Disclaimer: Nothing vile intended toward any persons, living or dead. The Nanny television program nor it’s characters are my property.
Author Note: This will be the last installment of the series. Let me say again how much I’ve enjoyed working with Laurel on the series. It was a pleasure and a lot of fun. Thanks for putting up with me gal. Thanks also to all the awesome Nannyfic readers who gave us feedback, encouragement and suggestions for the series. You are fabulous!
Rating: Soft R (Language usage, Adult situations)

The Elusive Heart

by

Bart

Eighty-four hours, forty-five minutes and oh, fifteen seconds or so.

Max glanced at his watch as he sat behind his desk and bit his lip.

It seemed like an eternity.

Had she really been out of his life that long?

And what a damn hard eighty-four hours.

In that time, he had barely slept, had gotten next to no work done, his kids weren’t speaking to him, Niles was answering him in grunts and mumbles, and to top it all off, that damn little mutt of C.C.’s had bit him this morning!

He absently rubbed the area between his thumb and index finger that was salved and bandaged.

He’d probably get rabies and die.

And would she care?

No.

She was probably out having a grand ol time with her new boyfriend.

Again, the feeling of sickness washed over him as he remembered the disastrous night eighty-four plus hours ago.

How could they have talked to each other that way? He’d been angry with her many times-too many to count. And every time, they had seemed to work through it and go on being employer and employee as well as friends.

But this wasn’t like every other time.

And he knew it.

This time it was personal on the highest level that personal could get.

He’d held her in his arms and offered to ratchet their relationship to the next level. It was what he’d thought she wanted.

And instead, she said it wasn’t enough.

Hell, what did the bloody woman want from him?

A marriage proposal?

He bit his lip harder.

He knew the answer already.

But dammit! Hadn’t he already explained things to her? Hadn’t she sat right outside with him on his doorstep and told him that she understood his reasons for not pursuing a deeper relationship with her and that she could accept his offer of friendship?

Yet, in the time since he’d opened his big mouth and his the secret and afore to concealed yearnings of his heart and told her on that plane that he loved her, he had done nothing but screw up.

He’d broken his own rule. Crossed his own line.

At every opportunity, he’d done or said the wrong thing. She’d made it clear to him that she wanted more. It wasn’t her that was being dishonest about things, it was him. If he were finally honest with himself now, he’d accept that.

He was so damned scared of losing what they had together, just plain scared of losing again, that with his pathetic attempt to be ‘just friends’ with her, he’d accomplished the one thing he had hoped never to see happen.

He’d lost her.

He bit his lip even harder and stared at the closed door to his office.

Hearing a sudden knock, he drew himself upright and did his best to appear normal and carefree.

"Yes?" He answered.

Niles opened the door and just stood there.

"Permission to enter Sir?"

Niles held his face in a bland mask.

Max dropped his brow into a scowl.

"Well of COURSE you have bloody permission!" He almost yelled back.

Unperturbed by his boss’s outburst, Niles crossed the room with a silver tray in hand and placed it on the side of his desk and with tight movements, uncovered it and arranged the cloth and silverware.

"Your lunch Sir." Niles voice never changed pitch nor did he look at Maxwell.

Max stared at him crossly. This was becoming ridiculous!

"Would you please look at me when you speak to me Niles!" He jerked the napkin from the butler’s hands causing him to startle. "And act bloody NORMAL would you?!"

Niles hooded his eyes and ignoring the directive, returned to his blandness. He knew it was a trick that had gotten his boss going many times in the past and with time a precious commodity, he had to get some conversation going about Miss Fine.

"Normal Sir?" He responded as if he hadn’t a clue to what Max was referring to.

Max picked up a fork and began to wave it around in short circles to indicate that Niles should know what he was talking about.

"You know...like...before." Max refused to say more thinking that should be sufficient orders to get his butler to behave properly again.

Niles raised his eyebrows sarcastically. This was the perfect opening.

"Oh, you mean BMFWKO?"

Max squinted his face and stared at his butler confusedly.

"B...M...F...W...K...O?" He repeated slowly.

Niles slowly poured the coffee before meeting his eyes and responding.

"Yes, Before Miss Fine Was Kicked Out...of course the children leave the ‘M’ out when speaking of it..."

Max tossed the napkin down now and shot to his feet. "WHAT the hell is THAT supposed to mean?"

He was frustrated and ready for a fight and wasn’t letting his butler leave until he got one out of him!

Niles shrugged nonchalantly staring blandly at his upset employer.

"Well, that is what happened isn’t it?"

Max took a few steps around his desk and huffed out a couple of breaths. "NO, that is NOT what happened!" He brought a hand to his forehead. Miss Fine wasn’t even in residence and she could give him a bloody headache!

He let out a long breath and sought to explain. He needed Niles...or anyone to understand his side of it.

"Niles, Miss Fine left of her own accord. I didn’t force her out!"

Niles took a couple of slow steps toward the door as if to leave. "Mmmmm..." was all the response he would give to Max’s rebuttal.

Max quickly moved to block his butler from the door. "And what is THAT supposed to mean?" He accused.

Niles turned bland eyes up to his and glanced at the bandaged hand Max held up in front of him.

"It means Sir..." He sarcastically let the ‘Sir’ dangle a moment before continuing. "...that I believe I’ll bring Miss Babcock’s dog in your office...He’s about ready to do his er...business I believe..."

Max narrowed his eyes at his butler. He knew Niles was upset with him but that was just mean spirited. If the truth was known, Niles probably coerced the little mutt into biting him earlier!

"Now, if you’ll excuse me Sir, I have work to do...wouldn’t want to be goofing off on company time..."

Max barked a frustrated and sarcastic laugh. "Now that would be something bloody new!"

Niles raised an irritated eyebrow, bit the inside of his own mouth and refused to answer the bait. Mr. Sheffield was deflecting the real issue.

Max couldn’t stand the accusatory stare his butler was giving him! "Well, you should have seen her with that new boyfriend of hers!" He lashed out, justifying to himself again the reasons for his behavior the last time he’d seen Miss Fine.

Niles didn’t miss a beat. "And didn’t you also have a date with a young woman Sir?"

Max was caught unawares by Niles’s response but refused to be moved to any kind of logic on the issue. His date had been completely different. He raised a defiant finger toward Niles.

"Well, yes but I didn’t wallow all over her either!" He curled his lip as he defended himself.

Niles pursed his own lips, obviously unimpressed by his boss’s rebuttal. "So you assumed that all Miss Fine really needed with a man is a sexual relationship and you so gallantly gave in to your baser emotions and offered her one and when she became angry you threw her out..."

Max’s mouth came immediately open.

"I DID NOT THROW HER..."

His swiftly rising voice stopped suddenly as he realized that Niles had given him the very details about what had happened in the living room between he and Miss Fine just a few nights ago.

He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms pointedly at Niles. "And how would you happen to know what was said?"

Niles refused to show any shamefacedness and raised his chin defiantly.

"Well, I do live here you know and I do get thirsty in the middle of the night and the two of you were shouting..."

Max just held out his hand to halt Nile’s excuses and blew out a frustrated breath as he turned to the side and looked to the ceiling.

"Good grief! It’s like Yenta central with you around here..." He tossed over his shoulder at Niles.

Niles ignored the jab wanting desperately to get his boss to the talking point so he could do something about this problem between he and Miss Fine and in a hurry. He thought back to the phone call he’d received downstairs just minutes before from a certain ‘date’ who had been looking for her. Time was running out!

Time for more direct measures.

"Sir...go to her. She’s at her mother’s...Talk to her...Really talk to her...and not at her." When he noticed he had a very captive audience, Niles continued using his hands to help plead the case.

"I’m quite certain Sir, that this other man means nothing to her..." He paused and slowed his voice deliberately for effect. "Especially considering what the two of you have..."

Max blew a long breath out. "I tried...She..." Max began.

Niles vehmenantly shook his head, his voice becoming more forceful to match his countenance. For emphasis, he placed one lean finger on his boss’s lapel.

"No Sir...you assumed that you knew her heart and her motives and you didn’t listen to her. Try that for a change. Ask her what you want to know and really listen to what she has to say. You know, between all those babblings, Miss Fine can say quite a lot at times."

Niles finished with a small, hopeful little smile for encouragement.

Max had always valued Niles opinions especially when his irreverent butler became as serious and grave in his conversation as he seemed now. He thoughtfully studied on what seemed to be an urgency in Nile’s voice. Perhaps, he had been too hasty to judge things...

Maybe Niles did have a point...

For a long moment, he stared at the ceiling, reliving that hellish night she’d walked out the front door. He closed his eyes and neither he nor Niles said anything in the still office for a long moment.

He blew out one last, long tired breath and finally dropped his head in defeat. He was so tired of fighting. He asked the next question to the ceiling almost as if seeking an answer from above.

"Where did I go so wrong with her?"

The pain in his voice was evident in the whispered question. Niles watched him with a feeling of helplessness. He cared so much-too much- about both of them. He cared enough to want to help. He just didn’t know what else he could tell the man. If Mr. Sheffield refused take his advice and let his heart rule his mind and refused to tell Miss Fine he was crazy about her and damn the stupid vow of friendship, then what else was there to say?

Mr. Sheffield turned from the ceiling to him and looked almost helplessly into his eyes waiting for an answer; wanting some kind of a quick fix to this mess he had in large part helped create between he and the woman Niles knew he had fallen in love with. It was then that Niles realized something. Perhaps, Miss Fine walking out on him had finally accomplished what no amount of intimate moments or agreements or arguments between the two of them ever could.

Perhaps, he was finally ready to face his demons; to face the irrefutable truth and act on it.

He cleared his throat and spoke softly, almost kindly as he sought one more time to get him to understand. "You went wrong Sir, the day you tried to bury your heart with your wife."

Max said nothing to that quiet declaration, but stoically let Niles help him into his jacket and took the car keys he offered.

As he went toward the door, Niles dropped his head and sent a quick prayer up that he wasn’t going to be too late.

**************************************************************

"Here little birdy...come get you a big ol fat juicy bite of donut."

Fran pinched off another small chunk of the sweet pastry and tossed it down near her feet where she sat on the small green park bench. She watched as three pigeons descended and fought over which one would carry the trophy off to devour it.

Again, she noticed that the same little grey pigeon seemed to swoop down and escape successfully with the food each time. He was braver than the others and more trusting of her as he was willing to come closer the fastest.

A little broken chuckle escaped her lips as she tossed him yet another bite by her feet in admiration. "Wow, I have to get your number big man."

The pigeon looked up at her expectantly and eyed the remainder of her donut. She pulled it closer to her body and raised an eyebrow at the bird. "Hey, the cream filling is mine buster."

And she stuffed the last bite of the donut into her mouth.

Making a ball out of the green and white striped Krispy Kreme sack, she tossed it into the garbage and pulled her jacket closer around her to ward off the coolness of the late fall afternoon. As she did so, she gazed listlessly out across the grassy field.

She watched as a couple of boys chased each other around. They would have been about Brighton’s age when she’d first met him.

She felt the instant moisture come to her eyes and quickly brought her hands to her cheeks to wipe it away.

The kids hadn’t understood.

When they’d called, she’d promised to see them soon. She smiled as she’d listened to them argue on the extensions about who got to talk next and who was hogging the conversation. They’d wanted to come over to her mother’s and see her right then, but she’d put them off by telling them that she didn’t feel too well and she’d call them soon.

But what did she tell those three kids that she loved like her very own? What explanation could she offer that would make it right to them?

Of course she’d insist they visit her. Of course.

But it would never be the same. And knowing that alone was tearing her heart out.

She closed her eyes briefly against the gravity of the situation.

She’d lost her family.

She’d thrown it all away. And damn him, so had he. She was angry at herself but she was also angry at him! She hadn’t been alone in what had happened the last couple of months between them regardless of what he liked to accuse her of!

Wasn’t he the one who’d sat outside on that step and told her that he could be just friends? He knew that wasn’t what she wanted. He knew she wanted and craved more. She hadn’t exactly hidden her desires and feelings for him through the years had she? He knew.

He was the one who claimed to have the solution, the answer. She was a Jewish girl from Queens for goodness sakes! She couldn’t be expected to control her emotions like he could! It wasn’t her who’d dragged him into her arms and kissed the life out of him was it? It wasn’t her who had began to make love to him only to throw ugly accusations and innuendo in his face! It wasn’t her who wouldn’t listen to reason...

But that little annoying voice inside her head was also telling her that she wasn’t completely innocent either. She’d participated and encouraged him when he did break his own rules. Hell, she had actively tried to get him to break them and she knew it. It wasn’t fair to lay all the blame at his feet. But she sure as hell could lay this latest back breaker at his feet. She had finally gotten to the point where she’d accepted what wasn’t to be. She had actually gone so far as to encourage him to date Terri and tried to wish him well. Granted, it was going to be a difficult process but she was going to try and set him free of her heart to preserve what he had insisted over and over that they must preserve at all costs:

Their friendship.

And look where that had got them.

Damn.

She wanted to yell and scream and cry and pitch a fit like she’d done as a teenager when something didn’t go her way. She’d always felt better after she did.

But she knew no amount of immature fits could make this better. She’d left for good. She’d found out the truth... Found out that he was never going to allow himself to give her the kind of love that she needed...hell, that she deserved. She’d found out that they couldn’t be just lovers and they couldn’t be just friends.

And she’d done something that was totally against everything in her being...everything she believed in...

She’d given up.

It was over.

She dropped her head and stared at the broken concrete between her feet for a long time.

*******************************************************

"Miss Fine..." He paused and tried again. "Fran..." Better. "You have to come back..."

No. It still wasn’t good enough. He took a deep breath and tried again.

"I can’t live another day without you." He spoke louder and more forcefully this time.

Gads, how pathetically dramatic.

He searched his brain for what might sound right and gave it one final try.

"Miss Fine...I can’t find the words but so help me, but if you come back, we’ll make this work."

Max threw his face to the automobile ceiling. He just didn’t know what to say.

He sat in the sports car with his hands resting on the steering wheel. He couldn’t do this. He reached to crank the motor once more and then let his hands dangle again.

He was going to do this.

He had to or he might go crazy.

He glanced up at the apartment building he been to only a few times before. Sylvia’s was on the second floor. He remembered the first time he’d found her mother’s apartment right after they’d first met. He’d come to apologize then.

"So what you’re really saying is that if you could, you’d get down on your hands and knees and admit you’re sorry about this whole damn thing?"

He snorted a breath through his nose as he remembered the question she’d tossed at him then as he’d asked her to come back when he’d screwed up the first time.

He hadn’t gotten down on his hands and knees but he had asked her back. And she’d jumped back into his arms and his life right there in front of her mother.

He sighed as he let his hand guide over the roses resting in the passenger seat.

It might not be so easy this time.

He’d lost his temper and he was sorry for that. He tightened his jaw. He wasn’t sure what, if anything, was going on between Miss Fine and that Erik fellow but he was going to be at least going to be willing to listen.

They could get past it. The two of them had been through so much together. They had something didn’t they? In his bones, he felt they had something special, a bond between them that had been built through time and testing and sharing. Miss Fine had been out with so many men but she’d never gotten really serious about any of them.

But she had been willing to get serious with him.

And he was going to tell her how he felt.

He did love her and had to have her in his life in some capacity. And they would work on the terms. This time, he wouldn’t set the rules. They’d do it ...Together.

He took a deep breath, reached for the roses and opened the car door.

Climbing out, he started toward the entrance of the building. Before he could cross the street however, he noticed someone coming out of the building. And that someone stopped him in his tracks.

With curious eyes, he followed the figure down the sidewalk.

And then, forced his own feet to follow.

*******************************************************

"Your mother said I would find you out here."

Fran was surprised to hear the male voice that spoke above her head as she raised her face to his.

Erik Slivka stood before her with his hands in his jacket and a boyish smile on his face.

"Is the seat reserved for someone special?" He gestured to it with his hand.

Fran, now over her surprise at seeing him again, motioned him down beside her.

"Not unless you count my new boyfriend there." She gestured to the pigeon who now rested comfortably at the back of the bench.

Erik’s smile increased and he shooed the pigeon away so he could sit down. "Hey, even *I* am an improvement over that."

That brought a small smile to her face.

Erik turned to her. "Hey kiddo, you look pretty glum."

Fran shrugged, letting him draw his own conclusions.

"I take it that it’s not going well with Maxwell?"

She gave a short, defeated laugh. "What tipped you off? The fact that I’m living with my mother now or that I’m flirting with members of the animal kingdom."

Erik smiled back at her attempt at humor but he could hear the pain in her voice. He’d felt that same pain when Julie had told him they were through. Terri had been his shoulder to cry on then. She’d taken his homeless ass in and listened to him and offered to be not only his sister, but more importantly, his friend.

He wanted to repay that kindness to someone else that needed it. And from the looks of this incredibly beautiful, vivacious woman, she definitely needed a shoulder to cry on.

He put his arm around Fran’s shoulder and cradled her to him gently. "Hey, the bird isn’t that bad looking and your mom didn’t seem so bad...She was nice to me...even offered to let me stay for dinner if I found you."

She raised her head from his shoulder enough to give him a watery smile. "That’s only because she wants grandchildren. I warn you-she sees you as potential husband material. She’s desperate now that she’s heard about me and..."

Fran let her voice trail off, unable to say his name for fear that she might break into some severe crying like she’d done the last few nights in the solitude of her old bedroom. She didn’t want to scare poor Erik. He was too nice a guy.

Erik understood and pulled her even tighter back into his shoulder as he bent his head to kiss her softly on the top of the head.

"Hey, it’s O.K...cry if you want."

After a moment, she raised her eyes back up to his and tossed her hands irritatedly.

"But I don’t want to!" She took a big sniff. "This isn’t me!"

He gave her an adorable lopsided smile and tucked a finger under her chin.

"What you need Fran is something to keep you busy for a while!"

He nodded in assurance as he tossed her a little wink.

Fran leaned back and eyed him curiously. This guy wasn’t only good looking and smooth, he was sweet as pie. If she had any sense...

"I don’t guess you tracked me down here at Ma’s to swap recipes."

He chuckled. "Nope, I want to know if you want to work."

She knew that of course but honestly, she hadn’t given his offer any more thought since...the incident.

She stared at him for a long moment. "Model for you? And I would get paid just to sit there?"

Erik raised his eyebrows a bit. "Well, technically, you’d have to stand a good bit too but that’s the gist of it, yeah."

Fran drew her lips together. Well, it was work and she was out of a job now. And she didn’t plan on living with her parents forever. She shuddered as she thought of the food her mother had stuffed her with the last several days. If she didn’t get out and do something, she’d gain some major poundage soon.

And it wasn’t as if she had to worry about the kids or Mr...

She forced her mind back to the conversation at hand.

"And where would we do this...job?"

Erik smiled, encouraged now.

"Well, that’s the best part of it! When I told my agent-the owner of the art studio that I took you to last weekend- that I had the perfect model for my newest piece, he was thrilled and offered me a cheap apartment above the studio if I gave him first dibs on funding the piece. Raymond-he’s the studio owner- is a great guy and really believes in my talent. He’s the one who would actually pay your sitting fees and for my supplies. Then, when it sells he gets a nice percentage."

He paused as he let her digest that. He often talked too fast when he was excited.

Fran broke into a genuine smile and threw enthusiastic arms around him.

"Erik! That’s terrific!"

He was pleased that she was happy for him and hugged her back before continuing. Finally, he pulled away and continued to explain.

"That’s what I’ve been doing the last several days-moving out of Terri’s place and into my own. Granted, it’s a very small apartment but it’s a roof over my head and it gives me my own space to work in. Anyway, when I finally called the townhouse and the butler told me you’d moved out and gave me this address, I just had to come and see what was up and get your answer."

Fran stood and turned to look down at him. "And if I say no?"

Erik winced and looked up at her pleadingly. "Then, I guess I’ll just enjoy your mom’s cooking and dream about what a missed opportunity this was for me to create a surefire masterpiece?"

Fran reached down to playfully swat his arm. "You play dirty Erik Slivka!"

He grinned up at her and could feel her giving in. He was already chomping at the bit to get into his new little space and get started.

"Dirty enough to get a yes?" He raised his eyebrows hopefully.

She signed. "As long as it pays something."

Erik threw his arms wide. "You’ll get a sitting fee as well as a tiny percentage of what it sells for."

Fran shrugged. "Well, Mr. Artist, I guess you’ve got yourself a model."

Erik jumped up from the bench and grabbed her around the waist and happily swung her around before placing her back on her feet.

Fran giggled a bit and realized it felt good to laugh again like her old self.

She took his large hand into her own. "Come on, let’s go get a fresh donut. I fed all mine to the pigeon."

As he watched the happy couple walk arm and arm down the sidewalk, across the street, standing in the shadows of the tall building, Max didn’t feel the cold wind whipping across his face.

It was truly over.

He was too late, just as he’d secretly feared for so many years.

She’d already moved on.

He dropped the roses to the concrete silently.

And he never felt the lone tear that streaked down his face.

**************************************************

The absolute last person that Terri Slivka expected to hear from was Maxwell Sheffield.

When they’d last parted, it had been with the unspoken understanding that his heart was spoken for and that any hope of a relationship between them was a false one.

Terri had understood. She really had. Max was in love with his Nanny.

Then why the hell had he invited her to the opening night of his latest production and the even bigger mystery was why, after embarrassing herself by being rebuffed once, had she agreed to go?

For the tenth time in the last ten minutes, Terri questioned her own sanity. Was she that desperate? She knew she was decent looking and she’d always thought she had some common sense.

No, she knew that it was just something about Maxwell. The man had a special quality about him. He was truly one of the few really good men. Plus, it didn’t hurt that he reminded her of...him.

She took a deep breath and resolved herself not to think about him. She just couldn’t seem to help it.

Plus, she just loved the theater.

Terri slipped her pumps on and hurried to the door as she heard the downstairs buzzer ring.

"Come on up!" She answered back into the intercom.

In a mere matter of seconds, Maxwell was knocking on her door.

She opened it to find him standing on the other side in a dashing black tuxedo and tie looking more suave and worldly than she had ever seen him. He looked every bit like the power producer he was as he stepped across the threshold.

"Ah, Terri, you look smashing."

Max tossed her a smile that made him look even more handsome.

Terri, who felt a bit out of sorts about accepting the date anyway, flushed the slightest bit under his effusive compliment.

"Thank you Maxwell. You look good yourself."

He held out his arm to her. "Are you ready to see the best play opening tonight on Broadway?"

Terri reached behind her on the side table to get her black bag.

"I hope I’m dressed alright for an opening night. I’ve never sat in the VIP section and I wasn’t sure how one dressed amongst the elite."

Max gave her simple black strapless dress an appreciative glance and then securely tucked her arm into his own. He winked down at her.

"You’ll wow them."

Terri gave him a grateful smile as they started toward the elevator.

Once on it, Max turned to his date. "I noticed your brother had removed most of his sculptures."

Terri raised her head.

"Oh, I didn’t tell you. Erik moved out just a couple of days ago. He’s renting his own small apartment right above the small gallery he displays and works at."

Max nodded. "How convenient for him."

He wasn’t thinking about Erik’s art.

Terri smiled. "Yes, it really is. He was constantly back and forth between here and the work studio there. Plus, he had his job at the gym. Now, he can work on his own schedule more."

Max smiled tightly as the elevator doors dinged open and he held his hand out for Terri to exit first. As she walked she turned back to him almost hesitantly.

"Um, his art show was last weekend."

Max tried to act interested as they made their way toward the curb where his limo was parked. "Oh? I hope it went well."

Terri nodded as she pulled her wrap more tightly to her. "Oh, definitely. He sold several pieces. He hopes to begin making enough to quit his job at the gym and sculpt full-time."

Max really didn’t want to discuss her brother right now.

They came to the curb and Max nodded at his limo driver who held the door open for them. They made themselves comfortable and Max turned to offer her a drink.

"Just club soda for me Maxwell, thanks."

Max nodded and poured it for her as the limo pulled smoothly from the curb. He gave her an easy smile thinking that the subject of her brother was thankfully over.

She took a sip of her drink and then watched it bubble as she swirled it around gently, her eyes locked onto it.

"Um, I talked to Fran." She rolled the words out carefully.

Max tried his best to not let his reaction show and instead, concentrated on pouring his own drink.

"Oh?" His response was short and casual.

"She was at the art gallery exhibition with Erik..." She gently reached over to place her hand atop his own. He stared at it a moment on the plush seat. "She told me what happened."

Max’s mind froze. Fran told her? Surely she hadn’t!

He looked up hesitantly to see Terri giving him an understanding smile. "She said that she’d moved out and that the two of you had parted with an understanding."

No, she hadn’t told Terri everything. Max felt himself flood with relief.

He nodded. "Yes, that’s correct."

Terri laced her fingers through his for a moment and then brought her hand to his sleeve as if trying to reach out to him.

"Maxwell...I’m so sorry...for whatever happened....and I hope that neither Erik or I were the cause of it." It was a whisper and a genuine sentiment.

Max coughed roughly and placed his drink on the small console table in front of them. He gave her a tight smile and then reached to pat her hand.

"No...not at all...Miss Fine...Fran...and I had...we hadn’t seen things eye to eye in a long time and it just finally came to a point where we decided that we would be better off if we parted company."

Terri stared at him and Max could tell that she was unconvinced but she didn’t seem to want to push the issue. Max sought to reassure her as well as himself.

"I’m fine Terri. Really. Let’s you and I just concern ourselves with enjoying tonight." He gave her what he hoped was his brightest and most carefree smile. "I do have a hit play opening in a few minutes you know!"

Terri let her hand fall away and smiled back at him. "Thank you so much again for inviting me Maxwell! I’m so excited to be going to an opening night!" She then began to talk about some other plays she’d been to and Max did his best to listen and not think about her...about them. This was was his night. The butterflies in his stomach were just the usual nerves he got every time he opened a new play.

Without thinking, he reached inside his cummerbund only to find his Tums not in their usual spot.

The feeling caused a sudden drop in his stomach as he remembered why.

Damn.

**************************************

The coffee shop was crowded as they made their way in. Fran hadn’t really wanted to stop but Erik had insisted that they grab a cappuccino before heading back for a late night work session in his tiny apartment studio.

Having gotten started on his project, Erik worked like a man possessed. Just when she’d thought they were done for the day and had made her way back to her mother’s, she’d gotten a phone call from Erik insisting that he needed her to come back over to the studio for a couple more hours. When she’d asked why, he’d went on some kind of jag about artistic sensibilities and such. She hadn’t understood it but she did want the piece to be good so she’d good naturedly went along. However, she had some idea that his total immersion in his art went beyond artistic enthusiasm. In her experience, people went overboard when they were trying to escape something else.

So, Erik had wheeled by and picked her up and here they were. But honestly, she wasn’t too thrilled with the idea of standing still with little clothing on for another two hours while Erik refused to talk to her and gave more attention to his piece of marble and tools behind that canvas.

