I write because it's fun and appreciate you enjoying my stories. 
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“What time is Kara getting in?” It’s almost thanksgiving and she’s flying in from Arizona for the holiday.
“Her flight gets in at 12 but she said she’s renting a car.” Liz yells from the kitchen. Renting a car? Why?
“Why is she renting a car?” I ask walking into the kitchen.
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask, she just said that she didn’t need a ride from the airport.” She shrugs and goes back to making apple pies.
“Why is she flying anyway? Arizona isn’t that far of a drive?” I steal one of the apples and bite into it.
“I don’t know Max. When she gets here you can ask her ok?” Frustrated she wipes her hands on a dish towel and places one of the pies in the oven.
“Does Kaiden need a ride or is he renting as well?” I can’t help it. She glares and me and I instantly regret my statement.
“If your that bored I can find something for you to do.”
“Ok point taken. See you in a bit.” I kiss her cheek and walk to the bedroom to change into my surfing gear. The water is getting a little cooler but I still like to go out anyway. Liz is stressed out and if I stayed in the house any longer we’d end up bickering about something stupid so I leave. I can’t help it if I miss my kids. I feel like they don’t need me anymore or something. I know it’s silly but ever since Kaiden went off to college the house has felt so empty. I thought about getting a dog but Liz refused. She said dogs were not substitutes for our kids and she’s right. It’s not that Liz isn’t enough for me but after so many years with two kids in the house you get used to a certain amount of noise.
Kara is attending the university of Arizona and should be gradating this year while Kaiden is in his second year at Yale. She was a mess when he left especially since it was so far away but she came to terms with it eventually. At first we expected Kara to get into the fashion industry after her summer internship but that changed after that summer. She ended up more interested in what I do much to our surprise. Kaiden, who was never really into science suddenly become very interested in the medical field especially medical research. The closet scientist in Liz is proud of him.
Even though Kara is close by she doesn’t come home as often as we’d like. I realize that she has her own life but we miss her. Liz insisted that they both come home this thanksgiving after Kara missed last years holidays with us to go to Europe.
I spend a few hours out on the water and jog back up to the house. Liz is still in the kitchen preparing enough food for an army and I laugh as I walk to the bedroom to change.
“Everything looks good angel.” I sneak up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist.
“Thanks but I haven’t really made anything.” I rest my chin on her shoulder as she mixes something in a bowl.
“Still looks good. Everything is going to be perfect.” I kiss her neck and sit on the counter while she maneuvers her way around the kitchen.
“I forgot to tell you that Kara asked me to set another plate for dinner. I’m sure it’s for Julia or something so could you get the other set of dishes out for tomorrow? I want them all to match and the one I was going to use doesn’t have enough for all of us.” I nod and think about what she said. Julia isn’t coming with her. I just spoke to her father and they are all going to aspen for the week.
“It’s not Julia. They are going to Aspen.” I blurt out.
“Oh well, it must be a friend from school then.” She shrugs and puts something in the fridge.
“What friend?” I ask.
“I don’t know Max, what is with you?”
“Sorry.” She gets so wound up around the holidays. I better keep my mouth shut for now.
“No, I’m sorry. I just want everything to be perfect. Don’t pay any attention to me.”
“Come here.” I pull her arm and wrap my arms around her waist placing a kiss on her head.
“Don’t stress yourself out. Everything will be perfect.”
“I know.” She sighs and leans into my embrace.
“What’s Kris doing lately? I haven’t had a chance to talk to Andrew at the office.”
“She’s good. I think they are going to New York for the holiday to meet up with Devin.”
“He’s at NYU right?” She goes back to maneuvering around the kitchen.
“Yeah Pre-med.”
“We’ll have to invite them over one day. I haven’t seen her in so long.” Kris has become a huge part of your family. I owe her a lot.
“I’ll give her a call after the holidays.”
“That‘s a good idea.” I look up at the clock and see that Kara should be getting in soon.
“I’m going to change before they get here.” I head to the bedroom and take a quick shower.
By the time I get out I hear voices coming from the living room and don’t recognize one of them but I know it’s male.
“Daddy!” Kara rushes over to me when I walk to the living room.
“Hey princess, how are you?” I hold her tightly.
“I’m great dad.” She pulls back a little and I notice that she’s practically glowing.
“Daddy, I want you to meet someone, this is Conrad Green.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Evans, Kara has told me so much about you.” He shakes my hand and I wonder how long she’s known this guy.
“I wish I could say the same.” I say and get a look from Liz.
“Where’s Kaiden?” Kara asks I guess breaking the silence.
“He should be here soon.” We sit in the living room and munch on some snacks.
“So Conrad how did you and my daughter meet?” I don’t like the fact that I know nothing about this kid and she brought him home for the holidays.
“Conrad is pre-law daddy.” Kara cuts in.
“Sweetie why don’t we let Conrad tell us.” I like the fact that this kid is sweating bullets.
“Well sir like Kar said I’m pre-law. We met in a mutual class of ours.” Kar? Was her name so long that he had to shorten it?
“That’s nice. So where are you from?” He goes on to tell me that he grew up in Connecticut and moved to Arizona a few years before college.
“Hey, where is everyone?” Kaiden shouts halting my interrogation.
“In here!” Kara yells back at him.
“Hey everyone.” Liz rushes to hug him and I do the same.
“You’ve lost some weight.” Liz says once he sits down.
“Mom.” He blushes. Liz has always babied him.
“Kaiden this is Conrad my-my boyfriend.” My head snaps over to Liz’s direction only to have her shake her head so I don’t say anything about that comment.
“Well well well. So how did you and my sister meet?” Kaiden asks making us all hear the story again.
