While Grace hummed and hawed over the question Camryn had posed to her, Beth and Maria were walking into the Crashdown where Kyle sat at a booth. The café was bustling, as they all looked at her oddly and Beth didn’t know if she was getting used to it or letting it slide off her as it was a tough call and seemly daily part of being here in Roswell. “Maybe we should have gone somewhere else…”
“The people will get used to it,” Maria encouraged. “Afterall you are the talk of the town and eventually it will become old news. We haven’t given the town much to talk about over the years, and you showing up alive is going to be something they talk about. You’re going to get used to it, don’t worry. So, Valenti any disasters reporting from your wife yet?”
“Nope,” Kyle smiled. “Isabel was just arriving at Phillip and Diane’s as we spoke, and I believe Michael had already arrived, so I guess that is where Max took the twins first…”
“Really?” Beth asked as she sat down in the booth across from Kyle. Maria sat next to her. “That’s promising.”
“Really Beth you don’t have to worry about it. We talk about the disaster possibilities, but they rarely happen. And if they do step on a landmine, Isabel will be there to talk them through it,” Kyle assured Beth.
“I guess,” Beth said to Maria’s laughter.
“You’re not that reassuring Kyle,” Maria laughed at Kyle. “But I guess I wasn’t that much better, earlier, either. So, where are your collection of kids today?”
“All are at their friend’s houses, so I have some freedom. Isabel was doing some boutique business before heading to her parent’s place. I was just doing catch up in terms of work as I am due back tomorrow.”
“So, back to real life?” Beth asked.
“Yup,” Kyle smiled. “What are you doing about work?” he asked curiously to Beth. “You have a big job back in New Haven.”
“Luckily I haven’t taken much vacation in a long time,” Beth murmured. “So, I have earned leave that I am taking, but eventually it’s going to end, and I’ll have to go home and even if I didn’t, the kids do have to get back to school as they have end of their semester approaching as they finish junior high and prepare for high school.”
“When do you think you’re headed back?” Maria asked. She didn’t relish losing Beth to Connecticut and knew Max didn’t either, which was good that he was getting to know the twins before they did happen to leave.
“I really don’t know. I came here without a plan thanks to Alexandra’s trip here… So, I am taking it day by day.”
“I hope you don’t stay away if you do go back,” Kyle said as he liked being able to look at Liz again and even her new identity was reassuring to know they still have a chance to have her in their lives.
“Something tells me I won’t be able to stay away, but still Madison is home. I don’t know how to describe Roswell yet…”
“It’s still very new,” Maria assured her friend. “How you see your hometown will eventually set in.”
“I hope so,” Beth said as they ordered some lunch.
*
“You outdid yourself Mom,” Isabel smiled as she walked into the kitchen and saw the treats and other delights that her mother had prepared for dessert. “Sorry I missed brunch,” she smiled as she gave her mother a hug. “Work beckoned, so how was it?”
“They are so much like Max honey,” Diane said softly. “It’s unbelievable the chance your brother has.”
“I know,” Isabel smiled. “It’s a miracle. And I hope it works out for him. I have noticed how much they are like both Max and Liz.”
“Carrie definitely is one step ahead most time and is a big risk taker. Alexandra is more reserved, just like your brother” Diane commented. “Not that Alexandra doesn’t want to take a risk at times.”
“They have traits of both parents,” Isabel commented. “I am glad you and Dad are having a chance to get to know them.”
“Me too,” Diane said. “Do you really think Liz will take the girls back to Connecticut?”
“Eventually but how long they stay, that is an open question. And if they do, I don’t think you have to worry about losing out on them in your life. Max isn’t going to let that happen. It’s still early of course, but I don’t think we have to worry about losing them…”
“I hope not,” Diane whispered as out in the living room Alexandra was debating with Phillip a recent immigration legal case while Carrie was observing Max and Michael talking as she took a cookie from the table.
“Your sister is really knowledgeable about that stuff,” Max commented to Carrie as he spotted Alexandra in a debate with his father. “Do you care about that stuff…”
“Alex is always like that, it’s crazy” Carrie commented. “She’s always liked watching the law shows and doing research on legal cases for fun, but me, not so much… She loves school, and most of the time I could leave it.”
