Btw, I think the new server and the new board rocks!!
Title: To Keep From Loving You
Category: M/L Au. CC.
Rating: TEEN with a couple of ADULT parts
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters. Just borrowing them for a while.
Synopsis: This fic is based on a challenge by Lillie
With the death of Claudia Evans, Liz Parker Evans comes home to her family and husband that she tried to leave behind five years ago. A clause in Claudia's will states that unless Liz and Max don't have a child together, than Max will lose the family company. Pain, resentment and heartache are drudged up as the two try to figure out what they are going to do about things.
Click here for Prologue - Part 9
Chapter 10
Max rolled over and buried his face deeper into the pillow. It was a chilly fall day but the sun was out in full force on this New Mexico morning. Groaning, he forced one eye open knowing that he could not put off the day any longer.
Today, Claudia Evans would be put to rest.
Going about his morning routine, he could not help but let his mind wander rehashing the events of the past few days. It still amazed him how much had happened since he received that letter. He was surprised, to say the least, that his mother and sister forgave him for his past misdeeds. However, he could not say the same for his father. Phillip Evans was never a man to forgive and forget. “Integrity and pride, Maxwell, is all a man has,” he used to say.
Max shook his head to clear his mind of such thoughts. He cannot let himself dwell on his father’s stubbornness and pride. He had to focus on his sister and his mother. He had to be the one they can lean on. He knew his father would be the stoic patriarch that everyone expected him to be and because of that he knew that his mother would need the comfort that he and Isabel could give her.
Fixing his tie, he glanced at his reflection one last time before putting on his suit jacket and making his way to Isabel’s townhouse.
Isabel glanced over her notes one last time. Her eulogy had to be perfect. It was the only thing keeping her together. She knew she had to focus on her task, otherwise, she would be a sobbing, grieving mess. She knew she had to be strong for her family. She also knew that the philanthropic reputation that the Evans’ had, now rested on her shoulders. It was not that she minded, she had always volunteered at charities and helped her grandmother with her fundraisers. It’s just that it is a big responsibility to now take over the foundation that her grandmother had established. Claudia had specifically told her agents and executor that when she passed on, that the control over the foundation be relinquished to Isabel. Claudia saw the kindness and devotion that Isabel had for the less fortunate.
Isabel’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the doorbell. She opened the door and let her brother in.
“Morning, Isabel,” Max greeted stepping into the foyer.
“G’morning Max,” Isabel gave him weary smile.
Max, seeing that his sister was trying hard to keep it together, reached out and pulled her into a tight hug. “It’ll be okay, Isabel. I promise. I’ll be right there. I’m not going anywhere,” he assured her.
Wiping her tears and giving a little sniff, Isabel gently pulled back and thanked her brother.
“Isabel, are you almost ready to go?” Max asked glancing at the clock on the wall.
“Yeah almost. I just have put my notes in my purse and grab my coat,” Isabel replied as she wiped her stray tears with the back of her hand.
Ten minutes later, they were in Max’s rental car driving to the church.
Isabel sat there looking out the window at the passing scenery. It was really only a guise. Since yesterday, she had been contemplating whether she should tell Max about the Parkers. Two days ago, her mother had received a card from the Parker’s expressing their condolences. It had also mentioned that they will be attending the wake.
Isabel was torn. She knew that she had to tell Max. However, just like her, he was trying very hard to keep his emotions in check. She did not know whether telling him would shatter that control. In the end, however, she knew that she could not make that decision for him.
“Max?” Isabel turned to look at her brother.
“Yes, Izzy,” he replied. The corner of Isabel’s mouth twitched to a lopsided smile. He had not called her that since they were kids.
“I wanted to tell you something,” she continued hesitantly.
Max turned his head to glance at his sister and nodded his head.
“Mom received a card the other day. It was from the Parkers.” Isabel turned to look at her brother.
Max was gripping the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles had turned white. “A-are they attending the funeral?” he asked, his voice coming out hoarse.
Isabel studied her brother with scrutiny. She knew by the way his hands were now nervously gripping and twisting around the steering wheel that there was something else that he wanted to know.
“Yes….and you should know…..,” she did not know whether she should continue or just let him find out for himself, “…Liz is with them.”
As soon as Isabel said her name, she saw her brother briefly close his eyes.
Upon hearing Liz’s name, Max took a deep heaving breath. He had a feeling that she would be there. After all, Grandma Claudia always had a place in her heart for Liz. She had welcomed her into the family after both parents had pretty much forced them to marry.
“I-I see,” was all he could manage to say.
* * * *
Liz got up early that morning. She had to get ready for the funeral and rouse Maria and Michael out of bed.
