Roswelllostcause: You are so right, they are going to be the perfect couple...just stick with me here.
Eve: Your family sounds like mine. My bro and me are 3 years but my kids...two oldest, 11 months apart and then the second and third, 13 months apart. It was like triplets and my house was like a Chinese laundry for years. God love the youngest...according to the two older ones he got away with murder. It's only because I learned that he'd grow out of the horrible things two ear olds did and I ignored those awful actions...LOL, it's true, he was kind of spoiled. Still is only his wife spoils him now, thank God. Here's your weekly hit on our two love birds, enjoy.
Carolyn: 
That is so cute, I'll bet you can't wait to get to her again and see the difference that a few weeks make. Although cell phones and internet are wonderful when it comes to keeping current with things this important. Enjoy!
Oh, and I think this is the chapter when the annulment comes through. Not really sure since I edited a bunch of chapters this week.
*~~*~*~*~~*
A very long chapter but no annulment yet...I really thought this was the one but not yet. Please enjoy
.
Chapter: 25
Soon Max and Liz were on their way down the newly paved highway where most of the winter damage from last year had been repaired; the roads were in good shape and fairly clear and the weather was beautiful. All of the hills looked as though someone had opened numerous colors of red, orange, gold and brown paint and had thrown the paint all over the mountains. It was breathtaking.
“Oh God Max, isn’t it beautiful?” Liz asked; eyes wide and awe in her voice.
“Yes it is Liz…it’s nothing like Roswell in the fall but the desert has its hidden beauty as well. Don’t you think?” Max asked.
“I certainly do. I was telling your dad that very same thing the other morning…the view at the estate is gorgeous as well.”
“I’m glad you like it. Someday I will do something worthwhile with the place; I just don’t know what that will be just yet.” Max turned his head to look at Liz, smiled, then turned his attention back to the highway and continued “I need to get comfortable with the Arizona camp first.”
“Don’t worry about it Max, it will come to you…Hey what kind of music do you like? I sort of messed with the radio yesterday while I was out.” Liz giggled and Max smiled again.
“Whatever you want is fine with me. I like most of it except for Rap…I have a tough time following it and a lot of the pop stuff is just noise to me as well.”
“I’m the same way…how about some soft rock?”
“Soft rock’s good.” And Max just kept on driving and listening to the hum of the tires on the highway. He was going to have to talk to that guy who convinced him these tires were made for a quiet ride. Yeah, right!
After awhile Liz turned her attention back to Max and asked, “What are we going to do in New York?”
“Oh, well I was going to surprise you but I guess you can be surprised now. We’re going to a Broadway show tomorrow night and dinner after…tomorrow morning we are taking a tour bus …we can get off and re-board anytime we want to. What do you think?”
“Oh I think that sounds great…I’m getting so excited I might pee my pants.” And Liz shivered with excitement.
“Oh for God sake Liz please, not in the Jag.” Liz started laughing and Max just smiled and kept on driving.
Soon they crossed the state line into New Jersey and were well on their way. Liz didn’t know why she was so excited, it wasn’t like she had never been anywhere before. But, really, she hadn’t been anywhere with Max in a lot of years and never on a trip, this was just too exciting for words. She had forgotten just how good it was to be with him and she was so looking forward to tomorrow. It was a whole new adventure for her and as far as she was concerned this was her first trip anywhere, the first one that would hold a special meaning that is.
*~*~*
When they pulled into the huge hotel’s covered entry the valet came and immediately called for a bell hop on his walkie-talkie. Max helped Liz out of the car while the bellhop got their matching luggage from the trunk and led them to the front desk. When the desk clerk asked Max who the reservations were for he simply said “Parker/Evans.” Letting it sound like one person’s name. The desk clerk checked her computer and handed Max two room keys.
“Did anyone ever tell you that you looked a lot like Max Evans sir?” Max just looked at the girl and gave her a killer smile and answered, “Yeah, I get that a lot.” Liz grabbed his arm and said, “Come on Parker we’re going to be late for dinner.” Max looked down into those big brown eyes and grinned as they headed for the elevator.
