Chapter 3---Late Summer of 2003...Lizzie and David...
This
years love had better last
Heaven knows it's high time
And I've been waiting on my own too long
But when you hold me like you do
It feels so right
I start to forget
How my heart gets torn
When that hurt gets thrown
Feeling like you can't go on
A few nights had passed since Lizzie had allowed David to stay at her flat after Martha's 3rd birthday party at Flying Fish. He had lost his job, divorced his wife—she left and divorced him, and the night Lizzie came home from work, she was surprised to find David and Martha passed out on her sofa bed. Lizzie checked her mail, rather large looking envelope addressed to Lizzie MacDonald and Guest---an invitation, and it was from home of course, for the Mr. Archie MacDonald and Lexie MacTavish wedding...Lizzie didn't open the envelope, as it had already been opened as she assumed an 'elf' named David had already done it...
David stirred, half awake, yawned and smiled, as he glanced over to Lizzie, "You're home early,"
"You both were out like a light..." Lizzie commented on Martha still snoozing and David carefully moving her to the couch where she continued to sleep.
"Yeah, well, I haven't been sleeping so well in that tub," David replied truthfully after he had fought it out with Lizzie nights ago that 'he'd sleep in the tub and she'd take the sofa---no ifs ands or buts about it'.
"Sorry to hear that, you could take the floor tonight..." Lizzie suggested as David started to wonder if she was joking or actually granting him permission to take over the floor. Lizzie wouldn't let David go near her when they were actually alone and Martha was in bed at night. She'd just shuttle him to the bathroom and say, 'Good night,' before she would shove a pillow and blanket at his chest and he'd reply back, 'Good night' before closing himself inside of the loo.
"I got the rest of my clothes today from Rory's," David said, hoping Lizzie would take notice that he was now taking better care of himself.
"Did you now? I hadn't had time to notice."
"You should now, if I'm sharing the lounge with you tonight? You are certain that I can give up the tub?" David brought the conversation back to Lizzie's suggestion. He kept thinking about it over and over again.
"I see you opened my letter?" Lizzie showed the wedding invitation and changed the subject about David sleeping anywhere near by tonight.
"Actually, Martha did...I just helped her finish it. Archie becoming a groom, that's quite the novelty..."
"Yes, he's very happy with Lexie."
Turning
circles when time again
It cuts like a knife oh yeah
If you love me got to know for sure
Cos it takes something more this time
Than sweet sweet lies
Before I open up my arms and fall
Losing all control
Every dream inside my soul
And when you kiss me
On that midnight street
Sweep me off my feet
Singing ain't this life so sweet
"Have I met Lexie?" David asked as Lizzie said, "I don't think so...you were off to university or in the 'amidst of a new life' when she arrived, and just never came back to Glenbogle."
"I came back, Lizzie, whilst you and Archie weren't there. The invitation is for you and guest...I assume Archie will be ringing me about the wedding..."
"Probably doesn't know how to find you, David, you might want to ring him yourself. Anyway, it's a month away, and I'm sure Archie would be thrilled to see you though...they planned a September wedding..."
"Oh," David wandered way into the kitchen and decided to finish preparing dinner, a now cooling chicken which came from the oven, as he assumed Lizzie would eat it.
"You left the oven going and took a snooze?" Lizzie became concerned for not just Martha's but David's well being, "I told you could watch her as long as you didn't do anything daft."
"I wasn't asleep, Lizzie when you came in, I just laid down with Martha and she dozed off as I rested my eyes...she's really bright knowing Archie's name, Molly as grandmother, Hector as grandfather...How is he?" David continued to chop up vegetables for a salad as Lizzie pulled out a bottle of wine...She figured the coast was clear to drink since David would sleep in the tub and she'd be on the sofa and she'd nay on allowing him to sleep on the floor. Lizzie got out the corkscrew and started to open the bottle as David then took over...
"This brings back a few memories..." David smiled at Lizzie but she had something weighing heavy on her mind...
This
years love had better last
This years love had better last
"Father died well over a year ago, David, I assumed Archie told you so I never went into specifics when you'd call...personally, I don't want to talk about father."
"No, I haven't spoken much with Archie after we split, I guess I assumed he would have been upset about, you know the situation with us..."David glanced at Lizzie, nodded towards sleeping Martha on the couch, and then his face dropped, "I'm sorry, I said something, what did good ol' Hector---?"
