Chapter Twelve
The next day after breakfast Max went upstairs to get ready for work. He had ignored his work for too long and was needed at his office immediately. He couldn't postpone his work any longer. As he got ready in his bedroom upstairs, he could hear the constant laughter and chatter of Carol's friends who had joined them for breakfast.
Coming down the stairs, he stared indulgently at a giggly Carol who was hitting her friend River with a cushion from the sofa.
He strode towards her and held her by the arm and pulled her up flush onto his hard chest. He kissed her mouth in a possessive kiss and winked. "Bye baby, gotta go to work," he said and then looked at the two jaw dropped faces staring at them.
"Ooo, I too want a husband," said River with a dreamy look on her face as she clutched the pillow to her chest.
Max chuckled, "You never know, you might meet him today," he said with a grin.
"Bless you Maxwell. Don't you have a brother or ok, a cousin will also do," Said River as Sera giggled.
"Sorry to disappoint you, I'm the only one of its kind, " he said, waving and leaving with a grin.
"You're so lucky Car," said River, in mock jealousy.
"What are we doing today, girls?" Asked Sera. Carol and Max already informed them over breakfast that she would be staying back at Vegas and enrol in a college here.
"Show us the dresses Maxwell bought for you. Then we could go shopping for things which you don't have. What do you say Car?" asked River.
"Yes please, I don't have any handbags, I don't have pajama shorts, I don't have any handkerchiefs, stoles, jackets, coats, scarves, makeup, hair accessories, " wailed Carol.
Sera and River stared at her with an incredulous look on their faces. "How did you survive for so long?" Asked River.
"I was whisked away to a deserted island, remember? I didn't need them but now I will," said Carol.
They went upstairs to the room beside her bedroom and she unpacked all her clothes for her friends to see. They made a list of the things she needed to buy and got ready to leave for the nearest mall. Carol already had her debit card and they had lunch and shopped the whole day.
They completely forgot about time. When it was six in the evening, Carol realised that she needed to return home immediately before Max arrived back from work.
Max completed his work much before he had anticipated. He wrapped up everything and returned home by 5 o'clock in the evening. Parking his car, he climbed out excitedly and unlocked the door. Going inside, he was surprised to see that Carol hadn't switched on the lights. Where was she? The whole house seemed too quiet.
Maybe she was taking a nap after her friends left. He switched on all the lights of the house, the living room was empty, the kitchen looked untouched. He searched the whole downstairs yet there was no sign of Carol anywhere.
Frowning, he went upstairs to their bedroom. Holding his breath he opened the door to his bedroom and went inside. He switched on the light but to his dismay, there was no Carol there too. His heart beats increased as he dreaded going and checking in the ensuite. Please be there Carol. Please don't leave me and go away, he whispered to himself.
He opened the door of the ensuite and the most dreaded nightmare of his life came true. He rushed to her closet. Her suitcases were missing. Her clothes were all gone.
He sat down on the floor of his bedroom and his heart clenched as realisation struck that she was really gone with her friends. What would he do now? He was again left all alone with no one to love or love him back. Tears choked his throat and pooled in his eyes. He didn't know what to do anymore. He shouldn't have gone to work today. He could have stopped her from leaving.
The tears spilled down his cheeks and he went downstairs to get a drink. Pouring whiskey to calm himself, he went upstairs and sat with it on the floor of his bedroom. He gulped the drink down yet the tears poured down his cheeks. "Couldn't you see how much I love you, Carol? Why did you leave me?" He sobbed.
He drank some more, sobbing brokenly as he thought how he would survive without her. His dad, Eric Stephens had left him too when he committed suicide. Max just couldn't forget the images of his dad's body lying in a pool of blood when he had committed suicide jumping from the terrace of his mansion.
He was just a naive sixteen year old illegitimate child of a man for whom his mom worked. His mom, Margaret Jones used to work as a maid for his dad. After his birth, she left them and went away. His dad's real wife left him too because of their illegitimate relationship.
His dad, Eric searched for Margaret after granting his wife divorce but couldn't find her anywhere. For sixteen years, he searched for her and waited for her to return. When he finally received the news of her death, he took his life leaving Max all alone and orphaned.
Max cried more as all the images came rushing back to him. He had never seen his mom. There was no picture of her anywhere. His life was a mistake. His dad didn't love him as he reminded him of his mom. Max led an unwanted existence all his life. Now when he at last found happiness, it was snatched away from him.
Her friends dropped Carol at Max's house and left. They would be returning to Huntsville in a few days. They would meet once more before leaving. Carol saw Max's car in the garage. He was home already?
She felt guilty for forgetting to inform him before going shopping. Having met her friends after so long, they were so engrossed in catching up with the latest gossip that she completely lost track of time.
She opened the main door with her spare key and went inside. The house was exceptionally quiet much to her surprise. Where was Max? She searched downstairs and yet didn't see him anywhere. She went upstairs to their bedroom. Opening the door, she froze like a statue at the scene in front of her.
There lying on the floor was a semi-conscious, totally drunk Max with tears streaming down his face. His whole shirt was drenched as he lay there in a devastated state.
She rushed to him and knelt on the floor. Touching his face gently, she said, "Max, baby, what happened to you?"
He didn't respond. She simply pulled his head to her chest. "Max, I'm here. I'm sorry I forgot to inform you, " she whispered. She kissed his cheek and held his face in her hands.
"Max, look at me please," she coaxed.
He opened his eyes and stared at her,"Carol," he whispered.
