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NAVIGATION
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Max fell in love with Lauren the moment he saw her. They were polar opposites but they learned the art of love together. How can you not love someone you fight with 24/7 but will die if she is not with you? That is what Max wants to know.
Ten years later a woman rang into his life and demanded attention, the trouble was she brought a daughter along. He did not fall instantly for Susan, but she found a way into his heart and refuses to move out.
Now Max must choose between the woman that takes his breath away and the one that promises him a breath of fresh air. They are so very different and yet he loves them both. |
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Who does Max really love? |
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Answer |
Votes (97) |
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Susan |
21% (20 votes)
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Lauren |
63% (61 votes)
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Incredibly he loves them both |
12% (12 votes)
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Neither |
1% (1 votes)
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I don't know the guy is weird |
3% (3 votes)
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Who do you want Max to end up with? |
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Answer |
Votes (120) |
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Lauren |
60% (72 votes)
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Susan |
36% (43 votes)
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Alone |
4% (5 votes)
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Thank you for voting, thank you for reading, and thank you for making us feel worthy of your praise!
Adria and Paty
**READ THE STORY BELOW!!!** |
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It was only supposed to take them one ring. One ring is all it took in the movies. Everyone knew that it was only supposed to take them one ring. How was she supposed to trust them if in real life it took them THREE??
“9-1-1 what is your emergency?” A female operator finally answered.
“I’m having a heart attack!!” The woman calling them desperately exclaimed into the phone.
“Alright, try to stay calm. Are you alone in the house?”
“Of course I am alone, if I wasn’t alone you think I would be the one calling you?!” The woman asked very irritated.
“I’m sorry.” The operator said softly “What is your name?”
“Donna, Donna Smith.” The woman answered a little calmer.
“Okay Mrs. Smith, I am sending an ambulance to you, can you tell me your address slowly?” The dispatcher requested from Mrs. Smith in a friendly tone.
“Don’t you have a computer or something that tells you where I am?! I am dying here and you want me to give you my address!!” Mrs. Smith screamed grasping her cordless phone tighter.
“Forgive me.” The operator apologized then quickly moved to the important matter at hand "Find a chair, sofa or bed and sit down. Do you have any previous history of heart failure?”
“No.” The woman responded.
“Any family members who have had heart attacks?”
“Not that I know of.” She said “My aunt Henrietta always said my uncle Robert died of a heart attack but that was not true, he died from an ulcer. A drunk, that’s what he was, couldn’t even hold a steady job.”
The operator was a bit stunned that the woman would suddenly steer off topic; if she was in such a bad state she would not be able to do that.
“Very well.” The operator told her “Mrs. Smith, can you tell me what makes you believe you are having a heart attack?”
Donna Smith was rapidly reminded of her previous condition and she returned to her hysterical state.
“I AM having a heart attack, I can feel it!” She told the operator “Oh Bob I am going to die! I’m going to die and I don’t even have ONE grandchild.” The operator tried to speak but Mrs. Smith’s loud and rapid voice made it impossible “But no, Susan did not want to marry Edward when he proposed and she still refuses to go out with the dates I find her.” The woman said “I am dying and my only daughter is at work wasting her life away when she should be having kids or at least trying to find a husband. I am going to die all alone and…”
Outside the siren of an approaching ambulance could be heard, but Donna Smith was too busy on the phone to notice.
“Excuse me!” The operator shouted
“Don’t scream young lady, I am having a heart attack I’m not deaf.” Mrs. Smith told her.
The operator suppressed a laugh.
“The paramedics are outside your home, can you go open the door for them?” She asked the woman kindly.
“Oh yes, certainly.”
Donna Smith walked hurriedly to the front door of her home and partially opened the door slowly. She held the phone to her ear with one hand and the door with the other. The space between her and the door was sufficient for her to see a man standing outside but not enough for him to come in through.
Donna blinked several times as she stared at the man before her eyes. He was looking away waiting for the door to open completely and playing with his lips as he waited. His dark hair and stunning tanned skin forced Donna to swallow loudly making a sound that made him turn toward her. His eyes, a combination of blue and green that seemed too unearthly to describe, sparkled as he smiled at her. Donna could hear the operator speaking through the phone but she would not understand a word she was saying. The man outside her house had taken possession of every one of her thoughts. He was tall, dark and GORGEOUS; exactly what Donna was looking for.
“Are you Mrs. Smith?” The man asked in a deep Scottish accent which made him more attractive than before.
“Why yes. I am.” Donna Smith answered without hesitation.
He smiled again and she returned his smile feeling like a teen again, which was a big statement considering she was close to 70 years old.
“Can you take a step back darling so I can come in and help you?” He asked still smiling.
This time Donna said nothing in response. She silently took a step back and watched as he carefully pushed the door open. He carried with him a large blue duffel bag with various emergency logos on it. He was wearing black slacks, a white shirt, black shoes, and a jacket that distinguished him as a paramedic, a member of the emergency team that had come to her rescue. He was followed inside by two other men dressed in the same manner but lacking every bit of the presence he unintentionally carried. The two other men helped Donna walk to a sofa where they sat her; she did not notice their hands on her elbows, her eyes were still glued to the man.
She saw him walk to her and extend his hand for the phone she still held against her ear.
“May I?” He asked her.
Still unable to speak, she gave him the phone and listened to him speak as he stared directly into her eyes in a friendly way.
“Hello?” He said into the receiver “Yes. This is Max Delacoure, unit number 3527. Everything is under control.” He told the operator as he winked at Donna “We can take it from here, thank you.”
He pressed the end button and put the phone on a nearby table. He then returned to her side and took out a pair of gloves from his bag. Max Delacoure, as he had said his name was, expertly put on the gloves and took out a stethoscope from inside his jacket and swung it around his neck.
“Let me see, where do you feel the pain?” He asked her standing above her, Donna had to throw her head back to look at him.
She put a hand to her chest indicating the location of her ache.
“How long has it lasted?” He asked as he inserted the earpiece of the stethoscope in his ears.
“About 20 minutes,” Donna said finally able to speak. “Yes twenty minutes or so because my soap opera was about to start when it first appeared.”
“I see.” Max Delacoure told her smiling down at her and putting the piece to her chest to listen to her heart. “Which soap do you watch?” He asked sincerely interested.
“Days of Our Gerry.” The woman answered.
“Is it any good?” He asked moving the stethoscope to her back.
“Oh yes its wonderful!” Donna said.
The man then pressed a bit roughly on her back making her moan.
“Oh, it hurts there.” She told him.
“Sorry.” Max replied “Now, I want you to take a deep breath and hold it until I say so, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Deep breath.” He instructed returning the stethoscope to her heart where he held it for a few seconds. “Let it go.” He said after “Excellent.” He praised her smiling when they were done.
Donna was still grinning at him when one of the other men came to his side.
“Should I get the stroller?” He asked Max.
“No, that won’t be necessary.” Max responded.
“Am I not going to die?” Donna asked him a bit stunned.
Max giggled lightly and patted her shoulder as he spoke.
“No Mrs. Smith, you are going to be fine.” He told her.
“Are you sure?” She asked.
“Positive.” He answered.
Donna watched him open his bag again and take out a notebook and pen. He began writing something on the notebook then turned to tell the men to call central station and inform them that it was a false alarm.
“Can I ask you a favor?” Donna asked Max abruptly.
“Anything.” He replied a bit distracted with his notebook.
“Can you call my daughter and stay here until she comes? She only works five blocks away; it will not take her long to get here.”
Max looked up from his notes and took a long look at her, the lines on his forehead becoming more visible as he frowned. But the woman’s pleading gaze was hard to overcome. She was only asking for a quick call, perhaps she did not want to be alone in case her ‘heart attack’ came back. It was the least he could do for her. He was trained to help those in need and at this particular time Mrs. Smith needed a call to her daughter.
“Sure.” He said to her returning to his notes “I will call her.”
“Can I ask one more thing?” Donna said looking guilt stricken.
“Of course.” Max said smiling amused.
Donna’s spirit was lifted by the man’s gracious smile, who knew a heart attack would give her the great idea that was forming in her head. If that was what she needed to have bright thoughts, then she hoped to have another heart attack real soon. Maybe then she would finally get what she has been asking Susan for all this years.
Max waited patiently for her to ask her question. He was done with the notes on the visit and looked up at her cheerfully.
“What did you want to ask me?” He said.
The woman gave him her biggest smile and asked;
“Are you married?”
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Susan Smith ran across the street, she was able to dodge two cars in the process but gained various honks from the drivers.
“You idiots, you could have killed me!” She screamed at them ignoring the fact that she had been jay walking and therefore deserved their anger.
She was panning when she got to her home’s front lawn where an ambulance was parked. Two paramedics stood outside talking and as she tried to walk pass them one of them held her by an arm.
“What is it with people these days?! Let me go you jerk!” She told him infuriated and trying to pull away from his grip.
“Can I help you?” The man asked her politely.
“I live here you moron. I just got a call from one of you, about my mother. Older lady having a heart attack that might ring a bell.” Susan sarcastically said.
“Ah yes,” The man replied releasing her “she is inside.” He told her completely disregarding his earlier behavior and returning to his conversation with the other paramedic.
Susan went inside her home and surprisingly found her mother sitting on the sofa talking to yet another paramedic. She had expected her to be deliriously asking for her or at least laying down. But it seemed she was actually not at all ill. Susan stood at the door looking at her mother and the man.
“Is that so?” Susan heard her mother ask the man sitting next to her on the sofa.
“For most people yes, that is correct.” The man answered unaware of Susan’s presence.
“Then how does a heart attack feel?” Her mother asked him deciding not to acknowledge Susan’s presence.
“It really depends…” The man started saying, but was interrupted by Susan’s voice behind him.
“Are you alright? You scared me half to death!” She told her mother a bit irritated and walking to her side.
The paramedic stood up and gave Susan enough space to sit by her mother. He looked briefly at her and then turned to Donna once again smiling.
“It’s okay honey, I am fine.” Donna told her daughter “It was a false alarm, only heartburn. This nice young man explained it to me already, didn't you Max?” She said looking at him.
“I tried to.” He answered shyly “Are you related to Mrs. Smith?” He asked Susan.
“I’m her daughter.” She answered dryly.
Max was a bit taken aback by her unemotional response, usually family members wanted to hug and kiss him after responding to a call where the victim was found to be safe and sound, but this woman seemed to be ready to bite him. She must take that from her father, Max thought, because there is no way Mrs. Smith can ever be that way, I can’t get her to stop smiling at me.
“Oh well then in that case,” Max told the young woman picking up his notebook from the coffee table “you can sign this sheet for me. It’s basically saying that I examined her and that there is no need to take her to the emergency room.” He said holding it out for Susan “She was going to sign it but she wanted to wait for you.”
The woman looked at him like he had grown antlers before her eyes. Max was left with his arm extended and the notebook and pen in his hands.
“Do you mind if we have a word in the kitchen first?” Susan asked him frostily.
He was a little shocked by her reaction. All she needed to do was sign the darn paper and that would be the end of that. But somehow Max figured this woman did nothing the easy way. He wondered how a woman like Mrs. Smith could have a daughter so strange and rigid. Yet that was none of his business so he answered her as politely as possible and followed her to the kitchen.
“Is there something wrong?” He asked her confused once they were far away from Mrs. Smith’s hearing range.
Susan took a deep breath trying to make it very obvious that she was preparing for a hard speech.
“I’m sorry if this offends you in any way, that is not my intention,” She said to him “I know you EMT’s are very capable and well trained, and if it wasn’t for you many people would just die and not have a chance, and of course you have to have SOME medical knowledge…”
“What is it that you wanted to tell me?” Max interrupted her suddenly anxious to get it over with.
“Oh.” Susan exclaimed a bit hurt “Sorry, I tend to speak too much when I am angry.” She told him raising an eyebrow.
“Right.” He replied not intimidated.
Susan shifted her weight on her feet and placed her hands on her hips without realizing it, she then at last voiced her discontent.
“Well, I wanted to ask you if you don’t think it would be better for a REAL doctor to look her over before deciding it was just heartburn.” She said to Max.
For a brief moment Susan could have sworn that the look on the man’s face appeared to be that of hurt, but if it had been so it quickly faded and he smirked arrogantly as he spoke.
“Ah,” He said to her “so you want the advice of a REAL doctor? I understand. Here,” Max told her taking out a paper from his jacket’s inner pocket “this is the card to Doctor Charles Green at University Medical; he is the best cardiologist I know.” Susan took the card and looked at it shocked “Call this number” He told her pointing at the card “and make an emergency appointment, tell the receptionist that Max Delacoure sent you, she’ll know how to get you in as soon as possible.”
“You don’t have to do that. My mother has a doctor already.” Susan quickly tried to correct him and return the card “I just meant that she might need to see him anyways.”
This time Max laughed at her and pushed the card back into her hand.
“No, no, no.” He said between his laugh “I do have to do this because if your mother dies from a heart attack I will be responsible. After all, it was I that told her it was just heartburn.”
Susan almost choked on a gasp; she was startled by his honest and spiteful response.
“Now, if you can excuse me, I have to go back to work.” He said walking back toward her mother.
It took Susan a few minutes to recover from the man’s awful reply, and when she did she crumpled the card in her hand and tossed it on the trash bin so forcefully that it bounced off and ended on the floor. Then she had to lean down and pick it up to throw it back into the bin. She should have done it more carefully to avoid having to do it twice, she hated when she had to repeat a task, it meant she had failed the first time and that was just unacceptable.
Susan walked back into the living room and saw the paramedic going out the door with a blue bag in his hand. He turned to look at her one last time and mockingly smiled and bowed his head. Susan forced herself not to shout an insult at him.
“Take care Mrs. Smith and try not to eat so much chili.” He said to her mother pulling the door with his free hand.
“I will.” Her mother called out from her seat “Good bye Max.”
The door closed behind him and Susan then walked back to her mother’s side. Donna was still looking at the front door as if she was hypnotized. Susan waved her arm in front of her mother’s face and Donna abruptly jumped to face her, she took hold of both her hands and shook them lightly in excitement.
“Isn’t he handsome Susan?” Her mother asked almost like a teenager would, Susan groaned in disagreement “And guess what...” Her mother said smiling and ignoring her previous response “He is NOT married!”
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“Are you ready to go?”
“Ready to go where?” Donna asked her daughter in a confused tone before settling back onto the sofa with her remote control in hand.
“Dear Bob, Mom! I have a paramedic call me at work and say that I need to hurry home because you are having chest pains and now suddenly you’re fine.”
Donna wrinkled her nose in amusement and turned her attention to the television which was playing the theme music from one of her soap operas.
“Are you just going to sit there watching your shows? What is that ‘Days of Our Gerry?”
“No, dear…It went off a little while ago. This is ‘The Bold and the Butlerful,” she answered, motioning for her daughter to move from her position in front of the set.
Susan huffed as she stormed over and snatched the remote from her aging mother’s hand. “Get up and go change clothes. We’re going to the doctor’s office.”
“Whatever for?”
Susan’s shoulders slumped in annoyance. “To get you checked out.”
“There’s no need for that…Max said that I was fine.
“So Max said you’re fine,” she repeated in a condescending tone. “Sorry if I don’t happen to trust the medical opinion of a paramedic. I’ll give you five minutes to get ready.”
Donna reluctantly rose from the sofa, flashing her daughter an perturbed glance before she rambled into the kitchen where she immediately saw the note left by Max.
“There’s no need to call Dr. Eckers. I want to go see this doctor…Charles Green,” she read from the crumpled paper. “If Max says he’s good then that’s who I want to see.”
Susan collapsed back on the recliner, causing it to nearly tip over. She shook her head ready to protest but one look at the determined expression on her mom’s face told her that it there was no need to argue.
‘Is this some sort of curse?’ she pondered with her eyes cast toward the heavens.
“Give me minute to try to get you in there. I’m thinking that Max can pull a few strings and get us valet parking once we make it over to the medical center,” she sarcastically suggested while Donna moved toward her bedroom.
“Maybe we’ll even bump into him while we’re over there,” she called out from the depths of her closet, causing her daughter to roll her eyes as she waited on hold with a receptionist at Dr. Green’s office. “Did you hear his accent? I’ve always thought men with Scottish accents were sexy. What about you? Didn’t you think he was a dream?”
“Oh yeah…a real dream,” Susan flatly replied. “And Mom…please don’t ever refer to anyone as sexy in my presence. I thought I was going to be sick.”
“You say you’re sick? Maybe if I call 911 they can have Max come back and take a look at you,” Donna suggested with her eyes opened in excitement.
“Yes, that will be fine. We should be there in less than 15 minutes,” Susan said into the phone while shaking her head in protest to her mom’s idea. “Thanks so much. We’ll see you then.”
Hanging up the phone, Susan turned to pick up her handbag only to have her mother suddenly lunge forward and place her hand on her forehead and cheek.
“Mother, what are you doing?”
“You are a bit warm. It’s better to be safe than sorry. I’ll just call for Max now.”
“No, I think it might be better if you call for the padded wagon. Have you lost your mind?”
“You’re my only child. I have to see that you’re in good health.”
“Yeah right! The only thing that you’re worried about is seeing grandchildren before you go to your grave,” Susan retorted. “Now come on or we’ll be late.”
“Is there anything wrong with an old woman wanting to see her child happily settled with a family of her own?” she asked. “Is a child or two that much to ask of a dying woman.”
“Mom, you aren’t dying. But if you don’t stop this foolishness I just might kill you,” Susan said, opening the door for her mother to step outside.
You just might but I’ll do whatever I have to do to get you married, Donna thought as she stepped through the door into the bright sunlight.
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The taxi turned into the parking lot of Boston University Medical and the driver asked the passengers where they wanted to be dropped off.
“Here is fine.” Donna said before her daughter could answer.
Susan turned her face to her mother while with her finger motioning the driver to wait.
“Mother the Cardiology department is on the seventh floor through the East entrance of the hospital, this is the West entrance. We would have to go all the way around and we have less than ten minutes to get there.” She told the older woman.
“But we will waste more time trying to find the East entrance. Let’s just get off here and go find a way around through the inside of the hospital.” Her mother responded.
“She is right.” The cab driver added without much enthusiasm. Susan lowered her hand tired of arguing. This was definitely not one of her best days.
“Okay, we’ll get off here.” She said to the driver.
Seconds later she was standing outside of the hospital’s Emergency Room door. Her mother was stretching her neck obviously looking around for her paramedic.
“He is not here mother.” She told her annoyed.
“Who?” Donna asked innocently.
“Max or whatever his name was. He might not even work for this hospital.”
“But he gave you the card didn’t he? That means he works here.”
“I would not be so sure.” Susan told her walking in through the double doors of the Emergency lobby. Her mother was trailing behind her.
Susan made her way to the receptionist and smiled amiably.
“Excuse me. Hello.” She said to the young girl behind the desk and glass “Where are the elevators?”
“I’m sorry; we don’t have elevators for the regular patients on this side of the hospital." The girl answered.
“How about stairs?”
“No.” She told Susan apologetically “We are completely disconnected from the regular clinics. The only way to get up there would be through the surgery elevators, but those are for staff and emergency patients only.”
Susan gave her mother an evil look and then raised her hand to look at her watch. They had exactly seven minutes to get to the seventh floor.
“Can you make an exception just this once?” Susan begged the receptionist “See my mother had been having chest pains all morning and the paramedics said she was okay, but she has an appointment with a cardiologist in five minutes and if we are not there she might not be able to see him again. I promise I won’t say anything.”
“I don’t know.” The said worriedly.
“Please.” Susan added.
After a few seconds of staring at each other the girl finally agreed.
“Alright,” She said “but you have to be fast so that no one sees you and if someone asks don’t tell them I opened the door for you.”
“We won’t.” Susan assured her “Thank you.”
The receptionist pushed a button under her desk and the doors leading into the examining rooms opened loudly. Susan grabbed her mother’s hand and led her through them.
“Go all the way to the end of the hall,” The girl said when she saw them walk in “take a left and you’ll be facing the elevators. On the seventh floor you have to take a right and you’ll be in the main hall of the cardiology department.”
Susan nodded and began walking. Donna pulled away from her daughter and went back to thank the receptionist. Susan smiled wondering what she had done to deserve such an entertaining mom.
“That was so nice of her.” Donna told her daughter returning her hand to her.
“Come on mother you have to hurry.” She replied walking a little faster.
“Okay.”
They were close to the end of the hall when suddenly the door they had entered through opened again and a team of EMTs pushing a stroller ran in.
“Clear the hall, incoming patient!” A voice with a familiar Scottish accent shouted. Susan pushed her mother against a wall to avoid being run over.
Two doctors came out of a nearby room and took position next to the stroller.
“What have we got?” One of them asked the lead EMT.
“Trauma to the head. Male, 24 years old, car accident, I have stabilized his breathing but there could be internal bleeding.” Max responded pausing slightly when as he saw Susan and Donna standing there. He gave them a quick glance then returned to his job. “He has been unconscious for about five minutes.” He told the doctor.
“That’s Max!” Donna happily exclaimed “Hi Max!” She said waving.
“Mother please.” Susan quietly complained. Max ignored her mother’s salute and continued reciting a list of possible injures that the patient could have endured. Bob this man thinks he is a doctor, Susan thought.
“He didn’t even say hello.” She heard her mother’s sad voice say.
Max and the doctors rolled the patient into a room and closed the door behind them. Donna sighted disappointed that the nice paramedic had ignored her.
“Come on; let’s get you to your appointment.” Susan told her unhappy mother.
They didn’t quite make it on time to the appointment but the receptionists said it was good timing since Doctor Green had just finished with his last patient.
“Donna Smith.” A nurse called out. Susan raised her hand and helped her mother to her feet. “Room 763.” The nurse told them pointing to a door.
The wait was not long considering they had been late. Ten minutes later a man of about fifty years old entered the room.
“Hello.” He cheerfully said “I am Doctor Green head of Cardiology here at Boston University. You must be Donna Smith.” He said to Donna and offered his hand to her.
“Yes, I am.” The woman answered taking his hand in hers.
The doctor then looked at Susan and smiled.
“I’m Susan, her daughter.” She told him smiling back.
He asked many questions as he listened to Donna’s heart and with each passing minute Susan grew more desperate. Her anxiety only incremented as the doctor finally gave his opinion on her mother’s case.
“Well from what you have told me I have to agree with the paramedic’s diagnosis.” He told them “Who was it that came down to your home Mrs. Smith?”
“Max Delacoure.” Donna quickly answered.
“Ah I see.” Doctor Green replied “Yes I do agree with him, he is very capable in distinguishing between real heart threats and not.”
For a moment Susan felt like she was being slapped by the man’s comment.
“But doesn’t she need any tests to confirm this?” She asked the doctor “How can you say she is alright from just listening to her heart with the… that thing that you used to listen to her heart?”
“The stethoscope.” The doctor responded “It is a very accurate little gadget, especially if you know how to use it.”
Susan nodded defeated.
“But if it makes you both feel more comfortable we can run some basic tests on you and see what those say.” He said looking at Donna.
“That would be better.” Susan answered for her mother.
“Are you sure Susan? We can’t really pay for things like that.” Her mother told her softly.
“Don’t worry about it they will be covered by your insurance company.” Doctor Green jumped in.
“In that case then, alright, test me.” The older woman said smiling.
“Good. I will send the nurse in to let you know how to get ready.” The doctor said picking up his documents and leaving the two women alone.
“Are you alright sweetheart?” Donna asked her daughter after seeing the distressed look on her face.
“Yes, I’m fine.” Susan told her not wanting to look at her.
She couldn’t tell her mother that she was scared that something might be wrong with her and that she could die. She wanted to keep her mother with her forever and if she was sick then one day Susan would be left alone. There was no one else that mattered to Susan, no one else she loved. Her mother was all she had.
“How long will this take?” Susan asked the nurse that had taken her mother to the testing rooms.
“About two hours.” The nurse answered.
“Two hours!?” She exclaimed shocked.
“You are welcomed to wait in our lobby or go home and we can call you when she is done with the tests.”
“No, I can’t go home I don’t have a car so I would have to catch a cab back and then it would be too dark out. Do you have a cafeteria around here?” Susan asked.
“Yes, on the second floor.”
Susan had been walking for a while when she finally accepted that she was lost. She wasn’t sure how to get to the second floor and the only elevators she had found were the very same ones she had used to get there and those she knew were prohibited to the regular patients. But she really did not want to sit in the lobby for two hours so she broke the rules again and got on the elevator. She pressed number two for the second floor and held her breath for take off, the start of an elevator descending always made her nervous.
But the drop was not strong since on the sixth floor the doors opened and in came a nurse with a pile of folders in her hands. Susan avoided he woman’s eyes she did not want to start a meaningless conversation with a stranger. As the doors were about to close a masculine hand suddenly held them open by pressing against them. To Susan’s surprise the very own Mr. Delacoure jumped into the elevator smiling like a kid.
“Hi.” He said raising his eyebrows. For a split second Susan had imagined the greeting had been for her, but when the nursed giggled and answered him she was left feeling like an idiot.
Max smiled at the nurse and Susan rolled her eyes disgusted. Oh please don’t tell me they are going to go at it here, not with me present, she thought. She was referring to them flirting, not THAT other IT.
Fortunately the nurse got off on the fifth floor and after saying goodbye to her, Max turned to face Susan.
“We meet again.” He told her leaning against the wall of the elevator and making it shake a bit.
“Don’t do that.” Susan told him petrified.
“Why not?” He asked amused and doing it again.
“You might break it. Besides, it scares me.” She confessed.
Max straightened up slowly.
“I’m sorry. I’m…”
“Max. I know.” She finished for him.
“Oh.” Max sounded surprise. “You know, for the record I am not…”
“Married.” Susan again hurried to add “Yes I know that too my mother has told me that so many times I am sure I will die and the last words I say will be ‘Max is not married.’”
His laugher was loud and pleasing, it made Susan smile.
“I can’t believe you just said that!” He exclaimed between breaths. “But no.”
“You mean you ARE married?!” She shouted shocked.
“No.” He said clearing his throat “I meant that was not what I was going to say.”
“Oh.”
“I was going to be very slick and tell you I was not following you.” He told her.
“I want to apologize for what I said to you earlier.” She abruptly replied.
“No need, it’s forgotten.”
“Just like that?” She asked suspicious.
“Yes.” He said “How is your mother doing?”
“She is having some tests done by Doctor Green. He…”
Her words were interrupted by the sound of the door opening on the second floor.
“Ah here we are.” Max said cheerfully “Well, duty calls. You are not so bad after all. Take care of yourself.” He told her exiting the elevator and walking out into the hall and out of her view.
“Not so bad?!” She called after him “What is that supposed to mean!?” There was no answer “Jerk!” She ended up saying to the closing doors of the elevator.
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Susan spent the bulk of her two hour wait sitting in the hospital cafeteria, watching the comings and goings of the staff as they shuffled in to quickly consume the less than appetizing buffet of meats smothered in an array of sauces. Just looking at the selections made her feel a little queasy.
’ It’s no wonder the cardiac unit is so full’ she thought, using her fork to push around the alleged chicken alfredo.
She chuckled slightly when a group of nurses came bounding into the room, giggling amongst themselves like a pack of teenagers. There had been a time when her father had encouraged her to enter the nursing field but that was before her father had left and basic survival had become the focus of her life.
“I’m working a 12 hour shift this weekend so I doubt I can make it,” a blonde nurse said as the group settled into a booth adjacent to Susan’s table.
“Can’t you get someone to cover for you…She’ll be so upset if some of us can’t go with her,” another of the woman pleaded.
“I’ll see what…Oh Bob here she comes…just don’t mention it right now,” the blonde whispered in a frantic tone.
They all turned to see the strikingly beautiful woman come confidently striding into the cafeteria. Susan found herself staring at the lanky red head as approached the booth. She was tall and thin with the kind of look that you expected to see on the cover of a magazine not in a hospital cafeteria.
“Hello ladies,” she said, motioning for them to slide over. “I take it that we are all up for our little trip tomorrow?”
They remained quiet while the she fumbled to remove the stethoscope that had gotten tangled in the mass of sleek hair that fell past her shoulders. Squinting her eyes, Susan could see that the name tag on her lab coat read ‘Dr. Lauren Alderman, Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery’.
‘Oh she’s a doctor,’ Susan suspected, continuing to listen in on their conversation.
“Ok so just who is going to go with me? You know how long I’ve waited to get the appointment. If I have to postpone then it’s hard to say when they can see me again,” she pouted with her lips pressed together in the most desperate attempt to render pity that Susan had ever witnessed.
“Well Lauren, I sort of had plans but…” one of the ladies began before she was interrupted by the overbearing doctor.
“Good, I’ll meet you at McTavish’s for brunch and then we can ride over together,” she said with a smile just as insincere as her pout. “Beth, I took a look at your schedule and with a little persuading I managed to get your supervisor to let you have the tomorrow off…but you’ll have to work the next three weekends in exchange.”
The blonde looked up with an expression of anger seared onto her face.
“That isn’t a problem…is it?” Lauren asked with a hint of irritation flashing in her icy blue eyes.
“Not at all,” the nurse responded flatly, casting a quick glance to the side to look at her colleagues who were attempting to avoid eye contact.
“So are you getting excited now that you’ve finally set the date?” another asked, clearly trying to lighten the tense mood.
“Well, of course. But there are so many things that need to be taken care of. Mummy and her friends are so helpful. If only I could get Del involved. He’s too wrapped up in his little world to give a flip about what I have planned. He’s in for such a rude awakening after the wedding,” she flippantly responded, taking a French fry from Beth’s plate. “He has so much potential and it’s about time that someone made him realize it.”
“So is he coming with us…to meet the designer?” Beth excitedly asked.
“He can’t see her in the dress before the wedding,” another of the woman interrupted, rolling her eyes at Beth’s question.
“No, that’s not it….like I believe in those stupid supersititions. He’s made some lame excuse but rest assured he’s going take an active role in planning this wedding if I have to resort to extreme measures,” she smirked, rising from the table. “Gotta get back to post op. I have a couple of patients who need to be cleared for release.”
“I guess we’ll see you tomorrow,” Beth said, looking up at Lauren.
“Don’t be late,” she reminded, slipping another fry from the plate. “By the way Beth, you might want to steer clear of those things or I’ll end up doing lipo on you….and you know I don’t work cheap.”
The other ladies at the table snickered at the comment yet Beth only grimaced, pushing back her plate.
Immediately, Susan flashed back to her high school years. She recalled the head cheerleader who had an uncanny knack of making everyone around her feel inferior, even her friends. Clearly, Dr. Alderman was well versed in the tactics of intimidation.
She shuddered slightly at the thought of those years which were so filled with self doubt and anxiety.
“She’s got a lot of nerve,” Beth grumbled. “She doesn’t have any of her original parts. I bet she has more plastic than a box of legos.”
The table burst forth in laughter.
“Maybe that’s what he likes,” one of them commented with her brows raised.
‘Oh now that’s shocking. She has a shallow boyfriend.
“Honey, if that’s what it took to land him then I say sign me up for every procedure available. He’s fine.”
“That’s the understatement of the year,” another chuckled. “He’s more than fine…he’s…he’s…I can’t even think of a word delicious enough to describe him.”
“Well he’s certainly finger licking good,” Beth chuckled, smiling from ear to ear.
“Amen to that.”
Geez,.. this place is just like high school
With a sigh, Susan picked up her uneaten tray of food and deposited it into the trash before attempting to locate her mother somewhere in the vast hospital.
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“See? Max was right.” Donna told her daughter as they walked out of the hospital and onto the parking lot.
“Yes.” Susan replied “You’ve said that already.”
An ambulance siren in the distance made Susan thank the heavens that her mother was perfectly healthy and that they would not have to visit the hospital again. Hopefully she will not be running into that awful paramedic anymore either.
From a window on the second floor of the building Max stood watching the two women as they walked across the parking lot. He was smiling and shaking his head thinking they were probably arguing about some irrational thing or two. If there was one thing he immediately knew about them it was that they liked to argue with each other. That to him meant they loved each other very much. It was strange but the arguing to him represented the idea that no matter how different their minds were their hearts still beat to the same rhythm.
The first time he saw Susan he had thought she was a monster, but after talking to her again he realized she was just as any other woman, simply a WOMAN. They all had their sudden bursts of illogical anger and malice but then there were the good times too. He had seen that Susan was no exception to this rule he had made up in his head long ago.
When the pair disappeared from his view Max turned away from the window and continued talking to Charles about Donna’s heart.
“So she is okay?” He asked the doctor.
“You know she is.” The man responded shaking his head and putting a spoonful of yogurt in his mouth.
“Yeah, I just wanted to make sure.” Max said smiling.
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A few hours later Max arrived at home, it was close to 8:30pm. He was exhausted and very hungry. He pushed the door open careful not to make a sound in case his parent’s were resting but his mother’s voice screamed from the living room as soon as he entered.
“Max?” She said “Maximilian come in here for a second darling!”
His mother was talking on the phone and motioning for him to get close to her. He walked over and saluted with a movement of his head, and then he saw his Dad sitting on the recliner reading a book.
“Hi Dad.” He said to him.
“Hello son. How was work today?” The older man asked putting down his book.
“Interesting…” Max answered ready to get into details.
“He’s here finally.” His mother interrupted handing him the cordless phone "Sweetie she wants to talk to you.” She said.
“I’ll tell you about it later Dad.” Max excused himself and dropped the mailman’s bag in which he carried his belongings on the sofa. His father nodded understanding and Max walked out of the living room and into the kitchen for some privacy.
“Hello?” He said into the phone while leaning on the kitchen counter and staring hungrily at an apple in the fruit basket in front of him.
“Bobness you are home at last!” A female’s voice replied “Didn’t your shift end at seven? Why did you take so long to get home?”
“Hello to you too.” Max answered rolling his eyes.
“Don’t be rude.”
“I was not being rude. You are the one that started this conversation with sarcasm.” He counter attacked.
“I don’t have time for a fight baby; please apologize so we can get it over with.” The voice said sweet but arrogantly.
Max’s mouth dropped open and he shook his head amazed at her overconfidence, but he smiled extending his head to grab the apple and bit into it forcefully, with a little imagination he could very well be biting her.
“I’m sorry.” He said between the pieces of apple in his mouth.
“I forgive you.” She said then quickly changed the subject “Now, the reason I called is that there’s this thing I have to go to tomorrow and I want you to come with me.”
“What time?” Max asked taking another bite.
“Around noon.”
“I have the early shift tomorrow, you know that.”
“But it will only take about an hour.” She insisted.
“A lot of people might need a paramedic in that one hour.” Max told her laughingly.
“Is that a no?” The woman asked annoyed.
“That’s a; change the time and I’ll be there.”
“I can’t. It was the only appointment I could get.” She said purring.
“What is it for anyways?” He asked throwing what was left of the apple away.
“The designer.” She responded.
Max groaned and dropped his head into his free palm.
“I told you I was not going to go with you to that thing.” He said pressing against his forehead.
“But I want you to.” She whined.
“Isn’t there a law regarding grooms not being able to see their brides in their wedding dresses before the ceremony?” He asked.
“No there isn’t and you are acting like a child!” The woman suddenly shouted.
“Oh I’m acting like a child?!” He asked stunned “I had already said no to going with you, why do you continue pushing it on me?”
“I thought maybe you would change your mind.” She said calmer.
“No. It’s still thinking the same way it did a week ago.” Max replied “Find one of your girlfriends to go with you.” He suggested.
“You are impossible you know that?!”
“Don’t be mad, this is the only thing I refuse to do with you.” He said very tired of the conversation.
“But it’s important to me.”
“What about what is important to me, have you ever stopped to think about that?”
“Okay I give up.” The woman said faking sadness.
Max was about to say something when his mother came into the kitchen.
“Dinner is already served Max, its getting cold.” She told her son.
“I’ll be right there Mum.” Max said to his mother as she turned around and headed back into the dinning room
The woman on the phone waited for him to speak to her.
“I gotta go eat something, haven’t eaten since this morning, it was a hectic day today.” He said “What time are you going in tomorrow?”
“I have the day off.” She answered.
“Okay then I’ll call you after I get off work and maybe we can catch a movie or late lunch.” He offered.
“Alright.” She said breathing loudly ‘But I’m still not very happy with you.”
“You’ll get over it.” Max said certain and smiling.
“Don’t be so sure.” She replied “I love you.” She added instantly.
Max threw his head back and answered.
“I love you too.” He said.
“Bye Del.” The woman said ready to hang up.
“Bye Lauren.” Max repeated still smiling.
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Susan was always up before dawn. It was a habit born out of years of delivering the local newspaper before she headed off to school for the day. Despite the fact that it was a routine there were mornings when she almost dreaded her feet hitting the floor. Sleepily she stretched in bed, letting her body savor the softness of her mattress before she slid to the side of the bed and put on her fuzzy house shoes which were always placed just under dust ruffle before she turned in for the evening.
Over the years she had allowed herself to become a creature of habit. Neatness and order were the two things that she could control in her world. Everything had it’s place and she was almost compulsive in her efforts maintain this personal mandate. Yet she knew that once she stepped out of her bedroom, she was once again at the mercy of the world.
Reaching over she picked up the sketch pad that had again been her nightly companion. She flipped through the detailed drawings of elaborate gowns, clothing that she dreamed of wearing as a child and of designing as an adult. She lingered for several minutes, studying the intricate bodice of one gown in particular. The wedding dress had been a vision that had slowly emerged after countless modification. Eventually she hoped that it would be the design that would garner her entrance into Boston’s School of Fashion Design. However, that dream was a little more than a distant prospect. The demands of everyday life occupied her every waking moment. Glancing over she caught sight of the stack of utility bills that were nearly overdue. With a sigh, she returned the pad to her nightstand.
“Someday,” she mumbled as she moved toward the closet to retrieve her standard uniform for work: jeans and a t-shirt. Her job required little in the line of fashion. The majority of her work day was spent toiling over tape measures and a sewing machine in back room of Boston’s most prestigious boutique.
**
“You really should try to do something with your hair. You’re such a pretty girl but who would notice in those clothes and with that hair all pulled back,” Donna complained, giving her daughter’s pony tail a flip as she walked past, placing another pancake on her plate.
“Mom, I don’t think it really matters all that much,” she answered, hastily gulping down breakfast for fear of missing the downtown bus.
“Of course it matters. Before I met your father, I made it a point of always dressing my best. I would never dream of going out looking like that,” she said wrinkling her nose in disgust.
“A lot of good it did you.”
“Just what is that supposed to mean, young lady?”
“If you hadn’t married him you might have ended up in some wonderful place with an entirely different life. Instead you gave up everything for him and what happened…he went off to work one day and never came home,” Susan reminded with her voice tinged in irritation. “Yep, he was quite a catch.”
Donna said nothing in response. She continued to mill about the room, packing a brown bag lunch for her only child.
“Mom you just need to stop watching all of those soap operas and face reality: Your story book concept of love doesn’t exist and people do not live happily ever after.”
Donna shook her head in disagreement. “Oh Sweetie, someday you’ll see that I’m right. Mr. Right will come walking through that door and your life will change forever.”
“I’m not holding my breath for that to happen.”
**
From outward appearances, the boutique was like all of the other shops that crowded Boston’s fashionable shopping district. Yet once inside the unimposing shop it was impossible not to lose your breath at the sight of the fabulous wedding gowns that lined the walls. Vera Lang had slowly built a reputation as one of the world’s top designers of wedding apparel. Born a Bostonian, she had vowed to maintain her headquarters in the city despite the world wide demand for her incredibly expensive creations.
Walking through the back entrance of the shop, Susan was greeted by a handful of other employees who slaved away in the back warehouse. Though they were often frowned upon by the uppity sales clerks who worked in the lavish showroom, it was in fact the seamstresses who kept the business afloat.
“Girl, I thought you were gonna call me last night and tell me how your momma was doin’,” one of the women called out.
Susan shook her head and closed her eyes, not feeling up to recounting the events of the previous evening. “Yolanda, she’s fine. Just a false alarm.”
“Next time you remember to call. You had me worried all night.”
“I will,” Susan promised. “Anything happen after I left?”
“No, nothing out of the ordinary,” Yolanda answered, then her eyes went open with surprise. “I almost forgot… those little witches out front are expecting some important client today. I hear that it’s one of those fancy pants politician’s daughters. They commissioned ol’ Vera herself to design a one of a kind gown for her.”
“Hmm, well that is something,” Susan replied, sorting though her stock of pins and thread.
“You want to know the best part of it?”
“What’s that?” she replied, paying little attention to her fellow seamstress.
“I hear that you’re gonna be the one in charge of actually making the gown.” |
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Max was up before the sun that morning, as he was already used to. It was the only way to implement some exercise into his life. He didn’t do much, just run a couple times around the block then a few push ups here and there, but it kept him healthy and energized for the day’s work ahead. It took him about an hour to return home not because he ran slowly, but because he stayed outside to watch the sun come up. It was a habit that he found entertaining, the promise of a new day and new adventures. Not that his life was that adventurous, but he always had some strange story or case to talk to his father about during dinner. That was as far as his adventures would go, and he would not have it any other way.
He liked his job, he enjoyed it very much. To Lauren and his mother it was an odd job, something not worthy or him, but Max loved it. Now with the wedding only six months away Lauren was more than ever pushing him to reconsider his profession. He felt she was ashamed to tell her friends at her father’s association that he was only a paramedic when she was a big time reconstructive surgeon. And although the bulk of Lauren’s clients were rich, pampered, obnoxious women seeking cosmetic alterations to their bodies, Max respected Lauren’s work. He never gave her a hard time about the shallowness he felt accompanied her career, he could not understand why she needed to constantly attack his.
