I hope you're having a great Sunday! I'm here with a new part...
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Okay, it might seem as if you have missed a chapter when you start reading this one, but alas you have not
. You will soon understand what's going on. Chapter 11
Highway 25, 5 miles south of Santa Fe
1:13 a.m.
The large raindrops struck her the second she left the safe haven of the warm and dry car. Keeping her head slightly downcast to prevent the raindrops from running into her eyes, she quickly scurried over the drenched ground, where water was flowing in wide rivulets in the cracks of the asphalt.
“Are you okay?!“ she yelled, trying to be heard over the loud sound of the howling and clattering of the wind and the rain.
His wet face turned towards hers, his face contorted in pain. His hand was rubbing his head, where it had hit the hood.
“Yes,“ he answered, his voice cracking from the pain.
“You’re not,“ she argued, stepping closer to him. The water was already sinking through the protective layers of clothing. Goosebumps were spreading over her skin and shivers were coursing through her body.
“You should get back inside. You are getting all wet.“
“What’s wrong?“ she asked, nodding towards the hood, skillfully ignoring his statement.
“It looks like a tube to the radiator is busted.“
“Oh,“ Liz said slowly and he gave her a soft smile for her confusion.
“Basically, the radiator was put out of order and the car was unable to cool off and became overheated. We need to call for a tow truck.“
He took her hand and led her back to the car, as the words floated over his lips, “You really shouldn’t be out here. You could catch a cold.“
His words transported her back to another world. Where caution and fear was an integrated part of everyday life. Where just a simple cold could lead to a serious infection, which could mean a risk to the heart beating inside of her. Pushing the fear back, she let herself be led to the passenger’s side of the car. He opened the door and with a grateful smile she jumped inside. Closing the door, he hurried back to the driver’s seat. She followed his movements with her eyes all the way. He barely got the door closed behind him before he turned in his seat towards her with a worried expression on his face that erased the shivers in her body.
“Are you cold?“ he asked.
“A little,“ she whispered, watching the soft light that the headlights of the car created dance over his face. Her breath caught in her throat as he leaned closer. So close that she could smell his unique scent. She swallowed and closed her eyes at the sensations rumbling through her body.
“Here,“ he said softly and she opened her eyes to see him pull out a blanket from the back seat. Feeling a bit ridiculous for thinking what she had, she dropped her eyes and smiled, a faint blush rising on her wet cheeks.
“Thanks,“ she mumbled. She took the blanket from him, feeling his intense eyes on her the entire time.
“Maybe you should take your jacket off,“ he said.
She nodded and pulled off her wet jacket. It felt good to wrap the dry warm blanket around her.
“Better?“ he asked.
She nodded. “Much.“ The word barely left her lips, before her attention tuned in on him again. “What about your head?“
“Oh, it’s nothing,“ he answered, absent-mindedly running his hand lightly over the top of his dark head.
“Let me see,“ she said.
His eyes trapped hers and seemed to pull her in. Sounds around them were modified, shifting in their role. The loud clattering of the raindrops against the car roof diminished to a soft tapping. The wind whisking outside turned into a whisper as her senses zoomed in on him. The water glittering in his dark hair, clinging to the boyish layout of his bangs against his forehead, which her fingers were itching to touch and brush away from his forehead. Their breathing echoed in the confines of the car, bumping off the walls and softening between them, heating up the air around them. Hearts beating faster. Inhalation and exhalation getting more energetic. Cheeks growing hotter. Hands trembling. And in compliance to her request, he bowed his head and leaned in closer.
She took a deep breath, letting the scent of him and the smell of fresh summer rain fill her before hesitantly moving her fingers to his wet hair.
“Here?“ she asked, wondrous that she sounded so calm with the loud thumping of her heart in her ears. Her fingers softly threaded through the wet black strands, the water clinging to her fingers. She slightly jumped as his fingers touched hers. Lightly, like the soft touch of the wing of a butterfly. His head rose and he looked up at her from under his bangs, the dark pools captivating her. Holding her gaze, she felt his fingers capture her hand and move it across his head and gently put it down.
