Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Jane waited until everyone occupied a cushion and faced the groom-to-be with a smile.

“Welcome, Noah. Thank you for allowing me to participate in the celebration for your upcoming marriage.”

Max tensed, but Noah didn’t say a word.

“Deciding to spend this evening with the loving community of your friends in a state of mindfulness is incredibly affirming and will set the stage for the health and well-being of your marriage.”

Noah raised an eyebrow and slowly turned to glare at Max, who tried to look innocent.

“Let’s start by closing our eyes and focusing on our breathing. Just follow my lead.”

To Max’s astonishment all the guys immediately did what Jane suggested. He tried it, too, and started to relax for the first time since Phoebe had decided he wasn’t good enough to go to England with her.

Jane talked them through a few exercises and Max let himself fall into the calmness of her voice. The pine-scented air smelled good and behind his eyes the silence blossomed into a million fragments, making him aware of the slight breeze rustling the branches, the call of a bird, and the squirrels scrabbling for purchase on the rough, redwood bark. He pressed the pads of his fingers into the moss and pine needles scattered over the forest floor releasing the rich smell of earth.

It was good to be alive.

Especially after what the four of them had gone through in the military.

“You may open your eyes,” Jane said. “Please come forward and choose one of the singing bowls my assistant has placed in front of me. Noah, you should go first.”

Noah rose to his feet and came around the fire pit to where a variety of metal bowls sat on a bamboo mat.

“What are they made of?” Noah asked as he hunkered down to examine the bowls more closely.

“Seven different metals,” Jane said. “Lead, tin, iron, copper, mercury, silver, and gold. Pick the one that speaks to you.”

Max waited to see if Noah would have a million more questions, but he simply nodded, and spent a few minutes touching every bowl before settling on one of the larger ones.

Luke followed, then Fred, and finally Max.

He was surprised his hand was reaching toward one bowl before he’d even thought about it.

“That one really spoke to you.” Jane nodded. “That’s good.”

“Do you know why?” Max asked.

“I suspect that will be revealed when you use it.”

She waited until Olly chose his bowl and then she sat down cross-legged on her cushion.

“I’m going to show you how to use your singing bowl and then when you are ready, we can go around the circle, and you can all have a try.”

Noah raised his hand and inwardly Max sighed. It had all been going so well . . . “What’s the purpose of this exactly?”

Jane smiled at Noah. “That’s a valid question. You strike me as the kind of man who needs evidence to accept that something has value. Perhaps if you allow me to demonstrate you will understand the benefits in real time?”

“Go ahead,” Noah said. “I’ll report back.”

Jane held the bowl in one hand and the striker in the other and gently struck the rim of the bowl. A surprisingly loud and resonant sound echoed around the clearing and settled somewhere in Max’s chest. Before the peal had completely diminished, Jane swirled her striker around the rim of the bowl maintaining the pulsing resonance of the single note.

“I want you all to focus on the sound while breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Try not to think of anything else but the tone and let it calm your mind.”

Max was slightly unnerved by how easily he was falling under the bowl’s spell. It was almost magical. All he’d wanted was to find a way to calm Noah down before his wedding. He hadn’t expected to be affected as well. He took a sneak peek around the circle and found everyone looking similarly dazed, which made him feel better.

“Would any of you like to try with your own bowl?” Jane asked.

Everyone put up their hands.

“Excellent. Then let’s start with Noah.”

* * *

Bernie looked expectantly at Phoebe. “You can trust me. After all the help Max gave me and Luke, I owe him big time.”

“I don’t want to sound rude.” Phoebe sat on the bed and kicked off her sandals. “But I feel as though it would be disloyal to Max if I shared our current issues with anyone.”

“Max has the biggest mouth on the planet,” Bernie said. “If he hasn’t already told Luke what’s going on, I’d be amazed. Hold on.” She got out her phone. “Shall I ask Luke?”

“No!” Phoebe said hastily.

“Okay, bad move.” Bernie nodded and joined Phoebe on the bed, crossing her legs in front of her. “Let’s keep this between us. Now, what’s the problem? If you don’t mind me saying, you and Max look great together. I’ve never seen him so happy, but I can understand that where you choose to live might be an issue.”

Phoebe wasn’t sure if it was the wine or if Bernie had the most sympathetic and trustworthy face ever, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself from responding.

“Max hasn’t met any of my family, yet. They are demanding I bring him to my sister’s wedding because they don’t believe he exists.”

