Page 47 of Besties
“You’re going to be shocked,” Mom said.
He grinned at us as we walked in the room. “Finally?”
She smirked. “Finally.” She let go of our hands and took a seat next to his bed. “Just like these two, you and I need to talk.”
He reached out and patted her on the arm. “I was wrong, and I am so very sorry for it. I should have talked to you when I started having pains. I also shouldn’t have put off going to the doctor.”
She scowled at Walter. “If you’re going to agree with me, how am I supposed to yell at you?” Then her expression softened, and she leaned in close, and gave him a kiss on the lips.
Instead of letting her move away, he wrapped his hand around her neck and brought their faces together again. “What can I say?” he whispered. “This scared me enough that I’m even willing to listen to you.”
She was quiet for a moment, then drew in a shaky breath and spoke. “I was so afraid.” She probably didn’t mean for us to hear it, but I caught what she said. “I love you so much, you know?”
He gave her a squeeze. “Hey, the doctor said I’m going to be taking a lot of pills. My blood pressure is higher than it should be, my gallbladder isn’t functioning the way it ought to, and I need to lose some weight. But he’s optimistic I’ll be fine and live to a ripe old age with the woman I love more than life itself.”
This time it was her cheeks that went scarlet, but I wouldn’t tease, because tears slid from her eyes as she buried her face in his neck. She’d been through too much in her life to even make fun of her happiness.
Richie nudged me. “We should get to the hotel. We can check in, then come back and take your mom and Walter home.”
She stood and her head swiveled in our direction. “You don’t have to stay. I’m sorry I dragged you out here for nothing.”
“It definitely wasn’t for nothing, and as for not staying? I think we do. At least until we’re sure you’re together where you should be.”
“I’ve already called work and told them I’ll be out a few days,” Walter murmured. “Maybe we should let them stay. Someone needs to clean out the garage, paint the living room, move the furniture in the dining room and—”
Richie beamed a smile. “We’ll be happy to.”
I blinked up at him. “Wewill?”
He turned and grinned at me, obviously fully aware I was kidding. Mom was always telling me how much she wanted me to be happy, and now? I totally was.
Chapter12
Allyssa frownedas we strolled into the office the following Monday morning. It had been a great week, reconnecting with Mom and getting to know Walter better. I wished I had done it before. Walter was funny, witty, and head over heels for Mom. I made her a promise we’d be seeing each other again soon. She hugged me, and I was surprised when Walter came up from behind us, wrapping us both in his arms. Funny how my stepfather was more of a dad to me than my own had been. It was a family moment I’d waited years to have, and I was walking on clouds all weekend.
Unfortunately, that ended the moment Allyssa came rushing over to us, a stack of papers in her hand.
“We lost two more customers, and I’ve got three others who aren’t taking my calls.”
Richie grimaced as Allyssa went through the messages she’d lined up while we were gone.
“How?”
“I’m not sure. I tried to talk with them, but they cut me off and disconnected.”
Richie’s expression said it all. He was hurt and angry, and I couldn’t blame him. Maybe if he’d been here instead of being with me, he could have headed this off.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
Allyssa sighed. “You haven’t had time off in years. They hung up on me, so I can’t imagine it would have helped for you to jump on the phone.”
I put a hand on his arm. “She’s right. Giving them a few days to cool down may make them easier to talk to.”
“Max?” He looked to me with such hope in his eyes.
“I’ll reach out to them.”
Allyssa smiled. “I thought you might. The contact information is already in your mail. I’m going to warn you about Ms. Kennedy at the Abernathy school. She was pretty hostile with me when she called to cancel the account.”