“Here,“ he said.
Dazed, she nodded and her fingers almost tentatively touched his scalp.
“Does it hurt?“ she asked.
He shook his head, but by the shifting in his dark eyes, she could see that it was pride talking. Her fingers moved over the slight bump already forming on his head.
“You’re gonna have a bump,“ she said. Taking a deep breath, she pulled her fingers away and thoughtfully bit her lower lip as she leaned back in her seat, pulling the blanket around her again. She could see him nod from the corner of her eye, but didn’t turn around. She could feel his eyes on her. Watching her. Observing her. Traveling over her curled up body.
“So, what do we do now?“ she asked.
He took a deep breath, as if he had forgotten to breathe and his body just hit him with the painful reminder of the importance of oxygen. He leaned back in his seat, his fingers absent-mindedly tapping against the steering wheel.
“We have to call for a tow truck. But until then, I guess we’re stuck,“ he answered.
She nodded and silence lowered itself over them. But it wasn’t heavy or clogged. It was comfortable. Peaceful even.
Some time later, a giggle escaped her and he turned his head towards her with curiosity and a smile on his face.
“What?“ he asked amused.
“I was just thinking... Maria’s gonna freak,“ she said, smiling at the mental image of her friend as she told her what had happened.
“Really?“
“Yeah,“ she answered, smiling broadly, “I think she had this whole plan about... getting us together.“
“I think so too,“ he said, to her surprise. She turned to face him, with surprise written all over her face.
“You do?“
“She didn’t really make a secret out of it,“ he said, his eyes twinkling with laughter.
She rolled her eyes and laughed lightly. “She really didn’t... And you don’t mind?“
“What? Being paired up with a beautiful woman,“ she felt her cheeks grow warm and her eyes dropped shyly to her hands clutching the blanket to her body, “No, I really didn’t have too much of a problem with that.“
She smiled which caused a half-smile to touch his lips too.
“Maybe it’s fortunate that you don’t know Maria like I do, then you would be afraid right now. When she gets something in her mind, she’ll do it - at all costs.“
“Sounds dangerous.“
“It is. Very. Especially when it comes to matchmaking. Since she isn’t that good at it. She’s pretty bad. She sucks, actually.“
He laughed softly and she turned to look at him. Amazed by him and what he stirred inside of her. How a simple laugh could begin something so amazing inside of her. Pull at strings that had been tightened too hard. Painfully hard.
“When Maria invited me on this trip, I never would’ve believed I would end up in a broken down vehicle in pouring rain out in the middle of nowhere with a complete stranger.“ And even as she said it, her tone was light and causal. Without any trace of fear or mistrust. Maybe she should be concerned about being so isolated with a man she barely knew. But she had seen a side of him that had made her trust him from the beginning. She was certain that there was no one she would be any safer with than him.
“Ditto,“ he answered, “Well, except for the Maria part.“
She grinned and he grinned back. Time stopped again and she wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that. Gazing into each other’s eyes. Unaware of everything around them. But after that eternal time period he broke the contact and hauled up his cell phone.
“Let’s call that tow truck then.“
<center>-----------------------------------------------</center>
Seven hours earlier
6.05 p.m.
After some incessant knocking on the door, Maria decided to let herself in.
“Hello? Anybody home?“
She peaked inside the house behind the slightly ajar door, before pushing it open and stepping inside as she heard a muffled reply from the direction of the bedroom. Something that sounded something akin to “I’ll be right there.“
“Maria’s here, Liz!“
Maria grinned as she mentally pictured Liz’s groan as Kevin, once again, pointed out the obvious. His ashen blonde hair poked out from the kitchen, smiling at Maria.
“Hi, Maria. How are you?“
“Just wonderful,“ Maria glowed.
