Chapter 9 #2
When they were both showered and dressed, they left for the barn.
Max had talked to his mother, and she’d told him to bring Lexi over for breakfast and party prep.
Lucas and Dani were already there with their birthday girl and were starting to set up for the party, information that Max shared with her when they were on the way with Daisy in the back seat.
Lexi couldn’t wait to see Caden’s reaction to his dad’s gift.
“It’s cute that you celebrate them both together.”
“They were born on the exact same day, and they love being birthday buddies.” He glanced at her. “I hope you’re ready for the massiveness of my family these days.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing everyone and meeting all the kids.”
“That’s Lucas and Dani’s storefront,” Max said, pointing to the left. “They added on to the barn and now they sell his furniture and her restored pieces. It’s done well for them.”
“It’s cool that their two hobbies were so well suited.”
“I know. They’re great together. We honestly thought he and Landon would never find anyone who could stand them long term, and they’re both happily married to women who are saints.”
“They were always so funny,” Lexi said, laughing.
“They still are. They love to try to confuse Dani and Amanda by acting like the other one. It’s never worked, but they keep trying.”
“So you and Lucas had babies on the same day. That must’ve been something.”
“He met Dani after she had Savvy with her late fiancé. He was killed in an ATV accident before Savvy was born.”
“Oh wow. That must’ve been so rough for her.”
“It was.”
“It’s a reminder that everyone goes through hard times,” Lexi said.
“For sure.” He reached for her hand. “I want you to know… I heard what you said before about proceeding with caution, and you’re right. It’s just that I’m so damn happy to have you back in my life that I want everything right now.”
“I want that, too.”
“But we’ll take it slow, because you’re also right about Caden not having ever seen me seriously interested in a woman. As much as I’d like to think I can predict how that’ll go, I can’t. And we’ve got this thing with Chloe to contend with, too. I don’t want to overwhelm him.”
“If it’s meant to be, we’ll figure it out, but that doesn’t have to happen today.”
“I hear you, and please note how many times I’ve told you that you were right and it’s not even ten a.m.”
“Duly noted,” she said, smiling at him. How could she not? He was even cuter than he’d been at eighteen, and she wouldn’t have thought that was possible.
“I can’t wait for him to see Daisy.”
Hearing her name, the dog gave a playful bark.
“Are you ready to meet your little boy, girl?” Max asked, looking at her in the mirror.
Another excited yip.
“He’s going to freak out when he realizes she’s his, and it’s all your fault that I now have a puppy to care for in addition to an active seven-year-old.”
Lexi laughed. “That logic is twisted, but okay. I’ll accept the blame if she makes Caden happy.”
“He’ll be thrilled, and I’ll let him know it was all your idea.”
“You should take credit for her, Max. It’s your big surprise.”
“I’ll tell him you helped.”
He wanted Caden to like her, and knowing how much he loved his son, that touched her deeply.
When they arrived at the barn, Daisy perked up at the sight of several other dogs running around in the yard.
Max let her out but kept a tight hold on her leash so she wouldn’t run off. “George and Ringo will teach her the ropes around here.”
The older dogs came over to sniff the newcomer.
Daisy’s tail wagged so hard that it thumped against Max’s leg.
Caden came bursting out of the mudroom door, followed by a girl around the same age as him. She had strawberry-blonde hair and was slightly taller than Caden.
“Dad! It’s my birthday! And Savvy’s!”
“Is it?” Max asked. “I’d forgotten.”
“No way. You did not!” Caden came to a sudden stop when he saw the dog standing next to his dad. “Who’s that?”
“This is Daisy. Daisy, meet Caden. Dude told me she’d be the perfect first dog for you.”
“What?” Caden’s cute face expressed surprise, amazement and pure joy all in the span of two seconds. “She’s mine?”
“Only if you promise to help take care of her.”
Caden dropped to his knees to hug the dog. “I’ll take such good care of her. Hi, Daisy, I’m Caden, and we’re gonna be best friends.”
Max gave Savannah a hug. “Happy birthday, Savvy.”
“Thanks, Uncle Max.”
“This is my friend Lexi.”
“Nice to meet you,” Savannah said, shaking Lexi’s hand.
“You, too. Happy birthday.”
“Thank you.”
“Savvy, come see Daisy,” Caden said.
Savannah got down on her knees to accept happy puppy kisses from Daisy.
Caden looked up at Max with tears in his eyes. “Is she really mine, Dad? For keeps?”
“She sure is.”
Caden hurled himself at his father and hugged him. “Thank you so much. Best birthday ever, and it’s just getting started.”
Max returned the enthusiastic hug. “I’m glad you like her.”
“I love her. And I love you. Let’s run with her, Savvy.”
“You guys need coats,” Max said.
“We’re fine for a little bit,” Caden said.
“Keep a close eye on her, Cade,” Max said as he handed the leash to his son. “She doesn’t know how far she’s allowed to go yet.”
“We won’t let anything happen to her. Don’t worry.”
Max and Lexi stayed outside for a few minutes to make sure Caden had things under control with the dog, who was already following him as if she knew he was meant to be her person.
“That was the sweetest thing ever,” Lexi said.
“I love to see him happy like that.”
“I’m sure he’s happy like that a lot with you as his dad.”
“We have all the fun together. Come on in. I need some coffee.”
“Me, too.”
They hung their coats on his hook in the mudroom and went into the kitchen, where his mother was at the stove making pancakes.
“That smells amazing,” Max said. “I’m starving.”
“When are you not starving?” Molly asked when he kissed her cheek.
“It’s me, Max, not Colton.”
“You’re just as bad as he is. Hi there, Lexi.”
“Hi, Molly.”
“Grab some plates and silverware. This batch is almost ready.”
Max poured coffee into two mugs. “Cream and sugar still?”
“Just cream please.”
He stirred it into her mug and handed it to her. “Have a seat. I’ll bring the food.”
She took his mug with her when she went to the table.
“Thanks, Mom,” he said when Molly handed him plates with pancakes and sausage. “This is the best restaurant in town.”
“Don’t let Megan hear you say that.”
Lucas came into the kitchen. “Hear him say what?”
“That this is the best restaurant in town,” Molly said.
“Well, it is,” Lucas said, stealing a pancake from the new stack.
Molly smacked his hand with her spatula. “You’ve already had six.”
“I’m a growing boy, and nice of you to show up, Maxwell. They’ve got me hanging streamers.”
“And you suck at it,” Dani said when she joined them.
“I can’t be good at everything, babe.” All at once, he noticed Lexi sitting at the table. “What? Lexi? Is that you?” He went to hug her. “Where the heck have you been?”
“Lucas, shut up,” Max said.
“It’s fine,” Lexi told him. “I was in Houston battling leukemia.”
“Oh crap. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m better now.”
“That’s great to hear. It’s so good to see you.”
“It’s good to be seen.”
“This is my wife, Dani. Dan, this is Max’s high school girlfriend, Lexi.”
The two women shook hands.
“Did you come for the reunion?” Lucas asked, as he stole sausage from Max’s plate and ate it before Max noticed it was gone.
“I did. It was a good excuse to come home to Butler.”
“What do you think of our boy Max? He’s all grown up and a daddy.”
“So I noticed,” Lexi said with a warm smile for Max.
“Do I detect sparks flying anew between the class couple?” Lucas asked.
“Go away and hang some streamers, Lucas,” Max said.
“It’s much more interesting in here,” Lucas said, reaching for a chair.
“Oh no you don’t.” Dani tugged on his arm. “Back to work.”
“Hurry up and eat,” Lucas said to Max. “This is a joint birthday party, which means you have to do half the work.”
“I usually do all the setup with Dani because you conveniently have to work until five minutes before the party starts.”
“I’m a dedicated public servant.”
“You’re a dedicated jackass.”
Lexi couldn’t stop laughing as she listened to them and took bites of the delicious pancakes. Some things never changed, she thought, and the Abbott siblings’ comical bickering was exactly as she remembered it.
Caden and Savvy came running in with Daisy in hot pursuit.
“What have we here?” Lincoln asked as he came into the dining room.
“Gramps! Dad got me a dog named Daisy, and she’s the cutest dog ever, isn’t she?”
Linc got down on a knee to greet the newest member of the family. “She is the cutest ever. What a wonderful daddy you have, Caden.”
“I know! He’s the best.”
“Happy birthday, Caden,” Lexi said.
He barely glanced at her. “Thanks.”
While most of the others stopped what they were doing to greet the dog, Lexi turned to Dani. “What can I do to help?”
“We need to finish the goody bags and blow up the balloons.”
“Put me to work.”