Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 9:19 am
Chapter 26
Max watched the plane take off for Albuquerque, New Mexico. He had called Jeff and Nancy and told them everything that happened although he knew that they would be furious with him for hurting their daughter. But to his surprise, Jeff just stayed silent and told him that they will take care of Liz and the twins while he resolved the mess he was in.
He also went to Michael and Maria’s house. And that didn’t turn out well though he was expecting it to happen that way. He recalled the discussion he had with Liz’s best friends.
“What do you mean another woman is claiming to have your kid?!” Michael bellowed.
“Exactly what I said.”
“Is it yours? Is she telling the truth?” Maria asked.
“I don’t know.” Max admitted.
“Damn you! How could you do this to her! I knew you couldn’t be trusted in the first place!” Michael faced Maria, “Pack your bags, we’re going to visit Liz and take her to the airport. We’re going home to Roswell.” Turning back to Max, “And you, stay away from her! I mean it, Evans. You come anywhere near her and I won’t hesitate to use violence.” Michael left the two of them standing there as he rushed to his bedroom to pack. If he stayed another minute in the room, God knows what he would’ve done to Max.
“Max, I’d be lying if I say that it’s gonna be ok. Michael is right, we trusted you.”
“Don’t you think I know that, Maria? I don’t even care about what you or Michael thinks. All I care about is Liz. That’s why I’m here. I wanted to ask you to go with her. Just stay by her side. I do love her, Maria. Believe it or not, I love her with my entire heart and soul. I’d die if I lose her. I know it’ll be too much to ask this of you now, but I need you to trust me that I will take care of this. My family is already handling it as we speak. A paternity test will be done to find out once and for all if that child belongs to me.”
“And what if it does? What if you are the father of that child?”
“Like I’ve told Liz, I will only give financial support, that’s all. My children are the only ones that are borne by Liz.”
“How does Liz feel about all this?”
“I don’t know. She’s really hard to read right now.” Max said tiredly.
“What did she tell you, aside from wanting to go to Roswell?”
“She said she’d still come back to me.”
“But?” Maria could tell that there was something bothering Max.
“But I don’t know if I deserve her anymore after all the shit I’ve put her through.” Max said pessimistically.
Maria placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Max, if Liz says she’ll come back to you, she will. And it is because she still loves you. I understand why you feel this way now, but this is Liz’s decision. Just be grateful that you haven’t lost her.”
“I know. I better go now. I’ll see you at the hospital.”
The entire Evans family arrived at the hospital and finally saw the woman that started it all, Pam Troy.
She rushed to Max’s side, holding the little boy.
“Max, I can’t believe you’re having us go through this! Can’t you see the resemblance?” She lifted the baby up to him but Max just took a step away from them.
“He is not my son. Even after this test, my children are only those that come from my wife’s womb.”
“Where is the little wifey anyway? I don’t see her here. Did she realize what a scumbag you are and left? She couldn’t take the pressure could she? Don’t worry, Max. We’re still here. We could be your family if only you’d let us.”
“Never.”
“Mr. Evans?” The doctor came walking down the hall.
Everyone turned to the doctor.
“My name is Dr. Grant Sorenson. I know that this must be such a dilemma so why don’t we start with the test already.”
Max agreed as well as Philip and Andrew. Isabel noticed Pam clutching the baby tighter as it began to whimper.
“Why don’t we start with Mr. Evans?” The doctor turned to Max.
Max nodded and allowed the doctor to lead him back in his clinic.
It only took a few minutes before Max came out. He didn’t want to have to stay there any longer. As soon as he left the clinic, he walked straight out to the hallway without even giving Pam and her son another glance with the rest of the Evans clan following him.
Once he was out of the hospital, Diane walked up to him and held his hand. Max quickly stopped and hugged his mother with tears pouring out of his eyes. For the first time in his life, he was truly scared of what one simple test could mean for him and Liz.
Two days later, they were all called back in court. Max was wringing his hands together with his parents at either side of him.
The judge came in and everyone stood up.