“You want some breakfast?” His mother asked Max as he came through the front door.
“Huh?” He said a little startled by her. He looked at his watch and frowned “It’s too early mum, go back to bed.” He told her.
“Oh I can’t sleep anymore, you father is snoring again.”
Max giggled trying to get past her and into his room. But his mother moved in front of him and blocked his path.
“I have to go shower.” He said confused.
“Honey I think you should go with Lauren to the designer.” She told him smiling very motherly.
“Um?” He asked perplexed “Not you too mum please!” He exclaimed closing his eyes.
“Marla, leave Max alone.” His father’s voice shouted from inside their bedroom.
“Thanks dad!” Max shouted back.
“I am not so sure about him seeing the dress either.” The woman shouted in the direction of her bedroom with a frown. “But it seems to mean so much to her.” She said turning to look at Max.
“I bet it does.” Max said kissing his mother’s forehead and moving her aside.
“What happened to the old ways of planning a wedding? I liked them, they were just fine.” His dad screamed.
Marla groaned at her husbands comment.
“I like them too dad, and THAT’S why I’m not going with her.” Max said pinching his mother’s cheek.
“But Maximilian, you ought to think about it.” She insisted as he walked into his room.
Max was already taking off his shirt but he poked his head out to answer her.
“I’ll think about it at work mum. I’m going to be late.”
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“How are the wedding plans going?” George, a fellow paramedic, asked Max hours later.
“They’re going.” He answered concentrating on the oxygen masks he was arranging on a table.
George laughed and padded his back understandingly. As his colleague walked away another one came into the room. The two men exchanged salutes, George walked out and the other looked at Max confused.
“When did you get here?” Paul asked surprised to see him.
“I’ve been here since six.” Max responded.
“I thought today was your day off?”
“It was. But I had nothing better to do. Besides, I had to check the engine oil in the ambulance, it was your turn to change it last time and you didn’t.” He told the Paul grinning.
“Aw man, I forgot.” Paul said hitting his forehead with the palm of his hand.
“Well just don’t forget next time.” Max told him finishing with the masks.
“So are you going home now?”
“Naw. I’m going to stay here until it’s past one.” Max said walking over to a cabinet from where he took out bandages in a box “Otherwise my adorable fiancé will not believe me that I was working.” He said walking back to the table.
“You are not even married yet and you are already hiding from her?!” Paul replied laughing.
“I’m not hiding. It’s called survival.” Max answered.
“From what?” Paul wondered.
“Lauren.” Max said smiling wickedly as his eyes sparkled.
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“The big client is here!” Yolanda said running to Susan.
“Really?” She asked looking up from the sewing machine. Her eyes wide open.
“Yes, I just heard from Tony that she is the state governor’s daughter. She is getting married in the fall. Oh my Bob Susan and just think of it, YOU are making her dress!”
“Shut up Yolanda you are making me nervous. You don’t even know if that is true.” Susan said returning to the piece she was making.
“I am almost positive it is. I wonder if you’ll…” Yolanda was silenced by the manager’s entrance.
“Susan.” An older, impeccably dressed woman called her “Can you come up front for a second?”
“Mmmhhh, yes Gabrielle of course.” Susan responded standing up.
“Good luck.” Yolanda murmured as she passed by her.
Susan walked behind Gabrielle with her head down. Cheeses Crust please don’t tell me I’m fired, she thought. If I get fired I’m going to suicide my mother for making me run home yesterday.
But her anxiety was settled when her boss spoke.
“You will be commissioned a very important gown, and the client wants to meet the person who is making her dress.” She told Susan unemotionally.
“Okay.” Susan said relieved. She reminded herself to thank Yolanda for gossiping to her about the big client, if she hadn’t done so Susan would have probably screamed with joy as Gabrielle gave her the news. That would not have been very professional of her.
They were soon in the lobby of the store, Susan had been in there only once before when she first had come to ask for employment, and she remembered it to be very nice. The gowns hanging around her gave the place a light that made everything scream bridal elegance. Susan day dreamed of one day owning her own boutique and displaying her creations in such a way.
“ Susan?” Gabrielle called her.
Susan rushed to her side. Three women stood opposite from the manager of the store. Two blond girls, that looked ordinary and pleasant, and a striking red head that appeared to be dissecting Susan with her eyes.
“Susan this is Dr. Alderman.” Gabrielle said to her referring to the red head “Lauren, this is the girl I was telling you about.”
“Nice to meet you.” Susan said extending her hand toward the red head.
“Yeah.” The woman limited herself to a quick glance up and down Susan’s body “Well Gaby if you say she is good, then she can make it. I just don’t want an idiot sewing MY dress so that it falls apart during my reception.” The red head said unpleasantly.
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The last hints of sunlight were scattering across the sand as Max sat on the hood of his ’64 Mustang. The commute through early evening traffic had been light and he basked in the warmth of the early spring sun while driving the convertible down the Massachusetts’ shoreline. His cell phone had rung incessantly all afternoon but he was in no mood to deal with Lauren or her insane ranting.
Closing his eyes, the let the sound of the crashing waves wash over him.
‘Six more months and this kind of escape won’t be an option,’ an inner voice had reminded.
It was getting late and he knew full well that his mother had most likely tried to have an all points bulletin sent out to the authorities. He should call her but was in no mood to hear her complaints either.
Most of his friends thought that it was odd that he still lived at home. How many 35 year old men were still residing with their parents? Of course he remained there for the sake of his father. No mere mortal could endure her endless grumblings without losing their sanity. But somehow his father had managed for the last 37 years. A testament to Jean Delacoure’s incredibly patient demeanor. He had no doubt that anyone else would have killed her within weeks of their wedding.
The wedding.
The mere thought of it made him wince slightly. He had been with Lauren for over ten years. It was a natural progression but somehow he felt a nagging doubt deep within in heart.
I love her. Of course I love her or I wouldn’t have stayed with her for all these years.
They had met in college, the attraction almost magnetic. She was career driven and determined to make a name for herself in the world of medicine. At the time he possessed personal goals of his own. The need to prove ones self and pursue a career that would led to a life of wealth. It wasn’t until later that he discovered a deeper need. A desire to help others at their moment of crisis. He found his want was satisfied in the world of paramedics. He felt that he had grown and changed over the years. However, Lauren had become even more materialistic and shallow as the years passed.
‘But in time we’ll work things out,’ he repeated over and over until he eventually had total faith that she would come to value the things that truly mattered.
The sudden ringing of his phone pulled him from his world of contemplation. Not thinking, he instantly answered the phone only to be greeted by Lauren’s shrill scolding.
“Del, where the he** have you been all day?”
He paused, wanting more than anything to mimic the sound of static and end the call.
“I was at the station and then some things came up and…”
“And blah, blah, blah. I have to tell you that I was really disappointed that you didn’t show up today.”
“I told you I wouldn’t be there.”
A dead silence fell over the line for several seconds.
“So you said. You know…if I didn’t know better I would think that you didn’t want to get married.”
“Come one Lauren. You know that I… I love you. I just don’t want to spend my afternoons hanging around a bridal shop. I don’t ask you to go to the Red Sox games with me so don’t bug me about girl stuff.”
“Those silly baseball games are a waste of time. I’m talking about our wedding. Del, if you want to just postpone this whole thing I think you need to speak up,” she huffed. “I just don’t see why you gave me this ring if you didn’t want to see our relationship move to a new plateau.”
‘That darned ring had started the whole ball rolling.’ he recalled.
Lauren and her mother had spotted it while window shopping in the antique district. After ignoring numerous hints, he was shocked when her mother had gone so far as to purchase the ring and give it to him. There was little else he could do, aside from repay her with the bulk of his life savings. Yet to the governor’s wife a mere $45,000 was nothing. All that mattered to her was that her beloved Lauren was happy. So like any good boyfriend, he proposed on bended knee beneath the Christmas tree in the governor’s mansion.
“I notice that you aren’t too quick to reply,” she grumbled.
Momentarily lost to his recollections of the rather forced engagement, he stammered.
“I’m just..I’m… really tired…I want to marry you or I wouldn’t have asked. Besides who else would marry me?” he jested, hoping to improve her mood.
She chuckled.
“Ok, I forgive you. But I’m here at the mansion and mother is expecting you for dinner.”
“Oh now…I don’t’ know…”
“Be here by 7:00,” she simply commanded.
He sighed, wanting to come up with some excuse to avoid another dinner with her stuffy family.
“I’ll be there,” he finally conceded.
“Good. I have so much to tell you about today. You will not believe what happened.”
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“Thought you said it was just dinner with your parents?” Max mumbled to his fiancé when he saw that half of Boston’s aristocracy was gathered inside the Alderman mansion.
“Don’t be silly I never said that.” Lauren answered kissing his cheek “I said; mother is expecting you for dinner.”
“You could at least have warned me that all the state’s government officials, not to mention the millionaires, would be here. I would have stopped at home to change.”
“Yes, that I should have done.” She said looking at his clothes “But it’s only your fault for wearing those awful and insulting t-shirts and faded jeans.”
Max looked down at his brown t-shirt that read ‘THE MAN’ with an arrow pointing up, and ‘THE LEGEND’ with an arrow pointing do… (Ah, well, you get the picture), and smiled.
“I am trying to make various statements to the world.” He said to Lauren trying to control a laugh.
“The only statement you’re making is your lack of style Del.”
He rolled his eyes at her and pulled her into his arms.
“How come you never call me Max like the rest of humanity?” He asked into her ear.
“Don’t start with that you know I hate to call you Max, it’s so common.” Lauren answered pulling away “I would call you Maximilian but you refuse.”
“No, I prefer Del then, only my mother calls me Maximilian and I’ve hated it all my life.”
“Okay then it’s settled.” She quickly added “Be a sweetheart and go upstairs before anyone sees you are here already. There is a surprise waiting for you in one of the guest’s rooms.”
She walked away before he could answer and Max was forced to obey her. After opening three wrong doors he finally found what she was talking about. Stretched out on the bed of the room she had mentioned was an expensive black suit. Max ran his fingers down the sleek fabric and sighted realizing once again that he and Lauren had very different ideals.
Still, a few minutes later he had changed into the piece and went downstairs to join the dinner party. He entered the salon rubbing his hands together feeling very out of place. He wondered if it was possible to develop an allergic reaction to lavish garments since he was starting to feel a little short of breath.
“Oh, there he is!” Lauren’s mother exclaimed as she saw him. She was talking to a group of gentlemen and motioned for him to join her “This is my future son-in-law, Maximilian Delacoure.” She told the four men standing around her.
Max smiled courteously.
“A Frenchman huh?” One of the men asked.
“No, actually my father is the Frenchman.” Max corrected “I was born and raised in Scotland, that’s where my mother is from, and where my parent’s met.”
The men nodded as an answer.
“A strange combination that is, French and Scottish.” The same man added raising his martini glass to his lips.
Before Max could respond to his comment Lauren came up behind him and ran her hands down his arm. She obviously was trying to stop him from speaking up.
“Quite an exquisite combination I would say.” She said to all standing before her.
Laughter broke out among the group and Max was surprisingly relieved by her quick come back.
“Are you a doctor too?” Another of the men asked Max.
“Yes he is.” Lauren hurriedly answered.
“Actually,” Max corrected “I am a paramedic.”
“I too wish I had the time to do volunteer work.” The man added.
“Well, that is in fact my full time job. I am only a paramedic.” Max informed him.
“Oh. I had imagined you were a doctor like Lauren.”
“Del did graduate from Medical School but he decided not to practice.” Lauren jumped in.
“And why is that?” A third man asked curious while the one that had insulted Max’s heritage looked at him intensely and insulting.
“I don’t like the hypocrisy behind the practice; it’s almost too close to politics.” Max responded holding the stare of the first man that had spoken to him.
“Excuse us.” Lauren quickly said pulling Max away from the group.
She pushed him to a corner of the room where she waited until everyone appeared to be ignoring them to speak.
“Why did you say that to the State Congressman?” She asked angrily.
“I was not going to let them insult me for not being a doctor like you, they already insulted my parents!”
“They did not, and you are a doctor Del!”
“I don’t want to start a fight, not in front of all these people.” Max told her not wanting to make a scene.
“Then start acting like a civilized person.”
Max sighted knowing that he would not win over Lauren’s overfeed pride.
“You said you had something to tell me about today.” He reminded her changing the subject “What happened today that I won’t believe?”
“It’s not important now after what you just did.”
“You are not going to tell me then?” He asked
“No.” She answered pouting her lips like a child.
“Come on, I know you really want to tell me.” Max said ticking her side and kissing her nose.
“Okay.” She quickly agreed smiling. Max prepared for what he expected to be a long speech. That would be five minutes of his life that he would not get back and it was all due to Lauren’s need to replay all the events of her day for him. “Well I got to the boutique and you were not there.” She started “And I waited for over thirty minutes and you never showed up. Then the manager tells me that the designer was at some runway show in Paris. I was very upset for that.”
“Poor you.” He mocked her.
“Don’t make fun of me! Do you want to hear the story or not?!”
“Yes. Continue.” He said zipping his mouth shut.
“As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted.” She said resuming her tale “I was upset. But Vera, that’s the designer you did not want to meet, had at least left some drawings for me to look over, and I found the most stunning gown ever!” Max smiled at her enthusiasm “Immediately I told the manager that was the one I wanted. Then she tells me that Vera herself would not be making the dress. Instead they would have an ordinary seamstress making it. Of course I demanded to meet the woman, and when she came out she had the nastiest attitude ever. She refused to make my dress! Needless to say, I had her fired on the spot.”
“Why was she mean to you?”
“I don’t know. No apparent reason that I could see. But then she started crying about needing the job and this and that, and after she begged my forgiveness I eventually told the manager not to fire her after all. She should be thankful she is keeping her job after the way she treated me!” Lauren finished.
“That was nice of you to do.” Max told her moved by her consideration for the evil seamstress.
“I know.” His fiancé agreed.
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Max glanced around the opulent dining room, recalling his first visit to the home nearly ten years before. He remembered the mixture of awe and intimidation that he felt when Lauren drove them up the long tree lined drive that led to the three story Tudor style home. They had been dating for a few months and he was aware that she was from an affluent family but in no way was he prepared for the overwhelming luxury that the Alderman’s took for granted.
At the time, he thought there was nothing that he would want more to live in such a place with countless servants to attend to the daily tasks that he found so cumbersome. But since that day he had come to love the simple things in life and found the lavishness of their existence to be almost annoying.
“Tell us Lauren, what do you have planned for the wedding of the decade?” asked an older woman seated across from them at the table.
Lauren smiled, delicately wiping her mouth on a linen napkin.
”I don’t know that I would call it the wedding of the decade but I’m certain that Mummy and I will think of something to impress you.”
”Indeed” the woman replied.
”Betty, she’s being modest,” her mother chimed in from the end of the long mahogany table. “I’ve managed to hire Nathan Andrews as the wedding coordinator.”
A series of muffled gasps rose up from the ladies while the men seemed oblivious to the significance of having the nation’s top planner overseeing every detail of the affair. Max sat oddly curious about the extensive plans that she had for her eldest daughter’s wedding.
”Just today I heard back from the archbishop and he has arranged his schedule to allow us to use the cathedral for the ceremony. I’m just at a loss as to whether to host the reception in the grand ballroom of the Ambassador or on the back lawn of the mansion. Of course I’m sure I’ll be in contact with Del's mother regarding her thoughts on the subject.”
She leaned forward, smiling like a Cheshire cat which made Max want to snicker aloud. His mother wanted nothing more that to be taken in to the world of the Aldermans but he was aware of their underlying distaste for his blue collar family.
”I’m sure she will have lots of thoughts on the subject,” he managed to interject as the conversation continued on around him.
His interest in the topic quickly waned and he let his mind drift back to the events of the past few days. Work had been hectic but he thrived in the chaos of being on the front line of medicine. After graduating from medical school he had decided to specialize in emergency medicine yet it was during this internship period that he came to see the need to take a more active role. Eventually it was this thinking that pulled him from the ER and into an ambulance.
Suddenly he found that the dinner party was breaking up around him with the ladies filing off in the direction of the library while the men migrated toward John Alderman’s study to discuss the ins and outs of Boston’s political life.
”Why don’t you slip up to old room in an hour or so and we can? Well, you know,” Lauren whispered as she cornered him in the hallway.
He smiled slyly knowing that at least some things about her hadn’t changed.
”I don’t know? That’s all kind of strange? Here with the servants and your family wandering around,” he replied.
”Oh then maybe you can sweep me off my feet and take me back to that lavish two bedroom estate you share with your parents,” she sarcastically fired back in response.
”Why do you always have to have to ruin things?”
”I think I’m going leave? It’s late and I have the early shift tomorrow. Why don’t you?”
”No! You can’t leave. We have so many things to discuss. I have fabric swatches for the attendant’s gowns and then you need to decide who you’re going to ask to be groomsmen? Don’t even think about naming those thugs that you work with down at the station. I have a former Miss Massachusetts walking down the aisle and I don’t want one of your greasy pals drooling all over her,” she huffed.
Her words hit him like scalding water. He wanted nothing more than to tell her to shut up.
”I can’t talk to you when you’re like this. I’ll call you later,” he said, storming out the back entrance of the mansion.
He wanted nothing more than to turn around and see her standing in the doorway, wanting to make things right between them. Of course, he knew better than to expect for that to happen. She was too stubborn to ever admit that she was wrong and he would no doubt end up apologizing but not tonight.
’Let her simmer for a while’, he thought as he fumbled in his pocket to retrieve the keys to the Mustang.
Stepping into the back courtyard, he grimaced at the sight of his gridlocked convertible amid the fleet of European imports and limos. The waiting chauffeurs took notice of his distress but only shrugged, offering him no assistance in removing the vintage vehicle.
”Just take a walk,” he told himself, loosening the tight grip of the silk tie around his neck.
He strolled down the driveway and aimlessly began his listless exploration. Turning south he headed toward the tree filled McLosky Park that formed a border between the ritzy upper class neighborhood and the working class communities of Boston’s west side.
**
Susan sat on the park bench and sobbed uncontrollably even though it had been hours since her run in with the red haired demon. She had managed to make it home and maintain her composure while her mother conducted her nightly grilling about the events of her day. It wasn’t until she was alone that the magnitude of it hit with full force. Unable to remain in the confines of her tiny room, she slipped on her street clothes and quietly exited out the side door while her mother watched a rerun of ‘Desperate Housewives.’
There were few people in the park that time of evening which did not trouble her at all. She wanted solitude and there was no better place to find it than on a bench overlooking the still waters of the pond where she and her father once came on weekends to feed the ducks.
Fear no longer fueled her tears. Instead anger and embarrassment had taken its place. She could still see Lauren Alderman staring down at her as if she were little more than a snail waiting to be smashed. Instantly her memories of the afternoon came flooding back.
She was surprised when she emerged from the back warehouse to see Lauren Alderman standing in the middle of the showroom with a look of wary concern on her perfectly flawless face. Just behind her stood the two nurses that she had seen in the cafeteria the previous day. Continuing to survey the room she noticed a younger woman in the corner who was so deeply engrossed in her book that she barely looked up when Gabrielle made their introductions.
“Susan this is Dr. Alderman.” Gabrielle said to her referring to the woman “Lauren, this is the girl I was telling you about.”
“Nice to meet you.” Susan said extending her hand toward the red head.
“Yeah.” The woman limited herself to a quick glance up and down Susan’s body “Well Gaby if you say she is good, then she can make it. I just don’t want an idiot sewing MY dress so that it falls apart during my reception.” The red head said unpleasantly.
”She is our most talented seamstress Susan Smith," the manager declared. "Susan, this is Lauren Alderman. You will be in charge of constructing her wedding gown."
Susan felt a twinge of apprehension deep in the pit of her stomach when Lauren’s blue eyes met her own. She knew instantly that she was being scrutinized but decided that to put her teenage inadequacies in the past. Straightening her posture, she found that she was nearly as tall as the statuesque red head who continued to stare without making comment.
”It’s very nice to meet you Miss Alderman,” Susan said, extending her hand once again.
”Dr. Alderman,” she corrected, pausing for a moment before shaking the seamstress’s hand.
Gabrielle then went on to introduce the other ladies who were a small portion of the ten member bridal party. Aside from her co workers, Lauren had brought her sister Caitlin who continued to pour of the pages of her book, though she did glance up for a brief moment upon hearing her name spoken aloud.
Dismissing Susan’s presence, Lauren turned to the manager and continued to flip through the numerous pages of sketches that had been left for her by the absent Vera Lang. Flippantly she commented on each design, finding fault with some aspect of every gown.
”Perhaps if you take a moment away from the sketches, you can gain some new perspective on what you want for your gown?” Gabrielle flatly said, clearly annoyed by the woman’s attitude. “Why don’t you step up to the platform and I’ll have Susan get you measurements. We need get that out of the way and it will give you a moment to clear your thoughts.”
”Very well. Let’s be speedy about it. I have several other engagements this evening,” Lauren answered, removing her expensive jacket and stepping up onto the elevated platform which was encircled by mirrors.
Taking out her tape measure, Susan began the task of determining the needed sleeve length.
”I trust that you have some skill in this area?” Lauren asked.
”I’ve worked here for over eight years,” Susan replied, continuing her task.
”Good. I’m not sure if you know how important this dress is going to be.”
”Every dress that I make is important.”
”That’s a nice little sentiment that I’m sure you give all the other customers but this time you are working on something important,” she answered smugly.
Susan made no response
“Beth! Wake up and hold up the rest of those sketches and let me take a look at them. I can’t just be wasting time standing around here while this little sewing girl takes my measurements,” Lauren ordered, causing her startled friend to jump to attention.
The sudden outburst seemed to have pulled her sister away from her reading. She placed her book within a bag at her feet and stared up at the commotion in the front of the room.
Obediently, Beth held up sketch after sketch only to have her friend wave them away with a flick of her hand. Susan occasionally looked over at the designs, marveling at each of the incredible creations.
”Raise your arms please,” Susan asked, maneuvering herself around Lauren to get a bust measurement.
”Better put that one in pencil. It’s prone to change after every trip to LA,” Her sister called out, causing all of the women to laugh aloud.
Susan tried hard not to laugh but found it impossible when she had the offending items directly in front of her face. Eventually her pressed lips could not contain the chuckle within and she burst out laughing.
”Ladies,” Gabrielle managed to say between her own giggles. “Let’s get to work here. We need to settle on a design.”
The harsh tone of her employer enabled Susan to stifle her hilarity but when she looked into Lauren’s face she immediately saw that she had not found the incident to be amusing.
”What about this one?” Beth asked, holding up a design that differed radically from those that had been viewed.
”Bring it closer,” Lauren commanded after giving the seamstress a searing look.
Susan caught a fleeting glance out of the corner of her eye and nearly gasped when she saw the creation. Earlier that morning she had carried in her sketch pad to make copies of her latest designs. She liked keeping an on going record of each gown’s progress. In time she hoped to create a portfolio of each stage of the design before creating the finished product. Such a portfolio would be crucial to her acceptance at the fashion academy.
’Oh Bob! What have I done?’ She thought upon realizing that she had forgotten the sketch of her wedding gown on the copier lid.
In the frantic haste to prepare Vera’s sketches, the manager had inadvertently put Susan’s work in the stack.
“That’s it!” Lauren bellowed, taking the paper in hand to study the details.
Susan felt all the air rush from her lungs and she was convinced that she might faint. Yet looking at the arrogant woman fawning over her favorite creation was more than she could bear.
”You can’t have that,” she declared, snatching the sheet from her hands. “There’s no way in hell I would ever make that gown for you.”
Lauren’s eyes sprang open in surprise. “Who do you think you are?”
Susan wanted nothing more than to tell her that the design that she coveted was created by none other than the little sewing girl! But she held her tongue. Gabrielle would have been furious that she had used company time and resources on her private project.
”This dress would be awful on you,” Susan offered in response.
”I’ll be the one who decides that,” Lauren answered, taking hold of the sketch.
A tug of war then ensued over the document with neither woman willing to relent their hold.
”Ladies, ladies,” Gabrielle called out to no avail.
The nurses stood back in shock while Caitlyn watched the scene with humorous smile.
”Let go of that you little witch!” Lauren shrieked.
”I’d sooner die than give it to you.”
The intensity of their struggle escalated. Both tittering dangerously close to the edge of the platform until Lauren’s stiletto twisted, sending them both tumbling to the ground. At that point, an all out fight began with both of them rolling across the carpeted runway, tugging at each others hair as a string of foul language filled the air.
Finally the nurses managed to pull them apart though Lauren’s rage continued.
”I want that little witch fired this very minute,” she screamed. “I will have her arrested and this shop closed down within the hour.”
”Please, Miss Alderman,” Gabrielle implored.
”It’s DR. ALDERMAN,” she bellowed, smoothing her mangled hair.
”I’m so sorry. I can assure you that this matter will be dealt with harshly,” the manager replied, turning to give Susan a menacing look. “You can pack you things, Miss Smith.”
”NO! Wait? You can’t fire me. I need this job. My mother’s is sick and we won’t have insurance. Please don’t”
”That will be enough. You can pick up your check on Friday.”
”But please....I'm so sorry…”
”Wait a minute,” Lauren interceded, looking toward Susan. “There’s no need to fire her. It was a simple misunderstanding. My fiancée Del is always telling me I need to be more compassionate. I’m sure we can work through this.”
”If that is your wish, Dr. Alderman,” Gabrielle simply said. “Susan, I will speak to you later about this matter.”
Susan knew then that she had been dismissed from their. After collecting her things that had scattered across the floor, she began to walk toward the exit.
”Wait a minute,” Lauren called out.
Susan stopped, uncertain of what she would possibly have to say.
”I will be wearing that gown and you will be the one who makes it for me,” Lauren softly said with a look of vengeance in her frigid eyes.
Susan knew then that that was only the beginning of her problems.
She brought her hands to her face, wiping away the last of the tears. The street lights had come on while she was lost in her recollections, causing her look down at her wrist watch.
”Goodness, it’s getting late,” she mumbled.
”What’s your hurry, stranger?” a voice asked from the adjacent bench.
”Why in Bob’s name are you here?”
”It looks like I’m not the only one having a bad evening,” he replied with the overhead lights reflecting in his bluish-green eyes.
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Susan blinked several times wondering if she was imagining him there. Two days in a row she had seen him. He was suddenly like a plague that she could not get rid off; this had to be a nightmare.
“I asked you a question.” She told him annoyed at the stupid smile he was giving her. The man’s expression changed into a frown.
“I already told you I wasn’t stalking you. I’m escaping just like you.” He said to her looking down at his hands. Susan remained quiet and after a few seconds Max looked up at her. He saw the clear evidence of falling tears on her cheeks. “What happened?” He asked her concerned “Is your mother feeling ill again?”
“No. I had a tough day today.” She answered.
“Tough day at work?” Max asked without thinking. Susan nodded.
“I almost lost my job today.” She told him sad.
“Almost? What happened?”
“It’s a long story and I rather not talk about it. But I didn’t get fired after all, instead I got a pay reduction and a warning, not to mention my manager now hates me for giving her most important client a hard time.” Susan listed burying her face into the palms of her hands.
“I hate that stupid saying ‘the client is always right’, it gives them too much freedom to step all over you.” Max said standing and sitting next to her. He handed Susan the handkerchief that was stuffed into the suit he was wearing and watched her as she held it in her hand but did not put it to her face.
“Tell me about it.” She said staring down at the cloth.
Max’s eyes turned to the darkening sky and laughed making Susan turn to look at him confused.
“Well if it makes you feel any better,” He told her between laughs “I just got popped on by a pigeon.”
“Why would that make me feel better?!” She laughed with him as he took the handkerchief from her hand and tried to wipe the mess on his shoulder.
“I don’t know, maybe you can be thankful that at least your shirt is still clean.”
“Oh that won’t come off,” Susan said to him “and that suit looks expensive, I am so sorry.”
“Are you serious?” Max asked with his eyes wide open.
Susan smiled.
“No. Just take it to the dry cleaners they’ll know how to treat the wool.” She told him taking the handkerchief from him so that he would not rub it into the suit.
“You know about dry cleaners?” He asked marveled.
“Just a little about fabrics.” She answered handing him back his handkerchief.
Max re-stuffed the thing back into the jacket’s pocket.
“I would have just tried to rub it off with some detergent and water.” He said to Susan.
“Oh don’t do that you’ll ruin it.”
“Thanks.” He said sincerely as the ringing of his cell phone interrupted their conversation. “Sorry,” he apologized “I got to take this.”
She nodded understanding and looked away so that he could answer the call with some privacy. Not that it helped much; she was still able to hear his responses to the indefinable speech coming from the cell phone.
“Hello?” Max said into his phone. “No I did not.” He added soon after “I said I did not alright!” He shouted into the piece and Susan suddenly turned to him. He gave her an awkward smile “Tell her to stay there I am on my way.” He said ending the call.
Susan’s eyes followed him as he stood from his seat.
“Family issues.” He told her with an odd expression “I got to go.”
“It’s fine.” She responded standing too. “I have to head home myself.”
“It was quite nice actually talking to you.” Max said smiling. They said their goodbyes and walked in opposite directions. Max drove home mentally preparing for another feud with Lauren while Susan returned to her mother and her TV shows, both them thinking it would the last they saw of each other.
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After the argument he had with Lauren was blown out of proportion by his mother and Lauren herself, the next couple of days were a nightmare for Max. Lauren sure knew how to make his life miserable when she was angry with him. She had told his mother that he walked out on her during her father’s campaign dinner and that he hinted about not wanting to get married. It was useless that Max tried to deny her claims, his mother believed every word Lauren said. He was forced to apologize even for events he did not remembered happening and was left with a sour taste in his mouth. If that was the way Lauren would behave for the rest of their lives then he really had to rethink their future together. He was not very fond of lies and Lauren lived by them. Her father was in politics for Pete’s sake! Why was it such a surprise to Max that she lied to get what she wanted?
Max dismissed his internal ramblings about Lauren and concentrated on hanging his jacket inside the closet. His shift had ended ten minutes ago and he was ready to go home and ignore everybody, especially Lauren and his mother. True, he had eventually forgiven them for manipulating him but that did not mean he had forgotten about it. He knew it would be many more days before he could look at them and not feel like strangling them. Max smiled imagining their faces reddening as his fingers tightened around their necks.
“Ah, to dream of the impossible.” He said to himself chuckling.
He shut the door of the closet and walked to a chair where his bag was resting. He picked it up, swung it over his head and headed out the door. He was a few steps from the exit when George’s voice called to him.
“Max, wait up!” He said running toward Max. “There is a call for you with the receptionist. It’s your mother. She says it’s urgent.”
Max was shocked, his mother never called the station. He looked down at the cell phone hanging from his belt and raised it to his eyes. It was on and it had not registered missed calls. He returned the cell phone to its place and walked behind George toward the receptionist.
The receptionist shyly smiled as she handed him the phone. Max couldn’t understand what was going on and he was too distracted to return the smile. He put the receiver to his ear and spoke.
“Hello?” He said his voice deep with doubt.
“Oh I am so sorry I had to lie, but there was no other way to get in touch with you.” A strange voice answered.
“Who is this?” Max asked a little angry at whoever had played this joke on him.
“Donna Smith.” The voice responded “Do you remember me?”
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Susan was dragging her feet up the steps to her house. She was beat after a long day’s work. After Gabrielle had reduced her salary Susan had had to add more hours to her schedule to compensate for the lost dollars. She had told her mother that there was a project needing to get done and that she had to work extra hours each day until it was finished. There was no need to worry her mother with her problems; the woman had enough to deal with her soap operas to dwell on real life troubles.
Susan pushed the front door open and called out to her mother to let her know she was home.
“Is dinner ready? I am so hungry!” She said as she walked past the kitchen and into the small hall that lead to her tiny room.
“Yes dear. Please go freshen up we have company.” Her mother’s voice shouted happily.
Susan froze in between steps and shook her head trying to snap out of the shock. Company?! Who in their right mind would visit them?!
“Who?!” She asked rushing into the kitchen. She was greeted by her mother’s broad and cheery smile and Max’s waving hand.
“Hello.” He said softly.
Needless to say the dinner was very awkward. Donna constantly dropped hints and sometimes actual insinuations for Max to ask Susan out on a date. Max tried to control his laugher while swallowing his food and clearing his throat at the same time. And Susan kept glancing at Max’s brown t-shirt that read ‘Save a horse, ride a cowboy’. It was the longest hour of their lives. One that surely will not be repeated, Susan thought.
“I am going to clean up this mess. Why don’t you two go into the living room while I make some coffee?” Donna offered winking at Max.
Susan was beyond complaining and she silently walked to the living room with Max close behind her.
“I am very sorry. I don’t know how she got a hold of you. I can’t believe she dragged you here for dinner.” Susan quickly said to him embarrassed “And… I apologize for all the hints she dropped during dinner about dating me.”
“She didn’t DRAG me, I accepted her invitation.” Max replied sitting down on the recliner.
“Oh.” Susan said surprised.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Well I am. And the worst thing is that I WANT you to ask me out.” She told him sitting on the sofa.
“Excuse me?” Max asked surprised.
“No no no, don’t misunderstand me.” Susan quickly corrected “I just want her to think that she has done her job as matchmaker. If you ask me out then she’ll be happy and you’ll be free to go on with your life. I’ll just tell her later that our plans got cancelled last minute.”
“Ah, so you want me to lie?” He asked
“Yes. But it’s just a little lie. It’s not like we are hurting someone.”
“What about your mother?”
“Believe me she will be happy.” She said rolling her eyes.
“I am not sure about that. No one likes lies. She might think you are taking her for a fool.” Max added.
“I don’t think she is fool, but she is driving me crazy.”
“Can’t you just talk to her?” Max suggested “Tell her the truth; that you don’t like me and I don’t like you. Not like the way she wants me to like you anyways. I can’t like you that way.”
Susan raised an eyebrow confused. She knew he wasn’t married and from the conversation they had in the park he seemed to be a nice guy. She had even thought they had gotten along well. Not to mention he was funny. The incident with the bird’s poop on his Armani suit had proven it. So what could possibly be…?
“Ohhhhhh…….!” Susan suddenly said closing her eyes and throwing her head back dramatically “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…I should have known this wasn’t going to work.” She told him.
Max looked at her lost.
“I mean I can’t believe I asked you to date me! But you should have just told her from the beginning, it would have saved us some trouble don’t you think?!” She said smiling very strangely.
“Huh?” He asked still not catching on.
“My mother is so blind! I am too!” Susan told him sticking out her tongue at him “I would have never guessed if you hadn’t just confessed. Are you trying to hide it?” She asked.
“Hide what? What are you talking about?”
“That you’re gay. That you like men.” She said patting his knee.
“Whoa!” Max shrieked jumping from his seat “Wait a second I’M NOT GAY!”
“You are not?” Susan asked suddenly puzzled.
“No.” He answered shaking head “I am not, TRUST me.”
“Well if you are not gay then…” Susan started to speak but abruptly stopped. She did not want to go further into the conversation. If Max wasn’t gay than that mean she was just unattractive “Aw! This is worst than I thought. Am I really that uninteresting?” She asked pitifully.
“You are not uninteresting…” Max began but was interrupted by Donna.
“Coffee will be out in a second!” The woman shouted from the kitchen.
Max took a quick look in the kitchen’s direction and felt bad for Susan. He sympathized with her suffering, he too had a mother, a very annoying and nosy mother that wanted to rule his life the way Donna was trying to do with Susan.
“If you really think that asking you out will help, then okay I’ll do it.” He said without looking at Susan.
“Thanks.” She answered not too happy “Just make sure you ask me when she is here, so she can hear it from your lips. Otherwise she won’t believe me.”
He nodded still looking away.
“Coffee for everybody!” Donna said coming in with a tray.
“That is very nice of you Donna, but I really must get going. I have to work tomorrow.” Max quickly said as the woman set the tray down on a table.
“On a Saturday?” The woman asked.
“Yes. People get sick even on Saturdays.” He answered smiling at Donna and avoiding Susan’s eyes.
“Oh that is too bad, I do hope you come back to visit us again soon. I know Susan would love that. Wouldn’t you sweetie?” She said to her daughter as she pulled her up from her seat to say something to Max.
Susan searched for his eyes and when she met them she found they were dark with uncertainty. Oh please just do it! She silently pleaded him. Max took a deep breath and spoke.
“Well, I have actually have been meaning to ask Susan if she would like to go to the fair with me next Saturday. I don’t have to work then.” He said very mechanically.
“Oh my, that would be marvelous!” Donna exclaimed excited.
Susan mumbled a silent ‘thank you’ to Max and smiled at her mother.
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‘You know the old saying about what you get when you make an assumption?’ Susan pondered. In her haste to provide a temporary halt to her mother’s endless matchmaking, she thought that having her mother think that she was going out with Max would be a good thing. WRONG!
Since the night of the dinner, Donna had done nothing but talk incessantly about Max and her grand visions of him as a future son in law. At first, Susan had to admit that it was rather funny but as time passed, it became more and more annoying until she could stand no more. After arriving home from work late on Tuesday night, she placed a call to the phone company stating that she was having problems with her phone and wondered if they could possibly ring her number to determine if her phone was operating properly.
She anxiously waited several minutes before the making a mad dash toward the ringing phone.
“I got it, Mom,” she called out.
“Hello,” she breathlessly answered as her mother leaned around the corner to see what the commotion was about.
“This is Roberta Evan with Verizon. I’m returning a requested call to 555-6783. With whom I’m I speaking?”
“This is Susan. How are you this evening, Max?” she answered in a voice loud enough for her mom to hear.
“Ummm…yes. It’s standard protocol to speak with the person who requested the call back. I believe that would be one….” The operator paused. “A Susan Smith. I take it that you are Ms. Smith?”
“Really. That’s too bad. Maybe we can get together some other time.”
“Miss. Are you alright?”
“Yes, that would be nice. You have my cell number. I’ll talk with you later,” Susan said before ending the call.
She felt rather stupid for having to go to such extremes to fool her mother but she hoped it would put an end to Donna’s mind numbing chatter about the ‘Scottish hunk’ that had graced their presence.
“Who was that?” Donna asked, dusting off the potato chip crumbs from her housecoat.
“It was Max,” Susan answered with her head deep in the fridge. “Do we have any more sliced turkey. I’m starving.”
“What so you mean it was Max?” her mother asked in a near frantic tone, ignoring her daughter question.
“He has to work on Saturday so he called to say he couldn’t make it to the fair.”
“He what? NO! He wouldn’t just cancel.”
Susan kept her face out of sight. A part of her wanted to smile and say ‘So let’s stop talking about him’ yet she already detected the hurt in her mom’s voice.
“I’ll just call him back and…
“NO!” she answered loudly on impulse.
Donna looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“He has my cell number. Besides it’s not a good idea to keep calling him at work. You’ll get him into trouble. Besides I think that you’re only supposed to call the station in cases of an emergency. I don’t think a cancelled date would be considered matter of life and death.”
“Well, that’s what you think,” Donna mumbled under her breath.
“What did you say?”
“Oh nothing, sweetie. It’s better that you don’t know about what I have planned,” Donna said, making her way back to the sofa.
**
“Boston 911. What’s your emergency?” the operator said.
“I think I’m dying,” Donna replied, feigning shallow breaths.
“What are your symptoms?”
“I feel…” she stopped and read from the paper where she had jotted down some notes. “Dizzy and my heart rate is elevated. I have swelling in my joints and there is a distinct taste of sulfur in my mouth.”
‘I sure hope that this guy doesn’t watch ‘Days of Our Gerry’ ‘cause these are the symptoms that Marlena had when she contracted that unknown illness in the Congo.’
“We’ve dispatched an ambulance to your residence. Remain calm and EMS workers will be at your home momentarily.”
“It is unit 3527. Right?” Donna suddenly asked. “It just won’t do for another team to show up.”
“Excuse me?” the confused operator interjected.
“I need you to send unit 3527.”
“I’m sorry but I have no idea which unit will be reporting. I can only send out the dispatch for assistance.”
Donna sighed. “Oh well, I’ll just keep my fingers crossed that you send Max because he’s familiar with my medical history.”
The sound of screeching sirens filled the street outside as Donna peeked out the front window.
“Oh I have to go…They’re here,” she announced, hanging up the phone. |
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“And she still had the nerve to ask me if I would tell him!” The medic bellowed with disbelief.
“Hey, what’s going on guys?” Max asked walking into the eating area reserved for the paramedics. The three men sitting around a table and eating looked up at him; Max saw their mocking expressions turn to one of disapproval.
“A friend of yours, Mrs. Smith over by Langton Lane.” Paul, a tall and dark man told Max “She called the dispatcher and said she was dying. We get there and she is healthy as a horse, but very disappointed that you were not the one to show up.”
“What?” Max asked in disbelief “Why would she do that?”
“She said something about you dating her daughter, she was delusional alright, but healthy otherwise. Of course I said to her that she was insane because you are getting married.” The man added.
“You told her that?”
“Yes. After that I was able to speak at last, that woman speaks faster than anybody I know.” Paul said annoyed “I already read her her rights and gave the dispatchers her number so that if she calls again she gets to talk to Danton, now that should scare her.” He said biting into the sandwich in his hand.
