Chapter 20
“Is he nice?” Hannah asked the next morning.
“Yes.” Liz said as she parted Hannah’s hair carefully.
“Does he like little girls?” Hannah jerked back when Liz found a tangle.
“Sorry.” Liz murmured. “Yes, he does.” Or at least she thought he did.
“I’m scared.” Hannah admitted finally.
“I know.” Liz bent down after tying the last ribbon. “I’m a little nervous too, but it will be ok.”
“Ok.” Hannah nodded. “I’m hungry.”
”Me, too, let’s go find something to eat before we go.” Liz took her hand and led her out to the kitchen.
“You look cute, Hannah.” Serena complimented from the table.
“Thank you.” Hannah smiled. “I’m going to meet my d…M…” She was quiet. She didn’t know what to call him.
“We’re going to see Max.” Liz said worriedly. They hadn’t discussed what they were going to call him.
“yeah.” Hannah agreed.
“What are your plans.”
“Nothing for today. I was thinking of going over to harass Alex and Maria.” She stood and stretched.
“We’ve got to go, Hannah.” Liz grabbed her purse.
“Coming.” Hannah hopped down from the seat.
“Alright, you ready?” Liz asked one more time.
“Yep.” Hannah nodded.
“Good luck, Liz.” Serena whispered to her as she hugged Liz.
“Thank you.” Liz shut the door behind her.
****
“You are not going to wear a tie are you?” Isabel asked pointedly.
“Why not?”
“Max, she’s four.” Isabel laughed. “Go casual.”
“But.”
“Max, she’s not a client you’re going to meet, this is your daughter. No fronts, just be yourself.”
Max nodded and tried to take it in, no fronts, just be himself.
The dog lay sprawled across his freshly made bed her huge eyes staring him down.
“I’m just 0nervous I’m going to screw everything up.” He admitted.
“You’re not.” Isabel assured him. “Good luck.”
“I’ll need it.” Max said on his way out the door.
****
Max watched as Liz got out of the car and walked around it to the opposite back door. She ducked inside for a span of thirty seconds and then straightened. A tiny hand popped out of the car and Liz took it easily and helped the small girl to the ground.
Hannah smoothed her dress as Aunt Maria had taught her and pushed her hair clip further in.
"Hannah, don't fuss with it." Liz bent down to her level and fixed the clip quickly and made sure her hair lay nicely.
"I'm ready, Mommy." Hannah said when Liz stood.
"Good." Liz took a breath, she wasn't sure she was.
She turned towards the park and immediately saw him. He was dressed casually, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, khaki slacks. He looked every bit the lawyer that he was, according to Isabel in the few short months he'd been practicing he'd already begun to make an impression in the world of Law.
"Come on." Liz took her hand and led her towards the park bench where Max sat patiently waiting.
Hannah's sandaled feet began to grow slower as they neared the bench where Max stood.
Liz gave her a little tug, telling her to keep up with her or else.
Hannah picked up the pace and kept closely tucked into the side of her mother.
Max stared down at his daughter as they neared. She was dressed in a lavender sundress. Her hair lay flattened clipped neatly to the side with two hair clips. Her feet her in white strappy sandals that all little girls wear.
She looked up at him and it was like looking into a mirror.
Max stared down at her and his eyes held as much shock as hers did. Not knowing what to say Max looked at Liz for help.
Needing to bridge the gap, Liz knelt down to Hannah and spoke softly. "Hannah, this is your father, Max." She stated when she stood again.
Max's heart beat hard in his chest at the introduction. He was a father! And this was his baby girl! It was just beginning to fully dawn on him. He turned to study Liz once more. Her stance was protective that of a mother bear waiting for him to make the slightest of a wrong move. She had an air of strength around her as she held tightly to the little girl's hand.
"Hi." Max broke the silence. He also knelt down next to Hannah. "You must be Hannah."
Hannah nodded and pushed her head deeply into Liz's pant leg.
Trying again, Max didn't even bother to glance at Liz, he could do this himself. "You don't know me very well, and I don't know you." He said quietly.
She still didn't budge. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea Liz thought she was going to squat down next to Max to help but a quick shake from his head told her not to.
"I always imagined what you looked like, Hannah. I knew you'd be just as pretty as your mother." He tried. This was difficult!
She turned her head to peek at him.
It was working!
"I was hoping that you'd get your mother's long pretty hair, I knew for sure, you'd get her cute little nose that tends to get really cold in the winter, and I knew you'd probably get my ears. Sorry about that one, kid." He tried to joke. "But I think they look very cute on a little girl."
He now had Hannah's full attention. She was turned to face him with just one hand holding tight to Liz.
"You forgot something." Hannah spoke softly.
"What?" Max feigned ignorance. "Well, your chin, that is completely Miss Hannah Bella-Marie Parker's. And I can see, from those ears of yours, you must be very smart. Although, that too would have to be all Hannah, yes?"
She giggled, slightly, and her mouth curved up. "You still forgot something."
"Hmmm, let me think." Now he really was at a loss. "I talked about your ears, nose, chin, and hair. What else is there?"
"Eyes! We have the same eyes." She pointed then reached out and pointed to his.
"Oh, yes. We have the same eyes." He nodded solemnly. "Those are very important. Good thing you're so smart to remember them."
She blushed and looked up at her mother. She took a tentative step away from Liz and towards Max.
Max stood and held out his hand, maybe she would take it. "Would you like to go for a walk? I'd be honored if two lovely ladies would accompany me."
Hannah nodded and without thinking slid her hand into his outstretched one.
It was so much bigger than her mommy's! Her hand was swallowed by it, almost like Kyle's or Uncle Alex's. But it didn't frighten her at all.
"I'll stay back here. You two can go along by yourself."
Hannah looked cautiously at her mother than back at Max.
"It's up to you, Hannah. If you want your mommy to come, she's more than welcome too, although we're not going far."
Hannah thought for a moment. "Come, Mommy." She held out her other hand.
This hand felt so much more familiar, so much more comforting.
"So, I here you're going to be a kindergartener." Max started.
"Yep." Hannah and Max talked the entire time; Liz only spoke when directly asked a question. She observed there interaction feeling almost normal, except in the way Hannah kept glancing to see if she was there.
Liz contemplated on what her next step would be. She knew she'd have to tell Max sometime, but she wasn’t sure when. And if she wasn't quick about it, Hannah might let it slip first. Even now her walking slowed a bit, her breathing came more labored.
“Why don’t we take a rest?” Liz suggested at the bench.
There was something in her voice that didn’t sound at all like a suggestion and Max immediately found a bench to sit on.
Max studied the way Hannah dragged in great gasps of air and told himself he’d have to learn to walk slower. Her tiny little legs couldn’t carry her as fast as his long one’s could.
Liz prayed he hadn’t noticed anything out of sorts.
A Different Kind of Life (AU,M/L,TEEN) Pt 42 [COMPLETE]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Rowedog, ISLANDGIRL5, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, FSU/MSW-94, Erina, Hunter, Forum Moderators
Chapter 21
Hannah yawned in between sentences and her eyes started drooping.
“Tired, Hannah?” Liz asked, as she started to lean on her more.
“Yeah, and hungry.” She nodded not at all deterred. “Grandma Amy takes me to the zoo sometimes.”
“Have you ever been to the big zoo, down in San Diego, I think it is?” Max asked. He wanted to lift her into his lap and cradle her as her eyes drooped.
“Not yet. Mommy said when it’s almost Christmas, then I don’t have school. I start next week.” She told her.
“That should be fun.” Max acknowledged.
“Maybe you could come too.” Hannah suggested.
“Maybe.” Max looked down at his hands.
“Hannah, you’re falling asleep, I think it’s time that we go.” The talking had very obviously drained her energy.
Hannah started to protest then nodded her head. “Alright.”
Max stood first and Liz scooted Hannah off her lap. Max reached automatically to help Liz stand and then second their hands touched sparks flew. It was the first time any contact had been made between the two of them since he had shown up.
Their eyes locked and there was nothing in the world. Liz’s breath caught in her throat. She had forgotten what it was to feel this kind of love. That’s what it was. That’s the only thing it could be.
With Kyle there was love, but she wasn’t in love with him. He was comfortable, and steady never a doubt that he would be there.
“Mommy.” Hannah called staring at both her parents.
Max’s heart was beating a mile a minutes. The look in Liz’s eyes was something he had wanted to see again for the past five years. She still loved him! He didn’t know why or how, but she did. A little flame of hope grew in his heart. He didn’t deserve her, but he would try to win her back.
“Mommy!” Hannah stomped her foot this time, becoming impatient.
Liz snatched her hand back, but not before Max had time to give her a warning squeeze.
Her eyes met his once more, a warning in her own eyes, then down at Hannah.
“I’m sorry, Hannah bean, you ready to go?”
“Yes.” Hannah looked curiously between the two of them.
They walked slowly back to the car, and when they were half way there, Liz leaned down and picked up Hannah.
The girl was so tiny. Max smiled, so was her mother.
When they reached the car, Hannah hopped down from her arms and threw her arms around Max’s waist. “Bye.”
For the third time that day Max’s heart jumped. His toddler was hugging him. Her arms were small and barely surrounded him but he felt totally engulfed by her. He ran a hand through her hair, baby soft.
“Goodbye, Little girl.” He smiled.
She smiled back before climbing into the car.
Liz buckled her in and turned to face Max.
“Thank you, Liz.” He blurted before she could say anything.
“Max.” Was all she could say. “Again, next week?”
He nodded. “That would be wonderful. She’s wonderful, Liz.” He absently reached up and brushed her hair behind her ear.
“I know.” Liz said looking into his eyes.
“You did a wonderful job so far.” He told her, his face utterly sincere.
“Thank you.” So many people have told her that, but coming from him, it meant something different.
“I’ll see you next week then.” He turned to leave.
“How about Tuesday, after her first day of school. I took the day off so I could take her and pick her up.” She said without stopping to think. “She’d really enjoy that. It’ll be a surprise.”
Max paused. He thought about his schedule. “What time?”
“She gets out at noon.” Liz said, trying to keep her voice from sounding to hopeful. God, she wanted it so bad.
His face lit up. “I can do it.” He nodded.
“Great.” She wanted to throw her arms around him.
“I’ll pick you up at your house if you want, at say eleven?” He asked.
She stared at him. “Sure.” A whole hour early! What could he be planning?
****
Liz walked into the apartment smiling, Hannah sleeping in her arms.
Her smile faded when she noticed Serena and Kyle in a face off.
“Damn it, Serena.” Kyle answered. “We’ve gone over this a hundred times!” Kyle stocked towards her and leaned on the counter. His voice lowered, tenderly. “Serena, you know I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“Kyle, explain to me again.” Serena threw her pan into the sink as she shrugged away from him.
“Do, explain, Kyle.” Liz said. “But please wait till I lay my daughter down.” She stalked from the room.
“Dear God, Kyle! I didn’t know she would be home so soon.” Serena whispered and leaned against the counter.
“I didn’t either.” He said.
Liz strode back into the room purposefully and sat down at the table. “Now, would you like to explain whatever it was we were going to explain?” She rested her hand on her chin and crossed her legs and stared at them intently.
“Kyle almost made me lose a patient today.” Serena said slowly, giving Kyle a look of disgust. “He neglected to inform me that my patient was allergic to morphine.”
Kyle nodded slowly. “You caught it in time.”
“Kyle!” Serena turned and walked into her room slamming the door as effectively as possible without waking Hannah.
Liz stared at the door. “Since when do you talk to Serena?” Liz asked. She didn’t necessarily care the whys or how, she was actually quite glad. But she was certain something had been going on when she walked into the room.
“Since she almost lost that patient. Now she hates me even more.” Kyle said looking at the door. “I honestly didn’t realize that patient was allergic.” He shrugged. “And it was caught before it was administered.”
“I’ve got to get back to the hospital. Hopefully the word didn’t spread else we’ll be sued for malpractice.” He said. He kissed her lightly on the head and left the apartment.
Standing, Liz decided to get to the bottom of this. She knew for a fact Kyle would never forget something like that, and she knew for a fact Serena couldn’t stay in the same room with a person she was lying to.
“Serena, will you keep an eye on Hannah, I’m going across the way for a few minutes.” Liz called.
“Sure.” The word sounded sniffled but Liz didn’t question.
****
“Isabel!” Liz exclaimed when she stepped out. She was standing next to a tall man.
“Hello, Liz. I came by for Alex.” She said shyly. “We’re supposed to go out tonight. Double date. This is Max’s friend, Michael, he’s our partner in California until we can get settled ourselves.” Isabel introduced.
“Alex, huh.” Liz nodded and could easily picture the two together. She pushed open the door and called for Alex. “Nice to meet you, Michael.”
“Same here.” He mumbled.
“What’s up, Liz?” Alex called, trying to tie a tie.
“Isabel’s at the door.” She pulled him to her and straightened it for him.
“Thanks.” He said. “Anything you needed? Is Hannah alright?”
“She’s fine. I’ll tell you all about our meeting later, right now you go have fun. Is Maria still in the back?”
“Yes.” He nodded and headed out to the front room.
“Maria.” Liz sat on the bed as Maria adjusted her dress.
“What’s wrong, babe?” Maria turned to her.
“What’s between Kyle and Serena?”
Maria’s eyes turned sharp. “Nothing, why?”
Liz narrowed her eyes. “I caught them in a row this evening, when is Kyle ever at our apartment when I’m not there?”
Maria just shrugged. “Did I hear you say Isabel was here?”
“Yes.” Liz said knowing she wasn’t going to get a direct answer.
“Did you see another man with her?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“And, he looks like your type.” Liz said dutifully.
“I left Hannah sleeping with Serena, I have to go back over there. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Liz.” Maria hugged her and went out to find her date.
****
Liz lie amid her bed, Hannah sleeping quietly beside her. Her mind was working a mile a minute. She couldn’t concentrate on one thing. The meeting with Max had gone so well, she had gone on impulse to invite him to Hannah’s first day.
Hannah shifted and snuggled closer despite the warm temperature outside.
She was drained, emotionally and physically. She didn’t know what to think, or even who to think about. There was Max, and then there was Kyle and Serena. Something was definitely happening there-- not that she thought Kyle was cheating on her-- maybe before. They had always been hostile towards each other, and when in a room together, not even Hannah could talk enough to still it.
Liz deliberated on when she would tell Max of Hannah’s heart. She knew she would tell him. It was a matter of when.
If Max helped pay the medical bills, which she knew he would, she could start taking general courses at the community college and then work her way up to a social worker, following in Amy’s steps. The legal system intrigued her.
Liz wasn’t sure what she would do, but Hannah was going into surgery soon and Max would definitely know about it. It was going to be in early August, when Hannah was off-track. She’d tell him soon. How cheerful would that be for him?
“Hi Max, here’s your daughter, by the way, she has a series of heart conditions that could kill her.” Wonderful.
TBC
Hannah yawned in between sentences and her eyes started drooping.
“Tired, Hannah?” Liz asked, as she started to lean on her more.
“Yeah, and hungry.” She nodded not at all deterred. “Grandma Amy takes me to the zoo sometimes.”
“Have you ever been to the big zoo, down in San Diego, I think it is?” Max asked. He wanted to lift her into his lap and cradle her as her eyes drooped.
“Not yet. Mommy said when it’s almost Christmas, then I don’t have school. I start next week.” She told her.
“That should be fun.” Max acknowledged.
“Maybe you could come too.” Hannah suggested.
“Maybe.” Max looked down at his hands.
“Hannah, you’re falling asleep, I think it’s time that we go.” The talking had very obviously drained her energy.
Hannah started to protest then nodded her head. “Alright.”
Max stood first and Liz scooted Hannah off her lap. Max reached automatically to help Liz stand and then second their hands touched sparks flew. It was the first time any contact had been made between the two of them since he had shown up.
Their eyes locked and there was nothing in the world. Liz’s breath caught in her throat. She had forgotten what it was to feel this kind of love. That’s what it was. That’s the only thing it could be.
With Kyle there was love, but she wasn’t in love with him. He was comfortable, and steady never a doubt that he would be there.
“Mommy.” Hannah called staring at both her parents.
Max’s heart was beating a mile a minutes. The look in Liz’s eyes was something he had wanted to see again for the past five years. She still loved him! He didn’t know why or how, but she did. A little flame of hope grew in his heart. He didn’t deserve her, but he would try to win her back.
“Mommy!” Hannah stomped her foot this time, becoming impatient.
Liz snatched her hand back, but not before Max had time to give her a warning squeeze.
Her eyes met his once more, a warning in her own eyes, then down at Hannah.
“I’m sorry, Hannah bean, you ready to go?”
“Yes.” Hannah looked curiously between the two of them.
They walked slowly back to the car, and when they were half way there, Liz leaned down and picked up Hannah.
The girl was so tiny. Max smiled, so was her mother.
When they reached the car, Hannah hopped down from her arms and threw her arms around Max’s waist. “Bye.”
For the third time that day Max’s heart jumped. His toddler was hugging him. Her arms were small and barely surrounded him but he felt totally engulfed by her. He ran a hand through her hair, baby soft.
“Goodbye, Little girl.” He smiled.
She smiled back before climbing into the car.
Liz buckled her in and turned to face Max.
“Thank you, Liz.” He blurted before she could say anything.
“Max.” Was all she could say. “Again, next week?”
He nodded. “That would be wonderful. She’s wonderful, Liz.” He absently reached up and brushed her hair behind her ear.
“I know.” Liz said looking into his eyes.
“You did a wonderful job so far.” He told her, his face utterly sincere.
“Thank you.” So many people have told her that, but coming from him, it meant something different.
“I’ll see you next week then.” He turned to leave.
“How about Tuesday, after her first day of school. I took the day off so I could take her and pick her up.” She said without stopping to think. “She’d really enjoy that. It’ll be a surprise.”
Max paused. He thought about his schedule. “What time?”
“She gets out at noon.” Liz said, trying to keep her voice from sounding to hopeful. God, she wanted it so bad.
His face lit up. “I can do it.” He nodded.
“Great.” She wanted to throw her arms around him.
“I’ll pick you up at your house if you want, at say eleven?” He asked.
She stared at him. “Sure.” A whole hour early! What could he be planning?
****
Liz walked into the apartment smiling, Hannah sleeping in her arms.
Her smile faded when she noticed Serena and Kyle in a face off.
“Damn it, Serena.” Kyle answered. “We’ve gone over this a hundred times!” Kyle stocked towards her and leaned on the counter. His voice lowered, tenderly. “Serena, you know I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“Kyle, explain to me again.” Serena threw her pan into the sink as she shrugged away from him.
“Do, explain, Kyle.” Liz said. “But please wait till I lay my daughter down.” She stalked from the room.
“Dear God, Kyle! I didn’t know she would be home so soon.” Serena whispered and leaned against the counter.
“I didn’t either.” He said.
Liz strode back into the room purposefully and sat down at the table. “Now, would you like to explain whatever it was we were going to explain?” She rested her hand on her chin and crossed her legs and stared at them intently.
“Kyle almost made me lose a patient today.” Serena said slowly, giving Kyle a look of disgust. “He neglected to inform me that my patient was allergic to morphine.”
Kyle nodded slowly. “You caught it in time.”
“Kyle!” Serena turned and walked into her room slamming the door as effectively as possible without waking Hannah.
Liz stared at the door. “Since when do you talk to Serena?” Liz asked. She didn’t necessarily care the whys or how, she was actually quite glad. But she was certain something had been going on when she walked into the room.
“Since she almost lost that patient. Now she hates me even more.” Kyle said looking at the door. “I honestly didn’t realize that patient was allergic.” He shrugged. “And it was caught before it was administered.”
“I’ve got to get back to the hospital. Hopefully the word didn’t spread else we’ll be sued for malpractice.” He said. He kissed her lightly on the head and left the apartment.
Standing, Liz decided to get to the bottom of this. She knew for a fact Kyle would never forget something like that, and she knew for a fact Serena couldn’t stay in the same room with a person she was lying to.
“Serena, will you keep an eye on Hannah, I’m going across the way for a few minutes.” Liz called.
“Sure.” The word sounded sniffled but Liz didn’t question.
****
“Isabel!” Liz exclaimed when she stepped out. She was standing next to a tall man.
“Hello, Liz. I came by for Alex.” She said shyly. “We’re supposed to go out tonight. Double date. This is Max’s friend, Michael, he’s our partner in California until we can get settled ourselves.” Isabel introduced.
“Alex, huh.” Liz nodded and could easily picture the two together. She pushed open the door and called for Alex. “Nice to meet you, Michael.”
“Same here.” He mumbled.
“What’s up, Liz?” Alex called, trying to tie a tie.
“Isabel’s at the door.” She pulled him to her and straightened it for him.
“Thanks.” He said. “Anything you needed? Is Hannah alright?”
“She’s fine. I’ll tell you all about our meeting later, right now you go have fun. Is Maria still in the back?”
“Yes.” He nodded and headed out to the front room.
“Maria.” Liz sat on the bed as Maria adjusted her dress.
“What’s wrong, babe?” Maria turned to her.
“What’s between Kyle and Serena?”
Maria’s eyes turned sharp. “Nothing, why?”
Liz narrowed her eyes. “I caught them in a row this evening, when is Kyle ever at our apartment when I’m not there?”
Maria just shrugged. “Did I hear you say Isabel was here?”
“Yes.” Liz said knowing she wasn’t going to get a direct answer.
“Did you see another man with her?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“And, he looks like your type.” Liz said dutifully.
“I left Hannah sleeping with Serena, I have to go back over there. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Liz.” Maria hugged her and went out to find her date.
****
Liz lie amid her bed, Hannah sleeping quietly beside her. Her mind was working a mile a minute. She couldn’t concentrate on one thing. The meeting with Max had gone so well, she had gone on impulse to invite him to Hannah’s first day.
Hannah shifted and snuggled closer despite the warm temperature outside.
She was drained, emotionally and physically. She didn’t know what to think, or even who to think about. There was Max, and then there was Kyle and Serena. Something was definitely happening there-- not that she thought Kyle was cheating on her-- maybe before. They had always been hostile towards each other, and when in a room together, not even Hannah could talk enough to still it.
Liz deliberated on when she would tell Max of Hannah’s heart. She knew she would tell him. It was a matter of when.
If Max helped pay the medical bills, which she knew he would, she could start taking general courses at the community college and then work her way up to a social worker, following in Amy’s steps. The legal system intrigued her.
Liz wasn’t sure what she would do, but Hannah was going into surgery soon and Max would definitely know about it. It was going to be in early August, when Hannah was off-track. She’d tell him soon. How cheerful would that be for him?
“Hi Max, here’s your daughter, by the way, she has a series of heart conditions that could kill her.” Wonderful.
TBC
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
A/N:
I mistook my mother’s explanation. They cannot put the father’s name on the birth certificate unless he’s married to her, or he signs a pop form, the man says he will support the child until he/she turns 18. But, that one, complicates my story, two, makes it easier.
Extingman: Yes, I am a little flustered with Max myself, and am just now figuring out how I’m going to fix it. I have it all laid out in my head right now.
Chapter 22
“You ready, Hannah bean?” Liz brushed her hair up and grabbed the bag full of potato chips, towels, fresh clothes and everything else needed for a Fourth of July picnic.
“Yes.” She pulled at the straps on her swimsuit, which was concealed, under her spiffy new ‘Old Navy’ patriotic shirt. “Swimming, yes?”
“Yes.” Liz smiled and looked around the apartment for anything she had left behind. “Let’s go find Aunt Maria and Uncle Alex and be on our way.”
Hannah nodded excitedly. “We can tell them about, all about yesterday.”
“Yes, you can.” Liz nodded sadly. She walked across the hall and opened the door. “Knock knock.” She called.
“Come in, Liz.” Maria called from the back.
“Isabel?” Liz asked.
Isabel glanced up she was sitting on a barstool.
“Morning.” She blushed furiously.
“Aunt Isabel!” Hannah said excitedly. “Are you going too?”
“Yes.” Isabel smiled but didn’t look up at Liz. “Alex invited me along.” Isabel lifted her up onto her lap.