"Archie still doesn't know about you being Martha's father, I didn't tell him and its best if you don't. As for good ol' Hector, you know father and his bird brained ideas, he thought he could blow up pike in the loch and instead blew himself up with dynamite and a remote controlled speed boat..."
"Oh Liz, I'm---?"
"It's all right David. It's been so long..."
"How was the funeral?" David knew what it was like to lose a father too as he spent his teenage years living off death duties with his mother in their cottage. It was his father's death duties that helped him get through school and start out his career and life.
"I didn't go."
"Why?"
"I didn't see the need for me being there and I haven't been home since..."
"Lizzie," David could tell Lizzie has sort of 'transformed' from a very independent woman, that Justine had spoke of days ago, to more a scared little girl. Lizzie loved journeying home...this new Lizzie, didn't like too? Something struck David wrong when he thought about her this way...Lizzie always wanted to go home and she always wanted to talk about past events and things.
"I'm all right David. I get a wee bit gloomy, but I wasn't close with father and he was always so concerned about his linage, marrying me off to someone and having their babies that I felt he genuinely forgot to love me. It wasn't until Jamie died that he gave all of his attention to Archie and I was well, left out, I s'pose..." Tears welled up in Lizzie's eyes, but she made sure to take a sip of wine to hide herself. She stood at the farthest countertop from the bar as she looked at the bottle of wine...wanting to drown herself in it.
"That's not true, your father must've loved you---at least your father spent time with you, Jamie and Archie. Hector wasn't like my father, Lizzie. Remember my father died too? I still don't get how Hector and my old man remained friends."
"I'm sorry. I just can't talk about this now."
"It's all right."
David finished preparing dinner and set the plates up on the open windowed bar between the kitchenette and the lounge as he was about to pick up his glass of wine, he instead hugged Lizzie. Lizzie melted into him and then Martha peeked over the sofa and yelled out, "MUMMY!" as she charged over to Lizzie and David, who broke free from their hug. Lizzie wiped her face, sniffled, and laughed as she hugged Martha, "Ladybug..."
"Mummy!" Martha giggled and David laughed, "Good thing we have dinner ready..."
A couple hours later...
David and Lizzie tucked Martha in, as they decided to sit on the sofa and talk for a little while. Lizzie had brought over two cups of tea and handed one of them to David. "I'm happy we're actually able to sit still and chat..."
"Lizzie, I want to---?"
"I know. I have gotten used to being alone with Martha and having no one to talk to at night."
David scanned Lizzie's face very closely, hoping there were signs of life behind her eyes, he used to see the world in them...browns, green and blues...now he wasn't seeing anything but drab gray...
"You're lonely," David watched Lizzie sip off of her tea and set it back down on the coffee table in front of them.
"And what makes you think that?" Lizzie started to put up a stone wall and David, being a pretty good bulldozer tried to knock it right down...
"I know you Elizabeth MacDonald, I know the Lizzie who loves everyone, interested in all walks of life and going home...you usually jump at a drop of a hat to go home. And you were never petrified to talk about your thoughts or feelings...what happened to you?"
"Maybe I don't want to be that 'old' me?" Lizzie snickered and David could tell she was being honest about it...
"Maybe I love 'the you' that you are..." David brought him his feelings for Lizzie again. Lizzie picked up her tea and started drinking it again, "There you go again, avoiding my---?"
"David..." Lizzie spoke up and David didn't know what to say as Lizzie continued, "I'm sorry for being rude towards you just now, Gerald, kind of took over me for quite awhile..."
"You got back with him?"
"We miraculously split up two weeks ago...but we always remain friends out of it somehow...he called it quits now. I did too. It was terrible, but best for Martha and keeping her safe."
"Look, you should never ever lose your sense of self in someone, no matter how much of a friend he is..."
"Oh really, and about me losing myself in you during the pregnancy of our child?"
"I wasn't discussing about me...I was speaking about Gerald. I wanted you to still be able to stand on your own two feet, physically and mentally, and you said so, when you told me to leave you in the middle of Justine's restaurant."
"Physically and mentally? What does that mean?"
"It means, going out, doing things, bringing Martha home to see your mother and Archie...and allowing yourself to have an outlet or life aside from working---Jamie wouldn't be impressed if you didn't get out an enjoy life.."
