the candle firmly in his chubby hands.
“Help.” He said looking at the candle a little uncertainly.
She obliged and her small hand curled around his smaller one as they sang “Silent Night” together.
After the song Aidan blew out the candle and turned to Liz. “Love you, Mommy.” He told her and wrapped his arms around her neck.
“Merry Christmas, Aidan, I love you too.” She picked him up as he settled against her.
He held her tight sensing she was distressed. She had acted differently in the past weeks and he knew something was wrong. Unable to put his tiny finger on it, he was content to hold her.
“Daddy.” Lily said turning to look at Liz. Holding her hands out she gave Liz a pleading look.
Aidan obligingly climbed down from his mother’s warm embrace in the cold parking lot but stayed dutifully by her side.
Glancing at Max, Liz held the small girl in her arms and nuzzled her neck. “Miss you.” She said quietly.
She played with Liz’s smooth hair and buried her face in her neck. Her cold nose startled Liz. “I’ve missed you too, Sweet.” Liz said just as quietly. “Merry Christmas.”
“Christmas!” Lily said back. “Daddy, Christmas!” She said cheerfully.
She slid down from Liz’s arms and hugged Aidan. “Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas, Liz.” Max ventured.
“Merry Christmas, Max.” She answered. It felt wonderful to hear her voice again.
“You certainly have energy tonight, don’t you sweetheart?” Liz asked picking up Lily again. “I thought you were gone during the service.”
“No tired!” Lily announced almost angrily.
“Ok. Come, Lilybird.” Max took her gently.
“No!” She let out a loud shriek and buried her head in Liz’s shoulder.
“Lily.” He said more sternly.
She glared at him and held on tight. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Lily. At Nana’s home.” Liz said gently pushing her hair back.
Max gave her an odd look.
”Your mother invited us for Christmas dinner, my father and his wife will be there as well.” Liz explained. “Go to Daddy, Lily.” She said.
She pressed her face into the girls hair and closed her eyes. It felt right holding her tightly in her arms again.
“Bye bye, Liz.” She said. “Christmas. Bye, Aidan.” She said resigned.
“Bye, Lily.” Aidan said just as sadly and climbed down from Max’s arms. “Bye Max. Merry Christmas.” He slipped his hand into his mother’s.
“Bye.” Both Max and Liz said to each other at the same time and walked away.
****
“Hi, Nana.” Aidan said walking in into the house in his new Christmas outfit.
“Well, don’t you look the fine boy?” Diane asked Aidan. “I’m so glad you and your mommy came.” She took him in her arms.
“Good afternoon, Liz.” Diane smiled.
“Thank you for inviting us, Mrs. Evans.” Liz said a sad smile.
Diane grimaced when a shriek was heard throughout the house. “Is that Lily?” Liz asked.
“Yep.” Diane said. “Max had a conference with her daycare instructor earlier this week. If she doesn’t get her way she screams for two hours. And it’s not a cry, it’s a scream.”
“Lily?” Liz asked shocked. “When did this start?”
“Few weeks ago.” Diane shook her head.
Max walked out dazed from the room the screaming came from. “Your turn, Mom.” He said.
“Hello, Liz.” He looked up. “Sorry about the noise.”
“Max!” Aidan said happily.
“Aidan.” Max bent down and hugged him. “Where did you get such a fine suit?”
“Oma and Opa.” Aidan said. “Where’s Lily?”
“I’ll be right back.” Liz said pointing to the room Max just exited. “May I?”
“Be my guest.” Max said taking Aidan into the other room to join the other guests.
“Lily what ‘s wrong?” Liz asked softly.
She took a breathe for a second and looked at Liz. Her face scrunched up as she was preparing for another one.
“Don’t cry, Lily.” Liz said. “There is no reason for screaming.”
Lily sniffled and shut her mouth. “Daddy did it.”
“What did Daddy do?” Liz asked gently and settled her on her lap.
“No nap!” She said determinedly.
“No nap?” Liz sighed. “Well, if your daddy says you need a nap, you need a nap.” Why she was bothering to reason with a child just shy of two years she had no idea. She didn’t understand half the words spoken anyway.
“No nap!” Lily said louder and crawled from her lap.
“Lily.” Instantly she was quiet. “Come here.” Liz sat on the bed.
Lily wiped tears from her eyes and crawled into Liz’s lap. “Missed you.” She mumbled past her thumb.
“Lily, I’ve missed you too sweetheart.” This is why she had been hesitant about getting involved with anyone. Not only were they hurt both the kids were hurting. Aidan was sporting an attitude of his own.
In fact he seemed almost anxious to see Lily at daycare.
Lily settled into her arms easily. Her hands went through her hair, feeling the softness, and fell promptly to sleep. She held the small girl in her arms for a short while longer before laying her down.
****
Everyone eyed her as she entered the front room. Aidan was playing go fish with Alex and Max on the floor.
“Amazing.” Gracie stood as gracefully as her name suggested.
“Thank you.” Max said almost shyly.
“Come on, time to eat everybody.” Diane Evans interrupted.
“Good, I’m starved, Mom.” Alex stood.
“So am I.” Isabel stated. All eyes swung towards her. Rarely did she admit she was hungry. She blushed under the questioning stares. “I am eating for two you know.”
The room went completely silent. Alex beamed, Isabel inched closer to his side.
“Congratulations, honey!” Diane held her daughter. “Grandchild number three and counting.”
****
“Liz can I talk to you?” He stood and nudged Aidan off his lap. It was late evening now, closing in on nine.
Before she could nod he had taken her arm and rounded her around the house.
“Max.” She shook her head as she sat.
“I need to talk to you, Liz.” He pressed.
“Why?”
“Because. We need to.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Liz, I love you.”
Liz stopped moving. Everything she was going to say was halted in her mouth.
“Pardon?” She said.
“I love you, Liz.” He said again. “I don’t like being separated, the children don’t like it. They’re hurting as much as we are.”
Liz still couldn’t speak.
“My family misses you too. My mother also accepts Aidan as hers. If you noted she said three grandchildren when Isabel told us she was pregnant.”
Liz nodded, tears streamed down her face.
She shivered in the night air. She could hear happy shouts from Aidan and Lily being chased by their Uncle Alex.
“Can we give it another go?” He asked quietly.
She stared at him. Her heart ached. She slowly shook her head no. She couldn’t do it again. “I have to go.” She stood.
She ran inside the house before he could stop her. He didn’t follow her. He turned and walked down the street.
“Come on, Aidan, it’s time to go home.” She pulled him to her.
“Please can we stay longer?”
“No. Come on.” She put his coat on.
“Thank you for coming, Liz.” Diane hugged her. “And you too, young man.”
”Thank you for inviting us.” She smiled.
Grace followed them out to the car after they said their goodbyes.
“Look, Liz.” She said when Aidan was tucked in and warm.
“Grace.” She turned to face the other girl. Despite Max and Isabel’s height she was quite a bit shorter and was eye to eye with Liz.
“I don’t know what happened between the two of you. But Max really does care, and I know you do too.” Grace stated. “You need to talk to him. Find out what happened before you give completely up on him. Please.” She pleaded. “He’s changed so much Liz. He doesn’t brood half as much, more open with Lily. You’ve changed him, for the better.”
She paused pleading with the dark haired girl.
Liz stared at the ground. Then at the dark figure making it’s way back around the corner. Her eyes teared up. “Grace, I know you’re trying to help. And I appreciate it. But you’re right about one thing. You don’t know what happened between us. Please, remember that.” She slid into the driver’s seat and drove away.
I know it’s been forever since I last posted and I’m soooooooo sorry, I’m trying my best to come up with ideas. It should come more smoothly now.
Liz sat with Aidan sleeping contentedly in her arms. It was a chilly Christmas Eve and she was now sitting in midnight service. She hadn’t expected Aidan to stay awake through the first few minutes.
Max had shuffled in quietly a few minutes following her with Lily smiling brightly. She too was now sleeping. She sat a few pews ahead of him and she could feel his stare causing the hairs on her neck to stand up.
He had given her a slight smile that had weakened her knees. He let Lily walk over and greet her and Aidan than quietly called her back. That was the most contact she had with them over the five weeks since they had seen each other.
Always a polite hello at church if necessary and a small chat with Lily at daycare.
The five weeks had given Liz time to think, too much time she thought. “You wanna hold the candle, Aidan?” She asked as his eyes opened sleepily.
He yawned and nodded. He sat up and stared back at Max. He gave him a shy smile before turning back and taking the candle firmly in his chubby hands.
“Help.” He said looking at the candle a little uncertainly.
She obliged and her small hand curled around his smaller one as they sang “Silent Night” together.
After the song Aidan blew out the candle and turned to Liz. “Love you, Mommy.” He told her and wrapped his arms around her neck.
“Merry Christmas, Aidan, I love you too.” She picked him up as he settled against her.
He held her tight sensing she was distressed. She had acted differently in the past weeks and he knew something was wrong. Unable to put his tiny finger on it, he was content to hold her.
“Daddy.” Lily said turning to look at Liz. Holding her hands out she gave Liz a pleading look.
Aidan obligingly climbed down from his mother’s warm embrace in the cold parking lot but stayed dutifully by her side.
Glancing at Max, Liz held the small girl in her arms and nuzzled her neck. “Miss you.” She said quietly.
She played with Liz’s smooth hair and buried her face in her neck. Her cold nose startled Liz. “I’ve missed you too, Sweet.” Liz said just as quietly. “Merry Christmas.”
“Christmas!” Lily said back. “Daddy, Christmas!” She said cheerfully.
She slid down from Liz’s arms and hugged Aidan. “Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas, Liz.” Max ventured.
“Merry Christmas, Max.” She answered. It felt wonderful to hear her voice again.
“You certainly have energy tonight, don’t you sweetheart?” Liz asked picking up Lily again. “I thought you were gone during the service.”
“No tired!” Lily announced almost angrily.
“Ok. Come, Lilybird.” Max took her gently.
“No!” She let out a loud shriek and buried her head in Liz’s shoulder.
“Lily.” He said more sternly.
She glared at him and held on tight. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Lily. At Nana’s home.” Liz said gently pushing her hair back.
Max gave her an odd look.
”Your mother invited us for Christmas dinner, my father and his wife will be there as well.” Liz explained. “Go to Daddy, Lily.” She said.
She pressed her face into the girls hair and closed her eyes. It felt right holding her tightly in her arms again.
“Bye bye, Liz.” She said. “Christmas. Bye, Aidan.” She said resigned.
“Bye, Lily.” Aidan said just as sadly and climbed down from Max’s arms. “Bye Max. Merry Christmas.” He slipped his hand into his mother’s.
“Bye.” Both Max and Liz said to each other at the same time and walked away.
****
“Hi, Nana.” Aidan said walking in into the house in his new Christmas outfit.
“Well, don’t you look the fine boy?” Diane asked Aidan. “I’m so glad you and your mommy came.” She took him in her arms.
“Good afternoon, Liz.” Diane smiled.
“Thank you for inviting us, Mrs. Evans.” Liz said a sad smile.
Diane grimaced when a shriek was heard throughout the house. “Is that Lily?” Liz asked.
“Yep.” Diane said. “Max had a conference with her daycare instructor earlier this week. If she doesn’t get her way she screams for two hours. And it’s not a cry, it’s a scream.”
“Lily?” Liz asked shocked. “When did this start?”
“Few weeks ago.” Diane shook her head.
Max walked out dazed from the room the screaming came from. “Your turn, Mom.” He said.
“Hello, Liz.” He looked up. “Sorry about the noise.”
“Max!” Aidan said happily.
“Aidan.” Max bent down and hugged him. “Where did you get such a fine suit?”
“Oma and Opa.” Aidan said. “Where’s Lily?”
“I’ll be right back.” Liz said pointing to the room Max just exited. “May I?”
“Be my guest.” Max said taking Aidan into the other room to join the other guests.
“Lily what ‘s wrong?” Liz asked softly.
She took a breathe for a second and looked at Liz. Her face scrunched up as she was preparing for another one.
“Don’t cry, Lily.” Liz said. “There is no reason for screaming.”
Lily sniffled and shut her mouth. “Daddy did it.”
“What did Daddy do?” Liz asked gently and settled her on her lap.
“No nap!” She said determinedly.
“No nap?” Liz sighed. “Well, if your daddy says you need a nap, you need a nap.” Why she was bothering to reason with a child just shy of two years she had no idea. She didn’t understand half the words spoken anyway.
“No nap!” Lily said louder and crawled from her lap.
“Lily.” Instantly she was quiet. “Come here.” Liz sat on the bed.
Lily wiped tears from her eyes and crawled into Liz’s lap. “Missed you.” She mumbled past her thumb.
“Lily, I’ve missed you too sweetheart.” This is why she had been hesitant about getting involved with anyone. Not only were they hurt both the kids were hurting. Aidan was sporting an attitude of his own.
In fact he seemed almost anxious to see Lily at daycare.
Lily settled into her arms easily. Her hands went through her hair, feeling the softness, and fell promptly to sleep. She held the small girl in her arms for a short while longer before laying her down.
****
Everyone eyed her as she entered the front room. Aidan was playing go fish with Alex and Max on the floor.
“Amazing.” Gracie stood as gracefully as her name suggested.
“Thank you.” Max said almost shyly.
“Come on, time to eat everybody.” Diane Evans interrupted.
“Good, I’m starved, Mom.” Alex stood.
“So am I.” Isabel stated. All eyes swung towards her. Rarely did she admit she was hungry. She blushed under the questioning stares. “I am eating for two you know.”
The room went completely silent. Alex beamed, Isabel inched closer to his side.
“Congratulations, honey!” Diane held her daughter. “Grandchild number three and counting.”
