415 Valentines 2 (1/2)
The room was private, with a great view of Seattle's skyline, flowers, candles, light music, tasty food, non-alcoholic beverages, Max looking at Liz like she is the only woman in the world… it was perfect.
Max and Liz didn't sit across the table from each other, but side-by-side. It was easier for Max to feed Liz and to hold onto her whenever he could.
Liz told Max that he can drink his usual beverage (whiskey or wine), but he didn't mind giving her company in drinking juice.
Liz was touched. ”You do so much for me.”
Max put his hand over Liz's and their fingers interlaced. ”For whom am I going to do things if not for the woman I love?”
Liz smiled at her sweet-talking boyfriend. His gentle gaze told her that it's not just sweet-talking and that he really means it.
The staff moved swiftly, swapping their plates between courses with minimal intrusion, and Liz compared this dinner with the first one when the staff ignored her like she was insignificant next to Max. Things have changed, and she wondered if Max had anything to do with it, or if it's a coincidence.
”Where were you last Valentine's?”, Liz asked Max.
Max shrugged, indicating that he was not sure. ”Probably at some party, wasting my time, and waiting for you to come into my life.” He knew exactly where and with whom he was, but a little white lie was necessary in order for the mood not to be spoiled. ”How about you?” Max wanted to switch the topic back to Liz because talking about his time before he met Liz can't be good.
Liz thought for a second. ”Probably working. In the evening, I would have dinner with my dad either at the hospital or at home. Valentine's was one rare occasion when we would stay home and talk about my mom.”
Max was not sure how to react to this. Isaac would spend this evening talking about his deceased wife, yet now he is with Foxy. ”Are you OK that this year things are different?”
A gentle smile fell on Liz's lips. ”Yes. My dad loved my mom a lot, and I thought he will stay single forever. I am glad that he found someone. Foxy is a good woman and my dad deserves to be happy. I don't think that my father loving Foxy is tarnishing the memory of my mother.”
”How about you tell me about your mother?”
Liz refused. ”Let's talk about her some other time. Tonight is about the two of us. My mom would prefer it that way.”
”Alright.”
Max invited Liz for a dance, and she was not sure how that would work because of her stiff arm, but Max insisted and broke her resistance.
They moved slowly and Liz leaned her head on his chest, inhaling his masculine scent that always made her dizzy.
Studying and work were Liz's escape from reality. First, because her mother was gone, and then because people and relationships were uncertain and scary, and she didn't want to feel the pain of losing someone again. Liz found comfort with books and studies, and later work, and she forgot how it is to trust someone with her heart.
Liz must admit that Max proved his sincerity, and she is aware of how she is the one holding their relationship back.
No matter how much she kept the distance between them, Max waited patiently until she was comfortable before he made the next step. He showed her that he can be gentle and considerate, and protective without intruding, and that she can rely on him… and she can't imagine her life without him.
Liz remembered that two weeks ago, in Las Vegas, Max brought up them going to the next level as a couple and he even mentioned marriage, yet she spoke about her work (again) only because Max's words made her nervous.
Liz exhaled a long breath and looked up at Max.
”Max?”
He smiled and looked at her lazily. ”Hmm?”
”I am sorry that I am always stiff and slow to catch onto things.”
Max lifted his eyebrows questionably, indicating that he is not sure what she is talking about.
Liz looked into his eyes and firmed her resolve. ”I know that you love me, and I hope you know that I love you too. We are both grownups, with jobs and… I remember that in Las Vegas you mentioned moving onto the next level and…”