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Chapter 7
Jason opened the door and invited Renaldo in. "We are going to be leaving shortly."
"How is Liz?" Renaldo wanted to know. The last time he saw her she was barely holding it together. Just looking at Jason he could see how his boss was doing.
Jason just shrugged. "She is hurting, but she is already starting to work through it." He knew this was not the first time she had lost someone close to her, having been through this before Elizabeth knew that fighting her feelings was pointless.
"Okay." Renaldo nodded understanding that grief was something you had to move through. Everyone handled it differently. He didn't think Liz was going to start acting out, but he would keep watch just in case. "How long are you expecting to be at the mansion, and is anyone else coming with us?" Cody was normally Jason's guard, since the enforcer was off Renaldo was expecting Max to show up.
"Max should be here in a few minutes. We will leave when Elizabeth is ready." Jason passed along. "One of you will be driving." He hated to be a passenger in cars, but he wasn't sure what shape he would be in when they wrapped up their visit with Lila.
"We will work that out." Renaldo responded turning to face the door when someone knocked. "I got it." He looked through the peephole. "It's Ms. Jones." When Jason nodded the guard opened the door.
"Hi." Georgie gave both men a smile. "I just wanted to check on Liz." Milo had told her why he had to suddenly go out of town. Even if he hadn't the story was on the front page of the paper. By this time tomorrow it would be in the national news.
"She's in her studio." Jason wasn't surprised to see Milo's girlfriend. Not only did she work for Elizabeth, but they were also good friends.
Georgie looked down the hall and frowned. "Don't let her do too much of that." She said looking back at Jason. Liz was stronger than most people thought. She was tiny and folks took that to mean she was weak, or easily handled. Nothing could be further from the truth.
However when life hurt her, Liz retreated to lick her wounds. That was perfectly normal, but sometimes it took work to get her out of that cave. When Ewan turned out to be a controlling jerk and they broke up Liz didn't go out for a week as she worked through her emotions. Georgie hadn't seen anything knock her friend down for long, but this loss was much greater.
"We are taking care of each other." Jason promised Georgie.
"Good enough. Since Renaldo is here I'm guessing you guys are headed out, so I'll keep this brief." Georgie didn't know if the guard was here for Liz or Jason, and really it wasn't her business. Dating Milo had made it so that Georgie knew that waiting for information was the way to go. The guys weren't as close lipped as people would imagine. Anything she needed to know Milo made sure she did. What she didn't Georgie kept her nose out of.
With that she went down the hall and standing in the doorway to the studio grinned at her friend. Liz was done for now. That much was clear because she was straightening up. When the pencils were back in the mugs she stored them in, then it was more than just a quick break to keep the blood flowing. "Hi."
"Hi." Liz turned and smiled at her assistant. "I'm okay."
"Good to know." Georgie said coming inside the room. She was one of the few people who got to see Liz's work when it was in progress, or just completed. Sometimes she even helped color the panels for the special editions, most of the time the graphic novel was printed in black and white. The trust she was extended was not something Georgie ever abused. "How's it going?"
"Quickly." Liz said looking down at the large paper she had filled with the images in her mind. It was one of three she had completed for this edition. Considering she had put in less than two days of work that was an incredible, and more than a little unhealthy, output. Altogether there would be between twenty-two and twenty-fives pages when she was done.
"Are you happy with it?" Georgie wanted to know.
"Yeah. It's dark." Liz said knowing her friend wouldn't be surprised. "But it's good." That was a statement she rarely said about her own work. Generally when she looked at it all she saw was how she could have made things better.
"Did you need anything from me?" Georgie took a good look at Liz. Her friend looked tired. "You aren't skipping meals are you?"
"No." Liz promised. "Jason is making sure I don't. Taking care of me is making this easier for him."
Georgie thought that the same thing could be said of Liz. She would be making sure that Jason was holding up okay. "I'm just hanging out around the apartment this week, so if you need anything give a holler. Even if you just want to hang out. I'm also willing to cut my vacation short, even though you said I didn't need to. In fact since you are working I'd rather cut my vacation short, so I can be on hand if you need anything." She finished up.
"Is that your way of saying you'll be here tomorrow?" Liz grabbed a wipe to clean her hands.
"Yes, it is." Georgie smiled wide.
"Thank you." Liz felt very cared for, she also understood that arguing would be pointless. "I may be taking trips out to the mansion this week to visit with Lila, she's planning the service. That's where I'm heading now. So you will probably be putting in half days until the funeral is held." After that Liz would go back to her regular working schedule.
"Understood." Georgie was happy to know Mrs. Q was overseeing things. Carly would be treated fairly, which would keep Liz from going off on someone. One of the things Georgie liked the most about her boss was that she didn't hesitate to defend those important to her.
