Chapter 10: A Breakthrough
Todd was waiting in the car, engine running, heat on, as he tried to warm up the chilled car. He was waiting for Liz to come out so that they could leave. Todd was dressed nicely and, like he had promised, had shaved his face to a smooth complexion, just like the one he had sported all his life. He had announced to the "house", not to Liz, about 3 minutes ago that he would be waiting in the car. He really had a hard time believing that he and Liz were going to go to this schmoozy party together, and basically were going to put on an act. Cuz anything except how it had been the last few weeks between them would of been.
Liz put the finishing touches on her make-up. Compared to how she felt, she looked great. She spritzed some perfume on her neck and wrists and grabbed her purse. She was wearing a simple black wrap around dress and she had put her hair up in an elegant French twist. She put on her high heels and went out to the car. It was a chilly night and she was thankful Todd had heated the car.
Todd leaned over and pushed open the car door for Liz as she reached it. In doing so he caught a full view of Liz as she sat down. "You look nice." he told her, shooting a small smile towards her. That was weird, not pausing to think about if he wanted to compliment her or not, he just did it cause it was what felt natural. Todd backed out of the driveway.
"Thanks, I extend the same compliment to you," Liz said reaching out with her hand and feeling his smooth face. His neatly pressed suit and tie really brought out his broad shoulders and lean build. Liz and Todd drove in silence the rest of the way. The made it just in time for dinner. They both sat down at a table with some of Liz's closest employees and they both started to relax. There was still a bit of tension,
but they started to feel a little bit more at ease with each other. The waiter came around and asked them if they wanted any wine. Todd took some, but Liz politely declined. She was eating and drinking for two now.
"Are you sure you don't want any?" Todd questioned her, since the waiter was still close enough to be hailed down again. "I thought everybody drank at office parties. Like a tradition or something."
"No its fine, I don't want it to upset my stomach," she said blushing. She hated lying to Todd but now was not the time. "Yea I guess it is tradition, but still, no I really don't feel like any." Todd then shrugged ok. A little while later Liz then gave her speech saying it was a great year and she owed everything to her husband who put up with her long hours, and her attitude. All those days under pressure for the next deadline, could make anybody go insane, and Todd helped keep her sane. Todd had listened- partly embarrassed and partly honored, but above all else proud for Elizabeth. They finished up with a gift exchange and Todd and Liz decided to duck out early. Liz was feeling a bit tired again and she needed to lay down.
"Well that wasn't too bad" Todd commented as they were driving back to their house after they had left the party. "Not counting the two drunk guys who tried to dance, or that annoying woman in the pink dress who kept insisting on taking everyone's picture."
Liz laughed in spite of how she was feeling, "Yea we're a crazy bunch of journalists," she said. She leaned her head back on the head rest closing her eyes. It was hard being a passenger without getting sick. She squeezed the arm rest between her and Todd.
"What's wrong, are you cold?" Todd asked as he reached forward and increased the heat, then when he brought that arm back he placed it crossed, over hers on the armrest.
When Todd reached over to turn the heat on he swerved a bit. Liz groaned trying to hold back the sickly feeling in the back of her throat. "Todd can you pull over?" she asked trying to seem like nothing was wrong.
Todd turned his head briefly to look at her, then put his eyes back on the road. "Liz honey what's wrong?" he asked, getting nervous. "Do you feel sick?" he ventured, then looked in his mirror and made his way into the right lane, and thankfully there was a shopping center on that street, so Todd turned into it, then stopped in the first available space. The whole parking lot was eerily empty and very dark, since all of the stores in this center were already closed.
"Yes," Liz said simply as she opened the door. The heat that Todd had turned on had set her over the edge and she quickly turned that off. She let the fresh air his her face and she started to feel better. She took heavy slow breaths. She put her head between her legs trying to relax. She hated feeling like this. After she thought the wave of nausea was gone she turned back around looking at Todd. She could see the worry in his eyes. His compassionate eyes went right to her heart. She started crying. She hated the way she had treated him, for how much he cared and would do anything for her.
"Oh Liz, don't cry." he said, snapping off his seat belt and scooting closer in his seat towards her, as he put his arms around her, and
held her. Wow it had been a long time since he had done this, it seemed. And that just wasn't right. He held her, and his chin was hitting
the top of her soft hair. "It's ok, don't worry about it." he tried to assure her.
Liz rested her head into the crook of Todd's chest and shoulders. It had been so long since she felt the comfort of his arms. She melted into him. She tried to explain to him, but Todd just shook his head and rubbed her back soothingly. No explanation was needed. They both needed each other. They continued to hug in silence.
