Month Three:
Adam walks into the lobby, the closer the week got the more anxious he became. Liza has made the rest of the month bearable. All of the sniping and manipulations and secrets floating around Pine Valley didn't even phase him. All that has been on his mind has been Liza. The feel of her, the smell of her skin, the softness of her body next to his. As he reaches the front desk, he sees her stepping off the elevator with a man dressed in a Versa chi navy blue suit with his hand on the small of her back. Hatred and jealousy rise up in his throat. They stop in the middle of the lobby talking and laughing. He watches Liza tuck her hair behind her ear and seemingly blush. She flirting! He screams in his head. He has a sudden urge to rush over and knock him out. But the man shakes her hand and walks towards the dining room as Liza heads back to the elevator.
Adam follows her into the elevator. She smiles seeing him but is struck by the anger in his eyes that she knows so well. "Here on business?" She asks playing coy.
"No, you?" He is not feeling playful at all.
"Just finished actually." She turns back to the doors. Adam relaxes a little. Was that all business he saw downstairs? As he follows her to the penthouse, he goes over everything he wants to ask. Who was that man? Why were they up here? Was she cheating on him? What was their relationship exactly? When the door closes behind them, Liza steps into his arms pressing her lips to his. All the questions are forgotten. "I was wondering if I would see you, again." Her smile is radiant. He forgets all his insecurities, she is here with him not downstairs with that guy.
"I …" He doesn't know how to respond. Should I tell her she has been on my mind for months, that all I want is to be here with her. Do I lie and tell her that I had an appointment? No, she would see through that. "I had some free time." He takes off his jacket missing the smile that crosses her lips. He wanted me but doesn't want to cop to it. Ok, I won't make him.
"Good. Drink?" She smiles.
"No. Liza, what is this?" He asks holding his hands up in surrender to his emotion.
"My penthouse." She says sarcastically as she walks over to him.
"No, this? Between us?" He tosses his jacket across the chair. "You don't leave my thoughts. I've been so angry with you but the moment we were face to face all I could do was…"
"Kiss me." She smiles bashfully.
"Yes." He reaches up and tucks her hair behind her ear and sighs. "I couldn't help myself." Liza sits on the couch, Adam joins her. She turns to face him and leans in.
"Remind me about the kiss. Then we'll talk." He leans in. Passion follows and they give in until stomachs rumble and room service arrives.
Adam dons a robe for dinner while Liza commandeers his shirt. They are sitting on the floor finishing the wine when he brings it up again. "Adam, I don't know what this is. I do know that I was hoping you would show up again."
"Then, maybe we could make this a regular thing."
"Sure. But with some rules." She puts her drink down. "No talking about the past, it has too much pain and anger. And no talking about a future, because when we plan bad things happen." He smiles.
"Anything else?" He puts his glass down and slides closer to her.
"No demands. If we stay calm and free we are at our best. No regrets or recriminations for anything. No jealousy. What you do or what I do has nothing to do with this place." She pauses. "No telling anyone. Not Pine Valley or my home, not business associates, etc."
"Ok," He pauses in his thinking. "if either one of us wants to end it at anytime then just don't show up."
"Deal." They shake hands and laugh. Liza picks up her glass and takes a sip. "Adam…that first time you were here, what were you doing in the city? At this hotel?" She watches his body tense up. She's seen that reaction before usually followed by a lie. "You can tell me its not my business, I was just wondering what brought you in my path at that time."
"I was coming back from London and met an associate in his room before heading back to Pine Valley."
"Should I be jealous?" She smiles. " No wait that would break the rules."
"No, especially considering I said 'his room'."
"So, you were here on business?" She finishes her glass.
"No, it was personal business." He looks towards the balcony.
"Enough said." She holds up her hands in submission. They sit in comfortable silence watching the sun set.
"I spent a couple of months in London and Kent." She turns to look at him. He turns to her. "Most of it at the cottage, our cottage." She smiles thinking of the cottage he bought after Colby was born. "It was a day trip for business but I had another TIA."
"TIA! Adam, are you alright? What happened? The doctor…"
"Liza, I'm fine. I've proved that to you several times." She blushes. "It was a bad TIA, worse than the last one. The man I was meeting noticed the signs and got me to the hospital in time. I paid a lot to convalesce at the cottage."
"How bad was it, speech, paralysis?" His heart fills with warmth with her interest and compassion.
"I had some speech problems and a little paralysis on my left side but I worked hard so I could come home."
"Alone? Didn't JR or Col…"
"I was alone and they don't know what happened. They didn't even miss me." Liza looks at him disbelieving. "Trust me. JR is wrapped up in remaking his life with Babe and little A. Colby…" Liza stops him.
"Please, don't. I'll take your word for it. You're really ok, though?" He smiles and pulls her closer.
"Yes, I can prove it." She leans in for a kiss that continues to the bedroom.
Adam watches her sleep in his arms for the fifth night in a row with the relaxing knowledge that when he leaves tomorrow that the next month he'll have her time again. Liza feels him stroke her hair a little telling her he is still awake. Of all the people to be with like this, under these situations, Adam. She can't help but snuggle to him a little and he responds by squeezing her a bit. She dreads going home. The house has become a ghost town and a wasteland. It use to be so beautiful and warm and full of love. When did this penthouse become my heart's home? That is her last thought before falling asleep listening to Adam's heartbeat. Pine Valley is going to be cold and dreadful without Liza. Adam thinks feeling her cuddle closer. Why did we go so wrong? I had forgotten her power over my heart. She's an intelligent, soft, ambitious, tenacious, manipulative, stimulating woman. Did I really ever love anyone else, is his thought before slipping into slumber.
