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Chapter 28
"Thank you for allowing me to have brunch here Mrs. Q." Liz leaned over and kissed the older woman's soft cheek. The subtle scent of roses lingered faintly on Jason's grandmother's skin. Not from lotion or soap, but from many years of working with the flowers.
"You are very welcome my dear. I'm so very proud of your accomplishments. Thank you for the lovely scarf." Liz had brought it over as a hostess gift.
"You're welcome." Liz had been inspired by the roses in the garden. That scarf was going to be in the fall collection.
"I think from this point forward you should call me grandmother." Lila knew that Elizabeth wouldn't use her first name even if invited. The younger woman would see that as rude.
"Do you mind?" Liz looked over at Emily. Her friend's face cleared up from the thunder clouds that were gathering. Liz knew what that was all about and gave Em props for not going off on a rant before now.
"I think that is an excellent idea." Emily grinned as her mood lifted some. She still wanted to kick ass though.
"Thank you. I accept." Liz didn't need to ask Jason, who was standing behind her. Nor did she need to turn to know he was smiling. "I'll check with AJ when he gets home." She just wanted to be respectful.
"He won't mind." Lila would kick his butt herself if he said anything negative. However since she knew he liked Elizabeth very much, and that AJ had been thrilled about the ring the butt kicking would not be necessary.
"You can call me grandfather." Edward beamed at the younger woman.
"That means you can't flirt with her anymore." Jason said with a slight glare.
"It means no such thing." Edward's response came with an unrepentant grin.
"We should go." Liz said trying not to laugh. She gave Edward a kiss to the cheek before hugging her best friend. "Stop scowling. It causes wrinkles."
"Not gonna happen." Emily said hugging her friend hard. "They didn't even call to say they weren't coming."
"Nor did they RSVP to say that they were." Liz looked at it another way.
"Don't make excuses for them." Emily said planting her hands on her hips. While yes her brother was going to bring this up, she could push a bit more than he could without causing a fight. When dealing with the parents, or family in general, of your significant other you couldn't always say what was on your mind.
John's dad and sister were both bat shit crazy, something he knew. That's why he was here in Port Charles under Corinthos/Morgan's protection. It was also why Maximus told Anthony and Claudia to stay out of New York altogether. If they violated that decree what happened would be on them. They had both tried to kill John once already, they weren't getting another shot. Even with that knowledge between them, Em would never just come out and say those words.
"I'm not." Liz just shrugged. She was hurt, but she was also used to this. It was her gram who never missed a recital or a school play. Her parents always put their careers first. So this was just how things were. Since her gram's passing it was her friends, and now Jason, who made sure to show up for the important parts of her life.
"Do they even know about the boutique, or the ring and the house?" Emily wanted to know.
"Babe." John said trying to get her to back down some.
"It's fine." Liz told John. This was Em in protective mode. Liz felt so loved at the moment. "They know I was buying a building, and they know about the move. I did talk to them while I was away. Just like I talked to you." Liz was going to leave out that the calls to her parents were a lot shorter than her calls to Em and the gals. "They don't know about the ring because I wanted to surprise everyone with it. I'll call them when we get home." Where Jason would make his opinion on the matter known. "I'll mention the ring then, they will probably invite me to lunch next week." Liz said with a shrug.
"Ms. Liz." Alice walked into the parlor. "You have more visitors." The housekeeper didn't think that this was going to end as well as the last visitor had. The young lady that Ms. Liz invited over had been a pleasure and she had left with Mr. Johnny to go get coffee. She would be a welcomed back. These new visitors probably not so much.
Liz looked over at Jason. "I'll be right back."
"I'll come with you." Jason remembered what his grandfather said earlier. Alice's reaction let them know who was in the foyer.
She started to object but stopped. He wanted to make sure she was going to be okay, and Liz was going to let him. She was guessing the visitors were her parents, and she was also guessing that they deliberately waited until brunch was over to show up. There was no other reason to be four hours late. So she was already bracing herself to hear something she didn't want to.
"Can I come too?" Emily wanted to glare at them.
"No." Jason said kissing his sister's forehead. "Keep her here." He told John, who just nodded. "Come on." He said linking his fingers with Elizabeth's. He would stay silent because she had this, but he wanted her parents to see that their daughter actually mattered to someone. He knew that Audrey had been vocal about the fact that she felt they often put their careers in front of their child. Which had caused a small breach in the family.