“Okay, wow.” Bernie’s eyebrows shot up “That’s way more complicated than I thought. I guess my question would be—why haven’t they met him already, and why are they kicking up a fuss about it now?”

“It doesn’t matter because I just told them I’m not bringing him.”

Bernie held up a finger. “I think you jumped a couple of steps there, Phoebe. Could you back up a little and explain?”

“I could,” Phoebe said. “But I’m not sure that I want to.”

Bernie looked at her and Phoebe’s resistance crumbled.

“The short version is that my family want me to parade Max like some kind of prize bull in front of them to see if they approve of him and I’m not willing to expose him to that.”

“I don’t think Max would mind. He always steps up to the plate when someone he cares about needs support.”

“I’m sure he does, but I don’t expect him to do it for me, and my family shouldn’t be expecting it at all. I had a terrible argument with my brother George about the whole mess.” Phoebe sighed. “But I think I hurt Max’s feelings when I said he shouldn’t come with me because he thinks it’s about him and it really isn’t.”

Bernie looked deep in thought.

“What is it?” Phoebe asked.

“I’m still trying to get my head around the idea that someone could hurt Max’s feelings.” Bernie shrugged. “He always strikes me as the kind of guy who sometimes does things without thinking.”

“He’s not shallow,” Phoebe jumped to Max’s defense. “He might joke around, but it doesn’t really mean anything by it.”

“Maybe he’s like that with you, Phoebe, but I’ve seen him be very sharp with Luke and Noah.”

“It’s okay, he keeps telling me he’s not a good person. And now I’ve given him the perfect excuse to believe that’s true because I’ve stopped him from coming to England.”

“Have you told him all this?”

“I haven’t had the chance. He’s behaving like nothing is wrong, and I don’t know how to bring the subject up.”

“Is it possible he’s okay with it?” Bernie asked.

“I’ve been wondering that myself.” Phoebe looked down at her linked fingers.

“You know what I’m going to say, don’t you?”

Phoebe rolled her eyes. “That the only way to find out is to talk to him.”

“Then that’s what you’re going to do.” Bernie reached out and placed her hand on top of Phoebe’s restless fingers. “Because you deserve to know, and, more importantly, I can’t wait to find out how it all goes.”

* * *

When he stood up, Noah had the slightly dazed look of a man who’d drunk too much beer and Max stepped over to him.

“You, okay?”

“I’m good.” Noah gave his head a little shake. “I feel . . . weird. Like all relaxed.”

“That was the idea.” Max turned him toward the interior of the tent. “Now, let’s eat.”

So far, the bachelor party had gone well. Noah hadn’t thrown a hissy fit, Luke seemed relaxed, and despite settling down, Fred hadn’t changed at all, which considering what he’d gotten up to in the Marines was hard to believe.

They filed past the two barbecues where they could fix their own plate full of beef, corn, chicken, and baked potatoes with all the trimmings. Noah piled his plate high and took his seat at the head of the table to the cheers of his friends.

Max produced a glitter-covered paper crown and passed it to Noah.

“Sky made it, so you’d better put it on.”

Noah’s thumb ran over the squiggles Sky had drawn on the cardboard and he smiled.

“It’s awesome. Make sure you get a picture for Jen.”

Max took several and then settled down to eat, Fred on one side and Olly opposite him. There was beer for those who wanted it, and soda and water for the drivers, and abstainers.

Fred was busy texting when Max came back from getting his second plate of food.

“I was just checking in with my beautiful wife, Moira,” Fred said. “Want to see a picture?”

He showed Max at least ten, including his two young children and then chuckled and shook his head.

“Sometimes I can’t believe how damn lucky I’ve been. I left the service thinking I’d never find anyone who understood what I’d been through unless they were as screwed up as I was.” He grimaced. “I dated a few who were me in female form and it never worked.”

Max winced. “I know how that goes.”

“And then I met Moira when I took my nephew to the library and suddenly everything changed.” He paused. “For the first time in my life, I wanted to be the man she thought I was.”

Max nodded. He totally understood that desire.

“So, I set about convincing her that I was right for her. It took a while, but eventually I wore her down.” He grinned. “She’s just amazing.”

“She must be if she tamed you,” Max agreed.

“You might say the same about your lady,” Fred said. “Because when you told me you’d been married for four years I was surprised.”

Two seconds later, Max found himself whipping out his phone and showing Fred a couple of pictures of Phoebe.

“No kids yet?”

“Nah, not ready for that. We’re still deciding where we’re going to live. Phoebe’s British.”

“I can’t see you fitting in too well in the UK, Max. You’re too loud.”

