|
|
 |
        __________________________________________________________
 Liz came out of her bathroom, using the towel to dry the ends of her hair. Sitting down on the bed she thought about all she had observed today, wondering why she had never noticed them before. Laying the towel on the bed, she picks up her journal and pen.
Today is February 13th and to be honest, I must have been spending a lot of my time wearing blinders, because before I started thinking about this love thing I never noticed a lot. I see some of our customers every day, but I guess I never really saw them....
There is a couple that I have seen nearly every day for as long as I can remember. Their order is always the same, two cups of coffee and two pieces of Men in Blackberry pie, he likes his topped with vanilla ice cream. Every day she will tell him he didn't need the ice cream and every day he tells her that he loves it so much with the pie. They must be close to 80, but you'd think they were the same age as Max and I. When they leave, they always hold hands, and every once in a while I catch him giving her a little pat on the behind. She always laughs, pushes his hand away and tells him to behave himself...that's what I want when I'm 80, pie and ice cream and a pat on the behind...
Then there is Michael and Maria, I guess they must have flipped the magnets over today because they sure were far from being connected...
"Maria, what's wrong with you two today?" Maria was filling the sugar containers, not really paying attention to what she was doing.
"Space Boy" She grunts out the answer, but Liz had already figured that out. "I dropped some hints about tomorrow being Valentine's Day and do you know what he had the nerve to tell me?! That it was a stupid holiday made up by card people and florists just so they can take your money and all you have to show for it is a bunch of dead flowers in a week." Suddenly the sugar is spilling all over the counter. "Grrr, that's all I need."
"Maria, go take a break, I'll clean this up." She nods a thank you. Liz starts to clean up the mess, and then realizes that this was another kind of love. She loved Maria like a sister, they had known each other all of their lives, and couldn't even imagine her life without her. They would do anything for one another, especially lately. Maria had covered for her with her parents more times than she could remember in the past few months. They still had their times when they disagreed, but that didn't last long. When Max and Isabel came in, she watched them joking with each other. It must be so hard for them, not being able to tell their parents their secret, it must make them closer. They have always called Michael their brother, not even knowing who he was to them, they were his only family. Their love was unconditional, knowing they would always have each other, no matter what. Since she was an only child she would never know what it was like to share that bond with some one. Despite the fact they were "different" she envied them for having what she never would.
Just as Liz was finishing the cleanup of the spilt sugar, they came over and sat down at the counter.
"Good morning...can I get you anything?" Liz asks holding her order book, looking directly at Max.
"Only if you're on the menu." Grins Max.
"Oh brother." Grumbles Isabel "Max can't you keep that to yourself...people are trying to eat here."
"Hi Isabel"
"Alex."
"Isabel, I was wondering if you'd like to go see a movie with me tomorrow, if you don't have any plans that is." Alex is sitting there watching Isabel, intent on her answer.
When it came to Isabel and Alex, you definitely can say that there is no love there, well at least on Isabel's side. I think given the opportunity, Isabel could be very much in like with Alex. She started seeing him in a whole new light once he found out their secret and was willing to put himself on the line for the three of them. But, she wasn't ready to admit to anything more than that. Now when it came to Alex and Maria and me, we had the whole thing together. Alex loved us even when we were hiding Max and Isabel and Michael's secret, even though we had hurt him deeply by keeping him in the dark. Once he found out and really began to believe it, I think he was finally able to forgive us.
"Alex, I thought we agreed no dates, and well, you know what tomorrow is."
"No, it's not a date, heck you can even pay your own way in if it makes you feel better." He gives her that goofy grin the makes him irresistible.
Max and I exchanged glances, knowing that Alex is fighting a losing battle when it came to her.
"I'll have to get back to you, Alex. Max, come on we have to go, I need to make a stop before school." As they get up to leave, Max gives Liz a look of apology. He mouths the words, "I'll see you later."
Michael rings the bell, signaling that Liz's order was ready. When she goes to pick it up, Michael gives her one of his looks. "What's going on with Maria? She's been acting weird all day."
"You know what tomorrow is don't you?"
"Yea, we already went there...for some reason she was ticked because I told her it was the first day of the motorcycle finals and I had a ticket to go watch it."
"Michael, you're hopeless." Liz picks up her order, "If you care for her at all, please, at least get her a card."
My parents are also people I tend not to see in the normal scheme of everyday life. Oh, I see them...but I guess not in that way, until now. I never noticed how my father always makes sure to have her favorite ice cream, or that he was responsible for the flowers that will show up mysteriously. My mother, too, does the little things that help to keep things interesting for him. He loves his music from the 70's and 80's, and she is always surprising him with a new record, yes record. We must be one of the few people in Roswell that still have an old record player, and he loves it. Once when he broke his last needle, she drove all the way to Albuquerque to get him some new ones; but she didn't tell him why she went there, she acted like it was for something for the cafe. When she gave them to him, you would have thought she given him a million dollars. If things ever advanced that far with Max and me, that is what I want...
Suddenly there was a knock on the window, scaring Liz, making her jump. She looked at the clock and saw that it was just after midnight. She had been so intent on her writing that she hadn't even noticed the time. When she heard it again, she wasn't sure whether to check or not, it could only be one thing. Max. But what would he be doing here now?
Liz got up off the bed and walked to the window. Not seeing anyone, she opened the window to see if anything was there. That's when she saw it...a single white rose tied with a ribbon. There was a note attached to it, and when she read it, it took her breath away:
Since it is now after midnight, it is officially Valentine's Day. Liz Parker, never in this lifetime or the next will I ever forget to tell you I love you...this is just the beginning....Max
 If you enjoyed this story or would like to have your story posted on this site let us know at mailto: Momosroswell@yahoo.com.What's Love Got to do with it - Part 2
|
|
