One Wish - Coins in a Fountain (Maxwell Lord, WW84)

*One*

Washington D.C., 1984

"Life is good - but it can be better. And why shouldn't it be? All you have to do is want it!"

Even when he wasn't actually there, Max was everywhere.

Alastair stood before the window of the electronics store which sold the 'latest and greatest designs the industry had to offer'.  "Look Lina, I'm just like Daddy!" the little boy stated proudly. He pointed at her and repeated his father's catchphrase, even lowering his voice some to match Max's more.  He was even wearing blue, his father's signature colour.  "'Life is good - but it can be better!'"

She chuckled.  "Yes, you certainly are."

She found it comforting knowing that while so many people watched the commercials every day and thought they knew him, Max Lord, she knew that she really  knew him, and she saw those commercials differently.  While they saw a successful businessman, she saw the charming and charismatic man who had stolen her heart. 

It was late Friday afternoon at the start of the summer holidays. Alistair had just finished another year of school. Lina had picked him up right after school and taken him to the mall to celebrate, and then she would take him right over to Max for his weekend. 

Camilla, Alastair's mother, was meant to pick him up from his last day of school, but had called Paulina at work (once again) asking her if she could pick up her son for she and her boyfriend were hoping to get away early for their weekend vacation.  Paulina didn't mind at all,  but sometimes she just wanted to tell Clara that she wasn't the only one who wanted to spend time with her boyfriend. 

Upon arrival at the mall Alastair had gone right to the arcade and the two had played some games.  Next was a promised ice cream treat at the food court. 

As they were passing by the jewelry store on the way, something caught Lina's eye and made her stop.  "Oh, wow."

A gold necklace adorned with blue and white diamonds sparkled at her through its glass case. "One moment, Alastair, I just want to take a look." 

They stepped into the store where Lina went right over to the display case and peered at the necklace, getting a closer look. It was stunning, and the blue would actually go perfectly with that pair of earrings Max had gotten her for their one-year anniversary a few months ago. And the leather jacket he had gotten her, and the watch...   It was no secret, Max loved to spoil them - even if he really couldn't afford it.

"Would you like to see it?" asked the saleswoman, appearing behind the case. 

"Oh, I can't afford it." She could tell by just looking at it.

"But you can afford to try it on."

This made her grin.  "I like the way you think."  It was true after all, it didn't cost her anything to take a look at the gorgeous product. "Alright then."

Smiling, the women unlocked the case and withdrew the necklace.  She handed it over to Lina so she could put it on and held up a mirror for her to look. "Wow, you look like a million bucks!"

"Oh, thank you." Lina reached up and touched the necklace sitting against her collarbone. 

"It seems to sparkle even more now that you're wearing it." 

"Thank you." She took one last long, lingering look before removing it from around her neck. "Thank you so much for letting me try it on."

"Of course." 

"But Lina, Daddy will buy it for you," Alastair protested as he watched the woman put the necklace back in its case.

"I'm sure he would, but we can't afford it right now." 

"But he has lots of money."

Lina held back a sigh. Yes, that was what Max was leading Alastair to believe, but she knew he was struggling more than he let on.  "Yes, but we still can't just spend left, right, and centre. Think about the pool." And the helicopter, and the stereo system, and the new TV...

"But you should have things you want too."

"Well I don't want it that baldly." She thanked the saleswoman again and they left the store.  "Okay, ice cream, that's where we were going.  Then we'll go see your dad."

"Okay!" Alastair had a skip in his step with the excitement of soon seeing his father. 

"Okay what flavor do you want?"

"Chocolate!"

"That makes two of us."

"Can we get some to bring to Daddy?"

"Oh-" He was such a sweet kid.  "-That's a great idea, Buddy, but I'm afraid it will melt on the way."

Alastair's face fell. "Okay. Maybe next time he can come with us for ice cream."

"That sounds great."

As Alastair took his ice cream and went to go throw some pennies in the fountain, Lina withdrew the brochures from her bag. She had picked them up on her lunch break, but the trip there and back hadn't allowed any time for her to actually take a look yet, and she was eager to read them.  

"What are you looking at?" Alastair was back, ice cream dripping down his lower lip. 

"Oh just a brochure for university."

"Why?"

"Because I've been considering going back to school."

"Aren't you  too old to go to school?"

This made her chuckle.  "You're never to old to go back to school, or to learn anything."

"Okay... Hey, if you go to school, then you'll have homework, and we can do our homework together!"

She laughed again.  "Yes, we most definitely  can."

Alastair grinned and held up a penny.  "I have one left. I was making wishes and I think you should make a wish too."

"Okay, thank you, that's very thoughtful." 

Alastair took her hand and pulled her over towards the fountain.  He handed her the extra lucky penny and she took it, holding it for a moment before tossing it into the water with dozens of other wished-upon coins. 

"Did you make a wish?"

"I did."

"Good - but don't tell me, or anyone, not even Daddy! Cause then it won't come true!"

She chuckled.  "My lips are sealed." She made the action of zipping up her lips for emphasis, but repeated her wish to herself.

I wish that everything could stay as it is. 

(Hello and welcome! I have been delightfully consumed by this movie ever since I saw it and so inspired, and of course, I couldn't help but fall for the 'villain' once again ;) so here we go! 

 Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this intro chapter! :))