****
“Liz can I talk to you?” He stood and nudged Aidan off his lap. It was late evening now, closing in on nine.
Before she could nod he had taken her arm and rounded her around the house.
“Max.” She shook her head as she sat.
“I need to talk to you, Liz.” He pressed.
“Why?”
“Because. We need to.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Liz, I love you.”
Liz stopped moving. Everything she was going to say was halted in her mouth.
“Pardon?” She said.
“I love you, Liz.” He said again. “I don’t like being separated, the children don’t like it. They’re hurting as much as we are.”
Liz still couldn’t speak.
“My family misses you too. My mother also accepts Aidan as hers. If you noted she said three grandchildren when Isabel told us she was pregnant.”
Liz nodded, tears streamed down her face.
She shivered in the night air. She could hear happy shouts from Aidan and Lily being chased by their Uncle Alex.
“Can we give it another go?” He asked quietly.
She stared at him. Her heart ached. She slowly shook her head no. She couldn’t do it again. “I have to go.” She stood.
She ran inside the house before he could stop her. He didn’t follow her. He turned and walked down the street.
“Come on, Aidan, it’s time to go home.” She pulled him to her.
“Please can we stay longer?”
“No. Come on.” She put his coat on.
“Thank you for coming, Liz.” Diane hugged her. “And you too, young man.”
”Thank you for inviting us.” She smiled.
Grace followed them out to the car after they said their goodbyes.
“Look, Liz.” She said when Aidan was tucked in and warm.
“Grace.” She turned to face the other girl. Despite Max and Isabel’s height she was quite a bit shorter and was eye to eye with Liz.
“I don’t know what happened between the two of you. But Max really does care, and I know you do too.” Grace stated. “You need to talk to him. Find out what happened before you give completely up on him. Please.” She pleaded. “He’s changed so much Liz. He doesn’t brood half as much, more open with Lily. You’ve changed him, for the better.”
She paused pleading with the dark haired girl.
Liz stared at the ground. Then at the dark figure making it’s way back around the corner. Her eyes teared up. “Grace, I know you’re trying to help. And I appreciate it. But you’re right about one thing. You don’t know what happened between us. Please, remember that.” She slid into the driver’s seat and drove away.
I know it’s been forever since I last posted and I’m soooooooo sorry, I’m trying my best to come up with ideas. It should come more smoothly now.
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
Chapter 18
Liz stood in front of her mirror staring at her bare neck. The rings were gone. Tucked away safely in her jewelry box. Some day, when Aidan was older, she would give them to him when he was ready for marriage. Very far in the future she hoped.
She remembered the lecture Mrs. Parker had given her over Max.
“Liz you and that boy get in a fight?” Mrs. Parker had asked.
“Maybe.” She said evasively.
“Liz, don’t lie, you did didn’t you?” Mrs. Parker demanded.
“Yes.”
“What happened? He was such a nice boy.”
“I know, Anna.” She Liz relinquished.
“Tell me what happened.” She demanded.
“Oh, all right.” Liz sighed reluctantly.
She explained, in detail about everything.
“Liz, you know.” Once Liz completed her story Anna began. “I was watching Dr. Phil the other day.”
Liz groaned the woman had an obsession.
“And a man was grieving his dead wife for nearly twelve years. He had even remarried and everything. But, he wouldn’t let it go, ultimately it destroy his new marriage.” She took a breather
“Now, before you say anything against that, I know it’s been no where near as long, but, Honey you could easy allow that to happen. You’re grieving Aidan’s dead father while there is another man waiting to step up to the plate. He will never replace my Jonathan but he can help raise Aidan to be the man he should be, as well as love you as you should be. I know this must sound weird, but I love you like my daughter Liz and I’m willing to give you any advice to keep you and my grandson happy. Liz, Dr. Phil said a normal grieving period is about a year. You still love him, and always will, but you have to move on.”
Liz didn’t even know what tot say to that.
“Well, now I’ve totally winded myself, I need to go. Give my love to Aidan from his Oma and Opa.”
She had spent many hours pondering that one single conversation and had decided to put it to use.
She had put Aidan in bed but she could here him banging around to make her mad. It had been a battle of wills when she had suggested a bath. Her patience had been strained. Usually when she bathed him it was quick and simple, this time she had come out almost as wet as he. Then she had to wrestle him into bed.
“Aidan, please stop banging to truck, I’m going to tell Opa that you don’t like it.” She cracked open the door. “And lie down please.”
“No.” He stood up again. Liz sighed.
“Are you getting sick?” She went and sat down next to him on the bed. He crawled away from her and crossed his arms. He crawled under the blanket and turned away from her. “Alright.”
She stood and went into the front room. It was a little more than a month since she had last spoken to Max. A little more than a month since she’d taken off her rings.
It was raining outside. There was no chance for a lightening storm, there rarely were here, nothing like in Roswell.
She sat down at the piano and began to play. The steady beat of the rain a metronome in her head.
She heard Aidan finally quiet down and was comforted. She had had her first class two days before and she had a noon class tomorrow. Aidan pattered and climbed next to her on the bench seeming to have forgiven her to whatever action she had done wrong.
Without missing a beat she scooted down on the bench to give him more room.
He watched her fingers fly up and down the keys.
“Why are you awake?” She asked.
“I wanted to watch, and it’s raining.” He snuggled in. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright, sweet.” She kissed his head. He drifted off to sleep with her music as a lullaby.
****
Liz laid Aidan down on his bed and moved the truck out of the way.
She straightened and went back out to tackle the lab report she had left to do. She was tempted to start to play again to relax her nerves but decided to stick to her work instead.
She straightened at the knock on the door. Who would come now? It was almost ten o’clock. Quietly she moved to the door and peeked out the peek hole. She couldn’t get her hands to move fast enough to unlock it.
“Max, come in.” She whispered. She removed Lily from his arms before he could think.
“I’m sorry, Liz. I couldn’t stay away any longer.” Max said. “We have to talk.” He said staring at her.
“I know, I-I was planning on calling you tomorrow.” She answered. Lily shivered in her arms. She had a coat on that Liz carefully removed. “I can go lay her down if you like, Aidan’s asleep.” Liz said turning to his room. He as standing in the doorway wide eyed. “Or was.” She huffed.
“Come on, let’s go to bed.” Liz directed once again to Aidan. Max followed her into the room as the kids got situated in Aidan’s bed which he gladly shared with Lily.
“Night, you two.” She whispered. She kept her eyes riveted on the children, knowing that when she turned her back to Max she’d have to face them. Slowly she backed out of the room and faced him. “Let’s talk out here.”
Max followed her out to the kitchen. “Would you like some coffee or something? I just made a fresh pot, lab report due tomorrow.” She smiled, trying to ease the tension.
“No.” He shook his head.
She shrugged and took a seat. “Would you like to sit?”
“No.” He needed to stand he couldn’t sit.
“So what has you making the trek over here so late at night?” Liz started.
“I needed to talk to you.” He said again. “I could have waited till morning but I didn’t want to.” He rushed through.
“Ok.” Liz nodded. “I’ll except that.”
“Liz, the last time I actually slept was two months ago.” He walked to the counter and leaned against it. “I need you, Liz. I spent those nights thinking of what I had said that night, if I could take those things back, I would. I love you so much, Liz.” He told her.
Liz kept her eyes on the table.
“I don’t know what else you want me to say to you, Liz. I know you letting me in the house was a start but then again it could have just been because of Lily, but I highly doubt…” he would have continued for days if Liz wouldn’t have stood and walked to him. She rested her finger on his lips.
“Hush, my turn.” She shook her head when he tried to think. “I love you, Max.” She said looking him directly in the eyes. “Max, I’m sorry for everything, I know how much I hurt you, and the babies. I know because I felt it too. It took Aidan’s grandmother to mention a Dr. Phil episode for it to sink in. God, Max, I was so stupid.” Her eyes started to tear up. “I took my rings off.” She told him. Brought his hand up to rest above her heart where they rested previously.
“You didn’t have to do that, Liz.” He shook his head.
“Yes, I did. If you wouldn’t have said something, I would have let it consume me, swallow me whole. For that I have to thank you, Max.” She stood on tiptoe and lightly pressed her lips to his.
He immediately pulled her closer and deepened it. She pulled away.
“I love you so much, Max.” She rested her head on his chest.
“I know.” He held her comforted. “We have so many things to talk about.” He lead her to the couch.
She nodded. He sat and she automatically curled into his lap.
“You can go first.” She said quietly.
He had planned to in order to put her at ease.
He took a deep breath and began.
I know this is a horrible place to stop, but I promise you guys it won’t be that long before another part is posted.
Liz stood in front of her mirror staring at her bare neck. The rings were gone. Tucked away safely in her jewelry box. Some day, when Aidan was older, she would give them to him when he was ready for marriage. Very far in the future she hoped.
She remembered the lecture Mrs. Parker had given her over Max.
“Liz you and that boy get in a fight?” Mrs. Parker had asked.
“Maybe.” She said evasively.
“Liz, don’t lie, you did didn’t you?” Mrs. Parker demanded.
“Yes.”
“What happened? He was such a nice boy.”
“I know, Anna.” She Liz relinquished.
“Tell me what happened.” She demanded.
“Oh, all right.” Liz sighed reluctantly.
She explained, in detail about everything.
“Liz, you know.” Once Liz completed her story Anna began. “I was watching Dr. Phil the other day.”
Liz groaned the woman had an obsession.
“And a man was grieving his dead wife for nearly twelve years. He had even remarried and everything. But, he wouldn’t let it go, ultimately it destroy his new marriage.” She took a breather
“Now, before you say anything against that, I know it’s been no where near as long, but, Honey you could easy allow that to happen. You’re grieving Aidan’s dead father while there is another man waiting to step up to the plate. He will never replace my Jonathan but he can help raise Aidan to be the man he should be, as well as love you as you should be. I know this must sound weird, but I love you like my daughter Liz and I’m willing to give you any advice to keep you and my grandson happy. Liz, Dr. Phil said a normal grieving period is about a year. You still love him, and always will, but you have to move on.”
Liz didn’t even know what tot say to that.
“Well, now I’ve totally winded myself, I need to go. Give my love to Aidan from his Oma and Opa.”
She had spent many hours pondering that one single conversation and had decided to put it to use.
She had put Aidan in bed but she could here him banging around to make her mad. It had been a battle of wills when she had suggested a bath. Her patience had been strained. Usually when she bathed him it was quick and simple, this time she had come out almost as wet as he. Then she had to wrestle him into bed.
“Aidan, please stop banging to truck, I’m going to tell Opa that you don’t like it.” She cracked open the door. “And lie down please.”
“No.” He stood up again. Liz sighed.
“Are you getting sick?” She went and sat down next to him on the bed. He crawled away from her and crossed his arms. He crawled under the blanket and turned away from her. “Alright.”
She stood and went into the front room. It was a little more than a month since she had last spoken to Max. A little more than a month since she’d taken off her rings.
It was raining outside. There was no chance for a lightening storm, there rarely were here, nothing like in Roswell.
She sat down at the piano and began to play. The steady beat of the rain a metronome in her head.
She heard Aidan finally quiet down and was comforted. She had had her first class two days before and she had a noon class tomorrow. Aidan pattered and climbed next to her on the bench seeming to have forgiven her to whatever action she had done wrong.
Without missing a beat she scooted down on the bench to give him more room.
He watched her fingers fly up and down the keys.
“Why are you awake?” She asked.
“I wanted to watch, and it’s raining.” He snuggled in. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright, sweet.” She kissed his head. He drifted off to sleep with her music as a lullaby.
****
Liz laid Aidan down on his bed and moved the truck out of the way.
She straightened and went back out to tackle the lab report she had left to do. She was tempted to start to play again to relax her nerves but decided to stick to her work instead.
She straightened at the knock on the door. Who would come now? It was almost ten o’clock. Quietly she moved to the door and peeked out the peek hole. She couldn’t get her hands to move fast enough to unlock it.
“Max, come in.” She whispered. She removed Lily from his arms before he could think.
“I’m sorry, Liz. I couldn’t stay away any longer.” Max said. “We have to talk.” He said staring at her.
“I know, I-I was planning on calling you tomorrow.” She answered. Lily shivered in her arms. She had a coat on that Liz carefully removed. “I can go lay her down if you like, Aidan’s asleep.” Liz said turning to his room. He as standing in the doorway wide eyed. “Or was.” She huffed.
“Come on, let’s go to bed.” Liz directed once again to Aidan. Max followed her into the room as the kids got situated in Aidan’s bed which he gladly shared with Lily.
“Night, you two.” She whispered. She kept her eyes riveted on the children, knowing that when she turned her back to Max she’d have to face them. Slowly she backed out of the room and faced him. “Let’s talk out here.”
Max followed her out to the kitchen. “Would you like some coffee or something? I just made a fresh pot, lab report due tomorrow.” She smiled, trying to ease the tension.
“No.” He shook his head.
She shrugged and took a seat. “Would you like to sit?”
“No.” He needed to stand he couldn’t sit.
“So what has you making the trek over here so late at night?” Liz started.
“I needed to talk to you.” He said again. “I could have waited till morning but I didn’t want to.” He rushed through.
“Ok.” Liz nodded. “I’ll except that.”
“Liz, the last time I actually slept was two months ago.” He walked to the counter and leaned against it. “I need you, Liz. I spent those nights thinking of what I had said that night, if I could take those things back, I would. I love you so much, Liz.” He told her.
Liz kept her eyes on the table.
“I don’t know what else you want me to say to you, Liz. I know you letting me in the house was a start but then again it could have just been because of Lily, but I highly doubt…” he would have continued for days if Liz wouldn’t have stood and walked to him. She rested her finger on his lips.
