Count On Me

Part Twenty Four

Running his thumb across the back of the hand he still held, he gave her another smile, "that's life, Lizzie. I feel like that every day..." He didn't add that was only since she and Nate had entered his life. Prior to that life had been easy, predictable, and looking back...boring. He didn't have that now.

"So we're friends again?"

Oscar looked at her, seeing the furrow between her brows, the concern in her eyes and squeezed her hand once more, "always."

They had six more days in the States, Oscar had to head back to his head office in Manhattan for two of those days, but Lizzie and Nate stayed with Freya and Coop and relaxed. There was more skating, trips to the park, and nice family dinners. Something that neither of them was used to. And Lizzie had to admit that it was special to feel part of a family, both Freya and Coop were great and welcoming hosts.

The final night of Oscar's sojourn to New York City, Freya announced that Coop was babysitting, and the two girls were having another and final night out. Lizzie was relieved, enough time had passed from the previous one that she'd almost forgotten how awful her hangover had been.

As she was almost ready, her phone beeped. She smiled to see Oscar's name on the display, he'd been so attentive since their 'almost' encounter and the subsequent falling out. He text her at least half a dozen times to check on them both and to let her know what was happening, friendly and caring. Just what she wanted. She reminded herself at least half a dozen times a day.

"Hear that you're off out on the town...remember I'm not there to sort out your hangover!"

And he followed it up with a winking emoji! Shaking her head but smiling at the same time, she penned a quick reply.

"I'm sure that you believe that, as I recall it was Angela. And I know where she lives."

She'd barely finished dressing when he replied once more.

"Oh, your harsh words are like a knife to my heart. Am I that replaceable?"

Grinning she penned a reply before tossing the phone into her bag.

"Do not ask questions you are not prepared to hear the answers to! Adieu!"

Being a weekend, the Sports Bar was busier than the previous time they'd visited. But there was a booth in the corner free, so they made their way over, and grabbed a menu each from a waitress who passed. The bar did the greatest ribs and wings that Lizzie had tasted, so it was a no brainer. A bottle of wine, and they were both settled.

"So you're all set to leave in two days?"

Lizzie frowned, "I suppose so. Though it'll be strange going back home, without Janis."

Freya sighed, "you're so brave."

Shaking her head, she reached to fill their glasses, "no. Not really. It's been really helpful having Oscar around though, distracting Nate. I just fear that going back to the house will set him back a bit."

Freya sipped her wine thoughtfully, "that's true. But at least you've had this trip, a chance to step away from it all."

Lizzie was grateful for that, "thanks to your hospitality. You've all been amazing."

"Pah," she batted that compliment away. "Elena's loved meeting her cousin, and we've loved having you all here. So what happens next week? How long are you off work?"

She shrugged, "I'm not sure, I mean I need to make sure that Nate is sorted, and work and school aren't the best mix. I don't really know what to do..." She looked down for a minute, for as long as they'd been away, she was able to forget that she was broke after the funeral expenses, all her savings wiped out. She'd managed to pay her mortgage this month, but she couldn't abandon her job, how she'd juggle things she didn't know.

"Are you ok?" Freya's voice pulled her from the cloud of self pity and doubt and she smiled.

"Sorry, left all my problems behind, Freya."

She smiled sympathetically, "is there anything I can do?"

The wine had relaxed her, and loosened her usually tight lips. She wasn't used to sharing her problems or her emotions; she usually kept things to herself. But as she looked at Freya she found herself talking, and she couldn't stop.

"Janis was one of those people who wafted through life and took. She never expected anything to go wrong." She sighed, "Oscar not wanting her for long term was probably the only 'NO' she ever received." Freya's eyes were wide as she took in that.

"And to be honest, my parents gave her everything she wanted, she lived away for ten years, and they bailed her out, time and time again." She toyed with her wineglass wistfully. "I wasn't jealous...I don't hate her, I never did. When she came home with Nate, he was two, and probably ever cuter than he is now. I fell in love...and she slipped into her usual role. Of sitting back and letting everyone take care of her...and him. Namely me."

"Bloody hell Lizzie, what a nightmare!"

She sighed, "she didn't pay me a penny of rent in over two years, and she just prioritised her own private life...over mine. I was the babysitter." she sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, "but none of that was a problem, I have loved every moment that I've spent with Nate over the years. But she left nothing."

"Nothing? No future for Nate. What the hell did she do with all her money?"

Lizzie drained her wine, then watched as Freya refilled the glasses, "she lived for the day. She never envisaged dying, and there was no money for her funeral...they're not cheap, then there are her credit card bills...all against my house. I'm in the middle of trying to fight those because she used me as a guarantor initially as she had no credit history. It was years ago, so I'm fighting that...but hey, there, in a nutshell is the hellhole that is my family."

Freya groaned, "what an absolute nightmare, so you HAVE to work?"

She nodded, "my savings are all zapped, and I'm pretty much broke."

"What about your parents? Can they help out?"

Again Lizzie nodded, "they could, but they don't offer, and I would never ask."

Freya opened her mouth to reply, then visibly paled, "shit..." She mumbled the word under her breath and Lizzie flinched, she couldn't remember hearing her swear in the time she'd known her. Turning she followed her eyes to the bar where a group of very glamorous women stood, if you liked fake boobs and tan.

The tallest in the group, blonde, perfectly made up and wearing a mini skirt and short top that left nothing to the imagination, approached.

"Freya!" She stressed the second syllable until the name sounded different, strange. "Long time no see!"

Freya's smile was pasted on, Lizzie could tell, and she looked nervous, her eyes darting all over the place, "hi Krystal!"