She’d thought at least she’d be able to watch him chisel the thing.

"What’d ya have babe?" Erik peeked over the drink card in front of him at Fran who was now more into people watching than beverage choosing.

Fran didn’t know why but his endearment sort of grinded her nerves. Nonetheless, she smiled back at him. He had been wonderful to her the last couple of weeks since she’d been on her own.

"Fran?" Erik prodded her when she just stared at him.

"Oh, sorry." She glanced down at the list. "I’ll just have a fruit juice I think. My bladder might not stand another coffee today."

Erik nodded with an understanding grin and Fran eyed him carefully a second.

"Why the late night session Erik?"

She felt there was more to it than he’d shared. They were friends and he’d certainly listened to her whine on about her problems enough lately.

"I told you Fran...I am at my artistic zenith at night."

Fran studied her fingernails. "Yeah, and I eat six different pints of Tom and Jerry’s to compare the flavors."

Erik gave a half smile and dropped his head. "I should have known I couldn’t fool you."

Fran reached over and covered his hand with her own. "Who is she...or... he?"

Erik brought his beautiful blue eyes up to her brown ones with a hint of amusement. "Believe it or not, some of us arty types are heterosexual."

Fran and squeezed his hand and let him talk.

"Julie."

Fran leaned closer to him. "The woman you broke up with?"

Erik looked away a moment. "Yeah."

Fran had been so immersed in her own problems with Mr. Sheffield that she hadn’t stopped to think that her new friend might have problems of his own.

"How long did you live together?" Fran guessed and asked the question softly as she continued to stroke his fingers.

"Almost eighteen months...I was so upset that I wouldn’t even talk to Terri about her when I came begging for a place to stay. I just blew it off like it was a casual thing like so many of my other girlfriends..."

Fran smiled. She knew the feeling. "But it wasn’t."

It was a statement; not a question.

Erik looked into her eyes to answer. "No...It wasn’t." His voice held such a trace of sadness and regret that Fran wanted to cry for him. Hell, she was just in a crying mood lately.

Fran leaned over to give him a one armed hug. "Hey, maybe we can start a club or something..."

Erik gave a snort of laughter as he leaned away from her just a bit. "I wanted marriage...I guess I sort of pressured her." He paused and she waited a moment for him to continue.

"We had everything ready to go...well...needless to say, she got cold feet."

He looked up at Fran who was listening intently and shrugged, feeling unhappy as he remembered it all. "Come on, Fran, let’s talk about something else...You don’t want to hear this sob story..."

Fran rubbed his arm encouragingly. "Trust me sweetie...if anybody can understand, I can. I’m somewhat of an expert at examining cold feet."

They chuckled together and feeling more relaxed, he continued.

"Well...like I said...we were all ready to go...the cake...photographer...the dress..."

He had a faraway look in his eye and Fran could see he was replaying it in his mind. She knew the feeling. She’d replayed that trip in Paris and the fateful plane ride home over a thousand times in her own mind.

"The day came and there we were at her family synagogue, standing in front of the Rabbi with a couple of hundred family and friends in attendance and...she just...broke down and couldn’t go through with it."

Fran immediately laid a hand across her heart as if in shock. "A Jewish girl who doesn’t want to get married?!"

She looked to the heavens. "It’s a sign that the end is near!"

Erik nodded solemnly ignoring her dramatics. "Yeah, at the time, I thought so too."

Fran immediately leaned in to rub his arm again. "Oh, Erik...I’m so sorry...here I’ve been going on and on to you about my problems and...you’ve had such a hard time."

He blinked and caught her hand in his own. "Oh, I’m alright now...I just had to accept that she couldn’t handle the idea of getting married. She told me that she loved me but that I was pressuring her."

He shrugged again. "And maybe I was...I just loved her and I wanted...oh...it doesn’t matter now anyway. We had a big fight about it and...she told me we were through and tossed me out."

He fiddled with his menu as Fran watched him. It was odd. Sort of like parallel lives. Except she’d never gotten Mr. Sheffield to the altar. Heck, she’d never even gotten him to the bedroom! And still he didn’t trust her! At least Erik had his ex’s respect. Mr. Sheffield wasn’t her ex nor did she have his respect.

But this wasn’t about her. Well...not directly. She needed to be a friend now. She looked at Erik who looked as down as she’d ever seen him, his bright eyes now a bit sad with remembrance.

Fran reached up under his chin and raised it with her finger. "Hey...her loss...us recovering marriage seeking addicts have to stick together."

Erik broke into a beautiful smile at her phraseology and reached to give her a quick peck on the lips.

"You’re going to make some guy really happy one day Fran."

She picked her drink list back up as she flicked her hand in the air. "From your lips to some rich doctor’s ears."

Erik raised his eyebrows.

"Or producer’s?"

Fran twisted her lips into a wry grimace and flicked her hand. "Let’s not go down that ‘It Ain’t Gonna Happen Road’ again right now please."

Erik winked at her and feeling better, he turned to motion the waitress over to their table.

"Hiya Erik!" The young waitress greeted him enthusiastically.

He gave her a charming smile. "Hi Cara."

"What you guys having?" As Erik ordered, the waitress took the pencil from behind her ear and scribbled their drinks down on the pad.

When finished, she stuck her pencil behind her ear once more. "Hey Erik, your sister is right over there."

The waitress pointed in a general direction over their right shoulder.

Erik glanced and then turned back to the waitress and raised his eyebrows. "I didn’t think she was working this weekend."

Cara let her tongue dart between her teeth teasingly. "Oh, she’s workin alright...just not as a waitress tonight."

Cara shook her head and narrowed her eyes. "Your sister is the luckiest woman I know...where does she dig all these good looking men up at? And this one may be the best I’ve ever seen her with. Yum-my!"

The waitress winked and sashayed off as Erik and Fran both turned to find his sister amongst the crowded tables.

When they did, Fran felt her heart jump to her throat.

There across from Erik’s sister sat one ex-boss of hers looking very much engrossed in what his companion was saying. He laughed and tossed his head back and Fran felt a hot stab of jealousy and confusion streak through her.

Would she ever get over him?

Erik stood and called out to the waitress. "Hey Cara...bring ours in ‘to go’ cups...we’ll be over there." He pointed to his sister’s table.

Cara waved a hand in acknowledgment of the request and before she realized what was happening, Fran was being dragged by the hand over to where Mr. Sheffield and his date were talking.

Max had already spotted them. It had taken all of his willpower to keep his eyes trained on Terri and not watch the lover’s interplay between Miss Fine and Erik Slivka over her shoulder. He’d seen enough for him to know just how cozy the two were getting. Late night coffee...probably headed back to his place...

He’d hoped they would just leave without seeing each other but now as Erik and Miss Fine made their way over to where they sat, he felt a knot forming in his stomach.

"Hey Sis!" Erik reached down and took his sister off guard with a huge one-armed squeeze.

"Erik!" Terri leaned back, obviously delighted to see her brother. She looked around him to see Fran and then included her in the smile.

"Hi Fran." She greeted a bit awkwardly.

Fran refused to let the situation turn weird. His treatment of her wasn’t changing her personality! She didn’t have anything to be ashamed of! She stepped forward with a huge smile.

"Hi Terri! Good to see you!" She turned her attention to Max who had said nothing but just sat staring up at the other couple. Seeing her had taken him off guard and had hit him squarely in the stomach. She looked beautiful to his eyes and he stared at her now as a starving man might a feast.

"Hello Mr. Sheffield..." Fran gave him a huge, carefree smile.

Max wasn’t expecting that type of greeting. "Hello Miss Fine." He sounded like a croaked frog to his own ears. They stared at each other for a long moment.

He wanted to snatch her up and carry her off and tell her that he was incredibly sorry for what had happened and that he’d been stupid and that if she could just see her way to forgive him one more time that he’d make things right and...

He watched as Erik placed a proprietary hand over her shoulder. His eyes then cut from the hand up to Fran and their eyes met in an unspoken, tension filled battle of wills.

Across from him, Terri cleared her throat, hoping to redirect the silent battle onto more neutral footing.

"Um, Max and I have just been to the opening of his new play!"

Terri sounded a bit too cherry.

Max was drawn back to himself. "Uh, yes...it went quite splendidly if I do say so myself."

Fran sniffed and crossed her arms with a little nod. "Oh...I’m sure it did."

Max drew his brow up at her tone. "And just what is that supposed to mean Miss Fine?"

So, he wanted to continue the friction did he? As she glared down at him, Fran didn’t pause to think about her words; instead just going with her impulse.

"Just that you put a lot of effort into your business affairs Mr. Sheffield." Fran spat his last name out hating how catty and hateful she sounded but unable for some reason to stop herself.

Max didn’t want to argue with her again right here in front of Terri and her brother and certainly not in the middle of a very public coffee shop. He decided for propriety sake to try and steer the conversation between them to more neutral ground.

"Gracie told me that she would like to see you Miss Fine. I told her I’d call you and see if we could find a time that would be convenient for you to come by."

Oh that chapped! How dare he insinuate that she didn’t have time for her kids!

"Oh? I’m surprised you’d let her see me." Fran sniped back at him.

Max couldn’t believe she was acting this way! He was trying his best to be nice and try to be civil to both her and her...boyfriend and she was biting his head off for no reason!

"And just why wouldn’t I let her see you Miss Fine?" He let out a breathy laugh to try and cover her obvious irritation and keep the conversation light.

Fran linked her arm purposefully through Erik’s as she looked down at him. "Oh I wouldn’t want to be a bad influence on the children."

Max knew she was speaking of his accusations he’d made to her that fateful night when she’d walked out and it hurt. She wasn’t going to let him forget that any time soon it appeared. He just stared up at her for a moment unwilling to say anything more about their fight in front of Terri and Erik.

He lowered his voice. "She misses you Miss Fine...they all do..."

Fran took a deep breath and felt tears well up in her eyes. How could he do this to her!?

"Tell Gracie I’ll call her tomorrow..." She trailed it off refusing to meet his eyes.

Thankfully, the waitress brought their drinks over in to-go cups.

Erik paid her for them and handed Fran’s to her. "You ready to go babe?"

Babe? Max bit the inside of his lip, determined not to appear jealous in any way.

"Max..." Erik held his hand out to the other man. "Glad to hear your play went well...good seeing you..."

They shook hands.

Erik then turned to give his sister a light peck on the cheek. "Sis, you behave and don’t let this guy keep you out too late!"

Fran bit her lip determined not to show that the image of Terri and Max tucked away together in each other’s arms bothered her.

Erik then put his arm around Fran and started to lead her away from the table when Max suddenly remembered something he needed to know.

"Oh, Miss Fine!" He called out.

Fran and Erik both turned back to look at him.

"You father didn’t get all of your things when he picked up your clothing. Should I have a driver bring them to your mother’s?"

Fran sniffed and glanced from Terri to Max once more.

"Um...no...just have them sent to Erik’s place. I’ll pick them up there."

And with one final glare, she turned and linked her arm securely back through Erik’s and walked out the door.

*********************************************************

"Fran, turn around and take off the robe."

Fran did as she was told, slowly letting the robe fall to the floor.

"That’s it babe! Great. I love the back. I’m thinking I may have found my focus to the piece. Your back is awesome!"

Fran reached across to the table beside her to stuff an Oreo in her mouth. Erik huffed as she did so.

"Fran, you’ve got to hold the pose!"

Fran crunched on the cookie and rolled her eyes. The man was a slave driver when it came to his art. Again she wrapped one arm across her breasts to her other one and looked to the side as instructed.

"Do I need to be concerned that you think my backside will sell better than my front?" She tossed the question over her shoulder.

Erik didn’t even pause as he continued to bend over with his chisel. She couldn’t see his face but every so often when he glanced up above the cloth canvas in front of the marble to eye a certain part of her. She didn’t know whether to be offended or not that he seemed to see her only as another tool of his work.

Artists.

She internally rolled her eyes and chomped on the cookie a little harder. At least doing this kept her mind off of Mr. Sheffield. She chewed the cookie a little faster.

And just what the hell had he been doing out with Erik’s sister again tonight? He should have carried the kids to the premiere of his play! They’d always gone as a family!

The more she thought about the kids, the angrier she became with him. She loved those kids and if they wanted to see her well...she was going to see them! She wasn’t going to let the fact that they were legally his stand in her way!

"Hey Fran, why’d you let Mr. Sheffield believe you were shacked up here with me?"

Fran dropped her arm and then quickly raised it back into position before he could chastise her. She thought about his question for a moment. She had refused to think about why. Maybe because living with her mother at her age seemed so...pathetic. And maybe...well maybe she did just want to make him a little jealous. But she wasn’t going to share that with Erik.

"I dunno Erik. Living with Ma...well...that just gives him the impression that I don’t have any other options ya know...?"

Erik nodded. "Lean your right shoulder down just a little Fran and hold it...right there."

Fran winced at the uncomfortable position. If she had to hold this for long, she’d have neck cramps.

"You could move in here." Erik tossed the question from behind the canvas not looking up as he continued to work.

Fran wasn’t one to hit the panic button but that was hardly an appropriate offer for a friend to be making to another friend...and he was on the rebound...

"I don’t think so Erik...I just wouldn’t feel right about moving in with you...I would like to keep some semblance of respectability...I have to think about my kids..."

Erik hopped up from his stool and crossed over in front of her. Reaching up, he adjusted the lighting where it would cast more directly on the shoulder he seemed to be ‘working on’.

As he fiddled with it, he grinned at her. "Not here in this apartment babe. I didn’t mean to make you sound like a trollop. I meant...here in the building...the gallery owner, Raymond, has a tiny...and I do mean tiny place right here on the third floor. I had my choice of the two." He glanced around almost unbelievably. "Believe it or not, this one is bigger."

Erik shrugged. "You’d have to be willing to put up with a little noise at times. These few apartments in this building are filled with Raymond’s artists but everyone concentrates on their own work and keeps to themselves. And the really large and loud works are done during the day downstairs in the large studio area."

He walked back and sat down. Fran thought on what he’d said. Moving out would give her some independence. It would get her out from under her mother who wasn’t going to be happy until she’d nagged her into either going back and groveling to Mr. Sheffield or she produced a new husband candidate.

"How would I pay for a security deposit? I mean, I think I have maybe, a hundred bucks in my savings total."

Erik glanced up. "Well, I owe you for two weeks worth of modeling work here...and if you want another part-time job...with that gorgeous bod of yours, I think I could talk my manager at Workout World into offering you some sort of position."

He paused thoughtfully. "Think you could be patient enough with old ladies to teach them aerobics? "

Fran thought of Yetta and smiled confidently nodding her head in the affirmative. "Oh, believe me, I know patience with old women."

Erik stood up brandishing his chisel. Reaching over he turned the power to it off with a flourish and the slight buzz ceasing sent the room into a quiet. He tossed it down indicating he was done with it for the time being. Fran pulled her robe back up on her shoulders and turned to stare at him. He held out his arms with a smile.

"Then, Fran Fine...welcome to your new life."

**************************************************************

"Where are you going so early this morning young lady?"

Maggie reached across the table between her brother and sister to grab a piece of raisin toast to go along with the carton of orange juice she held in her hand.

"To see Fran." She tossed it at her father almost hatefully. She hadn’t forgiven him for what had happened and didn’t know if she ever would.

Max held up his hand. He’d just about had enough of her insolence.

"Maggie...I think you’ve seen enough of Fran this week. You’ve been over at her place all bloody week!"

Maggie didn’t look up. "Fran’s got me a part-time job helping her with aerobics classes over at the gym. I start today."

Max blew out a breath. "Fran. Fran. Fran! That is all any of you kids ever talk about anymore and I’m bloody well sick of it!"

Maggie just dropped her jaw and stared at her father.

Max waved his fork at her, still irritated. "And I’m not sure that I like you going over there and hanging around that Erik character she’s involved with either...I don’t trust him."

Maggie narrowed her eyes at him. "There is nothing wrong with Erik! He’s a perfectly nice man." She threw the last two words out as if to insinuate that her father was not. "And since when do you object to me seeing my Nanny?"

Max took a bite of egg and chewed it harshly. "Ex-Nanny." He reminded her with a dwindling lack of patience.

Maggie bit her jaw and then lit into him. "And she wouldn’t be if wasn’t for YOU! You tossed her out of here for absolutely no good reason!"

Max now stood and leaned across the table. "Margaret...we have been through this! I didn’t toss her out as you so put it...she left of her own free will!"

"Just as I’m going to leave of mine!" She wheeled to leave and Max stormed behind her to the living room where she picked up her bag.

"You stop right there young lady! We are not finished talking!" Max felt desperate. He had to make them understand that this was not all his fault and that he still loved them regardless of what had happened between he and Fran.

Maggie jerked her Workout World gym bag around in front of her. "Why don’t you try convincing Gracie and Brighton...maybe they’ll believe you."

Max took a deep breath to calm his temper and lower his voice. "Maggie...I don’t want you to think that I would ever do something to intentionally hurt you or Gracie or Brighton...and neither would Miss Fine. Sometimes adults just realize that their relationship has come to a point that they can’t continue to stay with each other amicably."

Maggie bit her jaw as tears welled up in her own eyes. "Well Dad...let’s just say for the sake of argument that I understand adult relationships better than you think I do."

She pointed at herself. "Let me tell you that I do know that Fran loved you and she never wavered from that love. If I had to take bets on who flinched-it would be you."

As she said it, she turned her finger from herself to point at him.

Max closed his mouth. What could he say?

Maggie turned and went up the steps toward the door.

He couldn’t just let this continue though. He had to put a stop to it. He was losing his daughter!

"Maggie...I refuse to let you walk out on our conversation!"

She paused at the doorknob and Max had a sudden vision of Fran standing in that very spot doing the very same thing not so long ago. What was this talent he had for running the women in his life that he loved away?

"Daddy...Fran has offered to let me come live with her...and I want to..."

She said it seriously, wanting to convey her sincerity. And when he did nothing but stare up at her from below the steps she continued.

" I am eighteen now you know and I will do it with or without your blessing."

She turned the knob and went out the door.

Well...he’d see about THAT! There was no way in hell he was going to let his daughter move in with Fran and that...playboy artist! He knew they weren’t living together in the same apartment but he was quite sure that was simply a technicality.

Max angrily strode back into the dining room where Niles and his younger two children were sitting at the table quietly.

He sat back down and forced a smile to his lips.

"Now, Brighton...you were telling me about the upcoming JV basketball game..."

Brighton took a sip of his juice and rose from the table, not quite looking at his father.

"May I be excused?"

Max stared hard at his son, irritated by the abrupt request from his middle child so soon after having it out with his oldest.

"No, you may not! Now, sit down! You were about to ask me something about your upcoming game, now what was it?"

Brighton didn’t sit down but looked hard at his father.

"I was about to ask if Fran could come to my game but I guess I already know the answer to that don’t I?"

His tone of his voice held hurt and disgust in it and he didn’t wait for a reply from his stunned father before jerking angrily from the room.

Max stared after his son for a moment before turning with a tight smile to his youngest.

"Gracie...honey...what do you have planned for today?"

Without answering, she burst into tears and tore up from the table and ran from the room like her brother.

Max sat for a long moment as Niles sipped his coffee and said nothing. He brought his hands to his face and rubbed his eyes in helpless frustration. Not only had he lost the woman he loved...now he was losing his children.

*****************************************************

"Now Mrs. Kelley, you’ve got to wear something looser if you’re going to continue aerobics." Maggie watched in dismay as the large woman pulled at the tight spandex around her hips in irritation.

"Oh, I know but our instructor always look so cute in hers that I thought I’d give the look a try but now I’ve sweated so much that I can’t seem to get it off. Could you be a dear and please come back to the locker room and help me with it." Mrs. Kelley put a beefy hand on Maggie’s arm as Maggie shot Fran an SOS with her eyes.

Fran, who had been helping another elderly woman gather her mat, looked up and caught the distress signal. She responded by coming over to give the older woman a charming smile.

"What problem is my best student having?" Fran gave her a charming smile.

Mrs. Kelley immediately turned her attention and admiration onto Fran. "Oh, Fran honey, I just was telling your sweet assistant here that I needed some help getting this spandex loose enough to peel off!"

Fran gave a friendly laugh and leaned in close to Mrs. Kelley’s ear as if sharing a big secret. She spoke in confidential tones. "What you need is a good cool down rub. If you’ll head on in to our handsome masseur’s office over there, I’ll call in and get you one on the house."

She leaned back to give the woman a broad wink before speaking from the side of her mouth. "And honey by the time he gets done with you, those clothes will just peel right off."

Mrs. Kelley blushed and let loose with a girlish giggle of her own. "Oh Fran! Honey, that sounds fabulous! I’ll head on in there right now!"

Fran nodded. "And for doing so well in class today, I’m going to have you your very own Workout World gym t-shirt and shorts ready at your locker on Monday!"

Mrs. Kelley squeezed Fran’s arm in delight. "You are wonderful Fran! I’m gonna go sign up for another month!"

Fran’s smiled increased as she gave the woman a little wave. Maggie watched in stunned amazement.

"You are AMAZING! You had her eating out of your hand and ready to buy stock in the place!"

Fran just snapped her fingers, flinging her hand back and forth. "You gotta learn how to work it and pass the buck baby...I thought I’d taught you a few things."

She tweaked Maggie under the chin before heading around to the work station to grab her own water and sit down.

Maggie followed behind her and sat down in the chair opposite hers. Glumly, she began to pull her headband off and then threw her head back and slumped in the chair.

Fran knew Maggie’s traits like the back of her hand and she knew these signals meant she wanted to talk.

"So give sweetie. What’s wrong? Don’t you like working here?" Fran knew that Maggie’s discontent didn’t have a thing to do with her job but she also knew better than to go direct at first with her. Best to let Maggie lead into it.

Maggie didn’t waste the opening and popped her head up immediately. "Of course I do Fran! It’s great! I mean, it gets me out of the house and I actually get to make some money of my own and I get to..."

She trailed her voice off and Fran leaned in to prod.

"Get to...what baby?"

Maggie looked at her with those serious eyes. "I get to spend time with you again."

Fran wrinkled her brow and let out a long breath before opening her arms. "Come here sweetheart."

Immediately, Maggie leaned across and met her hug. She continued to speak on Fran’s shoulder. "I miss you Fran...we all do."

Fran held her back and looked into her eyes again. "And I miss you guys so much! You know I do! But..."

She looked away and Maggie knew why.

"But Dad tossed you out!" She finished for her with a narrowing of her eyes and anger in her jaw. She crossed her arms on her chest and again felt herself becoming furious with her father.

Fran took her by the arms and took another deep breath.

"Oy, how do I explain this...?"

Maggie just stared at her with all the righteous indignation of a child wronged.

Fran knew to tread gently here. "Maggie, your father didn’t toss me out..."

Maggie opened her mouth to protest but Fran held her hand up to stop her. "Hear me out." She took another sip of her water as she searched for the right words.

"Your father and I...we have...had... a very complicated relationship and we’ve had our problems recently...and we just felt that we couldn’t continue to live together under the same roof and be angry at each other like we were. There were some..."

Fran paused and fought back her own emotions. It wouldn’t do for Maggie to see how upset her father had made her. She forced a small smile to her face before continuing.

"There were some hurtful things said and I left because I couldn’t stay with him and continue to hurt any more and I’m sure...I’m sure he feels the same way..."

Fran knew that this was tough on all the kids but Maggie was the closest to adulthood and she probably sensed the adult nature of the problem more than her brother and sister.

She placed her hand on Maggie’s. "I know this has been difficult for you kids...and I’m sorry...but please...Maggie, don’t blame your father...he loves you so much..."

Maggie pulled her hand away from Fran’s and snarled her lip disgustedly. "If he loves us so much then why won’t he do the right thing and admit he’s in love with you and marry you so you’ll be with our family forever!?"

Fran let a sad smile cross her lips. If only it were that simple. She spoke again softly. "Sweetie, your father can’t force himself to feel and do things that he doesn’t want to do...none of us can."

Maggie stood up. "Well, that’s fine if he can’t but I can’t force myself to do things either and I don’t want to live there anymore if you’re not there with us! I want to come live with you at your new place."

Fran stood now again too and hugged her again tightly. Oh, how much she loved these kids. She didn’t know what she’d done in life to deserve such love and devotion from three adorable babies but she treasured the gift and loved them back with all her heart.

Leaning back, she spoke seriously to this girl that was quickly becoming a woman. "Maggie, I would love nothing more than to have you come live with me but I can’t let you do that without your father’s approval and I don’t much think that he wants to let you go."

Maggie shrugged. "Dad knows that you would take care of me."

Fran nodded. "I like to think that he realizes that sweetie but he’s your father...and he doesn’t want to lose you...not even to me...You know that you’re welcome to come see me anytime you want to. You can even stay with me some if that’s O.K. with your dad."

Maggie wasn’t satisfied but if it was the best she could get, she’d take it. Maybe, after she stayed with Fran some, her father would see that it was what was best for her and let her live with Fran full-time.

"So...you and Dad could maybe like...share custody of us?"

Fran smiled at her terminology. She only wished she had some kind of legal rights to the kids.

"Sort of I suppose...I’d love for all you guys to stay with me some...if it’s O.K. with your father."

Maggie gave her a little squeal and hug. "I know it had better be O.K. with Dad. Brighton and I were considering legal action of our own."

She was only half kidding but she softened the threat with a smile.

Fran gave her a loving look of mock chastisement. "Maggie...surely you and Brighton wouldn’t leave poor Gracie behind with your only your father and Niles for company!"

"But she’d have Ms. Babcock too!" Maggie squealed.

They both laughed together and it felt wonderful. For the first time in weeks, Fran felt like a bit of her old sunshine had come back into her life.

Maggie began to get her stuff together. "I’m out of here for today. Can I come by this evening when you get home and visit? I’ve just got to tell you about the new guy that transferred into my Trig class!"

Fran smirked at her. "Workin’ on an angle eh?" She gave Maggie a wink and the younger girl just stuck her tongue out at the bad pun.

Fran laughed again and then answered her original question. "Sure honey, you’re welcome to stay tonight...just come on over after seven. I’ll be over at Erik’s until then..."

Maggie turned to go and then hesitated and looked back at her. "Fran, you’re not getting serious about him are you?" There was a trace of panic in her voice.

Fran scoffed and flicked her hand. "Serious? About Erik? No way. He’s not my type. I told you the truth. He’s a friend and I’m helping him with a project."

Maggie shot her a relieved smile and then turned back to leave the gym. There was hope for her father yet if he wouldn’t be such a doofus and continue to screw things up.

**********************************************************

Max knew the address. He hadn’t been there but the kids had. They’d all been to see her ‘place’ and just raved about how cute it was and how ‘Fran’ it was. He’d wondered during their descriptions what that bloody hell had been so ‘Un-Fran’ about her bedroom here.

He knew it was just down the hall from that blasted artist she was seeing. And if she thought that short distance served as proper propriety, well she was more than wrong.