Liz smiled at him as they walked into the foyer where she saw that prediction was correct. Her parents had finally arrived. The question of how they knew she was still here briefly crossed her mind and was pushed aside. "Mom, dad." She smiled at them. They weren't overly touchy so hugging and kissing didn't happen a lot. Her parents loved her, she just wasn't always sure that they really wanted her. "Coffee?"
"No thank you." Jeff said looking at his daughter. Even though he didn't show it he was feeling guilt about missing the brunch. Honestly guilt had been a constant hallmark of his life since becoming a parent. Elizabeth hadn't been expected, but neither he nor Carolyn even considered terminating the pregnancy. They just didn't know what to do with a child, and that really showed at times. The worst part was that they never really learned from their mistakes. He could admit that even while knowing they had screwed up again today.
"We had no intention of missing brunch." Carolyn told her daughter. Time had gotten away from them as they handled all things. However once again they had put Elizabeth behind their careers. The fact that she was an adult and no longer a child, didn't make it any better. What had Carolyn feeling worse was knowing their daughter was going to be thrilled for them when they shared why they were absent. "We have news to share which will help explain what we were doing."
"What's that?" Elizabeth genuinely wanted to know. She had settled into an acquaintanceship with her parents. Not the friendship she had hoped for as an adult. They didn't even have the once a week family meal that the Quartermaines held to make sure the family stayed connected as much as possible. It wasn't until he saw her relationship with her parents that Jason started to really make an effort to do better with his.
"Your mother and I have joined International Relief." Jeff told his daughter.
"Really? Congratulations!" Liz was thrilled for them. She knew that this was something that had been a goal of theirs for years. "When did you get the news?"
"While we were in Denver." Carolyn smiled at Elizabeth. "The holdup was that your father and I want to be in the same location. Two doctors, another married couple, retired from a clinic which created an opening for us."
"Where are you going?" Liz wanted to know.
"Africa." Jeff wouldn't have chosen that as his ideal location, but it was where the agency was sending them. Since they were so new, they didn't get to complain about placement.
Jason was standing next to Elizabeth listening to the conversation and trying to hold his tongue. He had no idea why Jeff and Carolyn were the focus of this conversation. The brunch they had missed was held in their daughter's honor so they should be congratulating Elizabeth on her success. Instead they had walked in four hours late and made themselves the center of everything. They could have come over and invited their daughter to lunch, tomorrow, instead of stepping on her moment.
"What?" Jason asked coming back to the conversation. "What did you just say?" He demanded of Jeff.
Elizabeth's father blinked at the look on Jason's face. He knew the reputation of the man his daughter was dating, and of Jason's friends. Jeff was also fairly certain that Monica's youngest son was not his biggest fan. But Jason hadn't ever said anything. Probably to not upset Elizabeth. That streak appeared to be ending.
Liz started to talk Jason down, but realized it wasn't going to happen. She understood why he was upset. What her father had just said was pretty shocking. It was also the height of selfishness. Even for them this was bad. The biggest moments of her personal and professional lives were coming up and they wouldn't be here to see them. Looking at her boyfriend Liz admitted that it felt amazing that he never hesitated to stand up for her. Jason always had her back, just like she always had his.
"The agency needs us right away. The couple that is retiring is only staying for four weeks. In order to have them train us, and to introduce us to the villages we will be serving. Carolyn and I need to leave immediately." Jeff repeated himself.
"We spent the day making travel arrangements as well as meeting with the realtor to put the house on the market." Carolyn could also see that Jason was upset. It was all the silence from her daughter that was the most troubling though. "Elizabeth I'm sure you understand why we need to leave right away."
"Of course I understand." Liz said nodding. "I understand that being doctors always came first for you, and being parents was a distant second. My needs never came before your careers. I called you from Puerto Rico to say that I was buying a boutique that I was expecting to open before the summer was out. I called you the day we returned home and told you I was buying a house. I got the same 'that's lovely sweetie' from both of you for both calls. It's the same tone I've been hearing my entire life. The one that signifies that you were only half listening, because whatever was going on in my life wasn't as important as what was happening in yours."
"Elizabeth there are children who need us. They won't have access to medical care if we don't go." Jeff tried that approach.
"You had to wait years for them to have space for you." Liz said as she blew his excuse out of the water. "I'm one hundred percent positive that your names were not the only ones on the waiting list. Those children would not be going without medical care if you stayed here." International Relief had a stellar reputation, and they literally had their pick of doctors.
"Your grandmother used to give us that same look." Carolyn said feeling defensive. She always felt judged by Audrey.
