Текст книги "It's Only Love"

Автор книги: Marie Force

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

CHAPTER 20

Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn

hope that if you just show up and try to

do the right thing, the dawn will come.

—Anne Lamott

Though she was sleep-deprived and eager to get to Burlington, Ella put in a couple of hours at the store, making sure everything was in place for the official day-after-Thanksgiving start to the holiday shopping season. She hadn’t missed a Black Friday in the store since she graduated from college. Only for Gavin would she consider missing this one.

Charley popped her head in Ella’s office just after nine thirty. “Heard anything more from Burlington?”

“Not yet. You?”

“Nothing. What time are you heading over there?”

“I’m shooting for noon.”

“Could I hitch a ride with you? My car needs oil, and I haven’t gotten around to getting it into Nolan’s.”

“Sure. Then we can go over all these notes I’ve made for you so you can cover for me next week.”

“You are going to owe me so big for that it’s not even funny.”

“So you’ve said, at least a dozen times now.”

“Just making sure you heard me,” Charley said with a grin. “When are you telling him about the trip?”

“Tomorrow night.”

“That doesn’t give him much time to get his shit together.”

“It also doesn’t give him much time to come up with a thousand reasons why he shouldn’t go.” She’d given careful thought to the timing and decided the less time he had to think about it, the better off he’d be. Or so she hoped.

“You really think he’ll do that?”

“I’m not sure what to expect, to be honest. He’s got some sort of issue where the Sultans are concerned. I’m not sure if it’s a big issue or a small one. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow night.”

“What’ll you do—and I’m just playing devil’s advocate here, so don’t shoot me—if he says he won’t go?”

“I don’t know. I’m trying not to think about that possibility.”

“For the record, I think he’d be crazy not to go after you went to so much trouble to arrange the trip and everything.”

“Thanks. I’m hoping for the best.”

“Me, too, Ella. It’s a really nice thing for you to do. I hope he sees that.”

“I hope so, too.”

“I’ll be ready to go at noon,” Charley said. “Maybe we can grab lunch at the diner before we leave?”

“I’d be up for that.”

“Okay, see you then.”

Alone in her office, Ella printed out a brochure for the resort, their plane tickets and some pictures of the romantic settings in Turks and Caicos. She couldn’t wait to see those sites with Gavin by her side, and the thought of it not happening . . . Well, she couldn’t entertain that possibility. She just couldn’t.

At noon, she and Charley crossed Elm Street to the newly renamed Green Mountain Diner, run by their future sister-in-law Megan. They ducked into a booth and Megan came over to them.

“Hi there,” she said with a friendly smile. “Do you guys need menus?”

“I don’t,” Charley said.

“Turkey club and a Diet Coke?” Megan asked.

“You got it.”

“Ella? You want your usual?”

Normally, she went for a salad, but she was absolutely famished today. “I’ll have the same as Charley.”

“Coming right up. Any news from Burlington?”

“Nothing,” Charley said. “I’m dying to know what’s going on. We’re heading over there from here.”

“Hunter should be there any time now. I’m so bummed that I can’t get away with the big Thanksgiving dinner here tomorrow.”

“What’s Hunter going to do about Thanksgiving?” Ella asked.

“He’s coming back tonight to give me a hand here,” Megan said, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly. “I told him he doesn’t have to, but he insisted.”

“He wants to be where you are,” Ella said with a smile for the woman who’d made her oldest brother so happy.

“That’s what he said, too. I’ll get your order in and grab your drinks.”

“Thanks, Megan,” Charley said. When they were alone, she added in a whisper, “I never expected to like her as much as I do.”

“She’s really great when you take the time to get to know her.”

“I can’t believe Hunter is getting married next month!”

“When it’s right, it’s right,” Ella said with a sigh.

“Why the sigh?”