“You like my shirt?” Hannah pointed at it. “It’s just like Mommy’s.”
“Very cute.” Isabel agreed.
“Morning, my beautiful.” Alex walked out. He looked at everyone in the room, “well more like my beautifuls.” He grinned.
“So, how did the date go last night?” Liz looked between two of her best friends.
“Wonderful!”
“Great!”
Both had responded at the same time.
Liz smiled and headed for the door. “Are you ready to go, Alex?”
“Yes, Isabel is coming with us.” He stood.
“That’s great!” Liz said enthusiastically. Who would have ever guessed Isabel and Alex would end up together?
Hannah kept everyone occupied with stories of Max and everything she had told him all while refraining from calling him anything.
“Does she know I’m his sister?” Isabel asked quietly from the front seat?
“No.” Liz shook her head. “I’ll tell her though, she won’t find out on her own.” Liz assured her.
****
Liz walked into the Valenti’s house with Hannah tagging along behind her carrying her beach bag, a smaller version of Liz’s. Her sunglasses were identical as well.
And her flip-flops. Hannah’s mission in life was to be just as pretty as her mama. Her father’s compliment the day before about how she looked like her had been the greatest compliment he could have paid her.
“Who is this?” Liz asked walking into the backyard to join the party.
“Kailyn.” Amy said holding shifting so as not to wake the tiny baby in her arms. “She’s two weeks old.”
Liz looked at the tiny baby and her heart went out for her. “May I hold her?”
“Of course. We went in this morning to get her.” Amy informed her. “It’s been a while since they used us as an ESH home.” She explained. They were also licensed to house young children under extreme emergencies. ESH stood for Emergency Shelter Home.
“How long?” Liz only had eyes for the baby. She knew Hannah was in capable hands with Kyle and the rest of the gang.
“We don’t know. We think until Mom shapes up.” Amy said, her voice dripping with doubt.
“Dear Lord that could be a while.” Liz said looking at the precious bundle. She wanted another child. She didn’t want Hannah to be her only one. But as things were going it would be a very long time till she had one.
“Yeah. She was born early, due to drugs, and her mom has had that amount of time to shape up, she hasn’t. Kailyn was in the hospital recovering, they needed a home for her and fast.”
“Poor baby.” Liz cooed. The baby grunted before going back to sleep.
“Mommy!” Hannah shrieked as Kyle picked her up and dropped her in the pool.
Liz smiled and was grateful she was in the dry zone of the backyard. “Are you going to foster her?”
“Yes, they don’t want to move her if she has a chance of going back to Mom.” Liz shook her head. The chances of that happening were slim. If she didn’t care enough to stop drugs while she was pregnant with Kailyn, she wasn’t planning on stopping ever.
****
Kyle sauntered over some hours later and looked down at Liz. He bent down and smoothed his hand over hers.
It was his first sign of affection since Max had returned, and it was the first since the arguments she had walked in on. “I see you’ve met the new one.”
“Yeah.” Liz said tentatively. She didn’t know quite how to address them. She hadn’t talked to Serena the night before either. She planned to tonight; she didn’t want to let things go.
“Here, let me take her from you.” Kyle leaned down and placed a kiss on Liz’s head as he slipped the baby from her arms.
“Here, Mom, hold her.” Kyle turned and handed the baby over.
“Kyle, now why would you do that?” Liz asked puzzled, her eyebrows drew together.
“Because.” He smiled. He turned back towards Liz and picked her up.
“Kyle, what are you doing?” Liz asked tightening her grip on him as he walked towards the pool. “No. Kyle, do not.” Liz shook her head.
“Don’t do what?” He kept walking. Liz held on tight as he neared the edge.
“Do it Kyle, do it!” Hannah chanted.
“Kyle!” She shrieked as she fell. Her grip was nothing as Kyle expertly twisted out of it.
She surfaced red faced and angry.
“You will pay for that, Kyle James Valenti.” She seethed.
“Kyle’s in trouble!” Hannah chanted, happy to be out of her mother’s wrath.
“You know what, mon papillon.” Kyle turned to Hannah.
“What?” She started to back up to hide behind Liz.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Liz slid out of the way. “You deserve it.”
“I think you’re the one in trouble.”
“Mommy!” Hannah stomped her foot as Kyle continued towards her.
Kyle picked up Hannah as effortlessly as he had Liz and walked to the water’s edge. “Mommy!”
Liz followed along and right when he got to the edge, gave him a tiny shove and he fell straight into the water.
A heavy water fight ensued.
****
Hannah wandered over with a yawn and frowned at the baby in Liz’s lap. Sure she had seen other babies at daycare but they had never directly affected her.
This one was taking her space in her mother’s lap.
“Come on, Hannah.” Liz smiled encouragingly at Hannah’s hesitation. “She’s awake right now, come look at her.
Hannah looked down at the other little girl in her Mother’s arms. “What’s her name.”
“Kailyn.” Liz told her.
“I have a friend named Kaitlyn.”
“There isn’t a T its just Kailyn.”
“Oh. Never mind.” Hannah shook her head as she patted the soft hair on her head. It was jet black but the eyes that stared up at her in wide fascination were blue. “She has blue eyes.”
“They might not stay that color. Babies are usually born with blue eyes.”
“Did I have blue eyes?”
“Not for very long.” Liz shook her head.
“Now they look like his.” Hannah said and stared at the baby. “Does Kailyn have a mommy and daddy?”
“Well, not really.”
“Why not?”
“Sometimes Mommies and daddies aren’t always ready to have babies. Kailyn’s were not. So now Grandma Amy and Grandpa Jim are keeping her while they get ready.”
“Oh.” She snuggled down into her mother’s warmth. “I love you, Mommy.” She whispered.
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
****
“Maria, you never told me about your date last night.” Liz grinned.
“Ugh.” Maria plopped down with a smile. “It was ok.”
“Maria, that look says it was more than ok.”
“Well, it was great.” Maria kept her head as well as her voice down. Hannah was still curled up in Liz’s lap.
“Tell me about him.”
“Well, he was tall, well you saw him so you know his appearance.” Maria started. “He was polite in a rude way.”
“What?” Liz raised her eyebrows in confusion.
“Well, he opened doors and such, roughly, like he didn’t really want to. He got a few glares from Isabel so I think she was sort of forced into it. Alex and Isabel seemed rather cozy, although Isabel seemed a little more reserved.” Maria observed.
“Isabel’s always been shy.” Liz thought out loud. “She seems freer when she’s with Alex.” Liz observed. “I haven’t seen them together but twice, and she always seemed to be comfortable enough around him.”
“Yes, she was very comfortable with him. After dinner they went on their own for a while, and I was left with Michael.”
“Where’d they go?”
“Alex is on a don’t ask don’t tell policy.” Maria smiled. “Which means I’ll pry it out of him tonight.”
“I know you will.”
“How was Max?” Maria asked more delicately.
“It went well.” Liz nodded. She hadn’t exactly sorted out her feelings for herself. “Hannah got along well enough.”
“He wants to see her again?”
“Yeah.” Liz nodded. She looked down at her baby. She reminded Liz so much of Max. Her smile, and her eyes.
Tomorrow, Liz would tell Max, she had to.
“Next weekend?”
“Yeah.” There was no reason for anyone to know about their meeting tomorrow that was between her and Max. Max’s interest had seemed sincere enough to convince her, they would go from there.
Tomorrow she was planning on telling him. It wasn’t going to be easy. What a nice surprise for him. Two days after meeting his daughter he gets told that she has a congenital heart defect.
When she really thought on it, it had been the same for her except it had been hours after birth that she had learned of the extent of Hannah’s heart problems.
“Be careful, Liz.” Maria said.
“I will be.” Liz assured her.
****
“Serena, I have a question to ask.” Liz joined Serena at the table.
“Shoot.” Serena said, her heart already filled with dread.
“What exactly did I walk in on yesterday evening?” Liz said outright. “In the four years I’ve been here, you two can’t stand being in the same room together, let alone in the apartment by yourselves.”
“I told you, Liz, we were just arguing over a mishap at the hospital.” She smiled a bit uneasily.
“Serena, please don’t lie to me.” Liz asked desperately. “My feelings are already so mixed up about Kyle right now.” Liz continued when Serena raised an eyebrow. “Your accent grows thicker when you’re lying. Don’t worry, I can’t lie for anything either.”
“Liz.” Serena started.
“Serena, Hannah’s father just came back. I won’t lie to you; I loved him at one point in time. I thought I was close to being over it. But, evidently I’m not. Seeing him again makes my heart beat 800 times a minute. I love Kyle, but not with the same intensity and that’s very unsettling to know, Serena. Now please tell me what I walked in on yesterday.”
Serena was silent for a time. “Liz.”
“I would ask Kyle, but I’d rather ask you first.”
“We were together.” Serena blurted out. “Before you came, we had just broken up.”
Liz sat stunned.
“I thought it would be ok, I thought that going away to college would do me some good and I would grow out of it. What do you think it felt like for me when I discovered how close you two were when I returned?”
“I tried to push my feelings down, but they bubbled to the surface. We didn’t part as friends and so, it made it worse.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Liz. I promise you nothing is going to happen between us. All Kyle wanted to know was if we could be friends. It’s an question I’m not ready to answer. Not even to myself.” She stood from the table and took her plate to the sink. Taking a quick breath she turned and looked Liz in the eye. “Yes, I think I still have feelings for him, but I promise nothing, and I mean nothing, will ever be between us again.” She said it with such fervor and such pain, Liz wondered what could have gone so horribly in her friend’s life.
With those last words, Serena turned and exited the room.
****
”Where did you spend your day?” Max asked his sister.
“With Alex.” She snuggled next to him. She would never be too old to do so.
“Were Liz and Hannah there?”
“Yeah. Maria’s mother, Amy Valenti, just got a new foster baby. Liz fell head over heels for her. It was so adorable to see.” Isabel said.
Max’s heart clenched.
“Hannah was hesitant around her but warmed quickly. We had fun.” Isabel said tiredly.
“Isabel, you didn’t come home last night.” Max stated.
“And?” She smiled. She had never before given any reason for her brother to get extremely protective and watch her every move, it was a new and thrilling sensation.
“Am I going to need to have a…talk…with Alex?” Max asked, his arm wrapping tightly around her.
“No. Not yet.” Isabel decided she’d better keep him waiting.
“Isabel.”
“Yes?”
“I love Liz.”
“Max.” She froze. My God, she’d never heard him say that before. “Have you told her?”
“Haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
“Max, that’s not something you just get around to.”
“I know.”
“It will make a difference, when will you tell her?”
“I don’t know yet.” Max said. “This is the first time I’ve said it aloud.”
“Oh, Max, just tell her.” Isabel was speechless.
“I will, when the timing’s right.”
tbc
I mistook my mother’s explanation. They cannot put the father’s name on the birth certificate unless he’s married to her, or he signs a pop form, the man says he will support the child until he/she turns 18. But, that one, complicates my story, two, makes it easier.
Extingman: Yes, I am a little flustered with Max myself, and am just now figuring out how I’m going to fix it. I have it all laid out in my head right now.
Chapter 22
“You ready, Hannah bean?” Liz brushed her hair up and grabbed the bag full of potato chips, towels, fresh clothes and everything else needed for a Fourth of July picnic.
“Yes.” She pulled at the straps on her swimsuit, which was concealed, under her spiffy new ‘Old Navy’ patriotic shirt. “Swimming, yes?”
“Yes.” Liz smiled and looked around the apartment for anything she had left behind. “Let’s go find Aunt Maria and Uncle Alex and be on our way.”
Hannah nodded excitedly. “We can tell them about, all about yesterday.”
“Yes, you can.” Liz nodded sadly. She walked across the hall and opened the door. “Knock knock.” She called.
“Come in, Liz.” Maria called from the back.
“Isabel?” Liz asked.
Isabel glanced up she was sitting on a barstool.
“Morning.” She blushed furiously.
“Aunt Isabel!” Hannah said excitedly. “Are you going too?”
“Yes.” Isabel smiled but didn’t look up at Liz. “Alex invited me along.” Isabel lifted her up onto her lap.
“You like my shirt?” Hannah pointed at it. “It’s just like Mommy’s.”
“Very cute.” Isabel agreed.
“Morning, my beautiful.” Alex walked out. He looked at everyone in the room, “well more like my beautifuls.” He grinned.
“So, how did the date go last night?” Liz looked between two of her best friends.
“Wonderful!”
“Great!”
Both had responded at the same time.
Liz smiled and headed for the door. “Are you ready to go, Alex?”
“Yes, Isabel is coming with us.” He stood.
“That’s great!” Liz said enthusiastically. Who would have ever guessed Isabel and Alex would end up together?
Hannah kept everyone occupied with stories of Max and everything she had told him all while refraining from calling him anything.
“Does she know I’m his sister?” Isabel asked quietly from the front seat?
“No.” Liz shook her head. “I’ll tell her though, she won’t find out on her own.” Liz assured her.
****
Liz walked into the Valenti’s house with Hannah tagging along behind her carrying her beach bag, a smaller version of Liz’s. Her sunglasses were identical as well.
And her flip-flops. Hannah’s mission in life was to be just as pretty as her mama. Her father’s compliment the day before about how she looked like her had been the greatest compliment he could have paid her.
“Who is this?” Liz asked walking into the backyard to join the party.
“Kailyn.” Amy said holding shifting so as not to wake the tiny baby in her arms. “She’s two weeks old.”
Liz looked at the tiny baby and her heart went out for her. “May I hold her?”
“Of course. We went in this morning to get her.” Amy informed her. “It’s been a while since they used us as an ESH home.” She explained. They were also licensed to house young children under extreme emergencies. ESH stood for Emergency Shelter Home.
“How long?” Liz only had eyes for the baby. She knew Hannah was in capable hands with Kyle and the rest of the gang.
“We don’t know. We think until Mom shapes up.” Amy said, her voice dripping with doubt.
“Dear Lord that could be a while.” Liz said looking at the precious bundle. She wanted another child. She didn’t want Hannah to be her only one. But as things were going it would be a very long time till she had one.
“Yeah. She was born early, due to drugs, and her mom has had that amount of time to shape up, she hasn’t. Kailyn was in the hospital recovering, they needed a home for her and fast.”
“Poor baby.” Liz cooed. The baby grunted before going back to sleep.
“Mommy!” Hannah shrieked as Kyle picked her up and dropped her in the pool.
Liz smiled and was grateful she was in the dry zone of the backyard. “Are you going to foster her?”
“Yes, they don’t want to move her if she has a chance of going back to Mom.” Liz shook her head. The chances of that happening were slim. If she didn’t care enough to stop drugs while she was pregnant with Kailyn, she wasn’t planning on stopping ever.
****
Kyle sauntered over some hours later and looked down at Liz. He bent down and smoothed his hand over hers.
It was his first sign of affection since Max had returned, and it was the first since the arguments she had walked in on. “I see you’ve met the new one.”
“Yeah.” Liz said tentatively. She didn’t know quite how to address them. She hadn’t talked to Serena the night before either. She planned to tonight; she didn’t want to let things go.
“Here, let me take her from you.” Kyle leaned down and placed a kiss on Liz’s head as he slipped the baby from her arms.
“Here, Mom, hold her.” Kyle turned and handed the baby over.
“Kyle, now why would you do that?” Liz asked puzzled, her eyebrows drew together.
“Because.” He smiled. He turned back towards Liz and picked her up.
“Kyle, what are you doing?” Liz asked tightening her grip on him as he walked towards the pool. “No. Kyle, do not.” Liz shook her head.
“Don’t do what?” He kept walking. Liz held on tight as he neared the edge.
“Do it Kyle, do it!” Hannah chanted.
“Kyle!” She shrieked as she fell. Her grip was nothing as Kyle expertly twisted out of it.
She surfaced red faced and angry.
“You will pay for that, Kyle James Valenti.” She seethed.
“Kyle’s in trouble!” Hannah chanted, happy to be out of her mother’s wrath.
“You know what, mon papillon.” Kyle turned to Hannah.
“What?” She started to back up to hide behind Liz.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Liz slid out of the way. “You deserve it.”
“I think you’re the one in trouble.”
“Mommy!” Hannah stomped her foot as Kyle continued towards her.
Kyle picked up Hannah as effortlessly as he had Liz and walked to the water’s edge. “Mommy!”
Liz followed along and right when he got to the edge, gave him a tiny shove and he fell straight into the water.
A heavy water fight ensued.
****
Hannah wandered over with a yawn and frowned at the baby in Liz’s lap. Sure she had seen other babies at daycare but they had never directly affected her.
This one was taking her space in her mother’s lap.
“Come on, Hannah.” Liz smiled encouragingly at Hannah’s hesitation. “She’s awake right now, come look at her.
Hannah looked down at the other little girl in her Mother’s arms. “What’s her name.”
“Kailyn.” Liz told her.
“I have a friend named Kaitlyn.”
“There isn’t a T its just Kailyn.”
“Oh. Never mind.” Hannah shook her head as she patted the soft hair on her head. It was jet black but the eyes that stared up at her in wide fascination were blue. “She has blue eyes.”
“They might not stay that color. Babies are usually born with blue eyes.”
“Did I have blue eyes?”
“Not for very long.” Liz shook her head.
“Now they look like his.” Hannah said and stared at the baby. “Does Kailyn have a mommy and daddy?”
“Well, not really.”
“Why not?”
“Sometimes Mommies and daddies aren’t always ready to have babies. Kailyn’s were not. So now Grandma Amy and Grandpa Jim are keeping her while they get ready.”
“Oh.” She snuggled down into her mother’s warmth. “I love you, Mommy.” She whispered.
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
****
“Maria, you never told me about your date last night.” Liz grinned.
“Ugh.” Maria plopped down with a smile. “It was ok.”
“Maria, that look says it was more than ok.”
“Well, it was great.” Maria kept her head as well as her voice down. Hannah was still curled up in Liz’s lap.
“Tell me about him.”
“Well, he was tall, well you saw him so you know his appearance.” Maria started. “He was polite in a rude way.”
“What?” Liz raised her eyebrows in confusion.
“Well, he opened doors and such, roughly, like he didn’t really want to. He got a few glares from Isabel so I think she was sort of forced into it. Alex and Isabel seemed rather cozy, although Isabel seemed a little more reserved.” Maria observed.
“Isabel’s always been shy.” Liz thought out loud. “She seems freer when she’s with Alex.” Liz observed. “I haven’t seen them together but twice, and she always seemed to be comfortable enough around him.”
“Yes, she was very comfortable with him. After dinner they went on their own for a while, and I was left with Michael.”
“Where’d they go?”
“Alex is on a don’t ask don’t tell policy.” Maria smiled. “Which means I’ll pry it out of him tonight.”
“I know you will.”
“How was Max?” Maria asked more delicately.
“It went well.” Liz nodded. She hadn’t exactly sorted out her feelings for herself. “Hannah got along well enough.”
“He wants to see her again?”
“Yeah.” Liz nodded. She looked down at her baby. She reminded Liz so much of Max. Her smile, and her eyes.
Tomorrow, Liz would tell Max, she had to.
“Next weekend?”
“Yeah.” There was no reason for anyone to know about their meeting tomorrow that was between her and Max. Max’s interest had seemed sincere enough to convince her, they would go from there.
Tomorrow she was planning on telling him. It wasn’t going to be easy. What a nice surprise for him. Two days after meeting his daughter he gets told that she has a congenital heart defect.
When she really thought on it, it had been the same for her except it had been hours after birth that she had learned of the extent of Hannah’s heart problems.
“Be careful, Liz.” Maria said.
“I will be.” Liz assured her.
****
“Serena, I have a question to ask.” Liz joined Serena at the table.
“Shoot.” Serena said, her heart already filled with dread.
“What exactly did I walk in on yesterday evening?” Liz said outright. “In the four years I’ve been here, you two can’t stand being in the same room together, let alone in the apartment by yourselves.”
“I told you, Liz, we were just arguing over a mishap at the hospital.” She smiled a bit uneasily.
“Serena, please don’t lie to me.” Liz asked desperately. “My feelings are already so mixed up about Kyle right now.” Liz continued when Serena raised an eyebrow. “Your accent grows thicker when you’re lying. Don’t worry, I can’t lie for anything either.”
“Liz.” Serena started.
“Serena, Hannah’s father just came back. I won’t lie to you; I loved him at one point in time. I thought I was close to being over it. But, evidently I’m not. Seeing him again makes my heart beat 800 times a minute. I love Kyle, but not with the same intensity and that’s very unsettling to know, Serena. Now please tell me what I walked in on yesterday.”
Serena was silent for a time. “Liz.”
“I would ask Kyle, but I’d rather ask you first.”
“We were together.” Serena blurted out. “Before you came, we had just broken up.”
Liz sat stunned.
“I thought it would be ok, I thought that going away to college would do me some good and I would grow out of it. What do you think it felt like for me when I discovered how close you two were when I returned?”
“I tried to push my feelings down, but they bubbled to the surface. We didn’t part as friends and so, it made it worse.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Liz. I promise you nothing is going to happen between us. All Kyle wanted to know was if we could be friends. It’s an question I’m not ready to answer. Not even to myself.” She stood from the table and took her plate to the sink. Taking a quick breath she turned and looked Liz in the eye. “Yes, I think I still have feelings for him, but I promise nothing, and I mean nothing, will ever be between us again.” She said it with such fervor and such pain, Liz wondered what could have gone so horribly in her friend’s life.
With those last words, Serena turned and exited the room.
****
”Where did you spend your day?” Max asked his sister.
“With Alex.” She snuggled next to him. She would never be too old to do so.
“Were Liz and Hannah there?”
“Yeah. Maria’s mother, Amy Valenti, just got a new foster baby. Liz fell head over heels for her. It was so adorable to see.” Isabel said.
Max’s heart clenched.
“Hannah was hesitant around her but warmed quickly. We had fun.” Isabel said tiredly.
“Isabel, you didn’t come home last night.” Max stated.
“And?” She smiled. She had never before given any reason for her brother to get extremely protective and watch her every move, it was a new and thrilling sensation.
“Am I going to need to have a…talk…with Alex?” Max asked, his arm wrapping tightly around her.
“No. Not yet.” Isabel decided she’d better keep him waiting.
“Isabel.”
“Yes?”
“I love Liz.”
“Max.” She froze. My God, she’d never heard him say that before. “Have you told her?”
“Haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
“Max, that’s not something you just get around to.”
“I know.”
“It will make a difference, when will you tell her?”
“I don’t know yet.” Max said. “This is the first time I’ve said it aloud.”
“Oh, Max, just tell her.” Isabel was speechless.
“I will, when the timing’s right.”
tbc
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
I know alot of of questions are still unanswered, but don't worry they will be soon enough. Thanks for everyone being so patient and all the feedback!
Chapter 23
“Wake up, Hannah.” Liz stood over Hannah.
“No.” She pulled the pillow over her head.
“It’s time for kindergarten.” Liz tried.
“No!” Hannah rolled over. Of all times to be a lazy riser, Liz rolled her eyes.
“Come on, Hannah bean.”
“Fine.” She threw off the covers with exaggerated movements.
“You know you’re excited.” Liz tickled her cheek.
“Yes.” She nodded her head. “You take me?”
“Of course, my love.” Liz hugged her daughter. “Now get up so that we can get ready.”
“Ok.” She smiled. “You’re going to pick me up?”
“Yes.” She wanted to tell her that Max was going to pick her up as well but she wanted it to be a surprise.
“How do you want your hair?” Liz asked when Hannah settled down enough in front of her so she could actually comb it.
“Princess style.” She said automatically.
“Alright.
“ Can we go see Kailyn today?”
“Maybe.” Liz smiled when she thought of the baby.
“Grandma Amy says she’ll be there for a few months.”
“She probably will, so you’ll get to know her well enough.” Liz felt the baby soft hair on Hannah’s head.
Her baby was going to kindergarten.
And her baby’s father knew nothing about her.
“Hi, Serena!” Hannah smiled at her.
