Something to Believe in

PART 45      

The soft, joyous giggles of Rebecca’s happiness filled the kitchen as Max tickled her in the spacious lounge.  The sound made Liz’s hear soar and swell with happiness.  A sound that money couldn’t buy, their previously silent little girl was back to her happy self thanks to her new parents.  The fun depicted in the next room made Liz wish she could go in and join them.  Instead she was doing her utmost to keep her mind on the conversation, rather than wandering towards her husband and little girl.

“I’m sure it’ll be ok.  It’s probably just a phase she’s going through right now.”  Liz said somewhat distracted, resting the phone in the crook of her shoulder before stirring the tomato pasta sauce simmering on the stove.  “Ok mum, I understand that you’re worried but ……… yes I will discuss it with Max …….. No I won’t forget ……… yes I promise to call you as soon as we’ve talked.  Ok, bye mum.”

Crossing the room, Liz switched off the phone before laying it down in its cradle.  Puffing out a heavy sigh, she turned around to find Max standing in the kitchen doorway.  Propped on his back was Rebecca, her face smiling as she held on to Max around his neck.

“Problems?”  He queried, spotting the worry lines creasing her brow.

“Yeah I guess.”  She replied.  “My mother is worried about my sister.”
”How so?”

“Apparently Cali has some new friends.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“Yeah.  My mother is probably just overreacting with the situation though.”  Liz said, stirring the sauce once more before turning back to Max.  Whatever the problem was, no matter whether Liz was overreacting or not, Max knew she need to talk about it.  And doing that would be much more achievable without Rebecca underfoot.  Despite her young age, she was a very inquisitive little girl, and at that moment Max didn’t know what the problem was.

“Ok princess why don’t you go and play in the garden for a little while before dinner?”  Max suggested, lowering Rebecca to the floor.

“Ok.”  She replied, before scampering quickly out the ajar back door.

“So what’s Calistia been up to this time?”  Max asked, catching Liz’s limp hand and leading her to the table to sit down.  Whatever the problem was he’d heard enough to know they were meant to talk according to Nancy Parker.

“Oh plenty!  My mother says she’s now found out about the wonders of alcohol.”

“Ahhh.”  Max replied knowingly.

“Then there’s these so called boyfriends, my mother says it’s a different one every other week at the moment.  She’s probably just exaggerating but still ……”  Liz trailed off.

“She’s your mother and you have to humour her.”  Max finished.

“Yeah something like that.”  Liz admitted.  “But I think the icing on the cake, so to speak, happened last night.  Apparently my parents had gone out with some friends and came back just before midnight to catch Cali in the middle of a heated make out session!”

“How heated?”  Max probed.

“Steamy enough to set the room on fire if you talk to my mother!”  Liz responded with mild humour.  “Apparently Cali had very little on from the waist up and neither did this lad.  My mother was too embarrassed to go into more details suffice to say this lad’s hands were all over my sister like a rash.”

“Oh dear.”  Max sighed.  “So I take it Cali wasn’t best pleased at being caught in the act so to speak?”
”Yeah you could say that.  She’s barely said a word to my parents since and screamed at my dad that she’d never forgive him after he forcibly evicted the lad from the house in the early hours of the morning.”

“Well I can’t say I particularly blame your father.  It’s one thing to know your daughter is growing up, but something completely else to see physical proof.”  Max said, shivering at the thought of Becky one day growing up and dating.

“So what were you going to discuss with me?”  He added, remembering the telephone conversation.

“Well my mother thinks Cali needs to get away from her friends.  You know the whole new surroundings, more responsibility less rebellion sort of thing.”

“And this affects us how?”

“She wants us to take in Cali.”  Liz replied.  “Temporarily of course.”  She added hastily.

“Of course.”  He parroted, as the words slowly sunk in.  “And just how will this help Cali?”

“My mother thinks if Cali moves to LA for a while she’ll calm down.  This is a much bigger place than the small town they live in and maybe a change of scenery will help.  Besides Cali is gonna work my mother into an early grave if she’s not careful.”

“What do you mean?”

“My mother is petrified Cali is gonna be careless and get pregnant.  If it happened here no one would bat an eyelid.  But my parents’ town is very judgemental over things like young, unmarried mothers.  I guess my mother just wants to preserve the family’s good name.”