“I guess I’m envious of him and Will and Hannah and Colton. They’ve got it all figured out, and I want that, too. I want to know that Gavin and I are together forever and nothing will ever come between us.” The thought of something coming between them filled her with fear, which was slightly irrational in light of what had transpired between them only that morning.

“Earth to Ella. Where’d you go off to?”

“I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

“If I tell you, you won’t tell anyone else, will you?”

“Jeez, I didn’t earn any points by keeping the big Gavin secret for as long as I did?”

“True.” Though she’d prefer not to tell anyone her private business, she was dying to tell someone, and Charley had proven herself trustworthy in recent months. “This morning, when we were . . . together . . . It was just . . . I don’t know how to describe it.”

“We’re talking about sex, right?”

Ella gave her a withering look.

“What? I’m just making sure we’re on the same wavelength. Are we?”

“Yes,” Ella said, exasperated.

“I bet it’s really good with him. He’s got the whole studly, brawny, sexy thing going on like Caleb did, too.”

“It is amazing with him, but this morning it was . . . I don’t have the words.”

Charley fanned her face. “Wow. I’ve never seen you speechless before.”

“I was after that. I was speechless. There’s like this connection between us that defies description.”

“You’re lucky. That’s hard to find.”

“You’re going to find it, Charley. I know you are.”

“I’m not holding my breath, and I’m perfectly happy just the way I am.”

Megan returned with their drinks. “Hunter called from the hospital. They’re saying it could be another couple of hours until your new niece or nephew arrives.”

“Oh, good for us but bad for Chloe,” Ella said. “I hope she’s doing okay.”

“I hope she’s not a dick to Max after the baby’s born,” Charley said bluntly.

“That, too,” Ella said.

“She’ll have the Abbott army to contend with if she is,” Megan said.

“Indeed she will,” Charley said. She perked up and waved someone over to their table, sliding in to make room for Elmer. “Hey, Gramps.”

“This is a nice surprise,” Elmer said. “Three of my favorite ladies all in one place.”

“Coffee?” Megan asked him with a warm smile that was full of affection. Elmer had that effect on people.

“Would love some, honey. Thank you.”

“Are you going to Burlington, Gramps?” Ella asked.

“I’m leaving shortly with Wade. He offered to give me a lift.”

“You can come with us if you’d rather get there alive,” Charley said.

“Your brother is a very good driver, and I already said I’d go with him, but thanks for the invite.”

“Ready to be a great-grandpa?” Ella asked.

“I can’t wait. Have you heard any more?”

They told him what Hunter had reported through Megan.

“This is so exciting,” Elmer said. “It’s been a while since we had a baby in the family.”

“It’s funny that Max was the last baby, and now he’s having one of his own,” Ella said. “I vividly remember the day he was born.”

“I do, too,” Charley said with a smile for her sister. They were eight and nine years older than Max. “And here he is beating us to parenthood.”

“He always was an overachiever,” Elmer said. “And he’s going to be a great dad to that little one.”

“Yes,” Ella said, “he is.” A fierce pang of yearning overtook her. She wanted to be a mom. For so long, when it seemed like it wasn’t going to happen with Gavin, she’d managed to contain the yearning. But now . . . Now the yearning was like a live wire burning inside her.

After a delightful lunch full of laughs with their grandfather, Ella and Charley set out for Burlington to meet their new niece or nephew. They arrived at the hospital shortly after three to hear that Chloe and Max were in the delivery room, and the baby was coming soon.

The waiting room was full of Abbotts, eager to meet their new family member.

“Where’s her family?” Charley asked Ella.

“I don’t know that she has much family. Does she?”

“No idea.”

Molly, who’d been pacing from one end of the small room to the other, dropped into the chair on the other side of Ella’s. “I hope he’s holding up all right in there.”

“I’m sure he’s doing great, Mom,” Ella said. “Charley was just wondering where Chloe’s family is.”

“I’ve had no success whatsoever in getting your brother to tell me what the deal is with her family. Apparently, they were less than thrilled to hear about the baby and haven’t had much to do with her since she got pregnant.”