“Morning, Cutie Pie.” She smiled at her. “Ready for your first day of kindergarten?”
“Yes.” She was becoming more excited by the moment. “Is it time?”
“Not yet, Hannah.”
“Oh, hurry, Mommy.” She stomped her foot.
“If we leave now you’ll be too early.”
“Please.” Hannah drawled and put on a pout.
“Aww, Liz, how can you resist that? Just take the girl to school.” Serena sided.
“Fine, fine, two against one, you win Hannah.”
“Yes!” She grabbed her purple lunch pale and went for the door.
“Slow down, Hannah.” Liz picked up her keys and purse.
“I’ll see you later, Serena.” Liz met her eyes. “If he calls.” She emphasized he. “Tell him I’ll be back in a half hour.”
“Which he?” Serena asked, she stared at the floor, it was easy talking with Hannah there as an unknowing mediator.
Liz’s gaze slid toward Hannah and Serena got the meaning. “Will do.”
****
Liz surveyed the teacher as they neared the classroom. This is woman she would trust her daughter to for four hours a day.
She was older, maybe early fifties, which pleased Liz because she had experience. She had already met her once before at “kindergarten round-up”. Mrs. Howell.
Hannah’s grip tightened, “It’s alright, Hannah bean, you met Mrs. Howell.”
“Good morning, Hannah.” The old woman’s eyes sparkled. “Are you ready for kindergarten?”
Hannah shook her head and turned into Liz leg. “Mommy.”
“Now, Hannah, we’ll have a fun time, here, and in just a few hours Mommy’s going to come pick you up.”
“No.” Liz hadn’t been expecting a refusal.
“Hannah bean.” Liz bent down to hold her child in her arms. “It’s just like day care.”
“No.” The thought of her mother leaving her here, where she didn’t know anybody was terrifying. “Don’t go.” She whispered as she tightened her grip around her neck.
“It’s alright.” Liz pulled her aside to so the other terrified four and five year olds could enter. “Hannah, it’ll be fine, and imagine what you could tell Kyle, and…and…Max.” She whispered in French. “You’d want to tell them what a brave little girl you’d been right?”
She nodded comforted. “I’ll be good.”
“Alright, are you going to go in there like the big girl I know you are?”
“Yes, Mommy.” She hugged Liz one more time before she straightened and wiped her eyes.
“Come on.” Liz stood once more as well, her heart breaking as she watched her little girl enter and sit where the teacher had marked at the small tables.
“Was french her first or second language, Ms. Parker?”
“Her first word was Mama so I don’t exactly know. She speaks both equally.” Liz shrugged. It wasn’t abnormal for a child in Southern California to know Spanish, but French was a little different.
“Where did she learn it?” She asked curious.
“Her grandparents.” She said automatically. Amy and Jim were her grandparents, much more so than her own parent could ever be.
“Interesting.” Mrs. Howell explained. “Now, about Hannah’s heart.”
“She usually knows her limits and she knows to tell you if she doesn’t feel well.” Liz said quickly.
“I know, I’m sure she does.” She reassured the young mother. “But there’s nothing special you want me to look out for?”
“Not in particular.” Liz racked her brain for anything. “And she’ll be home for her afternoon meds so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Yes.” She smiled. “Now, if you don’t mind I have a class of nervous kindergartners, I have to get to it, Hannah will be fine.”
“Thank you.” Liz took one more look in the classroom and found Hannah. Hannah gave her a little wave letting her know she was ok.
Her throat clogged up as she turned. There were a dozen other mothers standing there as well, a few fathers interspersed.
“Don’t worry, I can tell she’s your first?” A woman with a two-year-old in her arms, and another clearly on the way, asked her as they walked to the parking lot.
“Yes.” Liz said embarrassed, she didn’t want to be labeled the overprotective mother.
“I’ve done this four times before, and it never gets any easier.” Liz’s mind was boggled at the thought of so many children. But the thought was comforting; here was a seasoned mother she could talk to.
“My little girl, Natalie, was the one your daughter was with, Hannah, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.” Her Hannah.
“Well, how would you like to follow me over to my place for a while and we can wallow over our lost babies together?” Liz looked down at her watch, she could afford it, she had time to kill and the less she thought about Max the faster the day would go.
“Why not?” Liz shrugged.
****
“I have four other children beside Natalie and Conner.” Melissa, as she had learned her name was, pointed to the two-year-old.
“So many.” Liz whispered before she could stop herself.
“Yeah, that’s a common reaction.” She smiled and patted her belly. “I swore this one would be the last. My husband and I enjoy having young ones around.”
“I can understand that.” She missed Hannah’s constantly sticky hands and her childish laughter. Dear God, she was making it sound like she was going off to college, it was only kindergarten! She tried to tell herself.
“Hannah’s your only?”
“Yeah, for now.” Liz smiled wondering if Max was going to want more children.
The thought brought a frown to her face. She couldn’t think like that. She could not think in terms of when, she had to keep out and think if, only if.
“Something wrong, dear?”
“No.” Liz shook her head. “Tell me about your children.”
“Well, my oldest is in eighth, Ethan, then Jennifer, sixth, Autumn, fourth, Ben, second, Natalie, Conner and the new baby.”
“Wow.” Liz still could quite imagine a houseful of so many children. It would be wonderful.
“You’re planning to have more, you said?”
“Yeah, I would like to.”
“What does Hannah’s father think?”
“He doesn’t.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Liz.” She realized her fault, not everyone had a happy marriage these days. Or were married at all.
“It isn’t really something we’ve discussed. I was so young when I had Hannah.”
Melissa realized the use of I. “It’s alright, you don’t have to talk about it, I always have a tendency to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“It’s alright.” Liz looked down at her watch. It was ten thirty. “I really have to be going.”
“Oh, all right.” She said flustered. “You will call though?”
“Yes, yes.” Liz nodded.
“We’ll probably be getting to know each other very well over the coming years. Ethan met his current best friend in kindergarten, on the first day. So did all my other children.” She smiled.
Liz laughed, that’s when her and Isabel had become best friends. “Yeah, I met my best friend in kindergarten too.”
“Alright then, I’ll see you at noon.”
“Yes, you will.” Liz left the house feeling happier that Hannah seemed to already found a friend and she had gotten to spend the morning talking about her daughter’s first day of school with someone who understood.
****
“Mr. Evans your mother called and wanted to speak with you.” The young secretary was flustered. God he was gorgeous, and he was only a few years older than she was.
“Was it urgent?” He paused in the doorway, he’d be late if he had to call her back right now.
“With your mother it’s always urgent but no, it wasn’t work related.”
“Alright, I’ll be back in two hours.”
“Where shall I say you will be?” She asked.
“Lunch meeting, with…” my daughter, he had been about to say. It was about to just flow right off his tongue. “some very important clients.” He amended.
“Alright.” She watched him leave. Yeah, he was gorgeous.
****
Liz ran the brush through her hair one last time.
The doorbell rang. This would be it.
“Hello, Max.” She opened the door without looking. “Kyle.”
“Good morning to you too, Liz, expecting someone?” He leaned against the doorpost.
“Yes, I do believe she was.” Max stepped behind him. His gaze scanning the man in the doorway.
They eyed each other, each fighting for control. Neither was willing to back down.
“Alright you two, stop it.” Liz stepped between them. “Kyle I really wished you had called, I had planned to go out with Max, before picking up Hannah.”
“I’ve never had to call before, sweetheart.” Liz winced at the pet name.
“I know, but I’d appreciate it if you did.”
“Fine.” He looked between them, if he wasn’t careful Max was going to spring.
Kyle slid a protective hand around her waist and propelled her into the apartment, “Excuse us a moment, would you?” He shut the door.
Max glared, he knew Liz hated when she was directed somewhere especially in that way, if you wanted her to go somewhere, you asked her.
“Kyle what are you doing?” Liz exploded into rapid French.
“Trying to talk some sense into you.” He said right back, just as angrily.
“He’s going to hear you!”
“He can’t understand anyway, what in the hell are you doing Liz? You hadn’t told me you were planning on seeing him today.”
“Kyle you’ve got skeletons in your closet, I’ve got mine.” She stated in a calm voice, controlling herself.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just guess Kyle, just guess.” She didn’t realize how angry she was at him for not telling her about Serena. “Now, before you get mad at me for not telling you something after two days, think about the plank in your eye before you take the splinter out of mine.” She walked to the door and closed it softly behind her.
“We haven’t gotten over each other Kyle, what makes you think she’ll get over her daughter’s father?” Serena stood in the doorway from her room, though she hadn’t understood a word that had been said.
He glared at her before turning to walk back out the door.
“Sit, Kyle, we really need to talk.” Serena pointed towards the couch.
“Alright.” He knew it had been coming, he had asked her himself, hadn’t he?
****
Max’s eyes were still flaming when Liz walked out.
Alright, she knew how to deal with him once, how much could have changed?
She walked past him without saying anything knowing he would follow. She could feel his temper seething and his eyes burning into the back of her neck.
“I wasn’t expecting him.”
“Obviously.” He tried to get a hold on his temper. He didn’t need to be mad. He needed to think straight so he could talk rationally with Liz. “I’m sorry, Liz, I have no right to be angry with you.”
That threw her off for a moment. She hadn’t been expecting such an easy agreement. “Oh, well…” She didn’t know what to say.
“Where’d you learn to speak French?”
“Kyle.” She said smoothing down her pant leg. “I was thinking we could walk to pick her up, it’s only down the street a little ways. Unless you had something else planned.”
“No, I was just wanting to talk with you.” He told her.
“Oh, well then.” She didn’t want to just start in on Hannah, but it looked like there really was no choice. “Well, nothing in particular?”
“No…well…us?”
“What about us?” She asked stunned.
“My relationship with Hannah.” With you, he wanted to say.
“What about it?” Liz wondered. She knew he would never try to take Hannah away from her.
“Will you let one grow between us?” Would she allow it, even if his relationship with Liz was unable to be maintained.
“Of course.” Hannah deserved to know her father. “If you promise not to hurt her.” He knew he wouldn’t not intentionally.
“I was thinking, that maybe one weekend, maybe, she could spend a weekend with me. Not anytime soon yet. She still doesn’t know me well, but just once, if she didn’t like it then never again.”
Liz was stunned. No, not too fast. “We’ll see.” Same answer she gave to Hannah when the answer was no.
“Liz, don’t do the ‘we’ll see’ routine.” He shook his head wondering if all mothers did that. “I hated when my mom gave me that answer.”
”Sorry.” She really wasn’t. What better way to give herself longer to come up with an excuse? “Well, Hannah.” Hannah has a heart condition that’s going to be operated on in three weeks and then we’ll see if she makes it out of surgery and then we’ll see if she can go to your house. That wasn’t going to work.
“Hannah’s a little skittish around people she doesn’t know. And she still likes to sleep in my bed, and she’s never been away from me for longer than one night. And when she was, she was with Grandma Amy and Grandpa Jim.” She rushed.
They walked into the schoolyard, but hung back a bit from the other parents so they can talk without the other mommy’s hearing.
“Who’s Grandma Amy and Grandpa Jim?” He asked.
“Kyle’s parents.” She realized how that sounded and regretted it the second she said it. “That didn’t…”
“I understand he’s been around, so have they.”
“No, it’s not like that, Max. They’ve been around since Hannah’s birth.” Liz tried to defend herself. “When TOP workers came, and I was scared.” She stopped. Dear God, she had gone too far.
“The who and why?” He asked turning her towards him.
Liz stared into his eyes then down to where her hand was holding her facing him. His grip was firm but gentle. She couldn’t have moved if her life depended on it, yet she felt nothing except fire spreading throughout her body.
She was saved when she heard a familiar voice. “Liz, hello!”
Max dropped his arm and wanted to glare at the other woman with the two-year-old on her hip.
“Hi, Melissa.” Liz turned quickly to the woman. “Conner.”
“Hi!” Conner waved.
“Max, this is Melissa, and her son Conner. Mel, this is Max.”
“Hello.” Melissa eyed him and spotted the similarities to Hannah and connected the dots. “You must be Hannah’s father.”
Max caught Liz’s eye on what to do. She gave a shrug and looked at the ground.
“Technically, yes.” He answered.
“Oh.” Melissa cursed herself again and shifted Conner on her hip.
“Mommy!” They were all saved from the awkward situation. There were about twenty-five of the same shouts but Max watched in fascination as Liz quickly picked out the one belonging to Hannah and turned towards her.
“Hello, Hannah bean.” Liz scooped her up and squeezed her to her.
“Hi.” Hannah said shyly when she saw Max. Her eyes lit up. “What are you doing here?”
“Your mother thought it would be nice if I came along, if you don’t mind.”
“No!” Then she turned back to Liz. “Can Nat come over to the apartment?”
“Not today, we’re going to stay with Max and then you have a doctor’s appointment.” Liz explained.
“Oh.” She didn’t like the thought of the doctor’s office, and laid her head on her mother’s shoulder, suddenly becoming sad.
“I’m sorry, maybe another day.”
“Yeah, maybe another day. Come on, Natalie.” Melissa turned away with Natalie in tow, as she waved bye to Hannah.
“See you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Nat.” Hannah called. Darn doctors. “No, doctor’s, Mommy, I breathe fine.” She took a deep breath to prove it.
She coughed after that and Liz frowned. So did Max.
Was Hannah sick? He wondered to himself. If she was, why hadn’t Liz told him? But Hannah’s knowing of the doctor, and easy acceptance made him doubtful that this was not a temporary thing.
“Someone going to fill me in?”
Liz knew she should have told him, before he found out. Now, he was going to be angry, which he had every right to be.
“My heart’s sick.” Hannah said helpfully.
Liz groaned inwardly.
Max raised an eyebrow and folded his arms over his chest much as Hannah did when she wanted to know something.
“Come back to the apartment, and I’ll tell you.” Liz said.
Max nodded and began walking back.
tbc
Chapter 23
“Wake up, Hannah.” Liz stood over Hannah.
“No.” She pulled the pillow over her head.
“It’s time for kindergarten.” Liz tried.
“No!” Hannah rolled over. Of all times to be a lazy riser, Liz rolled her eyes.
“Come on, Hannah bean.”
“Fine.” She threw off the covers with exaggerated movements.
“You know you’re excited.” Liz tickled her cheek.
“Yes.” She nodded her head. “You take me?”
“Of course, my love.” Liz hugged her daughter. “Now get up so that we can get ready.”
“Ok.” She smiled. “You’re going to pick me up?”
“Yes.” She wanted to tell her that Max was going to pick her up as well but she wanted it to be a surprise.
“How do you want your hair?” Liz asked when Hannah settled down enough in front of her so she could actually comb it.
“Princess style.” She said automatically.
“Alright.
“ Can we go see Kailyn today?”
“Maybe.” Liz smiled when she thought of the baby.
“Grandma Amy says she’ll be there for a few months.”
“She probably will, so you’ll get to know her well enough.” Liz felt the baby soft hair on Hannah’s head.
Her baby was going to kindergarten.
And her baby’s father knew nothing about her.
“Hi, Serena!” Hannah smiled at her.
“Morning, Cutie Pie.” She smiled at her. “Ready for your first day of kindergarten?”
“Yes.” She was becoming more excited by the moment. “Is it time?”
“Not yet, Hannah.”
“Oh, hurry, Mommy.” She stomped her foot.
“If we leave now you’ll be too early.”
“Please.” Hannah drawled and put on a pout.
“Aww, Liz, how can you resist that? Just take the girl to school.” Serena sided.
“Fine, fine, two against one, you win Hannah.”
“Yes!” She grabbed her purple lunch pale and went for the door.
“Slow down, Hannah.” Liz picked up her keys and purse.
“I’ll see you later, Serena.” Liz met her eyes. “If he calls.” She emphasized he. “Tell him I’ll be back in a half hour.”
“Which he?” Serena asked, she stared at the floor, it was easy talking with Hannah there as an unknowing mediator.
Liz’s gaze slid toward Hannah and Serena got the meaning. “Will do.”
****
Liz surveyed the teacher as they neared the classroom. This is woman she would trust her daughter to for four hours a day.
She was older, maybe early fifties, which pleased Liz because she had experience. She had already met her once before at “kindergarten round-up”. Mrs. Howell.
Hannah’s grip tightened, “It’s alright, Hannah bean, you met Mrs. Howell.”
“Good morning, Hannah.” The old woman’s eyes sparkled. “Are you ready for kindergarten?”
Hannah shook her head and turned into Liz leg. “Mommy.”
“Now, Hannah, we’ll have a fun time, here, and in just a few hours Mommy’s going to come pick you up.”
“No.” Liz hadn’t been expecting a refusal.
“Hannah bean.” Liz bent down to hold her child in her arms. “It’s just like day care.”
“No.” The thought of her mother leaving her here, where she didn’t know anybody was terrifying. “Don’t go.” She whispered as she tightened her grip around her neck.
“It’s alright.” Liz pulled her aside to so the other terrified four and five year olds could enter. “Hannah, it’ll be fine, and imagine what you could tell Kyle, and…and…Max.” She whispered in French. “You’d want to tell them what a brave little girl you’d been right?”
She nodded comforted. “I’ll be good.”
“Alright, are you going to go in there like the big girl I know you are?”
“Yes, Mommy.” She hugged Liz one more time before she straightened and wiped her eyes.
“Come on.” Liz stood once more as well, her heart breaking as she watched her little girl enter and sit where the teacher had marked at the small tables.
“Was french her first or second language, Ms. Parker?”
“Her first word was Mama so I don’t exactly know. She speaks both equally.” Liz shrugged. It wasn’t abnormal for a child in Southern California to know Spanish, but French was a little different.
“Where did she learn it?” She asked curious.
“Her grandparents.” She said automatically. Amy and Jim were her grandparents, much more so than her own parent could ever be.
“Interesting.” Mrs. Howell explained. “Now, about Hannah’s heart.”
“She usually knows her limits and she knows to tell you if she doesn’t feel well.” Liz said quickly.
“I know, I’m sure she does.” She reassured the young mother. “But there’s nothing special you want me to look out for?”
“Not in particular.” Liz racked her brain for anything. “And she’ll be home for her afternoon meds so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Yes.” She smiled. “Now, if you don’t mind I have a class of nervous kindergartners, I have to get to it, Hannah will be fine.”
“Thank you.” Liz took one more look in the classroom and found Hannah. Hannah gave her a little wave letting her know she was ok.
Her throat clogged up as she turned. There were a dozen other mothers standing there as well, a few fathers interspersed.
“Don’t worry, I can tell she’s your first?” A woman with a two-year-old in her arms, and another clearly on the way, asked her as they walked to the parking lot.
“Yes.” Liz said embarrassed, she didn’t want to be labeled the overprotective mother.
“I’ve done this four times before, and it never gets any easier.” Liz’s mind was boggled at the thought of so many children. But the thought was comforting; here was a seasoned mother she could talk to.
“My little girl, Natalie, was the one your daughter was with, Hannah, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.” Her Hannah.
“Well, how would you like to follow me over to my place for a while and we can wallow over our lost babies together?” Liz looked down at her watch, she could afford it, she had time to kill and the less she thought about Max the faster the day would go.
“Why not?” Liz shrugged.
****
“I have four other children beside Natalie and Conner.” Melissa, as she had learned her name was, pointed to the two-year-old.
“So many.” Liz whispered before she could stop herself.
“Yeah, that’s a common reaction.” She smiled and patted her belly. “I swore this one would be the last. My husband and I enjoy having young ones around.”
“I can understand that.” She missed Hannah’s constantly sticky hands and her childish laughter. Dear God, she was making it sound like she was going off to college, it was only kindergarten! She tried to tell herself.
“Hannah’s your only?”
“Yeah, for now.” Liz smiled wondering if Max was going to want more children.
The thought brought a frown to her face. She couldn’t think like that. She could not think in terms of when, she had to keep out and think if, only if.
“Something wrong, dear?”
“No.” Liz shook her head. “Tell me about your children.”
“Well, my oldest is in eighth, Ethan, then Jennifer, sixth, Autumn, fourth, Ben, second, Natalie, Conner and the new baby.”
“Wow.” Liz still could quite imagine a houseful of so many children. It would be wonderful.
“You’re planning to have more, you said?”
“Yeah, I would like to.”
“What does Hannah’s father think?”
“He doesn’t.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Liz.” She realized her fault, not everyone had a happy marriage these days. Or were married at all.
“It isn’t really something we’ve discussed. I was so young when I had Hannah.”
Melissa realized the use of I. “It’s alright, you don’t have to talk about it, I always have a tendency to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“It’s alright.” Liz looked down at her watch. It was ten thirty. “I really have to be going.”
“Oh, all right.” She said flustered. “You will call though?”
“Yes, yes.” Liz nodded.
“We’ll probably be getting to know each other very well over the coming years. Ethan met his current best friend in kindergarten, on the first day. So did all my other children.” She smiled.
Liz laughed, that’s when her and Isabel had become best friends. “Yeah, I met my best friend in kindergarten too.”
“Alright then, I’ll see you at noon.”
“Yes, you will.” Liz left the house feeling happier that Hannah seemed to already found a friend and she had gotten to spend the morning talking about her daughter’s first day of school with someone who understood.
****
“Mr. Evans your mother called and wanted to speak with you.” The young secretary was flustered. God he was gorgeous, and he was only a few years older than she was.
“Was it urgent?” He paused in the doorway, he’d be late if he had to call her back right now.
“With your mother it’s always urgent but no, it wasn’t work related.”
“Alright, I’ll be back in two hours.”
“Where shall I say you will be?” She asked.
“Lunch meeting, with…” my daughter, he had been about to say. It was about to just flow right off his tongue. “some very important clients.” He amended.
“Alright.” She watched him leave. Yeah, he was gorgeous.
****
Liz ran the brush through her hair one last time.
The doorbell rang. This would be it.
“Hello, Max.” She opened the door without looking. “Kyle.”
“Good morning to you too, Liz, expecting someone?” He leaned against the doorpost.
“Yes, I do believe she was.” Max stepped behind him. His gaze scanning the man in the doorway.
They eyed each other, each fighting for control. Neither was willing to back down.
“Alright you two, stop it.” Liz stepped between them. “Kyle I really wished you had called, I had planned to go out with Max, before picking up Hannah.”
“I’ve never had to call before, sweetheart.” Liz winced at the pet name.
“I know, but I’d appreciate it if you did.”
“Fine.” He looked between them, if he wasn’t careful Max was going to spring.
Kyle slid a protective hand around her waist and propelled her into the apartment, “Excuse us a moment, would you?” He shut the door.
Max glared, he knew Liz hated when she was directed somewhere especially in that way, if you wanted her to go somewhere, you asked her.
“Kyle what are you doing?” Liz exploded into rapid French.
“Trying to talk some sense into you.” He said right back, just as angrily.
“He’s going to hear you!”
“He can’t understand anyway, what in the hell are you doing Liz? You hadn’t told me you were planning on seeing him today.”
“Kyle you’ve got skeletons in your closet, I’ve got mine.” She stated in a calm voice, controlling herself.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just guess Kyle, just guess.” She didn’t realize how angry she was at him for not telling her about Serena. “Now, before you get mad at me for not telling you something after two days, think about the plank in your eye before you take the splinter out of mine.” She walked to the door and closed it softly behind her.
“We haven’t gotten over each other Kyle, what makes you think she’ll get over her daughter’s father?” Serena stood in the doorway from her room, though she hadn’t understood a word that had been said.
He glared at her before turning to walk back out the door.
“Sit, Kyle, we really need to talk.” Serena pointed towards the couch.
“Alright.” He knew it had been coming, he had asked her himself, hadn’t he?
****
Max’s eyes were still flaming when Liz walked out.
Alright, she knew how to deal with him once, how much could have changed?
She walked past him without saying anything knowing he would follow. She could feel his temper seething and his eyes burning into the back of her neck.
“I wasn’t expecting him.”
“Obviously.” He tried to get a hold on his temper. He didn’t need to be mad. He needed to think straight so he could talk rationally with Liz. “I’m sorry, Liz, I have no right to be angry with you.”