“Don’t you think that was just a little sneaky Max?”
“Yeah it probably was but if she’s here when we check out I’ll give her a signed baseball. I keep a couple in my back pack for just such occasions. I usually don’t check out at the desk though, but we can walk by and see, okay?”
“Sure, sounds like a plan.” And then the elevator stopped on the top floor and Liz was escorted to one of the four suites located on that floor. When the bellhop opened the door Liz simply stood there flabbergasted, she couldn’t move…her knees started to buckle. Max gave her arm a little squeeze and led her farther in and then tipped the bell man who closed the door behind him.
“Oh Max, this is so beautiful. When did you have time to make the reservations, or do you own this too?”
She turned in circles and sighed, her eyes as big as saucers. She couldn’t believe that she was in this beautiful suite of rooms alone with Max Evans. It was positively one of the most elegant places she had ever seen. And Max, well Max was almost too excited to register her remark at first and then, when he realized what she had said; he sat down on the overstuffed couch and laughed uncontrollably…
”No Liz, my God, No! I don’t own this…do you think I own everything?”
“Well, after what I’ve seen lately I wouldn’t be too surprised.” She said as she danced from room to room checking it all out. Max sat and watched her every move. It was so wonderful to be able to do this with her and not be worried about who was going to see them or what was going to happen to her. He decided right there and then that he would not think of the past any longer. ‘We have the rest of our lives to live,’ he thought and he was going to do everything in his power to see if they could do it together.
“Max, there are two identical bedrooms in this place…I really thought I could sleep on the couch or, maybe you”... and her voice sort of trailed off at the thought “but we have two bedrooms.”
“Liz, I have no intention of sleeping on a couch unless it’s the last place on earth and I certainly don’t expect my guests to sleep on one either…so have you decided which bedroom you want?”
“Yes, I think I’ll take the mauve and pink one and you can have the two shades of blue. Is that fair?”
“Wellll, I kind of like pink…” And he watched Liz’s expression go from puzzled to almost funny and then he added with a grin, “Yes that’s fair. Now how about we get ready to go have some dinner and dancing at a club…or we can dance here in the hotel. I was told they have a nice dance floor and live music.”
“Let’s stay here okay…I don’t want to ride anymore.”
“Fine, go put on your pretty black dress and I’ll meet you here in the great room when you’re all dolled up. Did you bring your new necklace and ear rings?”
“I certainly did. I had no idea what your plans were but I’m ready for anything Max.”
“Good, now go get yourself beautiful and I’ll do the best I can with me.”
Liz laughed and headed to the mauve and pink bedroom on the right side of the great room, and it was that, great in every way.
The room was huge…there was a very large dining table with four chairs on each side. A matching buffet and china cupboard sat next to a wet bar on one side of the room and a very large living area was on the other side of the room. The entire suite had its own balcony that stretched from one bedroom, across the span of the dining room, living room and the next bedroom. There were lounge chairs out there and a large telescope.
God, who designed this place Liz thought. It was one long space divided into the sleeping quarters, one on each side, and the main area sat right in the center of all of it. If it was on the lower level of the hotel it would probably take up half of the entire one side of the building. This was unbelievable. She was giddy with happiness. She was happy for many reasons. She was happy to be going home to a home without Don Adams. She was happy that her boss was pleased with her work. She was happy that Philip Evans was taking care of her legal matters and she was happy to have Max in her life again. She couldn’t imagine being any happier. Life was wonderful.