“Can you imagine being that shitty to your own kid?” Charley asked. “It’s a baby, not a drug bust, for crying out loud.”

“That’s how Dad and I feel, too. Would we have chosen this for him at this point in his life? Probably not, but it’s his life, not ours. It wouldn’t occur to us not to support him.”

“That’s because you’re great parents,” Ella said.

“Don’t make me cry, sweetheart. I’m already a hot mess waiting to meet my grandbaby.”

Ella put her arm around her mother, who laid her head on Ella’s shoulder. “That’s going to be one lucky grandbaby.”

“You’re making me cry.”

Hannah and Nolan arrived a short time later, followed by Wade and Elmer. And with their arrival, the entire family was there when Max came bursting through the double doors an hour later wearing light blue scrubs, a cap on his head and a smile that stretched from ear to ear.

“It’s a boy,” he said with tears streaming down his face. “I have a son!”

Molly and Lincoln rushed to hug him while everyone else waited their turn to congratulate him.

“How’s Chloe?” Molly asked.

“She’s kind of out of it, but she did great. He’s a big boy. Almost nine pounds.”

Ella winced at that news. Ouch!

“What’s his name?” Colton asked.

“Caden,” Max said. “Caden Lincoln Abbott.”

“Oh hell,” Lincoln said, swiping at his tears. “Thank you, son.”

“Thank you. All of you. I can’t believe you’re all here.”

“Where else would we be?” Hannah asked, wrapping her arms around Max when he broke down again.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen now,” Max said between sobs. “It’s all so screwed up.”

“You’ll go back in there and be with your son,” Lincoln said, rubbing Max’s back. “Just be there and you’ll figure out the rest.”

“Dad’s right,” Molly said. “Your place right now, today, is with him. You’ll work things out with Chloe as you go.”

Max nodded and rubbed his eyes with the sleeve of the gown he’d worn in the delivery room. “I’ll bring him out as soon as I can.”

“We’ll be right here waiting to meet him.” Molly went up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “We’ll be right here for as long as you need us.”

“Okay.” He smiled weakly at the gathered group before returning to his son.

“Lord,” Molly said when he was gone. “The poor guy. He’s so excited and so terrified at the same time.”

“Like any new parent,” Lincoln said, his arm around his wife.

What her father said was true, Ella thought, but they all knew this situation wasn’t typical, and she had a bad feeling it could get a whole lot worse before it got better for Max.

*   *   *

His heart pumping with adrenaline and joy and a healthy dose of anxiety over what lay ahead, Max returned to Chloe’s room. As usual, he had no idea whether he’d be welcome there, but bolstered by the support of his family, he didn’t really care if she wanted him around. The baby was his son, too, and he planned to be there for him in every way possible.

He took a fortifying deep breath and pushed open the door, surprised to find Chloe asleep and Caden crying pitifully. Rushing to the bassinet next to Chloe’s bed, Max bent over his son, trying to decide what he should do. He’d taken the class offered by the hospital on his own when Chloe had refused to go with him, so he knew the baby wanted one of three things—food, a diaper change or someone to hold him.

Since he could help with two of those three things, he first checked the baby’s diaper and found it was dry, so he carefully picked him up, making sure he was tightly swaddled. Patting his little back, Max moved around the room with him, putting a bounce in his step as he went, which seemed to settle the little guy.

“Yeah,” he whispered, “that’s it. I’m your dad. I’ve got you.” The tsunami of emotions that came with seeing his son born were upon him once again as the tears flowed freely down his face. Watching him enter the world had been the most amazing moment of his entire life, and Max would never forget it.

Chloe let out a groan before her eyes opened. Her blond hair was matted, and her face was still bright red from the strain of pushing out the baby. She’d spent most of the hours in labor begging for something more for the pain. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing. He’s fine. Are you okay?”

“I’m great,” she said sarcastically. “I’ve got a hundred stitches between my legs, but other than that . . .”

