Part 25
It was the scent of breakfast cooking that gradually began to pull Max back to the land of the conscious. For a moment he was in his bed back home on a lazy Saturday morning, waking to the fragrant aroma of his favorite breakfast. He could almost Isabel in her room down the hall making enough noise to wake the dead as she tore her closet apart looking for something. Dad muttering about getting a late start to go fishing because his son hadn't pulled his lazy butt out of bed yet. And Mom, telling Dad to relax and go check his fishing equipment one more time because didn't he need to rethread something or catch some flies, whatever that meant?
He smiled and rubbed his forehead against his pillow as the sounds of his family moving around, going about their morning routines, suddenly vanished to be replaced by other, similar sounds. He reached up to rub his hands over his face before turning his head to shoot an accusing glance at the alarm clock. Barely after 8am. He resumed his former position as he tried in vain to remember the night before, worried when his memory seemed to have stopped somewhere around the beginning of dinner.
His face screwed up in a grimace of concentration as he thought about the last time something like that had happened. But how could that happen here? he wondered.
In the kitchen Liz was busy making Max's favorite breakfast, trying her best to stay busy and keep her mind off of the night before. She turned her head to the side, checking on him when he shifted and nodding to herself when he made no further movements. She flipped the sausage patties over and thought about how much she loved him instead. Sometimes it amazed her just how much it could hurt to love someone as much as she loved her husband.
She was chopping the last ingredients for his omelet when she felt him come up behind her to place a soft kiss on her neck.
"Mornin', Mrs. Evans," he rasped quietly.
Liz smiled back at him as she moved the smaller frying pan to the back burner. "G'morning."
"Um, Liz, what happened last night?" He reached up to scratch the back of his head in an attempt to cover his concern.
She forced a teasing grin to her face as she moved around him to drop a couple of slices of bread into the toaster but not depressing the button. "Edward's secret batter happened."
Max stopped scratching his neck as confusion played across his face.
"Um-hmm, it's official, the secret ingredient is beer."
Her smile was tight as she looked at him. "So, what's the last thing you remember from last night?"
Max could see the tension draped around her and he said the first thing he could think of that might make her smile. "I remember my fish was bigger than Michael's."
Her shoulders relaxed a bit as she laughed at his comment. "You're funny… and it's true." She could sense what was coming next, could see the question building in his eyes and she motioned to the refrigerator behind him before he could voice it. "Would you grab the eggs out of the fridge and I think I saw a mixing bowl under the counter." She smiled at him. "Find it for me?"
"Sure."
She went back to chopping while he gathered the things she had requested and her mind slipped back to the night before against her will.
"I wanted to hold onto him and never let him go but I knew I couldn't. He wouldn't have been safe with me. At least with another family he has a chance at a normal life. You wonder sometimes, ya know? What kinda people just give their kids up… but sometimes there's no other choice."
"Everything's a choice, Max. The options may not be that great but it's still a choice."
He shrugged.
She could still remember the first time he had gotten drunk. He hadn't remembered anything he had said or done when sobriety had returned but he had been so open and honest that night. When he had regained control once more he had turned to her for answers, wanting to know what he had done while under the influence. She nodded absently when he slid the bowl and eggs on the counter before telling her he was going to go and get dressed. She didn't want to have to answer those questions this time around so she was doing whatever she could to put it off as long as possible.
She finished making breakfast and slid the plates on the table just as Max came back in after showering and dressing. He grabbed the glasses of juice off of the counter and set them by the plates before taking his seat across from her. He cut into the southwestern omelet, his mouth watering at the savory aroma.
"So… did I use my powers in front of anyone up at the house?"
Liz chewed slowly, taking her time before answering. "Um, no, thank goodness… no."
Max took another bite, enjoying the flavor as he watched her, noting the tension again. "Liz, you seem kinda tense." She hadn't been like this yesterday so it had to be related to last night, he mused. "What'd I do?" His amber eyes pinned her, holding her in place as effectively as a lock that only he held the key to release her.
Before she could answer, or avoid, as he suspected she might do, they were interrupted by a familiar pounding on their front door.
"Nothing, Max," Liz assured him. "You were you and I love you."
Max got up to answer the door. That wasn't an answer and he had every intention of revisiting this conversation when they were alone again. He was reaching for the door when just a snippet of the night before smacked him in the face. My son, I told her how much I miss him. He had done everything in his power to avoid burdening her with that and with just a few drunken sentences he had managed to destroy it.