“Hmmm.”  He mused, mulling over Liz’s words.  “And how do you feel about Cali coming to stay with us?”

“Well, it’s not like we don’t have the room, and I guess time away from the restrictions imposed by my parents might stop Cali rebelling.”  Liz said.  “Then again, the thought of having to keep tabs on my sister doesn’t exactly fill me with joy.”

”Ok, but if we could fix Cali up with a job and treat her like an adult maybe she’ll respect us enough to calm down.”  Max said, thinking silently.

“And just where are we gonna get her a job?  She’s seventeen years old Max and just about to leave school with no experience, hardly a recipe for most jobs in LA.  I’d find something at Amber if I could, but if we worked and lived together we’d probably end up killing each other or something.”  Liz replied honestly.

“I was thinking more along the lines of coming to work with me.”

”You?  Doing what?”  Liz queried.

“Well Isabelle is going to go on maternity leave soon and I need someone to step in.  It’ll probably only be temporary, eight months or so until Isabelle comes back or I have to find a permanent replacement.  But maybe Cali can help out for a while.”

“But she doesn’t have any office skills Max.”  Liz said, trying to picture her sister sitting still long enough to do a secretarial job.

“Oh I’m sure she can learn and Isabelle’s a good teacher.  Think about it, it could work.”

And think about it she did.  In fact, Liz thought about little else all through out dinner and the rest of the evening.  Thoughts of her sister flying around her mind, mixed with Max’s words.  But could it really work?

Could she really cope with having Cali under the same roof as her once more?  It was no secret they weren’t the closest of sisters, so could they really pull off living with each other without one of them ending up throttled?

Then again, perhaps the time together would do them good, she mused as she brushed her teeth late that night.

Cali had been nine years old when Liz had left to go to UCLA, barely a child and certainly not the tempestuous teenager she had grown to be.  They were so different, like chalk and cheese, and sometimes Liz wondered if she’d gone to a nearby university perhaps she and Cali would be best of friends now. 

Then again, perhaps some of the tension between them was due to jealousy.  She wasn’t exactly the first to admit it, but Liz knew in her heart she resented her sister at least a little.  Her parents loved them both, but Liz couldn’t deny Cali could wrap their father around her little finger, and to her mother she could do no wrong.  At least until now that was.  But Liz had been more of the rebel, the black sheet of the family so to speak.  Ok so a lot of it was her own doing, having shut them out of her life for so long, but still.

So having Cali around for a while might not be that bad, Liz thought, pulling back the covers to the king sized bed that stood proud in the middle of their new room.  Perhaps then some of the bridges that had previously never got the chance to be built between them would have some hope in been resurrected.

“You look deep in thought.”  Max said softly as Liz laid her head down on the silky, plumb pillow.

“Yeah, just chewing over your words of earlier.”

“About Calistia?”
”Yeah.”

“Any conclusions?”

“Well it won’t be easy Max.  My sister and I are not always the best of friends and living together could put even more pressure on already dangerous ground. But for her sake I’m prepared to give it a go.  I haven’t really been around for Cali as she’s been growing up, so maybe it’s time I gave her some older sister guidance.”

“Then I can’t think of anyone better than you to help.  You can guide her at home, and I’ll teach her about work.”  Max said, kissing her forehead.
”Be prepared for Cali to not want to learn though Max.  I know my sister and if she thinks my mother and I have concocted this situation then she’ll be the first one to put up defensive walls and back away.”

“Hmmm, defensive walls huh?  Now that’s something you and Cali used to have in common.”  Max said ruefully, thinking back to a time when he could barely get close to Liz.

“Yeah, and I changed.  I guess there is a chance for my sister then.”  Liz replied.

Lifting his head from its position propped on his upturned palm, Max leant over before touching his lips gently against his wife’s.  As her hands encircled his neck to pull him closer, Max was silently grateful she’d made the right decision.  Isabelle meant the world to him, he wouldn’t trade his sister for anything, and in his heart Max believed Liz and Cali were missing out on something special.  A bond between siblings was like nothing at all, like unconditional love from parents but more since there was a strong ability to relate due to the smaller age gap.

