Roswell Fanatics

Thank you roswell3053 and Erina for the feedback. I'm not getting much feedback on this story. If you are reading it please leave my some feedback....it would really make my day!

On my author's page I am now listing the dates that each part will be updated and will edit it accordingly. Thanks, Maya


Chapter 9

“This blue would look beautiful on you,” Vilandra said as she held the dress up against Bella.

“I like the green better.” She actually liked the blue but she liked to be difficult.

Vilandra took the green dress off of the rack and held it up to Bella with scrutiny. “This one does look good too,” she agreed.

“Mom?”

Vilandra continued to look through the racks. “Yes honey?”

“Have you picked a nanny yet?”

“No, but the interviews are done. We should know soon.”

“Do the kids get a say?” she asked.

Vilandra put the dress back on the rack and looked at Bella, giving her her full attention. “No sweetie, the grown ups have to decide, this is a very important decision. Besides you haven’t even met any of the candidates.”

Bella picked up some shoes. “These would go with the dress.”

Vilandra nodded in agreement. “Nice shade. Let’s take them.”

“Actually I have talked to one of the nanny’s. Angela.” Bella’s voice was much more apprehensive than usual.

Vilandra looked at her daughter quizzically. When would she have talked to Angela? “When was this?” If she found out one of the nannies had been canvassing the children they would have to disqualify him or her right away.

Bella noticed the stern expression on her mothers face. “Oh it was just while I was waiting for you today. It was no big deal. She was really helpful.” Bella hoped she wasn’t getting Angela in trouble.

“She shouldn’t have talked to you.”

“Mom, she didn’t have a choice. I talked to her first, so she had to answer. And anyways, I’m glad I did. She was really nice.”

“Well I’ll keep that in mind,” she sighed. “Now let’s pay for this. There are a few things I want to pick up for your dad before we leave.”


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_



Anna and Zach played dinosaurs in the tree house for over an hour until their stomach’s began to growl. “Let’s go get Rosa to make us some grilled cheese,” Zach suggested.

Anna was in heaven having spent the afternoon with Zach all by herself. “Sure,” she said, her face full of enthusiasm.

“Go ahead.” Zach motioned for her to climb down first.

Anna started down the stairs and when she got 4 from the bottom took a big jump towards the ground, only instead of landing in the grass where she usually did, she fell a bit too far towards the right, her knee hit the side of a large rock and was ripped open.

“Ahh. Zach,” Anna screamed. The pain was instantaneous, and the wound was deep, the blood seeping through her pink dress.

The minute Zach saw her fall he wasted no time, jumping out of the tree house rather than take the stairs. “Are you ok, Anna?” he asked.

“No.” Anna ‘s voice was so quiet and weak.

He lifted her dress up enough to see her knee. He knew the cut was deep and he had to get her back to the house right away. He took his shirt off and wrapped it tightly around the wound. “The pressure stops the bleeding,” he explained.

“I’m going to carry you in, ok?” She nodded. He noticed that her skin had paled and he hoped she wouldn’t go into shock. He scooped her up in his arms and ran back to the house as fast as he could.

The service entrance was the closet so he entered that which led straight into the kitchen, laying her down on the dining room table. “Rosa, Rosa.” He hollered.

Rosa had been organizing pickles in the pantry, hearing the alarm in Zach’s voice, she rushed into the kitchen.

“Zachery, what is it?” She asked. “Oh my.” She said upon seeing Anna’s knee, Zach’s make shift bandage already red as the blood steeped through it.

“Mommy, mommy.” Anna cried.

“I’ll get the first aid kit and call up to her mother.” Rosa explained and Zach nodded.

“It’s going to be ok, Anna.” Zach held her hand tightly.

“You won’t leave me will you?” she asked, her voice trembling.

He looked at her and felt his heart melt. How could she think he would leave her side? “Of course not.” He kissed the top of her head gently and gave her a smile.

Soon Rosa was back with the supplies. She cleaned the wound and bandaged it up like a pro. She even gave Anna a glass of orange juice to get her blood sugar back up.

“Feeling better?” she asked Anna who was still holding on tightly to Zach’s hand.

“A little,” Anna said sitting up.

“I called your mother upstairs. She’s on her way down.”

Anna smiled, then looked at Zach and blushed. “You must think I’m a big baby. Crying because I hurt my knee?” Now that she was starting to feel better she was also feeling more self conscious.