Liz showered in her own beautiful marble bathroom, everything was marble, from floor to ceiling. She used the hotel’s oils and soaps and she felt absolutely elegant. She used the hairdryer and curling iron at the marble dressing table in the bathroom, not even thinking about unpacking her own. Then she did her makeup extra special and left her hair in soft loose curls. She left them hang loose down her back pulling the sides back ever so slightly because she didn’t want to hide the beautiful earrings Max had given her. When she exited her room Max was waiting for her. He took one look and gulped; she was gorgeous. He immediately felt an unusual tightening behind the zipper of his pants and stifled a moan. God, he felt like an out of control, hormonal teenager. He hadn’t had that happen in many, many years and he was helpless to stop it.
Liz smiled at him and came over and held the necklace out in her hand and turned around for Max to put it on for her. She lifted her hair and when Max reached around her shoulders to place the necklace on her he got a whiff of something he hadn’t smelled the other night. He started feeling a little light headed and that zipper got tighter. All he wanted to do was kiss her, very sensual kisses along her neck, her shoulders, her ear; wherever he could reach. He shook it off, cleared his throat and asked…
“Liz, are you wearing perfume tonight?” This was something Liz never did, she always smelled of strawberries and vanilla.
“No Max, it’s the oil in the bathroom. I took a whiff of it and just had to try it, do you like it?”
“I love it…Its so subtle and so exotic. We have to get some of that, it suits you.” And he smiled.
“I’ve already written it down Max…I intend to get some as soon as I can. I love it and I’m so glad you think it’s nice. Are you ready?”
“Yes, I’m ready.” And with that Max said a very sincere prayer to anyone who was listening to help him get through this night without embarrassing himself.
As Liz and Max headed down in the elevator Liz asked Max if they were going to eat at the hotel and Max said “absolutely, unless you want to go somewhere else?”
“No, here’s fine Max, I just wondered if you’d changed your mind.”
When they exited the elevator there wasn’t a single person in the lobby whose eyes weren’t on Liz and she wasn’t even aware of it. Max Evans was so proud that he was just bursting with pride. He wanted to fold her into him and squeeze. She is just as wonderful as she ever was…thank you God, thank you, thank you, thank you.
It wasn’t but a minute after Max gave his name than they were seated at a lovely table overlooking the park across the street. Max ordered a nice bottle of wine to go with their dinner and Liz even took a few sips of it simply because she felt so special…
“Thank you Max, for everything. For last week, for this and for asking me to the series; I am having so much fun. This is all so wonderful! Thank you.”
“Liz, please, you don’t have to thank me…I have enjoyed this every bit as much as you have. You need to know that I would be at home alone reading or watching a movie as I dozed…so please, don’t thank me. I love being able to do this for both of us. Just let me make you happy Liz, can you do that?”
“Okay, it’s a deal we will enjoy each other and quit thanking.”
“Okay, no more thank-yous.”
And with that Liz looked out the window to enjoy the sights once more. Max just smiled at her and hoped that this was a first of many times like this.
*~*~*
Liz and Max finished a wonderful meal and then Max led her into the beautiful ball room of the hotel and ordered her a virgin Pina Colada and he had a scotch on the rocks. They sat and enjoyed the music for awhile and then Max stood and held his hand out for Liz to dance; she didn’t even comment this time. She took his hand without reservation and he pulled her in close to him and took her right hand in his left and held it next to his heart as he pulled her body closer with his right arm. She rested her left arm about his shoulder and let her hand fall around his neck. She rested her head on his shoulder and relaxed right into him and allowed him to lead her all over the dance floor. It was one of the best feelings either of them had ever had.
They were totally lost in each other and when the music stopped she looked up into Max’s eyes and he quietly led her back to their table where he threw a bill down, Liz picked up her purse and they left the ballroom hand in hand. Max knew he wasn’t going to do anything tonight but he also knew that he had to get out of that atmosphere as quickly as possible or all bets were off.
He led Liz to the elevator and when they got inside Liz looked up and gave Max the strangest smile. She didn’t know how to handle these feelings she was having and she didn’t want to scare Max off but she didn’t know if she was ready for any kind of accelerated relationship with him either. She just wanted to get used to being with her friend again and Max felt this from her.