His hand was just settling on the doorknob and turning it when the door was pushed in. He quickly jumped back at the cold blast of air that entered ahead of their friends and family. As soon as they were in he shoved the door closed against the arctic air and any wishes he had of sitting back down to a quiet breakfast with his wife were ruined when they immediately went their separate ways, moving around the cabin.
Kyle, of course, went straight to the kitchen, nosing around to see what was left. "We came over to get a glimpse at how the other half lives," he joked.
"Oh, Liz, what is that wonderful smell?" Maria asked as she meandered into the kitchen behind him.
"I made my guy his favorite breakfast." She took a sip of her orange juice and set it back down before motioning to the plate on the counter by the stove. "There's some sausage left over if you want some." She shot a glance at Michael, watching him prowl around the cabin for a moment. "Unless Michael cooked for you?"
Kyle snorted as he grabbed the loaf of bread. "She's already feasted on Michael's gourmet handmade strawberry pop tarts. But, hey, I'll be happy to finish off that sausage if there're no takers."
"We just ate, Kyle," Isabel admonished as she settled into the rocking chair, once again holding the stuffed grizzly bear.
He turned to look at her, noting the way her fingers combed through the short fur on the stuffed animal. He just shrugged and went back to putting his sandwich together, frowning when Maria reached past him to snatch a couple of pieces of sausage. Before he could get a word out Michael stopped so that he was central to all of them.
"We're not havin' anymore of these meals with secret ingredients." He turned his head, looking between Max and Isabel. "The two of you were way too obvious."
Maria burst out laughing and the glare he shot in her direction only made it worse.
"What's so damn funny?"
"Michael, you're the one who made the cap explode off of a bottle of soda when Edward – "
"Soda bottles do that around humans too," he said dismissively.
"Wait," Max said before Michael could successfully change the subject, "you used your powers in front of the Stevens?" He scratched the back of his head as he got up from the table again, sending an inquisitive look in his friend's direction. "Did anyone see you do anything else with your – "
"No one saw anything," he bit out. "I wasn't drunk."
"Look, I know we don't remember anything from last night – "
"No, Max, maybe you don't remember anything from last night, but I," he glanced at Maria, "have perfect recall."
Maria's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Everything?"
"You used your powers in front of Edward," Max muttered, sounding agitated. "It doesn't matter how abstract it was – "
"Back off, Max," Michael warned, bristling at his tone. "Don't think you can just suddenly start callin' the shots and ordering people around again now that you've had a little time to decompress." He looked around, surveying the honeymoon cabin with all of its creature comforts and he shook his head, pushing forward before Max continued with his current thought. "The sun's out and the roads are clearing. If we can move so can the FBI. We need to find out about the van because we need to get movin'… and we need to know somethin' TODAY. It's tactically dangerous to be hangin' out havin' a honeymoon when we're boxed in here!"
"Michael," Maria said as she came to stand next to him, sliding her hand into his.
"So, what's the plan, El Capitan?" Kyle asked as he hopped up to sit on the counter and took a bite of his sandwich. "We all head in to the shop?"
Michael shook his head. "No." He pointed at Kyle. "You an' me go. Max stays with the girls."
"Cool." He glanced at Max, seeing that he was about to argue with Michael. "Good idea, divide up our defense, make sure we're all protected." He grinned at Max. "Hey, Reindeer Wrangler, you can help the girls make cookies."
Isabel had gotten up when the arguing started and she stepped in to give Liz a hand gathering up the breakfast dishes and carrying them to the sink. Maria joined them once she was sure the edge had been taken off of Michael's temper and she gave Kyle a shove to get him off of the counter. "Go in the other room and keep the two of them from burning the place down."
"Okay, but if I end up lookin' like a piece of Swiss cheese you're gonna be sorry."
Isabel snapped him with the dishtowel in her hand. "Kyle."
"Goin'. Jeez, give a guy a minute to get movin', will ya?" he complained as he dropped down to the floor and crossed the room. He stepped in between Max and Michael and glanced between the two of them, getting their attention as he raised his arms and brought them down again, indicating the strip of floor he was standing on. "This right here? This is my safe area, got it? Neutral zone, Switzerland, whatever you wanna call it, but we're all gonna play nice for a while, so be good little hybrids and go sit in your separate corners."
