Chapter Ten

Lego Batman. Oscar rolled his eyes as he led Nate out of the cinema. The youngster was skipping along beside him re-enacting some of the superhero scenes with enthusiasm.

"You enjoyed that hey, Munchkin?"

He nodded rather dramatically, "yes! He's the coool-est." He gave the last word about nine syllables.

It made Oscar smile. He wasn't naïve enough to think that this was as difficult as parenting came, but he was enjoying every moment he was spending with Nate.

"Shall we get some food to take home to Aunty Lizzie? You reckon she's out of bed by now?"

Again he nodded.

They stopped at a little deli on the way home and picked up meatballs, pasta, salad and some chicken strips at Nate's request, and a cheesecake. It was more than enough for a quick meal, without the hassle of too much cooking, or the guilt of a greasy takeaway. And the smell in the car was amazing as they drove across the city back to Lizzie's home.

The door opened within seconds of Nate knocking it. As it opened Nate flew at her and wrapped her arms around her waist, "it was brilllliant!" Another nine syllable word uttered into her thigh made him laugh. Nate ran past her into the house, and he smiled at Lizzie.

She was wearing her glasses again, and loose cotton trousers and a loose t-shirt that fell off one shoulder, her hair was damp hanging around her shoulders. As she smiled back, she reached her hands up to secure her hair in a loose top knot.

"Thanks for the breather; I needed a nap and a shower. I feel a million times better."

He laughed, "have to say you've got a bit better colour!" He lifted his hands, "and we bring food."

Her moan was almost sinful, and his body surged as her eyes closed in pleasure, "all I want is some stodgy food."

Oscar gave himself a shake, "not sure that your local deli does stodge, but I have meatballs, spaghetti, salad..."

Her eyes lit up, "well then come on in and I'll find you a beer!"

Half an hour later they sat at the dining table and Oscar could do nothing but watch as she expertly and rather enthusiastically wolfed down the strings of pasta and sauce.

"It's good," she murmured when she spotted his eyes on her.

He chuckled, "so it seems."

That made her roll her eyes, "so I'm hungry. Shoot me!"

She reminded him a lot of Freya; she was uncaring of how she looked or what she did. He could barely remember when he'd last seen Krystal eat so openly, and she'd never set foot outside the bedroom without full makeup and designer clothing. But here was Lizzie, splashing tomato sauce on to her chin uncaring. And every time she closed her lips around the fork full of food she let out a little moan, and it was driving him crazy.

Consequentially she finished way before him and she turned to Nate, "it's almost bed time. I think it's time for you to get your pj's on. If you're good I'll let you watch a movie before bed."

He nodded excitedly and before Oscar had finished his food, he was lying on the sofa under a bright blue throw, eyes glued to the TV where Toy Story played out. Lizzie cleared the table, as he finished the last mouthful of food.

"Go watch that with him whilst I clear up."

"You sure?"

She smiled, "yep. I have done absolutely NOTHING all day." handing him a beer, she turned back to the table, stacking the remaining dishes.

Lizzie had washed everything, put things away and was now finishing scrubbing the kitchen work surfaces. It felt good to do something, to get back to normal. After washing her hands, she joined the boys in the lounge to find Nate fast asleep, his head on Oscar's lap.

"Think the cinema wore him out," Oscar offered with a nervous smile.

Lizzie grinned, "it's his bed time anyway. So this has saved a dozen stories. You ok to carry him?"

Oscar nodded, sliding his arms around the boy and then carrying him along the corridor to his room.

"So what did your parents say?" Lizzie's eyes met him across the lounge, "I presume you told them about their new grandchild."

She was like Freya, astute, he nodded, "they're a bit shocked...they never thought they'd see with a child."

"You don't have a girlfriend?"

He shrugged a response, not sure why he wasn't mentioning Krystal, "no one serious."

Her eyes widened, "so you're not a settling down type?"

Shrugging again, he wanted to bite his tongue, what was he saying? "Not really. I've been dating a girl on and off for the last four years...but she's more interested in her career."

"Power couple, hey?"

"She's a dancer."

Her eyes widened further, "oh my god, that's so wonderful...I've got two left feet. I bet she's amazing."

He was tempted to respond that she writhed around a pole, but that would indicate that what Krystal did was less relevant than any other type of dancer, it wasn't, and he wasn't a snob about it. He was just pissed off that she hadn't returned any of his calls. They'd been through separations throughout their relationship, but something was amiss and he was angry at that.

"Something like that. But never someone who wanted kids, so my folks are surprised...despite that they're supportive. They'll love him. They can't wait to meet him."

He saw her throat move as she swallowed awkwardly, digesting the severity of his words, the harsh change of subject, "I'm not walking away from him, Lizzie. I'm not giving him up, but I'm not intending to get between you and him."

She sighed, "you live in the US. We've had this conversation before; I can't see how this well ever end amicably."

"Ok, so I don't know HOW it'll work yet, but it will."

