Chapter 21
Hannah yawned in between sentences and her eyes started drooping.
"Tired, Hannah?" Liz asked, as she started to lean on her more.
"Yeah, and hungry." She nodded not at all deterred. "Grandma Amy takes me to the zoo sometimes."
"Have you ever been to the big zoo, down in San Diego, I think it is?" Max asked. He wanted to lift her into his lap and cradle her as her eyes drooped.
"Not yet. Mommy said when it's almost Christmas, then I don't have school. I start next week." She told her.
"That should be fun." Max acknowledged.
"Maybe you could come too." Hannah suggested.
"Maybe." Max looked down at his hands.
"Hannah, you're falling asleep, I think it's time that we go." The talking had very obviously drained her energy.
Hannah started to protest then nodded her head. "Alright."
Max stood first and Liz scooted Hannah off her lap. Max reached automatically to help Liz stand and then second their hands touched sparks flew. It was the first time any contact had been made between the two of them since he had shown up.
Their eyes locked and there was nothing in the world. Liz's breath caught in her throat. She had forgotten what it was to feel this kind of love. That's what it was. That's the only thing it could be.
With Kyle there was love, but she wasn't in love with him. He was comfortable, and steady never a doubt that he would be there.
"Mommy." Hannah called staring at both her parents.
Max's heart was beating a mile a minutes. The look in Liz's eyes was something he had wanted to see again for the past five years. She still loved him! He didn't know why or how, but she did. A little flame of hope grew in his heart. He didn't deserve her, but he would try to win her back.
"Mommy!" Hannah stomped her foot this time, becoming impatient.
Liz snatched her hand back, but not before Max had time to give her a warning squeeze.
Her eyes met his once more, a warning in her own eyes, then down at Hannah.
"I'm sorry, Hannah bean, you ready to go?"
"Yes." Hannah looked curiously between the two of them.
They walked slowly back to the car, and when they were half way there, Liz leaned down and picked up Hannah.
The girl was so tiny. Max smiled, so was her mother.
When they reached the car, Hannah hopped down from her arms and threw her arms around Max's waist. "Bye."
For the third time that day Max's heart jumped. His toddler was hugging him. Her arms were small and barely surrounded him but he felt totally engulfed by her. He ran a hand through her hair, baby soft.
"Goodbye, Little girl." He smiled.
She smiled back before climbing into the car.
Liz buckled her in and turned to face Max.
"Thank you, Liz." He blurted before she could say anything.
"Max." Was all she could say. "Again, next week?"
He nodded. "That would be wonderful. She's wonderful, Liz." He absently reached up and brushed her hair behind her ear.
"I know." Liz said looking into his eyes.
"You did a wonderful job so far." He told her, his face utterly sincere.
"Thank you." So many people have told her that, but coming from him, it meant something different.
"I'll see you next week then." He turned to leave.
"How about Tuesday, after her first day of school. I took the day off so I could take her and pick her up." She said without stopping to think. "She'd really enjoy that. It'll be a surprise."
Max paused. He thought about his schedule. "What time?"
"She gets out at noon." Liz said, trying to keep her voice from sounding to hopeful. God, she wanted it so bad.
His face lit up. "I can do it." He nodded.
"Great." She wanted to throw her arms around him.
"I'll pick you up at your house if you want, at say eleven?" He asked.
She stared at him. "Sure." A whole hour early! What could he be planning?
****
Liz walked into the apartment smiling, Hannah sleeping in her arms.
Her smile faded when she noticed Serena and Kyle in a face off.
"Damn it, Serena." Kyle answered. "We've gone over this a hundred times!" Kyle stocked towards her and leaned on the counter. His voice lowered, tenderly. "Serena, you know I wouldn't lie to you."
"Kyle, explain to me again." Serena threw her pan into the sink as she shrugged away from him.
"Do, explain, Kyle." Liz said. "But please wait till I lay my daughter down." She stalked from the room.
"Dear God, Kyle! I didn't know she would be home so soon." Serena whispered and leaned against the counter.