“Hush, my turn.” She shook her head when he tried to think. “I love you, Max.” She said looking him directly in the eyes. “Max, I’m sorry for everything, I know how much I hurt you, and the babies. I know because I felt it too. It took Aidan’s grandmother to mention a Dr. Phil episode for it to sink in. God, Max, I was so stupid.” Her eyes started to tear up. “I took my rings off.” She told him. Brought his hand up to rest above her heart where they rested previously.
“You didn’t have to do that, Liz.” He shook his head.
“Yes, I did. If you wouldn’t have said something, I would have let it consume me, swallow me whole. For that I have to thank you, Max.” She stood on tiptoe and lightly pressed her lips to his.
He immediately pulled her closer and deepened it. She pulled away.
“I love you so much, Max.” She rested her head on his chest.
“I know.” He held her comforted. “We have so many things to talk about.” He lead her to the couch.
She nodded. He sat and she automatically curled into his lap.
“You can go first.” She said quietly.
He had planned to in order to put her at ease.
He took a deep breath and began.
I know this is a horrible place to stop, but I promise you guys it won’t be that long before another part is posted.
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
Chapter 19
“I was nine when Tess and her family moved here from Tennessee.” Max started. “Isabel and Gracie became best friends with her immediately. I was a bit wary of her, I was always shy as I had told you before.”
Liz nodded. She could imagine a younger Max being shy, he still was at this age.
“She immediately became a hit, well my sisters always were, so being her involvement was imminent. Then Maria came along and showed a slight interest in me.”
“Maria?” Liz asked shocked.
“Well, just enough to make Michael jealous. In the same process made Tess more aware of me. We were sort of expected to be together after that. It would only be too perfect. So my sisters bullied me into it, and we began to date. Eventually I got to know her better and grew to like her, even care about her a great deal. We lasted all the way though high school and half way though college. Then she got pregnant.”
He tensed and Liz didn’t know whether to move away from him or snuggle closer. It was more comfortable to snuggle and she did. Max’s arms came tighter around her and she assumed it was more comforting to him as well.
He blew out a breath. “She became depressed during her pregnancy. The doctor said it was quite common among women, so we didn’t worry. During the pregnancy I kept a constant eye on her. I never loved her, but I loved Lily already so much. I never knew what she was going to do whether herself. Not herself necessarily. I learned she’d never hurt herself, but the baby.”
He took a quick breather and dropped a kiss to the top of Liz’s head. Thankful for her support and lack of interruptions.
“ We planned to get married everything was set, we even had a date. Then one night, Lily was crying in her crib. Tess’s place was empty so I automatically assumed she had gone to retrieve her for once. She was nine months old and never had she ever done that. I waited, and the crying continued. I got up, and Tess wasn’t there. Lily’s crying ceased immediately when she saw me. Instantly I knew something was wrong.”
“Tess had never been close to Lily, just enough for an attachment to be formed. There were times when she had cried and it had been for Tess. She smiled whenever Tess picked her up but the connection was never really there. Lily was happy, but for Tess, for Tess it was an obligation.”
Max shifted Liz on his lap so she rested her head on his shoulder, she remained quiet knowing it was almost out. “She left that night. I heard the door shut, and I knew she was gone. Knew she wasn’t coming back. Six months later, I met you, and the world changed for the better.” He smiled. Relieved. No one but no one knew the true story. The whole truth.
“Max.” Liz didn’t even know what to say.
“Don’t say anything. Why don’t we just rest for now?”
He looked at the clock, “it’s almost midnight and you have class in the morning.”
“Not until noon.” She let out a yawn.
“So, the kids will be up early. You know that.” He smiled, totally relaxed with her in his arms.
“You’re right.” Her eyes drooped. “You can sleep in my room, I’ll stay on the couch.”
She was asleep already. Content with her in his arms, he reclined against the couch and fell asleep as well.
****
“Quiet, Daddy’s sleeping.” Liz told Lily.
Lily nodded. “Aidan?”
“Aidan’s sleeping too.” Liz told her. Lily had woken up at five thirty, and not wanting to wake Max, Liz had gotten up with her. They were lying in Liz’s bedroom watching Sesame Street.
“Elmo!” Lily said excitedly.
“Yes, Elmo.” Liz smiled. Lily laid her head on her chest.
“You ready to go get breakfast?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s change your diaper first.”
“No wet.” Lily said proudly.
“No wet?” Liz asked.
“No wet!” She said again. Liz checked and sure enough the diaper was dry.
“Go to the potty, Lily, fast.” Liz took her.
“Daddy, Daddy!” Lily ran out to her father who was just waking up.
“I potty toilet!” She announced proudly. Max’s eyes widened.
“Good job!” He picked her up and kissed her. “You think you can do that all day too?”
She nodded.
“We’ll see.” Liz said. “Do you have any big girl underwear?” She asked Max.
“Yeah, princess ones. Let’s see if you can make it the whole day Lilybird and then we’ll go for ice cream.” Max promised his eyes beaming.
Lily clapped. “Yes!”
“We’ll have to go home and get out those big girl underwear that Nana got for you.” Max smiled.
Lily clapped her hands in approval. “Now?”
Liz shook her head wanting them to stay longer.
“No, we’ll wait a little later.” Max told her. “You can just wear your diaper till we get there.”
“Ok.” She acknowledged. “Hungry.”
Liz nodded and headed towards the kitchen. “How about waffles?”
Lily nodded unsure what waffles were.
“Go wake Aidan up and I’ll get started here.” Liz told her. As she walked to the counter.
“Aren’t you supposed to finish a lab report?” Max asked, watching her move easily around the kitchen.
“Yeah.” Liz looked at the time; she still had a few hours. “I’ll get it done.”
“I’ll take the kids over to my place after we eat so that you can do that, if you would like.” Max said tentatively. He stood in the doorway.
“Aidan’s supposed to be at daycare at nine. His class is going to the park.” Liz looked out the window. “Though it’s still raining I doubt they’ll go. If you want to take them that’s fine with me.”
“I’d love to. Lily’s been lonely without him.”
“Aidan, too.” Liz turned as he wrapped his arms around her and she rested her head on his shoulder.
“What time did Lily have you up this morning?” Max asked.
“Five thirty.” She kissed his neck then turned around to finish making up the batter.
“I’m sorry, you should have woken me.” Max told her.
“It’s ok. We had some quality girl time watching Sesame Street.” Liz smiled.
“Mommy, Lily woke me up.” Aidan whined.
“Well, if you would have gone night night like you were supposed to last night, you wouldn’t be tired.” Liz looked at the table. “Now sit.”
He glared at her and climbed into his seat.
“Waffles!” He smiled at his favorite breakfast.
“Yeah, eat them fast, you are going with Max and Lily for the day.” Liz smiled.’’
“Why not you?” He asked.
“Because, I have class and homework I have to do.” Liz said and set a plate of cut up waffles in front of Lily.
“Ok.” He accepted her answer and they ate in silence.
Liz promised to go straight over to Max’s apartment after her class and not delay.
“Bye Mommy!” Aidan blew a kiss.
“Bye Liz.” Lily said through tears, angry that she couldn’t stay with her.
“We’ll see you later, Liz.” Max kissed her lightly on her cheek.
“That you will.” Liz smiled and kissed him back before shutting the door.
“I was nine when Tess and her family moved here from Tennessee.” Max started. “Isabel and Gracie became best friends with her immediately. I was a bit wary of her, I was always shy as I had told you before.”
Liz nodded. She could imagine a younger Max being shy, he still was at this age.
“She immediately became a hit, well my sisters always were, so being her involvement was imminent. Then Maria came along and showed a slight interest in me.”
“Maria?” Liz asked shocked.
“Well, just enough to make Michael jealous. In the same process made Tess more aware of me. We were sort of expected to be together after that. It would only be too perfect. So my sisters bullied me into it, and we began to date. Eventually I got to know her better and grew to like her, even care about her a great deal. We lasted all the way though high school and half way though college. Then she got pregnant.”
He tensed and Liz didn’t know whether to move away from him or snuggle closer. It was more comfortable to snuggle and she did. Max’s arms came tighter around her and she assumed it was more comforting to him as well.
He blew out a breath. “She became depressed during her pregnancy. The doctor said it was quite common among women, so we didn’t worry. During the pregnancy I kept a constant eye on her. I never loved her, but I loved Lily already so much. I never knew what she was going to do whether herself. Not herself necessarily. I learned she’d never hurt herself, but the baby.”
He took a quick breather and dropped a kiss to the top of Liz’s head. Thankful for her support and lack of interruptions.
“ We planned to get married everything was set, we even had a date. Then one night, Lily was crying in her crib. Tess’s place was empty so I automatically assumed she had gone to retrieve her for once. She was nine months old and never had she ever done that. I waited, and the crying continued. I got up, and Tess wasn’t there. Lily’s crying ceased immediately when she saw me. Instantly I knew something was wrong.”
“Tess had never been close to Lily, just enough for an attachment to be formed. There were times when she had cried and it had been for Tess. She smiled whenever Tess picked her up but the connection was never really there. Lily was happy, but for Tess, for Tess it was an obligation.”
Max shifted Liz on his lap so she rested her head on his shoulder, she remained quiet knowing it was almost out. “She left that night. I heard the door shut, and I knew she was gone. Knew she wasn’t coming back. Six months later, I met you, and the world changed for the better.” He smiled. Relieved. No one but no one knew the true story. The whole truth.
“Max.” Liz didn’t even know what to say.
“Don’t say anything. Why don’t we just rest for now?”
He looked at the clock, “it’s almost midnight and you have class in the morning.”
“Not until noon.” She let out a yawn.
“So, the kids will be up early. You know that.” He smiled, totally relaxed with her in his arms.
“You’re right.” Her eyes drooped. “You can sleep in my room, I’ll stay on the couch.”
She was asleep already. Content with her in his arms, he reclined against the couch and fell asleep as well.
****
“Quiet, Daddy’s sleeping.” Liz told Lily.
Lily nodded. “Aidan?”
“Aidan’s sleeping too.” Liz told her. Lily had woken up at five thirty, and not wanting to wake Max, Liz had gotten up with her. They were lying in Liz’s bedroom watching Sesame Street.
“Elmo!” Lily said excitedly.
“Yes, Elmo.” Liz smiled. Lily laid her head on her chest.
“You ready to go get breakfast?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s change your diaper first.”
“No wet.” Lily said proudly.
“No wet?” Liz asked.
“No wet!” She said again. Liz checked and sure enough the diaper was dry.
“Go to the potty, Lily, fast.” Liz took her.
“Daddy, Daddy!” Lily ran out to her father who was just waking up.
“I potty toilet!” She announced proudly. Max’s eyes widened.
“Good job!” He picked her up and kissed her. “You think you can do that all day too?”
She nodded.
“We’ll see.” Liz said. “Do you have any big girl underwear?” She asked Max.
“Yeah, princess ones. Let’s see if you can make it the whole day Lilybird and then we’ll go for ice cream.” Max promised his eyes beaming.
Lily clapped. “Yes!”
“We’ll have to go home and get out those big girl underwear that Nana got for you.” Max smiled.
Lily clapped her hands in approval. “Now?”
Liz shook her head wanting them to stay longer.
“No, we’ll wait a little later.” Max told her. “You can just wear your diaper till we get there.”
“Ok.” She acknowledged. “Hungry.”
Liz nodded and headed towards the kitchen. “How about waffles?”
Lily nodded unsure what waffles were.
“Go wake Aidan up and I’ll get started here.” Liz told her. As she walked to the counter.
“Aren’t you supposed to finish a lab report?” Max asked, watching her move easily around the kitchen.
“Yeah.” Liz looked at the time; she still had a few hours. “I’ll get it done.”
“I’ll take the kids over to my place after we eat so that you can do that, if you would like.” Max said tentatively. He stood in the doorway.
“Aidan’s supposed to be at daycare at nine. His class is going to the park.” Liz looked out the window. “Though it’s still raining I doubt they’ll go. If you want to take them that’s fine with me.”
“I’d love to. Lily’s been lonely without him.”
“Aidan, too.” Liz turned as he wrapped his arms around her and she rested her head on his shoulder.
“What time did Lily have you up this morning?” Max asked.
“Five thirty.” She kissed his neck then turned around to finish making up the batter.
“I’m sorry, you should have woken me.” Max told her.
“It’s ok. We had some quality girl time watching Sesame Street.” Liz smiled.
“Mommy, Lily woke me up.” Aidan whined.
“Well, if you would have gone night night like you were supposed to last night, you wouldn’t be tired.” Liz looked at the table. “Now sit.”
He glared at her and climbed into his seat.
“Waffles!” He smiled at his favorite breakfast.
“Yeah, eat them fast, you are going with Max and Lily for the day.” Liz smiled.’’
“Why not you?” He asked.
“Because, I have class and homework I have to do.” Liz said and set a plate of cut up waffles in front of Lily.
“Ok.” He accepted her answer and they ate in silence.
Liz promised to go straight over to Max’s apartment after her class and not delay.
“Bye Mommy!” Aidan blew a kiss.
“Bye Liz.” Lily said through tears, angry that she couldn’t stay with her.
“We’ll see you later, Liz.” Max kissed her lightly on her cheek.
“That you will.” Liz smiled and kissed him back before shutting the door.
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
I apologize for the long wait guys! My trip to Europe this summer is well in sight and I'm working steadily towards it, I'm sorry if the story is suffering too much, but I work on it whever I can, and yes, it drives my physics teacher nuts that I don't pay attention. I don't think he'd understand if I told him pressing Roswell matters were at hand. Do you? Here you go, and thanks for waiting.
