A Second Act Part 2
Author's Note: I decided to continue with this story for a few chapters. It's not going to be long—just some moments. Italics mean a flashback.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
"So, Aram got me The Big Book of Casseroles for Christmas and I finally cooked something from it; it was actually pretty good," Liz said as they ate.
"I would be happy to never see another casserole again, " Ressler said under his breath. "Why are they the go-to whenever someone dies?"
Liz swallowed hard, she forgot about casseroles.
"Probably because they store and freeze well?" Liz said, honestly. "It's not the casseroles you hate, it's their connection to loss. "
He nodded. "I found one from when Audrey died at the bottom of the freezer a few weeks ago. "
"You didn't eat that, did you?" Liz asked with her face scrunched.
"No, tossed it, but now I know why Mrs. Wiggins gives me the stink eye every time I see her at FarmTown. The Pyrex dish had her name taped to the bottom. I dropped it off at her house last week. "
Liz snickered. "Fucking casseroles. I'll donate the book. "
He chuckled and nodded. "Probably a good idea. "
"How's she doing?" Liz asked Ressler as she walked into his kitchen with snack size smoothies for the girls.
"Not good," he sighed as he opened his fridge and looked at the multiple casseroles people had dropped off. He shut the door; his mother-in-law Michelle could decide which one they were eating tonight.
"Should I...?" Liz gestured toward their stairs.
"No, she'd just fallen asleep when I left her, " he sighed as he looked out his back window at his two girls doing crafts with Audrey's mom.
"How are you?" Liz asked as she walked toward him and wrapped an arm around his waist.
She felt him crumple almost instantly and shifted her weight to hold him a little more as they both slid down to the ground behind the counter. She pulled him into a hug as he cried out of sight of his wife, children, and in-laws.
She rocked him back and forth and said soothing things as he cried for the first time over the loss of his son. They'd named him Brady, Audrey's maiden name, even though he had only lived a few hours. Audrey had to receive an emergency hysterectomy so they were not only coming to terms with the loss of their tiny pre-term son, but the loss of any future kids. Audrey had wanted a baseball team and Ressler was willing to play along for a partial team.
"You will get through this, and so will she and you'll be..." Liz paused. She couldn't say better or stronger. They were broken and probably always would be about this loss. "... you'll be okay. Not today, probably not for a while, but you will be, Ressler."
"Three kids in four years was probably going to be chaos, " he said quietly. "But we welcomed it."
Liz wiped at her own tears. "I know you did, honey."
He chuckled sadly and sat up a little wiping his nose with the sleeve of his shirt.
She chuckled sadly with him.
"No baseball team, even if I'd never let her get that far, four would have been..."
She smiled sadly with him. "You have two wonderful girls though. I know she wanted..."
"I told her we could adopt and she burrowed deeper into our bed, " Ressler said.
Liz swallowed. "Ressler, she's probably not there yet, give her time to process Brady and the hysterectomy and then talk."
He nodded. He knew it was too soon as soon as the words came out of his mouth.
He pulled away and sat with his back to the cupboard and she did the same, sitting across from him on the floor of his kitchen, hidden from everyone by the island.
"I'd do anything to fix this, " he said softly. "But I can't. "
She nodded. She knew the man would and did do anything for his family. They were the center of his world.
"Just be there for her, however she needs you to be," Liz said. "Her parents can manage the girls but she needs you."
He nodded and reached out a hand taking hers in his.
"What would I do without you?" He asked, honestly.
She took a moment to look at him carefully. She loved this man in ways she chose to ignore and would never share because she'd never risk their friendship or either of their families.
"Uh, miss your anniversary every year because I always have to remind..."Liz smiled at him.
He laughed and let go of her hand. "Thanks, Liz."
She smiled and got to her feet. "No problem. I'm invested in this because if you and Audrey fall apart, I don't have a hope in hell with Tom."
He chuckled as he rose to his feet as well. He pulled her on for a quick hug and kissed the top of her head.
"Thank you," he said.
She sighed. She knew he was 100% Audrey's and her feelings for him were hers alone, never to be shared or reciprocated, but she relished soft moments like this.
"I'll take these out to the girls and maybe you go upstairs and grab a nap with Audrey?" Liz suggested.
He nodded, suddenly realizing she was right and he was overwhelmed with fatigue. It had been an exhausting 3 days.
Liz picked up the smoothies and walked outside as she heard him start up the stairs.
"You know, I really like this, " Ressler said as he wrapped an arm around her waist as they walked down the street.
"What? Not eating with demanding girls aged 10-12?" Liz laughed. They had had many dinners together over the years; their kids loved each other.
"Well, yes, that," he chuckled. "But really, just being able to do this. To go out with you. To walk like this with you. To..."
He broke off and kissed her, turning her in his arms to get better access. They wrapped their arms around each other and her body pressed into his. They worked together as partners, friends and parents incredibly well. They were both starting to see how they worked together as lovers too.
They pulled back and smiled at each other. She felt his hands sneak under the edge of the back of the spaghetti straps of her dress and touch her soft skin.
"I want you, " he said low and husky.
Her eyes lit up and she nodded. She had wanted him for a long, long, time. But she'd tamped down those feelings and buried them years ago.
"Next weekend?" Liz asked, her voice husky with desire.
He nodded slowly.
"You book Mrs Bridge's for a night and I'll figure out a place."
He nodded and she felt him drop one of her straps down her shoulder and run his fingers lightly over the now-bare region.
"Fuck, you're killing me, " she said as she dropped her forehead against his chest.
He chuckled low and carefully pulled the strap back up and put it in place.
"Sorry about that, " he said bashfully.
She smirked up at him and took his hand in hers, walking to the car.
He dropped her off at her house and they both pulled away from a passionate kissing session in her driveway when they both realized they were getting to a point where reason, neighbors, propriety, and bucket seats were likely not going to prevent things from going further.
She laughed as she got out of his car and pulled down at her dress as he got out of his side and quickly re-tucked in his shirt.
"I'll see you at work Monday," he said as he kissed her as chastely as possible at her front door. She felt her legs wobble despite the innocent kiss.
"I'll text you tomorrow about the hotel, " Liz said. "You secure Mrs Bridges"
He nodded and smiled and watched her walk in the door.
To be continued. Let me know what you think.