350 Back from the vacation

December 25

On the morning of December 25, Max and Liz were busy wrapping all the presents that were waiting for them at Joshua's station when they arrived from Jamaica on the previous evening.

Liz was pleased with the variety of items they found online. Everyone was covered.

Their plan for the day is to go to the Anderson family's villa for lunch, spend the afternoon there and disperse after dinner.

Other than scrumptious lunch and dinner and holiday-themed movies, Madeline has several activities in the store for her guests. She is excited that all three of her kids and their partners will be present.

Liz and Max originally planned to stay longer in Jamaica and to welcome New Year in New York with Isaac. To Liz's surprise, Isaac announced that he will be coming to Seattle for a few days, Christmas included, and he accepted Madeline's invitation to spend the holiday with them.

Liz felt guilty staying in the Caribbean when her father is visiting, and Max and Liz decided to cut their Jamaican vacation short by a few days so that they can all gather for Christmas.

Isaac is staying in Liz's apartment, across the hall from Liz and Max.

Back to the present…

No matter how much Liz tried, Max was much better at gift-wrapping, so Liz left that part to him and she focused on cutting the shiny wrapping paper to the appropriate size and writing labels.

Liz observed Max's fingers moving swiftly while creating perfect tight edges over the presents and she wondered if there is anything Max is not good at.

She also noticed one more thing…

"What's with the long face?", Liz asked Max, even though she knew the answer.

Max's hands didn't stop moving. "Do you need to go?"

"Yes. It's a conference for surgeons, by surgeons. We went through this…"

Last night, Liz checked her work email and saw that the Franciscan Medical Center is eligible to send surgeons to the conference where recent advancements in the field of surgery will be discussed. This is professional training that is not available to many, and Liz was happy to jump onto that ship.

Max loves her professional passion, and he is supportive, but he does not like that it's a two-day long event with an overnight stay. He wanted to ask her to come home for the night, but the event is in Portland and it's not reasonable to expect Liz to travel so much, only to indulge him. But that does not mean that he is happy about it.

Max sighed. "I know we did, but I will miss you. How am I going to survive two days without you?"

Liz hugged him from the back. His behavior was clingy and sweet and frustrating at the same time. Why does she need to coax him like he is a child? "I will miss you too. It's only one night."

"And two days.", Max grumbled.

"There was a time when Nathan traveled, but the company grew, and people come to us now."

"I don't have such a luxury."

"I will come with you.", Max declared.

Liz rejected. "No. First of all, it is on the second week of January. You will be at work. And even if you ditch work and accompany me to Portland, you can't attend the presentations and you will end up sitting in the hotel room and waiting for me to return."

Max turned and pulled Liz to sit in his lap. "Knowing that holding you is my prize, no amount of waiting is too much, and every minute apart from you is unbearable."

Liz melted inside out at his words. "It will be OK, Max. I will leave in the morning and be back the next day in the evening. It's only one night. Each of us has responsibilities."

Liz gave him a look to tell him that this is not open for further discussion. She wants to attend the seminar, and he needs to work. He is returning to the office after New Year, and he can't take two days off so soon.

"There are a few more boxes that need packing." Liz tried to shift the topic.

"I'm almost out of the sticky tape."

"I have some at my place…"

Max looked after Liz who walked out of his apartment and sighed. Her choice of words 'MY place' was a reminder that they are at HIS place and that despite all his efforts, Liz does not feel that she belongs there enough to call it 'OUR place'.

…

Liz punched the code and entered her apartment.

Two steps in, she paused at the sight of Isaac and Foxy who were sitting on the sofa in the living room and sipping coffee.

"Uhm… good morning…"

"Hi, Liz…", Foxy responded before turning to Isaac who fidgeted nervously while mumbling a greeting.

Liz's eyebrows went up in slow motion.

While thinking about presents and sticky tape, Liz forgot that Isaac is in her apartment, but she definitely didn't expect to see Foxy. Well, she does not mind it, but why is her father acting like a teenager who got caught doing something naughty?

Liz reminded herself not to stare. What is the worst case? That Foxy and her father are lovers? That is not bad. Liz would be happy if her father found someone to fill the void that was left after her mother's passing, and Foxy is someone Liz likes and respects.

"Excuse me… I just came for the tape…"

Liz went to the kitchen and a few seconds later, she was at the door, leaving the apartment with a roll of sticky tape in her hand.

"Elizabeth…" Isaac's voice stopped Liz in the hallway.

"Yes?" Liz turned toward him on her heel. Considering that he used her full name, this must be important.

Isaac made sure that the door behind him is closed before he spoke: "This is not what it looks like."

"How does it look like?"

"Nicole didn't spend the night here. She came for breakfast."

���Whatever you say, dad."

Isaac licked his lips nervously. "No, really. That's the truth. We had dinner last night and I escorted her home, and she came this morning for breakfast and coffee."

Liz had trouble suppressing her laughter. Why is her father explaining himself? And those drops on his forehead are a giveaway that he is sweating. Well, it seems that this is important to him, so she will play along.

"That's fine, dad. No need to explain. I already told you that I like Foxy. If you are having fun together, that's great. I will see you at lunch." Liz turned to leave and paused. "Fresh bed linens are in the storage in the hallway."

Isaac opened his mouth to respond to how that is not necessary, but Liz was already out of sight. He balled his hands into fists in helpless anger, knowing that no matter what he says, Liz would not believe him. He was a perfect gentleman, damnit!

…

Liz plopped on the sofa next to Max and sighed.

Max noticed that Liz's mood is different from before she left, and he assumed that she remembered something unpleasant. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking if my father is lying about sleeping with Foxy or not."

Max blinked with confusion obvious in his expression. "From where did that come from?"

"I went to get the tape…", Liz lifted his hand and showed him a roll of sticky tape. "…and I found my dad and Foxy sipping coffee in the living room. It's nine-thirty and he says that she came for breakfast. They had dinner together last night."

Max took the sticky tape and continued wrapping the presents. "To Isaac, it must be important that you accept whatever is going on between him and Foxy."

"I told him that it's fine. He is a grownup."

"And yet, you are thinking if he lied to you or not. If you want him to know that you are fine with it, you should show it."

Liz thought about how it makes sense. Saying it and showing it are two different things. 

"I am a lucky girl to have such a wise boyfriend."

Max's fingers stopped moving for a second and his lips stretched into a smile. He took a moment to enjoy the compliment before resuming the gift-wrapping.

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