Page 48 of The Charming Checklist
“Susannah.”
“Yes, that’s right, she said she’d missed you today for your regular Saturday-morning coffee ritual. She suggested you might be here, and...here you are.”
“Here I am.”
“Aren’t you two adorable sitting on the same side of the bench? I remember those days with your father. Max, we were both in medical school, and saving every penny. We ordered one plate and shared it. I lost twenty pounds that year. Oh, my,” she said to Ava. “Aren’t you a little overdressed for breakfast?”
She should talk, with her Prada bag, designer pantsuit, and wipes.
“What are youdoinghere?”
“After we got back to Dallas, I cleared my schedule. I want to see what your fascination is with this small town. Other than the boardwalk, that is, which seems to be the main attraction.” She curled her upper lip.
“Where are you staying? The Lookout?” With only one hotel in Charming, this was no mystery. “Or will you stay in Galveston?”
“I’m staying with you, of course.”
All the air seemed sucked out of the room. This was a wholly unexpected turn of events. Mom had never spent more than an evening in Charming, wanting to get out before all the humidity claimed her hair.
“B-but... Mom, I’ve got such a small place. Two bedrooms, and one of them is so small I use it as a closet.”
“I don’t mind.”
Joanie came by with their plates, giving Mom a not-too-appreciative look when she caught her wiping the table. “Here we go. Skillet platter, pancakes. Let me know if you’d like anything else.”
“Good Lord, Ava. Isthatwhat you’re having for breakfast? What about some oatmeal, a little fruit?”
“We don’t serve oatmeal,” Max said carefully.
Mom gave him her cocktail party laugh. “Oh, ha, ha, ha. That’s all right. Don’t worry about me, I’ve already eaten.”
Ava wasn’t sure she’d be able to enjoy her meal with her mother the doctor frowning at her addition of the dreaded butter to her pancakes. But she did it anyway, because hers was a practiced tradition of spitting in the face of her physician parents’ neuroses. A little bit of butter here and there never hurt anyone.
They ate silently for a few minutes as Mom chatted on and on about her flight from Dallas. Max chewed quietly beside Ava, a huge and unmovable boulder blocking her from the force of Dr. Katherine Long. Ava had always relied on the miles of separation between her parents to ease her guilt.
“This is your place, Max?”
“That’s right. Mine and my partner’s.”
“It’s lovely and...rustic.”
“You mean quaint,” Ava interrupted. “It’snotrustic. It happens to be a sought-after establishment highly in demand.”
“I’ve often wondered how these places survive the hurricane season.”
Max paused, taking a sip of his coffee. “With plenty of preparation. And the seawall is invaluable.”
“I’m sure you thought of all that before you invested your life savings into this place,” Mom said, looking around, judging it all. Finding it wanting.
“A great deal. And I didn’t invest my life savings. I believe in diversification.”
Ava’s appetite had evaporated, and she picked at her pancakes. Her stomach took a nosedive after being reminded of what a snob her mother could be. And now Max had seen her up close and personal. He was holding his own with Dr. Long, but what could he possibly be thinking? Max was far too cool and collected to ever lose his temper. She’d never seen it happen and Cole told her Max had only lost his temper once.
“Max and I...we had plans for today.”
“We can reschedule,” Max said, squeezing her hand.
Apparently, he had not received her silent 911 message.Man down! Save me! Drowning here.
