Chapter 15
Fifteen
“Love knows not distance; it hath no continent;
its eyes are for the stars.” —Gilbert Parker
After dinner, Max helped his mom with the dishes. “I have a favor to ask.”
“What’s that?”
“Colton has convinced me that I should go to Houston to surprise Lexi, and I was thinking about doing that this weekend, but only if you wouldn’t mind having Caden.”
“I wouldn’t mind. Other than Sunday dinner, we have no plans except volunteering at the tree farm on Saturday. He can help us there.”
“He’d love that. He’s also got a couple of birthday parties.” Max had talked to Landon earlier, who’d assured him he’d survive at the farm for a few days without Max.
“Nothing we can’t handle. Go see Lexi. I agree with Colton that it’s a good idea.”
Max glanced at his mother. “Caden told me he doesn’t like her.”
“What? He barely knows her.”
“That’s what I said, too, and we made a deal. If he gets to have his mom in his life, I get to have Lexi in mine.” They’d told his parents and grandfather over dinner that Caden would see his mom the following Wednesday.
“That’s a fair deal.”
“It’s just been me and him—and all of you, of course—for his whole life. Things are changing for both of us, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
“That was bound to happen eventually, no?”
“I suppose, but it’s been a lot to process over the last few days.”
“When it rains, it pours.”
“That sounds like a Gramp-ism.”
“I get most of my isms from him.”
Max laughed.
“The one thing to remember about life is that change is inevitable, and it’s not always a bad thing.”
“I like things the way they are.”
“But you liked having Lexi here with you, enough that you’re already planning to go see her.”
“I’m worried about Caden. He never says he doesn’t like someone.”
“He’ll come around. He just needs to get used to seeing you with her.”
“Part of me wonders…”
“What?”
“Maybe I’d be better off just leaving well enough alone. Caden isn’t happy about her, so it might just be for the best—”
“No,” Molly said forcefully. “He does not get to decide whether you date or care about a woman or even bring a woman into your lives. You’re a loving, devoted father to that boy, and he’s had you all to himself for his entire life.
It’s only natural that he might see her as a threat to the status quo, but he’ll get over it. ”
“What if he doesn’t?”
“He will. Don’t you dare take a step back from Lexi because of what he said.
He’s seven, Max. If you start seeing her now, someday he won’t remember much about the time before she was in your lives.
And knowing her as we do, I have no doubt she’ll make every effort to ensure his comfort around her. ”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I’m very sure. You’ve given that child everything and made us so proud in the process. It’s time to take something for yourself.”
Max hugged her. “Thank you for always having the advice I need.”
“You got it, pal. Any time. It’s okay for you to do something just for you. Caden will be fine this weekend and long term. Try not to worry.”
He knew she was right but asking him not to worry about Caden was like asking him not to breathe.
In the end, it was much easier than Max had expected to drop everything for a long weekend in Houston.
His grandfather had helped by giving him Lexi’s grandmother’s number so he could text to get her help in surprising Lexi.
How funny would it not be if he got there, and she was somewhere else? Not funny at all.
Her grandmother had been delighted to be brought in on Max’s plan and had even suggested they go to the beach in Galveston for the weekend. She’d sent him the names of places to stay, and he’d booked them a room right on the beach.
We’re thrilled to see our girl back to good health and smiling like she used to when the two of you were together the first time, Carol had said in her last text to Max. Looking forward to seeing you. She’ll be so excited.
The only thing keeping him from a clean getaway was Caden, who wasn’t at all pleased to hear he was going away for the weekend.
“Why can’t I go?”
“You’ve got two birthday parties and the sleepover at Chase’s house that you’ve been looking forward to. That’ll be much more fun than where I’m going.”
“Where are you going?”
“To Houston, Texas.”
“Why?”
“To visit Lexi.”
Caden’s displeasure with that news was obvious. “You just saw her last weekend.”
“That wasn’t enough. I want to spend more time with her.”
“Why?”
“Because I like her. I’ve always liked her since we were kids.
You’re going to stay with Grammy and Gramps on Friday night and have a great time at the birthday parties, the Christmas Tree Farm, Chase’s house and Sunday dinner.
You’ll be so busy, you won’t even miss me.
And when I get back, your mom will be coming to see you. ”
“I don’t want you to go.”
