A/N: Thank you Laura for beta-ing this for me :) Shadow deserves credit for an idea ;) in this part. Hugs to all who leave me feedback :)
Part 6
It was the annual "Word on the Street" festival, a tradition started
in '03 to promote books and literacy. Definitely a much needed event for the
fast growing technologically adept but literature illiterate society. So
everyone in the print industry, from newspapers to books and publishing, had
come together to celebrate there chosen fields.
The leaves had already changed colors and the clouds were gray, threatening to
deposit the life nurturing substance of earth. There was a cool breeze too, a
reminder that fall had arrived and was there to stay. Makeshift tents, food
stands and kiddy rides occupied the bohemian section of downtown Seattle. It was
a pretty sight, but not as pretty as the lady coming toward Logan. She had dark
straight hair, a seldom departure from her usual curly locks, and the wind
opened her jacket up, revealing a military style tank top over a pair of capri
pants. Max never failed to take Logan's breath away, even if it only lasted the
few seconds when he wasn't conscious of it yet. After that, he just resolved not
to acknowledge it.
Logan checked his watch and confirmed that it was indeed 10 o'clock. Max was an
hour late.
"Hey Logan!" Max placed her backpack on the chair next to Logan and
checked out Biotech's table, which was already set with flyers, journals and
giveaways.
Logan gave her a questioning look as he crossed his arm.
"What?" She asked innocently as she made herself comfortable.
"You are late."
Max looked at the time, "Am I? Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was
already ten." She sighed. "Too bad you had to do *all* these work by
yourself."
"I have a feeling you know exactly what time it is." Logan clearly saw
through the sarcasm underneath the apology.
Max shrugged and leaned closer to Logan to grab a muffin; strands of her hair
floated and reached his lips. "You don't mind, do you?" She was
referring to the muffin she was munching on and not her tardiness.
Logan said nothing; Max's close proximity was starting to get both bothersome
and delightful. So, of course he didn't mind, but for fun, he decided that he
would have Max make it up to him later.
"Remind me again why I'm here?" Max couldn't believe she let Logan
talk her into watching the booth with him. The whole forgiveness thing was
starting to annoy her. It had already cost her a day's out with her friends.
"Because, it's a good thing to do. Besides, everyone in the media will be
here. Reporters, editors, even those giant moguls who own half the newspapers in
this continent." Logan wasn't sure when exactly he lost Max but at that
moment, she definitely wasn't paying attention to him. "Max!? Max!? Hey,
are you listening?"
"Yeah yeah, be nice to the press, united front, blah blah blah." She
said with slight irritation as her eyes surveyed an elderly woman several tents
away. "Now shush!"
Logan followed Max's line of vision and his eyes landed on none other than his
mother's best friend, Mrs. Moreno. Since his mother passed away, Mrs. Moreno had
taken it upon herself to get Logan a charming, educated like-one-of-her-nieces
kind of wife. Her recent bad health and her son's upcoming nuptials were the
only reasons why she was on (a promised short) hiatus.
"Oh no!" Logan said in unison with Max's squeal of recognition,
"It's Mrs. Moreno!"
The two looked at each other puzzled.
"Why are you so grumpy?"
"Why are you so excited?"
Max covered Logan's mouth. "Stop talking at the same time as me!" She
took her hand back quickly because Logan's scruffy beard was sending her nerves
firing in directions where it shouldn't, not that it wasn't pleasurable or
anything. "What's wrong with you? It's Mrs. Moreno! You know, the lady who
fed us chocolate cake and cookies when your mom wasn't looking!"
Logan got a piece of flyer to cover his face and whispered to Max, "I don't
want her to see me, I'll explain later!" He then slipped off his seat to
make a run.
Before Max knew it, Logan had already turned around without a word of
explanation. Just an inch out of reach, Max half squatted and grabbed Logan's
navy blue sweater, depositing him back to his seat. But her momentum was off and
the stool Logan was seating on was not sturdy enough so he fell with the back of
his head on the floor. Max followed, straddling Logan, with her face hovering a
few inches off his and her hand still clutching the fabric of his sweater.
"What are you doing!?"
"What did you grab me for!?"
"Grab you!? I was trying to get some senses out of you?!"