“The honorable Vanessa Whitaker presiding.”
Judge Whitaker sat down on her chair and everyone followed suit. The baby was fussing on Pam’s lap and Max couldn’t help but look at them.
The bailiff handed a medium-sized envelope to the judge. Max took a deep breath and held it in. The judge opened the envelope and read the contents. Then she handed the paper back to the bailiff.
“In the case of Maxwell Philip Evans and his paternity towards Matthew Patrick Troy, the DNA test proves with a 99.9% accuracy that Maxwell Philip Evans is NOT the father of Matthew Patrick Troy.”
Max exhaled a gasp. Diane turned to her son and hugged him. Philip hugged Max too and then turned to his other children beaming. They congratulated Max with the outcome of the paternity test.
Andrew moved over to Pam Troy who was seething with anger.
Pam knew that if a paternity test was done, all her plans would be ruined. But when the papers were served, she had no other choice but to comply.
“What do you want now?” Pam asked furiously.
“I’m claiming for the damages that you have done to my brother and his wife. You do know that she was hospitalized because of this stupid prank. And by the way, we did know that the child isn’t Max’s and that it belongs to one unknown producer who promised you to become a star in his movies. Too bad you weren’t as insightful, maybe then you could have known that he was just trying to get into your pants and that his company was already bankrupt.” Andrew sneered.
Pam read the paper Andrew handed to her. “You’re taking my son away?! No! You can’t do that!”
“Yes we can if we can prove that you intentionally used your own child to extort money from my brother.”
“But I didn’t get anything, not even a single cent!”
“And yet you managed to put my sister-in-law in the hospital and endangered my brother’s unborn children.”
“How was I supposed to know that she would be so weak?!”
“I suggest you find a good lawyer, Ms. Troy. Because I can assure you that my brother and my family will stop at nothing until he sees that you get what you deserve. I’ll see you again, in court.” And with that, Andrew walked away leaving a crying Pam holding her baby.
Max was too numb to even realize that there was another scene happening inside the courtroom. The only thing he could think of was Liz.
He quickly got his mobile phone and dialed the Parkers’ home in Roswell.
“Liz?”
“Max? This is Nancy.”
“Nancy, hi, is Liz there?”
“Yes, let me just go get her.”
Nancy ran up the steps and went in Liz’s bedroom. Liz was lying on her back, asleep with dried tear marks on her face.
“Liz? Lizzie, wake up. It’s Max.” Nancy roused her daughter.
“Max?” Liz asked sleepily.
“Here.” Nancy gave her the phone.
“Max?”
Max could hear the sleepiness in her voice. “Liz? Baby, it’s me.” Max was smiling from ear to ear upon hearing Liz.
“What is it?” Liz knew instantly that something big had happened.
“It’s over.”
“Over? What’s over?” Liz started to panic. ‘Was Max talking about their marriage? Was the child really his?’
“The child isn’t mine!”
“What?”
“I’m NOT the father.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really!”
“I’m so happy for you, Max.”
“For us, baby, for us. I’ll be getting on the next plane out of here. I’ll be there soon, Liz.”
“Ok, I’ll be waiting.”
Both Max and Liz hung up after exchanging ‘I love you’s.
“What happened?” Nancy asked. She didn’t leave the room when she gave the phone to Liz and managed to listen to the conversation, at least from Liz’s end.
“The baby isn’t his, Mom.”
“I’m glad, sweetheart. So what now?”
“Now we can finally go back to living as husband and wife.”
“Liz, I need to ask. You know what kind of life you married into. What will you do if this happens again?”
Liz was caught off guard with that question. “I honestly don’t know yet.”
“Lizzie, just go back to your vows. For better or for worse, remember? Despite his past, I know that Max is a good man. And he has shown and proven so many times how much he truly loves you.”
“I know that, Mom.”
“Good. Now I better get ready to welcome one more into our home.”
Liz nodded. But as soon as her mother closed the door, she wondered if that was all that mattered. Will their love and the wedding vows they took be enough to help them get through everything if something like this does happen again?
to be continued...
