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 It's February 14th, and I have had such a wonderfully strange day. First thing this morning, when I went to unlock the front door, I saw Max across the street...he didn't come over, he just smiled, waved and walked on...
"That was strange, he didn't even come over." When she opened the door she looked down and saw a long box, tied up with a ribbon that matched the one on the rose last night. "Oh..." Just then Maria walks up, opening the door wider so she can get in.
"I see Moon Doggie was here." Liz could tell she wasn't going to be in a good mood.
"Darn you, Michael." Liz mumbled.
"That's supposed to be my line."
Liz walks over and gives her friend a big hug, "I'm sorry Maria, I wish Michael could be more like...well, like..."
"Max?"
Liz starts to blush as she picks up the box and lays it on the table. "Well, yea, I guess...or if nothing else, like you envisioned a boyfriend should be." Liz unties the ribbon to see a dozen white roses. "He said it was just the beginning..."
"The beginning? The beginning of what?" Michael comes in, sees the flowers, smirks. "Oh, never mind"
"Morning to you too, Michael"
"Maria, don't start my day off this way, I'm not in the mood!" Michael stomps off to the kitchen.
"He's not in the mood? Why do I even bother?"
Maria goes off to the break room to change for her shift. "Oh, this will be a wonderful day." Liz says as she picks up the flowers so she can go put them in water. As she walks into the kitchen, she hears a tapping on the back door. "Max? What are you doing back here?"
"This..." He pulls her close to give her a deep kiss.
"Thank you..."
"For the kiss?"
"No, for the flowers." Max starts to give her a playful hurt look. "Oh! The kiss, the kiss was great..." Blushing she leans in to return the gift.
"Thank you." Suddenly Liz hears her father calling her to work.
"I've got to go...Maria and Michael may be a problem today, so I have to keep Dad happy." Liz hurriedly puts the flowers in some water and ducks out of the kitchen, taking one quick look back through the door, she gives Max a little wave.
"Oh great, just another thing to ruin my day." Maria was looking at the door as Jim Valenti was coming in, at the same time, her mother was bringing in her daily delivery of pies.
"Amy, how are you today?" Jim takes off his hat and holds the door open for her.
"Why I'm just fine..." She nervously giggles. "And yourself?"
"Couldn't be better." He is grinning at her like they were alone in the room.
"I think I'm gonna be sick..”
"Maria, be nice." This was another kind of love to add to the list; opposites attract. The hippie and the sheriff. I think Maria is worried that he is using her to find out things about what has been going on. But I don't think that's the case, as long as I have known Kyle's dad I had never seen him light up like he did when Maria's mom comes into the room. Maria's mom has been alone for a long time, well, so has the sheriff, for that matter, and I for one am glad that just maybe they may have found someone to connect with...even though he is the sheriff.
"If you aren't doing anything tonight, why don't you come over for some pie and coffee? I just made a fresh coconut cream one this morning."
"Don't mind if I do." They both stare at each other, Amy giggles again and Jim just grins.
"Mom, Sheriff, can I get you anything?" Maria squeezes in between the couple, trying to distract them.
"Oh, Maria! No, I was just delivering the pies for today." Amy blushes and sets the pies on the counter.
"I just wanted some coffee to go, please."
"I'll get it!" Maria hurries off to get the coffee, wanting to get them apart as soon as possible.
"I'll see you tonight, Amy. Keep the change, Maria." He starts walking backwards, grinning, almost tripping over another customer. “ 'Cuse me."
The morning was going fast, Liz was about to think she wouldn't see Max until school, the thought of his kiss still on her mind. Just then, the door opens and Max and Isabel walk in.
"I know it's Valentine's Day, but please, don't get all mushy on me. Max, Max, do you hear me?"
"Huh, yea, I got my homework done." He couldn't take his eyes off of Liz.
"No, Max, that isn't what I sai...never mind, you're hopeless." Sitting down in their usual booth, Isabel picks up the menu, glances over it and makes her decision. Liz comes over with her order book, but she was also carrying waffles and a bottle of Tabasco sauce.
"How did you know that's what I wanted?"
"God, Max, if she would have brought you a plate of shoe leather, you'd eat it and wouldn't know the difference." Isabel seemed out of sorts, more than usual. Maybe it's because she was afraid to admit she wanted what Max and I had. I think she's scared to find someone and I think she's scared not to find some one. "Since you haven't already figured out what I want, just bring me an English muffin and some coffee...Please."
