One week later,
The snow was largely gone. And none was in the forecast. Even though Christmas was now only a few days away. School was completely out until the new year, and most of the town was in the glow of the festive season. But a select group was preparing for something that was not about expressing the mood of celebrating the holidays. Instead, they were preparing for the opposite. They were preparing to attend a funeral of someone most of them had not even met. They were doing this because it was what mattered to them.
And especially important to those who lived in the house by the desert, as the dust sand that surrounded them was back in its golden glory. As it taunted them to remember how it used to be, and how on a very unwise night, things had changed.
Now two men were preparing to attend the ritual to send their wishes to the grieving family that had to bury the dead on this day. In the bedroom of the son. River was getting dressed. After all, he was going because he had met the daughter on a few occasions. And he was being the standup guy he was. He was raised to be a good guy, to help those who were distressed
Mariah is definitely distressed he thought as he was putting the tie on that he had gotten years before for a family occasion that was rare in his family and his aunt had taken him shopping for suit, and a tie. And now years later, he was still wearing it.
And it did not look too big, even though he was not as young as he once and he wondered about this day. He had not seen Mariah in the week since the chaos of the first twenty-four hours that robbed her father from her life, and how connections were revealed that neither was willing to discuss so River did not know how Mariah was doing. They never ran into the same circles over the last week.
Not that he expected too, because River knew her grandparents from Chicago were in town. So, it was a busy time for her, so yeah, he did not expect to have seen her, but he was going to today to be able to give his wishes to the girl he had met on the night where everything changed for the town, and for her. As he thought of his father.
He and his father had co-existed this past week in the only way they could,
in silence River thought. They barely communicated, and that was how he had survived this week as his best friend was still grounded and on Sheriff detail. So, they had not spent much time once school and exams were out.
River figured he did well enough on those exams. It was just something he had to do, just like going to the funeral of a family he barely knew. As he wondered once again how his father was handling it.
*
Of course, River knew he could just ask his father, but silence was the best course of action, so they did not say the wrong thing. Max knew this was not the answer as he was also in his room, looking at the mirror and at the suit that barely had been dusted off in the years since he wore it last. Not that he was in the mood to want to go shopping for something he would not wear after this day, s
o this ratty old suit would do Max thought as he looked in the mirror and heard the music going in his son’s room.
It does not look that bad Max thought as he looked at himself in the mirror, and knew he was doing this because he wanted to see Liz again. To give her his wishes, and how she did not deserve this.
Not Liz he thought. As he cursed the god for bringing this tragedy on his former girlfriend.
Why could you not just taken it out on me, like you have all these years he muttered to himself.
Yes, he and God were not on the best terms but then he had always been distrustful, and even more so over what he had lost out on over the years.
Why should trust when I have lost so much, he muttered to himself, even though he knew it was not God giving him what his life was dealing with.
It is me because
if I make it my business to sink instead of making something of my life? he muttered to himself.
Not that he was in a mood to want to change it.
But he could do his duty today and think of Liz. It was the least he could do. Because he wondered how she was doing. As River had not seen Mariah around. Max had not seen Liz. And knew from Michael that Maria had been spending a lot of time at Liz’s place. Liz’s in-laws were in town and were staying through today. So, he did not know how this day would go.
But he wanted to be here, and to see Liz once again.
All his dreams this past week have been about the brunette from his past. It was probably immoral because she was taken, was he thought. That is the big part of that word. But he allowed his dreams to exist in his head. All he wanted was to see her in person. And to know that she was doing alright.
Please be alright he thought. He supposed she was, because he had her kids to deal with, and to help move on in this too often bizarre world.
At least Liz is in it Max thought. And thought even more how early she could have been gone. Although sometimes he wondered what would have happened if he had not stepped in that day, but in
no world did he want her not to be in it and he saved her life when he did not believe he even had a chance with her.
As long as she was living, that is all I wanted in this crummy world.
She was, and she is, and that is what he had to take solace in… As there was a knock on the door of his bedroom, and he groaned.
Because he knew who it was.
