Hey everyone!
Well here it is the last and final part of Strawberry Wine. It took be two years to write it and it is finally finished. I may or may not write a sequel to it. Now I am going to turn all my attention to "A Darkened Past". Well I hope you guys like it!
~Sara 
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Part 23
The next morning things were surprisingly relaxed around the farm. Max got up early like always to get the animals feed, and Liz made breakfast for everyone. After breakfast Max told Liz that he had to run into town, and that she should spend the time with her Grandpa being it was her last full day there. At first Liz didn’t like the idea at all, but being Max was being so adamant on not telling her what he was doing she figured it couldn’t be all that bad. After Max drove off Liz went to find her Grandpa on the porch.
“How are you today sweetie?” he asked as she sat down in the rocking chair.
“I could be better.” She said watching him carve a piece of wood. “I really don’t want to leave you and Max tomorrow Grandpa.”
“Well if it were up to me both of you could live here forever.” He said giving Liz a wink.
“Can I ask you something?”
“What’s on your mind Lizzie?”
“Last night when we were talking you said that you did everything to make sure Max and I got together. Why did you want me to get together with someone while I was here?”
“Well first of all I didn’t originally plan to try and fix you up with anyone while you were here, but when I met Max I just knew that kid had something special in him. When your father called me asking if I would mind having you this summer, because he didn’t want you hanging around with all the knuckle heads that y’all call a football team, I had to say yes. I met Max later that day and knew you two would hit it off.”
“So are you gonna tell my Dad that you set us up. You can’t let him take Max from me.”
“Did I ever tell you the story of how Grandma and I met?”
“Yeah you said you met when you were in your thirties.”
“Well that’s when we actually got together, but we actually met when we were teenagers, just like you and Max. I was working with my Dad for the summer and your Grandma was in town staying with an aunt. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. We spent one month together before I had to ship off to the war. I was scared that I would never see her again. One day I was helping my Father out in the fields while he was ill and I saw her standing by the fence just starring at me. I didn’t have to look twice to know it was her. From that day on we were never apart, until the good Lord took her to be with him.”
“So you just want me to have what you had.”
“I’d never want anything less for you darling.”
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Max arrived back at the farm later that afternoon. Liz was out in the yard sunbathing when he drove up. He got out of the truck and had nothing with him. Liz started to get up as he approached her, but stopped when he motioned for her to stay where she was.
“Where did you go Max?”
“I told you that I can’t tell you,” he said as he sat down next to her.
Liz decided to try the pout “Please Max,” she said giving him the eyes.
“No you’ll find out before the end of the night.”
“Fine” she said pretending to be upset.
“I need you to do one more thing for me.”
“Will you stay out of the kitchen for the next hour?”
“Are you trying to kill me!”
“I’m serious Liz, I won’t have you ruining my surprise.”
“Okay but I want two things from you first.”
“What?”
“I want you to bring me something to drink, so I don’t die from the heat.”
“Okay.”
“And I want you to kiss me.”
“Well you don’t have to ask me twice on that one.” He said as he covered his lips with his in a long passionate kiss.
“Now I really need that drink!” Liz said laughing when they broke apart. “You make my blood boil baby.”
“I try.” He said walking away to get her drink.
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By mid afternoon Liz was itching at the seams to know what Max was up to, but when she tried to get him to tell her he just sent her away. Finally Liz decided to take a bath to try and relax. After an hour long soak in the tub Liz was so relaxed that she decided she would take a nap to pass the time.
She woke up to Max placing little butterfly kisses all over her body. At first she pretended to still be asleep, but Max finally figured out what she was doing and attacked her mouth with his. Liz then pushed him over and climbed on top of him.
“So are you finally ready to spend the last few hours of the day with me? What time is it anyway?” She asked.
“It’s about 5:30, and I spent the whole day doing something to make your night wonderful.” He replied pulling her down for a kiss.
“So does that mean you will tell me now?”
“No, but you need to get dressed, we’re going for a ride to our spot.”