“So why Arizona? I mean I’m sure there are other law programs better then that.”
“Mom!” Kara wines.
“Kaiden don’t be rude.”
“Whatever. I’m going to my room.” Kara looks upset and so does Liz.
“I’m going to go check on him.” I excuse myself and go see what’s wrong with him it’s not like Kaiden to act like this.
“Hey, can I come in?” I knock softly.
“Yeah.” I walk in and see him unpacking his clothes.
“So what’s been going on?” I sit on his bed and watch him re fold everything and put it in his drawers.
“Not much. You know classes a few parties here and there. The usual.” After the incident with Kara he re evaluated his stand point on women. Liz and I were surprised at how much he stepped up and really took on his role of brother to Kara. He sat and talked with her and really changed his attitude. We hadn’t had another pool incident ever since then.
“You hook up with anyone?”
“Hook up?” He looks at me with a raised eyebrow and laughs. “Dad, don’t use hook up anymore. It sounds funny coming from you and yeah I have a few times.”
“You being careful?” I know he is but it’s the dad type thing to say I guess.
“Always. I’m not trying to be a dad right now, trust me.”
“Good. So why don’t you like Conrad besides the obvious?” I ask once he’s done unpacking.
“I don’t know. I guess I don’t not like him. Whatever.” There he goes. The whatever again.
“There has to be a reason. You don’t even know him and you’ve said whatever twice already. What’s going on?” He stops what he’s doing and sits on the other side of his bed.
“He seems like a scum bag. I don’t know what it is but I don’t like him. He’s not staying here is he?”
“What? No way!” I hadn’t even thought about that but he’s not staying here.
“Good.” We walk back out to the living room and sit down for dinner.
“Mrs. Evans, everything looks great.” I look over and catch Kaiden roll his eyes.
“Thank you.” Dinner goes by quietly. I can sense the tension in the air and try my best to lighten it. Kaiden knows something and isn’t telling me.
After dinner we sit out back and enjoy some wine and dessert.
“I’m going to bed, the time change is getting to me.” Kaiden says and excuses himself.
“Be ready early tomorrow, we’re going out on the boat.” He nods and goes to his room.
“Excuse us for a moment.” Liz says taking me hand and dragging me inside.
“What’s going on Max?” He asks pretending to be busy in the kitchen.
“What are you talking about? Nothing is going on.”
“Bull. What did Kaiden say to you? He seems annoyed or something.” I watch her put the leftovers away and sit on the counter.
“He didn’t say anything. I asked him the same thing. I guess he’s just being a protective brother that’s all.”
“Maybe.” She shrugs. “Why don’t you have them come in. We need to figure out where Conrad is staying for the rest of the week.”
“I know he’s not staying here.” I mumble and walk back outside.
“…Kar we‘re engaged. I want to sleep with you.”
“I know that but my dad will never allow it. Just give me a few days to tell them. I have to find the right time. You don’t know my dad, he’s going to freak.. I have to wait for the right time.”
“Kar, it’s been three months. I told my parents right away. I don’t understand why you can’t tell yours.”
“It’s not the same and you know it. You know how close I am to my parents especially my dad. You barely even talk to your parents. Look just give me time ok? I promise I’ll tell them soon.”
“I don’t want to be apart from you.”
“Me either.”
My mouth hangs open as I listen to my daughter, my baby talking to her fiancé?
“Kara?” I make myself know still in full shock.
“Daddy!” She jumps out of her chair startled.
‘Is there something wrong?” I ask with my arms folded across my chest.
“N-no daddy.” She smiles nervously.
“Are you sure?” I looked towards his Conrad person and he avoids eye contact with me.
“I’m sure daddy.” That’s way too many daddies in one conversation. She can’t hide her nervousness from me.
“Ok.” I walk to the kitchen and pull Liz to our room.
“What’s going on Max?” She asks as soon as I close the bedroom door.
“What’s going on is that Kara is engaged and she didn‘t even tell us. She‘s been engaged for months!”
“What?” She asks shocked.
“She’s engaged Liz. Our baby got engaged and didn’t even tell us. God, what is she thinking? She’s going to ruin her life! She‘s too young for this.” I pace the bedroom floor running my hands through my hair.
“No, that can’t be right. Did she tell you she was engaged?”
“No, I heard them talking. He was saying that he can’t be away from her. I won’t accept this. She hasn‘t even graduated college.”
“Max calm down we don’t-”
Calm down! Are you hearing me Liz? She’s engaged!”
“Shhhh. Just relax for a minute ok?”
“No I won’t relax. What I am going to do it go out there and kill that little bastard.” I make my way to the door but Liz jumps in front of me.
“You will do no such thing Max. We need to talk about this, rationally.” I snort.
“Rationally? Your kidding right? How the hell can you be so clam about this? She isn’t even out of college and she’s engaged! She hasn’t even really lived yet.” knowing that she won’t let me out of the door I sit on the edge of the bed.
“It‘s only an engagement. It‘s not the end of the world besides, there is nothing you can do about it.”
“Watch me.”
“Maxwell Evans don’t touch that door.” She makes me stop dead in my tracks.
“Liz how can you be so calm? How can you sit here and not want to kill that guy?”
“I’m upset Max but we have to talk to her first. We can’t jump to conclusions.”
“There’s nothing to jump to. I heard them, that’s enough confirmation for me.”
“Look, why don’t we wait and let her tell us. If it’s true she’ll say so eventually. We’ll deal with it then.”
“Fine but she has two days to tell us. That’s all I’m willing to wait.” I take a few deep breaths and walk back into the living room.
When I get out there I see them sitting on the sofa looking through some photo albums. Kara has the biggest smile on her face and even I’d have to admit that she does look happy.