Chapter 20
Liz impatiently pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose and glanced at the clock. She would finish with plenty of time to spare to practice her accompaniment piece.
Liz startled at the sound of the doorbell. She finished her sentence before getting up to answer it.
“Daddy!” Liz said surprised. “What brings you here?”
She stepped aside so he could enter. “Where’s my grandson?”
“With Max and Lily.” Liz said studying his face to gage some sort of emotion on his face. He never just showed up at her house, usually he called first. “Is something wrong with Alex or Nancy?”
“No, no.” He shook his head and studied his little girl’s kitchen. There were multiple pictures of Aidan. One more recent of Lily and Aidan at Isabel’s wedding. “Liz.”
She stared at him, her arms crossed protectively over her chest.
“I, we need to talk.” He said bluntly, he didn’t beat around the bush anymore than she did.
Liz resisted letting out a sigh, not another one. She was still tired from last night and she didn’t want to deal with anything more.
“Daddy now isn’t the best time.” She said glancing at the time.
“I know, but now is what I have.”
“Let me guess, Nancy doesn’t know you’re here.” She said glaring at him.
“No she doesn’t.” He shook his head and didn’t look back up at her. That is where he screwed up. He didn’t know how to fix this mess that he had rolled himself into.
“Daddy I have class in two hours and I have to get ready and practice.” Liz tried. This was a conversation she was also dying to have. But she couldn’t do it right now. Her emotions were still too fragile still too close to the surface.
“I understand.” He said, dejected.
“I don’t think you do.” She shook her head; it looks like she would be having this conversation now. “Sit.”
He sat listening to the authority she played behind her voice. He guessed it was Aidan’s in-trouble voice.
“Daddy, you all but forgot me when you married Nancy.” She started slowly. “You sent me to boarding school when I was fourteen, that was when I needed to be at home the most. You let me get married at eighteen. Did you support Nancy’s idea of me never going to college?”
“No.” His voice was husky. “Liz, baby.”
“When Jon died, I was devastated. You did not even come out for the funeral, Daddy. I was there alone. Except for Alex, Alex was always there.” She smiled a bitter smile. “Do you know what it’s like to be alone, pregnant, and recently widowed?”
“No, I wouldn’t.”
“I wanted to call you so many times, to ask you how you got through it. Losing Mama, and then, when I met Max, letting someone else in.”
”Liz, when I lost your mother, I was devastated. You were only three; you used to scream at night. Screaming like I’d never heard. It was pain. But not the kind when you fall and I could kiss it better. I couldn’t do anything for you.”
****
He was transported to eighteen years earlier.
The screaming started again. Not again, not again.
Jeff Whitman’s heart ached for his three-year-old daughter.
“Mama!” The scream came to his ears.
He went to try to comfort her and it stopped for a few minutes. She cuddled up into his chest and he held his breath. She cuddled closer, paused and looked up at him, and screamed.
He stood and walked and walked and walked. It seemed like forever until dawn came.
Her voice was always hoarse during the day, she yelled herself that way.
Later that night the screaming began.
It pulled at his heart to hear the scream of such anguish. This time she kicked and screamed him away. He backed up and shut the door. There was nothing he could do for her.
****
“I’m sorry, Daddy.” Liz said. She didn’t even remember it. She put him through hell.
“It’s alright, Lizzie girl, you didn’t know. How was a three-year-old supposed to know?” He scrubbed his hand over his face and chin. “I wish I would have stayed with you. I didn’t know what to do.”
“You did your best, it must have been awful for you, not being able to help your child.” She looked down at her hands.
“I thought you blamed me, Liz. I really did. I walked away from the accident. She didn’t. Your relationship with your mother was so great. You followed her everywhere. My first thought when they told me she was dead was, what about Liz?” He looked down and studied her polished wood table. “What am I going to tell her? You depended on her. She stayed at home with you, she took care of you, when she died, everything changed.”
“You had to go to daycare, you didn’t have any pretty little hair styles, and you didn’t have a role model. That’s when I married Nancy. You and Alex fell for each other instantly. Liz, there’s something I didn’t tell you before.”
“Go ahead,” she said hesitantly.
“Your mother was pregnant, when she died. She wanted you to have a little brother or sister.”
Liz’s heart lurched. She could have had a little brother or sister. “Oh, Daddy.”
“I was driving the car Liz, I was, not your mother, I should have died.” He looked down.
“No, Daddy.” Liz said trying to sort her feelings.
“I didn’t mean to send you away. I grew up with your mother; Liz and you looked…look…just like her. Watching you grow up was bittersweet. I saw your mother in you in everything you did, I wanted to just see you and no one else. So I when Nancy suggested I send you away I thought it would be a good idea. I thought it would make you less like her.”
“Then, when you came home, you looked just like your mother, and my heart broke.”
“But, I’m not Mama.” Liz shook her head. “I’m me. I’m your little girl that screamed and kicked you away. I’m the little girl that mourned the loss of her mother so violently, then, later, the loss of her father.” She basically whispered the last part.
“Lizzie girl, I didn’t mean to hurt you, I didn’t know what to do.” He shook his head and looked at Liz. Really looked at her.
She hadn’t taken off her reading glasses, and her hair was swept back in a messy bun to stay out of her face. She looked so much like her mother but, she wasn’t. For the first time he saw Liz, she was fully grown, a mother.
“Do you see me, now, Daddy, me?” Liz asked. Hoping desperately that he did. She had always seen the pain in his eyes whenever she looked at him.
“You know, Liz. I remember when you got your reading glasses. I couldn’t determine whether you were upset about the glasses or that you could no longer read the piano music as you once had.” He smiled at her. He slid the glasses from her face and pulled her towards him. “Yes, my Liz, I see you for who you are. You are your mother’s daughter, you would have made her proud.”
For the first time in many years she hugged her father.
****
”What you doing?” Aidan asked Max.
“You’re supposed to be asleep.” Max looked down at the boy who was staring at him in wonderment.
“Not tired. What you doing?” He asked again.
“I’m fixing Lily’s crib so she doesn’t fall out.” Max explained.
“Oh.” He walked closer. “I help?”
“Well, sure.” Max said. “Come here.” He held his hand to him. “Now this, is a screwdriver.” He explained. “I have a bigger one but that’s too loud and will wake up Lily. We don’t want to wake up Lily do we?”
Aidan shook his head quickly. “No, she’s sleeping. With her blanket.”
“I know.” Max smiled at the thought of his daughter. Sure, she was developing an attitude similar to that of his sister’s what was wrong with that?
“Why’d you go away?” Aidan asked all of a sudden.
“I had to for a little while.” Max said carefully, wondering what Liz had told him.
“Mommy missed you.” He said. “I did too.”
“I missed you too, Aidan.” Max looked at the smaller boy. “Now let me show you how to use the screwdriver.”
“Mommy cried.” Aidan persisted. “A lot.”
“I know, Aidan.” Max tried not to feel the pain in his heart for making Liz cry.
“On Christmas.”
“I’m sorry, Aidan, I’ll try not to make her cry. It hurts me when she cries.”
“Me too.” Aidan said finally reaching an agreement. “I don’t like it.”
“I don’t like it either.” Max nodded his head.
“Now, screwdriver.”
Max smiled at the resiliency of youth.
“Yes, yes, give me your hand.” Max took Aidan’s much smaller hand gently in his own and directed him on how to fix Lily’s crib.
TBC
Chapter 20
Liz impatiently pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose and glanced at the clock. She would finish with plenty of time to spare to practice her accompaniment piece.
Liz startled at the sound of the doorbell. She finished her sentence before getting up to answer it.
“Daddy!” Liz said surprised. “What brings you here?”
She stepped aside so he could enter. “Where’s my grandson?”
“With Max and Lily.” Liz said studying his face to gage some sort of emotion on his face. He never just showed up at her house, usually he called first. “Is something wrong with Alex or Nancy?”
“No, no.” He shook his head and studied his little girl’s kitchen. There were multiple pictures of Aidan. One more recent of Lily and Aidan at Isabel’s wedding. “Liz.”
She stared at him, her arms crossed protectively over her chest.
“I, we need to talk.” He said bluntly, he didn’t beat around the bush anymore than she did.
Liz resisted letting out a sigh, not another one. She was still tired from last night and she didn’t want to deal with anything more.
“Daddy now isn’t the best time.” She said glancing at the time.
“I know, but now is what I have.”
“Let me guess, Nancy doesn’t know you’re here.” She said glaring at him.
“No she doesn’t.” He shook his head and didn’t look back up at her. That is where he screwed up. He didn’t know how to fix this mess that he had rolled himself into.
“Daddy I have class in two hours and I have to get ready and practice.” Liz tried. This was a conversation she was also dying to have. But she couldn’t do it right now. Her emotions were still too fragile still too close to the surface.
“I understand.” He said, dejected.
“I don’t think you do.” She shook her head; it looks like she would be having this conversation now. “Sit.”
He sat listening to the authority she played behind her voice. He guessed it was Aidan’s in-trouble voice.
“Daddy, you all but forgot me when you married Nancy.” She started slowly. “You sent me to boarding school when I was fourteen, that was when I needed to be at home the most. You let me get married at eighteen. Did you support Nancy’s idea of me never going to college?”
“No.” His voice was husky. “Liz, baby.”
“When Jon died, I was devastated. You did not even come out for the funeral, Daddy. I was there alone. Except for Alex, Alex was always there.” She smiled a bitter smile. “Do you know what it’s like to be alone, pregnant, and recently widowed?”
“No, I wouldn’t.”
“I wanted to call you so many times, to ask you how you got through it. Losing Mama, and then, when I met Max, letting someone else in.”
”Liz, when I lost your mother, I was devastated. You were only three; you used to scream at night. Screaming like I’d never heard. It was pain. But not the kind when you fall and I could kiss it better. I couldn’t do anything for you.”
****
He was transported to eighteen years earlier.
The screaming started again. Not again, not again.
Jeff Whitman’s heart ached for his three-year-old daughter.
“Mama!” The scream came to his ears.
He went to try to comfort her and it stopped for a few minutes. She cuddled up into his chest and he held his breath. She cuddled closer, paused and looked up at him, and screamed.
He stood and walked and walked and walked. It seemed like forever until dawn came.
Her voice was always hoarse during the day, she yelled herself that way.
Later that night the screaming began.
It pulled at his heart to hear the scream of such anguish. This time she kicked and screamed him away. He backed up and shut the door. There was nothing he could do for her.
****
“I’m sorry, Daddy.” Liz said. She didn’t even remember it. She put him through hell.
“It’s alright, Lizzie girl, you didn’t know. How was a three-year-old supposed to know?” He scrubbed his hand over his face and chin. “I wish I would have stayed with you. I didn’t know what to do.”
“You did your best, it must have been awful for you, not being able to help your child.” She looked down at her hands.
“I thought you blamed me, Liz. I really did. I walked away from the accident. She didn’t. Your relationship with your mother was so great. You followed her everywhere. My first thought when they told me she was dead was, what about Liz?” He looked down and studied her polished wood table. “What am I going to tell her? You depended on her. She stayed at home with you, she took care of you, when she died, everything changed.”
“You had to go to daycare, you didn’t have any pretty little hair styles, and you didn’t have a role model. That’s when I married Nancy. You and Alex fell for each other instantly. Liz, there’s something I didn’t tell you before.”
“Go ahead,” she said hesitantly.
“Your mother was pregnant, when she died. She wanted you to have a little brother or sister.”
Liz’s heart lurched. She could have had a little brother or sister. “Oh, Daddy.”
“I was driving the car Liz, I was, not your mother, I should have died.” He looked down.
“No, Daddy.” Liz said trying to sort her feelings.
“I didn’t mean to send you away. I grew up with your mother; Liz and you looked…look…just like her. Watching you grow up was bittersweet. I saw your mother in you in everything you did, I wanted to just see you and no one else. So I when Nancy suggested I send you away I thought it would be a good idea. I thought it would make you less like her.”
“Then, when you came home, you looked just like your mother, and my heart broke.”
“But, I’m not Mama.” Liz shook her head. “I’m me. I’m your little girl that screamed and kicked you away. I’m the little girl that mourned the loss of her mother so violently, then, later, the loss of her father.” She basically whispered the last part.
“Lizzie girl, I didn’t mean to hurt you, I didn’t know what to do.” He shook his head and looked at Liz. Really looked at her.
She hadn’t taken off her reading glasses, and her hair was swept back in a messy bun to stay out of her face. She looked so much like her mother but, she wasn’t. For the first time he saw Liz, she was fully grown, a mother.
“Do you see me, now, Daddy, me?” Liz asked. Hoping desperately that he did. She had always seen the pain in his eyes whenever she looked at him.
“You know, Liz. I remember when you got your reading glasses. I couldn’t determine whether you were upset about the glasses or that you could no longer read the piano music as you once had.” He smiled at her. He slid the glasses from her face and pulled her towards him. “Yes, my Liz, I see you for who you are. You are your mother’s daughter, you would have made her proud.”
For the first time in many years she hugged her father.
****
”What you doing?” Aidan asked Max.
“You’re supposed to be asleep.” Max looked down at the boy who was staring at him in wonderment.
“Not tired. What you doing?” He asked again.
“I’m fixing Lily’s crib so she doesn’t fall out.” Max explained.
“Oh.” He walked closer. “I help?”
“Well, sure.” Max said. “Come here.” He held his hand to him. “Now this, is a screwdriver.” He explained. “I have a bigger one but that’s too loud and will wake up Lily. We don’t want to wake up Lily do we?”
Aidan shook his head quickly. “No, she’s sleeping. With her blanket.”
