Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
~WILLA~
“ M ax is here!” Alex exclaims, holding his Eggo waffle and dripping syrup on his hand while he presses his nose against the glass of the window in the front door. “He’s shoveling.”
“Get over here and finish your breakfast,” I reply, craning my neck to look outside. Sure enough, Max is out there, shoveling away. It snowed about eight inches last night.
“Alex, sit down and eat, then get your socks and shoes on,” I say and grab my jacket. “I’m going to say hello to Max.”
“I want to say hello.”
“After you finish getting ready,” I insist, then give him the stern Mom look.
“Yes, ma’am,” he mumbles, nibbling on his waffle.
“Thank you.” I walk onto the front porch and grin when Max glances over his shoulder at me. “Good morning.”
“Yes, it is,” he says with a grin. Good God, that expression can still stop me at fifty paces.
“Hi, Noah,” I call out to Noah King, who I’ve also known most of my life. “You guys don’t have to shovel.”
“I’ll bring a snowblower next time,” Max says.
“It’s not a problem,” Noah assures me. “Sorry to hear about your car.”
“Thanks. Hopefully, it’ll be a quick fix.”
Noah nods, then tosses his shovel in the back of his truck after he finishes the last pass down my walkway.
“I’ll be right there,” Max says to him, then turns to me. “Here is the key fob. You can toss it into your purse and forget about it. You don’t need it out to drive the car.”
“That’s a Range Rover,” I inform him with a frown.
“Would you prefer the Mercedes?” he asks. “I can switch them out today if so.”
“No. No, that’s not it at all.” Good God, I’d be even more nervous to drive that car. “This is a Range Rover SUV, Max.”
He glances at the vehicle, then back at me with a frown. “Yeah?”
“Never mind,” I reply, shaking my head.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Thank you for loaning it to me.”
I’m not about to admit to him that driving a car that cost him six figures intimidates the hell out of me. I silently hope and pray that my SUV will be ready quickly.
“Anytime,” he says with that charming smile. “Keep it as long as you need it. Do you want me to go over anything with you?”
“I’ve been driving for a long time,” I remind him, making him laugh.
“Yeah, but every vehicle is different. I can show you some things.”
“I’ll be fine,” I insist and see Noah glance at us from inside his truck. “Besides, it looks like Noah needs to get a move on.”
“Just call if you need anything,” Max says before leaning in to kiss my cheek, setting my body on fire.
Holy Moses, that hasn’t happened in a long time.
“Wait!” Alex yells as he runs outside, two different boots on his feet, and no coat on. “I didn’t get to say hi yet.”
“Well, good morning to you,” Max says and ruffles Alex’s hair. “Did you sleep well?”
“Oh, yeah,” he says with a nod. “I could help shovel.”
I smile at my sweet son. He’s always been so ready to jump in and help. He’s kind and gracious.
“Noah and I had it covered this time,” Max replies with a nod. “But I’ll take you up on that next time.”
“Cool,” Alex says with a smile. “I even have my own shovel.”
“It’s cold out here,” I remind my son, but lean in and kiss his head, breathing in his clean scent. “And we have to get going soon. Did you finish your breakfast?”
“Yeah,” he says with a nod. “I’m ready to go.”
“We need to fix your boot situation, and you need a coat,” I inform him with a laugh. “Thanks again, Max. I’ll let you know when I hear from the garage.”
“No problem. See you later, Alex.”
“Bye!” Alex waves and hurries back inside, slamming the door behind him.
“See you, Wills,” Max says with a wink.
“Bye, Max.” I wave and follow my son into the house to find that while he did finish his breakfast, he also dumped his backpack on the floor. “What are you doing?”
“I’m just reorganizing things really quick.”
“Alex, we don’t have time for this. Get everything back into your bag and find your matching boot.”
“Which one?”
“Either one.” I take a deep breath and remind myself that I’ll look back on these moments one day and miss them.
Why are mornings always such a battle?
“You have four minutes,” I inform Alex as I tidy up the last of the breakfast mess, pull on my own boots, and fill my favorite travel mug with fresh coffee.
It says Girl Boss on the side and was a gift from Jenna, who has a thing for fun mugs.
“Can I have a drink on the way?” Alex asks, watching me put the lid on my mug.
“Sure,” I reply. “If you can get yourself together in two minutes.”
“I can!” He rushes off, and I pull a disposable cup out of the pantry, brew a cup of hot chocolate in the Keurig, and add some marshmallows to the top before securing the lid. I set it aside to let it cool.
“I do believe we’re on time for once,” I inform Alex with a smile as we walk out into the snow. I lock the door behind us, and we climb into Max’s fancy car.
“Wow, this is super rad,” Alex says with a grin. “Max has cool cars.”
“Yes, he does,” I mutter as I search for the ignition. Max mentioned it’s a push-button start, and I find the ignition switch by the steering wheel.
The car roars to life, and I smile back at my kiddo. “It has vroom.”
Alex is playing with his eyetooth.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s loose,” he says.
Good. That one has been stubborn. “Don’t mess with it too much. I don’t want it to fall out and have you bleed all over Max’s car.”