He actually didn’t like the idea of the children over here so near her new lover but beyond tying them to the house and making them hate him, he didn’t have much of a choice.

But today, she’d crossed the line. If she thought that she was going to just take his daughter away from him for good, well then, she had another thing coming. He was going to remind her who was the parent and who was the Nanny.

Ex-Nanny.

He stomped his way up on the sidewalk and noticed the small, first-floor art studio and gallery was still open. Pushing on the old wooden door, he stepped inside.

The gallery was dark and lit only by the spotlights on the works of art being highlighted. Max noted with a trained eye that the owner had some very tasteful pieces for such a small gallery. Max couldn’t recall ever having frequented the establishment but was impressed by the quality that was displayed.

He walked over to where one piece was lit rather brilliantly against a dark backdrop. It was a relief sculpture of a very regal man standing by a single, empty chair. The piece was simplistic in nature but very detailed and care had been given to the tiniest details of the piece. Max had looked at art in his various stops around the world and was instantly impressed. This piece would rival many that his father owned in his prestigious collection.

An aged spindly man came out the darkened area in the back of the gallery and wiping his hands, came forward to greet him.

"Good Evening Sir. Could I assist you in locating something?"

Max looked at the old man wearing the painter’s apron and assumed he must be a worker. "Um, no, not really..." He pointed at the piece on display that he’d been pondering. "That is an interesting piece...is it a Robert Graham?"

The old man raised his eyebrows at the mention of the extraordinarily famous sculptor’s name.

"Um...no Sir...that’s a local artist piece there...he works right here out of this studio...I can give you his name and price if you like..."

Max waved his hand. "No, no...that’s quite alright...I’m not here to buy art in any regard." He turned away from the piece and looked at the man inquiringly. "Do you know where I can find a Miss Fran Fine?"

When he didn’t immediately answer, Max elaborated. "Miss Fine was...um...is a...a friend of mine and I believe she lives in one of the apartments upstairs."

Max pointed with his finger at the ceiling.

The older man nodded and began to smile. "Oh, yes...Fran!...darling girl!...she a friend of yours you say?"

Max bit his inner jaw for patience. What was the old guy-her doting uncle? Damn that woman could get any man to eat out of her hand.

The old man broke into a grin. "Well...I just love that little girl...she brings me my coffee every morning freshly brewed. And boy, is she a pretty one if I do say so myself. I told Erik that he ought to snatch that one up permanently before some other man decides to."

Max could only stand so much. "Sir, please, I’m in rather a hurry...do you happen to know which apartment she’s in?"

The old fellow looked him up and down and must have decided him harmless. "I just rented her that tiny little apartment at the end on the third floor. It’s number three."

Max’s lips fell open in surprise. "So...you’re the owner of this place.?"

The old man smiled proudly. "I know it’s not an uptown gallery but I’m very proud of the local artists work that we manage through here."

Max nodded back at the man understandingly and with admiration. He had right to be.

"Well...I’ll just be going up now...do I enter from the gate outside?"

The old man nodded and tossed his thumb behind him. "Or you can take the stairs in the back there."

Max thanked the owner and headed for the stairs.

He climbed until he reached the short third floor landing. He looked down the hallway to see that there appeared to be only three apartments on the hall. Walking slowly down the narrow corridor, he paused as he reached each door. The doors were painted in several different colors in contrast to the adobe color of the walls. Max supposed that must have been a reflection of the artistic types that lived here.

He also noted how quiet it was at the moment. The only things stirring were a couple of plants in the end windowsill of the corridor being blown about by an overhead fan.

It was nothing like Sylvia and Morty’s apartment where there were children in the building and people were yelling at each other up and down the hallway. Here, the corridors were quiet and he’d seen no sign of children at all. He had never thought of Miss Fine in a place such as this. She was so lively and vibrant that he’d have thought she’d have been more happy in a place where activity was rampant.

Maybe he didn’t know her as well as he thought he did.

The thought hit him not for the first time since they’d had their fatal argument several weeks back and she’d left her job and him behind. Had he misjudged her? Niles had hinted as much and the children downright accused him of being the one in the wrong. He didn’t like to think that he was so off in his assessments. He just didn’t know if Miss Fine, with all of their differences, was what he needed in a life-time companion. She was his employee for goodness sakes! And he just didn’t know if he were ready for any kind of permanent companion at all.

He had hoped that maybe they could talk about it...about things...and come to some kind of trial and error type arrangement that might work for them. But apparently, she’d given up on the idea of them ever working out anything at all if her recent relationship with Erik Slivka were any indication.

He shoved the sharp emotions down and forced himself to remember why he was here. It wasn’t to discuss their relationship or ex-relationship but it was to tell her in no uncertain terms that she was not to coerce his daughter into living with her instead of him. Regardless of their problems, he would not let her use her relationship with the children to get at him.

As he approached apartment number three and it’s red painted door, he raised his hand into a ball to knock and felt his heart jump in his chest. He was truly nervous about seeing her again. He’d let Niles bring Gracie and Brighton by a couple of times and he’d spoken to her through them several times concerning the children’s visits but this would be the first time that they’d come face to face alone with each other since that fateful night.

He knocked quietly and waited. After a moment, he placed his ear close to the door and turned his head to listen. Hearing no movement inside, he knocked again; this time a bit louder.

Again, he waited but heard nothing.

Now what? He shoved his hands into his pockets and looked down the hallway as if expecting her to round the corner from the stairs he’d come from at anytime. He noticed the other set of stairs near the window and eased down that way. It was as quiet as a tomb in the building.

He was just about to head down to speak to the gallery owner again when he heard eerily familiar laughter coming from the apartment across the hall. Easing down the hall, he heard it again and knew that it was hers. He looked up at the bright green door and noticed that it was marked apartment number one. The old man must have been mistaken as to which apartment she occupied.

He placed his ear to the green door and listened a moment.

"That’s it Fran, honey...ease your shoulder back for me...come on now...don’t play...O.K....that’s perfect. Hold it right there. I’ve got to get this just right...I need that angle right there..."

Max almost jumped back away from the door in shock. Miss Fine and her lover were obviously in the midst of a tryst! He felt suddenly sick at his stomach and his face clenched in anger. He couldn’t help himself. How DARE she think his daughter would be reared in such an environment where she had sex with this man any time the urge hit her!

He boldly tapped on the door in anger. They could just hold their sexual playing off until he’d said what he came to say! Instantly, he regretted the knock and the urge to flee hit him. He’d turned to leave when the door flew open and a smiling Erik Slivka greeted him like an old friend.

"Maxwell! Hello man!" Erik’s voice held surprise but no shame.

Max noticed that the other man still had his clothing on. So...they hadn’t got that far yet had they?

Max opened his mouth and didn’t know quite what to say...

"I was um...looking for Miss Fine...is she with-..."

"Mr. Sheffield!" Fran’s voice rang out as she pushed Erik aside to see him in the flesh standing in Erik’s doorway.

She was tying a big white terrycloth robe into place at the waist as she edged her way by Erik to step outside the door.

"What are you doing here?"

Max bit his jaw as he let his eyes follow the movements she made at her waist and then noted her smooth legs and neck. He was certain she was naked underneath that robe.

"I needed to speak with you Miss Fine." It took everything in him to control his temper and keep his voice even.

Fran looked up at him in surprise. He’d been the last person she’d expected to visit her here. She assumed the children had told him where she lived now and she knew Niles knew as well but she hadn’t expected him to come to see her.

Why had he? Did he want to ask for her forgiveness? Ask her to come back? Talk about what had happened? Talk about them? Her heart jumped to her throat as it began to beat harder in anticipation. She glanced down at her attire. Just let me grab my keys and we’ll head over to my place.

Max stared down at her hard for a moment. "You mean this isn’t it?" The sarcasm dripped from his voice as he implied it might as well be.

Fran cast him an annoyed glance and then looked back over her shoulder. "I’ll be just a second." She told him and headed back into Erik’s apartment for a moment.

Max refused to go into the other man’s apartment but stood at the door instead. He heard Fran say something to Erik who mumbled something quietly in reply.

In just a moment, she met him at the door and eased by him, closing Erik’s door behind her. She walked the few steps to the red door and slid the key in and opened it. She stood aside and looked at him as she held the door.

He stared at her for a long moment. So they didn’t actually live together? It was a technicality of course but it did make a bit of a difference.

He took the few steps to her apartment and looked down at her a moment before entering. She looked incredible with her dark hair flowing over the white robe. She looked more tan as if she’d been spending some time outside or in a tanning booth. He guessed since his own daughter had been tanning since starting work at the gym, that Miss Fine had as well.

"Come on in." She smiled a greeting and he made his way awkwardly into her apartment.

"May I take your jacket?"

Max looked down at his black leather jacket for a moment and then began to ease it off. She sounded so formal and courteous to him. So odd...different...

When she’d hung it in the small coat closet, she turned back to him and spread her hands wide.

"So...how have you been?" She gave him a small smile as she asked.

Max continued to stare at her. How had he been? How had he been?

He’d been nuts! Insane! Wild with worry about her and for her! He’d been heartsick. He’d been angry. Wildly angry. At her. At himself. And he’d been jealous. Envious of another man for having the sense to take something away that he’d never really had but somehow needed desperately.

How had he been?

He noticed she was looking at him expectantly and he coughed to cover his rampant thoughts.

"Um...I’ve been fine." He nodded and did his best to look confident as he turned away and made pretense of studying the room.

The first thing he noticed were the bright colors she used everywhere. There were brightly splashed colorful paintings on the wall and a soft dark red sofa filled with colorful pillows of every flavor. The room was cheery and reflected her unique tastes. Unlike his own home, which was very sedate and elegant, and rather lacking in color, this room was cheerful and inviting. It wasn’t like her mother’s place either. His children were right. The place was really ‘her’.

He eased his way to the tiny open kitchen to find it done in white and bright blue. Blue appliances greeted him and a freshly painted blue round table was situated in it. Little in the kitchen looked brand new but it all looked clean and shiny and she had artfully arranged things with a flair all of her own.

He smiled back at her. "Nice."

She gave a sheepish smile. "It’s amazing what you can find at Target on the clearance tables."

He brought his lips together thoughtfully. He had never given thought to such bargain shopping. Had never had to. Again, the differences struck him between this woman and himself. She showed no bitterness at giving up the lifestyle she’d grown accustomed to at his townhouse. He knew that he would have a terrible time adapting if he were to lose everything.

For some reason, the thought made him feel very small.

He walked across to the sofa and noticed that out her one small window, she had a nice view of a courtyard. He peeked out to see a few folks milling about and one painter sitting by an easel preparing his tools. It was a calm scene. A nice scene.

She had a nice life here.

The thought brought a lump to his throat and he coughed again.

"Nice view."

She nodded. "Yeah, it sure beats Ma’s living room view of old Miss Garafalo’s bathroom."

Her trademark jovial wit was in place but as he looked in her eyes again, he noticed that something was missing and the remark fell a bit flat in the emotional minefield between them. They both slid their eyes away after another awkward moment.

Finally, Fran spoke again. "Well, take the grand tour! You might as well see my huge bedroom and bath!"

She held her arm out and he made his way to the tiny little hallway that led to the one bedroom. In it, she surprisingly had a small regular bed and on the other wall, a wooden bunk bed.

As he looked at the pink floral patterned room, he noted that it was very much like her room at his house. Very romantic and elegant. Candles lined the small dresser and side table where her make-up and hair accessories were on display.

Very much like it. Except for the beds. From the size of that bed, and the size and crowded condition of the tiny room, he supposed that most of she and Erik’s private time was spent at his place. It was obvious by her attire and what he’d overheard that was the case as well.

He bit his jaw again and kicked himself mentally as he again, fought back emotion. It was her business. Not his. He wasn’t here to talk about that.

He cast his eyes curiously at the collection of beds in the room. Had she brought them from her bedroom at home? Perhaps she and her sister had shared a room?

"Three beds Miss Fine?" He raised an eyebrow as he looked curiously at the bunk bed.

"Well...I knew the kids might want to stay over from time to time and I thought if there were ever a time when more than one wanted to stay that they’d need their own place to sleep and I couldn’t just put them on the floor...so I picked that up and the second hand store and bought a mattress for it. It’s actually fairly comfortable."

She crossed over in front of him and bounced on the lower bunk in example.

Max stared at her. The beds were for the kids?

The kids...His children.

Max let his mouth form an ‘O’ and raised his chin.

"The kids are what I wanted to talk to you about Miss Fine."

Fran noted the tone of his voice and was instantly put on the defense. He didn’t sound very pleasant. If he were going to tell her the kids were off limits to her...well...he had another thing coming!

Max turned and walked back toward her small living room. She followed and he turned to face her.

"Look...Miss Fine...I..." He began.

But she crossed over toward the kitchen. "Please...Mr. Sheffield...Have a seat...Let me get you something to drink."

Max closed his mouth; taken off guard by the unexpected hospitality and warmth as he listened to her clank glasses in the kitchen.

He crossed over to the sofa and sat on the plush pillows. It was a surprisingly comfortable piece of furniture.

Her head came around the corner. "What’ll ya have?"

Max crossed his leg over the other and leaned back. "A brandy would be good."

Fran smiled and peeked back out of the kitchen at him. "I’m Jewish. I have fruit juice, diet cola or Double Chocolate Fudge ice cream."

Max smirked and hid a smile. "I’ll take a cola."

After another moment, she came into the room holding two long glasses of diet cola. Max stared at the picture of a dog and a shaggy haired boy on his along with the logo ‘Scooby-Doo Adventures’ and made a bit of a confused face.

Fran smirked and shrugged. "Hey, I only get the good stuff out for my very best guests."

She plopped down beside him with a whoosh and turned her head to look at him. "So...are the kids O.K.?"

He took another sip of his drink and nodded. "They’re fine...I um..."

Fran continued. "Niles and Ms. Babcock?" She let out a snort. "I’m sure Ms. Babcock is heartbroken I’ve left."

Max sat up a bit and looked at her as he set his drink on the small side table by her lamp. "Oh, you might surprised Miss Fine...She doesn’t say anything but I think she rather misses you tottering about."

Fran again snorted. She’d believe that when pigs flew.

"And you?"

He turned serious hazel eyes abruptly to her own, surprised at the comment. Yes, he missed her but he didn’t want to let her know just how much. He did have some pride left.

"Of course, I was so used to you being there with us...I..." He began to stammer and Fran suddenly realized that it had sounded as if she wanted a confession from him about missing her.

She flicked her hand. "No...no...I meant is business going alright...you new play...the one you took Terri to see?"

She tried to sound nonchalant but she couldn’t hide the tiny note of jealousy that accompanied the question. She just hoped he wouldn’t notice.

Max raised his neck, a bit embarrassed that he’d misunderstood. "Ah...the new play...yes...thank you...it’s going rather well."

He reached for another sip of his drink. "And yes, Terri did escort me. She’s a lovely escort and she loves the theater...she was quite taken by it I think."

Fran gave him a small smile. She wanted to be happy for him. She really did. But it hurt so much.

She nodded and a quiet descended on them once more.

Finally, Max sat his drink aside and turned to face her on the sofa. "Miss Fine...I did have something I needed to speak to you about. This isn’t a social call."

Fran briefly closed her eyes. Here it came. He was going to forbid her to see the children. Please. No.

"I’m concerned about Margaret." He began and she put an alarmed hand on his arm.

"Is she alright!?" Fran’s voice held instant concern.

He patted her hand a moment and then let his own fall away. "Yes. Yes...she’s fine." He quickly assured her and then dropped his chin. "I just... don’t like the idea of her staying over here so much and now she wants to live..."

Fran jumped from the sofa, almost spilling her drink in the process.

"Well, I don’t know why not!?" It was the very thing she feared. He was going to try and keep her babies away from her!

She strode angrily toward the kitchen and slammed her drink on the counter before whirling on him. "I want to see the kids! How dare you try and keep them from seeing me just to get back at me for what happened between us."

O.K. now she was making him mad. He too stood up from the sofa and strode over to where she stood at the kitchen table.

Bending down over her, he placed an accusing finger near her chest, his eyes flickering over the bathrobe.. "Perhaps Miss Fine...if you’d go look in the mirror, you’d see exactly what my concerns are."

Fran narrowed her eyes. Just what was he suggesting!?

She set her jaw, anger flashing fire in her eyes as she realized he was referring to her attire. He thought she and Erik had been up to hanky-panky in the apartment just now. Again, with his damn assumptions!

"I have every right to spend my time as I damn well please!" She fired the statement at him furiously.

He took her by the arm. "Not if my children are going to be hanging around, you don’t!"

Again, his eyes cut to the robe, which was now gaping open from the hold he had on her. She tried to pull away but his hold was too tight.

His face came down very close to her own and he breathed in through his nose as if his control was short.

"I will not have my daughter corrupted by the fact that you want to have dalliances with your new boyfriend whenever the mood strikes you!"

Fran raised her chin. So...that was what this was about? He was angry about Erik. He thought she and Erik where sleeping together? She glanced down at her robe and could understand where he’d gotten the impression something might have been going on between them but then, he had certainly made no claims on her had he? His damn jealousy gave him no reason to try and dictate...

She thought about explaining things to him...but then...she didn’t owe him any explanations. Her personal life was her own! And since he seemed to think so little of her anyway... Let him think what he wanted!

"I can promise you Mr. Sheffield that I will keep my...dalliances...to when the children aren’t over here!"

She spat it out as if every word cost her something.

Max shook his head, still unsatisfied and angry. "And I don’t appreciate you trying to take my daughter from me either!"

Fran took a step back as if struck. Take his daughter away?

"What the hell are you talking about?" She lashed out.

He released his hold on her and went into the small living room. Rubbing his eyes, he turned back to her in frustration.

"I know you asked her to live with you Miss Fine...she told me." He gave her a disapproving glare. "Honestly, Miss Fine, I’m disappointed in you. I never thought you’d stoop that low as to try and use my own children to get back at me!"

He looked down and then up again.

"I thought our friendship had meant more than that."

She stared at him in confusion for a long moment before letting her mouth fall open in amazement.

She purposefully walked to him and placed a direct finger in the center of his chest and pushed.

"Look, Mister, regardless of what you think of me and my personal...habits...and regardless of anything that has happened in the past between us, I would never use your children or turn them against you and you should be ashamed for thinking so."

Max stared at her. "But Maggie..."

Fran interrupted him with an upheld hand. "Misses me very much and came up with the idea of living with me permanently on- her -own."

She turned her hand up. "I told her that she was welcome to stay with me some with your permission but that her father loved her and that it would hurt him terribly if she left home."

Max took a step back and scrambled to make sense of the situation.

Fran, now somewhat vindicated, raised her chin. "Maybe you should get the entire story before you go off on someone." Her statement held a more personal hint in it that he didn’t pick up on.

He glanced up at her, nodded and then brought a single finger to his temple in contemplation. He appreciated the fact that she hadn’t tried to coerce Maggie but he still wanted to make sure she knew the ground rules if he were to share custody of his children even part-time with her.

"I’ll agree to let her stay some, but I still don’t want her to see..." He dropped his hand and gestured at her robe. "When she’s over here."

Fran bit her jaw. "She won’t."

He wasn’t done. "And that goes certainly for Brighton and Gracie when they come over as well."

"You know me better..." She stopped and stared at him and dropped her chin slightly. "Or maybe you don’t..." Her voice trailed off and she dropped her own eyes to hide the sadness.

He stepped back up to her, dropping his voice to a near whisper. "I know you’ll take care of my children Miss Fine...and I know that they do miss you and love you...and I don’t want to deprive them of that."

She nodded, fighting back tears; the pain of everything just crushing her.

"Thank you." Her own voice was a whisper.

He walked to the door. He had to get out now...before he broke down and let her get to him and begged her to come back into his life.

He opened the small closet by the door and jerked his jacket on, his back still to her. "I’ll talk to the children and we’ll make some regular arrangements...I’ll contact you."

She rushed over to the kitchen table where her pen and pad were resting. She quickly scribbled her number down for him.

Rushing back across to where he stood waiting, she reached for his arm and pressed it into his hand.

"Give my new number to the kids and tell them...tell them...they can call me anytime...day or night..."

He closed his fist around the small piece of paper and reached to open the door. On impulse he turned to face her...

Without thinking, she reached up and held his face with her own. She wasn’t guiding her own actions but some unknown will; some unknown force was pushing her.

Reaching up, she lightly kissed his cheek and let her hands caress his jaw. Leaning near his ear, she whispered, "Give the kids a kiss from me..."

He looked down at her with cloudy eyes, his hands remaining at his side. He wanted so much to take her in his arms and touch her and kiss those beautiful lips of hers and tell her it could all be like it used to be and ask her to come home.

But he couldn’t. Not after everything that had happened between them...not now...it was too late wasn’t it?

Oh, he wanted to though. Would one more kiss matter at this point? Just one more taste of her to take with him through old age...

He leaned into her and she to him. Their eyes held each other’s with an intensity that only they understood. Slowly, their lips descended toward each other’s.

"Dad? What are you doing here?"

Maggie’s voice broke them apart as surely as if they were doused in cold ice water.

They both turned to see her coming up the hallway carrying a small tote bag. With her father’s unexpected visit, Fran had completely forgotten that Maggie had made plans that morning to come over.

As she neared them, she looked at them oddly and gave a short laugh.

"What’s going on?"

Max took a step back and looked at his daughter. "I...um...Miss Fine and I were just discussing visitation arrangements for you children."

Fran nodded and gave the brightest smile she could manage at Maggie. "Yeah, your dad is going to let you stay with me some."

Max watched his daughter instantly go into Miss Fine’s embrace he’d just vacated and felt another stab of helplessness wash over him.

"You behave sweetheart. He leaned over to give his daughter a peck on the cheek."

Maggie nodded. "Fran will take care of me Daddy."

Max gave a tight nod of his own and swallowed.

"I’ve got to go."

And then he turned and was gone.

**********************************************

"Come On! B! Shoot it!!" Fran yelled with her hands cupped around her mouth as onlookers stared in annoyance at the mother who constantly was on her feet yelling at her son on the court.

Brighton came to the sidelines after a foul and looked up to see the voice that yelled his name. She gave him the ‘thumbs up’ sign and he couldn’t hide the delight that crossed his face when he spotted her. But, he immediately gave just a little wave and tried to act cool.

Max felt himself soften a little as he watched the scene in front of him. Brighton was thrilled she had come. He knew his son would never risk being embarrassed around his team mates if he didn’t love her so much.

That was the problem. She made people love her. Forced it almost. Made it damn near an irresistible thing and then...well then...you were in trouble.

He’d been watching her since she’d come in at half-time. He knew through his children that she had to work late on Tuesdays and Thursdays and she looked like she’d had a really long day already. The pep in her step was missing and she had tired shadows around her eyes.

He had told himself he was going to stay put in the corner of the bleachers where he’d already gotten comfortable. He could clap and support his son and his team just fine from a bit higher up. Brighton wasn’t averaging but about three minutes a game in mop-up duty anyway so it wasn’t like he was going to be missing anything earthshattering. He was frankly thrilled the boy had even tried out and made the JV squad as a back-up guard.

Miss Fine’s doing.

Brighton said she’d convinced him to follow his dream of playing hoops and give basketball a try. He honestly had never thought his son had a prayer of making any school team but he had made the final cut and even if he didn’t get more than a token appearance most games, he was a quick defender and Max enjoyed the knowledge that his son was involved in athletics and he knew Brighton enjoyed the social acceptance that went along with being a part of a team.

He looked down at her again. She was now standing and yelling encouragement to him while he got water on the sidelines. Max had to chuckle. She could find the silver lining in a pile of dirt. Slowly, unable to help himself, he rose to make his way carefully down the steel bleachers until he reached the second row where she rested. She was standing with her back turned when he reached her.

"Come On guys! Tighten up that zone defense and get some rebounds!" She yelled it at the small group that made their way to the center court to inbound the ball.

"Thinking of taking up coaching basketball as your next career Miss Fine?"

She quickly twisted her head at his voice, clearly surprised. "Mr. Sheffield!"

She pushed her hair back from her face and straightened it.

"I didn’t know you were coming to the game tonight!"

He pulled at his pants legs and sat down. She joined him.

"I do try and make as many of my children’s events as I can Miss Fine."

His voice was edged with a tiny bit of wry sarcasm.

Quickly, Fran made haste to assure him she knew he didn’t shortchange his children.

"Oh, I know that Mr. Sheffield! B just didn’t tell me you were coming tonight."

He turned and looked at her oddly for a moment.

"Does it make a difference Miss Fine?"

She tossed her hand airily as she reached for a sip of the drink she’d brought in with her.

"Of course not!" Her laugh wasn’t quite as casual as it should have been.

But the fact of it was-it did matter. A lot.

She might could fool him but she couldn’t fool herself.

"So...where’s your boyfriend?" He popped a mint into his mouth as he too tried to act very casual and relaxed.

She kept watching the action on the court and spoke out of the side of her mouth. "Oh, you mean Erik? ...He’s working tonight."

Max raised his chin. "Ah yes...the personal training at the gym and all..."

Fran knew she was being baited and refused to rise to it.

She took another sip of her cola. "What about Terri?"

Max shrugged. "She’s more of a theater woman. Basketball isn’t quite her cup of tea."

He clapped at a made basket.

"We’ve got tickets to ‘The Backstage’ for this weekend."

Max was lying through his teeth but she didn’t have to know that.

"Oh."

Fran inwardly cringed as she could almost see the two of them all cuddled up in the intimate little dinner theater.

Well, if she hadn’t wanted to know if he was still seeing the woman, she shouldn’t have asked.

She raised to her feet once more and cheered loudly to cover her discomfort.

When she sat back down, she decided it best to stay on neutral ground.

"Brighton is really pretty decent huh?"

Max grinned out at the court where his boy was clapping with his teammates on the sideline.

"He gets that quickness from his old man."

Fran smiled at that and decided to toss another volley his way.

"Maggie came by today."

Max raised his eyebrows. His oldest daughter practically lived over there nowadays.

"Oh?"

Fran nodded. "Yeah, she tells me that you’re thinking about hiring someone."

Fran did her best to keep the fear and sadness from her voice.

Max shook his head, his eyes not leaving the court. "Yes, uh...not a nanny though...more of a...personal assistant type..." He shrugged. "C.C. stays so busy now with the theater business and I just need someone around to help me with those day to day personal tasks."

Her job.

Neither of them said it but it was understood all the same.

Fran too kept her eyes on the court. "She tells me you may offer Terri the job."

Max did his best to detect anything in her voice and found himself irritated that she sounded so normal and uncaring. He wanted her to rant and rave and beg him not to even consider hiring another woman into his home.

"Uh...yes...I am considering it...Terri is very smart and she is very good with people. She has a certain charm and grace to her wouldn’t you say?"

Fran bit her lip to keep it from snarling. She’d like to tell him what he could do with his ‘personal assistant’ job.

