Chapter Fifteen

Nate was wide awake at four am; it was too early to go knocking on Freya's door, despite what she said. Lizzie had put on a DVD, but that didn't seem to settle him, he was excited. So they both got dressed and went for a walk. The warehouse was in quite an industrial area, alongside a river, when they reached the lake; they followed the coast of until they reached the town, and then suddenly the commercial part of the town. Nothing was opened, but she was glad to get her bearings, see what the town was about...until she realised she was lost. Using her phone, she plugged Freya's address into the map function and it took her back to the warehouse a different route.

When they both arrived back at the warehouse, the door of a black car parked up outside the building opened, and Oscar emerged. He was wearing a suit, with a thick woollen coat over the top, and he looked every inch the business man, something she'd not seen before, even when he was suited for her sister's funeral. She realised then that she didn't really know him.

"Oscar!" Nate ran up to him, and he bent down to scoop him into his arms.

"I was just about to send out a search party...you didn't answer the door...and the Coopers are still in darkness."

He looked tired, his sleep had obviously been as restless as hers, but for a different reason. She didn't want to think about Krystal and the welcome home he'd received, instead Lizzie reminded herself that she had to right to complain, and instead smiled at him.

"Kids don't get jetlag, so we've been looking around."

He shook his head, "it's a winter morning in upstate New York and you two are strolling around."

She grimaced, "it is a little cold."

He laughed, "they've given snow you nutcase. Get in; let me get you a real US breakfast."

She hesitated, she'd intended to keep her distance from Oscar, sort her head out. But the thought of a large breakfast, coffee and somewhere warm intrigued her.

"Ok."

He drove them to a restaurant on what he told her was the outskirts of town.

"What do you recommend?"

The menu was intense and she had no idea what to order. He nodded, then a waitress appeared.

"Can we get steak and eggs, French toast, a breakfast burrito and a side of pancakes please?" When the waitress nodded, he looked at Nate, "you want some chocolate chip pancakes?"

He grinned and nodded then the waitress asked, "Dinosaur shaped?" His eyes lit up as he nodded again.

Oscar chuckled, "coffee and juice too?" He again smiled at the waitress, "thanks."

When he turned back to face her Lizzie gave him a grimace, "how many are you feeding?"

He laughed as the waitress reappeared with two mugs and a jug of coffee, "you'll eat it all...I know you."

She watched as he handed Nate a carton of juice, he DID know her, more than anyone else. She'd not had time to let anyone get close for as long as she remembered. But this man had a way of getting under her skin and finding out things about her. She thought she'd be furious that he'd ordered for her, after all she was Miss Independent. But it was a relief to just sit back and take the mug of coffee. Nothing more taxing than that.

Nate and Oscar were involved in a 'deep' conversation about all the things that the boy wanted to do now that he was here. It gave Lizzie some time to take stock; she didn't feel as though her feet had touched the floor in weeks. The coffee was good, and it was nice to see Nate look so relaxed and happy.

Before they had chance to speak again, the waitress appeared and filled the table with food, and it was all SO good. Oscar prodded her to try it all, and laughing as she moaned orgasmically at the fluffy pancakes, the spicy burrito and the melt in the mouth steak.

"I thought you were going to be away all day."

Lizzie had placed his knife and fork on her plate, done. She could eat no more. But the coffee was good...she was sipping at her third mug.

He chewed on his steak for a moment as she helped Nate to cut up another pancake.

"I'm flying into JFK; I have to be at the airport in about an hour."

She nodded, "so your offices are in Manhattan?"

He shook his head, "Brooklyn. Not far from the airport." He chewed again thoughtfully, "I'm trying to get some leeway, that I can spend more time with you guys, back in Manchester. More than just the few weeks they have already agreed to."

She wasn't sure how she felt about that, but when he dropped them back to the warehouse, giving her a quick hug, she felt more than confused, she needed space, time to herself...yet she missed him the moment he disappeared.

"So how has your day been?"

Her phone buzzed late afternoon and she smiled to see Oscar's name there. He was thinking of her, knowing that he'd dragged her across the Atlantic and then abandoned her.

"Good. Your sister is a great hostess. Been to what she called her favourite tea shop. Hectic with the kids, but fun. Nate's sleeping now. Been a long day."

That was the truth. The kid was exhausted, but then she couldn't let him sleep too long, otherwise this pattern would continue. She'd promised him a trip to the cinema later, something fun. Coop was going to drive them there as it was a bit too far to walk, and tomorrow, he'd promised to take Nate skating...Elena was already skating too apparently though she was only just walking.

"Feel a bit like a bully, dragging you out here..."

That made her smile, a free holiday, and a break she needed was hardly bullying, that didn't mean that it was perfect. But no, he wasn't bullying her.

"Not sure where I am in space and time, but that's not a bad thing. This is a cheap trip for us...I couldn't afford a holiday anywhere else."