“Max are you alright?” George asked him looking at Max’s concentrated frown.
“Huh?” Max responded snapping out of his trance “Yes, I’m fine. Just a little tired. Is it okay with you guys if I go home early?”
“Max going home early?!” Paul joked “Let me get this in writing, no one will believe me!”
“Very funny Paul.” He told him
“I’m just teasing you man, of course you can go home.”
“Thanks, I’ll owe you.”
“Yeah, for this and getting rid of Mrs. Smith for you.” George told him.
“Yeah, that too.” Max replied smiling.
About thirty minutes later, Max was finally at home and ready for a quick shower and a long rest. It was 2 in the afternoon but he was still tired from the previous night’s shift. He had responded to a call in the upper part of Boston where a collision between three cars caused the passengers of a minivan to be trapped inside the vehicle. There were eight injured in total, and that included a pedestrian that had been in the area, all were bad shape and panicking. Max had to use all his strength not only to help get the passengers out of the minivan, but also to keep the patients calm. He was able to get them all to the hospital alive but heard that three of them had died early this morning. For Max it was as if they had died in his hands, he felt responsible for their survival and whether they died in his ambulance or the hospital it still felt like it was his fault. He had walked around the hospital with his head down all day, re-evaluating his performance and wondering what more he could have done to help the victims. It didn’t matter anymore and he felt worse thinking he had a chance to save them and he didn’t.
Lauren had not made him feel any better either. They had met for lunch at noon and all she could talk about was the caterer and the flowers and why on earth would he ask Paul to be his best man. Then she went about the disgrace it would be if Max didn’t get his act together and started practicing shortly after their wedding. She ignored his complains about the discomfort it brought him to talk about that in the middle of the hospital’s cafeteria and refused to talk about the accident he had responded to yesterday saying she was not into that kind of stuff. Max returned to his post devastated by her response to his need for her support.
There no more calls for him to answer and he kept himself busy re-stocking the ambulance. Then he went into the lounge to talk to his co-workers and found out that Donna had called again and asked for him to go over. Susan had probably already told her their date was cancelled and the woman needed to hear it from his lips to make sure it was true. Max wondered how much longer he had to keep playing their game. He didn’t even know them that wellm, and he couldn't help feeling like he was cheating on Lauren by lying to Donna. Not to mention that he had failed to mention to Susan that he was engaged and that that was the real reason he could not ask her on a real date. Life was suddenly so complicated. He already had enough with Lauren and his mother, and now he had two more strange women after him.
“Hey dad.” Max called out to his father as he passed the kitchen.
“Hey son.” Jean Delacoure answered “You’re home early.”
Max went into his room and dropped his bag on the bed. He noticed the house was extremely quiet and returned to the kitchen where his father stood peeling potatoes.
“Your turn at dinner?” Max asked his father opening a drawer and taking out a knife to help him.
“Yes” The man answered looking at his son “What’s wrong Max, you look worried?” He said concerned.
“Where is mom?”
“She went to the hairstylist to get her hair permed.”
“Oh then the coast is clear.” Max said.
They laughed for a second then Jean’s expression returned to that of worry for his only son.
“What did you do now? Another fight with Lauren.”
“No, Lauren is fine she finally speaks to me again without reminding me that I almost ruined the wedding, in fact all she talks about IS the wedding. That and what a treat it would be for me to practice.” His son responded.
“That’s good.” Jean said not so sure. Max gave his father a doubtful glance. Since when was Lauren’s nagging good? “I mean, if it keeps you from fighting, then it’s good.” Jean corrected.
“Ah” Max replied still not fully comprehending his father “But I have another problem. More a question than a problem, but I guess it could be a problem if I leave it as a question.” He said speaking as he moved the knife in his hand from side to side.
“Max.” His dad said “Just tell me about it.”
“Alright.” Max answered “There’s this woman, and she has a daughter…”
Max gave his father all the details of the past two weeks of his life, and his encounters with Donna and Susan. He spoke slowly and trying not to sound too confused, but he was secretly hoping his father could help him decide what to do.
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When the door bell rang early Saturday morning Susan leisurely got up from the recliner and opened it slowly. She had been sure it would be her neighbor coming to ask her to once again go up on the roof and move her antenna so she watch see her shows. Therefore she was very surprise that the face staring back at her was not that of her 80 year old neighbor, but Max Delacoure.
“What are you doing here?” She asked him shocked.
“It’s Saturday, we have a date.” He answered very serenely.
“I thought we had agreed to a sudden cancellation?” Susan said trying to speak softly so her mother wouldn’t hear her. She held the door only partially open so that she could close it fast when he left.
“We had, but I’m free, so are you, and the fair awaits us.” He said smiling.
“But I already told my mother that you weren’t coming.”
“Tell her I had a sudden change of heart.” Max replied.
“That will give her hope and ruin everything.”
“Well she already called the station on Thursday and had them come down thinking it would be me so that she could ask me why I cancelled out date. I don’t think you want to create trouble for me at work, do you?”
“Oh my BOB!” Susan exclaimed “Did she really do that?”
“She did so I advise you to be a good daughter, go get a sweater and let’s go.” He said to her. Susan looked at him like he was asking her to jump off a cliff “It’s just one date, not like we are getting married.” He told her jokingly.
“Honey who was it?” Donna’s voice said from behind Susan.
“It’s me Donna, Max!” He answered for her. Immediately, Donna’s hand pulled the door from Susan’s hand and opened it completely.
“Oh Max!” Donna shrieked “I knew you wouldn’t leave my Susan waiting for you. Didn’t I tell you he was a gentleman Susan?” Susan grabbed at her hair that was tied into a ponytail to avoid responding to the question “Not like those…” Her mother continued then stopped suddenly aware that she was about to blow her little scheme “Max are you really..?” She tried to ask.
Max blinked to signal her to keep quiet. He would explain to her later, but right now all he wanted to do was get Susan away from her for a few moments. The girl needed some fun, her mother was suffocating her.
“Have a good time kids!” Donna shouted out to them from her front door a few minutes later.
The pair waved good bye and walked to Max’s car. Susan did a double take as she saw Max head in front of her to open the door of the red Mustang convertible parked outside her home.
“That’s your car?!” She asked excited.
“Yes.” Max answered in a sing songy voice.
“I love convertibles but I have never actually ridden in one. When I saw it parked outside the other day I thought it was someone visiting the neighbors.”
He held the passenger’s door open and Susan got in smiling and inspecting the well kept original interior of the vehicle.
“I am finding out many nice and cool things about you.” She told him as he sat behind the wheel “Who would have guessed?”
“Apparently no one.” He said smiling and putting the key in the ignition.
They had been on the road for ten minutes when Max suggested she put on the sweater she carried with her.
“Are we really going to the fair?” She asked.
“ Yes, you don’t want to?”
“Oh no, it’s fine with me.”
“Okay. We have to take a turn at the next light.” He said to her.
The convertible stopped at a red light and Max put down the top. He smiled at Susan who had followed the path of the car’s roof until it had settled above the back of the back seat. Max was still smiling as he leaned toward Susan and pulled off the hair band that held her hair in the ponytail. Susan was startled but she did not move a muscle. Her hair fell below her shoulders, instantly framing her face.
“There.” Max said to her “Now you are ready for the freeway.”
Susan blinked once and smiled throwing her head back as Max stepped on the gas pedal and turned into the ramp.
When they got to the fair grounds Susan’s hair was a giant knot with no beginning or end, but Max said it looked nice so she kept it down. ‘What’s a little wild hair to the rest of the package?’ He had told her as they got off the car.
Max had decided that Susan was a very sweet woman in need of a little confidence and one very good friend that could show her she was very worthy of any man’s affection. She was hesitant, shy and reserved, but he knew that deep inside there was a femme fatale waiting to emerge, that or one very nice lovable woman that would one day make a man very happy. Max wanted to win her friendship so that he could ease his way into a conversation where he could tell her all the nice things he thought about her and that any guy would be lucky to have her, just that it couldn’t be him because…well… because of Lauren, and the fact that he didn’t like her that way.
“Do you want to go on the rides or play the games?” He asked her looking at ‘The Hammer’ above their heads. Susan looked up and gulped, Max looked at her wondering why she did not mention she was afraid of the rides.
“I had just eaten breakfast when you got home so can we play some games first?” She answered with a smile and trying not to sound frightened.
“Fair enough.” He said sympathetic “Let’s try my favorite game, the Wacky Wire. Last time I was here it took me 50 dollars to win a prize. But I found the trick, it only takes me 20 now.”
“50 dollars? How much does it cost to play?!” Susan asked alarmed.
“A dollar.” Max answered
“And you played 50 times?”
“Yes. Come on.” He said grabbing her by the shoulders.
They were lucky on the Wacky Wire; Susan got it on the first try and won an oversize teddy bear.
“I still can’t believe you figured it out that fast.” Max said amazed and envious. He had tried to impress her and only ended up losing ten bucks to the laughing attendant that would not stop mentioning that Susan had got it on the fist try.
“Beginners luck I guess.” She said squeezing her bear against her.
“Yeah well don’t make a habit out of it or you’ll put these people out of business.” Max told her “Want some cotton candy?”
Susan nodded noticing his discontent with the outcome of the game they had played. It was very funny to see him so frustrated.
“I think I see a cotton candy pole.” He said grabbing her hand. Susan felt a tingle that ran through her body as their skins touched. “Run before we lose him!” He said pulling her with him
They were sitting on a bench eating their sweets in silence when they both realized they had no napkins and two pairs of very sticky fingers. They looked at each other helplessly.
“Lick them!” They said in unison before bursting in laughter.
“See the bad thing is that you have to wipe your fingers on something afterwards.” Susan told Max after her fingers were clean.
“Use your pants, or shirt. Like this.” Max instructed her as he wiped his hand on his black shirt. This time the shirt read: ‘Suicide Hotline…Please Hold!’. Susan looked at it and smiled.
“Those shirts, do you wear them all the time?” She asked.
“You noticed huh?” He said “You don’t like them?”
“No, on the contrary, I love them, it’s like you are a walking billboard.” She told him making him smile “But it’s hard to imagine that this is your style after seeing you in uniform and then in an Armani suit.”
“Oh that’s what that was, Armani?”
“Was it rented?”
“Something like that. By the way the stain did come off, you really know about clothes. And, you have good taste.”
“Yeah well I wish I had more than good taste when it came to clothing.” Susan said looking sad.
“What do you mean?” Max asked her curious.
“I wanted to go to design school. But life got in my way. Now I’m stuck sewing other designer’s wedding dresses and for the most awful people. One of the clients almost got me fired and to top things off she stole my design.” She declared “But forget it, I want to erase that from my mind. There is nothing I can do about it. ”
Max was overwhelmed by her sincerity. In truth he found her to be more interesting each time they spoke. She had freshness to her, a unique air of freedom, ideas and hopes that he found very appealing. But she also had the scars of lost dreams and a shattered heart.
“You are a seamstress?” Max asked her intrigued by her occupation.
Susan nodded.
“Where do you work at?”
“VLang International. It’s a bridal boutique.” She said. |
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“VLang International, huh?” Max asked between bites of the sugary confection.
He had heard Lauren ramble on about the names of so many designers that he seemed to recall hearing of the company but was oblivious to the fact that the famed designer was actually the one that had been contracted to create her gown.
“Yeah, I’ve worked there since I graduated from high school,” Susan said, offering him her stick of pink cotton candy. “Typically I love working there but…oh I don’t even want to think about it. Let’s just say that there are some really rude people in the world.”
“You don’t have to convince me of that,” he replied with a chuckle, jokingly wiping his sticky fingers on her shirt.
“Hey, don’t do that,” she chirped with a giggle. Reaching across the bench she smeared her own fingers across the chest of his shirt.
“Oh so you want to play that way,” he laughed, seizing her wrist and pulling her closer. Laughingly, he attempted to wipe the remainder of the sugary substance on her cheek. She squealed aloud, squirming to escape from him. “Oh you are gonna pay now.”
She stood up, pulling away only to have him tug her back. She landed squarely in his lap. The giggling continued for a moment until she looked into his smiling face.
“I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to… fall on you,” she shyly stated with her cheeks reddened.
“No…it’s ok…I didn’t hurt you did I?”
He had never really noticed the rich darkness of her eyes until she turned toward him.
‘Stop staring at her.’ he told himself.
“Let me help you get up,” he offered, gently lifting her to her feet.
They both stood awkwardly attempting to resume their conversation until the sound of fireworks overhead drew their attention to the starlit skies.
“I guess we had better get over to those rides if we have want to get that in before they close for the evening,” he suggested.
**
“I haven’t had that much fun in ages,” Susan exclaimed, falling into the seat of the Mustang.
“Me either,” Max added as he climbed behind the wheel of the car.
“Thanks for asking me to come with you. It was really nice.”
Traffic leading from the fairgrounds was barely moving but Max didn’t mind. The evening had far more fun than he had expected. All along he had planned to make a few subtle comments aimed at boosting her self esteem. Yet somehow he was never able to find the right time.
“I’m sure you’ll probably be back out here tomorrow night with another guy but I have to tell you…most men won’t take lightly to having a women show them up with the wacky wire,” he said with a laugh.
“I don’t think the men of Boston have anything to worry about. Besides there isn’t exactly anyone knocking down my door for a date.”
“You’ve got to me kidding me. A beautiful woman like you must have guys hanging on your every word.”
Her laughter filled the open area in the automobile and he found the sound to be almost heavenly. There was a time when Lauren would laugh in that same carefree way but it had been many years since he had heard it.
“Not exactly,” she answered, fidgeting with the radio dial.
“Woman, don’t be resetting those stations,” he jested.
“Don’t worry…I’m just looking for a song to remember this night by.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh I have this annoying habit of linking a song to all of my really good memories. Just give me a sec to find a good station.”
“So you consider tonight something worthy of that kind of treatment?”
She nodded with a smile.
“There…now that’s a good one,” she commented as the song swirled though the night air.
Don't wish it away
Don't look at it like it's forever
Between you and me I could honestly say
That things can only get better
And while I'm away
Dust out the demons inside
And it won't be long before you and me run
To the place in our hearts where we hide
And I guess that's why they call it the blues
Time on my hands could be time spent with you
Laughing like children, living like lovers
Rolling like thunder under the covers
And I guess that's why they call it the blues
Just stare into space
Picture my face in your hands
Live for each second without hesitation
And never forget I'm your man
Wait on me girl
Cry in the night if it helps
But more than ever I simply love you
More than I love life itself
He occasionally glanced over to see her lips moving along to the words of the song. It was impossible for him not to smile at the sight of her with the wind whipping her long hair as they sped through the night.
“And that was Elton John’s classic. I hope all of you lovers out that enjoyed that little tune. Speaking of lovers…some of Boston’s biggest lovers of baseball have already begun lining up to purchase season tickets to for the Red Sox spring opener this coming Friday night…” the radio announcer’s voice stated over the airwaves.
“The Sox opener,” she said dreamily. “That will be a great game. Looks like this season will be a great one.”
“You like the Sox?” he asked in a surprised tone.
“My favorite team,” she noted.
Season tickets to their games were his one indulgence. He had gone to nearly every home game since moving to Boston as a child.
“I’ve got a couple of tickets to the game…you want to go with me?” he asked impulsively.
As soon as the question left his lips he felt a pang of regret. He knew that Lauren would never dream of going with him but he didn’t want to lead Susan on in any way. Yet in the back of his mind he couldn’t forget the wonderful time that they had at the fair.
‘You’re just doing this to be a good guy and show her a nice time, he tried to remind himself yet one look into her smiling face made him wonder if there wasn’t more to his intentions. |
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Susan tried to concentrate on the dress she was sewing together but the memories of the previous weekend continued to cloud her mind. She would without noticing close her, and see his face, smiling at her with those beautiful eyes. Since when had his eyes become beautiful? Why had she not noticed before the striking color they possessed? Susan inhaled deeply and smiled to herself.
“Is this the right color for the Barton dress?” Yolanda asked standing next to Susan. The girl looked down at her friend who appeared to be lost in some pretty personal thoughts. “Susan.” She called to her “Susan!” She shouted when she saw no response.
“Ah…What?” Susan asked breaking out of the trance that had been brought on by Max’s smile “Did you say something?”
“Only a million things.” Yolanda said “What is going on with you? You are in your own little world.” Suddenly Yolanda was struck by a wild yet possible thought “Cheese and Mac, you are in love!”
“I am not!” Susan snapped “I have long given up on men and have decided to die a virgin. Besides, I barely know the guy.” She told her friend smiling.
“So there is a guy,” Yolanda said hitting Susan’s shoulder “and do you mind telling me just how you re-virginized yourself?”
The women’s laugh bounced off the walls of the large shop that was filled with the mechanical sounds of sewing machines.
“I’ll let you know a week from now.” Susan answered in mid laugh.
“Why the wait?”
“Because by then I hope I will have kissed him. He invited me to the Sox inaugural game.”
“I got to meet this guy. If he makes you smile and has you head over heels without me noticing when this came about he must be a Bob. Could he be any more perfect for you?” Yolanda threw a piece of fabric used to make veils over Susan’s head and started humming ‘Here Comes the Bride’.
“Stop it!” Susan laughed trying to fight his friend “Stop it!”
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Max had spent the following two days trying to decide whether or not to talk to Donna about his engagement. He knew he had in some way deceived her but he had not lied to her, it just had not come up in their conversations. Eventually he decided to give her a call and set her straight once and for all before things got out of hand and Susan ended up hurt. During their outing on Saturday he had come to appreciate Susan for the many qualities she had demonstrated and he really did not want to be the reason of any more of her burdens.
He took out his cell phone and dialed the number he had gotten from the station’s receptionist. The line rang only twice before Donna answered as cheery as usual.
“Hi Donna, this is Max. I think I owe you an explanation, do you mind if I come over?” He said to her hoping the woman would understand.
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Max knocked on the door of the small suburban home only once before Donna flung it open with a smile that made him chuckle at the sight of it. Dressed in her usual flowing floral housedress, she seemed almost ready to pounce on him from the moment their eyes met.
“Oh Max, it’s so nice to have you drop by. My Susan has been really tight lipped about your date the other night. Maybe you’ll indulge me with a few details?” she slyly asked glancing at him from the corner of her eye as she led him into her living room.
“Now Donna…you know that if Susan wanted you to know, she would have told you,” he said in a tone that was more comical than serious.
“Stubborn young people…I remember a time when children didn’t keep things from their parents,” she scoffed. “Well just sit down there and let me finish up lunch.”
“No…I don’t really have…”
“If you won’t tell me what happened the least you can do is sit down and eat a sandwich with me. Besides my shows won’t be on for a little while and I could use the company.”
Max obediently settled on the sofa which was strategically located directly in front of the large television set. It seemed to dominate the room with its large side speakers. He smiled thinking that it was most likely her one indulgence in life.
“I hope you like tuna,” she called out from the adjacent kitchen. “There was a sale on it….two cans for a dollar last week. Susan saw to it that we were stocked up on it for the year.”
“Tuna’s fine,” he answered, taking note of the countless framed photos that lined the side wall of the room.
Most were of Susan at different stages of her life spanning from birth to high school graduation. Amid the collage of images he noticed a small family portrait showing Susan around age fourteen. Beside her was a slightly younger Donna and a tall, attractive man with a bright tuft of red hair. It was apparent that the man in the photo was Susan’s father. They shared the same bright eyes and prominent cheek bones.
“That’s my husband Charlie,” she said as she walked up beside him with a cup of coffee in hand. “Susie’s got a lot of his qualities.”
“I can see the similarity,” he added.
“Oh if that were all there was to it then things wouldn’t be so bad,” Donna continued, leaning back against the overstuffed cushions of the side chair. “She got his same stubborn will and determination.”
“Why is that so bad?” he asked, accepting the other cup of coffee that she had poured.
“She’ll never admit when she’s wrong. She thinks that she will never have a good man in her life but I’m hoping that you will help her see that she’s wrong,” she said with a smile.
‘The moment I’ve been dreading.’
“That’s why I’m here, Donna,” he began in a somber tone. “I want to…
“Oh my Bob! You’re going to ask me for her hand in marriage. Blessed be the sweet angels above to allow me to live to see this day. It’s a little soon but I think…”
“Donna! Stop!” he suddenly commanded, afraid that his tone was too harsh.
She looked at him with confusion in her eyes.
“That’s why I’m here…wait that’s not what I mean… I’m here to talk to you…” He fumbled in attempt to explain the situation.
“About Susan?” she asked optimistically.
He sighed, knowing that it would not be easy to explain that he was already engaged.
“Thank you, Max,” she said with heartfelt emotion.
“Thank you for what?” he inquired, tilting his head in bewilderment.
“I don’t think you could understand what it’s like to look at your child and seeing nothing but disappointment and frustration. Susan has had so much to deal with since we lost him,” she said, gesturing toward the family portrait.
“When did your husband die?”
Donna raised her brows in surprise. “He’s not dead…at least I don’t think he is.”
Max shrugged, shaking his head. “Then what are you talking about?”
“Charlie was always a dreamer. He made due working on the docks but he had all these grand visions of what his life would be like if he had made different choices in life. One morning he went to work and never came home. We received a letter from him a few weeks later basically saying that he wanted a different life. I haven’t heard from him since.”
Donna sipped her coffee seemingly unmoved by the incident.
“I’m so sorry,” he said.
“Oh no need to be apologizing for that,” she answered with a dismissive wave. “I’m better off without him but his leaving left a void in Susan that has never been filled….until now. I see the way she smiles when she hears your name. She would die before she admitted it but you’ve made quite an impression on her. You make her happy…I can see it in her eyes. To think that for a minute I actually believed what your friend told me. He said you were getting married…can you imagine that! I know that you aren’t the kind of guy to lead Susan on…I could tell it the minute I saw you.”
‘What the hell am I going to do now?’
“Now what was it that you were going to say?”
He sat quietly for a moment knowing that he had come there to tell her the truth about his life but he soon found that it would be easier to just perpetuate the myth that Susan had started.
“I just wanted you to know that…” he paused, considering what impact the truth might have on them both. “Umm… I won’t have her out too late when we go to the game.”
He felt the immediate weight of his decision. He was full of guilt and remorse for not being honest yet the look on her face made it his lies seem almost acceptable.
“Oh honey, you keep her out as late as you want,” she said with a wink before patting his hand. “Now come on and eat your tuna sandwich before the bread gets crusty.”
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The 11th of April (2005) was a windy Monday but in the rush to get to work early that morning Susan had forgotten her jacket at home. She had stayed only an hour extra at work but was still late for her meeting with Max at Fenway Park. There was no time to go back home to get her jacket so jumped on the bus and hoped that the wind would take pity on her.
Susan was so excited to see Max again that she forgot she was cold as she saw him waving frantically for her to approach him. She walked to him smiling.
“Hey there.” She said happily.
“Hey back.” He answered
“Sorry I am late; I had a dress to finish.”
“The game is about to start, we should go inside.” Max told her signaling for the gates. He started walking and she followed behind him.
When they reached the line of fans waiting to enter, Max turned to look at her and smiled.
“You look nice tonight.” He told her making her blush. She had intentionally let her hair down hoping he would notice.
“Thanks.” She timidly mumbled.
Inside, over 30,000 raging Sox fans went about finding their seats and stocking up on snacks; ready to enjoy the 2005 home opener game. The teams were on the field stretching their arms and legs. The blue stripes of the New York Yankees could be easily distinguished among the mass of red. The smiling faces of the World Champion’s fans were contagious and Susan and Max joined their pride.
“What time does the game start?” Susan asked Max as they waited for their turn to order in the concession stand.
“Five after seven.” Max said looking at his watch.
“What time is it now?” She asked grabbing on to his arm as a group of kids ran past her.
“6:45.” He said putting his hand on hers to hold her balance.
Susan let her hand rest on him longer than necessary, and she reluctantly let go as the cashier called for Max’s attention.
“What can I get you?” The teenage girl asked cheerfully.
Max gave the girl their order and they were soon on their way to their seats.
“Where are we seating?” Susan asked him a little lost and confused by the commotion of the fans.
Max smiled at her vulnerable expression and at the way she wrinkled her nose when she asked questions.
“Field box, section 55, seats 22 and 23.” He answered her handing her a hot dog.
“Max.”
“What?”
“Thank you, for inviting me.”
“You’re welcome.” He told her “Now let’s get to our seats before the inauguration ceremony starts and we get run over by the stampede.”
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‘The raising of the championship flag is…’
Lauren Alderman looked at the expensive Tambour Medium Quartz Louis Vuitton watch on her wrist and saw that it was 10 past seven. She had a dinner appointment with her wedding coordinator's assistant at 7:45 and she did not want to go alone.
“Caitlin you have to come with me to see Adrianne.” She told her sister from the doorway to the entertainment hall. “Get your butt up and change into something more fitting of an Alderman.”
“I can’t.” Caitlin answered not bothering to turn to look at Lauren. She was wearing a Boston Red Sox jersey and cap and was sitting in front of the large screen TV watching the season opening ceremony as she stuffed her mouth with kettle corn and M and M’s.
“What do you mean you can’t?! You HAVE to.” Lauren said suddenly right behind her.
“I’m watching the game. And I don’t want to go.”
“Did you not hear me? I said you have to.” Lauren told her authoritative “Turn that thing off!” She demanded as the national anthem burst out of the speakers.
Caitlin lowered the volume on the TV and gave a little jump to turn to face her sister.
“Why isn’t Max going with you?” She asked Lauren with a groan.
“He made some lame excuse about having to do something important. But I know he probably went to that stupid baseball game you are watching.” The woman answered visibly irritated.
“It’s not stupid, its fun.” Her sports loving sibling replied.
“Yes of course.” Lauren mockingly responded “Waiting around for someone to hit a tiny ball is considered fun now."
Caitlin rolled her eyes and turned back to the game.
“Caitlin I’m going to be late!” Lauren whined taking away Caitlin’s cap.
“But it’s about to start.” She answered as Lauren walked out of the room enraged.
The loud voice of the announcer came out of the central speakers of the surround sound system and Caitlin shuffled her weight on the couch to get more comfortable.
‘Raising the championship flag is a very commemorative event that we should not take for granted. Especially after all the years we had to wait.’ The voice laughed. Caitlin smiled at the sarcasm of the man. The announcer continued to give out his comments as the cameras moved over the stadium and the crowd waved and cheered when their faces appeared on the field’s big screen.
Caitlin was wishing she had been there as a familiar face filled the screen. It was Max! And he was hugging another woman!
She immediately took the remove in her hand and turned the TV off afraid that Lauren might come back and see him. What was Max doing with another woman? Why did he lie to her sister?
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A roar of approval rose up from the stands as the Sox’s star hitter nabbed his first homerun of the season. Max and Susan were both on their feet, jubilant that their team was ahead 3-0 in the second inning. They embraced in a friendly hug of celebration which neither of them thought inappropriate until the seemingly innocent gesture lingered past the end of the revelry around them. With her arms wrapped around Max’s neck, Susan felt the uncontrollable need to kiss him.
“Get a room!” a spectator in the upper seats bellowed out.
She blushed, looking into his smiling face which was also tinged with embarrassment. An air of awkward tension caused them to hesitantly pull back from the warmth of each others arms. At the end of their row, a vendor could be heard calling out the types of snacks that he was peddling to the overzealous fans.
“Do you want…” They both began at the same time before stopping to snicker at the coincidence.
“Beer and a hot dog?” Susan asked.
“Sounds good,” Max said, attempting to retrieve his wallet.
“Nope, this ones on me,” she announced before scurrying down the narrow row of seats which were filled to capacity by the sold out crowd.
With a couple of beers and two hotdogs in hand, she attempted to navigate her way back down the congested aisle. She made countless apologies for crushed toes and blocked views of the infield as she edged closer to Max. Sensing that the end of her perilous journey was at hand, she attempted to slide into the empty seat only to end up dropping the food squarely in his lap.
He immediately sprang from the seat when the cold beer saturated his jeans and t-shirt which was emblazoned with the phrase ‘Will Flash 4 Food’.
“Oh my Bob! I’m so sorry,” she squealed, scraping away the relish that was stuck to his forearms. “You’re soaked.”
“Ah well… I have to say that I’ve always been fond of park concessions but…that was only for nourishment, not as cologne.”
They both looked at each other, simultaneously bursting into hysterics.
“What can I say….you’ve never smelled better,” she replied through her chuckles.
**
Caitlyn climbed behind the wheel of her Jeep Cherokee which was considered by her family to be an eyesore among the fleet of imports parked on the Alderman driveway. The vehicle was a great deal like her, an outsider who stuck out like a sore thumb among the uppity elite. Though born an Alderman, she had often wondered if in fact she was switched at birth for she bore no resemblance to her statuesque mother and sister. Having argued her way out of the dinner with Lauren, she hastily left the estate hoping to find some answer to the mystery involving Max.
‘Who was he with? she pondered as she drove through the darkened streets of Boston. Max had been a fixture in her life since she was 10 years old. She could remember having a horrible crush on the devastatingly handsome boyfriend who would accompany her sister home on breaks from medical school. However, she had grown to see him more as a friend than a potential beau or brother in law. For the life of her she could not understand why the two of them remained together.
Eventually her aimlessly driving led her to the one place where she might find an answer – Fenway Park. After endlessly circling the massive parking lot she spotted Max’s mustang. Uncertain of what to say or whether or not to even approach him, she backed her jeep into an empty space in a darkened corner of the lot and waited while listening to the play by play on the radio.
**
Within the dining room of the Ambassador Hotel, Lauren and her mother Margaret anxiously awaited the arrival of Adrienne, Nathan Andrew’s personal assistant who was conducting the initial interview with the perspective clients.
“Whatever you do… don’t mention Del’s parents. I’m sure that it would send her running for the door if she knew anything about them,” her mother reminded with a smirk.
“Mummy, do you take me for a fool?” She asked in an irritated tone. “I think it’s probably better if we just don’t mention Del at all.”
Margaret turned to look at her daughter with a puzzled expression.
“Are you and Del having problems?”
Lauren rolled her eyes in disgust. “Have you ever known of a time when he was ever really cooperative. He should be here right now…not off doing God knows what.”
“Do you think there’s another woman?”
“Oh Mummy, don’t be ridiculous. He would never be seeing someone else. I could rid him of another woman…it’s his damn pride and stubbornness that are the source of our problems.”
Margaret gave her oldest daughter a knowing smile. “Laurie, I think you need to use your charms on him or he might just decide to call this whole thing off…Could you imagine the scandal?”
“What are you talking about?” she asked, sipping from her martini.
“Men aren’t the smartest of Bob’s creatures. Heaven knows that you father would not be the man he is had I not stepped up and steered him in the right direction. You need to let him think that he’s right…at least until your married. Then you can mold him into anything you want him to be. Understand?”
“So you want me to support his insane notions until we get married?”
“I always knew you were the smartest of my children,” she noted with a wicked grin. “Here’s to the Alderman women getting everything they deserve.”
“Here, here,” Lauren said as they tapped with glasses together.
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Caitlin patiently waited inside her car as the multitude of fans exited and made their way to their respective cars. She thought she had seen Max and the mystery woman walking toward his convertible but a group of people blocked her view and by the time they moved away Max’s car was no longer within sight. She quickly turned on her engine and tried to follow the path she guessed they might have taken but it was too late, she had lost them.
A bit irritated at the fans that had impeded her investigation she cursed and then instinctively smiled thinking it was for the best. Part of her knew that Max was a good man and would never cheat on Lauren, but the other part wanted him to be the first person to ever humilliate her sister. Caitlin loved her sister dearly but she was disgusted by her pampered attitude and the way she treated everyone around her as if she was queen of the world. Whatever Lauren wanted Lauren got and that was true for everything, including men. Caitlin would never tell a soul, but Max was not the first person she had caught in the act of infidelity. A few years back while Max stayed behind in school to finish his Med. Exams, Lauren had paraded around the streets of Boston with a Greek Neurosurgeon that had come to the States to do some kind of research. It had been a casual affair, one that was even approved of by Mr. and Mrs. Alderman. In fact it was they who insisted that Lauren see other men before Max got back. According to them it would prove to Lauren whether or not she was satisfied with Max.
Caitlin was shocked to hear her parents express themselves so uncaring toward Max whom they insisted was the best thing that ever happened to their precious Lauren. The truth was that Max was only accepted by the Aldermans because he was just another puppet in Lauren’s hands. She did with him as she pleased, and yet he was the only one that was able to stand against her. When he told her he was not going to be a doctor and would be a paramedic instead Lauren almost had a heart attack and luckily Caitlin was there to rejoice in the moment. It was shameful but her sister’s despair and childlike tantrums always made Caitlin laugh uncontrollably. Perhaps she secretly hoped that these instances would open everyone’s eyes and allow them to see the real Lauren, the conniving little vixen that she really was.
Now Caitlin had accidentally discovered something that would truly break Lauren to pieces and she felt powerful and excited. If indeed Max had had the courage and wisdom to find himself a quick affair before his wedding, then at last there was some justice in the world. She frankly did not believe that Max was daring enough to cheat on Lauren but it felt good to think about it, and maybe, if the stars were aligned just right, a miracle could take place.
A smile formed on Caitlin’s face as she drove down the darkened streets of Boston back to her home. Lauren would most likely already be home and waiting for her to return so she could pester her with complains about her lack of interest in her wedding. She had been furious that Caitlin was able to negotiate her way out of the dinner with Lauren’s wedding coordinator. Their father had at the last minute, and only because he did not feel like arguing, sided with Caitlin for the first time in years. It was a battle lost for Lauren but Caitlin knew she would be armed for war as soon as she got back home. Yet now the idea of facing Lauren’s wrath was not as threatening as it had been a few hours ago. Caitlin possessed a weapon far stronger than anything Lauren could throw at her.
“I know something you don’t know.” Caitlin chanted excitedly as she made the last turn into the Rainy Meadow Estates.
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The drive back to her home was unusually short for Susan. She had wanted it to last longer so that she could gather the courage to slid closer to Max and rest her head on his shoulder as he drove. But before she knew it they were parking in front of her home and she had not only neglected to get close to him, but also remained quiet throughout the ride.
“We are here.” Max said smiling at her as he turned the engine off.
“We are.” Susan stupidly repeated engulfed in her thoughts.
Several seconds of awkward silence followed. Susan played with her hair as Max stared at the steering wheel he tightly gripped with both hands. Neither dared to look at each other, or speak first. It was an uncomfortable situation that Max had hoped would never come but knew that it certainly would. He was not prepared to dump someone he never actually dated, or more explicitly, never had the intention of dating. And not only was this something hard to do, he had not dated or dumped anyone in over 10 years. Before Lauren he occasionally dated but never seriously and he and his partners always parted in mutual agreement and with no discontent whatsoever. Then after Lauren he never again had the need or desire to date anyone else.
“I had a great time.” Susan’s voice sounded sincerely joyous and Max had no other choice but to turn toward her and smile in response to her claim.
He looked into her eyes and felt his stomach knot with an unexpected need to lie once more, to ask her to see him again. Why he was vulnerable to her gaze and willing to risk everything he had with Lauren just to see Susan smile was beyond his comprehension. He could not understand his sudden response to her presence and yet while it scared him to be caught in a web of lies that he knew lead to nothing but trouble, he was happy when he was with Susan. Inexplicably, making her smile made him happy. She was his friend and he wanted her to smile, but if she was only his friend then why was his heart accelerating as she leaned toward him?
Within seconds and before Max could react, Susan had slid close to him and taken his lips with hers. She kissed him slow and tenderly, sweetly and intoxicatingly, and when she parted and hurriedly opened the car door and ran inside her home, Max gasped with both delight and sorrow.
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Max sat motionless for a moment, almost too stunned to breathe let alone move from the driveway. He felt as if he had just stepped off a fast moving ride at an amusement park. Everything around him seemed to be spinning as an odd mix of confusion and excitement washed over him. Never in a million years did he think that Susan would ever be bold enough to kiss him.
After sitting for what seemed an eternity, replaying the loving gesture over and over, he regained his wits and started the car’s motor. However, simply removing himself from the scene of the crime did little to help him be rid his memories of the encounter.
Driving down the suburban streets that led back to his home, he remained fixated on the events of the evening. He turned on the radio and tried to listen to the announcer’s recount the details of the Sox game but all he could think of was her sitting beside him during the game, cheering with reckless abandon when their team scored. It was the first evening in a long while when thoughts of the wedding or the pressures of his job never entered his mind.
“What are you doing?” he asked himself, turning off the radio which only served to annoy him at the moment.
His intentions had been so simple: Show her a good time and let her know that she’s worthy of a man’s attention. He sighed knowing that things were now more complicated than ever.
**
The lights from his Mustang cut through the darkness that surrounded his parent’s home. He hopped out of the car and headed toward the door of the modest single story home when he heard someone speak from the shadows.
“Hey stranger.”
He gasped slightly, startled by their presence.
“Lauren?” he asked, peering toward the shadowy end of the front porch.
“Expecting someone else?” she chuckled.
There was a lighthearted air to her voice that he that he found almost unsettling.
“Geez..what are you doing here. It’s pretty late. I thought you had an early shift?” he asked, moving toward were she was seated on the porch swing.
“I thought we needed to talk,” she softly replied.
‘Oh Bob, what have I done now?
The swing creaked as he settled down beside her. He turned slightly to look at her in the narrow stream of light that filtered through the partially opened curtain.
“Do my parents know that you’re out here?” he asked, peeking to see them sitting in the living room.
“No… I’ve been sitting here for a while listening to them argue about who had the remote control last. I didn’t think there was any reason to bother them,” she said, turning to face him. “I’m sorry.”
“What?” he asked, confused by her sudden apology.
“I’m sorry for everything that I’ve put you through lately..with the wedding and all. I’ve been a real bitch and… we’ll you didn’t deserve it.”
‘Who the heck is this and what did you do with the real Lauren?
“Umm… I’m…I’m not really—“ he began before she brought her hand to his lips to silence his words.
“It’s just easier if you don’t say anything,” she went on, reaching out to take his hand. “I know that I’m not the easiest person to get along with… Bob knows that you probably want to kill me most of the time but I just want you to know that I apologize for making life so difficult for you… I love you, Del. I’m just really sorry.”
She turned her head slightly but for an instant he could have swore that he saw tears forming in her eyes. He sat staring at her with a look of bewilderment on his face.
“Do you think you can forgive me?” she sobbed, suddenly turning and leaning against his chest.
“It’s alright. Everything is going to be fine,” he answered, running his hand through her hair.
The words escaped his lips without a second thought. It was a basic instinct to tell her those things when she was angry but he was unaccustomed to dealing with her in such a state of distress.
“Do you still love me?” she sobbingly asked.
“Of course,” he said, knowing that it was the only answer he could give in spite of the fact that he still had Susan’s kiss in his thoughts. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her torso and lightly kissed the top of her head. He sensed a change in her that would have been more than welcomed had he not been so racked with guilt.
**
‘Mother knows best, Lauren thought as she snuggled close to him and smiled through her feigned sobs.
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“Please let the ground open up and swallow me now. Kill me Bob; just kill me before I kill myself.” Susan said as soon as she had entered her home and shut the door to hide from Max’s possible rejection.
She had done the unthinkable, she had kissed him, and though he had responded to her kiss she knew that he had been shocked. And if he hadn’t expected the kiss it was because he had not wanted to kiss her. Susan did not know what was worse, to have kissed him only to find that he was not interested in her or have him stare at her stupefied as she ran inside her home. Either way she had made a fool of herself and he was probably laughing at her expense.
“Susan is that you?” Donna called as she came out of her room to check.
Susan closed her eyes for a moment before answering.
“Who else mother?” She said with a sight.
Her mother was soon in front of her, she was wearing an old nightgown and her favorite white slippers.
“Oh thank Bob you are back, I am so very tired but I did not want to go to sleep until you came home and told me how your evening was.” She told Susan excited.
“It was good.” She quickly responded hoping that would be enough.
“Good?” Donna asked not satisfied with the answer “That’s it?”
“Yeah.” Susan replied as her mother’s eyes burned into hers for a more fulfilling response. Susan hesitated for a few seconds and in the end decided to tell her mother of how she had ruined her chances with the only man that had shown an interest in her in a long time. “No, that is not true.” She confessed to Donna making the woman smile “It was fantastic until I ruined it.”
Donna’s smile faded as her daughter covered her face with both hands.
“My dear child, why do you say that?” She asked her.
“I kissed him mother.” Susan responded ashamed.
Donna gasped delighted.
“I knew it, I knew it. You two are perfect for each other!”
“No mother you don’t understand. I kissed him. He did not kiss me.”
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Max breathed the sweet aroma of Lauren’s hair as his arms continued to hold her. He felt awful with her in his arms while his mind was occupied with thoughts of another woman. Yet he could not help but be reminded of the sweetness of Susan’s kiss as the scent of lavender coming from Lauren’s hair filled his nostrils.
“You smell like hot dog and beer, where you at the Sox game?” Lauren asked pulling away from his arms.
“Yes.” Max answered as his guilt threatened to suffocate him slowly “You did not want to go with me, remember?”
“I do.” She answered slowly “But how could I when we had the dinner with Nathan’s assistant to go to.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. It was only a first interview to decide whether or not we were a good match as bride and coordinator." She informed him very serenely "Which in fact we were, so now it is official, Nathan Andrews is going to plan our wedding!” Lauren suddenly exclaimed in a low voice but filled with enthusiasm.