Friends. He’d wanted them to be damn friends. And a damn friend is what she was going to be now. She gritted her teeth and smiled while she patted his arm in a friendly manner.

"I think that’s a good idea. I’m sure she’ll do a wonderful job." Her voice held no trace of the turmoil she felt inside.

Max dug his nails into the bleachers where his hands rested on the bench. She could show some kind of bloody reaction for goodness sake! He decided to turn the screws a bit more.

"Yes, well, the kids really are too old for a Nanny now and I just need...you know...that helping hand on occasion." His voice was light and airy with just the right touch of suggestiveness in it.

"OW!" Max yelled as she jumped to her feet beside him and began to cheer.

Fran turned to look down at him quickly and with mock concern in her eyes. "Oh, Mr. Sheffield! I’m so sorry! Did I put my heel in your foot when I jumped to my feet?"

He reached down to rub the spot. He could have almost sworn she’d done it on purpose.

She smiled down at him as the third quarter ending buzzer sounded. I’m going to get some gum, could I get you anything?"

She couldn’t have sounded more polite. It was as if they were acquaintances that just happened to see each other in a public place.

He held his hand up in a ‘no’ gesture and watched as she made her way across the legs of several men standing sitting near them.

As she moved past, he overheard two of the men begin talking about her.

"Whooo...that one has some nice set on her huh?"

The other man snickered and Max clenched his fist as he felt the sudden urge to jump up and come to her defense. How dare they talk about his...

His what?

His nothing.

So, he leaned up in his seat and settled for glaring at them instead.

He was as depressed at that moment as he’d been in quite sometime.

******************************************

"B! B!" Fran began to jump up and down and wave her arms in his direction. He was talking to a group of boys and he glanced up and then said something else to the boys before heading over in her direction. He was freshly showered and his gym bag was tossed over his shoulder and Fran thought, for not the first time what a handsome young man he was becoming.

She was so proud of him.

Brighton grinned as he got closer and briefly allowed her to wrap him up in a tight hug for just a moment.

"You scored! It was just fabulous! And a three-pointer!"

Max watched his son revel in the attention and praise for a moment and felt faintly jealous.

How ridiculous!

He reached out to punch Brighton lightly on the arm. "Great game son!"

Brighton glanced over at him. "Gee thanks you guys but it was only one bucket and it wasn’t like the game was in jeopardy. We were leading by twenty at the time."

Fran gave him another hug. "Well, I- don’t -care!" She announced emphatically with emphasis on each word. "You had the best looking stroke out there and that coach..."

She glared over at Brighton’s coach. "That coach should play you more than he does! Maybe I need to..."

Brighton immediately held his hand out. "Whoa Fran...no way! The starting five guys are AWESOME! Trust me when I tell you I’m more than happy with my role as a team player."

Fran didn’t look convinced but she let it drop.

He looked back at her affectionately and with a little smile. "Hey, I’m glad you could come..."

She smiled at him indulgently. "Me too B."

Brighton coughed, a bit boyishly embarrassed by the mutual display. He looked back at his teammates a moment and then back to his dad and Fran.

"Say, Dad, some of the other guys are going over to Wings Sports Grille to get some grub. Can we go?"

Max grinned openly at his son’s enthusiasm and glanced at his watch. "Sure, it’s not late...I don’t see why not."

Brighton started to run back to the group of boys and before he took but a couple of steps, he turned around. "You’re coming too aren’t you Fran?"

He looked uncertainly from his father to her.

Max and Fran cast a quick, uneasy look at each other. Max tried to speak first.

"Brighton, I’m sure Miss Fine has somewhere..."

Fran interrupted him. "No...I’ve got to work over at Erik’s in a bit but I’m free for a couple of hours."

Brighton grinned. "I’m gonna ride with the guys in Mr. Harrison’s Navigator Dad."

Max raised his chin to his son in acquiescence.

Neither of the two adults standing on the center court school logo wanted to speak first.

Max finally gave in as he expelled a breath. "Miss Fine...I assume you took a cab over...could I offer you a lift?"

Fran hadn’t thought that far ahead when she’d accepted Brighton’s invitation.

Nervously, she looked up at him. He didn’t look anymore pleased with the situation than she was.

"Please."

Max offered his arm and she stiffly placed her arm in his.

It was almost like they had never even been friends.

*****************************************

They sat in a side booth at ‘Wing’s’ watching Brighton and his friends cut up at the longer tables in front of them. The boys were obviously pleased with themselves due to their win and were feeling their oats. Laughter was loud and raucous at the boy’s table.

However, in the booth where Fran and Max sat, conversation and laughter were commodities in short supply. Neither seemed to have much to say and even less to laugh about.

"The boys seem to be having a good time."

Fran was watching Brighton hold a french fry over another boy’s head and smiled at Max’s obvious observation.

"Yeah, they do."

She couldn’t think of the first witty thing to say to him. She was all out of zingers and cute comments and laughter. Her tank was literally on empty and she just didn’t know if she could do this much longer. Just the stress and pain of sitting this close to him and yet, being so far away hurt far worse than she could have imagined.

"Thank you."

At first, Fran didn’t think he was talking to her and looked up expecting to see a waitress. But when she did, she found his brown liquid eyes looking directly into her own. The intensity of them burned into her as surely as if he’d touched her.

"For what?" She choked out.

Max nodded back toward Brighton. "For that...encouraging Brighton to attempt to do something he was scared he’d fail at."

Fran nodded and gave a faint smile as she glanced back at Brighton. "You’re welcome...I really didn’t do anything..."

His hand came out to cover hers on the wooden table. "I think you’ve done some incredible things..."

He dropped his head. "And I’m sorry if I haven’t told you as much as I should have before..."

The second part of the sentence was quieter and more serious and Fran sat very still, not quite believing that he was being so direct and honest with her.

She wanted to return that honesty.

"Mr. Sheffield...I...um....Er-"

"Here’s your food!" The bubbly waitress placed their order of zesty wings, sauce and drinks on the table. "Can I get you guys anything else?"

Fran stared at the young woman in the black and white striped football official’s uniform. She was blond and blue-eyed and very cute. She reminded her a little of Erik’s sister...

Immediately, Fran’s brain froze. She’d been about to try and make him understand about her and Erik and reveal exactly why she had been seeing so much of the man.

But why?

He was seeing another woman wasn’t he? He hadn’t said he was sorry about that night she’d walked out had he?

She felt it best for pride’s sake to keep the true nature of her relationship with Erik under her hat. The absolute last thing she wanted him to know was how desperate she was for him.

She reached for several of the delicious smelling boneless wings and put them on her plate.

For long minutes the two of them enjoyed the food and little else was said.

"So, how are you enjoying your new job?"

Fran’s eyes flew up to his. Did he somehow know about the sculpture?

It took her a moment to realize he was talking about her job teaching aerobics at Workout World.

"Oh, it’s great if you enjoy old ladies bouncing in Spandex."

Max made a face. "I think I’ll pass."

Fran smiled. "I was thinking of getting Yetta to come down and try our Golden Seniors class. She always could bust a move."

"I imagine you come by those dancing moves of yours honest Miss Fine."

Their eyes collided again as they remembered their last shared dance together.

Fran let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, I do. Ma said she was a great dancer in her day but I won’t touch that."

Max smiled a little. His heart was beating triple time as he remembered the feel of her in his arms as they had danced much closer than they should have. He ached to feel her in his arms again but knew that chance was long past. He felt regret begin to come over him once more.

"And your play did well?"

He took a bite of juicy wing and then wiped his mouth on a napkin as he nodded.

"Yes, I think this one may be in for a long run and it’s about time. I haven’t had a long-runner in over a year."

She smiled.

"Maybe your luck is changing."

He smiled back.

"Maybe it is."

They stared at each other for a beat longer than they should have, the unspoken feelings and regrets lingering in the air between them.

"Fran...I..."

"Hey you guys! We’re about ready to head on into the Sports Zone area! Come On!"

Brighton stood at the side of their table with an expectant smile on his face. "I want to see Dad play football!"

He reached and grabbed Fran’s hand and tugged at it.

She didn’t even feel herself being tugged to her feet by him. Had Mr. Sheffield just called her Fran? Had he been about to say something important?

Damn.

She loved the sandy haired young boy tugging at her arm unforgivingly but at the moment, she wanted to whack him over the head with the mini-football he held.

Max slid from the booth to follow them.

What had he been about to say to her anyway? He wasn’t sure. Please come back? I need you in my life? What exactly is the nature of your relationship with that other man?

Max honestly didn’t know. He just knew that he wanted to reach out; to try and bridge the wide chasm that had formed between them since he’d hatched that friends plan of his after they’d returned from Paris.

He didn’t have anymore time to think on it though as his son led them out of the restaurant area and into a brightly lit gaming area that resembled something of a teenage boy’s ‘Chuck E. Cheese’. There were bright gaming lights everywhere and bells going off.

Brighton led them first to a mini-basketball shooting range. "I want to take on Dad!"

Fran smiled at that. She’d seen Mr. Sheffield shoot hoops and it hadn’t been a pretty sight. Michael Jordan he wasn’t.

Brighton fed some money into a machine where several tokens were given in return. He held them up to his father who blew a breath out. He knew he was about to be embarrassed.

Good naturedly, he stepped up to the counter and grabbed a small basketball.

Beside him, Brighton grabbed one as well. He looked over at his father. "Want to put a wager on it Dad?"

The cocky way he said it made Max raise his eyebrow. His son was definitely feeling his oats.

"Name it kid."

Brighton leaned over close to him, but said it intentionally loud enough for her to hear. "First one to twenty gets to kiss Fran?"

Max narrowed his eyes at his son who obviously sensed more than he let on and then turned to look at Fran who had her hands on her hips.

"I refuse to be used as a bartering chip Brighton Sheffield!"

Max’s eyes twinkled as he turned back to wink at his son.

"You’re on."

Both Sheffield men grabbed an orange mini-ball and waited on the buzzer to sound. When it did, they began firing furiously at the net as the balls bounced in and off and back to them.

Fran watched with baited breath as first Max gained a stroke and begin to pile up points. She noticed that Brighton, though the less awkward of the two shooters, seemed to be taking too long to shoot.

"Hurry! B, fire yours up faster! Don’t think about it!"

She walked up closer behind him and shouted even more encouragement as he begin to fire his shots faster until he found his shooting stroke.

Beside him, her voice took Maxwell off guard and caused him to pause and look toward her momentarily. When he went back to shoot, he found himself off kilter and couldn’t get his shot to drop as it had been.

Frustrated, he begin to fire his own shots up even faster and found that his aim was even worse.

Beside him, Fran was continuing to shout encouragement to the younger Sheffield who had just passed his father’s score and was getting very close to twenty.

After just another few seconds, he hit the number and the winner buzz went off on the machine. Fran squealed along with the lights.

"Way to go B!" She threw her arms around his shoulders as he grinned and turned to his father.

"You got stomped Dad."

Max turned his raised eyebrow toward his son in a less than gracious manner as he glanced beside him at Fran.

"You had a little help." His voice was full of wry sarcasm.

Fran shrugged. "Just admit that your son is a good shooter and don’t be a sore loser."

He turned his raised eyebrows on her with a twinkle in his eyes but said nothing.

Brighton reached up to surprise Fran with a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Come On Fran! Let’s stomp him at football and he’ll have no choice but to admit defeat!"

Fran resisted his pulling arm now. "B! I can’t play football, I’m in heels!"

Brighton didn’t slow up but just replied over his shoulder as he drug her toward the caged in football area. "It’s O.K. Fran...you can take them off and besides, it’s touch football."

He stopped when he came to a section on the wall that had straps with velcro hanging. Reaching up, he handed her a small and told her to put it around her waist. He reached for a medium and did the same.

Max, who was standing beside them eyed the equipment oddly. "What are those things Brighton?"

Brighton looked up at him. "They’re sensors. If you get touched, they light up."

Fran made a face. "Whoooo...sounds interesting..."

Brighton turned back to her. "Fran..." The voice was full of amusing disapproval.

He then looked over his shoulder. "Hey Kev! Come over here and try and take me down scum!"

Another boy that Fran and Max recognized as the starting point guard on the team came over with a grin. "You are so dead Sheffield!" He responded with a thump to Brighton’s ear as he too began to strap a sensor belt on.

As Max watched the by-play, Fran leaned slid her heels off and then leaned up to him. "They’re really very fond of each other."

Max slid her a look and put a strap on himself. "I’m quite sure."

Fran smiled and eased over to look inside the cage at the ‘game’ going on now between two young couples. The clock started at one minute and each team had that amount of time to use the soft football and get to the end zone and score before the other team ‘tackled’ them by touching the sensor belt.

It looked rather fun she had to admit.

The clock sounded off and the winning ‘team’ emerged from the cage area victorious. As they did, Brighton lead the way into the area and slid his tokens into the machine that would activate their sensors. He looked back at everyone.

"Push that little green button on the front of your belts."

His teammate Kevin had already pressed his but Max and Fran followed directions and it began to slightly vibrate at their waists.

Fran laughed out loud. "I could really dig this thing!" She leaned over to Max. "Think they sell them as souvenirs?"

He twisted his mouth at her with a little roll of his eyes. It was almost like old times between them.

Brighton held the ball out. "O.K...Fran...get over here with me. Now, I’ll run first...they have to back up ten yards until the clock starts. As soon as they hit my sensor, I’ll pitch it to you and don’t hesitate, take off!"

She stared at him for a moment and he repeated, "Got it?"

She nodded. "Got it! Let’s stomp em!"

He grinned and looked toward his dad and friend, noticing Kevin already giving his father instructions.

"Everybody ready?"

"Bring it on Sheffield!" Max yelled getting into the spirit of things.

The buzzer sounded to begin the clock and Brighton took off around right end toward his father and proved to be very quick. He gave a slicing move with a twist back to the inside as Max grabbed at his sensor. Kevin was there waiting for him though and the athleticism of the other boy proved too much for Brighton to twist away from as his sensor belt began to light up.

"Fran, here...you gotta take it!" He tossed it the short distance to her as Max and Kevin backed up the required yardage. "Run!"

In her stockinged feet, she took off. As she headed toward Kevin, he came upon her quickly. She went up on one foot hobbling.

"Ow!" She immediately reached for her ankle.

Kevin stopped suddenly and bent down to look at it. "Are you O.K. Miss Fine?" As he bent over, Fran gave him a shove sending him to his backside.

Yelling, "Sucker!" She burst past him with only Max now in her path to touchdown stardom.

Seeing what she’d done, Max was more than determined to catch her. She was almost to the end zone when he caught up to her and grabbed her about the waist, lifting her from the ground. He didn’t catch her sensor though and it hadn’t went off. She began to struggle to get away from him as she leaned toward the goal line.

"Oh no you don’t!"

Max pulled harder at her, trying to gain control of her long enough to tap the sensor at her waist. As she struggled, their legs became entangled and she lost her footing. The sensor went off as they both hit the ground.

Fran sent the ball flying to Brighton who scored easily.

Max tried to use his arms to break her fall to the artificial grass surface. He fell on top of her a bit harder than he wanted to though and heard an ‘ugh’ from under him. He immediately raised up enough to look down at her face.

"Miss Fine? Are you alright?"

She looked up at him and they both instantly became keenly aware of the intimate position of their bodies. His legs were straddled open across her mid-section and her soft breasts were pressed against his chest.

She could only nod.

And he stared at her.

"You cheat." It was a whisper into her face as suddenly, the game, the crowd, the environment, everything was blocked out and it was just the two of them.

"I play to win." Fran’s answer was an equally whispered response. Both of them knew neither was talking about the game any longer.

Max dropped his eyes from hers and stared at the lips he had so missed...and so longed for again.

She too looked at his own and the desire was evident in both of their eyes as their faces were so close, they could feel each other’s breath.

"I want you." His voice was barely audible. "It’s meant to happen..."

She whimpered in response and closed her eyes tightly.

Max closed his own eyes briefly to fight the feelings in his own body.

He couldn’t. Not here. Not now. Not ever.

It wasn’t to be.

He cleared his throat and opened his eyes. She was watching him closely.

He eased back away from her and withdrew his body from her own.

Standing, he reached down to offer her a hand.

She ignored it and instead, climbed to her feet on her own, holding her back as if she’d tweaked it.

She looked for Brighton who was celebrating his touchdown over his friend. Somehow, she forced a smile to her face and a lightness she didn’t feel into her voice.

"Hey B? Did we score?"

Brighton grinned over at her. "Yeah! That was awesome Fran!"

She walked over to where he stood still holding her back. "Listen B! I’m gonna head on home and soak in the tub..." She grinned at him. "Beat your dad again for me!"

Brighton gave her a quick hug. "You’re the best Fran! Thanks for coming! I coming over next week."

Fran forced a smile to her own face. "You bet. Anytime. I’ll call you B! Bye Kev!"

She gave them both a little wave and headed back toward the booth to retrieve her ticket for her food and drink.

She stood there at the table looking for it when a low voice behind her spoke. "I’ve already taken care of it."

She stood very still. How could she look at him? He had to be able to see that she’d wanted him still in the most basic way of all. She wished the floor would open up and swallow her.

He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Miss Fine...let me take you home..." His voice was full of seductive suggestion and Fran had little doubt that if he took her home tonight she wouldn’t be able to resist what they both wanted.

Fran closed her eyes. Oh how she wanted him! She had seen it in his eyes. He wanted her; he’d said as much. She knew what it would lead to now and she wanted it. So much that it hurt. She desperately wanted to just turn to him now and tell him everything was fine and that she loved him and adored him and would accept whatever crumb he wanted to toss her way.

Without turning around, she shook her head. "I’ll take a taxi...tell Gracie I’ll call her about coming over next week one day."

He didn’t say anything for a long moment as she reached for her bag.

She held her head and shoulders up high and was determined to not let her feelings show as she started past him.

He placed a hand on her arm. "Miss Fine...let me..."

She stopped dead still and looked down at the familiar hand that clasped the heated skin of her forearm.

Then, she looked up and with pained eyes, met his own.

"I can’t."

And then, she walked away.

**************************************

Terri was thrilled to be working for Maxwell. He was a courteous, organized and thoughtful man and ran his business in much the same way. Plus, he paid her more than her old employer did and she didn’t have to put up with the constant harping of customers.

Speaking of harping...

Now, that Babcock woman she could do without.

Terri grimaced a bit thinking of her. How Maxwell put up with her, she didn’t know. Obviously, she had some redeeming qualities as a producer though.

The kids had been cooly polite to her but that was all. She sensed that they felt she was a threat in a sense that she had replaced Fran in Max’s life. She knew that wasn’t true and she knew that as long as Maxwell was in love with Fran, it would never be.

She wasn’t one to beat a dead horse and she knew a man consumed when she met one. She’d seen her own brother through his dark period after he’d left his long-time girlfriend. She’d emotionally moved on. This was an employment opportunity offered to her out of a friendship she was glad she’d made. She only wished she could repay his kindness and help him. He seemed to desperately need someone to talk to but had resisted every overture she’d made in that area thus far.

She was almost finished organizing a stack of actor applications, when Max’s oldest daughter came into the office where she sat in front of Max’s desk.

"Dad...I need to talk to you..."

Upon seeing her, she immediately stopped in the door.

"Oh, Miss Slivka! I’m sorry...I was looking for dad."

Terri looked at her pleasantly.

"Maggie, isn’t it?"

Maggie nodded.

"I’ll just come back around..."

"Maggie...stay just a moment...I wanted to ask you something..."

She watched as the girl twisted her lip as if she was deciding if she should speak with the enemy or not.

Terri smiled gently at her. "I promise I don’t bite." She laughed and Maggie gave her an apologetic smile.

Terri felt relieved. "At least you will speak to me. Your brother and sister just snarl and run from me."

Maggie interlinked her fingers together in front of her, looking down for a moment and then back up. She took a few steps into the room.

"Miss Slivka...you have to understand...they’re not trying to be rude...it’s just hard for them. They miss..."

Maggie let her voice trail off and Terri raised her eyebrows.

"Fran?"

The girl nodded and Terri felt very sorry for her. It was more than obvious that all the children missed their Nanny terribly.

"She’s like a mother to you guys isn’t she?" Terri’s voice was gentle and understanding.

Again Maggie nodded as she glanced up at her. Terri stood and walked over to where Maggie stood in the center of the room.

She reached out to pat Maggie’s hand with her own and their eyes interlocked.

"Maggie, I want you to understand that in no way am I trying to take her place in your father’s life. You father and I...are friends and that is all."

Maggie twisted her lips. "Yeah, well...that’s what dad insisted he and Fran were too and that’s exactly what got this entire mess started."

Terri drew her eyebrows together. That was interesting. It was obvious that Maggie had some really deep feelings and needed to talk about this to someone.

"But they’re not...just friends?"

Maggie shook her head no. "No, and have never really been just friends but Daddy is the only one who can’t see that." The irritation at her father was very evident in her voice.

Terri just shook her head. "Maggie, I am very sorry about what has happened between your father and Fran recently."

Maggie blew out a breath. "Aren’t we all."

"I really do want to help..."

When Maggie didn’t respond, Terri dropped it.

"Tell me...How is Fran?"

Maggie smiled. "She’s O.K. I guess..." She then wrinkled her brow at Terri. "Don’t you know? I mean...she sees your brother."

Terri shrugged. "More than I do lately. I haven’t seen much of him since he moved in his new place."

"He and Fran are working on some kind of project together. Fran won’t tell me what it is though."

Ah...the sculpture. Erik’s ‘baby’ project. She knew her brother was very excited about it but if Fran didn’t want Maxwell’s children to know about it, it wasn’t her place to tell them.

"Well...listen, I’m headed back to the theater in a bit but if I see your father before I leave, I’ll tell him you’re looking for him."

Maggie headed back out the door. "Just tell him I went over to Fran’s for the afternoon."

Terri smiled and winked at the girl who gave her a smile back. "Will do."

Terri gave her a little wave as she left and finished her sorting job and then got up to file everything away.

In a few minutes, the butler came into the room. Terri looked up from the filing cabinet to study him. In her short time here, she’d figured out that Maxwell’s office was like Grand Central Station. And if they weren’t all here, they were all in Nile’s kitchen.

She liked Niles. He too had been rather standoff-ish at first with her until she’d made it clear to him that she wasn’t trying to replace his ex-co-worker and friend. Plus, when that Babcock woman had tried to bite her head off, Niles had taken up for her. She was pretty sure he didn’t hate her if he didn’t entirely trust her. And it hadn’t taken long for her to find out that he knew more about the Sheffield household than anyone in residence.

"Good Afternoon Niles." She rose from her crouched position at the filing cabinets and came to his side where he had brought in a silver tray of tea and placed it on the desk.

"Good Afternoon Miss Terri...could I offer you some tea?"

She glanced at the tea. "No, thank you Niles." She hesitated and then decided to just dive right in. After all, she did feel a little responsible.

"But you could offer me some information...?"

Surprised, Niles stepped back away from the tray and just looked at her.

"Information Miss Terri?"

She smiled sweetly. "Tell me about Maxwell and Fran’s ‘friends’ plan ..."

*************************************************************

"I don’t feel comfortable dropping the swimsuit top Erik..."

Fran whined again and Erik huffed.

"Fran...come on! This isn’t a peep show you know! And what did you think a NUDE was for goodness sakes?"

Fran pouted her bottom lip. "I thought you could just...you know...imagine."

Erik raised up and glared at her impatiently. "Now THAT would make me a pervert!"

She blew out a frustrated breath of her own and eased the strapless suit down her breast just a bit.

Erik shook his head. Women.

"I tell you what Fran. Just turn to the side and ease the suit away from your left breast for just a few minutes."

She stared at him.

"I promise not to take any pictures. He grinned at her."

She scowled at him a minute and then eased the suit down.

"Atta girl. This will be painless and it’ll feel normal in a few minutes."

Erik’s head disappeared behind the white cover again as she heard his etching tools fire back up.

"So tell me how it went at the game the other night. Did you see Max there?"

Fran completely forgot to be bothered by her state of semi-undress now.

"Yeah, I saw him."

"And?"

Fran stared at the ceiling in Erik’s apartment. "And...nothing...I went to see B play ball."

Erik raised up and made a face. "Come ON Fran! I know you love those kids but I know you’re still crazy about the guy too. You’re not fooling me."

Fran made a fist and hit her thigh with it in irritation. "But I don’t want to be in love with him anymore Erik!"

Erik made a sad face of his own she couldn’t see. "It doesn’t quite work that way babe."

"How about you? What about this Julie?" Fran’s attempt to change the direction of the conversation was blatantly obvious.

"I’m not talking about her."

Fran made a face. "So you didn’t take my advice?"

Erik let his tool slip just a bit and cursed himself behind the canvas.

"Ow Shit!"

Fran shrugged. So you did call her."

Erik stood with the side of his thumb in his mouth, sucking on it hard.

He raised his mouth off his thumb just slightly and glared at her.

"Yeah, I called her."

He immediately sucked his thumb hard again before raising his head.

"We got into it again and she hung up on me."

Fran nodded. "That’s good...you’re talking...call her again."

Erik let his thumb drop to his side and opened his mouth agape.

"What? You’re crazy."

Fran grinned at him. "So I’ve been told...call her."

Erik shook his head and threw his hands up. "And...Why would she talk to me again if she hung up on me the last time?"

Fran lifted her finger in the air.

"Women like to play hard to get."

Erik sat back down on the stool and picked up his etching tools once more.

"Uh-uh..."

His voice was incredulous and filled with disbelief.

"And is that what you’re doing with Max...hiding your heart...playing coy with your true feelings?"

Erik fired her advice back at her and Fran again stared at the wall directly across from her, saying nothing.

After a long moment, she let her eyes, now brimming with tears fall toward him.

"No, Mr. Sheffield kept my heart when I walked out." She then dabbed at her eyes before she resumed her pose.

Behind the canvas, Erik stared at her erect, proud form of womanhood. Her hand was just over her heart as he’d directed.

He took a deep breath and let it fall in his own chest. He felt her pain. Of needing...wanting...loving...

He knew it.

He leaned in to place his sculpting tool to the cool marble and slowly began to work like mad. He also knew he’d just found the focus to his sculpture.

***********************************************************

Fran opened the door and made her way inside her silent apartment. In the apartment downstairs, she could hear the low strains of silent night. Probably Raymond playing old Christmas records on his old turntable. She’d made quick friends with the gallery owner and landlord. She’d soon discovered he loved music as well as art. She’d take her Streisand albums and go down and go see him tomorrow.

She headed to her tiny bedroom and tossed her purse on her comforter noticing that Maggie had left her jacket hanging on the end post of the smaller bed in the room.

She changed from her festive bright red sweater and skirt to a warm fuzzy grey sweatshirt and pants. It was a little cool in the apartment, so she took the time to slide into her warmest pair of pink, fuzzy socks and turned her thermostat up a notch. Padding her way to the kitchen, she made herself a cup of hot chocolate.

