Chapter 16

Max listened as Lady's claws clicked along the wooden floors. He knew Liz was home. She had told him not to wait up that it would be late when she returned home but he had been worried about her.

He heard the taps running again and knew Liz would wash up before going to bed. Lady hopped in through the open door. She took her place by the fire and settled down with a yawn. Max smiled at the little animal and settled back. The taps turned off and he heard Liz's soft footfalls on the carpet. She went to the closet, took out her night dress and robe. Tying her hair back into a braid, she slipped the gown on and went through the door.

Not saying anything she went around the side of the bed and climbed in. She scooted into Max's side his arms automatically came around her.

Despite the warm night air she was trembling.

"What's wrong, darling?" He asked.

"You're awake, I told you not to wait up." She said into his chest. She had always burrowed into him in sleep and he found it sweet.

"I can't sleep without you wrapped up in me." He said into your hair. "I have to feel you else I'll be awake all hours."

She raised her head. He reached over and flipped on the small bedside lamp. The electricity in the house still shocked her. He saw the sadness in her eyes and the worry, and pulled her closer.

"What's wrong, what happened?" He lifted her chin.

"Oh, Max." She said clinging to him. "I just wasn't prepared for it, that's all."

"Is there a new little Brown child?" He asked.

"Barely." She said. "If he survives this night, then we're one step closer. The babe is lucky he was born in the summer when the weather is warmer for him."

"That is good." Max nodded. "And Mr. and Mrs. Brown?"

"Mrs. Brown came out alright. She's had five children and carried easily each time. Mr. Brown though, he might lose his leg. If it cleans and goes well, then he might have use of it again, but if not he'll lose it."

"You did fine." Max said. "You did everything you could."

"I know."

"Go to sleep, love. You're a wonderful nurse."

"Thank you." She settled back down with his hands in her hair and let him comfort her.

Liz awoke shortly after Max again and rose to get dressed. She heard the water running in the bath and knew he would be shaving. Putting on her skirt and blouse she gathered Maria's clothes and planned to return them later that day.

"I have something for you." Max exited the adjoining bathroom.

"What?" Liz looked up. She wrapped her hair in a tight bun at the nape of her neck, leaving no hair to get in her face as she worked. Picking up the light bonnet she set it on her head.

"You're going out now?" Max asked holding a package.

"Yes." She gently tied the strings so it wouldn't blow in the breeze. "I'm going to check on the Browns. I asked Madeline to fix something for the family." She said speaking of the cook.

"Open your present first, darling." He said as she stood up.

She took the package from him and was surprised at it's weight. Setting it down on the bed she opened the package. Her breath caught.

A magnifying glass along with a book on desert plants lay before her. Another smaller book was on insects of the west.

"Kyle told me you were into biology." Max said when she didn't say anything. "I wasn't sure what to get you, so I got you this."

She picked up the magnifying glass and turned it in her hands.

"There's a whole catalog downstairs on biology. There's an article on that French Chemist and his wife."

"The Currie's?" She looked, it was the first time she had said anything.

"Yes."

"Thank you." She said it simply. "Thank you, so much, Max." She held the books.

"The catalog, downstairs, you can order anything you want from it. There's a room, upstairs, that you can make into your lab if you wish." He stuttered through. "I won't be able to keep you entertained all the time, and I thought I should give you something to do. So you won't be bored. I know now with the Browns you'll be busy, but when you have time. I can have a carpenter come in and make shelves and things. Anything."

Her eyes filled with tears as she looked up at him. Her heart was bursting with love for him. She didn't know how to say the words. If there was any doubt in her that he didn't love her it fled.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to make you cry." He took a step towards her.

"No." She held the books closer, her voice was clogged with tears. "You can't know what this means to me."

He could see it in her eyes. He wanted to hear the words. He needed to hear them.

She set the books down and walked slowly towards him. Liz took his face between his palms.

"You don't know what you've done for me." She told him quietly. "And I'm not just talking about the science kit and books. Everything."

"I think I know."