Todd hadn't wanted Elizabeth getting too excited and making herself feel sick again, since she had just appeared to come down from that wave of nausea. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of having her in his arms, since it had been too long since he had last done this. Somehow, for him, tonight, now; all those little fights, her short tenderness, her coldness towards him, the yelling between them, his frustration with her, all seemed to melt away. This thing between them had
lasted way to long. It was unnatural for them. "I'm so so sorry" he whispered into her hair, afraid he might muss up her elegant French twist.
"I'm sorry for the horrible things I've said to you the past couple of weeks, and more specifically, the past couple of days."
Liz felt even worse, "It isn't your fault, it's mine," she said pulling her head up and looking at his eyes through the dark, "I have been horrible to you and haven't appreciated you, you shouldn't be the one apologizing," she said.
"No Liz I know you've been really sick and stressed out with work lately and I should've just concentrated on being even more supportive and helpful for you instead of just throwing in your face how much I had already been." He saw her chin trembling slightly, and the moistness in her eyes and Todd couldn't even remember what their fights had specifically been about. All he knew was how vulnerable Liz looked right now.
Liz nodded, that's what she had wanted to hear two weeks ago, but now all she wanted to hear was that Todd had forgiven her and that they could move on. She felt her lower lip tremble as if she were cold and closed her mouth. "So do you think you could possibly forgive me for walking out on you?" she asked.
Todd put his hand under her chin and titled it up. "Only if you promise me that you'll never walk out on me again." he said in a mixture of seriousness and playfulness.
"Well if you promise to save me some pizza the next time you invite those apes over," she said mocking his tone of voice.
Todd laughed and then leaned down and gently touched his lips to hers in a very brief kiss. "Deal" he told her. "And I promise to be more considerate of you in the future when it comes to stuff like that." He put a kiss on the middle of her forehead. "I really am sorry that you've been sick. I want you to get better. I hate seeing you not feeling well."
All of a sudden Liz heard a loud stomach growl. It took her a moment to realize it had come from her. She looked up at Todd shamefully. "I feel a lot better now," she said as her stomach gave her a sudden craving for pineapple pizza and another hunger growl. Liz had barely touched food in the last 3 weeks but now she was starting to feel a bit more willing to eat. And hungry!
When Todd had heard the roll of a stomach he had automatically just figured it was his. Since he was always hungry. He laughed when he realized it was actually Liz and she looked at him a bit shamefully. "Yeah I guess you are." Todd said, his eyes dancing, kind of amused. "This sure is some sort of weird flu, making you want to empty your stomach one minute then put something in it the next!" he commented. "But I saw you barely picking at the dinner at the party, so I can see why you would be." He started the engine again. "Do you want to go somewhere? Or just find something at home? Or do you want to grab some fast food on the way home?"
Liz stared at Todd graciously, she was glad she didn't have to explain herself, "I am really in the mood for some Guido's pineapple pizza," she said already tasting it on her lips. It must be the baby talking she thought to herself. Cause she hated pizza and pineapple together, the only person she knew that loved it to the grave was Jess. And that said a lot right there. She started to wonder if she was going to have any of these other weird cravings.
Todd looked at her in surprise, but then turned his eyes towards the windshield and pulled through the parking lot to an exit. "The lady wants pizza the lady gets pizza" he said to her. "But did I just hear you right? Did you say, 'pineapple'? Cause Liz I think I've been to Guido's with you like a thousand times, going all the way back to High School, and I don't think I've ever heard you order pineapple on your pizza."
Liz blushed she didn't think this was the right place to tell Todd the reason she wanted pineapple was because she had a strong craving for it, but she decided to fib an answer, "Well Jess is always saying how it's good and all, and I need some vitamin C." She put her hand on her stomach. Of course nobody would be able to tell she was pregnant just by looking at her. But in a couple of months they would. It was still hard to believe there was another human being growing inside of her.
"Alright, one pineapple pizza coming right up" Todd said, smiling at her as he waited at a red light. He was so immensely relieved right now. His heart was no longer heavy, like it had been for the past two days, with the constant shooting and fighting with Liz. Then again the past couple of weeks hadn't been too hot either, but Todd was going to take a step back, letting her have her space while she continued this sickness, to not get on her nerves, and he would be supportive of her in her work, instead of complaining about how all it did was stress her out. Yes things were finally back to normal between them, he thought, so incredibly relieved. He hated fighting with Liz, and was so grateful that it didn't happen often. Heck, he thought they'd done enough bickering the last few weeks to last them a couple of months, like they had
reached their quota or something. Things were going to get better, back to normal now, he knew it. The light turned green, and just ! before Todd stepped on the gas, his right hand sought out Elizabeth's left one, and he interlocked their fingers and drove the rest of the way like that.