"I didn't either." He said.
Liz strode back into the room purposefully and sat down at the table. "Now, would you like to explain whatever it was we were going to explain?" She rested her hand on her chin and crossed her legs and stared at them intently.
"Kyle almost made me lose a patient today." Serena said slowly, giving Kyle a look of disgust. "He neglected to inform me that my patient was allergic to morphine."
Kyle nodded slowly. "You caught it in time."
"Kyle!" Serena turned and walked into her room slamming the door as effectively as possible without waking Hannah.
Liz stared at the door. "Since when do you talk to Serena?" Liz asked. She didn't necessarily care the why's or how, she was actually quite glad. But she was certain something had been going on when she walked into the room.
"Since she almost lost that patient. Now she hates me even more." Kyle said looking at the door. "I honestly didn't realize that patient was allergic." He shrugged. "And it was caught before it was administered."
"I've got to get back to the hospital. Hopefully the word didn't spread else we'll be sued for malpractice." He said. He kissed her lightly on the head and left the apartment.
Standing, Liz decided to get to the bottom of this. She knew for a fact Kyle would never forget something like that, and she knew for a fact Serena couldn't stay in the same room with a person she was lying to.
"Serena, will you keep an eye on Hannah, I'm going across the way for a few minutes." Liz called.
"Sure." The word sounded sniffled but Liz didn't question.
****
"Isabel!" Liz exclaimed when she stepped out. She was standing next to a tall man.
"Hello, Liz. I came by for Alex." She said shyly. "We're supposed to go out tonight. Double date. This is Max's friend, Michael, he's our partner in California until we can get settled ourselves." Isabel introduced.
"Alex, huh." Liz nodded and could easily picture the two together. She pushed open the door and called for Alex. "Nice to meet you, Michael."
"Same here." He mumbled.
"What's up, Liz?" Alex called, trying to tie a tie.
"Isabel's at the door." She pulled him to her and straightened it for him.
"Thanks." He said. "Anything you needed? Is Hannah alright?"
"She's fine. I'll tell you all about our meeting later, right now you go have fun. Is Maria still in the back?"
"Yes." He nodded and headed out to the front room.
"Maria." Liz sat on the bed as Maria adjusted her dress.
"What's wrong, babe?" Maria turned to her.
"What's between Kyle and Serena?"
Maria's eyes turned sharp. "Nothing, why?"
Liz narrowed her eyes. "I caught them in a row this evening, when is Kyle ever at our apartment when I'm not there?"
Maria just shrugged. "Did I hear you say Isabel was here?"
"Yes." Liz said knowing she wasn't going to get a direct answer.
"Did you see another man with her?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"And, he looks like your type." Liz said dutifully.
"I left Hannah sleeping with Serena, I have to go back over there. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye, Liz." Maria hugged her and went out to find her date.
****
Liz lie amid her bed, Hannah sleeping quietly beside her. Her mind was working a mile a minute. She couldn't concentrate on one thing. The meeting with Max had gone so well, she had gone on impulse to invite him to Hannah's first day.
Hannah shifted and snuggled closer despite the warm temperature outside.
She was drained, emotionally and physically. She didn't know what to think, or even who to think about. There was Max, and then there was Kyle and Serena. Something was definitely happening there-- not that she thought Kyle was cheating on her-- maybe before. They had always been hostile towards each other, and when in a room together, not even Hannah could talk enough to still it.
Liz deliberated on when she would tell Max of Hannah's heart. She knew she would tell him. It was a matter of when.
If Max helped pay the medical bills, which she knew he would, she could start taking general courses at the community college and then work her way up to a social worker, following in Amy's steps. The legal system intrigued her.
Liz wasn't sure what she would do, but Hannah was going into surgery soon and Max would definitely know about it. It was going to be in early August, when Hannah was off-track. She'd tell him soon. How cheerful would that be for him?
"Hi Max, here's your daughter, by the way, she has a series of heart conditions that could kill her." Wonderful.