Kevin stepped out into the hallway, raising an eyebrow in interest at Maria. “I would say,“ he remarked, “So, what’s his name?“
“Whose?“ Maria asked innocently.
“The new man in your life,“ Kevin said.
“Oooh, him,“ Maria said, as if Michael wasn’t the person who had put that glow in her face, “Michael.“
“Michael, huh?“ Kevin asked, tapping his finger against his chin.
Maria had to bit her lower lip to stop herself from laughing out loud. Sometimes Kevin reminded her so much of her dad that he appeared funny. However, when her mood wasn’t as cheerful the resemblance was actually a little creepy, because that would in some twisted way mean that Liz was with someone - romantically - who was like Maria’s dad...
Maria grimaced and quickly shook her head to clear it from such thoughts. The grin on her face broadened when Liz stumbled out in the hallway, trying to put one shoe on while walking. Simultaneously, she was trying to put a hairpin in her hair.
“Babe,“ Maria laughed, quickly walking up to her friend, “You seem a little stressed.“
Liz audibly sighed and finally succeeded in putting on the shoe and started to try to pull back her very lively dark curls with the hairpins.
“Dwoes dis wook okway, Mwaia?“ Liz asked with one hairpin between her teeth.
“You need some help?“ Maria asked.
Liz let her arms drop down her sides and sank down on the nearest chair, the hairpin still between her teeth. Maria couldn’t help but laugh at the image of complete resignation she made.
“Pwease,“ Liz begged.
“First thing; no hairpins in your mouth,“ Maria instructed and Liz obediently removed the hairpin.
“Secondly,“ Maria continued, moving up behind Liz, “I don’t really think this is a hairpin occasion.“
“What kind of occasion is this?“ Liz asked tiredly. “You haven’t really told me anything about this ‘dinner’. I didn’t really know if I was dressing up for something casual, something more evening gown-ish, or for a meeting with a queen.“
“You look perfect,“ Maria said, with a secret smile. She wouldn’t be the only one who would think that tonight. Her hopes were on a certain dark-haired man.
Liz buried her face in her hands and moaned, “I look horrible.“
“Keep your head up, or you want me to mess up your hair completely?“
Liz grumpily straightened her head again.
“Maybe I shouldn’t come,“ Liz murmured.
“What are you talking about?“ Maria asked indignantly. “Of course you are gonna come!“
“I’ll just be in the way,“ Liz said.
“Now you are going to that dinner with me, end of conversation!“ Maria said, her voice leaving no room for any objections. “There, your hair’s done. Let’s go.“
“Do you have your pills with you?“ Kevin asked from the kitchen.
Liz moaned and stood up.
“What did you say, honey?“ Kevin voice asked.
“Nothing,“ Liz said cheerily. Suspiciously cheerily, Maria noted.
“You have the pills?“ Kevin asked again, since he hadn’t gotten an answer to his question.
Liz snapped her coat from the wardrobe by the front door and took a hold of Maria’s arm, more or less dragging her towards the door.
“Get me out of here,“ Liz whispered, before yelling over her shoulder, “I’ll be late. Don’t stay up.“
“Liz, your cell ph-“
Liz closed the door behind her, cutting off her boyfriend’s annoying voice.
“What was that all about?“ Maria asked, amused. Liz was rarely this cranky, but Maria actually found it pretty refreshing and entertaining when she was.
Liz tensed her fingers in front of her as if she was strangling an invisible person in front of her. She took a deep breath and then jerkily pulled the lose strands of her hair behind her ears. Maria observed this whole spectacle with a mixture of amusement and trepidation.
“Liz? Are you okay?“
Liz took a deep breath. “Let’s just go.“
“Oh-kay,“ Maria breathed, unlocking the car.
<center>---------------------------------------------------------</center>
The Whitman’s residence
7:32 p.m. - five hours prior to car breakdown
Max suspiciously eyed the crystal glasses Isabel was putting on the table.