“Yes,” was all he could say as he opened the door and looked at his son. So polished, and so grown up at seventeen
Where did the time go? He asked as he knew he could not claim credit for who his son was today because all he had done these past years, was live in the same house as River was basically raising himself.
Not that made it any easier because it did not, but Max’s eyes were opening to how much he let bypass them, and how much he was a non-factor in his son’s life. Would that change? Max did not know or begin to know.
“Are we going or not?” came a disgruntled River who saw his father standing in a suit, something that was not typical of his father’s wardrobe in years, maybe ever. River at age 17 could not remember a time where his father was as professional looking as he was now, even if it were an older suit, which was obvious to River.
But that is Dad he told himself.
It was.
“Yes,” Max said as they both knew it was a show of family unity to be there today. The whole family would be there, and one of the command appearances that require you to show up, although for this day Max was the one who was going to be there, whether anyone else was going to be there or not. Still, it was going to be something the Evans family had not had in many years, if ever, especially not since those days when everything went south back in high school.
Family unity they both thought.
What a concept.
“Then let us get going,” River thought as they walked out of the house and got in his father’s special car. The one that River had barely seen over the years but knew existed because he had seen it in the garage. Hardly moved an inch until the week before, and now River got to sit in as they drove into town and to an event, they both did not want to have to go too…
As the car soon parked, in a parking lot of the chapel where the service was going to be. The parking lot was already parked. Given the media attention on the accident the weekend before, and the untimely death of new resident,
Brady Anthony and the leaving his wife, town golden girl, who was infamous in her own right, and their children. It was going to be a big event.
Max barely found a space. And saw that his parents, and Isabel and Kyle along with their kids had just arrived minutes before they arrived. They all nodded as they gathered, as Isabel saw something she had not seen in her brother in a long time,
life she thought.
Even if it is in that old suit she thought. As she and the girls were more fashionable given Isabel’s fashion expertise, even though this was a funeral and not a wedding.
Max did not say anything, which was normal and on course. But his family was just happy to have him here although there was no way he was not going to be, if he had his way, and they knew it because after all,
it was Liz they thought even know she was not single, and spoken for, even if her husband was the reason, they were mourning the untimely death. Instead, Max just walked past, and walked into the chapel and saw
her.
Her, the reason he had a chance in the first place.
Because she had given him one.
Liz was in the aisle talking to Maria, with her daughter Mariah by her side. If there was ever an image of how close the girl looked like her mother at this age, it was the memories that flooded Max as he glanced at the girl he loved once.
And the girl he lost.
*
Liz was talking to her daughter, and her best friend and trying to figure out how to make it through this day. The past week had been going way too fast for her taste. She just wanted to sink and disappear, but she had too many responsibilities to do such a thing. All she had to do was look at her daughter to know that.
Or her son, out on a pass before admittance into the local rehab facility. Lex was doing amazingly well, but their home was not equipped for his needs until his injuries started to heal just a bit, and she figured being at home with her and Mariah would be lot of doom and gloom. Being out of the house, would do him some good even though she missed her son and was visiting him constantly before his release from the hospital the day before.
Lex was sitting in one of the seats, and Jaime Valenti noticed and walked, and they started to talk. It did Liz good to know her son could make some friends in this new town of his. She had put a lot of pressure on her kids to move to a new town that they did not know because she had kept them away from it, and now they were all alone in this town.
“Are you okay?” Maria was asking her best friend. As her husband Michael and their son Mac was off in another part of the church, waiting for the service to begin. Maria was spending her time with her friend which is where she had been spending a large part of her time the last week. Ever since Mariah confessed about the confusing night where she had found her mother in disarray, and both had seen the ghost of a former friend of both Maria and Liz. A loss that still dug deep in them.
Alex Maria thought.
I miss you Alex he thought. His funeral had been the last one she had attended, and she remembered that time, and how it led to a lot of inner angst in the group, and for some of them, it never got better and in end it started new lives, even though she knew that Alex would want them to be happy.
But on a day like this, you had to doubt that was true. Because it was all so senseless to lose Alex back in high school, in the manner they did, and now to lose Brady in the way he did. Maria knew Liz had yet to come to terms with it.