"Isn't it obvious, I'm trying to hide from Mrs. Moreno!"
Max lifted herself off Logan by putting some weight on the arm that was resting
across his chest.
"Help me up!" She growled, exasperated that Logan was making a hobby
of talking at the same time as her. Of course, her knees felt wobbly from the
fall, and not from the fact that she was very well aware of Logan's presence in
between her legs.
Logan, on the other hand, felt very content where he was. He figured he must be
experiencing early signs of head concussion because the whole world just
disappeared, leaving only Max to gaze upon, her weight on top of him the only
thing to feel. Her beautiful face and big brown eyes looking down on him with.a
very mad expression! Reality hit Logan hard, or more precisely, Max was hitting
Logan hard.
Max slapped Logan again, this time she was getting very worried. He had a dazed
look and Max couldn't get him to respond. Out of fright, she hastily got herself
kneeling beside him, checking for pulse and praying that he hadn't gone into
shock.
"Hey!" Logan took Max's wrist to save himself from another hit.
Getting up, he motioned to the crowd who was starting to take notice of the
commotion under the table. "You wouldn't want to have a lot of witnesses,
bad for your defense attorney." he teased.
Max stood up, appalled at Logan. The nerve of him, there she was trying to make
sure he was ok and he insinuated physical abuse! She couldn't believe it!
Logan realized that Max didn't get his pathetic attempt of a joke, "Easy
Max, I was just joking!"
"The hell you were!"
"I was, I'm sorry." Logan tried hiding the smile that was slowly
creeping up his lips.
"Hmp! Whatever Logan, I'm gonna go talk to Mrs. Moreno!"
Mrs. Moreno's son heard Max scream his mother's name so he informed her that
Logan Cale and Max Guevara of Biotech Publishing were just a few meters away.
Between Logan's attempted escape and Max's outburst, it was time enough for Mrs.
Moreno to walk from her son's newspaper tent toward the two.
"Maxie!" Max turned around and spotted the elderly lady walking with
her cane.
"Mrs. Moreno!" Max closed the gap and gave her a warm hug.
"Junior." Reluctantly and with a fake smile, Logan too gave her a hug.
"I see you two are already bickering like an old married couple!"
Genuine happiness was evident in her eyes. "So, when is the wedding?"
"What wedding?" Max lead Mrs. Moreno to a chair and offered her a
bottled water.
Logan, sensing where the inquisition was going, immediately jumped in;
"Your son's wedding is in a couple of months. Sorry, I haven't had a chance
to mail in the RSVP, I was meaning to do it before the deadline next week."
Great! Now Logan had to go through his recycling box to find the invitation, he
hoped it wasn't shredded yet.
Mrs. Moreno gave a motherly laugh, as if dismissing a silly comment a child had
made, "No Junior, I was talking about yours and Maxie's!"
When Mrs. Moreno refused the drink Max offered, she had some herself. Bad idea
considering she about choked to death at the elderly woman's suggestion. What?!
She and Logan married? Mrs. Moreno must had forgotten to take whatever pills she
needed for whatever mental condition she had, she was obviously delusion!
((Coughs)) "Mine and Logan's?"
Logan stroked Max's back to help her breath, he just had the best solution to
put a stop on Mrs. Moreno's match making attempts.
"We haven't set a date yet." Logan responded thoughtfully. "We
were thinking that a fall wedding will be nice though."
Max agreed, "Yeah, we haven't..What!?" She glared at Logan who was
still behind her, stroking her back.
Logan smiled at her sweetly, like a lover content to just hold the one he adored
without anything in return, how much of this was acting was better left unknown.
Addressing Mrs. Moreno, he said, "Max wants it to be sooner than next fall.
Who knows, maybe you'll get an invitation by Christmas!"
For the love of God, Max couldn't figure out what had gotten into Logan! She
turned to face him completely, whispering she said, "Are you fucking
insane.."
The words drowned in Max's mouth as Logan pulled her closer to him for a kiss.
Max was stunned, not because Logan was kissing her but because she was kissing
him back. Several seconds later, Logan released her lips but Max was too
intoxicated to say anything, especially not all the obscenities running through
her head.