"That's because you always made the same decision. The one that made me a non-priority. The one where you did surgery instead of watching me play the sun in my second grade play. Or where you had to go to conference to network instead of attending my fourteenth birthday ice skating party. Or the one where you left my graduation from college early to go check on a patient. And of course you always did those things together, so if one left so did the other." Liz explained to them. Gram made the face out of anger, for Elizabeth it was more a matter of exasperation. All these years later and nothing had changed.
"You said you understood." Carolyn reminded her daughter.
"I did. I still do." Liz assured her mother. "I understand that I don't measure up when it comes to what you feel deserves your time. I never did. Your job is something I just can't compete with. Growing up it would have hurt more if I didn't have Gram. She was always there. Now Emily is, and more importantly Jason is. So honestly, I don't need you to be there when my store opens or when I move into my house. The people who have always supported me will witness those moments, and that's how it should be. You being there stopped mattering years ago." Liz wasn't trying to be mean, she was just being honest. "Have a nice flight, stay safe, and I hope this job is everything you hoped it is. I know how it feels to have a dream come true." Liz let them know. "I also know how it feels to have people in my life who are genuinely happy for my success, which is why I can be happy for yours."
She wasn't going to let them go with bitterness. Life was too short. She didn't need to carry that. They would always be her parents, and at some point they would return from Africa. Maybe after the time apart they could learn to appreciate one another more, and have a better relationship. She would like that. At the same time she understood that it wouldn't break her if that didn't turn out to be the case. They might not ever be close, but she would always love them.
"Elizabeth we never intentionally tried to make you feel less." Jeff wanted her to know, and he wasn't going to dispute anything she said. They had deserved those words. He was just amazed that she didn't say them with anger. That was his mother's influence.
There were so many ways she could respond to that, but Gram had taught her that sometimes silence was the wisest course of action. Instead she gave her parents a small smile as she nodded. That was as close to as an apology as they would probably ever come. "I'm sure you have a lot to do since you are leaving this week." It was time for them to go.
"We do." Carolyn got that they had outstayed their welcome. "We'd like to put you down as our emergency contact on our paperwork."
"That will be fine." Liz told her mother. "You have the number, if it changes I'll contact the agency." They stood there in awkward silence for a moment before Liz walked over and opened the door. "I'm glad I got to see you before you left." If it wasn't for this brunch they probably would have just done this over the phone.
"Jason." Jeff said before escorting his wife to the door. They both kissed Liz's check before leaving the mansion. Honestly he was happy to go, he wasn't sure how much longer Jason could hold out. Jeff had the feeling the blonde had some things to say.
Liz closed the door and looked over at her guy. She had rushed her parents out because Jason was on the brink of exploding. "I'm okay."
"I don't get how those two raised you." Jason said just shaking his head. "They didn't even say congratulations."
"They didn't raise me. Not really. That was my gram. From early on she was always there. Even though she never said it I think how my parents treated me was why she retired from nursing. Gram loved her job, which was why she went back to the hospital when I was in high school. Teaching the student nurses meant that she could be home in time to make me dinner and listen to my day. By the time I was in tenth grade I was practically living with her. I did move in when I went to college." Her grandmother's house was closer to campus. Liz had stayed at the house until she got her first apartment. While her grandmother didn't live to see her graduate from college, Audrey knew what Liz was majoring in.
Jason gently lifted her face so he could look into her eyes. He was looking for signs of hurt or pain. His girl had a soft heart, and her parents had just trampled all over it. However all he saw was acceptance of the situation.
"I didn't lie when I said I didn't need them to be here for what's coming. I do need you though." Liz said stretching up and kissing him softly. "You are the most important person in my life. As long as I have your love and support then I'm good. Actually I'm better than good, I'm great. Fantastic. Amazing." She said giggling.
"You are the amazing one." Jason wanted her to know what he saw. "And so strong."
"Keep going." Liz said smiling. "I'm enjoying your adoration." His lips were covering hers when the parlor door opened. Looking over she saw Emily walk into the foyer, her friend turned and nodded which brought out the rest of the family.
"It got quiet." Emily said looking at the embracing couple. "Did you kill them?"
"I don't think we could manage clean up that fast." Liz said before laughing.
"Alice is very competent." Lila said grinning. Not eavesdropping on the conversation had been hard. They weren't being nosey, they wanted to make sure Elizabeth was okay.
"I believe that." Liz laughed and leaned into Jason. "They left after I suggested they do so. Grandfather I guess you know what they had to say?"