Max could not help but see traces of the old Lauren in her gesture. He smiled forgetting for a moment that barely minutes before he had kissed another woman.
“Let’s go home.” He heard Lauren say.
Max frowned wondering if she had lost her mind, she was acting rather strange.
“I already am.” He told her confused.
“No silly.” She playfully teased “Let’s go to our home.”
It took Max a couple seconds to realize what she was trying to tell him.
“You mean…” He started to say “They finished it?” He asked
“Yes.” Lauren answered with a smile “They delivered the keys to my parent’s this morning. I wanted to surprise you at dinner but… Well it does not matter now.”
“I am surprised.” He responded smiling too.
Suddenly the thoughts of Susan momentarily freed his mind.
“Let’s go home.” He said happily as he picked Lauren up in his arms and carried her to his car.
Thirty minutes later they were inside their newly built home and Max had called his parents to explain that he would not be showing up to sleep that night. Immediately after he ended the call Lauren decided to do the same with her parents, but it was Caitlin who answered the phone. After quickly establishing her identity Lauren asked her sister to listen to her carefully.
“Tell Mummy not to wait up for me I will be spending the night with Del.” She said calmly.
“Max is with you?” Caitlin asked surprised.
“Of course he is with me;” Lauren answered annoyed “just give mother my message, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Lauren closed the cell phone and rolled her eyes as Max entered what would serve as their living room. She smiled at him as his eyes scanned the height of the ceiling and the length of the room. He had refused to allow Lauren’s father to buy them a home as a wedding present and somehow convinced her to take out a loan together and built their own place. It was true that he would have to work the rest of his life to pay for the house but it was the only thing he and Lauren had agreed upon in many years and he was thrilled to have a place he would one day call home. He signed the contract on the loan and gave her all authority over the plans on the house, after all it would be her home too and as long as she was happy he believed he would be too.
“Indeed our home is finished, a fine structure it is, but we have no furniture.” Max told Lauren with his arms open to allow her to witness the reality of his statement.
She giggled as he walked to a window and tore a piece of the brown paper that covered the glass. It had been taped to the frame to stop people from looking in.
“Where are we going to sleep?” He asked with his back to her.
“Who said anything about sleeping?” Lauren answered. Max turned to face her with his eyes sparkling. “We might not have a bed but there are plenty of floors to roll around on.” She said making her way to him. Soon she was tracing the lettering on his stained shirt with her index finger “Will Flash for Food.” She read out loud “Let’s take it off and perhaps if I find it worthy I will be willing to show you the menu for tonight.”
“Dr. Alderman!?” Max exclaimed trying to sound alarmed but was laughing with anticipation.
Lauren leaned into his body and with her lips close to his spoke softly and enticing.
“No. Tonight, for you, I want to be just Lauren.” She told him “Tonight it’s just us two, Lauren… and Max.”
As his mouth captured her lips while his hands expertly explored her body all thoughts beyond Lauren were erased from Max’s mind. The night was theirs and he fell in love with her all over again. All that had happened in the previous hours ceased to exist as Max once again found the woman he wanted to make his wife. In his mind there was only Lauren and the love between them. They were very different, Lauren and he, but love is not always perfect. They had a unique way of loving, in their own way they adored even the things they often argued they hated from one another. But the truth was that their love was real and above their many differences it was strong.
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“So what if you were the first to make the move.” Donna insisted as Susan prepared herself a tea to calm her nerves. Even with Max long gone she was still shaking from the torment of her act “That boy should be glad you are not wasting time. And besides, Megan did the same with Kenton in Days of Our Gerry and they ended up marrying within the month.”
“Mother please, this is real life not one of your soaps.” Susan said ready to throw something at her mother. It had been an hour since she first got home and she was still talking about it.
“They are based on actual events you know. And don’t people always say that reality surpasses our wildest fantasies?”
“I wouldn’t know, I try to stay away from fantasies, they are only good for disappointment.”
“Susan you need to stop talking like that, you sound like an old spinster.”
I am not far from one, Susan miserably thought. She was a seamstress making wedding dresses for the pampered brats of Boston society. Her hands were responsible for the perfection of the dreams of many brides but would never have the pride of running down her very own wedding dress. It was useless and depressing; Susan knew she would never be a bride herself.
“What I need to do is apologize to Max.” She said suddenly realizing what she needed to do “Tell him that I am very sorry and that I understand if he never wants to talk to me again.”
“You don’t need to apologize for kissing him. He probably enjoyed it, and I am sure he will call you very soon to ask you out again.” Donna said taking away the sugar tray. Susan had already put four teaspoons in her tea without really noticing.
“I think I’m going to call him right now.” The girl said dropping the teaspoon and walking to the living room.
“But don’t apologize!” Her mother called out.
Susan picked up the phone and dialed the number she had memorized within the hour after Max had given it to her. She placed the receiver to her ear but hung up before it rang. She did not know what to say. How do you start a conversation with the man you were falling for without sounding like an idiot? Devastated that she didn’t know the answer just yet, Susan walked back to the kitchen; she would call him tomorrow.
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“Hi Max. This is Susan. I just thought I would call to say hi…no, darn it. I already said hi,” Susan grumbled aloud as she tried to rehearse what she would say to him when she got up the nerve to call.
She had tossed and turned all night, recalling their kiss. No, she was more apt to call it her kiss because she had no indication that he was even remotely interested in her. All she could recall was the wide eyed stare he gave as she nervously bounded out of the car.
“You are such a fool,” she said, picking up a discarded newspaper from the bench were she waited every morning for the bus 406 which took her downtown.
“Girl, what are you mumbling about?” the old woman asked from the far end of the bench.
Susan’s face blushed when she realized that the elderly lady had been listening to her ramble.
“On nothing…I’m just…I just had a really bad thing happen…”
“Man trouble,” the old woman said in a heavy Southern drawl while her continuously nodded. “I’ve got 5 daughters and 8 granddaughters and I’ve heard it all from them…seen my own share of trouble too.”
“Now wait a minute…I hardly know you and…”
“I may not know your name honey but we’ve sat together on this bench every morning of the last 6 years. This is the first time I’ve ever seen you in such a state. He must really be something.”
The woman’s wrinkled face seemed to beam when she turned to Susan and smiled.
“Any man that can get you that worked up is has to be something special.”
Susan said nothing but slowly she felt her stony expression soften until the corners of her mouth turned up in a shy smile.
“He is amazing,” she finally replied. “It’s just…Oh…I kissed him and I’m not sure that he’s interested in me.”
“What’s wrong with him…he gay or something?”
Susan giggled thinking back to her own confusion over his sexual orientation.
“No…nothing like that.”
“Well if he isn’t then I’m sure you have nothing to worry about…a pretty girl like you would be a catch for any man. Now call that boy on the phone and tell him that he’s lucky to have a woman like you interested in the likes of him.”
“Maybe you’re right,” she replied, taking out her cell phone.
**
Lauren stood in the foyer looking in at Max as he lay sleeping in the middle of the living room floor. Atop the oak floor he was motionless, covered only in a large section of fabric that had been left behind by the interior decorator. She marveled at his handsome face and sinfully perfect body until she was no longer able to keep her distance. Edging ever closer she slid beneath the damask fabric and nestled her head on his chest. He stirred slightly, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer.
“Do you think we christened every room?” he whispered into her tresses which shimmered in the early morning sun.
“There was a closet up stairs that we missed but I’m not sure if you up to the challenge. It was a long night…”
Suddenly he pulled her body atop his own powerful frame. “Don’t be thinking that just because I’ll soon be an old married man that I’ve lost my stamina,” he chuckled.
“I would never dream it,” she answered, letting her legs move to either side of his stomach.
“You know you’re beautiful,” he softly said, reaching up to caress her face.
“I’m sure you tell all the girls the same thing,” she jested, playfully tickling his ribs.
“Well, yeah….but you are…amazing.”
The ringing of his cell phone distracted them both as their eyes moved toward the sound of ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame.’
“You think I should get that?” he asked. “That’s like the fifth time someone has tried to call.”
“No…Let it ring,” she said, tossing his t-shirt over the phone. “I think you were saying something about not having lost your stamina.”
**
“Hmmm,” Susan sighed. “Where are you, Max?”
She strolled into the back door of the warehouse, carefully tucking away her cellphone. During the 30 minute bus ride she had tried to call him 5 times with no luck. Each time she heard his voice mail answer the call.
This is Max. I can’t take your call but leave me a message and I’ll get back to soon.
She didn’t have the nerve to leave a message and she suspected that she probably would just hang up if he actually answered but that was a chance she was willing to take.
“How is it coming along?” Gabrielle inquired when she saw Susan come through the door.
“What?” Susan mumbled.
“The Alderman dress. Are you making any progress?”
Susan swallowed hard at the thought of the dress. It was progressing nicely yet it pained her to think of the arrogant doctor wearing her beautiful creation.
“Yes, she coming in for a fitting tomorrow.”
“Well, I certainly hope that we don’t have a repeat of the last little exhibition. Your job is on the line with this dress,” the manager coldly reminded.
“Yes, Mame,” Susan quietly answered.
**
“That was amazing,” Lauren said, desperately trying to catch her breath.
“Well…I do aim to please,” Max playfully boasted, stretching back against the floor.
“Certainly no complaints here,” she laughed, turning over to face him. “I won’t even say anything about the fact that I think the wood floor has caused my back to be out of alignment.”
“At least you weren’t bitten by a crab,” he chuckled.
They both laughed aloud, recalling a late night romp on a Martha’s Vineyard beach that had taken place many years before.
“Do you remember how loudly you screamed when that thing latched onto your toe?” he reminisced.
“As I recall I wasn’t the only one screaming,” she reminded. “Funny that you would mention that trip.”
He gave her a bewildered look.
“You remember why we were on the island?” she asked, wrapping herself in the make shift sheet.
He thought for a moment and then nodded.
“The car show.”
“Yep…that’s it. Now come on…I have a surprise for you.”
She quickly scampered out of the room heading in the direction of the kitchen. He quickly pulled on his jeans and followed. Standing beside the door leading to the garage, she turned to him.
“Do you remember that I was driving Mummy’s ancientBMW…”
“I don’t think I would call a three year old car ancient,” he corrected.
“Oh Del…Let me finish,” she said with a sigh. “And you didn’t even have the Mustang then.”
He nodded recalling that he was dependent upon her for transportation.
“Do you remember the car that you fell in love with?”
“Yeah…the Porsche,” he said dreamily.
She stepped to the side and flung open the door. There in the garage sat a new Porsche convertible. He stood frozen for a moment, staring in at the shiny black race car.
“You got me the ring and I thought that one good turn deserved another,” she announced, waving the keys in the air. “Go take a look at your new ride, sweetie.”
He slowly walked into the garage, circling the car once before he even dared touch it. The smile on his face grew ever wider when he opened the door and slide behind the wheel.
“Lauren…I can’t accept this…”
“Of course you can,” she smiled.
She tossed the keys into his hand and within seconds the revving sound of the motor filled the garage. Her face beamed with pride as she watched him tinker with the gadget on the console.
That’s right, sweetie. Enjoy it! It’s about time that I got the old Max back. In no time at all you’ll be seeing patients in your new office. There will be two doctors in this household….you should just go ahead and accept it. Actually I think this is going to be even easier than I thought.
As she contemplated their future together her planning was interrupted by the ringing of his phone.
“Who in Bob’s name keeps calling him?” she asked, stomping off in the direction of the phone.
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“Hello?” Lauren said for the third time in a roll after opening the cell phone. Still there was no answer. She was suddenly angry that whoever had called her fiancé had immediately hanged up as soon as her voice was heard.
Lauren heard Del coming and she deliberately slammed the cell phone shut with unnecessary force. He looked at her bewildered. One minute she was the nicest woman on the face of the planet and the next thing he knew she was mad for no apparent reason. The old Lauren was back.
“What happened?” He asked her calmly. Inevitably, in the years they had spent together he had grown to love even her worst times. He still wanted to kill her sometimes, but he loved her nonetheless. Or maybe it was just that he always knew what to expect with Lauren.
“They hung up on me.” She informed him pouting her lips. He frowned.
“Who did?”
“I don’t know. They hung up on me I tell you.”
“So no one was there when you answered?” He asked a bit confused.
“Exactly.” Lauren responded throwing the cell phone at him.
He caught it in the air and opened it to see the last number registered as an incoming call. It was an unfamiliar telephone number and he figured it could very well have been a wrong number. Of course Lauren was probably thinking the worst of him. He could picture her mind developing the dirtiest of schemes he could pull. One of those was sure to be that he had another woman waiting for him. As that thought entered his mind, Max gulped down the knot that had instantly clogged his throat. The memories of Susan and their kiss were soon returned to him. Once again he felt guilty, but he fought to keep his composure so that Lauren would not notice the change in his mood.
Max looked at his watch and then raised his eyes to meet Lauren’s.
“It’s almost eight. I had to be at the station at seven thirty, it was probably them who called.” He told her trying to sound convincing.
Lauren perceived a slight tremor in his voice but she decided to ignore it. She had been very close to blowing her plan when the darn phone refused to stopped ringing. She had to keep herself together and make Del think she was the approving and understanding bride that he wanted, nothing would stop her from marrying him. Though she was sure she had not one motive to think that her plans would be ruined it was best to always be a step ahead of him, and just in case he had second thoughts she had to make him believe all would be perfect after they married.
“Can I borrow your ‘Stang then?” Lauren sweetly asked him as she walked to his side.
“You mean you want me to take the Porsche now?”
“Well I did not buy it to watch it accumulate dust in our garage. Besides, you need to give it the test drive.” She added with a wink that made him smile broadly.
Lauren grabbed his face and placed her lips on his, kissing him passionately.
Oh Bob please take away the thoughts of Susan that are plaguing my head. Max pleaded as he kissed his fiancé with his eyes closed. It was not fair for him to be so close to the woman he loved and be thinking of another. It did not make sense. What kind of sick idea is this? He wondered.
Lauren deepened the kiss and pressed her body against his. Max encircled her waist with one arm. His other hand was busy putting his cell phone in his pocket. Lauren opened her eyes as both of Max’s hands caressed her back. He maintained his eyes closed.
That’s right, she thought,lose yourself in me . In less than five months he would be completely hers. After that nothing would ever be the same.
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Susan almost dropped her cell phone when she heard Gabrielle speak behind her. As soon as she heard the woman’s voice call for her she tried to close it but managed only to clasp it against her chest.
Darn it! Susan was sure that Max had answered the phone that time and only to be welcomed by silence since she had to hang up before even speaking. Susan hoped that he would not be too angry when she tried to call back later and he saw that the call was coming from the same number that had hung up on him before. He was not the kind of man that would check his caller id, or so Susan hoped.
“Vera would like a word with you.” Gabrielle said to her.
“She wants to speak to me?” Susan asked incredulous. She had already gotten a pay cut and a lecture from Gabrielle over the Governor daughter’s dress, she did not need to be punished by the owner of the boutique. “If this is about the Alderman dress, let me assure you that I am making progress on it and I have learned my lesson. I don’t…”
“I don’t know why Vera wants to see you, but she is aware that you have been reprimanded for your mistakes.” The manager replied “You know where her office is. Do not keep her waiting longer.”
Susan nodded and walked in the direction of Vera Lang’s office.
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The daily newspaper was unusually late that morning. Donna was complaining to her next door neighbor, Mrs. Fenney, that Susan had never been late when she delivered newspapers when she noticed that the Affairs section of the paper was falling from her hands. The woman caught it just before it completely came out of the stack. She carefully pulled it to the top of the paper and gasped at the photograph that graced the front page.
It was Max! And he was posing with a woman said to be his fiancé!
Donna read the text out loud as her neighbor watched her in complete wonder.
“Governor John Alderman and Mrs. Diana Alderman proudly announce the date for the wedding of their eldest child, Doctor Lauren Grace Alderman, to Mr. Maximilian Jean Delacoure. Mr. Delacoure is the son of French poet Jean Delacoure and Mrs. Marla Delacoure. The happy couple will set residence here in Boston. Dr. Alderman will continue to be head reconstructive surgeon at Boston University Medical, as will Mr. Delacoure remain captain of the prestigious team of Boston Emergency Medical Technicians serving for the same hospital. The wedding ceremony will take place on August 28 and it is certain that all of Massachusetts best will attend. Congratulations.”
“Donna are you alright?” Mrs. Fenney asked worriedly.
“I don’t understand.” Donna said deaf to her neighbor’s question “He seemed like such a nice boy. I can’t believe he lied to me, to my Susan. Why I even thought that he would be the one for her. I was hoping he married Susan, not some snobby doctor. Look at this woman.” She told her neighbor pushing the paper toward her “Tell me if my Susan isn’t prettier.”
Mrs. Fenney tried to put her glassed on to look at the picture but Donna removed the paper before she was able to make a fair judgment.
“Susan said he did not try to kiss her. Could that mean he is not attracted to her? But I could swear he was. I saw him looking at my girl, he does like her. Why then did he not kiss her?” Donna wondered.
Though Mrs. Fenney knew that the questions were not directed for her, she was aware of whom Donna was speaking. She had seen the young man several times when she came out to get her mail. He was good looking and had a friendly smile. Mrs. Fenney particularly remembered a day when she saw him and Susan boarding a red convertible, and she had to agree with Donna, the boy was definitely attracted to Susan. Yet he was marrying another woman, someone that had probably become part of his life long before Susan appeared. That would explain why he did not want to hurt the girl.
“He had to fall for my daughter, they are a perfect match. One made in heaven if I say so myself.” Donna continued with her ramblings as she twisted and turned the newspaper in her hands. “Couldn’t he just kiss Susan and realize this?”
Mrs. Fenney smiled and hoped that she was doing the right thing by nourishing Donna’s hopes.
“Sometimes it works the other way around.” She told her.
Suddenly surprised by those words, Donna ceased the destruction of the pages in her hands.
“What do you mean?” She asked Mrs. Fenney.
“You remember when Jackie would not sleep with Brenna in As the Tarts Revolve?”
“Faintly.” Donna answered confused.
Mrs. Fenney took a deep breath.
“There are times when a man likes to keep his distance from the woman he truly loves because he respects her. Caring too much for a girl can make a man do crazy things.” She told Donna. “Maybe he was already engaged when he met your Susan. One cannot go about breaking vows like that.” She said snapping her wrinkled fingertips “I also think the boy is fond of Susan, but perhaps they met at the wrong time.”
Wrong time? There is not such thing as wrong time? Donna thought. There is only love and the race against time. With time there were memories and tears, smiles and embraces, but the race continued. Nothing could stop it, you could try to trick it, but it seldom worked. Trick it! Donna exclaimed to herself. That’s it!
She smiled at Mrs. Fenney and thanked her for her kind words. She went inside her home and made a call to her sister in Rhode Island. They spoke for several minutes and Donna was pleased to find she was welcomed in her home. The woman then tried calling her daughter’s cell phone but there was no answer so she left a message.
“Susan honey, your aunt Ellen has invited me over for a picnic; you know how she comes up with these kinds of things all of a sudden. Well you are always saying I need to get myself out more and I think a nice trip will do me good so I am taking her offer. My bus leaves in two hours. I won’t be home when you get back, but I will call you as soon as I get to Providence. I love you, take care. Bye.” Donna was broadly smiling by the time she put the phone down.
Hurriedly she went into Susan’s room and spent the next five minutes looking in all her drawers. When at last she found Susan’s personal phonebook she was surprised to see that the number she was looking for was on the front page. The letters above the number her big and round and she did not need her glasses to read them. Donna carried the item back to the phone and picked it up. Slowly but very confident that her plan would work, she dialed Max’s number.
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“Please have a seat Miss Smith,” Vera Lang said as she gestured toward two wingback chairs that were placed in front of her antique desk.
Susan slowly stepped into the corner office, taking note of the incredible view from the large windows that overlooked the downtown shopping district. It was the first time that she had actually seen Vera except for her brief visits to the showroom. The thing that struck Susan about her employer was her expressive dark eyes which seemed to twinkle as she approached the desk.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things about your work,” Vera said, flipping through a portfolio of snapshots showing the dresses that the seamstress had created over the years.
“Susan is by far our most talented seamstress,” Gabrielle spoke up from the hall before gently closing the door.
Her words surprised Susan who had thought the woman to still be furious over the incident with Dr. Alderman.
Vera looked up from the book and smiled widely. “It seems that sewing isn’t your only talent.”
She then extended her hand to reveal the crumpled design that Susan had worked on for countless hours.
“There’s no need to explain,” she quickly told a startled Susan. “I didn’t mention to any one that this isn’t actually my work.”
She turned the page around, studying the intricate pattern.
“It’s very beautiful…but do you mind if I ask just how Dr. Alderman got her hands on your work?”
**
Max slowly steered the roadster off the main highway and into the parking lot beside the EMS headquarters. He grimaced slightly when he saw that most of his co workers were in the parking lot, washing the off duty vehicles. A flurry of bawdy comments were made when he turned off the motor of the Porsche.
“Max, who did you borrow that little baby from…James Bond?”His friend George asked as he stepped from the vehicle.
“I thought James Bond always drove an Austin Martin?” Paul asked, moving closer to look into the interior.
“I thought it was a BMW?” someone in the gathering crowd suggested.
“Like it matters,” George chimed in. “Tell me Max, where did you get it? I know we got a pay raise last month but it wasn’t that great a raise.”
Max squirmed uncomfortably. He had to admit that he did like the car but he had underestimated the attention that it would garner from his friends.
“Lauren got it,” he mumbled, hoping to move to another subject. “Which crew am I working with tonight?”
“No…no. Now wait a minute…Did you say Lauren got it for you?” George asked with a laugh. “This coming from the man who would not change his lifestyle because he was marrying a doctor…but now he owns a big house out in Westwood and is sporting around in a car that costs more than he earns in a year. Hmmm…sounds to me like you’re the one who’s changing and you don’t even know it.”
“Yep, seems like she figured out a way to get rid of that old Mustang once and for all,” another snickered.
Max felt the harsh reality of his friend’s words squeeze at his throat. He wanted to deny their suspicions but he knew that they were more right than even he was willing to admit. He lingered a bit longer, listening to their jesting but not feeling at all amused until the sudden ringing of his phone. With a sigh of relief he moved away from the crowd and off to a quiet corner of the lot.
“Hello.”
“Max?” Donna asked in a high pitched tone.
“Yes?” he hesitantly said. “Who is this?”
“This is Donna,” she said, sounding surprised that he had to ask.
“Well…hello Donna. Is..is anything wrong?”
He could hear her sigh clearly though the phone.
“I’m not really sure. Do you think you can meet me at the corner of Elm and Ellington in 20 minutes?”
“Actually it’s I’m at work so-“
“Are you at work or with your fiancée?” she asked plainly.
Immediately he felt his heart sink.
“I don’t—“
“Max, you’re a good guy…I know it. Just don’t lie to me again. I really need to talk to you. If you ever had any feelings for my daughter just meet me. OK?”
He cast a fleeting glance toward the crowd gathered around the car. A couple of the guys had jumped inside and were admiring the interior while the other took a peek under the hood.
“I’ll be there.”
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“Do you care for my Susan?” Donna directly asked Max three minutes into their meeting.
They were sitting inside Susan’s favorite Italian Bistro, Capriccio. Donna was drinking a cappuccino while Max waited for a glass of water to be brought out to him. His throat was dry and his hands a bit sweaty. Donna’s gaze upon him was soft but with a hint of anger.
“Well do you?” The woman insisted impatiently.
“I am here.” Max answered looking away from her. What else could he say? He was about to marry Lauren but had nevertheless been captured by Susan’s charm.
“I know you care but is it enough to break up with that Doctor lady?”
“It’s a bit more complicated than that.” Max said rubbing his hands together and still not looking at Donna. “Lauren is my fiancée, the woman I am going to marry. Had I met Susan before things might have been different.”
“But…” Donna started to say but stopped when the waitress came back with Max’s water. The girl deposited the glass in front of him and left with a smile on her face. Max faced Donna and spoke calm but firm.
“There is nothing more to say, I did not want to hurt Susan, and she did not want to hurt you.” He told her “This all started because she asked me to make you believe I was dating her, somehow we fell into our own trap. I really like your daughter but I am engaged.”
“I understand that but what are you going to tell my daughter now? The truth? She will be heartbroken, all the men in her life have been liars and I know she was very excited with your…” Donna tried to find the correct word to express what she was trying to say “friendship.” She finally said “She has gone through so much already.”
“What do you want me to do?” Max desperately asked “I don’t know what you want from me.”
“The truth Max, I want the truth. Who is it that you really want, the Doctor lady or my Susan? You would not have played along with this little scam if you were not sincerely interested in her, you are a good man. Please make the right decision.”
“I made that decision ten years ago.” He replied “There are some things, certain feelings, which cannot be explained to another human being. My father told me to tell Susan the truth and stop all contact with her before this even started, I should have listened to him.”
“Do you regret meeting Susan?” Donna asked sure that his answer would be no.
“No.” He correctly responded.
“Do you think you will be happy with the doctor?”
This time Max did not respond, instead he looked away once more and pictured his life with Lauren. He smiled knowing they would find a way to be happy, they always had. Love was not always perfect.
Donna suddenly realized she was losing her debate. In panic she tried to steer Max’s thoughts back to Susan.
“I think it is for the best to put a stop to this, you have made your decision. I am sure Susan will understand.” She told him startling him a bit “Allow me to invite you one last time to dinner, after that it will be good-bye, forever.”
Max was satisfied with her suggestion. It would be for the best to let the truth be known. They made plans to meet after six for dinner at her home, and there he would tell Susan that their friendship was over. Max experienced a certain amount of hesitation as he headed back to his new car. He wanted to end this conflict, but that would also mean he would never see Susan again. The sudden throbbing in his heart gave him a taste of what it would be like to live without her. He could leave her, but he would never forget her.
Donna watched as Max walked away. She sighted relieved that the worst was over. In a matter of hours he would be telling Susan about his lie; that would be if he had the courage to do it, the courage to leave Susan. Donna should have been rushing home to prepare Susan’s dinner, but instead of doing that she went to the bus station and boarded the shuttle to Providence Rhode Island. She prayed all along the way for her plan to work. Her daughter had to keep the man she loved. Max and Susan were meant to be together, and once they were alone and talking they would figure it out for themselves.
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Susan was still a bit shaky over the meeting with Vera. Her boss had been really impressed by her sketches and promised Susan to give her a letter of recommendation for when, and if, she one day gathered enough courage, and money, to apply to Boston’s School of Fashion Design. The offer had taken Susan by complete surprise. Not only did Vera think her designs were good, she actually wanted to buy a couple for her future collection. And to top things off she would credit Susan and pay for them with a very generous amount of money. That certainly solved quite a few problems for her.
Susan inserted her key into the lock of her front door and twisted it smiling; this was one of the best days in her life. She pushed the door open and went inside. Susan knew her mother was not home because she had left her a message on her cell phone saying she was going to visit her sister Ellen, so she did not make her usual ‘I am home’ shout. Just like that her mother had granted Susan with about a week of solitary time. It was not like Susan did not like her mother’s company, but a few days of peace and no nagging would really bring her spirits up. Her mother could be a bit smothering at times.
Around five after six, Susan was sitting on the sofa about to put her feet up when the doorbell rang. Still in high spirits, she made her way to the door and opened it to find Max standing there.
“Hi.” He said shyly.
“Hi.” She answered happily “What are you doing here?”
“Ah… Your mother invited me for dinner, didn’t she tell you?” He asked confused.
“No. My mother is in Rhode Island. She left me a message saying she would not be here went I got home.”
Max was instantly struck with the length of Donna’s deceit. She had tricked him and Susan into meeting in her house, alone. What was wrong with that woman? He silently screamed.
“I’m sorry…” Max said to Susan “I should go then…”
“No!” Susan quickly replied “I mean; you don’t have to go, yet. Come in.” She added more serenely
Max obeyed her.
“Sit,” She offered smiling “I will bring us some water.”
Woman don’t smile like that! Max thought. That smile is precisely what got me into trouble in the first place.
Susan came back with two glasses of water and put them on the center table. Max took a glass and almost drank its whole content. Throughout the course of the day he had easily drank about twenty glasses of water, and it was all Donna’s fault. He was very nervous.
A moment of silent awkwardness let Susan to think he was about to make a confession. She had one of her own to word out and seen how this had proven to be a good day, she felt confident that she could tell him what she really felt for him. She sat next to him on the sofa.
“Susan I need to talk to you.” He said
“I want to talk to you.” She told him at the same time.
They smiled apologizing but both remained quiet.
“Ladies first.” Max said breaking the silence.
“Scottish charm?” Susan asked teasingly.
He chuckled and looked into her eyes as she spoke.
“Max…” He heard her say and was lost in that single word. His name sounded heavenly with her voice. It was a whispered caress from her lips, suspended in time from the instant it left her throat to the moment it reached his ears, which vanished just as quickly as it had appeared, so painfully suddenly. He was hypnotized by her eyes, and the movement of her lips, and he did not hear what she had to tell him. “…and I am so embarrassed to say this but, I have never felt such a strong attraction before.” That was all he could make out before snapping back to life.
He looked at her a bit disturbed, not by her confession for he too felt something he never thought possible, but at the fact that he had missed her speech.
“Oh my Bob I have completely stunned you haven’t I?!” She assumed in panic.
“No no no!” He was quick to reply “Yes, you have but not in a bad way. I was just thinking about what I wanted to say to you, but…”
“But?” Susan asked
“But first I have to do something.” Max answered.
“What?”
“This.” He said taking her in his arms and kissing her lips. He knew he was lost, Donna had won. He could not deny what he felt for Susan. It was stronger than him. The only truth he knew at the moment was that all his complains were useless; he had fallen for Susan that Saturday at the fair.
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Two months later…
Max was moving his food around in his plate with a fork as his parent’s watched perplexed. He was exhausted, too worn to stop his mother from serving him dinner at eight in the night in the first place, and now too lost in thought to eat it. Over the past weeks he had been living a double life. He was shuffling his time between quick calls to Lauren and long blissful visits with Susan. It was very pathetic and tiring, not physically, mentally. His mind was an unrecognizable mess. When he was talking to Lauren he missed Susan so much it physically hurt him, yet he felt guilty for cheating on his fiancé. Lauren was pretty busy lately with the wedding details and he had not spent much time with her. Eerily it almost seemed like she was the one avoiding him, but Max could not complain since the farther away she was from him the least the chance he would get caught in his affair.
Meanwhile when he was with Susan he often found himself thinking of Lauren and fantasizing that it was her he was kissing. Stupidly enough he also felt at fault for continuing the farce that he was the flawless boyfriend, even if he had Donna’s blessing. Donna however believed that Max had ended his relationship with Lauren or that at least he was in the process of doing so.
“Maximilian why aren’t you eating your broccoli, it’s your favorite?” Marla Delacoure asked her son.
“I am not hungry mother.” Max answered distant.
“It’s that job of yours. If you were a doctor you wouldn’t have to work so much.” She boldly stated.
“Is that a new t-shirt?” Max’s father hurried to ask attempting to change the conversation.
Max looked down at the blue shirt he was wearing and saw the imprint ‘I’m-perfect’ on it. The item had been a present from Susan on their first month anniversary of dating, Max liked to torture himself by thinking it was the one month anniversary of his failure as a decent man. Why was his life suddenly so agonizing?
“Yes.” He limited himself to answering without meeting his father’s stare. If he father knew what he was doing he would be ashamed of him.
“Lauren called yesterday; she wants me to make sure you don’t forget about the bridal party this Saturday.” Marla said ignoring her husband’s struggle to keep the family peaceful “I really think you should put more effort into your wedding honey, Lauren might think you are having second thoughts.”
“Marla stop trying to control his life.” Jean told her irritated.
“I am not controlling his life; I am just giving him some advice.” She replied “Lauren is such a nice girl she deserves a little more consideration from Maximilian. Imagine, she is practically putting this wedding together on her own with the groom working all the time.”
Max could not stand to witness his parents arguing over him. As much as he loved his mother he was tired of her ‘advice’.
“I am going to be late for work, excuse me.” He told them as he stood up and walked toward his room.
He lay on his bed of a couple of minutes. It was eight ten when he looked at his watch and decided to change into his uniform. He had the overnight shift and had to be at work in thirty minutes. If everything went fine he would be back home by ten the next morning.
A sudden beep at his side interrupted his thoughts as he slid an arm into his blue jacket. He took his cell phone in his hand and saw that he had a text message from Susan. It read:
“Hey love! I have a long noon lunch break tomorrow and mother is going to church, meet me at the Bistro in the corner of Elm and Ellington? Text me if you can make it. I love you.”
He hesitated for a second but figured he had time to meet her. He would sleep after they had met, after all he did not have to work the next day.
“I’ll see you at noon, I love you too.” He replied in another message.
He took one last glance at himself in the mirror and questioned his sanity. Was it wrong to love two women with the same intensity for both, but because of so many different reasons? He found that he fell in love with Susan’s warmth character and sense of humor more every day. Her smile was enchanting and he could easily get lost in her kindness. Yet he also knew she was strong and hardheaded, those were some of her most charming assets. But no matter how much he had come to love Susan he was still very much in love with Lauren. Lauren was enigmatic; she was fearless and completely mesmerizing. Even after all these years with her Max still found new things about her that made him fall for her again. And all the old things he remembered and fought to bring out in her were fascinating. Max knew he was wrong to love them both, but he could not help it. He could not force his heart to forget one of them, he did not want to. How could he decide between them?
One day he would have to do it, it was a matter of time before he had to make a choice that could very literary break his heart in two. But until then, he wanted to dream that he was right to love them, because love them he did.
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It was a little after twelve (noon) and Caitlin was walking by her father’s office in their large mansion. She was looking for her mother, to tell her that she needed to give the florist a call back and confirm the delivery date for Lauren’s bridal party the following Saturday. As she passed by the office’s door she heard a cell phone ring and thinking it was her mother’s she was about to go into the room when she heard Lauren’s voice. Her tone was worried and stressed.
“Yes?” Lauren answered. Caitlin stood next to the door to listen in on the conversation. She did not mean any ill will; she was concerned for her sister. “Yes. I am sitting.” Lauren said. “Are you sure? I mean, there must be a mistake, I…” She stopped abruptly.
What in the name of Bob is going on? Caitlin wondered
“I never thought, there is no logical reason for this…Are you joking? Because I do not find it funny and…” Lauren’s voice was failing her “No, if they are right in front of you then I believe you. Elmer Lington?” She asked “Who else is with you?”
Caitlin gasped realizing what she was hearing. Lauren was being informed of Max’s affair. There was no way out of it now, and to think she had known and had not had the heart to tell her sister. Sure Lauren was a little witch but Caitlin had revisited the option many times and always ended with the same conclusion, no one deserved to be hurt like that.
“I have surgery today but after work I am going to have a talk with Del.” Lauren told her informant sadly “Anne? Thanks for everything and please do not tell anyone.”
At the sound of the phone’s end click Caitlin tip toed away from the door and headed for her room. She hoped that Lauren would be okay.
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Max was looking through the menu when his cell phone started ringing. He jumped at the sound and frowned at Susan who was sitting across from him.
Max glanced at the screen and saw that the call was coming from Boston Medical and he decided to ignore it. It could very well be Lauren calling from her office and he could not risk answering it with Susan with him.
“Are you going to get that?” She asked him.
“No. I am off duty, and I am hungry.” He said trying not to sound bothered.
“Take it, its fine.” Susan told him as the understanding girlfriend that she was.
The phone continued to ring and people were starting to look his way irritated by the sound. Max grabbed the phone and decided to leave his fate in the hands of Bob.
“Hello?” He said softly. He was relieved when Mark’s voice responded.
“Hey Max! Paul messed up the schedule again, do you mind coming back to fix it? He’s got George pulling two 18 hour shifts less than three days apart.”
“Yeah I’ll be there in about an hour.” He answered relieved “Okay. Bye.” Max closed his phone and attached it to his belt. “Work.” He told Susan with a smile.
She smiled back and they both returned to their respective menu glancing. Max sighted and wiped his forehead; he had been sweating with fright. Somehow he was no longer hungry.
An hour later, Max found himself back at Boston Medical. He was sleepy and wanted nothing more than a bed to lie on, a sofa would do too, even his car’s seat sounded inviting. He walked steadily thinking that the faster he got the darn schedule fixed the faster he could get home and rest. He came to his locker’s room door and was about to swing it open when Lauren suddenly burst out of there. He almost knocked her to the ground, but he held on to her elbows and helped her keep her balance.
“Hello!” He said cheerful
She looked at him as if she did not know him. Max rapidly noticed she was pale and a bit thinner than she had been the last time he saw her.
“What’s wrong?” He asked her troubled “You don’t look to well.”
Her eyes were dark, swollen, and full of concern, something was very wrong she had been crying.
“Del we need to talk.”
“Sure, let me just go fix the schedule with Paul and I’ll meet you in your office where it’s more private.” He said hoping whatever she wanted to tell him had nothing to do with a female, more specifically Susan.
“No Del, we need to talk now.” She said with her voice quivering.
Max was shocked by her refusal to wait.
“Okay.” He said hesitantly.
“I’m pregnant.”
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Lauren watched as Max fumbled toward a nearby bench. She knew that he would be surprised but in no way expected the look of utter disbelief that he had on his face. She moved closer to him, settling down just beside him.
“Are you alright?” she finally asked when the silence between them had become too much for her to bear.
“Umm…Uh…are you…are you sure?” he stuttered with his eyes opened wide.
“Yes…I just heard back from my doctor this morning,” she calmly said. The shock of the news had worn but the uncertainty of how to deal with the situation still caused her hands to quiver. She knew that Max wanted a family. However, she had never really considered the option.
He nodded, staring down at the floor. She watched his every move, expecting him to be excited about the announcement. Yet he showed no signs of being pleased.
“I take it that you aren’t happy?” she sternly asked, glaring at him with her icy eyes.
“No…no…of course not. I’m just surprised…that’s all.”
He reached out to take her hand yet she pulled away.
“You’re lying,” she snarled, rising from the bench. He immediately stood and attempted to pull her into his embrace but she shoved him away.
“Lauren, I swear I’m really happy about this… I just needed a second to come to terms with it. I’m thrilled… elated. You’re going to have our baby,” he declared, finally managing to pull her into his arms.
She went limp, burying her face in his chest so he could not see her tears as her pangs of guilt resurfaced.
‘Max, you can’t know the truth… not ever.’
**
Later the evening Lauren silently made her way into the Alderman mansion. It was eerily quiet and she assumed that her parents were still at the political fundraiser. She walked by the library but turned suddenly when she realized that there was a light on inside the massive oak paneled room. She casually walked inside to turn off the lamp when she saw Caitlyn sitting in the corner.
“Oh I didn’t know anyone was home,” Lauren softly said, turning to walk away.
“You alright?” her younger sister asked, placing the book on a nearby table.
“Fine…just tired,” Lauren said.
“You know your phone has been ringing off the hook all evening. I answered…”
“Who was it?” Lauren asked frantically, pacing closer to her sister.
“Just your receptionist at the hospital. She left a message…for the life of me I don’t know why she didn’t just call your cell phone,” Caitlyn said, handing her the cryptic message.
‘Because I didn’t want Max to know who I was trying to get in contact with.’
Caitlyn read the note aloud. “He’s still on in Athens. Left message at hotel desk. Will try again later. Just what is this all about?” Caitlyn asked as she glared at her sister.
“Nothing,” Lauren snapped, snatching the note from her hand and reading it as if she doubted the message.
“Does this have anything to do with that Greek doctor you were parading around with all those months ago?”
Lauren’s jaw clenched in anger. “That’s none of your damn business.”
“Look I’m sorry… I know that you’ve had a rough day. It had to have been difficult finding out about Max and that woman. Do you think that the two of you can work—“
“What in Bob’s name are you talking about?” She growled.
“I overheard your call today… When you found out about them seeing each other. I should have told you sooner but…”
Lauren shook her head in confusion. She didn’t know what her sister was talking about but the expression of worry in Caitlyn’s eyes caused her to feel weak.
“Is Max seeing someone else. Is that what you’re trying to say?”
Unable to control her anger, Lauren felt her fists ball up at her sides.
“Didn’t someone call you to say… I heard you tell them that…Wait…I don’t understand,” Caitlyn mumbled, glancing at her enraged sister.
“You will tell me right now what you know,” Lauren demanded.
**
Max walked into the bar and glanced around for some sign of them but he heard their laughter long before he saw them all seated in the back corner of the rowdy pub that they frequented each Friday night. His heart sank when he caught sight of Susan’s smiling face as she motioned for him to join them. He sighed as he walked toward the table where she was seated with Paul and his wife Debbie.
Shortly after he realized that he could not deny his feelings for Susan, Max had confided his secret to his best friend who was thrilled to know that maybe there was a chance that the wedding wouldn’t take place. Paul and Debbie played along with his charade hoping that it would all work out in the end.
“You’re late,” Paul called out to him.
“Yeah…I got held up in traffic,” Max explained. Yet in reality he had been sitting alone in the Mustang trying to find someway of telling Susan the truth.
“You ok, sweetie?” Susan whispered into his ear when he slid into the booth.
He nodded, attempting to force a smile. “I’m fine.”
“Well…I hope so… I guess you remember what you promised to do last time?” Debbie said with a laugh.