“You want me to get the nurse?”

“They said no more pain meds for an hour. I just want to sleep.”

“I’m going to take him to see my parents, if that’s okay.”

“I don’t care.”

There was so much Max could say to that, but today wasn’t the day. Today was Caden’s day, and it would be for the rest of his life. Max held the baby close to his chest as he left the room and walked to the waiting area, eager to show off his son to his family.

When Max stepped through the double doors with the baby in his arms, his entire family rushed them.

“Oh my God, he’s so cute!”

“And so tiny!”

“That face, look at that little face!”

“He looks like you, Max.”

“Can we hold him?”

Reluctant to be parted with him for even a minute, Max eased the baby into his mother’s arms.

“Well hello there, little man,” she whispered through her tears. “Oh, Max, he’s beautiful.”

His dad stood behind his mom, looking down at his new grandson with tears in his eyes, too. “You done good, son. He’s a fine-looking boy.”

Ella put her arms around him.

Max leaned into his sister’s embrace, grateful for the unwavering support of his family.

“How ya holding up?” Ella asked.

“I’m great. Best day of my life.”

“How’s Chloe?”

“In pain and grumpy, but I suppose I would be, too, if I were her.”

“Where’s her family?” Ella asked softly.

“Not here. Not coming.”

“That’s just so wrong.”

“I know. I agree. I feel bad for her. It’s just another thing she blames me for.”

“Max . . .”

He made an effort to shake off his worries about Chloe. “Not today. Today is Caden’s day.”

“Yes, it is. Congratulations again, Max.”

“Thanks.”

CHAPTER 21

Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.

—George Iles

With most of the family staying in Burlington through Thanksgiving, Ella and Charley left after seeing the baby to stake out a room at the lake house.

“Max seems good,” Charley said after they’d put their stuff in the room they usually shared.

“I hate that he’s so worried about what’s going to happen with Chloe now that the baby is here.”

“I wish she didn’t have to act like he got her pregnant all on his own. I mean look at him . . . She was probably a more than willing participant.”

“I’m sure she was. No one ever thinks it’s going to happen to them.”

“I just hope it doesn’t get ugly.”

“I hope so, too.” Ella put her long hair up in a ponytail. “Mom said she brought everything she’d bought for Thanksgiving. Want to make the pies with me?”

“Sure.”

They were rolling out piecrust when the others began to arrive. Will built up the fire in the huge stone fireplace while Colton carried in more wood. Lucy and Cameron joined Ella and Charley in the kitchen while Nolan insisted Hannah take a nap.

“Only if you come with me,” she said to her husband, who followed behind her with a dopey smile on his face.

“I want a nap,” Charley said.

“Keep rolling,” Ella retorted.

By the time their parents got to the house a couple of hours later, they had four pies cooling on the counter, twenty pounds of potatoes had been peeled by Will and Colton, who’d protested the entire time, stuffing had been made and the turkey prepared for baking.

“Oh my goodness, girls,” Molly said. “You did everything!”

“Will and I peeled the potatoes,” Colton said. “Don’t let them tell you otherwise.”

“Thank you, Colton.”

“And Will,” Will called from the living room, where he had found a football game to watch on TV.

“And Will.”

“How’s the baby?” Charley asked.

“He’s beautiful,” Molly said. “I got to give him a bottle before I left.”

“She’s not breastfeeding?” Hannah asked.

“She said the baby wasn’t interested in breastfeeding, so the nurses set him up with a bottle.”

“How hard did she try?” Hannah asked.

“I wasn’t in the room, so I don’t know. She’s been crying a lot. I think she’s in a lot of pain.”

“Poor thing,” Hannah said. “She’s so young.”

“And all alone,” Molly said. “How any mother can stay away when her child is in labor is beyond me.”

“And me,” Hannah said. “I want my mommy right there with me when my time comes.”

Molly patted her daughter’s shoulder. “And she’ll be there.”

