Thanks to Kara for the overview and suggestions *tigger*
Chapter 10
“Take me home, Max.” Liz stopped in her tracks the moment the door closed behind them. How did she not know her life was such a lie? How could her parents lie to her all this time? And why in the world did they allow Suzanne to treat her so badly, for so long? These questions ran rampant in her mind, and slowly were driving her insane.
“Liz, I’m so sorry.” Max turned to her, pulling her in his embrace. He wished he had better, more comforting words, but he didn’t. Instead, he respected her wishes and left with her clinging to his side, like a lost child, a few moments later.
The entire car ride home was met in complete silence, with the exception of the rain pouring outside. Liz had stopped crying long enough to allow fresh tears to pool at the sides of her eyes and roll down slowly. Max wanted to comfort her, but he wasn’t sure how to comfort someone who had just discovered her entire life was a lie, and people who were trusted more than anything had let her down and lied. Max knew what that felt like, but this was Liz…his Liz. And despite the fact that he had hurt her in the past, by pushing her away, he had never lied to her.
Watching her out of the corner of his eye, he reached out his hand and placed it on her knee. He knew that she truly needed to talk to her parents, and if she wasn’t ready for that, then at least Alex, but she had refused. It hadn’t escaped Max’s attention that Liz had requested he take her home…to his home. A small smile tugged on his lips, a home with Liz in it, nothing sounded better, except maybe Liz, his child, and him living together making their own home.
Max drove a few more miles, to a place he knew would bring a smile to her face. Pulling the car to a stop in front of the small park, he surveyed the area and then turned to Liz. Quickly he got out of the car and ran to Liz’s side, helping her out.
“Come on, baby.” He smiled brightly as the rain pelted down on his body.
“Max, it’s raining!” she giggled but stood outside beside him nevertheless.
“I know, but come on Liz.” Max tugged on her arm gently guiding, but stopped the moment she was beside him, closed the door and ran to the back of the car. Pulling out a blanket and umbrella he rushed back to her side.
Making the small trek to the small gazebo in the center of the park, Max took a seat, and then motioned for Liz to sit on his lap. He wrapped the thick wool blanket around her, making sure she wasn’t cold.
“You’re crazy,” she nuzzled his neck before resting her head on his shoulder. She was sure she would be freezing, but she should have known better. Max would never allow her to catch cold.
“But you love me this way,” he responded with a kiss on her temple. He pulled her closer and rested his hand on her belly.
“Max?” she whispered out in question.
“Yeah?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she stated knowing she was avoiding the conversation that would surely ensue if she let it fester too long in silence.
“What?” he questioned unsure of what she was referring to.
“Whether you slept with her or not, doesn’t matter. It’s not what is important,” she said tilting her head up to face him. He avoided her eyes; she knew he hated the fact that he couldn’t remember.
“I just wish…” he trailed off because honestly he didn’t want to think about it. He knew he shouldn’t put that much importance on one moment of weakness, if it happened or not, but it was important because he wanted Liz to know he never would have betrayed her.
“I don’t care if you did, Max. I understand and I should have been there for you, but I wasn’t. I’m just sorry that she took advantage of the situation, but I don’t care,” she finished, squared her shoulders and turned slightly in his arms. She reached up and cupped his face between the palms of her hands. How she had missed him, words could not explain. From his dark brown hair, resting against his forehead, his long eyelashes, his golden brown and so expressive eyes, down to the tiny beauty mark on his upper lip. She had missed everything about this man.
Max watched her watch him, and his heart began to beat quicker. It had been so long since she had looked at him that way.
“I love you, Liz. Sometimes I wish things would have been different, but then I look at you pregnant with our child, and I realize this is the way things were supposed to be. If I wished for anything in our lives not to have happened, I would be wishing away our baby. I could never do that, but I want you to know I’m here, Liz. I’m here for you, for both of you. I’m sorry that I don’t remember what happened, but I want you to know that I meant what I said. I never loved her, Liz. How could I, when I have spent most of my life in love with you?” His words were true and they were real and they were everything she needed to hear at that moment. For it was in that moment that Liz Parker realized no matter what happened in their lives from that moment on, she and Max would end up someplace different, someplace they never thought they would be…together.
“Did you want to sleep with her?” she whispered out, still holding his gaze.
“No! Liz I told you…” his words were muffled by her soft lips pressing against his.
“Then it doesn’t matter. Do you understand?” she questioned, wanting Max to understand her double meaning. And he did without a doubt at that moment. Max knew that she wanted him to understand that no matter what happened in the past, it was exactly that, the past. It was time they started living in the here and now and focus on the future they were going to create with their child.