Alex giggles, and I reach over to adjust the mirrors, but the side ones are folded in.
“Hmm, how do I get the mirrors out?” I frown, but can’t find the button. It’s not in the place it should be. So, I abandon the mirrors and plan to just use the rear-view and be extra cautious.
But then I go to put the car in gear, and there is no gear shift.
None.
Nada.
“Well, crap.”
“What’s wrong, Mom?”
“I don’t know how to put the car in gear,” I mutter, getting frustrated. Maybe I should have had Max show me how to drive this damn thing, after all. I had no idea that newer cars were so high-tech. I’ve ridden in plenty of them, but I’ve never had to pay attention because I wasn’t the driver.
Besides, my car is only five years old. It’s not ancient.
“You’re going to be so late if I can’t figure this out,” I mutter as Alex whips his seatbelt off and leans forward, helping me search.
“Here are the letters,” he says, pointing to the console to my right. “Push on that circle.”
Sure enough, it pops up, and when I turn it to the right, it shifts into Drive.
I just had to have an eight-year-old show me how to drive a car.
Is it too early for wine?
“Thanks, Bubba. Get in your belt.”
He grins proudly and buckles up, and we’re off. The ride into town is interesting as the car beeps and pulls me away from the lines, trying to drive for me.
I’m definitely having my own car fixed. I’m not ready for this technology.
“My seat heats up,” Alex says with excitement. I have to admit, it is comfortable. And when it’s not beeping, it drives smoothly.
I suppose I could learn to drive it if I had to.
I pull up to Alex’s school, and he leans over to kiss my cheek before he jumps out of the car and runs toward the teacher at the door. She smiles and waves at me before I pull away and drive the short distance to my shop.
I climb out of the Range Rover and scowl at it as I gather my things and hurry inside. The snow has picked up again, falling in huge flakes the size of quarters.
It’s pretty, but it’ll be slick to drive in later.
Once inside, I go about my usual routine of flipping on lights and pulling the cash drawer out of the safe and getting it set up. I lay out more coffee pods and make sure the water reservoir is full, then I rearrange a few of the displays to freshen the place up a bit.
Before it’s time to open, I check my email to see if anyone has responded to my ad for part-time help and smile when I see three messages from potential employees.
After calling all three and setting up times for interviews, I flip on the Open sign and get ready for another day in paradise.
“But I only wore it three times.” I’m holding a sweater that a customer is trying to return, staring at the burn hole in the hem. “It wasn’t my fault that my boyfriend’s fire sparked and it landed on me.”
But it was my fault?
“Well, I’m glad that you weren’t burned,” I begin, keeping my temper in check. Alex comes running in the front door. He hurries over to me and drops his book bag behind the counter, then leans in and hugs me.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, buddy. Go get your snack and then get started on your homework.”
“Okay. I need help with the math.” He hurries away, and I sigh. Today has been another rough one. I’ve been busy in the shop, which is good, but the customers have been moody and demanding, much like the one standing before me now. And, of course, the garage called to tell me that my car won’t be ready for two weeks.
“What are you going to do about this?” the customer asks impatiently.
“Honestly? I’m not going to do anything about it except say I’m sorry that it happened to you. There’s no defect in the sweater.”
“I only wore it three times, and this sweater was more than a hundred dollars.”
“It sucks,” I agree with a nod.
“I won’t shop here again.” She glares at me, rips the sweater from my hands, and stomps out of my store.
I breathe a sigh of relief.
“I don’t think you’ll miss her,” Cara King says with a kind smile as she sets a pair of jeans on the counter. Cara is married to Josh King, an older cousin of Noah and Gray King.
The King family is big and has deep roots in Cunningham Falls.
Cara is a teacher in town and a kind woman. She’s been a great customer.
“I think you’re right.”
Once I have the jeans folded and in the bag, I add a pretty pink bow and wish Cara a good day.
“Mom, I need help.”
“I know, buddy. Let me just finish with these customers.”
Alex sighs and takes a bite of his apple. He’s always patient about sharing me with the shop. It was an adjustment for both of us.
The bell above the door dings, and I shrug. “I’m sorry, buddy, it’s busy today.”
“Hey, Max,” Alex says with a smile. “Can you help me with my math?”
“Alex,” I admonish and shake my head at Max. “Sorry about that.”
“Does he need help with his math?” Max asks.
“Yes,” Alex says.
“No,” I say at the same time, and Max cocks an eyebrow.
“I do too,” Alex insists. “But Mom’s too busy with customers.”
I shrug a shoulder. “I’ll get to it in just a few. Don’t worry about it.”
“Alex, you go get ready, and I’ll be right there,” Max says without looking away from me.
“Awesome,” Alex says and hurries away to his little desk in my office.
“How are you?” Max asks, watching me closely.
“I’m totally fine,” I lie easily and smile at Maisey Henderson, who just walked in with her sister, Brooke.
Max cocks his head to the side, then walks around to stand next to me.
“What’s going on?” he asks.
“Just working.”
He brushes his knuckles down my cheek, and I swallow hard.
“How has your day been?”
“Great.”