Todd was waiting in the car, engine running, heat on, as he tried to warm up the chilled car. He was waiting for Liz to come out so that they could leave. Todd was dressed nicely and, like he had promised, had shaved his face to a smooth complexion, just like the one he had sported all his life. He had announced to the "house", not to Liz, about 3 minutes ago that he would be waiting in the car. He really had a hard time believing that he and Liz were going to go to this schmoozy party together, and basically were going to put on an act. Cuz anything except how it had been the last few weeks between them would of been.
Liz put the finishing touches on her make-up. Compared to how she felt, she looked great. She spritzed some perfume on her neck and wrists and grabbed her purse. She was wearing a simple black wrap around dress and she had put her hair up in an elegant French twist. She put on her high heels and went out to the car. It was a chilly night and she was thankful Todd had heated the car.
Todd leaned over and pushed open the car door for Liz as she reached it. In doing so he caught a full view of Liz as she sat down. "You look nice." he told her, shooting a small smile towards her. That was weird, not pausing to think about if he wanted to compliment her or not, he just did it cause it was what felt natural. Todd backed out of the driveway.
"Thanks, I extend the same compliment to you," Liz said reaching out with her hand and feeling his smooth face. His neatly pressed suit and tie really brought out his broad shoulders and lean build. Liz and Todd drove in silence the rest of the way. The made it just in time for dinner. They both sat down at a table with some of Liz's closest employees and they both started to relax. There was still a bit of tension,
but they started to feel a little bit more at ease with each other. The waiter came around and asked them if they wanted any wine. Todd took some, but Liz politely declined. She was eating and drinking for two now.
"Are you sure you don't want any?" Todd questioned her, since the waiter was still close enough to be hailed down again. "I thought everybody drank at office parties. Like a tradition or something."
"No its fine, I don't want it to upset my stomach," she said blushing. She hated lying to Todd but now was not the time. "Yea I guess it is tradition, but still, no I really don't feel like any." Todd then shrugged ok. A little while later Liz then gave her speech saying it was a great year and she owed everything to her husband who put up with her long hours, and her attitude. All those days under pressure for the next deadline, could make anybody go insane, and Todd helped keep her sane. Todd had listened- partly embarrassed and partly honored, but above all else proud for Elizabeth. They finished up with a gift exchange and Todd and Liz decided to duck out early. Liz was feeling a bit tired again and she needed to lay down.
"Well that wasn't too bad" Todd commented as they were driving back to their house after they had left the party. "Not counting the two drunk guys who tried to dance, or that annoying woman in the pink dress who kept insisting on taking everyone's picture."
Liz laughed in spite of how she was feeling, "Yea we're a crazy bunch of journalists," she said. She leaned her head back on the head rest closing her eyes. It was hard being a passenger without getting sick. She squeezed the arm rest between her and Todd.
"What's wrong, are you cold?" Todd asked as he reached forward and increased the heat, then when he brought that arm back he placed it crossed, over hers on the armrest.
When Todd reached over to turn the heat on he swerved a bit. Liz groaned trying to hold back the sickly feeling in the back of her throat. "Todd can you pull over?" she asked trying to seem like nothing was wrong.
Todd turned his head briefly to look at her, then put his eyes back on the road. "Liz honey what's wrong?" he asked, getting nervous. "Do you feel sick?" he ventured, then looked in his mirror and made his way into the right lane, and thankfully there was a shopping center on that street, so Todd turned into it, then stopped in the first available space. The whole parking lot was eerily empty and very dark, since all of the stores in this center were already closed.
"Yes," Liz said simply as she opened the door. The heat that Todd had turned on had set her over the edge and she quickly turned that off. She let the fresh air his her face and she started to feel better. She took heavy slow breaths. She put her head between her legs trying to relax. She hated feeling like this. After she thought the wave of nausea was gone she turned back around looking at Todd. She could see the worry in his eyes. His compassionate eyes went right to her heart. She started crying. She hated the way she had treated him, for how much he cared and would do anything for her.
"Oh Liz, don't cry." he said, snapping off his seat belt and scooting closer in his seat towards her, as he put his arms around her, and
held her. Wow it had been a long time since he had done this, it seemed. And that just wasn't right. He held her, and his chin was hitting
the top of her soft hair. "It's ok, don't worry about it." he tried to assure her.
Liz rested her head into the crook of Todd's chest and shoulders. It had been so long since she felt the comfort of his arms. She melted into him. She tried to explain to him, but Todd just shook his head and rubbed her back soothingly. No explanation was needed. They both needed each other. They continued to hug in silence.
