Page 4 of Max Bannon

He laughed so hard he lost his breath. I patted him on the back, which I was doing when Max walked into the store. “Tessa, you will break his back if you keep pounding it like that. What’s going on?” Max asked.

He was laughing one minute, and the next, he was choking. I was helping him,” I said. Then I walked out and started walking to school. I had gotten two blocks when I realized I had forgotten my jeep and cleaning supplies.I don’t care; I’ll get them after school. There is no way I’m going back in there with Max still there.

By the time school was over at the high school, I didn’t know that teaching teenagers would be so hard. I didn’t feel like cleaning, so I picked up my vehicle at the store. I planned on going back to Max’s place. I wasn’t surprised to see my cleaning supplies and a note from Max in my jeep. You left your cleaners in the store, plus your keys, at the bottom of the bucket. I gave them to Junior to hold for you.”

When I got the keys, I didn’t want to see anyone. It was Friday, and I was off for two days. Maybe I could find a motel somewhere. I sat there for a while trying to decide what I wanted to do, when there was a knock on my window.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I was meditating,” I lied. Max didn’t look like he believed me.

“We are having a barbecue. I wanted to make sure you remembered.”

“I don’t think I even knew about it,” I said.

“Did you check the corkboard? I told you I always put everything on the corkboard.

“You must not have looked at it.”

“I’m not used to looking at a corkboard, so I’m going to have to skip it. I need to clean my cabin.”

“There isn’t even any furniture in the cabin.”

“I thought it was furnished.”

“It is, but all of it is in storage. I’ll go with you tomorrow and help you, and then the guys and I will take care of the furniture. Don’t you like staying at the B&B?”

“That’s your space, I don’t want to intrude anymore,” I explained.

“Is it because I leave you notes and pick up after you? Is that why you want to leave?”

“No. I mean, you are Mr. Clean. I need to get moved into my place so my Dad can visit me.”

“He can still visit you. Are you coming home?” The minute that came out of my mouth, I backed away. If you decide to come to the barbecue, I’ll save you a steak.”

“Thank you.” When he left, I called my Dad.

“How is my girl doing?”

“Daddy, I miss you.”

“I miss you, too, sweetheart. Now tell me what’s happened,” he said.

“Max wants me to go to a cookout at the B&B.

“Well, sweetie, you live there, so why don’t you join the fun?”

“It’s just that I wanted to be on my own, sometimes I feel different from others.”

Why would you feel like that? You are smarter than anyone I know. Has something happened? Did someone say something to you?”

“No, I guess I’m just homesick. I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you, sweetie. I’ll be there soon to visit you.”

“Okay, I guess I’ll go to the cookout. Bye, Daddy.”

“Goodbye, Tessa. Sweetheart, I’ll bring your brother and we’ll visit. Are you getting time off for Easter?”

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