Mrs. Moreno was very pleased; her life's work was complete. "I tell you, I
had always told Logan's mother that you two will end up together." Eyeing
Max who, in covert panic, quickly turned away from Logan, the elderly lady
continued, "When your uncle took you, I honestly lost hope, and I thought
that Logan did too. Obviously he didn't. And he was right not to, look at
you." Mrs. Moreno cupped Max's face, observing how the young woman had
changed in the fifteen years since she last saw her. "Maxie, all grown up
and so pretty."
Max was completely lost.
Mrs. Moreno's smile widened, "Oh Junior didn't tell you?" Mrs. Moreno laughed
slyly. "You just snatched Seattle's most handsome bachelor! I tell you, I was
setting him up with every single woman I know, mostly my nieces and their
friends. But now and then I'd get calls from people asking me for a date with
Logan. I've quite made a reputation as the old lady who screens his potential
date ((laughs))!"
Looking at Logan, Mrs. Moreno said affectionately, "I know you didn't like
what I was doing ((laughs)) but you went out with the women anyway to please
me."
Then back to Max, who was starting to catch on to Logan's scheme, "I should
have known he'd wait for you. Oh, Logan's mother would have been so happy. How I
miss her much, God rest her soul. That was all she ever wanted, you know, for
you two to find each other again and be happy.". Wiping some tears with
shaky hands, "And it looks like you both are."
Max stepped closer to Mrs. Moreno and held her, she couldn't very well break the
elderly lady's heart and tell her that there was no engagement. She had no other
option but to play along.
"We are." Max said with sincerity, then to lighten up the mood, she
teased, " Logan is no knight saving a damsel in distress, but what the
heck, I'll put up with him." She entwined her fingers with Logan's and gave
a wink confirming the secret about men that all women shared, much to Mrs.
Moreno's amusement.
Logan was dumbfounded at Max's show of affection AND cooperation, nonetheless,
he managed a smile and a kiss on the top of her head.
"You must tell me how you've been Maxie. Time must be playing tricks with
my mind. I still can't believe how grown up you are. I still remember those days
when Logan would bring you up to the house. Remember Junior? Maxie would be on
your back and she wouldn't let go until you promised to play with her."
"Yeah and when I did let go, he'd run and hide in the attic, to call his
girlfriend no less!" Max playfully hit Logan's side with his own hand,
which was still laced with hers.
Logan smiled at the recollection and like the two women, he too was soon drawn
in the reminiscent mood that wrapped and trapped then away from the real word.
Logan pulled a seat, and since Mrs. Moreno was occupying the other, he encircled
Max's waist with one arm and pulled her down on his lap, cradling her. Max
continued on relaying a story to Mrs. Moreno and didn't seem aware of what Logan
had just done.
Laughing, Max confessed. "It really was me! Logan just took the
blame." Defending herself, she added, " I honestly thought that the
little gold fish was hungry."
Mrs. Moreno swallowed a chuckle, "What about that time when you decided to
give those roses a swim? That almost sent Logan's mother to the hospital, I
thought she would have a heart attack!"
Max recalled filling the rose garden with the content of her blow-it-yourself
swimming pool. Amused at her silliness, she explained, "I did not decide to
give them a swim, it was a hot day, I thought they could use some water."
She shifted her weight and moved closer to Logan, the poor guy, half his leg
must had already been asleep.
"Junior, whatever did your mother do to that garden? I remember for the rest
of the season, she refused to grow any more roses."
Both Max and Mrs. Moreno looked at Logan when he didn't reply. He seemed to be
thinking deeply about something, or someone. Max knew the woman who was in
Logan's mind; she too loved her, his mother. Max realized that it was still
painful for Logan to talk about her and she understood him, talking about her
own parents still got her choked up.
With caressing fingers, Max touched Logan's face and urged him to look at her.
He did. She smiled. He smiled back. And for a split second the universe stopped
to cherish what just passed. "Mrs. Moreno was asking you something."
"Oh, mom planted lilies instead and she had me guard Max 24/7 from then
on." He said gaining back his good-natured humor.
Mrs. Moreno thought of another story so the pair listened to her, enchanted.