They made deli sandwiches for dinner, popped corn in the fireplace and even found the makings for s’mores left over from when Colton and Lucy had been there last summer. It was a great night with most of the family there.

“Who wants to go out drinking?” Landon asked around ten.

“Ohhh, college girls,” Lucas said, scrambling to his feet. “Count me in.”

“I’ll go, too,” Wade said.

“Take a cab, boys,” Molly said.

“Yes, Mother,” they said in unison.

“Feels like old times,” Molly said, leaning her head against Lincoln’s shoulder. They were sharing a sofa with Elmer while the others were scattered about the room, some on the floor. Cameron was using Will’s belly as a pillow.

Ella leaned over to quietly ask if she could borrow Cam’s phone.

“Sure.” She wiggled it out of her back pocket.

“Hey,” Will said. “Watch the merchandise, woman.”

Cameron giggled at him. “Sorry, I’ve got plans for your merchandise later. We can’t have it getting injured.”

“Ewww,” Landon said. “Mom, tell them that’s not allowed.”

“I’ll do no such thing. They’re married and can do whatever they want.”

“So can we,” Colton said to Lucy, “’cuz we’re engaged.”

“No comment,” Molly replied, making the others laugh.

“Too bad Hunter and Megan can’t be here,” Elmer said.

“They’re off running your diner and making Thanksgiving for the masses,” Molly reminded her father.

“And they’re doing a fine job of it.”

With Cameron’s phone in hand, Ella slipped out of the room undetected, or so she hoped. She couldn’t wait another minute to talk to Gavin. It felt like a year rather than hours since she’d last seen him.

He answered on the first ring. “There you are.”

“Hi there,” she said, filled with relief at the sound of his voice.

“Well, what’s the good word? Boy or girl?”

“A boy named Caden Lincoln Abbott. Eight pounds, twelve ounces, twenty-one inches long.”

“Oh wow, that’s great, Ella. How’s Max doing?”

“He’s elated and emotional and thrilled. The baby is so cute.”

“How about his girlfriend?”

“Sore and grumpy from all accounts, but I suppose that’s to be expected.”

“You wouldn’t be. Grumpy, I mean.”

“How do you know that? I’ve never pushed a nine-pound baby out of my body. I might be a raging bitch afterward for all we know.”

“You wouldn’t be. I know you wouldn’t. You’d be all glowy and sparkly and happy. Am I allowed to say that?”

“Yeah,” she said gruffly, overwhelmed by the picture he painted. “You’re allowed.”

“I want to see that someday. I want to see you holding our baby after giving birth.”

“Gavin . . .”

“Too much?”

“No.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, you just make me want things when you talk like that.”

“I want the same things.”

“I’m fanning myself right now. It’s getting warm in here.” His low chuckle made her smile. “How was your day?” she asked, steering the conversation into safer terrain.

“It was actually not bad. We finally got the repairs completed up north in time for everyone to come home for the holiday weekend. We’ll get them back up there Monday to hit it hard. We’ve got some lost time to make up for.”

Ella swallowed hard, hoping he wasn’t about to say that he needed to be up there with his men next week. She couldn’t wait to tell him about the trip so she could stop worrying about all the many ways it could go wrong. “I’m glad you got it fixed.”

“Me, too. Huge relief.”

“Now you can relax and enjoy the holiday.”

“Yeah.” That one word was so tinged with sadness that Ella heard it through the phone.

“You can try to enjoy it? Lots to be thankful for this year.”

“You’re right about that. The holidays are tough . . . It’s hard to pretend everything is okay when someone is missing.”

“I know. Do you want me to come home early? I could have dinner with you and your parents. That would be fine with me.”

“You need to be with your family. You don’t have to do that.”

“What time are you eating?”

“My mom said around four or so. How about you?”

“Two. I’ll head home right after dinner. I’ll meet you at your mom’s.”

“Are you sure?”

