She nodded and sniffled. “Okay, Daddy, I’ll try to be brave.”
Though Peyton didn’t have a black dress, he managed to find a dark blue one that fit her. He helped her brush her hair and then heated up a waffle for her for breakfast. She sat at the table, coloring while she ate.
When breakfast was over, and her teeth were brushed, the two headed out to his car to pick up Alyssa. Helen had offered to meet them at the church.
Peyton’s pink bear was clasped tightly to her chest in one hand and her drawing in the other as Max strapped her in, and he sniffed back his own tears threatening to spill over. She looked so small and helpless, and now he had to be the one to watch out for her.
When they arrived at Alyssa’s apartment, Max texted her to let her know they were waiting. He would normally ring the bell, but he didn’t want to leave Peyton in the car by herself. Alyssa appeared a moment later in a simple black dress. He could tell she was putting on her fake smile and her cheerful voice as she climbed in the car and greeted Peyton, but he could see the sadness in her eyes as well.
As soon as she turned around and buckled her seatbelt, he grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. She flashed him a tight smile before focusing out the window. He took no offense as he knew she was fighting tears herself.
The parking lot was full as they pulled up to the church. They had opted to have the funeral at Sarah’s church in hopes it would be more comfortable for Peyton and because Sarah had many friends there. Helen had also offered to continue on to the gravesite afterward to make sure everything went smoothly there as well so that Peyton wouldn’t have to sit through two ceremonies or see the hole in the ground.
Hand in hand, the trio entered the church, accepting consolatory wishes from everyone they passed. Peyton managed to keep a brave face on as they entered the sanctuary and took their places at the front.
As the pastor began to speak, Peyton climbed in Max’s lap and curled her face into his chest. His arms circled her, offering the only measure of comfort he could at the moment. He sent up silent prayers for her peace. Alyssa scooted over and twisted toward Max, placing one hand on his shoulder and the other on Peyton’s back. He shot her a grateful look before returning his focus to the ceremony.
When it was over, he asked Peyton if she wanted to see the casket, but she shook her head. “I want to remember Mommy from my dream, but can you give her this picture?” She held out the picture she had drawn that morning, which showed Sarah sitting on a cloud next to Jesus.
“I’ll take it,” Alyssa said.
Max nodded and took Peyton’s hand, leading her to the back of the church as Alyssa stepped up to the casket. They had opted for a closed casket ceremony in case Peyton wanted to see the casket and Max was glad. He wanted to remember the way Sarah had looked when alive as well.
They followed the crowd to the kitchen where a small reception had been set up. People came over one at a time and in small groups to give their condolences. Helen found them and knelt in front of Peyton.
“You were such a brave girl in there. I’ll have something special for you on Monday, okay?”
Peyton nodded and gave Helen a hug. “Thank you,” Max mouthed to her as she stood.
Helen nodded and disappeared into the crowd. Alyssa appeared a moment later. “You know, I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being sad,” she said. “Your mother had one final thing on her list and that was to take you to the zoo after the funeral, so how about it?”
Peyton’s eyes lit up. “I love the zoo.”
“I know you do, so what do you say?”
Peyton nodded and the three slipped out of the church.
The day had started overcast, but as the trio pushed open the front doors, a ray of sunlight broke through the clouds as if Sarah was smiling down on them. Alyssa grabbed Max’s hand and smiled.
The zoo was mostly empty when they arrived. Peyton ran from one animal to the next, squealing in delight at each one.
“This was a good idea,” Max said to Alyssa as they followed Peyton.
“Yeah, Sarah definitely thought ahead. She was really good at that.”
“I wanted to ask if you would come have dinner with my parents next week,” Max said as Peyton stopped in front of the giraffes.
Alyssa’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “You have parents?”
“Haha, very funny.” Max squeezed her hand and pulled her closer.
“Well, I was beginning to wonder. You never speak about them.”
“We haven’t had a very good relationship for a few years now, but we mended things a few days ago, and I’d like them to meet you.”
“Then I would love to. I haven’t been as close with my father either. After my mother died, we both processed her death differently, and he ended up remarrying.”
“That’s hard,” Max said. “How long has your mom been gone?”
“Three years,” Alyssa sighed. “Cancer took her too. I worry sometimes that it will take me as well.”
“Hey now, you can’t think like that. You aren’t your mom or Sarah. Just because it happened to them doesn’t mean it will happen to you. Besides, I’ll be praying every day for your health. I need you around and Peyton does too.”
Alyssa smiled and leaned into him as they watched Peyton wave at the giraffes.
Chapter 22
Though Max had told her not to stress, Alyssa couldn’t stop the fluttering in her stomach at meeting his parents. What would they be like? Would they like her? What if they didn’t?
“Will you stop?” Roxy asked. “You’re making me nervous.”
“What do you mean?” Alyssa hadn’t voiced those questions out loud, had she? She thought they had just been in her head.
“You have crossed and uncrossed your legs seven times in the last minute, popped your knuckles three times, and bit your lip twice. You’re emitting so much nervous energy that you’re making my stomach bunch into knots and I’m not meeting anyone.” Roxy finished her rant with a smile, letting Alyssa know that she was kidding. Mostly.
