Not Letting Go

Chapter 35

(Edit: I took out the mentioning of grandkids in the last chapter after deciding it was too soon to bring it up)

As they sped off, Max handed Kate her phone to text Liz (on Vi's phone) to let her know that they were coming and when they expected to be there. Kate asked for Liz's number so they wouldn't have to use other people's phones to communicate anymore. Once she had it, she slipped the Max's phone back in her pocket. Kate was not feeling that flirtatious at the moment with the current situation, but Max raised her eyebrows at the contact and the blonde smiled. The moment didn't last any longer than that.

After a few hours of driving they had gone through some periods of time without speaking. Just loving glances and hand holding communicated what was needed through the underlying somber mood. After one of these stretches of silence, Max asked, "How you feeling, heart?"

Kate had her sketchbook on her lap, open with a partial sketch made. She closed it over her pencil and said, "I'm feeling good...besides what's going on with Vi and everything else...but considering all that...I can't complain if I'm with you. I did want to tell your parents something, and it's bugging me that I couldn't, but I know it's too soon..."

"Tell them what?"

"That they don't need to worry about not having grandkids."

Max's eyes widened and she took her eyes off the road a second to give Kate a look. She turned back to face forward and said, "Yeah, that's too soon!"

Putting the stretchbook to hide her face the pencil fell out into her lap, but Kate left it there and said, "I know...I just...had this urge to tell her, like I knew it was on her mind...Think Em, she's been suspecting you since..." Kate didn't want to say 'Chloe'. "...since before you even moved or maybe she just plain knew for that long, so I'm sure she's thought about it for a while. We both know what it's like having to hold something in for years."

"You really are the smart one...but also the crazy one! That would be insane to bring up."

"That's why I didn't...but I wanted to..."

"Someday..."

"Yeah..."

"Someday long long loooooooong away."

"Okay okay, geez, Em." Kate smiled and rolled her eyes.

Kate paused and then said, "So...would you considergetting pregnant? I'm sure if you really didn't want to get pregnant, your mom would be happy with a baby from me...but I think you'd be so cute all preggers. I bet you'd be all regular looking from behind, but you turn around and just have this huge baby bump."

"Are we still really talking about this?" Max playfully whined.

"Am I pushing you away, bringing it up?"

"Of course not, but-"

"Then I'm going to keep talking about it. It makes me happy."

Max sighed and said with a relenting smile, "Well, I guess you can talk about it then. I'm not going to deny my heart happiness."

"Thanks, love. We can move on though...for now..."

"Whatever you want..."

"That should be your response to anything I say," Kate said with a grin.

"Like you don't know by now how I can't say no to you."

Kate just smiled wickedly.

Max noticed and said, "Yeah, you know all too well, don't you?"