“I know.” Max smiled at the thought of his daughter. Sure, she was developing an attitude similar to that of his sister’s what was wrong with that?
“Why’d you go away?” Aidan asked all of a sudden.
“I had to for a little while.” Max said carefully, wondering what Liz had told him.
“Mommy missed you.” He said. “I did too.”
“I missed you too, Aidan.” Max looked at the smaller boy. “Now let me show you how to use the screwdriver.”
“Mommy cried.” Aidan persisted. “A lot.”
“I know, Aidan.” Max tried not to feel the pain in his heart for making Liz cry.
“On Christmas.”
“I’m sorry, Aidan, I’ll try not to make her cry. It hurts me when she cries.”
“Me too.” Aidan said finally reaching an agreement. “I don’t like it.”
“I don’t like it either.” Max nodded his head.
“Now, screwdriver.”
Max smiled at the resiliency of youth.
“Yes, yes, give me your hand.” Max took Aidan’s much smaller hand gently in his own and directed him on how to fix Lily’s crib.
TBC
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
I apologize a million times for the wait on this! I've rewritten it three or four times but I really like the way it came out. I've had school, instrument, and computer problems to do with as well. Just writing, saving, and posting this part is asking my computer a little too much, but hopefully by summer all will be well. Thank you so much to those of you who have stuck to this!
Mattie
Challenge 921
“Look, look!” Max followed Lily into where she had been playing a little too quietly for about fifteen minutes.
“But, Max.” Aidan whined. They had just gotten to the good part of building their city. They were on their way to destruction. “We gotta smash it now!”
“Well, let me go see what Lilybird wants me to see.” Max promised. “Then we’ll crash it with the loudest noise you’ve ever heard.”
“Yeah!” His mother never let him smash his city with massive amounts of noise.
“Look, look!” Lily pointed to the bedroom.
Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to leave her alone for such large amounts of time.
His answer was confirmed when he stepped into the room and saw red marker all over the wall. “Look, look.” Max wished he hadn’t
“Lilybird.” He sighed, he was planning on painting those walls anyway. Really.
She proudly moved over to the door and pushed it shut to show him that she had even taken the time to decorate the back side.
“Not me!” Aidan said happy that it wasn’t him who was going to get the heat for this. He had learned a long time ago that one doesn’t write on the walls, especially in crayon.
“Let’s go wash you off, Lilybird, and then we have to start cleaning this.” He thought of Lily with a bucket of water and decided to wait till later to clean up the mess.
“We gotta smash it, Max.” Aidan pulled on his leg. “Please.”
“We’ll do it once Lilybird goes down for a nap.” He whispered the last word man to man. He winked at Aidan to make it understood that only babies and girls needed naps.
“I don’t need one.” Aidan shook his head already looking forward to the time when he would be able to spend time alone with Max. “Boys don’t need naps.”
Lily looked disturbed by the threat of a nap and folded her arms in defiance of the word. “No.” She shook her head, curls flying prettily.
“I’m afraid so, Lilybird.”
“Yeah, only boys can stay up.”
Her lip pouted and Aidan melted. “Alright, Lily, you can stay up too.”
“Aidan sleep too.” Lily nodded.
Aidan cringed but would do anything for Lily. “Ok.”
“We’ll go wash her up and go potty, then we’ll all go lie down for a little while.” Max agreed. Two children under the age of five was really a difficult task.
****
“Hello?” Liz pushed open the door, quiet noticing the complete silence in the house.
“I’m in here, Liz.” Max called.
“What are you doing?” Liz asked quietly. The two children were passed out on the bed. Lily’s head buried underneath her pink blanket and the newest edition to her sleeping collection, a plastic doll she had found at a garage sale and wouldn’t let go of, that buried deep inside Max’s back when she crawled into bed with him at night.
“I think my baby girl’s going to be an artist.” Max pointed to the red marker on the wall. He was working on the second wall and hadn’t even successfully removed the entire marker from the first.
“Who left the marker down?” Liz questioned. She tried to hold back a grin but was didn’t quite make it.
“Daddy did.” Max said sheepishly. “She was so proud of herself; you should have seen her face.”
“I’m sure she was.” Liz said, slipping her hands into her pocket. “Aidan used to get a kick out of marking up the walls. You have time for a snack break and then I’ll help you scrub.”
“Sure.” Max stood and stretched. Despite the rain the past night, it was warm and sunny today and he was shirtless. Liz stared at his muscled chest as he stretched, unaware of her gaze.
Then their eyes met. Sure she had seen him over the summer in the swimming pool and such, but his body never ceased to amaze her. Her gaze made its way up to his eyes who were staring right back at her. A rush of heat went through her body and she blushed heavily before turning and walking out of the bedroom.
She went to the kitchen and divided the sandwiches she had picked up. “Where are the knives?” Liz asked.
“Right here.” She hadn’t realized that he had followed her into the kitchen.
He reached across the counter and picked up a magnet. “You have to do it like this.” His breath was right next to her ear. “Lilybird figured out how to get her hand inside the drawers with just the clip.” Easily, he clipped open the drawer with the magnet but didn’t move. “I’ve missed you.” He whispered against her ear.
Heat flew through Liz’s body as it pressed against his bare chest. “Me too.” She nodded her agreement.
“I love you, Liz.” He whispered before turning her around and kissing her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed closer.
“I love you too.” She whispered when she they broke for breath. “So much.” She laid her head against his chest to catch her breath and calm her heart. “My dad came by today, right after you left.”
“What’d he say?” Max pulled back a little bit, not sure what she wanted him to do.
“He wants to get to know Aidan better. I guess he’s finally decided he’s missed out on enough.” Liz said she was aglow with happiness. “It has been the best day, besides the heat.”
“Yeah.” He agreed and pulled her close to his body. “Are you ready to tell me about Jonathan?” He hadn’t wanted to press, but he decided
She took a deep breath and nodded. She had debated whether or not she was going to but knew now was the time.
“Come, let’s finish here.” She slid into the kitchen table, not really interested in food but knowing the food would keep Max from asking too many questions.
“When I was fourteen, as I told you before, I hung out with Alex’s friends mostly during the summer, when I was home from Vermont. Most of his friends treated me like a little sister, but then there was John. He was the same age as Alex, as were most of his friends. He was taller, his red hair never really seemed groomed. His piercing brown eyes were something that couldn’t be competed with.” She started to explain.
Max made a grunting sound, signaling for her to continue.
“Nothing happened that first summer, but when I turned fifteen, and came back from school, I was angry, frustrated, and so very alone. All the other girls had somebody to be with. They had best friends, boyfriends, and all went to West Roswell High, including Alex. Time at home during the summer was torture. It was one of these days, I was sent to John’s house around the corner to bring Alex home.”
“Liz, his mother gave me a huge smile as she had taken a special liking to me. She told me to go on back and get the boys. Alex and John had been friends since they were ten, so the Parkers knew me.”
She was starting to fidget and Max knew she was getting nervous.
“I found them in a room, deep in conversation. I had never seen them in that room before, it had always been shut.” She was taken back to the time when she had met the real Jonathan Parker.
Nothing much was on her mind except the summer dance Nancy was insisting she attend. All the other girls there were going to have a date, but she would not because she had yet to find one. It was the girl’s responsibility to ask. Because she didn’t attend West Roswell, she had very little options.
Alex, of course, had already been asked by the tall brunette across the street.
“Alex, Nancy wants you home now.” She had stepped inside the room loudly so as not to startle them.
“Liz!” John had acted surprised to see her and his face turned a hue to match his hair.
“Liz.” Alex had said, his voice low, looking at her. “Come on.” He tried to remove her from the room.
“No, Alex, I think she should know.” John took his arm and looked at him.
Alex straightened, he was lanky but prepared to fight for his sister. “No, John.”
“Alex, I think it’s time.” John straightened himself. As the boys were the same height they came eye to eye, but John had more muscle on him.
“You guys.” Liz stood between them.
“Alex, please excuse us, and shut the door.”
Liz’s heart pounded. At fifteen and to be left alone in a room with a boy was a huge event, no doubt.
Alex gave John an angry look before turning to walk out and shut the door behind him.
Liz finally began to look around. Her breath stuck in her throat and she looked at him.
Pictures of her from the age of nine filled the room. She had always known he had wanted to be a photographer, she didn’t know she was so often his subject. There were many where she was aware of him taking pictures and she had smiled for his camera. But there were some that she didn’t know he had taken.
Her working in her embarrassing Crashdown uniform.
Sitting at the desk studying in the study she and Alex shared.
Her with the little boy she babysat walking home from the public pool.
“John?” She asked.
“You know, I’ve always had my camera with me.” He blushed.
“Yes.” She nodded slowly.
“Well, you’ve always been my most willing and interesting subject.” He told her. “I like taking pictures of you. Especially when you don’t know I’m taking them.” He moved forward. “You have a stunning smile, but look here, where you’re concentrating on Ancient cultures, your eyebrow is creasing. Look at the determination on your face.” He got excited. “Then look here, with the Johnson kid, you’re glowing. You do want children, don’t you, Elizabeth?” He was the only one who called her by her full name and it never seemed to bother her.
“Yes.” She nodded still looking at him. “But why me?”
“I’m in love with you.” He said it casually.
Her heart stopped. It was something all fifteen year olds had wanted to hear.
“I love taking pictures of you, I love being around you, I love you.”
She looked up at him hoping to God that she had found someone. “Would you go to the summer dance with me? Nancy really wants me to go this year, and I don’t know anyone else who would be willing to go. I can’t go by myself, but if I don’t get a date, Nancy will force me to.”
“Of course, I wanted you to ask me last year.” He told her, gently lifting her face to look at him.. “Would you be my girlfriend?”
She nodded vigorously. He hugged her and pressed a kiss to her cheek before showing her more pictures.
Alex hadn’t been very happy at first but had gotten used to the idea.
Liz had been terrified going back to school in Vermont that summer knowing she would be separated from him for three months before Christmas.
But they had held out and eventually had gotten married, Liz straight from high school as suggested by a so very helpful Nancy.
“I remember the day he died. I hadn’t been so sure about him leaving.” She fidgeted again. “I was eighteen weeks pregnant by that point, and my doctor didn’t think it was wise for me to travel. He was gone to photograph light houses for a two weeks, I was staying with his parents because I was having difficulties with the pregnancy.”
Her eyes filled with tears now. “He wasn’t supposed to come home that day. He wanted to be there for Valentine’s Day and our six month anniversary. We weren’t really planning on Aidan yet, but we were ecstatic just the same. I remember getting the call. I didn’t believe it at first. Here I was, pregnant, and now a widow.”
She stopped and collected herself.
“What happened to him?” Max asked softly.
“He was being shuttled across the tarmac to board onto his final flight home. There wasn’t efficient communication between plane and shuttle. Thirty-two people.”
Max went to her and held her. He understood her hatred for planes now.
“Cry, Liz, love.” Max said.
“I’ve done enough of that, my tummy was just starting to round. John was getting so excited to take pictures of me pregnant. I’ve never seen anyone so excited.” Liz said. “And now Aidan looks like him. Thank you for the time you gave me to get to this point, Max.” Liz said. “Most men would have demanded that they know everything, right away.”
“But I did, Liz. Remember?”
“Yeah, but you still gave me time.” She told him. “Thank you for understanding, and waiting”
“I love you, Liz, and I would wait forever.”
TBC
Mattie
Challenge 921
“Look, look!” Max followed Lily into where she had been playing a little too quietly for about fifteen minutes.
“But, Max.” Aidan whined. They had just gotten to the good part of building their city. They were on their way to destruction. “We gotta smash it now!”
“Well, let me go see what Lilybird wants me to see.” Max promised. “Then we’ll crash it with the loudest noise you’ve ever heard.”
“Yeah!” His mother never let him smash his city with massive amounts of noise.
“Look, look!” Lily pointed to the bedroom.
Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to leave her alone for such large amounts of time.
His answer was confirmed when he stepped into the room and saw red marker all over the wall. “Look, look.” Max wished he hadn’t
“Lilybird.” He sighed, he was planning on painting those walls anyway. Really.
She proudly moved over to the door and pushed it shut to show him that she had even taken the time to decorate the back side.
“Not me!” Aidan said happy that it wasn’t him who was going to get the heat for this. He had learned a long time ago that one doesn’t write on the walls, especially in crayon.
“Let’s go wash you off, Lilybird, and then we have to start cleaning this.” He thought of Lily with a bucket of water and decided to wait till later to clean up the mess.
“We gotta smash it, Max.” Aidan pulled on his leg. “Please.”
“We’ll do it once Lilybird goes down for a nap.” He whispered the last word man to man. He winked at Aidan to make it understood that only babies and girls needed naps.
“I don’t need one.” Aidan shook his head already looking forward to the time when he would be able to spend time alone with Max. “Boys don’t need naps.”
Lily looked disturbed by the threat of a nap and folded her arms in defiance of the word. “No.” She shook her head, curls flying prettily.
“I’m afraid so, Lilybird.”
“Yeah, only boys can stay up.”
Her lip pouted and Aidan melted. “Alright, Lily, you can stay up too.”
“Aidan sleep too.” Lily nodded.
Aidan cringed but would do anything for Lily. “Ok.”
“We’ll go wash her up and go potty, then we’ll all go lie down for a little while.” Max agreed. Two children under the age of five was really a difficult task.
****
“Hello?” Liz pushed open the door, quiet noticing the complete silence in the house.
“I’m in here, Liz.” Max called.
“What are you doing?” Liz asked quietly. The two children were passed out on the bed. Lily’s head buried underneath her pink blanket and the newest edition to her sleeping collection, a plastic doll she had found at a garage sale and wouldn’t let go of, that buried deep inside Max’s back when she crawled into bed with him at night.