He could be patient but not with her in his arms, feeling her move against him like that. That was just more than he could handle right now and Liz seemed to sense that. So he returned her smile, lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles, then took her back to their rooms. It was about 1:00 a.m. when they looked at the clock and Max asked Liz if she would like to watch a movie or something.
“Oh God no Max…we have a very busy day tomorrow…or today that is. I think I would just like to get ready for bed. Thank…” That’s all the further she got. Max put his finger to her lips…”I thought we agreed, no more thank yous.”
“We did…but I have to say thank you for a lovely evening Max…I will see you in the morning…are we going out for breakfast?”
Max smiled at her and said “No Liz, we’ll eat in our room and take advantage of this lovely dining room before we head out. We catch the tour bus right downstairs in the lobby. Do you have a hat and a warm sweater? We will be on the top of the bus so you might need something warm until it warms up out there.”
“I have my Phillies sweat shirt and baseball cap with me is that good enough?”
“No, I think you need one from New York. We’ll stop at the gift shop before we leave and get you fixed up like a tourist…okay?”
“Okay Max…whenever we wake up okay.”
“Okay Liz, good night”…and max stepped in closer, took her by the shoulders and gave her a very gentle hug and kissed her on the cheek then headed to his room for the night.
‘Oh God Max, I wish I were a little more like Tess…I sure wouldn’t be going to my own room tonight.’ But then she thought about it a little more as she took her dress off…’If I were like Tess I wouldn’t be here.’
She went to the mirror to remove her necklace and couldn’t work the safety clasp no matter how hard she tried. She grabbed her robe and put it on then headed back out to the great room past the dining room and living room and knocked on Max’s door…Max opened it in a split second…he had his shirt already pulled loose of his pants and it was unbuttoned half way down, his bare chest showing through the V of the opening.
Liz licked her lips and then looked up into Max’s eyes and they looked very… heavy…”Max, I can’t seem to get the clasp loose on my necklace, can you…?” And as she turned around she could have sworn she heard Max groan but she ignored it. She turned, Max handed her the necklace, turned her toward the door, smacked her on the bottom and sent her on her way. She giggled as she left and went to her own room and finished getting ready for bed.
‘She’s killing me’, Max thought to himself, ‘absolutely killing me’. Then he turned around and finished getting undressed.
*~*~*
The next morning Liz was up at 8:00 a.m. and leisurely stretched out and curled up into a little ball to watch the sky rise of the city through the patio doors of her room. It looked like another beautiful day out there and after enjoying the view for a while she finally got up and showered. She put on a pair of her new jeans and the new tennis shoes she had purchased at the mall. If they were going sightseeing she would need good walking shoes and she was super glad she thought to buy them. She put on her rose colored tee shirt and put her hair up into a high pony tail then she applied some makeup because they were probably going to be going shopping for a dress for this evening and she wanted to look somewhat nice.
She opened her bedroom door and Max was already seated at the dining room table having some coffee and reading something. He motioned for her to join him. She walked across the short expanse to the chair he was sitting in and bent down and kissed him on the cheek…He wanted to grab her so badly and pull her into his lap and ravish her that he was actually in pain but he just smiled and patted the hand that was resting on his shoulder. (The man deserved a gold medal for restraint)
“Coffee?” Max asked
“Mmmm Hmmm” Liz replied and Max filled the empty cup sitting next to the coffee pot on the table. I ordered a little of everything thinking we could have a small buffet. Does anything look good to you?”
“Oh Max, it all looks wonderful. I think I might just sample a little of everything.”
“Good, dig in so we can get downstairs in time to get you a sweat shirt, what do you say?”
“I say great. Thank…”
“Uh uh uh Liz…no thank yous and huh-uh…no sorrys either. Okay is sufficient.”
“Okay Max…I’ll try to be good.”