That threw her off for a moment. She hadn’t been expecting such an easy agreement. “Oh, well…” She didn’t know what to say.
“Where’d you learn to speak French?”
“Kyle.” She said smoothing down her pant leg. “I was thinking we could walk to pick her up, it’s only down the street a little ways. Unless you had something else planned.”
“No, I was just wanting to talk with you.” He told her.
“Oh, well then.” She didn’t want to just start in on Hannah, but it looked like there really was no choice. “Well, nothing in particular?”
“No…well…us?”
“What about us?” She asked stunned.
“My relationship with Hannah.” With you, he wanted to say.
“What about it?” Liz wondered. She knew he would never try to take Hannah away from her.
“Will you let one grow between us?” Would she allow it, even if his relationship with Liz was unable to be maintained.
“Of course.” Hannah deserved to know her father. “If you promise not to hurt her.” He knew he wouldn’t not intentionally.
“I was thinking, that maybe one weekend, maybe, she could spend a weekend with me. Not anytime soon yet. She still doesn’t know me well, but just once, if she didn’t like it then never again.”
Liz was stunned. No, not too fast. “We’ll see.” Same answer she gave to Hannah when the answer was no.
“Liz, don’t do the ‘we’ll see’ routine.” He shook his head wondering if all mothers did that. “I hated when my mom gave me that answer.”
”Sorry.” She really wasn’t. What better way to give herself longer to come up with an excuse? “Well, Hannah.” Hannah has a heart condition that’s going to be operated on in three weeks and then we’ll see if she makes it out of surgery and then we’ll see if she can go to your house. That wasn’t going to work.
“Hannah’s a little skittish around people she doesn’t know. And she still likes to sleep in my bed, and she’s never been away from me for longer than one night. And when she was, she was with Grandma Amy and Grandpa Jim.” She rushed.
They walked into the schoolyard, but hung back a bit from the other parents so they can talk without the other mommy’s hearing.
“Who’s Grandma Amy and Grandpa Jim?” He asked.
“Kyle’s parents.” She realized how that sounded and regretted it the second she said it. “That didn’t…”
“I understand he’s been around, so have they.”
“No, it’s not like that, Max. They’ve been around since Hannah’s birth.” Liz tried to defend herself. “When TOP workers came, and I was scared.” She stopped. Dear God, she had gone too far.
“The who and why?” He asked turning her towards him.
Liz stared into his eyes then down to where her hand was holding her facing him. His grip was firm but gentle. She couldn’t have moved if her life depended on it, yet she felt nothing except fire spreading throughout her body.
She was saved when she heard a familiar voice. “Liz, hello!”
Max dropped his arm and wanted to glare at the other woman with the two-year-old on her hip.
“Hi, Melissa.” Liz turned quickly to the woman. “Conner.”
“Hi!” Conner waved.
“Max, this is Melissa, and her son Conner. Mel, this is Max.”
“Hello.” Melissa eyed him and spotted the similarities to Hannah and connected the dots. “You must be Hannah’s father.”
Max caught Liz’s eye on what to do. She gave a shrug and looked at the ground.
“Technically, yes.” He answered.
“Oh.” Melissa cursed herself again and shifted Conner on her hip.
“Mommy!” They were all saved from the awkward situation. There were about twenty-five of the same shouts but Max watched in fascination as Liz quickly picked out the one belonging to Hannah and turned towards her.
“Hello, Hannah bean.” Liz scooped her up and squeezed her to her.
“Hi.” Hannah said shyly when she saw Max. Her eyes lit up. “What are you doing here?”
“Your mother thought it would be nice if I came along, if you don’t mind.”
“No!” Then she turned back to Liz. “Can Nat come over to the apartment?”
“Not today, we’re going to stay with Max and then you have a doctor’s appointment.” Liz explained.
“Oh.” She didn’t like the thought of the doctor’s office, and laid her head on her mother’s shoulder, suddenly becoming sad.
“I’m sorry, maybe another day.”
“Yeah, maybe another day. Come on, Natalie.” Melissa turned away with Natalie in tow, as she waved bye to Hannah.
“See you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Nat.” Hannah called. Darn doctors. “No, doctor’s, Mommy, I breathe fine.” She took a deep breath to prove it.
She coughed after that and Liz frowned. So did Max.
Was Hannah sick? He wondered to himself. If she was, why hadn’t Liz told him? But Hannah’s knowing of the doctor, and easy acceptance made him doubtful that this was not a temporary thing.
“Someone going to fill me in?”
Liz knew she should have told him, before he found out. Now, he was going to be angry, which he had every right to be.
“My heart’s sick.” Hannah said helpfully.
Liz groaned inwardly.
Max raised an eyebrow and folded his arms over his chest much as Hannah did when she wanted to know something.
“Come back to the apartment, and I’ll tell you.” Liz said.
Max nodded and began walking back.
tbc
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
Quick post before I dash off to work! Two Kinds should be up sometime in the next too weeks.
Mattie
Chapter 24
The small group sat around Liz’s kitchen table in her apartment.
Max looked around knowing her house would be spotless. Everything was neat and had its place, except the front room. There was an array of toys. They were splayed out across the floor as if she had made no attempt to clean it up.
Hannah was currently chatting, unaware of the tension between her parents. Liz had made them a delicious entrée of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cut into pretty little stars (no crusts of course) accompanied by a glass of milk.
Max liked it better than any of his lunches at any one of the fancy restaurants that could be found in South County.
“Natalie says that babies cry a lot, but Kailyn doesn’t cry a lot.” Hannah explained. “I like Kailyn.”
“And who is Kailyn?” Max asked generally interested in his daughter’s life. “And Natalie.”
“Natalie’s my best friend.” Hannah said excitedly. “I met her today.”
“You’ve known her for one day, Hannah bean, and she’s already your best friend?” Liz asked smiling at her daughter’s excitement.
“Yes.” Hannah gave her mother a look like she was crazy. “And Kailyn,” she turned to Max, “Is Grandpa Jim and Grandma Amy’s new baby.”
“Really?” Max asked.
“Foster baby.” Liz clarified. “Although Jim and Amy really aren’t that old.”
“They took care of me when I was a baby.” Hannah said proudly.
“Did they?” She had already told him this on Sunday, but he didn’t mind hearing her say it all over again.
“Yeah, they still do, when Mommy’s working.” He loved the way she rolled her ‘y’s making them sound like ‘l’s.
“Natalie has lots of brother’s and sisters.”
“Seven of them.” Liz put in.
“How come I don’t?”
Max and Liz both froze. What a time to ask that question.
“Because Mommy doesn’t have any other babies but you.” Liz said weakly, wishing that would be enough to appease her daughter.
“Why not?”
“Because your mother’s not ready for another baby right now.” Max entered. “Babies take a lot of work.” And next time I’ll be here to help her.
“Do you have other babies?” Hannah asked Max.
“Only you.” He smiled.
“Oh.” It felt weird to think of herself as his. She didn’t know him.
Hannah’s head started to droop and Liz knew that her midday medications were starting to kick in. She hated the fact that Hannah’s medications made her sleepy but she knew that they were only temporary and were necessary before she went into surgery.
“Are you tired?” Liz asked gently smoothing her hair back.
“Yeah.” Hannah answered honestly. She knew she had to else her mother wouldn’t believe her next time, when she really wasn’t. Her mother’s hand was comforting on her forehead and she suddenly felt the heavy need to be in her mother’s arms. “Up.”
“Alright.” Liz lifted her up out of her booster seat and cradled her in her arms.
Hannah curled up even though the July air was stifling hot.
Max smiled in awe at the young girl in her mother’s lap. They all three jumped when the phone rang suddenly.
Liz scooped Hannah against her as she got up to answer the phone.
“Hi, Amy.” Liz answered. “Yes, she’s right here, just a second.”
“Hi, Grandma.” Hannah said eagerly into the phone.
Max smiled over at her delight, knowing she had a close bond with the people she had grown up with.
“Amy Valenti?” Max asked.
“Yeah. She wanted to see how Hannah’s day went.” She smiled.
Max nodded. There was a child-size dress hanging from the bedroom doorway and Max guessed Liz was air-drying it. Everything was so homey here. Hannah was clearly comfortable.
Max looked back to Hannah when she giggled and her face lit up. “Hi, Kyle!”
Liz straightened as did Max. He relaxed his stance when Hannah let out another giggle.
“He wants to talk to you.” Hannah handed Liz the phone. Liz took the phone, plopped Hannah into Max’s lap and got up to go into the other room.
Max’s arms automatically came up around Hannah so she would slip from his lap. It was the first time he had held his daughter in his arms. His heart beat rapidly in his chest when she looked up at him stunned.
She slid from his lap and ran over to Liz and held her pant leg. She stared at Max and looked up at her mother who was arguing softly in French with Kyle.
Max’s heart dropped his daughter would hug him, talk to him, smile at him, but she wouldn’t allow him to hold her.
Liz frowned down at Hannah obviously disappointed in her actions but then she remembered Hannah could be shy at times.
“Au revoir, Kyle.” She said into the phone before hanging up. She picked up Hannah and went back to join Max at the table. “Sorry, they wanted to know what her first day was like.”
“It’s alright.” Max smiled still a little hurt by Hannah’s actions, yet he understood.
A little.
Hannah cuddled into Liz’s lap and this time she let sleep take over as she closed her eyes and her breathing evened out.
“She sleeps easily.” Max smiled.
“It’s her medications.” Liz said automatically. Their eyes locked. Liz knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. “Let me go lay her down and I’ll explain something to you.”
She left the door open a little bit so she could hear her if anything happened.
“I’m going to explain something to you, Max, I need you not to interrupt, or ask questions. I did what I had to do, I don’t regret any of it.” Liz looked him straight in the eye.
“When I moved out here, in July of that year, I went to the clinic for a check-up, we found Hannah had an unusual heart rhythm.” She picked up her plate and walked back to the sink. She scrubbed Hannah’s dish and matching cup and placed them in the dish rack. “When I found out I was frantic, on the verge of calling you. But I didn’t.” She took a deep breath leaving out the part of being alone and frightened in a place she didn’t know about.
“Then, when she was born, she had a series of holes in her heart. She was born a month early, that isn’t unusual. They fixed the smaller holes in a series of surgeries. We had the bigger one fixed when she was two. Now, they have to go in and reinforce the patches they put on the heart. It’s her final one, but the most dangerous.”
Max sat stunned, studying the look on her face.
“We have a doctor appointment today, and he’s going to provide new medications for the next three weeks. Surgery is in August. You may notice she’s short of breath, from just walking across the room. That’s when Kyle and I took her in again, when she was having trouble breathing.”
“Oh.” Kyle again.
He didn’t know what to say.
“Hannah’s not small because I’m small, Max. I’m short, but not that short. She can’t take enough oxygen in so she doesn’t grow.” She smiled sadly. “She’ll grow a bit better once she’s totally fixed, but not much, she’s destined to be small.”
“There’s nothing wrong with small women.” Max muttered.
“Easy for you to say.” Liz shot back.
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
“Because the moment I left Roswell, I was done running to people. When they handed me Hannah after an emergency C-Section, I stopped being a little girl, Max, and Hannah became mine to protect and love.” She said fiercely.
“Yours and Kyle’s.” He said before he could stop himself.
“Don’t talk to me about Kyle.” Not until I understand it myself.
“Fine.” He left that point alone. “When exactly is her next surgery?”
“She’s off-track in August and beginning so she’s ready to go back to school in September, but I think they might try to push it back.”
“I want to be there.”
She took a deep breath beginning to deny him. She felt so helpless during her surgeries and it took all her power to keep herself under control. She didn’t need him causing more pressure. Then she remembered Hannah was his daughter as well.
It felt so different having to share Hannah. But Hannah wasn’t his; she was hers, and hers alone.
“I’ll think about it.” She said turning to the sink.
“What’s there to think about?”
“Max, you weren’t here for four years, you cannot expect me to relinquish my place as her sole caretaker right away. When you signed those papers she became mine alone, not ours, mine.” She didn’t want to bring it up; she didn’t want anything to do with the custody papers she had failed to turn back into court. The ones tucked in her drawer that she was scared someone would notice were missing. She had no idea how no one had noticed they weren’t there.
“Liz.” It hurt. It haunted him Everytime he thought about it. “Don’t.”
“Don’t try to take her from me.” Her eyes pleaded. Suddenly all of her securities of Max not taking her suddenly fled. What if he decided he wanted them back? What could she do? She herself had not turned in the papers forfeiting any protection from the law. They won’t see that she was the one that had taken care of her for four years, all they’ll see is Max and the fact that he had enough money to not need help from the government. He’s stable, has a steady job, and lives in a townhouse somewhere in Anaheim Hills.
He stood abruptly when her eyes filled with tears. He hated seeing her cry, he always had.
“Don’t cry, Liz. I wasn’t going to, please don’t cry.” It hurt to see tears in her eyes. Did she really think that he would take Hannah from her?
“Max, she’s all I have. Don’t take her away.” Tears fell freely.
He crossed to her and took her in his arms before thinking. You have me too; he wanted to shout at her. I’ll be here; I’m not leaving you alone again.
“Liz, I wasn’t even thinking it. I just want to be a part of her life. I can see how happy she is with you. Her reliance on you is incredible. The bond you have is unbreakable. Don’t worry about that, Liz.” He pulled her away from him and looked her in the eye. It was so comfortable to be in each other’s arms they didn’t notice they were there. “Liz, Hannah’s incredible. I would never dream of breaking that. Understand?”
She nodded. He pressed a kiss to her temple.
She rested her head against his shoulder. “What are we gonna do, Max?” The comfort that came from the gesture was far too soothing.
“I don’t know.” He breathed out. He pushed her away, gently. “I have to go.” If he didn’t, he was going to kiss her.
Liz straightened her spine.
“Are you going to say goodbye to Hannah?” Liz asked.
“She’s asleep.”
“No, she’s not. Look.” Liz tilted her head towards the bedroom.
Hannah was standing peering out into the room. “Come out, and say goodbye, Hannah bean.”
“Bye.” She said cautiously walking closer.
“Goodbye, Hannah.” Max said crouching down.
“I’m glad I got to talk to you on your first day of school.” He said seriously.
“Me too.” She hugged him briefly.
“Goodbye, Liz.” He turned to her. God he loved her and it was killing him to have to leave her and Hannah behind.
“Bye, Max. We’ll call.”
“Alright.” He nodded.
TBC
Mattie
Chapter 24
The small group sat around Liz’s kitchen table in her apartment.
Max looked around knowing her house would be spotless. Everything was neat and had its place, except the front room. There was an array of toys. They were splayed out across the floor as if she had made no attempt to clean it up.
Hannah was currently chatting, unaware of the tension between her parents. Liz had made them a delicious entrée of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cut into pretty little stars (no crusts of course) accompanied by a glass of milk.
Max liked it better than any of his lunches at any one of the fancy restaurants that could be found in South County.
“Natalie says that babies cry a lot, but Kailyn doesn’t cry a lot.” Hannah explained. “I like Kailyn.”
“And who is Kailyn?” Max asked generally interested in his daughter’s life. “And Natalie.”
“Natalie’s my best friend.” Hannah said excitedly. “I met her today.”
“You’ve known her for one day, Hannah bean, and she’s already your best friend?” Liz asked smiling at her daughter’s excitement.
“Yes.” Hannah gave her mother a look like she was crazy. “And Kailyn,” she turned to Max, “Is Grandpa Jim and Grandma Amy’s new baby.”
“Really?” Max asked.
“Foster baby.” Liz clarified. “Although Jim and Amy really aren’t that old.”
“They took care of me when I was a baby.” Hannah said proudly.
“Did they?” She had already told him this on Sunday, but he didn’t mind hearing her say it all over again.
“Yeah, they still do, when Mommy’s working.” He loved the way she rolled her ‘y’s making them sound like ‘l’s.
“Natalie has lots of brother’s and sisters.”
“Seven of them.” Liz put in.
“How come I don’t?”
Max and Liz both froze. What a time to ask that question.
“Because Mommy doesn’t have any other babies but you.” Liz said weakly, wishing that would be enough to appease her daughter.
“Why not?”
“Because your mother’s not ready for another baby right now.” Max entered. “Babies take a lot of work.” And next time I’ll be here to help her.
“Do you have other babies?” Hannah asked Max.
“Only you.” He smiled.
“Oh.” It felt weird to think of herself as his. She didn’t know him.
Hannah’s head started to droop and Liz knew that her midday medications were starting to kick in. She hated the fact that Hannah’s medications made her sleepy but she knew that they were only temporary and were necessary before she went into surgery.
“Are you tired?” Liz asked gently smoothing her hair back.
“Yeah.” Hannah answered honestly. She knew she had to else her mother wouldn’t believe her next time, when she really wasn’t. Her mother’s hand was comforting on her forehead and she suddenly felt the heavy need to be in her mother’s arms. “Up.”
“Alright.” Liz lifted her up out of her booster seat and cradled her in her arms.
Hannah curled up even though the July air was stifling hot.
Max smiled in awe at the young girl in her mother’s lap. They all three jumped when the phone rang suddenly.
Liz scooped Hannah against her as she got up to answer the phone.
“Hi, Amy.” Liz answered. “Yes, she’s right here, just a second.”
“Hi, Grandma.” Hannah said eagerly into the phone.
Max smiled over at her delight, knowing she had a close bond with the people she had grown up with.
“Amy Valenti?” Max asked.
“Yeah. She wanted to see how Hannah’s day went.” She smiled.
Max nodded. There was a child-size dress hanging from the bedroom doorway and Max guessed Liz was air-drying it. Everything was so homey here. Hannah was clearly comfortable.
Max looked back to Hannah when she giggled and her face lit up. “Hi, Kyle!”
Liz straightened as did Max. He relaxed his stance when Hannah let out another giggle.
“He wants to talk to you.” Hannah handed Liz the phone. Liz took the phone, plopped Hannah into Max’s lap and got up to go into the other room.
Max’s arms automatically came up around Hannah so she would slip from his lap. It was the first time he had held his daughter in his arms. His heart beat rapidly in his chest when she looked up at him stunned.
She slid from his lap and ran over to Liz and held her pant leg. She stared at Max and looked up at her mother who was arguing softly in French with Kyle.
Max’s heart dropped his daughter would hug him, talk to him, smile at him, but she wouldn’t allow him to hold her.
Liz frowned down at Hannah obviously disappointed in her actions but then she remembered Hannah could be shy at times.
“Au revoir, Kyle.” She said into the phone before hanging up. She picked up Hannah and went back to join Max at the table. “Sorry, they wanted to know what her first day was like.”
“It’s alright.” Max smiled still a little hurt by Hannah’s actions, yet he understood.
A little.
Hannah cuddled into Liz’s lap and this time she let sleep take over as she closed her eyes and her breathing evened out.
“She sleeps easily.” Max smiled.
“It’s her medications.” Liz said automatically. Their eyes locked. Liz knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. “Let me go lay her down and I’ll explain something to you.”
She left the door open a little bit so she could hear her if anything happened.
“I’m going to explain something to you, Max, I need you not to interrupt, or ask questions. I did what I had to do, I don’t regret any of it.” Liz looked him straight in the eye.
“When I moved out here, in July of that year, I went to the clinic for a check-up, we found Hannah had an unusual heart rhythm.” She picked up her plate and walked back to the sink. She scrubbed Hannah’s dish and matching cup and placed them in the dish rack. “When I found out I was frantic, on the verge of calling you. But I didn’t.” She took a deep breath leaving out the part of being alone and frightened in a place she didn’t know about.
“Then, when she was born, she had a series of holes in her heart. She was born a month early, that isn’t unusual. They fixed the smaller holes in a series of surgeries. We had the bigger one fixed when she was two. Now, they have to go in and reinforce the patches they put on the heart. It’s her final one, but the most dangerous.”
Max sat stunned, studying the look on her face.
“We have a doctor appointment today, and he’s going to provide new medications for the next three weeks. Surgery is in August. You may notice she’s short of breath, from just walking across the room. That’s when Kyle and I took her in again, when she was having trouble breathing.”
“Oh.” Kyle again.
He didn’t know what to say.
“Hannah’s not small because I’m small, Max. I’m short, but not that short. She can’t take enough oxygen in so she doesn’t grow.” She smiled sadly. “She’ll grow a bit better once she’s totally fixed, but not much, she’s destined to be small.”
“There’s nothing wrong with small women.” Max muttered.
“Easy for you to say.” Liz shot back.
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
“Because the moment I left Roswell, I was done running to people. When they handed me Hannah after an emergency C-Section, I stopped being a little girl, Max, and Hannah became mine to protect and love.” She said fiercely.
“Yours and Kyle’s.” He said before he could stop himself.
“Don’t talk to me about Kyle.” Not until I understand it myself.
“Fine.” He left that point alone. “When exactly is her next surgery?”
“She’s off-track in August and beginning so she’s ready to go back to school in September, but I think they might try to push it back.”
“I want to be there.”
She took a deep breath beginning to deny him. She felt so helpless during her surgeries and it took all her power to keep herself under control. She didn’t need him causing more pressure. Then she remembered Hannah was his daughter as well.
It felt so different having to share Hannah. But Hannah wasn’t his; she was hers, and hers alone.
“I’ll think about it.” She said turning to the sink.
“What’s there to think about?”
“Max, you weren’t here for four years, you cannot expect me to relinquish my place as her sole caretaker right away. When you signed those papers she became mine alone, not ours, mine.” She didn’t want to bring it up; she didn’t want anything to do with the custody papers she had failed to turn back into court. The ones tucked in her drawer that she was scared someone would notice were missing. She had no idea how no one had noticed they weren’t there.
“Liz.” It hurt. It haunted him Everytime he thought about it. “Don’t.”
“Don’t try to take her from me.” Her eyes pleaded. Suddenly all of her securities of Max not taking her suddenly fled. What if he decided he wanted them back? What could she do? She herself had not turned in the papers forfeiting any protection from the law. They won’t see that she was the one that had taken care of her for four years, all they’ll see is Max and the fact that he had enough money to not need help from the government. He’s stable, has a steady job, and lives in a townhouse somewhere in Anaheim Hills.
He stood abruptly when her eyes filled with tears. He hated seeing her cry, he always had.
“Don’t cry, Liz. I wasn’t going to, please don’t cry.” It hurt to see tears in her eyes. Did she really think that he would take Hannah from her?
“Max, she’s all I have. Don’t take her away.” Tears fell freely.
He crossed to her and took her in his arms before thinking. You have me too; he wanted to shout at her. I’ll be here; I’m not leaving you alone again.
“Liz, I wasn’t even thinking it. I just want to be a part of her life. I can see how happy she is with you. Her reliance on you is incredible. The bond you have is unbreakable. Don’t worry about that, Liz.” He pulled her away from him and looked her in the eye. It was so comfortable to be in each other’s arms they didn’t notice they were there. “Liz, Hannah’s incredible. I would never dream of breaking that. Understand?”
She nodded. He pressed a kiss to her temple.
She rested her head against his shoulder. “What are we gonna do, Max?” The comfort that came from the gesture was far too soothing.
“I don’t know.” He breathed out. He pushed her away, gently. “I have to go.” If he didn’t, he was going to kiss her.
Liz straightened her spine.
“Are you going to say goodbye to Hannah?” Liz asked.
“She’s asleep.”
“No, she’s not. Look.” Liz tilted her head towards the bedroom.
Hannah was standing peering out into the room. “Come out, and say goodbye, Hannah bean.”
“Bye.” She said cautiously walking closer.
“Goodbye, Hannah.” Max said crouching down.
“I’m glad I got to talk to you on your first day of school.” He said seriously.
“Me too.” She hugged him briefly.
“Goodbye, Liz.” He turned to her. God he loved her and it was killing him to have to leave her and Hannah behind.
“Bye, Max. We’ll call.”
“Alright.” He nodded.
