Chapter 13 #2
“Hmm, well, hopefully you guys can make a plan that works for everyone. Maybe they could spend the summers up here or something.”
“That would be nice. We’ll see.”
“Wherever we end up, there’d be room for them to visit any time they want. Make sure you tell them that.”
“You’re not getting ahead of yourself by any chance, are you?”
“Maybe a little, but it feels good to let my mind wander to you and me together forever with a sweet little family and house we’ve made a home.”
“Max… You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Making me breathless.”
“Come back here. Don’t wait until January. That’s so far away.”
“It’s only like four weeks from now.”
“That’s forever!”
His urgency made her smile as her heart did the fluttering thing that had happened from the beginning with him. “I need to spend the holidays with my family, and then I’ll be there.”
“Fine, if you’re going to be that way about it.”
Lexi laughed. “Are you pouting?”
“Maybe a little.”
“It’ll go by fast. I promise.”
“No, it won’t.”
“You’re going to be busy at the tree farm and getting ready for Christmas yourself.”
“Not too busy to hang with you.”
“Soon, Max. I promise.”
“You’ve got your appointment tomorrow, right?”
“Yes.” One of the things she’d had to do earlier was blood work for that appointment, which always left her with a feeling of dread.
“Are you okay about that?”
“It’s always nerve-racking, but I have no reason to be concerned. Jake, the oncologist, tells me that if I was sick again, I’d know it.”
“Jake said that, did he? What’s his story?”
Smiling, Lexi realized the crush she’d had on her doctor felt like a long time ago, especially since she’d seen Max.
“He’s happily married to Devon, who’s also a doctor and a friend of mine.
When you spend as much time with doctors as I have, they become friends.
And that’s something else I need to figure out if I’m going to leave Houston. I’ll need new doctors.”
“We can take you to Boston.”
“I’ll mention it to Jake when I see him tomorrow and see what he says.”
“Will you text me right after your appointment, so I won’t be worried?”
“Sure. Will you be able to see the text?”
“I’m working on the mountain tomorrow. Best cell service in the area, and I’ll be waiting for that text.”
“I’ll let you know if there’s reason to worry but try not to. This is part of my reality.”
“It’s going to take me a minute to get used to that reality.”
“That’s okay, we’ll get you there.”
“I’m so glad you’re back in my life, Lex. It’s like everything is right again, or something like that.”
“For me, too. I’ll text you tomorrow after the appointment.”
“I’ll be waiting and hoping everything is fine.”
“Call me tomorrow night?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
The next day was pure hell for Max, waiting for that text she’d promised him. As he trudged up the mountain behind Colton, all he could think about was what he would do if her illness came back right after they found each other again. The universe wouldn’t be that cruel to them, would it?
The universe could be pretty fucking cruel sometimes, which reminded him that he needed to call Chloe. He’d do that when they took a lunch break.
“What’s going on, Maxi-Pad? And don’t say it’s nothing.”
“If you call me that stupid name, I’ll never speak to you again.” Lucas and Landon had come up with that hideous nickname for him after middle school health class introduced them to maxi pads.
Colton grunted out a laugh. “Got your attention, didn’t I? Now answer the question. What’s up with you?”
“Lexi. She has a big doctor’s appointment today, and she’s going to text me after. She says it’s perfectly routine, but after you have leukemia, is anything routine when it comes to doctors?”
“If she says it’s routine, then you need to believe her. I’m sure she knows the difference by now.”
“I feel like I’m coming out of my skin since she left, like I made a huge mistake letting her leave after we just found each other again.”
“It wasn’t your call whether to let her leave. Tell me you know that.”
“I do. Of course I do, but it totally sucks after the way we reconnected over the weekend.”
“So the little push your awesome big brother gave you yielded results?”
“Yeah.”
“Aren’t you glad you listened to me?”
“Shut up, Colton.”
“Well, aren’t you?”
“Yes! You were right. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
“Yep. Make sure you tell Lucy how right I was when you see her.”
Max rolled his eyes.
“What happens now?” Colton asked as he peeled a banana that he pulled from his coat pocket.
“She says she’s coming back in January, but that feels like a long time from now.”
Colton stuffed the entire banana into his face. “What’s stopping you from going there?”
Max gave him an incredulous look. “Other than my son and work?”
“Yeah, other than that. In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a rather large family surrounding you who could take care of Caden for a few days and cover you at work.”
“It’s the holidays. The tree farm—”
“Will be fine without you, as will Caden. If you want to be with Lexi, go be with Lexi. You’re no good to me in this condition.”
“What condition?”
“All sad-faced and pouty. It’s not good for the trees to have your negativity around them when they’re working so hard to produce sap by spring.”
“Do you actually believe this nonsense you’re spouting?”
“It’s true. The trees are picking up on your vibe, and it’s not good, so do me a favor and go to Houston to see your lady and come back when you’re in a more positive frame of mind.”
“You really think I should go there?”
“I really do. You’re terrified that she’s going to somehow slip through your fingers again, so don’t let that happen. Go there and let her see you’re dead serious about her. Lucy and I will take Caden.”
“Um, thanks, but he comes back feral from every visit up here.”
Colton grinned. “We’ll make a man out of him.”
“I’ll ask Mom to keep him.”
“So you’re going to do it?”
The more Colton had talked about the idea, the more excited Max had gotten to make it happen. “Yeah, I think maybe I will, if you’re sure you don’t mind me missing a couple of days here.”
“I don’t mind, and Landon won’t either.”
“Thank you, for… you know, pushing me toward her the other day and now this.”
“I’m a very wise man, Maxi. It’s time you figured that out.”
Before Max could formulate the proper reply to that, his phone chimed with a text from Lexi.
All good at the doctor. Talk to you tonight!
He was so relieved that his knees went weak. “She’s okay.”
“Go see her, Max. Give her no doubt about what she means to you.”
“I’ll talk to Mom after work.”
Max responded to Lexi’s text as soon as he could. That’s great news. Thanks for letting me know.
Were you worried?
I was worried sick.
Don’t do that! I told you not to.
I’ll try harder next time.
She sent back heart emojis that made him even more determined to put Colton’s plan into action. But first, he had to deal with Chloe.