Chasing Hope Page 9

  “Well, well, well, if isn’t Loser Logan in the flesh.”

  Max gripped the counter with both hands, refusing to allow his high school antagonist the pleasure of getting to him. Again. “You need something, Cade? Besides a personality?”

  Cade’s jaw clenched as he looked around the store. “I’m surprised Jason allows a loose cannon like you to be alone in here.”

  When Max remained silent, he continued.

  “I hope you enjoyed your cozy little dinner yesterday.”

  Max grit his teeth.

  “It won’t happen again.” Cade lowered his voice and leaned toward the counter when another customer walked in. “What I want, I get.” He tapped the surface with his index finger. “You should know that by now.” He winked. “But you can have her when I’m done.” He turned to the newcomer, charm meter pegging out. “Morning, Rodney. How’s the family?”

  “Fine, Cade. Just fine.” The man looked at Max. “Morning, Max. Glad y’all are open today. I need a new battery for Louise’s car.”

  It took Max a moment and a mental ten-count to regroup. Focus on the task. Focus. “Sure thing, Rod. This way.”

  By the time eleven o’clock rolled around, Max was pacing like a caged tiger. He needed air. He needed space. When the store owner, Jason Sparks, walked in, Max was ready to bolt.

  “Sorry I’m late, Max. Wife had extra things on the honey-do—.” He stopped mid-sentence. An Army veteran himself, Jason knew Max struggled with PTSD. But then, so did half the town of Bakersville, thanks to Cade. “You okay, Max?”

  “I just need some air.” He rounded the counter, rubbing his hands on the front of his thighs. “Okay if I split for a few minutes?”

  “Sure, go ahead and take your lunch break. Things are bound to be slow today anyway.”

  “Yeah. Only a couple of folks so far.”

  “Max?” Jason stepped toward him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You got this.”

  Not trusting himself to speak, Max nodded and headed for the door. Outside, he took several deep breaths. The icy air helped clear his head and banish the caged-in feeling. He pulled out his cell phone and called Sky.

  She answered on the second ring.

  “Hey. It’s Max.”

  “Morning.”

  The smile in her voice chased away remnants of his anxiety. “The roads are still nasty today. How about I come by and take you to work? It’s not going to get any better with temps close to freezing.”

  “I hate to bother you.”

  “It’s no bother. On my way.”

  “Hang on. Someone’s at the door.”

  Muffled words could be heard in the background, but he couldn’t distinguish what was said.

  “Hey. I’m back. That was Cade. Wanted to drive me to work so you wouldn’t have to take off.”

  Before he could express an objection, she continued.

  “I told him you were already on your way.”

  “Be there in ten.”

  Cade’s audacity infuriated Max, though it shouldn’t come as any surprise.

  From their first meeting as sophomores in high school, they’d been at odds. Cade was the rich kid with the fine ride, quarterback of the football team, and president of the Student Council. Max was the new kid in town. He was taller, faster, and smarter, and Cade took an immediate dislike to him. Once word circulated that Max was in foster care, Cade never missed an opportunity to embarrass, humiliate, or demean him.

  To this day, Max couldn’t remember those years without anger.

  The final crippling blow came in the form of Anna Sue Watkins.

  A pretty girl from the wrong side of the tracks, she and Max became friends right away. Two outcasts seeking companionship, they were never a couple, just good friends.

  Until Cade noticed them together.

  He didn’t act right away. He was too smooth for that. The seduction was slow and steady, and she was easy prey. Nothing Max said convinced her he wasn’t the good guy he seemed.

  In the end, all Max could do was sit back and watch as Cade slowly turned her against him and ultimately destroyed her world.

  The week before graduation, she came to Max in hysterics. She was pregnant with Cade’s child. When she broke the news to him, Cade laughed and said, “Good luck with that.”

  Her parents would be heartbroken. She had no one to turn to for help except Max. She begged him to talk with Cade.