Max watched the plane take off for Albuquerque, New Mexico. He had called Jeff and Nancy and told them everything that happened although he knew that they would be furious with him for hurting their daughter. But to his surprise, Jeff just stayed silent and told him that they will take care of Liz and the twins while he resolved the mess he was in.
He also went to Michael and Maria’s house. And that didn’t turn out well though he was expecting it to happen that way. He recalled the discussion he had with Liz’s best friends.
“What do you mean another woman is claiming to have your kid?!” Michael bellowed.
“Exactly what I said.”
“Is it yours? Is she telling the truth?” Maria asked.
“I don’t know.” Max admitted.
“Damn you! How could you do this to her! I knew you couldn’t be trusted in the first place!” Michael faced Maria, “Pack your bags, we’re going to visit Liz and take her to the airport. We’re going home to Roswell.” Turning back to Max, “And you, stay away from her! I mean it, Evans. You come anywhere near her and I won’t hesitate to use violence.” Michael left the two of them standing there as he rushed to his bedroom to pack. If he stayed another minute in the room, God knows what he would’ve done to Max.
“Max, I’d be lying if I say that it’s gonna be ok. Michael is right, we trusted you.”
“Don’t you think I know that, Maria? I don’t even care about what you or Michael thinks. All I care about is Liz. That’s why I’m here. I wanted to ask you to go with her. Just stay by her side. I do love her, Maria. Believe it or not, I love her with my entire heart and soul. I’d die if I lose her. I know it’ll be too much to ask this of you now, but I need you to trust me that I will take care of this. My family is already handling it as we speak. A paternity test will be done to find out once and for all if that child belongs to me.”
“And what if it does? What if you are the father of that child?”
“Like I’ve told Liz, I will only give financial support, that’s all. My children are the only ones that are borne by Liz.”
“How does Liz feel about all this?”
“I don’t know. She’s really hard to read right now.” Max said tiredly.
“What did she tell you, aside from wanting to go to Roswell?”
“She said she’d still come back to me.”
“But?” Maria could tell that there was something bothering Max.
“But I don’t know if I deserve her anymore after all the shit I’ve put her through.” Max said pessimistically.
Maria placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Max, if Liz says she’ll come back to you, she will. And it is because she still loves you. I understand why you feel this way now, but this is Liz’s decision. Just be grateful that you haven’t lost her.”
“I know. I better go now. I’ll see you at the hospital.”
The entire Evans family arrived at the hospital and finally saw the woman that started it all, Pam Troy.
She rushed to Max’s side, holding the little boy.
“Max, I can’t believe you’re having us go through this! Can’t you see the resemblance?” She lifted the baby up to him but Max just took a step away from them.
“He is not my son. Even after this test, my children are only those that come from my wife’s womb.”
“Where is the little wifey anyway? I don’t see her here. Did she realize what a scumbag you are and left? She couldn’t take the pressure could she? Don’t worry, Max. We’re still here. We could be your family if only you’d let us.”
“Never.”
“Mr. Evans?” The doctor came walking down the hall.
Everyone turned to the doctor.
“My name is Dr. Grant Sorenson. I know that this must be such a dilemma so why don’t we start with the test already.”
Max agreed as well as Philip and Andrew. Isabel noticed Pam clutching the baby tighter as it began to whimper.
“Why don’t we start with Mr. Evans?” The doctor turned to Max.
Max nodded and allowed the doctor to lead him back in his clinic.
It only took a few minutes before Max came out. He didn’t want to have to stay there any longer. As soon as he left the clinic, he walked straight out to the hallway without even giving Pam and her son another glance with the rest of the Evans clan following him.
Once he was out of the hospital, Diane walked up to him and held his hand. Max quickly stopped and hugged his mother with tears pouring out of his eyes. For the first time in his life, he was truly scared of what one simple test could mean for him and Liz.
Two days later, they were all called back in court. Max was wringing his hands together with his parents at either side of him.
The judge came in and everyone stood up.
“The honorable Vanessa Whitaker presiding.”