It wouldn’t be easy, he was prepared to accept that, but most good things took time, energy and patience before the rewards were foundered.  And if giving Cali a little attention and trust could help the teenager to drop her wild streak then so be it.

Within moments the simple kiss escalated into full on passion.  His lips caressed hers; their tongues duelled and fought for supremacy, both coming out on top in the end.  It was moments like this that Max thanked god silently that he’d been able to blow those defensive walls of Liz’s sky high and into oblivion.  Perseverance and patience had been a clear virtue back when Liz had been pushing his advances away.

The hand that cupped her cheek slipped down past her jaw to take in the feel of her sculpted neck before dipping over her shapely shoulders.  Brushing his fingers gently over the tips of her breasts he heard the soft sigh slip pass her lips, and watched her eyes slip to half-mast.  Cupping and caressing first one and then the other perfectly formed breast he revelled in the touch of her soft, sensual skin.  Continuing further down her body, his fingers glanced over her shapely hips, before skimming over her trim stomach. 

He was driving her crazy with his simple touches.  Her head was spinning with flooded feelings, her skin tingling and prickly under his exquisite touch.  Unable to refrain from touching her beautiful husband, Liz sought out his body for her own exploration.  Delicate fingers scrapped over his upper body, tracing the frame of his shoulders and muscular chest.  She brushed the pads of her fingers across the handful of dark flecked hairs over his upper body before delving further down past his naval.  

Her onslaught on his body was halted milliseconds before she reached her goal though.  Instead her own body became further alive if that was possible when ripples of the first touch of Max’s fingers on her sensitive area surged through her body.

Pushing her head back deep into the plush pillows, she closed her eyes and allowed the waves of pleasure wash over her, ebbing and flowing and taking her higher and higher towards the peak.  Watching her reaction to his touch, Max couldn’t stop a smile from crossing his lips.  Oh how he loved to love Liz and watch her reaction to his touch.  My she was so responsive.

His touch faltered only slightly as she regained enough composure to reach blindly for him.  Her soft touch sent a breath hissing through his gritted teeth, his own composure teetering on the edge. 

Finally pushing away her hands, Max rolled on top of her to loom above, large and empowering.  Sinking his head, he captured her lips in a forceful, passionate kiss.  Her arms wound around his neck, fingers stroking at the nape just where his hair ended.  His mouth made love to hers, tongues duelling once more, teeth nipping and nibbling at her bottom lip.

Plundering his tongue inside her soft, warm mouth once more, he joined their bodies intimately, both omitting a sigh and grunt accordingly as they gave into the emotions filling and fuelling their bodies.

Buried deep inside, the initial urgency ebbed away slightly, and instead he lifted his head.  Smoothing away strands of silky hair from her face, he framed it with his hands before staring lovingly into her deep brown pools.  The emotion he found there nearly did his control in.  No sadness, no regrets or fear, no shyness or confusion, only pure, unadulterated love stared back at him from his beautiful wife.

Moving gently, he teased and temped her, lifting her higher before slowing once more.  The age-old dance continued for what seemed like an eternity, both revelling in the feelings they were igniting in the other.

Urgency and need finally took over as he upped the pace of their movements.  Taking them higher and higher together, they finally tumbled over the edge into the deep vault of oblivion.  Bright bursts of all imaginable colours drowned them, shards of emotional feeling coating every fibre of their beings.  Wave after wave of warmth filled their bodies as they slowly, reluctantly, returned back down to earth.

For a moment they both stilled, as the joy of what they had shared coated them.  Deep breaths were dragged in as they slowly regained control of simple actions such as breathing.  Dropping a kiss to her forehead, Max smiled softly before finally moving. 

Finally rolling onto his side, Max wrapped his arms around Liz’s back and pulled her close to his body.  Resting her head against his chest, she sighed contently as he stroked her long, soft hair. 

Finally they fell into a deep, relaxing sleep the basking in afterglow of their loving filling each with immense contentment with the world. 

PART 45  

“So you and mum have been talking about me I see.”  Calistia said, sauntering into the kitchen after putting her things in the spare room Liz had made up for her sister’s extended visit.

“Yeah.  But only because Mum was worried about you.”  Liz replied, silently defending their actions to bring Cali to Los Angeles.

