Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Phoebe wasn’t consciously avoiding Max, but it was a long time before she saw him for more than a few moments. The wedding was beautiful. Noah had ended up holding Sky as he and Jen made their vows, which was perfect, and Phoebe had tried very hard not to cry. Max had held her hand during the whole ceremony and only released it when he’d rushed off to make sure the photographer had arrived.

The buffet was as amazing as Bernie promised. Endless food had emerged from the small kitchen without pause as the day went on and the menu changed into the nibbles for the evening party. Half the town had been invited for the dance and Phoebe barely recognized anyone anymore. Noah, Jen, and Sky had left for the airport half an hour previously, but the party was still in full swing.

As the music changed to a slower pace, she felt a touch on her shoulder, and she turned to find Max smiling down at her. His blue shirt made his eyes look like sapphires and her gaze was drawn to his luscious mouth.

“Care for a dance Mrs. CSR?”

“Yes, please.” She went into his arms. “My feet are killing me.”

He glanced down at her fancy sandals. “You should’ve worn your boots.”

“I’m planning on taking them off and putting my slippers on very soon,” Phoebe confided. “But I’m scared that if I sit down, I might never get up again.”

“It’s been a long day.” His fingers stroked the back of her neck, making her sigh and press close to him. “But I think it’s been a good one.”

“Noah and Jen look so happy,” Phoebe agreed. “I can’t imagine—” She trailed off and buried her face in his shoulder.

“How could anyone look at Noah like that?” Max asked. “I agree. It’s a miracle.”

Phoebe didn’t contradict him, and they continued to dance in silence. She’d been thinking more about how amazing it would be to have someone love her like that, but that was a conversation Max had never wanted to have with her.

“The whole Noah and Jen thing actually gives me hope,” Max said. “That there really is someone for everyone out there.”

“I suppose you just have to get lucky.” Phoebe smiled up at him.

“Yeah.” He held her gaze. “Maybe you do.” He took a quick breath. “About that—”

“Max?”

He broke off and looked behind him. “Hey, Lucy, what’s up?”

Lucy grinned at him. “So glad we had that room cancellation, and we could fit them in!” She pointed toward the dining area. “I sat them down with Maria, if you want to go and say hi.”

Max went very still. “Who’s them?”

“Your parents. They said it would be a surprise!”

Lucy waved and walked away, leaving Phoebe and Max stationary on the dance floor. Phoebe glanced up at Max who had no expression on his face at all.

“Oh, my goodness.”

He took her hand. “I guess we’d better go and say hello.”

He strode off and Phoebe almost had to run to keep up with him. Maria saw them first and jumped to her feet, clapping her hands.

“Max! Isn’t this wonderful?”

Phoebe stared at the man and woman who had slowly risen to their feet. Max had his mother’s beauty and his father’s height.

“Hey.” Max smiled as if he bumped into his parents every day.

“We were traveling through Nevada, and we decided to stop at Maria’s only to find she was here with you,” Max’s father said, his tone pleasant. “She suggested we pop by to say hi.” He paused. “You look well, son.”

“Thanks.”

Max’s grip on Phoebe’s hand became almost painful.

Maria stepped into the awkward silence. “This is Phoebe, Max’s wife. I told you she was pretty, Mama.”

Phoebe automatically stuck out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you both. I hear you’re staying at the BB in town.”

“Yes, it’s very pleasant,” Max’s mother said, her gaze fixed longingly on her son. “Won’t you sit down, so that we can catch up, Max?”

“Catch up?” Max’s tone was pleasant, but Phoebe wasn’t fooled. “That would be awesome, but I’m kind of busy right now.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’ve got a wedding to steer through to the end.”

“Surely—”

Phoebe spoke up. “Max really does have a lot to do.” She looked at Maria. “Perhaps you can organize something at a more convenient time?”

Maria looked like she was going to cry. “I thought—”

Phoebe took Max’s hand and nodded to his parents. “It was lovely to meet you. Enjoy the party and be careful on your way back to town, these roads can be dangerous at night.”

She squeezed hard and led Max away until they cleared the fairy lights and were past the far side of the barn beside the pasture. She let go of his hand and he walked away from her, his back turned, his hands fisted at his side. She waited for what felt like hours and then risked speaking.

“I had no idea Maria intended to do that. I mean, she said—”

“She said what?” He swung around and it was like looking at a stranger. “You knew about this?”

