Page 49 of The Charming Checklist
“Thank you, Max. You’re so understanding.” Mom smiled. “I would expect nothing less. Ava, why don’t we go back to your place and I can unpack?”
“Unpack?”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Just a few things. I left them with the kind lady next door.”
“Susannah,”Ava reminded her, irritation spreading like a rash. “And we should go. I hate for Susannah to store your luggage like a concierge.”
Max stood and offered his hand to Ava’s mother. “So good to see you again, Dr. Long.”
“I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.”
Max walked them both outside into the bright morning. The smell of cotton candy and kettle corn were already thick in the air. And there, parked in a red no-parking zone, was what could only be her mother’s BMW sedan rental.
Max didn’t give Ava more than a peck on the lips, obviously censoring for her mother.
“I’ll call you,” Ava said as she climbed into the passenger seat and strapped in.
“What a wonderful man,” Mom said as she drove out of the boardwalk. “You’re very lucky.”
“You don’t have to pretend anymore,” Ava said. “We’re alone. Obviously, you don’t like him. You criticized his restaurant.”
“I absolutely did not.”
“Please, Mom.Rustic?That’s another word fordump.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You know that’s not what I meant. Max and I are on the same wavelength. I’m sure we both want the same things for you. Success. Happiness. Achievement.”
A few minutes later they arrived, and her mother pulled into the carport since Ava’s car was not here. She’d forgotten about that. It was still at the lighthouse. Probably for the best, since Mom would expect the BMW.
Mom shut off the ignition and turned to Ava. “Where’s your car?”
“Oh, um, in the shop?”
“In the shop? Ihopeyou mean the dealership. Your father will have a fit.”
“It’s... I’m... There’s nothing wrong. Just an oil change.”
Mom closed the driver’s-side door. “I’d certainly like to see you moving out of this older neighborhood. Does Max have a larger home? Room to grow?”
“It’s not like we’re getting married! We just started dating.”
“Three months ago. A few more months and you could be engaged, honey.”
Ava gulped. That’s right, she was supposed to have been dating Max for longer than one night. Oh boy. “I don’t want to rush into anything.”
“Well,he’sthirty-four. I looked him up. And I’m guessing he’ll be wanting to settle down soon and start a family.”
Ava thought of The List. She wondered if Max had decided to let the whole idea of marriage go. When he told her to throw away the list, did he mean he’d stopped looking for a wife? Or had he simply meant he was more open to possibilities not dictated so stringently? Because she hadn’t asked for details. Far too busy jumping his bones. Come to think of it, they should probably talk about that...at some point.
Ava crossed the shared lawn, Mom following, and knocked on Susannah’s door. She opened it, holding Doodle. He did his best job at a ferocious and protective bark. Ava loved the way he tried. So sweet.
“Stop it, Doodle. These are our friends. Missed you this morning, Ava,” Susannah said. “I bought a new Danish from the bakery. It’s pineapple, your favorite.”
“I’m sorry, Susannah. I had something to do.” She cleared her throat. “A morning meeting.”
“Isn’t that the same dress...” Susannah’s gaze swept up and down Ava and then as understanding dawned, her eyes widened. “Oh, um, well, here’s the luggage.”
She moved aside and pointed to no less than four matching designer suitcases in increasing sizes. Ava turned to her mother, jaw gaping, words failing her. It took two trips to get all of Mom’s luggage next door.