Zach smiled and brushed Anna’s hair out of her face. “I don’t think you’re a baby at all.”

“What do you think?” she asked him lowering her eyes bashfully.

Zach cleared his throat. The room had become hot all of a sudden. ‘I think your….,” he started to say but was cut off as Liz ran into the room.

“Baby, baby what happened?” Liz pulled her daughter against her chest.

“Just cut her knee. It’s not too bad. It was the shock of it more than anything.” Rosa explained

Liz bent down and kissed the bandage that was on her daughter’s knee.

Feeling awkward Zach let go of Anna’s hand and took a few steps back to stand with Rosa, letting Liz care for her daughter.

The second Zach let go of her hand she felt cold. What had he been about to say? I think your….. What does he think?


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_



The next morning after the women had a ‘pow wow’ in the sunroom they met with their husbands in the dining room.

“After careful deliberation, we have decided to go with Angela.,” Vilandra announced.

“Now, before you object, please look at her resume,” she continued.

“She’s responsible, has great references,” Liz said looking at her husband.

“She’s offered to give the children music lessons.” Maria eyed Michael carefully.

The three men looked at each other and then Alex spoke. “There is no need for us to look at the resume.” Alex said.

“Why not?” Vilandra questioned him.

When we were golfing the other day, we discussed it and we trust your judgment. We agreed that we would support whoever you picked.

“Really?” Liz asked.

“Yes really,” Alex said, grateful Kyle wasn’t there to dispute it.

All three women squealed with delight and hugged their husbands, happy they had been allowed to make the choice.

Alex gave Michael and Max a secret smile, glad things had gone their way. If their wives had picked Brian, things would have gone very differently. What the women didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_


It was late when Angela found herself at the entrance of the cavern, a dark hooded shawl hiding her form from view.

An old woman with long grey hair and a haggard face opened the door and walked towards her slowly with the aid of an old cane. “I was wondering when you would come,” she said, her voice much stronger than her frail skin and bones.

Angela answered and smiled serenely. “It took them a while to decide but they chose me.”

“Was there ever any doubt?” Her laugh was like a cackle. “Come on in, it’s raining, come in from out of the cold.” She ushered her in, closing and locking the thick wooden door behind her.

The two walked in silence down the muddy hallway until they reached a large open room that was in the shape of a circle.

The old lady banged her cane against the table that was sitting off to the side and Angela sat down. “You know why I am here Matilda. I need a few things.”

Matilda nodded. “As I told you before I will give you what you need but like everything in life there is a price to be paid.”

Angela looked at the old battered croon standing in front of her and let out a huff. Hadn’t she already paid enough? But she had to be nice. “Of course. The terms of our agreement still stand. After I get what I need the debt will be paid in full.”

“Very well then,” Matilda held her slender, bony hand out in expectation.

Angela reached into her purse and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “Here is my list.”

Matilda opened it up and took a moment to scan the items. “I will need a few days,” she said and immediately got up and walked overt to the cauldron at the far side of the room. “Be gone now. Let me get to work.”

Angela stood and started down the hall, then stopped quietly and turned. She watched Matilda take a large glass container down from the shelf and add some of its contents to the large cauldron, which erupted in a small poof of smoke.

Although her back was to her, Matilda must have sensed Angela’s presence. “Watching doesn’t make it materialize any faster.”

Knowing Matilda was hinting that she had overstayed her welcome she made her way down the path and out into the rain once again.

You will start to find out a little more about Angela now that she has started her job as the nanny.

Thanks:

RhondaAnn
roswell3053
Erina

Chapter 10

Anna awoke to the birds chirping outside her bedroom window. When she rolled over in bed, she winced when her still bandaged knee made contact with the mattress. Even though it hurt, the pain was the furthest thing from her mind which was consumed with thoughts of Zach, he had been so heroic, carrying her back to the house and staying with her until her mother came.

Rosa pushed the door opened, entered Anna’s room and spoke cheerfully. “Good morning Anna. How are you feeling?”

Anna sat up in bed and wiped the sleep for her eyes. “Ok Rosa,” she yawned.

“Your mother asked me to change your bandages. She wants you to stay off that leg today.”

“What about school,” Anna whined. “It’s just a scrape,” she protested.