“I knew she’d recently been in contact with your parents, but—”

A muscle flicked in his jaw. “And you didn’t think I’d like to know about that?”

The cold fury in his voice finally raised her ire.

“If you let me finish a sentence, I might be able to explain.”

“Explain what? That you and my sister thought it would be a great idea to ambush me with my estranged parents at my best friend’s wedding? I specifically remember asking you not to meddle.”

“I’ll repeat. I didn’t know Maria was planning on doing this,” Phoebe said, trying hard to keep her cool. “And it might just have been one of those things. If your parents really did just pop in on her and she was here, she probably thought it would be fine to get you all together.”

“Are you listening to yourself?” Max demanded. “Could you possibly believe that’s true?”

“Why not? Coincidences do happen.”

“You’re defending my parents, now?”

“No!” Phoebe scowled at him. “I’m simply trying to look at all the logical explanations as to why they turned up here!”

“Are you feeling guilty about it, Feebs? Is this why you got mad at me this morning over nothing?” He glared at her. “Because it sure sounds like it. Maybe you encouraged Maria to think it would be a good idea.”

She raised her chin. “I did no such thing. In fact, I told her she should talk to you and not involve me at all.”

“Which you also failed to mention.”

Phoebe opened and closed her mouth, her fingernails digging into her palms to stop herself from crying. It was like facing her grandmother and being treated like a dishonest child. She took an unsteady breath, then another, and tried to think. All she had to do was tell Max the truth and then he had to believe her. She met his gaze and took all the anger out of her voice.

“Maria said your mother wanted to talk to me, and I refused. I suggested she talk to you and leave me out of it. That’s it. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“The right thing for you or for me? I asked you not to get all invested in ‘happy ever afters’ with my parents.”

Phoebe pressed her lips together.

“No more excuses, Feebs? At least I know why you’ve been avoiding me all day.”

Stung by his lack of trust, she retaliated. “You’re not being fair. How could I tell you?”

“Why not?” His smile wasn’t meant to make her feel better. “You tell me everything else.”

She looked down at her feet, noticing the blood on her third toe where a blister had formed and took a deep breath. Flinging that at her when it had taken her so much to confide in him hurt far more than she’d anticipated. She didn’t have the words to deal with the anger and hurt radiating off him.

“Okay.” She nodded and walked past him, her gaze on the lights surrounding the house.

“Phoebe . . .”

She didn’t look back. She couldn’t or else the fragile shell of the composure drummed into her from an early age would crack and she’d be laid bare as the pitiful na?ve fool that she was.

“I didn’t mean it, I—”

She ran and didn’t stop until she reached Sally’s bedroom where she took off her blasted shoes and cried as if her heart were broken.

* * *

Max closed his eyes, but he could still see Phoebe’s stricken face. But, hell, she deserved his anger, didn’t she? Of everyone who surrounded him, he’d thought she’d be the one to defend him and tell him the truth.

“Max?” Maria’s trembling voice came from behind him. “Oh, Max, I’m so sorry. I acted on impulse. When Mama called and said she was in Reno, I just thought it would be great if they could join us here.”

Max remembered the phone call he’d heard when he’d gone to escort Maria to the wedding. If that had been his mom, it was possible Phoebe hadn’t known anything about Maria’s sudden change of plans.

“Did you tell Phoebe they were coming?” Max asked.

“No, because after we talked, I promised her I would not involve her in our family issues.” Maria tentatively touched his arm. “If you wish to be angry with anyone, it should be me. Mama and Papa are also confused and that is my fault.” Her mouth quivered. “I handled everything very badly. I just want you all to love each other again.”

Max looked heavenward as he patted her shoulder while she cried. In his arms.

“Did they think I wanted to see them?” Max finally asked.

“Yes,” Maria nodded. “As I said, they are very upset.”

“Are they still here?”

“They were a moment ago, but Mama was thinking about leaving.”

Max headed back up to the party, Maria by his side, and made his way to where his parents sat like two statues, staring at the guests still enjoying themselves. He took a seat opposite them.

“Look, I guess we all came into this with different expectations, and I apologize for my part in that.” He made himself meet his father’s apprehensive gaze. “I didn’t know you were coming. To say it was something of a shock is an understatement.”

“That was my fault,” Maria said.

“But now that you are here, I do have something I want to say.” Max took a deep breath and his parents visibly braced themselves. “Thank you.”