Maria rolled her eyes as she ran the water to wash the dishes but a moment later Isabel had her attention.
"We've got a lot of planning to do," the tall blonde said once Michael was safely out of earshot courtesy of Kyle. "We all know Michael's in denial about the van; we're gonna be stuck here for a while and we might as well use our time planning 'Christmas on the Lake'. The Martin family and their little community have lost someone dear to them."
Maria and Liz exchanged a look as Isabel's eyes took on the familiar gleam, her hands folded around the dishtowel and resting against her chin as she looked at something only she could see.
"Think about it," she said, her tone excited, "we have a chance to make someone else's Christmas better than our own."
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Edward stood at the living room window, his gaze on the birds flitting around the feeder hanging from a branch in a nearby tree. He took a drink of his coffee as he gaze shifted back to the path that led to the cabins and he watched his guests as they walked up to the house, paired off with just a bit of distance between each couple.
He squinted when one of them pointed and after a moment he was able to make out Liz' features. His head turned to follow her pointing finger and he shook his head slightly when he saw the hawk his wife had named Hercules flying through the sky, being chased by four crows. The large bird of prey eventually rid himself of his antagonists and landed in a fir tree not far away, surreptitiously eyeballing the birdfeeder below his perch.
He smiled to himself when his youngest son hit the wrong note as he practiced his piano lesson for the day. In the kitchen he could hear Julia cleaning the kitchen and talking to herself as she added to the grocery list. Brian was doing his chores and taking the trash out and within moments he heard the familiar stomp, stomp, stomp of his little girl's feet on the stairs. His lips lifted at the corners when the faucet in the kitchen sink was abruptly silenced and he looked down as he shook his head, just waiting for it.
"Maggie Marie Stevens, how many times have I told you not to run down those stairs?" Julia called out from the kitchen.
Edward snorted quietly, still amazed at his wife's ability to see and hear their children when they were out of eyesight and earshot. He turned his head to the side when Maggie pulled up short and looked at him. "Don't look at me," he said with a shake of his head. "You'll get me in trouble with you." His thoughts shifted to the garage that housed the snowmobiles and the small heated office that doubled as his woodcarving studio. Yes sir, he thought, it's Christmas vacation… time for a little alone time.
Maggie stepped into the kitchen, biting her bottom lip. "I'm sorry, Mama."
Julia placed the last rinsed dish in the drain rack and reached for a dishtowel to dry her hands on as she turned to look at Maggie. She knew her daughter well. "Uh-huh, I've heard that one before. I think you need a little reminding this time." She pointed at the chair by the window next to Cindy and picked up the timer off of the stove, twisting the knob to set it for 10 minutes. She didn't really want to punish her little girl, but she did want her to think about it. "In 10 minutes I want you to tell me why it's important that you not run up or down the stairs."
Maggie wiggled around on the seat of her chair, her little legs pumping up and down like she was on a swing set. She leaned in toward Cindy's chair and whispered, "We got in trouble for runnin' down the stairs again." Her head turned to the back door when she heard the doorknob turn and a thump as Brian pushed against it.
"Hey, M, in trouble already?" He made a face at her. "Didn't you just get up?"
"Mama, Brian just made a face at me!"
Julia didn't even turn away from what she was doing as she asked, "Brian, did you get all of the garbage outside in the dumpster?"
He watched his sister as he listed off how he had emptied all of the trash out of the bathrooms and the kitchen and dumped it into the dumpster, shooting a triumphant grin at her as he finished.
Maggie crossed her arms over her chest, her legs still swinging as she looked over at Cindy. "Ignore him so we don't get in trouble again."
"Haven't you forgotten something, Brian?"
Brian huffed out a breath that sounded suspiciously like a "Sh – " but instantly died on his lips when he realized what he had almost said out loud. "Firewood, I forgot to bring in the firewood."
Maggie lifted her chin and shot an angelic smile at him just as the timer went off. "Mama, can I get down now?" She frowned at the question and after a moment rephrased it and posed it again. "May I get down now?"
Julia tried very hard not to laugh when her youngest corrected herself. "As soon as you tell me why it's important that you not run down the stairs."
Maggie watched as Mama finished writing out her grocery list and cut the last few coupons out of the paper. She drew in a deep breath before speaking. "Well… 'cause I could trip runnin' up the stairs an' hurt myself like that time when Eddie left his Lego dinosaur on the steps. Or I could maybe run into someone goin' up or down the stairs an' cause an accident."