“I think my baby girl’s going to be an artist.” Max pointed to the red marker on the wall. He was working on the second wall and hadn’t even successfully removed the entire marker from the first.
“Who left the marker down?” Liz questioned. She tried to hold back a grin but was didn’t quite make it.
“Daddy did.” Max said sheepishly. “She was so proud of herself; you should have seen her face.”
“I’m sure she was.” Liz said, slipping her hands into her pocket. “Aidan used to get a kick out of marking up the walls. You have time for a snack break and then I’ll help you scrub.”
“Sure.” Max stood and stretched. Despite the rain the past night, it was warm and sunny today and he was shirtless. Liz stared at his muscled chest as he stretched, unaware of her gaze.
Then their eyes met. Sure she had seen him over the summer in the swimming pool and such, but his body never ceased to amaze her. Her gaze made its way up to his eyes who were staring right back at her. A rush of heat went through her body and she blushed heavily before turning and walking out of the bedroom.
She went to the kitchen and divided the sandwiches she had picked up. “Where are the knives?” Liz asked.
“Right here.” She hadn’t realized that he had followed her into the kitchen.
He reached across the counter and picked up a magnet. “You have to do it like this.” His breath was right next to her ear. “Lilybird figured out how to get her hand inside the drawers with just the clip.” Easily, he clipped open the drawer with the magnet but didn’t move. “I’ve missed you.” He whispered against her ear.
Heat flew through Liz’s body as it pressed against his bare chest. “Me too.” She nodded her agreement.
“I love you, Liz.” He whispered before turning her around and kissing her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed closer.
“I love you too.” She whispered when she they broke for breath. “So much.” She laid her head against his chest to catch her breath and calm her heart. “My dad came by today, right after you left.”
“What’d he say?” Max pulled back a little bit, not sure what she wanted him to do.
“He wants to get to know Aidan better. I guess he’s finally decided he’s missed out on enough.” Liz said she was aglow with happiness. “It has been the best day, besides the heat.”
“Yeah.” He agreed and pulled her close to his body. “Are you ready to tell me about Jonathan?” He hadn’t wanted to press, but he decided
She took a deep breath and nodded. She had debated whether or not she was going to but knew now was the time.
“Come, let’s finish here.” She slid into the kitchen table, not really interested in food but knowing the food would keep Max from asking too many questions.
“When I was fourteen, as I told you before, I hung out with Alex’s friends mostly during the summer, when I was home from Vermont. Most of his friends treated me like a little sister, but then there was John. He was the same age as Alex, as were most of his friends. He was taller, his red hair never really seemed groomed. His piercing brown eyes were something that couldn’t be competed with.” She started to explain.
Max made a grunting sound, signaling for her to continue.
“Nothing happened that first summer, but when I turned fifteen, and came back from school, I was angry, frustrated, and so very alone. All the other girls had somebody to be with. They had best friends, boyfriends, and all went to West Roswell High, including Alex. Time at home during the summer was torture. It was one of these days, I was sent to John’s house around the corner to bring Alex home.”
“Liz, his mother gave me a huge smile as she had taken a special liking to me. She told me to go on back and get the boys. Alex and John had been friends since they were ten, so the Parkers knew me.”
She was starting to fidget and Max knew she was getting nervous.
“I found them in a room, deep in conversation. I had never seen them in that room before, it had always been shut.” She was taken back to the time when she had met the real Jonathan Parker.
Nothing much was on her mind except the summer dance Nancy was insisting she attend. All the other girls there were going to have a date, but she would not because she had yet to find one. It was the girl’s responsibility to ask. Because she didn’t attend West Roswell, she had very little options.
Alex, of course, had already been asked by the tall brunette across the street.
“Alex, Nancy wants you home now.” She had stepped inside the room loudly so as not to startle them.
“Liz!” John had acted surprised to see her and his face turned a hue to match his hair.
“Liz.” Alex had said, his voice low, looking at her. “Come on.” He tried to remove her from the room.
“No, Alex, I think she should know.” John took his arm and looked at him.
Alex straightened, he was lanky but prepared to fight for his sister. “No, John.”
“Alex, I think it’s time.” John straightened himself. As the boys were the same height they came eye to eye, but John had more muscle on him.
“You guys.” Liz stood between them.
“Alex, please excuse us, and shut the door.”
Liz’s heart pounded. At fifteen and to be left alone in a room with a boy was a huge event, no doubt.
Alex gave John an angry look before turning to walk out and shut the door behind him.
Liz finally began to look around. Her breath stuck in her throat and she looked at him.
Pictures of her from the age of nine filled the room. She had always known he had wanted to be a photographer, she didn’t know she was so often his subject. There were many where she was aware of him taking pictures and she had smiled for his camera. But there were some that she didn’t know he had taken.
Her working in her embarrassing Crashdown uniform.
Sitting at the desk studying in the study she and Alex shared.
Her with the little boy she babysat walking home from the public pool.
“John?” She asked.
“You know, I’ve always had my camera with me.” He blushed.
“Yes.” She nodded slowly.
“Well, you’ve always been my most willing and interesting subject.” He told her. “I like taking pictures of you. Especially when you don’t know I’m taking them.” He moved forward. “You have a stunning smile, but look here, where you’re concentrating on Ancient cultures, your eyebrow is creasing. Look at the determination on your face.” He got excited. “Then look here, with the Johnson kid, you’re glowing. You do want children, don’t you, Elizabeth?” He was the only one who called her by her full name and it never seemed to bother her.
“Yes.” She nodded still looking at him. “But why me?”
“I’m in love with you.” He said it casually.
Her heart stopped. It was something all fifteen year olds had wanted to hear.
“I love taking pictures of you, I love being around you, I love you.”
She looked up at him hoping to God that she had found someone. “Would you go to the summer dance with me? Nancy really wants me to go this year, and I don’t know anyone else who would be willing to go. I can’t go by myself, but if I don’t get a date, Nancy will force me to.”
“Of course, I wanted you to ask me last year.” He told her, gently lifting her face to look at him.. “Would you be my girlfriend?”
She nodded vigorously. He hugged her and pressed a kiss to her cheek before showing her more pictures.
Alex hadn’t been very happy at first but had gotten used to the idea.
Liz had been terrified going back to school in Vermont that summer knowing she would be separated from him for three months before Christmas.
But they had held out and eventually had gotten married, Liz straight from high school as suggested by a so very helpful Nancy.
“I remember the day he died. I hadn’t been so sure about him leaving.” She fidgeted again. “I was eighteen weeks pregnant by that point, and my doctor didn’t think it was wise for me to travel. He was gone to photograph light houses for a two weeks, I was staying with his parents because I was having difficulties with the pregnancy.”
Her eyes filled with tears now. “He wasn’t supposed to come home that day. He wanted to be there for Valentine’s Day and our six month anniversary. We weren’t really planning on Aidan yet, but we were ecstatic just the same. I remember getting the call. I didn’t believe it at first. Here I was, pregnant, and now a widow.”
She stopped and collected herself.
“What happened to him?” Max asked softly.
“He was being shuttled across the tarmac to board onto his final flight home. There wasn’t efficient communication between plane and shuttle. Thirty-two people.”
Max went to her and held her. He understood her hatred for planes now.
“Cry, Liz, love.” Max said.
“I’ve done enough of that, my tummy was just starting to round. John was getting so excited to take pictures of me pregnant. I’ve never seen anyone so excited.” Liz said. “And now Aidan looks like him. Thank you for the time you gave me to get to this point, Max.” Liz said. “Most men would have demanded that they know everything, right away.”
“But I did, Liz. Remember?”
“Yeah, but you still gave me time.” She told him. “Thank you for understanding, and waiting”
“I love you, Liz, and I would wait forever.”
TBC
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
Chapter 22
Seven months later
Somewhere in the Arizona desert
Max drove straight in the scorching heat of the July sun. The heat didn’t seem to bother Liz, but then again she had grown up in the desert.
As they got further from California and closer to New Mexico the happier she got. Tucson, where they were to stay for the night was about thirty miles away. Max had been driving since sometime around noon. Liz had wanted an early start and as such she had driven. Aidan and Lily were tucked in the back seat amongst toys and other things to keep them quiet.
To Lily, the terrible twos were exactly as they said. She had ceased her screaming about two hours prior, after Liz threatened to leave her with the snakes, her doll and blanket tucked under her arm. He wasn’t even sure what she was screaming about in the first place. He didn’t dare look at her since she had seemed to take some aversion to him today.
He had no idea what he had done to offend his daughter, but he found that if he did anything too offensive she would ignore him for the next day or so. It had started with him washing off the marker from the wall.
“All gone?” She asked looking at the wall. “Where go?”
“Bye bye, sweetheart.” Max said looking down at his daughter.
“Where go?” She asked again. Her face looking devastated at the wall. She had worked so hard. “Back!”
“No, Lily, we don’t write on the walls.” Max shook his head, wishing Liz were here to help him.
“Yes!” She had decreed. She had defiantly gone around the house looking for another crayon or writing utensil. “Back.”
Max rolled his eyes as she pouted up at him. Then her eyes filled with tears hoping to get her way.
“No, Lilybird, no writing on the walls.” He had successfully hidden away all of his writing utensils.
“Fine.” She had ignored him the rest of the evening.
From the quietness and steadiness of her breathing she sounded to be asleep as well.
Aidan was awake as he could see through the mirror. “Are we almost there?”
“We’re almost to Tucson where we’re going to stay in a motel, ok?” Max asked softly so he wouldn’t wake the girls.
“Ok.” He yawned. “Lily’s asleep.”
“Good.” Max said relieved. His Lilybird was turning into one with an attitude, it reminded him a little of Tess, and that made him nervous. But he also noticed Liz’s influence in his daughter as well. Lily spent a lot of time watching what Liz did and he hoped she would pick up on her sweet manner. Aidan also took it upon himself to act as big brother to her.
Aidan was there to smooth things over at the day care when things went wrong with Lily. Liz said she’d learn to get along with other kids soon enough.
“Are you ok with me marrying your, Mommy?” Max took advantage of the opportunity.
Aidan didn’t answer right away and Max wondered if he had fallen asleep. “Aidan?”
“You’ll live with us, right?” He asked.
“Yes, and Lily too.”
“Mommy’s happy?” He wanted to know.
“I hope so.” Max answered as he looked down at Liz’s engagement ring on her hand.
Liz covered his hand with hers and smiled. Aidan didn’t notice.
“Yeah.” He smiled. “I’ll be Lily’s brother?”
“Yes.”
That brought a huge smile to his face. “I’m ok.” He nodded.
“Good.”
“We’re almost to Tucson, Liz.” Max told her. She shifted in her seat and was ready to be out of the car. She couldn’t imagine how the children must have felt.
As they pulled up to the motel, Liz got out. Lily immediately began to insist she be let out as well. Patiently, Liz untangled her toys from around her in the seat. “Out!”
“Lily, patient.” Liz insisted.
She hushed and waited. As she was set down on the floor she immediately grabbed onto Liz’s shorts so that she wouldn’t get into trouble.
“Doll, please.” She held her hand out. Her doll didn’t have a name it had just always been doll.
“Here you go, and blanket.” Liz wrapped the doll in the blanket.
They checked in and found their room. After they had finished dinner, and everyone had bathed they settled into watch a movie since the kids were anything but tired. Lily and Doll were spread across Max’s chest as she watched Robin Hood, suddenly at peace with him. Aidan was tucked between him and Liz. They had gotten their giggles out in the bath and at dinner so they were ready to settle down.
Before the movie was over, the kids were sleeping, and Max and Liz were allotted a few moments of free time. They stepped outside where they could talk freely.
“Thank you for doing this for me, Max. It would have been so much easier if we had flown.”
“You’re not comfortable flying.” He pointed out.
“I know, thank you.” Liz looked down at her hands. “Thank you for asking Aidan’s opinion on us getting married.”
She wrapped her arms around him and swayed to music that was only in her head. She remembered his tender proposal on the fourth of July, three days prior. Fireworks in the background, the kids sleeping on the blanket, it had been perfect.
“I love you.” She tipped her head up to receive his kiss.
“I love you too.” He swayed her to the music some more.
“Daddy!” Lily’s worried cry came through. She had woken up in a strange place with just the Doll. “Daddy!”
“Thank you for helping so much with Lilybird.” He pulled them to a stop.
“Yeah, once we’re married, she’s mine too.” Liz said happily. “And Aidan yours.”
He grinned at that as well. “We’ll be happy won’t we? Once Lilybird gets through our little rough patch, she’s almost three.” He said.
“Not for more than half a year, and three year olds are two year olds with attitude.”
“Daddy!”
“But she already has an attitude.” He whined.
“Yeah well, she’s calling you.” Liz opened the door and pushed him through.
“Hush, Lilybird, you’ll wake Aidan.”
“Missed you.” She declared.
“I’m right here, just go night night.”
She snuggled into him, Doll digging into his chest and fell asleep. He heard Liz crawl into bed next to Aidan and pull him close. “Good night, Liz.”
“Goodnight, Max.” She called back.
****
“We’re almost to Oma’s house, aren’t we?” Aidan asked as they pulled into the grocery store.
“Yeah, we just have to pick up some things for Oma and Opa.” Liz said as they got out. Max talked Lily into leaving Doll and blanket in the car and picked her up.
“Come along, Aidan.” She took his hand and they hurried into the store.
“Liz Parker.” An older woman came up to them. “What are you doing around these parts again?”
“I’ve come to visit the Parkers for Aidan’s fourth birthday.” She said quietly.
