Chapter Eleven:
Liz POV:
I slowly come awake to the white noise coming from my TV. The last thing I remember is watching A Beautiful Mind with Max.
I blink my eyes open and see Max.
My first impulse is to panic and try to squirm out of his arms, but as quickly as it comes, it goes. I feel safe there.
I start to look around.
We are still sitting on the floor leaning slightly against my bed. We must have been more tired than we thought and fell asleep watching the movie.
I look over to my alarm clock on my nightstand and 10:43 AM blinks back at me.
I don’t want to move.
Max’s cell phone starts to ring. He sleeps like the dead; he doesn’t even move.
I start to get up, but he pulls me back. That he notices.
“Max,” I whisper. Why am I whispering? “Max!” I say a little louder. His eyelids move a little.
I put my hand against his chest and try to shake him awake. I have no thoughts, I repeat, no thoughts of how firm said chest is.
“Max!” I sit up and try to shake him awake again.
“Liz?” He wakes up.
I just know this moment is going to get awkward quick.
“Your phone was ringing,” I tell him. It’s the first thing that came to my mind.
“Oh,” he says and takes his phone out of his pocket.
“My dad,” he announces.
And there comes the awkwardness. I don’t know what to do or say. I have never been in this situation before.
It is then that I realize that I am still half on his lap, and I am on my feet in the blink of an eye.
“Sorry,” I murmur, “we fell asleep watching the movie.”
“It’s no problem,” he tells me, “if it were up to me we would fall asleep like this every night.”
“Max…” I start, but he cuts me off.
“Don’t worry I am not going to push you. I just want you to know that you never have to apologize for anything we do together.”
I know I should tell him he should give up, that I am meant to be alone, but all I hear myself say is “okay.”
“I have to go,” he says, “but do you think that maybe you would want to go for a drive with me later? I would love for you to meet my grandfather.”
And I don’t know why, but I find myself nodding, and before I can take it back he is saying bye and is out the door.
Max POV:
I am so happy.
As unmanly as it may sound, I swear that the song Walking on Sunshine is playing in my head.
I got through to Liz. Sure, we are not a couple yet, but I got through her walls just a little bit more. That is cause for celebration.
Unfortunately, I have been summoned by my father. So, instead of celebrating I’m probably going to have to hear about assuming responsibility and realizing that one day I will not only one day be the head of the company but also the head of the family.
I don’t know why my father always feels that he has to give me the same lectures again and again. I am not a child. I am closing in on twenty-two years old. Come May, I will be a college graduate.
Just because I do not always agree with him on what responsibility entails does not mean that I am irresponsible.
Sure, I haven’t had a job until I started working at the café, but I worked very hard to keep my 4.0 GPA. And whether Phillip Evans wants to acknowledge it or not, being a student is a full-time job.
And even if he were to cut me off and I had to pay for everything, wouldn’t it make more sense for me to take out a student loan than allow my grades to suffer?
Responsibility, for him, also seems to mean sacrificing your own happiness and well-being “for the good of the company.” I will not be his pawn and be bartered off for a merger.
I do not and will not consider agreeing to an arranged marriage one of my duties as a son. No matter how much money is in it for the company.
I ring the buzzer as I pull up to the gates. “It’s Max,” I call out into the intercom and the gates open as if by magic. I feel a little like Ali Baba calling out “Open Sesame.”
I pull into the driveway and into the foyer, and tell the new butler that I came to see my father.
Yes, my parents have recently hired a butler. Apparently, having the housekeeper answer the door is just not fancy enough for them.
He comes back and shows me into my father’s study. He is not there yet, but I already knew he wouldn’t be.
See my father likes to have people wait on him for ten minutes or so before meeting with them. He thinks it gives people the sense that his time is very valuable and that what he says is very important.
To me, it’s just off-putting, but then again I am used to it.
I try to reconcile the Phillip Evans that Grandpa Jim described with the Phillip Evans that I have always known.
I wonder. Would Rosie have been better off of she had chosen him if this is what she would be getting?
And then he comes in.
“Max,” he says grimly, and I just know that this is going to take a while.
Tbc…
The Parker Curse (M/L ), Teen, Ch. 18 10/31[WIP]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, ISLANDGIRL5, truelovepooh, Forum Moderators
Chapter Twelve:
Max POV:
“Dad,” I respond and brace myself. He just used the I-have-something-important-to say-and-you-better-listen tone of voice. I get the feeling that this will be a long lecture. I shift in my seat to get more comfortable.
“I have been hearing some disturbing things, Maxwell,” he begins. “What is this I hear about you breaking up with Tess?” He waits for me to answer, probably hoping that it is all a misunderstanding. One that I will immediately clear up.
“We broke up.” I confirm.
“How could you do that, Maxwell? You two have been together for years, and to make a decision as important as this without even consulting me. What were you thinking?”
I almost cannot believe what I am hearing. Almost. “I do not have to consult you on decisions I make about my personal life. My personal life is my business and my decision and mine alone. It has nothing to do with you, and you have no say on what I do with it. My romantic life is not ruled by committee.”
“I thought you understood that you and Tess would be getting married once you graduated. After a few years of working for the company, I would give you my company and Tess’s father would give you his, and together you and Tess would run them together. How dare you destroy all our plans without so much as consulting me?”
He is angry. His face is starting to get flushed.
“I never agreed to your plans, Father. I just never disputed them. I went along with them for as long as I thought they were best. I no longer think so. I probably would have married Tess if I had not found love. You know how it is for us and love. My happiness is not for sale.” I explain calmly.
“Love?” he almost laughs at that. “People like us don’t have love, Maxwell. We have to many responsibilities to even consider it. Now, if you think you like some girl, I’m sure that Tess would be fine with you having an affair as long as you are discreet. Your mother always was.”
“You might have been willing to give up love for duty, but I am not. She is not some girl. I love her too much to insult her and think of her like that. I would never make her my dirty, little secret. I respect her too much to do that to her. She will be my wife.”
“How can you turn your back on your responsibilities? On your heritage?” He is almost blue, he is so angry.
“It is because of my heritage that I am doing this. I am not going to live your life.” I say calmly, softly. “I have seen what living in an arranged marriage did to you, did to mom. I am not going to live like that. I have been giving a chance at love, and I will not set it aside and wait for a more convenient moment. I will not risk losing it the way you did.”
I pause for a moment. “How can you even ask it of me? You better than anyone know what it is like to live trapped in a marriage of convenience without the one you love. How can you wish that upon your son?”
He doesn’t say anything. I was expecting an explosion, an explanation, something, but he just stands there quiet.
I get up and leave. I have a date to keep.
Liz POV:
Once Max left, I got up and took a shower.
I thought about leaving, about not being around when he comes back, but I can’t do that. It would be cowardly. Besides, I agreed to go with him.
So, I am now laying on my stomach reading my Psychology book waiting for Max to come back.
There is a knock at the door. It’s been less than two hours since he left, that couldn’t possibly be him already.
I open the door and my mouth falls open.
“Maria!” I scream and hug her so tightly I almost lift her off the ground, which is quite an accomplishment considering she is taller than me.
Maria is my childhood best friend. We bonded over our parents divorces in elementary school. In high school, we were both equally suspicious of men. We formed a club: GAL Girls Against Love. She dropped out last year when she met Michael, but I still love her and we are still close.
“Liz!” she calls back in the same tone. “Wow! That is some welcome. You would think that we hadn’t seen each other in years.”
“Well, it has been a month, Ria.” I say cheekily.
“Well…” She nods acknowledging I have a point. Then her face breaks into a big grin. “Guess what, guess what, guess what?” She asks excitedly.
“What? What?”
“Michael and I are getting married,” she says showing me her engagement ring. “I am so happy, Liz. I love him so much. Sure, he could do with a new hairdo and new clothes and a new taste in music, but he has potential. He makes me really happy,” she finishes with a sigh.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. “I am really happy for you, Ria.”
“Good, good,” she says, “because I came here to ask you to be my maid of honor.”
TBC…
Max POV:
“Dad,” I respond and brace myself. He just used the I-have-something-important-to say-and-you-better-listen tone of voice. I get the feeling that this will be a long lecture. I shift in my seat to get more comfortable.
“I have been hearing some disturbing things, Maxwell,” he begins. “What is this I hear about you breaking up with Tess?” He waits for me to answer, probably hoping that it is all a misunderstanding. One that I will immediately clear up.
“We broke up.” I confirm.
“How could you do that, Maxwell? You two have been together for years, and to make a decision as important as this without even consulting me. What were you thinking?”
I almost cannot believe what I am hearing. Almost. “I do not have to consult you on decisions I make about my personal life. My personal life is my business and my decision and mine alone. It has nothing to do with you, and you have no say on what I do with it. My romantic life is not ruled by committee.”
“I thought you understood that you and Tess would be getting married once you graduated. After a few years of working for the company, I would give you my company and Tess’s father would give you his, and together you and Tess would run them together. How dare you destroy all our plans without so much as consulting me?”
He is angry. His face is starting to get flushed.
“I never agreed to your plans, Father. I just never disputed them. I went along with them for as long as I thought they were best. I no longer think so. I probably would have married Tess if I had not found love. You know how it is for us and love. My happiness is not for sale.” I explain calmly.
“Love?” he almost laughs at that. “People like us don’t have love, Maxwell. We have to many responsibilities to even consider it. Now, if you think you like some girl, I’m sure that Tess would be fine with you having an affair as long as you are discreet. Your mother always was.”
“You might have been willing to give up love for duty, but I am not. She is not some girl. I love her too much to insult her and think of her like that. I would never make her my dirty, little secret. I respect her too much to do that to her. She will be my wife.”
“How can you turn your back on your responsibilities? On your heritage?” He is almost blue, he is so angry.
“It is because of my heritage that I am doing this. I am not going to live your life.” I say calmly, softly. “I have seen what living in an arranged marriage did to you, did to mom. I am not going to live like that. I have been giving a chance at love, and I will not set it aside and wait for a more convenient moment. I will not risk losing it the way you did.”
I pause for a moment. “How can you even ask it of me? You better than anyone know what it is like to live trapped in a marriage of convenience without the one you love. How can you wish that upon your son?”
He doesn’t say anything. I was expecting an explosion, an explanation, something, but he just stands there quiet.
I get up and leave. I have a date to keep.
Liz POV:
Once Max left, I got up and took a shower.
I thought about leaving, about not being around when he comes back, but I can’t do that. It would be cowardly. Besides, I agreed to go with him.
So, I am now laying on my stomach reading my Psychology book waiting for Max to come back.
There is a knock at the door. It’s been less than two hours since he left, that couldn’t possibly be him already.
I open the door and my mouth falls open.
“Maria!” I scream and hug her so tightly I almost lift her off the ground, which is quite an accomplishment considering she is taller than me.
Maria is my childhood best friend. We bonded over our parents divorces in elementary school. In high school, we were both equally suspicious of men. We formed a club: GAL Girls Against Love. She dropped out last year when she met Michael, but I still love her and we are still close.
“Liz!” she calls back in the same tone. “Wow! That is some welcome. You would think that we hadn’t seen each other in years.”
“Well, it has been a month, Ria.” I say cheekily.
“Well…” She nods acknowledging I have a point. Then her face breaks into a big grin. “Guess what, guess what, guess what?” She asks excitedly.
“What? What?”
“Michael and I are getting married,” she says showing me her engagement ring. “I am so happy, Liz. I love him so much. Sure, he could do with a new hairdo and new clothes and a new taste in music, but he has potential. He makes me really happy,” she finishes with a sigh.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. “I am really happy for you, Ria.”
“Good, good,” she says, “because I came here to ask you to be my maid of honor.”
TBC…
Chapter Thirteen:
Max POV:
As I approach Liz’s dorm room, I hear two excited female voices coming from it, and one of them sounds suspiciously like Liz’s.
“Well, let’s discuss the dress,” says the other one, “What do you think earthy tones or bright and vivacious?”
“No white dress for you, huh Maria?” says Liz cheekily. Cheekily? This is a whole new side of her, one that I had yet to see but cannot wait to experience.
“Really, Liz. Do you think that white goes with my personality? Besides, what kind of message does a white dress send? I’ll tell you what: unoriginality, traditional, a blank slate. I want everyone to be very aware that I have my own personality, one that I refuse to compromise.” Maria says seemingly in one breath.
“Well, Maria, you do know that marriage is all about compromise, don’t you?”
“Well, listen to you,” Maria pauses, “really Liz, when are you going to let go and finally join me in the world of the happily attached?”
I was just about to knock on the door when she asks this, but even though I know I shouldn’t. I just have to eavesdrop on the answer.
“You know I can’t, Maria,” Liz says slowly, “I am not like you. You were just traumatized by your parents’ divorce. I was traumatized by my parents’ divorce and all the other romantic disasters in my family. You can be happy. You don’t have the curse and certain failure to contend with.”
Curse?
Well, the time has come for me to announce my presence. I knock. There is a few seconds of startled silence, and then someone scrambles to open the door.
”Max!” Liz says surprised. I know that she is worried that I heard some of their conversation. I see it in her eyes.
“Hi Liz. Are you ready to go?”
There is a moment of indecision. I notice her looking at my face looking for any signs that I eavesdropped, too bad for her that she will not find any. My parents did not encourage me to show my feelings, so I have gotten pretty good at hiding them. Sometimes I wonder if I would have eve have had any if it was not for Grandpa Jim.
I wonder if I would have ended up like dad. No feelings, no emotions. He used to always tell me that feelings make you weak, so it is much better not to have any. And if you can’t manage that, it is better to not let on that you have any.
“In a minute,” she says and glances back.
“Come on in.” She says and steps back from the door.
I walk in and see a blonde a little taller than Liz with beautiful green eyes and fairy-like features. Strangely, though she is beautiful, I am not in the least bit attracted to her. Then again, maybe it is not so strange. I have not found any other woman attractive since I met Liz.
She is my other half and now all I have to do is convince her to make us both whole. I hope that Grandpa Jim will be of some help.
Liz POV:
I step back from the door to let Max in and I notice Maria looking at him speculatively. She must have heard the comment about us going somewhere. Together. I’m sure Maria will be drawing all kinds of wrong impressions from that. She’ll probably think that I am holding out on her.
“Max, this is my best friend in the whole world, Maria. Maria, this is a coworker of mine, Max.” I make the introductions being careful to emphasize “coworker.”
“Coworker, huh?” She shoots me a disbelieving look. “Is that where the two of you are headed, to work?”
I open my mouth to answer, but before I can, I hear Max saying, “actually, I invited Liz to come with me and meet my grandfather. He lives right outside of the city.”
Maria does not take her eyes off of me, “you are going to go meet his family?”
I can see this escalating and I feel powerless to stop it. I hear myself say, “I did not know where we were going. He did not mention that when he left this morning.”
Too late I realize what I just said. I see Maria’s eyes get so wide they take up almost a third of her face and her jaw falls so far down it almost hits her collarbone. Max, on the other hand, is unsuccessfully trying to hide his smile behind his hands.
“No!... I mean, uh… we didn’t… we are not, uh…. We have to go.” I finally manage to say. I can always explain all to Maria later.
I grab Max’s hand and drag him through the door and down the hallway, and all I hear is the sound of his laughter echoing around me.
TBC…
Max POV:
As I approach Liz’s dorm room, I hear two excited female voices coming from it, and one of them sounds suspiciously like Liz’s.
“Well, let’s discuss the dress,” says the other one, “What do you think earthy tones or bright and vivacious?”
“No white dress for you, huh Maria?” says Liz cheekily. Cheekily? This is a whole new side of her, one that I had yet to see but cannot wait to experience.
“Really, Liz. Do you think that white goes with my personality? Besides, what kind of message does a white dress send? I’ll tell you what: unoriginality, traditional, a blank slate. I want everyone to be very aware that I have my own personality, one that I refuse to compromise.” Maria says seemingly in one breath.
“Well, Maria, you do know that marriage is all about compromise, don’t you?”
“Well, listen to you,” Maria pauses, “really Liz, when are you going to let go and finally join me in the world of the happily attached?”
I was just about to knock on the door when she asks this, but even though I know I shouldn’t. I just have to eavesdrop on the answer.
“You know I can’t, Maria,” Liz says slowly, “I am not like you. You were just traumatized by your parents’ divorce. I was traumatized by my parents’ divorce and all the other romantic disasters in my family. You can be happy. You don’t have the curse and certain failure to contend with.”
Curse?
Well, the time has come for me to announce my presence. I knock. There is a few seconds of startled silence, and then someone scrambles to open the door.
”Max!” Liz says surprised. I know that she is worried that I heard some of their conversation. I see it in her eyes.
“Hi Liz. Are you ready to go?”
There is a moment of indecision. I notice her looking at my face looking for any signs that I eavesdropped, too bad for her that she will not find any. My parents did not encourage me to show my feelings, so I have gotten pretty good at hiding them. Sometimes I wonder if I would have eve have had any if it was not for Grandpa Jim.
I wonder if I would have ended up like dad. No feelings, no emotions. He used to always tell me that feelings make you weak, so it is much better not to have any. And if you can’t manage that, it is better to not let on that you have any.
“In a minute,” she says and glances back.
“Come on in.” She says and steps back from the door.
I walk in and see a blonde a little taller than Liz with beautiful green eyes and fairy-like features. Strangely, though she is beautiful, I am not in the least bit attracted to her. Then again, maybe it is not so strange. I have not found any other woman attractive since I met Liz.
She is my other half and now all I have to do is convince her to make us both whole. I hope that Grandpa Jim will be of some help.
Liz POV:
I step back from the door to let Max in and I notice Maria looking at him speculatively. She must have heard the comment about us going somewhere. Together. I’m sure Maria will be drawing all kinds of wrong impressions from that. She’ll probably think that I am holding out on her.
“Max, this is my best friend in the whole world, Maria. Maria, this is a coworker of mine, Max.” I make the introductions being careful to emphasize “coworker.”
“Coworker, huh?” She shoots me a disbelieving look. “Is that where the two of you are headed, to work?”
I open my mouth to answer, but before I can, I hear Max saying, “actually, I invited Liz to come with me and meet my grandfather. He lives right outside of the city.”
Maria does not take her eyes off of me, “you are going to go meet his family?”
I can see this escalating and I feel powerless to stop it. I hear myself say, “I did not know where we were going. He did not mention that when he left this morning.”
Too late I realize what I just said. I see Maria’s eyes get so wide they take up almost a third of her face and her jaw falls so far down it almost hits her collarbone. Max, on the other hand, is unsuccessfully trying to hide his smile behind his hands.
“No!... I mean, uh… we didn’t… we are not, uh…. We have to go.” I finally manage to say. I can always explain all to Maria later.
I grab Max’s hand and drag him through the door and down the hallway, and all I hear is the sound of his laughter echoing around me.
TBC…
Chapter Fourteen A:
Liz POV:
We have been riding in the car for fifteen minutes and we have yet to say anything to each other.
I look over at Max.
He has no expression in his face, but I can see the remnants of his earlier amusement still lingering in his eyes.
Silence.
I look around. Stop sign. Pedestrian walking his dog. Tree. Another Tree. Stop Sign.
The silence continues, and I can’t stand it anymore.
“You know it wasn’t that funny,” I say and look over to him. He says nothing, but I do notice that the amusement in his eyes increases in intensity.
“I want you to know that I blame you entirely for that whole scene back in my dorm,” I continue. Again, nothing.
“You made it sound as if we were in a serious relationship when you said you were taking me to meet your grandfather.”
“I did say that I wanted you to meet him this morning. You agreed.” He says with a half-smile, “I wasn’t the one that made it sound as if we were sleeping together.”
My cheeks are growing hot and I just know I am blushing. “I know. I am going to catch hell from Maria when I get back. She’ll think that I have been holding out on her.”
“You mean you haven’t told her that you met the man you are going to marry?”
His tone is teasing, but his eyes look serious. Serious and intent.
TBC…
A/N: The next part will be a lot longer.
Liz POV:
We have been riding in the car for fifteen minutes and we have yet to say anything to each other.
I look over at Max.
He has no expression in his face, but I can see the remnants of his earlier amusement still lingering in his eyes.
Silence.
I look around. Stop sign. Pedestrian walking his dog. Tree. Another Tree. Stop Sign.
The silence continues, and I can’t stand it anymore.
“You know it wasn’t that funny,” I say and look over to him. He says nothing, but I do notice that the amusement in his eyes increases in intensity.
“I want you to know that I blame you entirely for that whole scene back in my dorm,” I continue. Again, nothing.
“You made it sound as if we were in a serious relationship when you said you were taking me to meet your grandfather.”
“I did say that I wanted you to meet him this morning. You agreed.” He says with a half-smile, “I wasn’t the one that made it sound as if we were sleeping together.”
My cheeks are growing hot and I just know I am blushing. “I know. I am going to catch hell from Maria when I get back. She’ll think that I have been holding out on her.”
“You mean you haven’t told her that you met the man you are going to marry?”
His tone is teasing, but his eyes look serious. Serious and intent.
TBC…
A/N: The next part will be a lot longer.
Part Fourteen B:
Liz POV:
I don’t quite know how to respond to that, so I don’t. If I continue to protest and keep telling him that I will never marry, he might consider this a case of protesting too much, but if I say nothing he might begin to hope that I may be changing my mind.
I cannot think of an appropriate response, so in the end, I say nothing.
Silence. Awkward silence. I really hate it when it gets quite like this, and it seems like the silence is saturated with all the things that we should be saying.
I look over at Max. He doesn’t appear to be bothered by it.
Max POV:
I notice Liz looking over and I know that she wants us to talk about something, anything.
For once, though, I can’t think of anything productive to say. All I can think about is that conversation I overheard between Liz and her friend Maria. What curse? Why does it keep her from wanting to get involved? How ingrained into her personality is it? How long will it take for her to get past it?
I suppose I should be patient. I mean, I want to marry her and be with her forever. Why should matter if I have to wait a little longer for her to get to the point where marriage is not only feasible but desirable? Surely she will come to think that with time.
If I am honest, I will acknowledge what it is that I really fear. I am afraid that she will come to that conclusion eventually… with someone else. I am afraid that she will want to get married someday and I won’t be the man she chooses.
I look over at her.
She is looking out the window. As we pass by them, she watches these two kids playing tag with a small smile. Yes, she will come to want a family eventually, and I will make sure that I am there next to her when she comes to that decision.
“It shouldn’t be much longer,” I tell her.
She is about to respond when my cell phone rings.
Tess.
I know I shouldn’t. I know that it might backfire and I might end up hating myself, but a very wicked thought just popped into my head.
TBC…
More soon.
Liz POV:
I don’t quite know how to respond to that, so I don’t. If I continue to protest and keep telling him that I will never marry, he might consider this a case of protesting too much, but if I say nothing he might begin to hope that I may be changing my mind.
I cannot think of an appropriate response, so in the end, I say nothing.
Silence. Awkward silence. I really hate it when it gets quite like this, and it seems like the silence is saturated with all the things that we should be saying.
I look over at Max. He doesn’t appear to be bothered by it.
Max POV:
I notice Liz looking over and I know that she wants us to talk about something, anything.
For once, though, I can’t think of anything productive to say. All I can think about is that conversation I overheard between Liz and her friend Maria. What curse? Why does it keep her from wanting to get involved? How ingrained into her personality is it? How long will it take for her to get past it?
I suppose I should be patient. I mean, I want to marry her and be with her forever. Why should matter if I have to wait a little longer for her to get to the point where marriage is not only feasible but desirable? Surely she will come to think that with time.
If I am honest, I will acknowledge what it is that I really fear. I am afraid that she will come to that conclusion eventually… with someone else. I am afraid that she will want to get married someday and I won’t be the man she chooses.
I look over at her.
She is looking out the window. As we pass by them, she watches these two kids playing tag with a small smile. Yes, she will come to want a family eventually, and I will make sure that I am there next to her when she comes to that decision.
“It shouldn’t be much longer,” I tell her.
She is about to respond when my cell phone rings.
Tess.
I know I shouldn’t. I know that it might backfire and I might end up hating myself, but a very wicked thought just popped into my head.
TBC…
More soon.
Chapter Fifteen:
Max POV:
I try to resist the impulse. I really do, but in the end it was too much temptation and I just could not help myself.
Besides, Tess totally has it coming.
She sicced my father on me.
I look over at Liz. She is looking my way.
"Well," she says, "aren't you going to answer it?"
"I don't know," I respond. "It's my ex. I am not feeling all that charitable towards her right now. I broke up with her and she sent my father after me to convince me that the two of us belong together."
She gives me a disbelieving look.
"No, it's true." I tell her, "the worst part is that he actually tried to do it."
The phone stops ringing, but I know she'll call back.
Time to put my plan into action.
"Liz," I call.
She gives me a noncommittal "hmmm"
"When Tess calls again--and she will call--can you answer the phone for me and tell her you are my new girlfriend?"
"I don't know--" she begins.
My cell phone starts to ring again.
I show her the screen. Tess.
"Okay," she says and practically snatches it out of my hand.
She flips it open and says hello in a very un-Liz cheerful voice.
Liz POV:
"Who is this?" I hear someone screech from the other line.
Yep, it is definitely the girl from the cafe.
"Oh, this is Max's girlfriend," I say not at all guilty that I am lying through my teeth, "who is this?"
"This is Tess Harding. His fiancee. Give him the phone," she practically barks at me.
"I'm sorry he's not available right now," I say cheekily.
"Well, make him available. Tell him that if he does not come on the phone, I will create such a stink people in our circle will be talking about it for months. He will be disinherited, and you, you goldigging homewrecker, will never see a penny of his family's money."
I put my hand over the mouthpiece and say, "you just have the best taste in women, don't you, Max?"
Then I remove my hand and tell her, "no, I don't think I will."
"I think you should know," she tells me smugly, "that he is just amusing himself with you. Once he gets what he wants from you, he will come back to me. In fact, he was with me last night. Ask him. Ask him where he was."
"I don't have to," I say suggestively, "I know where he was last night."
I hang up the phone.
When it starts ringing again. I put it on silent.
I look over at Max. I see him trying to control his laughter.
"There." I say, "is that what you had in mind."
He bursts out laughing.
TBC...
Max POV:
I try to resist the impulse. I really do, but in the end it was too much temptation and I just could not help myself.
Besides, Tess totally has it coming.
She sicced my father on me.
I look over at Liz. She is looking my way.
"Well," she says, "aren't you going to answer it?"
"I don't know," I respond. "It's my ex. I am not feeling all that charitable towards her right now. I broke up with her and she sent my father after me to convince me that the two of us belong together."
She gives me a disbelieving look.
"No, it's true." I tell her, "the worst part is that he actually tried to do it."
The phone stops ringing, but I know she'll call back.
Time to put my plan into action.
"Liz," I call.
She gives me a noncommittal "hmmm"
"When Tess calls again--and she will call--can you answer the phone for me and tell her you are my new girlfriend?"
"I don't know--" she begins.
My cell phone starts to ring again.
I show her the screen. Tess.
"Okay," she says and practically snatches it out of my hand.
She flips it open and says hello in a very un-Liz cheerful voice.
Liz POV:
"Who is this?" I hear someone screech from the other line.
Yep, it is definitely the girl from the cafe.
"Oh, this is Max's girlfriend," I say not at all guilty that I am lying through my teeth, "who is this?"
"This is Tess Harding. His fiancee. Give him the phone," she practically barks at me.
"I'm sorry he's not available right now," I say cheekily.
"Well, make him available. Tell him that if he does not come on the phone, I will create such a stink people in our circle will be talking about it for months. He will be disinherited, and you, you goldigging homewrecker, will never see a penny of his family's money."
I put my hand over the mouthpiece and say, "you just have the best taste in women, don't you, Max?"
Then I remove my hand and tell her, "no, I don't think I will."
"I think you should know," she tells me smugly, "that he is just amusing himself with you. Once he gets what he wants from you, he will come back to me. In fact, he was with me last night. Ask him. Ask him where he was."
"I don't have to," I say suggestively, "I know where he was last night."
I hang up the phone.
When it starts ringing again. I put it on silent.
I look over at Max. I see him trying to control his laughter.
"There." I say, "is that what you had in mind."
He bursts out laughing.
TBC...
Chapter Sixteen:
Liz POV:
After Tess's phone call the tension in the car seemed to break.
We started talking and joking and laughing.
I found out that Max likes to read romance novels. He got hooked in high school when his sister started reading them. He thinks that it gives him insight into the female psyche.
I told him that often things seem a lot better on paper than in real life.
He just looked at me but did not argue.
We tried to keep the conversation lighthearted. We talked about music and movies and hockey.
I love hockey, which did make me a bit of a tomboy and an undesirable in high school.
The conversation tapered off after about twenty minutes and we once again descended into silence, but this time it was a comfortable one.
Or at least, it had been.
We finally arrive and I catch my first glimpse of Max's grandfather's house. I am in shock.
I mean, I always knew that Max's family had money. But it is one thing to know and another to know.
The house is beautiful and it screams money. It is three stories high, whitewashed with stone features. The flowers surrounding it blend into the style of the house flawlessly in a fashion that was no doubt designed by a very exclusive landscape architect.
I'm astounded, astonished, intimidated.
We park and Max opens my door.
I step out, and my stomach feels as if I swallowed a rock.
I am nervous.
I want to make a good impression on Max's grandfather. I don't know why that is so important to me but it is.
And seeing this place makes me realize that the curse really has struck again.
We are not even together, and yet I know that any relationship between us would be doomed.
I could never fit into his world, and I could never ask him to leave it for mine.
Max POV:
I help her out of the car and I can't help but be struck by the rightness of her being here.
There is no doubt in my mind that we belong together.
I know that we will one day raise our children together in this very house.
I ring the doorbell and wait for Edna to answer the door.
She lets us in and leads us to the sitting room.
I ask her to tell my grandfather that I brought someone special with me. She nods and smiles. She is well aware of the family legend.
I look over at Liz. She seems to be awed... and uncomfortable.
I lace my fingers with hers. She looks at me.
"It will be okay," I tell her, "My grandfather is great; he'll love you." Just like I do, I added silently.
She gives me a shaky smile.
The door opens and my Grandpa Jim comes in with Edna. She helps him to his seat across from us.
Grandpa Jim is getting weaker daily. When he was diagnosed with cancer a year ago, I asked him once whether he was scared of dying. He smiled and told me that dying was just another part of life and how could anything that will be bring him back to his beloved scare him.
He has had to live without grandma for a good many years.
Liz gives me a funny look and I realize that I had unconsciously tightened my hold on her hand. I smile apologetically.
Once he has settled into his seat. He looks at us and smiles.
"Hello, sweetheart, you must be the woman who is gonna marry my grandson."
I notice Liz's eyes widen in shock, but before either of us can say anything, he goes on.
"Edna, why don't you show Max here the changes we've made to the guest house. I want to get to know Liz here."
Before I can truly grasp the fact that I've been dismissed, I am being shuffled out the door being able to look back just long enough to see the panicked look on Liz's face.
Liz POV:
I am shocked, panicked, hyperventilating.
I feel a hand come to rest on mine.
It belongs to Max's grandfather and he is sitting there smiling at me.
"There is no need to be scared, honey. You know, I am so glad that Max found you. For a while there, I thought he would end up like his father with that awful Tess person, but you don't need to hear about her she is not important. You are important, and the wedding is important."
He pauses and I swear he had not taken a breath throughout that whole speech. I could have sworn that I was talking to Maria if she was aged, wealthy and male.
Before I can open my mouth to say anything he asks, "So, when's to be the wedding? I am so relieved he found you, you know, with the cancer I did not think I would live to see my oldest grandson married."
He smiles at me fondly and the denial that sprung to my lips stuck to my throat. I smiled sickly back at him.
TBC...
Liz POV:
After Tess's phone call the tension in the car seemed to break.
We started talking and joking and laughing.
I found out that Max likes to read romance novels. He got hooked in high school when his sister started reading them. He thinks that it gives him insight into the female psyche.
I told him that often things seem a lot better on paper than in real life.
He just looked at me but did not argue.
We tried to keep the conversation lighthearted. We talked about music and movies and hockey.
I love hockey, which did make me a bit of a tomboy and an undesirable in high school.
The conversation tapered off after about twenty minutes and we once again descended into silence, but this time it was a comfortable one.
Or at least, it had been.
We finally arrive and I catch my first glimpse of Max's grandfather's house. I am in shock.
I mean, I always knew that Max's family had money. But it is one thing to know and another to know.
The house is beautiful and it screams money. It is three stories high, whitewashed with stone features. The flowers surrounding it blend into the style of the house flawlessly in a fashion that was no doubt designed by a very exclusive landscape architect.
I'm astounded, astonished, intimidated.
We park and Max opens my door.
I step out, and my stomach feels as if I swallowed a rock.
I am nervous.
I want to make a good impression on Max's grandfather. I don't know why that is so important to me but it is.
And seeing this place makes me realize that the curse really has struck again.
We are not even together, and yet I know that any relationship between us would be doomed.
I could never fit into his world, and I could never ask him to leave it for mine.
Max POV:
I help her out of the car and I can't help but be struck by the rightness of her being here.
There is no doubt in my mind that we belong together.
I know that we will one day raise our children together in this very house.
I ring the doorbell and wait for Edna to answer the door.
She lets us in and leads us to the sitting room.
I ask her to tell my grandfather that I brought someone special with me. She nods and smiles. She is well aware of the family legend.
I look over at Liz. She seems to be awed... and uncomfortable.
I lace my fingers with hers. She looks at me.
"It will be okay," I tell her, "My grandfather is great; he'll love you." Just like I do, I added silently.
She gives me a shaky smile.
The door opens and my Grandpa Jim comes in with Edna. She helps him to his seat across from us.
Grandpa Jim is getting weaker daily. When he was diagnosed with cancer a year ago, I asked him once whether he was scared of dying. He smiled and told me that dying was just another part of life and how could anything that will be bring him back to his beloved scare him.
He has had to live without grandma for a good many years.
Liz gives me a funny look and I realize that I had unconsciously tightened my hold on her hand. I smile apologetically.
Once he has settled into his seat. He looks at us and smiles.
"Hello, sweetheart, you must be the woman who is gonna marry my grandson."
I notice Liz's eyes widen in shock, but before either of us can say anything, he goes on.
"Edna, why don't you show Max here the changes we've made to the guest house. I want to get to know Liz here."
Before I can truly grasp the fact that I've been dismissed, I am being shuffled out the door being able to look back just long enough to see the panicked look on Liz's face.
Liz POV:
I am shocked, panicked, hyperventilating.
I feel a hand come to rest on mine.
It belongs to Max's grandfather and he is sitting there smiling at me.
"There is no need to be scared, honey. You know, I am so glad that Max found you. For a while there, I thought he would end up like his father with that awful Tess person, but you don't need to hear about her she is not important. You are important, and the wedding is important."
He pauses and I swear he had not taken a breath throughout that whole speech. I could have sworn that I was talking to Maria if she was aged, wealthy and male.
Before I can open my mouth to say anything he asks, "So, when's to be the wedding? I am so relieved he found you, you know, with the cancer I did not think I would live to see my oldest grandson married."
He smiles at me fondly and the denial that sprung to my lips stuck to my throat. I smiled sickly back at him.
TBC...
Chapter Seventeen:
Liz POV:
"Uh, well..." I begin.
"You are going to marry him, aren't you?" he asks suddenly, looking worried--almost panicked.
He grabs my hand and looks at me intently, "he needs to marry you. You are his soulmate. You know that, right?"
"I don't believe in soulmates," I whisper.
"Oh my God," he begins, "I told that boy how important this was. When he brought you here to meet me, I assumed that he had already discussed this with you."
"Discussed what with me?" I ask feeling worried and out of the loop.
"Our family history," he said looking at me as if the answer should be obvious. "All of us, all of the Evans men have to marry their soulmates in order to be happy. They can never be happy without them. I married mine and we were happy for forty-seven years; Max's father didn't and he has been miserable for the past twenty-seven."
He looks at me intently, "You do love my grandson, don't you? I mean, I wasn't wrong, was I? I could tell when you look at him."
I look him just as serious. "I do love him," I tell him, "and that is precisely why I can't marry him. Because in my family, all our relationships with men end in disaster."
"But that is not the way it will be with us," Max says as he sweeps into the room followed by a harried-looking Edna.
Max POV:
I don't know whether to be relieved or worried.
Now I know that my feelings are reciprocated, but looking at Liz and hearing her words I know that convincing her to give us a chance will be a lot more difficult than I had imagined.
She is afraid, and, like me, she has family history to contend with.
She looks at me firmly. "You don't know how bad it's been," she says, "it's much better to live without love than with the type of love that my family has endured."
"I can't do it," she says looking at my grandfather apologetically, "I'm sorry, but I can't do it, and believe me it will be better for him in the long run."
She stands up. "It was wonderful meeting you," she says as she walks out of the room.
I look after her and then back at my grandfather.
"Go," he tells me with a smile, "she's strong. She will be a great addition to the family.You'll just have to make it worth her while."
I go outside and we get back into my car silently.
I look at her and ask, "have you ever thought that it was not love but making the wrong choices in love that has plagued your family? You haven't made the wrong choice in loving me, don't make it in rejecting it?"
TBC...
Liz POV:
"Uh, well..." I begin.
"You are going to marry him, aren't you?" he asks suddenly, looking worried--almost panicked.
He grabs my hand and looks at me intently, "he needs to marry you. You are his soulmate. You know that, right?"
"I don't believe in soulmates," I whisper.
"Oh my God," he begins, "I told that boy how important this was. When he brought you here to meet me, I assumed that he had already discussed this with you."
"Discussed what with me?" I ask feeling worried and out of the loop.
"Our family history," he said looking at me as if the answer should be obvious. "All of us, all of the Evans men have to marry their soulmates in order to be happy. They can never be happy without them. I married mine and we were happy for forty-seven years; Max's father didn't and he has been miserable for the past twenty-seven."
He looks at me intently, "You do love my grandson, don't you? I mean, I wasn't wrong, was I? I could tell when you look at him."
I look him just as serious. "I do love him," I tell him, "and that is precisely why I can't marry him. Because in my family, all our relationships with men end in disaster."
"But that is not the way it will be with us," Max says as he sweeps into the room followed by a harried-looking Edna.
Max POV:
I don't know whether to be relieved or worried.
Now I know that my feelings are reciprocated, but looking at Liz and hearing her words I know that convincing her to give us a chance will be a lot more difficult than I had imagined.
She is afraid, and, like me, she has family history to contend with.
She looks at me firmly. "You don't know how bad it's been," she says, "it's much better to live without love than with the type of love that my family has endured."
"I can't do it," she says looking at my grandfather apologetically, "I'm sorry, but I can't do it, and believe me it will be better for him in the long run."
She stands up. "It was wonderful meeting you," she says as she walks out of the room.
I look after her and then back at my grandfather.
"Go," he tells me with a smile, "she's strong. She will be a great addition to the family.You'll just have to make it worth her while."
I go outside and we get back into my car silently.
I look at her and ask, "have you ever thought that it was not love but making the wrong choices in love that has plagued your family? You haven't made the wrong choice in loving me, don't make it in rejecting it?"
TBC...
Chapter Eighteen:
Liz POV:
The ride back was even quieter and more awkward than the ride there. I didn't quite know what to say, so I said nothing.
I said a fleeting good-bye and ran inside as soon as Max's car stopped in front of my building. He didn't come after me and I was glad. I have a lot to think about.
I am still scared, but I am no longer sure that I am making the right choices. What if Max is right? What if it isn't love that hurt the women in my family? What if it was recklessness, immaturity and, yes, sometimes stupidity when it comes to the opposite sex?
I open my door and stifle a scream when I see Maria waiting for me. I had completely forgotten she had still been here when I left.
I really should have known that she wouldn't leave. Not Maria. I smile thinking of Maria pacing impatiently, stewing in her curiosity after I left her minus an explanation.
"Finally!" she says grabbing my arm, practically dragging me into the room and pushing me into a seat.
She takes the seat directly across me. "Now," she begins, "what is this about a boy spending the night? Who is he? How did you meet? How long have you been seeing him? How could you not tell--"
"Maria!" I interrupt her. " We are not a couple, we are not dating, and we didn't do anything."
I sigh, "Maria, do you think I'm wrong?"
She looks at me blankly, "About what?"
"You know," I say, motioning wildly with my hands, "about the curse?"
"Yes," she says bluntly, "but I think that that is a decision that you need to make on your own. If you are constantly expecting things to go wrong, they will."
She hugs me tightly, "But I don't think you are cursed and I don't think that you are meant to be alone."
We sat down on my bed and talked for hours. She brought me ice cream and chocolate and we had a Girls Night.
We discussed Michael and the wedding, and we discussed the curse and Max.
When Maria left the next day and left me to my thoughts, I realized that she was right. The curse was not real. It was a self-defense mechanism, a shield to keep me from getting hurt.
I don't think that I am ready for a relationship, not yet, but I am ready to accept that my thinking was flawed.
I think about Max, and I know that I don't want to ruin our chances of ever being a functional couple by diving into a relationship too soon.
I just have to make him understand that and see if he can be patient.
TBC...
Liz POV:
The ride back was even quieter and more awkward than the ride there. I didn't quite know what to say, so I said nothing.
I said a fleeting good-bye and ran inside as soon as Max's car stopped in front of my building. He didn't come after me and I was glad. I have a lot to think about.
I am still scared, but I am no longer sure that I am making the right choices. What if Max is right? What if it isn't love that hurt the women in my family? What if it was recklessness, immaturity and, yes, sometimes stupidity when it comes to the opposite sex?
I open my door and stifle a scream when I see Maria waiting for me. I had completely forgotten she had still been here when I left.
I really should have known that she wouldn't leave. Not Maria. I smile thinking of Maria pacing impatiently, stewing in her curiosity after I left her minus an explanation.
"Finally!" she says grabbing my arm, practically dragging me into the room and pushing me into a seat.
She takes the seat directly across me. "Now," she begins, "what is this about a boy spending the night? Who is he? How did you meet? How long have you been seeing him? How could you not tell--"
"Maria!" I interrupt her. " We are not a couple, we are not dating, and we didn't do anything."
I sigh, "Maria, do you think I'm wrong?"
She looks at me blankly, "About what?"
"You know," I say, motioning wildly with my hands, "about the curse?"
"Yes," she says bluntly, "but I think that that is a decision that you need to make on your own. If you are constantly expecting things to go wrong, they will."
She hugs me tightly, "But I don't think you are cursed and I don't think that you are meant to be alone."
We sat down on my bed and talked for hours. She brought me ice cream and chocolate and we had a Girls Night.
We discussed Michael and the wedding, and we discussed the curse and Max.
When Maria left the next day and left me to my thoughts, I realized that she was right. The curse was not real. It was a self-defense mechanism, a shield to keep me from getting hurt.
I don't think that I am ready for a relationship, not yet, but I am ready to accept that my thinking was flawed.
I think about Max, and I know that I don't want to ruin our chances of ever being a functional couple by diving into a relationship too soon.
I just have to make him understand that and see if he can be patient.
TBC...