Chapter 26

Liz answered the door reluctantly. She wondered what Lily had done to upset their neighbor this time. No one was home but her. Max was at school, and Lily and Aidan were still with Oma and Opa. It was the snotty old lady from across the way with her even snottier granddaughter. They both looked down their noses at Liz.

"I hear you play the piano." The woman didn't bother to wait to be invited in.

"Yes." Liz shut the door baffled.

"What about giving my girl here lessons?" She pushed her foreword.

"I'm sorry Ms..."

"Young."

"I'm sorry Ms. Young, but I don't give lessons." Liz shook her head. "I only accompany."

"But you can give lessons." She pushed. "I hear you teaching that boy of yours."

"Well, yes, he's my son, it's different." Liz said. "I don't give them to anyone else."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not trained to be a piano instructor." And she had never given it much thought. She was planning on just getting Aidan on his feet before sending him to a real teacher.

"You're an Education major aren't you?"

"Yes." She nodded. How would this woman know this?

"Put it to good use. You will teach my granddaughter. When is the most convenient time for you?"

"Ms. Young, I have two young children, I'm trying to attend school—along with my husband—and I have a job that deals with rehearsals and meetings and all day performances. I don't really have time."

The woman raised an eyebrow. Already drained Liz relented.

"How about tomorrow at three?" Max would be here to watch the babies.

"Perfect. We appreciate this." The woman took the girl's hand and walked away.

Shaking her head she went back inside. Why hadn't she thought of giving lessons before? They could use the money and it was something she enjoyed. When the students got too advanced she could send them to a more advanced teacher.

She went to the kitchen to mark the calendar. The kids had doctor's appointments. Aidan had to begin vaccinations for kindergarten the coming fall, and Lily needed a check-up.

She scooted closer to the calendar to study it more.

"You know you wouldn't have to squint so hard if you would only wear your glasses." Max wrapped one arm around her waist and gently set her glasses on her nose with the other.

"Yuck." She scrunched her nose, in an imitation of Lily, as she took them off. "I can see just fine."

"You're only going to make it worse. They make you look cute." He kissed her nose.

"I don't want to look cute." Liz shook her head and wrapped her arms around Max.

She turned and just let herself be held in his arms for a moment. They hadn't talked after Tess and her family had left yesterday. She had spent the night being comforted in his arms and had been reluctant this morning to let him go to class. Not having the kids for the night had been an added bonus, though she was missing their insistent chatter and it wasn't quite yet noon.

Max held her tightly against him and waited a moment. Max cursed Tess for causing Liz this pain. She had been almost inconsolable last night even when he had assured her she would always be Lily's mother. She had held out until Tess left and then she broke. She never outwardly spoken of her fears but they radiated from her.

He froze. "Liz, come sit down."

Hugging him close to her as if she wanted to crawl inside him she turned her head to look up at him. "What's wrong?"

Panic filled her and she let him drag her to a seat at the table.

"I have to tell you something." He knelt in front of her.

"What, Max?"

"I have to go away for a week." He said it carefully.

"Why!" She exclaimed. Not now, she needed him now.

"I need to go for school. There's a seminar being put on by Berkeley. This will put me a year ahead. If I go to this, I only have one more year of school left, and then maybe we could buy a house." He tried to encourage her. He could read the panic in her eyes.

"Do you have to go now, Max?" She asked.

"I do." He nodded. "I have to fly there. It would take all night to drive there, it's only an hour flight so I won't have to leave here until nine tomorrow morning, seminar starts at noon."

She was silent. She could do this. "Why now?"

"Because we have two little kids to think of. We're making it ok now but it would be so much better if I could get an internship over the summer." He smoothed her hair, hoping to soothe her.

She nodded. This would be better for all of them. It was just a week, just an hour's flight. Nothing would happen in the next week.

"And if Tess comes?"

"She won't." Max assured her. "Tess threatens but that's about all she does. We'll work on that when I get back. I promise." He pulled her to him again. "My mom will take me to the airport."

"Alright. What will we tell the kids?"

"Lily probably won't notice I'm gone and Aidan will be alright." Max smiled when he thought of his children. Picking her up he went to the couch and settled her on his lap. Resting her head she let Max's heart beat comfort her.

"What do you think if I started giving piano lessons?"

"Why?"

"That woman across the way brought her granddaughter over and told me I was going to give the girl some."

"The one that's always accusing Lily for things?"

"The same one. And usually Lily did do whatever she's accused of, Max."

"That's beyond the point, Liz." Max said.