“I don’t remember Anna saying anything about you visiting. Is this John’s boy?” She looked down at the red head that was clinging to his mother’s side.
“Yes.” Liz said.
“He’s turning four you say?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Aren’t you darling, Aidan was it?”
“Yes, I’m Aidan.” He spoke up. “Friday’s my birthday.” He said proudly.
“Really?” The woman said impressed.
“Liz!” Lily said grabbed onto her leg looking up in total admiration.
“Who’s this?” The woman asked.
“My sister.” Aidan said proudly with the news.
“Your sister?” The woman asked looking at Liz.
“I’m marrying her father, in November.” Liz clarified.
“You ready, Liz?” Max asked and gently pried her from her leg.
“This the young man you’re going to marry?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Liz smiled brightly now.
“I’m Max Evans, I’m sure you’ve met my daughter.”
“Mr. Evans, pleasure to meet you.” The woman looked at him from down her nose although he towered over her. “You’re from California I take it, where this little blonde came from.”
“Yes.” Max said pulling Lily closer. “If you’ll excuse us?” He directed them back out the door.
“Liz.” The woman called back.
“Yes?” She turned.
“Why didn’t you stay here and marry one of our nice boys, why did you have to go running off to California? We have plenty of young gentlemen for you here.” The woman questioned.
“They really aren’t my type,” Liz squeezed Max’s hand. “And I’m sorry, but I will never marry you’re grandson.”
She turned and walked out.
Continued in next post
Seven months later
Somewhere in the Arizona desert
Max drove straight in the scorching heat of the July sun. The heat didn’t seem to bother Liz, but then again she had grown up in the desert.
As they got further from California and closer to New Mexico the happier she got. Tucson, where they were to stay for the night was about thirty miles away. Max had been driving since sometime around noon. Liz had wanted an early start and as such she had driven. Aidan and Lily were tucked in the back seat amongst toys and other things to keep them quiet.
To Lily, the terrible twos were exactly as they said. She had ceased her screaming about two hours prior, after Liz threatened to leave her with the snakes, her doll and blanket tucked under her arm. He wasn’t even sure what she was screaming about in the first place. He didn’t dare look at her since she had seemed to take some aversion to him today.
He had no idea what he had done to offend his daughter, but he found that if he did anything too offensive she would ignore him for the next day or so. It had started with him washing off the marker from the wall.
“All gone?” She asked looking at the wall. “Where go?”
“Bye bye, sweetheart.” Max said looking down at his daughter.
“Where go?” She asked again. Her face looking devastated at the wall. She had worked so hard. “Back!”
“No, Lily, we don’t write on the walls.” Max shook his head, wishing Liz were here to help him.
“Yes!” She had decreed. She had defiantly gone around the house looking for another crayon or writing utensil. “Back.”
Max rolled his eyes as she pouted up at him. Then her eyes filled with tears hoping to get her way.
“No, Lilybird, no writing on the walls.” He had successfully hidden away all of his writing utensils.
“Fine.” She had ignored him the rest of the evening.
From the quietness and steadiness of her breathing she sounded to be asleep as well.
Aidan was awake as he could see through the mirror. “Are we almost there?”
“We’re almost to Tucson where we’re going to stay in a motel, ok?” Max asked softly so he wouldn’t wake the girls.
“Ok.” He yawned. “Lily’s asleep.”
“Good.” Max said relieved. His Lilybird was turning into one with an attitude, it reminded him a little of Tess, and that made him nervous. But he also noticed Liz’s influence in his daughter as well. Lily spent a lot of time watching what Liz did and he hoped she would pick up on her sweet manner. Aidan also took it upon himself to act as big brother to her.
Aidan was there to smooth things over at the day care when things went wrong with Lily. Liz said she’d learn to get along with other kids soon enough.
“Are you ok with me marrying your, Mommy?” Max took advantage of the opportunity.
Aidan didn’t answer right away and Max wondered if he had fallen asleep. “Aidan?”
“You’ll live with us, right?” He asked.
“Yes, and Lily too.”
“Mommy’s happy?” He wanted to know.
“I hope so.” Max answered as he looked down at Liz’s engagement ring on her hand.
Liz covered his hand with hers and smiled. Aidan didn’t notice.
“Yeah.” He smiled. “I’ll be Lily’s brother?”
“Yes.”
That brought a huge smile to his face. “I’m ok.” He nodded.
“Good.”
“We’re almost to Tucson, Liz.” Max told her. She shifted in her seat and was ready to be out of the car. She couldn’t imagine how the children must have felt.
As they pulled up to the motel, Liz got out. Lily immediately began to insist she be let out as well. Patiently, Liz untangled her toys from around her in the seat. “Out!”
“Lily, patient.” Liz insisted.
She hushed and waited. As she was set down on the floor she immediately grabbed onto Liz’s shorts so that she wouldn’t get into trouble.
“Doll, please.” She held her hand out. Her doll didn’t have a name it had just always been doll.
“Here you go, and blanket.” Liz wrapped the doll in the blanket.
They checked in and found their room. After they had finished dinner, and everyone had bathed they settled into watch a movie since the kids were anything but tired. Lily and Doll were spread across Max’s chest as she watched Robin Hood, suddenly at peace with him. Aidan was tucked between him and Liz. They had gotten their giggles out in the bath and at dinner so they were ready to settle down.
Before the movie was over, the kids were sleeping, and Max and Liz were allotted a few moments of free time. They stepped outside where they could talk freely.
“Thank you for doing this for me, Max. It would have been so much easier if we had flown.”
“You’re not comfortable flying.” He pointed out.
“I know, thank you.” Liz looked down at her hands. “Thank you for asking Aidan’s opinion on us getting married.”
She wrapped her arms around him and swayed to music that was only in her head. She remembered his tender proposal on the fourth of July, three days prior. Fireworks in the background, the kids sleeping on the blanket, it had been perfect.
“I love you.” She tipped her head up to receive his kiss.
“I love you too.” He swayed her to the music some more.
“Daddy!” Lily’s worried cry came through. She had woken up in a strange place with just the Doll. “Daddy!”
“Thank you for helping so much with Lilybird.” He pulled them to a stop.
“Yeah, once we’re married, she’s mine too.” Liz said happily. “And Aidan yours.”
He grinned at that as well. “We’ll be happy won’t we? Once Lilybird gets through our little rough patch, she’s almost three.” He said.
“Not for more than half a year, and three year olds are two year olds with attitude.”
“Daddy!”
“But she already has an attitude.” He whined.
“Yeah well, she’s calling you.” Liz opened the door and pushed him through.
“Hush, Lilybird, you’ll wake Aidan.”
“Missed you.” She declared.
“I’m right here, just go night night.”
She snuggled into him, Doll digging into his chest and fell asleep. He heard Liz crawl into bed next to Aidan and pull him close. “Good night, Liz.”
“Goodnight, Max.” She called back.
****
“We’re almost to Oma’s house, aren’t we?” Aidan asked as they pulled into the grocery store.
“Yeah, we just have to pick up some things for Oma and Opa.” Liz said as they got out. Max talked Lily into leaving Doll and blanket in the car and picked her up.
“Come along, Aidan.” She took his hand and they hurried into the store.
“Liz Parker.” An older woman came up to them. “What are you doing around these parts again?”
“I’ve come to visit the Parkers for Aidan’s fourth birthday.” She said quietly.
“I don’t remember Anna saying anything about you visiting. Is this John’s boy?” She looked down at the red head that was clinging to his mother’s side.
“Yes.” Liz said.
“He’s turning four you say?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Aren’t you darling, Aidan was it?”
“Yes, I’m Aidan.” He spoke up. “Friday’s my birthday.” He said proudly.
“Really?” The woman said impressed.
“Liz!” Lily said grabbed onto her leg looking up in total admiration.
“Who’s this?” The woman asked.
“My sister.” Aidan said proudly with the news.
“Your sister?” The woman asked looking at Liz.
“I’m marrying her father, in November.” Liz clarified.
“You ready, Liz?” Max asked and gently pried her from her leg.
“This the young man you’re going to marry?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Liz smiled brightly now.
“I’m Max Evans, I’m sure you’ve met my daughter.”
“Mr. Evans, pleasure to meet you.” The woman looked at him from down her nose although he towered over her. “You’re from California I take it, where this little blonde came from.”
“Yes.” Max said pulling Lily closer. “If you’ll excuse us?” He directed them back out the door.
“Liz.” The woman called back.
“Yes?” She turned.
“Why didn’t you stay here and marry one of our nice boys, why did you have to go running off to California? We have plenty of young gentlemen for you here.” The woman questioned.
“They really aren’t my type,” Liz squeezed Max’s hand. “And I’m sorry, but I will never marry you’re grandson.”
She turned and walked out.
Continued in next post
Last edited by mattie788 on Fri Aug 27, 2004 12:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
The trip to the Parker house was quiet. They were almost there and Aidan was getting excited, Lily grumpy and Liz just drove in silence. Max stared out the window.
The Parkers swooped out from the house to noisily greet the children. Max held Liz back for a moment.
“Did you want to marry one of the nice Roswell boys?” Max queried.
“If I had wanted to, I would have done so four years ago. Just because I was with John, doesn’t mean other boys didn’t notice me. There were many that wanted to be my knight in shining armor.”
That seemed to comfort him a little bit.
After dinner Anna Parker insisted on giving the children baths. Liz volunteered to help—concerned about the woman’s sanity.
“Max.” Mr. Parker came over to speak with him after the ladies went off with the children.
“Yes?”
“I hear you’re going to be marrying Liz.” He asked
“Yeah, that is the plan.”
“Will you be adopting Aidan?” They stood outside on the porch watching the desert and hearing wild laughter inside.
“I—we were going to speak with you about that.” Max started. “I would very much like to do so, and Liz would adopt Lily. Would you mind your grandson taking my name? We were thinking of changing his middle name to Parker because it would still be in Jonathan’s memory. Or we can do the dash thing.” Max wondered. “Parker-Evans.”
“He’ll be more your son than John’s. He may not be yours biologically but you will raise him to be an Evans, and as much as I would love to see the Parker name carried on through my line of the family, I do have brothers so it won’t die out.” He smiled. “I would be honored if you’d let him carry yours.”
Max just swallowed elated. “Are you sure? Because I’m willing to leave it if you want it to be your family name.”
“Max, I expect you to give the boy your name. Give him something to live up to be, he’s going to grow up following your footsteps, so he should carry your name, because that’s who he’s going to be.”
He nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
“Thank you for bringing Liz back to us.”
“My, pleasure. Now all the other children you and Liz have, Anna and I will consider our grandchildren as well.” He said, proudly. “They will call us Oma and Opa, and you will bring them to visit us, and send them for the summer. Understood?”
“Yes sir.”
“My sister and I have a bet over who will have more grandchildren. I’d like very much to beat her at that. Blasted woman beat me at everything else. You, my lad, are my only hope.”
“I’ll be obliged to help you, sir.” Max said.
Afterwards, an exhausted Anna handed over a very clean, but very happy Lily. “I forgot how much work they can be.”
“Yeah, Lilybird would give Dr. Spock a run for his money.” Max said.
Lily just grinned sleepily and rubbed her eyes.
“Let’s go to the front room for snack, shall we?” Anna ushered them in.
Liz, Aidan, and Mr. Parker were already there. “William, would you get Max and Liz something to drink?”
“I always forget that we’re legal, even though I’m twenty-two.” Liz smiled and held onto Aidan who curled into her lap.
“True.” Barely old enough to drink with two children, what a way to start a marriage.
“So, Liz how are the marriage plans coming around?” Anna asked.
“They’re coming.” She smiled at Max. Her ring glistened in the lamp light, and Max smiled back shyly. It felt weird being in Liz’s late husband’s home, sitting with his parents, and talking about their upcoming wedding. “I really haven’t begun to think about it yet, still grasping the getting married part.”
“It’s a lot to take in, honey.” Anna patted her hand.
They talked the evening away and before they knew it, it was after ten. Liz let out a yawn that Max quickly took note of. “You ready for bed?”
She nodded. “I think I am.” She stood with a sleeping Aidan in her arms.
“I’m not tired.” He insisted when Liz moved. “Opa help!”
“I’m sorry, Aidan, but Mommy knows best this time.” William Parker laughed at his grandson’s appeal.
“Oma!” He called.
“Aidan, settle down.” Liz would normally expect this out of Lily not her Aidan.
Lily began to stir and Max was desperate to put her down before she fully awoke.
Anna Parker led Max and Liz to the room to where the children would be sleeping.
“I put the children in here, there’s only one crib, but Liz said you guys had a ‘pack n play’.”
“Yeah, Lily can sleep in that in my room.” Max said.
“No, I sleep with Lily.” Aidan shook his head at the idea of being separated from Lily.
“Um, we put you and Liz in the same room. We weren’t quite sure if you wanted to be together or not.” Anna spoke quickly. “But one of you could sleep in here because there is a crib and a bed. The other room is right across the hall” She indicated another open door.
“That will be fine.” Liz said, “We’ll figure something out between us.”
“Are you sure you’ll be ok?” Anna asked.
“We’ll be fine.” Max reassured.
“Alright.” She said before taking William’s hand and walking toward their bedroom.
“What do you want to do?” Max asked Liz, looking at her uncertainty in his eyes.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Aidan’s going to insist on being with Lily because that’s what Lily wants and I don’t think either of us relish being alone.”
“Good idea.” He walked to the other room; there was a double bed in there.
Lily woke in Max’s arms and looked at the ‘pack n play’ with disdain clearly in her eyes. “No pack n play.”
Max heaved a sigh, “looks like we’ll have a few more bedfellows.”