Soon they were in the elevator and on their way to the gift shop and Max thought she looked too cute. His dad was right…that damned pony tail made her look 16 again…he didn’t want the people in the hotel thinking he was a cradle robber but then he thought anyone that was there last night knew better. Max led her to one of the many gift shops along the concourse and found the perfect flannel lined wind breaker with an apple embroidered on the left side and a cute little hat to match. It wasn’t a baseball cap but a little two inch brimmed sailor styled hat that matched the wind breaker and her tee shirt perfectly. Max bought himself a hat as well and they were on their way. Max already had a dark blue windbreaker on so he didn’t need another one. He had more than enough of them at home and besides he’d brought what he needed with him.
By the time they had finished their shopping a crowd had gathered in the front lobby awaiting the arrival of the tour bus.
They didn’t have long to wait and soon they were up top listening to the guide tell them stories about all the places they were passing. Liz had no idea that the big hotels across from Central Park were once the homes of people like the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers. She turned around and looked at Max with big eyes and was about ready to say that his place was as big as these and he just smiled at her and said ‘shush’.
He knew exactly what she was thinking…he was thinking the same thing. They passed Central Park and then when they got to Broadway and saw all of the shops Max motioned to Liz that they were going to get off the bus for awhile and walk. She nodded and they got off with several other people. They strolled down the street taking it all in and when they came to a little boutique with some gorgeous gowns in the window Max steered Liz in to have a look.
“Max, do I need a gown?” Liz asked.
“No, but they probably have other clothes as well…Lets just have a look.”
“Okay.”
They started to look through the racks of dresses and toward the back of the store Liz spied a very light champagne colored dress with a matching coat. It was cocktail length, sleeveless with a form fitted bodice and straight skirt. It had a very thin self-belt around the waist. The coat was made of the same fabric as the dress but was lined with an almost root beer colored silk lining. It had a large stand up collar that was actually an extension of the lapels. It went up the entire front of the coat and wrapped around to the back of the neck. The back of the coat was split all the way up to about 8 inches from the neckline and had a large self-bow attached right at the joined seams. It was positively elegant and Liz loved it.
Max took it off the rack and handed it to the sales lady and asked her to help Liz try it on. He removed the price tags from the garment before handing it to the sales clerk and the clerk smiled at Max and led Liz to the dressing room in the back of the shop. There were some comfortable looking couches for patrons to sit in and Max made himself comfortable. Pretty soon Liz came out in her tennis shoes and this gorgeous dress and Max stifled a laugh as he asked…
“Hey ‘Daisy Mae’ do you have any plans for this evening?”
“Why Abner and me are headed out to the ball sir…why do you ask?”
Max finally chuckled and asked the clerk if they had any shoes in the shop…
“Of course sir.” And she looked at Liz and asked “What size maam?”
“Size six.” Liz said and with that the clerk disappeared behind a curtained doorway and came back with a pair of size six shoes and evening bag an exact match to the dress.
She removed the shoes from the box before handing them to Liz and Liz sat next to Max and proceeded to take off her tennis shoes and socks and put on the strappy three inch high heels.
She took her pony tail and caught the tail under the rubber band in the back of her head and turned around and looked at Max. She raised her eyebrows in question and Max nodded yes. This was easier than he thought it would be.
He took the purse up to the register along with the other tags to make the purchase while Liz got back into her own clothes and he spied a beautiful pair of princess cut diamond ear rings done in a yellow gold setting in the jewelry case. He pointed to them and the clerk nodded and removed the ear rings for Max to look at…He peeled the price tag from the back of the box and handed that to the clerk and asked if there might be a necklace that would match the ear rings. The clerk suggested a brooch with a princess cut diamond center and a starburst of baguettes surrounding the two carat center stone. Max looked at the brooch and loved it…then he asked…”are there ear rings to match the brooch”. The sales clerk smiled at Max and showed him the jackets to set the ear rings in. The jackets were done in baguettes that matched the brooch and he peeled the price tag off those as well and handed the clerk his platinum credit card. She looked at Max and said
“Congratulations on the game last Friday…how is her friend doing? Did he survive his pounding?”