Todd hadn't wanted Elizabeth getting too excited and making herself feel sick again, since she had just appeared to come down from that wave of nausea. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of having her in his arms, since it had been too long since he had last done this. Somehow, for him, tonight, now; all those little fights, her short tenderness, her coldness towards him, the yelling between them, his frustration with her, all seemed to melt away. This thing between them had
lasted way to long. It was unnatural for them. "I'm so so sorry" he whispered into her hair, afraid he might muss up her elegant French twist.
"I'm sorry for the horrible things I've said to you the past couple of weeks, and more specifically, the past couple of days."
Liz felt even worse, "It isn't your fault, it's mine," she said pulling her head up and looking at his eyes through the dark, "I have been horrible to you and haven't appreciated you, you shouldn't be the one apologizing," she said.
"No Liz I know you've been really sick and stressed out with work lately and I should've just concentrated on being even more supportive and helpful for you instead of just throwing in your face how much I had already been." He saw her chin trembling slightly, and the moistness in her eyes and Todd couldn't even remember what their fights had specifically been about. All he knew was how vulnerable Liz looked right now.
Liz nodded, that's what she had wanted to hear two weeks ago, but now all she wanted to hear was that Todd had forgiven her and that they could move on. She felt her lower lip tremble as if she were cold and closed her mouth. "So do you think you could possibly forgive me for walking out on you?" she asked.
Todd put his hand under her chin and titled it up. "Only if you promise me that you'll never walk out on me again." he said in a mixture of seriousness and playfulness.
"Well if you promise to save me some pizza the next time you invite those apes over," she said mocking his tone of voice.
Todd laughed and then leaned down and gently touched his lips to hers in a very brief kiss. "Deal" he told her. "And I promise to be more considerate of you in the future when it comes to stuff like that." He put a kiss on the middle of her forehead. "I really am sorry that you've been sick. I want you to get better. I hate seeing you not feeling well."
All of a sudden Liz heard a loud stomach growl. It took her a moment to realize it had come from her. She looked up at Todd shamefully. "I feel a lot better now," she said as her stomach gave her a sudden craving for pineapple pizza and another hunger growl. Liz had barely touched food in the last 3 weeks but now she was starting to feel a bit more willing to eat. And hungry!
When Todd had heard the roll of a stomach he had automatically just figured it was his. Since he was always hungry. He laughed when he realized it was actually Liz and she looked at him a bit shamefully. "Yeah I guess you are." Todd said, his eyes dancing, kind of amused. "This sure is some sort of weird flu, making you want to empty your stomach one minute then put something in it the next!" he commented. "But I saw you barely picking at the dinner at the party, so I can see why you would be." He started the engine again. "Do you want to go somewhere? Or just find something at home? Or do you want to grab some fast food on the way home?"
Liz stared at Todd graciously, she was glad she didn't have to explain herself, "I am really in the mood for some Guido's pineapple pizza," she said already tasting it on her lips. It must be the baby talking she thought to herself. Cause she hated pizza and pineapple together, the only person she knew that loved it to the grave was Jess. And that said a lot right there. She started to wonder if she was going to have any of these other weird cravings.
Todd looked at her in surprise, but then turned his eyes towards the windshield and pulled through the parking lot to an exit. "The lady wants pizza the lady gets pizza" he said to her. "But did I just hear you right? Did you say, 'pineapple'? Cause Liz I think I've been to Guido's with you like a thousand times, going all the way back to High School, and I don't think I've ever heard you order pineapple on your pizza."
Liz blushed she didn't think this was the right place to tell Todd the reason she wanted pineapple was because she had a strong craving for it, but she decided to fib an answer, "Well Jess is always saying how it's good and all, and I need some vitamin C." She put her hand on her stomach. Of course nobody would be able to tell she was pregnant just by looking at her. But in a couple of months they would. It was still hard to believe there was another human being growing inside of her.
"Alright, one pineapple pizza coming right up" Todd said, smiling at her as he waited at a red light. He was so immensely relieved right now. His heart was no longer heavy, like it had been for the past two days, with the constant shooting and fighting with Liz. Then again the past couple of weeks hadn't been too hot either, but Todd was going to take a step back, letting her have her space while she continued this sickness, to not get on her nerves, and he would be supportive of her in her work, instead of complaining about how all it did was stress her out. Yes things were finally back to normal between them, he thought, so incredibly relieved. He hated fighting with Liz, and was so grateful that it didn't happen often. Heck, he thought they'd done enough bickering the last few weeks to last them a couple of months, like they had
reached their quota or something. Things were going to get better, back to normal now, he knew it. The light turned green, and just ! before Todd stepped on the gas, his right hand sought out Elizabeth's left one, and he interlocked their fingers and drove the rest of the way like that.