Page 2 of Max's Mission

She rapped her knuckles on the wood as she stepped into the doorway. “Hey, do you have a minute?”

The smile of greeting on her friend’s face swiftly died when she took in Margot’s expression. “What’s wrong? Sit. Where are the girls?”

“They’re next door. I—” The sudden lump in her throat cut off her words. She sank into the guest chair as she swallowed hard and tried again. “A detective just called. From North Dakota. Tad’s dead.” She’d never expected to see her ex-husband again after the way he left, but knowing it was now a certainty brought out all the emotions she’d buried fourteen months ago.

“What?” Annabeth breathed, her eyes growing round. “What happened? And what was he doing in North Dakota?”

“They’re not one hundred percent certain it’s him, but they found a set of keys on a body that matched an abandoned vehicle.” She glanced down, picking at her hands. “Something in the car gave them a name, I guess. The—the detective asked if I could come up and help them identify the body. I guess they’re not sure it’s him.”

“Oh my God.” Annabeth stared at her with wide eyes. “I’m assuming they found his driver’s license online, if they knew to call you. How are you supposed to ID him if they can’t tell it’s him from his license?”

“The detective wants me to look at the personal effects. He said there was a car key in his pocket that goes to a car they found months ago, abandoned. The vehicle was full of stuff. Like he’d been living in it. He also asked me to submit a DNA sample from the girls.” She dropped her head into her hands. “Oh, God, Annabeth. I don’t want to do this.”

Annabeth got up, moving around to sit next to her. She laid a hand on Margot’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Margot. What do you need from me? I can go with you. Or Dean can. We both could, if you want.”

“Um…” Margot threaded her hands together and stared at them. Her mind swirled with a million thoughts, but onethought screamed louder than the others. She didn’t want to take the girls with her. “Actually, could you and Dean watch the girls while I’m gone? Traveling with them is a nightmare, and they don’t need to be exposed to the situation.”

“Of course we can watch them. But you’re not going up there by yourself, are you?”

Margot shrugged. She hadn’t had time to figure out what she was doing.

“Take someone with you. Max would go, I’m sure.”

A pair of lovely, silvery blue eyes popped into her mind. She knew Annabeth was right; he’d help her in a heartbeat. But he already did so much for her and the girls, she didn’t want to impose more. That was the very reason she had the girls with her today after her sitter called and said she was sick. She’d become too reliant on Max and wanted to break the cycle. He wasn’t her husband or her significant other. It wasn’t his job to rescue her all the time. She was grateful he was her friend, but she didn’t want him to think she only hung around for what he could do for her. She liked him for so many more reasons than that.

“Don’t.” Annabeth aimed a finger at Margot’s face.

Margot frowned. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t take the choice away from him. I know you think you’re imposing, but Max would do anything for you. Let him help. You shouldn’t do this alone. No one should.”

A bang and a screech from next door propelled Margot to her feet. “I’ll think about it.” And she would, but she’d never ask him to go. It was one thing to ask him to babysit or to come fix something at her house. Flying to North Dakota on short notice to confirm her ex-husband was dead was on a whole other level.

“Let me know when you need us,” Annabeth called.

Margot gave her a thumbs up as she hurried out of the office. After she rescued her daughters from each other, she had a lot to think about.

Two

The deep-throated purr of Max’s car engine cut abruptly as he shut the vehicle off in Margot’s driveway, Annabeth’s cryptic message still fresh in his mind.

Margot could use a distraction.

Like, what the hell did that mean? Were the girls extra ornery today? Had something happened? When he replied to ask why, she ghosted him.

So, here he was with a carton of Margot’s favorite pineapple passionfruit gelato, hoping she wouldn’t be pissed that he’d shown up unannounced when she’d had a rough day.

Pebbled gravel crunched under his flip-flops as he walked up the short path to her front door. The little pale-yellow bungalow with its pink front door could fit inside his living room, but Margot insisted it was fine for her and the twins. He and the others had tried to convince her the other house she looked at closer to his would be a better fit and give her and the girls more room, but she wouldn’t be swayed. The neighborhood was nice, and she could literally step out her back door and yell for Annabeth, which, Max was sure, had been the deciding factor. He couldn’t blame her for wanting to be near her friend. She’d moved thousands of miles from home to a foreign country aftera major life change. It was probably comforting to have her best friend close by.

Through the wooden front door, he could hear Emily screeching. One side of his mouth lifted. That girl was hardly ever quiet. Usually only when she was asleep.

Raising a fist, he knocked on the door.

Thirty seconds passed with no answer, so he tried again. “Margot?”

When another thirty seconds went past and she still hadn’t answered, he tried the door. It was unlocked.

Pushing the colorful door inward, he stepped inside. “Margot? It’s Max.” The small living room he walked into was empty, though it looked like a tornado tore through it. From the short hallway to the left, he heard splashing and Emily’s shriek of joy. A moment later, Lily joined in. Now he understood why she hadn’t answered. It was bath time.

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