TBC
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
Hi Everyone! I was just thinking as I start this next part about Max. He’s one of the reasons why it takes me forever between the chapters. A few months ago I was ready to turn this into a loyalist fic because I was so angry with Max myself. Then my dreamer self just couldn’t let that happen so I’m trying my best to move them slowly back together. I hope I’m not moving too fast and as I’ve said before, Liz isn’t young anymore; she’s old enough to know what’s right for her and her child. As much as she loves Max, she has Hannah to worry about and she won’t give in easily to Max’s charms. Have faith!
I know it’s been forever, and I’m sorry. As I explained to some before it’s AP season and that has taken up a lot of my time. I promise Two Kinds will be up within the next few weeks. I’m almost done with the next chapter of it. I haven’t fully figured out how I want it to go. But I know what exactly is going to happen. Sorry again!
Here you go!
Mattie
Chapter 25
Max drove easily back to work almost reluctant to go back. He had so much to think about, so much to wonder.
If he had been in Liz’s position would he forgive himself?
In all technicalities, she had left him, not wanting to be found, she could be just as much to blame for running away.
He shook himself for even thinking the thought. He knew that she knew he could easily find her if he had really wanted to. He remembered how scared she had been about having Hannah. The way she had clung to him when they had told their parents. He had a feeling Liz wouldn’t cling to anyone now. Except maybe Kyle.
Alex was ‘Uncle Alex’ where as Kyle was just ‘Kyle’. What did that mean and why? How much of a bond was there between him and Hannah, him and Liz? This was a whole other factor that needed to be added into the long equation that was their lives.
He remembered back to when their relationship had been so simple. They were just a boy and a girl dating.
****
As children him, Liz and Isabel had been close friends. They were the children of the wealthiest, most influential people in Roswell, they were respected by the other children, maybe even feared, leaving them on the outside of all the play circles.
Maybe they were drawn together through necessity or the demands of their parents, but the bond held them tight.
It didn’t help that Max and Liz had proceeded to be the top of the class excluding them further.
He remembered at the age of twelve when the feelings of friendships changed into something else. She became shy and withdrawn around him and he blushed easily in her presence. Isabel grew annoyed with them, knowing they both liked each other.
They now understood their parent’s teasing about them marrying and bringing the two families together.
The flirtation continued on throughout their high school career. Then at the age of sixteen when they had been allowed to attend their first formal gathering with their parents’ friends in Albuquerque, the truth came out.
They had been left alone a little too long, and Max suspected it was no accident on Isabel’s part. They had been tentative and shy, not really wanting their parents to know. No one really knew, it was a secret. Max and Liz. The only other person who had known was Isabel.
At seventeen they decided it was in their best interest to tell their parents but to make it look as if it were a new development. Their parents had been ecstatic. They had applauded them and joked about one day being in the same family.
Then six months before Hannah’s conception they had been discovered outside on the terrace, announcing to the world that they were in fact a couple.
Six months later Liz had made the announcement that she was pregnant.
Three months later she was gone.
Looking back now he realizes he should have stuck by her. Seeing how strong she was now only made him wish he could have been there to see her develop.
****
Max returned to his present state of mind when his cell phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Max.” His mother’s voice came through the phone.
“I was just about to call you back, Mother.”
“Sure, that doesn’t matter. Max, I have something to tell you about Hannah.” Diane stated. “Are you driving, maybe you should pull over.” She said worriedly.
“Does this have anything to do with her heart?”
“Yes, how’d you know?” She said stunned.
“I just came from Liz’s, Mom.” He rubbed a hand over his eyes.
“She told you?” Diane said stunned on the other side.
“Yes, Mom.” He said glancing at his watch.
“Did she tell you about her money situation?”
“What money situation?” They seemed pretty ok, the apartment seemed nice and Hannah had looked happy.
“She doesn’t have very much of it, Max.”
”What? Her trust fund was larger than mine, what do you mean she doesn’t have any money?”
”Her trust fund was frozen when she left.”
”They can’t do that!” He had to calm himself down enough not to brake in the middle of the busy freeway.
“Her parents found a way to do so. She works two jobs, Max, she they’re moving in a few weeks.” Diane explained.
“Why?”
“Liz can’t afford it anymore.” Diane said wearily. She looked down at the files she had received earlier. “She wants to go to college, supposedly.”
Max’s heart hurt. Liz had loved to learn. She had always dreamed of going to Harvard and being head of microbiology. She hadn’t even gotten the chance to attend any college. To raise their child.
“She deserves college, Mom.” Max pulled into the parking lot of his law office. He sat in the car staring straight ahead.
“What are you going to do about it?” She asked patiently. She felt guilty for taking part in Liz leaving.
“I don’t know, Mom, find a way to unfreeze her trust funds, and do it fast.” He demanded. “I’ll handle her temporarily.”
There was no way she would accept any money from him, his family, or her parents. He hadn’t even spoken with her parents since she left four years before.
“I don’t know if I can do that.” Diane heaved a sigh, it would be one large battle, one she wasn’t sure she was prepared to face.
“Mom, please.” Max pleaded. “Only you have the can to do that.”
“I’ll try, sweetheart.” Diane gave into the pleading of her son.
“Thank you. I’ll talk to you later, I have a meeting right now.” He glanced at his watch and already knew he was going to be late.
“Alright, bye Max.”
“Bye.”
****
“What are you doing, Grandma?” Hannah asked the next day at Amy and Jim Valenti’s house.
“Making a doll, my love.” She had thought the young girl was sleeping.
“For what?” She crawled in her lap, heedless of the sewing materials already there.
“For Kailyn.” She answered glancing at the baby sleeping in the crib across the room.
“I help?” Hannah asked staring at the pieces of cloth.
“Yes, you can help me choose the colors.” Amy said gently holding up two cloths. She knew the child would have a hard life and she was already dreading the fact that it looked like her mother would get her back. If she went back she probably would end up back in the system at the age of five. She thought she’d make something that could be with her always.
“Purple?” Hannah asked hopefully.
“Purple is a good color.” She nodded. “Pourpre”
Hannah dutifully repeated the word in French she was always getting her colors wrong.
Hannah sat patiently as she watched Amy carefully stitch the dress on the dolls cloth body.
“Will you make me one too? To match Kailyn’s?” She asked suddenly.
“Yes, after we’re finished with this one. Do you want it in purple too or a different color?”
“Pink!”
“Alright.”
“Grandpa!” Hannah said when Jim Valenti came home.
“Hello, little girl!” He said coming over to kiss the top of her head.
“Look!” She held up the doll.
“Careful, Hannah, the head’s not on right. Hold her like I told you to hold Kailyn.” Amy directed softly.
“Like this?” She cradled the doll against her body.
“Yes, very good.” Jim applauded. “Speaking of Kailyn, did we hear from the social worker?” He plucked his shoes off and lifted Hannah into his lap.
“Whose?” Amy stood free of children for a moment.
“Any.”
“Hannah’s called, she’s coming out next week.” began putting her things away. “Hannah, let’s start getting you ready for your bath, so your mommy doesn’t have to do it tonight.”
“Why?”
“I already gave you a reason, now scoot.” She told her.
“What about Kailyn’s?” Jim came up behind her and took her arm gently so she had to face him.
“I’ll talk to you about that later.” She said and turned back to see if Hannah had made it to the bathroom.
“Amy.”
“There’s a court appointment next week, apparently her mother’s been starting to act right now.” Amy said not trusting her voice she turned and walked down the hallway to the bathroom.
Not used to seeing his wife so distraught, he became unsettled. He scratched his chin as he wondered what that could mean.
“Hello?” Liz knocked on the door.
“Come on in, Liz.” Jim called. “They’re in the back bathing Hannah.”
“Oh, alright.” She shrugged. She smiled when she heard a small grunt from the nursery over the baby monitor. “She awake?” Liz asked hopefully.
“She is now.” Jim smiled in Liz’s delight.
“Do you mind?”
“No, I get her all night.” Jim nodded.
Everyone seemed attached to that baby.
“You and Amy ever need a break and I’ll gladly take her off your hands.” Liz walked out, baby clasped firmly on her shoulder.
“I know you would. She seems to be hogging all the attention around here.” Jim said, admiring the baby’s pretty curls himself.
“I know.” Liz remembered the feel of baby soft breath on her neck and smiled as she heard Hannah’s laughter. “ I haven’t even seen my baby yet.”
“She’ll be fine for another few moments.” He nodded to the couch. “Why don’t you let Amy finish up and I need to talk to you.”
Liz sat dutifully down, shifting the baby.
“You know, Liz, you’re like a daughter to me, and Hannah looks to me as a grandfather—which I might add—I am not all that old.” He sat down, with a chuckle, across from her. “And as such, I feel I have the right to give you advice. Kyle told me Hannah’s father’s back.”
Liz nodded. “I was going to tell you, but—“
“I’m not lecturing you, love.” Jim held a hand up to silence her. “I just want you to be careful, Liz. You mean a lot to me, us, Maria, Kyle. But I also know that you haven’t gotten over Hannah’s father, Max. I can’t tell you what to do, Liz. But I can tell you to be careful, and that whatever you do, your decision is up to you. Just remember that what you do effects Hannah as well.”
“I know.” Liz focused her attention on the baby next to her. No one knew as much as her how much. No one knew that if it was only her heart at risk, she might already be back with him.
“I also want you to know that it’s the most difficult thing in the world to stop loving someone you’ve loved for such a long time.”
Liz met his eyes immediately. He knew! He knew she was still in love with Max!
“That face just confirmed my suspicions. I know you still love him, just remember what I said, now go find your little girl.” He took Kailyn from her arms.
“Yeah.” She smiled and blinked back tears.
Jim ached for his son, but knew that Kyle didn’t love Liz. Not really, not in the way she wanted to be loved. And not the way she deserved to be.
He knew all of this and he knew that he had a rough few months ahead of their family.
“It’s you and me, Kailyn, come on.” He looked at the baby who’s face lit up in a smile. “Let’s go ask Grandma what’s going on with your mother.”
TBC
I know it’s been forever, and I’m sorry. As I explained to some before it’s AP season and that has taken up a lot of my time. I promise Two Kinds will be up within the next few weeks. I’m almost done with the next chapter of it. I haven’t fully figured out how I want it to go. But I know what exactly is going to happen. Sorry again!
Here you go!
Mattie
Chapter 25
Max drove easily back to work almost reluctant to go back. He had so much to think about, so much to wonder.
If he had been in Liz’s position would he forgive himself?
In all technicalities, she had left him, not wanting to be found, she could be just as much to blame for running away.
He shook himself for even thinking the thought. He knew that she knew he could easily find her if he had really wanted to. He remembered how scared she had been about having Hannah. The way she had clung to him when they had told their parents. He had a feeling Liz wouldn’t cling to anyone now. Except maybe Kyle.
Alex was ‘Uncle Alex’ where as Kyle was just ‘Kyle’. What did that mean and why? How much of a bond was there between him and Hannah, him and Liz? This was a whole other factor that needed to be added into the long equation that was their lives.
He remembered back to when their relationship had been so simple. They were just a boy and a girl dating.
****
As children him, Liz and Isabel had been close friends. They were the children of the wealthiest, most influential people in Roswell, they were respected by the other children, maybe even feared, leaving them on the outside of all the play circles.
Maybe they were drawn together through necessity or the demands of their parents, but the bond held them tight.
It didn’t help that Max and Liz had proceeded to be the top of the class excluding them further.
He remembered at the age of twelve when the feelings of friendships changed into something else. She became shy and withdrawn around him and he blushed easily in her presence. Isabel grew annoyed with them, knowing they both liked each other.
They now understood their parent’s teasing about them marrying and bringing the two families together.
The flirtation continued on throughout their high school career. Then at the age of sixteen when they had been allowed to attend their first formal gathering with their parents’ friends in Albuquerque, the truth came out.
They had been left alone a little too long, and Max suspected it was no accident on Isabel’s part. They had been tentative and shy, not really wanting their parents to know. No one really knew, it was a secret. Max and Liz. The only other person who had known was Isabel.
At seventeen they decided it was in their best interest to tell their parents but to make it look as if it were a new development. Their parents had been ecstatic. They had applauded them and joked about one day being in the same family.
Then six months before Hannah’s conception they had been discovered outside on the terrace, announcing to the world that they were in fact a couple.
Six months later Liz had made the announcement that she was pregnant.
Three months later she was gone.
Looking back now he realizes he should have stuck by her. Seeing how strong she was now only made him wish he could have been there to see her develop.
****
Max returned to his present state of mind when his cell phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Max.” His mother’s voice came through the phone.
“I was just about to call you back, Mother.”
“Sure, that doesn’t matter. Max, I have something to tell you about Hannah.” Diane stated. “Are you driving, maybe you should pull over.” She said worriedly.
“Does this have anything to do with her heart?”
“Yes, how’d you know?” She said stunned.
“I just came from Liz’s, Mom.” He rubbed a hand over his eyes.
“She told you?” Diane said stunned on the other side.
“Yes, Mom.” He said glancing at his watch.
“Did she tell you about her money situation?”
“What money situation?” They seemed pretty ok, the apartment seemed nice and Hannah had looked happy.
“She doesn’t have very much of it, Max.”
”What? Her trust fund was larger than mine, what do you mean she doesn’t have any money?”
”Her trust fund was frozen when she left.”
”They can’t do that!” He had to calm himself down enough not to brake in the middle of the busy freeway.
“Her parents found a way to do so. She works two jobs, Max, she they’re moving in a few weeks.” Diane explained.
“Why?”
“Liz can’t afford it anymore.” Diane said wearily. She looked down at the files she had received earlier. “She wants to go to college, supposedly.”
Max’s heart hurt. Liz had loved to learn. She had always dreamed of going to Harvard and being head of microbiology. She hadn’t even gotten the chance to attend any college. To raise their child.
“She deserves college, Mom.” Max pulled into the parking lot of his law office. He sat in the car staring straight ahead.
“What are you going to do about it?” She asked patiently. She felt guilty for taking part in Liz leaving.
“I don’t know, Mom, find a way to unfreeze her trust funds, and do it fast.” He demanded. “I’ll handle her temporarily.”
There was no way she would accept any money from him, his family, or her parents. He hadn’t even spoken with her parents since she left four years before.
“I don’t know if I can do that.” Diane heaved a sigh, it would be one large battle, one she wasn’t sure she was prepared to face.
“Mom, please.” Max pleaded. “Only you have the can to do that.”
“I’ll try, sweetheart.” Diane gave into the pleading of her son.
“Thank you. I’ll talk to you later, I have a meeting right now.” He glanced at his watch and already knew he was going to be late.
“Alright, bye Max.”
“Bye.”
****
“What are you doing, Grandma?” Hannah asked the next day at Amy and Jim Valenti’s house.
“Making a doll, my love.” She had thought the young girl was sleeping.
“For what?” She crawled in her lap, heedless of the sewing materials already there.
“For Kailyn.” She answered glancing at the baby sleeping in the crib across the room.
“I help?” Hannah asked staring at the pieces of cloth.
“Yes, you can help me choose the colors.” Amy said gently holding up two cloths. She knew the child would have a hard life and she was already dreading the fact that it looked like her mother would get her back. If she went back she probably would end up back in the system at the age of five. She thought she’d make something that could be with her always.
“Purple?” Hannah asked hopefully.
“Purple is a good color.” She nodded. “Pourpre”
Hannah dutifully repeated the word in French she was always getting her colors wrong.
Hannah sat patiently as she watched Amy carefully stitch the dress on the dolls cloth body.
“Will you make me one too? To match Kailyn’s?” She asked suddenly.
“Yes, after we’re finished with this one. Do you want it in purple too or a different color?”
“Pink!”
“Alright.”
“Grandpa!” Hannah said when Jim Valenti came home.
“Hello, little girl!” He said coming over to kiss the top of her head.
“Look!” She held up the doll.
“Careful, Hannah, the head’s not on right. Hold her like I told you to hold Kailyn.” Amy directed softly.
“Like this?” She cradled the doll against her body.
“Yes, very good.” Jim applauded. “Speaking of Kailyn, did we hear from the social worker?” He plucked his shoes off and lifted Hannah into his lap.
“Whose?” Amy stood free of children for a moment.
“Any.”
“Hannah’s called, she’s coming out next week.” began putting her things away. “Hannah, let’s start getting you ready for your bath, so your mommy doesn’t have to do it tonight.”
“Why?”
“I already gave you a reason, now scoot.” She told her.
“What about Kailyn’s?” Jim came up behind her and took her arm gently so she had to face him.
“I’ll talk to you about that later.” She said and turned back to see if Hannah had made it to the bathroom.
“Amy.”
“There’s a court appointment next week, apparently her mother’s been starting to act right now.” Amy said not trusting her voice she turned and walked down the hallway to the bathroom.
Not used to seeing his wife so distraught, he became unsettled. He scratched his chin as he wondered what that could mean.
“Hello?” Liz knocked on the door.
“Come on in, Liz.” Jim called. “They’re in the back bathing Hannah.”
“Oh, alright.” She shrugged. She smiled when she heard a small grunt from the nursery over the baby monitor. “She awake?” Liz asked hopefully.
“She is now.” Jim smiled in Liz’s delight.
“Do you mind?”
“No, I get her all night.” Jim nodded.
Everyone seemed attached to that baby.
“You and Amy ever need a break and I’ll gladly take her off your hands.” Liz walked out, baby clasped firmly on her shoulder.
“I know you would. She seems to be hogging all the attention around here.” Jim said, admiring the baby’s pretty curls himself.
“I know.” Liz remembered the feel of baby soft breath on her neck and smiled as she heard Hannah’s laughter. “ I haven’t even seen my baby yet.”
“She’ll be fine for another few moments.” He nodded to the couch. “Why don’t you let Amy finish up and I need to talk to you.”
Liz sat dutifully down, shifting the baby.
“You know, Liz, you’re like a daughter to me, and Hannah looks to me as a grandfather—which I might add—I am not all that old.” He sat down, with a chuckle, across from her. “And as such, I feel I have the right to give you advice. Kyle told me Hannah’s father’s back.”
Liz nodded. “I was going to tell you, but—“
“I’m not lecturing you, love.” Jim held a hand up to silence her. “I just want you to be careful, Liz. You mean a lot to me, us, Maria, Kyle. But I also know that you haven’t gotten over Hannah’s father, Max. I can’t tell you what to do, Liz. But I can tell you to be careful, and that whatever you do, your decision is up to you. Just remember that what you do effects Hannah as well.”
“I know.” Liz focused her attention on the baby next to her. No one knew as much as her how much. No one knew that if it was only her heart at risk, she might already be back with him.
“I also want you to know that it’s the most difficult thing in the world to stop loving someone you’ve loved for such a long time.”
Liz met his eyes immediately. He knew! He knew she was still in love with Max!
“That face just confirmed my suspicions. I know you still love him, just remember what I said, now go find your little girl.” He took Kailyn from her arms.
“Yeah.” She smiled and blinked back tears.
Jim ached for his son, but knew that Kyle didn’t love Liz. Not really, not in the way she wanted to be loved. And not the way she deserved to be.
He knew all of this and he knew that he had a rough few months ahead of their family.
“It’s you and me, Kailyn, come on.” He looked at the baby who’s face lit up in a smile. “Let’s go ask Grandma what’s going on with your mother.”
TBC
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
Chapter 26
Max stepped into the busy restaurant unsure of what he was doing. He held the note in his hand, half proud of what he had done, half scared of what Liz’s reaction would be.
It had been three weeks since Max’s discovery of their situation. One week until Hannah’s surgery. She was currently at the Valenti’s where he and Liz were going to pick her up to go out for ice cream.
Liz caught his eye, she smiled warily unsure of what to make of him. He had made it a point to see Hannah every weekend and Hannah seemed to be growing comfortable with him. They had never been left alone together—yet—and Liz wasn’t in a hurry to see that that happen.
There was a large group with about two children to every adult and Liz had to swerve multiple times so the empty plates she carried wouldn’t end up on a child.
Her hips swiveled perfectly avoiding the small child who danced in front of her. Max smiled noticing how at home she looked surrounded by the children. She squatted down to tell a little boy something. He immediately started laughing and ran off to tell his friends.
She stood and made her way though the jungle of chairs, children, and laughing mothers.
“How many, sir?” The peppy young high school hostess asked.
“Just one.”
“All alone today?” She picked up a menu and smiled at him. She turned and took him in the opposite direction of Liz’s section.
“Can I sit over there?” He asked.
“Ummm, with all those children?” She asked looking at the little demons dancing circles around Liz as she brought out cake.
“They look like they’re almost through, and I really don’t mind children.” He shrugged. “Plus I know the waitress.” He had been unsure whether or not to add that last bit but decided to.
Liz glanced up and smiled at him again.
The hostess looked at Max and gasped. “You’re Hannah’s father, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” He said after a moment.
“We all adore Hannah here, she’s such a sweetheart, you know that don’t you?” She started babbling about his little girl. “I’ll sit at her favorite booth. She sits here so she can see Liz perfectly when she comes to work with her.” She beamed. “I think Liz likes it too because she can see her whether she’s out here or in the kitchen.”
“Thank you.” Max nodded and slid into the booth.
“You’re here an hour early, Max.” Liz stood beside the table.
He felt her skirt was entirely too short and was about to tell her so before thinking better of it.
“When’s your next break?” He asked abruptly.
“Soon as this group leaves, than I get off, they’re letting me go early.”
“I’ll just wait here.” Watching you.
She could feel him watching her every move. Her section of the restaurant was now empty. She felt the tension leave her body as the last of the children filed out the door.
“Alright.” She slid her foot out of her shoe under the table and wiggled her toes. “What is it?” She could tell it was something serious and she wondered how it affected her.
“Well…I…my mom sort of told me that you have a…um…hard time paying for Hannah’s surgery and keeping up the rent, and other financial needs.” He stammered. It would be an insult to her pride and he knew it. He wanted to proceed carefully. “And then I heard that your trust fund had been frozen. Because I thought it was odd that you were having…problems…when your trust fund was significantly larger than mine. Here.” He passed the folder across the table.
“What is this?”
“I…sort of…figured out how to unfreeze your accounts.” He didn’t feel very guilty lying to her about it; it was for the good of their daughter.
“H—how?” She asked staring down at the paperwork her eyes wide.
“My mom did it. She’s more into that part of law.” He shrugged looking down.
She studied the paperwork carefully and when she looked up again there were tears in her eyes. “You don’t know what this means to me, Max.”
He did. He could read it in her eyes. He only felt slightly guilty about how she would feel for him after she discovered that it was in fact not her money at all.
“I’ve wanted to go to college for some time now, Max. I haven’t been able to even begin to afford it at this point!”
“You can do a lot more, love.” He said shyly. He’d gladly give her anything she wanted. She gave him a daughter.
“We better go get Hannah. She watches the clock on Friday nights.” Liz said glowing. Her heart lifted.
“We’ll go get her then.” Max was happy to see the smile on her face.
“Hold on.” She took off her apron and went back into the kitchen. She came out a few minutes later tucking her tips into her pocket for safe keeping. “Alright, let’s go.”
****
Liz ran in quickly to retrieve Hannah while Max waited in the car.
They were having a very intense conversation when Liz buckled Hannah into her seat. “Natalie’s mommy is going to have a baby soon.” Hannah informed Liz. “Her daddy picked her up today.”
“Really?” Liz asked.
“He said her mommy’s going to have it maybe tomorrow.”
“We’ll have to go get her a gift then.” Liz said.
“Yes!” Hannah clapped her hands and then noticed Max was sitting in the driver seat and the seat she was sitting in wasn’t the one in her mother’s car. “Hi.”
“Hi, Hannah.” Max said looking at her through the rear view mirror.
“Natalie’s mommy going to have a baby.”
“I heard.” Max smiled.
“I want a little sister too.” She looked out the window as Max started to back out. “Can I have one?”
“Not anytime soon, Hannah bean.” Liz said looking out the window as well.
“Please?”
“No.” Liz shook her head. “Sorry, Hannah.” You need two people to have a baby, Liz thought silently to herself.
“Alright. Can we go to the beach?”
