Indelible Lovin' - Max & Jane's Story Vol.1: Indelible Love, #3

PROLOGUE

(Max) April 19, 2012 The End...Again!

Jane! Seriously? We're breaking up, again? I was sick of the cat and mouse game we'd been playing the last few months.

I can't take not being number one in your life. I'm tired of being second choice. She yelled in the maternity ward.

What the hell are you talking about? You've never been second choice to anything or anybody. What would make you think that? I just don't understand you.

That's just it! You don't understand me, I don't understand you, we don't belong together. It kills me whenever I see you looking at my sister-in-law. There's so much love in your eyes. It's like she's never left your life.

Are you nuts? This time, I was the one who yelled. All the nurses stared at this idiotic conversation taking place in the middle of the corridor. She's married to your brother. She just had twins today! What could I possibly have done to make you think I was still in love with Em, and what can I possibly do now to change your mind?

Women! What the hell was wrong with them? I had enough trouble with one woman - trying to understand her and keep her happy. Did she really think I had the energy to love another one at the same time? Maybe this was for the best. When we first started dating, Jane lived in New York and I was here in Los Angeles, so whenever we saw each other, it was like a first date all over again. We were excited, eager, and willing to give in to each other's demands. Once she moved here and we saw each other on a regular basis, everything changed.

The fact that Jane lived at home, and I lived with three roommates, did not help our cause. We saw her family - who are all wonderful people - way too often. We had no privacy. This is where our troubles escalated. Since Jane lived on the same block as Em, I saw Em almost as often as I saw Jane, and Jane never warmed up to the idea of me and Em. It did not matter that Em and I had broken up ages ago, and that Em and Jake were beyond happily married. Jane didn't like how emotionally involved I was with Em and there was no way I could make Jane understand that I would always love Em like family. That was something I couldn't change...I didn't want to change.

There's nothing you can do. Let's just end this now. I've decided to move back to New York, she announced.

You decided to move away without discussing this with me? Shit! I'd had enough. It was time to finish this conversation. Go ahead, Jane. Move away. Hope you have a nice life! I walked away from her, and went to visit Em in her room, instead.

Em was lying in her bed, looking radiant with both babies in her arms. I couldn't believe this was the same girl I met in Dykstra Hall on a hot September day. That timid girl - whom I loved, and who loved me with all our hearts - just became a mother to a baby boy and girl. There were few words to express my overwhelming joy for her. With so much goodness in her heart, and with so much love to give, she found her family to dote upon and to love the rest of her life. I couldn't have conjured up a better man than Jake Reid and today, seeing her with the babies, I was convinced I did the right thing on graduation night. She was finally where she belonged.

Hey, she smiled. Did you meet Elizabeth and James?

Em... I was speechless. ...they're beautiful! They look just like you.

Thanks, Max. I think they're beautiful, too. Can you believe how both our lives have changed so much in a span of two years?

They've definitely changed, and you're exactly where you should be - here with Jake and your beauties. I see you named them after your mom and dad.

Yeah... My sweet ex-girlfriend, and my dear friend started tearing. It always broke my heart when I saw her crying for the parents she lost too early in life. I wish they could've met my babies. They would've loved them so much. Now she started crying.

It looks like these babies are the reincarnation of your parents. From the pictures I remember, Elizabeth looks just like your mom, and James is the spitting image of your dad. You did right by naming them after your parents.

I know this is going to sound ungrateful, but no matter how wonderful the Reid family is to me - and they have been beyond a dream where family is concerned - I can't help missing my parents. Especially on such a special occasion, I wish Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa were here with me. The Reid family can't quite fill that void completely. Isn't that terrible of me to say such a thing?

It's not. I know how much you miss your family. That was something I could never complete for you either. But, I'm happy you found Jake. If I could have built a man out of dust for you, it would have been someone like him. He will fill in all your voids.

He does... She smiled her beautiful smile. I was a lucky man at one point, and Jake definitely will be a fortunate man to live with such inner and outer beauty the rest of his life. Did Jane give you her big news?

Yeah. She also broke up with me.

"WHAT? Why???"

She and I are like oil and water. We just don't work, Em. I don't know what it is that'll make her happy.

But you love her, Max. Hold onto her. I know she'll stay if you ask her to stay. Don't let her go, again.

I don't know how I feel about her. She makes me feel like the luckiest man one moment, and then she drives me up the wall the next moment. Regardless of how I feel, I don't think she wants to make this work. I didn't feel the need to tell Em about Jane's unnecessary pettiness where Em was concerned.