“Okay, is there a dress code I need to go by?”
“No you can where whatever you want, just remember we are taking the horses.”
“When are we leaving?”
“I already have the horses ready so as soon as you’re dressed.”
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When they arrived at the edge of the woods, Max asked Liz to wait with the horses while he made some finishing touches. While waiting for Max, Liz dismounted her horse and tied him up next to Max’s horse. When Max returned to the clearing he took her hand and lead her down the path that lead to their spot by the waterfall. When they arrived Liz gasped at the beautiful scene that lay in front of her. Max had placed a thick blanket on the big rock that jutted out over the water. On the blanket he had a picnic set out, and there were candles everywhere.
“Max this is beautiful,” she said turning into his arms.
“Well I had to make sure it was extra special for you.”
“Thank you Max, I love it.” She said gentle kissing his lips.
“Are you hungry?” he asked leading her over to the blanket.
“Yes, I’m starving; somebody wouldn’t let me in the kitchen all day!” She said teasing.
“Well lets see what we have here.” He said pulling out the contents of the basket. “We have cheese and crackers, chocolate covered strawberries, and a bottle of wine.”
“Well let’s start with the cheese and crackers so we can move on to the dessert.” Liz said.
As they slowly ate the crackers Max poured them each a glass of wine. Liz watched as Max became more and more nervous as the night went on. Right before Liz was about to ask him if he was feeling okay he took her hand and began to speak.
“Liz, you know how much I love you right?”
“Of course I do.”
“Well the other day when your parents showed up I thought they were going to try to take you away from me, and that scared me because I’ve never cared for anyone as much as I do for you. Well I want to ask you something tonight.”
“What is it Max?”
Max reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny box. Liz gasped having a pretty good idea of what was in that box.
“Liz, ever since the day at the bus station where we first met I have loved you. I’m sure I will love you for the rest of my life.” He said as he opened the box and took out a ring. “Liz I want you to take this ring as a promise of my love for you. I promise you right now that when you’re ready I want to marry you. After you graduate of course.”
Liz was shocked. After graduation next spring Max was going to ask her to marry him for real! Finally Liz realized that she hadn't said anything to him. "Yes Max I will promise to marry you." she said trying not to cry. Before she knew it Max had slipped the ring onto her left ring finger and was placing little kisses all over her face. By now tears of joy and love were flowing freely between them both. When they pulled away from each other they both looked at Liz's hand. The ring was gorgeous, it was a Claddagh ring and where the heart was pink pearl.
"I wish I could have gotten you something better..." said Max.
"Max this ring is beautiful! I couldn't even dream of anything else it's perfect." Liz said. "You have made tonight the best night in my life." Liz then slowly grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him down on top of her.
Their kisses were slow and passionate making sure every inch of their bodies was covered in a kiss. Max slowly undressed Liz kissing the newly exposed skin. When Liz was totally undressed it was Max's turn. Liz pulled his clothes off slowly knowing she was torturing him with her lingering touches. After a while Max couldn't take it any more and finished the job for. He rolled them over and took one of her nipples in his mouth. Liz threw her head back with a moan as Max sucked on her nipple. As max switched sides, he inserted his fingers into her wet center. "Max I need you now!" Liz moaned arching into his hand. Max quickly unwrapped the condom and rolled it up his aching cock. With one swift move he entered her warm center. They slowly made a rhythm that was right for them. Moving faster as they came together. Max rolled them over so that Liz lay across his chest. "I love you Max" she said as they dosed off in each others arms.
Liz woke up to Max tracing her lips with a chocolate covered strawberry. When she realized what it was she leaned up and took a bite. Then she kissed Max smearing the chocolate onto his lips.
"How long were we out?" she asked.
"Only a couple of hours."
"Good, I don't want to miss out on my time with you."
They spent a couple more hours lying on the blanket wrapped in each others arms just content with being together. Around 11:30 PM they decided that they better get back to the house. They walked hand in hand to where the horses were tied and road off into the moon light ending the perfect night.
