Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:28 pm
Hey guys. Alast, I come with more.
Michelle in Yonkers-Wow, that's quite some feedback. Thank you so much for the time it took you to write that. And I totally understand where you are coming from, and don't let me fool you. Liz will suffer for her shortcomings as we all do.
Ok, so enough talking. I'm sure you are all just DYING for my update...lol haha
It's a little short, I will be back with more later.
*******
Chapter Nine – Too Much To Ask
Tess Harding hated mornings. She was usually at work by nine, but that meant getting up at six. Anton took forever and a day to get out of bed. Then she had to bathe, dress, and feed him. Sometimes she thought about giving him up for adoption. But the better part of her knew that she’d no longer have the leverage she does with him. Besides, since she’d had a child, her federal tax return sky rocketed.
So it wasn’t all bad.
She could fake her kid’s illness and leave for the day, early. Anton didn’t get picked up from day-care until around seven. So if she skipped out at lunch, she’d have the whole day to herself. She could go shopping, or treat herself to a nice dinner…before taking on her maternal duties. Anton’s dinner usually consisted of some Top Ramen noodles, a TV dinner, or a sandwich with some Cheetos.
As the alarm clock buzzed on and on, she grumbled inside. Why did she have a child? She could have aborted it throughout her pregnancy. Normally, you can’t after the first trimester, but Tess knew people. The entire time, she had convinced herself that someone would take them both in, give them a home, and she’d never have to lift a finger.
That’s not how it worked out.
She was twenty-seven, single, with a three-year-old, scrawny kid. She rose with a roll of her eyes when she heard Anton calling her.
And thus, the day began.
<center>*****</center>
Michael Parker walked slowly into the living room. He’d heard Liz come in late last night, but hadn’t had the heart to ask her why she was crying. His baby sister curled up next to her son told him she cried herself to sleep, clinging to his nephew.
The alarm clock on her phone began to ring and Liz stirred slightly. Inching towards the couch, Michael knew that Liz was already awake.
“Hey sis.”
“How long have you been there?”
“Just got here.”
Liz curled up next to her son and sighed. The early morning moments were the ones to be cherished. You know, those brief few seconds just as sleep escapes, when yesterday’s happenings and tomorrow’s worries are the farthest thing from your mind. Liz loved those moments. She could hold her beautiful baby and bask in the happiness he brought her. It wasn’t until reality came creeping back and exploded before your eyelids with a vengeance, did you actually have to face the day.
Max.
There was so much to sort through for them. Did she even want to? Should she try for the sake of the family she might save for her son? What about Anton? What if he was his son? Was it all too much? Did she even have the heart to try anymore?
That’s what it came down to, she realized. Not whether or not Max had changed, and not whether or not they were still in love. It was whether or not Liz was willing to try.
“Penny?”
Liz smiled at her older brother. “You’re back early.”
“Like I would miss your twenty-seventh birthday.”
Liz’s eyes widened just before she closed them. That’s right. Today was her birthday. The irony of her current situation just elevated itself.
“Iss your birt-day mommy?” Liz smiled down at her little boy. When she shook her head <i>yes</i>, he threw his arms around her.
“Happy birt-day mommy.” Liz kissed her son and curled back up behind him, not wanting to rise and face the day.
“Wake up, mommy.” Liz closed her eyes tighter, pretending to be asleep. Jamie tugged and pushed at her, but she kept her eyes closed. Finally, he turned to his uncle for help.
“Mommy’s sleeping?” Michael winked at his nephew and motioned for him to get down from the couch. He did as he was told and watched with a twinkle in his eye as his uncle peered down towards his mommy.
Michael slowly moved closer and closer to his baby sister until he was in just the right spot before launching his attack. Liz squealed loudly as her older brother’s fingers connected to her sides and began tickling her relentlessly. She squirmed and screamed for a few minutes before he let up.
Catching her breath, she slid down to the floor, still laughing. Jamie high-fived his uncle on his way to his mommy. Michael excused himself quickly, while Jamie sat down on his mommy’s leg.
“Can we see daddy today?”
There it was. The ultimate truth. Liz would never be able to cut Max out of her life, ever. She made the bold move of introducing the two and giving Jamie a dad. What kind of mother…nay…human being would she be, if she gave a child a father and then took him away? Whatever kind of person that took, Liz didn’t have it in her.
“Sure, baby. We can see daddy today.”
Michael walked back in the room and sat down on his recliner. “So Liz…are you still a Chevelle fan?”
“Only the biggest.”
Michael smiled. “Good, that’s what I thought. Here,” he said as he handed her a red-ribboned box. “Happy birthday, little sister.”
Liz opened the box slowly. Two slim pieces of firm paper fell onto her palms, and when she read it, she began squealing and screaming once more.
“Chevelle tickets? Thank you so much, Michael! Oh my God, look at these seats! How did you get these? They’re sold out! Oh, thank you!” Liz threw herself onto her brother, smothering him with a grateful hug.
“I thought that might take care of the frown on your face.”
Jamie sat down next to Liz and glanced up at her. “Mommy? What’s a Chabelle?”
Liz chuckled. “Sha-vell, sweetie. That’s how you say it. Try it again.”
Jamie drew in a deep breath. “What’s Chevelle?”
“Mommy’s most favorite rock band in the whole world.”
Jamie seemed to ponder that for a few minutes before giving up. He looked around briefly before landing his eyes on his target, the remote control. Flipping on the TV, he became lost in the world of X-Men.
Liz pretended to watch the cartoon with her son. Michael was staring at her, wondering why she wasn’t happy. She didn’t feel like talking about it. Would he leave it alone?
Do you have any older siblings? Do they <i>ever</i> just leave it alone?
“What’s wrong, Liz?”
Question answered.
“Life, big brother. Life is what’s wrong.”
Liz was pleasantly surprised when Michael seemed to accept that answer. He didn’t push her. For the first time in twenty-seven years, he actually didn’t push until he got all the information he wanted.
What was that about?
Jamie moved from his mommy to his uncle. Snuggling against Uncle Mikey, the two became lost in the world of mutants and extraordinary powers.
*****
“You know I’ve always loved you.” He couldn’t believe his ears. She was really here, in his arms, professing her undying love.
“Daddy, will you come play with me?” Max turned his head to meet his son’s eyes. Jamie was standing still, holding a catcher’s mitt and a baseball.
Max turned his body and reached for Liz’s hand. “You’re such a wonderful husband, Max. I couldn’t ask for more.”
As Max neared his son, the little boy launched himself at his dad. Max let out a deep throaty laugh as Liz tackled him from behind. Rolling on the ground with his wife and his son, Max had never felt so at peace.
<i>Ring Ring Ring</i>
He ignored the sound, not wanting to ever leave the serenity of this place. Liz’s deep laugh echoed in his ear while his son squirmed under him. Complete and happy, he never felt better.
<i>Ring Ring Ring</i>
Awake.
Max was awake now.
It had been a dream.
He closed his eyes and reached for the phone.
*****
TBC~~~
Michelle in Yonkers-Wow, that's quite some feedback. Thank you so much for the time it took you to write that. And I totally understand where you are coming from, and don't let me fool you. Liz will suffer for her shortcomings as we all do.
Ok, so enough talking. I'm sure you are all just DYING for my update...lol haha
It's a little short, I will be back with more later.
*******
Chapter Nine – Too Much To Ask
Tess Harding hated mornings. She was usually at work by nine, but that meant getting up at six. Anton took forever and a day to get out of bed. Then she had to bathe, dress, and feed him. Sometimes she thought about giving him up for adoption. But the better part of her knew that she’d no longer have the leverage she does with him. Besides, since she’d had a child, her federal tax return sky rocketed.
So it wasn’t all bad.
She could fake her kid’s illness and leave for the day, early. Anton didn’t get picked up from day-care until around seven. So if she skipped out at lunch, she’d have the whole day to herself. She could go shopping, or treat herself to a nice dinner…before taking on her maternal duties. Anton’s dinner usually consisted of some Top Ramen noodles, a TV dinner, or a sandwich with some Cheetos.
As the alarm clock buzzed on and on, she grumbled inside. Why did she have a child? She could have aborted it throughout her pregnancy. Normally, you can’t after the first trimester, but Tess knew people. The entire time, she had convinced herself that someone would take them both in, give them a home, and she’d never have to lift a finger.
That’s not how it worked out.
She was twenty-seven, single, with a three-year-old, scrawny kid. She rose with a roll of her eyes when she heard Anton calling her.
And thus, the day began.
<center>*****</center>
Michael Parker walked slowly into the living room. He’d heard Liz come in late last night, but hadn’t had the heart to ask her why she was crying. His baby sister curled up next to her son told him she cried herself to sleep, clinging to his nephew.
The alarm clock on her phone began to ring and Liz stirred slightly. Inching towards the couch, Michael knew that Liz was already awake.
“Hey sis.”
“How long have you been there?”
“Just got here.”
Liz curled up next to her son and sighed. The early morning moments were the ones to be cherished. You know, those brief few seconds just as sleep escapes, when yesterday’s happenings and tomorrow’s worries are the farthest thing from your mind. Liz loved those moments. She could hold her beautiful baby and bask in the happiness he brought her. It wasn’t until reality came creeping back and exploded before your eyelids with a vengeance, did you actually have to face the day.