Liz looked at Max, since she was in a happy mood she wouldn’t mind the half hour drive it would take to drive down there. “Are you up for it?”
“Sure, why not?” Max shrugged, “You’ll have to tell me how to get there though.”
“That’s fine.”
****
Pulling up to the beach and looking at the throngs of teenagers swarming the pier and Main St. Max looked at Liz a little skeptically.
“Are you sure you want to come here?” He asked.
“Yes, it’s crowded, but fun. Lots of shops and things, there’s an ice cream parlor on the corner there.” Liz said as she set Hannah onto the street and took her hand. “There’s a Ruby’s on the end of the pier as well.”
“Well, let’s go find some ice cream.” Max nodded.
He felt a little over dressed as he watched the girls sporting bikinis trying to impress the topless surfer boys.
Hannah walked alongside Liz trying to take in everything. She loved being among the crowd. “Mommy, when I’m a teenager I’m going to come here ok?”
“I don’t think so.” Max answered for Liz who just laughed. To think of Hannah walking around in a bikini was a little much.
Hannah just pouted at him, in a picture that was completely Liz when she was upset with him.
Hannah ran happily into the ice cream parlor and waited for Max and Liz to join her. She once again took Liz’s hand.
Hannah talked the entire time about school and what she had done over the week.
“It’s Natalie’s turn to take home Mr. Bear.” Hannah explained. “He go in alph…alt… what is the word, Mommy?”
“Alphabetical?” Liz supplied.
“Yeah, Alphabetical order, by our last name. Natalie’s is Barkley, I’m not till we come back because I’m Parker.”
Max and Liz’s eyes met over her head. She could very well be an Evans.
“I have my surgery Friday.” Hannah said suddenly.
“Yes, you do.” Liz nodded silently. Tomorrow the tests would begin and the hellish week before surgery would start.
“You know what’s wrong with my heart?” Hannah turned to Max.
“Not exactly.” Max shook his head. He needed to talk to Liz about that to understand what was going on with his baby.
“Put your lips together like this.” She showed him. “Now breathe out.”
He did. “Good, now breathe in.”
He tried but his lips came together preventing the air from getting though. “See, it stopped, that’s what your heart does.”
“ Now, put your lips together, but open a little bit.” Hannah demonstrated with her own. “Like that.” She told Max.
“When you breathe in air can still come, yeah?” She asked as Max did it.
“Yes.” He answered in all seriousness.
Liz smiled because this is the same exact explanation Kyle had given to Hannah.
“That’s my heart. The doctor has to fix it so it don’t do that no more.”
“I understand.” And to Max’s astonishment, he really did. His daughter was a genius.
“Are you all finished and ready to go, Hannah?” Liz asked.
“Yes.” Her eyes were drooping and she looked thoroughly pleased.
Her steps were slower, and she stopped often to pause for breath. Liz stopped to pick her up and felt her heart beating frantically.
Max drove them home and wasn’t surprised to find Hannah already asleep. Liz bent to pick her up, but Max offered to instead.
“I don’t know if she’ll let you.”
“May I try?” Max asked looking at his sleeping daughter.
“Sure.” Liz stepped out of the way.
Max carefully picked her up and put her against his shoulder. She shifted and he held his breath. She just moved and rested her head in the crook of his neck, her breath feathering his skin.
Max walked up the stairs and felt when she awoke. Her body stiffened and he was prepared to set her down or hand her to Liz.
Hannah awoke and looked around and noticed she was in Max’s arms. She contemplated getting down or staying in his arms. They were comfortable enough and she knew he wouldn’t drop her. Deciding quickly she laid her head back down and threw her arms around his neck.
Max relaxed and continued up to their apartment.
“Evening, Alex.” Liz said startled to see him standing outside his doorway.
“Hello, beauties.” Alex said to both Liz and Hannah. “Did you have fun tonight?” He asked walking closer to Hannah.
With a lazy arm around Max’s neck she answered. “We went to the beach.”
“Was that fun, did you get ice cream?”
“Yeah,” She said tiredly resting her head back on Max’s shoulder.
“I’m Alex, by the way.” He said to Max looking at him.
“So you’re Alex, the one my sister fancies herself half in love with.”
“That’d be me.” He said proudly before his face paled. “Did you say that your sister is in love with me?”
“I might have mentioned that, but I’m not so sure about that.” Max smiled at the other man’s face. “I’m Max.”
“Nice to meet you, finally.” Alex said.
“Thanks, same here.” He nodded. “I’m gonna go lay her down.”
“Just bring her right here.” Liz stated as she opened the door to her bedroom. “I’ll change her clothes in a minute, Hannah say goodbye.”
“Bye!” She threw her arms around him and hugged him again.
“Bye.” He couldn’t resist kissing her cheek.
“You’re coming with me to my surgery?” She wanted to know, still with her hands around him.
“I don’t know yet, little girl.” He told her honestly.
“Please?” She asked.
“I’ll see what I can do, ok?”
She nodded her consent and climbed onto the bed and laid down.
“I’ll be right back, Hannah bean, take your shoes off and get in your jamies and I’ll come lay by you.”
Liz led Max out to the front door. “Thank you, Max.”
“No problem, Liz.” He stated. “Um…about her surgery. Do you mind if I’m there?”
“I would like you to be there, it means so much to Hannah that you go.”
“Alright.” He nodded. “Are there any preps or anything?”
“Well, this whole week is full of tests and prep stuff but you don’t need to be there for those, they’re just little half hour appointments. Her surgery is at noon on Friday.” She took hold of his arm. “Please be there for her.”
“I plan to be.”
TBC
Max stepped into the busy restaurant unsure of what he was doing. He held the note in his hand, half proud of what he had done, half scared of what Liz’s reaction would be.
It had been three weeks since Max’s discovery of their situation. One week until Hannah’s surgery. She was currently at the Valenti’s where he and Liz were going to pick her up to go out for ice cream.
Liz caught his eye, she smiled warily unsure of what to make of him. He had made it a point to see Hannah every weekend and Hannah seemed to be growing comfortable with him. They had never been left alone together—yet—and Liz wasn’t in a hurry to see that that happen.
There was a large group with about two children to every adult and Liz had to swerve multiple times so the empty plates she carried wouldn’t end up on a child.
Her hips swiveled perfectly avoiding the small child who danced in front of her. Max smiled noticing how at home she looked surrounded by the children. She squatted down to tell a little boy something. He immediately started laughing and ran off to tell his friends.
She stood and made her way though the jungle of chairs, children, and laughing mothers.
“How many, sir?” The peppy young high school hostess asked.
“Just one.”
“All alone today?” She picked up a menu and smiled at him. She turned and took him in the opposite direction of Liz’s section.
“Can I sit over there?” He asked.
“Ummm, with all those children?” She asked looking at the little demons dancing circles around Liz as she brought out cake.
“They look like they’re almost through, and I really don’t mind children.” He shrugged. “Plus I know the waitress.” He had been unsure whether or not to add that last bit but decided to.
Liz glanced up and smiled at him again.
The hostess looked at Max and gasped. “You’re Hannah’s father, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” He said after a moment.
“We all adore Hannah here, she’s such a sweetheart, you know that don’t you?” She started babbling about his little girl. “I’ll sit at her favorite booth. She sits here so she can see Liz perfectly when she comes to work with her.” She beamed. “I think Liz likes it too because she can see her whether she’s out here or in the kitchen.”
“Thank you.” Max nodded and slid into the booth.
“You’re here an hour early, Max.” Liz stood beside the table.
He felt her skirt was entirely too short and was about to tell her so before thinking better of it.
“When’s your next break?” He asked abruptly.
“Soon as this group leaves, than I get off, they’re letting me go early.”
“I’ll just wait here.” Watching you.
She could feel him watching her every move. Her section of the restaurant was now empty. She felt the tension leave her body as the last of the children filed out the door.
“Alright.” She slid her foot out of her shoe under the table and wiggled her toes. “What is it?” She could tell it was something serious and she wondered how it affected her.
“Well…I…my mom sort of told me that you have a…um…hard time paying for Hannah’s surgery and keeping up the rent, and other financial needs.” He stammered. It would be an insult to her pride and he knew it. He wanted to proceed carefully. “And then I heard that your trust fund had been frozen. Because I thought it was odd that you were having…problems…when your trust fund was significantly larger than mine. Here.” He passed the folder across the table.
“What is this?”
“I…sort of…figured out how to unfreeze your accounts.” He didn’t feel very guilty lying to her about it; it was for the good of their daughter.
“H—how?” She asked staring down at the paperwork her eyes wide.
“My mom did it. She’s more into that part of law.” He shrugged looking down.
She studied the paperwork carefully and when she looked up again there were tears in her eyes. “You don’t know what this means to me, Max.”
He did. He could read it in her eyes. He only felt slightly guilty about how she would feel for him after she discovered that it was in fact not her money at all.
“I’ve wanted to go to college for some time now, Max. I haven’t been able to even begin to afford it at this point!”
“You can do a lot more, love.” He said shyly. He’d gladly give her anything she wanted. She gave him a daughter.
“We better go get Hannah. She watches the clock on Friday nights.” Liz said glowing. Her heart lifted.
“We’ll go get her then.” Max was happy to see the smile on her face.
“Hold on.” She took off her apron and went back into the kitchen. She came out a few minutes later tucking her tips into her pocket for safe keeping. “Alright, let’s go.”
****
Liz ran in quickly to retrieve Hannah while Max waited in the car.
They were having a very intense conversation when Liz buckled Hannah into her seat. “Natalie’s mommy is going to have a baby soon.” Hannah informed Liz. “Her daddy picked her up today.”
“Really?” Liz asked.
“He said her mommy’s going to have it maybe tomorrow.”
“We’ll have to go get her a gift then.” Liz said.
“Yes!” Hannah clapped her hands and then noticed Max was sitting in the driver seat and the seat she was sitting in wasn’t the one in her mother’s car. “Hi.”
“Hi, Hannah.” Max said looking at her through the rear view mirror.
“Natalie’s mommy going to have a baby.”
“I heard.” Max smiled.
“I want a little sister too.” She looked out the window as Max started to back out. “Can I have one?”
“Not anytime soon, Hannah bean.” Liz said looking out the window as well.
“Please?”
“No.” Liz shook her head. “Sorry, Hannah.” You need two people to have a baby, Liz thought silently to herself.
“Alright. Can we go to the beach?”
Liz looked at Max, since she was in a happy mood she wouldn’t mind the half hour drive it would take to drive down there. “Are you up for it?”
“Sure, why not?” Max shrugged, “You’ll have to tell me how to get there though.”
“That’s fine.”
****
Pulling up to the beach and looking at the throngs of teenagers swarming the pier and Main St. Max looked at Liz a little skeptically.
“Are you sure you want to come here?” He asked.
“Yes, it’s crowded, but fun. Lots of shops and things, there’s an ice cream parlor on the corner there.” Liz said as she set Hannah onto the street and took her hand. “There’s a Ruby’s on the end of the pier as well.”
“Well, let’s go find some ice cream.” Max nodded.
He felt a little over dressed as he watched the girls sporting bikinis trying to impress the topless surfer boys.
Hannah walked alongside Liz trying to take in everything. She loved being among the crowd. “Mommy, when I’m a teenager I’m going to come here ok?”
“I don’t think so.” Max answered for Liz who just laughed. To think of Hannah walking around in a bikini was a little much.
Hannah just pouted at him, in a picture that was completely Liz when she was upset with him.
Hannah ran happily into the ice cream parlor and waited for Max and Liz to join her. She once again took Liz’s hand.
Hannah talked the entire time about school and what she had done over the week.
“It’s Natalie’s turn to take home Mr. Bear.” Hannah explained. “He go in alph…alt… what is the word, Mommy?”
“Alphabetical?” Liz supplied.
“Yeah, Alphabetical order, by our last name. Natalie’s is Barkley, I’m not till we come back because I’m Parker.”
Max and Liz’s eyes met over her head. She could very well be an Evans.
“I have my surgery Friday.” Hannah said suddenly.
“Yes, you do.” Liz nodded silently. Tomorrow the tests would begin and the hellish week before surgery would start.
“You know what’s wrong with my heart?” Hannah turned to Max.
“Not exactly.” Max shook his head. He needed to talk to Liz about that to understand what was going on with his baby.
“Put your lips together like this.” She showed him. “Now breathe out.”
He did. “Good, now breathe in.”
He tried but his lips came together preventing the air from getting though. “See, it stopped, that’s what your heart does.”
“ Now, put your lips together, but open a little bit.” Hannah demonstrated with her own. “Like that.” She told Max.
“When you breathe in air can still come, yeah?” She asked as Max did it.
“Yes.” He answered in all seriousness.
Liz smiled because this is the same exact explanation Kyle had given to Hannah.
“That’s my heart. The doctor has to fix it so it don’t do that no more.”
“I understand.” And to Max’s astonishment, he really did. His daughter was a genius.
“Are you all finished and ready to go, Hannah?” Liz asked.
“Yes.” Her eyes were drooping and she looked thoroughly pleased.
Her steps were slower, and she stopped often to pause for breath. Liz stopped to pick her up and felt her heart beating frantically.
Max drove them home and wasn’t surprised to find Hannah already asleep. Liz bent to pick her up, but Max offered to instead.
“I don’t know if she’ll let you.”
“May I try?” Max asked looking at his sleeping daughter.
“Sure.” Liz stepped out of the way.
Max carefully picked her up and put her against his shoulder. She shifted and he held his breath. She just moved and rested her head in the crook of his neck, her breath feathering his skin.
Max walked up the stairs and felt when she awoke. Her body stiffened and he was prepared to set her down or hand her to Liz.
Hannah awoke and looked around and noticed she was in Max’s arms. She contemplated getting down or staying in his arms. They were comfortable enough and she knew he wouldn’t drop her. Deciding quickly she laid her head back down and threw her arms around his neck.
Max relaxed and continued up to their apartment.
“Evening, Alex.” Liz said startled to see him standing outside his doorway.
“Hello, beauties.” Alex said to both Liz and Hannah. “Did you have fun tonight?” He asked walking closer to Hannah.
With a lazy arm around Max’s neck she answered. “We went to the beach.”
“Was that fun, did you get ice cream?”
“Yeah,” She said tiredly resting her head back on Max’s shoulder.
“I’m Alex, by the way.” He said to Max looking at him.
“So you’re Alex, the one my sister fancies herself half in love with.”
“That’d be me.” He said proudly before his face paled. “Did you say that your sister is in love with me?”
“I might have mentioned that, but I’m not so sure about that.” Max smiled at the other man’s face. “I’m Max.”
“Nice to meet you, finally.” Alex said.
“Thanks, same here.” He nodded. “I’m gonna go lay her down.”
“Just bring her right here.” Liz stated as she opened the door to her bedroom. “I’ll change her clothes in a minute, Hannah say goodbye.”
“Bye!” She threw her arms around him and hugged him again.
“Bye.” He couldn’t resist kissing her cheek.
“You’re coming with me to my surgery?” She wanted to know, still with her hands around him.
“I don’t know yet, little girl.” He told her honestly.
“Please?” She asked.
“I’ll see what I can do, ok?”
She nodded her consent and climbed onto the bed and laid down.
“I’ll be right back, Hannah bean, take your shoes off and get in your jamies and I’ll come lay by you.”
Liz led Max out to the front door. “Thank you, Max.”
“No problem, Liz.” He stated. “Um…about her surgery. Do you mind if I’m there?”
“I would like you to be there, it means so much to Hannah that you go.”
“Alright.” He nodded. “Are there any preps or anything?”
“Well, this whole week is full of tests and prep stuff but you don’t need to be there for those, they’re just little half hour appointments. Her surgery is at noon on Friday.” She took hold of his arm. “Please be there for her.”
“I plan to be.”
TBC
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
Chapter 27
Pacing the hospital floor was something Max was quickly learning he disliked.
Liz sat in a chair not far from where he was pacing.
“Max, sit down, it doesn’t help to pace.”
“Something must help, Liz.” He had watched Hannah’s pale face, that morning. She had silently rubbed her face into Liz’s shirt, trying to keep her mind off her hunger. She had looked the other way when the MA had stuck her with the shot to make her droopy before taking her back to the operating room.
She had said nothing but a simple, “Love you, Mommy.” Before she had been laid on the hospital bed that was way too big for her.
Max wanted to scream at these people.
“Max, sit down.” She ordered. “I don’t need you to make the waiting worse.”
Max stopped and sat next to her. She had been in there for more than an hour. How did Liz just sit there?”
“How do you do it, Liz?” He asked.
“A mother’s gotta do what mother’s gotta do.” She attempted a small smile.
“Do you want any coffee or anything?” Max asked, it was torture to be just standing here.
“Sure.” She nodded. She wouldn’t drink it.
Max got up to hunt down coffee.
A moment after he left, Kyle strode into the room. “How are we doing?”
“She went in right on time.” Liz said, not as comforted by his presence as she normally was—although it seemed that it had always been somebody else’s comfort she wanted anyway.
“I’m sorry, they called me in, I was planning on being here.” Kyle apologized. “I didn’t want you to be here alone.”
“She’s not alone.” Max stood behind them. Neither Kyle nor Liz had realized the fact that he had approach them.
“I thought you were going to get coffee.” Liz asked.
“I changed my mind.” He had seen Kyle walking in and had decided to come back.
“Max.” Liz said looking at him.
He raised his eyebrows and crossed his chest signifying he wasn’t going anywhere.
Liz sat cross legged looking down at her hands in her lap praying they wouldn’t start anything here. Max normally wasn’t the kind that made scenes, but she also didn’t know if he’d changed.
Kyle sat down next to Liz, took her hand whispered something in her ear.
Insanely, and unjustly jealous Max sat down on the other side of her and asked her a question. Looking at both of them, not knowing whom to give her attention to, Liz stood up and glared at both men.
“Will you two knock it off?” She tried to keep her voice down. “My baby girl is in there having surgery and you two are fighting over me. Stop it! If you can’t behave and just sit here and wait with me, put whatever is between us away for just three more hours, then I don’t want you here.”
“Sorry.” They both mumbled.
She felt for both of them, Kyle who had been so used to being the one there, and Max not ever being there, barely able to know what to do with himself.
“Thank you.” She sat down again, folded her arms and fixed her eyes on the door.
****
“Miss Parker, will you come in with me please?” The doctor opened the door to his office.
Max stood with Liz and followed her into the room. She looked even paler than she had that morning.
“Umm, sir?” The doctor asked.
“It’s alright.” Liz told him and took his hand.
“Oh.” The doctor looked at Max and recognition dawned on him. “Of course.”
They sat and Max wondered how Liz had done this on his own. Even with Liz there, he wasn’t sure how to deal with this.
“Where’s Kyle today?” The doctor asked.
“He had to work.” So she hadn’t been alone.
“Well, let’s get started.” The doctor opened his folder and looked back up. “Surgery went well.”
Liz breathed easier and she folded her hands in her lap as she tended to do when she was nervous.
“But…”
Oh God.
“The valve we replaced will need to be refitted when she turns ten. Once she stops growing we can put one in that will last the rest of her life. But while she’s growing it will have to keep being replaced. Luckily with all the modern technology the valves are becoming nicer and nicer, and are capable of growing with the child.”
Liz nodded understanding. “When can we see her?”
“She’s been moved to the ICU.” He told her.
“But why, she’s never been sent there before.” Liz leaned forward.
“Although Hannah appeared healthy when she went into surgery, there were minor complications. Her lungs didn’t hold up as well as we were expecting and it looked like the beginning of pneumonia.”
“Pneumonia in the middle of summer?” Max raised his eyebrows.
“Yes, Max, it’s always a possibility with heart patients, a simple cold could turn into the worst respiratory diseases.” Liz stated matter of factly. It had never happened before and Liz considered herself lucky that Hannah hadn’t gotten it when she was younger.
“She didn’t have a cold.” Liz shook her head.
“I know, but she has started school and kids pass bugs to each other there. Its good thing we caught it, but bad that we caught it during surgery. We’ll keep her here until she’s completely healed. When does she go back to school?”
“September, she has August off.”
“Perfect. She’ll be fine; they just want to keep an eye on her for the first few days in ICU. If you want, I’ll take you to her.”
“Please.”
continue in next post
Pacing the hospital floor was something Max was quickly learning he disliked.
Liz sat in a chair not far from where he was pacing.
“Max, sit down, it doesn’t help to pace.”
“Something must help, Liz.” He had watched Hannah’s pale face, that morning. She had silently rubbed her face into Liz’s shirt, trying to keep her mind off her hunger. She had looked the other way when the MA had stuck her with the shot to make her droopy before taking her back to the operating room.
She had said nothing but a simple, “Love you, Mommy.” Before she had been laid on the hospital bed that was way too big for her.
Max wanted to scream at these people.
“Max, sit down.” She ordered. “I don’t need you to make the waiting worse.”
Max stopped and sat next to her. She had been in there for more than an hour. How did Liz just sit there?”
“How do you do it, Liz?” He asked.
“A mother’s gotta do what mother’s gotta do.” She attempted a small smile.
“Do you want any coffee or anything?” Max asked, it was torture to be just standing here.
“Sure.” She nodded. She wouldn’t drink it.
Max got up to hunt down coffee.
A moment after he left, Kyle strode into the room. “How are we doing?”
“She went in right on time.” Liz said, not as comforted by his presence as she normally was—although it seemed that it had always been somebody else’s comfort she wanted anyway.
“I’m sorry, they called me in, I was planning on being here.” Kyle apologized. “I didn’t want you to be here alone.”
“She’s not alone.” Max stood behind them. Neither Kyle nor Liz had realized the fact that he had approach them.
“I thought you were going to get coffee.” Liz asked.
“I changed my mind.” He had seen Kyle walking in and had decided to come back.
“Max.” Liz said looking at him.
He raised his eyebrows and crossed his chest signifying he wasn’t going anywhere.
Liz sat cross legged looking down at her hands in her lap praying they wouldn’t start anything here. Max normally wasn’t the kind that made scenes, but she also didn’t know if he’d changed.
Kyle sat down next to Liz, took her hand whispered something in her ear.
Insanely, and unjustly jealous Max sat down on the other side of her and asked her a question. Looking at both of them, not knowing whom to give her attention to, Liz stood up and glared at both men.
“Will you two knock it off?” She tried to keep her voice down. “My baby girl is in there having surgery and you two are fighting over me. Stop it! If you can’t behave and just sit here and wait with me, put whatever is between us away for just three more hours, then I don’t want you here.”
“Sorry.” They both mumbled.
She felt for both of them, Kyle who had been so used to being the one there, and Max not ever being there, barely able to know what to do with himself.
“Thank you.” She sat down again, folded her arms and fixed her eyes on the door.
****
“Miss Parker, will you come in with me please?” The doctor opened the door to his office.
Max stood with Liz and followed her into the room. She looked even paler than she had that morning.
“Umm, sir?” The doctor asked.
“It’s alright.” Liz told him and took his hand.
“Oh.” The doctor looked at Max and recognition dawned on him. “Of course.”
They sat and Max wondered how Liz had done this on his own. Even with Liz there, he wasn’t sure how to deal with this.
“Where’s Kyle today?” The doctor asked.
“He had to work.” So she hadn’t been alone.
“Well, let’s get started.” The doctor opened his folder and looked back up. “Surgery went well.”
Liz breathed easier and she folded her hands in her lap as she tended to do when she was nervous.
“But…”
Oh God.
“The valve we replaced will need to be refitted when she turns ten. Once she stops growing we can put one in that will last the rest of her life. But while she’s growing it will have to keep being replaced. Luckily with all the modern technology the valves are becoming nicer and nicer, and are capable of growing with the child.”
Liz nodded understanding. “When can we see her?”
“She’s been moved to the ICU.” He told her.
“But why, she’s never been sent there before.” Liz leaned forward.
“Although Hannah appeared healthy when she went into surgery, there were minor complications. Her lungs didn’t hold up as well as we were expecting and it looked like the beginning of pneumonia.”
“Pneumonia in the middle of summer?” Max raised his eyebrows.