She stretched out on the sofa feeling a little tired herself, but the phone once again buzzed.

"Almost a compliment? OMG!"

That made her literally laugh out loud. He wasn't a bad man, was he?

Oscar landed at about half past seven, it had been a long day, that was without the jetlag of the previous day and the lack of sleep the night before...not for the reason that Krystal was hoping. He'd left her at the club and turned off his phone, he didn't know when he'd see her again. Her behaviour had stunned him, she'd always been reliable, yet unobtrusive, in fact, before he'd heard about Janis's death he'd been the one pushing for more commitment, more time. But it seemed he'd dodged a bullet...though he had a feeling that she wouldn't let him go as easily as he'd walked out the previous evening.

His car was at the airport, and within moments he was driving across town to Coop's home. It was looking stormy, they had predicted snow, so he was glad to see the warehouse on the horizon and that the lights were on. pulling up outside, he reached for the woolly hat that he had on top of his bag and tugged it on, then braced himself for the rush across the road and up the driveway to the front door.

Coop eventually opened it, wearing just a pair of shorts, and looking like he'd just woken up.

"Shit bro, thought there was a real emergency..."

Oscar rolled his eyes, ducking in out of the cold, "have I disturbed you?"

Coop winked, "the kids were asleep...the snow is on its way..."

"God, you two..." he rubbed his hands together, "I just wanted to know how things were."

His friend leaned against the work surface, "why don't you go knock her door?"

Oscar groaned, "I just want to know they were ok."

He nodded, "they went out with Freya earlier, then I gave them a ride, they went to see a movie across town. Picked them up about an hour ago when it finished."

His family had come good and stepped up in his absence.

He held out his hand and shook Coop's, "thanks...it means a lot."

Coop shrugged, "hey you've always been supportive to me!"

He hadn't, not over Freya, but their friendship went back a long way before that.

Lizzie was sat curled up under a blanket, watching the sky through the window, a street light was creating enough glow that she'd see any snow when it fell. Though so far she was disappointed. Glancing through to the bedroom, she smiled as she watched Nate sleeping peacefully on one half of the double bed. He barely moved once he was asleep, and tonight was no different. Standing, she crossed to close his door, then plugged her phone into the small radio that sat in the corner and selected a playlist.

Depeche Mode always reminded her of her college days - the only time she'd really had no responsibility and she'd been dragged to indie and alternative clubs by Vicky. This was a sound track of those years. Smiling she collapsed back onto the sofa, kicking up her feet when she heard a knock at the door.

Groaning she pulled herself up, then opened the door to reveal a frozen looking Oscar, hunched in his coat, his dark beanie hat almost pulled over his eyes.

"Oscar? Shit you look like ice." At that moment she shuddered at the blast of icy air coming through the door behind him. "Wow, it's cold. Come in."

Tugging him in, she slammed the door behind him.

"I just wanted to check you were ok." he offered awkwardly.

She gestured around the room, "all good. How was your day?"

He shrugged, "long...not what the doctor ordered really."

She peered out the window, "the snow has started...you should get home before it's too bad...how far is your home?"

"A fifteen minute drive..."

He was pale, and still looked freezing cold, "you need a hot drink, a quick hot chocolate? Freya gave me some earlier."

Oscar moved to the window and looked out, "I should go..."

"A quick cup. Warm you up."

He nodded, "I'm shattered, that might wake me up."

Lowering himself to the sofa, he watched her potter, warming milk, then whisking chocolate into it. His stomach rumbled, he hadn't eaten since a sandwich in JFK, and that was hours ago.

"Was that your stomach?"

He looked up and sighed, "I've not eaten much. I'll get something soon."

"I can rustle up some toast..."

"It sounds like heaven."

A few minutes later, she brought the drinks and three slices of buttered toast. He had taken off his coat, loosened his tie and kicked off his shoes. He looked tired, but he pounced on the plate of food with enthusiasm. Lizzie watched him from over the top of her mug. It was rewarding to have someone devour something, even if it was just toast, so wholly.

"The snow's deep Oscar..." she'd stood and watched the white blanket cover the street below them for a long while before she spoke. "Are you going to be able to get home?"

When she turned her heart melted. He'd fallen asleep, the plate on his thigh, the mug empty beside him, and his mouth slightly open, but his eyes closed.

She smiled, then moved into the bedroom to find a spare pillow and duvet.

He looked uncomfortable, still in his suit, so she shook him gently.

"It's too late, and too snowy to go home. I found this t-shirt...and there's a warm blanket..."

Oscar smiled, "you looking after me kid?"

She flinched at that word, 'kid', it sounded like something Janis would say, "just thinking that sitting upright in a suit looks uncomfortable. I don't know who's this t-shirt is...but it's got to be comfier."

With that she turned on her heel and disappeared into the bedroom.