It had taken nearly two weeks to arrange everything and then finally tell Cali.  It was the part Liz hadn’t been completely happy about.  She’d wanted to totally up front with her sister, so Cali could see there was no real scheming involved, but her mother and father had had other ideas.  So, like the dutiful daughter she was, Liz had backed down and allowed her parents to choose the right moment to tell Cali.

Predictably, the fiery teenager hadn’t been best pleased her life, or next six months of it at least, had been mapped out without her knowledge or consent.  According to Nancy, Cali had had ranted and raved she was old enough to make her own decisions, that it wasn’t down to them to pack her off if they didn’t like who she was.

Despite her apparent unwillingness to move to LA temporarily, Liz silently knew it was more letting off steam on Cali’s part rather than genuine ill feeling.  The lure of the bright lights and bustling city of Los Angeles was enough to make Cali come running when the opportunity arose.  She did, however, make it completely clear she was still unhappy despite her true feelings.

“Well there’s no need, I’m fine than you very much.”  Cali replied indignantly.

“Yeah well obviously that’s where you and Mum differ in your opinions.  In her eyes you’re far from fine Cali.”  Liz sighed, not wanting to get into a discussion with her sister over this. 

The following morning Calistia joined her sister in the kitchen for breakfast before she started her first day with Max.  Lifting his head from the newspaper he was surveying briefly, Max struggled to stifle a laugh the bubbled in his throat, the surprise spread all over his face by what he saw.  Catching that look Liz followed his gaze before taking in the sight of her sister.

She was young, Liz was prepared to give her a certain amount of leeway, but the attire Cali had chosen for her first day at the office was completely inappropriate in Liz’s view.  A bright red tight fitted body top with a low V dipped neckline was teamed with a tight black skirt rolled up a couple of times at the waist to lift the length to just above mid thigh.  Three inch heals donned her feet and her hair was hung loose around her make up covered face.  It was, anything but the sister Liz knew.

“Wow, that’s … erm … quite a striking outfit Cali.”  Max commented, before a glare from Liz had him diving back under the cover of the newspaper.  Striking was the understatement, hell Isabelle would have a fit and his young associate Jesse wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off her in Max’s opinion.

“Why thank you Max.”  Calistia smiled sweetly, batting her mascara clad eyelids.

“Enough, Cali I think we need to talk.”  Liz announced, putting down her coffee cup and sounding much more like her mother than a sister.  Rising to her feet Liz caught hold of Cali’s arm before guiding her back upstairs.

By the time the two sisters returned, Cali had donned what Liz had deemed much more appropriate clothing for an office.  The tight red top had been lost in favour of a more loosely fitted white shirt with three quarter length sleeves.  The skirt had been turned down to its more respectable length of just above Cali’s knees and the shoes had been replaced by more sensible black low healed pumps.  Her long brown hair too had been caught up in a sensible black band to pull it into a sleek ponytail.  The sulkiness of Calistia as she sat down to munch on some toast was clear indication, however, she didn’t appreciate her sister’s input into her wardrobe.

“Thanks for directing Cali into other clothes.”  Max said as he kissed Liz goodbye.  “I can just imagine Michael’s reaction if he saw her, not to mention Jesse’s jaw would have hit the floor!”

“Mmm, worrying about Jesse’s possible attraction to Cali is something I could do with out.”
”Well I’ll do my best babe.” 

Jesse Ramirez was Max’s latest recruit in the quest to strengthen Evans’ Consulting to make it an even bigger player.  Jesse had topped his class when graduating and Max had taken him on with the future in mind.  He lacked obvious experience, but his enthusiasm often made up for it with leaps and bounds.  He was, however, a twenty one year old hot-blooded male with one thing on his mind, according to Isabelle.  The thought of pitting Calistia, with all of her now seventeen years, wasn’t something Max relished.

Max’s judgement and faith in hiring Cali during Isabelle’s impending maternity leave wavered only slightly by mid morning.  On first look Isabelle had hauled her older brother quick footed into his office and then proceeded to tear strips off him for hiring a ‘child’.  As calmly as possible he had sat Isabelle down, reminded her not to get worked up and to think of her baby, and then informed her, as gently as possible, that the hiring of staff was his business and he believed Calistia could do the job.