Hannah yawned in between sentences and her eyes started drooping.
"Tired, Hannah?" Liz asked, as she started to lean on her more.
"Yeah, and hungry." She nodded not at all deterred. "Grandma Amy takes me to the zoo sometimes."
"Have you ever been to the big zoo, down in San Diego, I think it is?" Max asked. He wanted to lift her into his lap and cradle her as her eyes drooped.
"Not yet. Mommy said when it's almost Christmas, then I don't have school. I start next week." She told her.
"That should be fun." Max acknowledged.
"Maybe you could come too." Hannah suggested.
"Maybe." Max looked down at his hands.
"Hannah, you're falling asleep, I think it's time that we go." The talking had very obviously drained her energy.
Hannah started to protest then nodded her head. "Alright."
Max stood first and Liz scooted Hannah off her lap. Max reached automatically to help Liz stand and then second their hands touched sparks flew. It was the first time any contact had been made between the two of them since he had shown up.
Their eyes locked and there was nothing in the world. Liz's breath caught in her throat. She had forgotten what it was to feel this kind of love. That's what it was. That's the only thing it could be.
With Kyle there was love, but she wasn't in love with him. He was comfortable, and steady never a doubt that he would be there.
"Mommy." Hannah called staring at both her parents.
Max's heart was beating a mile a minutes. The look in Liz's eyes was something he had wanted to see again for the past five years. She still loved him! He didn't know why or how, but she did. A little flame of hope grew in his heart. He didn't deserve her, but he would try to win her back.
"Mommy!" Hannah stomped her foot this time, becoming impatient.
Liz snatched her hand back, but not before Max had time to give her a warning squeeze.
Her eyes met his once more, a warning in her own eyes, then down at Hannah.
"I'm sorry, Hannah bean, you ready to go?"
"Yes." Hannah looked curiously between the two of them.
They walked slowly back to the car, and when they were half way there, Liz leaned down and picked up Hannah.
The girl was so tiny. Max smiled, so was her mother.
When they reached the car, Hannah hopped down from her arms and threw her arms around Max's waist. "Bye."
For the third time that day Max's heart jumped. His toddler was hugging him. Her arms were small and barely surrounded him but he felt totally engulfed by her. He ran a hand through her hair, baby soft.
"Goodbye, Little girl." He smiled.
She smiled back before climbing into the car.
Liz buckled her in and turned to face Max.
"Thank you, Liz." He blurted before she could say anything.
"Max." Was all she could say. "Again, next week?"
He nodded. "That would be wonderful. She's wonderful, Liz." He absently reached up and brushed her hair behind her ear.
"I know." Liz said looking into his eyes.
"You did a wonderful job so far." He told her, his face utterly sincere.
"Thank you." So many people have told her that, but coming from him, it meant something different.
"I'll see you next week then." He turned to leave.
"How about Tuesday, after her first day of school. I took the day off so I could take her and pick her up." She said without stopping to think. "She'd really enjoy that. It'll be a surprise."
Max paused. He thought about his schedule. "What time?"
"She gets out at noon." Liz said, trying to keep her voice from sounding to hopeful. God, she wanted it so bad.
His face lit up. "I can do it." He nodded.
"Great." She wanted to throw her arms around him.
"I'll pick you up at your house if you want, at say eleven?" He asked.
She stared at him. "Sure." A whole hour early! What could he be planning?
****
Liz walked into the apartment smiling, Hannah sleeping in her arms.
Her smile faded when she noticed Serena and Kyle in a face off.
"Damn it, Serena." Kyle answered. "We've gone over this a hundred times!" Kyle stocked towards her and leaned on the counter. His voice lowered, tenderly. "Serena, you know I wouldn't lie to you."
"Kyle, explain to me again." Serena threw her pan into the sink as she shrugged away from him.
"Do, explain, Kyle." Liz said. "But please wait till I lay my daughter down." She stalked from the room.
"Dear God, Kyle! I didn't know she would be home so soon." Serena whispered and leaned against the counter.