They kissed one last time before leaving the park that day. By the time they made it back to the car, the heavens had opened up and the sun began to shine. It seemed as if someone knew that it was time for the tears to dry and the light of a new day to begin to shine.
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“Do you understand what you did? Do you know what lying all these years has done to her?!” Alex roared. Max was in complete shock. Alex never raised his voice in all the years he had known him. Alex was calm and collected, and most importantly never drew a conclusion without having all the facts.
“Honey, just sit down and relax a moment,” Nancy spoke up finally. She didn’t like the way the information was divulged, but she knew better than to think that her husband’s secret would have stayed that way for much longer.
“Relax?! You know she’s pregnant and doesn’t need to be dealing with this on top of everything else! She deserves a break!” he hissed out venomously. He wanted the truth and he wasn’t leaving until he heard it, and then he would be there for his sister.
It was late in the afternoon, and Alex had arrived with his parents, looking to speak with Liz. Max had urged them to leave her alone, but Liz had stepped out from behind him and assured him it was okay. However, for the past twenty minutes, Alex and his father had been arguing back and forth. Alex now knew everything that Suzanne had told both Max and Liz and now it was his parents’ turn to explain, except they weren’t.
The last person to arrive was Isabel. She was prepared to leave, but Max urged her to stay. He needed to talk to her and knew that if worse came to worse, Isabel could remove Liz from the room. He knew that Isabel might have had ill feelings towards Liz, but she would never want anything to happen to her.
“What do you want to know?” Jeff Parker finally lowered his voice and took a seat across from Max and Liz. Alex stood, arms crossed and shoulders squared next to Max, while Isabel had taken a seat next to Liz.
When Isabel first arrived she wasn’t sure what she had walked into, but now she knew and she felt terrible…for Liz. Finding out that you were adopted the way she did, no one should have to find out like that. For the first time, Isabel turned to regard Liz. How tiny and fragile she appeared to her, but Isabel also realized that Liz was going to be a mother and Max a father. She watched their hands caress one another, and when someone would yell, how Max would squeeze her hand in reassurance. Even if they didn’t look at one another, they were supporting each other.
Then it hit her; she was going to be an aunt. Liz was having her brother’s child and she knew even if it wasn’t planned, Liz being pregnant with his child was a blessing for them all. Her heart broke for her brother; he had strived to feel like he belonged after their father left. Max was different after that. Isabel knew how much her brother loved Liz. One would have to have been blind to not notice the love they felt for each other, but circumstances kept them apart. No, not just circumstances, Isabel reminded herself. Suzanne had played a big role as well.
Isabel smiled one last time, watching them, knowing this time her brother wasn’t going to let her go. Even if she hadn’t spoken to him yet, she knew her brother loved Liz and the fact that she was pregnant with his child, she knew this was going to be their new beginning and she was happy.
Turning her attention back to the conversation, she eyed Alex longingly. She had missed him and wished that they too might have a new beginning.
“I want to know everything. From the beginning,” Liz spoke up softly as she pressed herself closer to Max.
Nancy decided to speak up first, to tell the part of the story she knew best. “As you know I had a difficult pregnancy with Alex. What you don’t know is that while I was pregnant with him, the doctors discovered that I had a tumor growing inside of me. I couldn’t be treated while I was still pregnant, so they tried to prolong the pregnancy as long as possible while I was still healthy. As the months passed, I became sicker and weaker, but I wouldn’t let them take him, not if he couldn’t survive. They told me it was a miracle that I didn’t miscarry…anyway I finally delivered him by C-Section and while I was in the delivery room, they had removed the tumor. However in doing so, they had to remove everything that would allow me to conceive or carry another child,” she explained as best as possible through her tears.
Liz’s tears began to flow slowly, just hearing what her mother had gone through. She might not have appreciated it as much if she herself wasn’t pregnant. Placing a hand on her stomach she looked to her mother to continue.
“It was for the next few years that I dealt with the knowledge that I wouldn’t be able to have any more children. I was thankful that I was blessed with one, so please don’t get me wrong. It was just difficult. It was during the time that your father and I were discussing adoption. We wanted a little girl,” Nancy paused and smiled at Liz.
“Your aunt Danielle came to me and told me that your uncle Rick was unable to have children. She was devastated, and I knew exactly how she felt. We had discussed in length the adoption process; the problem was she had wanted to carry the child herself. Again, I could sympathize and so we went to…” she trailed off. This was far more difficult explaining then she had planned. Everyone in the room began to squirm.
“So she was going to get what? Like artificially inseminated or something?” Liz asked, finally seeing what she thought was the whole picture.
“Right. But then the thought of it being a stranger’s was too much and because I was still dealing with my own problems, I discussed it with your father.” A sharp gasp came from Liz; she muffled her cry with her small hand.
“You asked daddy to do it?” she squeaked out and swayed against Max.