However, the loud smashing of glass followed by the sound of many files crashing to the ground a little after 1.00pm had him silently reassessing the appointment.  Sticking his head out of his door he surveyed the normally pristine office before his gazed collided with Isabelle’s disapproving glare.  On her hands and knees was Cali, scooping the many leafs of paper that had previously been held neat and tidy in files, yet now were scatted over the floor in haphazard piles and clumps.  Joining Cali on the floor was Jesse, gingerly gathering up shards of an ornate glass vase that had previously sat on Isabelle’s desk greeting any visitors that entered Evans’ Consulting.  A puddle of water was quickly seeping into the beige carpet leaving a large, dark round stain, and clumps of yellow flowers were scattered all around the desk.

“Everything ok?”  Max queried gently, fully prepared to have Isabelle pull a ‘princess stunt’ and march back into his office demanding a competent replacement for the next eight months.  It didn’t come however, to Max’s astonishment.  Instead he got a disapproving ‘ice’ stare from his sister, a clear indication she wasn’t best pleased with him.

“You sure you chose wisely mate?”  Michael queried, as he followed his best friend back into Max’s office.

“Don’t you start too Michael.  It’s bad enough having Is questioning my judgement.  Yes Cali is young, yes she has little experience in this field, but we will be giving her a chance.”  He replied firmly, not appreciating having to justify his decision.  Hell he was the boss of the company after all!

“Hey relax mate, I never said anything about not giving Cali a chance did I?”

“No, you’re right, I’m sorry Michael.  It’s just loosing Isabelle at the end of the week isn’t exactly filling me with joy right now.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean, she practically runs this place single handed.  But we’ll be ok.”  Michael agreed, sensing Max needed to hear the words, but in his heart still not a hundred percent sure.

The rest of the morning rumbled on relatively quietly, and in the afternoon Max headed out to a meeting, returning a little before six to collect a few messages and take Calistia home.

“Well Max, I’ve done as much as I can with her today.  But if you think I can whip her into shape inside five days you really are pushing it.  I know I’m good, but even I can’t perform miracles.”  Isabelle said, sauntering into his office with a small pile of messages for him.

“I’m sure you’ll manage Is.”  Max said, dropping his briefcase to the floor before lifting a hand to his temples.  The headache he’d been stifling most of the day was finally attacking with vengeance.

“Yes Max, I no doubt will.  But if you’d of hired someone more competent I wouldn’t have had to .”  Isabelle grumbled.

“Look Is we’ve already been here today.  I’ve explained why Cali is here now so just accept it.  Besides you’ve got more important things to think about.  Like getting plenty of rest before that baby of yours gets here.”  Max said, changing the topic tactfully and letting his eyes drop to his sister’s rounded stomach.  Even though she was his sister, Max couldn’t deny that being pregnant clearly agreed with Isabelle.  Her ‘bump’ was just that, Isabelle had hardly put on any extra weight, and despite the first few months dodging morning sickness she’d had an easy ride. 

“Yes well, I guess it will be nice to get off my feet a bit more, and lord knows I could do with the extra sleep …….”  She mused over.

“Right, so let’s just drop it, ok?”

“Ok.”  Isabelle finally agreed.  “Oh and these are for you.  The first two are urgent, sorry.”

“Thanks!”  Max sighed, loosening his tie with a finger before reading the top two messages.  “Oh and Is, can you tell Cali we’ll be here a little later, and to let Liz know.”

“Sure Max.” 

“I’m really not certain Max has made the right decision hiring Cali.  I mean she has no experience, hardly any qualifications and she’s young.  It’s a recipe for disaster mark my words.”  Michael said, sitting at the pine kitchen table as he bounced Mackenzie happily on his knee.

“You know Michael, you could give her a chance.”  Maria suggested.  “I mean I wasn’t exactly perfect recruitment material when I joined Liz at Amber Inn.  I didn’t have very many qualifications, and I could have written my office experience on a postage stamp.  Yet Liz gave me a chance, and I hope I’ve repaid that initial faith she showed.”

“Oh Maria you’re different, I mean anyone just has to look at you to know you’re good at what you do.  But this girl has no experience whatsoever in office work.”

