Love Is …
It has been said that all anyone ever needs is one person who truly loves him. Love is all you need. Love conquers all. Love makes the world go round. Love is not jealous. Love cares nothing for vanity or pride. Love hopes and believes in everything that is good, even when everything hopeless is before it.
Love is a strange thing. Love hurts and heals all at once.
If a person could fully describe with words the depth, width and heighth of love, that person could then gather the complete expanse of the oceans, lakes, rivers and ponds and pour them all into one single glass.
It is easier and much more accurate to simply say … love is. ... LionQueen 2007
Chapter 1 - Time For Everything
Elizabeth took slow and deliberate steps up the stairs and to the intimidating front door. Cradling the manila folder in the crook of her arm, she withstood a sudden flash of doubt, hesitated slightly and then pushed her thumb into the glowing button that was the doorbell.
She cleared her throat, glancing at her shoes, but flicked her eyes up when the heavy door creaked open. There stood a distinguished looking gentleman. He smiled warmly. "Hello madam. What may I do for you? And won't you please come in from the chill? "
"Thank you. My name is Elizabeth Myer. I was sent by the agency for the housekeeping position. I have my resume and references with me. "
"I see. " Said the man. "But that really won't be necessary as your position is already secure, my dear. Mr. Osborne has already left instructions for the conditions of your employment and your pay, of course. "
By Mr. Osborne, Elizabeth was well aware that he meant Harold Osborne, the only child of the late multimillionaire and industrialist Norman Osborne.
While she had not performed an exhaustive investigation, she had managed a scanty bit of research. Enough to know that Norman had studied chemistry and electrical engineering in college and eventually established his company with his partner Dr. Mendel Stromm.
During that time, he wed his college sweetheart Emily, although she grew ill and died sometime after, leaving behind a grieving and inept father, unable to relate very well to his young son. Moreover, Norman Osborne, himself, died recently, as well, and rather mysteriously. There remained, in this lofty and stately old mansion his only son Harry, heir to the waning Osborne empire, along with whatever hired help he was able to tolerate, or some might say, of whom would tolerate him.
Though Elizabeth was not one to waste time on worthless tabloids, she did occasionally skim the pages of the Daily Bugle over a cup of coffee at the nearest pastry shop. The ones of late painted a glib picture of the brooding bachelor. He had accumulated quite the reputation around the local clusters of coffee shops and restaurants, not to mention several department stores and other businesses. He carried a disgruntled demeanor and had made a habit of snapping at anyone brave enough to service him, be it waitress or sales representative.
In the beginning, most passed his growing animosity as a part of the grieving process, being that he had lost his father and only living relative some short time ago. Now it had been several years. Patience among those who serve the public and of the public itself can only hold for so long, before a frequently offensive customer earns himself a negative standing. Thus, those willing to bear under the intolerable grump had dwindled to few and far in between.
The Butler introduced himself as Bernard, and then prompted her to follow his lead through the expansive mansion, and up the staircase until they reached a small room. It was neatly kept, with a full-sized bed, a walkin closet, and a private bath. Smaller, compared to other rooms in the mansion, it was more than what she was accustomed to growing up in her father's home.
"This will be your room. " Bernard instructed. "I think that you will need a little time to gather your things and bring them here. Therefore, your duties will begin tomorrow morning at six a.m. Then we will go over the details, including your pay. "
Elizabeth smiled graciously although hiding, with some success, the nervousness inside with a nod of appreciation. Then she followed the staircase down to the first floor, and returned to the chilly overcast sky. It had been an unusually warm November, but nearing the early days of December, a much colder future was forecast and snow was expected within the next day or so. She flicked her eyes upwards, thankful for good timing.
She continued on until she had reached the small, blue Yugo parked some ways from the Mansion gates. It wasn't much of a car, with the lining of the roof held up by thumbtacks, but it served its purpose …to get her wherever she needed to go.
The prospect of employment by such notoriety was far from the cause of her anxiety. She had never been dishonest or lacking in scruples, taking pride in being raised under the schoolmaster of proper values. Such values as, live with whatever resources life presented you with, never resenting the next man for having more than yourself, and never tell a lie.
She had never strayed from her upbringing. Never, however, until she found herself cornered in a manner that left her with few options. She hated being dishonest, even in the slightest respect.