“Hmm… what did you say?” Max muttered, lost in the maze of thoughts that plagued his mind.
“What’s wrong?” Susan implored, leaning closer.
“It’s nothing… Don’t worry,” he answered, caressing her cheek.
“He’s already forgotten,” Paul laughed. “But I haven’t…you lost the bet, buddy. It’s time to pay up.”
Max looked in Paul’s direction, reluctantly taking his eyes off Susan’s face. He wanted to kiss her at that moment, to pull her into his arms and just forget about all of his problems.
“I’ve already given them a song so get ready,” Paul said. “Dear Bob don’t tell me you’ve completely forgotten.”
Suddenly he recalled the bet that they had made over the Sox game. In losing, he had agreed to any dare that Paul could come up with.
“You’re up,” Paul jested, glancing toward the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen…Welcome to Friday night karaoke at O’Rileys. Seems that we have a surprise in store for tonight. Our old friend Max has lost a bet so according to his friends in the corner he’s gotta sing for his supper,” the bar owner announced to the cheering crowd.
Max glanced toward the stage and then back at Paul.
“Do you think-“
“Not a chance of putting this off,” Paul declared. “Now go on.”
Max sighed, feeling the pressure from them all to live up to his end of the deal.
“I’ll do this but I really need to talk to you afterward…do you think we can go for a drive?” he said softly to Susan before sliding out of the corner booth.
“Yeah…we’ll go where ever you want but… I’m worried about you. What’s wrong?”
He said nothing, only leaning close to place a gently kiss on her lips. He lingered there for a moment with his forehead resting against hers. “I love you so much. Just don’t forget that…ok?”
Max stepped toward the stage where he paused to speak with the woman in charge of playing the accompanying music.
“Your friend said you were going to sing ‘Light My Fire’… is that right?” she asked.
“No… not that,” he replied, flipping though a folder of available songs. “This one.”
She gave him a puzzled look. “Are you sure? It’s sort of sad…I think your friend thought you would make a joke of all this.”
Max nodded and stepped onto the stage to the applause of the crowd. The music began and the crowd grew silent as he began to sing.
So lately, I've been wonderin'
Who will be there to take my place
When I'm gone, you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face
If a great wave should fall
It would fall upon us all
And between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own?
If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go
And maybe, I'll find out
The way to make it back someday
To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your days
If a great wave should fall
It would fall upon us all
Well I hope there's someone out there
Who can bring me back to you
His eyes filled with tears when he looked out at Susan who was entranced by the song.
Runaway with my heart
Runaway with my hope
Runaway with my love
I know now, just quite how
My life and love might still go on
In your heart, In your mind
I'll stay with you for all of time
If I could turn back time
I'll go wherever you will go
If I could make you mine
I'll go wherever you…’
The music continued but his words trailed off. His gaze was focus on the entryway where Lauren stood, seething with anger and hurt.
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Caitlin was hugging her knees as she sat on her father’s brown leather sofa in his home office. She was wiping her tears and remembering how her mother once told her that the devil was a fallen angel. One destined to carry the load of his sin’s punishment for all of eternity. Once a pure being, a good soul, he was cast away for reasons beyond our comprehension for feelings above the grasp of reality. Feelings such as the one Lauren had for Max. Caitlin realized that sometimes even the devil was deserving of pity, and love.
For as long as she could remember Caitlin had been jealous of Lauren. She envied her beauty and confidence, but most of all her power over everyone she came in contact with. She never really tried to get to know her sister, and the years passed and Caitlin constructed an image of Lauren that was very far from the actual person she was. Tonight Lauren had opened up to her sister and for the very first time Caitlin got to see the real Lauren. For Caitlin it was heart retching to have to admit that underneath it all Lauren was no more than a woman in love.
Caitlin sobbed quietly as she recalled the conversation she had with her sister only minutes before. She had been about to blurt out that Max was in fact dating another woman behind Lauren’s back and her sister demanded an explanation.
“You will tell me right now what you know.” Lauren had demanded
“I don’t have to tell you anything.” Caitlin had answered defiant “I never told Max about you and the Greek guy, and you should thank me for that. You have some nerve to try to get back with him for a quickie before your wedding. Wasn’t dating him while Max was away in school enough?” She viciously asked
After a few seconds of silence, Lauren walked to her father’s chair behind his desk. She let her elbow rest on the desk and dropped her face into the palm of her hand. Caitlin noticed she was breathing heavily as if trying to hold back the tears. When at last she spoke, Lauren’s voice was deep and expressionless.
“I wasn’t dating him.” She told Caitlin as the young girl took a seat on the other side of the desk. “I have never cheated on my fiancé. Elmer Lington was not my boyfriend he was my Psychologist, and my friend.”
“What?” Caitlin asked completely stunned “But I thought he was a Neurosurgeon, I found his card on your desk.”
“No Caitlin. The card belonged to his wife, she is the Neurosurgeon.”
“I don’t understand.”
Lauren took a deep breath and wiped a single tear from her left eye. She needed to confide in someone, her younger sister was her only option.
“Six years ago I was a naïve woman in love with a man who seemed to have the same desire for success as I did. He was handsome, intelligent and completely in love with me too, even after four years of dating. We had it all, or so I thought, we could do it all- together.” She recited smiling “Then I found out I was pregnant.” Lauren heard Caitlin gasp and she tried to hurry with her tale before she tried to interrupt “I panicked, I was confused, I was only 27 and in my third year of Med School. I tried to vaguely mention the idea of a baby to Max but never heard from his lips the reassurance I needed. That fall six years ago, when I came back and Max stayed to take his exams, I did not return only because I had aced all my classes.”
Caitlin listened in complete shock.
“When I arrived I immediately told my mother what was happening to me and she gave me several options. I was not a shame to her, she was not angry or sad, she wanted what was best for me, but all I could think about was Max and how a baby at the time would have ruined his plans.” She continued “I did not even care that my own career would have been lost, it was all about Max. After several days I finally decided what to do and mother and I found a doctor that could help me… have an undocumented abortion. I did not want Max to ever find out what I had done, for him.” Lauren’s voice failed her. Caitlin was too stunned to react.
“When it was all over I fell into a terrible depression, I felt empty, guilty and angry; mostly at myself, but also at Max for not saying that he would love a baby at any time.” Lauren said several minutes later “After Anne Dreyer, my regular Ob-Gyn. and friend, saw what was going on she referred me to an old acquaintance of hers, Elmer Lington. He helped me in my worst times and though many people, including you, thought I was dating him our affair was mainly professional. It was only after I had come out of my despair that we became friends, I even met his wife.” She added trying to give her a smile “Mother and Father know all about this, they know Lington was not my lover.”
“I’m sorry.” Caitlin offered.
Lauren shook her head to tell her it was unnecessary and continued speaking.
“Then, to help me overcome my pain, mother bought the engaged me ring I had often said would love to own and gave it to Max to propose at Christmas when he came home from school. I know she did this, neither of them said anything but I know this is how it happened. Max would have never proposed otherwise. Following the abortion things were never the same between Max and I, and he gave me the shock of my life when the next spring semester he informed me that he did not want to practice and was thinking of becoming a paramedic. Suddenly the sacrifice I had made for his goals, for what I believed was his deepest desire, became simply a mistake, a deadly and unforgettable mistake.” Lauren burst into tears but never lost her grace, she sobbed quietly for a minute and quickly cleaned her eyes afterwards “He broke my heart with that confession and I found myself doing something I never thought possible, I began to hate Max.” She confessed with true sincerity “He was suddenly another man, someone I did not know. His dreams and thoughts had changed; he started wearing shirts with remarks on them trying to stimulate the world into coming to its senses. I was stunned, the man whom I had tried to protect did not exist, and I had been a fool. It was then that he became Del to me; the sound of the name I had previously used was too painful to hear. I began to find things about him that I loathed things I had overlooked before or had just adored while I was blind with love. His ideas and feelings hurt me as much as a whip striking my body.”
There was nothing Caitlin could add, it was a bit too much to handle for a twenty two year old.
“But worse of all was that every time I looked at him I felt anger and sadness at the same time, I wondered if our baby would have had his dark hair, his eyes, his charisma, and even his lack of taste in clothes.” Lauren said smiling and crying at the same time “I should have left him, I should have.” She said blowing her nose desperately with a tissue she took from her father’s desk drawer “And yet no matter how much I hated him I could not deny I loved him a hundred times over. I could not live without him. I turned into another woman, buried myself in my school assignments, tried to succeed beyond everyone else to prove I was worth something. My spirit had died with my child, and without it I was only Dr. Lauren, mega-witch of Cosmetic Surgery.” She laughed heartbreakingly “I built a wall around my true sense of loss and tried to inflict the pain I felt into others, humiliating and insulting gave a slight feeling of redemption. But not enough to cease the pain.”
“Oh Bob Lauren I did not know.”
“It is very depressing to find out Max is seeing someone else precisely today.” She told her looking straight into her eyes. If she had told her before this conversation would not have been taking place. Caitlin swallowed the knot that had formed in her throat “This morning Anne called me to confirm I am pregnant again.” Lauren informed her looking away and setting her eyes on a wall “I could not believe it last week when I took three home pregnancy tests and they all came back positive, I have not missed a single pill in years. Yet since I knew that they are not 100% effective I had Anne run blood tests yesterday. The result was the same; I am going to have a baby.”
Something in Lauren’s voice told Caitlin that her sister was frightened of her current state of pregnancy.
“She also told me that ironically Elmer Lington had sent me a package from Athens. I had kept in contact with him and asked him to arrange a honeymoon stay for Max and me in Greece. It was supposed to be my wedding gift to the groom. I asked my receptionist to get a hold of Lington to thank him for his help but he was in a convention and she left a message for him. I have to call him tomorrow, and who knows… Maybe Lington’s abrupt mailing is fate’s way of telling me I will be needing his services again, now that my fiancé has found another woman.” Caitlin looked away from her sister’s profile; she did not know how to respond to that.
“Lauren I really don’t know if what I said is true. I only saw him at a ball game with a girl, she could very well be just another fan there for the fun of it and she happened to be sitting next to him.” Caitlin said knowing she was lying.
Lauren was too smart to fall for her sister’s trick. She was sure that something was going on in her fiancés life, she was sure he was being unfaithful to their promise of commitment.
“Now I understand his reaction to the news of my pregnancy. This time years later he had the right answer but he lacked conviction. I never thought he would do that to me. Why?” Lauren asked in tears again “I have done nothing but love him more than anyone or anything before. I gave him my life, my dreams, and asked only to be by his side. I have tried to shower him with gifts to show how much I care, how sorry I was for murdering our baby!” Her sister’s cries pierced through Caitlin’s heart “I know that if he ever found out about what I did he would be disgusted and hate me for the rest of his life. I know I did wrong, but I thought I was doing what was right for him. Please don’t tell anyone Caitlin, promise me you won’t.”
“I promise.” She quickly responded.
“I need to find him; I need to know if it’s true he loves another woman.” Caitlin heard Lauren say as she stood and walked to the door. Still too astonished to move she did nothing but watch her disappear through the door.
Caitlin wiped her face with both hands and threw her head back on the sofa.
“Bob please take care of my sister.” She whispered with her eyes closed. “And please let Max love her still.”
------------------------
Lauren took deep breaths as she watched her fiancé atop the stage of O’Rileys bar singing a most romantic song as he stared into a corner of the room. She could not see the woman he was singing to but she was sure that the wench that had stolen her Max from her was there. Lauren had forced George to tell her where Max was meeting Paul for their monthly guy’s outing knowing that he would be arrogant enough to have introduced him to his new love. Paul had always hated Lauren and he was probably all too happy that Max had found himself another woman.
The song was near its end when Max turned his eyes to the door and saw her standing there. He stopped singing and released the microphone from his hand. Lauren turned around and went out the door. Max ran down the stage and after her.
“Lauren.” She heard him call for her as she hurried to her car “Lauren wait. Please Lauren wait.”
He was soon right behind her and tried to grab her by an arm. She snapped away from him.
“Don’t you touch me!” She shouted with tears in her eyes “Don’t you dare touch me you basket!”
Max took a step back.
“How could you?” She asked hurt “Answer me how could you?”
“I’m sorry Lauren I…”
“You filthy coward! And to think I was going to marry you.”
“What do you mean ‘was’? You are over-reacting.” Max said looking back at the establishment’s door to make sure no one had followed him out “Lauren please calm down it’s not good for you to be like this in your condition.” He said looking back at her.
“You promised.” She told him sadly “You promised we would tell each other if we ever found someone else. You promised!”
“That’s enough Lauren!” He exclaimed suddenly annoyed.
“Why did you lie to me Max? I demand an explanation.”
“Not here Lauren.”
“I want an answer now, I think I deserve it.” Lauren replied biting her bottom lip.
“I don’t have an answer, I wish I did, but the truth is I don’t. I don’t know what I was doing; I don’t know what I was thinking.” Max responded looking into her eyes.
“What about all these years? How long has this been going on?”
“I never meant to hurt you.” He reached for her and she took a step back.
“Oh my Bob, tell me you did not just say that.” Lauren said mockingly.
“There is nothing I can say that can fix what I have done… but I love you.”
“Don’t say that!” She shouted at him “Don’t ever again say that! You don’t know what loving is!”
If only she knew the agony I have gone through for the past few months, he thought miserably, if you she could understand what it is to love with a passion so unfathomable it is killing me slowly. But how could he ask her to understand that when in her life everything was perfect, everything went as she pleased. Even he had been just another of her granted wishes. A man she could drag along while she conquered the world.
“Come on let’s go home we’ll talk there.” He told her trying to calm her down.
Max feared that soon his friends, or worse, Susan, would come out to search for him and it was best if Lauren was gone. She was pregnant and alterations such as this one could cause her harm. She now had someone other than herself to think about but it was obvious to Max that Lauren did not care about that.
“I’m not going anywhere with you, the wedding is off.” Lauren countered.
“You can’t do this to me Lauren.” He said surprised at his answer. This is not the way it should happen, he silently told himself.
“You don’t know the least of what I can do to you Max.” She uttered slowly as tears fell from her eyes.
“Are you threatening me?” Max asked narrowing his eyes in anger. Lauren raised her chin but did not speak, instead her eyes burned into the spheres looking back at her. “Don’t you think that putting up with you all these years has been enough punishment already?” He maliciously replied and regretted having done so immediately.
He felt the weight of her hand on his cheek but it was his heart that ached.
“You don’t deserve me.” She told him before she turned and got into her car.
He watched her drive off into the traffic as his cheek began to pulse foreshadowing the swelling it would endure. Max closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Lauren was a part of his life he had not been ready to let go. She owned half of his soul; she had claimed it ten years ago when he first saw her under a willow tree outside his biology class. She had smiled at him and he was lost forever. Just like he had been lost with Susan, an eerie coincidence he realized only now. It was because Susan’s smile reminded him of the old Lauren that Max had fallen for her. He had been desperate to find the girl he had fallen for ten years ago and without noticing began looking at Susan for signs of her. But Susan was a completely different person and he loved all of her, not just the similarities she might have with a young Lauren. Max rubbed his cheek lightly.
“I know I don’t deserve you,” He said into the night, it was unclear who he was speaking about “but I can’t help loving you.”
He was turning around when the lights of an incoming car momentarily blinded him. He raised his arm to block the light and saw a familiar face through the windshield. The car stopped in front of him with a screeching of the tires and the engine was turned off. Max lowered his arm and watched the driver get off.
-------------------
“Where did he go?” Susan asked her friends for the tenth time in the last twenty minutes. There was still no answer from them. “Why aren’t you letting me go after him?”
“He is coming right back, don’t worry.” Debbie said smiling. When Susan looked in the direction of the door, Debbie turned to her husband and gave him a concerned look. Paul had seen Lauren standing at the door as Max was singing. He had told his wife to help keep Susan distracted to avoid at all cost a possible confrontation with Max’s fiancé.
“There he is, Max!” Susan exclaimed rising from her seat. Max walked to the table and sat down without looking at Susan or anyone else. “What happened honey? What’s wrong Max?” She asked him worried at his appearance.
He was white as a ghost and his forehead was sweaty. He could feel his heart pounding in his head and his air ways were closing, but none of that mattered to him at the moment.
“Are you okay man?” Paul asked searching for his friend’s eyes.
“I…” Max tried to say “I can’t… breathe.”
As soon as he had finished his sentence Max fell to the floor, the fall was minor since he was seating but Susan’s screams were frantic.
“Max?! Oh my Bob! Help!”
Paul jumped over the table to get to Max.
“Move Susan!” He shouted pushing her aside. He kneeled on the floor and took Max’s pulse by placing two fingers on his neck. He tore open his jacket and tried to see if his chest was rising.
Susan was crying as Debbie held her to stop her from running to Max’s side. He needed the air around him to be open for him. The rest of the customers gasped in fear. Many took out their cell phones and dialed the emergency number.
“What’s wrong with him?! Paul what’s wrong?!” Susan asked between her tears.
“Debbie call 9-1-1.” Paul said ignoring Susan.
Paul realized Max was conscious and he leaned down so that he could hear him.
“You are going to be alright pal just hang in there.” He told him smiling; still he could not hide the tremor in his voice.
“Tell her I…” Max said forcing himself to speak.
“Don’t talk man hold still.” Paul ordered.
“Please.” His friend pleaded.
Scared Paul nodded. He did not know what had happened to Max, but he was having all the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism. Paul tried to focus on what Max was trying to tell him.
“Tell Lauren... I knew…” He said struggling to get air into his lungs. If he continued to speak he could pass out, but Paul saw in Max’s eyes that he needed to tell him something very important “Tell her Caitlin told me and…” There was a long pause where Max gasped for air that was not present in his lungs “that… I still love her.” Max finished before he fainted.
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Caitlyn found it hard to focus on the highway as she headed back toward the mansion. Her mind was reeling from the events of the evening. In the course of only a few hours many of her long held beliefs melted away in the tears that she had shed for her sister. Never once had she seen such a vulnerable side to the always strong, determined Lauren. When her sister stormed out of the house, she followed in close pursuit. Yet she had lost her in the heavy traffic downtown, only soon to find her on the street arguing with Max. Though she could not hear their words, it was apparent that there conversation was far from pleasant. After Lauren sped away, she had decided to confront Max.
“I always thought that you were a good guy,” she had said, climbing out of her Jeep.
Max turned to look at her and for an instant she almost felt sorry for him. He looked as though he could barely stand. Clearly the shock of the confrontation had taken its toll on him. He said nothing in reply.
“I certainly hope that you didn’t say anything to upset even more. My Bob, Max! How could you do that to her? I mean…I know that she could be a real biach but… why didn’t you just end it with her? Would that have been so hard to do?”
“Caitlyn…you don’t understand. I love her and…”
“Please, don’t tell me that you love them both…that’s just pathetic,” she had angrily retorted. “If you could even begin to imagine all that she’s done for you. It breaks my heart to know how much she’s suffered in silence.”
He gave her a bewildered look, shaking his head in confusion.
“What are you talking about? Just how has she suffered?”
She hesitated for an instant, debating on whether or not to tell him but when she saw him glance over his shoulder at the doorway of the bar, she grew even more upset.
‘He’s worried about that woman seeing him out here?’
“She had an abortion just because she thought you weren’t ready for a family,” Caitlyn blurted out, yet the sheer look of horror in his eyes made her immediately regret her decision.
“What? When?” He mumbled.
She sighed, uncertain if she should continue.
“It was years ago while you were in college. But then you had to go and act all nonchalant about her announcement today. It’s a good thing she knows the truth…at least she ended this before the two of you were married.”
“What do you mean?” he desperately pleaded, grasping her arm to prevent her from getting back into the Jeep.
“She’s through with you…and so I am. Good bye Max,” she said, pulling away from him and climbing into the driver’s seat.
Caitlyn was pulled from her thoughts of the conversation by the sound of sirens and flashing lights in the road ahead. She squinted, attempting to see what was happening in the distance. Rolling down her window, she motioned for the officer who was on the scene.
“Excuse me, sir,” she said. “Do you think that traffic will be moving soon?”
“I’m not sure, miss. There’s been a pretty bad crash at the intersection. I don’t…” he explained before a static filled message came through his hand held radio.
’We have a new BMW convertible on it’s top. The driver is an unconscious. female, early 30’s. Must be a doctor…the car has MD tags from the hospital.
Caitlyn’s heart nearly stopped.
“What color is the car?” she frantically asked.
The policeman looked at her as if she were insane.
“I said what color is the car?”
“It’s…a silver roadster with a gunmetal racing stripe.”
“Oh Bob! That’s my sister!”
**
Susan felt the air leave her lungs when she saw Max stop breathing. She fell to the floor, pushing Paul out of the way and attempting to cradle him in her arms.
“Oh Max! Please! You’ve got to come back me,” she sobbed as Debbie pulled her away.
“Susan, let Paul help him,” the medic’s wife pleaded.
Immediately Paul began to administer CPR. There were a few desperate moments when it seemed uncertain if his efforts were going to be successful yet as the EMS workers entered the bar, Max opened his eyes for a brief instant.
Upon seeing him awake, Susan lunged forward.
“Max…I love you,” she said, caressing his face.
“I’m…I’m so…” he tried to say before an oxygen mask was placed over his face.
“Are you riding with him in the ambulance?” the medic asked Paul.
His friend shook his head and looked toward his wife.
“Deb, you bring Susan along in the car.”
“No! I want to be with Max!” Susan begged.
“Susan, just ride along in the car. I’ll see that he’s alright,” Paul firmly added.
**
Within the tiny exam cubicle, Paul remained at Max’s side even though it seemed the danger had passed. He was conscious but his pulse remained irregular and the ER doctor insisted that he remain in the hospital until his condition was more stable.
“Not so fast, buddy,” Paul said, physically forcing Max to lie back in the bed. “They aren’t sure exactly what happened so you need to just stay here for a while till the test results are back.”
“I can’t…I need to speak to Susan. I have to tell her the truth before I’ve done even more damage,” He explained, struggling to sit on the bedside.
“Look, I don’t know what happened tonight but I think I can imagine. Lauren was there…wasn’t she?”
Max nodded, attempting to gain the strength needed to make it to the waiting room.
“There’s nothing that you can do right now. Susan didn’t see her so…just…just wait a little while. I’ll have Debbie take her home.”
“NO! Not yet. I have to talk to her first,” he implored. “I need you to get me to the waiting room and let me just tell her something. I don’t want her to worry.”
Paul knew that it wasn’t wise for him to be up but there was no denying his pleas.
“I’ll help you out there but you have to promise that you won’t get yourself all upset. Just tell her that everything is fine. Promise me that there won’t be any big confessions…at least not yet. Ok?”
“I promise.”
Max stepped into the hall with Paul standing close to support his shaky stance. He swallowed hard at the sight of Susan with her puffy, reddened eyes. She raced forward, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“You’re alright,” she exclaimed in a relived voice. “I was so worried.”
He let his arms encircle her body, pulling her close and forgetting all the chaos that had taken place that evening. He knew that he was a fool for letting himself love her so much but he couldn’t resist the need to have her close to him. Lightly kissing the top of her head, he closed his eyes until the sudden sound of the ER door crashing open pulled him from his blissful embrace.
The doctors and nurses flocked around the gurney as it was rolled into the room. Amid the crowd, he saw Caitlyn. Her face was devoid of color and tears streamed down her cheeks as she paced along side, watching as they attempted to aid the distressed patient. As if drawn by some unseen force, Max found himself pulled closer. His steps were slow and deliberate, he almost dreaded what he might find. When a nurse stepped to the side, he caught sight of Lauren’s red hair and her blood smeared face.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Caitlyn bellowed. “This is all your fault.” |
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“Oh no, oh please Bob no!” Max cried out holding his head “No this isn’t happening, Laurie please don’t do this to me.” He said trying to walk behind Lauren’s unconscious body into the emergency room. The medics stopped him and Caitlin and asked them to wait until a nurse came out to talk to them.
Susan felt Paul and Debbie at her side. They led her to a seat from where she watched confused the conversation between Max and the girl that had come in with the patient that was wheeled in. She could not hear what they were saying and it was making her very nervous.
“Look what you did to her, if she dies I will never forgive you.” Caitlin told Max desolately.
“No, don’t say that, she is not going to die. She can’t, she can’t. Caitlin I…” He could not finish his sentence; Caitlin ran into his arms and cried against his chest.
Susan tried to stand and walk to Max who taken the girl into his arms and buried his face in her hair, they appeared to be crying together. Paul took hold of one of Susan’s arms impeding her from approaching her boyfriend and the girl.
“No.” He told her looking into her eyes “You will understand later.”
“But…” Susan tried to say but when she looked at Debbie and saw her nod in agreement she knew it was for the best.
Max held on to Caitlin as she sobbed, his own tears got lost in the dark brown of her hair. Twenty minutes passed, twenty agonizing minutes wondering if Lauren was alright, if she was alive. When at last Caitlin parted from Max’s embrace he was surprised to find anger in her eyes.
“Mom and Dad are on their way, if would be best if you got your friend out of here.” She told him.
“What?” Max asked confused.
“Get your lover out before my parents get here!” Caitlin exclaimed loudly.
Max looked back at Susan and saw that she had overheard Caitlin. She ignored Paul’s pleas to remain seated and was walking toward him.
“Wait a minute are you implying that I’m…” Susan was saying as she got closer to Caitlin.
“You?” Caitlin exclaimed as she saw Susan’s face up-close “You are Max’s lover?”
“I’m his girlfriend.” Susan corrected her visibly upset by the girl’s words.
“Where do you know each other from?” Max asked looking at both women simultaneously.
“She is making Lauren’s wedding dress. She is making your fiancés dress.” Caitlin replied
“No.” Susan gasped “You are mistaken, Max is not…” She saw Max’s face and could not finish her remark “Are you Max?” She asked feeling weak.
Max instantly recalled Lauren’s tale about the mean seamstress along with Susan’s anguish over the evil rich woman who had insulted her. They were each other, the women he loved. It was punishment for his sins, another slow way of torturing his soul.
“Why?” Susan asked him sadly. He remained quiet.
Lauren had asked the same thing, Max thought. But unfortunately there was no answer for her either.
Just then the double doors leading to the parking lot opened and in came Lauren’s parents. Their faces were the epitome of fear.
“Caitlin.” Governor Alderman said as he saw his youngest daughter “What happened?”
“Lauren had an accident. She was driving too fast.” The girl answered bursting into tears once again. She stumbled into her father’s arms and let him hug her tightly.
“Were you with her Del? Have you seen her?” Mrs. Alderman wanted to know from Max.
“No.” He answered looking at the floor. The guilt he felt burning inside him.
“Excuse me.” Susan said feeling out of place and dizzy with the revelation that Max had been lying to her. She made her way past the Aldermans and headed for the double doors.
“Susan wait I need to explain something.” She heard Max say.
But Mrs. Alderman retained him and asked more questions. Max looked in the direction of Paul and Debbie and pleaded for them to follow Susan. Debbie stood and went after her. She was sitting outside on a stone bench. She silently sat next to her.
“Talk to him, he really did not mean to…”
“Hurt me? Is that what you were going to say?” Susan asked between her tears “Well let me tell you one thing, as much as he did not want to he did. And the worst part is that I was the one who threw herself at him for the taking.”
“That is not true.” Max said standing behind Susan.
Debbie slipped away quietly to allow them to talk.
“Then why did you lie to me?”
“I fell in love with you. I wanted to make it last as long as I could.” Max confessed.
“What about her? What would have happened when your wedding day arrived, would you have married her or come to me?”
“I would have married her.” He sincerely responded.
Susan sighted trying to catch her breath.
“I would have married her; there is no question about that.”
Susan’s cries were soft and almost inaudible, but the tears streamed down her cheeks like a river reaching for the sea.
“Lauren is…” Max tried “She is...”
“What about me?” Susan said heartbroken.
“You are a beautiful dream, one I wished I could reach but that I must forget. I know you are going to find someone good, someone better. You are a wonderful and amazing woman and you deserve so much.”
“But I only want you.”
“There isn't any of me left to give. I have finally realized that I rather die right now than live a hundred years without Lauren.” He closed his eyes to avoid looking at her “I am sorry.” He said.
“If you never cared for me why did you make me think you did?”
“I do care for you.” He answered opening his eyes “In all sincerity, I love you. But it’s a new love, a love I can force my heart to deny.”
“Our love happened whether we wanted it to or not, don’t try to control it. It is stronger than you are making it seem.” Susan retorted insulted.
Max looked away into the distance.
“I have to believe I can forget you.” He said softly, it was a statement made more to himself than anyone else.
“I am sorry to be this inhuman but… I don’t care about Lauren or whatever your fiancés name is.” She told him “You and I can start a new life, I know how awful she is, I have been hurt by her also, and I know you must not want to have her in your life forever.”
“You don’t even know her.”
“I know enough to know that she is evil. She is arrogant and conceited; she cares for no one but herself and insults all she feels are beneath her.”
Max kept his eyes in the distant sky. Susan had perfectly described Lauren. The Lauren everyone knew, the Lauren most people hated. But she did not know her when she smiled, or when she joked so naturally it almost seemed she was not joking at all. No one but him knew of the way she rubbed her forehead when she was thinking, or that she played with her shoes underneath her desk during consultations. Max could not tell Susan about all this, they were his secrets, his treasure.
“She is not a bad person.” He simply said.
Before Susan could respond Paul came rushing out the door.
“Max. Sharon just came out.” He shouted at Max.
Max gave Susan a quick pitiful glance and ran back inside the Emergency Room’s waiting lounge. He came in just as the doctor was giving the Aldermans her news about Lauren.
“She is in pretty bad shape but there is no threat to her life at the moment. The air bag took most of the impact.” Dr. Sharon Tanner was saying “She was unconscious when she came in and she has a cut on her forehead so it was a pretty bad sight. The car rolled over and that probably saved her life because she was able to unbuckle her seat belt and the paramedics pulled her out. Right now she has a broken rib and arm, there is also facial swelling and bruising and her spine shows signs of dislocation but we will make sure she is comfortable for right now.” She saw Max from the corner of her eye “Lauren will need to be taken upstairs and spend the next few days in the hospital.”
“Can we see her?” Mrs. Alderman asked hopeful.
“Not at the moment. She is sedated. In a few hours I will make sure a nurse comes out to get you so you can see her before she is transferred upstairs.” The doctor answered.
Max looked back through a window and Susan was talking to Debbie. He could not help but wonder what she was telling her.
“Max can I speak to you in private?” Sharon asked him breaking his thoughts.
He nodded and followed her way through the entrance to the examining rooms. Only when they were out of everyone’s hearing range did the doctor speak.
“Lauren’s sister gave the necessary medical data for Lauren’s intake.” She said to Max “Did you know she was pregnant?”
“Yes.” He answered remembering his initial reaction to the news “Did she…”
“That little fellow must really want to be born. You are going to make wonderful parents.” Sharon told him smiling “She is going to be alright Max, don’t worry we will take good care of her.”
Max breathed a sight of relief. Their baby was okay.
“Do you mind if I go in to see her.” He asked.
“Are you taking advantage of your staff privileges?”
“It’s important.”
“All right, but make it quick. She is 14B.” Sharon answered deciding it would do no harm to her patient if Max went in to her.
Max found the room immediately. He was familiar with the place and none of the staff stopped him to ask where he was going. He was thankful for that since he was not released from the ER himself. At the moment he too was patient, a patient breaking the rules. He entered Lauren’s room slowly in case she was awake, she was not.
He walked to her side and saw that most of the blood had been cleaned from her face, but she had bruises and scars on her forehead and on her right cheek. Max took a look at the heart monitor above the bed and saw that the measures were within normal range. He touched her left cheek with the tips of his fingers and smiled. She was going to be alright, Sharon had said so, and he had to believe.
“Laurie?” He said knowing she could not hear him “I’m here, with you. I love you. I’m sorry… for everything. If you can forgive me… I will make it up to you I promise.”
He waited for three more beeps from the heart monitor to continue. It was a bit distressing to obtain a response from the heart monitor instead of her voice.
“Caitlin told me everything and I’m not angry and I could never hate you. If you had told me then I would have… It doesn’t matter now, the important thing is that you are going to be alright and we are going to get married and give our baby the best of everything. I will renew my license and accept the job with Brown, and then you will be proud of me again. Lauren there has never been anyone but you, I was kidding myself, and there will never be anyone but you.” He said losing his voice.
Two more beeps followed. Max took a deep breath.
“When you wake up I am going to be right here at your side and tell you how much I need you. I can’t breathe without you Lauren, literally.” He laughed “Remember that time I passed out after hiking the Grand Canyon? Remember how you practically ran up the hills while I was gasping for breath a mile behind you? Well that is what I feel when I think of losing you.”
“M...Max?” Lauren struggled to say.
Her voice was weak and dry.
“Hey.” Max answered smiling down at her.
“Where am…”
“The Hilton Plaza.” He joked.
She smiled and made his heart skip a beat.
“I’m sorry.” He told her sliding his hand over hers.
“Water.” Lauren asked.
Max grabbed a cup from a table nearby and poured water into it from a container placed next to it. He helped guide the cup to Lauren’s lips and slowly had her take a drink. He returned the cup to the table afterward.
“My baby?” She asked him scared. Max cursed himself for having thought she did not care.
“Still here.” He said placing his hand on her flat stomach “Do you think we can call him or her Concussion?”
“Are you… sure?”
“Yeah, I like the sound of it.” He responded smiling.
“Not… that…” She still worried.
“Oh. Yes I am positive.” Max told her bending down to kiss her nose “I love you.” He said.
Max saw Lauren’s blue eyes darken. A dead silence fell between them. When Max tried to kiss her again she turned away. He was hurt by her reaction but knew that she too was hurting. He could not expect her to forgive him that easily after all that had happened.
“I understand.” He told her “I’ll leave for now, but I am going to come back tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that; until you know that what I say is true.”
“Don’t…I don’t… want you to…come back.”
Max did not respond. She had the right to be angry; he had to show her with actions how much he truly cared for her. He turned around and walked out of the room quietly.
“There you are. Why did you leave your room?” Max heard a voice behind him say. He turned to see his ER doctor, Oscar Montes.
“I had to talk to Lauren.” Max answered.
“Lauren is here?”
Max nodded.
“Well the tests came back cleared, but I am worried about what happened to you so I am going to refer you to some friends of mine to run a deeper evaluation.” Dr. Montes told Max “Here,” He said handing Max several papers stapled together “take it to the check out desk and you’ll be free to go home. Oh and try to relax.”
“Thank you.” Max was late to respond the doctor was already walking away.
How could he relax? He was in the middle of hell and Montes was asking him to relax. It was ironic and painfully funny to ask him to find peace amongst the chaos his life was in at the moment.
The older woman at the check out desk smiled up at Max and told him to sign a few of the papers. He gave her his insurance information and was about to leave but she asked him to hold on.
“We had to take her ring off. I thought you might want to take it so you can give it back to her later.” She told him placing Lauren’s engagement ring in his hand “Oh and Paul left a note for you.”
Max thanked the woman for everything and walked out to the waiting lounge with Paul’s note in his hand. He sat far away from the Aldermans and read it.
Had to take Susan home, she was devastated. Debbie called a cab and will return with your car so we can drive you home.
Max looked at the note then at the ring in his other hand. He stretched his arms in front of him and contemplated them both at the same time. He then closed his hands into fists and heard the paper crumpling while the ring stabbed itself into his palm. At last he knew what to do. He knew who to fight for.
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After Paul had taken her home Susan tiptoed to her room to avoid waking her mother. She was glad that she had been asleep. Susan cried herself to sleep and if her mother had been awake she would not have been able to stop the tears from flowing before her. Then her mother would have wanted to know what was wrong and Susan was too hurt to relive it all over again. And though she did just that in her dreams and every second after she woke up, she just did not want to worry her mother with her troubles.
“You know what your problem is?” Yolanda said interrupting her thoughts. Susan had told her friend everything that had happened the night before. “You give up.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying.” Susan replied saddened. If only Yolanda could understand what it felt like to be nothing but a distraction for men. She was someone they wanted to take out a couple of times, never the one who got the guy.
“Yes I do. You don’t know what you are doing.” Her friend retorted “Susan you have always given up on what you want. You let other have their way because you are too coward to go for them. The problem here is not that he is going to marry that witch, no, the problem is that you thought he was perfect and now that you see he is not you are giving up. Well I hate to be the one who tells you this but there is no such thing as perfect. You love this man, he is probably the only man you have ever loved and you are going to give up and let the monster have him. You should be ashamed.”
“Do you want me to beg him to come back to me, or do you want me to be his lover like with Edward only this time I will know about it?”
Edward had been her only boyfriend before Max. They had met at the post office and Susan had liked him very much. He was fun to be with and always acted like a gentleman. But there were no fireworks when they kissed, no feeling. Edward had asked Donna for Susan’s hand in marriage and Susan had agreed to accept because though she was not in love with him she thought it was the right thing to do. Women were supposed to get married and have children, not dream of becoming fashion designers. But as it turned out Susan was not destined to marry either. A few days after she had told her mother she was going to accept Edward’s proposal Susan saw her boyfriend at the supermarket with his wife and kids. He even had the audacity to say hello and introduce her to his family. Susan went home and cried and screamed in silence. When her mother asked what was wrong she said nothing. Later when Susan told her mother that Edward was not coming back Donna was angry at Susan because she believed that the reason for this was that Susan had refused to marry him. Susan never told her mother the truth, it was better that way.
“I want you to fight for the man you love.” Yolanda said irritated at Susan’s hard headedness
“You are insane.” Susan countered giving Yolanda a sad smile.
“Susan come on! You told me what a horrible person that woman is, why do you want him to live a miserable life with her? Have pity on the man, save him. He is probably as much a coward as you and that is why he does not leave her.”
As much as she wanted to deny it Yolanda had a point. Dr. Lauren Alderman was a cruel woman, a woman whose icy soul was reflected in her eyes. In contrast, Max was cheerful and warm, they would never be happy together. Max belonged in Susan’s equally warm arms. She knew how to make him happy, they had been happy for the past two months. Suddenly Susan did not feel like letting another woman win. For once in her life she had to reach out and grab what she wanted without thinking of others. She had been the victim long enough. Never before had she loved the way she loved Max, losing him would take all meaning from her life.
“You are right.” Susan said decidedly “I am going to fight for Max.”
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Yolanda cheered.
“Susan you can go to lunch now, thanks for fixing the trim on the McKenzie dress.” Danielle shouted from the front of the store.
“No problem.” Susan shouted back.
Yolanda smiled at her friend’s display of courage.
“Call him.” She told her “Invite him to lunch and go for it.”
“I will.” Susan answered.
Five minutes later, Susan was walking to a small restaurant not too far away from the boutique. She had thirty minutes to get a hold of Max and meet him to tell him she was not ready to give up on their love. She took out her cell phone and dialed his number.
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Max had not slept well. He was anxious for the next day to arrive and fix his life once and for all. He had not wanted to confide in Paul for fear he might not understand his decision and would try to change it. When he had asked what he was going to do Max answered with an ‘I don’t know’ and refused to talk about it. It was a personal mattered he had already screwed up enough to continue sharing it with the ones he cared about. He was ashamed and hurt, and the only desire in his heart was to try to spare a woman’s feelings, he could only choose one. His heart had room for both of them, but one love was stronger than the other. One he knew he could not live without.
“Lauren Alderman’s room?” Max asked the receptionist on the fifth floor of Boston Medical.
“537 on your left.” The man answered and pointed in the direction of the room.
“Thanks.”
Max walked steadily to the door of room 537, but he stood outside when he heard laughter coming from within the room.
“Then your father jumped in trying to rescue his rod and the boat flipped over!” Mrs. Alderman’s voice happily exclaimed.
More laughter broke out inside the room. Max pushed the door open and walked inside. He immediately saw Lauren, she was smiling and beautiful. But her smile froze when her eyes were set on him. Caitlin and Mrs. Alderman also stopped laughing and looked at him questioning.
“Hello.” He uttered nervously.
“It’s nice of you to finally show up.” Caitlin spitted out with anger.
“Caitlin!” Mrs. Alderman shouted.
Max cleared his throat searching for the right thing to say.
“How do you feel?” He asked Lauren as he walked to the side of her bed.
“Great.” She sarcastically responded.
“You look beautiful.” Max to her.
“Please don’t joke with that.” Was her acid response
Max knew she was wanting to strangle him right there and then, he could see it in her eyes. They were sentencing him without waiting for a possible explanation.
“I think we should go.” Mrs. Alderman said to Caitlin.
“Don’t!” Max quickly advised them “Actually…” He said calmly while looking at Lauren “John and my parents are downstairs they should be getting here pretty soon.”
“But Dad just left.” Caitlin said still angry with Max.
“Well I called him and he came back.” He responded.
He then leaned closer to Lauren and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Caitlin looked at him furious. Lauren shivered as his fingers touched her ear, his hands were cold as ice, and she felt the chills running down her spine.
“Are you really okay?” He asked Lauren close to her face. She could smell the spice of his cologne. It made her dizzy with unwelcome need for his touch once again.
“Yes.” She answered fast. She had not been told of Max’s own visit to the Emergency Room and it was probably for the best. Lauren would have wanted him to be inside an MRI machine and not in her room asking her is she was okay.
A light knock on the door disrupted the subtle silence that had fallen upon the four of them. Caitlin went to open the door and the room was soon filled by Governor Alderman, Mr. and Mrs. Delacoure and, a priest.