How could you have given how it had happened? Thankfully, Mariah had gotten a clean bill of health. She was completely healthy. No trace of the heart condition that had killed her father.
They were still waiting for Lex’s results, and she knew there was stress on her friend’s shoulders because how close the boy and his father were, in looks, and how they shared a blood type. It made Liz worry that they might share this condition even if she knew if she knew, they could treat it, and Lex was so young, because what had hurt Brady in the end, was not knowing. And not treating it when it could have helped.
So, Mariah prayed that Lex would not be like his father in this case, as she saw turn her head when two people walk into the chapel.
Oh, great Maria muttered to herself. Seeing how Max was looking at Liz. Although he gave him credit that he had abided by his word and not pressured Liz, and from what she knew. Max had basically stayed home over the past week and had not come near this town. Which made Maria grateful because it was not what her friend needed, even though she looked briefly at Max and walked away from Maria.
Instead of walking towards Max and River, and where they were standing. Liz turned, and walked towards her in-laws, which was a choice Maria knew that was amusing because of the relationship she knew her friend did have with her in-laws.
Picking one’s in-laws, brave Liz, brave Maria mused.
Max nodded at her, and she repeated the motion as he went to take his seat. And Michael came into the room and spotted his friend and went to talk to him, taking a seat by him. Which meant Maria would have to sit by them. After all Liz would have to sit with the Anthony’s, her family, and her kids. River had walked off and was talking to Mac and Jessica.
So, she only prayed this day would go well for her friend…
She would find out, as the ceremony was starting…
*
A few hours later,
Liz wanted to kill her in-laws. She bristled when they came near her, as they prepared to stand in the grieving family line at the reception to honor her husband. It was being held after the ceremony, and before a few family friends would join her as she went to the graveyard to bury her husband. A fight she had with her in-laws when it was revealed that there would be no further debate about the fact Brady would not be buried in Chicago with the other Anthony’s. Instead, she wanted her husband here in Roswell because this was their home now and would have been Brady’s home if they had been able to live more than the two weeks that he did.
Mitchell and especially Christina Anthony did not understand how she could choose Roswell for their son’s burial.
The funeral was one thing. But the burial was a completely different issue. And so, relations had been frosty at best, but they were standing by each other now as family, and she knew they would always have a relationship because of the kids. Mariah stood next to her, and Lex was in his wheelchair beside his big sister, and they were receiving the well wishes of the family that was able to come, and friends that were mostly Liz.
Which had been Christine’s point that her son did not know these people. She understood why the funeral had to be here, because of Lex’s condition and not be able to travel, but she did not understand why her son had to be buried. “This is not our town. Brady was raised in Chicago, and should be buried there, along with his family…” Christine bristled at her daughter-in-law as they were making arrangements. Immediately Liz had put down her foot. “The kids and I will be here, and while the kids will be visiting you. I do not intend to stop that Christina, because you deserve to know your grandchildren. But Brady’s family will be here and this where he should be laid to rest so we can visit when you want to…”
“If you choose too,” Christina muttered because she knew her daughter-in-law was not religious… Although Liz did believe in going to church service at Christmas or on Easter, but she was not into the faith, and she and Brady were not raising the kids up in a religious household, which had been a bone of contention between Liz and Brady with his family and which is why…
Brady was good with the move here, Liz thought to herself.
It got them out of the glare of his family and their money. “I love your son and I want him to be here with me, and our kids” Liz said softly, as tears came down her face.
“And if you move again?” Mitchell asked.
“My family is here, my parents, and I do not foresee myself leaving Roswell but it’s all very new, and no one can say for sure what the future is going to be,” Liz muttered. “Certainly, your son and me didn’t foresee this to have happened. This was your son’s home, and we were prepared to make a life here, and unfortunately, he did not get a chance to be here long, but his son and daughter are here, and they deserve a chance to know they can see their father if they choose to, or should I want to see him, and not to have to buy a plane ticket to go visit him. Then for sure, we would not be able to go visit him on his birthday, or his and I’s anniversary or any day I choose to want to visit my husband….”
