Roswell Fanatics

Twenty

Though Liz had a group session scheduled that evening after dinner she remained on the couch with Max. He lay on his back and she stretched out on his chest, burying her face in his neck. “It’s getting dark,” she commented.

“Yeah, I really ought to find a hotel for the night.” His fingers wound through her hair and she lifted her face and kissed him gently on the lips.

“I wonder if they’ll let you stay for dinner tonight…”

“If it’s your cooking they won’t be able to stop me,” he chuckled and the vibrations sent tingles along her bare body.

“Well it was my cooking but who knows what the chef’s done to it now,” she smiled up at him. “I’m sure they’ll come looking for me soon but I don’t want to move.”

“Trust me, neither do I.” Liz could tell he was thinking about something and soon asked what it was but he was reluctant. “Can you just promise me you’ll consider coming to London?”

She swallowed and told him what he wanted to hear, “Okay,” even though at the time she was convinced she would break that promise.

“Thank you.” He propped himself up on one of her pillows and Liz sat on his lap, ready to make love to him again one more time before he had to leave.

“This isn’t the ideal place is it? Uncomfortable couch and completely unglamorous surroundings,” she reached down and stroked his resting member and it awoke with a start, poking into her inner thigh. “How are you going to feel about me in six months?”

He entered her slowly and she pressed her chest into his. They were face to face in the dark purple room and he could see her eyes glistening like stars. “Exactly the same,” he responded and then covered her mouth with his own.

“You won’t stray…?” she mumbled and threw her head back when he passionately sucked on her neck. Their pants were loud when he moved in and out of her with his hands grasping her hips.

Their bodies were plastered in sweat in a few minutes but they were oblivious until the last second.

Afterwards as they got dressed Liz asked, “What do you like better my cooking or my…?”

He laughed loudly. “Can I say both?”

“So you couldn’t pick one over the other? That doesn’t say much for my performance does it?” she grinned.

“Well you’re a very good cook and you’re a very good…lover” he raised his eyes brows at her. “Let’s just say, I think you’re very skilled at both.”

She chuckled and reached into her pocket to pull out a hair tie. Once they were ready they went downstairs and had dinner. Though she didn’t want to, Liz introduced Max to some of the people she was getting to know and then they went and sat by themselves. Some people were subtle about it but it was still obvious that everyone was looking at them.

Liz’s face went red because she felt as though they all knew what the two of them had just been up to.

“I never knew you were shy,” Max teased when he noticed her discomfort.

She pointed her fork at him to be quiet and then they smiled in unison.

“So what time are you leaving tomorrow?”

After he’d finished chewing he answered, “Early in the morning. I want to get to London by night fall.”

She nodded and sipped her water. “Are you going to ring me?”

They looked at each other sadly and he replied, “Yes, of course. Whenever you want.”

“How about every time you think of me?”

“Every ten minutes isn’t practical,” he laughed.

She smiled and her insides melted just a little bit. “Are you nervous about your English?”

“Only a little,” he replied. “I’m doing quite well. I have been speaking it at home a lot.”

“That’s very good.”

When he left Liz went back inside to her group session with a sad smile on her face. If she tried hard she could still feel his hands on her body and wondered what it was going to be like going for another six months without intimacy.

At the group session they were all sitting in a circle and someone got all hiffy that she’d been allowed a guest outside of visiting days when they weren’t. Liz explained that he was leaving the country and he wouldn’t be able to make it again.

Everyone was quite nosey and after they were done Liz went and sat by herself in the library by the window to avoid anymore questions. There was a lamp resting on the table that she turned on so she could read properly but her mind kept lingering and the paragraph wouldn’t stick in her mind.

In the end she switched her attention to the lawn that was covered in snow again. She sipped her coffee and watched the flecks drop down. Her insides were warmed by making love with Max but she felt a trace of regret. What kind of position had she now put him in? He really shouldn’t have to wait that long for her and by being with him so intimately, she was sure he would be even more determined to stay with her and in the long run she feared he’d get hurt.

Not to mention how hurt she already felt.

In the morning as she was walking downstairs for breakfast the office lady called, “Phone call Liz!”

It was Max wanting to say goodbye one last time. He was in his car, just leaving Paris and heading West for England. She drew her legs up to her chest and said sadly, “Max I didn’t mean to treat you so badly but for some reason I did it anyway.”

“I thought we’d been over this?” he asked softly. “It’s alright. I’ll ring you again after I’ve settled in my new home. Love you.”

~*~

He had had an apartment set up for him since the New Year but that didn’t mean it was furnished yet. His things from home had been packaged and sent but they wouldn’t arrive for a few days’ maybe even weeks, so he had to check into a hotel room.

He should have been panicky about this new life and also about the new people who didn’t speak his first language but he was strangely confident. He knew this was the best opportunity and though it took him a little while to get to sleep when he did he was happy and excited.

The next morning he rung his new workplace and they sent his secretary to come and escort him to the office. His secretary. With a smile, he thought: I’ll have to get used to that!

Her name was Samantha and she was in the late twenties. He noticed her smart attire and well styled hair and knew instantly the type of place he’d gotten himself into. “It’s fantastic to finally have you here,” she said and he could see she didn’t mean it. She couldn’t have cared less if he’d never arrived. “I’ve been anxious to start work this year.”

Max led her towards his car and said in the best English he could muster, “How about we try be honest with each other?”

She smiled sheepishly and held her black folder tighter to her chest. “Yes Mr. Evans.”

“Max will do,” he held the door open for her and then went around to the other side and hopped in. She was impressed by him already.

“Where about in France do you come from?” she asked.

“Quimperé, it’s in Brittany,” he drove out of the car park and asked which way next. She told him and when they stopped at some traffic lights there was an awkward pause.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you come across this job?” she asked. “You’re clearly in your twenties…straight out of college and straight to this? It’s impressive.”

He smiled. “Merci. I mean…ah…”

“I know what that means, don’t panic,” she laughed.

“Okay. Anyway, in one of my commerce courses my professor told me that your corporation was to offer the highest scoring student a job. My college quite…I do not know the word in English…to be high up…um…popular…well known?”

“Distinguished?” she offered.

“Yes! That is what I mean,” he said.

“So you got the highest mark?”

He nodded. “Just.”

“Well done, oh, go down the road to the left.” She was silent for a moment and then said, “Mr. Evans, I like you’re accent when you talk. I learnt French in high school and you know the words that are written similar to English? Well you pronounce them very…Frenchly. It sounds nice.”

A look of annoyance crossed his face. “I’m going to have to work on English I think.”

“You’re good enough for the time being,” she said supportively.

The company building was shared with others and was very large. They walked across the spacious lobby and had to take the elevator up to the fifteenth floor. Samantha showed him to his office which he had to get to by walking around several booths of employees. They all seemed to look at him and he guessed he couldn’t blame them. A few even stopped them to introduce themselves and say welcome.

The door to his office already had his name printed across it and inside he found two of his co-workers waiting for them. While they talked and introduced themselves he assessed the area around him. It was large and had windows over looking the city below.

“I’m David Theodore and I’m the product manager and this is Peter Alex Banks the market development manager.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“How is your English? Quite good?” David asked.

“Alright,” he answered. “My speaking is not as good reading, writing and listening but…I’m doing better now.”

“You’ll do fine; I can tell you know plenty. So what do you think of your office?”

“Very nice,” he replied. “This is all mine?”

“Afraid so,” he laughed. “Come on we’ll show you around and then the boss wants to see you.”

“You look a little nervous,” Peter said. “Don’t worry, everything seems extravagant the first time but you’ll get used to it. It doesn’t take long to fit in.”

~*~

His boss was as friendly as he could be but he was also very professional. His name was Ian Rutledge and they talked about what Max would be required to do and how he would need to prove himself to keep his position. “There was a great deal of competition for the spot you’re sitting in. You may want to know I usually promote current employers but I decided when Nolene Prince left that it would be good for the company to broaden our prospects…”

“I’m very grateful for the decision you made,” Max smiled.

“I’m sure you are,” he laughed. “Anyway, you’ll do fine. In the first couple of weeks we’ll be monitoring your work and checking your success…”

“I expected that,” Max confirmed.

”Yes, it’s just the general procedure. Try to settle in and if you have any questions there are plenty of people you can ask. I imagine you’ve met Peter Banks and David Theodore?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll get to know them well.”