Max gave her a sly grin…”He’s fine…his wife, my sister, was terrified that she would be next though and promptly hid behind my dad, but my brother-in-law survived. It really wasn’t as bad as it looked, but she did have fun.”
“Yes it certainly looked that way.” Max asked the clerk to have the items delivered to their hotel for him and to have the bell man take them to their room. He gave the room number and the rest of the information and when Liz emerged from the dressing room carrying her dress, coat and shoes he asked her if she needed any stockings.
“Yeah, maybe I should have a backup pair just in case I get a run. I only brought one pair with me and I have them drying on the towel rack in my room…let’s be safe. One size small panty hose and one pair of thigh highs should do it.” Max smiled at the clerk who went to retrieve the items and Liz followed her to make sure she didn’t try to throw a pair of brown colored stockings in on her and then Liz spotted a very skimpy thong and held it up. She looked at it like it was something from a very bad bag of garbage. Max was watching her the whole time and had to laugh at the way she was eyeing those panties. Then Liz asked the sales clerk…
“Do girls find these things comfortable?” She looked as though she wouldn’t believe any answer but ‘no’.
“Well maam, I don’t know how comfortable they are but they certainly do buy enough of them. We can hardly keep them in stock.”
“Really…” And with that Liz put the thong back on the rack and picked one out to match her dress along with a bustier and a half slip along with a pair of regular French cut bikini panties just in case the thong was too much for her to handle and headed back to the checkout counter. Max just smiled. Liz took out her platinum credit card and handed it to the sales clerk and she shook her head no and said”It’s been taken care of maam.” And Liz looked at max and shook her head no…”Max, you can’t do this…it’s not right. Please, let me buy my own dress for this evening.”
“No Liz, I’m the one who decided where we were going, it’s not your fault you needed a new dress. So we’ll have no more discussion about it, it’s a done deal.”
“I am going to get even with you Max, just you wait.”
“Whatever you say Liz, now let’s go find a tour bus stop and continue our journey. Are you getting hungry yet?”
“Hungry, good God, with that breakfast we had we shouldn’t be hungry for a week.”
“Well maybe you won’t be hungry for a week but I sure as hell will now let’s find us a bus stop okay.”
“Okay, but what about the packages?”
“Oh, they’ll be delivered to the hotel in a little while. We don’t have to worry about them.”
“Are you sure Max?”
“Yes maam. He’s sure. Your dress will be waiting for you when you get back.” The sales clerk was just too happy to comply.
“Thank you.” Liz said and followed Max out of the store.
She had no idea how much Max had spent on that outfit but it was a bundle, she was sure of that. She needed to find something to get for him that he wouldn’t get for himself…she would give it some serious thought after she got home.
Soon they passed a street vendor selling hot dogs…”Come on Liz you have to try a hotdog.”
“Oh God Max, if you keep it up I’m going to look like a blimp before I ever get home.” Liz complained.
“Nah, you won’t, honest. Just one, okay?”
“Okay, just one.”
“Now what do you want on it?”
“Ketchup and Pickles.” Liz said…
“What! Come on Liz, you have to try more than that.”
“No… I don’t …it’s my hotdog and I want Ketchup and pickles.”
“Yes you do…come on…how about some kraut?”
“Bullshit Max…if I can’t have it the way I want it then I don’t want it.”
The vendor started laughing at the couple…he recognized Max immediately and the more he looked at the young woman he realized that she was the excited fan at Fridays’ game. Finally he couldn’t take it anymore…he didn’t want the young athlete to cause anyone to interrupt his fun so he just made up one dog with Ketchup and pickles and one with the works and handed the two their dogs.
“Here Max, let her have a bite of yours and then she can eat her own.” The vendor said as he handed Max the hotdogs. Max looked at the guy and grinned and told him,
“You know you are spoiling my fun … she’s a blast to fight with…we’ve had years of practice.”
“Yeah, I could tell by the way you were acting that this had to be an old friend. A new one would have let you have your way immediately, and eaten the damn dog even if she didn’t want to.”
“Yeah, you’re right…that’s what’s so great about old friends. There like old shoes, they just seem to fit.”
“Good analogy Max…I couldn’t have put it better myself.”
By the time Max and the vendor were finished talking Max was ready for another dog and believe it or not so was Liz. This time she asked for an Orange Crush as well and the vendor smiled and handed her the soda. She thanked him and then hit Max in the arm.
“What was that for?”
“For being an ass.” The vendor started to chuckle and Max looked at Liz with a warning look in his eye and she looked at him and said “there’s no pool to throw me in around here Max.”
“No, but there’s a pond in that park across the street Liz and it won’t be the same as the pool…it will be full of duck shit…is that what you want?”
“No m’lord!” And she curtsied.
“Liz, will you cut that out?”
“Maybe, how nice are you gonna’ be?”
“You’re gonna’ get nice…now cut it out.” And then Liz stuck her tongue out at Max and he started for her…”No Max you don’t want to do this in public…your image Max, think of your image. People know you Max…they’ll put it in the papers.”
“And what will the papers have to say about the renowned Doctor Parker being thrown into a duck pond in New York City after sticking her tongue out at her saintly friend?”
“Saintly friend my ass…all you do is throw me into water...can’t you do anything else?”
“Yes I can Liz but I don’t think you want to know what that is.” Now the vendor was really getting a kick out of this display as was a certain photographer across the street. The vendor pointed to the guy with the camera and Max grabbed Liz by the hand, reached into his pocket and handed the vendor a fifty and hailed a horse drawn carriage.
“Oh Max I’m so sorry, I don’t know what in the hell got into me back there… This is really a shock to me…and you have been so nice to me by bringing me here and planning this lovely trip. I am so sorry for bringing attention to us Max. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”
Max put his arm around Liz and pulled her close, “Liz, it’s okay. I was having a very good time with the bantering too and as long as you don’t mind seeing your name plastered across the headlines of the rags well, neither do I.”
“But Max, you are never plastered in those things.”
“How do you know Liz?”
“Because I check them out when I’m in the lines at the grocery store and at the hair salon.”
“Oh, you check the rags out to see what they are saying about me?”
“Yeah, pretty much. It was the only way I had of keeping up with you.”
“Oh.” Was all that Max had to say…damn Maria anyway. No, don’t damn Maria, we are not going to live in the past…only the here and now. One day at a time. Isn’t that what Liz said?
Max and Liz rode through Central park in the back of the buggy and Max took a chance. He took Liz’s hand and Liz did not pull away. They rode that way until they came to the other end of the park and then they walked to the place where they could catch the next tour bus and continue their journey.
They soon found themselves passing the “United Nations” building and Max wanted to know if Liz would like to go through it and she said she would rather do the Empire State Building today...then maybe tomorrow morning they could go over to the Statue of Liberty. Max said that sounded like a good plan and they continued on the bus until they came to the Empire State Building and got off again. Liz was really enjoying herself and so was Max. This was the first time Max had ever taken the tour and he was finding it as interesting as Liz was. He had been past so many of these places before and had no idea what the history was. He would have to do this more often.
*~*~*
After they finished their tour of the Empire State Building and had their pictures taken they boarded the bus again and lo and behold they came to Tiffany’s…the tour guide wanted to know if anyone would like to get off and Max took Liz by the arm and got her out of her seat and headed to the door of the bus.
“What are you doing Max? We can do Tiffany’s some other day.”
Max just shook his head no and they got off the bus…”We’re here, let’s do it”
Was all he said.
Wouldn't it be great if everyone was as smart as we are? 
You know, the word "lunatic" comes to mind when I think about these things and yet when I read that word in a book I have to laugh and I have no idea why. I do know there are women, even men, who think that way, but I hope I explain Nancy's problem a little further into the story. 