Page 47 of Loving Lizzy

Thank you, Saint, kiss your mama for me.

Kassie texted.

Kassie, what’s going on?

Catherine replied.

PITA caught strep throat and you aren’t going over there to take care of her.

Leo ordered.

No. You’re going. Go over to Bear’s and ask for more honey. Samantha, do you have the special tea for this?

Catherine took charge.

Yes, I’ll send it with Whiskey. Feel better Kassie. Let me know if Chase is working and I’ll check on her at lunch.

Samantha jumped in.

No. Maddie already grounded me to my room and Victoria took Em. Chase works all day but it’s only a sore throat, I’ll be fine.

Kassie assured them.

I’m checking to see if Ahmet can cover my second shift and I’ll be home, Princess.

Chase lovingly replied.

Gag, gag, gag….

Leo texted.

Did John Boy join this group text?

Lizzy giggled. Michael walked past her and back to the bedroom.

“It seems you and your friend have a lot in common. At least she lets Chase help her,” he said as he passed her. He closed the bedroom door. He went into the bathroom and splashed water on his face to cool down. Fury at her nonchalant admission over suffering through morning sickness while he took care of strangers riled him. Didn’t she understand he didn’t want to smother her, he only wanted to support her?

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Saint loaded the ladies into the truck. Both women chose to sit in back while they chatted.

Edie took Lizzy by the hand. “Out with it, young lady. What did you and Michael fight about?”

Lizzy glanced at Saint, who concentrated on the road and rolled the toothpick around in his mouth.

“I told him about my pregnancy experience with Conner and he got mad because I didn’t tell him about experiencing hyperemesis. I told him I handled it by myself. Honestly, I don’t understand. He volunteered for the humanitarian mission because he loves kids.”

The older woman patted her lap in understanding. “Did you wish he’d stayed home with you?”

“We didn’t find out about my pregnancy until after he left. I refused to ask him to come home when he wanted to help those kids.”

“I didn’t ask what he did. I want you to tell me if you wished he’d come home.” She smiled a knowing smile.

“Yeah, I guess I did. Coming from foster homes, I learned to rely only on myself. Meeting Michael changed my life. When he brought up the assignment in Afghanistan, we were still newlyweds of two years. We never leaned on each other because we excelled independently.” Lizzy pondered her statement. Michael worked nonstop at the hospital and volunteered at a free clinic. She worked under an administrator in Bellevue. Their hours varied and they caught time together when it allowed. If Michael’s kidnapping had never occurred, she wondered how long until their marriage crumbled as they grew further apart because of their jobs. They lived as roommates with benefits most of the time. Their love for one another never wavered, but they never experienced any of the real challenges many marriages underwent until Conner, and she disappeared after her diagnosis.

“Marriage consists of compromise. When you pledge your life to someone, you allow them to see you at your worst. There’re times when you put your spouse on a pedestal, and they can do no wrong. Then you go through times when you doubt your marriage can withstand the storm. You’ll make good decisions and bad ones. At the end of the day, you have to decide whether you navigate the boat together or if you’ll bail yourself out,” Edie lent the sage advice.

“Michael worked the hospital emergency room and volunteered at a free clinic before he left. He wanted to save all the kids. I worked a half hour from our home with an administrator who delegated most of his work to my desk. When he retired, he never even gave me a recommendation for his position because he believed in the boy’s club. Conner passed away, Michael recovered in Germany, and I found out about the cancer the first time. I didn’t want him to get hurt any more than he’d already suffered,” Lizzy confessed.

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