"I'm sorry Sigmund Freud, but I'm not like you or Jamie or Archie for that matter...you wandered away remember, had a life of your own..."
"Lizzie, I wandered back though...I'm just concerned about your well-being..."
"Oh wow, I wish I had a tape recorder so you could hear what you just said, over and over again..." Lizzie replied humbled.
"I'm blunt, yes, but truthful, Lizzie---did you talk to anyone after your father died? Archie? Perhaps Molly?"
"David, I allowed you to move in here for awhile because I wanted to help you out. However, you're not to become my personal quack because of my dysfunctional father problems---I---?"
"Lizzie,"
So
who's to worry
If our hearts get torn
When that hurt gets thrown
Don't you know this life goes on
And won't you kiss me
On that midnight street
Sweep me off my feet
Singing ain't this life so sweet
Lizzie closed her mouth, didn't say another word, as David set his tea down and took hers, setting it down as well on the table. He decided to reel her into his body...
This years love had better last
"You know, I still fancy you with and without those problems...you said Gerald was passive, believed in new wave medicine to cure a doomed soul—like what séances, channeling the 'dead', and tarot card readings...well, he's not the right guy for you...you're too fiery and functional...you need love from someone who understands you..."
This years love had better last
"You think it's you---?" Lizzie stopped dueling with David as her eyes connected with his...he saw a little spark, small twinkle, wee bit of the Lizzie he always craved, laughed at first, and then leaned in...
"Nope, you're not getting off so easy, answer me," Lizzie tried to break free, but it didn't work so well...as David's embrace tightened to hold her to him.
"You miss me..." David leaned in again and Lizzie replied as he leaned back, "Maybe I do..."
This years love had better last
"Lizzie, don't lie to me."
"I'm not that's your job, since you're so grand at it."
David ignored what she just said and leaned in again...
"You still want to kiss me, don't you? Why? Since when?"
"Um, since I saw you at the restaurant nights ago, smiling with a bunch of Martha's wee friends at her party. I'm wistfully proud of you, not in the least terribly humbled, you such a delight to be around, if you realize it. Besides, giving you a nice big snog has been on my mind for quite sometime!"
"David," Lizzie's lips were brushed swiftly, smoothly, and generously by his. It took seconds for them to break free, to let go of each other, Lizzie laughed mid third kiss and David pulled away with a puzzled look on his face, "What?"
This years love had better last (David Gray)
"You just don't want to sleep in that bathtub!" Lizzie joked, picking up on his charmed affection as David shook his head and leaned in again, "Am I right?"
David nodded his head, very childlike and said, "I don't want to sleep anywhere without you..."
Chapter Four---Sucker
Archie didn't gather himself up from the table right away. Archie returned his eyes to Lizzie, trying to read her face to make sure she was all right. However, Lizzie glanced back at him lost, before Archie finally said, "David, you need to go."
"I came to talk to Lizzie."
"No wits about you, David, nothing to say either..." Lizzie replied immediately, as she eyed David and then Archie.
"I request to see Martha since it's not a school day," David's eyes never left Lizzie's and Archie was about to stand up and cut in.
"She's out," Lizzie replied as she stood up from the table and placed a hand on Archie to not get up. David shuffled his feet, let out a laugh, "You two haven't changed one bit."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Archie's eyes narrowed in on his now childhood 'foe' as he moved Lizzie's hand from his shoulder and stood up to face David.
"Losing faith in someone no matter if they have changed or not. How pathetic and of you both...Lizzie, what happened to you?"
"I find it hard to believe under these circumstances that you've changed, David." Archie spoke quite diplomatically, stood in front of Lizzie, and setting his eyes on David.
"Ah, yes, you're not over that whole Lexie thing," David shrugged and sighed, while scanning the flat, and then Lizzie's eyes for signs of life and still didn't see anything, "No furniture, no photos, and not like you Liz. You normally live in a sunshine happy, modest and cozy nest..."
"I'm just moving in..."
"She's thinking about moving in..." Archie hoped Lizzie would reconsider moving back into the house...so he could keep a close eye on her and Martha, especially with David now back in the picture.