“I’m sorry. I just haven’t done this in a long time, and Max and I are still new. I mean, are we even a couple? I don’t think we’ve said as much.”
Roxy shook her head. “Alyssa, if you haven’t noticed the way that man looks at you, then you are crazy. You said yourself that he’s changed from the playboy you met. That ought to tell you more than words ever could.”
Alyssa took a deep breath and nodded. “You’re right. I need to trust God and stop worrying on this one.”
As if on cue, her phone beeped with the message that Max was in the parking lot. Normally, he would knock on the door, but as he had Peyton with him, they had agreed he would just text so as not to have to get her out just to strap her back in.
“That’s my cue,” she said, waving the phone. “Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it,” Roxy replied with a smile. “Knock ‘em dead.”
Alyssa flashed a grateful look at her friend before heading out the door. Max’s Malibu was parked in the closest spot, and she slid into the seat, turning to say hello to Peyton.
“You get to meet my grandma and grandpa, Aunt Lyssa.” The pitch of Peyton’s voice was so high it was almost a squeal.
“I know,” Alyssa said with a smile and turned to Max. “She’s not excited at all, is she?”
Max laughed. “Not one bit. Are you ready?”
Alyssa nodded, though the butterflies were still zooming in her stomach.
He squeezed her hand before pushing the gear shift to reverse and backing out of the parking spot.
Twenty minutes later, the car pulled into the driveway of a modest rambler. Alyssa blinked in surprise. Max’s house was so much larger, and she had thought that at least some of his money came from his family.
“They downsized a few years ago when they became believers,” Max said. “They said they didn’t need to show off their money, they’d rather help people with it.”
“I did
n’t. . .” Alyssa wondered how he knew what she had been thinking.
“Your eyes gave you away. They’re expressive. Sometimes I don’t think you know how much you say with them.”
“I’ll have to keep that in mind for the future.” She should be embarrassed, but he was looking at her with such adoration that she found she didn’t mind.
“Let’s go,” Peyton hollered from the backseat, lightening the mood and earning a chuckle from both Alyssa and Max.
“Yes ma’am,” Max said, turning off the ignition and unbuckling his seatbelt.
Peyton was out a moment later and, hand in hand with Peyton in the middle, they stepped up to the front door. Max rang the bell and shot Alyssa a wink.
The door swung open a moment later, and a brunette woman with a few grey strands around her temple opened the door. She had the same piercing blue eyes as Max, and it was obvious she took care of herself from her slim figure and flawless skin.
“You must be Alyssa. I’m Nancy,” she said, extending her hand.
“Yes ma’am. Nice to meet you.” As Alyssa let go of Peyton’s hand to shake Nancy’s, Peyton broke free and rushed at Nancy.
“Grandma.” She wrapped her arms around Nancy’s legs and smiled up at her.
With a laugh, Nancy bent down and picked her up. “Come on in. We can get better acquainted inside.”
Maxwell grasped Alyssa’s hand as they stepped into the house together. She was grateful for the strength and comfort his touch gave her.
Nancy led them into a comfortable, homey kitchen. Tan cupboards lined the wall and complemented the grey and silver speckled marble counter and the stainless-steel appliances. A large dining table sat to the left surrounded by windows overlooking an immaculate backyard.
“Sit, sit.” Nancy motioned to the dining table as she placed Peyton in a chair with a booster seat. “Peter, come and eat.”
Peter, who Alyssa assumed was Max’s father, entered the room. With the same dark hair and strong chin, she received a glimpse of what Max would look like in another twenty years.
“Hi, Dad,” Max said, giving him a hug. “I’d like you to meet Alyssa.”
“Ah, the girl who tamed the stallion. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
He extended his hand and Alyssa shook it, blushing slightly at the title.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Sir.”
“Please, call me Peter. Sir feels too formal.”
“All right, Peter it is then.” Alyssa smiled as she sat in the chair Max had pulled out for her. He squeezed her shoulder lightly after pushing her in, giving her a boost of positive energy.
Max took the chair to her right, and his father sat at the head of the table. Nancy placed a casserole dish and a salad in the middle of the table before taking her chair opposite Peter.
After a prayer, the food was passed around the table, everyone serving themselves. Alyssa enjoyed how comfortable the dinner was. It reminded her of dinners with her parents and Sandra and Henry before her mother passed.
When the dinner was finished, she offered to help Nancy clear the table. As Max, Peter, and Peyton headed into the living room, Nancy turned to Alyssa.
“I want to thank you. Even though we prayed nightly, we thought Max was going to be adrift forever. I don’t know how you did it, but I can’t thank you enough for bringing my son back to me.”
Alyssa smiled and clasped Nancy’s hand. “I didn’t do anything. That was all God, but I am glad to see him changing too. He is such a different man now from the one I first met.”
“I don’t know how you stuck around, but I’m glad you did.”
“Well, that you can thank Peyton for. I promised Sarah that I would look after her and make sure Max didn’t screw up too badly. As much as he infuriated me in the beginning, I stayed for that little angel.”
“She is that indeed,” his mother said with a smile.