“Uhm, Iz?“
“Yes?“ Isabel asked breathlessly. Her hands moved swiftly with the task of setting the table. There was a nervousness in the air, which didn’t go Max unnoticed. Neither did the fact that suddenly his sister’s meticulous streak shone through very strongly. And the fact that Isabel was making room for two more people around the table only strengthen Max’s suspicions that something was definitely different with this Friday night.
“Who’s coming tonight?“ Max asked slowly.
Spending dinner at his sister on Fridays had become something of a tradition. It had happened on occasion when Tess had been alive, but it had become more regular after her death. Isabel had been very adamant on having Max over on every Friday. In the beginning, when the grieving was the most suffocating, Max had fought her with everything he had not to go and socialize when all he really wanted to do was lie down and just sleep for the rest of his life. Now he was grateful that Isabel hadn’t given up. That she had fought for this small thing, which in the end had meant so much. It had become a sort of security to Max. A relief. One evening of the week that he felt normal and could joke around, and spend time with his niece. It had always only been Isabel, Alex, Michelle, with some occasional visits from Michael and the Evans.
“Maria,“ Isabel answered, “You know, Michael’s new girlfriend.“
But last week the pattern had changed with Michael inviting his new girlfriend. At first it had disturbed Max. This was his sanctuary, where he didn’t need to act and pretend to be something he wasn’t. Here people knew who he was and he could just be himself and relax. But having Maria over hadn’t been so bad. She was really easy-going and made him feel very comfortable.
“I remember,“ Max answered, and nodded towards the seventh seat, “But that only makes six persons. Is mom coming?“
“No,“ Isabel answered evasively and disappeared into the kitchen.
Max frowned and followed her into the kitchen.
Throwing a nod over her shoulder, Isabel asked, “Could you cut the lettuce, Max?“
“Sure.“
Max picked up the knife, his mind swirling with questions and apprehension growing in his chest.
“Then who?“ he asked.
“Huh?“ Isabel asked, taking out the warm dish from the oven.
“Who’s coming beside Maria?“ Max clarified, even though he was pretty certain Isabel knew exactly whom he was talking about.
Isabel put the hot dish on the counter and pulled the potholders off her hands. With a light shrug, she answered casually, “Uhm... A friend of Maria’s, I think.“
“A friend?“ Max asked.
“Yes,“ Isabel answered, checking the timer, before turning towards him. “Maybe I should’ve asked you first...“
“No, no, it’s okay,“ Max answered quickly. It was still a bit tentative around them since the event at the mall. Isabel was feeling guilty for her outburst and Max was feeling guilty about losing Michelle. They were still tiptoeing around each other very carefully.
“I’m sure she’s okay,“ Isabel said, “Maria said that she had a friend that needed to get out of the house. Since it sounded like somebody else I know,“ Isabel gave her brother a pointed look, “I couldn’t refuse.“
“Sure, Iz. It’s okay. Really.“ Max gave her a light smile, pretending to concentrate on chopping the lettuce.
Isabel insecurely bit her lower lip and then nodded to herself. “Okay then.“ She really hoped that she hadn’t started something that would lead to a disaster by inviting yet another person. Max needed to meet new people and start living again. But she didn’t want to push him too hard and too fast either. Taking the basket with bread in her hands, she almost tripped over her daughter as she suddenly appeared in the doorway.
“Mommy, mommy, when is Mawia gonna come?“ she asked, her eyes shining with excitement.
Isabel smiled. She was glad that Michelle seemed to like Maria. If she had been reading the vibes between Michael and Maria correctly, Maria was here to stay for some time.
“She will co-“
Her voice was interrupted by the doorbell. Michelle’s face shone up like a child opening her present on Christmas Day and discovering that it was the doll she had always wanted.
“I guess that’s them. Go and open the door, Michelle,“ Isabel said.