"Renaldo will be around a lot more." Liz let Georgie know.
"So there will be more coffee in the pantry?" Georgie asked laughing. "I'll see if he wants any special creamers or snacks." A guard was not something she had to deal with. Milo wasn't high enough up in the organization for that to be the case. He was a junior guard at the moment. Just recently she suspected that might soon change because Milo had been undergoing some additional training, she just didn't know what for.
"I think Renaldo mainly drinks tea." Liz would be sure to find out, she liked for the guys to be comfortable if they were over. Johnny was over a lot because they both were huge rugby fans. So she generally had those cheesy nacho chips he liked so much, even though she couldn't stand them. Gia dropped them off with a smile of gratitude that she didn't have to listen to Johnny shouting at the television during the matches. When Francis joined them he usually just wanted some brownies. "I'll find out." She didn't like to ask Georgie to run personal errands.
"One of us will find out." Georgie had been telling Liz for the past couple of years that she didn't mind running errands. That's what personal/executive assistants did. Her jaw dropped at some of the things Maxie did for her boss. The last time the two sisters talked Maxie had suggested they swap jobs for the day and Georgie just laughed. She would strangle Kate Howard, but at least France didn't have the death penalty.
"Yeah." Liz tossed the dirty wipe in the trashcan. "I need to go." She patted her pocket to make sure the USB drive was still there.
"Do you need groceries?" Georgie asked as they headed down the hall.
"Taken care of." Liz assured her friend. "Hi guys." Jason was waiting, Renaldo and Max were with him. "I'm ready."
"See you later." Georgie waved as she let herself out and headed down to the elevator. She and Milo lived just down the hall, but she needed to get the mail from yesterday.
"Let's go." Jason said as Max held the door open. They guys waited in the hall as Liz locked up.
"Renaldo will you need coffee or tea? Or snacks? For when you're at the apartment?" Liz asked as they caught the elevator to the lobby.
"I don't have to hang out at your place, if it will make you uncomfortable." Renaldo let her know. Jason wouldn't interfere in what she decided unless he had to. Neither would Max, who made sure the guys were doing their jobs to the standard set by Cody when he was head of the guards. "You have all my contact information. You can call or text me if you want to go out." Just like he told her yesterday.
"I generally go out for a walk or to run errands around two." Liz said as the elevator doors slid open and they transferred to the one that would take them to the garage.
"It would be best if you were a little less regular with going out. I don't want to disrupt your routine, but if someone is watching they will know when to possibly try something." Renaldo pointed out.
Liz just chuckled. "You would think I would know that because I wrote that very scenario into one of my volumes last year." Her protagonist's sister had almost been snatched because she went to get water at the same time every day. "I don't have a problem switching things up. Nor do I have problem staying in if that is for the best. I can get my walk in at the gym." She normally ended her day with a workout in the fitness center anyway.
"I will let you know if there is an issue otherwise going out is fine." Renaldo said holding the door to the car open. Actually Jason would probably alert her to any problems before he could. Renaldo walked around the car and got behind the wheel. As the senior ranking guard Max had the option to drive or not. He had opted to be a passenger on today's outing.
Without even thinking about Jason covered Elizabeth's hand with his and when she turned it over he linked their fingers. The contact had the benefit of relaxing him some. Touching was not something he was comfortable with, so he rarely did it. Or let others touch him. His sisters, and his grandmother had been the extent of the list for the part of his life he remembered. However it was different with Elizabeth, her he always seemed to be touching. This was the first time they'd held hands in this manner and despite her hand being smaller than his they fit. Just like he noticed how well they fit when he held her in his arms.
"Elizabeth, Jason, it's wonderful to see you both." Lila held out a hand as they walked in. They both looked tired, it was not something she could say she'd ever witnessed in her grandson.
"Hello Grandmother." Jason leaned down and gave her a kiss.
"Mrs. Quartermaine." Liz gently kissed the other cheek.
Lila just sighed and gave the young woman in front of her a fond smile. "I'm never going to get you to call me Lila am I?" She'd been trying for years now.
"No ma'am." Liz smiled back as she shook her head. "It would be impolite. I was raised to respect my elders, and in your case my betters." Liz had a serious case of hero worship where Lila was concerned.
"Cheeky." The older woman said with a small laugh. Liz brought light in with her every time she visited. "Everyone else should be here shortly."
"Everyone else is who exactly?" Jason accepted the mug of coffee from Reginald as Alice pushed in the tea cart. "Thank you." He always used his manners around his grandmother.
"Your mother, and your sisters. Your father and grandfather will not be joining us." Lila was not going to have Monica, Skye, or Jason upset. "Here they are now."