“Yes, Max, it’s always a possibility with heart patients, a simple cold could turn into the worst respiratory diseases.” Liz stated matter of factly. It had never happened before and Liz considered herself lucky that Hannah hadn’t gotten it when she was younger.
“She didn’t have a cold.” Liz shook her head.
“I know, but she has started school and kids pass bugs to each other there. Its good thing we caught it, but bad that we caught it during surgery. We’ll keep her here until she’s completely healed. When does she go back to school?”
“September, she has August off.”
“Perfect. She’ll be fine; they just want to keep an eye on her for the first few days in ICU. If you want, I’ll take you to her.”
“Please.”
continue in next post
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
****
As many times as Liz had seen her daughter in a hospital bed it was not something that she ever got used to. This time there were tubes coming to and from her chest and IV’s coming from bother her hands and arms.
She stopped in the doorway and collected herself. Max was behind her. She turned to him, tears in her eyes.
“Max, I’ve done this so many times but I never get used to it, and I’ve never seen her this bad.” She looked up at him and grabbed his shirt. “Are you sure you’re ready to do this. She’s not going to be her regular cheerful Hannah.”
“I know, Liz.” He took her hand, it was freezing. “I know, we’ll do this together. You don’t have to do it alone anymore.”
“Alright.” Allowing him to take her hand, she took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
The room buzzed with monitors for everything, the steady sound of her heart beating was a comfort in the room. A heavy plastic curtain surrounded the bed, made for small children and keeping out disease.
“Hannah bean.” Liz called to her daughter as she walked up to the bed.
She didn’t stir. Liz was prepared to wait off the effects of the drugs.
She felt Max’s quick intake of breath and turned to him. “What do we do now?”
“We wait.” Liz said. She pulled the chair over and pushed him into it. “It could be five minutes, it could be a half hour, but we sit here and wait.”
He pulled her to him. “You’re so brave, Lizzie.”
She sank down on his lap, relishing his childhood nickname for her, ready to lend him some of her fears, as well as gain some support. “I told you before.”
“A mother’s gotta do what a mother’s gotta do.” Max filled in for her. “Well, I’ve gotta do what I’ve gotta do too, and I’m gonna help you. How many times have you done this?”
“Four.” Liz said. “I think the only happy time I’ve had in a hospital was right when Hannah was born.”
“I wish I would have been there.”
“You weren’t, no use dwelling on it.” Liz said shortly. “Hannah, Hannah bean, wake up.” She called lovingly. Hannah stirred but settled back down into sleep.
She stretched, yawned and looked around. Fear entered her eyes when she didn’t immediately see Liz. “Mommy.” Cough.
“I’m here, Hannah bean.” Liz slid off of Max’s lap. “Max, will you go tell the nurse that she’s awake?”
Max nodded and left them alone together.
“Alright, let’s see how we’re doing.” The nurse entered the room. Liz was standing over the bed where Hannah was laying.
Max went over and stood next to Liz. “Hi, Hannah.”
“Hi.” She smiled at him, but it wasn’t the usual warm one. Her face was pale her hair messy, every move she made looked like it caused her pain.
“Quite a battle scar you’re gonna have.” He said.
She nodded and rolled over onto her side. “You can go ahead and lift the cover.” The nurse said.
Carefully hanging up the curtain, and tying it in place, Liz reached out to grab Hannah’s hand.
She looked like she wanted to say something, but Liz hushed her.
She coughed, her face turned into a grimace and her eyes filled with tears as she felt the pain. “Mommy.” She reached for her. Liz soothed her hair cooing words
Max felt like an intruder but at the same time didn’t want to leave the two of them alone.
“Here, let her lay down for a few minutes.” The nurse told Liz, and Liz sat her back on the bed. “I have to take some blood and things, it would be best if you waited outside.” She told them.
“Can’t we stay with Hannah?” Max asked stepping forward.
“No, it’d be best if you and your wife would kindly step outside.” The nurse said with a bit of force in her voice.
“But.” Max stepped forward.
“Come on, Max.” Liz just pushed him backward and out the door. When the door shut she turned to him. “Sometimes, it’s best if we don’t argue with the nurses.” She said.
“She called you my wife.” Max said, pulling her to him. He hoisted her a bit so she could see into the window in the door and see what the nurse was doing to Hannah.
“She did.” Liz wasn’t really paying attention her full focus was Hannah.
“Excuse me, sir. Due to hospital protocol, I need you and your wife to wait in the waiting area.” Another nurse told them.
“Sorry.” Max apologized and pulled Liz with him to the waiting room. “She did too.”
“Yeah, that’s going to be concluded a lot.” She said absently. The last place she wanted to be was the waiting room. “I don’t want to be here again, Max.”
“Well.” He said looking around. This was all new to him. He looked at her pale face and the tired look in her face. “When was the last time you ate?”
“Last night sometime, I couldn’t eat with Hannah this morning.” She shrugged.
“Let’s go down and find something.” He pulled her up. “Come on, the nurse said forty five minutes to an hour.”
“Alright.” She stood. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt.”
The cafeteria food wasn’t all that horrible but Liz didn’t eat it anyway. “Liz, you need to eat.” Max said.
“I’m not very hungry.”
“I will not allow you back upstairs to visit Hannah if you do not eat what is on that plate.” He said.
Liz raised a single eyebrow at him in question, but the look on his face told her he was very serious.
She finished what was on her plate, grudgingly and wondered if she was going to be able to keep any of it down. Glaring at Max she looked at her watch.
“I should call everyone and tell them what’s going on.” She stood and headed outside. “You don’t have to stay, Max, now that she’s out, I’ll be alright by myself.”
“No, I’m staying.” He stood up with her. “We’ll go outside and you can use my cell phone and get some fresh air.”
“I have my own cell, only for emergencies, but I’ll use it now.” She stepped outside. She was tired and wanted nothing more just to curl up, at home in bed with Hannah.
Liz made the phone call and explained to Amy about everything. She refused Amy’s offer to come and be with her as well. After suggesting a visit in a few days, Liz hung up the phone.
“I guess Kyle’s still here.” Liz said. “Amy said she’ll call and tell him just to go home since he wouldn’t be able to see her anyway.”
Good idea, Max thought to himself. “We should be allowed in to see Hannah now.”
“Yes, we should.” Liz headed for the elevator.
Hannah was sleeping when they got to her room. Her breathing a heavy wheeze, interrupted by coughs barely strong enough to do her any good.
Tears filled Liz’s eyes as she sank into a chair. “Max, she’s so weak.”
“She’s strong, Liz, she’ll fight it.” Max stared helplessly at his daughter on the bed and down to Liz. “Why don’t you tell me about her, more, I want to know our daughter like you do, Liz.” He said.
Pulling her out of the chair and sitting in it himself, he pulled Liz down on his lap.
“She sat up at six months.” She told him. “She crawled at nine, and walked at ten. She crawled and was anxious to walk right away.”
“Her first word was Alex, she speaks French as fluently as any French four-year-old. She goes to year-around school and is on Track C. Her favorite color is purple and she still sleeps with an empty bottle at night.”
“She’s brilliant.” Max said taking Liz’s face in his hands.
“You weren’t there!” Liz said in a controlled voice. She never had a hard time controlling her emotions, except when Max was around. “You weren’t there! How could you know, Max.”
“Liz,” He kissed her tears away. “Liz, tell me. Tell me what it was like for you.”
“You weren’t there when the doctor told me she had a heart murmur, you weren’t there when the doctor told me about the surgeries, you weren’t there when I found out she would develop slower due to hospitalization time. But she didn’t, but you wouldn’t know that would you? She can tie her own shoes and she can say the alphabet, English and French. Max if you had been there you would know.”
Then she spoke the words that had been hanging over their head for four years. “And you know what scares me, Max, the most?” She asked him. “The fact that if you would have been here, if I would have stayed with you, we wouldn’t even have her. We wouldn’t know, and our baby would be out there wondering if her real parents loved her.”
That stung. Max swallowed hard, knowing it was true. He sat still for a minute collected his thoughts, then he spoke carefully, deliberately choosing every word.
“If you would have told me, you know I would have been here in a second. If you would have told me, I would know her first word, I would have heard the doctor tell you there was something wrong with Hannah’s heart, you never told me. And if you never told me, how was I supposed to know?”
Liz let that sink in as well. She knew he was right.
“Alright, so we were both in the wrong.” She said. “Now we’re here, both of us, our daughter is that hospital bed, and we’re arguing about the past. Let’s let it drop for now.”
“I’m willing.” They both had something to chew on, but Liz was still in his lap. He tightened his arms around her. She rubbed her head into his chest an action that echoed Hannah’s earlier attempts for comfort, and Max let out a sigh of relief. They both knew what the other felt, now all they needed was for Hannah to get well and all would be good. Well, they would wait to discuss it until Hannah was better.
****
Hannah blinked her eyes open. The pain in her chest was down to a dull throb but when she took a breath it was piercing. She wanted her mommy. Looking around, she found her sleeping, in her father’s arms.
That was something to see.
“Mommy.” Hannah called softly. It hurt to do anything more. Her voice was hoarse, and knew that she wouldn’t gain the full use of it for a while.
Max moved his head when he heard Hannah’s call. He turned and looked her in the eye. Hannah decided that he would have to do.
“Daddy.”
Max’s breath stopped. Had she just called him Daddy? His whole body tensed up and he looked at his daughter, waiting to see if she’d say it again. Liz stirred when she felt Max tighten. She opened her eyes and met Hannah’s gaze swiftly filling with tears.
“Mommy.” She said and she let the tears fall.
Max chalked it up to his imagination wanting to hear something desperately, and decided the best thing he could do was forget it ever happened—or thought that it happened—and go back to being strong for Liz.
****
A week later, Hannah was out of the ICU but she was still in the hospital.
Max had been there during the days and worked from his laptop, if possible. Liz insisted he return home at night. He had argued about it more than once with her but had lost. In the end every night at eight o’clock Liz would send him out the door.
Liz went home during the times the nurse kicked her out of the room to run tests.
Hannah was well enough to be out of the ICU but not well enough to join the other children in the ward. She was placed in a private room, and no more than three people were allowed to visit her at a time.
She rolled over on her side as Liz told her a story. She giggled softly as she read about some fantasy world. She looked up towards the door when she heard the childish laughter coming in from outside wanting to be with the other children. She loved her family but she wanted to play with someone her own age. Max looked up from his laptop and saw her wishful eyes. Just then a nurse walked in.
“Alright, Miss Hannah and I get to go down for some X-Rays, to see how the pneumonia’s doing.” She said. Liz lifted her from the bed and sat her in the tiny wheelchair as the nurse situated the two IV’s that were left in her arm.
Liz kissed Hannah goodbye and Max waved as the nurse wheeled her out. “Well, I guess that means I get to go home and change.” Liz said shrugging. “Want to come?”
She didn’t feel like being alone and Max had nothing better to do with his time. “Why not?”
They walked into the apartment and Max set his stuff on the table. Liz went to the phone to pay back messages. There were only two.
“Hi, Liz, this is Amy, just wanted to let you know that Kailyn’s social worker called and it looks like we’re going to have the little sweetcakes for a few more months. Looks like mom fell back a little. Are you sure you’re not interested in adopting her? It’s starting to look like that’s where she’s headed. Give Hannah my love. Goodbye.”
Liz didn’t know whether to be sad or happy at that message. It would make it worse for the separation from Kailyn, but Liz wasn’t a big fan of her mother either. She cleared the message and pushed the next button.
“Hi this is Hannah,” Natalie’s childish voice came through the speaker. “Mommy and Daddy say you’re still in the hospital but if I left you a message your mommy would give it to you. Hi, Ms. Parker!” She said enthusiastically. “Hannah, I wanted to tell you that I miss you, and that Mommy had her baby. It’s a girl and her name is Francesca Hope. Daddy says she looks just like I did, but I sure hope not because she’s so wrinkly, like my skin after a bath. Maybe you’ll call me back later. Bye!” There was a defined “done” before the phone hung up.
Max smiled at the phone at the childish exuberance of his daughter’s best friend.
“That girl has so much energy.” Liz smiled. “Go ahead and set up your laptop there’s a plug there.” Liz pointed out. “I shouldn’t be more than twenty minutes.”
“Take your time.”
The house was once again clean, this time there were no more moving boxes, and Max knew it was because of the money that he had given her. He knew he should tell her sometime that the money was his, but he didn’t know when that would be a good time. Now definantly was not.
Max heard the shower start and tried to take his mind off the woman in the shower. Curious about the place his love and daughter lived, he stood up and looked around. There were candid pictures of Hannah everywhere. Baby pictures, toddler pictures. A picture of Hannah at some sort of ballet school. That was new, he hadn’t known she took ballet.
Something else he had missed while he had stayed away.
Going back to his laptop Max started his work again. He couldn’t or wouldn’t focus on his work. He heard the shower shut off and few moments later the blow dryer start up.
He replayed Natalie’s message. Natalie. Maybe that would make Hannah happier. Sure she looked and acted happy but the twinkle in her eyes had been gone. He remembered her idle remarks about Natalie about every other minute, or her look when she watched the other kids playing in the hallways outside.
“Liz!” He called.
“Yeah?” She walked to her bedroom door and kicked it open. She brushed her hair underneath so she could collect it in a half ponytail.
“How old do you have to be to visit someone in the children’s ward?”
“Twelve, why?” She swept her hair up easily. Then sitting her brush down on the table beside him she tied her hair up.
The brush next to his work, her scent drifting to him as she played with her hair was to intimate for Max to think clearly. Just a simple conversation but the intimacy of her doing her hair, her scent, him casually doing his work and the two of them conversing about the well-being of their child got to him.
“Just wondering.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“I’ve never asked you before, Max, but what kind of law do you do?” She said looking at the screen.
“Family.” He said.
“Oh, so you deal with kids in the foster system.”
“Yeah, I get a lot of those.” He nodded. Her head was level with is. “Is Kyle working today?”
“Yes, why?” Her suspicions rose.
“No, reason.” He shrugged it off. “Are you still with him?”
“I’m not really sure, why do you want to know?”
“So that when I kiss you right now, I’ll know if I’m kissing somebody’s girlfriend.”
She didn’t have time to register his words before he swooped in and kissed her for the first time in five years.
Liz stood frozen, not responding, in shock. Then when she opened her mouth to protest Max plundered her mouth. She surrendered and sank down into his lap, pulling him closer. Taking her sign Max pulled her tight against him and deepened the kiss. They stopped only when breathing became a necessity.
“Max, you—you can’t do that.” Liz shook her head, trying to clear it. “We’re just a little confused, you know, from all the stuff with Hannah, you know. They say people do crazy things during hard times.” She told him trying to back away.
“No, I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.” Max shook his head. “I only now got the courage.”
Liz couldn’t admit that she had wanted it too, just as badly. “Well, I suggest you don’t do it again.” She stood and went to the door. “It’s time we leave.”
I was going to make this part a little longer, but I wanted to post this before I left for Europe, so I’m going to just post this and when I come back I’ll have had 22 hours on a plane to completely write out my next part so hopefully I’ll have it as soon as I get back. Thank you for sticking with the story and for all the feedback!
As many times as Liz had seen her daughter in a hospital bed it was not something that she ever got used to. This time there were tubes coming to and from her chest and IV’s coming from bother her hands and arms.
She stopped in the doorway and collected herself. Max was behind her. She turned to him, tears in her eyes.
“Max, I’ve done this so many times but I never get used to it, and I’ve never seen her this bad.” She looked up at him and grabbed his shirt. “Are you sure you’re ready to do this. She’s not going to be her regular cheerful Hannah.”
“I know, Liz.” He took her hand, it was freezing. “I know, we’ll do this together. You don’t have to do it alone anymore.”
“Alright.” Allowing him to take her hand, she took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
The room buzzed with monitors for everything, the steady sound of her heart beating was a comfort in the room. A heavy plastic curtain surrounded the bed, made for small children and keeping out disease.
“Hannah bean.” Liz called to her daughter as she walked up to the bed.
She didn’t stir. Liz was prepared to wait off the effects of the drugs.
She felt Max’s quick intake of breath and turned to him. “What do we do now?”
“We wait.” Liz said. She pulled the chair over and pushed him into it. “It could be five minutes, it could be a half hour, but we sit here and wait.”
He pulled her to him. “You’re so brave, Lizzie.”
She sank down on his lap, relishing his childhood nickname for her, ready to lend him some of her fears, as well as gain some support. “I told you before.”
“A mother’s gotta do what a mother’s gotta do.” Max filled in for her. “Well, I’ve gotta do what I’ve gotta do too, and I’m gonna help you. How many times have you done this?”
“Four.” Liz said. “I think the only happy time I’ve had in a hospital was right when Hannah was born.”
“I wish I would have been there.”
“You weren’t, no use dwelling on it.” Liz said shortly. “Hannah, Hannah bean, wake up.” She called lovingly. Hannah stirred but settled back down into sleep.
She stretched, yawned and looked around. Fear entered her eyes when she didn’t immediately see Liz. “Mommy.” Cough.
“I’m here, Hannah bean.” Liz slid off of Max’s lap. “Max, will you go tell the nurse that she’s awake?”
Max nodded and left them alone together.
“Alright, let’s see how we’re doing.” The nurse entered the room. Liz was standing over the bed where Hannah was laying.
Max went over and stood next to Liz. “Hi, Hannah.”
“Hi.” She smiled at him, but it wasn’t the usual warm one. Her face was pale her hair messy, every move she made looked like it caused her pain.
“Quite a battle scar you’re gonna have.” He said.
She nodded and rolled over onto her side. “You can go ahead and lift the cover.” The nurse said.
Carefully hanging up the curtain, and tying it in place, Liz reached out to grab Hannah’s hand.
She looked like she wanted to say something, but Liz hushed her.
She coughed, her face turned into a grimace and her eyes filled with tears as she felt the pain. “Mommy.” She reached for her. Liz soothed her hair cooing words
Max felt like an intruder but at the same time didn’t want to leave the two of them alone.
“Here, let her lay down for a few minutes.” The nurse told Liz, and Liz sat her back on the bed. “I have to take some blood and things, it would be best if you waited outside.” She told them.
“Can’t we stay with Hannah?” Max asked stepping forward.
“No, it’d be best if you and your wife would kindly step outside.” The nurse said with a bit of force in her voice.
“But.” Max stepped forward.
“Come on, Max.” Liz just pushed him backward and out the door. When the door shut she turned to him. “Sometimes, it’s best if we don’t argue with the nurses.” She said.
“She called you my wife.” Max said, pulling her to him. He hoisted her a bit so she could see into the window in the door and see what the nurse was doing to Hannah.
“She did.” Liz wasn’t really paying attention her full focus was Hannah.
“Excuse me, sir. Due to hospital protocol, I need you and your wife to wait in the waiting area.” Another nurse told them.
“Sorry.” Max apologized and pulled Liz with him to the waiting room. “She did too.”
“Yeah, that’s going to be concluded a lot.” She said absently. The last place she wanted to be was the waiting room. “I don’t want to be here again, Max.”
“Well.” He said looking around. This was all new to him. He looked at her pale face and the tired look in her face. “When was the last time you ate?”
“Last night sometime, I couldn’t eat with Hannah this morning.” She shrugged.
“Let’s go down and find something.” He pulled her up. “Come on, the nurse said forty five minutes to an hour.”
“Alright.” She stood. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt.”
The cafeteria food wasn’t all that horrible but Liz didn’t eat it anyway. “Liz, you need to eat.” Max said.
“I’m not very hungry.”
“I will not allow you back upstairs to visit Hannah if you do not eat what is on that plate.” He said.
Liz raised a single eyebrow at him in question, but the look on his face told her he was very serious.
She finished what was on her plate, grudgingly and wondered if she was going to be able to keep any of it down. Glaring at Max she looked at her watch.
“I should call everyone and tell them what’s going on.” She stood and headed outside. “You don’t have to stay, Max, now that she’s out, I’ll be alright by myself.”
“No, I’m staying.” He stood up with her. “We’ll go outside and you can use my cell phone and get some fresh air.”
“I have my own cell, only for emergencies, but I’ll use it now.” She stepped outside. She was tired and wanted nothing more just to curl up, at home in bed with Hannah.
Liz made the phone call and explained to Amy about everything. She refused Amy’s offer to come and be with her as well. After suggesting a visit in a few days, Liz hung up the phone.
“I guess Kyle’s still here.” Liz said. “Amy said she’ll call and tell him just to go home since he wouldn’t be able to see her anyway.”
Good idea, Max thought to himself. “We should be allowed in to see Hannah now.”
“Yes, we should.” Liz headed for the elevator.
Hannah was sleeping when they got to her room. Her breathing a heavy wheeze, interrupted by coughs barely strong enough to do her any good.
Tears filled Liz’s eyes as she sank into a chair. “Max, she’s so weak.”
“She’s strong, Liz, she’ll fight it.” Max stared helplessly at his daughter on the bed and down to Liz. “Why don’t you tell me about her, more, I want to know our daughter like you do, Liz.” He said.
Pulling her out of the chair and sitting in it himself, he pulled Liz down on his lap.
“She sat up at six months.” She told him. “She crawled at nine, and walked at ten. She crawled and was anxious to walk right away.”
“Her first word was Alex, she speaks French as fluently as any French four-year-old. She goes to year-around school and is on Track C. Her favorite color is purple and she still sleeps with an empty bottle at night.”
“She’s brilliant.” Max said taking Liz’s face in his hands.
“You weren’t there!” Liz said in a controlled voice. She never had a hard time controlling her emotions, except when Max was around. “You weren’t there! How could you know, Max.”
“Liz,” He kissed her tears away. “Liz, tell me. Tell me what it was like for you.”
“You weren’t there when the doctor told me she had a heart murmur, you weren’t there when the doctor told me about the surgeries, you weren’t there when I found out she would develop slower due to hospitalization time. But she didn’t, but you wouldn’t know that would you? She can tie her own shoes and she can say the alphabet, English and French. Max if you had been there you would know.”
Then she spoke the words that had been hanging over their head for four years. “And you know what scares me, Max, the most?” She asked him. “The fact that if you would have been here, if I would have stayed with you, we wouldn’t even have her. We wouldn’t know, and our baby would be out there wondering if her real parents loved her.”
That stung. Max swallowed hard, knowing it was true. He sat still for a minute collected his thoughts, then he spoke carefully, deliberately choosing every word.
“If you would have told me, you know I would have been here in a second. If you would have told me, I would know her first word, I would have heard the doctor tell you there was something wrong with Hannah’s heart, you never told me. And if you never told me, how was I supposed to know?”
Liz let that sink in as well. She knew he was right.
“Alright, so we were both in the wrong.” She said. “Now we’re here, both of us, our daughter is that hospital bed, and we’re arguing about the past. Let’s let it drop for now.”
“I’m willing.” They both had something to chew on, but Liz was still in his lap. He tightened his arms around her. She rubbed her head into his chest an action that echoed Hannah’s earlier attempts for comfort, and Max let out a sigh of relief. They both knew what the other felt, now all they needed was for Hannah to get well and all would be good. Well, they would wait to discuss it until Hannah was better.
****
Hannah blinked her eyes open. The pain in her chest was down to a dull throb but when she took a breath it was piercing. She wanted her mommy. Looking around, she found her sleeping, in her father’s arms.
That was something to see.
“Mommy.” Hannah called softly. It hurt to do anything more. Her voice was hoarse, and knew that she wouldn’t gain the full use of it for a while.
Max moved his head when he heard Hannah’s call. He turned and looked her in the eye. Hannah decided that he would have to do.
“Daddy.”
Max’s breath stopped. Had she just called him Daddy? His whole body tensed up and he looked at his daughter, waiting to see if she’d say it again. Liz stirred when she felt Max tighten. She opened her eyes and met Hannah’s gaze swiftly filling with tears.
“Mommy.” She said and she let the tears fall.
Max chalked it up to his imagination wanting to hear something desperately, and decided the best thing he could do was forget it ever happened—or thought that it happened—and go back to being strong for Liz.