When, it tasted to her liking, she put the ingredients away and made her way over to plop down on the sofa and grab the remote. She turned it on to find ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ playing.

So predictable.

But, oh so comfortable. What were the holidays without it?

She took another sip of her hot chocolate.

She couldn’t remember ever feeling so sad during the holiday season.

Her mother and grandmother’s incessant talking at lunch hadn’t been enough to bring her out of her doldrums. The food had been good and her family had done their best to be cheery and understanding. Her father had even put her old stocking up on the mantle and given her a kiss as he squeezed her cheeks like she was still six years old.

Her mother was trying her best to help. She had offered to try and fix her up with her building manager’s oldest son. Elmer Sesserman still lived at home with his parents, was forty-seven, had never been married, picked his nose and liked to build toy trains on the weekends for fun. Even she wasn’t that desperate. She told her mother in no uncertain terms : no. Her discontent must have showed though. Even her sister Nadine had offered some encouraging words and a hug when she’d noted her sadness.

She usually enjoyed being with them during Hanukkah.

They were her family.

But they weren’t all of it.

She missed the Sheffields.

She missed Gracie’s excited laughter as she discovered presents left by ‘Santa’ on Christmas morning. And then she missed hear Gracie dissect just why the entire idea of ‘Santa’ was so preposterous. She smiled as she remembered her baby’s voice inside her head.

She missed Brighton and Maggie tearing into their gifts with excitement and paper flying everywhere. She missed Brighton and Maggie’s silly arguments about who got the best gifts. She missed Nile’s ‘happy’ eggnog he prepared every year. She missed her old friend very much.

She sighed and threw her head back on the pillow to watch Jimmy Stewart kiss his movie wife. The woman smiled with a tear of joy in her eye and kissed Stewart back with enthusiasm.

Go for it honey.

She sighed again. Why didn’t things turn out so neat and pretty in real life?

She took another sip of her hot chocolate and finally faced the thought she’d been avoiding.

Most of all...she missed him.

Had she expected him to come after her when she’d left as he had so many other times when she’d gone off on something all stirred up? She hadn’t knew she had. He was always predictable. That was one of the many things she admitted she loved about him.

He got angry. Goodness knows they’d had their share of arguments before but that one that night...it had been different. It was like they were both putting their gauntlets down and just daring the other to pick it up.

She was disappointed in him, she had to admit it. And she was because she felt he’d judged her as he always had, too quickly and without knowing all the facts and understanding her feelings. He assumed he knew her and that was what hurt the most. That he thought her capable of loving him and being with another man in that way...

He didn’t trust her. And she wanted that trust. Hadn’t she earned it?

It had been a few months now since she’d left. She’d seen him on three separate occasions. First at the coffee shop right after she’d left when she’d been with Erik and he was with Terri. That had been so unpleasant and she had to admit that she was still angry and hadn’t exactly been in the mood to be nice to him then. Maybe she shouldn’t have given him the impression that she and Erik were very involved but then, she was just doing what he expected of her.

And then...there had been that time when they’d had the conversation about Maggie staying with her. That had started out so well. He’d come to her apartment and they’d almost really started to talk and then, he’d taken his half-truths and he’d accused her of things...again.

But they’d straightened the issues about the kids out and he’d allowed them to come stay with her some. She thanked her lucky stars for that. What would she do without them?

And then...she knew he’d been about to kiss her when Maggie had interrupted.

She closed her eyes tight, her hands tightening on the warm cup she held in her hands.

And then...after Brighton’s game last month.

She’d wanted so much to give in to the need in his eyes. It was evident. In his body. She had felt it.

But...where would they have been? If he’d brought her home and they’d made love right here on her sofa, or in the floor or shower or...god, where freakin ever... where would they have been?

Would he have shook her hand the next morning and called her a good friend and driven away?

Would he have begged her to come back as his Nanny?

Would he have pretended like nothing had changed?

She wouldn’t have hesitated to make love with him even a year ago. But she was a different Fran Fine now. She had come a long way and she thought more of herself than to give in to the passion and lust she felt for the man when they didn’t have an understanding between them.

She wanted his love. His respect. His trust.

And more of a damn commitment than friendship.

And she wasn’t settling for less.

The phone startled her out of her thoughts.

She glanced at the VCR clock to see that it was just a bit past five. Who would be calling on Christmas Eve this late?

She reached across to the end table to pick up her cordless. "Hello?"

"Fran! It’s me!" Maggie’s familiar voice greeted her.

"Hi Sweetie! What are you doing? I would have thought you guys would have been getting ready for Christmas about now."

"We didn’t have any popcorn."

Fran paused a moment at Maggie’s words. "You mean- for the tree?"

"Yeah Fran, you know...you always help us and we string it..."

Fran didn’t know what Maggie was getting at.

"Well, we’re all out."

Fran laughed at the despair in Maggie’s voice.

"I’m sure there’s a store open somewhere."

Maggie sighed on the other end. "Why don’t you come over here and help us with the tree Fran?"

"Sweetie...don’t ask me to do that...I just can’t..."

She tried desperately to keep the emotion from her voice.

"Well, then we’ll come see you!" Maggie was resolute in her sudden decision.

"Maggie! I have a two foot tree from Walgreen’s!"

"Have you got any popcorn?"

"Well, yes...but..."

"Company?"

"No...but..."

"We’ll be over in thirty minutes."

The phone went dead and Fran laid it down on the hook.

Leaning back on the couch, she took another sip of hot chocolate and smiled.

Maybe there was a Santa Clause after all...

***************************************

"Merry Christmas!" Fran opened the door to see her brood all standing with presents in their hands and huge smiles on their faces.

As they came through the doorway, presents in hand, she grabbed them all three together for a huge hug and refused to let go.

"Oh, you guys! It’s the first time I’ve had all of you together since I’ve moved in here."

The kids squeezed her back and it was obvious to anyone watching that the woman and three children loved each other very much and had missed seeing one another on an everyday basis.

And there was someone watching.

Maxwell stood outside the door as he took in the scene just inside the apartment doorway. It was like seeing a mother find her long lost babies. He had to squelch the sudden lump in his throat and reminded himself again that it was she who had walked away from them all.

Yet, he felt like the bad guy in all of this.

The group of four began talking all at once. "Come on in and put those presents under my little tree! I’ve made popcorn and hot chocolate!" They all moved into the apartment a few steps before seeming to remember that he was standing outside the door still. As if on cue, they all turned back to stare at him.

"Dad, aren’t you coming?" This was from Brighton.

Fran unhooked her arm from around the kids and took a step forward to the door. She placed her own hand on his arm and pulled him a little. "Come on in so I can shut the door."

It wasn’t exactly the warmest invitation, but it would do.

He stepped inside as she closed the door behind him. "Here, guys, let’s get those coats off."

She opened the tiny coat closet and reached for the hangers. "We’ll just put them on our beds like usual Fran!"

Maggie started toward the small bedroom and the younger two kids followed.

"NO SNOOPING!" Fran yelled at their retreating backs and with a smile, she turned and there he was.

Fran stood there looking at the man she’d missed so much. Behind him, she took a moment to study his dark hair, still a tiny bit damp from the softly falling snow outside. She could sense from his posture that he wasn’t totally comfortable here like this with her and the kids. She could relate to that. The situation just didn’t seem right but then, she reminded herself, it was he who had, in essence left her no choice but to leave.

Max turned slightly to her. "The place looks very cheery Miss Fine."

She smiled proudly if a bit awkwardly. "Thank you...um...can I take your coat?"

He promptly slid it from his shoulders and from around him and handed it to her. He looked so handsome in his cream pullover and gray slacks. As she took the coat, she gestured toward the sofa. "Why don’t you take a load off?"

He nodded and headed to the tiny living room area.

Fran carefully placed the coat on the hanger and turned to place it inside the little closet. As she did, she caught the faintest whiff of his cologne on it. The cologne she’d given him. She loved the scent on him. Mixed with his own natural smell, it created a male potion of pure sensory delight. She closed her eyes, facing the darkness of the closet, and brought her nose to the collar of his overcoat. She wasn’t prepared for the emotional impact that besieged her senses as she did.

She pulled the coat away from her and quickly placed it on the small rack and shut the door. She had to stand against it just a moment to get her bearings back. When she dared look up, she noticed he was staring at her. She dared look him in the eye for a silent beat. The spell he cast over her was mesmerizing and yet, suffocating in a way that Fran didn’t know how to deal with. Yet, she couldn’t look away.

Max stared right back. She was beautiful. She had obviously dressed for them and looked fresh and inviting in her festive red blouse and soft black pants. He never wanted to stop looking at her. God, how he’d missed her.

The kids came storming back into the room talking and laughing amongst themselves and the taut moment between them was broken.

Fran took a step away from the closet and rubbed her hands together. "Let’s get this party started huh?"

The kids all rushed to join her in the kitchen as she put out snacks on the table.

"Cool! Chocolate dipped pretzels!" Brighton announced.

"Yum! Peanut butter balls!" The kids fought to dive into the candy Fran had made earlier in the week. She was thrilled to have someone to share it with. She’d been having visions of herself fifty pounds heavier and wearing her mother’s neon pink hot pants again recently.

Max noticed his children’s enthusiasm for the food and felt he needed to say something.

"Children, you’ve already had dinner, now don’t eat all of Miss Fine’s candy and such." He admonished as they turned to look at him with their hands guiltily full. "She might be saving some for guests.

Brighton made a face. "Awww, dad, we didn’t get candy!"

Fran pulled open a pack of popcorn and tossed her hand at the kids. "Nope. You guys are welcome to eat all you want!"

"Cool!" They all chorused and continued their barrage.

Fran stuck the popcorn in the small counter top microwave and pressed the buttons to start it popping. Looking up at the kids, she spoke to Maggie, who had spent the most time at her apartment and would know where things were.

"Maggie, go in the bathroom and look in the medicine cabinet and get my dental floss."

"O.K." Maggie hopped up from the kitchen chair and started to the bathroom.

Max sat on the sofa just watching them all. Fran was already having to break up a fight between Gracie and Brighton over who got the bigger pretzel stick as Maggie came back in the room with the dental floss. He smirked as he realized she intended to use the floss as string for the popcorn.

He glanced over at the small table by the television that her tiny tree rested on. It had just one row of white lights on it but was brightly decorated with red and gold balls. He noticed that there was one tiny little ornament that was different. Rising up from the sofa, he glanced over to the kitchen to make sure he wouldn’t be noticed.

Seeing the four of them engaged now in popcorn stringing and tying, he leaned over to see the little ornament. He reached and carefully plucked it off the tree gently so as not to break it. It was really a pitiful looking little thing, made of homemade clay in the shape of a bell and hand painted by someone who obviously had little skill.

Turning it over in his hand, he noticed it had writing on the back of it. He had to lean down toward the Christmas lights to see it. When he did, he could make out the writing.

‘To Fran

The Best Nanny Ever

I Love You

Gracie Sheffield

1993'

Max immediately felt a huge lump form in his throat as he stared at the little ornament. His daughter had done this. For Miss Fine. Their first Christmas together. And she’d saved it like a priceless treasure.

He felt a stab of admiration for her. How was it that she could so quickly endear herself to everyone that met her? How did she make everyone love her so much?

And how lucky were they that she’d landed with them?

He glanced again at the group chattering loudly around the table. His children all loved the woman so much.

And so did he.

He shut his eyes tightly, blocking out the pain that thought always brought with it.

Tell her. Tell her. Tell her.

Just go over there and pull her aside and gather her in your arms and let her know how much she means to you. Ask her to come back and be a part of your life again. Ask her to give you a second chance.

The commands were pressing Max. He knew that he needed to for his children’s sake. He knew that he wanted to for his own.

But how would she respond? She’d told him want wasn’t enough. He knew that. And he wanted to show her that he did.

She’d walked away from him twice now. Did he dare risk a third time? He didn’t know if his heart could take it.

Was there any hope?

He had to know.

Placing the little bell ornament carefully back on the tree, he straightened and stared at the tree lights for a long time.

"Hey Daddy, come over here and help us!"

He looked up in the direction of his youngest daughter’s voice to see four sets of expectant eyes looking at him.

He smiled at them all.

His family.

He walked to the little kitchen to join in.

"What can I do to help gang?" He asked the group in general but his eyes flitted over to Fran.

While the kids carefully used the thread and needle to string popcorn, she used a huge wooden spoon to stir warm chocolate.

She looked up at him and tossed him the kind of inviting smile he’d hoped for. As he noticed what she was doing, he drew his face up in curiosity and walked around the table to check it out up close.

He came to a stop beside her and she used her free hand to gesture to the bag of Lay’s Potato Chips that was open.

"If you’ll hand me those one at a time, I’ll dip and you can put it on the wax paper there."

Max stared at the open bag of chips in disbelief. "Miss Fine? Chocolate dipped potato chips?"

He screwed up his face in distaste.

Seeing his expression, she leaned over toward him and bumped him in the chest with her shoulder. "Trust me. They’re wonderful! We used to do them all the time when I was a kid."

Max’s raised eyebrow gave a clear indication of his doubt but he reached in the bag to hand her a single thin, greasy chip.

She smiled and held it up as if conducting a science experiment. "Observe and be amazed."

She then dipped the chip into the warm, liquid chocolate and held it up as the excess drained off. Then, carefully, she dipped it once more and repeated the same careful action.

Max watched in amazement as the chocolate on the chip began to harden. She held it up as if holding a prize trophy. "TA-DA!" She happily announced as the still moist chocolate potato chip took form in her fingers.

She held it out to him. "Want to try?"

He gave it a leery look and then met the challenge in her eyes. Oh, yes he did. He glanced over to notice the children still busy with their task and paying them no mind.

Then, he started to reach with his fingers for the chip but at the last second, pulled her wrist up with his other hand. Holding her eyes in answer to the challenge, he leaned down to open his mouth around the chip she held in her delicate hand.

Her eyes darkened and flickered and her mouth opened in a silent ‘O’ as she watched his hot mouth open and devour the chip and her chocolate fingers along with it. Still holding her wrist still with his hand, he brought his lips together tight around her fingers and slid his tongue over the remnants of chocolate there. When he’d pulled her fingers clean, he withdrew his mouth from them and began to happily chew the potato chip. It was the tastiest thing he’d had in months.

Fran felt as if the kitchen floor had just swallowed her. Her heart was flying in response to the overtly sexual innuendo his mouth had just suggested. What was he doing to her and why?

She felt out of sorts and warm. Flustered, she dropped her eyes back to the chocolate.

"It’s delicious."

They both knew he wasn’t just talking about the chip.

He moved even closer to her until their bodies were almost flush side to side.

She reached across in front of him this time to get her own chip from the bag.

"Yeah, well, uh, don’t expect anymore freebies. No more tastes for you mister until we’re done here. You wanted to help..."

He grinned, loving the feel of her so close to him and the awareness he knew existed between them

"I certainly did." His voice held a slight playfulness.

And together, they dipped the chips.

************************************************************

"Oh, Fran! It’s beautiful!"

Maggie pulled the expensive powder blue sweater that perfectly matched her eyes from the box and held it to her.

"How did you know I wanted this?"

Fran laughed and flicked her hand in the air. "Just call me clairvoyant."

When Maggie dropped her head to Fran and rolled her eyes up, Fran cackled loudly again. "Or it could have been the way you kept saying ‘I want that sweater’, ‘I want that sweater’ every time we passed the window in the mall last week."

Maggie smiled a bit embarrassed and then leaned over across the floor to sweep her arms around Fran’s neck and squeeze her. "I love it Fran and I love you. Thank you so much!"

Fran squeezed her bag hard while fighting the sudden tears that sprang to her eyes.

Brighton, who had been ignoring the others opening gifts in favor of playing with his new handheld video game Fran had given him, looked up now.

"Hey, there’s just one more gift under the tree! Whose is it?"

Gracie quickly scurried underneath the tree to pull the small gift box out. Looking down at it, she read the tag. "It’s for Daddy!"

Gracie leaned across and handed it to her father who was sitting cross legged in the floor against the recliner.

Surprised, he looked up to catch Fran’s eyes. A bit embarrassed, she shrugged. "It’s not much, just a small token of...friendship."

Given their recent relationship, he really hadn’t been expecting anything from her. He began to unwrap the gold and silver paper.

There was a white box beneath it. He opened it to reveal a small money clip. Turning it over in his hand, he noticed it has his initials engraved on one side and the other, had something else.

He held it up to read it. ‘Hey, it’s too important to lose’ -Fran

He chuckled aloud.

"It’s perfect."

He looked up to see her watching his reaction carefully. She noticed him staring at her and shrugged.

"You know how you’re always laying your loose small bills about."

He continued to stare at her. He did know and it was a little thing that he hadn’t given much thought to. He was shocked that she had. Obviously, in the years she’d lived with him, she’d come to know him much better than he realized.

As his intense stare became uncomfortable, Fran began to scurry around the tree to pick up the loose paper scattered about.

She quickly got up and took it across to the kitchen where she disposed of it.

Turning back to the group, she smiled. "Now, for the good part!"

Gracie looked up, excited. "You’re coming home with us?"

The entire group went somber for just a moment and all activity ceased. Everyone looked up at Fran as if waiting and anticipating her response.

She nervously laughed and refused to look them straight in the eyes. "Better!"

She moved toward her bedroom. "Stockings!"

Max watched her awkwardly move away from both them and the question. He got to his feet and looked down at his children who still sat in the floor.

"You children clean up the mess here...I’ll help Miss Fine with the stockings."

He didn’t wait for a response to his order as he followed her into the bedroom. She was on her knees digging under her bed.

"Need some help?"

She laughed nervously again as she raised her head. "I stuffed these under here so that Ma wouldn’t eat the candy out of them!"

Flustered, she rose and went to the other side of the bed and reached as far as she could without any more success.

Max strode over to stand beside her. "Here, let me help."

She rose up as he he bent down beside her and reached his arm under the bed. He managed to get his hand wrapped around the edge of the stocking. Yet, when he pulled, it refused to come out.

He look back at her. "I think it’s stuck on something."

She squatted down behind him and peered under the bed. "Well, it’s gotta come out!"

He again reached under the bed and pulled, this time a bit harder.

"Here, I think I’ve just about got it..."

"AH!" The stocking gave and he fell back, knocking her over in the process.

They both lay on the floor in shock for a moment. Then, they began to laugh.

Max pulled the red and white fuzzy stocking completely out on the floor. Still laughing, he looked at her. "I bet Santa never has it this tough!"

Fran smirked. "Yeah, right, his big fat ass coming down all those chimneys. You ask me, the guy needs to go on weight watchers."

Max smiled at her. She always had a comeback.

She looked absolutely beautiful, sitting there on the carpet with her hair mussed and her blouse askew. She was always neat. Not a hair out of place.

He couldn’t resist. He didn’t know if it was the season or the gift or her own brand of merriment that she always cast on him but all he knew was that he had to kiss her.

Their legs touched where they sat sprawled; her back against the side of the bed mattress. He slowly raised to his knees and crawled toward her. Still holding her eyes, he leaned over her still lounged form.

Fran knew what was coming, yet, she was unable to get up or move. She could see his intent in his eyes. And she suspected that her own eyes mirrored the want she could clearly see in his own. His large hand came out to touch her neck softly. Holding it in place, he brought his mouth close to her own.

"Thank you for letting the children come over...you’ve made their Christmas."

She blinked, but didn’t look away from him. His face was right up at her own. "You’re welcome." It was a whisper.

He brought his other hand up to join it’s mate at the other side of her head, his fingers caressing her jaw as his thumb ran roughly back and forth across her lips.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?"

Her lips parted helplessly as she looked into his darkening eyes.

She stared now at his mouth, craving it, wanting it. "No."

His thumb pressed on her upper lip and then her lower one.

Fran felt her breath in her throat coming hard and fast as she anticipated the crush of his mouth.

He gave her a cocky little smile. "Well, then let me show you how beautiful you are."

His hot mouth coaxed hers open with a delicious pressure, nibbling at her fuller bottom lip before opening wider to enclose the top lip as well.

Fran gasped into his warm mouth. It was like a consummation of sorts. It had been so long since they’d touched like this, since she’d felt the delicious warm, pure pleasure of his mouth on hers.

Her mouth bit back at his hungrily, forcing a short growl from his throat as he paused at her lips.

"You taste incredible."

His tongue then darted out to meet her own and fence with it for hot seconds.

When they could take it no more, he pulled away and put his forehead against her own and held it there.

He had to concentrate to remember where they were and that the children were right in the next room.

He pulled back a little and glanced up toward the ceiling. He then pointed upward. If there were some mistletoe up there, we could blame it.

Fran, now coming to her own senses, looked upward as well. "Oh, I’m sure there’s some dust ball up there on the ceiling fan that we could pass off as a sprig."

The both dropped their chins and looked at each other and laughed. Then, they quieted and a look passed between them that hinted at their suppressed feelings.

Max was the first to look away and rose to his feet and extended his hand to her.

"I think there are some children out there waiting on Santa to bring them their stockings."

She bent to pick two of them off of the floor and passed by him, pausing to pat his stomach with the back of her hand. "Well, I ain’t masquerading."

He smiled. "Ho, Ho."

Together, they carried the stockings to the living room.

**********************************************************

"Here! Take the candy with you! God knows if it stays here, I’ll weigh ten more pounds before morning!"

Fran quickly stepped to the kitchen and wrapped up the rest of the candy and brought it to Brighton who took it eagerly.

"Thanks Fran!"

She smiled at the three kids who stood at her doorway. Reaching out, she touched her hand to their cheeks one by one. "I love every one of you guys so much!"

She bent down to kiss Gracie and then enveloped them all in one final enthusiastic hug.

When they pulled away, Maggie looked at her. "We’ll see you soon?"

Fran nodded. "You know you will. Call me."

They stepped out in the hallway. Behind them, Max pulled his overcoat on. Fran looked up at him. He was having trouble with the collar and Fran automatically reached up to straighten it as she had so many times in the past. When her hand met his neck, he stopped and looked at her and she awkwardly pulled it back.

Max cleared his throat and looked back at his children who were waiting. "Uh, children, why don’t you go on down and start the car." He handed the keys to Maggie. "I’ll be down in just a moment."

Smiling in a knowing way, they headed off.

Max turned back to Fran who stood in the door feeling rather out of sorts at his obvious maneuvering to get them alone.

She reached to hand him his scarf which had fallen from his coat to the floor. "Here, you better bundle up...it’s cold outside."

Max wasted no time. Reaching out, he encased her in both arms as he rose. Surprised, she came up against his chest hard.

"OH!" She squealed.

He narrowed his eyes and brought his head close to hers. "I just had to hold you once more."

He reached down to tenderly kiss her lips. He didn’t want to pull away but he knew if he continued to caress her mouth that he wouldn’t talk to her. And he desperately wanted to talk to her.

"Miss Fine..." He lowered his voice gently. "...Fran...we need to talk a moment."

She held her breath as she watched him.

He tightened his hold on her. "Please consider coming back to us."

Fran immediately looked away. She hadn’t expected this. What did she say? She wanted to throw herself at him and scream, ‘YES! YES! YES!’ but she knew that going back without an understanding between them...without him declaring his feelings and intentions would lead them to the same disastrous end that they’d come to last time they had tried to just be ‘friends’.

No, she couldn’t go back and just be his Nanny. Or even his friend.

It hurt even more than being apart from him and the children.

She sadly looked up at him. "I...just...can’t."

Max raised his chin in frustration and bit his jaw. "Why! For goodness sake! You know the children miss you terribly! You know that I hate what happened between us last time...

Fran began to nod. "And I know it would happen again."

Max shook his head in denial. "No...we can be friends. We always have been...and if something...you know... of a more intimate nature were to happen..."

She tossed her head in irritation and pushed his arms away. Tossing her hands into the air, she wheeled on him. "What? You leave me some extra bonus money by the bed? Offer to give me new carpet in my bedroom?"

Max dropped his chin chastisingly at the ridiculous questions. "It wouldn’t be that way."

Fran put her hands on her hips. "Oh really, then Mr. Sheffield, tell me...how WOULD it be?"

Max blew out a disgusted breath and counted to ten. The woman could fire him up easier than anyone he’d ever known.

"Fran, don’t you have feelings for me?"

She took a step away from him. "OF COURSE!" Her voice raised with her emotional state.

He took a couple of steps over to her and took both her arms in his hands again and swung her to him.

"Is it him?"

She made a face a moment until she realized he was talking about Erik.

"NO!" She snapped back.

He crushed her to him and kissed her with all the pent-up frustration within him.

Her mouth met his a little bruisingly and they met each other’s passion for a moment.

Fran twisted her mouth away and his mouth met her neck. "Tell me you feel this way with him Fran!" He dared her to say it.

Fran closed her eyes. Didn’t he get it? She wanted him but only if he was willing to give as much as he asked for. She deserved that much.

"No..." Her voice was choked.

Max smiled in victory. "Tell me that you want him like this...because I know you want me...I can feel it." He pressed her breasts to him, opening his coat so that the hard tips, which were showing through her blouse pressed into him.

His mouth slid down her throat. "He can’t satisfy you like I can...We burn for each other..."

For a moment, she gave into his hot mouth and kisses and let the hot sensations overtake her. She cried out as he nipped her neck.

"Fran...come back to us...to me..."

She couldn’t speak so she just shook her head against his chest.

"I..."

She continued to shake her head. With his hands, he lifted her face to his once more to look her in the eyes.

"Please." His voice was pleading and gentle and she almost gave in to it.

"I can’t. Not like this." Tears formed in her eyes and overflowed down her cheek.

He dropped his hands to his side. "What do you want from me?"

"Everything." She whispered.

"Or nothing?" He whispered it back.

She nodded as she wiped at her eyes.

He turned to the door and then turned back to her, reaching into his coat pocket.

He pulled out a simple gold box with a tiny white ribbon around it.

"Merry Christmas Miss Fine." He handed her the gift and slowly closed the door behind him.

***************************************************

He stood at the glass doors of his office watching the snow fall.

He opened his terrace doors and could hear the merriment of the party going on next door. His neighbor Roger must have planned one hell of a party. He’d been invited of course. He’d had several prospects for New Year’s. But he hadn’t accepted any of them.

He took another sip of his drink and stepped out into the cold of the New York night. He looked up to see the sky was clear. The stars seemed to wink at him in mockery.

There would be no magic for him this New Year.

He felt empty and closed. He’d been in no mood to go out and celebrate and pretend some sort of happiness that deep down he didn’t feel. It was hard enough to put on a good face from day to day and go on and pretend that nothing was wrong.

But, something was. It was as if all the joy had been sucked from his life when she’d left.

He took another sip of his strong drink.

Where was she tonight? Who with? And what was she doing?

He couldn’t stop the questions from running through his mind. He was sure she was out dancing or having a grand ol time somewhere. It wasn’t like her to miss a chance to party.