When it was time to leave Ian walked him to his door and shook his hand. “I have a good feeling about you,” he said. “And welcome aboard.”

“Thank you.”

Max spent the rest of the day being filled in on current promotions and distributors. It helped that he had been given the heads up on a lot of it after he’d left college but there was still a lot to learn. His secretary was very friendly too and kept asking him how it was going and bringing him whatever he wanted. Around six in the evening he left the office and drove to his new apartment to check it out.

He didn’t meet any of his new neighbours when he was on the elevator but he saw one or two people coming and going in the halls. As he was unlocking the front door his cell phone came to life and it turned out to be Peter Banks inviting him to the pub that evening. “I figured you don’t know anyone in town and I can introduce you to a few people.”

“That would be great. I’ll be there around nine.”

“Are you sure you can find it?”

“I’ll get a taxi.”

He would more accurately call his new home a loft rather then an apartment. He liked it even though it was different from what he had expected.

As you walked in you had the lounge directly in front of you. It was at a lower level then everything else, like a large kid’s paddling pool that you had to walk down two steps to be in. If you turned to the left at the front door there was the kitchen and it was separated by a breakfast bar. He was standing on wooden floor boards but the rest of the lounge and bedroom was carpeted. The bathroom had a blue tiled floor.

The one bedroom was half the size of the lounge but still huge to his standards. It was also to the left but the two doors leading to it were facing the kitchen from the opposite wall. When you walked in there was a small area that could be separated and made into an office. The bathroom could be entered through a door next to the wardrobe and also by a door in the lounge.

He sat down by the windows in the bedroom and rung his mom on his cellphone because she’d pleaded with him to. She made him describe everything and he got to say a quick hello to Isabelle and Nicola before he hung up. There was one more person he wanted to ring and he had to do it quickly because he still had to get back to his hotel and have dinner and shower before going out.

It took a little while for Liz to be connected because she was in her room. When she picked up he retold everything he’d just told his family.

“So what do you have to do?” she asked, “I mean, in your job? Is it like estimating buyers’ demands and coming up with strategies to attract clientele and stuff like that?”

“How do you know that?”

“I may have looked it up.”

He laughed. “You just wanted to hone your knowledge right, not actually ask me?”

“I may have had that intention, yes.”

“Well I’m impressed because you’re absolutely right. It actually explains on my new business cards what I do, ‘planning and directing promotion, public image and presentation of goods or services’. And you have no idea how nice it is to be speaking French again!” he let out a puff of air.

“Sounds impressive. So it was hard using English all day?”

“A little,” he said. “A lot of people told me that I have a nice accent.”

“You do,” she chuckled. “Can I ask what marketing managers get paid?”

A smile spread across his face. “You’ve been dying to ask me that haven’t you? It’s a good thing that I don’t mind. I’m starting off on seventy-five thousand a year…and there’s the possibility that after time I can be earning one-hundred and fifty.”

Liz whooped. “You’re going to become one of those big shot business men aren’t you? Too good for a little town girl who owns a chocolate shop.”

“Never,” he replied. “I’m going to need someone to spend the money on.”

She smiled. “Spend it on yourself, you deserve to treat yourself. Reward your intelligence. So how is the apartment?”

He looked around him and answered, “Bare.”

“You could hire a decorator?”

“I might do that.”

“Are you doing anything tonight?” she asked. “Or are you tired from your busy day?”

Max noticed that from his loft he could see directly into the offices across the street. With the lights on he could witness everything that was happening. ”I am but a guy from work has asked me out for a couple of drinks to get to know a few people.”

“That’s good.”

“Yeah. I kind of have to go and get ready,” he told her reluctantly. “I’ll ring you another time.”

“Alright then, I’m really happy for you Max.”


~*~

Awww shucks everyone, you're so kind. I've been feeling as though my writings a bit blaaa lately but I suppose I always feel like that. I'm sure one of you would tell me if it was. Thanks for your bumps and fb!

21.

Liz’s eyes trailed the movements of a fly as it buzzed around her bedroom. Occasionally she would lose its path of movement because the lights were off and it was very dark all around her. The clock next to her bed read two-thirty AM and she couldn’t sleep but at least tonight her whole body wasn’t heavy with the need to. Most nights her eyes weighed so much she couldn’t open them and still sleep wouldn’t come.

She knew it was the aching for the surge of alcohol through her veins. That afternoon she’d been with one of her counsellors and they’d been discussing a treatment that he had previously mentioned to her. She’d looked it up and didn’t want to give permission to start it.

“Antabus or what ever you call it…” Liz rubbed her hands together and stared at the man in front of her. “I read that if it’s combined with alcohol it causes nausea, vomiting, and throbbing headaches. I don’t want to go through that, there’s got to be another treatment. In fact I saw one called… ReVia and it’s a naltrexone…?”

He shook his head. “Liz.”

“What?” she asked impatiently.

“You’re in advanced stages. I’ve noticed that you’re withdrawn from everyone…”

She laughed miserably and said, “I’m just having a little trouble copping away from home, that’s all.”

“Do you realize that’s one of the abstinence effects from alcohol?” his face was sympathetic but it was in a way that made Liz want to shake him. “I’m sorry I’m explaining this incorrectly. You are in a stage of recovery that is one of the most advanced and it is called delirium tremens, which is also known as serious withdrawal symptom. You are still occasionally experiencing shaking limbs…”

“That’s been a lot better recently, I barely shake at all.”

“Do you have hallucinations Liz?” he asked.

She swallowed and looked of the window. The snow had long stopped and spring was on its way. “How would I know? How would I know if what I am seeing isn’t there?”

“You’ve blacked out once…”

“Yes! But I don’t want to spend the next couple of months vomiting my stomach out because of this drug. I know that it’s supposed to stop me from wanting alcohol but I’d like to try Revia first. That’s supposed to lessen cravings…”

He wrote something on his pad and then took his reading glasses off. “Alright, we’ll try Revia but you will give me your permission to start using Antabus if that does not work suitably.”

“Alright,” she answered.

In the morning she had a lecture on alcoholics, they thought that if the patients had a better understanding of just what it was they were experiencing, they would be more willing to overcome it. Liz reached up and rubbed her eyes, now forgetting about the fly buzzing around. She thought that perhaps what she needed was a distraction and she picked Max to be that. From now on, she’d train herself to believe that when she was craving alcohol, she’d actually be craving Max.

She did miss him horribly. It had only been two months or so but every night as she lay in the dark she thought of him and she hadn’t realized until now just how much he meant to her. She’d taken advantage of him for so long and now he was gone…it was like a slap in the face.

When they’d made love it had been different from all her other sexual encounters in the past. She used to have sex to get what she wanted but for the first time in her life she’d done it for love, for nothing but the need to be close to someone. Her favourite part of his body was most definitely his back and arms. She’d always thought that they were the most attractive male feature and his were beautiful and muscular. He was brown and when she closed her eyes and imagined his well bare formed chest above her she almost moaned.

She wanted to get better for him.

The next morning when she got up she had to sustain on only two hours of sleep. The lecture was long and she sat stretched out with her feet resting on the chair in front of her and her head back. The ladies up the front had a slide show on the white board showing gruesome pictures of alcoholics’ livers and so on...

“Subsequently, however, the person begins to drink against his or her own best interests, as alcohol comes to assume more importance than personal relationships, work, reputation, or even physical health.”

The girl next to her offered a cigarette and Liz murmured back, “No thanks, one addiction’s enough for me.”

“Wish I had your strength,” she grinned.

Liz laughed at the irony of her statement and continued to listen to the lecturers.

“The person commonly loses control over drinking and is increasingly unable to predict how much alcohol will be consumed on a given occasion or, if the person is currently abstaining, when the drinking will resume again. Physical addiction to the drug may occur, sometimes eventually leading to drinking around the clock to avoid withdrawal symptoms…”

It made her sigh to admit how much that sounded like her. Especially the last part about avoiding withdrawal symptoms. That’s exactly what she’d done because of her mother’s death.

After they were done speaking she got up and headed towards the kitchen to help the chef. “Mail call!” Neele exclaimed as she walked past.

Liz didn’t bother to look because there wouldn’t be anything for her. There never was. Only today she called out to her, “Liz! Hold up this is for you.”