“Well if you’re all turning against her bar Max it won’t be surprising if she doesn’t do as well.  Besides, filling Isabelle’s shoes is a pretty awesome task.  I doubt even I could manage to step in and take over from her without a hiccup.”  Maria said.  “Talking about work, I’ve spoken to Jim and Liz today and they’ve agreed I can come back to work part time whenever I want to.”

“Oh ‘Ria you know how I feel about you working again.  Geez as if you haven’t got your hands full enough looking after Mac.  It’s not like we need the money or anything.”  Michael protested.

“No, you’re right we don’t need the money, but I need the company.”  She stated calmly.  “I love Mac, you know that, but I need something more in my life.  I need to do more than just change diapers and wash baby clothes all the time.  Besides Mac is getting older now and interaction with other people would be good for him.”

“And just what to do intend to do with him while you’re swaning off to work?”  Michael queried pointedly.  This was his ace, in his eyes, since there was no way he’d let her palm off their son to a stranger, not when Maria was perfectly able to stay at home.

“My mother has offered to look after him for a couple of days a week.  She hardly sees him and I think she likes having a baby around again.”  Maria replied.  “Heck if I didn’t know better I’d say she was getting broody again!  I mean at her age she should be thinking more towards retirement than starting a new family!”

At that moment the object of their conversation squawked to remind them he was still around.  Bouncing up and down, Mackenzie trusted his chubby fingers into his mouth and chewed on them.  The distraction instantly gave Michael a ‘get out’ clause in the conversation.  How could he complain at Maria’s mother looking after Mac, it wasn’t like she was a stranger.  But then again letting Maria return to work again wasn’t something he wanted to do either. 

“Hmm, I think someone needs changing.”  Michael suddenly announced, touching the little boy’s nose.  “Come on bud, let’s go.”  He added, hoisting the jabbering boy high so his head bobbed around Michael’s shoulder and fingers took hold of some of his father’s unruly hair.

And then, just like that, the subject of Maria returning to Amber Inn was closed.  The ‘man’ of the house had spoken; Michael had voiced his concerns at her returning.  And that meant in his eyes it wouldn’t happen.  Well he hadn’t banked on the determination of Maria De Luca!  She thought as she stirred the thick, creamy chicken sauce.  She had to go back to work for her own sanity, she was literally bouncing off the walls of the house as it was.  Perhaps it would be different when Isabelle and Alex had their baby, or if Liz and Max were to have another child besides Rebecca.  She was the only one of her friends with a baby.

“Cali, will you play a game with me?”  Rebecca asked softly before dinner.

“No, I’m busy.”  Calistia replied curtly, not averting her eyes from the glossy glamour magazine she was scanning.

“Please?”  The little girl asked again.

“No!”  

Tears welled gently in the little girl’s eyes; her bottom lip trembled at the tone of Calistia’s sharp response.  Instinctively Rebecca pulled her grey Bunnie from her pocket and hugged him tight for security.  Clearly the tone of Cali’s voice had scared her.

“Cali!”  Liz voiced sharply from her vantage point in the lounge doorway.  “Becky why don’t you go get your game and set it up in the kitchen.  I’ll play with you while dinner is cooking.”  She added, before the little girl disappeared upstairs.

For a long moment the room fell silent.  Neither sisters spoke.  It was a battle of wills, a staring contest that Liz finally ended by speaking.

“Don’t you ever speak to Rebecca like that again.”  She said in a firm voice.

“Why not?  I didn’t want to play her stupid game so I told her so.”  Cali defended.

“I don’t give a damn what you wanted to do, there are ways of saying no and that wasn’t one of them.  That little girl is part of this family and will be treated with the respect she deserves.  Just because she ‘bugs’ you gives you no right to sulk around this house like you own it.  If you don’t like it you can move back with mum and dad.”

“Geez Liz lighten up.  So I didn’t want to play, big deal.”

“No!  Not big deal.  Becky has been through too much to be brushed aside because you don’t give a damn about her feelings.  “

“You took her in Liz, problems and all, that was your choice.”

“Yes it was, and one I will never, ever regret.  But you will treat her better Cali, or I will send you packing back to San Francisco quicker than your feet hit the ground.  And that’s a promise!”  Liz said sternly before turning on her heal and heading back towards the kitchen.

Ok maybe she’d overreacted slightly, she considered, but Cali had deserved it.  It had been just words, spoken in a stern tone, but maternal instincts had kicked in hard for Liz.  The desire to shield Rebecca from Cali’s hurtful brush-off had been too strong to deny.  She’d say sorry to Cali later, Liz guessed, but for now she’d make Rebecca smile again by playing the game now spread out over the kitchen table.

“You know that Cali didn’t mean to hurt your feelings by shouting don’t you.”  Liz said, as she tucked Rebecca up in bed for the night.

“I know, it’s ok.  She said sorry.”  She replied, biting her bottom lip as if in deep thought over something.

“What is it sweetie?  You’ve been quiet since dinner.”  Liz commented, brushing Rebecca’s hair away from her face.  “Is something bothering you Becky?”

“Erm well …….”

“You can tell me anything, you know that don’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to talk to me now?”

“….. ok …..”  Rebecca paused.  “I ….. I want a proper mummy and daddy.”

“A proper mummy and daddy?  We are your parents now Becky, is that ok?”  Liz said, a puzzled look over her face.  Didn’t Becky feel loved enough to know she and Max wanted to be her parents now?

“It’s ok.  I like living here with you …. but ….. Courtney, at school, says I’m different.”

“Different?  Different how?”  Liz queried, trying to read between the lines of what Rebecca was saying.

“Because I don’t have a mummy and daddy like she does, because I have you and Max.  But I don’t want you to be you …. I want you to be my mummy and daddy.”  Rebecca said weakly.

For a moment Liz sat on the edge of the candy pink bedspread with worry lines etched deeply into her forehead.  She was confused, hell she had no clue what Rebecca was talking about.  Racking her brains she tried to piece together the words to form more comprehendible sentences. 

“How can we be your mummy and daddy?”  Max queried, stepping in from his spot by the door and dropping to his knees by the little girl’s bed.  He’d been standing there originally just watching Liz read Rebecca a bedtime story.  He loved the warm glow it gave him to watch Liz in ‘mum mode’, her soft sweet voice and Becky’s intent eyes listening to the story.  Watching Liz struggling to answer the little girl’s questions thought, he knew he had to step in. 

“I don’t want to call you, you.”  She replied, clarifying the whole problem with cloudy mud. 

“Ok, what do you want to call us honey?”  Liz queried, taking Max’s drift in turning the questions back to Rebecca in order to get answers.

“Mummy and Daddy.”  She whispered quietly, before lifting the blanket to cover part of her face partly in shyness.  All that showed of her face was two little brown hopeful eyes.

“You want to call us Mummy and Daddy?”  Max clarified, subconsciously holding his breath awaiting her confirmation. It was the one thing they’d never pushed Rebecca on; instead they’d just been plain Max and Liz to her.  But to be, in her eyes, her new parents in name also almost brought tears to his eyes.

“Yes.”  She said softly, her brown eyes sparkling as she nodded her head.

“Oh sweetie of course you can call us Mummy and Daddy if you want to.”  Liz cried, throwing her arms around the little girl in an attempt to project some of the love she felt to Rebecca.

“I can’t believe she’s been cutting herself up about what to call us for weeks now, I feel so terrible for her.”  Liz sighed as she snuggled close to Max in bed.

“Yeah I know.”  He agreed.  “I mean I thought my heart was gonna break when she asked to call us Mummy and Daddy, geez I’ve wanted to hear those words ever since we took Becky in.  Somehow it makes us feel even more of a family now.”

“Yeah, life’s pretty good right now.”  She said sleepily.

“And one day we’ll have a baby of our own for a brother or sister to Becky.”  Max added, brushing the palm of his hand over Liz’s flat midriff. 

“I know, we just need to be patient.”

Gently kissing the top of her head, they both finally drifted into a relaxed slumber, both warm and comforted in the knowledge of Rebecca’s want to call them her parents in name as well as paper.  All they had to do now was wait a while longer for the adoption to be finalised and then they truly would be a family for life.

TBC ..............................?

A new part will be posted very soon!

Author:            Kazza – 9th June 2002

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