"No." She told him. "You don't. I don't express it. You brought me away from everything. I was being suffocated there. You let me be me." She looked over at the bed where her present laid. "You even encourage it."

"Liz."

"I love you, Max." She said it quickly before she ran out of courage. "I've always loved you." Her accent was thick. "Gráim thú." she whispered.

He pulled her snug against him. "You know I've always loved you, Liz."

"That, I've always known." She said and stepped back. "I have to get over to the Browns. I'll be home this evening. Thank you again."

"You're welcome, my darling."

Max reread the telegram for the fourth time. He rubbed his eyes tiredly. He heard the tell-tale scamper of paws on the floor outside his study and knew his wife would be joining him any minute.

BRINGING FAMILY WEST. stop. HAVE FATHER'S APPROVAL. stop. SEE YOU AT STATION. stop. THANK YOU.

She was going to want to know why they were coming, and he was going to have to explain it to her.

The door swung open and Liz walked in her face rosy, her eyes lit up. "There's so much in here, Max."

"I know." He didn't want to see the light leave her eyes.

She noticed his tone anyway.

"What?" Her heart tripped in her throat. "What, Max?"

"Liz, there's something, I need to tell you."

Her knees buckled. He caught her around the waist and led her to a chair. "What, Max."

"Kyle and Serena are going to bring their family out here."

"That's not bad." Liz said her eyes lighting up.

"I know. But there reason they're coming here is."

"It's Mama, isn't it?"

Max was stunned. "How'd you know."

"I knew she would be difficult once I left." She said. "It's something I've always known and I've been wondering about. It's a wonder she hasn't started writing to me yet."

Max gulped. His hesitation had Liz looking up.

"She has, hasn't she?" She tilted her head, studying her husband. She pulled her hands from his. "Do you have them at least?"

He went to his desk and pulled them out. He handed them to her and stared at the stack. He watched as her eyes, usually so full of expression, so easy to read, emptied. No emotion could be seen. She was blank. There was a bit of hurt, of anger, but she quickly suppressed that as well.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to ruin your day. You were so happy with the Brown's progress."

"Thank you for giving these to me, Max. I'm going to upstairs to read them." She stood her back rigid. All laughter gone. The catalog she had dog-eared was left on the chair. He shivered at her treatment. The way she had closed herself off.

Max could only watch her. She stopped with her hand on the doorknob.

"Why do the people in my life feel like they need to run it?" She didn't turn around. "They claim to love me, and then they hide things from me. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of my self, making my own decisions." He heard her voice squeeze on a sob. "I wish…I wish they would trust me to decide for myself."

"Liz, wait, I love you." He stepped towards her.

Now she turned around. Stared at him. "So does Mama." She gave a mirthless laugh. "Funny, she says she loves me and only wants what's best for me. Just like you."

He hated that she was comparing him to her mother, he really did have what's best at heart for her.

Shrugging she jerked open the door and shut it softly behind her.

Max lay in bed. He had looked in on Liz before coming up to bed. She had dressed in her nightclothes but refused to come to bed yet. He had a maid take dinner to her. He knew if he ordered it she would have joined him at the table. But he wouldn't order her to do anything.

He heard the door next door creak open. He held his breath waiting to see what she would do. He heard her enter his room and stare at his bed. Then with a sigh she turned and closed the door separating the two rooms.

Max rolled over onto his side praying sleep would come.

And knew it wouldn't.

"Max, where's your wife?" Maria asked as she walked into Max's study. He was in a business meeting with her husband so she had no qualms about interrupting the men.

"Out back." He looked up. "Why?"

"Woman things." She waved her hand impatiently as she turned. "I'll see you at home, Michael, don't wait for me."

"Yes, ma'am." He muttered when his wife was already out of the room.

"How did you get such a sweet tempered wife?" Michael asked leaning back. "Liz wouldn't dream of treating you that way."

"Liz has her own way. She doesn't burn you like your wife, she'll freeze you instead. Don't cross her, Michael, for one she'll be angry at you, and two, I'll be angry at you for upsetting my wife." Max thought of the way she had closed down all emotion the week before when she had found out about the letters. She still wasn't speaking to him.