It was a package with postal marks from London and her heart leapt with happiness and excitement. She didn’t hear from Max too frequently anymore and she guessed it was because he was busy. It wasn’t easy settling into a new country and job. First he had rung every couple of days, then once a week, and now every other week.

Inside the box was a leather-bound diary with gold tags on the spine and cover. It had her name engraved in them and though she’d never kept a journal in her life she thought it was beautiful. There was a note on top that she opened happily and read.

Liz,
Best wishes for your birthday!
Next year we’ll celebrate it together but for now I bought you this to write about your days with. This way when we meet up again I can read it to catch up everything I’ve missed.
I’ll love you always,
Max.

Sometimes she worried about him with other girls in London. He was gorgeous, confident and French and she could imagine all of the women drooling and throwing themselves at him. She deserved to have him forget about her and go with one of them but still she prayed with all her might that he wouldn’t.

~*~

One morning when Samantha was bringing him his coffee she exclaimed, “Max Evans you have become the stud of the office! You have practically every girl here swooning after you!”

Max nearly choked on his drink. “I beg your pardon?”

She laughed. “Oh and you’re so oblivious of it too! I think that’s another one of your most endearing qualities. If I wasn’t engaged I would probably fancy you too.”

“Oh…kay,” he tapped his pen against his desk and asked her if that was all she wanted. “I’m kind of busy.”

“Well of course you are,” she smiled. “I just have to bother you for one more moment because if I don’t ask I’ll get beaten to a pulp by all the females out there. Are you single? I’m guessing not by this little wee picture right here…” she pointed to a little frame with a picture of Liz in it and Max stared at it sadly. “But then again she could be a sister?”

“She’s not a sister,” Max said simply and then turned his attention away from her, not wanting to discuss it.

“They’ll all be so disappointed,” Samantha grinned. “Fantastic!”

“Yes, goodbye,” he said. “Or I’ll fire you.”

She didn’t believe him but she left any way. Once the door closed Max put down his pen and leaned back in his leather chair, scratching his chest through his crisp blue shirt. Since he’d been here it he had already had trouble saying no to advances…he’d only been asked for a drink two or three times but still, it was hard to say no based on a ‘not quite sure’ from Liz. He loved her so much it hurt and he missed her but if he was going to be waiting another four months for her he had to know for certain that she was willing to commit to him.

He didn’t have to know right that second of course but he rung her anyway because he realized, much to his surprise, that he hadn’t rung her in two weeks. “You’re birthday gift was so wonderful!” was the first thing she said. “Thank you!”

A smile seeped across his face unconsciously. She was the only person who could do that to him. “You’re very welcome, I’m glad you liked it.”

“I’ve been waiting for you to ring me.”

He leaned forward in his chair and rested his elbows on the desk. “I know, I’ve been busy, but I miss you horribly.”

“You don’t have to make excuses if you don’t wan—”

He quickly reassured her. “You know I would never neglect you intentionally. Even though I can’t find time to talk I still think about you twenty-four-seven. How have you been? Getting better I hope?”

“Yes, a lot better,” she replied softly. “Max I wanted to tell you…you are helping me get through this. I don’t think I’ve made it clear enough in the past but I really love you and I want to recover for you.”

He closed his eyes and rested his cheek on the palm of his hand. That’s exactly what he’d needed to hear and she’d said it—it made waiting for her so much easier and so worth it. “Thank you,” he whispered hoarsely. “I really love you too.”

He heard a noise and looked up realizing Samantha was standing there again. “Sorry to interrupt, I knocked but you didn’t reply. I just wanted to give you the Mc Cain figures.”

“Thanks,” he replied and took them from her.

Once she was gone Liz asked who that was. “My secretary,” he replied. “She’s the type that puts her ear to the door so I’ll say really quietly that I think she’s insanely nosey.”

Liz laughed. “I’m sure everyone there just wants to become a part of your life, Max. I can’t blame them.”

He leaned back in his chair again and put his hand on his heart. “How insane is this? Being in two different countries.”

“I know,” she chuckled. “We had a visiting day and Marie came but I still hoped for you.”

He swallowed. “I know. I wish I could have been there. The good news is I might be able to visit you next month because we have a client in Paris and they’ll be sending me.”

“Oh that’s great!” she chirped. “So how is the work? Not too hard?”

“No it’s alright,” he replied. “I hired an interior decorator like you suggested. He’s nearly finished, just doing a paint job. The thing I like best is he’s bought these framed French vintage posters.”

“Sounds great. You should take some pictures and send them to my email.”

“If you want.”

She paused for a moment and then said, “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“How are the females there cheating you?” she slapped her hand over her mouth. “I mean treating you! Oh God. I just…I mean, I’m sure that you’re very popular or…”

He smiled slightly. “You have nothing to worry about Liz.”

“I wasn’t worrying,” she tried to gather some pride.

“Oh really?”

“No.”

He laughed. “Really?”

“Maybe a little.”

“Then you obviously don’t know what it’s like to love somebody.” Max reluctantly looked at his watch and realized he had to say goodbye soon and get some work done.

He could hear her smiling to herself. “How’s that?” she asked.

“Because you can’t think about anything but that person,” he replied. “That no one else can fulfil your needs but them.”

Softly, she spoke back, “I know what that feels like.”

“Good. I have to go now.”

“I know,” she sighed. “Work to do? Maybe I’ll write you a letter.”

“Alright. I’ll see you later, I love you. Get better.”

“I am. Love you too.”

They both realized that it was harder to hear from each other then not to because saying goodbye was very hard. Max sat at his desk for a while longer staring at his picture of her and felt his heart thumping blood through his veins, this new life in London just wouldn’t ever be complete without her there.

He got up and as he walked out of his office and past the coffee room he heard Samantha talking, “Sorry, ladies he’s taken. And it sounds like seriously too…I heard him on the phone and…”

He popped his head inside the door and everyone gasped and looked away embarrassed. “Sam,” he said simply. “Don’t you have something better to do then gossip? Like photo copying the promotion sheets for the Evian account?”

“Yes sir! Sorry sir!”

~*~

Max didn’t end up having to travel to Paris because their associates came to them. He was very disappointed and so was Liz but on the bright side now they only had three months to go. The more she got better the more she considered moving to London for him. A part of her started dreading the idea of going back to her little apartment that she had shared with her mom.

She worried that that place was the root to her problems and if she could just find the courage to get out perhaps she would shed that part of her life and start afresh. She wrote this all in the journal Max had given her. Three months more just seemed like an eternity.


~*~

Little wee part. Hope you all like it and happy ANZAC day for all kiwis and aussies. lol, I think I'm the only one...
Anyway, I saw that 50 first dates thing with Adamn Sandler the other night and I thought it was hillarious! Especially the part when she's beating his friend with the baseball bat. Love it! (that sounds bad but really I'm not disturbed)

The next update will be up tomorrow or the next day, hope you liked this one


Take care,
~nicola

22.

Liz spent the next horrible four weeks very sickly. The doctor had been right about the drug Antabus working more efficiently then ReVia but sometimes she was so unwell that she didn’t leave her room for days. They kept a very close eye on her and then slowly weaned her back off the drug and eventually the headaches and vomiting went away.

Finally after barely talking to anyone or eating anything for what seemed like forever, Liz was extremely happy to be back out and about. She sat out in the warm spring air drinking tea with two new ladies and got to know them. “It’s a shame I missed the best part of the transition between spring and summer,” she commented and really meant it. June had the best weather in her opinion.

Towards the end of the month she was sitting in her counsellor’s office and he asked, “So, how are we feeling today?”

She groaned and replied, “Being sick like that really makes you appreciate being healthy again. I think from this point on I’ll forever feel better.”

He smiled sympathetically. God she hated how he did that. “I’m sorry, it’s been very hard for you but I think in the next couple of weeks I’ll be happy to sign your release forms. I believe you are doing incredibly well and we’ve done all we can for you.”

Her eye brows lifted. “Are you serious?”

“How do you feel?” he asked. “Don’t you feel like you’re ready to go home?”

Her hands fidgeted at her sides. “Well…” not looking at him she answered, “Sure, I suppose I do. That medication definitely deleted all ideas of having alcohol in my mind.”

He chuckled. “I’m sure it did.”

“Huh,” she grunted. “Wow. So I’ll be leaving early?”

“I don’t want to put a damper on your happiness but statistics say that for every ten people that leave rehab, only three don’t come back,” he said. “I think that it helps greatly to have faith in yourself and…well, is you’re community or family very supportive of your recovery?”