“Smart girl,” Michael quipped. “School wasn’t never a fan of me. But your parents, well, they loved it.”
“Did you?” Carrie asked as she focused on her father. “I always assumed Mom did because despite her lack of memory, she did become a doctor after all. But did you?”
“Your mother was a fan of the academics. I always did well, as she craved the knowledge, but I guess I just had the aptitude for school and yet I never liked it one way or another, but I did well…”
“Cool,” Carrie smirked.
Michael knew Carrie had the action gene from both parents and Alexandra was reserved but was known to take a giant risk via a safer route while he didn’t know if Carrie had done what Alexandra did to get to Roswell whether she would have taken the safer route. It was fun to watch, although given he had a risk taker for a daughter he didn’t know if he should be rooting for it.
“So, what are we going to do when we leave here?” Carrie asked.
“I have some ideas,” Max said. “I thought you would like a tour… a different one that you have been exposed to before…”
“How is that?” Carrie asked.
“You will see,” Max smiled as he glanced over at Michael as they exchanged a knowing look.
“Okay, what do you have planned?” Carrie asked.
“You will see…” Michael confirmed.
*
“You don’t have to worry about me Camryn,” Grace smiled as she sat in her hospital bed after a pause to consider whether she wanted to answer the question. “If I skip out on Yale and Harvard which are right now just pipe dreams, but if they don’t come to be… it won’t be because a boy is keeping me here…” she murmured as she looked at Jake who only shook his head.
“What would keep you here?” Camryn asked as she looked at Jake who only shook his head in agreement with Grace and yet she wondered if they were telling the truth.
“My life is pretty complicated right now, and who knows how it will be when it is time for university. It might just be my destiny to stay here in Roswell for awhile… and it won’t because some guy might be here or elsewhere for that matter.”
“You would give up on Yale and Harvard because your life is too complicated.”
“Camryn, and while it is true that Grace’s life is complicated right now. I don’t think she has made any firm decisions because unlike us, she has time on her side. But life has a habit of happening whether we want to or not. We can only concentrate on the now, right?”
“Right,” Camryn nodded.
“Why don’t we go back to my room and we can discuss those classes I am missing that we share,” Jake said as he wanted to give Grace a out from talking about how her life might be complicated.
“Sure,” Camryn nodded. “You’re looking stronger Grace; I hope you’re out of here very soon.”
“Me too,” Grace smiled. “Jake I will be seeing you.”
“That you will,” Jake said with a wide smile as he and Camryn turned and maneuvered out of the room and left Grace thinking about the future. It was a reminder of the fact she and Jake were on two very different tracks, and she didn’t know how it would work out.
“Sure, go in” she heard out loud as her mind came back to reality and she tried to leave the negative thoughts of Jake not being in Roswell. She knew it had to be someone knew because Jake rarely spoke loudly, as she guarded her attention towards the door and her eyes first glanced her godmother. “Aunt Maria.”
Then she saw her mother, “Oh, hello…” she murmured as Maria and Beth walked in.
“I am only here for a moment before I got and see how my son is handling his recovery?” Maria quipped. “I just wanted to say hello.”
“Jake looks to be handling things fine,” Grace assured Maria as she glanced at Beth who looked at her daughter with a wariness that the girl expected. “Where are Alexandra and Carrie?” she asked of her sisters.
“They went off with your father on some adventure,” Beth said. “I’ll bring them around tomorrow since I don’t know when they will be back. If that is what you want?”
“I would like to see them,” Grace nodded. “So how is the adjusting to you know Roswell?”
“It’s weird,” Beth said.
“That sums up Roswell alright,” Grace said with a smile at her aunt.
“Who was that with Jake we saw on our way to your room,” Beth asked as she tried to be friendly with Grace and not bring the awkward undercurrent they had at the moment as she tried to get used to the fact she had a sixteen year old for a daughter when she was so used to the twins, and the innocence of their youth. She knew Grace had experienced a lot in her sixteen years.
“Jake’s ex,” Grace muttered.
“Camryn,” Maria smiled. “Which reminds me I better go and make sure my son is alright. I have no idea wat he is up to.”