“What is this?” Lauren asked bewildered.
“Oh my Bob!” Caitlin said excited.
“Del?” A very confused Mrs. Alderman asked before her husband went to her side and smiled approvingly.
Lauren’s eyes moved along the faces of the visitors in her room, they then set themselves on Max’s.
“There is something missing from your left hand.” He told her taking off her engagement ring from his right pinky finger.
Lauren was too stunned to speak, she watched in silence as Max got on one knee beside her bed and took her left hand in his.
“Lauren, will you marry me?”
“What?” She asked finally able to speak.
“Will you say I do before our families and Father Elliot?” Max told her.
“Right now?” She asked looking at all the people present. They all had smiles on their faces.
“Yes, right now.”
“Why?” Lauren said pulling away her hand “Did you have to bring the priest so that we can get married before you change your mind?” She mordantly asked truly irritated.
“Lauren…” Max replied “Don’t treat me that way. Look at me.” He ordered, she obeyed “I love you, I want to marry you. You, no one else, I want to marry you.”
“Why like this?” Lauren’s tone had changed to a sad one.
“I don’t want to wait any longer. We can still have the big wedding but I want you to be my wife today.”
“I can’t marry you anymore.” She said looking into his eyes. “There are so many things you don’t know…”
“I know everything Lauren.” Max quickly added, there was no need to remember it all, it was in the past. “Caitlin told me…” Lauren gave her sister an evil look “and I don’t care. I don’t love you any less because of it. Do you still love me?” He asked
“I… I…” She hesitated.
“Lauren?” He insisted.
“I do.” She answered as tears fell from her eyes “I love you Max.”
“Then marry me today, let’s forget everything and start fresh.”
Lauren looked around the room and saw her mother and Mrs. Delacoure were crying while Caitlin smiled like a buffoon.
“Okay, I will marry you.” She said returning her gaze to Max.
He grabbed her hand again, placed the ring on her finger and stood up. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her desperately. Lauren moaned softly in obvious pain.
“Oh honey I’m sorry.” He said releasing her.
She smiled thinking she would endure the pain if it meant he would kiss her like that again.
“You are not supposed to kiss her yet” Max’s mother shouted at them sincerely angered that they broke the wedding ceremony rules. Everyone smiled, even Marla.
Fifteen minutes later Marla Delacoure got to instruct the much awaited kiss of the bride.
“I pronounce you husband and wife.” Father Elliot said to Max and Lauren. The bride was in bed and Max was sitting on the very edge of the mattress holding her hands. They were lovingly looking at each other, smiling. Max raised his eyebrows teasingly as the priest finished the ceremony.
“Now you can kiss her Maximilian.” Marla said loudly.
Everyone burst into laughter but Max and Lauren were lost in their kiss. This time he tenderly cupped her swollen face with both hands and gently kissed her lips. If there ever was heaven on Earth this is it, Max thought happily. Lauren was beaming with happiness also, she was Mrs. Maximilian Delacoure and she was going to be a mother, everything was perfect. She slid her hand to Max’s waist and tickled him softly, he was giggling as their lips separated. Comically, just as he was about to scold her his phone started ringing.
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The phone continued to ring as Max and Lauren playfully teased each other. They seemed oblivious to its persistent ringing until Caitlyn called his attention to it.
“Let it ring,” he said with a laugh. “Nothing is more important than this.”
He leaned over and lightly kissed his bride’s cheek.
“Well, I don’t think there going to give up,” his father said.
“You’re right,” he said in agreement. Then he turned to Lauren. “Let me step out in the hall and take this…I’ll be right back.”
The celebration continued within the hospital room as he made his way into the corridor. He glanced back just before he stepped out the door to see her laughing and smiling with the newly united families.
“Hello…Max here,” he playfully said.
“I thought maybe you were ignoring me,” Susan softly said.
For a moment he thought that his heart might stop beating. The sound of her voice was something that he was not prepared for at that moment.
“I didn’t imagine that you would be speaking to me… not after-“
“It doesn’t matter,” she quickly replied. “I don’t care what has happened. All I know is that I want to be with you.”
He swallowed hard, attempting to dislodge the ever growing lump in his throat.
“You deserve someone so much better than me.”
“But I want you.”
‘This is not going to be easy.’ he thought, closing his eyes.
“I need to see you…today.”
“I’m not sure-“
“Be at the park… by the pond in ten minutes,” she said hopefully. “Please.”
The desperation and sadness in her voice was gut wrenching. He wanted to refuse her offer, to end things then and there before more damage could be done but he didn’t have the heart to say those words to her.
“I’ll try to be there.”
“Good….Max, I love you.”
With tears in his eyes, he ended the call without saying how he felt about her.
Stepping back inside, Max found that the nurses on the floor had learned of the surprise nuptials and had hastily located a small wedding cake from a nearby bakery.
“Well, I certainly couldn’t cut this without you,” Lauren said, motioning for him to join her on the bedside.
Despite a heavy heart, he sat down beside her and they sliced the cake with the plastic knife that had been sent with Lauren’s lunch tray. The roomful of onlookers watched as the couple smeared the cake on each other faces. The merriment went on for over an hour while Max continually glanced at his watch. He knew that with every passing second Susan was sitting alone, waiting on him and he also knew that he could not join her.
**
“Well what do we have here?” Anne Dreyer said as she strolled into the crowded room.
“It seems that Del has finally made an honest woman of my sister,” Caitlyn jested, smiling at the couple.
“That is good news,” Dr. Dreyer added. “I hate to break up the merriment but I think that our Lauren needs a little rest…and I need to talk with the bride so if you wonderful people will excuse us for a while.”
The families said their farewells and then Max kissed her goodbye, explaining that he was going to wait outside for them to finish.
“I guess congratulations are in order,” Dreyer said but the look of concern on her face gave her reason to worry. “But there’s a more important reason that I’m here with you. I looked over the results on more time from your tests… Lauren, we have a problem.”
Her face was instantly devoid of color. “What…They told me that the baby was fine…after the crash,” she frantically mumbled.
“Lauren dear, there was never a baby. I suspected that there might have been a problem in light of the medication that you had been taking to regulate your ovulation cycles…I know you wanted a baby later on…that’s why I prescribed the medication. You said that it was important that the two of you establish your practices before starting a family. I didn’t think that the chemical levels would become so elevated in your system so soon. I had the tests ran again this morning…taking into consideration the medication. The results were negative”
“Anne…just what are you trying to tell me,” she asked in horror.
“The pregnancy test gave a false positive reading. Your body has elevated levels of HCG… due to the medication… I’m sure you’re familiar with human chorionic gonadotropin hormones… they tend to yield false results…false positive results.”
Tears began to stream down her face and she shook her head in denial.
“You’re wrong…they said the baby was fine last night…you just don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m sorry to tell you but I had the blood work from the ER reassessed with precautions taken to eliminate another inaccurate reading…You had no signs of internal injuries so no physical exam was conducted. They were relying solely on the blood work…they had no idea to take medications into consideration…I’m sorry…the results were the same…but there’s no reason that you can’t conceive at any given time in the future.”
Suddenly the reality of what he was saying stuck her with brutal force. What if Max had only ended things with the other woman because of the baby? It was a chance she was not willing to take, even if they were married.
“Anne, I don’t want him to know…you can’t tell him…promise me you won’t,” she implored. “He thinks I’m pregnant and it would devastate him to learn the truth. You said I could conceive at any given time. Right?”
She nodded though his expression revealed his uneasiness at her apparent plan to deceive her new husband.
“Good…Del and I will have our family…then everything will be perfect.”
**
Susan sobbed as she quickly packed away the small picnic basket that she had prepared for her meeting with Max. At first, she thought that he was only running late but soon it became apparent that he was not coming. Slowly an anger began to form inside her, an anger that she could not deny or repress.
“Damn you, Max,” she bellowed, tossing the basket toward the edge of the pond. “Damn you for being everything that I ever wanted…and damn you for breaking my heart.”
She slowly began the walk back to her home. With every step that she took, she grew more resolved in her vow to never see or speak to him again.
“I hope you’re happy with her,” she mumbled aloud, looking toward the heavens. “And I hope that someday you realize what we had together and just what it was that you gave up for her.”
**
Flash forward two months….
Max sat in the heavy rush hour traffic, lost in a world of thought. He had spent the better part of the day interviewing nurses for his new practice. Although Lauren had recommended several applicants, he had yet to find someone he felt suitable for the job. The days were long and seemed almost unending in the medical office building where both he and Lauren worked. He had never realized just how taxing it could be to establish a practice from scratch. The other doctors were helpful but he found himself staring out the window of his office and the coming and goings of the ambulances.
After resigning from the EMS center, he had had very little contact with his friends. The demands of the practice and the preparations for the large wedding ceremony took up all of his spare time. He had hoped that the baby would push aside the endless wedding plans but that had not been the case. She had been tirelessly arranging every detail. Amazingly, he found that the pregnancy had no effect up on her. He marveled at the fact that she remained physically petite but she assured him that her body would soon begin to change as the pregnancy progressed.
Staring out the car window he caught sight of a crowd of young women stepping out of the Boston School of Fashion. He watched as they playfully said their goodbyes and he smiled at the thought of being able to spend such carefree time with his friends. It was at that moment that he saw her standing there with the sun shimmering in the highlights of her dark hair.
“Susan,” he whispered, removing his sunglasses and staring in her direction.
It had been nearly two months since he had heard the sound of her voice. Yet images of her sitting alone in the park awaiting his arrival had tormented his dreams. Like a coward, he had thought it better to just walk away without every explaining the situation in full. Then he would never have to see the devastation in her eyes. He knew it was a selfish act but it was the only option.
She laughed and hugged one of her friends who lovingly patted her tummy. She was wearing a loose fitting blouse which did little to hid her rounding stomach.
“She’s pregnant?” he speculated with a dumbfounded look upon his face.
Slowly the traffic began to move and he considered leaving his car amid the traffic and going to her. Yet in the time he pulled the car to the curb, she had disappeared into the onslaught of pedestrians who flooded the street.
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The more she thought about it the more it made sense. It had to be done. It was not fair for Susan, it was not fair for Max.
“Dr. Lauren Alderman?” Donna asked the beautiful redhead coming out of Boston Medical’s cafeteria.
“Yes. May I help you?” She answered looking down at the old woman. She was surprised that someone was looking for her. She had just come in to talk to Beth about some last minute wedding details for her ceremony the following weekend. Beth was one of her bridemaids.
“You are the only one who can.” Donna responded a little nervous. She had to help her Susan find her way back to love but she had not expected it to be so hard to look into the icy blue of the doctor’s eyes. “You don’t know me but there is something I have to tell you about Max.” She managed to say without stuttering.
“Max?” Lauren asked with a perplexed smile “You know Max?”
“Yes. My daughter…”
---------------
Diana Alderman could hear the music from the first floor of her mansion. She knew where it was coming from before she started walking up the stairs. She had seen Lauren’s car pull up a few minutes earlier. As she got closer to the top of the staircase the words of the song became clearer to her ears.
Just one look into your eyes
One look and I am crying
‘Cause you’re so beautiful
Just one kiss and I'm alive
One kiss and I'm ready to die
Diana shook her head knowing Lauren was probably having a hard day with Del. She always listened to that song, the song he had sang for her when they were in college, after they fought over the silliest things. This time it could very well mean Del did not approve of the flavor of the cake, with her pregnancy Lauren had become more vulnerable than ever. Diana knew she was taking advantage of her state, though she had seen a pleasant change in her daughter. Her silliness was returned to her. The kaleidoscope of virtues that made up Lauren went everywhere from vanity to kindness. Her daughter was a good woman, Diana knew that. Lauren was a strong and proud woman, but deep inside she was also fearful.
Diana opened the door to Lauren’s room and found her sitting on her bed with a glass of cognac in her hand as she sang her heart out.
“What in Bob’s name are you doing Lauren? You can hurt the baby, give me that.” She told her daughter snatching the glass from her hands.
“What baby?” Lauren asked her mockingly “There is no baby, there never was a baby. I am not pregnant, Anne told me so. You know what that felt like, having her tell me it had only been a false positive? You want to know?” She asked her stunned mother “It was like having my heart ripped out of my body, again… Again.” She stated between the tears that flowed down her cheeks.
Mrs. Alderman bit her bottom lip to stop herself from crying too. Seeing her daughter devastated was the hardest thing a mother ever had to face.
“But you know what the funny thing is?” Lauren laughed as she cried “Because not being pregnant after wanting this baby so much is pretty hilarious, but there is something even funnier. See the thing is he only married me because he thinks I am pregnant. So I’ve been lying for the past two months. Isn’t that a riot?” She asked hurtfully “Isn’t it?”
Diana sat by her daughter’s side and took her in her arms. Lauren sobbed painfully against her mother’s chest.
“I asked him about a month ago why he had changed.” Lauren told her mother when she released her “Why he suddenly decided not the be a doctor, and he told me that while in college he fell in love with a girl who promised to love him no matter what he did, or who he was.”
“I love him. I’ve always loved him. I kept my promise mother, I did.” Lauren was gasping for breath between her words. Her voice was cut off several times by the intensity of her cries “I loved him though he had no money. I never cared for that, I had enough for us both; can he not understand that when you love someone you want to shower them with gifts? I loved him when he told me he wanted to be a paramedic, sure I was a little ashamed that he was not a doctor but it was because I know he can do such great things. I nagged him about it constantly but I was still there, loving him just the same. Couldn’t he see that?”
“Darling I am sure he does.” Her mother reassured her. Lauren had told her mother about Max having had a lover but it was as if she had told her that he bought new sneakers. She told Lauren that if he had married her it was because he loved her and to stop worrying. Ten years from now you are going to be laughing about that, she had told her.
“Mom I can’t breathe. I think about him and I… He is all I’ve wanted, he is my balance. Why can’t he see that? Why can’t he feel that?”
Mrs. Alderman let Lauren speak out her sorrows; there was not cure for a broken heart. She did not know what had happened between them but Lauren was in very bad shape.
“I know of the trail that leads to his lips no matter where I start. I figured out the rhythm his steps make as he walks, and the tears he hides behind his smile. I know the scent that his dreams leave behind, and that he wakes up early to watch the sun come up. But what good does that do me?” She asked holding her face “I know of the doubts that take him back to the same place where he started, and when he is thinking about her. I sometimes wish I was the woman he traded me for, to have a reason for breathing, to steal a piece of his heart. To find some sense in this misery of loving him so much and all for nothing. I know I am suffering for unpaid debts but its not fair. It’s just not fair.”
“Lauren you can’t possibly know what he feels. I know he loves you, you can see it in the way he looks at you.” Mrs. Alderman sincerely told her daughter “No one, no matter what a martyr he wants to be would be with someone ten years and not love her. Baby or not I know he would have married you, you, not that woman, you. Don’t tell me you are thinking about leaving him. It would kill you.”
“Letting him go is not the problem. It’s forgetting him that’s hard. It's stop loving him that’s impossible. But I can’t do this to him, not anymore. If in our story I was left loving all alone then how can I force him? How can I watch him waste away if he loves another?”
“But you don’t know that.”
“She is pregnant mother; she is pregnant with his child. She is pregnant and I am not. He only married me because he thought I was pregnant but it is her he loves, and it is she who will give him a baby not me, not me.” Lauren cried tired of keeping the truth behind her pain hidden.
Her mother gasped understanding that that was something not even her daughter was willing to fight against. That woman had found the only means of defeating the strength of the love Lauren had for Del, she was giving him a child. The one thing Lauren gave up for him.
“You told me once, after the abortion, that life was about the mistakes we make and how we try to fix them.” Lauren told her mother swallowing the knot in her throat “But why does it have to hurt so much?”
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Max arrived at the Alderman mansion after having struggled to get Susan’s image out of his head. It had been an odd image, one he was frightened of considering as a reality. He had ended all contact with her barely two months ago and it had been for the better. He had felt disgustingly bad about it but it had been his only option. If only I had not answered to Donna’s demands, that was a thought that plagued his mind endlessly. That and the results of all the excruciating tests he had to have done to find out what was wrong with him, why he had stopped breathing. He was still waiting on the final results, and it made him nervous to think what they could reveal.
“Hi Max.” Caitlin said to him as she opened the front door to let him in. Her voice was weak.
“Hi.” He answered wondering what was wrong with her.
“Lauren is in her room waiting for you.” She told him before leaving him alone. It was strange; they usually ended up in a long conversation every time they saw each other. Even after the weird incidents that had happened between them at O’Rileys parking lot and the hospital.
Max frowned and walked up the stairs. He found Lauren’s door open and went inside. She was standing by a table near a window, looking out. He walked to her and hugged her from behind; the lavender of her hair made him close his eyes and inhale the sweetness of it.
“I missed you.” He told her as he turned her around in his arms. He saw that her eyes were red and swollen. “Are you okay?” He asked concerned.
Lauren contemplated acting angry and screaming at him over his lover’s pregnancy but there was no use. Her anger would not change anything; she had already lost him. And yet he sounded sincere every time he said ‘I love you’, ‘I missed you’. Maybe she had heard him say it so many times she no longer looked for the right signs in his voice, but could others be as naïve if they too vowed to believe Max loved her?
“No.” She finally answered him walking away “I’ve never felt worse in all my life.”
“Is it because of the pregnancy?” He asked her clueless. He could be a doctor but when it came to his wife and baby he became just a regular man with fears and doubts.
“Max I need to tell you something.” Lauren said looking away from him. After all their secrets were out in the open, the relief of forgiveness had returned to her the confidence to call him by his nickname like she had years ago. In her heart he had never stopped being just Max. “I am not pregnant. It was a mistake from the lab results, a mistake I used to get you to marry me. I’m sorry.”
Max’s heart skipped a beat. His hands turned to ice, and his throat closed.
“I can’t keep this up any longer. Soon it would have been hard to keep on lying to you. I know you only married me because you thought I was pregnant.” Lauren wiped a single tear from her cheek, her voice was tranquil. She was forcing herself to remain calm.
Max stared at the back of her head the whole time. Did she really think that had been the only reason he had married her? How could she if that was not true?
“I want you to be happy.” She said turning to face him. “You are everything to me in my life. You are everything and I became so very little to you; that’s how crazy love stories go.” She told him forcing a smile.
“The story of our love? What’s the end of our story?” He asked her sad and a little angry at the assumptions she was making.
Lauren walked to him and kissed him lightly on the lips.
“It’s written right here,” She answered touching the place in his chest where his heart laid, she could feel its fast beating under her palm “you get to chose. One year after we met you told me that if I loved you one half of what you loved me you would the most loved man in the world.” She walked over to the table and signaled him to follow.
“That was pretty exaggerated don’t you think?” She asked as another tear dropped on her lips.
Max went to her side and looked into her eyes, he felt his bottom lip tremble and his eyes start to water.
“Exaggerated but…” She started to say as she raised her left hand to where he could see it. Slowly she took off the engagement ring he had given her and placed it on some papers on the table. “This is how much I love you.” She said not allowing her tears to flow. Max followed the path of the ring and saw the lettering on the papers; it read ‘Divorce Agreement’.
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Max stood remained motionless, speechless as he stared at the neatly folded papers. Though he could clearly read the bold lettering on the documents, he refused to believe that she had filed to end their marriage and then she had said she wasn’t pregnant.
She was joking, he thought. It was some sick, cruel joke. He waited for her to laugh or give him some indication that her words were not the truth. Yet she did not turn from her fixed position before the bay window.
“This is insane,” he said, stepping behind her and placing his hands on her shoulders. He leaned forward to kiss the back of her head but she stiffened in response to his gesture. “I don’t understand… what do you mean you there was a mistake in the lab results. You were never pregnant?”
“I guess that must come as a real shock to you. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you the truth… It would have made things a lot less complicated for you but you know everything now. You’re free to have the life you wanted,” she said, moving away from him.
“No…I can’t…we need to talk. I love you, Lauren…we can get through this together,” he said. “We have time…There’ll be children…I know it.”
“So do I,” she said coldly.
He looked at her with his brow furrowed in confusion. Then she turned to face him.
“Her mother is quite an interesting lady. It seems that she just couldn’t bear to keep the details of her daughter’s pregnancy from me.”
Lauren’s words hit Max harder than any physical blow.
“I don’t know… I mean… I haven’t spoken with-“
Lauren chuckled slightly in surprise. “You mean you had no idea?”
“I saw her…yesterday when I was driving home. She looked as if…”
His words trailed off into silence and once again he had that distant look in his eyes that she knew all to well.
“I think you should go now.”
“No, I won’t leave you with things like this between us,” he solemnly said.
“You aren’t leaving… I am.”
She walked from the room without turning to see the tears that were welled up in his eyes.
“I won’t sign these papers,” he called out to her but his last desperate attempt to gain her attention fell on deaf ears.
**
Donna walked into the living room of her house feeling as if she had betrayed her daughter. She was overwhelmed by the guilt of her actions. All along she had thought that telling Max’s wife the truth would simplify things. Max would leave her and return to the place where he should have been all along. After Susan had discovered that she was carrying Max’s child there had been an uneasy truce between mother and daugher. At Susan’s insistence, Donna had sworn not to reveal the paternity of the baby to anyone. Yet it killed her to think of Susan raising the baby on her own. She loved Max, despite the malicious things she said about him. Of this Donna was certain.
“Where have you been?” Susan asked, strolling out of the kitchen.
“Oh…no where. Just out for a walk,” Donna said nervously, praying that in some way her conversation with Dr. Alderman would put an end to the turmoil consuming their lives.
“Oh…ok,” Susan replied, settling onto the sofa with her lemonade. “Austin is coming over for dinner and then we’re going to finish up the assignment sketches that are due Monday.”
“Why does he keep coming over here…and calling you all the time?” Donna asked, recalling the tall, dashing Englishmen that had befriended Susan at the Fashion Institute where they were both students.
“Mom, I’m not getting into this with you again. He’s my design partner…and I’m lucky to have him. He’s worked with some really big designers in London…He’s smart and talented…and I won’t have you making him feel like an intruder when he comes over here. Understood?”
Donna nodded in reluctant agreement. She didn’t like Austin Spencer. Yes, he was handsome and charming but she saw the way he looked at Susan. It made her uncomfortable.
‘What kind of man would be interested in a woman pregnant with another man’s child?’ Donna wondered.
“I don’t think it’s right for him to be stopping by here…smiling at you like he’s your boyfriend or something. What would Max think..” Donna said, unable to resist reminding her of the truth.
“Don’t ever mention his name to me again,” Susan bellowed. “I’ve told you before…I don’t ever want to talk about him again…and for the hundredth time…there’s nothing happening between Austin and I. We just friends”
Donna sighed before leaving her daughter alone. Surely there was some hope that Susan would find her way back to Max. But she knew Austin would prove to be an obstacle to her plans.
**
One Week Later…
Max sat outside the fashion institute, waiting for Susan to emerge. This was the third time that week that he had sat outside trying to muster the courage to speak with her. He glanced in the rear view mirror of the Porsche and grimaced.
“You look like hell,” he said, noting the tired expression that marred his face. He hadn’t sleep well since his altercation with Lauren. Alone in the home that they had built, he roamed through the empty rooms, lost to his thoughts. He had tried to call her at both the mansion and her office but his pleading messages were left unanswered.
With nothing but time on his hands, he attempted to think of the words that he would need to say to Susan. He had watched her leave the school each day but was never able to muster the courage to step from the car. She was as beautiful as ever, always smiling and laughing with her friends.
Glancing down at his wristwatch he noted the time. She would be outside at any moment. Impatiently he watched and waited until he saw her step from the double doors of the building. He hesitated for a moment, studying every detail of her face. Then his eyes moved down toward her midriff which was covered by a flowing silk blouse. It was barely detectable but there was no denying that she was with child. His intense study was suddenly interrupted by the presence of a man at her side. He playfully wrapped his arm around her shoulder, causing her to lay her head to the side and laugh loudly. The others around them smiled as if he had told a humorous joke. For an instant, a strange sensation of jealously washed over Max as he stared at the couple.
As the flock of students began to disperse, he knew that the time had come.
“Susan,” he softly said, stepping up behind the handful of people with whom she was talking.
She turned slowly to face him, staring for several seconds as if she were uncertain if he were actually there.
“Can I talk to you?” He asked, tilting his head slightly.
She remained silent with her eyes fixed on him.
“There’s a lot that’s… we just need to talk,” he added, letting his eyes fall to her stomach before looking back at her face.
“You’re about two months too late. I don’t have anything to say to you,” she said calmly. “If you’ll excuse me…we all going for out for dinner…and well…I have to go.”
“No…wait,” he pleaded, taking hold of her arm. “Can we just go over there for a few minutes?”
He motioned in the direction of a small café across the street.
“I’m sorry but…no,” she answered, stepping back toward the group who eyed Max with suspicion.
“Susan, I think we need to talk… especially since you’re…”
“Pregnant?” She blurted out. “How perceptive of you, Max…or maybe I should say Dr. Delacoure. Then again you’re living in close quarters with a pregnant woman so maybe that makes you a little more aware of my particular situation.”
Her voice with tinged in surpressed anger. He said nothing in response.
“Come on. Let’s go,” the man at her side urged, glaring at Max. “Don’t let him upset you.”
“Why don’t you just mind your own business,” Max growled at the man.
“It’s ok, Austin,” Susan said, placing her hand on his chest to prevent him from approaching Max. “Why don’t you guys go on ahead? This will only take a sec.”
“Are you sure you’ll be ok?” Austin asked.
“What do you think…I would hurt her?” Max retorted.
“From what I’ve heard that’s exactly what you’ve done,” he answered flatly.
The tension between the men continued until Austin was pulled away by one of the other students. Turning toward Max, Susan’s eyes flamed in rage.
“You have a lot of nerve.”
“I know that you’re angry with me…” he began before she began to blurt out all of the things that had remained pent up for all those months.
“You had better believe that I was angry with you…but now…I’m just numb.”
“So what were you going to do…just not tell me about the baby?”
“As if you should be asking those kinds of questions…what you going to do…take me along on the honeymoon when you married that bitch… were you ever planning to tell me about her?”
He glanced down, not knowing how to answer her question.
“That’s what I thought. You were just going to string me along …Oh my Bob! I was such a fool to believe that you loved me,” She said, fighting back the tears. “Now run along to your pregnant wife….I’m sure she needs you.”
“She isn’t pregnant,” he softly replied.
Susan expression revealed her surprise.
“To tell you the truth Max it doesn’t really matter…both of you can rot in hell for all I care.”
Susan abruptly turned and began to run down the street leaving him standing alone on the sidewalk. Rounding the corner, she leaned against the wall and let the tears that she had fought against flow freely. She remained with her body turned toward the wall, crying until there were no more tears to be shed.
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“Are you okay?” Susan heard as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned slowly to find Austin’s face very close to hers. “Don’t let that fool get you down. We were going to have a great time; we still are, aren’t we?” He asked her trying to cheer her up with a smile.
Susan couldn’t stop herself from reciprocating his smile. He was such a good friend to her. They had gotten along so well since the first day of classes when the students were paired up and they ended up together. He was a fantastic designer and a wonderful person. Susan knew her mother did not like Austin and that she said he looked at Susan in a certain way but her mother was paranoid. Austin was English and they had a different way of carrying themselves, a way her mother could not understand.
“You are right.” Susan said wiping her face. “Let’s go have some fun.”
The walk to Sedona Grill was a short one and Susan was thankful that Austin did not ask any question regarding Max as they made their way there. Instead they talked about the upcoming run walk that the top scoring design of their school would earn within the month. Both of them hoped that their work was included among the presentation.
There were about ten students from the School of Fashion present at the dinner when she and Austin got there. Most of them were only classmates; the only one Susan considered a friend was Austin. He was sitting across from her and telling her to taste the salsa and chips in front of them. She smiled but declined, she was not sure she could keep anything down. With her pregnancy she soon found that certain foods were not for her. She had always imagined herself married before she had her first child, but life didn’t always go as planned. If only Max’s wife had been me and not that horrible woman everything would be perfect, Susan sadly thought. She immediately reprimanded herself for having such stupid thoughts.
Susan was still thinking about Max and his revelation that his wife was not pregnant at all when a handsome young man came into the dinning room. After searching the room he smiled in their direction and Susan saw Austin get up. He walked around Susan’s chair and leaned down to whisper in her ear.
“Come, I want you to meet someone.” He told her pulling her chair out. Susan stood a bit confused but followed him to the gentleman that had just entered the restaurant.
Once they were facing each other the three of them exchanged smiles. Susan could tell that the young man was a nice person. His eyes sparkled with sincere enthusiasm to meet her.
“Alex this is Susan, Susan this is Alex, my partner.” Austin said proudly. Susan’s eyes widened with the surprise, she would have never guessed. Her gaydar was so off she giggled a bit before she shook Alex’s hand.
“Nice to meet you.” She told him.
“I have heard so many nice things about you.” Alex replied
“Only the truth I assure you.” Austin rectified for her.
“You better only say nice things about me.” Susan joked. The two men laughed lightly at her reply.
As she watched them exchange loving glances Susan could not help but think that her mother would be glad when she found out that there was no way Austin could be interested in her.
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“He dropped you off again didn’t her? That man, that Austin.” Donna told Susan as soon as she had entered through the front door “And don’t try to lie to me, I saw you through the window. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. If Max could see you he…”
“Shut it mother!” Susan snapped “He is gay okay, Austin is gay. I just met his partner; he is a wonderful man just like Austin. They love each other and I think that is great. Are you happy now?”
“But…”
“Good night mother.” Susan said walking to her mother. She was tired of her mother’s complains, the woman could do nothing but complain. That and get into Susan’s life so that she was ruining it with her ‘help’.
Susan knew her mother meant no harm in trying to set her life so that her daughter only daughter could be happy but she had already gotten her into so much trouble. Trouble that had caused Susan so much pain it was hard to breathe at night. She wanted nothing more than be loved by her child’s father but that was an impossible dream and she knew it. Susan would never accept anything less than full claim upon Max’s heart, and he would never be willing to offer that to her.
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For the next two weeks Max spent his nights restless, tossing and turning in bed while trying to figure out what to do. It was just as hard as it had been months ago before he decided to marry Lauren. That had been a quick decision everyone mistook for an apology to Lauren from his part. But Max knew better. He knew he had married her because that night in the hospital even if Susan had been the one in the Emergency Room he would have still married Lauren. Just as he told Susan when she asked him, he would have married his fiancé no matter what happened, no matter who tried to stop him. The kind of love Max had for Lauren was one no one could understand. It did not matter how hard he tried to explain it, he just couldn’t. There was so much he could not recreate for them. So many things shared that had made them become one.
Now Lauren simply chose to ignore him. She passed by him at the hospital as if he was not there. Her indifference toward him wounded him deeper than anything else. He was not even worthy of her anger. Ten years they had been together and in a few weeks she was able to forget him.
Yet the time they had spent together meant nothing to Max, he could have meet Lauren a month ago and still he would feel for her the same love he felt now. It was a force stronger than life, greater than time. A magnetic energy that had pulled them together until there was no beginning to their love, no end to their story.
Max smiled recalling all the memories they had shared. They were so many he was sure he had forgotten many, but the vast majority that remained were enough to keep him hopeful she would rethink their separation. Among the events circling his mind were good times along bad times, happy days next to tremendous outburst of Lauren’s tantrums, but they were all magically theirs it made Max’s heart ache with need to relive them. There were special times also, like the day he had met her exactly ten years, eight months, and five days ago, he knew the date because it was the day he had found that there was a Bob.
He had been in his biology class, bored to death as Professor Howard talked about Darwin and his concept of evolution. He remembered thinking that his mother would have had a cow if she only knew what kind of things he was studying about. She was a fervent Catholic and the mere thought of Bob not really being there was a sin to her.
Max leaned his shoulder on the window he was sitting next to and took a deep breath as Howard continued with the lecture. He heard something about the church against the theory and closed his eyes as he threw his head back in mocking anguish.
“Are you there Bob? It’s me Max.” He said jokingly to his classmates who laughed so hard the Professor turned his eyes to them with an angry look. Everyone was soon quiet. “If there really is a Bob then there is an angel waiting for me outside this window.” Max added quietly as he turned to the window. He was surprised that there was a girl there, sitting right outside his window, under a willow tree. The branches of the tree partially obstructed his view so he could not see her face, only her form and her striking red hair.
Hurriedly Max picked up his belonging and rushed out of the classroom, leaving his classmates laughing and his teacher wondering if he should fail him for such a disrespectful act.
He was out the door of the Science building in less than two minutes and as soon as he got close enough to see her face he knew Bob existed.
“Just one look and I was lost, one look and I was yours.” Max softly recited the lines of one of his father’s poems as he walked toward the girl.
She looked up at him when she felt his nearness and the blue of her eyes welcomed him home.
“Hi.” She had said
He was stunned.
“Are you okay?” She asked him smiling. Right then Max knew he was in love.
“I… I saw you through the window,” He told her pointing to it “and I wanted to come out and ask you if you wanted to go to prom with me.” He joked.
Her laugh was genuine and carefree.
“You are a couple years too late. But if it had been the right time I would have gladly accepted. I didn’t get to go to my prom, I had the chicken pox.” She answered smiling
“No?” He exclaimed sitting next to her “I had the chicken pox during my prom too!”
“Are you serious?!”
“No.” He confessed smiling and making her laugh again. “I just wanted to hear you laugh again. You know you are beautiful? You probably hear that all the time.”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I do.” She answered astonishing him “But mostly from my father, that would be 99% of the time.”
“I’m Max.” He said offering her his hand to shake.
“Lauren.” She answered uniting their hands and sending a wave of sensation through his entire body.
Their conversation had continued until it got to a point where Max had confessed he was very bad at making choices.
“So you mean you are very indecisive?” Lauren asked
“Yes, very. I can’t even make up my mind between a hamburger and a hot dog.”
“Oh that one is easy; the hot dog is the best.” She said
“You know what. I just decided. From now on my favorite is hot dog, forget about hamburgers.” Max hurriedly rectified.
“Good, that was just in time because I am starving and there is a wonderful stand right by the Math Building, my treat if you want to join me.” She said standing up.
“Oh a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it, I like that.” He told her fascinated.
“You do, do you?” Lauren asked with a grin
“I do.” He responded standing as well
“Okay, then I can tell you right now” She replied smiling “I want you.” The smiled that spread across his face was enough to guarantee her that from that moment he would always be hers.
Theirs had been a match unlike any other. They were so different, they fought endlessly over the stupidest of things and yet they could not wait to be in each other’s arms. Lauren was full of life, full of energy, she was fun and ready to live it all. Max was laid back and a bit reserved; he wanted to become a rich doctor so he could offer Lauren the kind of life she was accustomed to. They had very few things in common, almost none to be precise. But they complimented each other in everyway, what one lacked the other possessed, and they were always willing to share. Together, over the course of the years, they found that love was not about the things they had in common but of the things they were willing to compromise, and sometimes even ignore, and of the wonders they discovered in each other.
“This can’t be it.” Max said heartbroken. “This isn’t over yet.”
Max looked at his watch and saw that it was 9:30pm. Surely Lauren would not be asleep; he could call her and try to get her to see him. Excited from the images he had just replayed in his head and a bit nervous he took out his cell phone and dialed the Alderman mansion. Surprisingly, instead of the maid it was Caitlin who answered the call.
“May I speak to Lauren?” He told her “Please.” He added after a long silence.
“She is out of the country.” Caitlin responded dryly.
“I know she is not out of the country, I just saw her this morning.” He retorted.
“My sister doesn’t want to speak to you Max.”
“I just need to talk to her for one minute. Please Caitlin; I just need to tell her I love her.”
“You’ve got some nerve!” Caitlin said, but her voice sounded far away.
A few seconds later Max finally heard Lauren’s voice for the first time in weeks. It was a melodious sound to his ears and an agony to his heart. The sadness she tried to hide was evident to him, perhaps she too had been thinking about him.
“Hello?”
“Lauren.” Max exclaimed “Lauren I need to see you. You can’t keep acting like I don’t exist. We need to sort this out, you and me, we belong together. Lauren I miss you. I miss you like crazy.” He said before she could stop him
There was a long silence in which Max closed his eyes praying for a miracle he knew would not come. Then he heard her take a deep breath before responding.
“It’s too bad Max.” She answered “You had me; I was yours for ten years and you took that for granted. I guess for a moment you just forgot what it felt like to love me. But you ruined it all and there is no turning back.”
“We can’t end like this.”
“I don’t want you in my life; I don’t even believe that you love me anymore.” She said
“Tell me what to do to prove to you that I do. I’ll do anything Lauren.” He pleaded.
“Sign the divorce papers.” Lauren told him coldly “And marry your lover, your child needs a family.”
“Not that. You can’t ask me to do that.”
“If you love me then you will do it, just like you said.” She defied him.
“You are trying to control my life, just as you always did before!” Max blurted out.
“I was, I am, only trying to get you to see what’s best for you!” She fought back “It wasn’t about controlling you Max, it was about loving you. Loving enough to want for you all the things you never trusted yourself enough to go after. You think I don’t know you decided to be a paramedic because you are afraid of not being a good doctor?”
The question and the truth behind it caught Max by surprise.
“You can’t be afraid forever Max, I won’t be there to fix… I just want you to sign the divorce papers so I can move on with my life.” She added with the last of the air in her lungs.
“Is that really what you want?”
“Yes.” She assured him
“Okay.” He said as he clicked the end button on his cell phone.
---------------------------
Lauren pressed her eyes shut to stop her tears, there would be no more tears shed for Max. She was going to learn to live without him and she was going to be happy, happier as someone with half of a heart could be.
“He won’t do it.” She heard her sister say behind her. Slowly Lauren turned to face Caitlin “He won’t sign the divorce.”
“Yes he will.” Lauren responded.
“What makes you so sure?”
“You don’t know Max like I do.” She said before heading to her room to numb herself with sleeping pills so she could sleep and not dream of him.
--------------------
Because Alderman was such a powerful name in Boston, the divorce was final the same day Max delivered the papers to the court house. It was a settlement agreed upon by both parties according to the document and after their estate was divided the ex-couple was free to go about their separate lives.
Jean had spoke to his son and asked him to go back home with him and Max had accept knowing it was for the best. He had the keys to the house he had shared with Lauren delivered to her parent’s house along with the Porsche. It was Lauren’s lawyer who took on the task of placing these items in Lauren’s hands.
“Did he object to anything?” Lauren asked her lawyer, a female of about her same age.
“No.” The woman answered
“He just signed and left?”
“Yes.”
Lauren inhaled loudly.
“He did ask one question.” The lawyer said unemotionally “He asked how long he had to wait before he could marry again.”
Lauren clasped her fist around the keys she held in one of her hands as her eyes looked into the distance. The force she used against it was so that her palm bleed, and yet she felt nothing.
--------------------
“Don’t you think your baby is going to need his father with him? What’s going to happen when he grows up and asks you about him?” Donna asked her daughter over breakfast.
“I don’t know.” Susan answered not bothering to look at her mother.
“But Susan he is not married anymore, Debbie told you he divorced that witch last month. He’s tried to call you I know it. Why don’t you give him a change to speak?”
“What for? There is nothing he can say that would make me change my mind about raising this baby on my own.”
“Not even if he asks you to marry him?” Donna said hoping to get a descent response from her.
“He would never ask me to marry him?” Susan replied finally raising her eyes to meet Donna’s gaze.
“Why not?”
“I am not the kind of woman that gets marriage proposals, who would want to marry me mother?” Susan acidly asked.
“I hate it when you say things like that. You are having his child and Max would be an idiot not to ask you marry him.”
Susan remained quiet wondering how much behind her mother’s words was perhaps true. She would never use her baby to get Max to marry her but she did know he would always be a part of her life through their child. Denying the fact that he had some right to be there for her baby was cruel to both Max and her child. Susan had spent the past weeks avoiding Max’s calls and countless times she had seen him parked outside her school and employer waiting for a chance to get close to her. She had always managed to have someone with her, whether it was Austin or Yolanda, so that he would not be able to approach her. It seemed like Max was desperately wanting to return to her life, almost like he was slowly consuming away waiting for her to acknowledge him. Or maybe Susan was beginning to believe her mother’s insane ideas about the love Max and her shared.
It had been there, Susan was sure of it; they had loved each other so very much it was painful to think it was over only because she had come too late into his life. That Lauren woman had proclaimed him his own and suffocated his instincts just so that he was not able to fight her. No matter what he had wanted, and Susan knew it had been her he had wanted, that woman had to have him for herself. Only when she had grown tired of Max did she let him go, perhaps a bit too late for Susan could no longer trust in him.
Debbie had told her that Max had had to give up everything he owned to his ex-wife so that she was happy with the divorce she herself filed for, and that the woman had the nerve to ignore Max’s existence at the hospital. ‘She is more a witch than ever.’ Debbie had told Susan that Paul had said about the woman. What kind of woman would act that way so soon after the divorce to the man she supposedly loved for ten years?
“I don’t know what to do.” Susan said speaking more about her own thoughts than to her mother.
“You two need to talk.” Donna told her taking advantage of the chance “That woman has set him free; you and Max have the opportunity to be happy. Are you going to waste it? Are you going to sit around and let your child grown up without a family because you were too proud to forgive Max?”
Susan wished it were that easy to do. There was no certainty that the love that had been between her and Max could be mended. But for the sake of her child she knew she had to at least try.
“Okay you win, I will call him tomorrow.” Susan said sighting.