Liz thought quickly of Marie and Max. “Very,” she replied. “They’re very supportive.”

“That helps too.” He didn’t have his pad resting in front of him today. His hands simply clasped together neatly on his fancy mahogany desk. “I believe you’ll do well.”

“Thank you. So on what day would I…?”

A smile spread across his thin lips. “I see you’re very anxious. I don’t blame you. How about you give me one more week, just so we can keep an eye on your progress?”

“Alright,” she nodded.

At the end of the week Liz was more then ready to leave. She didn’t ring Max even though she hadn’t spoken to him for a month. He’d rung once when she was too sick to answer and the office lady had told him she’d get back to him when she was healthy. Only she didn’t, instead she intended to surprise him by turning up in London.

Marie picked her up and Liz didn’t have many people to say goodbye to because most of them had already left. She smiled and waved goodbye to her counsellor and then they were off, out of there. “It’s about time!” Marie said as they drove towards the city.

“I’ll say,” Liz grunted. “Another month in there would have killed me.”

Her friend smiled supportively. “So what are you going to do now? Stay with me for a while before going back to Quimperlé?”

Liz had never filled Marie in on what had happened between her and Max but she figured she’d have to now. “I’m going to go to London and stay with Max for a little while.”

Marie looked at her quickly then back at the road. “What? I thought you were broken up.”

“I’m sorry for not telling you this, but…” Liz told her about how Max had stopped by on his way to London and they’d ‘talked’ and decided waiting six months for each other was worth it. “He rings me sometimes and he’s been sending things too.”

“Oh…” Marie swallowed. “Well, are you sure he won’t mind if you just turn up? I mean, he’s got a whole new life and it might not include you.”

“You don’t understand because you don’t know what it’s like. He wants me there, I know he does,” Liz stared out the window at the people walking down the busy streets and thought, I feel like I’ve been in a prison for half a year.

“When was the last time you spoke to him?” Marie asked.

Liz hesitated. “A month, but that’s because I was sick and…”

“Maybe you should ring him before you go.”

She shook her head and crossed her arms across her chest. “No, I want to surprise him. He’ll be happy, I’m sure he will.”

She stayed with Marie in Paris for two days and then travelled to see Max. When she got there it was nearly midnight so she took a cab to a hotel instead of going straight to his place. She didn’t want to be rude and barge in at such a late hour unannounced. Instead, she showered and then went straight to sleep, dreaming of tomorrow when she would set her eyes on him once more.

It was eleven the next morning when she finally got up. While she ate some food down stairs she considered calling him on his cell phone but decided against it. She wanted her arrival to be a surprise and though she was excited, a little part of her was still afraid that he wouldn’t see it as a good surprise.

After getting dressed in her nicest skirt and blouse she went to his office and wandered around in the lobby for a while. It was really busy and when she learnt that there were twenty-five floors and six of them belonged to Max’s company she was horrified. Max had never told her what floor he worked on.

She needed a quick sit down so she made her way to one of the couches to the left and looked around nervously. Five minutes later and suddenly, without noticing her, he hurried past with three other people, deep in conversation and obviously going somewhere important. All the air in her lungs whooshed out of her like she’d been winded and she watched his every movement desperately.

It was only a twenty second show before he was gone through the front doors and out of sight again but Liz slumped back, dumbfounded. For a second she thought that maybe she’d been wrong, maybe that wasn’t him. He looked so important and business-like that she couldn’t believe it! When he’d come back from Paris after college she’d been shocked then but now it was even more amazing. He was so grown up and handsome that it took her a long time to control her beating heart.

Ten minutes later she managed to stumble to her feet and went to have lunch and go shopping for some new clothing. It seemed that she’d have to catch him at his apartment that night instead.

For the day she managed to find a way to entertain herself by wandering around, getting to know this new place that could quite possibly become her new home. She even made a friend with a lady in a coffee bar. Her name was Fay and she had a two year old daughter that had tripped over Liz’s feet and spilt orange juice all over her skirt. Fay had apologized profusely and Liz had dabbed at her outfit with a napkin and said it really wasn’t a problem. They got to talking and Fay gave her a phone number so that if she ever needed someone to show her around she was available.

It was around seven in the evening when Liz finally headed for Max’s in a fresh outfit with a bag of groceries to make him a large meal. Her heart beat pulsed through her hand as she knocked on the door but them calmed down again when no one answered and she realized he wasn’t home. She was only slightly discouraged because she knew he’d have to turn up sooner or later so she sat down on the hallway floor outside his apartment and waited. And waited.

Four hours later and she remained where she was with her eyes drooping tiredly. She was just thinking that perhaps she should head home when she fell asleep.

Max found her half an hour later and he paused in the hallway looking at her shocked…and absolutely delighted. Her knees were drawn up to her chest and her head was arched back against the wall—tilting to the side in her sleep. Two brown shopping bags sat beside her and a smile broke out across his face at the sight! He thought it was the most adorable thing in the world.

Quickly, he unlocked the door and put the groceries inside then he squatted in front of her and touched her face. She mumbled incoherently so he took her hands and pulled her upwards, walking her inside while she was still half asleep. When she finally realized what was happening her eyes shot open and she found herself looking up into his very amused face. “Sleepy Angel Face?” he asked.

Her cheeks went bright red and her heart rate sky rocketed. “Max!” she chirped. “I was going to surprise you! What time is it? I’ve been waiting and I was going to make you dinner and then…”

“If I’d known that I would have come home,” he whispered and then tugged her into a hug while she yawned away. “How long had you been sitting there?”

“Since seven,” she mumbled and closed her eyes, realizing where she was—in Max’s arms! They held each other tight, both crushed with the emotions that soured through them.

“That’s four and a half hours! Oh my God Liz,” he pulled back and saw how tired she was so he led her into his bedroom and pulled back the covers for her. “Here, you’re exhausted. Climb in; we’ll talk in the morning.”

“But—”

“Shh, sleep.” He touched her cheek and smiled. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

She couldn’t argue with him because she fell asleep in seconds.

~*~

In the morning Liz woke up to the noise of rock music playing quietly and a blender buzzing to life. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, looking around her, wondering where she was for a moment. When it occurred to her she quickly eased off the bed and tucked her hair behind her ears.

No doubt Max would walk into the room any minute and in fear that he’d see her looking a mess, she hurried through an open door to the bathroom to freshen up.

Her dress pants and shirt that she’d worn especially for last night were crinkled and her make up was slightly smudged under her eyes. It took but a moment to fix what she could and then gurgle some mouth wash.

Back in his room she made the bed and wondered briefly if he had slept beside her or had he slept somewhere else? The courage she needed to somehow walk out into the lounge had managed to escape her so she lay back on the bed nervously.

“You’re up.”

It was only seconds later but he’d still managed to frighten her. After springing up into a sitting position she found him wearing the same expression of amusement from last night. Attentively her eyes dragged from his bare feet and up his black suit pants that rested low on his hips. A burgundy button-down shirt was tucked slightly into them and the top of his chest was revealed where he hadn’t finished buttoning. He hadn’t shaved yet and his face was covered in a slight sheen of stubble…she could have moaned.

“I made you this,” he put a glass of some kind of fruit drink down on his bedside table and then grabbed a chair, dragging it away from his desk. Before she knew it he was sitting in front of her, staring directly into her face. “Now. Why didn’t you call me when you were leaving Paris? I could have come and picked you up!”

Her mouth had fallen open slightly so she quickly shut it. “I wanted to surprise you…unfortunately that turned out a little different then what I had planned.”

He smiled. “Yes I think that’s my fault.”

“Do you always work that late?” she asked, hoping he wasn’t out with some other woman.

“No,” he answered. “I had a meeting and then drinks with a colleague. God Liz! I can’t believe you’re here!” His hands reached for hers and he brought them up to his mouth for a kiss. “I’ve been waiting for you forever. There is so much I want to show you. I rung you about two weeks ago and they said that you…that you were sick? I couldn’t get them to tell me any details.”

“Wait, before I explain anything, let me just...do this…” she got up onto her knees and leaned forward, kissing him passionately on the mouth. With her forehead pressed to his, she whispered dreamily, “I’ve been waiting forever to do that.”

Max smiled brightly. “I bet you have.”

“One more thing…” she bit her lip. “Have you been with anyone since me…or do you still feel the same way?”