“Camryn only came to visit.” Grace sighed. “I think they were going to discuss something about school or something…”
“Or something is what I am afraid of,” Maria cracked. “As you know Jake is never concerned about school and has never been, which makes him very Michael…” she murmured as she left the room to leave Beth alone with her daughter while they both tried to navigate the boundaries that existed with two people who didn’t know each other.
“How are you doing?” Beth asked.
“Better,” Grace acknowledged as she felt strange being in the room with her biological mother; a woman she hadn’t seen since she was two years ago until only days ago. It was a strange situation to be in, and she knew it had to be awkward for Beth as well… “I am getting some feeling back, but it’s taking longer than I want it to be…”
“At least it’s movement,” Beth smiled.
“That it is,” Grace allowed. “It’s strange to have to sit around here in bed. I have been able to get out and roam the hospital in my wheelchair but still I am not used to being forced to sit still and it is taking some getting used to.
“The doctors know what they are talking about…” Beth said with a smile.
“Generally, but then I have always been different… so it’s hard to navigate from that frame of mind” Grace admitted. “Are you okay staying at Dad’s?”
“It’s definitely odd. But your father has been really accommodating and keen on making us comfortable. Are you sure you’re okay with it? I know it was only sprung on you after it was decided.”
“It’s Dad’s house. He makes the decisions.”
“It’s your house also Grace. If you’re uncomfortable, we can find somewhere else to go when you’re released.” Beth asked as she knew how it was awkward between them and she didn’t want to put any barriers to the recovery.
“I am fine with it. It was just a surprise to find out the way I did,” Grace admitted as she knew she had time to dwell on it and knew she was getting closer to the acceptance. “But when I think about it. Our house is pretty comfortable, and you guys will be safe there while you figure out where to go from here…”
“We wouldn’t have done it this way if my room hadn’t been trashed,” Beth admitted and saw the frown approaching Grace’s face.
“What?” Grace asked.
“Oh,” Beth asked. “You didn’t know?”
“No,” Grace asked. “Obviously Dad didn’t tell me, so what happened?” asked many things were running through her mind, and none were good.
“I don’t know,” Beth said as she knew if Max hadn’t told his daughter than she needed to be prudent with what she revealed to the teenager. “We got back to the motel, and my room was turned over. And a message was left…” she said tentatively.
“What kind of message?” Grace asked as her blood pressure spiked.
“It’s nothing to be concerned about. I am not abiding by it anyways, so it doesn’t matter but I was concerned about the safety of myself and the girls and your father offered to have us stay at your place until I make a decision about the length of our visit.”
“Are the twins okay?” Grace asked.
“Oh, their room wasn’t touched. It was just mine…” Beth said softly. “Truly, Grace you don’t have to worry about it. We’re fine and will continue to be fine” she said as she knew she was slightly a hypocrite when she was just voicing her concern about staying in Roswell with newest threat at the hospital.
“I guess I am sensitive since I was also attacked a few days ago” Grace muttered. “And given someone made sure you disappeared from our lives when I was a small kid”. “But Dad is determined to make sure everything is okay.”
“He loves you, and he wants to help…” Beth asked.
Grace nodded. “So, what is Dad up to?” she asked as she tried to divert from weightier issues and tried to get back to something positive.
“Don’t know, all he said was he wanted to give the girls some time to see Roswell. I do know he stopped by your grandparents Evans for a little while…”
“Oh, cool.” Grace smiled. “Grandma Diane and Grandpa Phillip are great. They are going to love any kind of visit.”
“So, they are great grandparents?” Beth asked.
“Awesome. Both sets are great to me, and I don’t see them enough as because I work at the Crashdown I see my Parker grandparents more…” Grace thought as she pictured both sets of her grandparents. “So, I am very lucky…”
“You’re loved…”
“You were too…” Grace murmured. “Grandpa and Grandma Parker missed you very much all these years. Whoever arrange this must have hated Dad a lot to put us through all this pain…” she sighed, and Beth felt confused because she still felt no attachment to the names although she did with Grace and yet their bond was still so reluctant and awkward.
