Page 4 of Loving Lizzy

“Yeah. Kassie’s a great cook. She must’ve picked up tips from Maddie. She brings meals over to Catherine and Kassie sometimes.” She gazed out the window.

“I thought Chase mentioned Maddie brought lunch for everyone a few times,” he told her.

“I think she includes all of us as a polite gesture. Why do you think Whiskey’s waiting for us?”

“I’m not entirely sure. Let’s try to keep an open mind. They went out of their way with whatever it is.” Michael entered the town, followed Chase’s truck to Samantha’s old house, and parked on the side street.

Kassie jumped out of the vehicle as her husband reached her door. Lizzy almost chuckled as she watched him shake his overprotective head at his self-sufficient spouse. Whiskey stood on the porch of the lovely Victorian home.

Lizzy never visited the house while Samantha lived there. From how the women spoke of the place, she began fixing it up shortly after moving to Serenity.

Whiskey nodded as they drew closer. He greeted them and pulled Kassie into a hug, whispering something in her ear. Chase smiled lovingly down at his wife as she giggled and laughingly pushed him away. Turning to Michael and Lizzy, he said “Hello.”

Whiskey walked through the front door and the group followed. The smell instantly assailed Lizzy’s nose. A mixture of lavender and citrus filled the air. She scanned the room half in surprise. The solid wood original flooring gleamed from the remaining sunlight streaming through the windows. He waited until they circled into the empty living room before he spoke.

“You’re probably wondering why I asked you all here. Samantha gave me this house in our divorce. I suffer from PTSD, and I like it better on the mountain. Kassie told me you might be searching for a house in Serenity and there isn’t much for sale. I’m moving to a different house and renovating it. I haven’t placed this on the market yet and Kassie thought you might want to consider staying here. If you decide you want to purchase it, we can go over those details, but in the meantime, you can rent it and get to know the town a bit better.”

Michael glanced in Lizzy’s direction. He walked toward her and took her hand when she stood rooted to the spot. “Thank you for considering us, Whiskey. Can we take a moment to check it out?”

“Take all the time you need. We’re going next door to visit with Jake. Carol moved back to her place and I’m taking him dinner,” Kassie assured them.

Michael waited until the door closed. “Shall we at least pretend you’re interested in touring the house? They went to all this trouble to help us,” he voiced his aggravation with her.

Ever since he’d learned of her diagnosis, Michael hovered around her, and she knew he feared she’d take off again. Guilt plagued her. She knew her actions after their son Conner’s birth seemed irrational to her ex-husband. At the time, it felt like the right thing to do. Now she realized how much hurt she’d caused him. With the looming doctor’s appointment ahead of them, she tried to keep her distance to avoid hurting him further. What if the test results came back and the cancer had spread? She closed her eyes, letting the pain wash through her. They finally found their way back to one another to face the possibility of being separated again.

CHAPTER TWO

Michael watched Lizzy close her eyes. Her long black lashes contrasted against her fair skin. He took her hand and tugged it slightly to get her attention. He refused to let her push him away.

“Come on, let’s have a peek,” he softly encouraged her.

They walked down the hall and came to the first room. The walls covered with helicopters made Michael smile. He remembered Samantha’s son's fascination with them.

Lizzy opened the closet and glanced out the window as she circled the room. Her face remained passive as she took in the decorative trim on the walls and caressed one of the helos. Michael led her further down until they came to a light lavender-colored room. It even smelled like the herb.

“The rooms seem like a good size,” he told her.

“I don’t think I’ve ever entered a room with a personality. It feels soothing between the faint smell and color,” she answered.

He smiled as she opened the closet, now genuinely interested in the room. “I like the scent. We can use LJ’s old room as an office for you or me. I think there’s a couple more to choose from.”

They walked down the hall and explored the two additional spaces before heading into the bright cheerful kitchen. Michael watched as Lizzy’s gaze focused out the window at the tire swing. Her expression turned sad, and she straightened her shoulders as if she resolved herself into believing the dream of children was nothing more than a fantasy. He refrained from saying anything to her. It didn’t matter how much he argued, instinctively, he knew she already decided to withdraw from him. He steeled himself for the impending fight between the two of them. No matter what Lizzy convinced herself, he planned to stay right beside her.

Michael walked into Samantha’s old salon. Although Lizzy didn’t see the crime scene, he got a glimpse of it when he tended to LJ. He came in with the team to clear out their friend’s products. An involuntary shiver went down his spine before anger took its place. He carried no sympathy for someone who terrorized innocent children and women. The men who died deserved their fate.

“Is this where Kassie killed the man who threatened Samantha and the kids?” She asked.

“Yes, it was self-defense, and she saved all their lives. Victoria taught her. Does it bother you?” he replied.

“No. Kassie did what she had to do to save her friend and children. I’ve known her since she worked at Seattle Health. She’s one of the most compassionate nurses I know. I can’t believe she built the hospital and the team building, not knowing if Chase would make it home.” She shook her head.

“It’s called faith, Lizzy. She held on to it for the man she loved. Something in her demanded she fight. Regardless of whether he returned, her family, friends and child needed her.” Michael walked closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’m hoping you realize you have the same people in your life. We’re here for you. Please don’t push me away. I feel you withdrawing, believing you’re protecting me. Darlin’, all you’re succeeding in doing is making this harder for both of us.”

Lizzy leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Then don’t do what you’re thinking,” he whispered. “It killed me when they refused to allow me to travel home from Germany. All I thought about was getting to you. Then I walked into the empty house and found the picture of you and Conner lying on the counter. I saw the spots on the letter where you cried telling me what happened. You do know SIDS isn’t your fault, right?” He swiped at the single tear falling down her cheek.

She hesitantly nodded, unable to meet his eyes. He tilted her chin with his forefinger. “You ran, Lizzy. I know you thought to spare me the pain of watching you battle breast cancer after my mom’s ordeal. Instead, it felt like you cut my heart out and walked away. I spent days and nights searching for you, worried you suffered from postpartum symptoms and formed a hasty decision. Then you served me divorce papers. To lose Conner, then you, just about killed me,” he whispered.

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