Max felt Logan pull her hand up for a kiss then he laid it back again on his
other leg. It felt like he had done it a million times. It was so natural for
them to be like this, so easy, so effortless. Then why was it so hard before?
Was it because she was finally ready to forgive him? Hmm, the whole forgiveness
thing wasn't so bad then, she liked it.
Logan felt Max rest her head on his. She really had surprised him the past few
days. She was happier, more at peace. She was still Max though, only with less
sharper edges. He didn't know what brought about the change but he was glad of
it anyway because it looked like they had a chance to be friends again. Logan
wouldn't mind at all if he and Max had another of this rare intimate moment.
The present came rushing as all five of Mrs. Moreno's grandchildren came to
fetch her. "Granny, come take us to Big Bird, he's reading the kids a
story!" One of them tugged on her dress impatiently while the others run
around in circles around the three adults.
Suddenly sobered from the effects of reminiscing, Mrs. Moreno took her cane as
Logan helped her up. "I will have to set a dinner so you two can come
over."
"We'd love that." Max kissed her on the cheek.
Taking her grandchildren, she announced. "Alright, you little rugrats,
we're off to Big Bird." Mrs. Moreno waved goodbye to Max and Logan and
headed to the Sesame Street booth. A few steps away, she added, "By the
way, I'll get my son's wedding planner to give you two a call! He is
fabulous."
In an instant, as if Mrs. Moreno took away with her all the comfort and ease,
awkwardness replaced Max and Logan's earlier haven.
Max was first to recover by acting in the only way she knew best. She resumed
her position in the booth, taking another mouthful of muffin as she sat. With as
much sarcasm, though she didn't try much since it came naturally to her, Max
made Logan feel like a little boy who got a star for cheating on a test,
"Nice going Logan! I hope she never finds out how you, I mean we, lied to
her, she'd be devastated!"
Logan felt sad, mostly from lying, but also from the lost of contact with Max's
warm, soft self. Seating again beside her, he rolled a journal and whacked his
head with it. "How was I supposed to know she'd rant on about my
mother." He whacked himself again.
Max took the journal from Logan, he had already hit his head enough for one day.
Not that she cared; she just wasn't in the mood to drive anyone to the hospital
for self-induced bodily harm. "So, you get rid of one problem by creating
another, this time you got *me* involved. Brilliant Logan! Just pure
genius!"
"Sorry Max, I wasn't thinking properly." Logan rested his arms on his
knees and rubbed his knuckles.
"Obviously!" Max put the rolled journal away from her, otherwise,
*she* would induce the harm to Logan. It wasn't funny how bickering came to them
as naturally as cuddling did.
After a couple of minutes of reflection, Logan laughed, "Well, it could be
a long engagement. Or at least until she passes away?"
Max rolled her eyes, "That is just sick."
Getting a little uncomfortable again, Logan forced himself to talk, "About
what happened."
"Don't worry about it, it's forgotten." Max replied without looking at
Logan.
He tried explaining, "I was just, you know, trying to play the doting
fiancé so she'd stop setting me up on those blind dates. " Who was he
kidding? Max or himself?
Max nodded, "Me too, just playing a role. Next time give me some warnings,
would you, so I can brush up on my theatrical skills." She, on the other
hand, was surely kidding herself.
"So we're ok? It was all just acting?" [Great Logan, brush her off,
what a gentleman you'd become.]
"Of course, what else could it be?" Max hoped that Logan wouldn't take
her comment as a challenge.
"You're right! Thanks for backing me up." Logan was grateful that Max
wasn't giving him much grief.
Max figured there was no point getting mad at Logan for entangling her in his
mess, she LET him didn't she? She let him touch her and kiss her and even if it
was just pretend, she let him love her.
"No big dealio." It really was no big deal, she convinced herself,
after all, it was done for Mrs. Moreno's sake. Besides, she got a little
something out of it; for the first time in years, she felt nice, warm and safe.
"Well, I'm glad we talked about it." Then why did he feel like they
hadn't at all? Like there was so much more he wanted to say, mostly words that
would erase everything they just said from the moment Mrs. Moreno left.
"Yeah, me too." Max checked the time, 10:45 am. It was going to be a
very long day.