“I will everything about the last fourteen years had been different, in so many ways” Beth murmured. “Did you have a good life…”
“With Dad, the best” Grace gushed. “Things may look tense right now, but he was an awesome dad and I don’t know how much life could have like it was without him. He did the best he could under the circumstances, and I wish things could have been easier for him, but he tried, and I will always appreciate it…”
“I am glad…” Beth nodded as she wondered just what Max was up to with the twins. “What do you think your father will do with the twins?”
“Knowing Dad, he’ll give them a lesson on who we are and why it’s best to keep it a secret at all cost, and to be careful. Not to say his lessons have been that helpful to me or Elizabeth this past week but at least we know we should always be careful unless we’re threatened and then its truly anyone’s guess what will happen.”
“Is that why you didn’t tell your father what happened to you on New Year’s Eve?” Beth asked softly.
“Definitely. If they knew. Tommy would have disappeared before now, and there is no telling what our crew would have done if they had known what had happened to me and I couldn’t allow it and I wish I had told someone because who knows what might have happened if I had told someone…”
“Are you talking about your baby?” Beth asked.
“Somewhat,” Grace sighed as she thought of the baby that wasn’t meant to be…
*
“What is this place?” Alexandra asked as they got out of a car and looked at the surroundings they had driven to with Max and Michael. There was nothing to be seen except a bunch of caves, and chambers Alexandra thought. A lot of desert sand but nothing of anything significance the teenager thought as she turned to face her father and Michael. “So, what gives, why are we here?”
“Because it’s something important and we figured it was time you knew what it meant for us to be out here…” Max said as he glanced at Michael who nodded. They both knew it was time for the twins to know everything, every nitty gritty bit of their family heritage whether they were truly able to process it or not. The original generation grew up with this from a certain age, and all the newest generation had experienced it and now Alexandra and Carrie were going to be introduced to it.
“How so,” Alexandra asked curious of where they stood. Carrie was pacing and looking at the rocks, but Alexandra knew something was up on why they were here with their father, and Michael.
“Because this is where I was born, along with Michael and your aunt Isabel.” Max admitted out loud to the jaw dropping fascination of the twins as they let it soak in. “I know how it may sound. That it sounds crazy.”
“That is an understatement,” Carrie murmured as she stared at Alexandra who was assessing the information all scientifically in her brain while she just felt bulldozed. “That’s like impossible, right?” she wondered. “How is that possible?”
“Michael,” Alexandra asked.
“What your father means is up there, in that chamber?” Michael asked he pointed up a hit of caverns and chambers as the twins were quick to look up. “Yes, I know how it sounds and to most, it would sound crazy but to select few that you two are now introduced into, well, it’s not because it’s very real. Right Max?”
“Right,” Max nodded as he knew how this was looking to the twins. Carrie was bewildered by it he knew but Alexandra seemed to be processing it and trying to look at it like it was very real. Something Liz would do back in the beginning. Liz was shocked of course by the sudden changes in her life, but she never doubted it and always was curious about it to the detriment of their relationship at times but that was what he always loved about Liz was that she accepted him, and didn’t think it was wrong… “Alexandra, how are you handling it?”
“It’s unique I grant you,” Alexandra said as she looked at the men and then at her sister. “You said you were found at age six and adopted by Grandma and Grandpa?”
“Yes,” Max nodded. “After a stint in foster care, but we came out of the chambers when we were six.”
“How is that possible?” Carrie asked as she didn’t look at it all scientifically and she knew that would be the outlook of her sister, but she looked at it like any human, how is that possible she mused.
“It’s possible” Michael confirmed. “Max.”
“Right,” Max nodded. “Come on, we have to show you more before get into the how’s and why’s?”
“I guess,” Carrie muttered as Alexandra looked at where they were walking and knew they were learning things that would change the lives they had bee living, and they would have to figure out how to deal with the newest information and it wasn’t as easy as a birth father’s coming into their lives, not by a long shot as she followed her father up the path way to a bunch of rocks.
Max put his handprint up at a certain point on the rock, and a handprint showed, and the jaws dropped of the twins. Michael noticed. “You get used to it.”
Suddenly the rock moved, and a door opened into the chamber. Carrie and Alexandra looked like they weren’t ready for this and yet they were, as they felt like they were walking into a science fiction movie.