He leans in to whisper in my ear. “I will walk through bullshit with you as long as you don’t bullshit me. ”
I sigh. “Been a shit day,” I whisper back. “And, yes, I could use your help with Alex’s homework. It’s math.”
“I can do math in my sleep,” he reminds me, making me grin.
I only passed sophomore trigonometry because of Max.
“I appreciate the help, and I know Alex will get a kick out of it. He likes you.”
He smiles. “I like him, too. Almost as much as I like his mama.”
And with that, he winks and hurries off to find my son.
“Oh, and your car is possessed!” I yell at Max’s back.
He just waves, not looking back at me, and I can’t help but grin.
“Gotta love the Lord for making things like that,” Maisey says with a lazy grin as she joins me at the counter, laying a pair of shoes on the glass.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I reply, doing my best to school my face and ignore the redness in my cheeks.
“Sure, you don’t,” she says with a snort. “I love these shoes.”
“So do I,” I reply, happy to change the subject to my favorite topic: fashion. I chat with Maisey and Brooke for about ten minutes before they hurry off.
About thirty minutes before closing time, Max and Alex come out of my office, smiling and joking about something.
It’s a bit alarming to see my son enjoying a man who isn’t his grandfather. It makes me wonder if I’m doing right by him by not being married.
A boy needs a father.
Before I can think about that in depth, Max says, “Alex and I are going to go get some takeout for dinner so it’s ready when you’re done here.”
“Max, you’ve done so much already. You really don’t have to?—”
“Are you going to argue with me every time I try to be helpful?” he asks, leaning on the glass of my counter.
“We’re gonna get subs,” Alex informs me. I reach out to smooth the hair on the side of my son’s head. It always wants to stand on end. “I want the ’talian one. With pepperoni.”
“I suppose subs sound good,” I relent and smile at Max. “Thanks. I like turkey.”
“Alex told me,” he says with a wink. “You let us worry about dinner, and we’ll be back in a bit.”
“Yeah, let us worry about it, Mom,” Alex says before hugging me around the middle and then leading Max to the front door. I stand and watch them leave, pulled from my reverie when my mom’s voice surprises me.
“I can handle things here, and you can go with them,” she says.
“I didn’t know you were here.”
“I just came in the back. I wanted to see if you needed my help, but it looks like someone else beat me to the punch.”
I sigh and loop my arm through hers. “It’s new.”
“It’s good,” she says with a smile. “As long as it’s what you want.”
“I don’t hate it,” I admit with a smile.
“Max was always special to you.”
“Is the guilt normal?” I ask, knowing that my mom will understand.
“Yes, and you need to let it go, darling girl. Cary would want you to live your life. He wouldn’t want you to be alone forever.”
“I know,” I whisper. “Alex likes Max.”
“He is a likeable man. He always was.” Mom kisses my cheek. “Want me to close up here?”
“No. There’re only thirty minutes left, and it’s slowed down. I have interviews tomorrow to fill Krista’s position.”
“Hire two,” she advises me. “You need the help.”
I nod, thinking it over. “You’re right. Having the extra help would be nice. And it would free me up more in the afternoons with Alex.”
“Not to mention if you want to play hooky with a handsome someone whose name rhymes with fax .”
I giggle, then roll my eyes. “Since when are you such a romantic?”
“Always have been,” she says. “And it’s time you are, too. Alex is wonderful, but a woman needs more in her life than her children. And you said it yourself, Alex likes him.”
“He does. Well, who knows? It might not go anywhere at all.”
“Just enjoy him,” she advises. “Have a little fun.”
She pats my cheek and smiles. “Now, if you don’t need me, I’ll go get some dinner for Ken and me.”
“How is Ken?” I ask. Mom married Ken about five years ago. He’s ten years younger than she is and treats her like a queen. It’s fun to watch.
“He’s wonderful. And most likely hungry.”
“Tell him I said hi. Let’s get together for dinner this weekend.”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll make pot roast.”
Mom leaves just as Max and Alex come back in. Max hugs my mom in greeting and asks her to give his best to Ken when she sees him.
Yes, Max is a likeable man.
He watches me as he walks my way, his eyes happy and full of humor.
“Mom, we got four sandwiches, just in case,” Alex says.
“In case of what?” I ask.
“In case we want more,” Alex replies with a shrug, just the way Max would, and it makes me laugh.
“It’s good to be prepared.”
It doesn’t take me long to close up shop for the night.
“I’ll follow you home,” Max says. “It’s icy. Be careful.”
“Your car?—”
“Alex told me all about it,” he interrupts, and I stare at my son in surprise.
“You ratted me out?”
Alex giggles, and Max pushes my hair over my shoulder.
“Do you need a lesson on the car?” he asks.
“Too late. I think I have it figured out now. Oh! Except the mirrors. I can’t figure out how to get them to fold out.”
His lips twitch as he opens the door and pushes a simple button.
“That was not there this morning.”
“Buttons do magically appear,” he says with a nod, and I bump his hip with mine.
“Don’t be a smartass,” I mutter, glaring at him in jest.
“Let’s go, I’m hungry,” Alex says from the backseat of the Range Rover.
“You heard the man,” Max says, walking to his Mercedes. “We’re hungry.”