Max.
There was so much to sort through for them. Did she even want to? Should she try for the sake of the family she might save for her son? What about Anton? What if he was his son? Was it all too much? Did she even have the heart to try anymore?
That’s what it came down to, she realized. Not whether or not Max had changed, and not whether or not they were still in love. It was whether or not Liz was willing to try.
“Penny?”
Liz smiled at her older brother. “You’re back early.”
“Like I would miss your twenty-seventh birthday.”
Liz’s eyes widened just before she closed them. That’s right. Today was her birthday. The irony of her current situation just elevated itself.
“Iss your birt-day mommy?” Liz smiled down at her little boy. When she shook her head <i>yes</i>, he threw his arms around her.
“Happy birt-day mommy.” Liz kissed her son and curled back up behind him, not wanting to rise and face the day.
“Wake up, mommy.” Liz closed her eyes tighter, pretending to be asleep. Jamie tugged and pushed at her, but she kept her eyes closed. Finally, he turned to his uncle for help.
“Mommy’s sleeping?” Michael winked at his nephew and motioned for him to get down from the couch. He did as he was told and watched with a twinkle in his eye as his uncle peered down towards his mommy.
Michael slowly moved closer and closer to his baby sister until he was in just the right spot before launching his attack. Liz squealed loudly as her older brother’s fingers connected to her sides and began tickling her relentlessly. She squirmed and screamed for a few minutes before he let up.
Catching her breath, she slid down to the floor, still laughing. Jamie high-fived his uncle on his way to his mommy. Michael excused himself quickly, while Jamie sat down on his mommy’s leg.
“Can we see daddy today?”
There it was. The ultimate truth. Liz would never be able to cut Max out of her life, ever. She made the bold move of introducing the two and giving Jamie a dad. What kind of mother…nay…human being would she be, if she gave a child a father and then took him away? Whatever kind of person that took, Liz didn’t have it in her.
“Sure, baby. We can see daddy today.”
Michael walked back in the room and sat down on his recliner. “So Liz…are you still a Chevelle fan?”
“Only the biggest.”
Michael smiled. “Good, that’s what I thought. Here,” he said as he handed her a red-ribboned box. “Happy birthday, little sister.”
Liz opened the box slowly. Two slim pieces of firm paper fell onto her palms, and when she read it, she began squealing and screaming once more.
“Chevelle tickets? Thank you so much, Michael! Oh my God, look at these seats! How did you get these? They’re sold out! Oh, thank you!” Liz threw herself onto her brother, smothering him with a grateful hug.
“I thought that might take care of the frown on your face.”
Jamie sat down next to Liz and glanced up at her. “Mommy? What’s a Chabelle?”
Liz chuckled. “Sha-vell, sweetie. That’s how you say it. Try it again.”
Jamie drew in a deep breath. “What’s Chevelle?”
“Mommy’s most favorite rock band in the whole world.”
Jamie seemed to ponder that for a few minutes before giving up. He looked around briefly before landing his eyes on his target, the remote control. Flipping on the TV, he became lost in the world of X-Men.
Liz pretended to watch the cartoon with her son. Michael was staring at her, wondering why she wasn’t happy. She didn’t feel like talking about it. Would he leave it alone?
Do you have any older siblings? Do they <i>ever</i> just leave it alone?
“What’s wrong, Liz?”
Question answered.
“Life, big brother. Life is what’s wrong.”
Liz was pleasantly surprised when Michael seemed to accept that answer. He didn’t push her. For the first time in twenty-seven years, he actually didn’t push until he got all the information he wanted.
What was that about?
Jamie moved from his mommy to his uncle. Snuggling against Uncle Mikey, the two became lost in the world of mutants and extraordinary powers.
*****
“You know I’ve always loved you.” He couldn’t believe his ears. She was really here, in his arms, professing her undying love.
“Daddy, will you come play with me?” Max turned his head to meet his son’s eyes. Jamie was standing still, holding a catcher’s mitt and a baseball.
Max turned his body and reached for Liz’s hand. “You’re such a wonderful husband, Max. I couldn’t ask for more.”
As Max neared his son, the little boy launched himself at his dad. Max let out a deep throaty laugh as Liz tackled him from behind. Rolling on the ground with his wife and his son, Max had never felt so at peace.
<i>Ring Ring Ring</i>
He ignored the sound, not wanting to ever leave the serenity of this place. Liz’s deep laugh echoed in his ear while his son squirmed under him. Complete and happy, he never felt better.
<i>Ring Ring Ring</i>
Awake.
Max was awake now.
It had been a dream.
He closed his eyes and reached for the phone.
*****
TBC~~~