Authors note: I know it is short but trying to get back into it after summer classes.
Month Ten:
Liza
paces the penthouse. She stops to answer the person she's talking
to. "That is fine but don't cut corners. And get with Julie
Kamden. I have a feeling someone is trying to slow down the
process."
"Ok, Mrs. Riley."
"Thanks." She hangs up
and places her hand on her back. It has become a constant ache. She
groans when there is a knock on the door but is beyond shocked
peeking through the peephole. "Dixie!" She looks down and sees
Kate. "And Kate." She steps aside to let them in.
"I'm sorry to just drop in but I guilted it out of Adam."
"That is fine." Liza can't help but look uncomfortable.
"I wanted to introduce you. This is Kate. Kate this is Liza Colby." Kate, eleven years old, smiles and hands her a piece of paper. Liza takes the picture thank you card.
"Thank you, Ms. Colby, for helping my mom come back." Liza smiles.
"You
are very welcome. I'm glad I could help her. Would you two like
anything to drink?"
"Water. We won't stay long." Dixie
answers.
"Have
a seat." Liza hands her a bottle of water. "So, what brings you
two to the city?"
"Well, we are shopping and when Adam said
you were here I decided to thank you in person. I left you with a
mess in Vienna."
"It was fixed easily. They determined it
self-defense. All is well."
"Good." Liza looks to Kate, who is staring out the window.
"She has your eyes, nose and hair but looks more like Tad." Dixie nods. Kate comes back over and whispers to Dixie.
"Yes, she is Colby's mother." Dixie answers before looking at Liza.
"Colby baby-sits me sometimes." Kate says.
"Really? Do you two have fun?"
"Yes,
me and little A have lots of fun with her."
"Good. How's
Tad?" Liza directs her question to Dixie.
"You
know my Dad?"
"Yes, I went to high school with him and Jenny. Then he worked for me for a few years. So, Kate, what are you
interested in? What do you like to do?"
"She wants to be a ballerina." Liza raises her eyebrows.
"Really? That is a hard career. Have you seen a ballet? Or taken
classes?"
"No, I want to but Dad keeps putting it off." She
looks a little disappointed. Liza starts to speak but stops. Then,
she turns back to Kate.
"Colby took ballet. Some of her old stuff is in the closet in the second bedroom if you want it." Kate glows. "It's in the floor marked Colby Ballet."
"Cool." Kate runs into the extra room. Liza waits to speak until she is out of the room then stands up walking towards the kitchen.
"Can
you two stay tonight?" Dixie chokes on her water then stands to
follow her. "I can probably get tickets for the Ballet tonight. The Company is doing a showcase this week."
"You can just get
tickets?"
"Very possible. I can check." Liza picks up her
cell and dials. "Lilly, Liza. Hey, do you still have those balcony
seats I turned down?"
"Yes,
we do."
"Good I need two seats…"
"Three, you're
going." Dixie interrupts.
"Three
for me and a couple of guests. One of which is an eleven year old
who wants to be a ballerina."
"Ok. Tickets will be at the
front and I will let everyone know that we will have a visitor
after."
"That will be great, Lilly. Thank you." Liza hangs
up.
"Ok,
so we have tickets. I will make dinner reservations and call my
designer. She can have dresses for you and Kate her by this
afternoon."
"Wait, let me call Tad. I told him that we would
be home tonight."
"Ok." Liza picks up her phone to call the restaurant. Dixie dials Tad's house. Krystal picks up.
"Krystal, its Dixie." Liza turns and smiles at her.
"Hello. Is Kate ok?" Liza hangs up and walks back over to Dixie.
"Yes,
she is fine. I need to talk to Tad."
"Fine." Krystal puts
the phone down.
"She sounds mad." Dixie says to Liza.
"Probably
thinks you want him to come and meet you."
"Ha, ha. You talk
to Adam too much." Tad picks up. "Tad?"
"Yes, is
something wrong?"
"No, I wanted to make sure it is ok with you
that we stay the night."
"Stay? For what?"
"We
have tickets to the Ballet."
"How did you get those?"
"Liza." Liza waves her off but stops after Dixie says her name.
"Put me on speakerphone." Tad orders. Dixie switches to speaker.
"Ok."
"Liza?"
"Yes."
"What
the hell are you up to?"
"Nothing, I haven't done anything." Liza jumps to defense.
"No, I mean I haven't talked you in years and all of a sudden you are with Dixie and Kate."
"Oh
sorry, it's a reflex. I am here on business."
"Ya, I heard
that you stole Chandler Enterprise."
"I did not steal
anything. It was perfectly legal and out in the open. Now are you
going to be ok with your girls staying here tonight?"
"Yes, we
didn't have anything planned. Where's Kate?"
"She is
going through Colby's ballet stuff."
"Colby took
ballet?"
"Yes, I did. Who are you talking to?" Liza hears
Colby's voice say.
"Your mother. Dixie and Kate are going to the ballet with her."
"She called you?" Liza hears the hurt in her voice but tries to hide her own pain from the watching Dixie.
"No, Dixie did. Do you want to talk to her?" The silence is deafening. Tad switches his phone to speaker.
"Tad,
we will be home tomorrow afternoon. Liza, if she stays on this path,
will probably make us eat some huge breakfast in the morning."
"Very
possible." Liza says. Colby's voice catches as she starts to
speak. Tad hears it and turns to her. Colby shakes her head.
"How did you get tickets, Liza?"
"I'm well connected. My…" She starts to say husband but chokes up. "I have friends in the company." They hear whispers on Tad's end.
"I'm
sorry, Liza. I didn't know about your husband."
"Thanks. I
will leave you with Dixie and make some more calls." Tad and Dixie
talk long enough to say goodbye. Kate is over the moon about going
to the ballet. They spend the rest of the afternoon getting ready. After dinner and the ballet, Lilly takes them all backstage. Everyone is attentive and open with Kate. Dixie watches how they
lovingly tease Liza and how relaxed she is around them. After she
finally gets Kate to sleep around one am, she goes back into the
living room with Liza. "She lasted longer than I thought she
would." Liza says with a smile.
"I'm
surprised I lasted." Dixie takes the cup of tea Liza offers. They
sip in relaxing silence. "Thank you for getting her this
opportunity."
"Can I ask you a personal question?"
"Sure.
I may not answer it."
"You and Tad."
"Please, not you
too."
"No wait. I just want to know if you lover him the way
you use to or has that love changed."
"Why
are you asking? If you are wondering about your own feelings for
Adam."
"No. A little, but that is not the point. My point is
that despite all of the therapy I've gone through I still carry
some residual guilt for the problems I caused. If there is no chance
for you two then fine but if there is…"
"I have no intention
of having an affair with Tad."
"Things just happen."
"No,
if Tad and Krystal finally dissolve then I won't be the cause."
Liza notices the finally in her denial.
"Ok
but you'll be blamed anyway. From what I've heard Krystal is
already looking for other pastures."
"Adam?"
"Yep."
"He
told you?"
"Yep."
"Wow, I'm impressed I guess he has
finally changed."
"Maybe but you and Tad, is there any chance
if they finally divorce?"
"What about you and Adam? I mean you
are having sex."
"Not lately."
"You are having his twin
sons. Where do you see it going?"
"I don't know. In my heart, I have already committed to him but my head is fighting it. I guess I will see how it progresses after they are here." She rubs her stomach unconsciously.
"I am focusing on Kate plus rebuilding my relationship with JR and little A. Tad will or won't happen. One day at a time right now." Liza nods.