"I didn't either." He said.
Liz strode back into the room purposefully and sat down at the table. "Now, would you like to explain whatever it was we were going to explain?" She rested her hand on her chin and crossed her legs and stared at them intently.
"Kyle almost made me lose a patient today." Serena said slowly, giving Kyle a look of disgust. "He neglected to inform me that my patient was allergic to morphine."
Kyle nodded slowly. "You caught it in time."
"Kyle!" Serena turned and walked into her room slamming the door as effectively as possible without waking Hannah.
Liz stared at the door. "Since when do you talk to Serena?" Liz asked. She didn't necessarily care the why's or how, she was actually quite glad. But she was certain something had been going on when she walked into the room.
"Since she almost lost that patient. Now she hates me even more." Kyle said looking at the door. "I honestly didn't realize that patient was allergic." He shrugged. "And it was caught before it was administered."
"I've got to get back to the hospital. Hopefully the word didn't spread else we'll be sued for malpractice." He said. He kissed her lightly on the head and left the apartment.
Standing, Liz decided to get to the bottom of this. She knew for a fact Kyle would never forget something like that, and she knew for a fact Serena couldn't stay in the same room with a person she was lying to.
"Serena, will you keep an eye on Hannah, I'm going across the way for a few minutes." Liz called.
"Sure." The word sounded sniffled but Liz didn't question.
****
"Isabel!" Liz exclaimed when she stepped out. She was standing next to a tall man.
"Hello, Liz. I came by for Alex." She said shyly. "We're supposed to go out tonight. Double date. This is Max's friend, Michael, he's our partner in California until we can get settled ourselves." Isabel introduced.
"Alex, huh." Liz nodded and could easily picture the two together. She pushed open the door and called for Alex. "Nice to meet you, Michael."
"Same here." He mumbled.
"What's up, Liz?" Alex called, trying to tie a tie.
"Isabel's at the door." She pulled him to her and straightened it for him.
"Thanks." He said. "Anything you needed? Is Hannah alright?"
"She's fine. I'll tell you all about our meeting later, right now you go have fun. Is Maria still in the back?"
"Yes." He nodded and headed out to the front room.
"Maria." Liz sat on the bed as Maria adjusted her dress.
"What's wrong, babe?" Maria turned to her.
"What's between Kyle and Serena?"
Maria's eyes turned sharp. "Nothing, why?"
Liz narrowed her eyes. "I caught them in a row this evening, when is Kyle ever at our apartment when I'm not there?"
Maria just shrugged. "Did I hear you say Isabel was here?"
"Yes." Liz said knowing she wasn't going to get a direct answer.
"Did you see another man with her?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"And, he looks like your type." Liz said dutifully.
"I left Hannah sleeping with Serena, I have to go back over there. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye, Liz." Maria hugged her and went out to find her date.
****
Liz lie amid her bed, Hannah sleeping quietly beside her. Her mind was working a mile a minute. She couldn't concentrate on one thing. The meeting with Max had gone so well, she had gone on impulse to invite him to Hannah's first day.
Hannah shifted and snuggled closer despite the warm temperature outside.
She was drained, emotionally and physically. She didn't know what to think, or even who to think about. There was Max, and then there was Kyle and Serena. Something was definitely happening there-- not that she thought Kyle was cheating on her-- maybe before. They had always been hostile towards each other, and when in a room together, not even Hannah could talk enough to still it.
Liz deliberated on when she would tell Max of Hannah's heart. She knew she would tell him. It was a matter of when.
If Max helped pay the medical bills, which she knew he would, she could start taking general courses at the community college and then work her way up to a social worker, following in Amy's steps. The legal system intrigued her.
Liz wasn't sure what she would do, but Hannah was going into surgery soon and Max would definitely know about it. It was going to be in early August, when Hannah was off-track. She'd tell him soon. How cheerful would that be for him?
"Hi Max, here's your daughter, by the way, she has a series of heart conditions that could kill her." Wonderful.