“Gavin,” she said, laughing, “don’t you know by now that I’m very, very sure?”

“Yeah, baby, I know, and that makes me feel so lucky. I wish you were here right now.”

Ella settled into bed, under the covers where it was warm and cozy. “What would we be doing if I were there?” She tucked the phone between her ear and the pillow.

“More of what we did this morning and last night.”

“This morning was amazing. I thought about it all day.”

“So did I.”

“It was different, wasn’t it? Than the other times?”

“It was incredible,” he said in that gruff, sexy voice she loved so much. “It always is, but that was something extra special.”

“We need to stop talking about what we can’t have.”

“I vote for talking more about it.”

Charley knocked on the door and came in. “Is it safe in here? You’re not having phone sex, are you?”

“No, Charley, I’m not having phone sex.”

“Yet,” Gavin said, laughing.

Charley grabbed a sweatshirt out of her bag and scurried toward the door. “I’m outta here.”

“She’s gone,” Ella said.

“Now about that phone sex . . .”

“Stop.”

“I don’t want to. I want to talk about how soft you are, how responsive. Your sweet nipples—”

“Gavin! Stop! I can’t have phone sex with you on Cameron’s phone.”

“It’s not like she’ll know.”

“I’ll know.”

“Such a good girl.”

“That’s right, and don’t forget it.”

“You’re not always a good girl. Sometimes you’re very, very bad.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, and that prim, prissy tone . . . Do you have any idea how hard that makes me?”

“I have to go.”

“You do not.”

“I’m having a sleepover with most of my family. You’re like the devil at the pajama party.”

“You love me.”

“Yes, I do.”

“I’m going to hate sleeping without you tonight.”

“Me, too. I’m addicted. But we can get through one night, right?”

“As long as it’s only one.”

“What’re you doing tonight?”

“Sitting around watching football and wishing you were here.”

“So you’re staying in?”

“Yes, Ella, I’m staying in and behaving myself while you’re out of town.”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

“It hasn’t even been two weeks since you picked me up at a bar, so it doesn’t offend me that you’d be worried about that.”

“Haven’t things changed since then?”

“Everything has changed since then.”

His assurances warmed her all the way through.

“Don’t worry, El. I’m on my best behavior. I have promises to keep. Important promises.”

“I love you, Gavin. And I love being able to tell you I love you.”

“I love you, too. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you then.” She waited for him to end the call. “You’re supposed to hang up now.”

“Not until you do.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Neither do I.”

Ella smiled widely. “Let’s hang up together. One, two, three . . .”

“You first.”

“I’m going now.”

“So am I.”

“Night, Gavin.”

“Night, Ella.”

Their phones clicked off at the same time, and Ella lay there for a long time afterward thinking about him, wishing she were with him and counting the minutes until she could see him again.

*   *   *

Everything about this Thanksgiving felt different to Ella from every other one that came before it. For one thing, it was the first one they’d spent in the lake house. For another, the family football game happened on the beach rather than in the field next to the barn. It was strange not to have Hunter and Max with them, which was also a first. It was the first Thanksgiving in which they’d taken turns going to the hospital to visit Max and Caden, who’d had a good first night.

It was the first Thanksgiving that Ella had somewhere else she’d rather be—or rather the first time she wished she could be in two places at once. It wasn’t unusual to see Lucas and Landon nursing hangovers, but it was unusual to see Wade in the same condition.

Ella plopped down next to him on a blanket on the beach. A chilly wind blew in off the lake, but the bright sunshine kept the day from being too cold to be outside. “You’re looking rough.”

“Gee, thanks,” Wade said with a wan smile. “Remind me not to try to keep up with those two buffoons.” He gestured to Landon, who was showing off his backflip skills. “If I did that right now, I’d puke all over the place.”

“Not like you to get loaded.”

“Maybe it’s more like me than you think.”

“Wade . . . That’s not going to make anything better.”