“No.”

“Oh…” Her face fell and she tried to move away from him but he clasped her hands tightly.

“No to the first question,” he reassured her. “And yes to the second one. How can you even ask me that? I wait five months for you!”

“Oh thank God, I thought I’d just made the biggest fool of myself.”

He shook his head. “Of course not Liz.”

“They let me out early because I’d been through a successful treatment and they said there wasn’t anything else they could do.”

“So why were you sick?”

Liz crossed her legs and stared into his face. “The drug was designed to make me ill, they gave it to me with alcohol and the two reacted together. It’s a form of treatment...”

His face drained of its colour. “Oh God Liz, that sounds absolutely awful.”

She shrugged. “I suppose it worked.”

“And there wasn’t any other way?”

“We tried a different drug but it wasn’t very effective,” she answered. “But it’s over now so it’s fine.”

He nodded slightly and then glanced at his watch reluctantly. “Damn it, I really hate to do this but I have to get to work or I’ll be late. Where are all of your things?”

“I’m staying in a hotel room, my things are there,” she answered.

“Hotel room?” he shook his head. “Not any more you aren’t. How about I drop you off there and you gather together everything and bring it back here. You can make yourself comfortable until around one and then come and have lunch with me?”

“Sounds great.”

“I won’t be able to wait for you, I have to get to work but I can give you money for a cab.”

“I have money,” she said sternly. “Just drop me off and I can take care of myself from there.”

He nodded. “Alright then.”

When he dropped her off he told her how to find him at his office. “The floors ten through to sixteen are my company, I’m on fourteen.”

“Okay.”

“You’ll come?”

She nodded vigorously. “Of course.”

When she went to hop out of the car he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. “Come here…”

They kissed longingly and then looked into each other’s eyes. “I’m so glad I’m here,” she whispered.

He breathed in deeply. “I’m thanking God. I couldn’t have taken another month being away from you.”

“I wish we could just go back to your place…”

“I know, I’m sorry, I’ll go home early alright?” Quickly he stroked her cheek and kissed her again. “I’ll see you later.”


~*~

ah a reunion, I hope you liked it!

23.


“Hello Max. How’s your morning going?”

Max looked up from the photo copying machine to find Stacy, a fellow worker of his, leaning against the door frame. “Oh hey,” he nodded. “Incredible actually, thanks. And you?”

“Could be better…”

“Oh?” He wasn’t really paying attention until she was right at his side touching his arm. Then he looked up surprised.

She smiled. “Yeah, you could take me out for dinner…”

He gulped. “Ah…Stacy, I can’t, I’m sorry.”

“But you took Karen out for drinks the other night,” she pouted and rubbed his arm up and down suggestively. “I don’t think that’s very fair.”

Max shook his head. “They were friendly drinks Stace.”

She continued to pout. “Well she didn’t think they were ‘friendly’ drinks.”

He already knew that because she’d kissed him at the end of the night and he had had to stop it from going further. That was part of the reason he was relieved that Liz was finally here. He didn’t know if he could have held out any longer, not being touched by anyone took its toll on him. Even if they couldn’t compare to Liz.

“I’m sorry Stace.”

He grabbed his photocopies out of the machine and walked back to his office. The only reason he’d been doing it himself was because his secretary had decided to go for an early lunch. Luckily she was just getting back then and he asked her to deliver the sheets to Peter Banks.

“Of course, Mr. Evans.”

“Thanks.”

He went into his office and after he’d sat down at his desk, ran his eyes over his schedule. Ever since he’d arrived in London he’d been keeping himself extremely busy, barely having time to himself so he wouldn’t think and long for Liz. That had been his secret, but now he had to somehow clear away all of his appointments so he could find time to spend with her.

Finally, ten minutes later Samantha let him know that Liz was there and soon there was a knock at the door and she popped her head in. “Hi.”

“Liz, come in, come in,” he stood up instantly and went towards her. He shut the door and before she could take even two steps he was kissing her passionately. “Oh thank God you’re here; I couldn’t have waited a second longer to see you again.”

She smiled hesitantly. “Really?”

“Of course.” He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. “Where can I take you? Anywhere you like…?”

Very forwardly, she said, “All I want to do is go back to your apartment and get naked.”

He was silent for a long agonizing moment and then, “I think my mouth just went dry.”

”I’m glad.”

“There’s only one thing wrong with that plan, I’d have to come back here straight afterwards and it’ll be too hard to leave. Oh screw it, let’s go anyway.”

“Now it’s my turn to say, thank God” She wrapped her arms tight around him and then said, “I have a question.”

“Of course,” he replied.

“Why don’t you speak to me in English?”

“French just seems right,” he answered. “Would you prefer…?”

“No, I don’t mind.”

Suddenly they heard a voice outside the door. “What are all you ladies doing out here?”

Max opened the door only to find Samantha with a glass in her hand and four females looking guilty behind her—including Stacey. Ian crossed his arms over his chest, “All of you get out of here. Max, I’m glad I caught you before you went for lunch. I wanted to confirm the presentation tomorrow.”

“Yes, of course. Ten, right?”

“Perfect. Great.” Liz stepped out from behind the door and smiled nervously. “Oh, hello—I don’t believe we’ve met?”

“Oh! Sorry—how rude of me. Liz this is my boss Ian Rutledge, Mr. Rutledge this is my partner Liz Parker.”

“Nice to meet you,” Liz shook his hand.

“Yes, it is,” he nodded. “This is the first Max has had anyone by since he started here. We were beginning to wonder if he had a life outside of work.”

“Oh? Well, I’ve been busy in Paris for the last few months but as soon as I had a chance I came,” Liz smiled. “And in the knick of time, it sounds like? Now you can tell everyone he does in fact have family and friends.”

He chuckled. “I will do. Now, I won’t keep you—have a good lunch.”

”Will do,” Max said. “Thank you Sir.”

On the way out Liz asked Max, “Why is everyone looking at us?”

He grinned and tightened his hold on her hand. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

When they got to his apartment they went straight to his bedroom. It wasn’t as awkward as they’d both expected because they were so needy after such a long break. “You don’t want to eat first?” Liz teased.

He was already taking off her clothes. “No way.”

Max had just removed his pants and shirt when his cell phone started to buzz. Liz chuckled against his mouth and then leaned down to pick it up from the floor.

“Hello?” he answered without tearing his eyes off her. She started to kiss his neck and run her hands up and down his arms and shoulders enticingly.

“No I might be a little late, oh! Jesus!” Max slapped Liz’s hand away from his crotch and mouthed ‘be good’. “No, no Peter I’m fine.”

She chuckled and waited patiently for him to hang up. “Who was that?”

He brushed her bra straps down her shoulders and kissed her soft skin. Her whole body was paler then he remembered and decided it was probably because of her sickness and staying inside for the past month. “It was Peter, he wanted to me to come back to the office early…”

“Ha!” she said, “Fat chance of that.”

“Hmm…Liz I’m going to have to find time to spend with you.” He wasn’t so much as talking but breathing out words. “I’m always so busy…”

She rid him off his underwear and watched as he squirmed under her hungry gaze. “You’re still shy?” she purred and then covered his mouth in kisses. “How can you still be shy?”

“I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“Well I have you branded in my mind.”

Max finally got her bra off and she was lying on top of him when his cell phone started to ring again. “I hate that thing!” he growled while his hands clasped her firm ass. “Make it stop…”

Liz didn’t want him to miss anything important; she was dead serious about that. He had an important career and she respected it so she grabbed his cell phone for him again and looked at him knowingly. “Answer it.”

“No…” he moaned and dipped one of his hands between her thighs to stroke her already wet centre.

“Max, please…” her eyes fluttered closed.

“Fine.” He flicked his phone open and said exasperatedly, “Hello, Max Evans speaking.”

Liz whispered in his free ear, “I love it when you speak English.”

He smiled at her and ran a hand through her hair. “Yeah, Peter’s already been in touch with me about that. Surely you can wait an hour or so until after my lunch break?”

“Nookie break more like it,” Liz teased and started to stroke his hard arousal. She wanted him inside of her now.

“Yes! Yes! Bye!” Max threw it across the room and started to kiss her intensely. “God Liz, I’ve missed you so much…”

“I need you to…” she sighed and sat up, straddling hips. “Never mind, I’ll do it myself.” When he was finally inside of her they were both speechless and completely aroused. At a frantic pace, they moved against one another—finding ultimate pleasure. The grind of their most intimate spots couldn’t be described—it was so fantastic.