That had shut up them, and so they had been in a tense alliance ever since because Liz did know they loved their son. And most importantly Brady loved his parents, and they loved their grandkids, and Mariah and Lex needed their grandparents, and Liz was not going to harm that relationship even if she had a tense relationship with her in-laws.
And now they stood in silence and waited for the lines of well wishes to come through, and give their prayers, and thoughts on the loss they were suffering.
Most of you would not know how it feels she thought. She had gone through it before when they lost Alex. She then got her miracle in getting Max back from certain death, or
certified death. But that had not stopped him at the time, and he came back.
But now Liz knew that was not possible for her husband. She had seen him in the casket during the service, as if she had any doubts because she did not. But still it had killed her to see her husband in that casket, unable to come out. And now she stood and waited for the well wishes to go away.
It was almost over, but then it was not, and one person came through the line, “Hello, Liz… I am very sorry for your loss…”
Max Liz thought.
“Oh, god” she wondered how she was going to get through this day.
But she said, “Thank you,” which was all she could say.
*
Meanwhile Mariah was standing next to her mother and glaring at the man who was stopped in front of her mother, and she wished he had not come. Although she knew she had no choice about who comes to a funeral, and she did not doubt he felt sorry for their loss, but she had doubts about the man who acted like he had a past with his mother. Of course, she knew her mother probably had a past before her father. Afterall, they only met in university. But she did not like how River’s father looked at her mother.
And wished her father could come back and do something about it. But she knew it was not possible. At least she was not going to join him due to that heart condition. She now knew she was healthy. But they did not know about her brother.
“Who is that?” came said brother, who was sitting in his wheelchair because he was not in the position in his rehab to be able to be on crutches, and it was better to be sitting so he did not feel the pain all the time. Although, he was happy to be out of the hospital, but he knew he was going right back in, tomorrow, for that rehab facility.
But if it got him on his feet, he could take almost anything. Although he wished he did not have to be missing his father.
I miss you Dad he thought, but he saw the man standing in front of his mother and looking at her like they had history. And he saw his big sister glaring at the man, and it made him curious. “Who is it?” he asked once more.
“Nobody,” came his sister.
Lex doubted it was anyone but did not push it. Not on this day. While Mariah was looking a little warmly at the teenager beside the man. Lex might be twelve, but he knew that many boys had been interested in his sister back home. Not that his parents allowed her to really date until she met
Josh. Or had she really asked until she did, but Lex figured Roswell was a different town.
Not like he had gotten a chance to investigate it in the last week since he was in the hospital, but he knew this was their home now.
Even though Mariah had told him that she had heard their grandparents fighting with their mother over her plans to stay in Roswell. They wanted them to come back so that their Anthony grandparents could help and embrace them even more. But the one thing he knew was his mother bristled at the notion of his father’s money.
So, his mother was not going to be anxious to take them back to Chicago anytime soon.
Not that Lex wanted to go back as the line got moving again and the man nodded at both Mariah and him, even though his sister had another glare for the man, so Lex knew his sister was aware of what was going on, and that meant he was out of the loop on something. But he had the sense that he would be hearing about…
“Sorry,” River said to Mariah and Mariah nodded right back, and soon the line was over. And he wheeled himself over to spend time with his Grandparent Parkers, as they were happy to see him. Mariah went off to find a bathroom, and to cry in peace and quiet.
While Liz wanted to escape from the pressures of everything. So, she walked away from the line and headed outside because they were at the same facility that she had once known for hosting Isabel’s first wedding.
The reception of that day was now playing host to the reception to honor her husband. And Liz wanted to get away from everything, and especially her in-laws. So, she walked outside, onto the balcony, and overlooked the gardens.
She needed space. So, she made sure she got some.
*
Max saw her leave. Head out to the balcony, but he knew he had to give her some time even if every instinct told her to head out, and to speak to her. But he knew she had to be feeling a lot of emotion today. As he continued to watch, stand guard almost and make sure nothing hurt her. “You are doing the right thing,” came a voice and he turned and saw it was his sister. As Kyle was talking to his father, and Amy Deluca.
Jessica and Jaime were talking to Mac and River.