  Against his better judgement, he agreed to try. That conversation quickly escalated into a fist fight that took three people to end and kept Max from participating in graduation exercises.

  To his credit, Max offered twice to marry her, but she refused.

  Thoughts of Anna elevated his anxiety level. Can’t change the past. Let it go.

  He forced himself to remain calm and stopped behind the Taurus.

  Sky hurried out before he came to a full stop and ran to the passenger side door. “Goodness it’s cold.” She pulled her jacket tighter and fastened the seat belt. “I really appreciate this, Max. I’m no good on icy roads.”

  He cranked up the heat but didn’t reply until he maneuvered the big truck out of the drive. “Maddie already at Gail’s?”

  “Yeah. She picked her up a little while ago.” The truck fish-tailed on the ice-coated road, and she grabbed the door handle.

  “What time do you get off today?” Even to him, the question sounded terse. Damn Cade anyway.

  Sky turned her head toward him, brows pinched together. “Seven. What’s wrong?”

  “I’ll be by to take you home.”

  She waited a beat. “Are you mad at me about something?”

  He glanced at her, saw the hurt and confusion on her face and tried to relax. “No. I’m sorry. It’s not you.”

  “Did something happen at work?”

  A jumble of thoughts raced pell-mell through his head as he considered how to answer. She’ll find out sooner or later anyway. He kept his eyes on the road. “Cade.”

  She sat up straighter and turned toward him, voice edged with resentment. “I didn’t ask him to come over today if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  He stopped for a red light and exhaled a noisy breath. “That’s not it.”

  “Then what?”

  The light changed, and he eased through the intersection, wheels slipping a little before they gained traction. “We went to school together.”

  “I gathered that.”

  “And he hates my guts.”

  “Why?”

  Max pulled up behind the diner but didn’t kill the engine. “I moved here with my foster parents at the end of my sophomore year. Fred, my foster father, lost his job, so we lived with his parents till he went to work for the county.” He kept his tone flat and unemotional. “For whatever reason, Cade hated me on sight and did all he could to make my life a living hell.” He looked at Sky, jaw clenched so tight it hurt. “I was smarter and a little taller than him but skinny as a rail. He was the quarterback and worked out all the time.”

  “And you were an easy target.”

  “Basically.” He shifted in his seat, the painful memories surrounding him. “He had to be the best. King of the hill.” He shrugged. “He saw me as a threat to that status.”

  “I’m guessing it all came to a head at some point?”

  “Senior year.”

  “What happened?”

  He leaned back, head against the neck rest, eyes closed.

  “Max?” She touched his arm. “We don’t have to talk about this now. I can see that whatever it was, it’s still painful for you.”

  He turned his head toward her. “I’m not trying to tend to your business, Sky, but don’t let Cade’s Mr. Nice Guy façade fool you. He doesn’t like being told no, so be careful around him.”

  “I will.” She gathered up her purse and unfastened the seat belt. “Thanks for playing taxi. I don’t think things will be very busy tonight, so I should be able to leave right at seven if not before.”

>   “Hold on.” He exited the truck and came around to help her out. “I’ll walk you in. The ground is slippery.”

  She stood beside him and linked her arm with his, her breath forming a misty cloud around her mouth. “Ever the gentleman,” she said with a smile, then squealed lightly when her foot slipped on the ice. “Whoa!”

  He steadied her as they walked to the shelter of the diner’s rusted awning. “I’ll see you about seven.”

  She shivered and reached for the door handle. “Thanks again. I’ll see you tonight.”

  Before he could say anything, she rushed inside.

  He drove to the other side of the square and stopped in front of The Sassy Sash.

  That coat in the window should fit Sky perfectly.

  Sky pushed the register drawer closed, eyes drifting to the window. The earlier sleet had changed to light snow, which fell sporadically through the morning, coating the ground in small, white patches. The temperature hovered around the freezing mark, but a frigid north wind made it feel much colder. Only four customers braved the inclement weather since lunch. Things would worsen overnight with the passage of a second fast-moving arctic blast. Come Monday, temps would be back in the forties. Gotta love East Texas weather…two days of winter followed by three days of fall.

