Page 46 of The Wedding Driver
Marge stood, strolling across the room. She set her notebook down and leaned against her desk. “I don’t normally make this kind of judgment, especially about this kind of thing, but yeah. I do. Here’s the thing. If you decide to give things another try, you should tell Tonya why you pulled back, what you’re afraid of, and why you’re willing to give it a second go.”
“That’s a lot to think about.”
“Schedule an appointment on your way out, okay?”
He didn’t want to, which meant he knew he needed to.
The next seven days were going to be hell.
* * *
“Hey, old man. How’s that arm?” Foster settled into the Adirondack chair in front of Maxwell’s house. When Maxwell had called, Foster contemplated telling him he couldn’t stop by, but there was no way he could do that to Tonya’s grandfather. Whatever Maxwell wanted or needed, Foster would be there for the guy.
Although, after his session with Marge, he wasn’t sure he could handle running into Tonya.
“If it weren’t in this cast, I’d hit you right between the eyes.” Maxwell arched a brow. “You made my favorite grandchild cry.”
Shit. Not a great way to start a conversation. “I’d know better if I deserved that if I knew what Tonya told you.”
“Nothing. She broke out in tears when I asked how you were, and then she refused to talk about it, so now I’m asking you.”
“Is this why you asked me to come over and not to fix the bathroom fan?” Foster had wondered about that, but a few times Maxwell had asked him to be his handyman because he didn’t want to burden his family. But Maxwell also generally wanted to discuss something with Foster that he didn’t want his family to know. In the past, Foster was more than happy to lend an ear or drive him to a doctor’s appointment without anyone knowing, but lately, it felt like a betrayal to Tonya. Especially now that Maxwell had been keeping the reasons for the visits from Foster.
“That’s one of the reasons,” Maxwell admitted. “I want to know what happened, and I’m begging you to be honest with me.”
“No offense, old man, but isn’t that between Tonya and me?”
“Of course it is, but I’m a nosy fool and I thought the two of you had finally figured out how good you are together.”
Foster chuckled. “Does everyone around here believe we’re a match?”
“Pretty much.”
That shouldn’t have come as a surprise. He glanced toward the sky. Maxwell had always proven to be a good listener and a safe space, only Foster had never discussed deep feelings about Tonya before. However, he had too much respect for the man to disregard his wishes. But that meant he had to discuss private matters and Tonya might not appreciate it. “Why else did you ask me over here?”
“I have another doctor appointment I need a ride to along with a personal meeting.”
Foster shifted his chair, lifting his sunglasses to the top of his head. “I’ll make a deal with you. If you tell me what’s going on with your health, I’ll tell you what happened between me and Tonya.”
“That’s emotional blackmail.”
“Take it or leave it, old man.”
“Fine,” Maxwell scoffed. “You first.”
“Nope. I know how you operate.” Foster stretched out his arm. “But you have my word.”
“Fair enough.” Maxwell slumped in his chair. His eyes welled with tears. “I have cancer. It’s terminal and I’m not going to fight.”
“Jesus,” Foster muttered. “Who knows about this?”
“Me. My doctors. And now you. And you’re not going to tell anyone. They will want me to be poked and prodded and do whatever it takes. But I’m too old for that. I’ve lived a good life and I just want to go out on my terms.”
Foster could respect that, but he didn’t understand not sharing this news with the family. Especially one as loving as the Johnsons. “I won’t say anything, but if confronted, I won’t lie.”
“That’s reasonable and I know eventually I’ll have to break the news, but not yet. I have another appointment that I need you to take me to.”
“When?”