Judge Whitaker sat down on her chair and everyone followed suit. The baby was fussing on Pam’s lap and Max couldn’t help but look at them.
The bailiff handed a medium-sized envelope to the judge. Max took a deep breath and held it in. The judge opened the envelope and read the contents. Then she handed the paper back to the bailiff.
“In the case of Maxwell Philip Evans and his paternity towards Matthew Patrick Troy, the DNA test proves with a 99.9% accuracy that Maxwell Philip Evans is NOT the father of Matthew Patrick Troy.”
Max exhaled a gasp. Diane turned to her son and hugged him. Philip hugged Max too and then turned to his other children beaming. They congratulated Max with the outcome of the paternity test.
Andrew moved over to Pam Troy who was seething with anger.
Pam knew that if a paternity test was done, all her plans would be ruined. But when the papers were served, she had no other choice but to comply.
“What do you want now?” Pam asked furiously.
“I’m claiming for the damages that you have done to my brother and his wife. You do know that she was hospitalized because of this stupid prank. And by the way, we did know that the child isn’t Max’s and that it belongs to one unknown producer who promised you to become a star in his movies. Too bad you weren’t as insightful, maybe then you could have known that he was just trying to get into your pants and that his company was already bankrupt.” Andrew sneered.
Pam read the paper Andrew handed to her. “You’re taking my son away?! No! You can’t do that!”
“Yes we can if we can prove that you intentionally used your own child to extort money from my brother.”
“But I didn’t get anything, not even a single cent!”
“And yet you managed to put my sister-in-law in the hospital and endangered my brother’s unborn children.”
“How was I supposed to know that she would be so weak?!”
“I suggest you find a good lawyer, Ms. Troy. Because I can assure you that my brother and my family will stop at nothing until he sees that you get what you deserve. I’ll see you again, in court.” And with that, Andrew walked away leaving a crying Pam holding her baby.
Max was too numb to even realize that there was another scene happening inside the courtroom. The only thing he could think of was Liz.
He quickly got his mobile phone and dialed the Parkers’ home in Roswell.
“Liz?”
“Max? This is Nancy.”
“Nancy, hi, is Liz there?”
“Yes, let me just go get her.”
Nancy ran up the steps and went in Liz’s bedroom. Liz was lying on her back, asleep with dried tear marks on her face.
“Liz? Lizzie, wake up. It’s Max.” Nancy roused her daughter.
“Max?” Liz asked sleepily.
“Here.” Nancy gave her the phone.
“Max?”
Max could hear the sleepiness in her voice. “Liz? Baby, it’s me.” Max was smiling from ear to ear upon hearing Liz.
“What is it?” Liz knew instantly that something big had happened.
“It’s over.”
“Over? What’s over?” Liz started to panic. ‘Was Max talking about their marriage? Was the child really his?’
“The child isn’t mine!”
“What?”
“I’m NOT the father.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really!”
“I’m so happy for you, Max.”
“For us, baby, for us. I’ll be getting on the next plane out of here. I’ll be there soon, Liz.”
“Ok, I’ll be waiting.”
Both Max and Liz hung up after exchanging ‘I love you’s.
“What happened?” Nancy asked. She didn’t leave the room when she gave the phone to Liz and managed to listen to the conversation, at least from Liz’s end.
“The baby isn’t his, Mom.”
“I’m glad, sweetheart. So what now?”
“Now we can finally go back to living as husband and wife.”
“Liz, I need to ask. You know what kind of life you married into. What will you do if this happens again?”
Liz was caught off guard with that question. “I honestly don’t know yet.”
“Lizzie, just go back to your vows. For better or for worse, remember? Despite his past, I know that Max is a good man. And he has shown and proven so many times how much he truly loves you.”
“I know that, Mom.”
“Good. Now I better get ready to welcome one more into our home.”
Liz nodded. But as soon as her mother closed the door, she wondered if that was all that mattered. Will their love and the wedding vows they took be enough to help them get through everything if something like this does happen again?
to be continued...