  She rejoined her boss at the long lunch counter, where they enjoyed a cup of coffee. “Where were we?”

  Ruby winked over the rim of her cup. “You were telling me about your date with Max yesterday.”

  “It was really nice. I haven’t had a real Thanksgiving dinner in years. And John seemed to enjoy it as well.”

  “John? Big John?”

  “Uh-huh. It was a spur of the moment idea to invite him.”

  “That was so nice of you to include him. I wish I had thought of that. Some friend I am.”

  A shrug dismissed the gesture. “It was one of those things that just happened. I asked, and he accepted. Besides, he and Max seem to be good friends, and Maddie adores him.” She resisted the urge to bounce up and down with happiness. “She thinks he looks like Santa Claus.”

  “Actually, they talked him into playing Santa in the Christmas festival at the community center this year. Our go-to guy had knee surgery and is down for a while.”

  Sky laughed. “Don’t know that I’ve ever seen a six-five Santa.”

  “I know. But he’ll be great,” said Ruby. “He loves helping people.” She used a napkin to rub at some unseen spot on the counter, features softened by a smile. “I’m glad you and Max are seeing each other.”

  She started to say they weren’t exactly a couple but changed her mind. After all, he was her male companion. That thought produced a smile. “Me, too. He’s a good guy. Have you known him long?”

  She shook her head. “He was a few years behind me in school. Didn’t have much contact with him back in the day. Heard he went into the Marines right after graduation. Didn’t see him again until he moved back earlier this year.” She paused, eyes focused on her cup. “You know he was injured in combat, right?”

  “Yeah. He told me.”

  “And has this PTSD stuff?”

  “He told me that as well.”

  Ruby sighed and sat up straighter. “Good. Cade tries to make a big deal out of it, but I haven’t seen or heard of him doing anything out of the ordinary.”

  “What’s with them, anyway?”

  “You mean besides Cade being a narcissistic jerk?”

  Sky snorted.

  “Like I said, they were behind me in school, so I didn’t have much contact with either of them. After I graduated, I hit the road for a while.”

  Sky watched her expression shift from happy to sad and wondered what she held inside.

  “Anyway, by the time I came back, Max was long gone, and Cade was busy trying to see how many notches he could add to his bedpost.” She emptied her cup and stood. “Rumor had it there was a fight. A bad one. Cade got the worst of it. I never asked, so I don’t know the details.”

  Sky picked up both mugs and placed them in the bus tub behind the counter. “Well, whatever happened, there is still bad blood between them.”

  Ruby placed her hand on Sky’s arm. “I’m glad you have someone decent in your life, Sky. You deserve some happiness.” She let her hand drop and turned toward the back. “Don’t waste time on Cade. I know a good man when I see one. And Max is a good one.”

  Before Sky could reply, Ruby slipped through the swinging door to the kitchen, leaving Sky more curious than ever.

  Max sat at the kitchen table, rewiring a lamp for Gail, when his phone rang.

  “Hey. It’s me.”

  The unusual tenseness in Sky’s voice immediately sent Max on full alert. “Is everything all right?”

  “Yeah. Ruby just said she’s closing early because of the weather, so you can pick me up at any time.”

  He glanced at the clock on the wall. Five-fifteen. “I can come now. Mason closed early as well.”

  “Great. I’ll see you shortly.”

  The unwrapped box mocked him as he started his truck. How am I going to give this to her without pissing her off or embarrassing her?

  Instead of pulling around back, he parked out front and went inside. The place was empty save one guy at the counter, who turned at his entrance.

  “Hey, Max,” said the man, “how’s it going?”

  “Good, Billy Ray. You?”

  “Bout to freeze my tail off. Haven’t had this cold a winter in a while.”

  Sky came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of food, which she placed in front of the man at the counter. “Here you go, Bill. Anything else?”