Edward just nodded. "I tried to think of a way to warn you. The only thing I could come up with was to tell Jason to stay close."
"What's going on?" Emily wanted to know. "Grandfather keeps saying its board business."
"It is." Liz nodded and watched Emily frown. "However I'm not on the hospital board so I can tell you since my parents told me. They are leaving, to go work for International Relief. By the end of the week, possibly sooner, they will be gone." Liz was guessing they were going to push up their departure to avoid any awkward run-ins.
"Wait, what?" Emily looked between her brother and her best friend. "They are leaving? What about your boutique. They aren't going to stay and see you open your store?"
"Not even a blip on their radar." Liz said shrugging. "We all know that deep down they think my job doesn't really measure up. I'm not a doctor, so what I do isn't important. Which is fine because it's not their life, its mine. I'm happy. I'll still be happy whether they are here or in Africa."
"You are way nicer than I am." Emily said crossing her arms over her chest.
"I know." Liz walked over and hugged her friend. "Thank you, for accepting me as I am. It makes having them as parents much easier to bear."
"I'm just trying to help fill the space Audrey left. I can't replace her." Emily squeezed her friend tight. "But I can be a kick ass cheerleader, and always be in your corner."
"You do that really well." Liz told her friend. "Okay, now that the little bit of drama is over, Jason and I are going to go." Another round of hugs and kisses were exchanged.
"Elizabeth I want you to know that you can look on the mansion as another home." Monica told her son's girlfriend. She had always adored Liz.
"Thanks Monica." Liz said hugging the surgeon. "Good luck in the upcoming selections." As the current Chief of Surgery she was in a good position to replace Jeff. Her biggest competition was probably going to be her husband, who she had beat out for the position she now held. Liz and Jason would be supporting both his parents equally. Monica gave her a smile as a response.
"Come on, we are already past curfew." Liz told Jason. They had a date with the couch and their streaming service. They were still catching up on their shows that they didn't watch while in Puerto Rico.
He helped her into the car and then got behind the wheel. "Do you need to talk about it?"
"No. At least not right now." Liz said leaning back in her chair. "This might sound cold, but I was more upset when Em went away to London for a year of college. Being without her for a whole year was hard."
"It doesn't sound cold. You feel what you feel." Jason understood why his girlfriend had two very different reactions.
"Let's talk about something fun. Like the new baby." Liz said smiling wide. "Did you know about Sonny and Alexis?"
"Not a single clue." Jason said with half-smile. "When we were away Johnny went on a mini, really mini, rant about Sonny being stupid where Alexis was concerned. I was joking that maybe they were taking things slowly like we had been doing. That maybe there was more to their relationship than it seemed. I guess I was right. Did she mention marriage?" Jason wanted to know.
"Alexis shared that Sonny has proposed several times. She didn't give us an exact number." Liz passed along. "She also thinks those proposals are all about the baby."
"He's in love with her." Jason told his girlfriend. While they were talking he was keeping an eye on her. For the next few days he would watch a bit more closely to make sure she didn't need anything extra from him. He also knew without asking that he had permission to share this with the rest of the crew. Which would come with a warning to leave the Drs. Webber alone. The temptation to glare at them had to be resisted. Thankfully their time left in the harbor town was short.
"She's in love with him. Once they get out of their own way they'll be fine. I don't think they will get married until after the baby comes though. Alexis has dug in on that one." Liz told her guy. "I'm going to be an aunt, I'm super excited."
"Are you going to make children's clothes?" Jason wanted to know.
"Nope." Liz didn't hesitate to answer. "That isn't something I have any interest in mass producing. Zero." She said to be clear. "The only children I will make things for are my own. That's a tradition I'd like to continue." They had discussed children before, and both had admitted to wanting a family. They hadn't ever discussed having children with one another which made sense because they weren't in a relationship before.
"Will I get some say in how the kids are dressed, or are we leaving that all to you?" Jason asked laughing.
"You will have veto power, unless we have girls." Liz said giving him a look. "You'll want to cover them from their neck to their toes."
"That's not true." Jason turned into the garage. "I just won't let them shop with Emily."
"I make a lot of Emily's clothes." Liz reminded him.
"I know my sister has her hemlines raised." Jason said with a smile. The clothes were perfect the way they were when she bought them."
"You get a kiss for that." Liz leaned over and did just that. "Let's go upstairs the couch is calling me." She was ready for some just them time.
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