Thank you guys for reading my story and taking time to review I really appreciated. I want to mention that this takes place a few weeks before the first season. The Mayans never burn the SONS warehouse down. There will be mentions of the first season I am still not sure how much.
Elizabeth sat in her office desk after coming from Maria's house. She knew she had to tell her boss about her wedding and needing time off. She would have preferred to leave it until the last minute but with Happy suggesting they should take a week off together it forced her hand. She stood up and straightened her dress.
"Hey, can I come in?" Asked Elizabeth knocking lightly on the open glass door
"Yes of course, how are you Elizabeth?" Dan asked her getting off his chair "Please have a seat"
"Thank you" said Elizabeth taking a seat.
"How can I help you?" asked Dan
"I need to take a week off" she said
"Yes, of course" said Dan pulling his calendar up. He knew off the top of his head that Elizabeth had a couple of weeks available for paid vacation as she hadn't taken any this year.
"I need next week off" said Elizabeth smiling apologetic. Dan looked at Elizabeth surprised. She is one of the most responsible workers and usually would ask, giving at least a month notice before taking vacation. Dan looked at the calendar and saw that no one else was taking vacation which would make it possible for her to take it off.
"Is everything okay?" he asked Elizabeth with a small frown. Elizabeth took a small breath and nodded her head
"I'm getting married Saturday"
"What?" asked Dan surprised. He didn't even know that Elizabeth was dating anyone.
"Yeah, you know matrimony?" asked Elizabeth trying to joke
"Why so soon?" asked Dan. He was disappointed. They had been working together for over 2 years and got along great. He tried flirting with her a few times but she never seemed to notice or just ignored it. he had never acknowledged it, but it wasn't until now that he realized that while he dated often he always assumed that she would be there when he was ready to settle down. Because Elizabeth was not someone that casually dated she was someone you married.
"His mom is sick. Breast cancer and we both want her to be there" Elizabeth said remembering what they said to her mom
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that" said Dan still trying to wrap his head around it
"But yes of course, take the week off" he said giving her a tight smile
"Thanks Dan, I better get back to work" Said Elizabeth glad she glad she had gotten through having to tell him or anyone for that matter
Dan looked as Elizabeth walked away and felt his face burn in shame because he realized that while he loved Elizabeth he didn't want to be with her now. And now he realized that he had been so stupid. He loved spending time with her. They saw so many things the same way and even when they didn't agree they had long discussions always willing to hear each other's opinion. Over the last 6 months they hadn't seen each other much, because once he was promoted he didn't want their co-workers to think he had favoritism towards her and have them have bad will towards Elizabeth.
Elizabeth walked out of the office glad it was over. She got along with her co-workers but was not close to any of them. She was glad for it so she didn't have to tell anyone else she was getting married.
Her phone vibrated in her desk. She pulled it out and saw Karla's name on the screen. Fuck. She silenced her phone sending the call to voicemail. She didn't want to lie to Karla and didn't want to go through having to tell her who or why she was marrying.
Elizabeth worked hard the rest of the day. She wanted to leave as much work completed as possible not wanting to have to rely on her co workers to do her job. She was half way done at the end of the day and was glad she had a couple more days to finish everything. She left a few minutes after 5 making sure to say goodbye to her co-workers.
Elizabeth was just out of the office door when a car horn startled her. She looked up from her phone and saw her mom parked in front of the building in her white Nissan pathfinder.
"Hey mom" Said Elizabeth walking towards the car "Everything okay?" she asked looking at the back seat where Mattie and Al sat
"Hey Ellie" said Al waving
"Ellie! Ellie!" Shouted Mattie excitedly bouncing off her car seat
"Hey babies" Elizabeth said with the first genuine smile all day
"Come on get in" said Johanna pulling her purse from the passenger's seat and placing in at Al's feet. Elizabeth was about to argue when her mom gave her a pleading look. Elizabeth nodded her head and got in the truck.
"Honey! Tell me everything. Your dad said you guys were getting the license today"
"Ma" Elizabeth said with a fake laugh "Let me play with the kids. I feel like I haven't seen them in weeks" she said turning all her attention on to Al and Mattie. Al was still exited that they went to the lake and wanted to know when they would be going again. Mattie was only two years old and her vocabulary was limited, but she loved Ellie. Mattie would grab any toy in her hand and show it to Ellie wanting to play with her. Elizabeth kept a steady conversation with Al while at the same time tickling Mattie and playing peek-a-boo with her.
Johanna wanted to know everything about today, but was glad to see her kids and grandkid happy.
"Okay, we're here" said Johanna parking and getting out of the truck. Elizabeth looked up and was surprised to see her parents' house.
"What're we doing here?" asked Elizabeth
"Come on! We're having dinner together" said Johanna getting Mattie out of her car seat and walking towards the front door. Al quickly grabbed Ellie's hand wanting to keep her attention on him as they walked behind Johanna.
"Hey Ellie" Elizabeth looked up and was surprised to see Esai and her dad sitting in the living room. Esai got up and gave Ellie a quick hug
"I'm sorry" he whispered in her ear. Elizabeth was surprised to see a frown on her brother's face.
