tonight was a perfect example of why that was such a horrible thing for him to do to them.
Aside from friends, he counted many families among the participants. His own adoptive parents were there, supporting him, Isabel, and the Whitmans as they had a couple months ago at the funeral. Maria's mom was there too, sitting at a table next to Sheriff Valenti. Even though the sheriff had lost his job helping Max, he couldn't think of the man as anything other than «sheriff.» Seeing the two single parents together, their strange, shared history of being abandoned by their spouses years ago inexplicably popped into Max's head. Ignoring the thought, Max continued scanning the room, ending with Alex's parents. He didn't even want to think about what they were going through.
«It started four years ago,' Liz spoke into the microphone. «It was during my short-lived artistic phase, before I really got into science. Alex, Maria, and I got together onthis midsummer's night to have our own private talent show. Alex and Maria played bass and guitar while they sang, and I did whatever I could to keep up with them, mostly by reciting some poetry.» She took a breath to choke back on the tears that were about to escape. «We continued the tradition every summer since, and now I invite you all to join in with us, in memory of Alex.»
Max saw that Maria was already dabbing her eyes with a tissue. He almost laughed in spite of the somber mood, because her outfit was truly priceless. She had totally embraced Liz's color directive and was wearing a rainbow-colored sequin minidress that he had actually helped her pick out at a local thrift shop. The two of them had really bonded as friends the previous summer and still spent a lot of time together when their significant others were otherwise engaged.
«I'd like to start off tonight with a poem that I know was very dear to Alex,' Liz continued as she picked up a book left on the counter and opened it to the page still marked by a pair of concert tickets. «It's called 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.'' She looked out at the crowd at each of her friends, finally stopping on Alex's parents as she read, ''Whose woods these are I think I know.
As Max listened, he also settled his eyes on Alex's parents and gave himself permission to try to imagine what they could possibly be feeling. To have their son taken at such a young age was something he could only partially wrap his head around. Though his own son was millions of miles from him, the Whitmans' pain was different from his own. Their suffering came after raising a childfor seventeen years only to have his life ended in a seemingly senseless accident. It made Max feel even worse to think that they would always assume that their son had taken his own life, and would never know the truth.
He turned his full attention back to Liz, thinking how beautiful and fragile she looked under the spotlight reading from Alex's book. She had been through so much since her close friend's death, and now that Tess was finally out of the picture, Max promised himself that he would do whatever he could to make things up to her, starting with being there for her on this very important night.
«… 'And miles to go before I sleep,'' Liz finished the poem openly crying, finally letting out all the grief she had been holding in since the day she had gotten her first clue to Alex's death.
Max was quickly out of his seat and by her side, escorting Liz to a chair. «Alex would have liked this,' he whispered.
Liz was speechless as she sat down in the booth, her body slightly trembling.
Polite applause filled the Crashdown as Liz's own parents looked on, openly concerned for their daughter but apparently content to know that Max was by her side.
Alex's former band mates were next on the bill. They were setting up their equipment in the staging area to do a set in honor of their missing bass player. This would be the last time they would be performing together under the name «The Whits,' and each member thought this was the appropriate time and place for such a performance.
Alex had brought the group together sophomore year in deference to the fact that the Roswell garage band scene was rather pitiful. He was the driving force behind the band, as evidenced by the name they had settled on. Even though Maria had temporarily hijacked the group soon after their creation, Alex had always been the one in charge. As the guys began their first melancholy song of lost love, which had been written by Alex, Isabel came over to join her brother and Liz.
«Are you sure you know your lines?» she whispered to Max as she sat in the booth. She had also taken Liz's wardrobe instructions to heart and was wearing a pale orange dress to fit in with the «celebration of life» theme of the evening.
«Yes, Isabel,' Max said, for the tenth time since having agreed to perform the skit with her. «I'm sure I know my lines.»
«I just don't want you to freeze up in the middle,' she explained.
«Relax,' he calmly replied. «We'll be fine.»
«Do you want to go rehearse again in the back?» she asked, getting up before he could answer.
Liz looked to Max, begging him with her eyes not to leave her alone right now. He reached to his side and took her hand in his, giving it a squeeze to let her know that he wouldn't be going anywhere.
With his other hand, Max grabbed his sister by the arm and lightly tugged her back down into the booth across from him. «We've rehearsed it a hundred times. It's going to be fine. Stay here and enjoy the music.»
«I just…» She had a catch in her throat.
«I know.»
As Max held on to Liz with his hand, he locked eyes with his sister, letting her know that he was there for her, too. Silently, Max provided the necessary support for the two girls who, in addition to Maria, were probably closer to Alex than any other students at West Roswell High.
All three of them fought back tears as the mournful tune filled the Crashdown. It even looked to Max like the band was about to lose it at any moment. Somehow, this «celebration of life,' had gotten off to a rather depressing start. But Max wasn't quite sure how to go about turning things around.
«This is ridiculous,' Liz said from out of nowhere. «This is supposed to be a joyous occasion.»
«Well, Liz, you're the one setting the tone,' Max gently reminded her, still providing her the strength she would need to take charge of the event.
«Exactly,' she stood and crossed over to the lead guitarist, Mickey, as the band finished their heavyhearted tune. Max watched as she whispered something into Mickey's ear that immediately made his face light up and his head nod vigorously. As Liz returned to the table, Max watched as the guitarist relayed the message to the rest of the band. Each member looked more pleased than the next as they readied their instruments.
«Ladies and gentlemen,' Mickey addressed the crowd, «we've had a special request.» He bowed his head toward Liz in gratitude.
«Let's dance,' Liz said as she pulled Max from his seat.
On cue, the band started up again, and Max recognized another one of their tunes. This time, however, the song was much faster. Taking their lead, Maria got up in her shimmering rainbow outfit and hopped up to the microphone,
letting loose on the song that she remembered from her days fronting the band. Soon the whole place was rocking and everyone was out of their seats, including Alex's mom, who was dancing with Sheriff Valenti. There was, however, one person who was still in his chair.
«I don't think Mr. Whitman dances,' Max said as he nodded his head in the direction of Alex's father while keeping the beat.
«Oh, you'd be surprised,' Liz said with a laugh. «You should have seen him when he chaperoned the sixth- grade dance. He taught me some moves I'd never seen before or have been able to do since. Will you excuse me?»
Max nodded politely as Liz left him to go to Mr. Whitman. At first, Alex's father was reluctant to join in the festivities, but Liz flashed the charming smile that Max knew from personal experience no man could resist, no matter what his age or marital status.
Soon enough, Mr. Whitman was up on the dance floor. Feeling awkward as the only one on the dance floor standing alone, Max noticed there was one other person in the diner who was not dancing, and went back to the kitchen to join him.
«Are you going to watch from back here all night, Michael?» Max asked as he stepped into the kitchen.
«It's the safest place to be in case Maria makes a scene,' Michael replied as he tended to the grill.
«You should go easy on her,' Max said, leaning against the counter. «This has got to be difficult.»
«Which is exactly why I'm staying in the kitchen,' Michael replied.
