Part 37 ***************** Max moved around the kitchen making breakfast, but he made sure to keep at least one eye watching Liz. He was almost afraid that she might vanish if he stopped looking. “I can see you watching me.” Liz’s voice held a teasing tone as she pulled down her blouse to nurse Leah who had began kicking in her arms. He fumbled, clanging the frying pan nervously against the stove. “S-sorry.” He turned his back away, trying his best to stop looking, but if he had thought it was difficult before, it was even more so now that she was breastfeeding. Seeing that was like seeing a miracle happening right before his eyes. “No more apologizing, Max. We’re through with all of that.” “Right.” His head jerked towards the refrigerator. “How did you want your eggs?” Liz smiled, feeling a little more at ease. True, it would be a while till they returned to their normal routines without having all of the dark looming over them, but they had come to a crossroads last night. Despite the tears and the hurt, she was sure they were going to come out of this stronger. Josh’s actions opened up a wormhole of buried insecurities that they had ignored for so long. But in a way, it was a good thing. They were finally dealing with all of this and not skirting around the issue. Liz knew that she had reached Max last night and today was a beginning of a better day. “I sort of have a hankering for sunny side up.” The meaning wasn’t lost on him, finally allowing himself to smile. “Sunny side up it is.” He cracked two eggs into the hot pan, tilting his head towards the stairs. “NOAH! Breakfast is almost ready, little man.” Loud, thundering footsteps echoed down the stairs, the sound of little feet screeching against the kitchen tile. Noah stepped lightly, trying to keep from making too much noise. Kyle and Courtney had told him that his mother was feeling too well and he didn’t want to add to her discomfort. He walked to her slowly, his curious head tilted to the side, his hand touching her knee softly. “Mornin’ momma.” He stood on his tiptoes, giving Liz a kiss against her cheek. His eyes darted to his father who was busy manning the stove. He leaned in closer to Liz, whispering so that only she could hear. “Are you okay now?” Her heart doubled over with love, her lips curling into an unconscious smile. It was still hard to believe that he loved her so much. She dipped her fingers into the softness of his hair, her brown eyes softening. “I’m alright now, precious.” She leaned down, placing a tender kiss on his head. “Thank you for asking.” He squeezed her hand, before smiling down at his sister. He touched the tip of her button nose, smiling when she gave him a toothless grin. “Be good for momma, Lee lee.” Even as he said the words, Noah couldn’t help but look at his mother, making sure that she really was okay. Liz’s eyes met up with Noah’s, seeing the concern in them. He was definitely his father’s son. Max looked over his shoulder, getting ready to plate Liz’s eggs. “How do you want your eggs, pal?” He smiled at his mother, making himself comfortable at the kitchen table. “I’ll have whatever momma’s having.” **************** After breakfast, Liz took Leah upstairs for her bath, leaving her boys to clean up after their breakfast. Max rinsed the dishes while Noah passed them to him. They had been silent for the most part, save the few glances Noah kept throwing towards Max when he thought he wasn’t looking. Finally feeling like a caged animal, Max wiped his hands against a dish rag. “What’s up?” Noah shrugged his shoulders, tracing a pattern against the placemats. “Nuthin’.” Unconvinced, Max kneeled, scooping Noah up in his arms, depositing him on the counter. He gave a little grunt, ruffling his son’s hair. “You’re getting too heavy for your old man.” He pulled up a chair, straddling it backwards, leaning his chin against it as he studied his son’s face. “What’s the matter? You’re never this quiet,” he teased. Slipping from the smooth counter top, Noah threw himself in Max’s arms, breathing deeply. “Hey….” Startled by his movement, Max stumbled back a bit. He pulled Noah to sit on his lap, his large hand running down Noah’s small back soothingly. “It’s okay, little man. It’s okay.” Noah gripped his arms around Max’s neck, his eyes shut tightly. “I love you daddy.” Max smiled, peering down at his son who seemingly wanted to disappear inside him. “I love you too, buddy.” He tipped Noah’s chin up, making him look into his eyes. “Not that I don’t appreciate the affection, but what’s spurred this on?” His eyes narrowed playfully. “You usually reserve all of the really good hugs for your momma.” “It’s because of momma.” He touched Max’s cheek with his palm, smiling the exact replica of Max’s half grin. “You healed her.” He placed his other hand against his chest. “In here.” He kissed Max’s cheek, sliding out of his lap. “Thank you.” Noah left his father stunned speechless. Max swallowed hard, looking towards the stairs where his family was. He was a blessed man for having a family who loved him despite his faults. ************** “I’m just going to jump in the shower for a minute. Noah’s in his room, playing with his toys. If you could just watch Leah- Max pulled Liz into his body, his lips nuzzling her forehead. “Go. We’ll be fine.” His fingers curled into her hair as he ushered her to their bathroom. “If you need anything- She placed her finger to his lips, then replacing it with her lips. “I know. I’ll be back soon.” Max waited until she was gone before taking Leah into his arms. He sat in the rocking chair that was strategically placed by the window. “How you doin’ puddin’?” Max chuckled when she kicked her feet in the air, her little fingers curling around his index finger. She gurgled, cocking her head to the side as she continued grinning at her father. “You look exactly like your mother. So beautiful.” He sighed, pressing his nose against her cheek as he inhaled her sweet baby scent. “You think you can stay like this forever? So I can keep you safe?” Leah’s head jerked to the side as Max tickled her under the chin. “No?….I didn’t think so.” He cradled her against his chest, letting the chair rock them back and forth. “I love you so much, baby. You, your brother, and especially your momma. You guys mean the world to me. If I lost any of you….” He choked back a sob, feeling sick at the thought of losing his family. He didn’t even know why he was saying these things, but he always felt better talking to Leah about things. Maybe it had to do with the fact that she couldn’t respond yet, that she couldn’t judge him. He felt he could tell her anything. “I know that I worry too much, and that I can’t control everything that goes on, but I can’t help but feel responsible. This family is my life. My responsibility. If I can’t take care of you guys, then what kind of a person does that make me? What kind of a father…husband?” He looked down into Leah’s eyes; into Liz’s eyes. “Promise me that when you grow up, that you’ll be like your mother and not take any of my crap?” He grinned. “I’m definitely a pushover with a stubbornness that’ll drive you up the wall, but it’s only because I love you sweetheart. It’s only cause I love you.” *************** Liz leaned back against the door, her hand gripping the edges of her robe. She had come back to ask Max if he could grab one of the clean towels from the overhead cabinets when she heard him talking to Leah. She knew that she should have left, knowing that his conversation was private, but she couldn’t help but press her ear against the wall, listening to the soft murmur of his voice. She kissed the tips of her fingers, placing them against the door, her voice a soft whisper. “We love you too Max. We love you too.”