She paid the parking fee, and ran the car around in circles until she'd found a suitable space. She hated hospitals.
He didn't look much better since she'd left him last. But he tried to put up a good front for her benefit. They both knew that she knew differently, but neither admitted it. She smiled and strolled across the room, giving him a peck on the forehead. "Hi Daddy. "
"Hey there, baby. "
She drew a seat next to his bed, and then took his hand. "I have some news. "
"Well, then out with it. Are you gettin' married? "
She laughed lightheartedly, as she always did. "Not even close. I found a job. A really good one and you'll never guess. "
"You're right … I won't. "
"Ah, you're no fun! Okay, I'm cleaning the Osborne mansion. "
He studied her for a minute, and then gave a chuckle. "Ah, you're joshin your old man. "
She smiled warmly, thinking he looked a bit paler than before. "No. No, I walked in and got the job. I settle in my new room today and then start tomorrow. At six a.m. if you can believe it! "
"Now I KNOW you're yankin my chain! You getting up before eleven? "
She laughed again and then told him everything she knew about her knew employment, promising to fill him in on the finer details once she had settled in. He insisted she tell him everything she could learn about the young Osborne and she just shook her head and smiled. Her father, though just as well a man as any other, loved harmless gossip as any woman. And she loved him for it. Although she could not help being amused when he pointed out that Sir Harry was a very eligible bachelor.
"And I wonder why he's still a bachelor. " She said, referring to his less than cordial reputation.
They chatted until she saw that he was tired and then she insisted she would return sometime tomorrow, but that until then, he should get some rest. She wasn't prepared for the third degree from the nurses. She squeezed his hand, gave him another kiss, and then said her goodbye.
She was stopped on her way out, having been instructed to pass by the billing department. She sighed and nodded, a growing knot in her stomach. Once she could no longer make payments, the care of her father was at the mercy of the hospital.
"Ms. Myer, we sympathize with how difficult all this must be, but you must understand our position. "
" I do. " She agreed. " If you could just give me a little more time. I've just gotten a new job and I should get my first check by the first of next week. "
" Very well then. " The grey-haired nurse relented. " But I simply cannot turn my head much longer. "
She thanked the nurse softly and then turned, making her way down the hallway until she reached the elevator. The sound of her heels clicked louder with each step. Punching the down button, she waited until the doors opened, stepped in and then waited until they opened again.
It was enough that she absolutely could not bring herself to tell him that they were short on funds to pay the property taxes on the house. She could not let her father go without healthcare, even if it meant that she left the car and slept on the streets.
She was walking through the parking garage, lost in her thoughts when she realized what was happening. She saw the two men slinking around the side, but it didn't register initially that they were headed in the direction of her car. Then she heard the crashing sound and flicked her eyes up in enough time to see them smashing in the side window with a crowbar.
Her heart jumped in her throat. " Hey, what are you doing! Stop it!! Stop! "
She bolted towards the car in her heels, screaming at them. It was a useless effort for they simply stood erect and then one grabbed her as soon as she reached them. He flipped her around, pressing her back into the car. " Well, what have we here? What's such a pretty thing like you driving a piece of crap like that? "
" That's right. " She agreed. " It is a piece of crap and there's nothing in it worth steeling. Why don't you just walk away? "
" I dunno. You might be hiding something good in those suitcases back there, and then there's the matter of the little purse in your hand. "
The other grinned wholeheartedly. " And then there's you. "
The first had her wrists in a tight clench. He returned the grin with a wink. " That's a very good observation there, my friend. Now we have this pretty little girl to play with. "
" No!! " She screamed. " Help!! Somebody hel .."
Her cries were muffled when the fat, sweaty hand went over her mouth. She wasn't giving up though. As it was coming down, she clenched her teeth together, tasting some of the dirty skin she'd bitten. Once he recoiled, she thrust a pointed heel into his crotch. This cost her one large, furious man howling out profanities, slapping her up on the hood of the car as if she were nothing more than a chunk of meat.
He leapt onto the hood with her. Pinning her arms, he placed a thick rear end on her legs.
"Didn't your daddy teach you manners, little girl? "
There was a whooshing sound, and then the man was thrown from the car, landing on the floor with a smack. " Looks like yours didn't. "
Elizabeth stared at the one talking. She knew the red and blue suit, with the spider emblem embroidered on the front. She had read the articles in the Daily Bugle, and seen his picture splattered everywhere, but this was the first time she'd seen him in person, or heard him speak.