“I did,” Nancy confirmed.
“Why did you adopt me then? I don’t understand? Why couldn’t aunt Danielle carry a child for you and dad?” Liz tried to fit the puzzle pieces together. Yet again, however, she was coming up empty.
“I told you Liz. I wasn’t in a good place, and your father did it because I asked him to. He didn’t like it, but he did it. He signed over all his rights, because that is what we discussed, but…”
“I felt guilty, Lizzie. I felt like she was my child yet I had no rights to her. I had to pretend to be her uncle. So after that, your mother and I decided to move forward with your adoption. And I was so happy when we brought you home, but…” he trailed off trying to explain but falling short.
“You knew you had a daughter that you couldn’t claim,” Alex concluded for his father. It made sense, but it was still unjustifiable what Liz had to endure because of this.
Jeff nodded and dropped to his knees in front of his daughter. “I’m so sorry I let her be that way. I thought it was just the normal feud teenaged girls go through. But when your aunt and uncle died, I felt like I had my chance to have her. Do you understand what I’m saying?” he looked up with worried eyes to Liz.
“I know, but she hurt me so bad and you told me to let it go. That she didn’t mean it, but she did. She hated me for what she thought you did. She told me you cheated on mom, and then signed away your rights. She doesn’t even know the truth and because everyone that was supposed to protect us lied, I suffered. We all did,” Liz concluded sadly. Funny how Suzanne thought she had it all figured out, but how wrong she was.
“I’m so sorry. I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted to tell you the truth, but the lie just grew and I let you down. Regardless of the fact that we adopted you Liz, you were still my daughter and my greatest disservice was overlooking you for Suzanne because I felt guilty. I know you probably won’t forgive me…”
“Or me,” Nancy added.
“I wish we could go back and fix things the right way.”
“Would you have wished Suzanne away?” she asked her voice small and shaky.
“No.”
“Then it doesn’t matter, dad. Maybe because I’m having my own child, I can understand how you both felt all those years ago. But when she started to become the person she is, and destroying my life, it was up to you as my parents to stop her. You didn’t though. She was more important. Maybe because…because she was a part of you and I’m not. Maybe I just wasn’t what you wanted from a daughter, or maybe…” Liz burst into tears a moment later, and Max quickly wrapped his arm around her, allowing her to rest her head against his chest. He drew small circles around her back, trying to calm her down. Max was moments from kicking everyone out of the house. He watched as Alex quickly moved behind the couch and rested his hands on her shoulders. Isabel too had placed her hand on Liz’s arm offering her what little support she could.
“God, Lizzie, that’s not it. We screwed up so bad honey, so bad and we don’t know how to make it up to you. We don’t expect you to forget everything that has happened over the years, but we hope that one day you can forgive us for our mistakes. We thought we had it under control, but we didn’t realize what turning our heads from what was happening was actually doing. Hurting you.”
Max however, couldn’t stand for her to hurt any longer. He turned to her, cupped her tear-tracked face and kissed her soundly on the lips. After pulling away, he smiled and swiped the tears from her face, and rested his forehead against hers.
“It doesn’t matter, Liz. Nothing matters because you have me and I have you. And together you, me and this baby,” he reached down and pulled her hand with his to lay on her protruding belly, “are going to love each other, forever.” He kissed her once more before lifting her in his arms and carrying her out of the room.
Placing her down on his bed, he kissed her again and covered her with a thick blanket. He sat with her until her tears subsided and she had fallen asleep. He stood and watched her sleeping form, knowing what he needed to do; he turned on his heels and marched into the living room.
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“You okay, Max?” Isabel asked after everyone had cleared out of the house. Max had ordered her parents to stay away, and that any contact that needed to be made, be made through him. He would not allow Liz to continue to stress and worry about things. She was pregnant and he would be damned if anyone hurt either Liz or their baby. Nancy and Jeff respected Max’s wishes and apologized once again. It didn’t matter to him; Liz was not going to have to deal with them until she was ready. Alex had left, promising to return in the morning with breakfast for everyone. Max had to get back to work and so he didn’t want Liz to be left alone while he was away.
“We make quite a couple, right?” he laughed self-deprecatingly.
“No. I think you make a great couple,” Isabel stated softly. Max turned to her in surprise.
“Who are you and what did you to do my sister?” he joked lightly.
“I’m sorry Max. I never gave her a chance after everything happened. You love her and its obvious she loves you and you’re going to be a father. That’s just wow!” Isabel smiled brightly nudging her brother lightly.
“I know. I still can’t believe it you know? When she came off the plane, and I saw her, my heart sank. I thought I was too late. She fell in love and was having another man’s child. I know how terrible that sounds, but God I think I would have died on the spot if she told me it wasn’t mine,” Max revealed to his sister.