  “I’m good. Thanks.”

  Sky turned to Max, and his heart did that funny somersault thing it tended to do when she was around.

  “Almost done. Just give me a minute.”

  A short time later, they exited the building into a blast of frigid air.

  “Oh, my goodness, it’s cold,” said Sky as she dashed toward his truck, clutching her thin jacket against her body.

  “Wind chill is in the teens.” Max started the engine and cranked the heat up to high. “That better?”

  Sky nodded, arms still folded across her middle.

  “Do we need to pick up Maddie?”

  “If you don’t mind.” Sky looked at the package between them but offered no comment.

  Twenty minutes later, he sat at Sky’s kitchen table while she put on a pot of coffee. “We have plenty of leftovers from yesterday,” she said. “Won’t take long to pull them out if you’d like to stay for supper.”

  “Don’t go to any trouble. I’ll have whatever you’re having.”

  He fingered the box at his feet and Maddie reacted.

  “What’s in the box, Max?”

  “A surprise.” He swallowed hard. “For your mom.”

  Sky turned toward him, face registering disbelief. “For me?”

  “Oh goodie!” Maddie clapped her hands together and bobbed up and down. “Mama hasn’t had a surprise before.”

  “It’s not a big deal. A little thank-you for yesterday. Just something I thought you could use.” He cleared his throat and placed the box on the table. Now that it was time to give it to her, he second guessed his impulsive action. Would she be offended? Would she get mad? Would she even like it?

  “Hurry, Mama! Open it.”

  “Um, maybe you should open it before supper. You might decide you don’t want me to hang around after all.”

  Sky stared a beat then smiled. “I don’t see that happening.” She wiped her hands on a towel and sat down. “You didn’t need to do anything for me, Max. You bought all the food, I just put it together.”

  As she talked, Max noted she carefully opened the box, almost like she wanted to extend the feeling of anticipation about what lay hidden inside.

  “And it took you two days to do it, so yeah, I owe you one.”

  Finally, she eased the pink tissue aside and gasped at the contents.


  “I hope you don’t mind. I thought …”

  She pulled the faux suede trench coat from the box and stood. “Oh Max, you shouldn’t have. This is too much.” She held the coat in front of her, running her hand over the smooth dove-grey fabric, slipping her fingers inside to stroke the soft lining.

  “Wow, Mama. That will look really pretty on you.”

  “The lining comes out for when it’s not so cold. And the hood comes off, too.” Her obvious joy brought a lump to his throat. “There’s a neck scarf in there, too.”

  “I saw this in the window at The Sassy Sash,” Sky said softly.

  She met his gaze, and the pleasure he read in her face made him feel ten feet tall.

  “I hope I haven’t offended you or embarrassed you, I just…”

  “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

  Max stood and helped her slip the coat on. “The lady in the store said this would fit.”

  “Jeannie comes in the diner all the time.” She ran her hands over the coat again. “It’s so soft. And warm, too.”

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  “I love it, Max. Thank you.” She hesitated. “But it’s too much. I know what it cost.”

  It was his turn to be embarrassed. “It’s no big deal.”

  “It is to me.”

  “Max gave you a really good surprise, didn’t he, Mama?”

  “Yes. He did.”

  Maddie faced him, azure eyes sparkling with happiness. “That’s the best surprise, ever, Max. Mama really needed a new coat, but we haven’t been to the Goodwill yet. Now she doesn’t have to go.”

  Max saw the red flush on Sky’s face and changed the subject. “How about we get out of the way and let your mom finish getting supper ready?”

  “Do you like puzzles, Max? I love puzzles. I have one in the living room I’m working on.” She grabbed his hand. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

  Half an hour later, Sky called them back to the kitchen.

  Leftovers from the scrumptious meal yesterday were on the table. She could have served him cardboard covered in ketchup, and he would have happily consumed every bite. “I didn’t mean for you to cook for me. Again.”

  Her light laugh lifted his spirits.