"Well, good, lemme tell you something...you two won't be keeping me from seeing Martha. I still have rights to her and anything you said in court, Arch, wouldn't hold up in a million years," David stated his case defensively. He never imagined that Lizzie would consider taking Martha away from him.
"Oh really, how about not being there for your child?" Archie tried to open up the debate again...
"I was there...just not in flesh form and I did send Lizzie money when I could..." David looked to Lizzie for some form of support and when she didn't stand up for him. David groaned out, "I can't believe you, Lizzie, I might have screwed up again, made another slightly modified mockery of us...but I was there for you and Martha in some way. I would have returned if I had been asked about from either of you—you and Martha!" as he opened the door to leave just as Martha and Paul about to knock...David stood still as his eyes scanned his daughter up and down---he knew it was her she hadn't changed much either since the time she was three years old---she was just a little bit bigger, more teeth, able to say more words and ask probable questions—like 'Who's the spooky man with burnt blond hair looking at me strangely Mummy?'
"David, we'll talk about this later...Martha's...?" Lizzie glanced at Paul and Martha, before her eyes went back to David and then she got nervous...
"And who might you be?" David asked with a charming slanted smile as he glanced at his daughter, as Martha replied, not remembering David at all, "Martha MacDonald. Who are you and why were you talking to my Mummy that way?"
"Martha, just come in..." Lizzie went to collect Martha up after nudging David out of the way and scurried her towards her bedroom. Martha protested and tried to keep her feet firmly planted in one place in the short hall as Lizzie tugged her arm lightly and tried to keep Martha from looking back, "Who is he, Mummy?"
"Never mind pet, we'll talk about it later, Martha. Come on, sweet pea...don't challenge me today."
"But Mummy, he matches the man in the picture who sits in my room, the photo which used to be yours..." Martha started to ask many questions and Lizzie continued to shuttle her down the hall away from her father.
"Liz..." David was about to walk towards her and Martha as Archie got in his way, "Go now and I won't call the police."
"Lairds are meant to control land, not out their hands family matters, butt out," David got defensive and continued to put Archie on full guard, who in turn replied matter of factly, "Well, David, you're infringing upon my territory now, I'm Martha and Lizzie's family and I have every right to stick my nose in."
Paul stood there for a moment watching the scene unfold before stepping in, "Is everything all right?"
"Yes, Paul, David was just leaving...aren't you David?"
"This isn't over by a long shot, Archie. You know I have rights to be with them both."
"According to Lizzie she doesn't want you here and I don't blame her either..."
"Martha is my daughter...I have rights..."
"Well, then, we'll fight this in a court."
"No Archie you're not scaring me."
"And you're in for a heaping spoonful of trouble so go, David...before you make it worse."
David helplessly glanced at Lizzie, who had returned from Martha's bedroom. David tried to study her face, scanning it for drawn together fortunate signs that she indeed wanted him to stay. "You really don't want me to leave, do you?" David quipped to Lizzie quietly. Lizzie, with a complaisance sigh which of course went right along with Archie's yielding stare in his direction, said, "Go David."
"You can't be---?"
"Back off David," Archie butt right in again as Lizzie cast him a very aggravated look—which actually made Archie groan, sit himself back down at the table, and look away.
Lizzie began to address David as best as she could, "First off you and I can't get into this discussion until you cool down. And Martha has to be no where nearby—Am I completely understood?"
David answered bluntly and accusingly nodded his head at Archie and then Paul—as if they were the ones who should leave, "No I don't understand you, Lizzie, yes, all right, maybe we need to talk without Martha around, or Archie, why not send him packing so we can?"
"David, I need you to go. It's confusing."
"Why should everyone be confused? Is it that really relevant? No, it's not. It's none of their business what goes on with the likes of us, is it?" David snickered out as Lizzie opened the door, hoping David would get her physical hint to go. Her voice then rose with her frustrated answer, "Us, you speak of it like there is an 'us'..."
Lizzie and David's eyes met in the doorway, as David actually let out a nervous chuckle, "You're still angry I know it, you have every right to be with me. Can't we talk about all of this without the audience, my lemonade queen?"
"David, I'm not..." Lizzie snipped with foolproof alarm, as she then lowered the tone of her voice, knowing Archie continued to stare and Paul no doubt had his eye on them too. Lizzie finally spoke again, "We'll discuss Martha later."
