Chapter 11
[Recap: After giving birth to Marty on the Cutting Edge, Liza refused to see Adam much to Tad`s relief. The bank, on Adam`s order, is bugging Liza about her loan. Holly and Adam are getting ready for the second phase of the plan as Adam promised his new son that he will get sole custody of him.]
Part 11 (with much thanks to PatC): The Homecoming.
Scene 1: Liza`s new house. Liza gave birth a couple of weeks ago, recuperated at Tad`s, waiting for her new house to be ready.
Marian is giving Holly and Hayley the tour of Liza`s new house. It`s a two floors home. The ladies arrive in the living room and a huge banner is welcoming home Liza and Marty.
Marian: So you see this is a very practical home.
Hayley: It`s rather large. 4 rooms?
Marian: Well darling, there`s Liza`s room, little Martin`s, the room downstairs will serve as Liza`s study and/or a guest room and....
Holly: Your room? (mucking her) Or shall I call it: the exercise room?
Marian: Why yes. Liza asked me to live with her son and her, just for a little while... up until things get settle.
Hayley: (running interference) Well it`s a lovely home, my little brother will be very happy here.
Holly: Well, Liza grew up in the same neighborhood, and we all know what a happy childhood that was, (to Marian) don`t we dear?
Marian: Is that Liza`s car, I hear?
Outside, in Liza`s car.
Tad (in the driver`s seat): Are you sure you want to do this?
Liza (looking a bit nervous): Yes. Yes. It`s time.
Tad: You don`t have to. I mean, Jamie and I would just love to have you and Marty home all the time. The house is going to be so empty without you two.
Liza: It`s time, Tad. I mean I really appreciate what you and Jamie have been doing, but I think we agreed on this.
T: I know, I know.... it`s just...
L: What?
T: (wanting desperately to tell her how he feels) <sighs> You`re right. I`m sorry. Let`s go, Marian is waiting. I`ll get Marty! (with a sad smile)
As Liza opens the door of her new house and is surprised by the welcome wagon.
Later on, Tad is upstairs in Marty`s room, watching the boy sleep, imagining on how his life could be if he had told Liza...
Liza: (very quietly) Is he sleeping?
Tad: Well . . . like a baby. He`s so quiet.
Liza: I know. I`m in awe.
Tad: He almost slept thru the whole night last night. <sigh> I`m gonna miss him... and you!
Liza puts her hand on Tad`s shoulder, electricity goes thru Tad`s body, they both try to ignore it.
Liza: Even the midnight feeding? The crying at 3? The diaper changing at 4...?
T: Especially the diaper changing at 4 (they giggle). No, I loved every minute of it, I would get up in the middle of the night just to watch you take care of him. I’d get up in the middle of the night to take care of him but you would always beat me to it. It was the best scene I could ever see.
L: We`ll be fine, Tad. You don`t have to worry.
T: I like worrying. I`ve been worrying for the last six months, it`s a hard habit to break.
Liza takes one look at Tad and lovingly gives him a big huge. Tad closes his eyes wishing it could last forever.
Liza: (still hugging Tad) Thank you. For all this. For being the best friend anyone can have. I wish, I wish you wouldn`t be so sad. You`re not rid of me yet! I mean, you know, I`m going to be calling you all the time to work on this house.
Tad: You just try to stop me.
End of scene one.
Weeks later: [Marty is now 6 weeks old, some weird sexual tension has been invading Tad and Liza`s relationship at the office. Tad tried to keep his distance from Liza`s home, as much as he could. He rarely visits her, trying to give her some space and some time alone with Marty. Liza is restless with Tad`s absence from her life. Finally, Liza asks Tad to drop by the house. She says she has plumbing problems at the house.]
Scene 2: Liza`s kitchen.
Tad and Liza have been standing in her kitchen talking about an upcoming show, finally Tad gets around to finishing up the work he`s been doing on Liza`s kitchen faucet. Tad turns around.
Liza (appreciating the view from behind): I really appreciate you doing this.
Tad: Are you kidding? This is nothing! After what we`ve been thru? Besides, I meant what I said, if you need me, I`m there... (he turns to give her a great big smile)
Liza gets an overpowering urge to kiss him. But then she thinks, what would that lead to? We`re at a good place right now. Maybe we should just be satisfied with this . . . satisfied . . . that`s a word she hasn`t been able to use much lately. She looks at Tad in his jeans and pale blue denim shirt, unbuttoned at the neck, sleeves rolled up, she starts to fantasize about unbuttoning the next button . . .
Tad: (makes a decision) Okay. Let`s do it.
Liza: (startled, she thinks he was reading her mind) Do it?
Tad: Yeah. The show. I can start the research... Scott could help out.
Liza: (relieved) Of course. . . The show. . . good . . . that`s good . . .
Tad: Four o`clock? My house? I`ll get Scott to do some background research. You can bring Marty, Jamie would love to see him again. We`ll order out...
Liza: Oh, anytime after noon is fine.
Tad thinks he`s imagining the glazed look in Liza`s eyes as she stares at his mouth. He turns back to the sink and turns on the faucet. When nothing comes out, he realizes that he forgot to reopen the main valve under the sink.
Tad: (bends down and looks under the sink) Liza, would you hand me that wrench? (Points to the tool box on the island).
As she complies, he resumes his position on his back under the sink. From his vantage point on the floor, Tad can`t help but look at Liza`s legs. She`s wearing a particularly short skirt today, and he notices the way the muscles in her calves flex as she stands over him. He gets the urge to wrap his hand around her ankle and let his fingers trail lightly up her leg...
Liza: I forgot how good you were at this.
Tad: (the line between fantasy and reality is getting blurry) What?
Liza: (hands him the wrench) You`re good at this stuff...
Tad: (realizes she`s talking about the plumbing) You know how much I like to work with my hands, Liza. (he winces at the silly double-entendre of his words)
As Tad twists his body to get a better grip on the valve, his leg brushes against Liza`s ankle. Despite her resolve, she kneels down beside him, giving in to the urge to be close to him.
Liza: (peering under the sink) Can you see in there?
Tad: (breathing heavily as he speaks) Not really . . . but . . .
Liza: Would you like me to hold a flashlight for you?
Tad: Um. . . sure . . . there`s one in here, actually . . . it`s just that . . .I need . . . both my hands on this wrench . . .
Liza: (leans on Tad`s chest and sticks her head under the sink) Where is it?
Tad: (trying to ignore the smell of her perfume) Beside my left shoulder...
Liza: Okay... if you can put your arm down . . . I`ll . . .
Tad: Well . . .(her face is only inches from his own) . . . your head`s in the way . . . maybe you should . . .
At this point, Liza`s upper body is laying across Tad`s; she lowers her head onto his chest so he can move his arm, then she reaches her own arm above her head and feels around behind his shoulder.
Liza: (breathing heavily as she tries to find the flashlight) I don`t . .. . feel anything . . .
Tad: (sarcastically) I can believe that . . .
Now they are staring into each other`s eyes.
Tad: This is interesting. ... You know what I want more then anything in the world?
Liza: What?
Tad: To get up. My back hurts!!
Marian arrives in the kitchen, startled by the scene.
Marian: Well! Isn`t this cosy, darlings?
Liza moves away from Tad`s body and they both end up sitting on the floor, giggling like school children.
Marian: What`s going on around here?
Tad: (still laughing) Call a plumber, Marian.
End of part 11 -- --Millie AMC: LCAS - BABE - T&Lover - SPERM - NoHo! - FAC Chef Larry GL: FGC Tangie Hill - Rolly