Shades

EPILOGUE

"Although the military doesn't accept responsibility for the explosion that ripped through Mesaliko reservation territory, speculation remains constant that the blast came from a munitions dump kept in the area during World War II."

Max watched with idle interest the television news. Three days had passed since the spaceship had been destroyed. There had been no more ghost sightings in Roswell or in the Mesaliko tribal lands. He sat in his room and tried to remain calm with the idea of not beating his brains out trying to find a way to get to his son and fix things with Liz.

During the last three days he hadn't talked with Liz, hadn't felt like he could be around her without putting pressure on her. He wanted her back in his life, wanted everything to be back like it was before Tess came along to twist things so badly.

The phone rang unexpectedly.

Max scooped the receiver up and said hello.

"It's me," Liz said.

The world suddenly seemed to stop around Max. He had to force himself to breathe. "Hi," he said.

"Are you okay?"

"Sure. I was just dozing," Max said. "Still catching up on sleep."

"I just wanted to check. 1 haven't seen much of you these past few days."

"I knew you were busy with the repairs being done to the Crashdown."

"Well, they're all done now," Liz said. "In fact, the grand reopening is tonight. Going on right now. That's why there's so much noise in the background;"

"That's good."

"1 thought maybe you could come by after the rush was over. I'll treat you to a cheeseburger. Kind of a combo Glad-My-Mom-Isn't-Talking-to-Ghosts-Anymore and We-Survived-the-Haunting-of-Roswell occasion."

Max didn't hesitate. "Sounds good."

"Maria and Michael will be there too."

That took some of the edge off the meeting. And in a way, it was a relief. If they were together, he didn't know what he'd say without forcing her hand.

"Sure," he said.

"Okay. I guess I'll see you then."

Max said good-bye and hung up the phone. Some of the fatigue and worry left him, and he felt a little more relaxed. He stretched out on the bed.

"Hey."

Glancing over at the doorway, Max spotted Isabel standing there looking positively elegant. "I haven't seen much of you the last couple of days," he said.

"Work," Isabel said, maybe a little too quickly. "Dad's been keeping me buried in lots and lots of work. There are still people wanting to sue somebody over the appearance of ghosts in Roswell."

There was still no explanation for the ghosts, although some local psychologists were of the opinion that the ghosts had been a mass hysteria. Other people were certain that the military's mistakes hadn't been limited to munitions but to nerve gas agents that had been kept in underground bunkers that had been destroyed… but not before infecting the local populace. There wasn't any proof of that, and the Mesaliko weren't letting anyone on the tribal lands to go prowling around.

"So who was on the phone?" Isabel asked.

"Liz. We're having a small get-together tonight at the Crashdown. Has she called you?"

"No."

"She probably will."

"I'll have to take a rain check."

Max looked at her, making a show of noticing her outfit.

"Oh. This." Isabel smoothed the lines of her miniskirt. "Just wanted to be comfortable."

"Where are you going that you need to be so… comfortable?"

"Work."

"Office hours are over," Max said.

"I've got to go to the library."

"Oh."

"I just wanted to check on you," Isabel said. "Make sure you were doing okay."

"I am," Max said.

Isabel nodded, but didn't look convinced.

"Part of me," Max said, "wants to say that's not true, that I'm in denial about how I really feel." He paused. "I just don't want to be alone, Isabel, and I don't want to think about my son being out there somewhere, possibly in danger."

"I don't think Tess would hurt him, Max," Isabel said. She entered his room and sat on the bed next to him. "And as far as being alone, you're not. I'm here. And on some days you've got Michael. And our parents. And a lot of other people."

"I know. I just feel alone."

Isabel put her hand on his arm.

Max sat quietly, feeling better.

"You'll be seeing Liz tonight," Isabel said. "That's a start."

"A cheeseburger with friends. Not very promising."

"Not having a cheeseburger with friends is even less promising."

"True." Max exercised restraint within himself. He'd go; he'd have fun. And he would not expect too much. That was the secret. He looked at Isabel. "I thought you had to go to the library."

"I do. I will. It'll be okay. We have a… " Isabel stopped. "We have a very understanding library. That's one of the things that I've always liked best about the library."