David was reluctant to go at first but then walked out of the apartment, down the steps which lead up to the flat and out of a door which took him to the street. And then Lizzie crept over to the window, dazing out of it moments later with her head still in a fog, noting that David really had gone away.
"He's a friendly character, isn't he? Going to guess Martha's Dad?"
"David Fraser. And you did the right thing Liz. He's a sorry excuse for a human being, considering the nerve of him showing back up here again, right Lizzie?" Archie stated matter of factly, trying to get her attention. However, Lizzie continued to view out of the window, watching David walk away.
Older gents
sit on the fence
With their cap in hand
Looking grand
They watch their city change
Children scream, or so it seems,
Louder than before
Out of doors, into stores with bigger names
Mama tried to wash their faces
But these kids they lost their graces
And daddy lost at the races too many times
She broke down the other day, yeah you know
Some things in life may change
But some things they stay the same
Like time, time, there's always time
On my mind
So pass me by, I'll be fine
Just give me time,
Time, there's always time
On my mind
Pass me by, I'll be fine
Just give me time
Damien Rice
Paul noticed Lizzie wasn't up for answering Archie and instead posed another question, "Isn't he the one who made a pass at Lexie years ago, coming to the house looking for money for a nickel business, when there wasn't an investment to be made?"
"Yes, Paul," Lizzie spoke up as Martha traveled out of her room, "I want to come out now."
"Martha," Lizzie turned away from the window and Martha peered at her mother---Lizzie's mind just recognized again the fact that Martha looked just like David---same burnt blondish-brownish hair and same emerald eyes. She even had the 'impish' grin David would give when she wanted something important.
"Mummy, who was he? He does match the photo on my table—wait, he's Daddy?" Martha recognized David the man standing with a Japan scenic background from the photo and showed Lizzie it. Lizzie then paused as Archie then took over with his favorite almost seven year old, "Martha..."
"Yes, Uncle Archie."
"He's not a very nice man, the one in the picture and who was here..."
"Archie," Lizzie warned him about slandering David further in her tone...
"Look, he's not meant to be here, is he? You can't lie to her and no profound use in trying is there?"
"Martha, you are right that man was your father," Lizzie toted Martha over to the sofa bed, took the photo of David and set it to the side, before Lizzie sat her daughter down.
"Oh, he's a mean Daddy, right? The one who always makes you cry?" Martha's eyes studied Archie and Paul's faces looking for truthful answers.
"Martha, he's not..."
"Now who's slandering her father?" Archie grumbled as Lizzie glared at him and he asked again, "Well?"
"Archie, Martha, we'll talk about this later, go find a book and read, okay?"
"Okay Mummy," Martha said as she glanced at her uncle and her mother confused. Martha was about to scamper off towards her room but circled back and asked, "Can I have my photo of Daddy back?" as Lizzie handed her the photo and Martha then ran off down towards the hall and Lizzie arched a brow at her brother, "Happy with yourself?"
"How do you mean?" asked Archie who now found his big sister very hard to read.
"You need to stay out of anything that goes on between David and me..."
"Why?"
"Or it'll get very ugly, Archie, let me handle him. This is exactly why I didn't tell you about David as her father---or even father for that matter, which apparently according to mother, he knew all about it. Anyway, I don't want Martha being tossed in the middle like a rugby ball and have team players, you and David, crushing each other for her or let alone me!"
"I'm looking after you besides someone has too...the last time you handled him you got..."
"Don't patronize me, Archie, and leave the judgments in the past! Yes I got pregnant, and yes David is her father...I know you're looking after the estate's best interests."
"Okay, maybe I am a bit, but I don't trust David as far as a rocket launched to outer space!"
"He's not some alien, Arch! David wouldn't rob the estate..."
"How do you know?"
Lizzie stood there, inhaled and exhaled, and couldn't answer him.
"Exactly, you don't know."
"I do know that he wouldn't do it. I believe him, Archie. He just wants to spend time with Martha."
"Lizzie, are you mad?"
"No Archie..." as Lizzie shook her head and Graeme walked right into the apartment with a confused look on his face.
"I'm having a real bad habit of interrupting today?" Graeme searched Lizzie's face for some explanation and then Archie's and Paul's, and made mention of David to Lizzie, "I saw you know who again just now, so I know something's up—care to fill me in?"
