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Twenty-Two

The next er to hit the road She turned on the bedside lamp and studied the road h she’d spentfrorown tired of that

The rand theuy Max was She’d had some serious doubts about this biker To all outward appearances, he was little more than a drifter Her mother had hinted at the fact that Max owned a wine distribution business but she hadn’t said much Annie was convinced it was because her mother didn’t know much

But Rooster was obviously deter them about Max and his brother, Luke He explained that Max had lost both his wife and his daughter and had gone off the deep end for a while

Rooster turned every topic of conversation, every remark, into an opportunity to talk about Max

When Grand to New Orleans, he’d said, "Max spent sixwhat?" Annie had asked skeptically

"Building horoup that reconnected pets with their owners"

"Oh" Annie had assu The fact that he was helping victination

"So the two of you are heading ho to back to do what?" Annie had asked

"Max is stepping into the role he left three years ago," Rooster said "He’ll be working in the family business"

Annie made it clear that she wasn’t impressed She refused to even hint to Rooster that her views of Max were starting to change, much as she didn’t want them to

"I know you don’t trust him," Rooster said

"Plenty of reasons not to," Annie hadbetween ently

Annie nodded stubbornly, but her grand out of it

"Kids want to see their parents together," Rooster said, reaching for his coffeeit out for the waitress to refill "That’s natural But sometimes it isn’t for the best"

"It is with my parents," Annie insisted She looked across the table and ree It ca how Max had volunteered in New Orleans wasn’t so Annie wanted to hear She preferred to think of hih she struggled to hold on to that ily difficult, especially when she sa happy he ood heart, it was even harder to dislike him

But she wasn’t ready to admit that yet, she told herself as she refolded the randmother and mother were still asleep

Another minor complication had come her way in the past couple of days

She’d ereat ti and casually asked about his adventures in Europe He replied right away Matt and Jessie argued constantly Everything cost , they’d be out of money in a feeeks when they’d hoped it would last the hi a foreign country, he should uage She told hinore She hadn’t heard froh she did want Vance to know she was having the experience of her life…well, other than their last day in Branson Unfortunately, she hadn’t as

Jason had emailed her several times, as well In fact, Annie hoped they’d keep in touch…

Bethanne didn’t sleep well after Max dropped her off There was so much more she’d wanted to say, sofor several days, which would make co in the opposite direction Once she arrived in Vero Beach, Grant would meet her She didn’t want to think about her ex-husband, not when she was preoccupied by another ed to be fair to botha reconciliation was possible if she decided it wasn’t At the sa if what she felt for Max would diminish in the days ahead

"We’re ten hours from New Orleans," Annie said as Bethanne stepped out of the bathrooo She said this as if it were little more than a Sunday drive in the country "It’s just six hundred roaned as she co stretches "You don’t expect to le day, do you?"

"We can" Annie sounded co "Especially if we get an early start" Hopping off the bed, she clapped her hands "Cos you closer to Vero Beach--and Royce"

Hearing that was all the incentive Ruth needed Although Bethanne hadn’t pried, she knew this trip hadRoyce than with the actual reunion

"And what about all the knitting you’ll accomplish in ten hours, Mom?"

Because she’d spent so lected her project Annie had a point; she could use the long hours on the road to knit…and think She’d only cooal had been to finish the pair before they returned to Seattle

They dressed and finished packing their suitcases While Ruth directed the bellht to the front of the hotel Bethanne checked out After she’d put their expenses on her credit card, she handed the wo him for a wonderful day In a postscript, she’d added that she was going to ive this to Max Scranton when he checks out?" she said

The woman looked up "Mr Scranton’s already left"

Already? Max was gone? Silly as it sounded, Bethanne wasn’t prepared to hear that