The town had indeed come out for this gathering, even if only a select really knew the deceased at all. Isabel felt it was odd to be back in this place, where she had celebrated her first wedding in as she reflected on how that was an error in judgment. She would always love Jesse because he was genuinely a good man, and they might have made their marriage work if she had gotten to Boston before his tragic car accident.
She would never know because life had not worked out like that. But it did give a memory of that in her daughter, Jessica. Which is why she was cherishing her daughter and was trying to give her the best chance in this world. Because she did not get a chance to know her father, because Jesse would have been such a great father.
Whether they could make it work was another story. Because she was seeing in her relationship with Kyle the wisdom of having some love you, for
who you are and not wishing that you were something you could not be. Which why it was working with Kyle, and it probably would have not long term with Jesse.
“How are you doing?” Max asked as he was aware that the last time, they had been at one of these things was when Jesse had passed away. “I know the memories cannot be easy for you?” he asked as he knew he had a lousy life, but occasionally he could tell when his sister was hurting.
“I just wish he could have known his daughter, that is all” Isabel murmured as the pain was still of how easy Jesse could have been taken away from them. Whether their marriage would have worked out was one thing, but it stings to know Jesse was not in this world anymore.
Especially on a day like this. As they watched as Liz was now the widow, who was dealing with burying the man she loved, and had spent sixteen years with… Although Max did not like knowing it but was indeed one of those facts of life.
People move on he thought.
I did not Max muttered, but that was a whole other story he knew. About why he chose to dwell in what he could not have, when he had actively made choices that had made sure his life was this way. As he watched through the big windows as Liz was still outside. But he was telling himself not to go out there, and to have the peace of grief sustain her for now, without the past intruding.
*
Mariah was witnessing the scene. She was finished talking to her grandparents, her mother’s parents because she had seen enough of her other grandparents back at the house.
Thankfully, they are headed home tomorrow she thought. Although they had offered to stay through the holidays, but her mother resisted that offer because Mariah knew her mother shared a complicated relationship with her grandparents, especially her grandmother. She knew they could be a lot to deal with, which is why they were closer to her mother’s family despite being able to see her Anthony grandparents more often when they were living in Chicago.
This was a new life, and Mariah was still getting used to and she hated seeing how River’s father was scoping out her mother, and barely could tear his eyes away from her.
Perfect she muttered. “You are Mariah?” came a sympathetic voice. One she had not met although she had seen her in the school hallway, before the accident because she had been off school since her father’s death. And now she did not have to go back until the start of the new year.
“Yeah, so” Mariah murmured.
“The name is Jessica Ramirez Evans,” came Jessie. “Although most of the time I go by Jessie,” she said softly. “I am sorry for your loss…”
“Thank you,” Mariah nodded. “Any relation to River?”
“Cousin,” Jessie said with a smile. “I have seen you around, we all go to the same school, right?” she asked as she did not know how to access the new girl. Since she was not even born when her father died, she had no frame of reference to how you are supposed to react to a parent dying. After all, her mother had raised her, and Kyle had been like a second father even though Jessica had been raised to know her father was dead, and that it was a terrible accident, but he would have loved being a father to her, and before they knew it, her mother had moved on with Kyle and even before they had, Kyle had always been a part of her life. And she had her grandparents who loved her.
“I guess I have something to look forward to after the holidays?” came Mariah who was not thrilled to be having to go back to school, in a new town with so much time disrupted. And now she was facing the future without her father, and with her brother still ailing from his injuries. The future was not looking bright.
“If you are looking for friend, I am always here” Jessica said with a smile as River approached, and they started to talk and life did not seem as unattainable for Mariah as it seemed easy for the moment, at least. Although she could not help but see that River’s father was still looking at her mother, who was still outside, and now talking to her Aunt Maria.
*
Liz was watching the sunshine on the flowers in the garden as she knew she had to go back in and be the guest her husband would have expected on this night. But it was all coming apart because she suspected her life was going to be changing in ways, she had no idea when she elected to come back to Roswell with her family. Now her husband was gone, and she had to handle what life was going to offer her, and her kids. As she turned and could see her friend was trying to be encouraging but Maria had everything.