Max shrugged. “I guess I’ll leave that up to Phoebe to decide. I just want her to be happy.”

Fred raised his beer bottle. “Happy wife, happy life.”

Max clinked his bottle against Fred’s. “Amen to that.”

Jane came to stand beside Noah.

“There’s still plenty of food and dessert if you’re hungry. Coffee and tea will be provided, and you can help yourselves.” She smiled at Max who winked back at her. “And when you’ve finished that, three different experiences await you. We have a tarot card reader if you wish to explore your future, a reflexologist for your feet, and a henna tattoo artist.”

Once Jane finished speaking and Noah went to get more food, Luke looked over at Max.

“You did good, bro.”

“Like you doubted me?”

“All the way.” Luke grinned at him. “Can we do the same thing for my bachelor party?”

“You’ll have to ask Olly. It was his idea.”

Olly looked up from his ice-cream sundae. “You and Bernie are getting married?”

“If she’ll have me,” Luke said.

“Congratulations, and if you want your party here, I’m sure we could arrange that.” Olly grinned. “I really like the way it’s turned out.” He looked over at Max. “Thanks for all the input. You made my vision a reality.”

Max shrugged. “I just thought of all the things Noah would run a mile from and picked them.”

“Ha!” Luke pointed his finger at Max. “You’re a genius.”

“I know. I’m totally surprised he’s still here.”

“You drove him here.”

“True, but if he’d really hated it, he would’ve jumped me, taken the truck keys, and left us behind in the dust.”

“Yeah.” Luke nodded. “Are you going to try the tarot cards?”

“Maybe later.”

Luke looked over toward the seating area where a woman was laying out her cards. “I’m going to get in there before Noah comes back.” He stood up and walked past Max. “You should go next. If anyone needs to find out what the future holds, it has to be you.”

Even though Max smiled, he wasn’t sure he agreed because he couldn’t see a way forward, and the last thing he needed was for someone to confirm that he was right. But one thing was clear, Phoebe would be leaving after the wedding to go to England without him, and whether she came back, was still up in the air.

He had to stop dancing around the subject and have an adult conversation with her about it. All the progress he’d made in being a better person meant nothing if he couldn’t face up to the most important conversation of his life so far.

Fred went off to see the reflexologist. When Noah returned, he took the vacated chair next to Max and set his plate down with a decisive thump. He still wore the crown Sky had made and had glitter in his beard, which Max wasn’t going to mention. He looked way more approachable than Max had ever seen him.

“I just wanted to say thank you for all of this.”

Max nodded warily. “You’re welcome.”

“I didn’t want a fuss and I only agreed to the dinner because Jen made me, but I’m having a great time.”

“That’s good.”

Noah smiled. “I know we don’t always see eye to eye, but I’m always here for you, Max. You just have to ask.”

“Right back at you.”

Noah leaned in and hugged him, leaving Max speechless. “Thanks again.”

Noah stood and glanced over at the tarot card reader who was chatting away to Luke as if they were old friends.

“I guess I’ll try the henna stuff first. Jen will love that.”

Max watched him go, still dumbfounded by the bear hug. Noah had never been a demonstrative person and Max could count on his fingers the times they’d hugged. A sense of satisfaction filled him. He’d done something good for his friend and there was no better feeling than that.

Perhaps he should try it more often.

* * *

After Bernie departed, Phoebe had a shower and got ready for bed. She was already regretting the wine and made sure to drink lots of water to counteract the headache she could already feel creeping up her neck. She got into bed and checked she’d set the alarm on her phone. She had a full day of pampering to get through before they drove back to the ranch tomorrow evening and she intended to enjoy every minute of it.

She noticed she had a couple of new messages including one from Max. She couldn’t help but smile at the selfie of him and the other men gathered around the table in the middle of the forest.

Success! Noah didn’t murder me.

Phoebe checked the time and wondered if the guys were still at the party or heading home. Suddenly, wanting even the slightest connection with Max, she texted back.

Well done!

His reply came through immediately. Wish you were here with me right now.

Phoebe held her breath. Was that the first time Max had indicated he missed her?

I think you’d prefer this big bed at the spa.

True, probably less bugs.

Phoebe paused, wondering what to say next when he sent a follow-up.

And you’d be in the bed with me, obvs.

Phoebe smiled as she replied. It feels very big with just me in it.

I bet. And now I’m thinking about that and missing you even more.

Really?Phoebe went still.

100%. We should talk about that when you get back.

Yes, we really should.

Good night sweetheart.

Night Max x