She opened her arms to her daughter. "Come here and tell me the last reason."
Maggie slipped down off of the chair and walked over to Mama to climb up into her lap. She smiled when Mama's arms came around her and her breath tickled her ear when spoke again.
"And why is it most important that you not run down the stairs?"
She turned herself around in Mama's arms and gave her a big smile. "'Cause Mama doesn't want for me to get hurt 'cause she loves me."
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Edward turned his head as he watched the Scooby gang make their way to the back door just as Maggie came back into the living room.
"Has Hercules had his breakfast yet, Daddy?"
He smirked to himself as he watched his little girl's reflection in the glass window. She had seen the hawk swoop down and pluck a bird from the feeder, taking his order to go once before and it had upset her and made her cry. He had patiently explained that Hercules was a beautiful bird just like the smaller ones and that was what he had to do to live. Since that day he always warned her when the hawk hadn't eaten yet. He had made her laugh a little when he had reassured her that every once in a while the hawk's breakfast got away. "Eddie? Has Hercules had his breakfast yet?"
Eddie stopped mid-chorus of 'Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow'. "Um, I don't think so."
Edward turned to his little girl. "What about you and Miss Cindy? Have you had breakfast yet?"
"Yes, Daddy, before you, 'member?" she giggled.
He smiled and glanced up when he heard the back door open and after a moment their company came inside. He heard the exchange of 'good morning's' between his wife and the kids and as the conversation turned to the birds outside he looked down at his cooling coffee and turned to go into the kitchen.
"There was a really large bird in the sky when we were walking up," Liz said, her tone curious. "It was being chased by a bunch of crows. What kind of bird was it?"
Michael nudged her to get her out of his way as he stepped the rest of the way in and turned to shut the door. "Looked like some kinda hawk to me," he muttered.
"Good answer," Edward said as he joined them. "Hercules is a hawk. He's what's known as a goshawk."
"What happens if the crows catch the gos… goshawk?" It was an awkward word. She rolled her eyes at Michael when he released an exasperated sigh at her inquisitive nature. "Can they kill it?"
"No chance of the crows catchin' a hawk. Hercules is a bird of prey, he's stronger than they are and he's bein' harassed."
"Daddy said if he had his 870 he'd take care of them crows," Maggie announced as she came into the kitchen behind him. She looked up at Daddy. "What's an 870?"
Julia looked at her husband reproachfully. "Edward." Her attention dropped to their daughter. "Maggie, have you brushed your teeth yet?"
She glanced up at Daddy again. "Not yet, Mama."
She sent her daughter out of the room to brush her teeth just as Eddie's practice ended in the middle of the chorus. A moment later he and Brian entered the kitchen, shoving each other as they fought for the right to lean in the doorway in what she was certain was supposed to be the cool posture. Brian won the rights to the doorway, slouching down and propping his shoulder against one side. She bit back the urge to roll her eyes when her boys spoke at the same time.
"Hey."
Maria glanced at Kyle. "What's an 870? Is he talking about a gun?"
"Shotgun," Michael said softly as he leaned over her shoulder.
Eddie laughed at Maria's question and he took a couple of steps forward before Brian could start talking. "Last summer there was this woodpecker that wouldn't leave his spot next to Mom an' Dad's room. Stupid thing would peck, peck, peck constantly at the exterior logs. So this one mornin' me an' Brian woke up to this loud BOOM," he said, nearly shouting the word. "And then there was this blood curdling scream."
Julia shook her head at her husband's wide grin as he finished his coffee. The boys were laughing so hard that Eddie couldn't finish the story so she picked it up for him.
"The short version," she said to spare the gang any irrelevant and embellishing details the boys might come up with, "is that Edward got up at 5am and used his 870 on the woodpecker while I was still sleeping. So the scream was me waking up to the love of my life standing at the open window in his boxers with his gun pointed outside with feathers falling everywhere." She filled Edward's insulated mug with coffee and snapped the lid on before handing it to him.
She leaned in to give him a kiss, shoving the folded grocery list into his shirt pocket before stepping back. She patted his pocket as she looked up at him. "The coupons are folded into the list, so don't drop them everywhere when you get to the Walmart."
He rolled his eyes as he glanced down at his bulging pocket. "What'd you do, woman, shove the entire newspaper in there?"
