Holding On

Chapter 4: Moving On

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

"Are you crazy?" was Miranda's first reaction when Lizzie told her about her job offer. "That job is in Boston. Do you know how expensive it is to live in the city?"

"Yes, I lived there for several years, thank you very much." Lizzie snapped.

"How did you hear about this job anyway?" Miranda asked, changing the subject.

"Angela told me when I went to her wedding." Lizzie stated. "I told her my current job was waiting tables and she told me about this job. That's why I was a week late coming home. I was doing job interviews." It was the truth, but during the interviews she never thought she would actually get the job. What would she have done if she did get the job? It was before she knew Gordo was leaving. And that had changed everything.

"When are you moving?" asked Miranda, defeated.

"I don't know, they have plans to build the school but it could take a few years. I think I'd move before that, though, I just can't stay in my apartment." Lizzie explained.

"Have you said anything to your parents yet?" asked Miranda hoping they might be able to talk their own daughter out of moving 3,000 miles away.

As Lizzie walked up to her parents' house she went over what she was going to say. 'Tell them I'm going to move, not ask for their permission to move. It won't matter what they say, I'm still going. I have to go.' She thought. But she was scared of what they would say. She rang the doorbell and waited for an answer.

Her mother answered. "Hi, Lizzie." She said softly.

"Hi." She replied. "Is dad here? I need to talk to you both."

"No, he's at work. Is something wrong, honey?" Jo asked her daughter, worried.

"Um.no, but can I talk to you?" Lizzie asked. She was nervous. Her parents had helped her and Gordo pay their rent sometimes, gave them help. Would ignore her if she moved to Boston? Would they still help her if she needed help? Or would they be angry she left and shun her?

But she knew she had to go. That way she could support herself. She wouldn't have to live where she lived with Gordo either. It would have been to painful to live there, when he was living in LA, living his dream. And by living in Boston she could also forget Gordo, maybe.

Her mother's voice brought her back to reality. "You can always talk to me. Come in." She said. Lizzie walked into the living room and sat on the couch. It was now or never. Either get their support or run off and seldom talk to them.

"I'm moving to Boston." Lizzie said suddenly. She was pleased with herself for not delaying the blow to her mother, by waiting for her father. Maybe they would understand if she told them with confidence and strength that she was moving. "I've been offered a job to work with autistic children." She added seeing the look of shock on her mother's face.

Jo looked shocked and confused for a few moments, but then she finally spoke. "Alright" She said in a defeated voice. "We'll all miss you, very much. But if you every need anything, just ask." Lizzie was so surprised she could barely speak.

"What?" she finally managed to say, stunned.

"Lizzie, honey, I don't run your life anymore. I will back you up on any decisions you make." Jo said. "But it is expensive living in the city, so it's lucky I have a son and a daughter, and that I saved all you're baby clothes. I can give you some clothes for your baby.

"Thanks mom."

The front door opened and Sam McGuire walked into the living room.

All in all Lizzie thought her father had reacted pretty well to the news of her moving to Boston. It had only taken half and hour for him to be convinced. 'It could have been worse.' Lizzie thought.

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On March 15, 2012 Margaret 'Maggie' May McGuire was born. Lizzie was thrilled. A girl. She had been hoping for a girl. But when she as Maggie for the first time sometime stirred inside her head. What would this look like? A single mother who practically ran away from her hometown with her daughter. And then she remembered a girl she had known in high school. Her name was Kathryn, and she had lived alone with her mother. Her mother abused her. Lizzie remembered one night at 1:30 in the morning, Kathryn had showed at her house and asked if she could spend the night on the couch. She had left her house in fear of her drunken mother. It was Miranda who found Kathryn, at the end of her freshman year, dead in the girls' bathroom on the third floor the day before school let out. She didn't think she would have been able to stand a whole summer day in and day out with her mother. Now she wouldn't have to.

The memory only made Lizzie more determined to live peacefully with Maggie. She didn't want to hurt her. Ever. Lizzie looked at her new daughter. "I promise I'll never hurt you." she whispered. And she meant it.

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Lizzie had money saved up. Gordo had left some money. She had saved all the extra money she had for the past nine months and put it in the bank. Her parents had given her money to spend until she got a job in Boston. But that didn't seem like it was going to be long. Lizzie had asked Angela to look at places where there were job openings. She was moving soon and she needed a job. Angela had got her an apartment near the Charles River. Maybe she could get Lizzie a job.

Luckily Maggie was the kind of baby who slept through most of the night, so Lizzie didn't lose that much sleep. She needed the energy to pack and make preparations for moving. Lizzie's parents helped her a lot. They baby-sat Maggie when Lizzie needed to go somewhere, or just needed a free afternoon packing, so she didn't have to hire a sitter.

On the moving day Lizzie packed up her car, said goodbye to everyone, and started to drive to Boston and her new life.

Ok, this chapter marks the end of the prologue (yeah it was long I know). So now the plot develops a bit more, so please keep reading. AND PLEASE REVIEW!!!!

And another thing June 14, 15, & 16 I will be a Cape Cod so don't get mad if the next update is a little late due to lack of writing time.

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!