------------------
Marla Delacoure was cutting carrots when she saw the Porsche Max previously owned pull up into their driveway thought her kitchen window. She remained motionless as Lauren stepped out of the car and began walking up the steps to their doorway. From her position in the kitchen she heard her husband open the door and invite Lauren inside. When Jean called for her to join them Marla was red as a tomato from the shame, she didn’t know if she could look at her ex-daughter in law in the eyes after what her son had done. Still she managed to walk out into the living room and sit next to her husband without bursting into tears of apology.
“I am sorry to come unannounced like this, but I was worried you would not want to talk to me after…well after I lied by telling everyone I was pregnant.” Lauren told the couple looking straight into their eyes.
“None sense child this house will always be open for you. We should be the ones apologizing for…” Jean began to say.
“No.” Lauren interrupted to stop him from reminding her of what she was trying so hard to forget “It is very kind of you, thank you.”
An awkward silence fell upon them as Lauren’s eyes roamed the simplicity of the place she was in. It had never occurred to her that even a place like this one could have been a palace if shared with the person you love. Now it was too late.
“I am so sorry.” She said to her Max’s parents “I never really got a chance to get to know you very well. But I do remember you’re a wonderful cook Mrs. Delacoure.” She added offering a smile. There were some things she wished she could have done in a different way, appreciating the Delacoure for the wonderful persons they were and not by how much money they had was one of them. “I wish I had been slapped back into reality by another method, after all this I finally realize I was the lucky one to have been a part of your family and not the other way around. I’m sorry if I ever made you feel bad for any reason.”
“You always treated us kindly.” Marla told her touching Lauren’s hand from the sofa across the chair Lauren was sitting in. Lauren bit back her tears and blinked several times.
She smiled at the woman who had been more than willing to embrace her as a daughter from the first day Max had called to let them know she had meet the girl of his dreams. It had been almost like a fairy tale, it was bound to end. Fairy tales aren’t real, not if the prince falls for the wicked witch and not the princess he had initially courted.
After shuffling in hand bag for a second Lauren took out an unsealed envelop and handed it to Mr. Delacoure.
“I came to give you this.” She told him “Because we didn’t sign a prenuptial agreement, I got to keep the house, and Max returned the Porsche to me along with the keys. But I have been thinking that it’s not fair for him.”
“Lauren…” Jean Delacoure said looking down at the envelop in his hand.
“Please let me finish.” Lauren asked “I have cleared the loan we took out to build the house, and along with the reimbursement for all the payments Max made I included the price of the car also. It was a present for Max and I think that if he is not going to use it then at least he can invest the money. I needed a new car anyways.” She joked, yet the sadness in her voice was clear as falls water.
Frowning, Jean opened the envelop in a hurry.
“But this check is for $200,000 I doubt Max had given that many payments.” He said to Lauren. Lauren remained secure over her decision.
“Honey he won’t accept it.” Marla added.
“That is why I came to you. I am asking that you deposit it into his savings account without him knowing, you can later tell him but after he has gotten time to think it over. I know his savings were down to minimal with the wedding, he is going to need it Mrs. Delacoure.” She replied looking directly at Max’s mother. There were ties between women that spoke louder than words.
“You know?” Jean asked Lauren softly.
“Yes.” She responded smiling miserably “I know he always wanted his children to have everything in life, this is not much but it will help him a little.”
“You are a wonderful woman Lauren.” He said to her sincere.
“You really think so?”
“We never had a doubt.” Marla contributed.
“Thank you for everything.” Lauren said suddenly feeling her heart heavy as a ton “I must get going.” She got up from her seat and walked to the front door, Max’s parents were not far behind her.
Before exiting she turned one last time to look at them.
“You really are amazing parents, you have raised a magnificent son, beyond all of his flaws Max is a great man. I hope that you are always there with him to help him raise his own child.” She said sorrowfully but with every bit of honesty from her wounded heart.
--------------------
It was about an hour later that Max came into his parent’s home rushing to change for his meeting with Susan. Her call had surprised him, at first he had not believe it was her, but when the shock had passed her was glad to finally be able to speak to her. They agreed to meet in two hours at bistro they often visited in happier times.
His parents heard him coming in and go into his room without even a hello to them. Jean had stopped his wife from going over to ask what the matter was with him. They were waiting for him to exit his room to tell him about Lauren’s visit. They had promised her they would not tell her about the money but they said nothing about not telling him that she had come over.
Max came out of his room running and directly headed for the door. His father’s voice stopped him cold; he could have sworn there was no one home he had not heard a sound when he had first come in.
“Where are you going?”
“I have to meet someone in thirty minutes.” Max answered looking at his wristwatch. If he was late Susan would surely not give him another chance to speak to her.
“Who? Is it that woman?” His mother angrily said.
“Mother please, I don’t have time for this.”
“Oh but you had time to betray Lauren, you had time to run behind her back and find a slut!” Marla shouted.
“She is not a slut!” Max snapped livid “She didn’t know about Lauren, I was the one that lied! For Pete’s sake mother she is pregnant with my child, your grandson! Is this how you want your relationship to be like?!”
“Maximilian lower your voice.” Jean ordered.
“I don’t want any kind of relationship with that woman. Don’t tell me you have already forgotten Lauren.” His mother replied.
“I did what she asked me to do, I signed the damn papers! Only so she could find herself a descent man that will make her happy, not for me!”
“You think she is going to just walk into her office and find her prince charming waiting for her there? You think that after ten years of loving you she is not hurting over the fact that you are going to have a child with another woman?!”
“Marla!” Her husband tried to calm her down.
“This is my life, my future, my kid, and I whether you like it or not I am going to ask Susan to marry me.” Max defied his mother.
The woman burst into tears and buried her face into her husband’s chest.
“If that is your decision we will accept it. But don’t ask us to be present at your wedding.” Jean Delacoure told his son.
Max swallowed the lump that formed in his throat as he heard his mother crying. He knew marrying Susan was not what his parents had wanted for him, but it was the right thing to do and he was going to do it, even if it meant his parents would never speak to him again.
“I wasn’t going to.” Max told his dad before heading out the front door.
----------------------
Susan was waiting impatiently in the patio of Capriccio for Max to arrive, he was five minutes late. If the circumstances were any other it would not have been so big a deal, but considering their situation he should have been here thirty minutes before their schedule meeting time. When his Mustang finally drove up the parking lot Susan breathed a sight of relief. She would not let him see that she had been scared that he would not have shown up.
“Hi.” He said coming over to sit across from her.
“Hi.”
He quickly told the waiter that had approached their table that he did not want anything to drink and ordered his usual dish. Susan asked for a water and a chicken fettuccini alfredo. The waiter left smiling and promising to return with their orders as soon as possible.
“Thank you for finally agreeing to see me.” Max told Susan when the man had left them alone.
She did not respond.
“I know you are angry. You have every right to be.” He told her “There isn’t much I can say except I’m sorry. I’ve said it so many times you probably don’t believe me anymore.” As he said those words the sound of Lauren’s voice came back to his head ‘I don’t even believe that you love me anymore.’ She had told him when he confessed his love yet again
“I don’t know what to think.” Susan said bringing him back to her “I am starting to wonder if this meeting was such a great idea.”
“Susan we had to confront each other sometime. There is something that unites us now, something that isn’t going away just because you and I have a bad history between us. Our child needs a family.”
“And you think that a forced one is better than none at all?” She asked him mockingly.
“You are not making this easy for me.” He replied.
“Oh I’m sorry for playing hard to get, would you like me to dash across and kiss you while telling you that I’ve waited all my life for this moment?” Susan sarcastically retorted.
“You can at least acknowledge the fact that I am trying.” Max responded beginning to wonder over the usefulness of the meeting himself.
“Okay. I admit I am so angry I am probably not thinking straight, but that does not erase the fact that you lied to me. Max for Bob’s sake you used me as your last fling!”
“You were not a last fling. I wasn’t planning on falling for you, it just happened. You think that if I had known what I was doing I would have let it go so far between us?” He asked without thinking.
The hurt look on Susan’s face was heart wrenching.
“I didn’t mean it to sound that way. I’m sorry.” He said sincerely.
“Your apologies are empty words.” She told him looking away.
Max took a deep breath and reached for her hands across the table.
“Susan I think we should get married.” He said softly. She turned to face him immediately, pulling her hand away.
“You think? You think we should get married?” She asked offended “Thinking that we should get married is not good enough for me. I want you to want to marry me. Not do it because I am pregnant, what kind of woman do you take me for?”
“What else do you want me to say? I am feeling probably as scared as you right now, it’s not easy to find out you are going to be a father when the thought had not even crossed your mind.”
Susan was left speechless. What he was trying to tell her was that he had not thought about having a child with her. Had it been his fiancés baby he would have probably welcomed it with open arms. How could she ever think that she and Max could repair their differences?
Just as Susan was about to tell Max to go away and forget she even had called she saw Lauren making her way toward their table, a look of fury on her face.
“I should have known it would be someone like you.” She said to Susan nastily.
“Lauren!” Max exclaimed as he stood from his chair.
“So was this your revenge for that stupid dress?!” Lauren asked Susan loudly.
“What, it didn’t fit properly?” Susan mocked her standing up herself.
“You tramp.” Lauren answered her then turned to Max "And you, couldn’t you at least find someone better than me to trade me for?” She asked him
“I am better than you.” Susan responded for him “So much better that I am the one who is making him a father.”
Her vicious remark made Lauren set her eyes on Susan’s bulging stomach. The hurt in her eyes was there only a split second.
“You need to grow up missy,” She told Susan “between you and me there are leagues of class apart favoring me.”
“You demonic bitch!” Susan replied. She had always known this woman was a snake. Even if she only married Max to get back at her she would do it. She was sure Max had loved her once, and if he did not love her now he would not have tried to hard to get her to speak to him. They would get married and be happy and his ex would squirm with jealousy for the rest of her mortal days.
“Go ahead you slut, take advantage that you are pregnant because if you weren’t I would have already slapped you.”
“Oh so you didn’t come up here to congratulate us on our upcoming wedding?” Susan asked her evilly.
“Stop it! You are making a scene.” Max suddenly said realizing that everyone around them was looking their way. A couple of people had even come out of the restaurant to se what was going on “Lauren please leave.” He said to her quietly
The pain Lauren felt by his plea darkened the blue of her eyes. She swallowed as Susan smiled triumphant.
“I do hope you are everything he ever wanted in life; because if you are not it will be such a heartbreak for more than two people.” Lauren told Susan calmly.
Susan tapped her right foot as she waited for Lauren to leave once and for all. She was disgusted when she dared approach Max so close their lips were almost touching.
“That damn dress might fit her better now but I will always be the one woman you will never be able to erase from your heart.” Lauren told him. The she walked away without a glance back.
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Susan brushed past Donna as she stormed into the house following her ill fated meeting with Max. She knew full well that her mother was eagerly awaiting the details of the dinner but she was in no mood to recount the events that had gone horribly wrong. Actually she felt that it couldn’t have been any worse had someone in the heavens been plotting against her.
“Hey Sweetie, how did…”
She only heard the beginning of Donna’s questions before she slammed shut her bedroom door. Collapsing onto the bed, she covered her face with a pillow to mask the sound of sobbing that would certainly arouse her mother’s attention.
‘Did I actually think everything would be fine if we talked?
Her head ached with the thoughts of the conversation that followed Lauren’s departure. She had been unable to hear Lauren’s last words to him but the dazed expression on Max’s face revealed more than she wanted to know. He was wounded. Despite the fact that he turned to face her with a smile, Susan knew instantly that it was forced. He wanted to go after Lauren, to attempt to explain but knew there was nothing that he could do to mend the situation.
“I’m sorry about that,” He offered, pulling out her chair.
She looked down at the empty chair, knowing that she could not bear to be in his presence any longer. Her blood boiled at the thought of the snobby doctor who had once again humiliated her.
“I’m going home,” Susan flatly said.
“No…” Max commanded before his voice softened. “You can’t go…we need to talk. When do we want to have the ceremony?”
“Ceremony?”
“You told her that we were getting married…and I thought…”
Susan could not repress the need to laugh at his assumption.
“Max, to be a smart guy…you really don’t know all that much… at least about women,” she chucked though her heart was breaking inside. “There’s no way in hell that I would marry you. Why would I want to punish myself for the rest of my life with the knowledge that every time you look at me…it’s her that you’re thinking of? Even I don’t deserve to live like that.”
He sat in his chair, feeling overwhelmed by all that had happened.
“So if you need me to clarify things for you… No, Max. I’m not going to marry you. I can’t even believe that you would be so cruel as to ask.”
She knew that he wanted to stop her but there was no force on earth that could have prevented her from leaving the restaurant.
“I’m just his second choice…and if it weren’t for you…I probably wouldn’t even have that distinction,” she mumbled aloud with her eyes fixed on her abdomen. “I can’t believe that I even entertained that notion that I might take him up on his offer.”
For an instant, she hated the child that was slowly growing inside her, hated it for the constant reminder it would be of the happiness that she thought would be hers with Max at her side. Then, without a thought, she ran her hands over the fullness of her stomach. The mere act of being so very close to the baby softened her heart. She regretted her flash of anger. Initially she had felt those same feelings when she discovered she was pregnant. But as the days passed she came to realize that for once there would be someone in her life that she could love who would not abandon her as her father and Max had. The baby was her one true love and no one, especially not that wicked Lauren Alderman, could take it from her.
Her tears slowly subsided. She lay amid the pillows, snuggling them close to her body as she drifted off to sleep.
**
“What do you mean, you don’t know the names of the constellations?” Susan asked, elbowing Max as they lay on their back looking up at the stars. The top of the convertible was down and they were draped in a blanket to ward off the chill that was in the air. The stretch of beach were they found themselves was isolated and only the sound of the crashing waves could be heard. They stared upward, nestled in each others arms.
“Never took the time to pay that much attention to what was happening in the heavens,” he laughingly remarked.
“Well then, let me give you a little lesson,” she said, sitting up and pointing toward the star filled sky. “That’s the Little Dipper. See how the stars form the handle and then the…”
Her words trailed off as Max playfully kissed the side of her neck.
“I can’t do this if you’re going to be…” She tried to continue but the warmth of his lips was too much of a distraction. Her eyes closed and she was lost to the feel of his hands as they moved over her body.
“I’m not sure we should do this…I’m not really ‘ready’ for us to…” she mumbled.
“You want me to stop?” he asked, gazing into her eyes.
She ran her hands over his face, slowly reclining back against the car seat.
“No…it’s just that I haven’t done ‘this’ in a long time and I’m…I don’t know how to say this…”
“I love you” he said softly, melting her with his sincerity. “Do you love me?”
“Of course,” she whispered in response.
“Then that’s all we need to know,” he added, pulling her closer as their kisses intensified.
“Damn those dreams,” Susan said, bolting upright. Her body still tingled from the memories of their night together. The one night that had altered the course of their lives forever. At the time it had been like a dream. The kind of passionate encounter that she had only read about in books but this had actually happened. She hadn’t planned for it but it did happen. Now she was forced to deal with the consequences.
**
The Porsche zigzagged through traffic, narrowly avoiding several collisions but Lauren was oblivious to it all. She revved the motor of the sports car at the lights, consumed by the sheer anger that had welled up from deep inside when she saw Max with his lover.
And of all people…that trashy little seamstress. I should have ripped her hair out that day at the boutique.
She had planned to meet Caitlyn at the bistro for an early dinner but when she caught sight of the Mustang in the parking lot a part of her wanted to run far away and hide. But then there was the vengeful side of her that knew Max was there with her, with the woman who had single handedly destroyed every dream that she had for the future.
Initially, she only planned to catch a glimpse of them. Yet when she saw him smiling at the little tramp, something in side her snapped. She couldn’t stand there and watch without saying something.
All along she had wanted to think that the alleged pregnancy was a rouse. Nothing more than a scam to extort money from him. However there was no denying the fact that the harlot was indeed expecting.
“Oh so you didn’t come up here to congratulate us on our upcoming wedding?” the bitch had spitefully asked.
Lauren punched the accelerator, sending the car speeding off into the already fast moving traffic. He was actually going to marry that woman. The realization of it was almost more than she could tolerate.
“Max Delacoure, I think I hate you more than any person in the entire world,” she said painfully as she aimlessly drove though the city.
**
“I think 3 whiskey sours should be your limit,” Caitlyn said as she sat down across from Max.
He glanced up and then refocused his attention on the shot glass.
“Bad evening?” she asked, taking note of his somber expression.
“The worst,” he answered, gulping down the last of the fiery liquid.
“Want to talk about it? It seems that I’ve been stood up,” she commented, looking around for some sign of Lauren but secretly hoping that she would not suddenly appear.
“Were you meeting Lauren?”
“Yeah…how did you know?” she inquired, puzzled by his knowledge of her plans.
“She’s already been here… and left,” he added, motioning for the waiter to bring another refill.
“Oh,” she said in a surprised voice. “I take it that the two of you didn’t exactly have a friendly conversation?”
“Not exactly….I was here with Susan.”
“That’s not good,” Caitlyn commented, rising from the chair. “Let me leave…I don’t want to interrupt your evening.”
“Don’t worry about it…She’s gone too,” he said with a shrug.
Caitlyn fought the urge to say something humorous yet it was apparent that he was in no mood for off color jokes about this failed love life.
“Sorry to hear that….but I don’t think a roomful of whiskey is going to make you feel any better,” she noted, waving back the waiter who was approaching the table.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” he said, motioning again to the now confused waiter.
“I’m not going to let you sit here and end up sloppy drunk. Come on…Let’s go for a ride and we can talk…beside I’ve always wanted to drive the ‘Stang.”
**
“Ok here’s the money I promised you…but remember you have to put on the act when she’s around…at least of a while,” Austin reminded, handing Alex a crisp one hundred dollar bill.
“Hey, there’s no real acting involved…you know I’ve always thought you were hot,” Alex said, taking the money. “But I gave up on you a long time ago.”
Both the men chuckled slightly at his more than obvious hint. They had been friends for years but Austin had made it perfectly clear that he was in no way interested in pursuing that kind of relationship. Hence, the reason for Alex’s surprise when his friend offered him money to pose as his partner.
“I still don’t understand why you’re doing this,” Alex said. “Why don’t you just tell her that you like her…won’t it be more of a shock to her to find out that you aren’t gay later on?”
“You don’t understand…I can’t tell her that I’m interested in her…not right now. She’s been through so much already,” he explained, picking up one of her design sketches and lovingly admiring her work. “That guy…Max…he broke her heart when he married his fiancée and then she found out that she was pregnant. The last thing she needs right now is a love interest…she needs a friend and that’s what I’m going to be.”
“But why a gay friend?” Alex asked, confused by the plan.
“I’ve got to have some way to side step that conniving mother of hers…I know that she has hopes that they will get back together. Maybe now I’ll be able to avoid her wrath. Besides it’s just the kind of friend Susan needs to have right now. She will assume that I’m not interested in her…at least not in that way, and she’ll open up to me. What better way to start a relationship?”
“Not lying to Susan might be a start…Seems like you just might be falling into the same trap the other guy did…you know, not being honest up front and all.”
Austin cringed at the thought of being compared to her lover, the man who had betrayed her with his deception. He had no intentions of ever hurting her or allowing Max to reenter her life.
“No, there’s a difference between Max and I….He was foolish enough to let her go…That’s something I would never do.”
“You said he came to talk to her the other day…Do you think he’ll try to get her back? After all he is the baby’s father.”
“That’s just a technicality, my good friend,” Austin said, patting Alex on the shoulder. “Max just doesn’t know what he’s up against.”
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“Lauren is right I will never be able to forget her. Not her, not ever.” Max said thirty minutes later as Caitlin drove him home. He was drunk and blabbing away not bothering to make sure she was listening.
“I know you love her Max but it’s hard to imagine you could love two women.” She told him when he remained quiet after his last confession.
“You are telling me.” He mumbled looking outside. The passing street lights made him dizzy; he felt a slight need to vomit but fought against it. “But in Lauren I love it all, everything, every single thing. Including the way she tried to guide my life, I always knew it was her way of showing me she cared. I guess it’s true what she said, I took her for granted. Look at me now.” His voice was unrecognizable, he was speaking too fast and his accent was thicker much harder to decipher.
“You do look bad.” Caitlin agreed “But you got to get your act together, Max you are going to be a father. I would hate to see any kid, including the one that ruined my sister’s life, grow up without a father.”
“It’s not his fault.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” She said.
“Take me to Lauren.” Max ordered pointing forward.
“No Max, I am taking you to your parents.”
He fell asleep before he could reply. Caitlin shook her head disturbed, she shouldn’t care what happened to him, she should have let him drive home intoxicated, but she knew Lauren would have never forgiven her if something had happened to Max and there was a chance Caitlin could have helped him.
“He is drunk,” Caitlin said to Jean Delacoure when she drove up their driveway to find them rushing out “I thought it was best if I brought him instead of having him kill himself on the way here.”
“Thanks.” The man answered, they had run outside to see who was the woman driving Max’s car home. Marla was insistent that Max would never be able to bring the woman who broke his marriage into her house. “You need for me to take you home?”
“No Mr. Delacoure thanks but I’ll catch a cab.” The girl answered handing him the keys and walking away into the street.
Jean knew the taxi station was conveniently a block away from their home but he could not hide his discontent over not been able to drive her home. He was about to call out to her when he saw his wife approaching their son angry.
“Now you are going to become an alcoholic? Do tell us so we can be spared of the shock.” She told the sleeping man in the passenger’s seat of the car.
Jean went to them and helped Max out of the car.
“Come one; let’s go to your room.” He said dragging him up the steps, through the door and into his room. He let him fall on his bed and removed his shoes. As he was trying to take off his jacket Max stirred and woke up. He looked directly into his father’s eyes when he spoke.
“Why dad? Why doesn’t she love me anymore?”
“Who Max?” Jean asked stunned.
“Laurie.” Max said between sobs.
Jean hesitated while Max’s sobs softly echoed through the room. There was no way to repair the relationship but Max needed to know that Lauren cared for him. He also needed to understand he could not longer hope for her love when he had made up his mind to marry the other woman.
“She does son, she loves you very much.” Jean told him “But you have to think about one thing; are you hurting her more by loving her than you would if you just let her go?”
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Two days went by and Max felt the weight of the world on his shoulders more apparent each passing hour. He did not return to his job as paramedic, he was done with being afraid. It came as a surprise to realize that if he could help people as an emergency technician, as a doctor he could grant them so much more. His time was divided between the ER as subordinate to Doctor Brown, and the Cardiology Department where he assisted Dr. Green with diagnoses.
Still now he had more time to approach Paul and his old friends during his breaks. The trouble was he had been avoiding them because all Paul could do when he saw him was scold him for ruining his chances with Susan.
“You are so stupid Max.” Paul had told him just that morning “You think you are ever going to find someone more perfect for you than Susan?”
Max had ignored him and walked away. It was useless to explain he had tried to call her numerous times after their short chat. It was pointless to tell him that it was she who refused to see him and not the other way around.
Then there was the constant reminder that Lauren also ignored his presence every time they crossed paths. His parents had told him about the money Lauren gave them to deposit in his account and her wish for his happiness when that meant her sorrow. He was sure she meant them, but why did she disregard his attempts to approach her at the hospital? All he wanted to do was thank her.
Max was walking back to the ER after receiving his much awaited test results; he wanted to talk to Brown about them. They had found that a tear in one of the vessels giving oxygen to his brain became obstructed when he had anxiety attacks and that these caused his body to have a reaction and shut down his airways. It was an operable condition but Max wanted to make sure of the efficiently of the surgery if he decided to go ahead with it.
“Where is Doctor Brown?” He asked the receptionist after searching the whole hall for him.
“He is at the auction Dr. Delacoure.” The woman responded smiling
“What auction?”
“The auction of the staff members, to gather funds for the children’s wing.” She replied
Now that she mentioned it to him Max remembered hearing about it. He smiled thinking what a kind gesture it was for some of his colleagues to rent themselves for one day so they could raise funds for the hospital necessities of the children in their care. He remained motionless for a minute wondering if perhaps Lauren would be among the candidates for rental, as soon as he decided it was worth the try he headed for the main lobby of the hospital where the event was taking place.
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Susan woke up later than usual but with a throbbing pain in her lower back. At first she was thinking she might have slept in the wrong position but then she felt it, the wet and sticky presence of blood between her legs. She threw the stained covers aside and wept.
“No, oh Bob please no!” She said frantic.
The sharp stab of another contraction pierced through her making her press her teeth together until it was gone.
“Mom!” She cried through her sob “Mom!”
Donna came in scared by her daughter’s cries and gasped when she saw what was happening.
“Oh Bob!” The old woman said rushing to Susan’s side.
“Call 9-1-1, please, call them.” She told her mother as she held the edge of the mattress trying to stand.
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The ambulance rushed into Boston Medical’s emergency lot as Max was entering the elevator that would take him to the second floor. The paramedics passed right by him as the doors closed. Max was looking away.
He walked out of the elevator as the clapping of the gathered crowd in the waiting room told him he was in the right place. There were about fifty people there, and not counting the staff that so eagerly waited their turn to be auctioned. Max saw Beth Miller, maternity nurse and Lauren’s friend, up on the stand where Dr. Brown insisted for her to add more about herself so that the buyers could make a bigger offer. The woman smiled and said she could cook a killer lasagna. A bid for $1000 was raised and she was thrown into the arms of a good looking man that smiled widely as she walked to him.
Max stood a few feet away from the crowd, he could still hear everything but he did not want to be seen.
“And now we have our very beautiful lead surgeon of reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, ladies and gentlemen here for you this morning is the exquisite; Dr. Lauren Alderman!” Brown boasted through the microphone in his hand. Max took a step out of his hideout to see her. She was in her usual white gown, her hair pinned back into a pony tail, it made him smile thinking she might have been pulled out of a surgery and someone was out there waiting to be liposucked while their doctor was being rented out to the drooling men who watched her take the stand.
“I am not sure I can do this.” She said nervously into the microphone Brown handed to her “I was forced.” Everyone laughed at her statement, she smiled “I don’t even think I can be a good date right now, but if you are thinking of having cosmetic surgery and would like a very expensive consultation I’m your girl.”
More laughter invaded the room. Brown suggested she show what was under her coat. Lauren’s eyes widened in surprise but she agreed. Slowly she mimicked a striptease and took off her coat enticingly; she was wearing black pants and a blue shirt that instantly brightened her eyes.
“One thousand dollars!” A man called as soon as the coat was off. The nurses behind Lauren giggled, she gasped.
“One thousand five hundred!” Another man offered.
“Come on Lauren you got to give these men a little more background!” Brown told her beginning to feel this would be a good contribution to their cause. Lauren hesitated for a few moments.
“Mmmm… I hate baseball.” She told the crowd making a face “I’m afraid of the dark.”
Her words reminded Max of the one time they visited a haunted corn maze outside their college’s city. He had hid from her and she was panicking.
‘Max! Max where are you?!’
‘Here.’ He had said jumping behind her. She punched his chest and he kissed her.
‘Please don’t do that, it scares me.’ Lauren had asked when their lips parted.
‘I’m here; there is nothing to be scared about.’ Max told her.
“I don’t know how to cook but there is this restaurant that serves delicious Chinese food.” Lauren’s voice said.
“Two thousand dollars!” A male jumped in.
Lauren giggled and looked directly at the man that had made the last offer.
“You are making me nervous.” She told him “I can give the winning bet a ride in my Porsche.”
“Three thousand!” Dr. Brown shouted making everyone laugh.
“Take you over the city to the best spot in town to watch the sun rise.” Lauren added with a wink at Brown. She knew he was trying to get the men to bid more.
Max could stand it no more. In the dark of the night he had been hiding with Susan but with Lauren he watched the sun come up.
“Two hundred thousand dollars!” He called stepping out of his hiding place.
The gasps of surprise and the murmurs that followed his trail up the improvised stage were many.
“I would give you my life to watch the sunrise one more time with this woman.” Max told Brown giving him the check for the amount he had offered.
“No.” Lauren told Brown walking to his side and looking at Max furious.
“Lauren the check is made.” Dr. Brown replied.
“Not him. I will give you twice as much but I am not going to go with him.”
“Just one day.” Max asked her “One more day and then I am out of your life.”
Everyone was looking at her and waiting for an answer. Lauren looked at Beth who nodded for Lauren to agree. It took her over a minute of pondering until she came up with a decision.
“Okay,” She responded knowing that at least the money would be put to good use “just for today, after this everything will be over.”
“I promise.” He told her sighting.
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While Max was bidding his life for a day next to Lauren, Susan had been fighting a losing battle to keep their child alive. Donna had tried to call him but it appeared his phone was off for the messaging machine picked up after every first ring.
Hours later Susan was waking up in a dark room. Donnas was at her side.
“Susan? Are you feeling better?” The woman asked her daughter as she caressed the top of her head.
“Mom?” Susan said, the worry in her voice was all Donna needed to know what the question was.
“I’m sorry honey,” Donna answered bursting into heart breaking tears “it was either you or him. Please forgive me.”
Susan began to pan in desperation; the tears she wanted to cry were not there for her. There was nothing but an empty void where her heart had been.
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Max and Lauren had been driving in silence for over two hours. She was looking out her side window in Max’s red Stang, her hair in the wind like it had always been when they rode together in his car. The sign for their destination came into view and he turned into the road that would lead them there.
“Bash Bish Falls is still beautiful.” He said trying to get her to speak “You remember the way the water reflects the first rays of the sun making a kaleidoscope around us?”
She remained quiet as she continued to look out the window. After about five minutes she answered him. He was surprised, he had already given up.
“I remember many things.” She said “Most of them I want to forget.”
“I don’t.” Max replied “I don’t want to forget a single one.”
Lauren turned to face him momentarily.
“Especially not this place.” He added as he looked into her eyes. Lauren looked away.
“The first time we made love.” She mumbled softly.
“Under the partially lit sky of an early morning.” He reminded her “You were beautiful.”
“You were surprised that I had been a virgin.” Lauren trying to hide the smile on her face with no success, Max saw it and smiled too.
“I had imagined that you would have had tons of suitors, and adventures, by then.”
“No, I told you I had the chicken pox during my prom.” She told him looking straight at the road in front of them “I lost my opportunity to do it the way everyone else does it, in the back of a car while trying not to ruin your dress so your parent’s can’t tell.”
A suppressed laugh left her throat and Max’s smile faded. It was so hard to imagine this was the last time he would get to be like this with her. The last time he would hear her laugh.
“Then I am glad you had the chicken pox; we made it more special that way.” He said after a while.
“You never said you loved me.” Lauren retorted hurt as she recalled the moment.
“There was no need; I was showing you. My hands were saying all the things I can’t express with words.”
She turned to glance at him then down at her hands. She was holding them together as a reminder to keep her tears inside. Her anger suppressed.
“Will it ever stop hurting Max?” She asked him “Are we going to be okay?”
“You are, you were always the strong one.” He said closing his eyes for just one second.
“I think I hate you more than I ever thought possible.” She told him with her eyes back on the side window.
“Does hating me make you feel better?” Max asked.
“Yes.”
“Then hate me until there is no remembrance of the love you once had for me.”
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Though the sun was slowly illuminating the skies over Boston, the room where Susan lay was dark. The shades had been pulled closed and she had spent the sleepless night alone with only her haunted memories to keep her company. Shortly after Donna had explained that the baby was gone, she had ordered her to leave. Though her mother protested it did no good. Eventually, she quietly exited the sterile hospital room but not before she mumbled a whispered prayer for her distraught child.
Susan felt certain that crying would have helped ease her suffering yet there were no tears to be shed. Rather she sat in silent contemplation, mulling over the events of the last year. Never had she ever dreamed of finding a man like Max. He was everything she every wanted. For a brief period of time, she had known the joys of heaven. Now she was learning about the tortures of hell.
She pulled the pillow over her stomach, unable to allow her eyes to even drift to the safe haven where her child…. their child, had been for a short period of time. Consumed by the loss of yet another dream, she drew her knees toward her chest and lay in the center of the bed, not caring if she lived or died.
**
Max rushed to the hospital as soon as he retrieved the message Donna had left with his answering service. It had been the frantic ramblings of a grief stricken mother who was terrified for the life of her daughter.
Max, this is Donna. Something terrible has happened. Susan has been rushed to the ER at Memorial. I don’t know what’s wrong… no one will tell me anything. Please come as quickly as you can. I’m so worried about her…Please hurry.
Shortly after he arrived at the hospital he learned the heartbreaking details of her miscarriage.
Severe hemorrhage, fetal distress, life or death decision.
He wanted to distance himself from the words that the ER physician had used to describe her condition. He needed to pretend that it was just another patient who had suffered a tremendous loss but he couldn’t get the image of her out of his mind. The thoughts of her enduring the ordeal alone ripped at his soul. He tortured himself with the thought the perhaps if he had been with her there might have been something that he could have done to stabilize her condition and save their unborn baby.
He stood outside her room, attempting to find the words of comfort that he would need to offer. Peering into the darkened room, he saw no sign of her but he knew with all certainty that she was there inside. His hand rested on the door knob for what seemed an eternity before he slowly opened the door.
“Please, go away… I don’t want any breakfast and I don’t need to see the doctor…Just please…go,” she said with her voice dripping in sadness.
“Susan,” he whispered, letting the door close behind him.
“Oh Bob! Please just go…I don’t want to see you,” she pleaded, turning her face away from him.
He remained motionless, hearing her words but knowing that she did not need to be alone. There had been so many things that he wished that would have done differently. He had hurt her as no one else had and when she needed him the most, he had failed her miserably.
“I’m so sorry, Susan,” he offered, slowly moving across the room. “Are…are you alright?”
The instant the words left his lips he knew that it had been a mistake.
“No, Max. I’m perfectly fine… My life has never been better… I’m sure I’m the envy of everyone who meets me,” she angrily answered. “Now just go… and leave me alone. You don’t have to pretend that you are upset that I lost the baby… You’ve had to lie enough.”
“Susan, I wanted this baby…” he said before abruptly stopping. “I wanted it more than you will ever know.”
He sat down on the edge of the bed causing her to move away. Hesitantly, he reached out to touch her shoulder. Her posture stiffened but she did not pull away.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes… and I’ve hurt you so much. You have to know that I never meant to do that…”
She lay still, listening to his heartfelt words.
“When I met you I only wanted to help you… to let you know that you were incredible and that any man would be lucky to have you. But something happened…”
He ran his hand over the length of her arm, gently caressing her skin as he continued to speak.
“That night…at the carnival. I looked over at you and… I… I knew that I couldn’t walk away… I couldn’t forget you and go back to the life that I had before that moment. When I looked at you I saw everything I wanted…a life with someone who loved me as Max the paramedic… you didn’t expect me to be someone else… you only wanted me.”
His mind went back to the many conversations that he had had with Lauren. No matter how loving she seemed there were always those looming expectations for him. Even if it were a subtle hint or a comment made in jest, he knew that she had plans for their lives that were her vision for the future, not his.
“Tell me something Max… did you ever stop to think what our child might have been like?” she softly asked, keeping her face toward the mattress. “Did you ever stop to think what it would have been like to take him to a Sox game or show him how to pitch a curve ball? Did you ever do that?”
He swallowed hard, fighting back the tears.
“Or did you ever wonder what it would be like to look down at his tiny face and see yourself in him? I did… I thought about those things every day… but now…I guess I will never know.”
She sobbed softly with her body trembling from the realization that she might never again have such an opportunity.
“Yes…I did…all those days I spent waiting to see you on the street…that’s how I spent my time. Wondering what it would be like to come home to the two of you each day…trying to think of how I could be a good father… even a good husband. I wanted that…I wanted to have a family.”
“Just not with me,” she whispered.
“Yes… with you,” he said, pulling her up and looking into her reddened eyes. “I wanted all of those things with you.”
“Just tell me one thing… when you said you loved me…did you mean it… I mean did you really love ME?”
“With all my heart,” he honestly answered before pulling her against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly.
Within the warmth of his embrace, she let the anger and sadness slip away. The tears that had failed to surface gradually began to flow.
“Max…I don’t know if I can do this… I can’t stand to hurt like this anymore,” she sobbed, resting against the solidity of his broad chest.
“I know…I know,” he replied, running his hand over her face before planting a tender kiss atop her head. “But you don’t have to be on your own anymore. I’m here.”
She continued to cry, lost to the misery of their loss.
“I’ll always be here,” he whispered, leaning back onto the bed and holding her close to his heart.
**
Lauren had arrived at work early despite her late evening with Max. Glancing over the surgery roster, she couldn’t help but notice the listing of over night admissions to the hospital. Though she typically didn’t give the notice a second thought, something drew here eyes to the sheet of paper.
Susan Smith. Obstetrics. Room 357.
The sight of the name struck her like a bolt of lightening. She was there in the hospital. Immediately her mind began to race with possible scenarios that would have required her to be hospitalized. Unable to fight the temptation, she left the pre op desk and made her way to the third floor.
She casually paced down the hallway until room 357 came into view. She knew that the nurses could not provide her with information about Susan’s condition and there was certainly no way the bitch would ever tell her about Max’s baby but she had a nagging need to know what was happening. She peered into the window to see someone in the bed. Upon closer inspection she was devastated to see Max lying back on the bed with Susan lying across his chest. She was cradled in his strong arms, both of them lost to their dreams.
Lauren wanted to burst into the room, to cause a scene that would end their blissful slumber but she could not bring herself to disturb them. They looked so peaceful, so much in love that she could do nothing but turn away.
“Max…why couldn’t you just love me…why?’ |
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Max looked over at Lauren who was standing by the open door of the cabin atop the fall. She had her arms crossed over her chest, a lost look on her face. The darkness outside was filled with the inviting noise of the cascading water below them. It would still be hours before they could sit outside and watch the sun come out.
“You can sleep a while if you want to.” He called to her “I can wake you up when its time.”
“No.” She said without looking at him.
Before she knew it he was next to her lightly touching her arm.
“No words need be spoken between two lovers adrift; the beat of their hearts lead the way to a kiss.” Max said into her ear.
She stood still unable to breathe as his hand moved to her back and softly pulled her into his arms; his lips tenderly caressing hers. Lauren felt her head spinning as he found his way under her shirt. With a forceful push she freed herself from him.
“I am not a prostitute.” She told him straightening her clothes.
“I would never dare to think of you that way.”
“It seems you already have, or has it slipped your mind that I am here because you rented me?”
“Forgive me.” He told her taking a few steps back.
“Where did you find that lousy line you used anyways?” She asked looking away.
Max did not respond. He did not have the courage to tell her that he had written poems for her throughout the ten years their love had lasted. Saying I love you had not been enough for him; he had wanted to give her a piece of his heart in every word he wrote. The mad ramblings of a man in love; he hope to present her with his poems the night of their real wedding. Knowing this was the last time they would be together he had tried to show her just how much he still cared. But there was no point.
“I asked Susan to marry me.” Max said to her. Lauren turned to look at him and for just a second she appeared to be fighting back tears.
“And you want me to be the maid of honor?” She spitefully asked with a smile.
“Lauren don’t do that to yourself.” He told her hurt.
“You mean press the wound to see if it still hurts? Why not, it reminds me of what scum you are.”
“I’ll always love you Lauren.” Max assured her walking farther away from her.
This time she was the one to go after him.
“If I recount the damages caused by the holocaust of your love I find that these are immeasurable, irreparable, there is so much destruction.” She recited so fast it left her breathless “No amount of tears will ever be able to extinguish the fire of anger that’s within me. There are dead hopes scattered everywhere I turn; ruins are all that’s left of what I once was. After I think of all that’s happened you end up owing me so much love.” She was trying to control her anger.
“You’ll never know just how much I love you. What I feel for you is stronger than anything I have ever felt.” Max replied as her face reached his own.
“You’ll get over it.” She answered and tried to turn away. Max grabbed her arm and stopped her forcing her to look into his eyes.
“No, I can’t.” He said “I can’t get over your kisses that raised me to the heavens; those same kisses that now plunge me deep into the abyss of hell. I can’t get over your uniquely cruel way of embracing me.”
“It doesn’t really matter anymore, does it?” Lauren retorted “There is no use to this delirium of holding on to a story that died without us noticing. There is no use to the punishment of trying to find among the debris of our love a way to erase it all and start over.” Lauren stopped speaking and sighted loudly. If she continued to lose track of her words she was never going to be able to tell Max the things she had come there to say.
Max released his hold on her arm and let one of his hands caress her cheek gently.
“You are the only loss in my life, the only thing I ever gave up on.” Lauren was saying as he lowered his hand “I don’t like the feeling of failure that gives me. You are tempting me. Tempting me to forget I released you and try to fight for you only to prove myself that there is nothing I can’t have.”
She took a step forward and inhaled the air he exhaled, her lips so close to him he gasped in delightful agony.
“Is that what you want?” She asked him not waiting for a response before resuming her speech “Do you want me to reclaim you as my own only to show the world that I always get my way? Or would you rather have me lose my grace and shout profanities at you?” Max closed his eyes breathing the nearness of her “Because if that is what it will take for you to get out of my life I swear will do it.” Lauren pulled back and looked directly into his eyes.
“I only want the best for you.” He told her holding her gaze.
“And what about what I want?” She said “Do you care to know that I want to wake up and for once not think ‘what is Max doing today?’ ‘what is he thinking?’ That I want the air that I breathe to not have your scent, that I need space to rebuild my dignity, my life.”