"Hardly. I'm going to; I think it will be fun. The girl's not to nice but we'll work around that. And the piano's here and I already teach Aidan, and I am an education major. She starts tomorrow at three." She said through one breath.

"That'd be fun for you." Max agreed. He heard a car door slam and the sound of running feet on the sidewalk. "They're home."

"Hi!" Lily burst inside her face full of happiness.

She bounded Liz's arms happy to be home.

Aidan walked more calmly into the house until he saw his parents and then joined Lily on their laps. "Did you two have fun?"

"Yes, we went to the mall." Aidan turned to tell his parents.

"Look!" Lily held her shirt. She had no idea what it said or meant but the fact that she got a new shirt was enough to make her happy.

Liz read and could hardly suppress her laughter. "Very fitting."

Max read the shirt that said, "my finger may be small, but I can still wrap my daddy around it."

He blushed and looked down at the ground. He knew he was a sucker for his daughter.

"We found it appropriate." Anna walked in. "How are you two?"

Liz gave her a small smile.

"Please, come in and sit down." Max stood, holding Lily in his arms.

"No, we're going to head out. We were going to leave this morning, we got a little behind."

"I'm sorry, thank you so much. We'll call you and fill you in." Liz hugged her then went to William.

"Good luck, you two. Lily and Aidan, be good." Anna kissed the kids cheeks. "I'll se you during summer."

"Bye!" Lily waved goodbye.

"See you later Oma." He hugged her.

"Bye, Opa." He shook his hand like a man, grinning.

They waved them goodbye before heading back inside.

"I'm hungry." Lily rubbed her tummy.

"You want a cheese sandwich?" Liz asked

"Yes." They both replied in unison.

"Mommy." Aidan looked up at her.

"Yes, sweetheart?" Liz brushed his hair back from his eyes and decided he needed a haircut.

"Why were you crying?" He asked concerned.

"Because Mommy had some things to think about."

"Is Lily going away?"

"Where'd you hear that?" Liz bent down to him.

"Oma and Opa were talking about it last night." He told her. "I don't want her to. She's my sister, and I'm her brother." He puffed out his chest.

"No, she's not going to go away." She said and kissed his head. "I promise."

"Ok." He took her hand and followed her into the kitchen.

Liz wasn't surprised—later that night—when Lily squeezed herself between her and Max.

Lily hadn't taken it as well as they had hoped that Max was going away. Aidan didn't take it well either, both kids were distraught at the thought.

"Daddy." Lily tucked herself next to him.

"Lily give me the doll, please?" Liz asked. She'd share the bed, but she didn't need to share it with the doll.

She reluctantly handed it over and plopped her thumb into her mouth.

A few moments later Aidan climbed into the bed as well. Max opened his eyes and smiled at Liz. Moving over to give Aidan more she wrapped an arm around them both.

"Love you." He mouthed to her.

She smiled and nodded her love to him as well.

"Mommy got you, Lily." Liz rolled Lily underneath her. "You're my captive and now you have to eat your lunch."

Lily giggled hysterically. "Dan dan, help!"

Aidan came to the rescue. "You can't have the princess." He charged and took Liz down.

Easily flipping Aidan over, Liz caught them both and trapped them. "Surrender."

"Never!" Aidan tried to struggle from her grip.

"Surrender." She held her hands up threatening to tickle.

"No!" Lily said laughing as she anticipated the tickling.

The doorbell rang. "You two better be here when I get back." Liz warned.

They giggled as Liz stood up. At the same time they both went for her legs. She struggled to stay upright and make her way to the door. She pushed at her hair, but knew it was hopeless, she answered.

"Ah, Liz." Tess stood there. "Did I catch you at a bad time?" She stepped into the house.

Liz wondered if people just didn't bother to wait to be invited in anymore.

"With a five and a two-and a half-year-old, every time is a bad time. She looked down at the two kids still clasping her legs. "Alright, guys, you win. Wait till Daddy gets back and you'll both go down. Go play."

"We want cantaloupe." Aidan voiced for the both of them.

With a sigh, Liz picked up Aidan. "Alright, Tess if you'd follow us."

She took them to the kitchen and set Aidan in his booster seat, Lily climbed into her seat glaring at the woman standing in the doorway.

"Did you need something, Tess?" Liz asked as she sliced up a piece of the fruit, and removed the peel. Cutting it into tiny pieces she reached up to retrieve two bowls, causing her hair to tumble out of it's already untidy bun.

She brushed her hair out of her face and set the bowls down.

"Actually," Tess raised an eyebrow at her mussed appearance. "I was hoping to talk with Max."

"Daddy's not here." Lily informed her and accepted the bowl from Liz.