The two continued to converse as they cleared away the plates, and by the time Alyssa left that evening, she felt like she had known Nancy and Peter for years instead of hours.
“Your parents are pretty amazing,” she said to Max on the drive back to his place.
“Yeah, they are. I’m glad I got to realize that.” He flashed her a quick smile before returning his gaze to the road.
“Me too.” There was a completeness in Alyssa’s heart as they drove back, and she found she couldn’t wait to see what the future held.
Chapter 23
Two Months Later
Max held the shiny ring in his hand and tilted it back and forth. The light glinted off the diamond, sending rainbow arcs across the wall. He couldn’t believe he was thinking of purchasing this. Three months felt fast to be getting engaged, but he couldn’t imagine his life without Alyssa in it and he didn’t want to.
After the funeral, he and Alyssa had spent nearly every evening together. She took a job interning for a local therapist, but would drop by for dinner afterwards and stay for a few hours. They did devotionals together each night with Peyton before putting her to bed, and they made Helen’s church their new home. Peyton didn’t want to return to Sarah’s church after the funeral, and Max liked Helen’s better anyway.
Most evenings were pleasant, but Peyton still had a few days where she would cry for Sarah. Those were the hard days, but the day Alyssa brought over Sarah’s belongings, including a photo album of her and Peyton and a sweater that Sarah always used to wear, Max had the idea to get a locket made for Peyton with a picture of Sarah inside. After that, whenever Peyton would get sad, she would curl up in the sweater and stare at the picture in the locket. It wasn’t a perfect system, but it seemed to work for Peyton.
“What do you think?” the salesman asked as Max turned the ring one more time.
“I think it’s perfect.”
With the ring nestled in a black box and tucked away in his pocket, Max headed back to work. Now, he simply needed the perfect time and the perfect place.
“Do you have it all set up?” Helen asked as she gathered her items. Max had filled her in on the plan as soon as he got home.
“Yes, the dinner is Friday evening. Alyssa has already agreed to go. We’ll start at six p.m., so I figure we’ll be ready for dessert around seven. Will you be able to get Peyton there?”
“Of course, dearie. There is nothing in the world I would like more than to see you settled down.”
Max shook his head and smiled at her good-natured ribbing, though he knew there was an element of truth there as well. Helen had been his biggest encourager from the beginning, and she would have been devastated if he had slipped back into his previous lifestyle.
“Okay, then I guess we’re all set. I have to admit I’m a little nervous though. What if she says no?” Max had been wanting to ask her since just after the funeral—losing Sarah had brought home how short life could be—but it had always felt too soon. It still felt too soon, not for him, but he was afraid it would for Alyssa. Had he changed enough to thoroughly convince her he was no longer the guy looking for one good night, but instead was looking for a good lifetime?
Helen shook her head. “There’s no way that woman will say no. She loves you just as much as you love her even if you two have been too stubborn to say it.”
“I hope you’re right.” Max pulled her in for a quick hug before she left for the day and he turned all his attention on Peyton.
He hadn’t told her his intentions yet because she was terrible at keeping a secret, but he didn’t think she would mind having Alyssa around full time.
When Friday evening rolled around, Max logged out of his computer an hour early. In order for Peyton to participate in the dinner festivity before it got too late, he had opted for an earlier dinner. Though this meant a shorter workday, he had worked through lunch in order to not have anything hanging over his head during the weekend.
Before he could fully escape his office though, Justin popped his head in. Max hadn’t seen much of him in the last month as he became
more vocal about his faith and unwilling to support Justin’s lifestyle.
“Hey, man, do you have a minute?” The serious tone in Justin’s voice caught his attention and though he didn’t really have a minute to spare, he nodded and motioned him in.
Justin closed the door, another odd thing for him, and crossed to the chair. He sat but didn’t look up.
Max wanted to tell him to spit it out, but he could see that something heavy was weighing on Justin.
“You’ve been praying, man, right?” The words were muffled as his face was focused on the floor.
“Yeah, I’ve been praying.” Max set down his satchel and mug and moved to the front of the desk. “What’s going on?”
Justin looked up, fear and anger fighting for control in his eyes. “I, um, just got back from the doctor’s office. I’ve got an STD.”
Max’s knees gave out and he leaned against the desk. “Oh, man. I’m so sorry. Of course, I’ll pray for you.” As he said it, Max couldn’t help but send up a grateful prayer that his life hadn’t turned out the same way. He had gotten tested after Sarah’s funeral partly because he was worried about not being there for Peyton and partly because he wanted to be sure he was offering Alyssa something worthy when it was finally time. “Is it the big one?”
“It’s not HIV, but it’s nearly as bad. I always thought pregnancy was the worst that could happen, you know?”
Max knew only too well. Though he had received the sex education talk in high school and knew all about STDs, he, like Justin, had thought he was invincible, that he was only seeing clean women, but when you didn’t take the time to get to know them, it became harder to stay clean.
“I think this may be your wake-up call.” Max worked to keep his tone even and non-judgmental. “Mine came when Sarah died. I realized my life had to change so I would be around for Peyton. Maybe it’s time you take stock too and figure out what’s really important to you.”
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