While they were step-siblings and being only a few months apart in age they were very different and didn't agree with each other's lives but they loved each other. But didn't know how to express it. The first couple of years when their parents married was hard. Esai felt like he would loose his father to a new family. While Elizabeth was disappointed that her new brother didn't like her.
They slowly built a sibling bond. Unfortunaly over the last few years they had barely seen each other, only a few times a year in family gatherings. Elizabeth was disappointed Esai didn't finish his degree and dropped out of college after only 2 years to prospect for the Mayans. She had been angry at her dad not wanting better for his son. Esai knew that his life was not one that Elizabeth wanted, but he was upset that she was unwilling to accept it.
But that anger flew out the window when he came back from a 2 week run to Maryland and his dad informed him of the deal with the Mayans. He had promptly punched his father in the face twice before Arnie pulled him away.
"How could you dad?!" he shouted "You know she never wanted to be a part of this life. You have been scared of loosing her the last year because she was pushing you away. You lost her. We lost her" he said
"What did you want me to do Esai?" shouted Marcus back. "Let Anna die?" he asked fully knowing Esai and Anna had never gotten along
"Anna lays in the bed she made" said Esai realistically "She's not a good person" Esai said trying to control his anger " She's not a good daughter, or sister, never mind a good mother. Mattie is 2 yrs old and has only lived what 3 or 4 months with Anna. As soon as she could she dropped off Mattie at your door she did just that. How often does she go see her? buy her something?" asked Esai
"The only times she sees her is when she is at your door wanting something" Finished Esai shuging off Arnies arms and walking away.
Marcus looked as his soon walked away. He felt as disgusted in himself as he knew Esai felt.
"I can't let Anna die" said Marcus to Arnie, who just nodded his head knowing that he couldn't say anything to make it better
"Marcus what happened?" Johanna asked walking to her husband and seeing his bruised check
"Don't worry about it babe" Marcus said playing it off and wrapping his arms around Johanna. "The guys and I were playing around" He lied. Elizabeth looked at her dad worried.
Did this have anything to do with the wedding? Wondered Elizabeth
Esai saw Elizabeth's frown and caught her eye by waving his hand. As his parents walked towards the kitchen he pointed to his dad and made a fist with his hand and hit his other hand and then pointed at himself.
Elizabeth was filled with a sense of warmth to know that Esai had hit their dad to defend her. She smiled at him and gave him a quick hug.
Dinner was awkward. Elizabeth didn't acknowledge her dad at all and continued paying her attention on Al and Mattie. Esai didn't talk to Marcus either choosing to focus on his food. Once he was done he stood up and hugged Johanna thanking her for dinner and giving her and Elizabeth a quick hug goodbye.
Once everyone was done eating Elizabeth and Johanna left to go shopping. They went to the local wedding bridal store. Elizabeth felt nauseous just walking in to the store. She felt like she was in a sea of all white. There had to be at least a hundred dresses of every white shade there was.
Elizabeth could honestly not say what she tried one or didn't. She tried all that her mom brought into the dressing room and tried smiling when she stepped out of the dressing room. Elizabeth would have prefer to choose the first one she tried but Johanna didn't like it. At the end she let her mom choose by Johanna's reaction.
Elizabeth was exhausted. She was parked in front of her building and all she wanted to do was get in and eat her feelings into a large tub of cookies and cream ice-cream.
"So much for healthy eating" Thought Elizabeth getting out of the car, but she needed the ice cream
"Elizabeth" Elizabeth turned around and saw Dan getting out of his car
"Hey, everything okay?" she asked him as he walked closer to her. They had hung out a few times so he knew where she lived just as she knew where he lived.
Dan pulled Elizabeth towards him and started kissing her. He let go of her a couple of seconds later when he felt her push him away.
"What?" asked Elizabeth as she pushed him away
"I love you Elizabeth"
"What?"
"Don't get married. Give us a try" he said
"Dan… we are friends" Elizabeth as still wrapping her head around Dan being there. She had never thought of him being more than a good friend.
"Elizabeth we would work" he said vehemently "We have known each other for so long and always have something to talk about. I know your favorite food is Italian, and love horrible 2 star action movies. That you bite the inside of your bottom lip when your nervous" he said hurriedly
"Stop" said Elizabeth shaking her head
"Dan… I'm getting married. I'm sorry" Elizabeth said
"We could work" he said again pleading with her
"I'm sorry" Elizabeth turned around and walked towards her door. Half way there she turned and saw Dan looking at his feet dejected. She turned around and ran towards him pulling his face towards her hers and kissed him, really kissed him. she felt his arms wrap around her hips and slowly she moved her hand from his cheeks to his neck pulling him closer to her.
Just for a second she could see that Dan was right. They could be happy together. She saw them opening their own realty firm and talking into the early morning about their dream house that they would build. Making sure to have a room for game night. She saw them with a kid maybe two going to a lake house every summer.
And just like that it was gone. She slowly pushed him away and gave him a sad smile
"I'm sorry" she whispered again and walked away.