Liz was not the least bit surprised at the arrival of her best friend and her husband – Maria always knew when she needed her even if she did not voice it. Her parents had been accommodating enough to put all three of them up for the week. Liz got her old bedroom, while Maria and Michael slept in the guest room downstairs.
Tying her robe around her, she made her way down the staircase towards the guest room. Knocking on the door she called, “time to get up you guys. We have to head to the church in an hour.”
As she passed the downstairs bathroom, some muffled sounds could be heard coming from inside. Pressing her ear to the door, she distinctly heard retching sounds.
“Hello? Is that you Maria?” she asked gently knocking on the door with one hand while the other turned the knob. Finding that the door was unlocked, she peeked her head inside carefully, announcing her presence. Scanning the bathroom, her eyes landed on the rumpled, blonde figure driving the porcelain bus.
“Maria!” she said rushing over to her friend. “What happened?”
Maria looked up at her worried friend. “Oh chica! This serves me right! Not very smart of me to order clams for lunch in New Mexico!” she said trying to muster a lopsided smile but instead her stomach rumbled and she heaved some more.
Surprised, Liz flinched back and made a face. Softly laughing to herself, she moved behind Maria and held her hair back from her face. “I guess you’ll know for next time not to order shellfish in New Mexico,” she said smiling. Getting up, she walked over to the medicine cabinet searching for something. A few seconds later, she made her way back to Maria and crouched, presenting a nauseously pink bottle in front of her.
“Here drink this,” she said looking at the bottle.
“Liz, no way! I hate Pepto Bismol! I hate it so much I don’t even give it to my patients!” she exclaimed backing away.
“C’mon Ria. Just drink it,” she said pouring a dose into the little plastic cup.
“Fine. But let the record show that I think it is absolutely disgusting!” she said reaching for the cup. She gulped down the abnormally pink liquid and grimaced. “Let this prove how much I love you, chica. I will drink down iridescent pink goo for you!” she said handing the cup back to Liz.
“Yeah Ria. You’re the best,” Liz said giving her a sugary sweet smile. “Now we better get you up off the floor and back in bed before you ruin my mother’s marble floors,” she joked.
Both women made their way back to the guest room both looking a little battle weary. Maria was leaning heavily on Liz, while Liz supported Maria, which wasn’t a difficult task since Maria was not that much taller than Liz.
Entering the bedroom, Liz gently set Maria down on the bed beside the snoring Michael. “Gee, I guess nothing wakes Michael, eh,” she snorted.
Maria laid down and squeezed her eyes shut willing the room to stop spinning. “Sweetie, can you hand me my rosemary and peppermint oil,” Maria said pointing over to the dresser where her makeup case lay.
Liz walked over to the dresser fumbling for a bit then padding back to Maria to hand her the small blue bottle.
“Thanks,” Maria said as she soothingly inhaled the herbal concoction.
“Maria, I’ll be right back. I just have to go tell my parents that I won’t be coming to the service,” Liz said smiling at Maria’s twitching nose.
However, before Liz could turn to leave, Maria grabbed her wrist rooting her to the spot. “No sweetie. You should go. This is just a slight case of food poisoning. It will probably go away in a day or two. Don’t worry about me.” Shifting, Maria raised her arm and smacked the sleeping Michael with the back of her hand.
“Michael…Michael…,” she droned as her limp arm kept its comical assault, “…wake up. You need to go with Lizzie to the funeral.”
Flailing, Michael sat up and touched his head. “Damnit Maria! A good morning kiss would have suffice! You didn’t have to go all George Foreman on me!”
“Good morning to you too, Michael.” Liz said smiling. She always loved watching Michael and Maria fight. It was always over little things and it was never serious.
“Oh! Hey Liz!” he nodded his head towards her in greeting.
Liz turned her gaze towards Maria again. “No I really think that Michael should stay here with you. You’re sick Maria. I’ll be fine.”
“Liz…come here,” she whispered. Liz leaned down. “Come closer,” Maria whispered again. As soon as Liz was kneeling at her eye level, Maria grabbed the collar of Liz’s bathrobe and pulled her towards her. “Listen to me Elizabeth Parker-Evans. You will take my husband with you to the service and there will be no ifs, ands, or buts about it!” she said in a rush. Oddly sounding like Linda Blair from The Exorcist.
Liz could only nod her acquiescence. When Maria finally released her, she got up and made her way to the door. Turning back she quipped, “gee maybe next time I should lace that Pepto Bismol with some tranquilizers!” Michael fell off the bed laughing while Maria just rolled her eyes.
and most of all to Floh for kicking my butt into gear!! Thanks Kerstin! Mwuah! Oh and I've decided that little comment you made in the email will be included in the next part. 
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