Even as he thought it, he knew he wasn’t being fair to her. He was just hurt and feeling sorry for himself. He smiled just a bit as he thought back to last year at the same time. He’d been headed to a huge Theatre Association gala at the Waldorf-Astoria. She’d come down the stairs dressed to kill in a short red dress and was all set to meet Val to go to a big New Year’s party. He was going to give her a lift to Val’s in the limo.

And then, before either of them got so far as putting their coats on, Gracie had come down the stairs in her nightgown and had promptly started throwing up.

She didn’t bat an eye. She calmly helped Gracie clean up and change pajamas. Then, she gone upstairs and changed her own outfit and called Val to tell her she wouldn’t make the party.

She had insisted he go on but somehow staying seemed to be what he was compelled to do. So the three of them, along with Brighton sacked out on the sofa and chairs downstairs and watched the New Year’s shows on television. Miss Fine had went into the kitchen and made them all party hats out of Styrofoam cups and string and she’d held Gracie in her lap and hand fed her soda crackers and sprite as he and Brighton had pigged out on candy, chips and cola.

It was the happiest New Year’s he could ever recall.

Hearing a tap at the terrace door, he turned to see Niles standing there in casual clothing. He raised his eyebrows. It wasn’t everyday that he caught his butler in jeans and sweater.

"Sir, is there anything I can get you before I leave?"

Max shook his head. "No, no...Thanks for asking but I’m fine."

Niles started to turn away and then paused to look back at his employer and friend. It was very obvious to those that cared about him that he hadn’t been fine since she’d left.

"Sir, are you certain you don’t want to come with me to Antonelli’s? Great band, cheap beer and all the hot nachos you can stomach."

Max smiled.

"No, no...You go enjoy yourself...have a wonderful time!" Max tried to inject some enthusiasm into his voice but he didn’t fool Niles.

They’d known each other too long.

Niles took a step toward him on the terrace. "Sir, why don’t you call Miss Fine?...I know you’re missing her...she may very well be at home feeling much the way you do."

Max tossed his drink back and finished it and then snorted loudly through his nose at the idea.

"Not bloody likely! Her...at home on New Years?" He flicked a hand toward Niles. "Please!" He scoffed. "She’s out leading the party."

Niles wasn’t convinced but he shrugged and left him alone.

Max once more turned his eyes to the night sky.

He didn’t think he’d ever felt lonelier.

**************************************************

Across town a woman stared out her window watching the fireworks in the distance. The colors dazzled the sky with their cascade of colorful fire. It was a good, clear night to shoot off fireworks. It was something she’d always wanted to do as a kid. However, living in a high rise apartment in Queens didn’t exactly lend itself to the experience.

So, she’d just had to be satisfied with watching Dick Clark rock the night away as he counted down to the fireworks in vivid nineteen inch color. She looked away from the window and glanced toward her own nineteen inch set. There he was, still going strong. How old was the guy anyway? Seventy? Ninety? It was hard to tell. He looked the same to her. All she knew was that she’d kill to have the number of his plastic surgeon.

She gave up on the fireworks and plopped back down in her chair as she reached for the remote.

What was he doing tonight?

She’d bet her last hundred bucks that he wasn’t sitting by his window watching the stars. Maybe he was somewhere with Terri. Perhaps he’d taken her to one of those theatre party things they always had every New Year.

She couldn’t help the sadness that fizzled through her at the thought.

It would be midnight soon. Would he be holding Terri or another woman in his arms? Would he kiss them the same way he had her?

She shivered as she remembered the feel of his warm mouth pulling at her own. The man simply drugged her with a kiss like no other man ever had. She knew that had as much to do with her feelings for him than his abilities but he still kissed her like he knew what he was doing.

He had been married after all. As naive as he seemed to her sometimes, he had to know the ropes pretty doggone well. She smiled. He might even teach her a thing or two in bed. It wasn’t like she was that experienced.

Sure, she was far past her virginity but she didn’t think an adolescent boyfriend and Danny the ‘sixty second wonder’ granted her admission to the den of ill repute. She wondered if he thought her too easy and then laughed at her own self. He believed she was sleeping with Erik didn’t he?

Well, she supposed she would have been easy for him. She loved him that much. But it still stung that he thought she’d jump right into bed with Erik or any other man without building some kind of relationship first. Why couldn’t he trust her with his feelings? With his heart? Why couldn’t he believe in her and that she wouldn’t play with his emotions and would treat a real man-woman relationship between them as if it were a precious gift.

She looked down at the expensive gold bracelet he’d given her at Christmas. Why had he bothered? She fingered the charm. It had a little heart that dangled from the end of it. What did it mean from him? Anything? Had he meant to offer it as a true symbol of his feelings and intentions but then had refused to when she’d turned down his offer to come back?

Oh, if only she knew that to be the case!

Or, had he sent Niles or Terri or even Maggie to pick her something up? Had he done it as an afterthought? Did the bracelet just happen to have the little heart on it and it hold no significance to him?

Maxwell Sheffield was a very deliberate man.

Maybe it had meant something.

She rubbed her eyes in frustration and looked back at Dick Clark on the screen.

What was he doing tonight?

And was there any chance that he felt as lonely as she did without him?

***********************************************************

"I can’t wait to see Fran daddy!" Gracie practically jumped in the car with all the enthusiasm of a ten year old as her father closed the door to his Porsche.

Max reached across to get her bag and then joined her in the car with a smile. She looked up at him. "You didn’t have to take me you know...but thanks for doing so. Niles always stays and talks to Fran when we go over."

Max hadn’t thought about how much Niles must also have missed Miss Fine in the months she’d been gone from their household. He certainly knew his children did and seeing Gracie so excited about spending the night with Miss Fine just underscored what had transpired between them in his mind.

What had they done?

He thought back to the few times he’d seen her since she’d left. He had talked to her at the basketball game and then they’d had a near thing in the restaurant back in November. Brighton said she’d been to a couple more after that but they were games that he hadn’t been able to make. Or perhaps, she’d planned it that way?

They had been getting along and talking and laughing at the restaurant and afterwards in the game area. And then...

He’d done something really stupid.

He’d told her he wanted her. He had actually said it. And then he’d pressed it. He knew she still had feelings for him. He could see it in her eyes; feel it in her body as he’d held her close to him for those few delicious seconds.

But it wasn’t enough.

Never enough.

He didn’t know what to do...what to say...

And then...there was Christmas. Oh, he’d been nervous about seeing her and she had been equally so. It was so unusual to see her out of sorts, but she had been that evening. Still, he’d gone it for the children. Or so he told himself. Somehow, he knew she wouldn’t come if he’d invited her back to the mansion. And he couldn’t say he’d blame her after what happened.

But, nonetheless, the tiny apartment had been festive with the five of them eating snacks and sharing presents. She’d shocked him with her gift. He hadn’t thought she’d give him anything and when she did, he was touched.

And then...that kiss...in her bedroom when they’d been retrieving the children’s stockings.

He’d never wanted it to end.

He’d ask her that night to come back. To leave Erik and he would forgive her whatever she had done with the man and to come back.

And she’d gotten tears in her eyes and...turned him down.

Did he really mean more to her than he and his family did?

He had thought that there might be some hope for them left. Now, he didn’t know what to think anymore.

She was driving him crazy. If it weren’t for C.C. and Terri, he doubted he would get any work done. She was like an itch he couldn’t scratch or get to go away. There seemed to be no cure. He had done all he knew to do within reason. He didn’t know what she wanted from him anymore.

All he knew was that he couldn’t continue not to see her. As the weeks had passed since Christmas, his need for her increased ten-fold. Niles told him he was grouchy. The children said the same. And though he didn’t allow them to talk about it with him, they quietly claimed to know why. He didn’t really argue about it anymore. He knew as well and he’d fought it for long enough. He was going to do it her way, whatever that was. Whatever she wanted. He would try and give her. This hurt too damn much.

So, when Gracie had told him that Fran wanted her to come spend the night this week, he’d secretly jumped at the chance to take her. It would give him a chance to talk to her. To see if she still had feelings for him; to see once and for all if he were more important to her than...him. He’d invented an errand to send Niles on. And when Terri had generously offered to take Gracie over on her way home, he’d refused, saying he needed to stop by the theater anyway.

Besides, the last thing he wanted Miss Fine to see was that Terri was working out so well for him.

He felt a little ashamed at hiring her almost in spite but she had been nothing but professional and friendly and she hadn’t tried to pursue anything more than friendship with him since that first and only real date they’d had. Plus, she was a damn good assistant. She was good with schedules and really had a way with people. She’d freed C.C. up to do more of the heavy work which, in turn, had taken more off of him.

As he drove through the New York afternoon traffic on the cold early February afternoon, he contrasted the difference between his friendship with Terri and his supposed friendship with Miss Fine. They both had worked for him. They were both beautiful women. They’d both been hired for similar reasons: desperation. And yet, he knew already that Terri Slivka could work years for him just as C.C. had and it would never be more than it was right now.

He also knew without a doubt that if Miss Fine ever came back to work for him that he’d need her and think about her just as much as he ever had. He’d been so stupid to think that they could be friends only and it stay that way. Sure, they were-had been- friends. They had been since she’d first started working for him. She’d helped him so much in the beginning with the children. When they’d needed a woman that could overlook their problems and hurt and find the loving child within each one of them, she had done it.

And she’d somehow, in the years since, done the same for him. She’d stripped him naked emotionally. And he hadn’t even known it. She’d patched his own wounds with her smiles and her laughter and her vivacity for life. She’d made him feel like a whole man again. And she’d let him know that she cared for him. And that she would be willing to be more...

But he had never given in. He’d let his fears and his vows control his heart. Just when she’d opened up her own heart to him and given him chance after chance to pursue her in a man to woman way and he’d done exactly what he’d done on that damn plane coming from that ill-fated trip to Paris this past summer.

He’d took it back.

Took himself back. Held his heart away from her reach.

And now...when she’d convinced him...shown him that she was right. That friendship wasn’t the entire answer for them...

His greatest fear had come true.

He’d lost her. To another man.

He hit the steering wheel and blew his horn angrily.

"Daddy!"

He shook his head clear and turned to look at his daughter with embarrassment.

"Sorry Sweetheart! This traffic makes me nervous."

Gracie stared at him oddly a moment and shook her own head. He’d been crazy in the months since Fran had left.

If you asked her, he needed therapy.

******************************************************

"Don’t you just love Fran’s building?" Gracie had chattered non-stop since they’d pulled up to the curb in front of the small gallery and apartment complex above.

"Have you seen Erik’s art daddy? It’s incredible! He is so talented!"

Yadda. Yadda. Yadda. If one of his kids said one more time how wonderful ‘Erik’ was, he thought he would puke.

‘Erik did a sketch of me Daddy!’

‘Erik said he’d come with Fran to one of my games dad!’

‘Erik is so cute isn’t he?’

In the few months they’d known him, Miss Fine’s boyfriend seemed to be making a big impression on his children though they had bought her line about the two of them being ‘just friends’ hook, line and sinker.

Well...he knew better.

The door jingled above the door as Max went into the shop. The old man greeted him this time more familiarly.

"Hello Sir! How are you on this fine, clear early February day?"

Max smiled a greeting at the small gallery’s owner and his eyes slid down to see Gracie standing beside her father.

"Well...Hello Missy! Good to see you again!"

"Hi Mr. Selderman!" Gracie smiled up at the old man who just beamed at her.

"I told you to call me Raymond child! And are you going to take me up on that free sketch lesson or not?"

Gracie nodded and looked up at her father. "Fran said that if it was alright with Daddy that I could come a couple of times a week and take lessons when I stayed with her."

Oh, she did? Max continued to smile but ground his teeth a bit. She was taking over his life...over his children and she wasn’t even living with him any longer!

What was it about the blasted woman?!

"You sure I can’t interest you in a piece of art Mr. Sheffield?"

Maxwell glanced toward the back stairs. "Maybe later. I’ve got to get Gracie up to Miss Fine and then head back over to the theater district."

The old man let loose a full laugh at the mention of Fran’s name.

"Oh, Miss Fran! I love that little gal...asked her to marry me but she claims her heart is already taken! I envy and pity the man!"

He laughed again. "That one can wrap a man around her finger without even trying."

Max hid the grimace behind his smile Didn’t he know it.

He herded Gracie toward the stairs. So...her heart is taken with her new beau eh?

Max felt a pain near his heart he tried to ignore and forced his feet up the steps. Now, he had the urge to just turn around...and run the other way. He needed to get out of here and away from Fran Fine and her new lover as soon as possible.

What in the world had possessed him to think he needed to see her again!?

He climbed the interior steps with Gracie behind him. As he rounded the corner, he met a sight that he was unprepared for.

In the doorway of her apartment, stood Fran and Erik in a tight embrace and he was kissing her!

Max stopped dead still in the hallway as Gracie peeked around him to see what was going on.

As if sensing they were being watched, Erik and Fran looked up with huge smiles on their faces.

Fran’s face fell as she took in the look on Maxwell’s face.

He turned around on his heel quickly and caught Gracie by the hand and started back down the hallway to the steps.

"Daddy! Where are we going?!" Gracie squeaked as she felt herself tugged a bit harder than normal.

"We’re leaving. It’s obvious that we’ve caught Miss Fine while she’s rather...busy!"

He said it loudly and in obvious anger.

Behind him, Erik dropped his head and slapped his hand to his forehead. "Oh, damn! Now I’ve made it worse for you! Fran...I’m so sorry..."

Fran, who was watching Max and Gracie’s exit down the hall patted his chest. "You don’t have anything to feel bad about Erik."

Erik released a harsh breath. He felt awful now. "Do you want me to catch him and explain?"

Fran shook her head. "No, I’ll do it...just go on in there and talk to your fiancee."

She tossed him a quick smile and took off at a trot down the hallway, taking the stairs two at a time.

"But Fran, you’re not dressed!" Erik’s call fell on deaf ears.

Fran made it to the gallery just as Max was opening the front door to leave.

"Mr. Sheffield...WAIT!" She yelled across the gallery front as Raymond came out of the back to see what the commotion was. The sound seemed to ricochet off of the dark walls with their paintings and muted lights.

Seeing Fran chasing after them, Gracie broke away from her father and flew toward her. Fran caught her to her in a one-armed hug.

Max had no choice now but to turn toward her.

She came up to him breathless and started to speak and he held up a hand.

"Look, Miss Fine, I don’t know and don’t care what we interrupted back there but I will not have my daughters around while it is going on!"

Fran hugged Gracie to her even tighter. "I know what you thought you were seeing." She paused and took a breath. "I was just congratulating him!"

Max snarled. "I’ll BET!"

Fran balled her hands into fists. "You can be the most infuriating, stubborn man!"

Max raised his chin. "Ha! Pot meet Kettle!" His angry voice was loud and he just now seemed to realize it.

He self-consciously looked around at the few customers who had been browsing until the argument at the door caught their attention. He leaned in to lower his voice pointing back toward the stairs.

"All I know is that you are standing there in the hallway in that..." He made a disgusted gesture toward her robe. Her bare feet and legs were very evident as proof of his statement. He noticed she wore the bracelet he’d left her at Christmas and that made him all the more angrier.

He crossed his arms resolutely. "I will NOT have my daughters party to some sordid affair between you and that...artist of yours!" His whisper was scathing to her ears.

"Well, if you don’t like them exposed to such, then perhaps you shouldn’t have hired their girlfriend to work for you right under their noses!"

Fran crossed her own arms, too angry to try and reason with him now.

"It isn’t like that between Terri and I Miss Fine!" His insinuation was clear that it was that way between she and Erik. "And who I hire is none of your damn business anyway! If you recall, YOU walked out on me!"

Fran let her mouth fall open. "I walked out on YOU?!"

She took a step forward and put a finger to his suit lapel. "I-don’t-think-so!" She enunciated each word as to underscore her anger at his very wrong accusation.

Max bit his jaw, and glanced around and then down. It was then that he noticed his daughter was very enthralled by the very adult conversation going on between them. He spoke directly to her.

"Gracie, sweetheart, go on to the car."

Gracie looked at her father and then broke away from Fran to stand up tall in front of him. "No. You’re mad at Fran and if I leave you’ll yell at her and I want you to stop it!"

Both Fran and Max were shocked by the outburst.

Fran looked down at her youngest and reached to put her hand on her cheek. "Sweetie, do what you’re father told you...we’ll talk later."

Gracie pouted on Fran, hurt in her bright eyes. "Yeah, sure and when? When you and Daddy decide to end this silly fighting between you and be together like you should be?!"

Both of them stood shocked as the young girl tore out of the doorway and toward Max’s red Porsche.

Each of them turned to the other. "See what you’ve done?!" They each crossed their arms for a long moment just glaring.

Fran decided to try one more time. "It’s not what it seems...Erik and I...we’re not involved in that way."

Max’s jaw clinched and he shook his head sadly. "What am I supposed to think Miss Fine?"

She reached for his hand, holding it in her smaller one. He stared down at it.

"We were friends. You’re supposed to trust me."

Max clenched and unclenched his jaw again and then reached for the door, swinging it open. "If you insist on not being honest with me, then I don’t think we have anything further to say to each other Miss Fine." His voice was full of hurt and anger as he reached down for Gracie’s overnight bag.

Fran raised her chin, her pride overriding her own love for the stubborn man in front of her. "If you can’t trust me then...I don’t think I care to see you again Mr. Sheffield."

Max raised his own chin as if taking a blow to it. "Same here Miss Fine."

He turned away from the door, jerking Gracie’s bag behind him.

Fran watched as he strode angrily across the sidewalk to the Porsche and fired it up.

As he drove off into the distance, she felt the crush of their parting words fall over her.

An old man’s hand reached for her shoulder and she turned to see kindly old eyes looking down at her.

Raymond said nothing but pulled her into his arms where she cried like a baby.

****************************************************************

Terri was just about to leave when she heard the front door slam.

Looking up, a very upset Gracie rushed ahead of her father. "And that’s the last I want to hear of it young lady!"

He called after her as she tore off up the stairs with a cry.

Surprised, Terri stepped forward. "Maxwell, I thought you were taking Gracie over to stay with Fran for the weekend."

He glanced up as he jerked his overcoat off and tossed it on a hanger. "So did I."

Terri eased across the room closer to him. "What went wrong?"

He threw his head back. "Everything."

She slowly walked up and took him by the arm and lead him to the sofa. She noticed that he looked haggard and disillusioned as if he’d been running a long race with no end in sight.

As he sat down, she sat beside him. "Talk to me Maxwell. You had a fight with Fran again didn’t you?"

He slumped back on a pillow. "Seems that is all the two of us do lately."

Terri’s heart felt for him; she felt for them both.

"Maxwell, you two care for each other. You have a common love in your children. Can you not at least be friends for them?"

Her voice was soft and understanding but with a measure of urgency in it.

Max sat up a bit and threw a hand up in despair. "I am trying but I will not let my children stay with her if she is insistent upon having an open fling with your brother!"

Terri immediately drew her eyebrows together. "Fran and Erik are having a...fling?"

Max made a disgusted noise. "I’ve seen for myself now twice. I warned her that I wouldn’t let the children be around such..."

"You actually caught them doing something..." Terri’s voice trailed off but Max knew what she meant.

"Trust me...a man and woman kissing when the woman is naked is enough evidence for anyone."

Terri had to talk to Erik. She was hesitant to say any more until she did. Something about this didn’t ring true to her...didn’t seem right.

Max continued to shake his head. "And do you believe the woman had the audacity to bring up the fact that I’d hired YOU?!"

Terri narrowed her eyes. She hated being a reason for someone else’s unhappiness. As much as she enjoyed working for Maxwell, she’d leave the job today if she thought it would bring he and Fran back together.

She leaned over to catch Max’s hand in her own and draw his eyes to hers. "Listen to me Maxwell Sheffield...I don’t know what went on over at those apartments and I don’t know what you think you’ve seen but I know that Fran Fine is totally and irrefutably crazy about you and I know whether you want to or not, you love her."

Max pulled his hand away and just stared at her. What was it with women thinking they could run his life and tell him what he should feel and what he shouldn’t?

His face turned stony as he rose to his feet. "I’d rather not discuss it any further Terri if you don’t mind."

He purposefully erased any trace of anger or hurt from his face as he changed subjects. "Did you take the Milton contract over to be signed?"

She nodded. "Miss Babcock insisted on looking it over but I got it over there."

He murmured his thanks and tried to look as if nothing had happened.

She went to the coat closet to retrieve her coat. He followed her and gave her a helping hand.

Looking up, she smiled back. "Listen, are we still on for the art exhibit and auction next Friday?"

It was the last thing Max wanted to think about. "Sure, it’ll give me a chance to purchase something new for my collection."

Terri waved bye, opened the door and headed out to her car. She fired the engine up and headed in the direction of her brother’s apartment.

****************************************************************

Erik was on Cloud nine. He was very sorry that Fran and Max were having problems but that didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for his own life currently. He popped the bottle of champagne and grabbed the two glasses from his shelf.

Heading back over to his small sofa, he handed them both to Julie who held them with a smile on her face as he poured.

He looked down at her with her beautiful brown eyes and auburn hair curling softly about her face. How could they ever have broken up?

She handed him back a glass which he held in the air. "To us...I love you Jules."

Julie sat her glass on the small table by the sofa and stood up in front of him. She then took his and placed it next to hers.

"And I love you Erik and I never want to fight or separate ever again."

He pulled her into his arms and they kissed with the passion of two people who had missed each other dreadfully.

Erik picked her up and headed to his small bedroom area. He had just got to the bed when the knock sounded at his door.

His face dropped. "Argggggh!"

Julie chuckled as he disgustedly made his way through the apartment to open the door.

"This better be important." He swung it open as he spoke to find his sister standing on the other side of it with a serious look on her face.

"It is Erik...I want to know what is going on with you and Fran."

She narrowed her eyes as she noted the lipstick smudges around his face and neck and then looked past him to see the glow of candles casting romantic light about the room. Had Max indeed been correct in his assumptions?

Erik stepped back a pace and made a face. "She’s modeling for me Sis! We’re just friends...you know that."

"Erik?" The female voice sounded out from the bedroom and Terri raised an accusing eyebrow at him as she shoved past him.

She stopped still in her tracks as she came face to face with a woman she totally didn’t expect to see.

"Julie!"

"Terri!"

The two women’s surprised greetings sent them both reeling back a little.

Julie burst into a bit of laughter and walked over to hug the sister that she’d grown to love in the time she and Erik had been together.

Terri accepted the hug and then stepped back. "What...what are you doing here?"

Julie smiled. "I was just about to ask you the same thing."

Terri didn’t know what to say. "You know about...Fran?"

Julie gave her an odd look. "Sure, I met her just a bit ago and wow, was she EVER the perfect model for that piece Erik has just completed. I’d be jealous of her if she weren’t so sweet."

Terri turned back to look at her brother. "You finished it?" Terri hadn’t thought much more about her brother’s pet project and wasn’t sure if it was even moving forward.

Erik smiled broadly. "Yeah...I didn’t know how it would turn out so I’ve kept it low key the last few months since we started it here."

He walked over to where his large white canvas was covering something and he carefully pulled it off. There, in sparkling white marble, was the most beautiful nude that Terri had ever laid eyes on. It was unmistakably Fran’s face and body. Her long arm came across her partially bare breasts and her hand covered the area just over her heart.

It was all Terri could do to keep from gasping. It was simply marvelous. Done in exquisite, smooth marble. Breathtakingly beautiful. She’d known her brother was talented...but this...this was the work of a master craftsman.

Erik had used his model to capture the very essence of a woman in love and yet... in tremendous pain. Every detail...every emotion...

"Erik...it’s...I don’t know what to say..."

Erik looked down at it proudly. "It turned out beautiful eh?"

Terri nodded, still stunned. "The best you’ve ever done...it’s honestly one of the most beautiful nudes I’ve ever seen."

Erik looked even prouder. "Fran turned out to be the perfect model for it...Just like I knew she would be when I first laid eyes on her."

Terri nodded. "Are you going to sell it with your other works on Friday?"

Erik began to cover it carefully back up. "I don’t know. Julie and I have got to have something to take our honeymoon on and set up house with. Raymond thinks if he displays it in the gallery for an exhibition it might bring more but I think it’s such a stunner that I may just enter it and see what bids come my way. I can always reject with Raymond’s approval."

Terri looked stunned from one to the other. He’d lost her right after the word ‘honeymoon’. "Your honeymoon?!...Set up house?!"

Julie and Erik broke into smiles. "We’ve been quietly seeing each other for weeks."

Terri’s mouth feel open. "You secretive, dirty dog!"

Terri immediately went over to envelop them both into a huge hug. "Of course, I’m thrilled for you guys! I always knew you belonged together!"

They all very nearly had tears of joy in their eyes when they pulled apart.

"So...have you told mom or dad?" Terri addressed the question to her brother but it was Julie who held her hand up.

"We’re going to tell them AFTER we return from the honeymoon. I think the whole idea of a big wedding and all the pomp and frivolity is what scared me off the idea before. My mother would plan this lavish affair for us and that’s just not who we are. Erik and I want to be married right after his art exhibition Friday."

Terri nodded. She understood Julie’s reasoning and was just thrilled to see her brother and the woman she’d always wanted as a sister in law so happy.

Erik took Julie’s hand in his and kissed it and then looked up at Terri. "Hey, what had you so worked up when you first got here anyway?"

Terri shrugged. It didn’t seem as pressing now. "I just wanted to help a friend."

Erik nodded. "Maxwell?"

Terri nodded back as Julie looked on confused.

Erik looked down at his fiancee. "It’s a long story baby. It’s Fran’s ex-employer."

Julie just nodded, still lost in the brother-sister conversation.

Erik turned his attention back to his sister. "I hate to say that Maxwell may have seen my token hug of gratitude for Fran and interpreted it wrong."

Terri grimaced.

"I was just thrilled that Julie had accepted my proposal this time and was thanking Fran." He shrugged. " She was the one that convinced me to call Julie."

Terri could just imagine what Maxwell had thought. She knew her brother and she knew he was very openly affectionate to people and especially those he considered friends.

She didn’t want to spoil his day though, this time with his fiancee was too precious. She gave her brother and Julie a huge smile.

"Don’t worry about it Erik. Fran and Max will work this out. They’ve got a lot of history on their side from what I understand."

Erik smiled back and then looked back down adoringly at his fiancee. "Yeah, even more than we do."

"I’ll see you guys later...Erik, if I don’t talk to you beforehand, I’ll see you at the art show tomorrow night?"

He gave her a thumbs up. "I’m almost as excited about it as I am about getting married."

Julie opened her mouth in mock rage and gave him a punch to his mid-section. "Erik!"

He winked at her. "I promise to do no work at all on our honeymoon baby."

Terri gave a final little wave and they all chorused their goodbyes.

Terri opened the apartment door and stood in the hallway for a moment, staring down and across at Fran’s closed apartment door.

Taking a deep breath, she walked the few steps down the quiet hallway and knocked.