“Actually, for a short time last night, it did make things better. I was with the chick magnets and had just enough booze in my belly to forget about why I wanted to get drunk in the first place.”

“Did you meet someone?”

“Nah. Nothing like that. It was fun, though.”

“I’m glad you had fun.”

“Not so fun today, though. Can’t remember the last time I was this hungover.”

“Thanksgiving dinner will soak up the booze and make you all better.”

“I’m counting on that.”

They were sitting down to dinner an hour later when Max came in, seeming upset. “Am I too late for dinner?”

“Right on time.” Molly jumped up to get another place setting while the others made room for him at the table. “How’s the baby?”

“He’s great.”

“And Chloe?”

“Miserable as usual lately. Motherhood hasn’t changed that.” He loaded his plate with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole and the other sides. “I’ve got to be back in an hour. I don’t want to talk about her. But I’ve got lots of new pictures.” He passed his phone around so everyone could see the pictures.

“He’s a beauty,” Elmer said proudly.

Max put down his fork, bent his head and seemed to be trying to control his emotions.

“Max, honey,” Molly said. “What is it?”

“Chloe’s being impossible. She doesn’t want to take care of him, but she doesn’t want me doing it either.”

“What do you mean she doesn’t want to take care of him?” Hannah asked.

“She doesn’t show any interest. She says she’s in pain and she’s tired.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “But everything I do for him is wrong. I had to get out of there for a minute. Now I’m thinking I shouldn’t have left. What if she ignores him the whole time I’m gone? And how will I leave them to go to work not knowing if she’s going to take care of him or not?”

“Don’t worry about work,” Colton said. “Not now. That’s the last thing you need to think about.”

Charley, who was sitting next to Max, put her arm around him. “She’s probably freaking out, but she’ll get it together. What choice does she have?”

Max drew in a long deep breath, seeming to summon the fortitude he needed for the situation. “I should get back to the hospital. They’re letting her stay for one more night because she’s in such bad pain.”

“Do you want to take dinner back to her?” Molly asked. “I could have it ready in a minute.”

“Sure, thanks, Mom.”

“We’ll be here in Burlington for as long as you need us, son,” Lincoln said. “You’re not alone in this.”

“Thanks,” Max said, his jaw tight with emotion. “I appreciate you guys moving the holiday over here on my account. Sorry I can’t stay longer.” He looked over to Will and Hannah. “Hope you have fun on the trip and at the wedding.”

“We will,” Hannah said, “but we’ll be checking on you, too.”

Max nodded, then accepted the bag that Molly handed him and a hug from her. “It’s all going to work out fine. I promise.”

“I sure hope so.”

“We’ll be over to check on you in the morning, and I’ll borrow a phone to check in with you later.”

“Okay.”

After he left, the gathering was considerably more subdued.

“I hate that he’s so torn up when this should be the happiest time in his life,” Will said.

“You speak for all of us,” Colton said. “It sucks. What is it she wants from him anyway? He’s been right by her side through it all.”

“She probably doesn’t know what she wants,” Molly said. “In addition to the fact that she’s twenty-one, she’s full of hormones and her family has turned its back on her. I can’t imagine what she must be going through. What’s important is that Max is doing the right thing by her, even if she can’t see it at the moment.”

“Mom’s right,” Lincoln said. “As long as he’s doing all he can to support her and the baby, his conscience can be clear. And we’ll be here for at least a week to make sure they have everything they need.”

Ella helped clear the table and pack up the leftovers before she went into her room to grab her stuff. To Charley, she said, “I’m going to head back to Butler now. Do you want to come or hang here for a while?”

“I’ll go back later with Will and Cam. Good luck with everything tonight. I hope the surprise is a huge hit and that you have a great trip.”

Ella hugged her sister. “Thanks for the support and for covering for me at work.” After saying her good-byes to everyone else, Ella headed off to Butler, pressing a little harder than usual on the accelerator because she was so eager to be with Gavin.