Chapter Thirteen

"You've going to America?" Lizzie tucked the phone under her chin and threw her remaining clothes into her suitcase before she replied to Vicky.

"It sounds like I'm rushing into this I know, but hell; we both deserve a break..."

Vicky sighed, "I just worry about you..."

Lizzie sank to the bed and slumped forward, the phone still at her ear, "I know what you think. But this is good for Nate, and shit I need a break too! I can't afford a holiday, not after paying for the funeral..."

"YOU paid for it? Are you kidding me?"

Lizzie groaned, "look Janis had no savings, my parents wanted a full catholic mass. It was me or something she didn't want."

Vicky let out a sound that was half scream and half grunt, "this story just gets fucking worse Liz, I am stunned."

Lizzie sighed, "I know that, but look. I have a chance for some time away, change of scenery, and despite my protests Oscar is paying our flights, and we're staying with his sister...not him. Ok?"

"I suppose he's offering you more than your sister ever did...I'm still so bloody angry that you didn't make our trip."

Lizzie sighed, it was a sore point for them both, and she felt sad, "don't be angry at me, babe. I'm trying my best."

Groaning Vicky quickly protested, "I am not doing anything but supporting you, I promise. I just don't feel that anyone else is sat in your corner mate, and I fear where all this is going to end."

"It will end with what's right for Nathan, Vicky, you know that."

"I know that he's always first, but what about YOU?"

Smiling, even though her friend couldn't see it, she replied, "I love that you care about me that much, but I'll be fine, I promise."

Oscar pulled his hire car to a stop outside Lizzie's house and turned off the engine. His phone had been buzzing since he left his home. In the five days since he'd suggested their trip it had been chaos. But Lizzie had come through, the solicitor had sorted paperwork that meant she took official guardianship of Nate for the journey, and he had sorted ESTAs and tickets. Now he was sat outside her house about to collect them to go to the airport.

Before getting out, he reached for his phone to see Coop, his brother-in-law's number on the screen. Immediately he worried about his sister, his niece and nephew, but by the time Coop answered he was chastising himself for worrying.

"So I've got the annex sorted for your guests."

Coop was straight to the point.

"Thanks, it's a big help."

His friend sighed, "are you sure about this, Oscar? Them visiting?"

Was he? He still wasn't sure, but he didn't want to leave them, either of them. "Is it a problem? They can stay somewhere else." Oscar was a little prickled by his question.

"Whoa!" Coop's response was immediate, "I was just checking that you were ok, this is HUGE thing bro, bringing your new found child and his guardian to your home. I worry about you, that's all."

Oscar sighed; he and Coop had been at loggerheads since he'd got involved with his sister, to hear his concern touched him. But being a typical man, he wasn't about to gush with emotions.

"You going soft on me old man? Is that what two kids does to you?"

Groaning Coop backtracked, "so sue me for worrying about you, you ungrateful bastard."

Oscar roared with laughter, there was the man he'd known for years; maybe their friendship could get back to the level it had been at previously. "You are! Henpecked and under the thumb, never thought I'd see the day."

He knew he was being defensive, and that Coop wouldn't care. He was a different man since he'd got involved with Freya and there was no one who knew more about what he was going through than his friend. He was solid and reliable, and as predicted.

Instead of retaliating, he merely chuckled, then said, "so what time you getting in? I'll pick you guys up...Freya is about to explode with excitement, and I'll be glad to get out for an hour. Will you text me when you land? I should be at arrivals before you that way."

Oscar smiled, "cheers, Coop. You are a good mate."

He merely laughed...again, "you deserve some good luck buddy, if you need anything else..."

Oscar was still grinning when he made it to Lizzie's front door. And when it opened that smile turned into a laugh as Nate ran into him like a bulldozer.

"Oscar! We're going in a Nairyplane!"

He was skipping around like a Tazmanian Devil as Lizzie appeared in front of them, "I told you darling, it's AN aeroplane!"

Oscar chuckled as he met her eyes, she looked tired, like she hadn't slept, but she had a sparkle in them that he hadn't seen there before.

"Been an excitable morning?"

She laughed, "I didn't tell him we were going until last night...and he's barely slept. He is so excited. Keeps talking about your sister's kids too."

He grinned at her, "I am so glad you agreed to this. You'll have fun I promise."

Nate was still running around fuelled by adrenaline when they checked in and headed to the departure lounge. There Oscar directed them to the children's play zone, which was conveniently next to a bar. As Lizzie settled into a seat where she could watch Nate climbing and playing, Oscar disappeared to the bar, only to return with a bottle of Prosecco and two glasses.

"Are we celebrating?" She asked watching him open the bottle.

As he handed her a fizzy glass, he nodded, "this is the first time we haven't been riddled with sadness. Not that I'm brushing off Janis. But we're going on a trip, a break, and that deserves to start on a high."

She gulped, amazed that tears were still so close, that it only took a kind comment to set her off.

He smiled, "no tears. Come on. Here's a toast to Janis, and to our little holiday, ok?"

Oscar watched her drink, he'd wondered if it would seem too much for him to buy the drink, but he was so excited taking his son to meet his family, to see his home, that he couldn't hide it. With tears still in her eyes, she was sipping at her bubbly and smiling at him, and it warmed him.

Nate came running from the Play place before he could say anything, excited and happy.

"I got you some crisps and a drink," he glanced at Lizzie who nodded her permission before he handed a carton of juice and the snack to the boy.

Without prompting he climbed onto Oscar's lap and offered him a crisp, "thank you!"

All the way through the flight as Nate took in the wonders of his own in-seat TV with virtually unlimited viewing options, and the tailor made children's meals, Lizzie couldn't forget Oscar's face as he'd sat on his lap in the departure lounge, chatting. He had been so stunned, so amazed, and had given him his undivided attention. For the first time she resented Janis for keeping him out of Nate's life. This could have been different. She knew that would mean that she wouldn't have had the last two years, but Nate would be so much happier.

Finally Nate fell asleep, and Oscar grinned as he curled up, his head on his father's lap, "want a drink?"

She nodded as he called the cabin steward across, there was something about flying outside of economy, they weren't at the top of the economical scale, but they were in large seats, with attentive staff and it seemed that nothing was too much for them.

"Could we get a bottle of champagne please?"

The man nodded, "of course."

He appeared within moments with an ice bucket and the bottle, and two crystal glasses, "here you are sir..." The man poured them a glass each then disappeared, and at that point Oscar clinked his glass with hers.

"Thanks for coming on this trip, and for bringing Nate...it means a lot to me."

Lizzie smiled, "well, I'd be a fool to turn down an almost free trip like this."

He nodded as he sipped his drink, but his eyes didn't leave her, "I know this is hard for you, and I know that you worry about the future..."

She shrugged, "I want what's best for Nate, I love him more than I can describe, but he's my priority."

He gave a nod, then dropped his eyes to the cherubic form spread across their laps, "I do too."

There was a wistfulness to his voice that surprised her.

Nate seemed refreshed after his sleep, and they emerged into the arrivals hall with his arms plastered around Oscar's neck, his eyes bright, and Lizzie walking behind pushing the trolley with their bags.

She almost stopped in her tracks as a tall, broad and model-beautiful man stepped towards them grinning. He was traffic stopping, different to Oscar, but equally as attention demanding.

"Shit, Oscar. You look like the epitome of a daddy!"

Oscar offered a silent 'shush' grimacing at Nate, subliminally reminding his friend that his son didn't know, before breaking into his own grin. "Good to see you, Coop, thanks for the ride. This is my main man Nate. Nate this is Coop!"

Nate grinned as the man mountain hi-fived him, and then tickled him under the chin, then the two men had an awkward man-hug. Lizzie stood there awkwardly until all six eyes turned to her.

"And this," Oscar reached out and slip an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into him, "this is Lizzie, the angel that agreed on this trip. This is my best mate and brother-in-law..." he grimaced at the last bit and that made Coop laugh, "Coop. And today he's out chauffeur."

She extended the hand to the man with the rugged jaw and searching eyes, he really was beautiful, but he just laughed and pulled her into a hug. "Nice to meet you Lizzie, heard a lot about you."

She blushed, "all great I'm sure, knowing Oscar."

Coop stared at her for a moment and she realised how gutted Janis would be at missing out on this man, he was exactly her type. "I like you kid, I like you a lot. I can't wait until Frey meets you!"

Oscar rolled his eyes, "my sister, she's waiting desperately at home I presume."

Coop laughed as he reached for the trolley she'd been pushing, "you have no idea." Then he turned his warm friendly eyes on her, "you may need some warning, because she is post natally hormonal, and misses home...so you are ALL that she is waiting to see!"

It sounded as though he thought it would be hell, but actually, she was really looking forward to meeting this woman.

The drive was less than an hour, Nate sat in the back of a huge SUV beside her, Oscar and Coop up front bickering and laughing like the old friends they were. Every now and again, either of the men would point something out, the nearest shopping mall, a cinema. Then as the buildings became more dense as they entered town, the shops of note, the lake in the distance, until they pulled up in a rather industrial area at a large warehouse type building. Though it looked as though it had been renovated somewhat.

"Here we are!" Announced Coop sliding in to the driveway. "Home Sweet home..." Then he turned to look at her and Nate, a grin on his face, "it's a lot nicer than it looks from this angle. I promise."

He was out and helping Nate out before Oscar had even loosened his seatbelt, but rather than bursting in to the house, he waited for her, sensing that Nate needed her, despite seeming so confident. As they all reached the front door, she felt the small hand of Nate slip into hers. She looked down at him and saw how tired he looked. Holding out her arms she offered him a hug, to carry him in, and he reciprocated, reaching up for her.

Oscar watched as Nate curled himself into Lizzie, he was so exhausted, he realised how hard this must be for him, the glaring hole left by his mother still evident and raw. But Coop's hand had barely touched the door when it pulled open and Freya stood there beaming.

"Hi guys!" She briefly, but rather energetically hugged Oscar, but then she battled past him and her husband to stand in front of Lizzie and Nate. "Hey little man, I guess you must be Nate. I've heard SO much about you."

Immediately the little man in question pulled his head from Lizzie's neck and looked up at her. Freya didn't hound him though, her eyes immediately flipped to Lizzie, "lovely to meet you Lizzie, I've heard a lot about you too. Thanks so much for coming."

Lizzie returned the one handed hug and smiled back, "thanks for putting us up."

Freya smiled, "it's our pleasure, come in, have a cup of tea, and then I'll show you to your rooms."

Oscar and Coop barged past her, her husband tossing, "you and your tea!" over his shoulder as they both made for the fridge and an ice cold beer.