Shaking her head she let out a slow exhale, "when are you due back in work?"

Good question. He'd walked out a week ago asking for emergency leave, but he'd be due back soon. He was due in North Carolina next month, and he was supposed to spend at least a week in Tokyo before Easter. Suddenly his ever-changing job, the rolling stone gathering no loss lifestyle was the exact wrong thing for a father to a four year old. But he couldn't tell her that, that he'd spent at least twenty days in the last two months away from home.

A little nonchalantly, he gave her a shrug, "I'm working at distance...I may have to trip back to the States, but so far so good...I'm taking this day by day, is there any other way?"

"I guess not."

He sipped at his wine, "so what about you, Lizzie? I've been here a week, and other than the fact you're Janis' sister, I know nothing about you."

He watched as she sipped at her own drink, almost deciding how much she'd share with him.

"I'm a corporate lawyer."

He worked with industrial lawyers through his job, she seemed a million miles from those money grabbers and deal breakers, he knew that his mouth had opened in a little shock, "I'd never see you in that cutthroat world. You've stunned me."

She nodded knowingly, "it's not an easy field."

"Au contraire, the people I know thrive on it, job over life every day...yet you spend a lot of time with Nate too?"

"You're very astute, Oscar. I suppose that I am at logger heads with what is expected of me."

Lizzie twirled the wine around her glass feeling exposed by the gentle probe of his questions, she was way out of her comfort zone at work, and she knew that she had hoped to impress her family with her choices. That had failed...or rather no one seemed to notice what she did do. She'd have loved to specialise in family law, wills, divorces, custody...anything but million pound deals that were as interesting as literally watching paint dry. She was never going to reach the height that the profession offered as she was never there for late meetings, dinners, networking. So instead of earning the wage she could, being a solicitor, she was a glorified legal assistant, earning far more than her sister, but that was as good as it got.

"But it's your dream? What you've always wanted to do?"

It was her turn to shrug, "it's what I do, Oscar. Is your job your dream?"

"I travel the globe dealing with network and software problems."

He mentioned a global hotel company, and for the first time she was genuinely impressed by that, he was no small fry, he was a big player in a big company. He carried that confidence, and exuded that aura of wealth and power. That was what terrified her about him, that and his potential ability to take away the boy that she loved, Nate.

Taking a deep breath, she offered, "that sounds powerful."

Oscar nodded, "so other than paying for your sister, looking after her child...what else do you do? Are you a closet tennis player? Other than Vicky I've not seen you with anyone else. Are you dating?"

She fought the scowl that those comments elicited, instead she smiled, "my sister wasn't a burden, and neither is Nate. I love them both...and no, I am not dating, but that's not because of her or my nephew."

Oscar sighed, he'd pissed her off. It was so difficult to try and maintain small talk when ultimately they both wanted to fight the other for what he now knew was the greatest prize, his son. The previous night he'd lain awake trying to work out how he could do this, be a father, live with his son...without him losing his aunt. But there was no obvious way, unless he upped sticks and moved back to Britain. But his work revolved around the States and Asia, there was a European office, and even if he transferred, that team was based in Berlin. No easier than his home in New York.

He watched Lizzie curl up, pull herself into herself and he knew that he wanted to reassure her, but he didn't know how, without lying.

The funeral was a few days away, he'd let her set hat through, but afterwards they'd have to talk. There was no hiding from that.

"I don't mean to sound aggressive or derogatory, it's just it seems that you're spending a lot of time back filling for your sister..."

Her eyes flared, "really? She's dead..." She hiccupped as she said the words, then dissolved into tears.

Groaning, he moved across the room and sat beside her, "sorry, I didn't mean it like that...I'm such a klutz when it comes to dealing with things like this."

She wiped her tears and looked up at him, "things like this? You mean offending people?"

Half smiling he reached out to touch her shoulder, "I'm sorry, I mean emotional shit...I'm an emotional cripple according to my sister. But it just seems that Janis took from every one, it makes me angry that she kept Nate from me for all these years, then I find out that you have practically brought him up! I could have supported her, made it right for them, but that wasn't good enough!" He was getting emotional, but he couldn't seem to control it. "Your parents really think she's the dog's bollocks."

Lizzie was studying him and his turn of phrase made her chuckle, "it's a hell of a set of boots to walk in."

He shook his head, "I just don't get why they had her on a pedestal."

That made her laugh out loud, "really? You were involved with her; you were entranced by her looks, her charm, her fun. She knew her strengths and she knew how to use them. Everyone ate out of her hand, that was who she was. Vivacious, intriguing, bewitching."

Shaking his head, he rubbed her arm gently, "well maybe you need to take a leaf out of her book...work out your strengths, what you want...then go for it. You don't deserve to hide behind anyone else."

"That still wouldn't make a man like you notice me...thanks for the advice, but I'll never be her. I'm the studious, boring and well behaved sister...and that won't change."