The big man slid a knife from a holder fitted snugly around his calf. He bent his knees, squaring himself for a fight. " What, you think you're all tough because you wear pantyhose? "
" It's not worth it Sam, let's get outta here!" The second man cried out, turning his back and running out of the parking garage.
A thread of webbing quickly yanked the knife from Sam's hand. He chunked a piece from a cement block at the webcrawler and then bolted towards the exit behind his partner. " You're nothing but a wimp Frank, wait till I catch up with you!"
Spiderman whipped around, but Elizabeth spoke up. She'd slid from the roof of her car, and stood beside it watching the two men running. "It's okay, please … just let them go. I don't really want any trouble. "
" Are you alright? " He said.
She nodded, sighing heavily at the sight of her broken window. " Yea. "
She had enough to worry about without having the added stress of dealing with the police and everything else that came with reporting an attempted burglary and whatever the two men had planned for her. But she couldn't even think about that. Regardless, she still had her car and the meager sum her belongings with it.
Admittedly, it was already a crappy vehicle, barely worth driving … but it was hers.
Recognizing that her hero was still hovering, she wiped her face dry and then turned. " Thank you. Thank you for your help. I don't know what would have happened if you weren't there. "
He tilted his head. " You sure you're alright? "
She laughed stressfully through her attempt at holding back a rush of emotion. " Yea. "
" Are you living out of your car? "
" What? " Her head jerked back a little and then she stole a quick glance over to her backseat where lie a suitcase, blanket and a pillow. " Oh … God no. I'm just …well…I just started a new job and I was just. Well …I …I thought Spiderman just rescued people and then kind of vanished … poofed or whatever. "
" You're welcome. "
"I'm sorry. " She flustered. "I didn't ... that didn't come out right. I just meant, I've never heard of anybody having a full blown conversation with Spiderman …uh …you."
" So, you'll be alright then? "
" Right as rain. " She answered enthusiastically - nearly over enthusiastically.
She watched him throw a line of webbing out until it hit the outside rooftop, and then he was gone.
She leaned over the steering wheel, waiting for the yellow bar to clear her way out, but flinched when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She knew she was just being paranoid, but she couldn't help but fear that those guys might be out there somewhere waiting until she was alone.
She drove through the streets, thinking how abandoned they looked.Abnormally abandoned. Or maybe she just felt that way. The temperature was steadily dropping since the moment she stepped out of the hospital.
Stopped at a redlight, tiny droplets of snow flaked her windsheild, gathering in little clusters at the bottom. She leaned over the top of the wheel and rested her head on her arms. Looked like the snow was going to be earlier than expected.
" Come on sweetheart, and I'll show you how to make snow angels. "
Anyone passing by would have thought it odd to see a man of his size lying flat on his back in the snow, flailing his arms and legs up and down. But Thomas Myer had never been a proud man. Not in the sense of being above doing just about anything for his little girl. They had made their snowman and dressed him in flannel. They had fought their snowball war until they'd fallen happily into the soft snow bank. Now they lay there, listening to the snowfall and catching snowflakes on their tongues.
She'd taken his hand before he was admitted. To see him suffer was to suffer herself and she could hardly bear it. Watching her father wither away proudly. " But Daddy, I could … "
" There's a time for everything Baby. And no matter what you do, there's some things that just have to be and you can't change them even when you change them. "
She jumped at the blast of a car horn behind her. How long had the light been green? She put her foot on the gas, revving the engine more than she'd intended - not that such a sorry excuse for a car would go anywhere quickly anyway.
She drove close the entrance of the mansion, but not enough to easily be seen. Then she emptied the trunk and the back seat of her two suitcases while shoving the blanket and pillow into her dufflebag. She stopped for a moment, pressing her hand on the side window and spreading her fingers across the glass.
" There's a time for everything Baby. And no matter what you do, there's some things that just have to be and you can't change them even when you change them. "
"If only you weren't so stubborn. " She whispered, watching the tiny flakes flit in between her fingers. Then she turned towards the mansion, dragging her luggage with her.
Behind her sat a blue Yugo, under a winter night sky, with snowflakes bouncing off of the side window and then gathering at the bottom.