"Is that what she's done to you, Max? Frozen you out?"

"Yes." Max said.

"When was the last time you slept?" Michael asked out of concern for his friend. He had been out of sorts all week and he hadn't been able to pin down why.

"Last week sometime." Max answered. "I would rather not talk about it."

"You should."

"I said I would rather not."

"Your call, Maxwell, but we have an important meeting coming up and if you're not rested then I'm going to be angry."

"I'll be fine." Max growled. "Just drop it."

"If you insist." Michael held up his hand in peace.

"I do." Max nodded and looked back down at the stack of papers on his desk hoping to get his mind of Liz and actual work done.

Liz startled when Max walked into her room. She had thought it odd at first that she had her own room in her husband's house. Then she had discovered she spent her nights in his room and hers was nothing more than storage space. For the past week it had been her sleeping space as well.

She didn't look at him. Not directly. She stared at him through her mirrors.

"Liz."

"Hmmn?" She lifted an eyebrow. Something she had perfected after a week with the Brown children.

"Is there something you need to share with me?" Max asked as he took the brush from her hand.

"What?" She asked. He couldn't know could he?

"I think you know what I mean." He said gently.

"Max, I don't." She shook her head. How could he know she wasn't even sure himself.

"Would you like some breakfast, wife, Madeline made bacon and sausage and eggs." He said watching her face in the mirrors. "I would like you to join me."

Her face turned pale as her stomach rolled in revulsion. If he didn't move she would be sick on him.

She made it to the bathroom in time.

"It's been a week since you've joined me, is there something you'd like to discuss?"

"I'd rather you not watch me be sick." She said into the bowl. "And I don't want to discuss anything."

"It's been three months since our marriage, Liz, two of which you had no…"

"Alright, don't say it!" She would have flushed if she hadn't been heaving her guts out.

"You're a nurse, you shouldn't be embarrassed."

"I may be nurse, but I'm still a woman!" She said. "In case you've forgotten."

He hadn't forgotten and now that she was carrying his baby he couldn't.

"You've seen the doctor." He asked quietly.

"Yes." She stayed kneeling and let her stomach settle again.

"Were you going to tell me or just let me think you gained weight?" He asked.

"It's not fun when someone keeps secrets from you." She said quietly. "I was going to tell you, Max. I just got the confirmation yesterday."

He walked towards her and took her hair in his hands, pulling it away from her face. "How do you feel about this, Liz?"

"Ask me in a few minutes." She said trying to make it sound light. "You'll like the answer better then."

"Liz." He said.

"I'm happy about it." She said after a moment. "Hand me my cloth?"

He stood and got it for her after wetting it.

"Thank you." She washed her face and set it back down. He swept her into his arms and carried her through the door and into his room. He laid her gently on the bed and pulled the covers down. Stripping her down till she was in her undergarments he pulled the covers back up. "I'm not a child, Max, and I have things to do."

"Rest." He said and pushed her hair back. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "You need it." His hand rested under the sheets over her abdomen. His face filled with wonder as he stared down at it. She put her hand over his.

"You're happy about it too?" She asked her eyes searching his face.

"I'm very happy about it." He said.

"Then lay down with me?" She asked. "I haven't slept in a week. Remember what you told me about you needing me in your arms? I need to be in your arms." She whispered. "I need to feel you, to feel safe."

He removed his clothes and slipped under the covers with her. She fit perfectly against him sighing much at the time he had.

"Rest now, my darling." He whispered. "I'm here."

"Don't hide anything from me anymore, Max."

"No." He said quietly. "I won't." Then he paused a moment. Smiled.

"There's something I need to tell you."

"What?"

"Did I mention twins run in my family?"

"Really?" She leaned on elbows to see his face.

"Sure as the sky's blue."

She looked away a moment thinking then looking back at him with sparkling eyes. "If I have two little boys that look like you, I'd be happy."

"How about two little girls, that look like you?" He kissed her nose. "Then I'd be happy."

"One of each?" She compromised.

"Perfect." He nodded. "Whatever we have is perfect."

TBC