She heard nothing from inside and had just about decided the other woman wasn’t home when the door suddenly opened to reveal a woman Terri didn’t quite recognize. Fran had lost a bit of weight since she’d seen her and her loose sweats were hanging on her beautiful body. Her eyes were bloodshot and red as if she’d been crying very recently.

Terri stood stunned at her for just a moment. Where was the happy and carefree woman she’d met just months before?

Terri had always had good instincts when she chose to listen to them and they, along with the obvious symptoms told her a few things about the woman standing in front of her now.

This woman’s eyes were dead and without luster. An aura of sadness surrounded her like a veil. Her outer beauty was still there even with no make up on and hair tossed up in a bun as it was now. Yet, this was a woman who had given up.

Terri decided to stop staring at speak. "Hello Fran."

Fran gave her a half smile. "Terri."

Terri felt a bit awkward as before but knew she had to do this, if not for Fran and Maxwell, then for her own peace of mind.

"May I come in?"

Fran stood aside, held her arm out and saying nothing, let her enter.

Terri took a few steps inside and looked around at the neat and cheerfully decorated apartment. The room showed the shades of Fran’s true personality.

She turned to her. "I guess you’re wondering why I’m here."

Fran closed the door and turned to face her. "The thought had crossed my mind."

Terri released a breath. "I think I didn’t know why I needed to come myself until today."

Fran shot her an odd look. "Could I offer you something to drink?"

Terri held a hand up. "No, no."

Fran held her hand toward the chair and sofa. "Then, please, have a seat."

Her mind was whirling. Why was Max’s girlfriend here? Was she going to grill her about their prior relationship? Fran couldn’t grasp the strangeness of it.

Terri sat stiffly on the sofa as Fran took a seat opposite her in the recliner. Sitting her purse to her side, Terri looked Fran directly in the eye.

"I know I’m probably not your favorite person."

Fran gave her a slight smile. She didn’t dislike Terri but she didn’t want to be best friends with Mr. Sheffield’s girlfriend either.

"I don’t hate you Terri."

Terri gave her a grateful smile. "Oh, I hope not Fran. I don’t think I really understood what I was getting myself into with Maxwell when I accepted that offer of a date with him and then, after you left, the job."

Oh, god. Fran wanted to cover her ears. She couldn’t bear to talk about Terri and Mr. Sheffield’s personal problems with her. No way, no how.

"Fran...I won’t lie to you. I was attracted to Maxwell. He’s very good-looking, kind, considerate, cultured...suave....everything I’d look for in a man."

Fran knew all of those things and it made it harder to hear them from another woman’s mouth.

"But he’s also very stubborn when he wants to be."

Fran knew it to be true and snorted a little laugh through her nose at Terri’s correct observation.

Terri smiled back a little and continued. "I have just loved working for him. As you know I’m sure, he’s a very fair employer and very generous. He rewards good work. There’s not much I don’t like about working there."

She paused, thinking of something a moment. "Now, if he’d send that Miss Babcock to the Amazon rainforest or something once and a while, it would help though."

Fran broke into a wide smile. "She’d just find a vine to swing back in on."

The two women shared a bit of tight laughter which helped ease the tension in the room.

The laughter stopped and Terri looked serious once more. "Fran, what I want to tell you is that I feel that you have the wrong idea perhaps about mine and Maxwell’s relationship."

Fran said nothing but raised her eyebrows with interest. "Listening..."

Terri stood and looked out the window as she spoke again. "Did you know on our first date when Maxwell took me home that I practically threw myself at him?"

Fran dropped her head. She really didn’t want to hear this.

Terri turned back to her. "And do you know what he did?...He politely refused to even touch me. I’m certainly not the type to offer myself up to just anyone and here I was embarrassing myself silly and the man couldn’t have been kinder...he had every right not to speak to me again, much less offer me a job."

Fran leaned her head back on the recliner for just a moment. "I don’t know why you’re telling me this Terri."

Terri walked over to stand right in front of her. "Because, Fran...the man turned me down because of you." Terri used her joined hands to point down at Fran.

" I knew that night that there was no real hope of anything developing between us as long as his heart belonged to you."

Fran’s eyes had become wide.

"Then why won’t he listen to me?" Fran’s voice was frustrated.

Terri crossed her arms. "You know he thinks you and my brother are heavily involved."

Fran expelled a huge breath. "Yes, I know and I’ve tried to set things straight...but he refuses to have a civil conversation about it!"

Terri nodded. She’d seen what jealousy could to do a man.

"Fran, it’s none of my business what has gone on with you and Maxwell in the past. And honestly, it’s none of my business now. But, he’s been so kind to me and you have been just terrific for my brother...I just hate the idea that somehow, even inadvertently, we are helping to keep you and Maxwell apart."

Fran too stood and went over to the kitchen table to retrieve her cola and take a large sip of it.

"He’s scared."

Terri nodded again. "I know. He was married once before wasn’t he?"

Fran looked at her and nodded.

Terri took a couple of steps closer to her. "But, Fran, honestly, I think now, he’s more scared of losing you to Erik than anything that’s happened in his past."

Fran threw her hands out wide in frustration.

"I can’t just be friends with him or be just his Nanny...I want his respect as an equal partner in his life."

Terri walked over to place her hand on Fran’s arm understandingly. "I know you do and I think perhaps, when you walked out and showed him you could make it on your own, you proved to him that you were stronger than he thought."

Terri gave a slight laugh. "You should see him when someone unexpectedly drops by. He practically trips over himself to find out who it is."

Fran smiled.

Terri went on. "And he refers to you at various times during the day when speaking to me about how Miss Fine did something. He wants things left the way YOU wanted them and done the way you did them."

Fran’s smile grew larger.

"And it bothers him when the children talk about you and what they did while visiting you..."

Terri paused as she noticed she had Fran’s complete attention.

"He wants you back."

Fran snorted. "Yeah, to look after the children and flirt with and pick out his ties and match his..."

Terri shook her head. "No."

Fran threw her head back to the ceiling now. "I think I’ll just become a Nun, it would be easier than this."

Again, Terri smiled. "You’re not Catholic."

Fran shrugged. "Technicality."

Terri reached over to place both hands on her arms and force her to look her in the eye now. "Fran, love like you and Maxwell share is worth fighting for."

Fran drew her mouth into a line. "We have so little in common."

Terri refused to be sidetracked. "It’s not about the little things Fran...it’s about the big ones. You and Maxwell have three children you both adore...you obviously enjoy being together if my observations count for anything."

Fran laughed. "We fight all the time."

Terri chuckled and released her arms with a pointed look. "You are both frustrated. Sex will do wonders for that."

Fran took a step back and was completely still for a moment. "You’ve experienced this."

Terri laughed a little herself. "Yes, I’ve had sex a time or two."

Fran crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes continuing to look at the other woman. "That’s not what I meant..."

Terri dropped her eyes. "Yeah, I had my shot and I blew it."

Now it was Fran’s turn to reach out to the other woman.

She was quiet as she waited for Terri to talk.

"I was desperately in love with my art teacher but I thought I wasn’t good enough for him. He was older...more worldly. He resisted because of the age gap and I got frustrated. I stopped fighting for it Fran...but I never got over him."

She raised her head with almost tears in her eyes. "Just a week before I met you and Maxwell, he came into the coffee shop. He’d said he couldn’t find me after I ran off and cut communication off with him and that he’d never gotten over me...He said that he still loved me after all this time and then..."

She had to stop a moment to collect herself. "And then...he took me over to his table and introduced me to his new wife."

Fran could see Terri’s obvious pain and took the woman in her arms and held her.

Terri let herself be held for a moment. It was the first time she’d allowed any such comfort since she’d found out. She hadn’t shared that with anyone...ever...not her mother...not her brother...but here she was, sharing it with a woman who was so different from her...yet...so very much like her.

She slowly pushed away from Fran’s light embrace and gave a small laugh.

"Fran, I have just one question for you now."

Fran’s own eyes had become moist and she wiped at them.

"Shoot."

Terri swallowed. Fran would just throw her out if she didn’t want her interference. She let it fly.

"Are you in love with Maxwell Sheffield?"

Fran could have refused to answer but she knew she wouldn’t now. She realized that Terri, much like her terrific brother had a heart of gold and just wanted to help. Fran didn’t know how she could but she wasn’t going to lie to her.

"I...I love Maxwell Sheffield with everything that’s inside me. I never even knew...that I could feel so intense about a man."

She closed her eyes, the tears now really threatening to come as the conversation and emotion swung to her own life.

She felt Terri clasp her hand for a moment and then release it.

"I’ll see myself out."

Fran nodded and sank down in the kitchen chair behind her, so wrapped up in her own feelings that she didn’t hear the door close.

As she stepped into the hallway, Terri didn’t know quite what to do. She just knew she couldn’t sit by and do nothing.

She did know that she and her brother had unwittingly helped to make a relationship that was precarious at best, even worse. But then, her brother had needed a push from Fran to get he and Julie back together.

She only wished someone had been there to give her a push when she’d needed it.

Maybe...just maybe, that was all Max needed.

She and Erik had pulled off a lot of stunts as kids. And she knew her brother would help Fran any way he could. Yeah, she might just have to give her brother a call a bit later.

She cast a look down the hall at his closed doorway. She wasn’t about to bother the happy couple again now. Erik might shoot her. She chuckled as she thoughtfully stretched her gloves on her fingers and headed down the corridor.

***********************************************************

"Maxwell, I’m leaving...what time do you want to pick me up or do you want me to meet you there?"

Max looked up from the pile of work on his desk at Terri who was gathering her things together.

He pulled his glasses from his face. "Oh, yes, the art show...I’m so sorry Terri, it had completely escaped my mind. And yes, I do want to go...you know I do."

He gave her a kind smile which she returned.

"Well, then, if you’ll swing by for me around six or a little after...the bidding starts at eight and I’m sure you want to inspect the pieces before you bid on anything. We can pick up a bite to eat afterward if you want."

He placed his glasses back on his nose. "That’ll be fine."

Terri then purposefully made her way back over toward his desk with the file she’d been working on and one she knew he was sure to look at this afternoon.

Making sure he wasn’t looking, she intentionally took the note from her pocket and laid it carefully upon the top of the file. Still partially folded, it would look like she had just dropped it accidentally from her pocket.

When she sat it on the edge of his desk, he didn’t even look up.

"Bye."

He didn’t even look up. "See you this evening Terri."

She smiled. Now, if her brother could hold up his end of the bargain, they’d be in business.

**************************************************

"That’s right C.C., you just tell him we’re not giving in until we get that theater for those dates. If he wants our business again, he’ll think twice about it."

He hung up the phone knowing that there wasn’t a better bulldog on the case than C.C.

He leaned back and eyed his desk. Everything was done for the day that could be. All he needed to do was to look over that expense report for the dinner he was hosting for potential backers later this month. He looked over to see where Terri had put it.

Reaching over to get it and noticed a loose piece of folded paper lying atop it.

He opened it to see a slightly crumpled note addressed to Terri. She must have dropped it out of her things on her way out.

He wasn’t going to read it but after glancing at it, he noticed a word that caught his attention.

‘Marriage’.

The note was from Erik.

He began to read in earnest.

Ter-

You weren’t home when I came by so I left this. I’ve finally convinced her to marry me! We’re getting married Sat. afternoon- noon sharp- down at the Women’s Club. It’s gonna be a very small and private ceremony. I want you to be there Sis. We don’t want but a few people to know about this so please, keep it to yourself! She wants to wait until after we’ve done the deed to even break it to her family. Hopefully, I’ll sell a couple of pieces at the auction so we can take a proper honeymoon.

Give me a call and I’ll tell you the whole story!

Love Ya-

Erik

His world went spinning around him, Max read the letter a second time, hoping against hope that it didn’t say what he’d thought it did.

But it still said the same thing. Terri hadn’t said a word. But then, hadn’t he asked her not to?

He felt as if someone had robbed him of breath; as if he might choke. He let the paper fall to the desk in front of him and buried his face between his hands.

His worst nightmare was coming true.

*********************************************************

It was all Terri could do to keep from laughing a little as they made their way to the doors of the DuMouchelle Art Gallery where the exhibition and auction were being held.

Max had obviously seen the ‘accidentally dropped’ letter this afternoon. He hadn’t said three words on the way over here and every time she inquired as to what was wrong, he would just shoot her a half-accusatory look and mumble that ‘nothing’ was wrong.

As the doorman held the door for them to enter the posh east sixty-seventh street art gallery, Terri turned to hold his hand in hers. He was most certainly going to need her assistance standing up in just a few minutes.

They checked their coats and then walked through the grand lobby of the gallery where the hostess waited. "Good Evening, Sir...madam."

Terri nodded at the woman, who was dressed elegantly in an evening gown that cost much more than the elegant black dress she was wearing. "Are you going to register to purchase at the auction later or are you just here to view the exhibits?"

Max took an abrupt step forward. "I’d like to register please."

The woman gestured with her hand to the small room at her left. "If you’ll step in that room Sir, a representative of the gallery will be right with you."

They murmured their thanks and stepped across the lobby of the gallery and into the dimly lit room and had a seat on the plush sofa. It wasn’t long until a slightly balding older gentleman joined them and shut the door.

Both Terri and Maxwell looked up from their seat. "Bernard Clark!"

Max abruptly stood and held his hand out in a friendly gesture. "Good to see you."

The older man beamed a friendly smile and grasped Max’s hand. "Maxwell Sheffield! Nice to see you young man!"

Max then politely introduced Terri to the man who had been a long-time art world associate of his father’s.

The man then spoke directly to Terri. "I sold this young man’s father some of the best pieces of art you’ve ever laid your eyes on out of my gallery."

Terri smiled at the bolster. She had heard of Bernard Clark’s gallery but she’d never been in it.

Max smiled. "Terri here is an artist herself."

Clark raised his eyebrows. "Oh, really?"

Terri blushed just a bit. "Oh, I just dabble really and sell locally but you may know of my brother. Some of his pieces are being sold here tonight."

Clark politely answered. "And who would he be?"

"Erik Slivka...he works out of Raymond Selderman’s small studios near the district."

The art dealer’s eyebrows shot up. "Yes! I’m very intrigued by his work...terrific young artist. I think he’s going to catch on very well. Patrons are all abuzz about several of his pieces but one in particular."

Terri smiled. She couldn’t wait for Max to see that ‘one’ she assumed Mr. Clark was speaking of.

Max reached inside his jacket. "Do you need to see my tax forms Bernard?"

Mr. Clark held both hands in front of him in admonition as he pursed his lips. "No...that won’t be necessary. I know you’re good for anything you want to bid on Maxwell."

The dealer bent over to write something on a form and then on a small business sized note card, he wrote something as well. Looking up, handed the card to Max.

"There’s your bid number."

"Thank you." Max took the card with a quick glance at it and placed it into his pocket.

Bernard then stepped to open the door. "Please, you and your date go and enjoy the exhibition."

Both Max and Terri smiled as they made their way out of the small office and into the lobby once more.

Max looked down at Terri.

"Well, now that’s taken care of, what do you say we head on over to the gallery and see the exhibition."

Terri smiled. "Yes, let’s."

**************************************

The crowd was gathered in the center of the gallery as Max and Terri slowly made their way from display to display.

"I like this piece. Perhaps, I’ll make a bid."

Terri leaned over his shoulder briefly to look at the modern bronze sculpture but her eyes kept straying to the crowd of people. She had gotten just a glimpse of what held their interest and she was excited.

"Oh, yes, that’s a nice piece Maxwell...but personally, I enjoy the rock and marble pieces myself."

Max shrugged as he raised up. "I have never liked marble work as well as the bronzes."

Terri smiled. She’d bet he was just about to change his mind.

"Why don’t we go see what all the fuss is about?" Terri pulled at Max’s arm and they made their way toward the crowd.

The piece was on a setting of crushed black velvet and lit with a blue tinted floor light that cast a haunting glow across it. As Max and Terri came closer, they heard the stir amongst the art patrons.

"It’s simply STUNNING!"

"Beautiful!...It will surely be the high bid of the evening!"

"Who is the artist? I’ve never heard of him!"

Terri and Max waited their turn until they got into the viewing circle.

Terri remained silent and waited on Max’s reaction.

At first glance, Max knew it was a nude. He didn’t own one but his father had owned two very expensive pieces.

But knowing that didn’t prepare him for what he noticed next. He recognized that body. He knew the face...that lovely face...it could be no other.

Her.

His lips parted as he stared in stunned amazement at the beauty of the piece of art in front of him. He couldn’t speak. Couldn’t turn away. He couldn’t stop his breathless, heart stopping reaction to the piece in front of him.

Her.

The chin was slanted up proudly and she looked into the distance as if anticipating something...or someone...

Her left arm was dangling by her side gracefully as if needing someone to take her in his arms and hold her. Her right arm was cast up and across her breasts, her fingertips just grazing the place where her heart rested.

It was enough to bring tears to his eyes.

He looked quickly to the display base of the beautiful, smooth marble. In a brass plate, it read, ‘The Elusive Heart’.

Somewhere, in a far off place, he began to hear other voices.

"Maxwell?" Terri pulled gently at his arm.

They gave in to the crush of the crowd and the two of them stepped aside to allow others to see the art piece. When they’d stepped far enough away to warrant a bit of privacy, he turned to her with awareness in his eyes.

"You knew about this Terri. Just like you knew about the wedding. Why....?"

His voice was almost an agony of emotion.

Terri nodded. "I thought you needed to see for yourself." The gentle hand on his arm slid back and forth and she spoke directly to him in a plea. "Maxwell, let your true reaction guide you."

Max was about to say something else when a familiar face stepped up behind Terri and placed an arm about her. "Well, Sis, are you going to congratulate me?"

"Erik! It’s wonderful!" Terri hugged her brother around the waist.

Erik Slivka tossed her a huge grin. He was incredibly handsome in his suit and looked as self-assured as any man Maxwell had ever seen. He wanted to deck him.

As if reading his thoughts, Erik turned and held out his hand to Maxwell.

"Good to see you Max."

The hand was ignored and Erik slowly withdrew it awkwardly.

"You might congratulate me Max."

On what? Taking his woman? Creating something with her that he couldn’t? Offering her marriage?

When Max said nothing, Erik gave a short laugh. "Fran was a terrific model you know. She has a body that is just..." He let his eyebrows raise appreciatively so Max could draw his own conclusions.

Erik just let the thought dangle and watched Max’s face turn even ruddier. He was probably on the road to getting himself punched but it would be for a good cause.

Terri cleared her throat and looked up at her brother. "You ready to do the deed tomorrow bro?"

Erik now smiled broadly. "I cannot wait to get married! I’m so excited that I may burst." He winked, and again glanced toward Maxwell.

This would be fun if he knew the other man wasn’t hurting so much. Love just sucked sometimes. Especially if you didn’t communicate. He’d learned that the hard way.

Erik decided he’d come this far with the charade and he might as well finish it right. He tossed Max and Terri a sly smile.

"I don’t know which I’m more excited about...the wedding or the honeymoon."

The other man’s lecherous, amusing laughter was enough to make Max physically ill. He drew his chin up and bit his jaw. He couldn’t take any more of this.

"Terri, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find the restroom before the auction starts. What say I meet you at the door in ten minutes?"

Terri nodded. "Fine, Maxwell?...Are you alright?"

Terri had a sudden vision of him doing something dangerous but then quickly erased the silly thought from her mind. He wasn’t a stupid man.

Max nodded. "I’m fine." And he strode off in the direction of the men’s room.

When he was gone, sister and brother looked at one another.

"Man, he was upset Ter! Did we go too far?" Erik looked a bit concerned.

Terri patted his tummy with an assuring hand. "No, we have to make it painful enough to spur him to go to her and make things right between them."

Erik looked concerned but his sister refused to second guess their plan of action.

"They love each other Erik. You said you understood that. You of all people should know that sometimes you need someone to give you a kick in the tail."

Erik nodded. He knew his sister was right. He took a deep breath. "Well, then, let me go sell some art."

He bent to kiss his sister. "Wish me luck Ter...my pieces are drawing a lot of attention. Raymond thinks this could be a big night for me."

Terri kissed him back, thrilled that all her brother’s dreams seemed to be coming true for him. "I’ve got a good feeling bro..." She glanced in the direction her escort had headed. "About everything..."

*********************************************************

"What a nice piece of art we have here! Done in the classic bronze, it is sure to be a collector’s piece in years to come."

Terri’s pulse quickened as she glanced down at the piece of paper she held and realized her brother’s prized piece was next on the list.

"Do I see an opening bid?" Terri noticed a man in front of them hold up his card for the bronze. She peeked a shadowed look toward her companion. She’d expected him to appear ruffled and unsettled. Yet, after the revelation of seeing the nude of Fran for the first time and the little meeting with Erik, he had somehow regained his composure and now looked as cool as the suave millionaire she knew him to be.

In just a few moments, the auctioneer banged the gavel announcing a final sale bid.

Darting a look at the door, Terri watched them walk in arm in arm.

Julie looked beautiful with her loose amber curls twirling about her shoulders. The emerald green formal fit her like a glove. She smiled a little. She and Erik were more than perfect together.

Beside her, she heard Max intake his breath.

He’d obviously just noticed the woman on Erik’s arm too.

"WHO is that with your brother?"

Terri turned her head to the left to find Max’s scalding question being asked right at her ear as his finger gestured in his direction. She knew what he was thinking and fought to keep amusement from her voice.

"Oh, her? That’s just an old girlfriend of his."

Well, it wasn’t a lie.

Max gritted his teeth. He couldn’t believe the other man’s cavalier attitude toward his pending nuptials with Miss Fine!

"Well, where the bloody hell is his new one?"

Terri shrugged. "I guess she was busy...Erik’s known this girl a long time..." She broke the thought off and left it at that.

This was more fun than it should have been for Terri. She had to literally turn her head when Max’s face changed shades several times. She could see he was fighting not to blow his temper.

Max’s eyes followed Erik Slivka and his ‘escort’ as they made their way across to sit in the front row reserved for participating artists.

He bent close to the woman in the green formal and then gave her a light kiss on the nose before he gave her a more prolonged one on the lips.

Did Miss Fine know what her groom to be was doing out with another woman?! Surely she would care!?

She didn’t deserve this kind of disrespect from this cad! His jaw clenched as did his fists. He wanted to pound the young artist to a pulp.

The crowd stirred as his nude was brought forward on a moving display and the lights dimmed to showcase it.

The auctioneer now dropped his voice into a dramatic pitch.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen...this is the piece that may be the most talked about of the evening..and perhaps...even the season..."

Terri clenched her hands together in her lap. She was nervous for Erik. He desperately needed a good price on the gorgeous piece. The prestige of a big sale at this event could kick start his career into art world stardom. She stared at the incredible nude again. It was so worth every penny someone would pay for it.

"Do I hear an opening bid?"

Immediately, several cards shot in the air around them.

After just a moment and a short conversation with an assistant, the auctioneer raised his skilled voice to the microphone.

"I have a very generous opening bid of fourteen thousand, nine hundred dollars, U.S. currency."

Terri almost gasped. Erik had to be about to wet himself! If that was the opening bid, it would surely go for twice that!

Terri looked across the aisle and found the very wealthy looking man who continued to hold his card aloft to open the bidding.

The auctioneer continued. "Ladies, Gentlemen, this is pure Italian marble...a real rarity...a full length nude of striking beauty and detail...realistic in every way..."

A second bid quickly went up.

"I have a bid of Seventeen thousand!" The stir in the crowd began to grow.

"Twenty thousand dollars!" The auctioneer was gathering excitement with every dollar count. "A new, visionary artist with obvious, unparalleled talent...you can say you own one of his first great works."

Terri was holding her breath. This was going so much better for her brother than he could have dreamed!

"Thirty-two thousand dollars!...Do I hear thirty-five?"

The bids steadily continued for several more minutes, growing with each announcement.

"Forty-one thousand!"

A slight hush came over the crowd as the auctioneer took more time with the next bid.

"Bidder number 5510 wishes to bid fifty thousand dollars!"

A gasp went through the crowd at the number. Terri closed her eyes in joy for a moment.

When she opened them back up it was to see Maxwell watching her oddly. She reached over to grasp his hand tightly in her own. In her excitement, she’d forgotten how he must be feeling watching the piece sell.

She wondered if he was going to bid.

Yet, he sat strangely still and showed little emotion for the next few minutes as the bidding reached over sixty thousand.

Few players remained as the bids inched up. They were over sixty-two thousand dollars when the auctioneer paused. "Do I have another bid?"

An older, regal man held his card proudly high.

No one around raised their card and it appeared the piece would sale for that.

Sixty-two thousand dollars! Her brother could definitely call himself a success now! He’d never sold anything for over ten before!

The man that had spoken to Terri and Max earlier came down the middle aisle holding up a small white card. The auctioneer stepped to the side of the podium and waited on his assistant to hand it up to him.

As the auctioneer read the card, his face contorted into a look of shock.

Slowly, he raised himself to full height and eased back behind the microphone.

"Ladies and Gentlemen...it appears we have a private, one shot bid on the piece..."

The crowd lapsed into complete collective silence as they waited.

He cleared his throat and read.

"One quarter of a million dollars!"

The buzz that raced through the crowd earlier was nothing next to the electric current that sliced through it now.

"Going once..." The man with the previous high bid lowered his own card, obviously stunned.

"Twice..."

"Sold!"

Terri sat in astonishment, staring at the auctioneer. Had he just sold her brother’s piece for a quarter of a million dollars?

Beside her, Max stood at the short, announced break with the rest of the crowd.

She jumped up beside him and gave him a spontaneous hug. "Did you hear that!?"

Max slowly inclined his head. "It would appear that congratulations are in order." Terri was so excited that she didn’t notice the tautness of his face, body and voice.

Terri was straining forward to see her brother accepting congratulations from some of the art vendors and patrons. Beside him, Julie was beaming. She felt Maxwell place a hand on her arm and when she looked up, she felt something was wrong.

"Terri, I hate to do this but would you mind if we cut out a bit early? I’m feeling rather sluggish." He held a hand to his stomach.

Her face fell. "Oh, Maxwell! I wanted to go talk to Erik!"

Max nodded. "Do you think you could get a lift home from him?"

Terri knitted her eyebrows together. "I’m sure I can but...Maxwell, are you alright? You look a bit pale."

He gave a terse nod of his head. "I’ll be fine, I just need to get some air and lie down a bit."

She leaned up and spoke next to his ear. "Do whatever you think you need to do."

She cast him a little smile and then turned to pick her evening bag up from the chair and head to the front of the room to congratulate her brother.

As Max made his own way from the auction room, he thought about what it was he needed to do.

*********************************************************

"The next building Clevis, on the right with the eaves and art gallery on the bottom floor there."

Max released his finger from the intercom button as his driver slowed to a stop in front of her building. It was dark around the building. The gallery had been closed for several hours now.

He sat in the darkness of the limo just staring up at what he knew was her window. There was a lamp light on inside. Was she home? Did he dare go find out?