“HHowarrrrrrrrrrrrr, fuck,” Max moaned into her open mouth. “God Liz, jesus!”

Liz saw red when she released and in her core felt a satisfying tingle that spread warmth through her lower belling. Max panted against her, also loosing himself.

“I love you Max,” she whispered. “So much…”

He wanted to reply but he couldn’t; only a grunt came out of him. She chuckled and wrapped her arms around his back, holding him as close as possible and then rubbing her lips against his cheek. “You’re incredibly handsome, do you know that?”

“I have some idea,” he joked when he got his voice back.

She smiled sheepishly and stroked his skin. After a moment she asked seriously, “Do I make you happy?”

“More than anything,” he replied just as seriously and then kissed her temple.

~*~

When he got back to work after leaving Liz lounging around beautifully on his bed, Max was deliriously happy for the whole afternoon. Everyone noticed.

“Your fan club is hexing your girlfriend to death,” Samantha teased. “You should hear them. Oh she’s not even pretty, why is his going out with her of all people? I could make him happier…”

Max groaned agonizingly. “Go and find something better to do right now! Why do you always feel the need to fill me in on these useless things?”

“To boost your ego,” she grinned. “If everyone was lusting after me I’d want to know it.”

“Well not me!”

“Liar.”

“You are this close to being fired.” Max handed her a sheet of paper. “Take this to Peter’s office and say that I hope it’s satisfactory. Also that I won’t be making it out tonight and won’t be in tomorrow until after lunch. Move all of my appointments until a later date.”

She made kissing noises. “Are you going to be with your girrrrrrrrrlfriend?”

“Go away.”

“Alright Mr. Evans.” She no longer called him Max because on one occasion Ian had caught her and gave all of his employees a long lecture on professionalism. “Just one more thing. My cupcake and I have set the date for the wedding and I’m considering inviting you, but only if you’ll come.”

“I’ll think about it.”

After she’d left he finished preparing for his meeting and headed towards the conference room. Only three hours until he could go home!

It passed slowly and he found it hard to concentrate on what was going on because all he could think about his angelic Liz waiting for him. Somewhere up above the Gods had decided to make him one lucky man and for that, he would be eternally grateful.

He drove like a mad man when he finally left the office and certainly broke many laws. She was standing in the kitchen stirring something delicious smelling.

“I could get used to this sight,” he said and pulled off his coat.

She looked up and smiled. “Well I hope you’re hungry.”

“I’m starved.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck tenderly. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

She touched his chin and felt his stubble. “You can grate some cheese?”

He let go of her and went towards the fridge. “All right then.”

When the food was all ready they sat down together. They had a lot to talk about.

~*~

Hi!!!! If you haven't checked out me and Lindsay's new story--what are you waiting for? Go tell us what you think! lol! I'll be posting the next part very soon hopefully--Damn writers block!

Thank you all again, I really can't thank you enough for helping me improve and get better at this,

~nicola

24.

They’d finished their meal and sat down on the couch together. There was an awkward silence for a few minutes as they both thought of what to say.

It was Liz whole finally spoke, “You’re probably wondering about whether or not I’m going to stay.”

He nodded and sipped his coffee. “You could say that.”

“You haven’t changed your mind throughout the course of the day?” she smiled nervously.

He shook his head. “I think its true what they say—the way to the heart of a man is definitely through the stomach,” he chuckled. “No, seriously Liz. I’ve been waiting for this day forever.”

She drew her legs up to her chest and studied him affectionately. “Max…all I thought about as I was getting better was you and coming here to see everything you’ve accomplished. I missed you so much and I got to a place where I was making myself better for you.” She could see the absolute love in his face as she spoke. “I’ve told you all this already but I don’t think you realize that I’ve never thought it was possible for me to love like this—Jesus sometimes I can’t even breathe when I’m thinking about you.”

He reached out and took her hand in his, kissing her knuckles.

“Towards the end, as I was lying in bed sick out of my mind”—he grimaced when she said that—“suddenly the thought of going back to a life in Quimperlé when I was trying so hard to get better seemed ridiculous. If I live in that apartment again I know that everything that had caused me to drink the first time will cause me to do it again. It was really hard for me to admit this to myself because I get attached to things easily and I’m attached to that chocolate shop. But now I realized I’m more attached to you.” She paused to study his reaction. His face was soft and welcoming. “I want to give that all up for you because I know I’ll never get a chance like this again but most of all because I know I’ll never feel like this again. This in love.”

“Liz…”

“I want to stay here with you,” she said and a smile seeped across her lips. “For as long as you’ll have me.”

He ran his hands up her legs and down her thighs. “Thank God,” was the first thing he managed to say. “I don’t know how I would have taken it if you’d said you’re only here for a short holiday.”

She chuckled and cupped his cheeks to give him a soft kiss.

“I think that there’s one very important matter we have to cover if you’re going to be living here,” he said light-heartedly. “What do you think of the décor? You never did tell me if you liked what the designer did.”

“I love it,” she said. “I especially love your room.”

“Good. Also, there’s a few more things, I think it’s vital that you walk around in your underwear—or naked, which ever—as frequently as possible and leave the bathroom door open when you’re in the shower,” he teased. “I have very good central heating so you don’t have to worry about being cold…hmm…maybe that’s not a good thing…”

Liz laughed. “Max!”

“What?” he asked innocently. “I’m deadly serious.”

“I’m so sure,” she replied. “I have one more thing I need to say to you.”

“Yes Angel face?”

“That first time you left me at rehab, you said something that stuck in my mind,” she muttered. “You said, ‘ Part of me thinks you had a drink on New Years just so you’d have an excuse to cower in the dark and not actually take a chance’.”

“I shouldn’t have said that, it wasn’t fair.”

“I’m sorry to admit this but I think what you said is partially true. It was a rotten thing to do but I’m apologizing for it now and you can be assured I’m beating myself up about it every day. I’ve wasted five months that we could have been together.”

“I don’t really believe you drank for that reason,” he told her. “And you shouldn’t either. I was just angry and upset.”

“You had every right to be and now I have something to give you.” She suddenly got up off the couch and disappeared into the bedroom for a moment. When she came back she was holding the journal he’d bought her. “It’s full of writing…” she told him. “Full of thoughts…you don’t actually have to read it like you said, but I wanted you to know that I’d used it and it meant a lot to me.”

He took it from her and flicked through the pages quickly. “Of course I’ll read it. I want to so much.”

She sat down across from him again. “Really?”

“Yes,” he said. “Yes of course. Thank you.”

~*~

Liz sat up in bed and threw her legs over the side so her feet touched the carpet. It was very dark except for the moon light and her bare skin was coloured pearl blue as she walked across the room.

“Hmm…” Max mumbled. “What’s wrong?”

She looked back at him and smiled. “Nothings wrong, I’m just going to the bathroom.”

“Well hurry back.”

He waited anxiously for her to seep in beside him again. She was warm and soft and he liked to be wrapped around her. They’d been talking and making love all night—reacquainting themselves.

Finally she came back and before she climbed under the covers she spun around and flew her arms up and down once or twice. “See, I’m not afraid of you seeing me naked. Why can’t you feel the same way? I’m taking it as a personal blow that you feel so…closed off.”

“It’s nothing against you Liz; it’s just that nudity embarrasses me.”

When she was at his side she snuggled into his embrace. “I thought most guys liked to flaunt everything?”

“Well I’m not most guys,” he pressed his mouth to her neck and inhaled blissfully. “Liz, I want to be completely honest with you.”

She intertwined her fingers through his and said, “Go on.”

“I went out a couple of times with some women from work,” he said. “I allowed myself to be…kissed and didn’t stop it. Although I never let it go any further, and I never ever would. I just want you to know that, okay?”

“I trust you Max. And besides, I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had. I didn’t want you to be lonely.”

“Liz I swore myself to you,” he said. “I wasn’t going to destroy that, even if it was hard sometimes. I never would have cheated on you.”

She kissed his lips and pressed her nose against his. “Max, for the past ten years I’ve known so many men and none of them are like you. Most would have done as they pleased, not thinking twice.”

“Well I love you,” he said. “And I’m not going to treat you like that.”