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Liz woke up the next morning around 6 AM; she rolled over to find that Max was still sound asleep at her side. After they arrived back at the house the night before, they had kept each other up well into the night talking, cuddling, and making love into the wee hours of the morning. Now she was perfectly content on watching her future husband sleep. Wow her future husband, it all still felt like a wonderful dream, but the proof was on her hand. The tiny ring was the reassurance that what they had this summer would go on past tomorrow. She jumped when she felt Max’s hand making his way up her thigh. Quickly he pulled her to lie on top of him.
“I caught you,” he said pulling her down for a kiss.
“Doing what?” she asked between kisses.
“Thinking too much for your own good.”
“I can’t help it; it’s just how I am.”
“Well let me help you forget whatever you were thinking about.” He said rolling them over so he was on top. Just as his lips touched hers the door bell rang.
“I’ll give you two guesses on who that is,” Liz said dryly scooting out from under Max.
“You better move you things back into your own room that way they won’t know that we’ve been sleeping together.”
Liz quickly threw on her clothes and ran down stairs to meet her parents at the door.
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Liz spent most of the morning sitting at the kitchen table with her Mom while her Dad fought with his Father over the whole “situation.” Liz sat there half listening to her Dad and Grandpa, and half listening to her Mom jabber on and on about school shopping. Liz watched out the kitchen window for Max to get back from letting the horses out to pasture. When he finally returned, Liz told her Mom some excuse of how it was her day to feed the chickens and ran out to the barn. Once inside she stopped to look for Max in each of the stalls, as she turned to look in the last stall Max walked out just as she was walking in colliding with her. Liz hit his chest so hard that she fell backwards landing on her butt.
“Ouch!” Liz said as she hit the ground.
“Liz are you all right? I didn’t see you there.” He said as he took her hands helping her up off the ground.
“Yeah I’m fine.” She said wiping the straw off of her butt. “I was just looking for you; I told my Mom I had to feed the chickens.”
“But we don’t have any chickens.”
“She doesn’t know that.” Liz said. “I got sick of sitting there listening to my Dad call Grandpa names. You would think he was five the way he argues.”
“So who do you think is gonna win the fight?”
“Grandpa better win, besides I think my Mom is starting to come around to Grandpa’s side.”
“Well how about you help me put feed in the horses stalls and then I can go in and help you make everyone lunch.” Max said giving her a quick peck on the lips and handing her a scoop for the feed.
By the time Max and Liz returned inside Liz’s Mom was making lunch and the house had gone quiet.
“They didn’t kill each other did they?” Max said to Liz.
“No, I sent them to their rooms telling them to think about what they were saying because they were acting like two preschoolers.” Nancy said laughing at Max’s question.
“Maybe they fell asleep.” Liz said. “Mom do you need any help with lunch?”
“No I’m fine, anyway you better go and make sure you have everything packed, because you Dad wants to leave fist thing in the morning.”
“Mom why won’t you let me stay through next week like I was supposed to?”
“Lizzie if it were up to me I would let you but you know how your father is when he gets something in his head.”
Liz turned around and started up to her room. There was no use arguing with her Mom, her mom wasn’t the problem. Once she was past her Mom’s line of vision she ran the rest of the way to her room throwing herself on her bed in tears. Within seconds she heard Max enter her room locking the door behind him. Then he was by her side pulling her into his arms letting her cry out her anger. Gradually the tears stopped and Liz looked up into Max’s face. “Some times I wonder why you put up with me,” she said. “Now I’m acting like a five year old crying because I can’t have my way.”
“Baby, its okay to cry when someone is hurting you, and I put up with your crying because it keeps me from hurting your Dad for making you cry.”
“Have I told you I love you today?”
“Yes but I love to hear it anyway.” He said kissing away the remains of her tears.
“I love you Max,” she said kissing him. “But we need to take care of one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“We have to get you in the shower, because you smell like a horse.”
