The Marriage of Nathan West

The Mother In Law

"Where have you been?" Chelsea hissed yanking the door open to his half hearted knock. She pulled him into the apartment, looking over her shoulder at the sofa. Nathan followed her gaze, seeing Liesl Obrecht sitting on the sofa with her hands folded primly in her lap. He tried not to smile but he couldn't think of a time he had ever been more happy to see his mother than he was at that moment.

Liesl gave him the slightest of winks and rose to her feet. "Liebchen! I have been waiting here for far too long. I came as soon as I heard of your engagement."

Chelsea's fingernails dig into his arm. "How did you know where to find him?" She asked through gritted teeth.

"If you must know," Liesl replied coldly. "Maxie called to tell me about your engagement. She said you had requested it of her. Sehr Schlau! Maxie didn't say as much of course but I assume you wanted me to come. Your fiancee did not know where you had gone," she added taking a verbal swipe at Chelsea.

"I was at the police station giving a statement," he answered pulling free of Chelsea's grip He went to Liesl, giving her a quick embrace. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course. Maxie told me what happened. The police here do not think you had anything to do with it, do they?"

"No, of course they don't!" Chelsea cut in before Nathan could respond. "Maxie is the one they're investigating."

"Yes, well, I'm not here for that," Liesl said pulling Nathan down to the couch with her. "I'm here for you and your engagement. Tell me how this happened and how I can help."

Nathan sighed heavily. "Chelsea and I used to know each other before I moved to Port Charles. We ran into each other at the wedding. It just happened."

"Like that? And what about Maxie?"

"She understands."

"Does she? Well then, that settles that doesn't it?" Liesl shot a cursory glance at Chelsea who hovered near the door as if prepared to kick her out at the first opportunity. "I would like a moment alone with my son. Perhaps you would be so good as to get me something to drink."

Chelsea opened her mouth to say something but stopped short at the look Liesl was shooting at her. If Nathan wasn't so tense, he would have laughed himself silly over it. Calling his mother had been the best idea he'd had since this mess had begun. They both sat in silence until Chelsea had huffed out of the room.

"Liebchen. What are you doing?" Liesl hissed. "Marrying that woman when your heart belongs with Maxie? I am surprised she was even able to tell me any of it as broken hearted as she must be! Unless, Nathan? You are truly in love with... That."

Nathan shuddered. "No. I am completely in love with Maxie."

"Explain."

"Chelsea can make Maxie's life a lot worse. She knows something about the murder that she's using to paint Maxie as the guilty party. That is, she could if I don't marry her."

"That is diabolical," Liesl pointed out, getting to her feet. "I will be more than happy to fix this situation for you and Maxie."

"No." Nathan pulled her back down to the sofa. "I have no intention of marrying Chelsea but she needs to think I am."

"I understand. But what can I do to help?"

Nathan looked over his shoulder and lowered his voice. "I need you to do two things for me."

"Anything, meine liebe."

"First, I need you to talk to Maxie for me. Tell her..." He broke off, trying to think of the right way to phrase it. He thought of her smile and the way she laughed. He thought of her mouth and the way she tasted. He thought of how she could talk a mile a minute and not say anything but still mean everything. He looked at Liesl who was watching him with kind eyes. He shrugged and offered her a half smile. "Just tell her."

"Of course. What else? You said there were two things."

"I need you to help me distract Chelsea. I'm going to find out what she knows so she can't threaten Maxie anymore. Can you help me do that?"

The corners of Liesl's mouth curled up in a dangerous smile. "Distraction is one of my specialties. Perhaps, you would like me to help her plan her wedding? I know many traditions we could incorporate."

Chelsea returned with a tray of coffee and set it down on the table in front of them. She looked between them both with a suspicious gaze. Liesl poured two cups of coffee and added a spoonful of sugar to one cup. She picked it up and took a small sip, her eyes locked on Chelsea.

"Nathan wants me to help with your wedding," Liesl said. "It seems you and I will be spending some time together won't we, Chelsea? I look forward to getting to know my future daughter in law."

Nathan averted his eyes from Chelsea's furious glare and stifled a laugh. She asked for it, he reminded himself. Who was he to deny Chelsea the opportunity to get to know his mother? For the first time since Josh had knocked on the hotel door, he felt like things might be going his way again.