Rosa had to agree with the child. It was just a scrape, there was no reason for Anna to miss school. Especially since their classroom was in the palace but she wasn’t going to disagree with Liz’s wishes. Instead she tried to turn Anna’s mind to the idea. “You can watch some movies in here.” Her suggestion was met with a wide grin.

After cleaning the wound and applying a new bandage she gathered up her supplies and prepared to leave. “I’ll be up soon with your breakfast. In the meantime there is a young man waiting outside the door to see you.”

Anna’s head turned towards the opened door where Zach was standing in the corridor and her heart swelled.

Zach walked into the room as Rosa left and walked over to Anna shyly. “Hi.” He took a seat on the side of the bed.

“Hi,” Anna replied.

Zach normally had trouble waking up but this morning he had woken up at 5 am anxious to see Anna. He had spent the last 2 hours pacing his room waiting for Anna to be awake. Now that he was with her he felt anxious and nervous, not the way he usually felt while in her company. He had no idea why he was feeling this way or what to say to her.

He cleared his throat. “So….umm…how is your leg?”

“It’s ok. Mom wants me to stay in bed today which is kind of silly…..but I get to watch movies so it’s not so bad.”

“Movies. Lucky you,” he pouted pretending to be jealous.
Anna laughed and gave him a light punch in the arm. When she let her arm fall to Zach’s side he took her hand in his nervously.

Last night he had held her hand and it felt so right, so familiar to him. When Liz had come down he had let go but ever since then he had wanted to touch her again.

Anna felt like she was flying. Zach was holding her hand. She tried not to give away her enthusiasm on his face, trying to make out that it was no big deal.

“Zach, thank you for last night. I mean for saving me.”

Zack shrugged his shoulders and then blushed. “It was nothing.”

Anna decided to ask Zach the questions she had been asking herself since yesterday. “You didn’t finish what you were saying yesterday.”

“Yesterday? Oh what was I saying?” he asked her, even though he knew exactly what she was referring to.

“You said I think your…” she said hoping to refresh his memory.

“Oh right.” Zach began an internal dialogue of panic as Anna searched his face for any inkling if what he was thinking. What should he say?

“Oh my god. I just heard.” An overly dramatic Bella entered the room and threw herself on the bed with Anna pulling her into an embrace. “My god are you hurt?” she asked.

Zach let out the breath he was holding in. He was off the hook for now anyways. “I’ll just let you two visit,” he said as he got up and headed for the door.

“Zach. You don’t have to leave,” Anna protested. He still hadn’t answered her question.

“I’ll come back after school.” The two shared a silent glance for a moment. “I’m glad your ok Anna.” Zach left to go eat some breakfast before school.

“So now you know why I don’t play in that tree house. Look what can happen.” Bella lectured her friend. Bella‘s mother had told her what had happened. She had rushed to Anna’s room to find her and Zach holding hands, blush across their cheeks. She had immediately seen green, her overly dramatic entrance was meant to break up whatever was going on between them and it had worked perfectly. She commended herself on the power she had over her two friends.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


Maria stopped by Angela’s room on her way to the kitchen. “Angela, I trust your getting settled alright?” It was her first day and she wanted to make sure she had everything she needed.

“Do you have any questions about your schedule?”

“Yes I do,” Angela said as she closed the door to her room and followed Maria down to the kitchen for breakfast.

‘Shoot.”

“Well I was told I would have Sunday’s off but according to the schedule Liz gave me I have Friday night off as well?”

“Oh, that’s for this Friday only. It’s tradition. The second Friday in September, Liz and Vilandra come to my office and go over my winter designs. They then help me pick the ones I should send to production. They have such good taste and are such a help.” Maria smiled. Her business wouldn’t be the success it was without their help.

Angela nodded.

“So anyways, the guys take the kids out for dinner and a movie that night, also part of the tradition. You’ll find we are a big family of tradition. Anyways, that’s why we thought you might like the night off.”

“Thank you. It will be the end of my first week. I’ll probably just curl up with a good book and read.

Angela smiled to herself. She liked this Maria. She liked to talk so she would be a good source of information. She was also the weakest link of the group.

She now knew what he first order of business would be. She would make sure that Vilandra and Liz had to cancel Friday’s plans with Maria. This was going to be easier than she had originally thought.



-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


Liz looked up from behind her microscope to see Max standing in the laboratory entrance, a bouquet of flowers in his hand. “Hey gorgeous.”