“Are you going to join me?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” She said jumping to her feet pulling Max with her.
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Liz sat on the balcony outside her room wrapped in Max’s strong arms. She didn’t want to leave in the morning, especially after the way her Dad treated Grandpa. She had just left her Grandfather’s room after him telling her want her father had said to him. He told her not to let her Dad ruin the good things in her life, because he will never come around if you give in to him. He also told her that she better not mention that Max will be going to college in New Mexico. Now as she sat in Max’s arms she just processed the day’s events in her head. Finally she had to ask the one question that was bothering her.
“Max?”
“Yes.”
“I have a question about you going to college at UNM.”
“What?”
“Well I know that UNM is a hell of a lot closer that NYU, but it is still almost four hours away from Roswell.”
“Liz, baby, I forgot to tell you that most of the classes I have left are online courses, so I will only have to go up there to take some of my finals.”
“Thank God, because I don’t think I could manage being even four hours away from you.”
“I just got off the phone with the apartment complex a couple hours ago, so in two weeks I will be living in Roswell.”
“Max, I don’t know what to say.” She said turning around to look at him. “Come here,” she said as she pulled him down for a long sweet kiss.
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The morning came around too fast for Liz. After everyone had gone to bed, Liz snuck into Max’s room, unable to sleep without him. Of course sleep was the one thing that didn’t happen until the sun was already rising. Liz had snuck back into her bed room, and falling asleep only to be wakened by her mother an hour later. Now Liz slowly packed up the remains of her summer in her suit case. Once packed, Max came in to help her carry her things downstairs. Liz just looked at him and started to cry.
“You must think I’m turning into a big cry baby.” She said as he wrapped her in his arms.
“No baby I don’t.” he said kissing away her tears. “Listen I will be there this weekend to sign the papers for the apartment, then I will be back in another week and a half to move in.”
“I will clear my weekend for you.” She said. “That will also get me out of having to go school shopping with my mom.”
“LIZ!” Jeff yelled from downstairs.
“I guess it’s time to go then.” Max said as he picked up her luggage.
“I guess so.” Liz said looking around the room one last time before heading out the door behind Max.
Max handed her bags to Jeff and Liz stepped into his arms. They just looked at each other for what seemed liked years, and then Max tilted her chin up as kissed her long and hard right in front of everyone. Liz almost laughed at the faces for her parents when they broke apart. Liz then turned to her Grandpa, “Thank you for giving me the best summer of my life.” She said hugging him.
“Anytime sweetheart, anytime.” He said hugging her back.
She then walked hand and hand with Max out to the car where they shared one final kiss.
“I love you Liz.”
“I love you too Max.” she replied. “Don’t forget to call me when you get in town this weekend.
“I won’t.”
Liz then got into the back seat of her parents car and watched Max join her Grandpa back on the porch. He parents started the engine and began to drive away. She watched as her Grandpa and Max grew smaller and smaller with the distance. On the radio Deana Carter began to sing “Strawberry Wine”
He was working through college on my grandpa's farm
I was thirsting for knowledge and he had a car
I was caught somewhere between a woman and a child
When one restless summer we found love growing wild
On the banks of the river on a well beaten path
Funny how those memories they last
Like strawberry wine and seventeen
The hot July moon saw everything
My first taste of love oh bittersweet
Green on the vine
Like strawberry wine
I still remember when thirty was old
My biggest fear was September when he had to go
A few cards and letters and one long distance call
We drifted away like the leaves in the fall
But year after year I come back to this place
Just to remember the taste
Of strawberry wine and seventeen
The hot July moon saw everything
My first taste of love oh bittersweet
Green on the vine
Like strawberry wine
The fields have grown over now
Years since they've seen a plow
There's nothing time hasn't touched
Is it really him or the loss of my innocence
I've been missing so much
Like strawberry wine and seventeen
The hot July moon saw everything
My first taste of love oh bittersweet
Green on the vine
Like strawberry wine
THE END