She has a husband who is not going to die unless something drastic happened Liz muttered because she knew that Max would be called into action to help if he got to Michael or anyone else in time.
Brady did not have that chance because
he was human, she muttered to herself. She thought she had dealt with this pain once before, when she believed she had lost Max. Back in high school.
She had, but she had gotten her miracle. But miracles only happen once.
They do not come again.
“How am I going to live without him?” came Liz in a mutter and Maria felt the pain that her friend was facing, yes, she had a husband who was alive and had a built-in escape hatch
unless it failed, she thought but she had lived through losing Alex.
And that had been a horrendous loss, that had caused a lot of carnage. She and Alex might not have been anything but friends, but still the loss cut them deep. Both her and Liz, and so she knew what it felt to lose someone, so tragically and without reason.
“You will put one foot in front of the other,” Maria smiled as she turned and saw what Liz was looking at,
Max she moaned to herself.
Naturally and for a minute Maria did not know who her friend had been talking about, but knew that Liz had managed it once before, barely she told herself. But she had done it.
But Max had come back.
And now Brady could not come back, because he was gone as Kyle came out onto the balcony and nodded to his stepsister. “Hey Kyle.”
“How are you doing?” came Kyle to Liz who was suddenly grateful to be back in Roswell. She did not know how she could have coped if this had happened back in Chicago, and she would have been alone to deal with the weight of the loss.
“Okay, I guess” Liz said softly. “I am glad you did come…”
“You are a friend,” Kyle muttered as he could see how overwhelming it was for her, and he knew he had felt it when Teri had died. Sure, their marriage was over, and they were legally separated at the time, but the grief had been too much for him and thankfully he was able to come through it because he had Jaime.
Liz would be able to come through, because she had her kids as there was another message coming through on the phone and Liz muttered, “Can’t they just leave me alone?” she muttered in a quiet despair.
“Who is it?” Kyle asked.
“The hospital,” Liz muttered. “They need to talk to me. Why, I have no idea” she sighed because dealing with the hospital was the last thing she wanted to be doing, especially on a day like this. “I am trying to ignore the calls.”
“Maybe it’s about Lex’s test results?” Maria offered. As she had no idea why else the hospital would be calling if not for the pending results coming from Lex’s scans.
“No, they told me not to expect them until after the holidays,” Liz muttered. “It’s something else, I can feel it, and that is why I am ignoring them because the last thing I need is more angst.”
Kyle nodded as he remembered his encounter with Veronica at the hospital and knew what he had seen on that piece of paper. A discovery he had been unable to share with his friend over the past week before she had closed herself off in making plans for today, but now today was today, and he knew she was going to have to know…
Because the hospital had to have known, which is why Mariah came up clean on those heart scans. “You probably should take their call,” was all he said.
“Why?” Maria asked as she was looking at her stepbrother as if he knew something she and especially Liz did not know.
“It’s just a feeling,” Kyle said.
“Which is why I do not need the call,” Liz muttered. As she rather be in denial than know something that could disrupt her life.
I can only handle one thing at the time and Lex’s recovery is it and waiting for those damn tests she thought. Because she knew whatever the hospital wanted to tell her, was not about her son. Because the feeling had been descending on her lately, that there was something she did not know.
That she should know…
*
She should know, and once she denied the call from the hospital. The secretary in the testing department wrote out the letter, informing
Elizabeth Anthony of the difference in her daughter’s blood type, as she knew that Mariah’s type had not be registered in any system, and she did not know if mother and daughter knew it.
But they knew it differed from the husband in a fundamental way, and they put the notification in a letter, and prepared to mail in in the next mail as back at the reception. It was finishing up, and Liz and her children Mariah and Lex prepared to head to the graveyard for the burial. Michael and Maria were coming along, but it was only going to be a small group.
Max watched as Liz and her children got into the black hearse and prepared to head for the graveyard, and he had a feeling Liz was facing a vastly different life once she let this day recede into the background and had to deal with the future.
What he did not know, was that Liz was looking at Max as she sat in the car and waited for it to head off and she had to agree, that she was facing a new life.
She did not even know half of it.