“Yay!!“ Michelle cried, bouncing out towards the front door. Isabel put down the bread on the table and shot Max a look. He was standing by the kitchen window, a far-away expression on his face, which Isabel had seen far too many times. There was only one person he was thinking about then. With a sigh, she turned to greet her guests, whose cheerful voices could be heard into the kitchen.
Liz stared at the little girl running towards her. Was it her? Was it the little girl from the mall?
“Liz!!“ the little girl cried and before Liz knew what had happened she had a pair of small arms wrapped tightly around her waist and a head buried into her stomach.
“Eh...hi,“ Liz stuttered, completely at a loss of words.
She heard a chuckle and the girl was removed. She looked up to see a tall, dark-haired man with an easy smile. “I’m going to have to teach my daughter to not attack helpless women,“ he said.
Liz gave him a weak smile, her mind still tilting with questions. Unconsciously, she was already scanning her surroundings. Looking. For him. Was he here? He must be.
Wait. Daughter?
“This is Michelle,“ the man introduced, lifting up the girl in his arms, who was energetically fighting to get back down on the ground.
“Daddy, daddy,“ she said breathlessly, squirming in his arms, “Dis is Liz. I know her.“
The man laughed again and looked at his daughter. “You know her?“ He gave Liz an apologetic smile.
“You have a beautiful daughter,“ Liz said with a smile, finding her tongue. “And we have actually already met.“
The man looked at her in surprise. “Really?“
“Daddy? You know when I’s lost,“ Michelle asked her father, talking to him with very matter-of-factly, “Liz finded me.“
The man’s head snapped up from his daughter’s face to Liz’s.
Liz smiled and offered her hand, “I’m Elizabeth, but you can call me Liz. I helped to look for Michelle at the mall.“
Michelle finally succeeded in getting out of her father’s arms and slid down his leg. When her feet reached the floor, her sweater was all the way up to her ears.
“Michelle,“ a tall blonde woman scolded gently, kneeling in front of Michelle and pulling down her sweater before raising and looking at Liz.
“Alex,“ Michelle’s father said and took Liz’s hand. “Thank you so much. I don’t know how I can ever...Thank you.“
Liz blushed and ducked her head shyly at his open compliments.
“Hi,“ the blonde woman said, looking at the exchange interested, “I’m Isabel.“
Liz took her hand, “Liz.“
“Honey, did you know that our daughter already know Liz?“ Alex asked.
“She does?“ Isabel asked with surprise.
“She helped to search for Michelle that day at the mall.“
Isabel’s eyes quickly turned to Liz, widening with surprise. “Are you serious? You helped to find my little girl?“
Liz nodded mutely.
“He never told me that,“ Isabel said slowly, mostly to herself.
Him.
“Thank you! Thank you so much,“ Isabel said warmly. “I’ll always be in debt to you.“
“Really, it was no problem. I was happy to help,“ Liz said.
Isabel shook her head. “No, thank you!“
Liz smiled.
“Then you have probably already met my brother,“ Isabel said.
Brother. So that was the connection to Michelle. The man she had met hadn’t been Michelle’s father, but her uncle.
Isabel took Liz’s hand, a gesture that made Liz feel like she had been friends with this woman for eternity. It was a very comfortable feeling and she let herself be lead out of the hallway into a big room where a large table was set. She was met with a mixture of wonderful smells and she realized how hungry she was. But her stomach wasn’t reacting just to the smells of newly-made food, but was churning with nervousness. Was she going to see him again?
“Max, I want you to meet someone,“ she heard Isabel say in front of her. She took a deep breath and stepped into the doorway. She saw his back the fraction of a second before he turned around.
Something moved within her and she was hit with a warm wave. All she could see was his eyes flashing in recognition.
“Liz, this is my brother Max. Max, meet Liz.“
Max... That was his name.
And it's TBC...
. It was not my intention at all for it to get like that. It's just a big mysterious coincidence 
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
(just want to know if we'll have to wait long to have new chapters if you can't post once there 
Thank you so much for the feedback!!!