Chapter 20 #2
“I know. It’s exciting.” Max helped Caden up from the chair, noting that he was moving more easily than he had since the accident. “Call me if you need help.”
“I’m fine.”
After Caden left the room, Max sat back in his chair feeling amused, amazed and relieved after the conversation with his son.
From the start, he’d been the most incredible kid, full of spunk and sass and curiosity for people, places and adventure.
Max felt sorry for everything Chloe had missed with their son, but he hoped that maybe she could be part of his life going forward.
Before he’d gotten her letter, the thought of allowing her into their lives would’ve been preposterous to him. But people grew and changed and evolved, and he hoped the new version of Chloe would be someone he’d want in his son’s life.
Chloe arrived right on time at three o’clock, driving a white SUV and wearing jeans, boots and a sweater with a navy blue down vest. Her hair was darker than he recalled, her blue eyes clear and her smile bright.
It was almost shocking to Max to see how great she looked, because his most recent memories of her had been colored by her utter misery over the pregnancy and childbirth.
Max went out to greet her.
“Hi, Max,” she said, smiling. “It’s good to see you.”
“You, too. You look great.”
“So do you, but then again, you always did.”
“Thanks. Caden is excited to meet you.”
“That’s nice to hear. I wondered if he’d be angry with me.”
“He doesn’t have that in him.”
“I guess that makes me lucky. How’s he feeling?”
“Much better.”
“And you? Having him hurt must’ve been awful.”
“Worst thing I’ve ever been through, but as long as he and Chase are okay, that’s what matters.”
“He’s close with Chase?”
“Very. They’re like brothers.”
“He must have a lot of other cousins by now.”
“There’s twenty-six grandchildren at last count, and that doesn’t count the Colemans.”
“Wow. And he’s the oldest, right?”
“He’s inherited a few older cousins since Landon married a woman with a daughter and Charley and Tyler took in his nieces after their parents died. The younger ones look up to Caden, though.” Max glanced back at the house. “Before we go in, I just wanted to know what you’re hoping to have happen.”
“I’d like to see him occasionally, maybe go to one of his games or to his school for whatever goes on there. I’m not asking for anything more than to be in his life, however you and he see fit. I know it’s more than I deserve—”
“I don’t hold it against you, Chloe. You did what was best for you and Caden, and it was a long time ago. He’s been the greatest blessing of my life. I wouldn’t change anything.”
“Thank you for stepping up for him the way you did. I’ve always been so thankful to you and your family for doing what I couldn’t.”
“You’re welcome. Come meet your son.” Max led the way inside, where Caden and Daisy were seated on the sofa. When Chloe followed him in, Daisy moved closer to Caden. “Caden, this is your mom, Chloe. Chloe, this is Caden.”
“Oh,” she said on a long exhale. “Look at you. You’re so handsome, just like your daddy.”
Max went to give Caden a hand up.
Caden offered his hand to Chloe. “It’s nice to meet you.”
She shook his hand as tears filled her eyes. “It’s nice to meet you, too. I’m sorry it took so long.”
Caden shrugged. “You’re here now.”
“Yes, I am, and I’m so happy to see you. I want you to know that I’ve thought of you every day.” Her voice caught. “And I’ve always loved you.”
“Thanks. This is Daisy. My dad gave her to me for my birthday.”
Chloe bent to pet Daisy, who had followed her boy. “It’s nice to meet you, Daisy.”
“Thank you for the truck you sent me. I love it.”
“I’m glad you do. My nephew told me that it was the coolest truck ever, and that’s what I wanted for you.”
“How old is your nephew?”
“He’s nine. I also have nieces who are six and four.”
“They’re my cousins, then?”
“They are.”
“Do you have other kids?”
“No, just you, but I’m getting married next year, so I might have more.”
“Do you want to see my room?”
“I’d love to.”
“Come on. I’ll show you.”
As she went past Max, Chloe placed her hand on her heart and gave him a look that left no doubt in his mind how much it meant to her to be with her son.
While Max stood in the doorway, Caden showed his mother his favorite toys and treasures, including the trophy from his first Little League season and his Student of the Month certificate from school.
“These are all my cousins with my grandparents and my grandpa-great.” He handed her the photo Max’s cousin Izzy had taken a year ago of all the Abbott grandchildren. “My cousin Murphy hadn’t been born yet.”
“That’s a big crowd,” Chloe said as she scanned the photo. “Who are the older girls?”
“My aunt Charley’s nieces. Their parents died in an accident, and they came to live with Aunt Charley and Uncle Tyler.”
“Oh, I see. That’s so sad for them.”
“It was,” Caden said, “but they’re doing better. They’re fun to hang out with.”
“Tell me who all the others are and who they belong to.”
Like the Abbott family expert he was, Caden pointed to each child and told Chloe their name and who their parents were.
“How fun for you to have so many cousins,” Chloe said.
“I love them so much. And we have the Coleman cousins, too. Every summer, we have a big cookout at Grammy’s house with all the Abbotts and Colemans. Grammy calls it the madhouse.”
“How many Coleman cousins are there?”
Caden glanced at Max.
“Fifteen so far,” Max said. “We expect there’ll be many more before all is said and done.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of kids.”
“It is a madhouse,” Caden said, “but it’s fun. That’s my favorite day of the whole summer.”
Max hadn’t heard him say that before.
Chloe asked him about school and sports and who his friends were and what kind of pizza he liked.
“Meat lovers,” Caden said. “The more meat, the better.”
Max and Chloe shared a laugh, the first one ever as parents to the most exceptional boy who’d ever lived.
“Just like your dad,” she said with a smile for Max.
She stayed for two hours, until they could both see that Caden was getting tired. “I should go, but I want to thank you for such a lovely afternoon, Caden.”
“Thanks for coming.”
“I’d like to see you again sometime, if that’s all right with you and your dad.”
“It’s all right with me,” Caden said. “Is it okay with you, Dad?”
“Sure. We’ll make that happen.”
They walked her to the door.
“What should I call you?” Caden asked her.
“What do you want to call me? Anything is fine with me.”
“Um, well, you’re my mom, so I guess I should just call you that.”
Chloe’s eyes filled with tears. “I’d love that. Could I hug you?”
“Sure.”
A huge lump landed in Max’s throat as he watched them hug.
Chloe kissed Caden’s forehead. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Okay.”
“Bye, Daisy,” Chloe said, bending to give the dog a pat on the head.
Max walked her out. “So that’s our son.”
“I’ll never have the words to tell you what this has meant to me, Max. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And I mean that… You’re welcome in our lives, Chloe. All I ask is that you don’t disappoint him.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“Okay, then. I guess we’ll talk soon.”
“Thanks again, Max. Not just for today, but for raising such a wonderful boy. He’s…” She shook her head when words failed her.
“Believe me, I know. Raising him has been the honor of my lifetime.”
Chloe hugged him, and he let her.
“I’ll be in touch,” she said when he held the car door for her.
After he waved her off, he went back inside. Caden and Daisy were on the sofa with the TV tuned to a Drake & Josh episode. That had been Max’s favorite show as a kid. He’d shared it with Caden, who also loved it.
“How’re you feeling, pal?” Max asked.
“Fine.”
“Good visit with your mom, huh?”
“Yep. She’s nice. And pretty.”
“She really loved you, but I knew she would.”
“That’s good. I liked her, too. What’s for dinner?”
Max was relieved to have gotten through the momentous visit with Chloe without any apparent fallout for Caden. “What do you feel like?”
“Duh. Spaghetti.”
“Then spaghetti it is.”