“If there was a way Lauren believe me I would run away with you right now, anywhere, just so that we can be together.”
Her laugh made Max gasp.
“You need two willing to fight to be able to save a love. You need time to be willing to waste it, but most of all Max; you need dreams to be able to withstand the cruelty of reality. You murdered all my hopes and dreams, you think I can ever forgive you and forget all the pain you have caused me?” She asked maliciously.
His silence was a clear sign of defeat.
“At least the time spent with you has taught me not to look below my rank for love. I should have known you would always go back to your roots.” Lauren spoke calmly and very convincingly.
“So suddenly I am not good enough for you?” Max was rapidly enraged. She was deliberately showing him the parts of her she knew he could never fight against.
“Don’t act so hurt.” She told him between evil laughs “You know you were never worthy of me, you should have taken what I gave you without complains I don’t think you’ll ever get such good an offer.”
Max felt his blood begin to boil.
“You were everything I ever wanted, to think I adored you once, Bob I was so blind.” He snapped “I thought of you as a part of me that I was losing and not as the load you really are.” Then it came to him, the way to hurt her just as deep as she was hurting him. “But I have to admit that the nights we spent together were quite something.” He said with a cruel smile “That is the one thing I am going to miss about you.”
Lauren’s loud breathing gave him the proof he needed to be sure that he had hit the right spot.
“You disgust me.” She said with her eyes ablaze.
“Until now I could not say the same about you.” He defied.
“At last you show your true colors.”
“You’ve destroyed the image I had of you. I loved the good and bad in you, I was willing to love you just as you are.” Max answered willing to break all that had once united them.
“Face it Maximilian,” Lauren’s voice was unexpectedly vice “you have always been beneath me.”
When the sun came up a few hours later Max was sitting so very close to the edge of the fall that Lauren’s heart skipped a beat several times when he moved the slightest bit.
‘If given another chance to choose, I would pick you again without hesitation. There isn’t a reason to doubt it even for a second; you have been the only one that has touched my heart and between you and heaven I would stay with you forever, if only you wanted me too.’ Lauren thought as she looked at his back.
Max could hear Lauren kicking the rocks under her feet as the sun was rising in the distance; he was listening closely to make sure she was still there. Even after all she had hurt him he still wanted to keep her safe.
They had not exchanged any more words after she so spitefully told him the truth of her feelings for him. He did not want to look back so that she could see that he was so hurt he was fighting his tears. Tears of anger and pain that he vowed to hide from her forever. He would forget her; he would learn to live without her. His son would help him see the beauty of the sun once again.
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Lauren burst into her office without bothering to acknowledge her receptionist's plea to wait, she did not even bother to turn the light on. Seeing Max with the seamstress again and in such loving gesture as an embrace made her entire body tingle with jealousy. Though that meant her act to make Max believe she never cared for him had been a success it still depressed and angered her to think of him with the seamstress.
Why did he have to fall for that woman? Why, out of all the women in the world, did it had to be precisely her? She was not even all that pretty, what was wrong with Max?
“Breathe, breathe.” Lauren ordered herself. “All it would take is a couple extra millimeters of morphine, no one would notice, they would not feel a thing.” She said throwing the files she had in her arms on her desk “Argh!”
A male laugh coming from the corner of her dark office startled her.
“Lauren Alderman.” The voice said coming out of the shadows and flicking the light on “Who are you trying to kill this time?”
“Sebastian.” Lauren exclaimed smiling. The man approached her and gave her a tight hug.
“Who is it then?” He insisted
“Who is who?” Lauren asked perplexed
“Who are you trying to kill?” He asked again with a wicked smile on his handsome face.
“Two rats I found recently.” She answered staring at him. He was as tall as Max, tan skin, blue eyes, blond and gorgeous; the equivalent of a ken doll if someone ever was.
“You couldn’t kill a fly; deep down I know you are a softy.” Sebastian told her crossing his arms over his chest and leaning on her desk.
“Don’t bet any money on that.” Lauren replied truly considering whether or not she could pull it off. It was useless she would never have the heart to kill them “What are you doing here?”
“I just got hired by Anne Dreyer. You are looking at Boston Medical’s new Obstetrician.”
“Really?” She said amazed.
Sebastian nodded
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” He responded “I wanted to come see you right away before Max realized I’ll be working in the hospital and had a wall build around you.”
The man’s word made Lauren abruptly turn away from him. Why did people keep reminding her of him?
“You don’t need to worry about that anymore.” She said with her back to him.
“What?” Sebastian asked taking a step in front of her “Oh please say he died in a terrible accident and you are free for me to love.”
His joke made her smile.
“Something like that.”
“Forget my new job, your news call for a celebration.” He said grabbing her arm “Show me the way to the cafeteria.”
Lauren followed his lead out of her office and into an elevator speechless. When the doors closed he glanced at the number pad then at Lauren waiting for her signal.
“Second floor” She told him admitting to herself that she too needed a drink “but I’m afraid we won’t find any champagne there.”
“Then you’ll be in debt with me.” Sebastian replied with a grin.
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“I heard about you buying Dr. Alderman. I didn’t know you had that much money, you could have loaned me some man.” George told Max as he met him outside the cafeteria. “You sure you don’t want me to go back and get you something to eat?”
“I’m sure.” Max answered. After arriving at his parents to find 20 missed calls on his cell phone and rushing to Susan’s side after he found out their child was dead he had no desire to eat at all. Perhaps he would never eat again, it didn’t matter anymore.
Susan had fallen asleep in his arms and Max asked Donna to go home and rest, he would be watching after her daughter. He had gone to the second floor to stretch his legs when he saw George emerging from the cafeteria. His friend had hurried to his side to make conversation, something Max was just not in the mood for.
“So did you have a good time with her?” George asked him. Max looked at him as if he didn’t know him. It took him a while to realize he was referring to Lauren.
He was suddenly taken back to the memories of the previous night. His heart still ached with the resonance of her vicious statements.
“No.” He answered sourly.
“I just saw her, she is in there.” George added smiling. He liked Dr. Alderman; he always thought he and Max made a good couple. Whatever had happened between them, (he only knew that they had fought over something that night she had forced him to tell her where Max and Paul met each month for guy’s night out), was solely up to them.
“She can go to hell for all I care. I don’t ever want to see her face again.” Max replied angry.
George laughed and Max gave him an evil look which the man ignored.
“She was with this new doctor the nurses are all drooling over.” He told his friend
“What new doctor?” Max asked suddenly very interested in Lauren’s whereabouts.
George giggled, he knew Max would care that his woman was with another man.
“I may be wrong but I think his name is Sebastian Dorame.”
“You got to be shieting me.” Max exclaimed shocked “Of all the hospitals in the country he had to come here and now.”
“You know him?”
“We went to college together. He was always after Lauren. But he isn’t her type. She has never been into the cover boy looks, overgrown muscles and partial brain cells.” He responded annoyed by his recollection of the man in question and the last encounter they had had years ago.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that anymore.” George told Max pointing to the cafeteria’s doorway “That kiss seems like an approving one to me.”
“What?” Max asked turning to look in the direction George was pointing.
There stood Lauren in Sebastian’s arms, passionately exchanging a kiss. Surprisingly infuriated Max started to walk over to them but was halted by the voice of the intercom and George’s strong arm.
‘Doctor Delacoure to Intensive Care Unit, Dr. Delacoure please report to ICU as soon as possible.’
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Out of the corner of her eye Lauren saw Max talking to George as she and Sebastian were exiting the cafeteria. She stopped as she tried to make up her mind about what she was about to do, but found no reason not to do it.
“Kiss me.” She told Sebastian hurriedly.
“What?” The man asked her fearing he had misheard her.
“Kiss me.” Lauren repeated.
Stunned but not a bit precautious or hesitant, Sebastian took Lauren into his arms and placed his lips upon hers. Her response was pleasant but forced.
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How dared she kissed another man, how dare she? Max repeated over and over in his head.
“And you’ll have to check on Mr. Williams before you go home tonight.” Dr. Green tried to instruct him “Max?” He asked when he saw he had not been listening.
“Yes, sorry.” Max responded suddenly alert “I will check on Williams before I go home, yes.”
Charles Green took one long look at his much younger colleague and frowned. Max seemed to be in need of some advise, and urgently before he ruined his new yet very promising career.
“Max.” Dr. Green told him serenely “If you have problems affecting your work you need to fix them and fast. Being a doctor is hard work, but it has to be a passion of the heart also.” Max nodded attentive “Helping people is not as easy as giving them CPR and keeping their hearts beating until you can pass them over to the ER doctors. It is the doctors who spend their lives in the hospital; the ones who truly must take the credit for saving lives.” The wise statement came as a surprise to the young doctor “Now do you want to go back to the ambulance and keep lying to yourself by pretending to be happy there, or do you want to truly make a difference?”
“I want to make a difference.” He answered truthfully “I’m sorry, I’ll get back on track.”
“I know you will. I have faith in you.” Dr. Green said just before he left.
‘You might be the only one.’ Max thought sadly.
And though he was still troubled with Lauren’s display of affection toward Sebastian Dorame, Max got to work hoping he could sneak out later to go see Susan.
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“I don’t think so. I’m sorry if that kiss made you think you could ask me and I would say yes.” Lauren told Sebastian for the third time that evening.
She was walking him to Obstetrics to find his new office so that he could come back in the morning and get settled. She had been doubtful about taking him there for fear she would run into the seamstress or worse, Max, but finally she had decided that she would not hide from them. At least not all the time.
“I’m not proposing Lauren I am only asking you to dinner.” Sebastian insisted.
“I am not up to it right now, you wouldn’t understand.”
“I would if you told me. You can trust me, I don’t even like Max so it’s not like I am going to take his side.”
“It’s a little too personal and… embarrassing to share.” She replied looking at the sign above the double doors they were facing “I think this is as far as I can go.” She said to him.
“Why? You don’t like Obstetrics?” He asked curious about the real reason she refused to enter that particular wing of the hospital.
“I just need to go back to my office and work on a surgery procedure layout.” Lauren responded half telling the truth. She was going to spend the night in the hospital working on a delicate reconstructive procedure for a child’s surgery but she could have spent a few more minutes with him, she just did not want to risk been seen by Max.
“I will see you tomorrow then.” Sebastian agreed knowing it was best to let her leave for the time being.
“Okay.” She said leaning forward to place a kiss on his cheek.
Just then the double doors opened and out walked Max, his face red with anger at the sight of them.
“You son of a…” He said to Sebastian as he launched for him and punched his nose
--------------
A nurse came into the room making the shouts and thumps outside more noticeable to Susan’s ears. She was smiling thinking how wonderful Max had been just a minute ago when he was in the room telling her that everything would be alright and that baby or not they would get married. It had been what she had wanted from him all along, and though she still planned to play hard to get and had acted a bit indifferent she knew she could not say no.
Her poor baby had died before it even got a chance to live and the pain in her heart was unbearable, but with Max’s love everything promised to be alright. They would have a happy life and the sacrifice of their child would always be the memory that had brought them back together, it would not be in vain.
“What is all that noise?” Susan asked the nurse while the woman changed her IV.
“I think two doctors are fighting in the hall.” The older lady responded unconcerned.
“Fighting?” Susan wondered smiling over the oddity of that “Why are they fighting?”
“Women troubles I guess, what else would men fight over?”
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Lauren was falling asleep on the couch in her office. She pressed a button on her wristwatch and saw that it was 3:13am. She could get about four hours of sleep before she had to go into surgery. A yawn took control of her reflexes and Lauren scratched her forehead revisiting the procedure she had just planned out for the morning surgery. If everything went as planned a little boy would have a new face and he would no longer be bullied for the deformities a devastating cancer had left on his face. It was a difficult case to take but Lauren was confident that she could help the boy.
She yawned again and closed her eyes. Instead of pleasant images in her head Lauren relived the scene that had taken place hours before between Max and Sebastian outside Obstetrics.
As both men pushed each other against the walls and tried punching away she had screamed for them to stop the ridiculous fight.
“Max! Sebastian! We are in a hospital for Bob’s sake!” She cried
Soon two male nurses had come out and were pulling them apart. Both Sebastian and Max were fuming, piercing each other with their eyes and breathing heavily.
“What is the matter with you two?” Lauren asked angry.
“Couldn’t you keep your hands off her?” Max shouted at Sebastian “I told you if you ever got near her again I would kill you.”
“She is no longer your concern.” Sebastian defied him.
“Let me be the judge of that.” Max replied.
“He doesn’t have to, you and I are through.” Lauren informed both of them “Just stay away from me!” She said walking away disgusted by their behavior.
Lauren sighted and slowly drifted off to sleep. She had not been resting long when a light caress to her shoulder send chills over her body making her tremble a bit. Her eyes remained closed, her breathing peaceful.
Moments later a male voice disguised in the shadows of the room softly began to speak to her.
“You have no idea what you do to me… I’m sure I’ve loved you in lifetimes before. Your voice makes me tremble inside and your smile is an invitation for my imagination to go wild, I never really knew what became of me after you smiled, I got lost in you each time… If you could look into my eyes and hear what I truly want to say and not what I force myself to speak…. I may not be able to see you ever again, I may not be able to hold you in my arms all through the night, but I can’t let you go. See there is this place in me where your fingerprints still rest, your kisses still linger, and your whispers softly echo. It’s the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me, no matter how I try to deny it… I’d like to meet you again in a timeless, placeless place, somewhere out of context and beyond all consequences, where we might be happy together.”
The voice stopped for mere seconds that in the need for his confession felt like an eternity.
“I can still remember just the way you taste.” It continued “It is because you are so uniquely you that I love you so much, and because I am destroying the beauty of your soul I must leave you.”
As the tick tock of the wall clock reminded him that his time with her was over, Max leaned out of the shadows and got close to Lauren’s face.
“Live for me Laurie.” He told her sleeping form “Live so that when the echoes of your happiness reach me my heart can beat again.” He gently kissed her lips and murmured “I’m in love with you.”
Then he was gone.
Lauren heard the door to her office close and she opened her eyes, a solitary tear fell from them. She had heard everything he had said to her, every single word. Her mind traveled back in time, to the source from where his last sentence emerged.
“Are you a poet also?” She asked him before biting into the hot dog in her hands. It was a wonderful surprise to know that Max’s father was a poet.
“No.” Max answered “I think only the greatest of love or pain can make a man a poet.”
“Have you never loved?” Lauren asked between chews. He smiled at her, she looked adorable.
“Loving and being in love are different things.” He said still looking at her “You can love and say I love you, but you can only be in love once.”
“You are a poet.” She replied smiling and nodding at the same time.
Being in love was so painful Lauren hugged herself to stop the shivers it caused; the end of a love that had started ten years ago was now a reality. But she would live through it; she would live to continue to love him even from a distance.
“We do have one thing in common Max,” She said into the dark of her office “we both think that lying is a way of saying I love you.” |
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Susan nervously paced around the room, eager to leave the hospital and put all the sadness of the visit behind her. Though she knew her heart would never truly mend, Max had been a source of endless comfort during the past three days. He had visited her countless times as he made his rounds in the hospital. She sensed a change in him that was hard to pinpoint. During their heartfelt conversations she came to understand just how devastated he had been about the loss of their child. She attributed his occasional silence and the distance in his eyes to their shared sorrow.
She whirled around when she heard the door open with her face brightened by expectation.
“Max…You shouldn’t have,” she said upon seeing the massive bouquet of wild flowers that masked the face of the person in the door way.
“He didn’t,” Austin chuckled, moving the flowers to the side. “But I hope you aren’t too disappointed.”
“Don’t be silly,” she replied, rushing forward to accept the flowers and to embrace him. “But I’m going home today…you really shouldn’t have.”
“And break my record for the most consecutive floral arrangements delivered to one woman at Memorial,” he laughed, taking in the roomful of flowers that he had sent to her during the brief stay. “Besides I needed an excuse to see your smiling face.”
“And no doubt leave class early,” she added with a giggle, inhaling the sweet aroma of the bouquet.
“You know me too well.” He smiled, moving close enough to lightly kiss her cheek. “Why don’t you let me drive you home?”
She sighed, knowing that he would not like her reply.
“I can’t…Max is picking me up after he finishes his rounds. Besides I’m sure you and Alex have plans,” she offered, hoping that he would not take the opportunity to berate Max yet again.
“Susan… What’s it going to take to make you see the light when it comes to him? He’s not good for you…you can do so much better.”
She smiled, unable to think of anyone but Max.
“I love him… What can I say?”
“I’m just going to attribute it to the fact that you’re a sadist…I think you like being hurt by him.”
She rolled her eyes, though his words were in jest there as an element of truth to them that she found hard to deny. Before she could comment, the door opened again. Two young nurses entered the room, carrying armfuls of fresh linens.
“Oh I’m sorry Ms. Smith…I thought you had already left. Would you like for us to do this at another time?” one of them asked.
“No…Go ahead,” she said, motioning toward the unmade bed.
Susan and Austin moved toward the window as the women scrambled about the room to prepare it for a new patient. While they looked out over the cityscape, the nurses talked between themselves but soon Susan found it impossible to ignore their conversation.
“Dr. Alderman was furious…as if she’s every really pleasant though.”
“I can only imagine…I would have loved to have seen the look on her face when they were slugging it out.”
“It was a scene…Not sure why those two were fighting but it isn’t everyday that doctors have a brawl in the hospital. Maybe it had something to do with the divorce?”
“It could have…I heard that she found out that he was seeing someone else…Good enough for her…she’s such a bitch.”
“I’ll tell you now that Dr. Delacoure can come see me anytime. I’d be willing to deal with her wrath for a chance with him.”
Instantly Susan turned toward them. She took a deep breath and held it in her lungs for a moment, then she let it slowly escaped her lungs.
“Dr. Delacoure? He was the one who was fighting in the hallway?” Susan asked, not wanting to hear the truth.
“You know him?” the nurse asked.
Susan nodded, feeling too heartbroken to utter the words aloud.
“Well it seems that he had a scuffle with his ex-wife’s new boytoy,” she answered with a laugh before stepping from the room with her friend following close behind.
She closed her eyes, unable to think about the reason he would be fighting with Lauren’s new love interest. The answer was obvious even if she was unwilling to accept it.
“Susan…Just leave with me. Let me take you home. You don’t have to talk to him…not today,” Austin softly offered, running his hands over her shoulders.
“Just who the hell do you think you are?” Max said as he stepped through the door.
Austin’s fixed gaze moved from her face to Max who glared at him with a mix of anger and distrust.
“I’m a friend who actually cares what happens to her” he said flatly.
“Well…I’m her fiancé and I think it’s time for you to go,” Max retorted, picking up Susan’s suitcase and stepping beside her as if to shield her from the affections of an admirer.
“Do you want me to go?” Austin asked, ignoring Max’s veiled threat.
“Maybe you had better…Call me at home when you can,” she said, feeling uneasy with the tension between the two men.
“Sweetie…that might be a problem. You see, I have a little surprise for you,” Max said, reaching into his pocket and retrieving a set of keys. “You won’t be going back to your mother’s. I’ve bought a house for us.”
Susan gasped, wrapping her arms around his neck and joyfully kissing him.
“Oh my Bob! You did?”
“Yes, I did,” he said with a smile before pulling her closer.
He gave Austin a devilish grin that conveyed his victory in the battle for her heart.
“Now why don’t you run along…I’m sure you’re boyfriend is waiting for you…and I need to get her home.
Austin stared at the gloating Max before he quietly exited the room. Looking back over his shoulder, he caught sight of them playfully talking.
‘You might have won this round, Max. But this battle is far from over. |
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“And you can plant a rose garden if you want to.” Max enthusiastically told Susan as Sebastian came into the hospital room.
Susan was smiling at her soon to be husband and noticed his change in mood as the doctor came in. His features darkened and his posture stiffened, the smile that had graced his face a moment ago was gone.
“Excuse me.” The handsome blond doctor said to the couple with a grin “I am Doctor Sebastian Dorame and Dr. Dreyer has asked me to give you the release speech.”
“Of course.” Max sarcastically answered for Susan before she could say anything.
After a couple of minutes where the doctor recited medical terms, medication instructions and asked if there were any questions he looked into Max eyes and said;
“You must abstain from sexual intercourse for at least two weeks.”
Max breathed heavily but said nothing in response. It was then that Susan realized Dr. Dorame was the man Max had fought with over Lauren. It didn’t take a genius to figure out these two men hated each other passionately.
“Would you give the patient and me a few minutes in private?” Dr. Dorame asked Max.
After lightly kissing Susan on the lips and telling her that he would be waiting outside Max stepped out of the room, but not before glancing back at Dorame and threatening him with his eyes.
“I take you are… involved, with Maximilian Delacoure.” Sebastian told Susan wondering what the heck women saw in the man; this woman seemed like a nice girl “So I am going to let you take advantage of his hospital privileges and come back in two weeks for a check up and to run some tests to make sure there were no permanent damages to your reproductive system.”
“Are you saying there could be?” Susan asked him worried.
“It’s more of a precarious measure than an actual concern. But as with any miscarriage after the fourth month of pregnancy, there is a threat.”
Susan looked toward the window and saw Max looking into the room questioning what the doctor was telling her. She smiled at him trying to ease his discomfort and control her growing fear.
“Usually it takes a bit longer to get the appointment but I am setting it as if you were Delacoure’s wife, that way it will only take two weeks.” Dr. Dorame said to her signing the release form and holding out for her.
Susan took the paper and watched as the man stood and exited the room, turning to his right once he was outside and ignoring Max completely.
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Austin was furious when he got to the elevator, so angry he decided not to wait for the damn machine to rise to the third floor and decided to use the stairs. He practically ran down the first couple and steps and did not see the girl walking up in the opposite direction from him; he bumped against her with such force that it would have send her down a couple of flights had it not been for his strong arms that held on to her.
“Whoa, watch out there big boy.” Caitlin said as the stranger held on to her elbows to stop her from falling.
“I’m sorry. Forgive me.” Austin apologized.
“Oh oh.” The girl exclaimed as she saw that half the food she had been carrying in a tray had fallen onto the steps “My sister is going to be fuming, you just ruined her lunch.”
“I’m sorry, let me help you.” He told her kneeling to pick up the mess.
When they had cleaned up all the food on the floor, exchanged names and Austin had assured her he did not use the old “I bumped into you” trick to get girls’ phone numbers, Caitlin told him she needed to go and take whatever was left of the food to her sister.
“Let me go up with you just in case you get run over again.” He offered smiling.
“Okay then, but stay on your side of the stairs.” She said to him playfully.
They arrived on the fifth floor and Austin marveled at how animated Caitlin was. She stopped to say hello to everyone she saw in the halls. It seemed she was a common in the hospital, surely her sister was a nurse, or maybe Caitlin herself was one. She made a turn and Austin followed without looking at the name sign in front of the office’s door.
There were only a couple of people waiting in the lobby of the office, two of them children with bandages on their faces. Austin wondered if he was in the Burn Unit of Boston Medical.
“Hi Nancy.” Caitlin told the receptionist behind the oak desk.
“Hello Miss Alderman.” The woman answered looking up at her.
Austin’s mouth dropped open. He knew the name because Susan had told him all about Max and Dr. Alderman. How could Caitlin be related to the monster Susan described to him?
“Wait a minute.” He said trying not to sound too aggressive “Your sister is Lauren Alderman?”
“Yes, you know Lauren?” Caitlin replied smiling and beckoning him to follow her into her sister’s office.
“Not exactly, I’ve heard some things about her.”
“By the look on your face I guess they weren’t nice things.” She said pulling the door open and revealing a large designer decorated office.
“Mmm…” He mumbled as his eyes found the one and only Dr. Alderman sitting behind her desk, completely lost in the documents in front of her.
“Special Delivery for my favorite sister.” Caitlin announced cheerful
“I’m your only sister you dork.” Dr. Alderman retorted without looking up “What took you so long I am starving and nowhere near done here, just put it down on the center table.” She pointed to the table with her pen, her eyes still on the paper in her hand. “I’ll owe you one, when I get home…” Lauren looked up and frowned when she saw Austin staring at her “Who the hell are you?”
“My name is Austin.” He said amused with the woman’s response to his presence.
“Is that supposed to ring a bell?” She mockingly asked “Because it hasn’t.”
“It’s a funny story really…” Caitlin stared to say as she signaled for Austin to sit by her on the couch.
Thirty minutes later Caitlin and Austin were exiting the hospital together after keeping Lauren company while she ate her meal.
“She is quite something.” He told his new friend as he was reminded of the funny, cynical and entertaining Dr. Alderman. She was not what he had expected, perhaps because she didn’t know he was a friend of Susan’s, or maybe because Caitlin had been there with them, but she proved to be quite interesting and not a demon like Susan had said.
“Yes she is.” Caitlin giggled.
“So…” Austin began to say “Have you eaten lunch?”
“No.”
“Would you like to?” He asked “With me I mean.”
“Well I was going to go get ready for the Sox Game.” Caitlin answered as the automatic door leading to the parking lot opened.
“You’re going!?” Austin exclaimed excited “Lucky you.”
“Yes, my father pulled a few strings when I told him I would die if I didn’t get to see this once in a lifetime game. I have an extra ticket, do you want to go?”
“Would I?” He responded smiling “I need to get my mind off some things. I would love to go with you.” He offered his arm to her.
“It’s a date then.” She said taking his arm and letting him walk her to her car.
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“I asked your mother to come live with us but she refused.” Max told Susan as he drove up the driveway to their new home.
Susan saw the brick structure and smiled; it was exactly how she pictured it. Small, homey, a place perfect for a family.
“Maybe she’ll change her mind later.” Max added turning off the car.
“Maybe.” Susan said still looking at the house. For the time being she was glad her mother would not be with them. She wanted to have as much alone time with Max as possible.
Susan felt Max open his door and grab her suitcase from the back seat; she looked at him and noticed his left cheek was swollen. The result of his brawl with Dr. Dorame, she thought. She hesitated with whether or not she should question him about it. Her need to set things straight to avoid further trouble won over her better judgment to remain quiet.
“What happened to your cheek?” She asked him as he opened her door for her and offered his hand to help her out of the car.
“Huh?”
“It looks a bit swollen.” Susan told him.
“You are imagining things.” Max answered walking to the front door of the house.
Susan sight and bit her bottom lip a bit angered by his response.
“Come on. Don’t you want to look inside?” He said to her smiling and stepping aside to let her be the first to enter.
Inside, boxes and a few pieces of furniture welcomed her. It appeared Max had done some shopping because there was a sofa and two chairs in the living room, and a dining table in the next room. He explained he had been staying there the past three nights and that there was bed in one of the rooms, but that she could chose everything else and decorate to her liking.
“I thought about it and you don’t have to work anymore, you can dedicate all your time to school.” He told her “We will continue to help your mother with her expenses, don’t worry about that.”
“I see you have everything all planned out.” Susan replied a bit confused with what she was feeling at the moment. There was no doubt she was happy, but she had somehow thought they would make those kind of decision together.
Before she could say anything else Max’s cell phone started to ring. He answered it with an apologetic smile to Susan.
“Delacoure speaking. Just now? Did you check with Green?” He asked into the phone “Yes I know. Okay I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
Susan’s face revealed her disappointment, it was their first day home and he was already leaving her alone.
“I’m sorry I need to go back to the hospital for an emergency surgery. You’ll be okay on your own for a little while right?” He told her.
“Yes of course.” She responded faking a smile.
“Good. Bye.” He said kissing her fast.
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The night was unusually long and painfully boring. Lauren had stayed in the hospital to finish her layout for the next couple of weeks and by 9:15 she was already exhausted. Her eyes were closing on their own, no longer taking her orders to stay open and read the files she had to memorize for the days ahead of her. It was clear the only way of surviving the night was to go down to the cafeteria and grab the largest cup of coffee available. That meant she had to get up from her seat and walk all the way to the elevator, then press a button, walk to the cafeteria, get the coffee, walk back to the elevator, press the button again, walk back to her seat and drink the darn thing. It was much to tiring to think about it, she decided to put it on her ‘to do’ list. Yet when her eyes crossed with exhaustion one more time, she stood in one jolt, took off her coat throwing it on her seat, and hurried to the elevator hoping to get to the coffee before she dropped on the floor.
She yawned as she entered the coffee shop and ordered a jumbo extra strong black. The cashier smiled at her and handed her the cup. Lauren took out a ten dollar bill from her pocket and handed it to the lady.
“Keep the change.” She said taking a large sip of the drink. It was so hot it burned her tongue. Lauren stuck out her tongue and touched it with her index finger. “Ouch” She said.
She was about to walk back to the elevator when a loud cheer coming from the dining area sparked her curiosity. She walked toward the source of the noise and found that half of all the staff had gathered around the large screen TV in the dining area to watch the baseball game. Everyone was jumping up and down, smiling and laughing.
“What is all the commotion?” She asked a janitor standing near her. She held her cup of coffee near her mouth blowing into it to cool it.
“The Red Sox won.” The old man answered her smiling and returning to his duties.
“What?” Lauren asked again not grasping his response.
“They are World Champions.” The man specified.
“Oh, thanks” She said smiling and thinking that Max would surely be just as cheerful as the crowd at Boston Medical. He was probably at the game along with that woman. Her smile faded.
The people continued to scream and hug each other happily and Lauren smiled again. It seemed like a big accomplishment made by the Sox since everyone acted as if a miracle had taken place. She turned around to leave without looking behind and bumped into someone, her coffee spilling all over her chest.
“Aahhhhh!” She exclaimed in pain; her eyes looking into Max’s.
“Cheeses!” He said taking the empty cup from her “I’m sorry.”
Lauren gasped trying to pull her sweater off the burn area on her chest.
“Don’t!” Max instructed “Come with me.” He said pulling her out of the cafeteria and into the elevator. They stopped on the seventh floor where Max had his office; he led her into it and had her sit on a small couch near a window.
He left her alone for a few seconds, Lauren noticed his office was smaller than hers but decorated very similarly. Dark furniture and a couch and coffee table were the main focus of the room. She also noticed that he had a stereo behind his desk and it was set to a station playing soothing music, the volume set to minimum and yet the notes were clear. When Max came back Lauren had placed her hand under her sweater and was holding it so that it didn’t touch her chest.
“Take off your sweater.” He said to her putting the items he had brought back with him on the coffee table.
Lauren looked at him enraged.
“So I can clean the burn.” Max rectified laughingly.
She obeyed and carefully pulled it over her head. Max could not help but stare at her; despite the redness of the burn she was beautiful. He tried to reach for her chest with the cloth to clean the area but she stopped his arm and took the cloth away.
“I can do that myself, thanks.” She told him.
Max watched as she padded the burn, cleaning off the coffee. He was following the rising of her chest, trying to meet the pace of her breathing. Her arm gracefully moving along the burn, the scar left over from the accident and the surgery to repair her broken arm the only defect on her. Despite what many believed Max knew Lauren’s attributes had been given to her by none other than Bob. Her body had not undergone any cosmetic repairs, she was intact. She always told him that she was afraid of doing anything to herself, but she was not against it, she found it very understandable that women would want to change their looks. Lauren however was one of the people who did the magic she couldn’t herself experience; Sort of the ‘those who cannot do teach’ logic.
Lauren’s hand stopped moving and she looking directly at Max. He looked away trying to hide the fact that he had been staring at her body.
“Let the affected area catch some air.” He said after clearing his throat “Then tomorrow after you bathe you can apply this ointment. In a day or two the mark will disappear.”
“Okay.” She answered “Can you bring me a robe please; I can’t go out like this.”
He left again and returned with a robe he held out for her. She stood up to take it from his hands and when she grabbed a hold on it Max pulled it away sending her into his arms. Careful not to hurt her burn he turned her to face him and kissed her hungrily. Lauren responded just as needy.
“Bob I’ve missed you so much.” He spoke against her lips “All of you.”
The stereo continued to play, Max parted from her long enough to lock the door and higher the volume the slightest bit as a song he felt worthy of her ears began to play. He slowly walked to back to her and held the side of her face in his hand, allowing her to experience the words of the melody.
LISTEN TO THE SONG AS YOU READ!
Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Her eyes were bright and searching, Max tilted his head for her to find his gaze.
Search your heart - search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more
Max lightly stroked her cheek with his thumb.
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you
Lauren caressed his palm with her cheek then turned her face into it and kissed it.
Look into my heart - you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Max let his hands wonder to her hair and caressed it gently. Lauren waited breathless as he lowered his lips to hers.
Take me as I am - take my life
I would give it all - I would sacrifice
Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you
He separated their lips and buried his face in her hair, he breathed her aroma, intoxicated himself with her.
There's no love - like your love
And no other - could give more love
There's nowhere - unless you're there
All the time - all the way
He embraced her as if his life depended on her hold against him, on her flesh touching his own.
(Listen to your heart baby)
Max explored the boundaries of her body, Lauren surrender to his quest.
Oh - you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more
Lauren lightly pushed him away and ran her hands up his torso, relieving him of his white coat... and then a little more.
I would fight for you - I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you - I'd die for you
Max reclaimed her lips and they lost themselves in their love, quenching their mutual thrist with kisses and desperate touches.
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you
They shared a wonderful moment, seconds suspended in time, the world stood still for them. The music continued, a song that dressed their movements. Sounds of a love, echoes of words unspoken; promises broken and remade. Memories relived and forgotten only so that there would be room for the new ones they were making.
Their eyes looked into each other, their tears joined against their kisses. Caresses as soft as the touch of a butterfly's wings. Embraces that melted into the night, into their souls. Envious the stars lessen their brightness, the moon tried to peek into their window. His hands again said all the things he could not express, all the apologies she had needed, the answers he could not find, and the goodbyes they missed.
A delirious agony entwined with pleasure. Their dance continued along the rhythm of the notes. For a moment, only a moment, everything was forgotten. Sobs and sights intermingled; Kisses raining upon them. Theirs hands fit perfectly into each other, their fingers tightening over them. Slow travels, small victories, led the way to the heavens.
Inside that hospital office, on a cold ordinary night, their love came to life and created a miracle.
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Max walked into the darkened house, praying that Susan was asleep because he knew that he could not bear to face her the moment. His head ached with the combination of guilt and pleasure that consumed him after his encounter with Lauren. He in no way planned to sleep with her. In fact, he had resolved to push all thoughts of her from his mind but seeing her again brought on a whole new rush of emotions that he lacked the willpower to deny.
He crept slowly toward the bedroom and peeked in to see Susan sleeping peacefully in the bed that he had purchased only days before.
‘ Get your act together Max…You can’t go around bedding Lauren and then come home to your wife. You’ve got to stop it!’
Yet no matter how he tried, the thoughts of Lauren’s kiss still left him tingling with excitement. He stumbled through the dark, picking up a pillow and blanket from a box of linens. Settling down on the sofa, he looked around the room that was bathed in moonlight. It was far from the lavish home that Lauren had built but it would be a good place to for them to raise a family and have the life that he had envisioned before the miscarriage.
However, sleep does not come easy to the guilt ridden. He tossed and turned through the night. When sleep did find him it was marred by images that reflected his remorse for all that he had done to both of the women. Sometime just before daybreak, he rose from the sofa and made his way to the front porch of the suburban home. Running his hands through his hair, he plopped down on the front stairs, mulling over his options. He had made promises to Susan, vows that he intended to keep no matter how difficult. Acquiring a home for them had been the first step in his plan to make right the wrongs that he had inflicted upon her.
Could he ignore Lauren? Avoid her at the hospital? Then there were was the Sebastian. He cursed under his breath at the thought of the man’s return in Lauren’s life. He wondered instantly if what had happened in his office had meant nothing to her. If he had been only a fling to pass time until she solidified her relationship with his nemesis.
He lingered outside for a while, tormenting himself with thoughts of Lauren and Sebastian together as a couple. Moving inside, he paced the living room, fuming. Without thinking, he punched the wall, sending bits of drywall scattering over the carpet. He sighed, looking at the fist size hole in the hall.
“What happened?” Susan asked, dashing from the bedroom to find him standing in beside the damaged wall. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” he mumbled. “Sorry…I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s ok…I just don’t understand. Why did you punch the wall? Did something happen at the hospital?”
He instantly turned toward her, taking her into his arms.
“No…nothing happened. I’m just tired,” he explained, pulling her so close that she that she felt the air slip from her lungs.
“Are you sure that’s all?” she questioned while still in his embrace.
“Of course,” he replied, knowing that his lies were slowing beginning to mount. “Are you hungry? I was thinking that we could grab some breakfast before I head back to the hospital?”
“Sounds good…Just give me a minute to freshen up. Ok?”
“Just take your time,” he softly said.
**
The neighborhood café was already abuzz with morning business by the time they entered the door. After being seated in a corner booth, they mulled over the menu while a waitress impatiently stood beside the table to take their order.
“Let me give you some time,” she said with a huff before moving off in the direction of another table.
Susan raised her brows in surprise and then turned to look at Max. His exhaustion was written in the ceased lines beside his heavily lidded eyes.
“I don’t want to sound critical but you look like crap,” she laughed, reaching over to smooth his tousled hair. “You’re spending too much time at the hospital.”
He chuckled but she sensed that he was far more troubled than he would admit.
“You’re right… so tell me…did you do ok at the house last night…you know… by yourself?”
“Oh yeah…I was fine. I called mom to check on her and then Austin…Oh my Bob…I almost forgot,” she blurted out with excitement in her eyes.
“So you talked to him?” he asked, making no effort to disguise his disgust.
“Yeah…is that a problem?”
His face tightened at her question yet then relaxed.
“It’s just…I don’t like him…he’s always smiling at you and trying to undermine me in some way,” Max confessed.
She laughed loudly at his jealousy.
“Max, how many times do I have to tell you…he’s gay. I met his partner Alex. They are a wonderful couple. He and I are only friends.”
“Hmmm,” he grunted, sipping from the water that had been left by the flighty waitress. “I don’t want to argue about this… tell me the big news.”
Susan went on to explain that Austin had been invited to participate in London’s Fashion Week activities. During his internship in England, he had made several contacts with aspiring designers who had recommended his name for an innovative runway show that was planned to kick off the festivities for the three day event. His instructors were so impressed with the offer that they allowed him to select someone to accompany him to the event and create a compilation of the new designs that would showcase the items featured during the opening ceremony.
“So just what are you trying to say Susan?” Max asked.
“I want to go to London this weekend…It’s the chance of a life time. I might make some contacts and who knows….”
“Yeah…who knows is right,” he scoffed. “I just don’t think it’s a very good idea.”
“Are you saying that I CAN’T go?” She fumed.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” he added.
“Well it will be a cold day in hell when I let you…or any man dictate my actions,” she angrily said before storming out of the café.
**
Max slammed the door behind him as he walked into his office. He hadn’t even bothered to go back to the house to change before he came to work. After Susan ran out of the café he tried to find her but she had blended in the with the heavy morning pedestrian traffic and was no where to be seen.
He paced, unable to keep a single thought in his head for more than a second. He needed to get out of the office, clear his head with a walk around the adjacent park. Making his way down the corridor he stepped into the elevator which filled with more people at each floor on its slow descent to the lobby. He was merely a face in the crowd when Lauren and her personal secretary stepped into the crowded space. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of her fiery locks. He wanted to reach out touch her, rekindle the feels that she had stirred in him from the night before.
“You have to go,” her secretary Stella said aloud.
“I don’t know…it’s sort of soon don’t you think,” Lauren answered.
Max strained to hear their conversation above the clamor of the other passengers.
“NO! It’s not too soon. You need to move on and this is your chance…the Greenbow Lodge is beautiful…very romantic. Just what you need right now.”
Lauren smirked, rolling her eyes in jest. “Oh yes…just what I need…another man to complicate my life.”
“I don’t think I would call Sebastian just another man,” Stella chuckled. “SO are you going to go? Your schedule is clear for this weekend.”
“Why not?” Lauren said with a laugh before they stepped from the elevator.
**
The weather was remarkable warm for late October and Susan basked in the sunlight that radiated through the living room window as she sat watching for Austin’s car to pull into the driveway. It had been two days since she her fight with Max over the trip to London. Following their blow up in the café, she had spent her day lost in the trendy shops of Boston, desperate to forget all that had happened between them. He came home late that night, exhausted from work but very apologetic.
“I was an idiot,” he offered, staring into her eyes. “I want you to go and have the time of your life. You deserve to be happy and I wouldn’t dream of stopping you. Can you forgive me?”
“Oh course….but I had a great idea. Since you aren’t scheduled to work this weekend…why don’t you come with us? We could use a get away…so what do you think?”
“Oh…um…No, I can’t…you see…Dr. Green needs me to cover his shift. I’ll be on call the whole time. But I want you to go,” he stammered, visibly nervous.
“So you’re ok with Austin and all?”
“Well you said that he was gay so I guess I have nothing to worry about…right?”
“Oh course not,” she added, hugging him.
In hindsight she knew that there was something on his mind but she was so relived that he was accepting of her decision that she did not pursue it. Yet is lingered in the back of her mind, a constant worry that he was again hiding something.
**
“Is it always like this?” Susan asked, peering out the window at the bustle of London’s streets.
“No…sometimes it’s a little hectic,” Austin joked, taking in the sights of his favorite city in the world as the taxi darted through the traffic.
She elbowed him lightly causing him to playfully feign injury.
“Sorry that Alex couldn’t join us,” she said, continuing to take in the sights. It was her first trip to England, actually her first trip anywhere far from Boston and she didn | | | |
