Page 81 of Max's Mission

Thirty-Six

“Mommy, can we surfs?”

Margot looked up from the clinic build notes she was pouring over. It was so close to completion, but there were a million small details left. If all went to plan in the next few weeks or so, they’d open in early February.

Emily stood in front of her, dressed in her swimsuit. The top was on backward, but she didn’t seem to care.

“Please, Mommy?”

Sighing, Margot set the papers down on the coffee table. “Em…” She wanted to say yes. It had been three days since they’d holed up at Max’s. The first day hadn’t been terribly difficult to keep the kids occupied. There was enough newness to it and enough people around to distract them. But yesterday, Em, especially, had wanted to leave the estate and go to the beach. Dean had created a monster.

“Please?” She put her little hands together and gave Margot puppy-dog eyes. “I need to pwactice.”

A smile toyed with Margot’s lips. She arched an eyebrow at her precocious daughter. “You do?”

Solemnly, she nodded. “So I can be a world champon.”

“Oh, I see.” She took Em’s hands. “Remember how we talked about all the other people who are hanging around right now? How they’re here to keep us safe?”

She nodded.

“I need to check with them and with Max to see if that’s something we can do right now, all right?”

Expression falling, Em looked at the floor. “I wanna surfs,” she muttered.

“And we will. It just might not be today.”Or tomorrow, she silently added.

With a huff, Emily pulled away and stomped off. Margot picked up her phone to text Max.

She typed out a quick missive.

Where are you?

He and several of the others were keeping an eye on the grounds. Marchand, one of his colleagues, Sam, and Audra, had taken Tad into town—like the last couple of days—and were following him around inconspicuously while Tad pretended to keep an eye on Max’s estate. They’d put out the word to Tad’s contacts that he was looking for Berry and wanted to settle things, but so far, Berry hadn’t shown his face. The hope was now that Berry would see Tad and make contact with him.

Dots appeared on her phone screen, then,Walking the perimeter with Ford. What’s up?

Em wants to surf, she wrote back.I’m not sure how long we can hold her off.

He sent her an eye roll emoji, making her laugh. Dots appeared again.

Tell her we’ll do an all-day trip, complete with a speedboat ride, once it’s safe. And that she should put a boogie board on her Christmas list.

Margot’s heart swelled. Her kids were so lucky to have him in their lives.

I’m sure she already has, but I will, she responded.Be prepared to be pestered mercilessly.

He sent a grinning emoji, then,Eh, we’ll play in the pool. I’ll wear her out, and she’ll forget all about it… until tomorrow.

Smiling, Margot put her phone away and went in search of the girl.

When she walked into the back living room, Brooke looked up from her spot on the tile floor, where she played dolls with Lily.

“Hey.” Brooke smiled. “Did Em find you? She said she had a question.”

“She did. She wants to go surfing. I told her not today, but I messaged Max to tell him the natives were restless. He said to tell her he’d take her out for an all-day thing and a ride in the boat once it was safe.” She frowned and glanced around. “Did she not come back here?”

“No.”

---