“What?” His father sounded shocked.

“For helping to set me straight,” Max said simply.

“You hated us,” his mama said. “You said you never wanted to see us ever again.”

“I was fourteen, of course I said that. You didn’t have to take it so literally.” Max shrugged. “I don’t hate you now. I wish you nothing but the best.”

His mother started crying and his father put his arm around her.

Max stood up. “You did the right thing. I understand how hard it was, and I respect you for that.”

“Respect?” His father repeated.

“Yeah, that’s all I’ve got.” Max nodded. “Now, why don’t you both enjoy the party or Maria can show you around.” He paused. “I really have to do some stuff. I wasn’t lying about that.”

He walked away and ended up in the kitchen where Bernie was helping her staff clear up. He went down the hallway and paused outside his bedroom. The door was ajar, but Phoebe wasn’t there. But why would she be? She was probably out dancing and wishing him dead. He paused, one hand on the door, and silently cursed.

She wouldn’t be out there enjoying herself. He suddenly remembered how she’d stepped in to defend him from his parents, taken his hand, and led him away to safety. And how had he repaid her? By directing all his anger at his parents and Maria onto the person who least deserved it. He’d basically called her a fool to her face, and he wasn’t sure how he was ever going to make that up to her.

“Max?” Luke came down the hallway. “We’re winding things down in the next half hour. Can you help with the guest side of things while I focus on clearing up?”

“Whatever you need,” Max said automatically. “I’ll make sure everyone gets home safely.”

“I appreciate it.” Luke paused. “It was a great wedding. We should do it again sometime.”

Max pretended to groan. “Just consider it a dress rehearsal for your own and we can hand it over to Noah to micromanage the whole thing.”

“I think I’d prefer Phoebe doing it. Bernie and I are trying to convince her to set up as a wedding planner. She’d be amazing.”

“She would.” Max followed Luke out. “Have you seen her around? I lost track of her about half an hour ago.”

“No, but if I do see her, I’ll tell her you’re looking for her,” Luke said.

“Nah, she’s got enough to do without worrying about me.”

“Truth.” Luke was already heading out the kitchen door. “Text me if anything goes wrong. Bernie’s staying over tonight, but the rest of her team is going home. I’ll help them load up when all the guests have gone.”

* * *

An hour later, Max waved a final farewell to a trio of inebriated volunteer firefighters and their thankfully sober driver and shut the gate behind them. The fairy lights still twinkled, but the wind had picked up and it was getting too cold to hang outside. He walked around the whole site, making sure there were no unconscious bodies in the bushes and helped clear a few tables when the staff was struggling to keep up against the stiff breeze.

There was no sign of Phoebe, and he was beginning to worry. Had she left? He hadn’t checked the bedroom closet or the suitcase she’d slid under the bed. It wouldn’t be hard for her to have gotten a lift into town after the party. The thought scared the heck out of him. He needed to make it up to her. Somehow explain himself.

By the time he got back to the house, the kitchen was back to its original state, and Sally and Bernie sat at the table in their dressing gowns drinking hot chocolate and discussing the events of the day.

“Hey, Max.” Sally waved at him. “Come and join our self-congratulatory party.”

Bernie toasted him with her mug. “You were great, by the way.”

“Thanks, but I think I’m headed straight to bed.”

“Lucy said something about having unexpected guests at her BB,” Sally said.

“Yeah, my parents turned up.”

“Are you okay?” Sally asked, her expression concerned. “Were you expecting them?”

Max looked at her. “No, and no, and I don’t want to talk about it right now if that’s okay.”

“Understandable.” Sally nodded. “But you know where I am if you do.”

“I appreciate that.” Max hesitated. “Have either of you seen Phoebe?”

“She was asleep on my bed when I came in, so I’ve left her there.” Sally smiled. “I’ll sleep in Noah’s old room tonight.”

“Awesome.” A weight lifted from Max’s heart. “I’ll catch up with her in the morning. Goodnight, Sally, and Bernie the food was amazing.”

He took a quick shower and went into his bedroom, which seemed quiet without Phoebe chatting away to him. He sat on the side of the bed and shoved his hands through his hair. He felt like his world had come off its rails and he didn’t know how to process any of it. He remembered his mother telling him that a good night’s sleep always made things better and hoped she was right because today had been an unmitigated disaster.