She trapped one of her thighs between his and pressed her body tightly against his. “I know you won’t Max,” she whispered. “I’ve always known that.”

“Good.”

“The moon is very bright in here, that doesn’t bother you?” she asked. The large windows were directly above his bed and he left the curtains open so that if you lay on your back with your head arched you could see the stars.

“No, I like it,” he said. “I never close those curtains but I may have to now otherwise that whole building over there will get a peep show.”

Liz chuckled against his neck. “That’s true.”

“You need to go back to Quimperlé for a while, don’t you? To set everything up?” his eyes settled on hers.

“I think so. I still have the shop to worry about even if I don’t want to…” she paused. “I don’t want to go alone…do you think there will be some time in a month or so when you can get some time off? Just a week at the most.”

He smiled. “I’ll see what I can do.”

She ran her hands up and down his arms and shoulders. He felt so wonderful under her fingertips and she couldn’t bear not touching him. “I’m going to have to get a job.”

“No,” he said. “Not if you don’t want to. I earn enough to look after you. Have a break, I think you need it.”

“I’ve had a break for five months,” she told him while he kissed her neck. “And I don’t want you supporting me Max. What will people think? Especially your mother—that I’m only here because you’re doing so well? No I can’t have that because eventually you’ll believe it too. I’m here because it’s a new start.”

“You’re rambling,” he chuckled. “Stop worrying about what other people think—most of the time they don’t. You’ll drive yourself insane. I’m just saying you don’t have to work if you don’t want to. I don’t want you to feel as though you have to contribute.”

“I’m going to no matter what you say,” she said. “What do you think I should do?”

“I don’t know anything you want. Maybe a chef?”

“I don’t really have any qualifications…”

“Take a course,” he said. “Though I don’t know what they’d teach you. You’ll probably end up showing them things…”

She laughed. “You love me because of my cooking don’t you?”

He teased, “Of course…”

They stayed up late into the night talking about the future and what Liz could do with herself to keep busy. They were both very excited and fell asleep dreaming about the possibilities.

~*~

It was about three weeks later and Liz had decided she would do a chef’s course and signed up for one that Max found for her. He’d been very busy but finally finished reading her journal and then told her that she should publish it. “It will reach a lot of alcoholics on a personal level and I maybe help them too. I can type it out for you if you want, we’ll have to edit some of it of course…”

“Max, you’re insane,” she said. “No one is going to want to read my boring thoughts. It’s a miracle that you got through it.”

They were in his office about ready to go to lunch. “You obviously don’t realize how eloquent your writing is. Liz you have a style that is far from boring. Have you ever thought about writing novels?”

She laughed at the ridiculousness of it. “What would I write about? No ones going to buy that anyway, this is silly.”

“I can see that you’re hiding your actual pleasure in the idea,” he said. “Come on, you don’t have to do anything. I’ll write it and send it away…”

She bit her lip and turned away from him for a moment, looking down at the busy street. “You really think its okay?”

“It’s…entrapping.”

“You just think that because you love me.”

“Regardless of that, everyone will want to read it.” He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Just give it ago. I wouldn’t do anything that would embarrass you would I? Come on, what’s the worst that can happen?”

She thought about it for a moment. “Nothing I suppose…”

“See?” He kissed her cheek and gave her a quick squeeze before letting go. “I’ve been thinking, we should get a dog.”

She turned to face him. “A dog?”

“Yes, I’ve always wanted one.”

“How about a cat?” she negotiated. “Dogs are smelly.”

“My dog won’t be smelly.” He pulled on his jacket and then handed her hers. “Let’s go. I feel like Mexican. What about you?”

“Mexican sounds great.”

As they were walking towards the elevator Max said, “You know the best thing about talking French with you? No one around here knows what we’re saying so I can say really dirty things if I want.”

She laughed and looked around them. The girls’ stares only bothered her slightly now, she knew how committed to her Max was. “That’s true; imagine what we must look like to them. They’ll be thinking ‘those God-awful rowdy French!’”

He pressed the button for the elevator and kissed her lips. “I don’t care what they think in the least.”

When they got to the restaurant Max announced, “I have two things I need to talk to you about.”

She held his hand across the table. “Alright, nothing bad I hope?”

“No…good,” he smiled. “One—I have talked to Ian and I have next week off so we can go back to Quimperlé then.”

“Oh that’s fantastic!”

“It gets better. I’ve been give a pay rise.”

“Seriously?” she grinned. “I knew it wouldn’t be long, they work you too hard. I’m so happy for you Max, you deserve it so much.”

“It’s good for both of us. Anyway, I think we need to celebrate, a bottle of wine?” he teased. They were slowly getting to a place where it was okay to joke about it. She’d been so good at staying sober since she’d arrived.

With a gentle pinch of his hand, she replied, “Very funny.”

“What I meant to say was non-aloholic cocktails?”

“Sounds great.”

~*~

Next parts the conclusion! Ah! Then I'll be down to two stories! Horrible! Perhaps I should be starting a new one...

25. Conclusion

“I wish I could Liz, but my husband won’t let me no matter how much I beg,” Mrs Benichou said. “I’ll be happy to look after it for you until you find someone else to buy it.”

Liz sighed and rested her head in her hands. “That would be wonderful,” she said.

“I’m so sorry; you know how much I love this place.” Mrs Benichou eyed her thoughtfully. “But wherever you’ve been—you should definitely go back because it agrees with you. You look wonderful and happy.”

She smiled softly and nodded. “Thank you, I will be going back. But I have the burden of this shop to worry about first.”

“I would suggest you close down and give the landlord your notice but that would just break my little old heart,” she explained, “Even if my miserable sod of a husband won’t let me buy it I still want to shop here. It’s just darling.”

Liz nodded. “Yes, it is very pretty.”

”So what are you going to do? Put it on the market?”

“I think that’s the only way,” Liz replied. “I can’t thank you enough for looking after this place for so long. I never could have gone away without your help.”

“It was my pleasure.”

Liz said goodbye to Mrs Benichou and gave her a gift then disappeared into her room to pack some of her things. The telephone rung twenty minutes later. “Liz, I need you to get here this instant.”

“Max?” she smiled. “Why?”

“Because we need to go mushroom picking,” he laughed. “Just come.”

“You’re mother won’t come after me with a knife?”

“No, I won’t let her. I can’t take you back to London in pieces can I?”

It was a short walk to his mother’s house and it was quite warm so she wore sandals, a shirt and a tank top. She was seriously worried that Adèle would give her disapproving looks and maybe even a lecture when she got there.

“Oh you’re here!”

Nicola was outside and came to give her a hug. Liz was surprised by how big she was and told her so. “Tall and pretty.”

“You look pretty too,” she said. “Are you and Max going to get married?”

“I don’t know. That’s up to your brother I think.”

“I think you should,” Nicola took her hand and led her inside. Max was in the kitchen talking quietly to his mother and looked up with a smile when she walked in.

“Finally.”

“Hello Liz, nice to see you again,” Adèle said.

Liz swallowed and then offered her a smile. “You too.”

Max came towards her and took her hand with his. “Let’s go, I want to show you something.”

“Can I come?” Nicola asked.

“No.”

“Please?”

He groaned. “Fine.”

Nicola ran along ahead of them like a pet dog anyway. Max clutched Liz’s hand while they walked through the woods and then when it was time to pick mushrooms he reluctantly let go. “What is it you wanted to show me?” she asked.

He motioned for her to follow him and they came to this clearing in the woods that had as stream running through it. The trees were very old and tall, sheltering them like a roof. Where the sun light managed to trickle through the gaps in the leaves it lit the grass beneath them in a wave-y blanket. “This is nice?”

“Very,” she said. “When did you find it?”

“Oh ages ago, when I was about ten,” he replied. “You know how everyone has that one good place?” he briefly remembered his conversation with Marie about it. How hers was a café in Paris and he’d never admitted his. “This is mine.”

“Really?”

“Hmm,” he nodded. “What do you think?”

She wrapped her arms around herself and looked around. “I think it’s very pretty. I think…I can imagine you coming here as you were growing up.”

They shared a smile. “I used to come here and think about you. I wanted to show it to you.”

“Well now you are,” she said. “And I’m thankful. It’s lovely.”

He was silent for a long moment looking around thoughtfully. Finally he said, “One day, not now, if I ask you to marry me would you say yes?”