****
Liz lay in bed staring at the ceiling. She looked over at Max who had Lily curled up on his chest but was sleeping just as deeply as Lily was. She uncurled Aidan’s body from around hers and scooted him over to Max’s side. She smiled, the three of them looked adorable curled up together.
She climbed from the bed and left the room quietly shutting the door behind her.
Max heard her go but decided not to follow her.
She made her way down the hall and to a door she hadn’t opened in over for years. Her hand froze on the doorknob.
She twisted and pushed it open.
His smell was faint, but it was there. The bed was made, from the last time she had made it, the morning before she found out about John’s death. They had lived with John’s parents immediately following the wedding before their apartment was ready, and then she had stayed with them when John was out of town, at his request.
Her image was everywhere, not quite so much as before she had moved in. She had insisted that he take some of them down before she moved in because it freaked her out a little to have so many pictures of her.
She sat down on the bed. It felt exactly as she had remembered it. Closing her eyes she laid back on the bed. The smell immediately engulfed her and tears filled her eyes.
“John, you surround me in here.” She said softly. “We had many happy times.” She stood. Afraid to touch anything, she slowly moved around to the section of the room he had encouraged her to decorate. There were her wedding pictures. “You made me so happy that day. You never got to meet our little boy. You would be so proud of him.” She wiped away a tear. “He knows the alphabet already, and can tie his shoes—double knotted even. She smiled.
“When you died, John, I never thought I could be happy again. Then Max came. You said you wanted a big family, so Aidan could have lots of brothers and sisters. Well, he’s getting a sister. In his opinion she’s already his. He’s so very protective of her, just like you. He takes pride over every achievement and would defend her to the death. He looks like you, John, so much like you.” She sat down at his desk. The chair groaned from not being used for so long.
She remembered long nights when she would lie in bed waiting for John to finish with his homework. “I’m getting married in November, John. It’s been four years, I hope you understand. Deep in my heart I know you want me to be happy, I am so happy John. I love Max and Max loves me. He loves Aidan, I love Lily. We’re going to be happy, I just wanted to say goodbye.” Liz said. She walked back to the bed and lay down.
Max stood outside his door staring at the one down the all, that Liz had disappeared into.
“She’ll come out when she’s ready.” Mrs. Parker was standing in the doorway to her bedroom. “I knew she would go in there eventually.”
“John’s old room?”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “I’ve gone in there myself a couple of times, but Liz refused to, I think she’s coming to peace with it.” She smiled.
“I think so too.” Max nodded his gaze anxiously going to the door.
“Thank you, Max, for that.” Anna leaned up on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his cheek. “She’s very much my daughter and I appreciate all that you did to bring that sparkle into her eyes again.”
“I didn’t do anything though.” Max looked at her confused.
“That’s why I’m so happy, you make her happy by just being you. Keep doing that, and you’ll have a long happy marriage.” She turned to go back inside when Liz walked out of John’s room.
“Oh,” she froze as she shut the door. “I didn’t know you had woken up.” She looked at the floor.
“Don’t feel guilty, you did want you had to do, Liz. Are you happy?” He pulled her into his arms.
“Blissfully.” She said looking up at him, and accepted the kiss he placed on her lips. She clung to him and moved closer.
“Daddy!” It wasn’t a scared call, it was a demand to get back into bed.
“Oh, God.” Max pulled back and rested his head against Liz’s forehead and looked into her eyes. “Your daughter wants you.” He told her.
Her eyes danced happily but she shook her head. “I distinctly heard a ‘Daddy’ from her, Max.”
“Mommy.” A new occurrence when she was tired. Rarely, if ever did Lily call Liz mommy during the day.
“See,” said Max. “She wants you too.”
“She only calls me Mommy when she’s tired. Let’s hurry and go back and make sure she stays that way, yeah?” Liz asked looking into the room, her heart melting for the little girl standing on the bed with her hands on her hips.
“I think so.” Max agreed as he turned her, still in his arms, to go inside the room. The door shut softly behind them and Anna smiled against William.
“I told you they’d be happy.” William sighed and his own eyes filled with tears but he kissed his wife’s head and led them back into their own room.
I just wanted to get this up. I don’t know when the next part for this will be up. My sister is in the hospital, and I’m supposed to leave for Europe on Tuesday so I’m not sure when I’ll have time to work on another part for this, although the eleven hour plane trip should be enough time, yeah? I hope this will be the last sentimental chapter for a while, I think the next one will be more fun. Thank you for all the feedback and reviews that I get. It really makes being up at 2:30 in the morning all worthwhile.
The Parkers swooped out from the house to noisily greet the children. Max held Liz back for a moment.
“Did you want to marry one of the nice Roswell boys?” Max queried.
“If I had wanted to, I would have done so four years ago. Just because I was with John, doesn’t mean other boys didn’t notice me. There were many that wanted to be my knight in shining armor.”
That seemed to comfort him a little bit.
After dinner Anna Parker insisted on giving the children baths. Liz volunteered to help—concerned about the woman’s sanity.
“Max.” Mr. Parker came over to speak with him after the ladies went off with the children.
“Yes?”
“I hear you’re going to be marrying Liz.” He asked
“Yeah, that is the plan.”
“Will you be adopting Aidan?” They stood outside on the porch watching the desert and hearing wild laughter inside.
“I—we were going to speak with you about that.” Max started. “I would very much like to do so, and Liz would adopt Lily. Would you mind your grandson taking my name? We were thinking of changing his middle name to Parker because it would still be in Jonathan’s memory. Or we can do the dash thing.” Max wondered. “Parker-Evans.”
“He’ll be more your son than John’s. He may not be yours biologically but you will raise him to be an Evans, and as much as I would love to see the Parker name carried on through my line of the family, I do have brothers so it won’t die out.” He smiled. “I would be honored if you’d let him carry yours.”
Max just swallowed elated. “Are you sure? Because I’m willing to leave it if you want it to be your family name.”
“Max, I expect you to give the boy your name. Give him something to live up to be, he’s going to grow up following your footsteps, so he should carry your name, because that’s who he’s going to be.”
He nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
“Thank you for bringing Liz back to us.”
“My, pleasure. Now all the other children you and Liz have, Anna and I will consider our grandchildren as well.” He said, proudly. “They will call us Oma and Opa, and you will bring them to visit us, and send them for the summer. Understood?”
“Yes sir.”
“My sister and I have a bet over who will have more grandchildren. I’d like very much to beat her at that. Blasted woman beat me at everything else. You, my lad, are my only hope.”
“I’ll be obliged to help you, sir.” Max said.
Afterwards, an exhausted Anna handed over a very clean, but very happy Lily. “I forgot how much work they can be.”
“Yeah, Lilybird would give Dr. Spock a run for his money.” Max said.
Lily just grinned sleepily and rubbed her eyes.
“Let’s go to the front room for snack, shall we?” Anna ushered them in.
Liz, Aidan, and Mr. Parker were already there. “William, would you get Max and Liz something to drink?”
“I always forget that we’re legal, even though I’m twenty-two.” Liz smiled and held onto Aidan who curled into her lap.
“True.” Barely old enough to drink with two children, what a way to start a marriage.
“So, Liz how are the marriage plans coming around?” Anna asked.
“They’re coming.” She smiled at Max. Her ring glistened in the lamp light, and Max smiled back shyly. It felt weird being in Liz’s late husband’s home, sitting with his parents, and talking about their upcoming wedding. “I really haven’t begun to think about it yet, still grasping the getting married part.”
“It’s a lot to take in, honey.” Anna patted her hand.
They talked the evening away and before they knew it, it was after ten. Liz let out a yawn that Max quickly took note of. “You ready for bed?”
She nodded. “I think I am.” She stood with a sleeping Aidan in her arms.
“I’m not tired.” He insisted when Liz moved. “Opa help!”
“I’m sorry, Aidan, but Mommy knows best this time.” William Parker laughed at his grandson’s appeal.
“Oma!” He called.
“Aidan, settle down.” Liz would normally expect this out of Lily not her Aidan.
Lily began to stir and Max was desperate to put her down before she fully awoke.
Anna Parker led Max and Liz to the room to where the children would be sleeping.
“I put the children in here, there’s only one crib, but Liz said you guys had a ‘pack n play’.”
“Yeah, Lily can sleep in that in my room.” Max said.
“No, I sleep with Lily.” Aidan shook his head at the idea of being separated from Lily.
“Um, we put you and Liz in the same room. We weren’t quite sure if you wanted to be together or not.” Anna spoke quickly. “But one of you could sleep in here because there is a crib and a bed. The other room is right across the hall” She indicated another open door.
“That will be fine.” Liz said, “We’ll figure something out between us.”
“Are you sure you’ll be ok?” Anna asked.
“We’ll be fine.” Max reassured.
“Alright.” She said before taking William’s hand and walking toward their bedroom.
“What do you want to do?” Max asked Liz, looking at her uncertainty in his eyes.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Aidan’s going to insist on being with Lily because that’s what Lily wants and I don’t think either of us relish being alone.”
“Good idea.” He walked to the other room; there was a double bed in there.
Lily woke in Max’s arms and looked at the ‘pack n play’ with disdain clearly in her eyes. “No pack n play.”
Max heaved a sigh, “looks like we’ll have a few more bedfellows.”
****
Liz lay in bed staring at the ceiling. She looked over at Max who had Lily curled up on his chest but was sleeping just as deeply as Lily was. She uncurled Aidan’s body from around hers and scooted him over to Max’s side. She smiled, the three of them looked adorable curled up together.
She climbed from the bed and left the room quietly shutting the door behind her.
Max heard her go but decided not to follow her.
She made her way down the hall and to a door she hadn’t opened in over for years. Her hand froze on the doorknob.
She twisted and pushed it open.
His smell was faint, but it was there. The bed was made, from the last time she had made it, the morning before she found out about John’s death. They had lived with John’s parents immediately following the wedding before their apartment was ready, and then she had stayed with them when John was out of town, at his request.
Her image was everywhere, not quite so much as before she had moved in. She had insisted that he take some of them down before she moved in because it freaked her out a little to have so many pictures of her.
She sat down on the bed. It felt exactly as she had remembered it. Closing her eyes she laid back on the bed. The smell immediately engulfed her and tears filled her eyes.
“John, you surround me in here.” She said softly. “We had many happy times.” She stood. Afraid to touch anything, she slowly moved around to the section of the room he had encouraged her to decorate. There were her wedding pictures. “You made me so happy that day. You never got to meet our little boy. You would be so proud of him.” She wiped away a tear. “He knows the alphabet already, and can tie his shoes—double knotted even. She smiled.
“When you died, John, I never thought I could be happy again. Then Max came. You said you wanted a big family, so Aidan could have lots of brothers and sisters. Well, he’s getting a sister. In his opinion she’s already his. He’s so very protective of her, just like you. He takes pride over every achievement and would defend her to the death. He looks like you, John, so much like you.” She sat down at his desk. The chair groaned from not being used for so long.
She remembered long nights when she would lie in bed waiting for John to finish with his homework. “I’m getting married in November, John. It’s been four years, I hope you understand. Deep in my heart I know you want me to be happy, I am so happy John. I love Max and Max loves me. He loves Aidan, I love Lily. We’re going to be happy, I just wanted to say goodbye.” Liz said. She walked back to the bed and lay down.
Max stood outside his door staring at the one down the all, that Liz had disappeared into.
“She’ll come out when she’s ready.” Mrs. Parker was standing in the doorway to her bedroom. “I knew she would go in there eventually.”
“John’s old room?”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “I’ve gone in there myself a couple of times, but Liz refused to, I think she’s coming to peace with it.” She smiled.
“I think so too.” Max nodded his gaze anxiously going to the door.
“Thank you, Max, for that.” Anna leaned up on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his cheek. “She’s very much my daughter and I appreciate all that you did to bring that sparkle into her eyes again.”
“I didn’t do anything though.” Max looked at her confused.
“That’s why I’m so happy, you make her happy by just being you. Keep doing that, and you’ll have a long happy marriage.” She turned to go back inside when Liz walked out of John’s room.
“Oh,” she froze as she shut the door. “I didn’t know you had woken up.” She looked at the floor.
“Don’t feel guilty, you did want you had to do, Liz. Are you happy?” He pulled her into his arms.
“Blissfully.” She said looking up at him, and accepted the kiss he placed on her lips. She clung to him and moved closer.
“Daddy!” It wasn’t a scared call, it was a demand to get back into bed.
“Oh, God.” Max pulled back and rested his head against Liz’s forehead and looked into her eyes. “Your daughter wants you.” He told her.
Her eyes danced happily but she shook her head. “I distinctly heard a ‘Daddy’ from her, Max.”
“Mommy.” A new occurrence when she was tired. Rarely, if ever did Lily call Liz mommy during the day.
“See,” said Max. “She wants you too.”
“She only calls me Mommy when she’s tired. Let’s hurry and go back and make sure she stays that way, yeah?” Liz asked looking into the room, her heart melting for the little girl standing on the bed with her hands on her hips.
“I think so.” Max agreed as he turned her, still in his arms, to go inside the room. The door shut softly behind them and Anna smiled against William.
“I told you they’d be happy.” William sighed and his own eyes filled with tears but he kissed his wife’s head and led them back into their own room.
I just wanted to get this up. I don’t know when the next part for this will be up. My sister is in the hospital, and I’m supposed to leave for Europe on Tuesday so I’m not sure when I’ll have time to work on another part for this, although the eleven hour plane trip should be enough time, yeah? I hope this will be the last sentimental chapter for a while, I think the next one will be more fun. Thank you for all the feedback and reviews that I get. It really makes being up at 2:30 in the morning all worthwhile.
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport