Roswell Fanatics

*Artwork by Tanya!*

Author: Irish77
Category: AU, M/L - PG-13 mild swearing and sexual inuendos
Rating: ADULT
Disclaimer: The characters of Roswell belong to The WB, Melinda Metz, and UPN

Hope you enjoy and feedback would be great!

***20 Questions***

A chance meeting with Max Evans – Actor extraordinaire

><><

My phone rang from my purse and I had to fish around for it at the bottom. “Damn it! Come on… Come on!” I found it on the last ring. “Dad?”

“Hey there! I might have some really great news for you.” His voice sounded a little funny but I went with it.

“What’s that Pop?” I hoisted my huge purse onto my shoulder.

“Who is your favorite actor in the whole world?”

“Uh, Maria, why?” I pulled a package of noodles off the shelf in front of me.

His laughter came though clearly, “Your sister doesn’t count, now come on. Think! Who is your favorite male actor right now?”

“Max Evans I guess.” I shifted my purse to the other shoulder, “Why?”

“That is who I thought you liked. I’ll call you back in a couple of minutes. Finalize some details!”

“What are you…” The phone line went dead before I could get my question out. I rolled my eyes and closed my cell phone and was about to throw it back into my purse, when it started ringing again.

“Dad?”

“No… it’s Maria. Girl, what have you been up to?” It was good to hear her voice. She had been away on vacation where she didn’t get cell service. Major pain in the ass since we talk about every day!

“Not as good as you? How was Comic-Con?” She had been to the motherland for geeks like me, new trailers for movies and games, my Mecca.

“God Liz, it was so cool. You should have seen all the actors there and different trailers for stuff! I got you so much free junk you’ll need a storage locker for all this!” Her excitement for the event only fueled my jealousy, but then again, she was my girl and she did get me free stuff.

“I am so, hold on a minute.” I pulled the phone away from my ear and saw that it was my dad again. “Ria, I gotta let you go. My dad is on the other line and he has been asking weird questions and behaving kinda funny. I’ll call you later tonight.” I transferred over to my dad. “What’s up Pop, finally gonna tell me what is going on with you?”

“Liz you are not going to believe me when I tell you.” I could almost feel his excitement through the airwaves.

“DAD! Spit it out!” I got a couple of looks from bystanders in the grocery store but, it was on par with what I normally expect.

“I got you an interview with Max Evans!” Silence, “Liz? You still there?”

“OH MY GOD!” At the more funny looks from the grocery store patrons, I lowered my voice. “Dad… what are you… how did…” I couldn’t formulate anything in my head. Get out of the store and into your car, then you can freak out. Holy Shit! An interview with one of the hottest upcoming actors of my generation, and who just happens to be from my hometown!

“Dad… can I call you back when I am in a better place to… just never mind… I’ll call you back in like, 10 minutes.”

I rushed from the isle I was in and weaved my way to the check out lanes, where they were five people deep. “Double Shit!” I got in the line that looked the shortest and started to wait impatiently.

While I was waiting I started impatiently tapping my foot while the brunette woman in front of me turned and smiled. “Kinda busy today huh?”

“No kidding, and my dad just dropped a bomb on me. I wanna call him but,” I waved at our surroundings, “This isn’t the place to freak out about something.” I looked ahead of her to the woman searching in her purse for coupons.

“Is everything O.K.?” She had a worried look on her face.

At her reaction I calmed down a little bit, “Oh, yeah. Everything’s fine. Just life changing, not threatening.” I smiled a bit as the adrenaline started to subside a little.

“That’s good, I was about to give you my place in line.” She smiled and laughed.

I joined in and introduced myself, “My name is Liz, you shop here often?”

She took the hand I offered with a strong handshake, “Diane, and no. My kids and I were on our way back from a shopping excursion in Red Wing, MN. I realized that my son has nothing in his refrigerator at home and thought it would be good to at least have something other than cheese whiz and crackers for breakfast, lunch and dinner!”

“Men have a way of sustaining off of anything!” I laughed and looked at my cart. There were noodles, sauce, chips, and a whole lot of other junk food. “Course I guess the same could be said of women in a hurry!” We both laughed and Pat moved up in line and started unloading her cart.

“Have a good day and hope everything turns out with your ‘life changing’ news.” She paid, gave a wave and walked out the doors.

After putting my bag of junk food into my car I called my dad back. “Dad? Now what is this crazy nonsense about you getting me an interview with Max Evans, the actor right?”

“The TV station is doing an exclusive on an upcoming movie that Max is in. The only time he has to do an interview is when he is home in Minnesota visiting family. And it just so happens that our affiliate in Minnesota doesn’t have a young enough reporter on their staff to do the interview. So, I suggested you, since you are going to school for films and you’re in Minnesota.”

I about passed out right there in my car in the Cub Foods parking lot. “Are you kidding me dad? Cause if you are, I am flying out to Pittsburgh and killing you myself!”

“No joke kiddo. I need you at Centennial Lakes Plaza in Edina on Saturday at 1:00. I also need you to come up with 20 burning and hopefully original questions that you think his fan base would want to know. Do you think you can come up with some questions for him or do you need help?”

“Ah, no dad. I think I can handle that and if I run out of ideas, I got a whole slew of people that I can ask.” I started my car and headed out of the parking lot. “Do I have to wear a suit?”

“Nope. Just go in some casual clothes, but nice looking at least.” I heard some voices in the background talking to him. “She will do just fine, what? Oh, I have to remind you that it will be televised so make sure you look presentable.”

“What? I can’t wear my tube top and hot pants? MAN… I’m gonna have to go shopping!” I could hear his laughter and him relaying my comments to those with him. All of a sudden there was a large sound on his end. “Dad? What was that?”

“Just James falling out of his chair. He for some reason thinks that you’re serious. You’re not serious are you?” Concern flooded his tone.

“Dad? When have you ever seen me wear hot pants?” I rolled my eyes and made my way into my garage.

“Never, but… never mind. Just get those 20 questions, and make ‘em good kid!”

“I won’t let you down Dad.” I hung up the phone and made my way into the house. I unloaded the groceries and promptly called my girl Maria.

“Maria, you will never guess what my dad wanted.” I plopped onto the couch and got comfortable.

“What?”

“He wants me to interview… get this… Max Evans! And I need you to come to Minnesota this weekend. The interview is this Saturday at 1:00.” After she got done screaming in my ear we planned out what she was going to do and what we were going to wear.

I got online that night and posed my 20 questions to some of my girls on the Max Evans forum that I belonged to. And man, I got a bunch of them, so I started writing some of them down:

Who’s your favorite Author?
What makes a good spouse, brains or beauty?
What is your Philosophy on life?
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Do you ever want children?
Do you believe in marriage or is shacking up O.K.?
If you weren’t an actor what else would you be doing?
What is your dream role to play?
What is a role you would never play?
What job would you never do?
Favorite cuss word?
Do you believe in Reincarnation?
What is your favorite thing to lounge in?
Are you still computer illiterate?

After I had my 20 questions written down I went into my closet to find something to wear. I decided that jeans were too casual but a suit was too much so I chose my favorite pair of gold embellished jeans and a nice black sweater. Adding some of my own, personally designed jewelry to add some additional color and style.

Saturday was fast approaching and Maria came into town on Friday night, we went out for coffee and talked about what might happen at the interview the next day. We parted ways at her hotel with plans to meet for breakfast the next day.

I could hardly sleep due to the excitement for the next day but I think I fell asleep at around 2am? Let me tell you, 9:00am came way too soon, the alarm was blaring Linkin Park and Jay-Z’s Numb, until I slammed the snooze button down!

We met up together and had breakfast at her hotel. We went over the questions again, decided against some, added some then I had Maria write them up for me in neat handwriting so I wouldn’t get distracted trying to decipher my chicken scrawl. After breakfast we made our way to Centennial Lakes plaza at 11:30 to get there in enough time to check in and get our press passes. We met up with the TV crew and Heather the producer for the show, to get our marks and to be wired with the cordless microphone. We also chatted for a bit waiting for the question segment of the entertainment show to begin.

After standing around idly for a while and waiting for Max to arrive, I decided to go outside and catch some fresh air out front. What I was met with were a crush of people with signs and banners with his name all over them. There was a young girl in a wheelchair at the front of the roped off area with a sign that said ‘Max! I’m your number one fan!’ She was so cute in her pink sweater and jeans. She had long, sandy brown hair that looked like it had thinned due to chemotherapy. Her mother was standing behind her trying to keep the crush of screaming girls away from possibly hurting her daughter.

I walked up to the little girl and bent down so that I was eye level. “Hello beautiful, what’s your name?”

“Izabel Ann Watkins” She answered with a bright smile and look at her mother.

I held out my hand, “Hello Izabel Ann, my name is Liz. Are you here to see Max?”

She held up her sign and proudly said, “Yes, and I’m hoping to get his autograph!”

“You know you have a very beautiful name. It is the same as one of my best friends. How old are you Izabel?” I smiled at her young enthusiasm.

“14, my birthday is next week and I made mom promise that I could come out here for my birthday, but only if I felt well enough. And the doctors said it was ok.” With that comment she rolled her eyes. “I told her that I would make sure I was able to come, Max doesn’t come home and do a lot of public things and this was my one and only chance to meet him.” She was so serious and excited at the same time. Just being near her was draining.

I smiled and stood up to talk to her mother. “You have a beautiful daughter Ms. Watkins.”

“Thank you.” She looked down and pointed to my badge. “Are you with the press?”

“Not really, I am interviewing someone for my dad.” I lowered my voice, “If I can ask a very personal question?” At her nod of assent, “Does your daughter have cancer?”

She nodded, “She is doing better today, but I think that is because the doctors told her that if the medications didn’t make her sick and she felt well enough, she could come out today to meet Max. I don’t think she has a chance at meeting him, but I don’t want her to loose hope. That all we have going for us now.” She said with a weak smile and looked down at her excited daughter. “She has Leukemia and the chemo isn’t working anymore. The doctors have tried everything. The next step is a bone marrow transplant but we haven’t been successful at finding a match.” She looked away at the crowd surrounding us, “I really don’t know why I am telling you my sob story. I am sure this is all very depressing.” She shook her head with a tired laugh. When she looked back at me she had tears in her eyes.

“I know what it is like.” I put my hand on her shoulder. “My mom died of Leukemia when I was close to your daughters’ age.” The tears were starting to form at the edges of my eyes. But I knew that my biggest challenge would come next. “Will you be here for a minute?”

“Yep, we’ll be here until Max is gone, or until Izabel gets tired.” She put her hand on her daughters shoulder and smiled down at her.

Izabel looked back up at her mom with that beautiful smile. “It’s o.k. Mom, I’m feeling great today!”

“Wonderful, I will be right back.” I smiled and patted Ms. Watkins on the shoulder. I made my way back to where Maria was standing next to the cameraman and producer who had joined me outside to see the crowd.

“Maria… there is something that I have to do. I looked back at the young girl in the wheelchair and her mother. “You understand?”

Maria looked over my shoulder to the two women, “Yeah, I understand girl.” She gave me a hug and her badge.

I walked over to Izabel and her mother, “Can you come over here with me for a minute?” We moved away from the barrier and over by the producer. I leaned down to eye level with Izabel and with a very serious look on my face, “Izabel, there is something that I need you to do for me.” A wave of tears threatened to spill from my eyes, so I squeezed the badges in my hand until it hurt so that the urge would pass. Izabel looked at me with a questioning look, “I need to make a very important conference call to my TV station. But I also have to do an important interview, and unfortunately, they are at the same time!” I took my badge and put it around her neck, “I need you to do my interview for me. Now I have the questions that need to be asked so all you have to do is ask them and look interested in the answers. Can you do that for me?”

I gave her my paper with the questions that Maria and I had amassed. I stood up and handed Maria’s badge to Ms. Watkins, “I need for her to do this for me.” At her questioning look, “Trust me.” At her slight nod I leaned down to Izabel again.

“Now Izabel, this might be a bit boring but,” I said with a mischievous grin, “I want you to interview Max for me.”

Izabel’s head snapped up from examining the badge around her neck, “Huh? You want me to interview…” She gulped and said in a whispering voice, “Max Evans… instead of you?”

“Yeah, I really have to make this phone call or else my dad is going to get into a lot of trouble.” I looked up at her mom and winked, “I know that it will be pretty boring for you to interview someone like him, but,” I shrugged, “It needs to be done and I just can’t do it. Will you do me this huge favor? I will forever be in your debt!”

Izabel looked up at her mom and gave her a questioning look. With her mom’s nod of approval she grabbed my shirt and pulled me to her in a huge hug. For such a small body, she sure had a lot of strength!

The producer talked into her headset and then turned to us, “Let’s go, he’s coming in 5. Do you have your questions ready?” She said turning to me.

“I…uh…Heather?” I looked around at Izabel and her mother, then Maria. She gave me a nod and a look that said Get on with it! “Let’s walk.” I pulled Heathers arm into mine, looked over my shoulder and with a head movement indicated that I wanted the rest of the group to follow. “I…uh… I gave my interview to someone else.” At her shocked look I hurried on, “I gave her my questions, which you approved. And she is a huge fan. And look at her,” When we got to the set, I gestured to Izabel behind me. “She’s way more stunning to put on camera than I am!”

Heather had a cross look on her face and I know was about to tear into me but a small voice behind me spoke up, “I promise that I won’t screw up Ms. Heather! I will do my best and not scream and cry like a crazy person… you can trust me to ask all the questions and… and…” Izabel fumbled for words.

“See Heath…she will do just fine. I have every confidence in her that she will perform beautifully. And besides I have that conference call with my father…”

“What con...” Heather started to ask but stopped at my pointed look and a yank on her arm that almost dislocated it, “Oh.” Understanding dawning, “that call you have to make about the thing. Right, almost forgot about that! Don’t want to piss off, I mean, get you or your Dad into any trouble!” She looked at Izabel, “Now you’re sure that you can handle this, it is a big responsibility.” At Izabel’s frantic nod, she relented and put her finger to her ear, “He’s here!”

The crowd outside started to cheer and reached to a deafening roar.

There had been chairs set up, but now both had been removed and a lower chair was brought in. The camera was adjusted to the height of the chair and to make sure that both Max and Izabel were in the frame. Everyone was getting antsy waiting in eager anticipation for Max’s arrival.

Ms. Watkins was standing on my right and Maria was on my left. Both were squeezing my hands until they hurt! I gently removed my hands from their painful grip and gave them to each other, moved to the side of Ms. Watkins to watch Izabel have her very special interview.

The door opened and there he was, his 5’11” height framed in light from the back, so much so that you couldn’t see him, just an outline of his body. A small gasp was heard from Izabel and a huge smile graced her beautiful face.

He walked into the room to silence, the clunking of his boot heels and the jangle of his necklace as he came across the tiled floor. He walked into the interview area with a small smile on his lips, dressed in a casual black button down shirt and jeans. A slightly shocked expression was quickly covered by a smile that showed in his eyes.

“Good afternoon Liz.” He said in a slightly husky voice while he held out his hand for Izabel to shake.

“Good afternoon Max.” She took his hand and gestured for him to sit in the chair. “But my name is Izabel, that’s Liz. The one to the left of my mom,” She said in a quieter voice. “She’s the one in the middle…crying.” She rolled her eyes and turned to wink at me.

I winked back and had to close my eyes for a second or else I was going to start crying right along with her mother.

The camera had been turned on and was recording, “So, should we get on with this interview? I know you are a very busy man and I know you want to spend as much time with your family here at home as you can.” Izabel said very professionally.

“Uh, sure.” He said as he sat down and looked at me. I smiled slightly and turned to look at Izabel. I couldn’t look at him or else I would really start to cry, I felt so happy at this moment. Nothing in all my years of helping my family members, friends, or volunteering could to compare to the feeling of watching Izabel ask the 20 questions that Maria and I had come up with.

“So Max…” she began, “What would you be doing if you weren’t acting?”

“Let’s see. Boy you start off with the toughies right away don’t you.” He said with a laugh. “Do they get more difficult as we go along?”

“No,” Izabel laughed with him, “It is just the question I want to know the most. Well, the second one at least. We’ll get to the most important one later.” She said.

“Let’s see, if I wasn’t acting… what would I be? I guess I don’t really know. I have always wanted to act. It has driven me for a long time, ever since I was young you know?” At Izabel’s nod he continued. “I guess I would be an… uh… jeeze, that’s tough. How bout we come back to that one ok?”

“Alright, we’ll come back to that one, next question.” Izabel looked down at the paper that she held in her lap.

I saw her hands shaking a little and I got choked up again. I think a tear fell down my face because Heather was suddenly standing next to me with a Kleenex in her hand waiving it in front of my face.

“We know you have an Akita dog…what, besides Ronin, is your favorite animal?”

“You even know his name! You are a fan, aren’t you?” He smiled and looked slightly down at her. “My favorite animal I guess would have to be a Tiger. They are hunters and protectors, yet graceful and agile.”

“I like Tigers too, they are so pretty. But dangerous, kinda like you!” He looked up at me with a shocked expression. I could only shrug and laugh, directing his attention back to Izabel with a head jerk. “Next question… There are so many good questions, let’s see. Hmm.” Izabel looked down at her paper, her hands still slightly shaking. “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”

“I hope to be still acting but hopefully doing a little directing. Maybe married with a couple of kids would be nice. If I find the right girl!” He winked at Izabel.

She promptly turned a deep crimson and looked down at the paper quickly, a small smile playing across her young face. “Um, well.” She adjusted slightly in her wheelchair, “That answers another question, do you want kids. And I guess that takes care of the marriage question too!” She looked up and smiled shyly at Max. “What is your favorite cuss word?”

“Uh, can I say it on television?” He looked over to me and then to the producer. We both shrugged and gave a motion to go ahead with it. “I guess my favorite cuss word is… uh… poop…or the slang word for it? My mother is gonna kill me.” He said with a slight blush.

“I think that is my favorite one too but sometimes the f-bomb works just as well or even better.” She peeked over at her mom to see her reaction and got exactly what she was looking for. Her mother gave her that ‘mom’ look, the one where you know you are going to hear about it later. She rolled her eyes at her mom and looked back at Max. “What character wouldn’t you play?”

“I don’t know, I guess I would play any character if I liked where they were going with it. If the script is good and feel a connection to the character, I don’t think I would turn down a certain type.”

“I totally understand.” She said it with such confidence that I almost believed that she had been doing this for most of her life. Not once did she loose it in anyway, she didn’t act like a normal teenager interviewing her crush of a movie star. I could feel the sting of tears start up again and reached for some more Kleenex.

“What is one job that you absolutely wouldn’t do? Mine personally would be a garbage collector. Talk about GROSS!” She gave an involuntary shudder.

“I don’t think I would like to be one of those either, but I don’t think I could be a surgeon or a doctor.” He paused slightly, “To have someone’s life in my hands everyday, what would happen if I screwed up? They would die, and I don’t think I could handle that.” He bowed his head a little and there was a moment of silence.

Izabel put her hand on his forearm and gently squeezed, “I think you would be great.” She then patted his arm and withdrew it, “At anything you put your mind to Max.”

A tear fell down my face and I had to turn away from the interview to hide the sudden rush of emotion. By the time I got myself under control, Izabel had moved onto the next question.

“If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?”

“I have been a lot of beautiful places, but I think I would live in Japan, if I had to choose right now. Of course I want to travel a lot more before I finally settle down somewhere permanently. And Minnesota will always have a special place in my heart, along with California. If I have enough money I might even buy a house in both places.” He said with a bright smile.

“That sounds nice. Wanna buy me a house in Japan?” She said with a smile and laugh. “Just kidding!”

“Of course I would buy you a house in Japan. Wanna be roommates?” He laughed with her.

“I don’t think my mom would approved, but maybe when I am 18!” They shared another laugh, “Next question…hmmm.” She looked over her list again. “What is your favorite holiday?”

“That is an excellent question! My favorite holiday would have to be Christmas. Not because of the presents or even what it symbolizes but the fact that you are with family. Seeing people you might not have seen much over year or relatives that you haven’t seen in a long time. The giving of gifts is just a bonus, course it is a big bonus.” He thought to himself. “What do you want for Christmas Izabel?”

She paused at the unexpected question and thought for a minute. “I got exactly what I ever wanted. Meeting you and having the love of a mother who would do anything for me. And of course my new friends Liz and Maria.” She looked over at all of us and smiled. We all, myself included, started to cry again. She turned back to Max,“What is your favorite meal?”

“My favorite meal is Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey and all the fixings, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, bread rolls. Crescent rolls are the best, fresh out of the oven? And my mom makes this amazing corn soufflé.” His eyes started too glazed over as he thought about all the food. “Even the turkey coma that happens after you have eaten to much. The much needed nap and relaxing in front of the TV watching football.”

“Ah, the turkey, that always makes my mom sleepy.” She looked over at her mom again.

“Izabel? What do you want for Christmas, really?” He looked at her and then her mom with his eyebrows raised.

“I guess if I could get anything in the world, a laptop would be nice. I hate having to go down to the lobby or the crowded computer room at the hospital. But then again I would need some kind of Internet and I don’t think they have something available for the rooms though. A pony? Can I just have a pony for Christmas?” She said with a smile again at Max.

“What do you look for in a woman that you want to be serious with?” She looked up coyly from the paper.

“I am looking for a woman with a good sense of humor and strong family values. My family surrounds me almost all the time. My mom Diane works with me in a slightly managerial factor, in fact she is here with me.” A tall, brunette woman stepped out of the shadows that looked vaguely familiar. “And my brother, Michael, works as my personal assistant.” He paused for a minute, “She also has to be someone who is independent without me. She should also have her own hobbies and friends. Unfortunately I am not always home, and that can be trying on a relationship.” He looked up from Izabel off into space for a minute then it looked like his eyes focused on me. But after a moment, he was turned back to her intent on answering the next question.

Heather suddenly put her hand to her ear then leaned into me from the right, “We gotta wrap this up we’re running out of time.”

“How many more questions can she ask?”

I moved to the side of the camera, switched spots with the cue card holder and motioned to Izabel to wrap up her questions and held up 3 fingers indicating she could ask 3 more questions, then look back at the closing card to end the segment.

Izabel nodded her head at me and as I was stepping away from the camera Max looked up with a curious expression. I pointed towards Izabel and walked back to my spot off to the side.

“It looks like I only have time for 3 more questions here Max. Let me find the most important ones on my list.” She looked down again at the paper that was slowly getting crumpled from her nerves. “O.k…who is your favorite author to read?”

“Well, I don’t get much time to read but when I do, I like to read mystery and thriller type of books. I don’t have a favorite author per say, but if there is a certain author that is recommended by someone I will read it. Then again, like I said before,” He said with a smile, “I don’t get much time to read anymore.”

“I really like to read Sherrilyn Kenyon myself.” At his questioning look she explained that Sheri was a paranormal romance writer, vampire like creatures, Greek Gods, werewolves and the like. At his quirked up smile she laughed a little and smiled, “Kinda like Skinwalkers.”

“I don’t normally go with romance novels but I can always try something once!”

“Next question.” She looked at the woman standing off to the side and asked him with a somber expression, “What is the one thing you admire most about your mom?”

He looked taken aback a little and turned around to his mom, she just shrugged her shoulders and indicated that she would be most interested in hearing his answer.

“Well, my mom is an incredible woman with many redeeming qualities. But I think what I admire about her the most is her strength. She managed to raise us kids almost by herself and we all turned out relatively normal.” We all laughed at his last comment. Then he continued on seriously, “As I get older I understand how hard it must have been to do that, the sacrifices she made for us so that we could have a good life and a wonderful childhood. I never knew if money was tight or nonexistent, I don’t think my father helped out at all and it isn’t something that I am normally willing to discuss. It is hard knowing now that he dropped such a huge responsibility on her, basically turning his back on us. I know that I will never have to make that decision and his leaving has made me a better man in the long run.” He turned to his mom and full of emotion said, “Thank you mom for being all that you are and raising me to follow my dreams, no matter how hard they are.”

The camera followed his movement as he got up and went over to hug his mom, you could see the tears that she was trying to hide at his sincere confession. Again the waterworks decided to start up again, knowing that we had similar childhoods of a single parent home. I was lucky in the fact that there was only one of me and my dad helped out and had a decent relationship with my mom. On his way back to his chair he caught me blowing my nose and wiping the tears from my eyes, I then noticed that his eyes were had a shiny sheen to them from unshed tears. I motioned for him to take a deep breath and then continue with the interview.

Sensing that he wanted to move on Izabel adjusted herself in her wheelchair a little and said with a sad sigh, “Last question… and I personally think the most important.” She paused for effect. “Boxers or briefs?”

He looked at her with another shocked expression and snapped his head up to me, I in turn snapped my head over in the direction of Maria and said in a hushed voice, “We didn’t discuss putting that one down!”

And to Maria’s credit she paid no attention to me and acted like there was no one speaking to her! I turned my shocked and angry expression back to Max where he was still waiting for some direction. “What the hell!” I muttered, shrugged my shoulders and gestured to him to answer the question if he felt comfortable.

“Uh, boxer-briefs?” He answered in a questioning tone and a slight laugh.

“Well Max, that finishes our interview and it was wonderful to meet you.” Izabel held out her hand to shake and he took her hand and leaned in close to also hug her.

“Izabel it was wonderful to meet you and I want to thank you for conducting such a wonderful interview.”

“It was my pleasure.” Izabel said with a brilliant smile and turned towards the camera and started reading off the cue cards. “This is Izabel Watkins reporting from Minnesota with Max Evans for WATE Channel 4. Back to you Rick!” She waved until Heather yelled Cut.

The room exploded into conversations, Ms. Watkins rushing over to her daughter and gave her a big hug, Max talking to Izabel and her mother, Diane, Max’s mom, came over to talk to Izabel, Max and Ms. Watkins, I pushed Maria to go and talk to Max and the rest of the group, Heather talking to Hugh the camera operator about the emotional shot and making sure he got the “money shot” of the mother and son hugging, and so many others people surrounding the group that I lost track.

I saw the joy on Izabel’s face and the pure happiness that I helped to put within her, it got a little too much and I left the soundstage. But before I could walk out the door a hand on my shoulder stopped me, it turned me around to face Max’s chest. Then I was pulled into a strong embrace, and whispered breath in my ear.

“That was the best interview I have ever done since getting into this business. Thank you so much.” He pulled back and turned to look over his shoulder at his mom calling his name. “Oh, by the way,” He looked me in the eye, “I prefer to go commando most of the time.” With a wink he was gone and I was standing at the exit door too stunned to say or do anything as this wonderful man walked away and out of my life forever.

Maria was the one who finally found me and shook me out of my stupor. I wasn’t sure how long I stood there with a vacant expression on my face but it must have been long enough for her to say that I was gone a long time. I shook my head and answered the question she asked me for the fourth time, “No, I didn’t get his autograph or a picture.” I decided to skip telling her what he said. I will eventually tell her what happened but I wanted to keep it private for just a little while longer.

><><><

A week had gone by before I knew it and I had finally gotten into contact with Ms. Watkins for the hospital information and visiting hours for beautiful Izabel Ann Watkins. I made my way to Children’s hospital in Minneapolis with a birthday gift in my hand for her and a small thank you gift for Ms. Watkins.

Upon entering Izabel’s room I noticed that there were scores and scores of flowers and gifts, unopened and Izabel looked up from the small table where she was tearing into another gift that a little boy in a wheelchair had just given her. “LIZ!” She got up from the chair slowly and I noticed how much frailer her little body had gotten.

I knelt down so that we were almost at eye level and where she was standing slightly taller than I was from my position. I took her hands in mine and wished her a happy birthday and then she told me that I had just missed Max with his birthday gift. She pulled me over to a windowsill where a 15” silver Apple laptop was charging.

“He said that he was going to get my floor wired for wireless access so that I don’t have to go to the lobby or the public areas in the hospital! Isn’t that the coolest? I didn’t think he was actually listening to me.” She touched the top of the laptop gently and caressed the keyboard in eager anticipation for when she could use it.

“I brought you something that my Dad sent to me yesterday.” I opened the DVD case holding her interview with Max where we played it on her new laptop. The whole room went silent as the monitor went black then the introduction to the segment started to roll. She started giggle but then was forced into a coughing fit. I rushed over to the table and grabbed the chair that she had just vacated so that she could watch in front of the laptop screen comfortably. Her mom pulled me aside from the group that had crowded around the tiny screen to catch Izabel in her first television interview.

“I didn’t get a chance to thank you for letting Izabel do that interview for you. You disappeared and then after all the excitement. Boy, was she drained.” She looked over at her daughter that was staring intently at the image on the screen.

I pulled Ms. Watkins farther away from the group and asked her how Izabel was doing. She informed me that a bone marrow transplant was needed and they had yet to find a donor. Max said that he was going to go and get tested in the next couple of days to see if on the off chance that he was a match. We both knew that it was a long shot being a bone marrow donor is best if found by a relative but there was a small, infinitesimal chance that he might be a match. His mom was also going to get tested too, and if he could convince the rest of his family to get tested he would.

I told her that I would try it too, even thought the odds of me being a match were about as great as Max’s and his family. The TV spot had finished and Izabel was looking around for me in her chair, “Hey doll, what do you think?”

She looked at me disdainfully, “You could have told me my hair looked like crap!” She crossed her thin arms over her chest and looked at me with an eyebrow raised.

“Your hair? It looked fine… better than mine actually. What did you think of the interview, you little diva!” I very gently bumped her on the shoulder. “And Max?”

She shrugged her small shoulders, “The interview could have gone better if I wasn’t jabbering so much. We could have gotten all of your questions answered, but Max looked totally yummy!” A bright smile showed across her face and she turned to her mom. “Mom? I’m tired, can I rest now?”

“Of course baby, you o.k. to walk back to your bed?” At her nod we pulled the chair out and around Izabel, then her mom helped her back to the hospital bed.

I turned to leave with the rest of the departing revelers but Izabel’s voice stopped me from her bed. “Will you stay and read me a story Liz?”

I turned to the bed stifling the tears that threatened to pour over, “Sure little Diva, what do you want me to read?”

She pulled a well-worn book of Cinderella from the tray next to her bed next to the commonplace items of a cancer patient, water and a throw up tray. I remembered all to well my mom’s own hospital room and didn’t realize it would be this hard to be in another one. Gathering my strength around me I walked up to the bed and sat in the chair that her mom held out for me to sit in.

Making sure that Izabel was comfortable I started to read Cinderella, after 10 minutes she was sound asleep and snoring. I gently closed the book and put it on the bedside tray where she pulled it from and retrieved my jacket that I had tossed in the corner when I first got there. Ms. Watkins was also asleep in the other chair in the room with her feet up on the end of her daughter’s bed. I left a note and the case for the TV spot on the table telling them to enjoy the copy and for Izabel to explore all the wonders of owning a new laptop.

Izabel and I corresponded everyday from her new Internet access that Max had provided and was paying for at the hospital. Every day for three weeks I got an email from Izabel talking about how jealous the other kids were that she got a brand new laptop, or her interviewing a movie star, different activities that were going on in the hospital and the two visits that Max made while in transit from promoting his newest movie. She would also tell me about his correspondence with her via email and everything that was going on with him. Her mother also would send me emails on her updated heath status. She also let me know that the results for my bone marrow, and everyone else that tried, had came back negative. She said that Izabel was in good spirits but that she was getting weaker as the days went by but still in happy. I started calling the last week instead of writing because Izabel was getting too tired to type now.

It was on a Thursday afternoon when I got the call, she was close to the end and she wanted me to be there. This little girl that had made such a difference on my outlook in life wanted me there at the end of hers.

When I arrived on Izabel’s floor at the hospital it was abnormally quiet, no kids laughing or singing, TV’s weren’t blaring cartoons and crayons weren’t littered across the floor. I pushed open the door to Izabel’s room and was faced with several people I had never met before and a couple of familiar family members that I had met over the past month getting to know this vivacious little girl that had touched the lives of so many. I walked over to Izabel and smiled down at her limp form as white as the hospital sheets that she was lying on. The only sound in the room was the beeping of machines and the breathing machine that was helping Izabel keep up a steady stream of oxygen to her lungs.

I sat in the chair next to the bed that her Aunt Ali had just gotten out of and took one of her small, frail hands in mine. “Hi beautiful.” I choked out before I put my head down and slowly tried to breath. I looked up with blurry eyes because the tears weren’t going to stop.

Izabel took one hand out of mine and put it on my cheek to brush away the tear that had fallen. “Why are you crying?” She wiped another tear that fell away from my eyes.

“Because I don’t want to loose my little Max Evans sister!” I put my head down again and cried in earnest.

She patted me on the head, “You won’t loose me Liz, I just won’t be here. But I will be in heaven with your mom and my grandparents. I won’t be alone and afraid, don’t be scared for me. I will always be with you, watching over you…all the time!”

I looked up, “Not all the time I hope.” I said with as much humor as I could muster.

“Ewww… O.k. not all the time!” She tried to swat at me but was too weak to lift her arm too far.

The door opened and a young man dressed in scrubs and glasses told us that there were too many people in the room and that there were more that wanted to see Izabel. At the family’s protest and pointed looks he relented and waived in the last couple of people that were visiting.

Diane entered first with red-rimmed eyes and tear streaked cheeks, behind her was a somber, straight faced Max wearing sunglasses, it was dark out. When he removed them you could see that he had also been crying, his eyes were red and puffy.

He mad his way over to the side of the bed and as I stood up and he put his hand on my shoulder to press me back down into the chair.

Max sat down next to Izabel on the side of the bed and put his hand on her head and stroked the thin hair that was still there after more rounds of useless chemo. “Hello Bella” He bent down to kiss her forehead.

“I am good Max. I have all that I could ever want surrounding me in this room.” She reached over to take my right hand and his left hand where she placed them together and folded our fingers around each other then placed her hands on top. “And my two favorite people are sitting next to each other.” She said with a weak smile and closed her eyes for a minute.

A quiet sob escaped from her mom’s lips and Izabel’s eyes fluttered open and focused over my head to her parents that were standing behind me holding each other. “I love you mommy, daddy. Don’t cry for I am not lying here, but I am in the arms of God.” She looked around at the rest of her family in the room and said parting words to each of them.

Her eyes fluttered close again and I could hear Ms. Watkins start crying with heart wrenching sobs, but Izabel’s eyes opened one more time. She looked between Max and myself and smiled. Then her eyes fluttered close and her grip on our hands loosened and fell to the bed.

I dropped my head to our hands on the bed. I kissed her palm and stood to let her parents be close to their baby.

I made my way to the back of the room and the tears started to blur my vision until a Kleenex was pressed to my face and when the water cleared Diane was standing in front of me with a Kleenex box in her hand along with several tissues held in her hand. She pulled me into a fierce hug and let me cry on her shoulder. I took the handful of Kleenex that Diane offered to me and blew my nose, when I went to go throw them away I noticed Max was standing next to the window watching the rain fall and make little streams down the glass to pool on the windowsill. His hand was slightly touching the laptop that was now closed and silent.

He turned in my direction as I stepped back from the window. I couldn’t get the image of our fingers entwined with Izabel’s little fingers on top of them. I turned to walk away from him when, “Liz.”

My head turned slowly away from the room door and back to Max’s watery eyes. He stepped towards me but, “I can’t. Not now. Please.” I rushed from the room and down the hall. I punched the elevators down button and prayed that it would hurry up. I turned and looked down the hall where Max had emerged from Izabel’s room and started walking towards me. I punched the elevators down button more fiercely and several times hoping that it would come faster. He was halfway down the hall when the doors chimed open and I quickly walked in. I punched the 1st floor button and watched as Max started running down the hall. He got to the elevator just as the door shut.

I raised my eyes to heaven giving it a little thanks. I made my way out of the elevator and to the front door when behind me the sound of a door slamming against a wall. I turned around and saw Max striding purposely towards me. I looked around frantically and saw the chapel entrance where I darted through the double doors.

I looked around and found a small, dark alcove to hide in. Knowing it was a chicken thing to do, but I didn’t want someone to tell me she was dead, I didn’t want to face it, or the slamming reality that would come crashing down around my already crazy, mixed up life. I could see him as he searched around frantically by the pews, under them and behind the alter, then finally by the outside exit door. Not finding me he slowly made his way back up towards the entrance to the hospital and I heard the door open and close.

I waited in the cramped space for about 5 minutes before I dared coming out, I thought that since I was in here I might as well send up a prayer that Izabel was being taken care of. I made my way from behind the large plant that helped me hide and walked around to the center aisle. Before I could sit down, hands from behind me gripped my shoulders and turned me around. I had a strange sense of Déjà vu when those arms wrapped around me and held me tight. When I thought he was going to let me go he just started rocking back and forth gently rubbing my back and holding my head to his chest.

“Let it out. It’s o.k. to cry.” He whispered to the top of my head. “She will be fine and safe, you have to believe that.” He then laid his head down on top of mine and started to breath slowly. “She isn’t in any pain now, she is in a better place.” His words sounded hollow and strained.

The tears started to gather around my eyes and sting, so I pressed my face against his sweater clad chest trying to soak them up and my arms went around his waist.

“They sound hollow to me too. I am an actor and I can’t even make them sound sincere. But you have to believe…” His voice choked up and he paused and took a breath before continuing, “That she is in a better place. That she is being taken care of by someone else now.” His hand gently stroked my hair till he came to the base of my neck and started massaging the tight muscles there.

“It isn’t fair!” I mumbled into his chest, “She was such a vibrant person, and she had so much to offer this world.” I started to cry again and he led me to the nearest pew.

We sat down where he gathered me into his arms and sat me down on his lap, holding and rocking. “I didn’t take what she said to heart you know, about us?” I told him, finally giving up my resolve to run away. “I know that you are seeing someone in California and I live here, for now.”

He pulled away slightly and looked down at me. “I’m… what do you mean, for now?”

I looked up at him and then away towards the alter. “I am going to school and will probably be moving out to California in the next couple of years. That is where my career is going to take me at least. That or New York and I am not particularly happy with the craziness that goes on in that city.” I said with a slight laugh and looked down at him. I got up out of his lap and went to the one clear window and looked outside at the weather reflecting my mood. “Thanks by the way, I guess I needed that.”

“What?” He was standing right behind me, he walked up so quietly that I didn’t hear his footsteps on the hardwood floor. He put his hands on my upper arms and started to rub up and down. “For comforting you?”

“Yeah, thought I could be strong and not cry this time. But then you said my name and something snapped. I had to get out of there and out of the hospital, I needed to breath.” I hung my head and leaned my forehead onto the cool pane of glass. His hands moved to massage my shoulders. “Shouldn’t you be getting back to your mom and your life? I know you’re a busy guy and that you have things to do. We’ll be o.k.” I lied, “I will make sure that the Watkins’s are o.k. and I am sure you will want to be at the…” My eyes started to tear up but I choked them back, “funeral. They might even have you speak, we both know that Izabel was a huge fan of yours.” I pulled my head up and gave him a weak smile at his reflection.

He stopped massaging my shoulders and as I turned his hands stayed in their place. “I’m fine.” I told him with way more conviction than I really believed. “I have to go back and see if there is anything else I can do for them. You know, final arrangements or anything.” I shrugged my shoulders and lifted his hands away from my body, gave them a slight squeeze and let go. “Thanks again.”

I walked out of the hospital chapel with my head held high and with a straight back, direction worthy of any actor.

Part 2 - The Funeral

A week went by and the arrangements had been made for Izabel’s funeral and our final goodbyes. The Watkins’s wanted me to give a eulogy but I’m not sure how I can do it standing up there all by myself looking out at all the people that she knew, so much better than I did. But for some reason her family thought that I should speak about this amazing little girl that had touched the lives of so many.

I dressed that morning with a heavy heart. Wearing a black dress that I know Izabel would have approved of I looked at my reflection in the mirror, and smiled a little. She definitely would have approved of the cropped sleeves and a-line body with a slightly flared skirt. I added the angel earrings that Laura and James Watkins had given me the day after she died. I walked over to the dresser to get the angel necklace that I had given Laura that same day. Dainty but made out of strong metals, just like Izabel. I had worn it every day since I bought it. I put it on as I walked over to the closet to pull on the black sling back shoes and made my way to the bed. A deep sense of loss came over me and I crawled up to the headboard and put my head on the pillow as the tears started to fall.

Maria poked her head in the door to see how I was coming. She had come out for the funeral to support me and I couldn’t have been happier. I needed her strength for the next couple of days.
My cell phone rang again for the 5th time that morning, “Aren’t you going to get that?” Maria said as she came in and sat down on the bed.

“Why? I already know who it is.” I wiped a tear away from my already swollen eyes.

“O.K smarty, who is it?” She snatched the phone up off my bedside table to look at the screen.

“Max.” I looked at her for confirmation, at her nod I sat up into a sitting position, “He’s been calling almost every day for the last week.”

“Have you answered at all?”

“No.” I dodged the hand that suddenly was in head smacking range. “I can’t! If I do I will start to cry and I just can’t face him. He’ll probably be at the funeral and that will be hard enough.” I hung my head.

“Why can’t you talk or face him?” She rested her back against the headboard and pulled me into a comforting embrace.

“Because, every time I look at him I see Izabel. And her hands on top of ours…. And then what she said… I know… he has someone… but….” I pressed my eyes shut, “It is so selfish! And I shouldn’t even be thinking of him…but I can’t stop!”

Maria stroked my hair and looked over at the clock, “We have 20 minutes before we have to leave. We need to get your face less puffy and fix your hair! Have you seen it? It looks like a tornado decided to dance on top of your head!”

I sat up and looked at the complete mess that used to be my head. She kind of had a point… so we a resolute sigh I made my way off the bed and put myself in her capable hands.

We just made it to the funeral home in time for the funeral director to tell me that I was sitting with the family. I held onto Maria’s hand until the very last moment when I had to go downstairs and wait until the ceremony started.

When I opened the room Laura and James were sitting on the couch talking to Ali and sharing stories about the antics that Izabel got into before she got sick. Laura looked up and saw me enter, got up off the couch and pulled me into a tight embrace. “Hi beautiful.”

I started to cry, I couldn’t help it. The same words I said to Izabel on her last day with us.

The door opened and James got up off the couch and went over to the newcomer. “Max. I am so glad that you could make it. Laura?”

Laura pulled me away from her slightly and looked into my eyes, “It will be alright sweetheart. Let’s go say hi to Max.” She asked gently as she linked her arm with mine.

I wanted to shake my head no but I just couldn’t. So we both turned around and Laura welcomed Max and gave him a hug.

Then it was the two of us, the man that I had been avoiding all week. “Liz.” He said quietly, not making a move.

A sob escaped my lips before I could stop it and I felt myself being held by strong arms. His scent was familiar, sandlewood and leather. He started rocking me back and forth as I silently cried in his arms. He stroked my hair and massaged my neck, the same way he did the last time I saw him. “Why have you been avoiding me?”

I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders.

The pastor walked in and announced that it was time. Max and I separated and I took the Kleenex that he offered, dabbed at my eyes and made sure that I looked presentable.

We stood in the line of the procession where I found out that I would be sitting a couple people away from Max. I found the speech that I had prepared a couple of days ago… not knowing if I could get through it or not. Maybe if I looked at the back of the room where I couldn’t make any type of eye contact, I could concentrate on a spot or picture.

The music started playing as the close family and friends processed and we made our way down to the front row. I saw Maria sitting on the right with Diane and Isabel Evans; they were holding hands and Maria gave me a smile and a small wave as she caught my eye. My dad was even able to make it to the funeral, he told the Evans’s that Izabel’s interview was the most watched on the internet and their phones were bogged down by so many people calling in to get more information about this vivacious little girl.

The funeral was simple and beautiful. The pastor must have known Izabel from when she was a baby because he told stories about her when she was younger and active. The tough part of the funeral was when the interview with Max was played for all to see. I almost started crying again but thankfully kept it together.

Then came the time for the speeches. There was Max and I. I decided to go first and get it over and done with. I grabbed a handful of Kleenex along with my eulogy and made my way to the pulpit. As I stood up there looking at the sea of faces blurring in front of me with unshed tears. I cleared my throat and looked down at the speech I had started to write days ago. I cleared my throat and began:

“Izabel was a special little girl, actually she was a teenager. She wouldn’t ever let anyone forget that.” I said with a small laugh, remembering how she would constantly remind me that she was 14 and that she would be driving soon.

“She came into my life,” Deep breath, “She came into my life with such joy and passion it could be exhausting. She always had a smile on her face and reassured everyone around her that she was just a little bit sick. That she could beat this disease, and she would be on the streets behind the wheel in no time. But she was wrong; she was taken all too soon from us. She had so much to offer this world, to offer me.” The tears started to fall down my cheeks but I left them unchecked.

“I met Izabel at that interview you just saw, it was actually mine that my father had given me. But I am grateful everyday that I gave that interview to her. She was the right one for the job, and she was fantastic!” I looked down at James and Laura and smiled. “If it wasn’t for that interview, I would have never met her or her amazing parents. She also got her final wish from Max, a new laptop and internet service to her floor. She loved playing on that computer and she met a lot of new friends from all over the world. But now she is in a whole new world, one without us in it. But I know…” Deep breath, “I know that she is…” I looked up at the ceiling to the stained glass window depicting the angels flying. Another tear ran down my face. I squeezed my eyes shut but couldn’t stop the flood. They started coming down, tear after tear. I looked down at the paper in my hands but couldn’t see anything; I got a Kleenex to wipe my eyes but couldn’t find them… where did I put them!

A slight shuffling noise was heard as people watched me frantically look for my Kleenex, and when I finally gave up and used my sleeve there was someone standing next to me with one in their hand. I took it gratefully, wiped my eyes and blew my nose. When I looked up to see who had handed me the Kleenex I was a bit surprised to find Max standing next to me.

“Thanks.” I wiped at my eyes again and looked down at the sheet of slightly crumpled paper, half expecting him to go back and take his seat. When he didn’t I looked up at him questioningly. His answer was to take my hand in his and motion back down to the speech, whispering, “You can finish it, I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know that Izabel is looking down on us from Heaven and having a grand time behind the wheel and scaring every parent up there, including my mom!” I looked over at my dad to see him smile. “She took care of us while she was here, our job now is to take care to hold onto her memory tight and never let go, never forget what she taught us here on earth. And when you hear that little voice inside your head urging you to do the unusual, do it. It is Izabel talking to you, steering you in the right direction. I think my mom brought her to me, and in turn to teach me a valuable lesson.” Max gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “Never forget that a simple kindness can go a long way. It may seem like your action has no impact on anyone, but it is a ripple in the pond of life. Your actions continue on, forever.”

I folded my paper and made way to go back to my seat when Max’s hand didn’t let go. “Stay with me up here, please?” He asked quietly, his eyes pleading with me. I made a slight nod and stood behind him, off to the side.

“Most of you know me from film and TV, but I don’t think I have ever met a girl that deserved to be more well known that Izabel. She was funny, caring, giving, and above all a wonderful woman. She grew up too fast and was taken too soon. I met her by chance, thanks to Liz giving up her job to interview me to a random person from the street. Her sacrifice changed my life.” He reached back and found my hand, and pulled me forward towards the pulpit. “Because of Liz I got to meet Izabel and Izabel’s wonderful family. We kept in contact up until the very end, and it made my life full. I never knew that someone could give so much and ask for so little in return. Izabel was happy when she left us, surrounded by the people that loved her and who will remember her. I also learned a valuable lesson from Iz; never take those around you for granted because they might not be there tomorrow. Don’t let them go, don’t hang onto your anger or your lies; to be truly living we need to love freely and unconditionally. People leave footprints on our hearts, Izabel walked a path, one in which I hope to follow in.”

He put his arm around me and we walked back to our seats, instead of moving past him to sit back down he moved over and pulled me down to sit beside him.

The pastor walked back up to the front and layed his hand on the casket that held Izabel’s body.

“Let us pray.” We all bowed our heads in silence. “Our Father who are’t in heaven, Hallowed be thy name…”

“Izabel Ann Watkins was a blessing to know and to love. She touched the lives of many. She will be missed but never forgotten. Remember the lessons she taught you while on this earth, remember them and practice them for through you, she is living.”

Pt. 3 - Izabel's Wish

It had been almost a year since the funeral and I still thought of Izabel often, the spring and summer had been especially hard. Watching all the kids playing outside and running around, I was constantly wishing Izabel could have been here.

There was going to be a memorial service in two days for Izabel. Her family was throwing a party full of food and friends. I was invited as I was sure Max and Maria were, we had all kept in contact with the Watkins family over the year to see how they were doing. The were even in the talks of adopting another little girl, but it was slow going and they weren’t really sure if they were ready just yet.

I knew Max had kept in touch with Maria and kept her up to date with his life, and I am sure that she told him about us. I still wasn’t able to talk to him regularly, I kept on thinking about what Izabel had said about Max and I. I didn’t want to know how his relationship was doing with this star or that star; it didn’t make a difference because he wasn’t with me. Maria kept me in the loop with how he was doing or what project he was filming, locations and everything else. But when she would go into who he went to the Oscars or the Academy awards with I would turn a deaf ear. Feigning interest because I knew she relished the personal information and being a friend of his caused a lot of attention. But it made her happy and if she was happy, then well, I could pretend to be happy.

Ever since Izabel’s death I had been doing a lot more with cancer patients and raising money for cancer causes. Volunteering more at the hospital where she was at and getting to know the patients and their families. I know that also since Izabel’s death Max had been doing a lot of promoting and guest appearances at benefits and such. I did keep up with the different movies that he had been in and the promotional circuit he was on with all the entertainment and late shows. He was looking thinner and his hair had gotten longer for a movie and he must have liked it long and shaggy since he kept it that way.

He looked good, but then again he always did.

I was sitting at the office one day when my phone rang, “Hello?”

“Girl, you are not going to believe who is coming home!” An excited voice came through on the other end.

“Max Evans.” I said with a thoroughly dejected tone. “Probably with his new girlfriend where he is going to go and have her meet his brother and sister-in-law. This isn’t anything new Maria; it’s close to Izabel’s anniversary. You knew he was going to come home for that.”

“Well you’re right on his coming home, but not about the girlfriend part. He broke up with Tess a while ago. They had some differences and he said that she felt that he was constantly thinking about someone else. He said that he’s sending me a plane ticket to come out and visit you.” She sounded so excited to be visiting.

“Why is he sending you here? Not that I don’t want to see you or anything, it’s just that it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Why not just come visit you in Michigan?” I looked over to my picture wall where there was a picture of Izabel, Max, Maria and I at her interview that her mother took.

“He knew you would need me Liz. He knows how much you miss Izabel and how rough this first year has been on you.” With a tired sigh she continued. “Even though you don’t talk to him much, he still knows what has been going on in your life this past year. We all know how much you have been killing yourself trying to forget the pain you’re in. Liz, he’s really worried about you.”

I turned from the picture on the wall to the one on my desk of Max and Maria, smiling stupidly at the camera with the Grand Canyon expanse behind them. Max had bought tickets for both of us to visit him in California and take a weekend trip with him to Arizona where he had to shoot some post shots for a movie he was wrapping. I made up some excuse why I couldn’t go but the truth was I couldn’t. It still hurt too much, I will always associate Izabel with Max, and I shouldn’t. Somehow I have to separate the two, and if I don’t soon Max is going to pull away for good and I wasn’t sure if I wanted that. His friendship was warm and full, he would do whatever he could for Maria or any of his other friends, or so Maria is constantly telling me.

“Just meet him for lunch, it’s all I’m asking.” Maria interjected into my musings.

I had tried to forget about him but it wasn’t working. My volunteering reminded me of him, work reminded me of him, watching TV reminded me of him, going to the movies. Everything around me pointed to him as my “destiny”, if you believe in such crap. I couldn’t get away from him, so the best thing to do was to go about things slowly. With a resigned sigh, “Fine, I’ll go to lunch with him.”

“You’ll answer his call?”

Damn! “Yeah, I’ll answer the call.” I leaned back in my chair and wondered what he wanted.

“Great!” She sounded so cheerful that it was tiring just listening to her.

Just then the other line beeped in and I saw that it was Max. I squinted my eyes at the caller ID, “Is he with you right now? Are you here?”

“Uh, what? We must have a bad connection… you’re fading in and out.”

“Maria! That’s the lamest…” All I heard was a dial tone. “She can’t lie for shit.” I punched the button for the call waiting. “Hello Max.”

“Liz, how are you?” He sounded hoarse and tired.

“I’m fine, say hi to Maria.” I rolled my eyes and looked out the window. “Where do you want to go for lunch?”

“How about I come over this weekend and make lunch.”

“Max, one step at a time o.k.? Pick a restaurant.” I sat up and put my head in my hand.

There was silence on the other end. With an audible sigh, “Ok, Junior’s in Eagan, it’s quiet and we can talk there.”

“What time.” I looked over at the clock.

“1:00 tomorrow?”

“Yeah, o.k. Sounds good to me.” I stood up and looked over at the calendar on my desk, it was just a couple more weeks until Izabel’s memorial. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I hung the phone back up on the cradle and tried to get back to work but I couldn’t concentrate on anything of consequence.

I called my boss and told him that I was leaving early. He didn’t have any qualms about it since I was taking the next couple of days off for the memorial service then a vacation day on her anniversary. I knew I wouldn’t be able to work on figures or budgets so I didn’t even try.

I went home and straightened my home and put clean sheets on the bed in the spare room since she would be staying with me. I couldn’t wait to have my best friend back with me. It was hard to understand how well Max knew me without me even trying to get to know him. It was like he just knew.

Day turned to night and I had no appetite so I went to bed instead of eating. I tossed and turned until I fell into a fitful sleep with dreams of Max and I with a daughter running around a playground, and Maria shouting at us to come sit down for lunch.

I woke up slowly and exhausted and got ready for my lunch date with Max. I still couldn’t understand how this amazing man had stayed a part of my life even after all the pushing and practically shoving away that I had done. He just wouldn’t leave, and I guess that was what made me love him even more.

We met for lunch at Junior’s Café in Eagan. A small mom and pop shop that had good old American 50’s style food. As I waited at the table in the back I saw a mother and her daughter eating lunch, laughing and giggling over something. Tears started to well up in my eyes thinking about my dream. Max would make a good father.

Giving myself a stiff mental shake I notice that a black SUV pulled up into the parking lot and a tall, brown-haired man got out of the drivers side. Without him pulling off the sunglasses I knew it was him, my heart started to beat a little bit faster. He entered the café and quickly glanced around until he saw me, then a small smile graced his lips and my heart sped up like a freight train. I don’t know how he does it to me but the man can turn me into a pile of goo with a look, glance or smile.

He made his way over to the table and sat down. “Quaint little place.”

“Yeah.” I handed him a menu. “Good food too.”

“How are you? You look tired.” He set his glasses on the table and reached for the menu. Instead he took my hand and kissed the inside of the palm. “I’ve missed you.”

I closed my eyes and let the sensation of his lips carry through my body. “I’ve missed you to.”

“What do you suggest to eat?” He opened the menu and started perusing the items listed.

“Uh, the BBQ brisket is pretty good. I have them put melted cheese on top.” I didn’t have to open the menu in front of me since I already knew what I was getting.

“That does sound good. Haven’t gotten much to eat lately. Anything good at least.” He laughed and put the menu down on the table.

I smiled at the comment; you could see the clothes hanging off his shoulders didn’t fit quiet right anymore. Like I said, he looked thin.

The waitress came over and took our order; we both had the BBQ brisket with cheese and fries. I already knew I was going to take most of it home with me since I still didn’t have much of an appetite.

We made small talk and didn’t touch on the real reason he was here, Izabel. I knew he was dying to ask how the family was and what they had been up to but he was taking it slow.

We finished our meal and sat around talking for a bit more.

“Do you want to go for a walk?” He said putting cash down on the table to cover the bill.

“That would be nice. We can walk around Lemay Lake, it isn’t too far from here.” I got up and pulled my purse onto my shoulder.

“Great, I’ll drive.” He pulled on his sunglasses and headed for the door.

“Actually I live right by there so we can just park at my place.” I walked towards my SUV and indicated that he should follow me.

He nodded and got into his SUV.

We made our way to my house and I parked in the garage. He pulled up behind my car and blocked the garage entrance.

“New place?” He indicated as I met him outside by his vehicle.

“Yeah, I need to get out of my apartment and decided to make the most of my first house purchase. It isn’t too grand but the location is nice and the scenery is wonderful. You should see the deer in the fall, they graze right outside my back window.”

We walked around back and found the rocky trail that had been made by the developers. He let me set the pace, slow and leisurely. I hadn’t taken the time to walk around the lake much lately because I was too busy with everything else, trying to work myself to death to forget.