Julia waved him off with a roll of her eyes. "Run along now, Edward. The cupboards won't stock themselves."
He snorted and turned to glance around the room, taking in their guests. "Okay, daylight's burnin'. Whoever's ridin' up to the dealership, let's get a move on." He pointed at the three guys when it looked like Michael and Max were having some sort of silent disagreement. "That means the three of you," he clarified.
Michael bit his tongue to keep from arguing, knowing it would only appear suspicious. He looked down when Maria took his hand, squeezing it to get his attention.
"We'll be fine here," she said, conscious of Edward's gaze as he watched them. He wasn't being as obvious about it as he had other times, but she was aware of it all the same.
"I've got shotgun," Kyle called as he stood up. "Hear that, El Capitan? Shotgun, the window seat, the front seat… it's all mine." He glanced at Edward. "So, let's talk about that truck of yours."
Maria almost snorted at his comments. He was trying to ease Michael's tension at having his plan disrupted but he had to know there was no way he'd ever get his desired seat. "Michael, if anything happens Isabel would be able to let you know," she said quietly.
"Edward," Julia was saying just as quietly, "it'll be fine if Max stays here."
He gave her a look as he shrugged into his coat. "Let's get goin' before the wife thinks of anymore errands for me to run today."
Michael didn't like it but there wasn't much he could do about it without making Edward suspicious. He knew Isabel was capable and he didn't doubt she would do everything she could to protect them if it ever came to that, but two was always better than one. "We need to go check on the van."
Maria had already known that Edward would win this one. He didn't know them well enough to leave another man alone with his family. She wasn't sure he was all that comfortable leaving her, Liz and Isabel with them, but out of the six of them the girls likely presented the lesser threat. She smiled at him when he leaned in to kiss her. "We'll be fine," she assured him. "You just go and find out what you need to know." She grabbed onto his collar to bring him closer for another quick kiss. "And you be careful, understand?"
A slight smirk caused his lips to twitch and he nodded. "Be back soon."
The guys followed Edward outside to the truck that he had already warmed up and Michael reached for Kyle, grabbing a handful of his coat when he started to slide into the front seat. "Wrong, Valenti."
Kyle shrugged. "Hey, it was worth a try."
"Be right back," Edward said as he turned to walk back up to the house.
Michael grabbed Kyle by the collar when he tried to slide into the backseat. "Now what? Do you want me to ride in the bed of the truck?"
"Max will sit behind the drivers' seat."
"Why? So he can put the Vulcan death pinch on Edward if he does somethin' weird?" He held his hands up when Michael just glared at him. "Fine, fine, take whatever seat you guys want. I'll just take whatever's left over. And if it's inside that'd be great. I don't think I'd look that great as an ice sculpture."
"You're hilarious, Valenti," Michael growled.
Max rolled his eyes and slid inside just as Edward came back out holding his insulated mug. It was pointless to argue with Michael over seating arrangements. He would get his way with or without an argument and it was better to keep things low-key if possible.
Michael shut his door just as Edward slid in behind the wheel and for a moment they looked at each other. He looked down when the man held his hand out, presenting him with a cell phone.
"Julia wanted you to take her phone with you since I'll be makin' a run to the Walmart while you guys are talkin' to Dean about your van. I won't be gone long, just pickin' up a few groceries, but I'm sure the three of you will be fine at the shop until I get back."
Michael stared down at the phone in his hand. Was it safe for Edward to leave them alone? What if the grocery run was a ruse? The government could probably track cell phones. What if he left them at the shop knowing someone was coming for them? "One of us could go with you, give you a hand," he offered.
"Yeah," Kyle said, following Michael's lead as he hung over the front seat. "Max here, he's a great bagboy. Knows how to pack a grocery sack like no one I've ever seen."
Max gave him a sharp smack across the back of his head, earning him a reproachful look as Kyle leaned back, rubbing the offended area.
"You know, if I'd happened to turn right then you could've put my eye out."
Edward snorted as he put the truck in gear. "Thanks, but I think I can handle a few groceries. If you guys get finished up with Dean there's a little waitin' area at the dealership where you can get a cup of coffee and read a magazine. Two people makin' a run for what I've gotta pick up would be a waste and you guys will probably have plenty of questions for Dean. We'll be back in no time," he said with a smile as he pulled out of the driveway and onto the old highway.