Adam wakes without Liza and looks to the clock. She has left him a note taped on the table. 'Adam, went to the downstairs gym. Be back soon. Liza' He smiles and gets ready for breakfast. Liza is back by the time he's ready. She jumps in the shower and he decides to fix her breakfast for once. Liza climbs out of the warm shower and hears music playing. She smiles wondering which opera he found. As she gets dressed, she realizes that the music is not opera and Adam is singing along at the some times. Adam scoops the omelet out onto her plate when she steps out of the bedroom. A new song starts and Adam pulls her into his arms for a dance.
Shoo bop, shoo bop my baby, shoo bop
Hello stranger,
It seems so good to see you back again.
How long has it been, ooh.
It seems like a mighty long time.
Shoo bop, shoo bop my baby, ooh.
"Hello stranger." He whispers before kissing her softly.
It seems like a mighty long time.
Oh oh oh, I'mmmm so glad,
You stopped by to say hello to me.
Remember that's how it use to be.
"I'm glad you came back this month." She kisses him back.
Ooh, it seems like a mighty long time.
Shoo bop, shoo bop my baby, ooh.
It seems like a mighty long time.
Shoo bop, shoo bop my baby, ooh
Shoo bop, shoo bop my baby, ooh.
Liza presses closer and lays her head on his shoulder.
Ooh yes, I'm so glad you're here again.
Oh ooh! If you're not gonna stay,
Please don't tease me like you did before,
Because I still love you so,
Although, it seems like a might long time.
"I hope you're hungry." She leans back to look at him.
"I'm famished after that workout."
Shoo bop, shoo bop my baby, ooh.
It seems like a mighty long time.
Shoo bop, shoo bop my baby, ooh.
Oh ooh, I'm so happy.
You're here at last, oh ooh.
The song ends and they quietly fill their plates for breakfast.
Adam relaxes with a sifter of brandy thinking over the week. The bell interrupts his musings. "Winifred." He bellows. The bell rings again. "Winifred! Oh, forget it." He puts his glass down and goes to the door. "Krystal? What do you want?" She steps inside and walks into the living room with him following behind confused. She turns nervously and finally meets his eye.
"I'm leaving Tad." She closes the distance between them pulling him into a kiss. She breaks it and whispers. "I've never stopped loving you, Adam." She kisses him again and he pulls back wiping off his mouth.
"You love me? I'm a controlling sadistic, s o b but you love me. Let me guess, you and Tad had a fight. Maybe you realize that your friend that you console and conceive with is nothing more than a friend and you want me to add to your loveless marriage but I won't. You are too late. I no longer have any feeling for you. Not even my disdain for Tad will make me take you back. You made your bed. Ly in it!" He picks up his drink and sits down.
"Adam…"
"Don't. Go home, Krystal. To Tad, your husband. I don't want you, love you, or care about your problems." Krystal wipes an escaped tear from her eye and leaves, slamming the door behind her. Colby starts down the stairs watching her father finish his drink. He sees her out of the corner of his eye and turns to her. "How much of that did you hear?"
"Basically, all of it. I thought you loved her." She sits on the couch facing him.
"No, I don't. I don't think I ever did. She was just a chase, a diversion, a replacement." He gets up to pour another glass.
"Replacement, for who?" She chuckles and looks up at him. He turns and half smiles. "Mom?" He nods.
"I've had a lot of time to think over the last several years. Liza was my downfall. Losing her was my downfall. I knew deep down that if I pushed her, she would bolt and she did. I lost both of you. Now she has lost you and you, her. We should have been the greatest, most powerful family ever. But I didn't giver her what she needed and she couldn't trust me." He stops and they sit in silence, both thinking over his words.
Liza dumps the dry laundry on her couch so she can fold clothes and watch CNN. "Look at you!" She turns to him as he steps down into the living room. She takes in the sight of him. His black, shaggy hair as he brushes it back with his hand. His smiling brown eyes and tanned skin from staying out all day.
"What?" Liza asks smiling. He sits on the edge of the chair.
"The perfect woman. She balances corporate business workaholic with domestic housewife."
"Ha ha. I'm no where near perfect unlike you, Love." He smiles.
"I'm not perfect either but…" He turns towards the foyer. Liza looks up as Sarah walks into the living room.
"Just come on in." Liza says sarcastically but smiling.
"I knocked. Whom were you talking to?" Liza looks to the chair and he is gone. Sarah follows her eyes then looks back to Liza, who is looking down folding her laundry. "Liza? Whom were you talking to?" Sarah reaches over and stops her from folding. "I am your friend, doctor, and therapist. The benefits of a small town. So, tell me." Liza sits down.
"Billy. I was talking to Billy." Sarah sits and takes her hand. Liza begins to cry.
"Liza, he's been gone for over a year now. How long have you been seeing him, Liza?"
"Since you let me out of the hospital." She confesses.
"Liza, that has been a year!" She stares at her. "How did I not know this? Where and when do you see him?"
"I use to see him everywhere. At the bar, on the street, here at home. Mostly here at home now."
"What
about the penthouse?"
"Not now that I moved. He's
everywhere. But now it is mostly when…" She stops and looks at
her hands.
"When?"
"When
I'm in New York."
"Business makes you think of Billy." She shakes her head.
"No."
"The
city? You two spent a lot of time there."
"No, I hardly go
into the city."
"Then
what? Liza, you can tell me anything. No judgments, you know
that."
"I've…I've been…seeing someone for the past few
months."
"And you feel guilty or disloyal, adulterous?" Liza nods to all three. "Liza, Billy is dead. Your vow of fidelity ended upon his death. Do not feel guilty for feeling something again. I'm happy for you. I want this for you." Liza tries to smile. "So would he." Sarah takes her hand and wipes away the wetness from tears.