He walked beside me in silence. Then after a while he pulled my hand in his, I didn’t pull away. His hand simply felt too good to let go of. I could feel the slow and steady pulse at his thumb and we started to walk to the same rhythm.

“We need to talk about Izabel Liz. It isn’t going to go away. I haven’t forgotten and I know you haven’t either.” He looked down at me through his sunglasses.

“I know, it’s just that…” I looked down at the path under my feet. “It’s so hard, everywhere I look, there she is.”

“We can’t bring her back, as much as we want to Liz. She is gone but we can remember her and celebrate her. There are so many things that she wanted to do with her life Liz. Places she wanted to go, people she wanted to see and meet.” He took his sunglasses off and put them in his pocket. “Liz, you need to stop running away from her. From me.” He pulled me to a stop and turned me to face him. “She wanted us to be together Liz. I don’t know why but she knew… somehow that we would be good together.”

“But she was wrong Max!” I tried to wrestle my hands out of his grip but he held strong. “She didn’t know anything about us. We come from two very different worlds, and they can’t co-exist. You live in the spotlight, I…watch from the sidelines at a very far distance.” I tried to move away from him but he wouldn’t let go. “Max please! We can’t do this. It doesn’t make sense… how can it make sense. You’re famous, I’m just a peon to this world.”

He pulled me to him and put my head on his chest. “Let it out Liz. Just let it out. Let me be here for you.”

“I am so angry Max. Why did she get taken from us? Why did she have to die? What right did God have for making such a wonderful little girl sick? It isn’t fair! And no matter what I do I can’t make it right. I can’t make her come back and it’s killing me.” I started to cry, right there on his shoulder, in the middle of the woods, the birds chirping and singing in the trees. I couldn’t seem to breathe anymore… the tears kept on coming and coming.

Max picked me up and made his way back to my house where he got the keys from my pocket and unlocked the door. He then carried me upstairs to my bedroom and sat down on the bed, rocking me like he did in the chapel at the hospital. “Let it out baby, just let it all out.”

I cried until I couldn’t cry anymore. He continued to rock me until I fell asleep. I don’t remember much after that except I woke up a couple hours later with a note and a rose on the bedside stand.

Liz –

I had to get going but know this, you will always be in my heart and I will be here whenever you need me.

I will see you before the memorial service tomorrow. I am picking you and Maria up and we are going to all go together.

Love,
Max

I got up and put the flower in a bud vase from my kitchen and slowly made my way back upstairs. I washed my face, took off my clothes and changed into my pajamas. I decided that the rest of the day would be sitting in front of the fireplace reading or watching the flames. My brain wasn’t going to work anymore, it was just too tired of fighting with Max and Maria, my family telling me to get help. I just didn’t want to do it anymore, I was done fighting.

The next day Maria rang my doorbell and entered my home with her exuberance and cheer. She pulled open all the shades to let the sunlight pour into the house. “You are done mulling about and we are going to make ourselves beautiful for the memorial. It is a party, a celebration of Izabel’s life. And you are not going to mope around and be sad. You know she can see you, she told you that. Can you imagine how pissed she has been the last couple of days?” She came and gave me a huge hug. “Whew girl! When was the last time you showered? And did you take up smoking?”

I explained about me just sitting around by the fireplace and doing basically nothing for the last 24 hours or so. She marched me upstairs to my bedroom and was practically taking off my clothes for me. I stopped her before my undershirt was off and laughing ran into the bathroom and locked it.

“Good to hear you laughing again girl. And don’t come out until you smell all delicious!” I heard her stomp back downstairs to grab her luggage and bring it back up to the spare bedroom. She turned on the stereo and blasted the volume as she started to unpack.

I let the hot water course over my body, letting the soothing heat relax my tense muscles and warm my cold blood. I soaped up and washed every part of my body, I decided that today was the day that I would start to really live. Unless I saw Max again, then I was going to go back into hiding.

I was whistling as I got out of the shower and dried myself off. Maria had turned off the music in the bedroom so she must be done unpacking. I pulled on my Kimono robe that Max had bought me from his trip to Japan last year and tied the belt around my lean waist.

“Maria?” I yelled as I grabbed the lotion off my dresser and made my way downstairs to see if she was in the kitchen.

I heard the water in the downstairs bathroom running so I put one leg up on the ottoman in the living room and squirted some lotion onto my freshly shaved legs. I was in the middle of rubbing in the lotion to moisturize my thigh when I heard the bathroom door open, “Maria?”

“Maria went out for some beverages for later.” A husky voice cleared his throat.

I turned around and saw Max in his black slacks, white button down shirt and then noticed the suit coat laying across the dining room chair, his signature silver necklace glistening off of his tanned neck. I my hands stopped what they were doing as I stared back at Max, who was staring at my legs.

“I see you got the Kimono I sent you. Didn’t know if you would like it or not, but I…”He cleared his throat again, “thought you would look amazing in it.” He took a step towards me.

I put my leg down and stood in front of him. “You’re early. Really early.”

“I wanted to spend some more time with you and Maria before we got to the party.” He made another move towards me.

“I… uh… still need to get dressed.” I shifted uncomfortably under his heated gaze.

“You look perfect.” He moved yet again until he was standing directly in front of me, basically blocking any escape, except through him.

“Max” He put his hand on my face, his thumb covering my lips.

“Liz, don’t.” He started to stroke my cheek, then moved to put his hand behind my neck. He gently massaged the suddenly tense muscles and I felt my blood turn to molten lava as the muscles relaxed and I breathed in his exotic scent.

“Max, I can’t do this. I thought we went through this yesterday, we aren’t right for each other.” I tried to pull away from him but he held firm. “You have to go, I need to get ready.”

“Liz, you’re wrong. We are perfect for each other.” He held my neck in his hand while his other moved from my wrist and slowly up my arm, sending goose bumps along my skin.

“We aren’t Max…” I said weakly as his hand made it’s way past my breast, his thumb gently grazing in through the thin material.

“I’m not going anywhere without you Liz. Don’t you see that when I left…” He looked deep into my eyes, “A part of me stayed here?”

“With Izabel, I understand that.” I tried not to whimper but it came out anyway.

“Not with Izabel Liz, with you.” His hand made it to it’s final destination of my face and gently cupped my cheek. “I love you Liz. I can’t forget you. I tried running away from you. I went to [i/]Japan[/i] to get away from you. I have worked myself almost to death to forget what you do to me.” He leaned in a little closer, I could feel his sweet breath on my face.

“What about Tess?” I closed my eyes and let the feeling of his calloused hands slowly brushing my face.

“Tess? She was just another distraction. I tried to use her to drain all memory of you from me but it didn’t work. Every time we made love Liz… I was picturing you. How you would react to my touch.” His right hand moved from my face and brushed the hair away from my neck. “What sound you would make if I kissed you here.”

He kissed the hollow at the base of my neck. A small moan escaped past my lips before I could stop it.

His hand moved down my back and slowly cupped my buttocks and pulled them towards his hips. I could feel the bulge in his loose fitting slacks; my eyes popped open at the sensation of his lips kissing their way towards my ear. Shivers ran down my spin as he moved away from my ear and nuzzled my cheek. He slowly trailed his lips across my face until he found my lips.

“Liz… I need to know… what… you… taste like.” He put his arms around my back and captured my lips with his.

I moaned deep in my throat, his tongue slowly traced the seam of my lips until they opened for him to plunder. My arms went around his neck and I held on for dear life. I had never been kissed so thoroughly, so tenderly, so passionately. I didn’t know that just kissing someone could send sparks shooting through your entire body, I closed my eyes and saw green, crackling flashes of light.

He lifted my body and pulled my legs around his waist, turned around and made his way to the stairs.

I pulled away from his scorching kiss at the base of the staircase, “Max wait.”

“Liz, don’t think… just feel. Have you ever felt more alive?”

I slowly shook my head.

“Izabel knew what she was doing Liz, listen to your heart, hear her. She is in mine. You are what I want, what I’ve always wanted and never knew I was missing.” He kissed me again and made his way up the stairs.

><><

Later on that evening at Izabel’s Memorial Service…

“Hello Mrs. Watkins, Mr. Watkins.”

“Maria, What a pleasant surprise! Where are Max and Liz, we thought for sure they would be with you.” They each embraced Maria warmly.

“Well, I don’t think they will be coming. But…” She smiled mischievously and looked towards the heavens, “Izabel got her wish.”