"I didn't ask you, Lily." Tess answered rudely.

"Thank you." Aidan and Lily answered in unison.

"You're welcome." Liz smiled at them before turning back to Tess with daggers in her eyes. "She was just telling you the facts."

The look Tess send back was just as mean. "When do you expect him back?"

"Three more days." She glanced at the countdown the kids had made to go on the refrigerator.

"Oh." She smiled again, a smile filled with malice. "You're alone with them?"

"Yes." Liz straightened.

"In that case, maybe Lily better come with me." Tess said.

"No." The word was final, and Liz maneuvered Tess out of the kitchen and shut the door behind her. "Don't even think about it."

"But a child is better with her mother." Tess said.

"She is with her mother, and if you even think of taking her out of here, you heartless bitch, you won't know what hit you."

"Now, now, no need for name calling." Tess said, her feathers thoroughly ruffled, she was angry.

"That wasn't name calling I was just telling you what you are." Liz spit back.

"Liz, that's no way to get on my good side. I have something to tell you, it may help you." Tess could see she got Liz's attention.

"You think we can act civilized?" Liz asked with her arm perched on the doorknob. "Lily will be out of that chair and destroying my kitchen if I leave this door closed much longer."

"Yes." Tess answered.

To Liz's relief both children were happily eating fruit.

"Did you ever think that Lily might not be Max's child?" Tess asked, helping herself to a seat.

"What?" Liz turned to her stunned, her heart pounding hard.

"Now I have your attention." Tess folded her hands primly over her lap. "Max wasn't the only man I was sleeping with, you know."

A thousand names flew into Liz's head to call Tess but she held them inside, her heart aching for Max. "What gives you the idea that she wasn't his?"

"I'm actually pretty sure she's not his." Tess said. "I think Max knows too."

"How can you say that? Look at her, she's Max's daughter." Liz fought desperately. "She has his eyes."

"She has brown eyes, Liz, so do a lot of people." Tess said. "She physically does not look like Max, face it."

"Why did you tell him she was his then?" Liz asked, not truly absorbing it. She wanted Max home now.

"I knew he would take responsibility of her. Max was always very careful, Liz. You would know that. He took every precaution to make sure we didn't have any pregnancies. I was planning on telling him but I wasn't even sure who the father was."

Slut. It was the first thing that popped into Liz's mind. Stay calm, breath, get her to leave.

"Anything else?"

"I'm willing to cut a deal with you, Liz." Tess raised an eyebrow.

"And that would be." Liz knew it was nothing she was interested in. Lily had started to fling cantaloupe around the kitchen.

"I will get you!" Aidan had climbed down from his chair and Lily had done likewise. They had flipped the chairs over and were hiding behind them like a fort.

"Never!" Lily declared and chucked a particularly chunk across the room.

"You'll get yours!" Aidan bravely withstood the cantaloupe chunks to tackle his sister.

"I win!" Aidan said triumphantly.

Liz grimaced when she saw them but there was nothing she could do at the moment.

"Lily is not Max's child."

"We don't know that." Liz corrected.

Tess ignored her and went on. "You both seem to want her. As long as Max's name is on the birth certificate she's his. I now know who the father might be."

"Max is."

Again ignoring her she went on. "I'm happy to leave Lily where she is, I've no chance of getting her back, and I don't want her. You guys can keep her for all I care. Just as long as none of this leaks to the press. When I'm rich and famous, I don't want you to come crawling to me for money. I'll totally forget about Lily and you can forget about me. She won't remember me, I won't remember her. Deal."

It was a little too easy. "What about the money?" The kids were tossing bowls, she had to stop them.

"I have decided, that I can get much more elsewhere. Deal?" She asked. "You better go get your children."

"I told you, they'd destroy it." Liz said trying to stay calm. It was just a mess. It could be cleaned up with a broom and a mop. That's it. "I'll discuss it with Max."

"I don't want you to discuss it with Max. Yes or no, Liz."

Lily was now giggling on the floor, her hair covered in cantaloupe juice.

"Yes." She didn't know what Max wanted her to do. She shook inside. "Now get out my house, I don't ever want to see you again. Send me the papers by mail."

"Will do, Mrs. Evans." Tess sauntered out. "Nice working with you."

Liz slammed the door in her face and turned to deal with the mess in her kitchen.

AN: I wanted more of a showdown between Liz and Tess, but I'm not too great with showdowns, I try. And I'm sorry I made her from Tennessee, but my little sister's doing a report on it and it was the first thing that came to my mind. There's only a few chapters left, and then we're done with this one. It's been great having you guys along for the ride! I'll miss it when it's done.