Jason stood up and so did Liz. He hugged both Em and Skye, before stiffly hugging his mother. They were doing better, but still had a ways to go before their relationship could be considered close to good. Liz hugged Skye, and only hesitated a little before hugging Emily. She wasn't sure the other woman wanted to the contact but it didn't take long to realize Emily was happy with the gesture. Monica didn't get a hug. It would be hypocritical to suddenly pretend they were close, or even wanted to be. Liz had not liked Carly's reception by most of the family and that colored her relationship with the Quartermaines.
Once everyone was settled Lila got them underway. "The remains will arrive in Port Charles by the middle of next week. So we can go forward with holding the service next weekend." Her cultured voice filled the room. "I'm going to be meeting with Father Coates on Monday to go over the order of the service and to select some passages to be read. Elizabeth I would like it if you could go with me. If not then could you please write out some of Carly's favorite bible verses?"
"I don't see any reason I can't go to the church with you." Liz replied quietly. "If Father Coates remembers the wedding then he might already know some of them." Carly hadn't been overly religious but she did attend church most Sundays with AJ.
"If you could think of some songs as well that would also be helpful." Lila said still addressing Liz. "They don't have to be the traditional hymns."
Liz nodded. "Will any of Carly's things be coming with her? Otherwise I will need to go shopping for a dress."
"I can take that." Skye said looking at the other ladies, and Jason. "I shopped with Carly a few times before she left for England, and then when she came back for visits. She had amazing taste."
"Thank you Skye." Lila was happy her granddaughter felt secure enough to volunteer.
"Don't forget earrings." Emily said with a sad smile. "I remember Carly saying that she could go out without a drop of makeup, but she had to have earrings on."
"Yeah, she did." Liz nodded.
"Why was that?" Emily regretted not knowing her sister in-law better. For most of her brother's relationship with Carly, Emily lived out of state. She hadn't wanted to learn under the shadow of her parents so she went to medical school in Minnesota before moving to Baltimore. It had been the best decision for her, but it had put distance between her and her siblings. With them all leading such busy lives they didn't talk often. She was determined that was going to change from here on out.
"Carly said she felt naked without earrings. Her ears were pierced as a baby so growing up she always had a pair on. The funny thing is she only had like three pairs, including the diamond studs AJ gave her." Liz explained to the group.
They sat in silence for a few moments before Lila spoke again. "Jason can you pick up a suit and tie for your brother."
"I can. The tailor he went to will have the measurements on file." Jason would call over as soon as he got home.
"Now back to you Elizabeth. I hope you don't feel like I'm putting a spotlight on you." Lila didn't want to make the younger woman uncomfortable.
"No. I realize that you need information on Carly. You know what to do for AJ." Liz assured her host. Lila actually knew her granddaughter by marriage very well. If she had to plan this unassisted she would do fine. From day one Lila had been welcoming of Carly. They frequently had tea together or sat in the garden just talking.
"Do you know much of Carly's family? It was a topic she was uncomfortable talking about so I didn't press." Lila explained.
"As far as I know Carly doesn't have any more family. Her biological mother's name was the only one in the file. The private detective who was working the case followed up on a few leads about possible extended family, but nothing ever panned out. She doesn't have any family on the adopted side either. Both her parents were only children, and both sets of grandparents are deceased." Liz filled in the blanks. "That was why she was so excited to get two sisters and a brother through marriage."
"Would you be willing to speak on her behalf at the service?" Lila asked Elizabeth.
"Yes." Liz expected the request.
"Emily I think you and your mother should speak on behalf of AJ." Lila looked over at Monica who had been silent so far.
"I'm not sure that AJ would want me speaking at his funeral." Monica admitted feeling sorrow, and some shame, that things were so bad between them.
"I can handle it." Emily said quietly. "Do we have copies of their wills with any instructions?" They needed to take into account the final wishes of the couple.
"Justus is looking into that. Most people request a final burial location, very few actually plan out their own funerals. I will of course respect any decisions AJ and Carly made." Lila said to put Emily's concerns to rest. "Monica I will need some photographs of AJ." Lila looked at her daughter in-law. This was something she could, and should, do.
"I've been going through the albums most of the morning. I will pull some pictures." Monica replied nodding.
"I have a flash drive with pictures of Carly, and some of her and AJ. I even have one of just AJ, Jason, Emily, and Skye." Liz had been pleased to find that one. "It was taken at the farewell party before they left Port Charles. I was snapping pictures all night with my phone."
"I think I'd like a copy of that for my desk." Lila would treasure the image.
"I think we all would like a copy of that one." Skye said remembering the moment the picture was taken.
"Now, I think we should take a walk through the hot houses and talk flowers." Every bloom would come from the estate, it would be Lila's final gift to her grandchildren. "Jason you can drive."
He put down his mug and stood after the ladies did. Steering his grandmother out the terrace doors they headed to rear of the property to make some selections.
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