“Caden, come on… It’s just a few days, and you’ll have so much fun with Grammy and Gramps and Grandpa-Great.” Max’s heart broke when he realized Caden was crying. He hardly ever cried, except for when he was hurt. “Buddy…”
He sat up and threw himself at Max. “I don’t want you to go.”
While Max clung to him, he also clung to the words his mother had said earlier about deserving something for himself.
“I want to make you a promise.” Max pulled back so he could see Caden’s face.
“If I date Lexi, nothing will change between you and me. I swear to you. Nothing will change except maybe you’ll have someone else in your life who loves you.
But you and me? We’re best friends, and that’s never, ever going to change no matter what. Okay?”
His little chin quivered as he nodded.
Max hated that he’d upset him, but he supposed it was bound to happen whenever he started to date. He probably should’ve done it a long time ago so it wouldn’t be such a big deal to Caden now.
“Are we good?” Max asked.
He nodded again.
Max held out his fist to initiate their special handshake. As they went through the elaborate sequence, Caden grinned, which was a relief. “No one else in the whole world knows our secret handshake, you know.”
“Chase wants me to teach it to him, but I won’t. Cuz it’s ours.”
“That’s right, but you should make up another one for you and him, so he won’t feel left out.”
“That’s a good idea. Maybe we can do that this weekend. Can he stay at Grammy’s on Friday, too?”
Max was relieved that he’d come around to accepting the plan for the weekend. “I’ll ask Uncle Will, but I’m sure that’s fine.” Max bent to kiss his forehead. “Get some sleep, buddy. Love you to the moon and all the way to Pluto.”
“Pluto isn’t really a planet anymore.”
“It is in my world.”
Giggling, Caden said, “Love you to the moon and your anus.”
“We talked about that. Not funny.”
“Yes, it is!”
“Nope.” Max had to bite his lip to keep from joining in Caden’s laughter. “Go to sleep.” As he left the room, Caden was saying “your anus” in a singsong voice between giggles.
“I can’t hear you.”
“Yes, you can!”
“Sleep. Now.”
Max waited until he was in the kitchen before he allowed himself a quiet laugh.
The Uranus thing had started last fall when they covered the solar system in kindergarten.
One of the other kids in Caden’s class had explained to the class why the pronunciation of Uranus was so funny.
Caden had trotted out the term “your anus” over dinner at the barn, which had resulted in his parents and grandfather laughing until they cried while Max had looked on in horror.
“This is what happens when you send kids to school,” his dad had said.
The incident had made Max wish homeschooling was an option for them.
As he finished loading the dishwasher, he thought about how Caden had cried over him going to see Lexi.
That had gutted him and had him again questioning whether he was being fair to his son.
He was so used to basing every decision on what was best for Caden that he’d forgotten how to think about what was in his best interest.
Lexi was in his best interest. Just as he had that thought, his phone chimed with a text.
Thank God for Wi-Fi that kept him somewhat connected to the outside world.
He pulled the phone from his pocket and smiled when he saw the text was from her.
She’d included a picture of herself with a tabby cat.
Super cute—you and the cat. Who’s your friend?
Our neighbor’s cat Misty. She loves me. We spent so much time in the hospital that we couldn’t have pets, so our neighbors let me borrow her whenever I need a fix.
We should get one when you move here.
She sent a GIF of a woman fanning her face.
Max sent laughter emojis. Too much too soon?
No… All I think about is moving to Vermont.
We’re here, waiting for you to come back!
How is Caden and all the Chloe stuff?
Can you talk?
Yep.
Max called her.
“Hey.”
“How’s it going?”
“Better now that I’m talking to you.”
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, it’s just hard to be back here after being there with you.”
Max wanted so badly to tell her about his plans for the weekend, but more than that, he wanted to surprise her. “Everything about my normal routine feels weird since you were here.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault that it was more fun when you were here than it is when you’re not.”
“All I think about is you and Caden and Butler and your family and Fred. It was so, so good to be home.”
“It was good to have you home.”
“You know that you’re the main reason that Butler still feels like home to me, right?” she asked.
“I didn’t know that until now, but I’m glad to hear it.”
“This is kinda crazy, isn’t it?”
“It’s a good crazy. The best kind of crazy.”
“Mary Jane texted to ask if we’d hooked up after the reunion.”
“No way! What’d you tell her?”
“That it was nice to see her and Gig at the reunion.”
“Haha, good deflection.”
“She acts like we were besties in high school or something when we weren’t.”