"Sure, I'll be right back."
"Morning Isabel” Alex was standing by the end of the booth, grinning, like he was waiting for something.
"Oh, I haven't decided about tonight, yet. Can I get back to you?"
"Yea...sure." Alex walks away to sit at the counter.
"Isabel, why do you have to be so mean to him?" Max was dumping Tabasco all over his waffles and syrup. "He's a nice guy, you should give him a chance."
"Whatever Max, we have to be leaving for school soon."
 I didn't get a chance to talk to Max much at school, today. For some reason every time we started to talk, something came up and interrupted us. Just when I thought we'd get a minute to ourselves, I realized I was almost late for work.
"I'm so sorry Max, I have to go!"
"I'll see you later then..." Max sighs as she runs out the door of the school.
Maria and Agnes were working at the counter and Liz had just come up to drop off an order. Maria looks passed Liz's shoulder at a flower delivery man. "God, doesn't he ever get tired of spoiling you?"
Liz turns around to see the man carrying in a flower arrangement and a card. Liz walks over to him, he asks her something. Liz points towards the counter, the man approaches.
"That's it,” Maria mumbles under her breath "I can't believe Agnes, Agnes for God's sake, is getting flowers."
Maria DeLuca?"
"Who? Did you say Maria DeLuca? Yea, that's me!" Maria is in total shock. Liz is watching her best friend try to keep from losing it. When Liz glances over at Michael, he's giving her a smirky grin, as if to say “And you didn't think I had it in me.” Maria looks at Liz, wanting to go read the card but not wanting to leave her customers unattended. Liz gives her a little wave, telling her it was okay, she had it covered. With a little squeal and a jump, Maria runs off to the break room; Michael seemed to have disappeared, too.
"Finally." Liz sighs, so glad that her friend is happy. When Liz turns around she sees her favorite couple. They find a seat at a little table for two, near the booths. Max and Isabel sits down in the booth near them. Liz smiles at Max and the couple notices her doing it.
"Is that someone special?" The gentleman asks as he reaches over and holds hands with his wife.
"Uh, yes, I guess he is" Liz grins at them. "Now, can I get you your usual?"
"Yes, but, we'll have ice cream on both tonight."
"My, this must be special occasion." Liz starts to pour their coffee.
“Yes it is, dear, it's not everyday you get to celebrate your 60th wedding anniversary. We were married 60 years ago today." Liz looks over at Max to see if he heard, and he had. They both smile at each other, the man sees them. "It looks like you could be in our shoes one day." Patting Liz's hand.
Liz goes into the kitchen to try to figure out something special to do for the couple. Seeing the white roses in the vase, she hesitates, and then takes out two. Max won't mind.
When she brings the food to the table, she surprises them by adding a sparkler to the pie. There on the tray lays the two white roses. She looks at Max and he gives her little thumbs up and a smile. "Happy Anniversary! May you have 60 more!" Liz hugs them.
"God willing, I don't think I could spend a day without this man." She reaches over and plants a big kiss on his cheek.
"You just wait until I get you home!"
"That's what I was hoping you'd say." They both start to giggle.
"This is on the house, have a great night."
Liz looked at Isabel and thought she saw a tear in her eye as she watched the older couple.
"What'd I miss? Looks like a party." Alex comes up to stand next to Max and Isabel's booth.
"That couple has been married for 60 years, I wonder how they did it?" Isabel sighs, and then gets a soft look in her eyes, "Okay Alex, I'll go to the movies with you. I'll even let you pay."
Alex almost chocks on his drink. "Did you say yes? Well, well..what did you want to see?"
"You decide, let's go." Isabel slides out of the booth, takes Alex's hand and walks to the door. As they leave, Alex looks back at Liz, pinching himself all the way out.
"Can I come up, after you're done with your shift?" Liz, lowers her eyes, grins and nods.
What a wonderful day this turned out to be...Max gave me his heart, well a necklace with a little heart on it, I love it. I gave him the new cd by his favorite group. They didn't have any in town, so I went to Albuquerque with my mom; she had to get more needles. So now, when he listens to it, he will think of me. We danced on the balcony and when he kissed me, we had such wonderful flashes! After he left, I remembered my roses were still in the kitchen; as I passed the living room, my parents had on the radio and were dancing and laughing. On the way back to my room, I heard that song by Tina Turner come on...What's love got to do with it? And when I stopped to think about it, it had Everything to do with it.
 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 3
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