~~~
A/N: Please do me favor and leave a review :) Constructive criticisms are always nice.
Part 6
It was the annual "Word on the Street" festival, a tradition started
in '03 to promote books and literacy. Definitely a much needed event for the
fast growing technologically adept but literature illiterate society. So
everyone in the print industry, from newspapers to books and publishing, had
come together to celebrate there chosen fields.
The leaves had already changed colors and the clouds were gray, threatening to
deposit the life nurturing substance of earth. There was a cool breeze too, a
reminder that fall had arrived and was there to stay. Makeshift tents, food
stands and kiddy rides occupied the bohemian section of downtown Seattle. It was
a pretty sight, but not as pretty as the lady coming toward Logan. She had dark
straight hair, a seldom departure from her usual curly locks, and the wind
opened her jacket up, revealing a military style tank top over a pair of capri
pants. Max never failed to take Logan's breath away, even if it only lasted the
few seconds when he wasn't conscious of it yet. After that, he just resolved not
to acknowledge it.
Logan checked his watch and confirmed that it was indeed 10 o'clock. Max was an
hour late.
"Hey Logan!" Max placed her backpack on the chair next to Logan and
checked out Biotech's table, which was already set with flyers, journals and
giveaways.
Logan gave her a questioning look as he crossed his arm.
"What?" She asked innocently as she made herself comfortable.
"You are late."
Max looked at the time, "Am I? Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was
already ten." She sighed. "Too bad you had to do *all* these work by
yourself."
"I have a feeling you know exactly what time it is." Logan clearly saw
through the sarcasm underneath the apology.
Max shrugged and leaned closer to Logan to grab a muffin; strands of her hair
floated and reached his lips. "You don't mind, do you?" She was
referring to the muffin she was munching on and not her tardiness.
Logan said nothing; Max's close proximity was starting to get both bothersome
and delightful. So, of course he didn't mind, but for fun, he decided that he
would have Max make it up to him later.
"Remind me again why I'm here?" Max couldn't believe she let Logan
talk her into watching the booth with him. The whole forgiveness thing was
starting to annoy her. It had already cost her a day's out with her friends.
"Because, it's a good thing to do. Besides, everyone in the media will be
here. Reporters, editors, even those giant moguls who own half the newspapers in
this continent." Logan wasn't sure when exactly he lost Max but at that
moment, she definitely wasn't paying attention to him. "Max!? Max!? Hey,
are you listening?"
"Yeah yeah, be nice to the press, united front, blah blah blah." She
said with slight irritation as her eyes surveyed an elderly woman several tents
away. "Now shush!"
Logan followed Max's line of vision and his eyes landed on none other than his
mother's best friend, Mrs. Moreno. Since his mother passed away, Mrs. Moreno had
taken it upon herself to get Logan a charming, educated like-one-of-her-nieces
kind of wife. Her recent bad health and her son's upcoming nuptials were the
only reasons why she was on (a promised short) hiatus.
"Oh no!" Logan said in unison with Max's squeal of recognition,
"It's Mrs. Moreno!"
The two looked at each other puzzled.
"Why are you so grumpy?"
"Why are you so excited?"
Max covered Logan's mouth. "Stop talking at the same time as me!" She
took her hand back quickly because Logan's scruffy beard was sending her nerves
firing in directions where it shouldn't, not that it wasn't pleasurable or
anything. "What's wrong with you? It's Mrs. Moreno! You know, the lady who
fed us chocolate cake and cookies when your mom wasn't looking!"
Logan got a piece of flyer to cover his face and whispered to Max, "I don't
want her to see me, I'll explain later!" He then slipped off his seat to
make a run.
Before Max knew it, Logan had already turned around without a word of
explanation. Just an inch out of reach, Max half squatted and grabbed Logan's
navy blue sweater, depositing him back to his seat. But her momentum was off and
the stool Logan was seating on was not sturdy enough so he fell with the back of
his head on the floor. Max followed, straddling Logan, with her face hovering a
few inches off his and her hand still clutching the fabric of his sweater.
"What are you doing!?"
"What did you grab me for!?"
"Grab you!? I was trying to get some senses out of you?!"
"Isn't it obvious, I'm trying to hide from Mrs. Moreno!"