Max Arthur Davis. I see the love in your eyes whenever you're with her. Give in to her demands. Em softly laughed, while giving each of her sleeping babies a kiss. Jane grew up sandwiched between two overachieving brothers. She's always felt the need to prove her worth and demand her rightful attention. In my mind, she outdid both brothers, but I don't think she feels the same. I wish you'd stop her from moving away.

I think it's out of my hands. She's made her decision, and she only told me after she broke up with me. I don't have the energy to stop her.

Do you want to break up with her?

No...I don't. That was the last thing I wanted to do...I sincerely hoped this time we'd stick together - through thick and thin, for richer for poorer, till death do us part - type of together. I guess it wasn't meant to be.

Em was right. I was already in love with Jane, and could envision a lifetime of battling the wills and learning to compromise. But, Jane needed to decide where I belonged in her life and she needed to battle her own insecurities, first. I'd miss Jane, but perhaps this was for the best and we'd try again a few months down the road.

Did you make my wife cry, Davis? Jake walked in with more flowers for his family. No one is allowed to make her cry, he said ominously.

Congratulations, Jake. I shook his hand. The babies are beautiful, just like their mother.

I know, he smiled at his wife while answering me, and I knew it was time for me to leave so the Reid family could have some privacy.

Bye, Em, I kissed her cheek one last time knowing I wouldn't see her or the Reid family for a while. Em gave me a funny look and tried to hold onto my hand, but I gently shook it loose and waved good-bye to Jake as well.

Walking down the corridor, I saw Jane talking to her family. I walked over to her one last time, and she had the good sense to meet me halfway.

I hope you find what you're looking for in New York, and I'm sorry I couldn't be what you wanted in a boyfriend. I'll miss you...

I thought I heard her whisper my name, but I didn't turn around to find out if my ears were playing tricks on me.

And that's how we ended...again.

(Jake) July 4, 2012 Happy Anniversary

Hey, you got a moment? I hadn't seen my buddy, Donovan in months. Between my life with the wife and kids and his busy schedule, we couldn't meet unless he stopped by the house.

What brings you here? We shook hands and gave each other a hug.

Donovan was one of the groomsmen at my wedding and he was my best friend since our toddler days. Our fathers went to med school together and I had dated his sister, Kelley, years ago.

I just finished at the hospital and I have a favor to ask of you, so I thought I'd drop by. Plus, I haven't seen you in a while.

What's going on, proud father of two? You have time for dinner or drinks tonight?

No time for dinner or drinks, and even if I did have time, I'd rather be home with my wife and kids. I am in absolute heaven as a married man and a father of two children. I highly recommend it. You should try it too.

No way, that's not for me.

Isn't that why you came back to LA? Didn't you want to slow down, find a wife, get married and have a kid or two?

Speaking of women, how's your sister doing? I saw her about a month ago when I was out in New York, but I didn't get a chance to talk to her much. We were both busy at the firm and we tried to connect for dinner, but it didn't happen.

Yeah...keep it that way. Stay away from my sister. She's not the girl for you. Don't you think it's a bit incestuous to be interested in someone you've known since her diaper days?

No more incestuous than her dating your wife's ex-boyfriend.

Donovan always had to rub that one in my face whenever I nixed the idea of him and Jane.

Hey my wife came to me as a virgin bride. It doesn't matter to me that she had an insignificant relationship back in undergrad.

Insignificant, my ass! Wasn't she thinking of marrying this guy?

"Anyhow, the reason I stopped by was to ask you for a favor. Donovan laughed at me because I cut off whatever he was about to say concerning Emily and Max. Can you ask Kate and see if that house up in Napa is available for rent, from the fourth of July till Sunday? I want to take Emi and the kids there for our anniversary."

Kate, as in Kate Beauvais?

You know any other Kates? You remember that house we stayed in several years back? It belonged to a client of hers, and he used it as a rental?

Yeah, I know which house you're talking about. I'll ask. As soon as he said those words, my foot was almost out the door. I was itching to get home to my family. You seriously bailing on me already? You won't let me date your sister, you go incommunicado for months, and you only stop by when you need something from me. You're a shitty friend, you know that?

Oh well. If you don't like it, find yourself a wife and kid and we can do family stuff together. I laughed and dodged his prized A-Rod baseball I knew he wouldn't throw at me. See ya. Come by the house. Ellie and James say they'd like to see their godfather. I threw in one last jab before leaving.

Life these days had taken on an enjoyable routine. I'd get up early with my wife to help with morning rituals, go to work, and then come home for the nightly rituals. The number of diapers we went through on a daily basis could overflow a landfill. These kids had a good life! All they did was eat, sleep, pee and poop - interspersed with play dates, baby gyms, baby music classes, and outings with their mama. When I asked Emily about all these activities, she explained that if she didn't have a scheduled activity once a day, she'd never see sunshine. I guess I understood.