****
A week later, Hannah was out of the ICU but she was still in the hospital.
Max had been there during the days and worked from his laptop, if possible. Liz insisted he return home at night. He had argued about it more than once with her but had lost. In the end every night at eight o’clock Liz would send him out the door.
Liz went home during the times the nurse kicked her out of the room to run tests.
Hannah was well enough to be out of the ICU but not well enough to join the other children in the ward. She was placed in a private room, and no more than three people were allowed to visit her at a time.
She rolled over on her side as Liz told her a story. She giggled softly as she read about some fantasy world. She looked up towards the door when she heard the childish laughter coming in from outside wanting to be with the other children. She loved her family but she wanted to play with someone her own age. Max looked up from his laptop and saw her wishful eyes. Just then a nurse walked in.
“Alright, Miss Hannah and I get to go down for some X-Rays, to see how the pneumonia’s doing.” She said. Liz lifted her from the bed and sat her in the tiny wheelchair as the nurse situated the two IV’s that were left in her arm.
Liz kissed Hannah goodbye and Max waved as the nurse wheeled her out. “Well, I guess that means I get to go home and change.” Liz said shrugging. “Want to come?”
She didn’t feel like being alone and Max had nothing better to do with his time. “Why not?”
They walked into the apartment and Max set his stuff on the table. Liz went to the phone to pay back messages. There were only two.
“Hi, Liz, this is Amy, just wanted to let you know that Kailyn’s social worker called and it looks like we’re going to have the little sweetcakes for a few more months. Looks like mom fell back a little. Are you sure you’re not interested in adopting her? It’s starting to look like that’s where she’s headed. Give Hannah my love. Goodbye.”
Liz didn’t know whether to be sad or happy at that message. It would make it worse for the separation from Kailyn, but Liz wasn’t a big fan of her mother either. She cleared the message and pushed the next button.
“Hi this is Hannah,” Natalie’s childish voice came through the speaker. “Mommy and Daddy say you’re still in the hospital but if I left you a message your mommy would give it to you. Hi, Ms. Parker!” She said enthusiastically. “Hannah, I wanted to tell you that I miss you, and that Mommy had her baby. It’s a girl and her name is Francesca Hope. Daddy says she looks just like I did, but I sure hope not because she’s so wrinkly, like my skin after a bath. Maybe you’ll call me back later. Bye!” There was a defined “done” before the phone hung up.
Max smiled at the phone at the childish exuberance of his daughter’s best friend.
“That girl has so much energy.” Liz smiled. “Go ahead and set up your laptop there’s a plug there.” Liz pointed out. “I shouldn’t be more than twenty minutes.”
“Take your time.”
The house was once again clean, this time there were no more moving boxes, and Max knew it was because of the money that he had given her. He knew he should tell her sometime that the money was his, but he didn’t know when that would be a good time. Now definantly was not.
Max heard the shower start and tried to take his mind off the woman in the shower. Curious about the place his love and daughter lived, he stood up and looked around. There were candid pictures of Hannah everywhere. Baby pictures, toddler pictures. A picture of Hannah at some sort of ballet school. That was new, he hadn’t known she took ballet.
Something else he had missed while he had stayed away.
Going back to his laptop Max started his work again. He couldn’t or wouldn’t focus on his work. He heard the shower shut off and few moments later the blow dryer start up.
He replayed Natalie’s message. Natalie. Maybe that would make Hannah happier. Sure she looked and acted happy but the twinkle in her eyes had been gone. He remembered her idle remarks about Natalie about every other minute, or her look when she watched the other kids playing in the hallways outside.
“Liz!” He called.
“Yeah?” She walked to her bedroom door and kicked it open. She brushed her hair underneath so she could collect it in a half ponytail.
“How old do you have to be to visit someone in the children’s ward?”
“Twelve, why?” She swept her hair up easily. Then sitting her brush down on the table beside him she tied her hair up.
The brush next to his work, her scent drifting to him as she played with her hair was to intimate for Max to think clearly. Just a simple conversation but the intimacy of her doing her hair, her scent, him casually doing his work and the two of them conversing about the well-being of their child got to him.
“Just wondering.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“I’ve never asked you before, Max, but what kind of law do you do?” She said looking at the screen.
“Family.” He said.
“Oh, so you deal with kids in the foster system.”
“Yeah, I get a lot of those.” He nodded. Her head was level with is. “Is Kyle working today?”
“Yes, why?” Her suspicions rose.
“No, reason.” He shrugged it off. “Are you still with him?”
“I’m not really sure, why do you want to know?”
“So that when I kiss you right now, I’ll know if I’m kissing somebody’s girlfriend.”
She didn’t have time to register his words before he swooped in and kissed her for the first time in five years.
Liz stood frozen, not responding, in shock. Then when she opened her mouth to protest Max plundered her mouth. She surrendered and sank down into his lap, pulling him closer. Taking her sign Max pulled her tight against him and deepened the kiss. They stopped only when breathing became a necessity.
“Max, you—you can’t do that.” Liz shook her head, trying to clear it. “We’re just a little confused, you know, from all the stuff with Hannah, you know. They say people do crazy things during hard times.” She told him trying to back away.
“No, I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.” Max shook his head. “I only now got the courage.”
Liz couldn’t admit that she had wanted it too, just as badly. “Well, I suggest you don’t do it again.” She stood and went to the door. “It’s time we leave.”
I was going to make this part a little longer, but I wanted to post this before I left for Europe, so I’m going to just post this and when I come back I’ll have had 22 hours on a plane to completely write out my next part so hopefully I’ll have it as soon as I get back. Thank you for sticking with the story and for all the feedback!
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
Chapter 28
“Hi, can I speak to Dr. Kyle Valenti, please?” Max walked into the ER.
“Yes, if you’ll have a seat I’ll page him for you.”
Fifteen minutes later Kyle found Max in the sitting room.
“What’s this about?” Kyle didn’t sit but folded his arms across his chest. “Is something wrong with Hannah?”
“No, well, she’s a bit depressed.” Max said. “She’s tired of being shut up in that room, how much pull do you have on the doctors in the children’s ward?”
“Enough as long as it doesn’t put Hannah into any danger.” He looked skeptically at Max.
“Well, that will have to do. This is what I’m planning to do.”
****
“Isabel, can you get Alex on the phone for me?” Max asked, entering the kitchen of the Town home they shared.
“Why?” She put down the fashion magazine she indulged herself in.
“I need to ask him about something for Hannah.”
“Alright.” She slid off her stool, “Why do you need to talk to Alex?”
“You’ll see later.” He took the number and went to his room.
****
Sunday afternoon
“Thank you so much, Mr. Barkley, for bringing Natalie here.” Max shook his hands. “Especially with a new baby.”
“Oh, it’s no problem; we’d hope someone would do the same for one of our children. Melissa says I’m just in the way with a new baby anyway.”
“Can I go see Hannah now?” Natalie was bouncing. Her hair was wrapped in a tight bun as Kyle had told her was required.
“Well, first we have to get you all suited up if you’re ready. Do you want to do this?” Kyle bent down to her level.
“Yes.” She said happily. “We’ll be back , Daddy.” She called waving.
Taking Hannah into the nurses station, Kyle took a surgical robe and put it on her, cutting the bottom so she wouldn’t trip over it. Then he tied it tight behind her and pinned it into place. He pulled a cap over her head and pinned it with bobby pins he had taken from his mother’s drawer. The gloves were a little loose but there wasn’t much that he could do about that. Last he pulled on a surgical mask over her face so she wouldn’t spread any germs to Hannah.
Kyle himself, thought it was a little much but it was the best he could do to get the doctors to cooperate with him and Max.
“All set?” Kyle asked. “Now, I’m going to take you to Hannah’s father and he’ll take you to Hannah, alright?”
She nodded.
“Are you comfortable?”
She nodded and pulled up her robe a little so she could walk better.
“Alright, Max, it’s all up to you. Here she is, I have to get back to work.” The two men stood facing each other.
“Thank you, Kyle.” Max shook his hand.
“You’re welcome.” Kyle gave Max a look that told him he had something to say but wouldn’t say it just yet.
“Alright.” Max nodded. “I’ll be seeing you around. Come on Natalie.”
“Good luck.”
****
“Hannah, somebody’s here to see you.” Max knocked on the door. She was sitting in Liz’s lap watching Finding Nemo for the hundredth time on his laptop.
She turned towards the door excited just to see Max but looked suspiciously at the small person walking next to him.
“Hannah.” Natalie asked as she stepped into the room. It looked a lot different from the room her mother stayed in when she had the baby.
“Natalie!” Hannah squealed in delight.
“Hi! How did you come?” Hannah asked in surprise. Liz closed the laptop and put it aside so Natalie would have room to climb into her lap as well.
“Yes, how did you?” Liz asked looking at Max.
He shrugged and stood in the doorway.
After settling the two girls on the chair Liz moved to go speak with Max. “How’d you do it?”
“Kyle helped me.” Max said, shyly. “She looked depressed and I wanted to make it better.”
“You can’t always just make things better for her, Max.” Liz said looking up at her. “It’s part of life.”
“She’s four, I think I can, just this once.” He went on the defensive.
“I’m not criticizing you; I think I’m just jealous that I didn’t think of it before.” Liz said looking down.
They looked into the room and Hannah was chatting happily with Natalie about the new baby and their first break.
“Ethan’s going to high school, and he’s going to be on the swim team.” Natalie boasted for her big brother. “He took me swimming with him yesterday and taught me how. I don’t need floaties no more.”
“I already can swim.” Hannah said proudly. “My mommy says I swim like a fish.”
“Your daddy gave me this to show you.” She held up a CD.
“Mommy, Natalie has something to show me, come.’’ Hannah called inside the room.
“What does she have?” Liz asked stepping back into the room, looking suspiciously at Max.
“Go find out.” Max smiled proudly. “I sort of got the idea from that Teletubbies show she always insists on watching.”
Liz sat back down. Natalie handed her a CD so she put it into the computer.
A few seconds later Natalie appeared on the screen.
“Hi, Hannah, you’re still in the hospital so your daddy asked me to help him do this for you.” She stood in the doorway of her house.
She turned around and whoever was holding the camera followed her inside. She walked to the back bedroom where her mother was holding a sleeping baby.
“This is my baby sister, Francesca Hope.” She said proudly. “And you already know my mommy.”
“Hi, Hannah.” Melissa Barkley said at the camera. “I hope you feel better soon.”
“This is my brother, Ethan. He wasn’t here when you came over last week.” The boy was tall and had Natalie’s dark hair and eyes. He waved at the camera before going on with his whatever he was working on.
“You already met, Jennifer, Autumn, Ben, and Conner.” She said walking around the house. All the children looked exactly the same.
“Your daddy says we’re going somewhere else now, I’ll see you there.”
A few seconds later the camera turned on again and now it was a house well familiar to Hannah.
“This, as you know, is your Grandma Amy’s house.” Natalie’s voice filtered through.
The camera followed her into the house where her entire extended family, bar her mother, were.
“Hi, Hannah.” They all chanted together.
Hannah’s face split into a huge grin when she saw everyone.
“Kailyn says hi.” Amy held up the tiny girl who smiled briefly for the camera. Hannah touched the screen in yearning to see the baby again.
Hannah stared fascinated at the screen as Maria and Jim sang a song for her, and everyone told her of news of home. Natalie’s familiar voice narrated the entire time and the movie lasted about fifteen minutes.
Hannah talked to Natalie for a few more minutes before Max took her back down to her father.
Liz worked on calming Hannah down enough to get her ready for her afternoon tests.
Later in the evening, as Max was gathering his stuff to go, Hannah turned to him. “Stay.”
Max stopped and looked at his daughter on the bed. She looked dwarfed, but her eyes were bright. “Please, stay.”
“I don’t know, little girl.” Max walked towards the bed.
“Ask Mommy.” Hannah took his hand. “Please?”
Liz walked back from restroom and they both turned to look at her. “He can stay, Mommy?”
Liz looked at Max and then to Hannah on the bed. Having him go home at night was her only defense against him. She needed that short eight hours to get her head back and control.
The pleading look in Hannah’s eyes wouldn’t allow her to say no. “Alright.”
Hannah beamed, “Thank you.”
Liz smiled and sat down in the chair. “I’ll have them bring an extra cot in tonight.”
“No, I’ll just stay in the chair.”
“It’s not that comfortable, Max.” Liz told him.
“I’ll be fine.” He assured her.
Hannah chatted to Max, until the nurse came in telling her it was time for bed.
Liz settled her into bed and let her watch the video a few more times. Each time she watched it seemed like she was more and more determined to find something she had missed. In the fourth round, her eyes drifted shut.
“I thought she’d never get tired of that.” Max rubbed his eyes and leaned back in the chair.
“Neither did I, I think it’s going to replace Nemo.” She reached into her purse to dig out a brush. She let down her hair from it’s ponytail with a sigh, before she began brushing it out. When she was done she replaced the brush, “That feels better.” She shook her head and let her hair shake against her back.
She faced Max to find he was staring at her once again. She froze as she was about to cross to her cot.
“What?”
Max shook his head and looked down at his hands.
Liz was beginning to think about whether it was a good idea to let him stay. He had made her stomach flutter by just the way he had been looking at her. She needed her time to get herself together. She excused herself to the bathroom and Max cursed himself for staying.
Liz stared at herself in the mirror and wondered what she was doing. Max stood outside the door with her sleeping daughter in bed. She should have sent him home she had her reasons for doing so before. She didn’t know what had gotten into her but she needed to get things in her head to go straight, once more, or else everything would begin to be messed up. Her control that she had so valiantly held onto was going to slip away and she would fall back into Max’s arms without thought. The kiss they had shared the day before had been almost too overwhelming. Just that short moment had transformed her back to that young girl that she had been when she was younger. She quickly reminded herself that she was indeed not that same girl. She would not just go back to him. She had come a long way from where she had once been. She had relied on herself before Max had come back into the picture and she would continue to do so now.
When she stepped outside, Max was waiting for her by the door. He pulled her into his arms. She didn’t have time to protest. “Shhh, you’ll wake Hannah.”
She tried to push him away but his arms around her were secure and she wasn’t going to move anywhere. The feeling of being in his arms again was incredible. She wanted to stay in them forever. Without giving her a choice he bent his head to kiss her.
She turned her head, but not in time. His lips landed smoothly on hers. She resisted at first but soon, with his gentle insistence gave in and surrendered her mouth to him.
Liz forgot where she was, who she was, for the few moments the kiss lasted. But as soon as they surfaced for air, reality set in. She looked up at him, her eyes gleaming with tears, tired of fighting, tired of lying to herself, she rested her head against his chest. He pulled her closer as he heard her sniffles, and wondered if he had pushed her too far. When he tried to dislodge her, she clung tighter to him.
Looking up at him, she spoke.
“Max, what are we going to do?”
tbc
“Hi, can I speak to Dr. Kyle Valenti, please?” Max walked into the ER.
“Yes, if you’ll have a seat I’ll page him for you.”
Fifteen minutes later Kyle found Max in the sitting room.
“What’s this about?” Kyle didn’t sit but folded his arms across his chest. “Is something wrong with Hannah?”
“No, well, she’s a bit depressed.” Max said. “She’s tired of being shut up in that room, how much pull do you have on the doctors in the children’s ward?”
“Enough as long as it doesn’t put Hannah into any danger.” He looked skeptically at Max.
“Well, that will have to do. This is what I’m planning to do.”
****
“Isabel, can you get Alex on the phone for me?” Max asked, entering the kitchen of the Town home they shared.
“Why?” She put down the fashion magazine she indulged herself in.
“I need to ask him about something for Hannah.”
“Alright.” She slid off her stool, “Why do you need to talk to Alex?”
“You’ll see later.” He took the number and went to his room.
****
Sunday afternoon
“Thank you so much, Mr. Barkley, for bringing Natalie here.” Max shook his hands. “Especially with a new baby.”
“Oh, it’s no problem; we’d hope someone would do the same for one of our children. Melissa says I’m just in the way with a new baby anyway.”
“Can I go see Hannah now?” Natalie was bouncing. Her hair was wrapped in a tight bun as Kyle had told her was required.
“Well, first we have to get you all suited up if you’re ready. Do you want to do this?” Kyle bent down to her level.
“Yes.” She said happily. “We’ll be back , Daddy.” She called waving.
Taking Hannah into the nurses station, Kyle took a surgical robe and put it on her, cutting the bottom so she wouldn’t trip over it. Then he tied it tight behind her and pinned it into place. He pulled a cap over her head and pinned it with bobby pins he had taken from his mother’s drawer. The gloves were a little loose but there wasn’t much that he could do about that. Last he pulled on a surgical mask over her face so she wouldn’t spread any germs to Hannah.
Kyle himself, thought it was a little much but it was the best he could do to get the doctors to cooperate with him and Max.
“All set?” Kyle asked. “Now, I’m going to take you to Hannah’s father and he’ll take you to Hannah, alright?”
She nodded.
“Are you comfortable?”
She nodded and pulled up her robe a little so she could walk better.
“Alright, Max, it’s all up to you. Here she is, I have to get back to work.” The two men stood facing each other.
“Thank you, Kyle.” Max shook his hand.
“You’re welcome.” Kyle gave Max a look that told him he had something to say but wouldn’t say it just yet.
“Alright.” Max nodded. “I’ll be seeing you around. Come on Natalie.”
“Good luck.”
****
“Hannah, somebody’s here to see you.” Max knocked on the door. She was sitting in Liz’s lap watching Finding Nemo for the hundredth time on his laptop.
She turned towards the door excited just to see Max but looked suspiciously at the small person walking next to him.
“Hannah.” Natalie asked as she stepped into the room. It looked a lot different from the room her mother stayed in when she had the baby.
“Natalie!” Hannah squealed in delight.
“Hi! How did you come?” Hannah asked in surprise. Liz closed the laptop and put it aside so Natalie would have room to climb into her lap as well.
“Yes, how did you?” Liz asked looking at Max.
He shrugged and stood in the doorway.
After settling the two girls on the chair Liz moved to go speak with Max. “How’d you do it?”
“Kyle helped me.” Max said, shyly. “She looked depressed and I wanted to make it better.”
“You can’t always just make things better for her, Max.” Liz said looking up at her. “It’s part of life.”
“She’s four, I think I can, just this once.” He went on the defensive.
“I’m not criticizing you; I think I’m just jealous that I didn’t think of it before.” Liz said looking down.
They looked into the room and Hannah was chatting happily with Natalie about the new baby and their first break.
“Ethan’s going to high school, and he’s going to be on the swim team.” Natalie boasted for her big brother. “He took me swimming with him yesterday and taught me how. I don’t need floaties no more.”
“I already can swim.” Hannah said proudly. “My mommy says I swim like a fish.”
“Your daddy gave me this to show you.” She held up a CD.
“Mommy, Natalie has something to show me, come.’’ Hannah called inside the room.
“What does she have?” Liz asked stepping back into the room, looking suspiciously at Max.
“Go find out.” Max smiled proudly. “I sort of got the idea from that Teletubbies show she always insists on watching.”
Liz sat back down. Natalie handed her a CD so she put it into the computer.
A few seconds later Natalie appeared on the screen.
“Hi, Hannah, you’re still in the hospital so your daddy asked me to help him do this for you.” She stood in the doorway of her house.
She turned around and whoever was holding the camera followed her inside. She walked to the back bedroom where her mother was holding a sleeping baby.
“This is my baby sister, Francesca Hope.” She said proudly. “And you already know my mommy.”
“Hi, Hannah.” Melissa Barkley said at the camera. “I hope you feel better soon.”
“This is my brother, Ethan. He wasn’t here when you came over last week.” The boy was tall and had Natalie’s dark hair and eyes. He waved at the camera before going on with his whatever he was working on.
“You already met, Jennifer, Autumn, Ben, and Conner.” She said walking around the house. All the children looked exactly the same.
“Your daddy says we’re going somewhere else now, I’ll see you there.”
A few seconds later the camera turned on again and now it was a house well familiar to Hannah.
“This, as you know, is your Grandma Amy’s house.” Natalie’s voice filtered through.
The camera followed her into the house where her entire extended family, bar her mother, were.
“Hi, Hannah.” They all chanted together.
Hannah’s face split into a huge grin when she saw everyone.
“Kailyn says hi.” Amy held up the tiny girl who smiled briefly for the camera. Hannah touched the screen in yearning to see the baby again.
Hannah stared fascinated at the screen as Maria and Jim sang a song for her, and everyone told her of news of home. Natalie’s familiar voice narrated the entire time and the movie lasted about fifteen minutes.
Hannah talked to Natalie for a few more minutes before Max took her back down to her father.
Liz worked on calming Hannah down enough to get her ready for her afternoon tests.
Later in the evening, as Max was gathering his stuff to go, Hannah turned to him. “Stay.”
Max stopped and looked at his daughter on the bed. She looked dwarfed, but her eyes were bright. “Please, stay.”
“I don’t know, little girl.” Max walked towards the bed.
“Ask Mommy.” Hannah took his hand. “Please?”
Liz walked back from restroom and they both turned to look at her. “He can stay, Mommy?”
Liz looked at Max and then to Hannah on the bed. Having him go home at night was her only defense against him. She needed that short eight hours to get her head back and control.
The pleading look in Hannah’s eyes wouldn’t allow her to say no. “Alright.”
Hannah beamed, “Thank you.”
Liz smiled and sat down in the chair. “I’ll have them bring an extra cot in tonight.”
“No, I’ll just stay in the chair.”
“It’s not that comfortable, Max.” Liz told him.
“I’ll be fine.” He assured her.
Hannah chatted to Max, until the nurse came in telling her it was time for bed.
Liz settled her into bed and let her watch the video a few more times. Each time she watched it seemed like she was more and more determined to find something she had missed. In the fourth round, her eyes drifted shut.
“I thought she’d never get tired of that.” Max rubbed his eyes and leaned back in the chair.
“Neither did I, I think it’s going to replace Nemo.” She reached into her purse to dig out a brush. She let down her hair from it’s ponytail with a sigh, before she began brushing it out. When she was done she replaced the brush, “That feels better.” She shook her head and let her hair shake against her back.
She faced Max to find he was staring at her once again. She froze as she was about to cross to her cot.
“What?”
Max shook his head and looked down at his hands.
Liz was beginning to think about whether it was a good idea to let him stay. He had made her stomach flutter by just the way he had been looking at her. She needed her time to get herself together. She excused herself to the bathroom and Max cursed himself for staying.
Liz stared at herself in the mirror and wondered what she was doing. Max stood outside the door with her sleeping daughter in bed. She should have sent him home she had her reasons for doing so before. She didn’t know what had gotten into her but she needed to get things in her head to go straight, once more, or else everything would begin to be messed up. Her control that she had so valiantly held onto was going to slip away and she would fall back into Max’s arms without thought. The kiss they had shared the day before had been almost too overwhelming. Just that short moment had transformed her back to that young girl that she had been when she was younger. She quickly reminded herself that she was indeed not that same girl. She would not just go back to him. She had come a long way from where she had once been. She had relied on herself before Max had come back into the picture and she would continue to do so now.
When she stepped outside, Max was waiting for her by the door. He pulled her into his arms. She didn’t have time to protest. “Shhh, you’ll wake Hannah.”
She tried to push him away but his arms around her were secure and she wasn’t going to move anywhere. The feeling of being in his arms again was incredible. She wanted to stay in them forever. Without giving her a choice he bent his head to kiss her.
She turned her head, but not in time. His lips landed smoothly on hers. She resisted at first but soon, with his gentle insistence gave in and surrendered her mouth to him.
Liz forgot where she was, who she was, for the few moments the kiss lasted. But as soon as they surfaced for air, reality set in. She looked up at him, her eyes gleaming with tears, tired of fighting, tired of lying to herself, she rested her head against his chest. He pulled her closer as he heard her sniffles, and wondered if he had pushed her too far. When he tried to dislodge her, she clung tighter to him.
Looking up at him, she spoke.
“Max, what are we going to do?”
tbc
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport