Enjoy...
Chapter 41
“What are you doing here?” Max almost snarled as he hobbled into the room with me trailing him and holding his other crutch.
“Came to check out your new place.” Mr. Evans snobbishly looked around at the empty apartment. “I could set you up in a better place than this--”
“Dad! Don’t.” Max snapped, coming to stand eye to eye with Mr. Evans. The tension was so thick it seemed suffocating to be in here. Phillip Evans caught sight of my movement to stand behind Max and then looked back up to his son.
“I'd best be off then.” He spoke impassively, grilling me with his eyes as he said it. He began to head for the door while I gladly step out of his way but Max stopped him before he reached the door.
“Isn’t there something you need to say to Liz?” Mr. Evans turned back to us as Max came to stand behind him.
“I believe an apology is in order don’t you think?” Max was presenting a pretty tough façade even when holding his balance on a crutch.
Mr. Evans turned around looking once at me then at Max, giving that knowing Phillip Evans stare, the one that said ‘back off’. But Max didn’t back down. I fidgeted in place as the two men had a death glare war, obviously something unsaid was passing between them, and I just wish I knew what.
Surprisingly enough Mr. Evans looked at me with pressed lips, fury coursing through his veins as he grudgingly ground out “I apologise, Elizabeth. It was wrong of me and wasn’t my place to pressure you.” He spoke insincerely, through gritted teeth before spinning on his heels trying to carry his falling pride.
Max slammed the door behind him running his hand over his eyes in obvious exhaustion. I waddled up to him placing my hand on his bicep where it hung over his crutch. He looked at me finally with those beautiful eyes.
“Thank you.” I whispered, finding nothing better to give then those momentous words. Max smiled back in appreciation. I knew Max and his father weren’t on best terms and the way he stood up for me to ensure I got an apology from that old bastard was something I would never forget and always be thankful for.
“It was nothing.” He beamed before hobbling over to the kitchen with a bag of forgotten groceries.
I just watched as he made his way around to kitchen opening and closing cabinets and drawers obviously seeking something. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to find…a pot or something.” He said as he continued to limp back and forth through the kitchen, I watched in bewilderment as he even looked in the fridge.
“Why?” I walked over to plant myself in the barstool.
Max popped up his head from under the bench “So I can make you dinner. If that's okay?”
He gave me hopeful eyes and I couldn’t say no. “Sure, that would be great.” I smiled back at him trying to hide my over flowing joy that he wanted to be in my presence for much longer.
“I’ll just get the rest of the shopping while you hunt down the kitchen implements.”
********
Three hours later Max and I had attempt dinner with what objects and instruments we could find only to trash the idea and calling up the Flying Pepperoni for a large pizza.
Strangely enough we carried on like the past six draining months had not affected us in the slightest, I believe it was because we lived it and that was enough. Who wanted brood over how much pain and sorrow we put each other and ourselves through? I sure as hell didn’t, living it was enough.
So our conversation was light hearted while we nibbled on pizza, occasionally laughing about old times and what happened at graduation. Nothing touching on the subjects of Mr. Evans, Tess or our angst-filled lives, just pure, light hearted conversation. I almost hesitated to feel completely happy.
Now sitting here next to Max with his large hands on my belly feeling the baby kick, I let that ball of shinning hope and love grow larger because only a few weeks ago I was sure I wouldn’t have Max look at me like this again, talk to me or touch me the way he is now. I can almost feel my heart expanding with relief, joy and love.
“Whoa, I think we got a future pro-football player in there.” Max smiled in excitement as he felt another kick.
“That sounds about right.” I agreed with a chuckle as I also placed my hand over my bruised insides. “I’m pretty sure it’s ready to kick its way outta there.”
Max just continued to watch my belly was fatherly amazement, it was his first time to really acknowledge this little person we created and that proud Papa pride glistened in his eyes every time the baby made a movement.
“Have you thought of any names yet?” Max looked up to me for the first time in a while since we sat on the sofa feeling the baby together.
It hit me then that I never really did think of any names for our child, it’s not like I’ve had the time to experience the whole joy of it really with the depression and all the heartbreaking things going on.
“No, I haven’t really.” I replied truthfully bewildered that I had passed up the thought of even considering that our baby needed a name, a personality. The idea kind of made this pregnancy more real.
“Have you?” I asked when I saw a flash of hidden truth in his eyes.
“Yeah, kinda.” He said sheepishly while softly caressing my stomach where the baby was.
“Well c’mon, tell me. What have you thought of?” I prodded, interested that he had names in mind.
“Well, I thought if it’s a boy, maybe Igor.” Max said with a playful smirk.
“Max, our baby isn’t a fairytale monster. He needs a real name.” I said in a deadpan tone, trying to hide my smile.
“Hey, Igors are sturdy. No kids will pick on him.” He threw back sarcastically.
“No, they’ll just dress him in a robe and make him call everyone ‘Master’ in a sloppy voice.” Max tsked at my remark as I smiled self righteously.
“No appreciation for the classics.” He said while leaned back more on the sofa.
“Igor isn’t a classic. C’mon what did you really think of?” Max fell silent at my question and a thoughtful look played on his face before he brought his eyes to me.
“I thought maybe if it is a boy,” he took another moment to look down obviously uneasy with what he was saying, “we could call it, Jeremy.”
He spoke his late brother's name with much difficulty and it seemed that it would always be a continuous battle in his heart to never let his turmoil rest when it came to his baby brother. Max kept his eyes on the floor, taking a lot of interest in looking at his the cast on his leg.
Max seemed distant for a little while so I took his hand in mine to focus him away from that pain to look into my eyes.
“I would like that.” I softly smiled to him when he brought his pained eyes to mine.
“Jeremy Igor Evans; has a ring to it.” Max finally jumped out of his dark place to laugh at my light remark. It felt good to make him escape that place and laugh with me.
“So what girls name did ya think of?” I asked; finally bring us out of a serious moment. “And please steer clear of the fairytale, horror story names.”
Max chuckled softly “So I guess Thumbelina’s out of the question?”
“Maaaax.” I whined throwing my head back in flippant frustration. Max just laughed as he watched me huffing, before I let my head flop onto Max’s shoulder in good-natured pleading to stop his teasing.
“Are we disturbing something because we could just leave?” And that’s how Michael and Maria found us, tangled up in each other smiling and giggling with my head resting on Max’s shoulder as one of his hands absently rubbed the my tummy.
“Oh, hey guys.” I said while Max and I slowly drifted out of our close proximity to greet our suspicious close friends.
“What brings you by?” Max asked as he stood limping over to the door without his crutches.
“Well since you just moved into your new place we thought we’d keep you company.” Michael said playfully as he looked over to me “But I guess that's already taken care of.” He finished smoothly giving both of us a mocking glare
This earned Michael a slap from Maria before she handed Max a cactus, which he stared at in bewilderment before stepping aside for them to come fully into the apartment.
“Thanks Maria, come in.” Max shut the door behind them as they surveyed the new place.
Michael emitted a low whistle “Nice place, Maxwell. Kinda big, planning on a roommate any time soon?” Michael received a burning glare from Max.
“Well I since I have a child on the way I do kinda need the room.” Max quipped back folding his arms over his chest, still glaring at Michael.
Maria merely waved off the testosterone building between Max and Michael and walked over the sit next to me giving me a sisterly hug and a rub on the belly for the baby.
“We really weren’t disturbing anything were we?” Maria asked in a low tone even though Max and Michael could clearly hear her.
“You weren’t. Max and I were just discussing baby names.” Maria squealed in girlish excitement as I smiled at Max as he hobbled back over to sit on a chair Michael brought over for him. Michael then planted himself on the floor in front of Maria and I.
“Igor’s a sturdy name.” Michael said before helping himself to some leftover pizza.
“See!” Max swung out his hand to Michael in gratitude proving his point.
“Ah, Maria help me out here.” I looked to my long time best friend for assistance.
“I don’t know, babe. Sounds kinda cool to me.” I threw myself back on the sofa in a huff as a chorus of swirling laughs could be heard from Maria last remark.
It was the first time in ages we had been together like this, just hanging out and laughing much like we used to before everything happened between Max and me. Obviously Max and I had brought everyone else down with us when we were going through our messy break up and the heartbreaking events following.
I should apologies to them later for dragging them through that roller coaster ride of emotions. But now all I wanted to do was laugh and talk and just be with the people I cared most about in the whole wide world. Through everything I went through with my parents and Max, Maria and Michael were by my side and by Max’s side too which I found out early this week.
My friend’s never shut me out like my parents did, Michael took me in and wrapped a brotherly, security blanket around me and Maria stood by me with no judgments or harsh words. She just provided the warmed hearted and wise best friend I’ve always known and cherished.
And Max, he loved me even through the bad times. He helped me and never abandoned me or his responsibilities as a father, well not in a selfish way anyway. He freaked out in the beginning, but he was entitled to. With his family problems I think more so, but he stuck it together eventually like everyone else did.
And what’s killing me right now is that look at how I repaid these people. I was selfish, cruel and completely in the wrong most of the times. These people loved me and all I could do most of the time was throw it in their face and then want it back again.
Maria never complained and stood by me, Michael bit his tongue about how I was treating his best friend and Max just loved me even when I ripped out his heart, put it in a blender and hit pulverize. How could I ever make it up to them? After everything I did they deserved what ever they want.
They loved me when they probably thought I didn’t love them back, they stood by me and helped me when I was being stubborn.
They loved me . They were my real family.
“Liz, what’s wrong?” Max snapped me out of my thoughts with his question; he was now kneeling in front of me.
“What?” I asked in honest confusion before I felt a tear collect in my mouth.
“You’re crying, what’s wrong?” Max asked in utter concern, wiping tears from my face.
I realized then that I had completely tuned out of the continued conversation and just got lost in thought, thinking about everything that my friends have done for me.
Michael and Maria eyes were also locked on me and I sniffed as the love I felt from them washed over me. For the first time I felt lucky in my life to have such people around me.
“Nothing, I was just…” I sniffed again when I felt my damn emotions take over “thinking of how much I love you guys.” I whimpered sniffing unattractively as Maria handed me a tissue.
“Stupid hormones.” I smiled a teary smile as Michael, Maria and Max laughed at the truth behind my tears. Max framed my face with his hands brushing lose strands away from my face.
“We were just saying that we should catch a movie like we used to, up for that?” Max chuckled as I quickly wiped back the tear trying to compose myself.
“Sounds good.” I smiled warmly into his eyes as Michael and Maria had already made a way to the door.
“Better steer clear of the sappy movie otherwise we’ll be knee deep in Liz’s tears.” Michael quipped at Max and I and walked out the door before I could retaliate.
I helped Max stand up handing him his crutches before he helped me up as well. Max started to swing out of the doorway but I grabbed him making him turn at the last minute.
“What’s up?” Max looked at me in confusion obviously readying himself for more tears.
“I meant what I said before.” I made Max duck his head trying to hide a smirk of joy from me, he brought his face back to mine.
“I know.” Was all I need to hear from him before he stepped aside for me to walk out first.
“Now c’mon we better get a move on before Michael starting huffing about wanting to see the damn credits before the movie starts. Plus I wanna see if Van Helsing’s Dracula has a charming servant by the name of Igor.”
“Maaaax!”
TBC