The Chief eased up on my schedule at the hospital, at least for the time being, and I enjoyed teaching at the med school, immensely. But of course, my favorite time was when the little critters fell asleep and gifted Emi and myself the evening. The happiest day for the both of us since the babies were born was not when they first smiled, nor when they learned to bat at their toys while lying on the floor, but it was when they both slept through the night. I was not one who needed much sleep UNTIL I had kids. Sleep deprivation caused by two beings who weighed less than a combined 25 pounds was nothing to laugh at!

Hello, Love. I snuck up on my wife who was doing...laundry! This was one machine in the house that never got a break.

Hi, she smiled her beautiful smile. You're home earlier than expected.

We made out in front of the washing machine until I realized something was not right.

Why are we stopping? Emi whispered.

Why is it so quiet in the house at this hour? Where are our babies?

Emi laughed. They've been hijacked by your cousins. Laney came and picked up James, while Sam got Ellie. Everyone is back on the block for the fourth of July, so I don't know which house the babies are in right now. They may not even be in the same house for all I know.

Fantastic. Can we go upstairs?

What, for all of 10 minutes? Who knows when the kids will be back!

We can accomplish a lot in 10 minutes. I answered with a sly grin. "Think of the other day when I popped in for lunch. The kids had no idea we were in the other room playing."

"Let's save whatever it is you have in mind for tonight. I'm not thrilled about your cousins finding us during our playtime. Dinner is at Mom and Dad's tonight. You want to help me fold laundry till then?"

Not really.

Emi gave me a funny look, and I chuckled at how domesticated our lives had become. My travel-bugged wife hadn't been on any trips since our honeymoon, the foodie in her hasn't eaten out since the babies arrived, and the thrifty woman that I married refuses to get any hired help around the house. She insists on doing every job on her own, and she's accomplished it with aplomb. Our big house has become a cozy home, our once preemie babies are healthy and considered big on the growth chart, and her lack of dining-out has only refined her cooking skills. Yes, I won the lotto with this woman.

Emi, Donovan is getting us a house up in Napa from Wednesday to Sunday. How quickly can you get the kids ready to travel? Emily didn't look thrilled at all. We talked about this the other night - about going back up to San Francisco and Napa, as well as having another baby?

"Are you crazy? I am NOT having another child right now - maybe in a couple of years, but not now! And Jake, I really don't want to pack up everything but the kitchen sink and go away for four days. Let's just stay here and hang out with the family."

Then let's go away without the kids for a few days!

And what about nursing? You think this milk will just hold off till the babies latch on again? You are seriously insane today.

I'm going to put my foot down on this one. I want to take you away - with or without the kids - this weekend. You've been cooped up in this neighborhood for months. You need a change of scenery. Come on, Beautiful! It'll be fun. I pulled her into my body, and tried to coax her into my fabulous idea. We'll leave the kids for a few hours and I'll take you back to French Laundry.

The idea of delicious food was working its magic - kind of.

She let out a big sigh and said, Alright...I'll get things ready. When do we leave?

I answered, In two days, and left the utility room before my wife yelled at me again.

Damn! My wife was right, was all I could think, while lugging two car seats, two large suitcases, a double stroller, and crying twins sitting in the double stroller. What the hell was I thinking traveling with two 3 1/2 month-olds? Emily just smiled an I told you so grin and leisurely pushed the babies through the airport. After checking in the two suitcases, I was about pushed over the cliff when we got to the TSA check-in. After practically disrobing in public and quickly placing my shoes, belt, cell phone, keys, laptop, and Emi's Kindle on the ever moving conveyor belt, I folded down the double stroller while Emi held on to both kids, then placed the two car seats on the belt for inspection. Then, before all of our items went through and caused a backlog on the other end, I took James and ran through the metal detector. Of course, the damn detector went off and one of the frickin' inspectors insisted on checking over James while another frickin' inspector performed my pat-down.

Was it really necessary to check over a 3 1/2 month-old? At this point, I wasn't going to argue. After taking out the loose coins in my pocket, they let me through one more time with James and we passed this time. Emily laughed her way through with Ellie, and she quickly took a crying James in her arms and calmed him down while I unfolded the stroller, put my clothes back on and placed all the electronics in my messenger bag. Shit! I was not doing this again till the babies could walk and talk and handle their own pat-down.

Go ahead and say it, I told my wife. I know you're dying to tell me!

She quietly laughed and gave me a brief kiss on the lips. I love you, was all she said. She was truly the mega millions of the lotto world.

Being so preoccupied with settling down our unhappy children, Emily not once realized that we were not