He imagined her reading one of those beauty magazines she enjoyed so much as she lounged in a tub of warm bath water. Candles would be scattered about and lit to provide enough reading light for her and she would be glorying in the fill of the soft oil and bath beads on her skin. Her neck would lie back on the bath pillow...

Damn.

Damn her.

How could she marry another man when she loved him!

He knew she did. He’d forced her to admit it. He’d put her pride on the line; made her tell him how she felt...

And yet, she was about to marry someone else.

He couldn’t let it happen.

He reached for his door handle.

And paused as the cold metal met his hand.

What if she really wanted this marriage to the artist? Erik was successful now. Max had to begrudgingly admit that the man had extraordinary talent. He would provide a good life for her. If she didn’t mind him having other women, then why should it bother him?

Angry again, he took a deep breath and leaned back in the seat, blowing the breath harshly through his nostrils.

If she wanted to throw her life away, then so be it.

He couldn’t make her understand. He didn’t know if he could be everything.

He bit his jaw.

Raising forward, he depressed the intercom button again.

"Take me home Clevis."

The limo pulled away from the curb.

****************************************************

The next morning had dawned bright and sunny. Terri glanced down at her watch now to see that it was past eleven-thirty a.m.

Terri had insisted that Julie stay with her in a nod to traditional bride and groom affairs. Her brother had politely told her that wasn’t necessary in their case and that he and Julie had some celebrating to do after his big sale. She’d politely told him to shut up and act like a nervous groom to be.

Julie had gone home with her.

Now, as she looked around the elegantly decorated grand room of the downtown Woman’s Club where so many intimate weddings were held, she had to admit that she was a little jealous. But lovingly so. Her brother was just about to complete as wonderful a twenty-four hours as any man could hope to have.

They didn’t expect but a handful of guests at the tiny, private ceremony and most of them were already there. She looked over to see Raymond sitting by the fireplace with his pipe lit talking to the Rabbi that was to marry them. To the left side of the room, she noticed a woman that Julie had identified as her best pal from work talking to Erik’s boss from Workout World.

Where was Fran?

Her brother would be disappointed if she didn’t come.

She just hoped she had a guest with her.

She knew that they’d be very cruel to Max last night in leading him to believe that it was Fran getting married to Erik. She also knew that she cared about both of them enough to interfere.

That’s what a true friend did when the need be.

The front door opened in the foyer and Terri peeked around the corner to see Fran come rushing in. She looked beautiful with her long, full dark hair loose around her shoulders. She was wearing a linen dress that was much more sedate than anything Terri had ever seen her in.

She was so beautiful she could have been the bride.

Terri also noticed, she was alone.

Damn.

She raised her chin and went over to greet her.

"Fran! Hi! Erik will be thrilled you’re here. He wasn’t about to start until you showed up."

Fran looked irritated. "I am so sorry! I took a taxi and got stuck in cross-town traffic and then a wreck. I finally told the cabbie to let me out at the curb. I could walk faster than we were moving! I could hear the man cursing me in Arabic for an entire block!"

She laughed and Terri laughed with her.

Terri noted, for not the first time, how her presence lit up an entire room.

"Here, let me take your coat." Fran handed it to her.

Terri hung it on the coat rack and turned back to her. "Um, Fran, have you heard from Maxwell?"

Fran looked dumbfounded. "No, should I have?"

Terri was a bit concerned now. She’d would have bet her life savings on the fact that he’d been headed over to her place when he’d left the auction last night.

Fran grabbed Terri’s arm with alarm in her voice. "Is something wrong? When Erik came over this morning to tell me about the sculpture, he’d said that Mr. Sheffield was at the auction for a while but left early."

Terri dropped her eyes and her face.

"Oh, Fran...I don’t think anything is wrong other than the fact that neither of you may want to speak to Erik or I ever again."

She looked up at Fran who was intently watching her. "Go on..."

"I...We...Erik and I sort of let him believe that it was YOU Erik was marrying today."

Fran stepped back.

"WHAT?!"

Terri hurried on to explain. "I mean, we both think the world of the two of you and you’ve both been so terrific to us and such good friends that we wanted to do something for you."

Terri reached out with a hand to her sleeve as Fran let the information sink in.

"Fran, Erik and I both know how much you two love each other...we really did just want to help."

Fran was speechless. What was he thinking right now? And why the hell hadn’t he called and asked her about it?

Fran could think of no other explanation. He’d given up.

She smiled sadly at Terri.

"I think it’s too late for us."

At that moment, Erik came down from upstairs, all smiles, and nodded to the crowd as he scanned it.

"Hey, I need to get married today!" He gingerly announced as he quickly turned to head back upstairs.

They all took their standing places in front of the large fireplace and talked quietly amongst themselves as they waited on the bride and groom to join them.

******************************************************************

Max had woken up grouchy that Saturday morning. He hadn’t slept well the night before and it was showing.

He rubbed his bleary eyes and slammed down the paper down on the sofa that he was trying to read. He hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything all damn morning. It didn’t help that the kids were all gone on a church retreat and it was just he and Niles there for the weekend. He needed some noise, some work...something...anything to take his mind off of what was to occur today.

She hadn’t even told the children! How could she do this to them?

He picked the paper up once more and then tossed it across the table again in frustration. It was useless! He stood and began to pace. Unable to resist, he looked down at his watch. In less than thirty minutes, she’d be lost to him forever.

Hell, what was he thinking? She’d been lost to him since the night she’d walked out the door of the very room he stood in now.

He knew she wanted her own life. With her own family.

He knew she needed more than friendship and he just was so screwed up that he didn’t know if he could ever offer the entire thing again.

But hell...

He thought of the way Erik had touched that other woman at the auction last night. He thought of the way he had taken the other woman into his arms and kissed her as the art piece had sold.

Falling back into one of his side chairs, he dropped his head in confusion and agony and tunneled his fingers through his dark hair.

She deserved better than that.

But what was he supposed to do? Rush off to the wedding? Tell her that her husband to be was a miserable cad and looked to have every intention of keeping women on the side?

Good Lord! Why would the bloody man want other women? Fran Fine was everything God had meant to create in a woman. Well...except perhaps the voice...and a man could even grow to love that.

He looked up as Niles came into the room and stood before him.

Looking up at his long-time butler and friend, he somehow already knew that somehow Niles knew, as he always did.

He took a deep breath, the tears in his eyes clouding his vision as stared unflinchingly ready for the advice.

"Niles, help me man. What do I do?"

Niles held out the note that Terri had accidentally left in his office the previous day. The note that had told him of the pending nuptials.

Max reached a hand out to take it.

"Go to her Sir. Don’t throw it all away for pride’s sake or because you are scared."

Niles tone was firm but kind and laced with a lifetime of friendship and understanding.

Max stared at the information on the note before him for a moment. "Niles, how do I know she’ll come back to me this time?"

Niles shrugged. "Just tell her everything that’s in your heart."

Max bit his lip and looked at his butler. "But what if even that isn’t enough after what we’ve been through?"

Niles shook his head. "It’ll be enough. The woman has always loved you."

Max stared at him. Reaching into his pocket absently, he felt the money clip there that she’d given him for Christmas. He pulled it out slowly and looked at it. She’d given him a gift when he hadn’t expected it or been prepared for it.

He read the inscription on it again.

‘Hey, It’s too important to lose.’

He knew what he had to do.

He quickly tucked the clip in his pocket and glanced once more at his watch. Eleven thirty-eight. With light weekend cross-town traffic and luck on the red lights, he had a real shot at just making it.

He stood quickly. "Niles, how fast can you pull the car around?"

Niles smiled and reached into the pocket of his trousers to toss him the keys.

"She’s parked at the curb, ready and waiting Sir."

Max caught the keys with a nod and a slight smile.

"I’m going to stop that damn sham of a wedding!"

Niles followed him as he practically ran to the door.

"Bring her home Sir!" He yelled at his boss’s retreating back.

Max jumped in the Porsche and fired it up. Squealing off from the curb, he began to swerve through traffic with daring that Mario Andretti would have been envious of.

****************************************************************

The bride looked radiant. Fran and the rest of the small group turned toward the staircase as she descended. Darting a look toward Erik, it was obvious that he thought so too. The man looked incredibly happy and proud.

And he should be.

Fran couldn’t help but feel a pang of remorse or regret. She knew it wasn’t really jealousy. She didn’t begrudge Erik any happiness. He’d been a wonderful friend to her and she truly wished him every happiness life had to offer.

She just had dreams too. She’d always dreamed of being the bride. It was a simple dream really. From the time she was a girl of about eight she had spun daydreams around the idea of being a bride and walking down the isle to her handsome prince. It was a dream that she had never imagined would be so hard to see fulfilled.

She had always thought that love and all it’s trappings would come easy to her. But somehow they had eluded her greedy grasp.

Perhaps that was it. She wanted too much. Her mother had always told her that she would have to ‘settle’ on someone and not be so picky. But how did you force yourself to fall in love? Or to NOT fall in love?

She sighed as the bride took her place in front of the rabbi beside her husband. She stood on the other side of Erik beside Terri and her boss from the gym.

The Rabbi began with the traditional Jewish prayer. Fran dropped her head with the rest of the group but her mind wasn’t on the words.

Why?

Was God so angry with her for her youthful sins?

She knew Danny had been a terrible mistake. Even her mother had tried to tell her that he was a putz. But she hadn’t listened. She was just out of beauty school and fresh off of a break up when she’d first met him. He’d been handsome, forceful, playful and a great dancer. She’d imagined that the two of them, with their dark good looks made quite the striking pair.

She’d been young and starry-eyed and foolish. Agreeing to move in with him with no commitment on his part had proven that. What had she been thinking?

But then, it was like God had finally opened the door for her-literally-when she’d landed in the Sheffield’s lives. Those kids with their tight blue-blood ways and their dysfunctional emotions had pulled at her heartstrings in ways she’d never experienced. She wasn’t just Fran, Danny’s hot young thing. She was needed in real ways. Ways that mattered. She got to fill a void in a family that desperately needed filling.

And along the way, she fell in love. Real love. Not the starry-eyed teenager type of puppy dog love she’d felt for every cool guy she’d set her sights on in high school. Not the libido throbbing, sexual type of love that she’d felt for Danny.

No, it was the real thing. She’d never experienced it and she was sorely afraid of the deep seeded womanly instinct that told her she would never again. Not like this.

What she felt for Maxwell Sheffield was real and raw and sexual but it was also deep and abiding and grounded in the important shared things in life.

She dabbed at her eyes hoping no one noticed under the cover of the prayer.

She realized that they had little in common but it wasn’t the little things that mattered. They didn’t have a common background. But what his family hadn’t given him, hers could.

He was much more cultured than he. But look how much she’d learned just since she met him. He’d taught her things; opened up her world. She now knew the difference between Monets and Picassos; a good red vintage from a bad one.

And together, they had raised three beautiful children. Together. And what more important thing could you have in common with a man?

Not to mention that they’d done enough for her to know that they would be very sexually compatible. She glanced up at the heavens with her own little apology and smile. She knew now that it wasn’t the most important thing in a relationship but goodness knows, it sure didn’t hurt that they ached for each other.

The prayer ended and the rabbi began the ceremony.

Again she tried to listen. But her heart was yearning. Twenty-nine plus years and she was still waiting on her knight on a white horse to come riding in and sweep her off her feet...

**********************

No one noticed the man stepping quietly inside the door. Across the large foyer and into the next room by the grand fireplace, they were too far away to notice him immediately. The man stepped forward a few paces to see the group standing in a small cluster in front of a Rabbi who was in the midst of conducting a marriage ceremony.

He’d made it!

"If there is any here who has just cause as to why this woman and man should not be married, let him speak now or forever hold his peace."

This was it! Now or never! Max began to stride hurriedly toward the group.

"Then by the power..."

"WAIT!" He yelled out as he came to the back of the group.

The entire group turned to see who had yelled the command.

"What the- " The groom turned to see Max as did everyone else.

"Max wait..." Erik began but the man had zeroed in on one person and he headed right for her.

He pushed through the group to reach Fran. Without thinking, he acted on impulse and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Miss Fine! I cannot live without you another day...another minute...I am so sorry for what happened between us...and I need you in my life...and if you’ll come back to me...everything will be different between us...

He suddenly and ferociously pulled her to him with a hard kiss.

Fran was stunned and held her eyes open in shock. Tears began to gather in her eyes at his emotional outburst. When she said nothing, Max went on.

"I know you think marrying him is right...when I haven’t offered you anything but friendship until now, but it isn’t...not as long as you care for me...he doesn’t love you like I do and I want to make a commitment to you...I have to be with you."

He stared down into her shocked eyes.

As the group stood stunned, Max felt something wasn’t right. He felt a tap at his shoulder.

He turned his head to see Erik standing there with another woman at his side dressed in a white wedding dress.

"Max, I’m not marrying Fran..."

Max stared at the man for just a moment and then took in the woman at his side.

What had he done?

Mortified, he came to his senses and slowly, began to back away from the crowd.

"I’m so sorry...I thought..."

He turned and strode like fire to the door he’d come in.

Stunned, the group just watched him for a minute.

Terri glanced at Fran who, still stunned, stared at Max’s retreating form.

She reached out to clasp her arm.

"Fran, don’t let him leave!" She told her in a scalded tone.

Fran didn’t even look at Terri but she had heard her. What had just happened? What had he just said? He thought...?

Something made Fran’s feet move. As Max went out the door, she began to walk after him, each step getting faster.

"Mr. Sheffield! Wait!" She yelled now.

But as she got to the doorway, he was already cranking his Porsche at the curb. She ran to try and catch it. "Wait! Come back!" Her hands waved wildly in the air.

But the car was too quick. Screeching out into the street, the Porsche tore down the road before she could reach it.

Fran stopped at the curb and dropped her hands as she stared at the retreating taillights in the distance.

Was he forever going to run away from her? From them?

Terri came up beside her, out of breath herself. "Fran! You have to go after him!" She handed Fran her small purse which she’d left inside on the table.

Turning to the other woman, she took the purse without knowing it. "He said he loved me...in front of witnesses." Her voice held an awe that was breathtaking.

Terri smiled and nodded. "Yeah, he did...and he does. You two just need to communicate."

Erik came to stand at her other side now, listening to his sister’s advice. "I think he just tried."

Fran turned to look up at Erik. "Oh, your wedding! Erik! I’m so sorry!"

Erik just smiled and shrugged sheepishly and looked toward his sister who also looked a bit chagrined. "Well Fran...we sort of set him up...so..."

Fran looked confused. "Set him up?"

Terri answered now. "Yeah, I let him think it was YOU that Erik was marrying. And then at the auction last night when he viewed the nude and talked to Erik..."

Fran put her hands on her hips in mock anger. "Now, why didn’t I think of that!"

They all laughed together and Fran turned to Erik. "Still...your wedding is messed up and Julie must be furious!"

Erik laughed again. "Julie HATES weddings. I was half afraid she was gonna back out on me this morning!"

He then dropped his face in mock concern. "I actually need to go make sure she hasn’t ran out."

When Fran began to look concerned, he laughed even louder.

"Nothing is going to stop Julie and I from getting married...even if I have to tie her down" He wiggled his eyebrows playfully and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. "Go get him gorgeous. We’ll finish up here." He finished with a confident wink at her.

She broke into a jubilant smile. Reaching up she hugged Erik around the neck. "Thanks for everything Erik!" He hugged her back enthusiastically. Fran then turned to Terri who held her own arms out.

The two women hugged and Terri squeezed her hand.

"Just you and Max be happy."

Fran nodded. "If he’ll cooperate, we will be."

Terri smiled. "I don’t think you’ll have any trouble out of him this time. If he’s crazy enough to do this, he’s in bad shape."

Terri waved her off. "Go! Go! Time is wasting!"

Fran took off down the sidewalk to hail a taxi. Erik made his way back to the rest of the small group which was gathered on the steps to see what was going on.

Terri watched thoughtfully as Fran jumped into a taxi and sped away toward the man she loved.

Love, as complicated and confusing and mysterious and elusive as it could be, was the most beautiful thing on earth when it was finally found.

She turned with a little smile and made her way back inside.

*************************************************

"Just let me out here...I’ll walk the rest of the way." Fran reached to hand the driver the fare out of her purse. "Just keep the change."

It wasn’t characteristic of her to offer that to a cabbie but then, what had happened today wasn’t exactly characteristic either. Maxwell Sheffield had told her he loved her!

Now, if he took it back this time, she was going to kill him with her bare hands.

She jogged down the curb as best she could in her heels to the side door of the mansion where the kitchen was. She cursed under her breath as she realized the door was locked. She knocked and when no one answered, she brought her small handbag around and found her small set of keys.

Thank goodness she hadn’t returned her keys to the place. She meant to but she had just kept putting it off.

It was and she quietly entered the kitchen she hadn’t seen in months. Walking across to the table, she placed her purse on it and took a moment to turn to look at the room as if it were a long, lost friend.

It sort of was.

She walked to the counter and ran a finger across it lovingly. How many cups of coffee had she drank standing right there. Laughing with Niles. Listening to he and Miss Babcock make snide remarks...

She took a deep breath.

She could reminiscence later. Now, she was going to go find the man who loved her, the only man she’d ever really loved. The man who’d just told her he couldn’t live without her and that he was ready to commit to her. She straightened her shoulders and pushed her way through the kitchen. She headed in the direction of his office.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.

"Mr. Sheffield..."

But he was no where in sight. She walked to his terrace but it was securely locked.

Damn.

Where the hell was he?

She made her way back out of the office and called his name in the hallway. The house seemed eerily silent. Where was everyone?

She called out for the children and then Niles.

Still, no response.

Grandma Yetta’s nursing home at three a.m. wasn’t this quiet.

Something was amiss.

A bit concerned now, she headed out of the hallway and around to the sitting room. Still, no one in sight. Yet, the lights were on.

She started for the stairs to check upstairs when something caught her attention. A faint sound...a voice.

She eased toward the source which was coming from right outside the front door.

It was a voice! Walking closer, she realized the front door was open and she stepped through it to the closed outer door.

Mr. Sheffield!

She peeked out the glass side panel to see him sitting on the bottom step. He seemed to be just staring out into the distance.

She thought back to a time in their personal history, not so long ago, when she’d walked upon him just like this.

Just after they’d returned from Paris and he’d taken back his declaration of love for her, she’d walked out there and sat down beside him.

He’d offered her friendship then.

Would it indeed be different now?

He’d admitted how scared he was of commitment. He’d told her why. And he’d tried to convince her that it would be best if they’d remained friends. And then...then they had shared a kiss that no two friends would ever share. She’d thought with just a little time and persuasion, he would be able to see the truth.

Yet, he remained so stubborn in his determination to keep them just friends.

Until...she couldn’t take it any longer.

Now as she stood looking down at his beautiful head, she realized that she had to be with this man in any capacity.

She wanted badly to be his partner in life. He’d said he loved her. Now, he needed to show her.

She thought he was ready.

Finally.

Smiling to herself, she eased the outer door open and stepped through it. He didn’t turn around.

"Niles, old boy, did you decide not to go out for an evening on the town after all?"

He gave a brittle laugh and dropped his head.

"I thought you might want to come inside and watch something on The Movie Channel."

At the sound of her voice, he jerked his head around and stared up at her in shock.

They stared at each for a long time, each drinking in the form of the other.

Max cleared his throat. "I understand we get that channel now."

Smiling, Fran sat down beside him on the stoop and gave him a little shove with her shoulder. "You bet."

He looked at her in shared remembrance and they laughed together.

"I sort of made an ass of myself today." He dropped his eyes from hers and stared out at the street again.

Fran reached to touch his arm lightly. "Well...it’s not like it was the first time..."

He darted his eyes back to her and caught the mischief in them and her teasing smile.

God, how he’d missed that. How he’d missed her.

Her smile, her laughter, her joy, her zest for life.

How could he have ever questioned that she was what colored his world?

He stared out in the distance again, his facing becoming serious. "You never were Erik’s lover were you?"

Fran shook her head slowly. "Never...we’re just friends. I modeled for his sculpture."

Max bent over to pick up an imaginary rock and gave it a phantom flick with his wrist.

"It’s beautiful. I got to see it at the auction. It brought quite a hunk of change."

Fran nodded again. She didn’t want to talk about Erik or the sculpture.

She remained silent.

"I wouldn’t listen to you. I just assumed the worst..."

Again, she just remained silent. There was no use in rubbing his nose in the obvious.

He turned his eyes to look at her, taking in her appearance.

"You look really lovely in that dress."

It wasn’t often that she looked so...classy. She pulled it off beautifully though.

"Thank You. The dress surprises you?" She forced a smile to her lips.

He dropped his head a moment and chuckled. "You never cease to surprise me Miss Fine."

Fran squeezed his arm and his eyes once more met his. "And that’s a bad thing?"

Max stared into her eyes and all the laughter between them stopped. "No, it’s a very good thing. Keeps me on my toes."

His voice dropped to a whisper as his head leaned in toward hers. They drew to each other like true opposing magnets. His lips stopped just inches from her own and each of them stared at the other’s mouth.

Max brought his hand up to her neck and slid it under her hair softly. "I love you."

Fran opened her mouth to respond but he didn’t give her a chance. He lowered his head and their mouths came together and this time there was no pretense of friendship; no anger or accusations. It was just the two of them and all of their love and desire for each other suppressed for much too long.

They ate at each other’s mouths with a hunger that shattered them both. Max pulled her closer over to him until she was practically lying across his chest as he held her close in his arms.

He bit at her lower lip and she sighed and opened it freely. His tongue came out to suck at the soft skin just inside. The feeling it gave both of them as he did so was so erotic and so exciting that they both moaned aloud at the contact.

Max pulled away for a moment to breath heavily at her neck. "No more friendship vows."

Fran shook her head where it rested on his shoulder. She was too enthralled she could barely speak. "No."

"I was a fool once."

She raised her head. "I should have made you listen to the truth."

Max smiled. Was there ever a woman so forgiving of his faults as she was?

"Yes, you should have...I was insanely jealous and thought you’d given up on me for another man."

Fran brought her mouth up close to his and gave his mouth a soft kiss. "I can’t seem to want another man like I do you."

He smiled. "Baby, we are going to have so much fun when I make you prove that." A growl followed as he pulled at her more aggressively and kissed her cold nose and then her mouth once more.

She forced her mouth away from his. She’d never seen him this turned on and it was frankly so damn exciting that she didn’t want to stop. She wanted to pull the dress off and fuck the life out of him right there on the front steps.

When he realized she’d taken her mouth from his, he trailed it to her ear and let his tongue lave on the soft skin there. Fran felt herself going under again.

"I want to make love to you until we both can’t stand up."

She turned her head to give him better access to her neck as she moaned out the next words. "We’re not standing up."

He stopped his caresses and abruptly stood offering her a hand to her feet. She looked up at him as she reached to take it.

"Friends?" She asked half teasingly. She was still just a bit scared this was all a dream and that he was going to come to his senses and take everything back.

He pulled her swiftly to her feet and into his arms. "No..."

And as she came into the warmth of his body, it was very obvious that he wasn’t thinking of her as just a friend.

"Ohhhh...Mr. Sheffield! Fran couldn’t help but move against him a bit. " I definitely think this strikes a blow to your original plan."

He brought his forehead to hers and for a long moment, let himself gain enough control to tell her what he needed to.

"My original plan was to keep you with me but not need you like a man needs a woman he loves. It was stupid and silly."

She started to speak but he brought a finger to her mouth to stop her. He needed to finish. "You’ve shown me over and over in so many small ways just how much you love me...how much you love my children...and I let my own damn weaknesses and fears stop me from acknowledging those gestures for what they were."

He kissed her cheek softly as he continued. "I adore you. I love the sound of your laughter, the bounce in your step and even that melodious voice..."

She looked at him in disbelief and they laughed together.

He kissed her other cheek. "I refuse to deny any longer what we’ve found." He looked at her with his heart in his eyes. "You are not just my friend Fran Fine, you are my everything."

Fran felt her own eyes begin to fill up and her lips opened. She couldn't force the words out. She felt overwhelmed but unmistakably in love with this man.

He wiped a tear from her cheek. "I don’t know where we’re headed Fran....All I know is that I want to spend the rest of my life with you and if that means marriage in time then that’s what we’ll do." He smiled and she felt her entire world melting.

"I just thought that perhaps you might enjoy going on a few real dates first." He gave her a little wink.

Her smile was simply dazzling as she reached her own hand up to his hair to run her fingers through it. "You mean the kind of date where I can do this and not have to worry that it’s off limits?" She scraped her nails through his hair and he growled appreciatively.

"Yeah." He breathed.

The sparkle in her eye had his attention. "Or this?"

She then scraped her fingernails down his cheek and neck and leaned her open mouth over to allow her moist tongue to soothe where she’d scraped.

"Uh uh..." He didn’t even sound like himself now.

Her smile became even more calculated. "Or even this?"

She let her hands trail down his strong back until she reached his rear. For the first time ever, she caressed it and molded the shape of it in her hands. He felt so good to her that she became even bolder. When she got to the base of it, she flattened her hand out and squeezed it bringing it hard up against the front of her own aching body.

Max lost his breath and turned his head as his eyes closed and his mouth opened on the crest of the sensation.

He nodded. "Oh yeah."

She brought her hands back up to the small of his back and stretched up to whisper in his ear. "I love you Maxwell Sheffield."

He brought his mouth up to her cheek, fighting sudden emotion at hearing her say the words from her lips. He cleared his throat and fought to tell her how he felt at that moment.

"I wish I could take it all back." Tears clouded his eyes as he looked down at her.

Fran pushed away from him for a moment and knitted her brow together in mock concern. "You take this back buster and one of us ain’t walking away with all limbs intact."

He shook his head. "No, no...I mean...I wish I could take back all the stupid things that have been said between us...all the bad things I’ve thought and said and did...all the time I’ve wasted being scared and stubborn and jealous."

Fran, in her typical manner shrugged it off. She wouldn’t forget what they went through to get to this point but getting there was all that really mattered.

"We made a couple of really terrific new friends." She reminded him of the good that came from the experience.

Max raised his chin. "Ah, yes...you are right about that. I don’t know if we’d be here right now if it hadn’t been for them."

Max looked at her and held her eyes. "I’m sorry I doubted you. And I’m sorry that I was so damn stubborn."

She gave a little smile. "Yeah? Well, I’m sorry too. Sorry that I didn’t set you straight to begin with. I was sort of jealous too ya know." She gave him a sheepish look. "I’m sorry that I played games with you and didn’t talk to you about things that mattered."

He nuzzled her mouth again. "We just need to communicate more."

Fran leaned back. "Funny, that’s what Terri said."

Max reached to open the outer door as he brought his arm to her waist. "Wise woman...now let me take you inside and let’s practice communicating."

Fran hugged him to her.

"Oh, yes, let’s do."

Arm in arm, they went inside to the warmth of their home together.

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