“I bet. I have to say though, I still don’t understand how that even came to be,” she rolled her eyes teasingly.
“It wasn’t pretty Iz. Not at all, and she deserved so much better. We had such a terrible fight, the worst by far. She was yelling at me and just in my face with everything I had done, and then I went back at her, and then it happened. Afterwards, God she was so angry when I told her I wasn’t going to marry Suzanne,” he began to explain to his sister without the details.
“Wait? You told her you weren’t going to marry Suzanne? Why didn’t I know this?”
“Everything happened so quick, Iz.”
“I would have thought Liz would be happy that you weren’t going to marry Suzanne.” Isabel had tried to figure out exactly what Liz’s reasoning behind reacting to the news so harshly could have been.
“I thought so too. I was ready to tell her how in love I was with her. That night I was ready. But she just wouldn’t have it…” Max began and trailed off thinking about that night. It was the night their child was conceived, but there was nothing romantic or fairytale like about it.
“I’m sorry, Max. But you have your second chance.” Isabel placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
“I know and I don’t intend on wasting it.”
“How are you doing, Max?” she asked with her normal big sister worried tone.
“Actually, since Liz has been back I’ve been great. I don’t know, I just feel like I want to be better for her and the baby,” Max confided to his sister. He was still not over his father and that situation, but being with Liz truly made him feel better.
“I was my own worst enemy. Why was I so stupid?” he questioned aloud.
“Because you’re a guy Max. And to be honest, when it comes to matters of the heart sometimes we’re blind,” Isabel offered.
“Are we talking about Alex?” Max questioned knowingly.
“No,” she answered quickly.
“No? Isabel, you know you still have a thing for him. Why didn’t you ever move forward?” he questioned then added, “Not like I’m one to talk.”
“Max, you know Alex and I were going good and then he started to pull away. It was slow but I noticed. I thought we were going to be forever, but something happened,” Isabel finished trying to gather her things to leave. It was late and it had been a long day.
Max could see she was still upset about it. It had been over a period of four years that they had been dating. It had turned intensely serious two years ago and then fizzled out about a year ago. Isabel was still left wondering what happened, as was everyone else. When he questioned Alex, the only response he received was that it was something he needed to do.
Max suspected that there was more to this story than met the eye. He had a sneaky suspicion that Suzanne had something to do with it. He didn’t know how but he just knew it. It seemed as though the following week would prove to be quite as busy as this past.
After Isabel left, Max wandered back into the living room. Taking a seat on the couch, he looked to his left and saw the box Liz had handed him a few days ago. With all that had happened since then, he had nearly forgotten about it. Taking a moment, he decided to open it up and see what was inside.
The contents of the box were minimal. There was a letter addressed to him, another envelope and a videocassette. He decide to read the letter first…
Dear Max,
It’s funny how it seems that life is always full of surprises. It’s not an uncommon phrase, but I never knew how significant it was until a few weeks ago. It’s been a few months, and I wonder how you are, and I wonder if you are happy. Happy in your marriage. I truly hope that you are, no matter how much that might hurt.
I want you to know that I never meant to hurt you and I know now that my words did just that. However, that is not the reason for this letter or this package. I wanted you to know that in two weeks I’ll be coming to town and I want you to know that I’m coming to see you. I wish I had the courage to tell you this before I left. And now in this insignificant letter, I can’t seem to tell you either. So I decided to include some pictures and a video for you to watch. I think you should watch the video first…the pictures are for later.
Love,
Liz
He closed the letter and looked back into the box, pulling out the videocassette, he crossed the room and inserted it to view. A few moments later, he was back on the couch watching the screen intently, wondering what he would see. What would Liz have sent him on a video? In that instant, that’s when the image appeared.
It was his baby. He could see his child and hear the heartbeat perfectly. A second later he was on his knees, his fingers pressed up against the television, delicately tracing the outline of his child. His tears began to fall, and he turned to reach for the remaining envelope, opening it up he began to sob brokenly. They were pictures of the sonogram; she had sent him everything he had missed.
“Max?” came her soft voice filtering into the room from behind him. Max turned quickly and smiled up at her.
“You okay?” she asked concerned coming to kneel in front him. She finally looked at the television and saw the pictures in his hand.
“I’ve never been better, Liz.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips softly.
“Thank you,” he whispered out to her as he continued to watch the television.
“Max…”
“Shh, let’s just sit here for a little while.” His voice was even, yet filled with such emotion. Liz smiled softly and nodded her head, allowing him to hold her as he requested.
“I love you, Liz,” he whispered out.
“I love you too, Max.” Her heart soared at his words. He always made everything better, which is why she knew this time they would be forever.
TBC…