“Max! Look at the size of this mushroom! Mom’s going to flip!” Nicola came up between them. “Isn’t it cool?”

Max laughed. “It’s very cool. Go find more.”

“Okay.”

When she had disappeared again Liz said, “Aren’t you a little young to be thinking about marriage?”

He wrapped his arms around her waist. “No, I don’t think so. When you’ve got something you’ve been waiting and wishing for your whole life then you don’t let it go.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

They stayed in Quimperlé for a few more days and swam on the beach. Liz put the shop on the market and Mrs Benichou told her she’d get in touch if anyone was interested in buying it. “I really can’t thank you enough,” Liz told her. Before they left she walked through all the rooms touching everything and remembering her life here.

”His name is Bruno and don’t you think he’s just the sweetest?” Nancy asked. Bruno smiled and wrapped his arm around her.

Liz swallowed and nodded. She didn’t really like the way Bruno was looking at her but she wouldn’t say anything. “What’s for dinner?”

“Well Bruno’s taking me out,” Nancy said. “But there’s food in the freezer if you want something. Perhaps we can bring you something back. You don’t mind do you?”

“No, I don’t mind.”

When they left Liz made herself a sandwich and watched television before going up to bed. She slept for a few hours, only to be woken up around one because of her mother and Bruno drunkenly laughing and making their way to the bedroom. She closed her eyes tight and covered her ears so as not to hear.

A tear had dripped from her eye without her realizing and she quickly wiped it away. There may have been bad times here but there had been good times too. She remembered laughing and dancing around the kitchen to the radio while they were making chocolate. She remembered a birthday and the house covered in balloons.

“Hey.”

She glanced towards the door and found Max leaning against the wall with a soft smile. “Ready to go?”

Her life was going to be so much better now. “Yeah, I’m ready. Let’s go.”

They went to Paris to see Marie before going back to London. Liz didn’t know when she’d be in France again and didn’t want to neglect her friend.

Marie introduced them to her new boyfriend—Ivan Dupot. “You know that at I showed you ages ago?”

“I remember!” Liz laughed. “So this is the guy whose painting I paid a thousand euros for?”

“Aha.”

The two of them went for a walk together so they could be alone for a while. They talked about everything that was going on in their lives. “You’re going to live in London with Max? Do you have any friends there?”

“Yes, I’ve made some at the chefs’ course I’m doing and at a few other places,” she smiled. “It’s nice.”

“Well I suppose I’m happy for you then,” Marie said. “We’ve both finally moved on and did something with our lives.”

Liz hugged her and replied, “Isn’t it fantastic?”

“It so is. Just promise me you won’t forget about me when you’re surrounded by all your new pals.” She genuinely looked pleased for Liz. There wasn’t a trace of jealousy or regret hidden below.

“How could I?” Liz asked. “Don’t be absurd.”

~*~

When their alarm clock went off Liz awoke with a start and tossed her legs over the side of the bed—if she didn’t move instantly she would end up procrastinating for at least another half an hour. Max grumbled beside her and buried his head in his pillow. “I can’t move today,” he said.

She smiled and pulled her robe over her bare body. “I’ll make breakfast, what would you like?”

He didn’t need to think about it, “Orange juice.”

“What?” she rolled her eyes. “That’s not a breakfast—that’s a nothing…how about pancakes and bacon?”

Finally he rolled over and showed his face. “You realize that since you’ve been,” he cleared his sore throat, “living here, I’ve put on a lot of weight.”

“Really? It doesn’t look like it,” she teased. Then, with a devilish grin she yanked the blankets away from his body and laughed. “Now get up or you’ll be late.”

He didn’t move or squirm under her eyes on his body so this led Liz to believe that something was wrong. Climbing on her bed once more, she knelt beside him and asked, “Are you unwell?”

“I may be,” he mumbled huskily. “My throat feels like sandpaper.”

She stroked his cheek and felt his forehead. “Maybe you should call in sick?”

“I can’t I have that meetin”—suddenly a cough erupted from him—“Okay, can you bring me the phone?”

“I’ll ring them for you,” she replied tenderly, an overflow of affection suffocating her. “Maybe you could have a bath? It’ll make you feel better. I’ll run it for you.”

He grumbled okay and then rolled onto his side, closing his eyes again. Liz threw the blankets back over him and went to ring the office. She told his secretary that he was feeling under the weather and that she’d have to postpone his meetings. “Are you sure he can’t come in? He has that important presentation with Mr.Theodore?”

“I’m sure, he’s really feeling horrible.”

There was a pause as she typed something into the computer. “Alright, well tell him I hope he’s better soon.”

Liz took Max the orange juice he’d asked for and then went and turned the hot water taps on in the bath. She had to leave in fifteen minutes or she’d be late for her course so while it was filling she quickly jumped in the shower and washed her hair.

“I wish I could stay and take care of you,” she said as she was getting dressed. “But we’re having a test. You picked a bad day to be sick.”

“I did so,” he grumbled as he headed towards the bathroom. “I probably shouldn’t kiss you goodbye should I?”

She pecked his cheek. “I’ll see you when I get back. Are you sure you don’t want anything to eat?”

“No, I’m fine. Good luck.”

This was her life now and it had been five long months since she’d left rehab and there had been no drinking since. Max didn’t like to take her to company parties because there was alcohol served but she always persuaded him that she’d be fine. He was also alcohol free—he’d said that they were a team and if she wasn’t drinking, he wasn’t either.

After she’d gone to the restaurant and finished with her test she stopped at the bakery to get some food and then headed back home to make lunch. Max was lying around on the couch when she got there, sipping tea and watching DVD’s. “Oh thank God!” he cried when he saw her. “I’m so bored.”

After taking off her coat and scarf she walked towards him. “Imagine what it’d be like if you didn’t have a job?”

“It would be hell,” he replied. They still spoke French to each other when they were alone, except for when they were making love—then Max spoke English because it pleased her so much.

She sat down on the couch and lifted his head to rest on her lap. “You must be hungry now, have you eaten anything?”

“Nope. How’d the test go? Did you pass?” he breathed in her unique scent and closed his eyes.

“I think so…” she kissed his forehead. “I hope so…”

He leaned away from her and coughed harshly into his hand. “I’m glad; at least you’ve had a good week.”

“Oh you poor thing.”

Max had had a very bad week. On Monday he’d gotten a phone call from his mother and she’d told him that Adrien had died. They had been very close and Max was very upset—which was only made worse because he hadn’t been able to make it to the funeral. On Thursday he’d gotten another phone call, this time from Trent. He told him that Adrien had left the winery to them, as well as to Luc. Trent was married now and Luc was out of France at the moment so they’d had to make a decision as to what to do with the business.

None of them wanted to sell it so they decided to co-own it and Trent would move into Adrien’s house with his wife and run it. Luc had no problem with that either so it was settled.

“It’s not like I could have taken it over anyway,” Max said to Liz. He told her of the irony—his fiancée was a recovering alcoholic and he’d just inherited a winery!

“Your sister’s holidays are coming up,” Liz touched his nose. “I think Nicola and Isabelle should come and stay.”

“Yeah, if they want. But I thought we had a wedding to plan?”

“They can help,” she smiled. “Maybe Amélie and her husband could come to?”

Amélie was still very happily married and living in Quimperlé. In fact, it had been one of her friends that had ended up buying Liz’s old store three months ago.

“We don’t have enough room here for four at once,” Max commented. “Maybe at different times they can come?”

“Yeah.” She shifted his head off her lap and stood up. “Now, I’m going to make lunch. What would you like?—I have some delicious bread…”

“You’re always cooking,” he chuckled. “Do you ever get tired of it?”

She was in the kitchen when she replied, “I do it for you. I know how much you like it. It’s my way of saying thank you.”

Max propped himself up and looked at her. “Thank you for what?”

“For everything,” she said. “Imagine what my life would be like right now if it weren’t for you?”

“Imagine what mine would be like?” he replied. “You’re everything and more to me.”

Across the room they looked at each other.

“It’s the same with me for you,” she smiled. She smiled so much now. “Would you like pasta or salad?”

“Pasta,” he replied, watching her adoringly.

Des yeux qui font baiser les miens,
Un rire qui se perd sur sa bouche,
Voila le portrait sans retouche
De l'homme auquel j'appartiens...


~*~

ah, well there it is. I hoped you enjoyed it! Thanks for everything *blows kisses* hope to see you again soon!!!