Max lifted herself off Logan by putting some weight on the arm that was resting
across his chest.
"Help me up!" She growled, exasperated that Logan was making a hobby
of talking at the same time as her. Of course, her knees felt wobbly from the
fall, and not from the fact that she was very well aware of Logan's presence in
between her legs.
Logan, on the other hand, felt very content where he was. He figured he must be
experiencing early signs of head concussion because the whole world just
disappeared, leaving only Max to gaze upon, her weight on top of him the only
thing to feel. Her beautiful face and big brown eyes looking down on him with.a
very mad expression! Reality hit Logan hard, or more precisely, Max was hitting
Logan hard.
Max slapped Logan again, this time she was getting very worried. He had a dazed
look and Max couldn't get him to respond. Out of fright, she hastily got herself
kneeling beside him, checking for pulse and praying that he hadn't gone into
shock.
"Hey!" Logan took Max's wrist to save himself from another hit.
Getting up, he motioned to the crowd who was starting to take notice of the
commotion under the table. "You wouldn't want to have a lot of witnesses,
bad for your defense attorney." he teased.
Max stood up, appalled at Logan. The nerve of him, there she was trying to make
sure he was ok and he insinuated physical abuse! She couldn't believe it!
Logan realized that Max didn't get his pathetic attempt of a joke, "Easy
Max, I was just joking!"
"The hell you were!"
"I was, I'm sorry." Logan tried hiding the smile that was slowly
creeping up his lips.
"Hmp! Whatever Logan, I'm gonna go talk to Mrs. Moreno!"
Mrs. Moreno's son heard Max scream his mother's name so he informed her that
Logan Cale and Max Guevara of Biotech Publishing were just a few meters away.
Between Logan's attempted escape and Max's outburst, it was time enough for Mrs.
Moreno to walk from her son's newspaper tent toward the two.
"Maxie!" Max turned around and spotted the elderly lady walking with
her cane.
"Mrs. Moreno!" Max closed the gap and gave her a warm hug.
"Junior." Reluctantly and with a fake smile, Logan too gave her a hug.
"I see you two are already bickering like an old married couple!"
Genuine happiness was evident in her eyes. "So, when is the wedding?"
"What wedding?" Max lead Mrs. Moreno to a chair and offered her a
bottled water.
Logan, sensing where the inquisition was going, immediately jumped in;
"Your son's wedding is in a couple of months. Sorry, I haven't had a chance
to mail in the RSVP, I was meaning to do it before the deadline next week."
Great! Now Logan had to go through his recycling box to find the invitation, he
hoped it wasn't shredded yet.
Mrs. Moreno gave a motherly laugh, as if dismissing a silly comment a child had
made, "No Junior, I was talking about yours and Maxie's!"
When Mrs. Moreno refused the drink Max offered, she had some herself. Bad idea
considering she about choked to death at the elderly woman's suggestion. What?!
She and Logan married? Mrs. Moreno must had forgotten to take whatever pills she
needed for whatever mental condition she had, she was obviously delusion!
((Coughs)) "Mine and Logan's?"
Logan stroked Max's back to help her breath, he just had the best solution to
put a stop on Mrs. Moreno's match making attempts.
"We haven't set a date yet." Logan responded thoughtfully. "We
were thinking that a fall wedding will be nice though."
Max agreed, "Yeah, we haven't..What!?" She glared at Logan who was
still behind her, stroking her back.
Logan smiled at her sweetly, like a lover content to just hold the one he adored
without anything in return, how much of this was acting was better left unknown.
Addressing Mrs. Moreno, he said, "Max wants it to be sooner than next fall.
Who knows, maybe you'll get an invitation by Christmas!"
For the love of God, Max couldn't figure out what had gotten into Logan! She
turned to face him completely, whispering she said, "Are you fucking
insane.."
The words drowned in Max's mouth as Logan pulled her closer to him for a kiss.
Max was stunned, not because Logan was kissing her but because she was kissing
him back. Several seconds later, Logan released her lips but Max was too
intoxicated to say anything, especially not all the obscenities running through
her head.