Liz immediately got up and walked over to him throwing her arms around him. “Hey yourself. This is a surprise. ”

“I miss not seeing you during the day. I hoped I could take you to lunch.”

Just then Dr. Soo entered. “Max, nice to see you.”

“You too.”

“What brings you by?”

“I was hoping I could take my darling wife to lunch.”

Dr. Soo smiled at the two. They were one of her favorite couples. “I think that’s a fabulous idea and Max make it an extra long lunch, Liz worked through all of her lunch breaks last week. In fact, Liz I don’t want you to come back until tomorrow.”

Liz looked at Dr. Soo guiltily. She still had a lot of work to do. “Dr. Soo….I couldn’t possibly…”

Dr. Soo cut her off sternly. “Consider it an order, Liz,” Dr. Soo said as she left the room. You were only young once.

Max smiled coyly at his wife. “Hmm, a whole afternoon together at the doctor’s orders.”

Liz licked her lips. “Whatever will we do with that time?” she teased.

Liz watched Liz’s tongue running across her bottom lip and was instantly hard. “I think you need to be punished for skipping all those lunches.”

“Oh Mr. Evans what do you suggest?”

Max cupped her bum and pulled her against him firmly. “That you be confined in our room for the rest of the day. With me there to supervise of course.”

“Of course.” With that last statement the two lovers left the hospital hand in hand.

Thanks
imniotic - Thanks for the feedback!
roswell3053 - Angela is planning many many things.
Erina - Thanks Zach and Liz are cute together. Unfortunately Bella does not agree.


Chapter 11

“Oh Max, so close,” Liz panted as Max continued to pump himself in and out of her moist heat. He felt her walls clamp around him as she found her release and shouted out his name, triggering his own release and he spilled his seed inside of her.

He continued to lay on top of her and peppered kisses over her eyes, nose, mouth.

“So four times. Tired yet?” she asked.

“I could never get tired of this.” It just got better and better with every stroke.

“Have I served my punishment yet?” She loved it when he was in a playful mood. Brooding and serious was cute too, but she didn’t feel he relaxed often enough.

Max nodded. “Oh I think so, but I will still have to keep an eye on you.”

Liz looked at the clock on the bedside table and something occurred to her. “It’s seven o’clock. We missed dinner.”

“Oh. Oh. Another skipped meal. You realize what that means don’t you?”

“More punishment?” she grinned.

“Exactly,” and with those words, she felt him stir to life again


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


Later that same night, Maria and Michael lay in bed together after many hours of continuous love making.

“That was….”

“I know Michael; it hasn’t been that good in a long time.”

“Well, for the last few years it’s been so rushed.” Michael kissed the top of her forehead. “Having this nanny really is giving us more alone time.”

Maria nodded and smiled resting her head against Michael’s bare chest. There was no place she would rather be. She loved her son and her design business but the last few years things had been so hectic. She, Liz and Vilandra had been butting heads more than they should and it seemed jealousies over Zach were developing between the children. Now with Angela here to help, she would have much more time to be the wife, mother and friend that she wanted to be.

Angela put down the cup she had been holding up against Michael and Maria’s door. Good, let them think that her presence in their lives would improve things. They were right, things were going to improve, well for her anyway.

“Maria, now that we have more time, do you want to try for another baby?” he asked.

Maria lifted her head and looked at him shocked. ‘But Zach is already nine. Isn’t that part of our life behind us?”

“I always wanted more but because of your job I didn’t think you had time. Now woth this nanny I don’t see why we can’t.”

“I had no idea that you felt that way.”

“Well think about it, we’ve had no threats, the city is safe. It would be a prefect time.” He pleaded his case.

Maria shrugged her shoulders. “I thought it was an unwritten rule that each of us would only have one.” She was referring to herself, Vilandra and Liz.

“Look if you don’t want another it’s ok Maria. I just want you to be happy. I don’t need another child to be happy, I just thought it would be nice.”

“It’s not that Michael. I do want another but I just don’t want to hurt her, you know. I want to be fair.

Michael sighed. “I don’t think she would care and if she does, too bad. You can’t let her dictate whether we have a child or not.”

“I don’t know Michael. I need some time to think about this.’



-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_



The next morning

“Your highness,” Valenti greeted Alex in his chambers.

Alex looked up from the report he was reading. “Good morning Valenti.” He looked at his watch and then at Valenti again. “I thought you were attending the council meeting this morning?”

Valenti shook his head, worry etched in the wrinkles on his forehead. “It was cancelled. We have an urgent matter that requires your attention.”
Alex dropped the report and jumped up. What had happened? Had there been a riot? A threat made against someone in the palace? Had Liz been hurt?

“What happened?” he asked as he grabbed his coat and followed Valenti outside into the hall.

Valenti picked up his pace, Alex on his heels. “Your highness, I think it is better if you just see for yourself.”

“Oh has my nephew gotten himself drunk again?” he asked.

“No nothing like that. This way your highness.” Valenti ushered him into the east wing.

“Don’t we need the car pulled around?”

“No, were going to the ballroom?”

“The ballroom?” What could possibly be going on there?

Just as they rounded the corner and were at the ballroom entrance Alex stopped and put his hand on Valenti’s shoulder. “I demand you tell me what’s going on.” He was the King and he shouldn’t be kept in the dark at all. How did Valenti expect him to attend to a crisis when he wasn’t even informed?

Valenti gave Alex a solemn look and opened the door ushering him inside the ballroom in front of him into utter darkness. He couldn’t help the smile that formed on his face. He hoped Alex wouldn’t kill him for the deception.

Alex stood still, giving his eyes time to adjust to the lack of light while he tried not to panic. He could dimly make out some figures. There were people in here but they were silent and motionless. What was going on?

Just as he was debating how he would protect himself in this unidentified situation, the light switch was turned on and the group let out a roar, “Surprise!” and Alex felt a familiar body throw herself into his arms. “Vilandra?” he questioned still not understanding what was going on.

“Surprise honey,” she whispered and gave him a kiss.

Alex looked around the room at all of the banners, streamers, and 100 of his closest family and friends. “What is all of this?” he questioned. It wasn’t his birthday or his wedding anniversary.

Valenti stood at the Mike and cleared his throat. “Hmmm…testing 1-2-3. Can you all hear me?” When the crowd nodded he continued. “Today marks a very important anniversary. Ten years ago today, King Whitman defeated Kivar and Tess Harding and took bath the throne. We have had ten years of peace and prosperity in Antar City. Long live the king!.”

Alex walked up to the stage and shook Valenti’s hand and proceeded to take the microphone from him. “Thank you. I wasn’t expecting this at all. It was my duty as King to restore Antar City. I am only sorry that we allowed Kivar to take over in the first place.” Although it was heartwarming to know they had lived 10 angst free years at the palace, as Alex began his speech he found memories of Kivar and Tess and the attack on his father surfacing, all memories he would sooner forget. He looked out at the crowd and saw he was not alone in his bad memories. Max and Liz held hands so tightly it was if they were afraid they would be lost to one another if they let go. Maria’s head was resting on Michael’s shoulders, both with looks of sadness on their faces. “Truth be told, I couldn’t have done this without my sister Liz as well as Max, Kyle, Michael, Kyle and Valenti. And of course my lovely wide Queen Vilandra.” Alex scanned the room once again and saw Bella, Anna and Zach huddled in the corner drinking punch together. “And my daughter and my nice and nephew. Shouldn’t you all be in school?” He raised his eyebrows in jest. “They have been my inspiration in the rebuilding of Antar City.”

After Alex stepped down from the stage he made his way over to his daughter. “Hi princess.”

“Your not really mad we missed school are you? The teacher said that this is part of history and all and we should be here.”

He pulled her into an embrace. “Of course you should,” he chuckled as he kissed the top of her head. Vilandra joined them and the three began to talk and laugh together.

Anna and Zach were still talking at the punch bowl. “Your leg seems much better.”

Anna nodded. When ever Zach brought up the accident it made her blush because she thought of him holding her hand and the conversation they had started to have. She knew it was a horrible thing to think, but she was actually glad she had fallen because ever since Zach had been showing her more attention.

Zach looked down at his feet and shoved his hands into his pockets. “So, I went out to the tree house last night and I moved all of the rocks and boulders so that there will be nothing for you to fall on again.” He looked up and his eyes met Anna’s nervously. “Would you want to go out there today after school?” He hoped it wasn’t to soon to be asking her.

Anna smiled. He had done all of that for her. ‘I’d love to.”

“There is one condition though. No jumping out ok? I’ll go out first and help you down.”

Anna nodded. That was definitely a condition that she could live with.

Bella watched Anna and Zach from the other side of the ballroom which disgust. They had grown closer since the accident and she didn’t like it at all.

“They look cozy.” Bella was startled to see Angela standing beside her.

Bella shrugged. “They are just talking.”

“You don’t have to hide anything from me.”

‘Why should I care anyway?”

Angela eyed Bella closely and decided to speak carefully. “I’ve seen the way he looks at her. It’s more than a crush. I think he loves her but he doesn’t even realize it yet.”

At this comment Bella saw red. Zach could not love Bella, could he?

Angela put her hand on Bella’s shoulder. “He shouldn’t be with her. She’s too plain. He should be with a princess such as yourself.”

Bella pouted. “Well that’s never going to happen now. Maria and Liz are encouraging them. They want them together. No one cares about me, that I might be interested.”

“They just don’t see you the way I do.” Angela smiled and Bella’s face brightened. “Oh he’ll come around. We just have a little work to do, that’s all.”

Bella’s jaw dropped. “You mean your going to help me?”

“Of course I am.” And even though she might not be aware of it Bella was going to help her to.

Alex and Vilandra smiled as they watched Angela and Bella talking across the room.

“The kids seem to like her.” Vilandra commented.

Alex nodded. “We made a good choice, hiring her.”



-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-



After she had had her fill of cake and punch Serena made her way back to the gardens where she noticed Kyle sulking on his favorite bench. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked taking a seat beside him.

Kyle looked up and tried his best to muster a smile, which was mediocre at best. “I still haven’t met anyone. I’ve gone into town and I’ve met lots of women but….,” he sighed.

“None of them were what you were looking for?” she offered.

He nodded. “They either want fame or riches or they are to prissy or to dumb. I want someone who I can just be me with, who likes the outdoors. Who will watch the occasional game with me. Who wants to be with me because I’m me not because of who they pretend to be when they are with me.”

Serena’s sympathy was waning. She loved this man so much that it just broke her heart, but she was also loosing her patience. “Look around you Kyle, what do you see?” she asked in frustration.

Kyle looked around in confusion. “Flowers? Plants?”

“Yes Flowers and plants. I am a gardener, I work outside. I love the outdoors.”

“Yes, I realize that Serena, but what does that have to do with …”

Serena cut him off. “What did you and I do last night?” she continued with her questions.

“Watched the game?” he was still confused.

“Uggh.” Did he not get it. This was exactly what he said he wanted in a woman. “And I also like you for who you are but the one thing I hate is how pigheaded you are. You refuse to see the one thing that is right in front of you.”

She stopped for a minutes staring at the chocked expression on her face and her voice changed to a whisper. “Or maybe you do see it but your just not interested. I’m just not what you want Kyle., I’m sorry for this, for yelling for….”

Her hand went up to her face. “I’m sorry Kyle.” And she ran into the gardeners shed and closed the door leaving a dumbstruck Kyle staring after her.

Here is a short part!

Thanks for the feedback. If anyone else is reading this I would love it if you left some feedback!

Erina - Glad you like Anna and Zach. Yes Angela is evil and she is about to get much worse.
roswell3053- you will find out who they were talking about soon. First Angela has a few things up her sleeve.

Chapter 12

Serena was in love with him? Kyle was stunned by Serena’s comment. He knew he should run after her but was unsure of what to say. He needed to talk to someone, get a woman’s perspective on things so that he didn’t screw up like he always did. So, he went to the one person he knew would give it to him straight but show him some compassion as well, his sister in law.

“This better be good Kyle,” Liz said as she paced back and forth in her chambers. She had been enjoying the party when he had stormed in and begged to speak to her immediately.

“Wow, you weren’t joking, this is serious,” she said after he told her what had been said as close to word for word as he could recall.

“Did you know that she felt this way?” he demanded.

Liz just nodded her head and took a seat on the loveseat by her window.

Kyle looked horrified. “Well why didn’t you tell me?” If he had known about this he would have watched how he acted around Serena. “Have I been leading her on? I just don’t know Liz.” He sighed taking a seat beside her. He really didn’t have much experience with woman. He liked to talk but in truth that was all it was, he was severely lacking in the experience department.

“Kyle, I couldn’t betray Serena’s confidence. Besides it wasn’t up for us to tell you,” she explained.

Kyle’s eyes were wide. “Us, you mean you all knew. My brother knew?”

“Kyle, it didn’t exactly take a genius to figure it out. She spent so much time with you, shared all your interests.”

Kyle felt like an idiot, He should have seen it too. “Well what am I supposed to do now?”

Liz shrugged. “Well what do you want to do?” It’s not like there were rules for this sort of thing.

Kyle wasn’t sure. “I don’t know. I need to say something to her, don’t you think?”

Liz nodded. But what would he say? “Do you like her?”

Kyle thought for a minute. “Ya of course I do, I mean as a friend. We watch hockey, go hiking, spend time outside. She is really funny. In fact she told me this joke the other day…”

As Kyle began to relay the joke to Liz, she cut him off “Ok Kyle, we are getting off track here. Sounds like you get a long well. The real question is do you have romantic feelings for her?”

“I don’t know. I mean she is pretty but I’ve never thought of her like that, you know?”

“Well could you think of her like that?” Liz asked.

Had he been looking for love in the wrong places, when it was really in front of him. Could it really be that simple? “Liz, I need some time to think,” Kyle said as he walked out of the room.

“Just don’t say anything to her until your sure, ok?” Liz hollered at him while he was already down the hall.



-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_



“So I know who Kivar was, but who was this Tess?” Angela asked Bella as they walked in the garden after the party.

“She was this woman who was engaged to Uncle Max before. She sided with Kivar and was very mean,” Bella whispered.

“Why are you whispering child?” Angela let out a laugh.

Bella looked around to make sure they were alone. “Because I will probably get in trouble if my father heard me telling you, the subject of Tess is off limits.”

Angela grinned and put her arm around Bella. “Don’t worry darling. Anything you say to me will never be repeated.”


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


After cake and ice cream Anna and Zach were allowed to play in the tree house for an hour because it was still light out.

Anna had started running in the direction of the tree house when Zach hollered after her. “Anna, you promised you’d take it easy. I don’t want you to fall.”

“I’m not made of porcelain like a doll,” she laughed when he finally caught up to her just outside the tree house and bended over due to a stitch in his side. Anna had always been the fastest runner of the two.

“I know your not, but you are a girl,” he said softly and Anna couldn’t help but smile. She was glad he was finally noticing that. His hands were pushed deep in his pockets, like they always were when he was nervous. Funny, her mother said her father had done that too. Zach reminded her more of her father than of her Uncle Michael. She doubted he ever blushed over a girl.

“Come on let me help you up.” Zach crawled up the ladder first and then reached his hand out for her to hold onto, pulling her up quickly.

“So what do you want to play?” he asked her. He was sick of dinosaurs but he didn’t want to play with those dolls she and Bella liked so much either.

Anna shrugged her shoulders, a sly smile spreading across her face. “We could play house,” Anna suggested.

“How do we play that, I mean without dolls?” he asked scratching his head. Another nervous habit. Anna was starting to think she should make a list of them, they were all so cute.

“Well, you play the husband and I play the wife. We pretend this is our house.”

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


It was Wednesday and Angela was ecstatic. Maria’s traditional date to review her clothing line with Vilandra and Liz, was two days away and her plans to prevent them from attending were already underway. In fact, not only would they not attend, they would completely forget, leaving Maria feeling alone and betrayed.

When school ended for the day, she took the kids into the kitchen for a snack. While there she passed Vilandra in the hall who was opening a piece of mail and then squealed.

“What is it?” Angela asked her.

“I’ve won ‘The most charitable person of the year’ award.” Vilandra beamed. She had hoped for the last 5 years she would win. After all, she sat on the board of over 15 charities, and yet she had never won.

“Congratulations. Oh when is it?” Angela asked the question although she already knew the answer.

“This Friday night!” Vilandra squealed.

“Do you know what you will wear?” She asked.

“Oh Angela. Great idea. I’m going to head out and find something now.”

Angela smiled. It had taken her a week to convince the board to vote for the Queen, who normally wouldn’t be eligible for any awards. It took some manipulation but in the end they saw things her way. Thanks to one of Matilda’s concoctions, that is. Vilandra’s ego was to big, to prevent her from going to the award ceremony.

She looked over her mental checklist. One down, one more to go.

Thursday

While the kids were in school, Angela went to the local well, the water supply for over 400 residents of Antar City. She took a penny out of her purse and pretended she was making a wish. In reality she took a small vile, filled with a clear substance and poured it down the well. 24 hours was all it would take. Tomorrow at this time, things would be set.