Mrs. Moreno was very pleased; her life's work was complete. "I tell you, I
had always told Logan's mother that you two will end up together." Eyeing
Max who, in covert panic, quickly turned away from Logan, the elderly lady
continued, "When your uncle took you, I honestly lost hope, and I thought
that Logan did too. Obviously he didn't. And he was right not to, look at
you." Mrs. Moreno cupped Max's face, observing how the young woman had
changed in the fifteen years since she last saw her. "Maxie, all grown up
and so pretty."
Max was completely lost.
Mrs. Moreno's smile widened, "Oh Junior didn't tell you?" Mrs. Moreno laughed
slyly. "You just snatched Seattle's most handsome bachelor! I tell you, I was
setting him up with every single woman I know, mostly my nieces and their
friends. But now and then I'd get calls from people asking me for a date with
Logan. I've quite made a reputation as the old lady who screens his potential
date ((laughs))!"
Looking at Logan, Mrs. Moreno said affectionately, "I know you didn't like
what I was doing ((laughs)) but you went out with the women anyway to please
me."
Then back to Max, who was starting to catch on to Logan's scheme, "I should
have known he'd wait for you. Oh, Logan's mother would have been so happy. How I
miss her much, God rest her soul. That was all she ever wanted, you know, for
you two to find each other again and be happy.". Wiping some tears with
shaky hands, "And it looks like you both are."
Max stepped closer to Mrs. Moreno and held her, she couldn't very well break the
elderly lady's heart and tell her that there was no engagement. She had no other
option but to play along.
"We are." Max said with sincerity, then to lighten up the mood, she
teased, " Logan is no knight saving a damsel in distress, but what the
heck, I'll put up with him." She entwined her fingers with Logan's and gave
a wink confirming the secret about men that all women shared, much to Mrs.
Moreno's amusement.
Logan was dumbfounded at Max's show of affection AND cooperation, nonetheless,
he managed a smile and a kiss on the top of her head.
"You must tell me how you've been Maxie. Time must be playing tricks with
my mind. I still can't believe how grown up you are. I still remember those days
when Logan would bring you up to the house. Remember Junior? Maxie would be on
your back and she wouldn't let go until you promised to play with her."
"Yeah and when I did let go, he'd run and hide in the attic, to call his
girlfriend no less!" Max playfully hit Logan's side with his own hand,
which was still laced with hers.
Logan smiled at the recollection and like the two women, he too was soon drawn
in the reminiscent mood that wrapped and trapped then away from the real word.
Logan pulled a seat, and since Mrs. Moreno was occupying the other, he encircled
Max's waist with one arm and pulled her down on his lap, cradling her. Max
continued on relaying a story to Mrs. Moreno and didn't seem aware of what Logan
had just done.
Laughing, Max confessed. "It really was me! Logan just took the
blame." Defending herself, she added, " I honestly thought that the
little gold fish was hungry."
Mrs. Moreno swallowed a chuckle, "What about that time when you decided to
give those roses a swim? That almost sent Logan's mother to the hospital, I
thought she would have a heart attack!"
Max recalled filling the rose garden with the content of her blow-it-yourself
swimming pool. Amused at her silliness, she explained, "I did not decide to
give them a swim, it was a hot day, I thought they could use some water."
She shifted her weight and moved closer to Logan, the poor guy, half his leg
must had already been asleep.
"Junior, whatever did your mother do to that garden? I remember for the rest
of the season, she refused to grow any more roses."
Both Max and Mrs. Moreno looked at Logan when he didn't reply. He seemed to be
thinking deeply about something, or someone. Max knew the woman who was in
Logan's mind; she too loved her, his mother. Max realized that it was still
painful for Logan to talk about her and she understood him, talking about her
own parents still got her choked up.
With caressing fingers, Max touched Logan's face and urged him to look at her.
He did. She smiled. He smiled back. And for a split second the universe stopped
to cherish what just passed. "Mrs. Moreno was asking you something."
"Oh, mom planted lilies instead and she had me guard Max 24/7 from then
on." He said gaining back his good-natured humor.
Mrs. Moreno thought of another story so the pair listened to her, enchanted.
Max felt Logan pull her hand up for a kiss then he laid it back again on his
other leg. It felt like he had done it a million times. It was so natural for
them to be like this, so easy, so effortless. Then why was it so hard before?
Was it because she was finally ready to forgive him? Hmm, the whole forgiveness
thing wasn't so bad then, she liked it.
Logan felt Max rest her head on his. She really had surprised him the past few
days. She was happier, more at peace. She was still Max though, only with less
sharper edges. He didn't know what brought about the change but he was glad of
it anyway because it looked like they had a chance to be friends again. Logan
wouldn't mind at all if he and Max had another of this rare intimate moment.
The present came rushing as all five of Mrs. Moreno's grandchildren came to
fetch her. "Granny, come take us to Big Bird, he's reading the kids a
story!" One of them tugged on her dress impatiently while the others run
around in circles around the three adults.
Suddenly sobered from the effects of reminiscing, Mrs. Moreno took her cane as
Logan helped her up. "I will have to set a dinner so you two can come
over."
"We'd love that." Max kissed her on the cheek.
Taking her grandchildren, she announced. "Alright, you little rugrats,
we're off to Big Bird." Mrs. Moreno waved goodbye to Max and Logan and
headed to the Sesame Street booth. A few steps away, she added, "By the
way, I'll get my son's wedding planner to give you two a call! He is
fabulous."
In an instant, as if Mrs. Moreno took away with her all the comfort and ease,
awkwardness replaced Max and Logan's earlier haven.
Max was first to recover by acting in the only way she knew best. She resumed
her position in the booth, taking another mouthful of muffin as she sat. With as
much sarcasm, though she didn't try much since it came naturally to her, Max
made Logan feel like a little boy who got a star for cheating on a test,
"Nice going Logan! I hope she never finds out how you, I mean we, lied to
her, she'd be devastated!"
Logan felt sad, mostly from lying, but also from the lost of contact with Max's
warm, soft self. Seating again beside her, he rolled a journal and whacked his
head with it. "How was I supposed to know she'd rant on about my
mother." He whacked himself again.
Max took the journal from Logan, he had already hit his head enough for one day.
Not that she cared; she just wasn't in the mood to drive anyone to the hospital
for self-induced bodily harm. "So, you get rid of one problem by creating
another, this time you got *me* involved. Brilliant Logan! Just pure
genius!"
"Sorry Max, I wasn't thinking properly." Logan rested his arms on his
knees and rubbed his knuckles.
"Obviously!" Max put the rolled journal away from her, otherwise,
*she* would induce the harm to Logan. It wasn't funny how bickering came to them
as naturally as cuddling did.
After a couple of minutes of reflection, Logan laughed, "Well, it could be
a long engagement. Or at least until she passes away?"
Max rolled her eyes, "That is just sick."
Getting a little uncomfortable again, Logan forced himself to talk, "About
what happened."
"Don't worry about it, it's forgotten." Max replied without looking at
Logan.
He tried explaining, "I was just, you know, trying to play the doting
fiancé so she'd stop setting me up on those blind dates. " Who was he
kidding? Max or himself?
Max nodded, "Me too, just playing a role. Next time give me some warnings,
would you, so I can brush up on my theatrical skills." She, on the other
hand, was surely kidding herself.
"So we're ok? It was all just acting?" [Great Logan, brush her off,
what a gentleman you'd become.]
"Of course, what else could it be?" Max hoped that Logan wouldn't take
her comment as a challenge.
"You're right! Thanks for backing me up." Logan was grateful that Max
wasn't giving him much grief.
Max figured there was no point getting mad at Logan for entangling her in his
mess, she LET him didn't she? She let him touch her and kiss her and even if it
was just pretend, she let him love her.
"No big dealio." It really was no big deal, she convinced herself,
after all, it was done for Mrs. Moreno's sake. Besides, she got a little
something out of it; for the first time in years, she felt nice, warm and safe.
"Well, I'm glad we talked about it." Then why did he feel like they
hadn't at all? Like there was so much more he wanted to say, mostly words that
would erase everything they just said from the moment Mrs. Moreno left.
"Yeah, me too." Max checked the time, 10:45 am. It was going to be a
very long day.
~~~
A/N: Please do me favor and leave a review :) Constructive criticisms are always nice.