Wayward Hearts

by Susan Anne Mason

  “What a snake! I can’t believe Susie would fall for his charm. Not when she was so crazy about you.”

  He began trimming again at a faster pace, avoiding her probing gaze. As much as he didn’t want to continue this topic, he couldn’t let Maxi think the worst of Susie. “She didn’t. Turned him down flat. But that didn’t stop him from trying again with my next girlfriend.”

  Maxi stalked over. “Your next girlfriend?”

  Jason pressed his lips into a thin line. How had this conversation veered off track so fast? He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Yeah, Gloria Johnson—but I end the relationship a couple of months ago.”

  Her mouth fell open. “The high school tramp?”

  Too late, he remembered how much Maxi had loathed Gloria in high school and clipped harder. The muscles in his upper arms burned.

  “How could you go out with her? She slept with practically the whole senior class.”

  He sighed and stopped to wipe his face. “Call it a significant lapse of judgment. I was ready to break it off anyway, but Marco’s stunt sent me off the deep end.”

  Maxi snorted. “Did you hit him?”

  He grimaced, remembering the beating he’d laid on Marco. “Let’s just say I’m not proud of how I handled the situation. But that was before I turned my life around.”

  They had come to the end of the row of hedges. Maxi ran her arm across her face and plopped onto the ground in the shade of an oak tree. “You mean the firefighting thing?”

  With careful precision, he set the tools down and then came to sit beside her. This was it. Time for honesty. He plucked a piece of grass and shredded it before answering. “That’s one change. But the biggest one is that I’ve dedicated my life to God’s service.”

  Her jaw dropped open and her eyes went wide. “You did what?”

  If he’d said he was a serial killer, she couldn’t have looked more shocked. He kept his gaze serious. “I needed to stop my self-destructive behavior and do something meaningful with my life. So I came up with doing service through firefighting.” He waited for her to say something, hoping she would understand how big this was for him.

  “Wow.” She looked poleaxed. “Didn’t see that coming. I thought you went to the youth meetings at the church just to hit on girls.”

  He laughed. “That’s how it started. But Nick’s words and attitude rubbed off on me. More than I realized.”

  She frowned as she looked at him. “You really have changed.”

  “Guess I have.” He paused, allowing his gaze to roam over her tousled hair, settling on the familiar silver hoop earrings. Earrings he’d given her for a graduation present. Sorrow twisted in his chest. “I’ve missed you, Max.”

  She turned away but not before he noticed moisture brimming in her eyes. He took it as a good sign, that she was as invested in their friendship as he. “What happened to us anyway? What caused that big fight before you left?”

  Maxi stared out across the lawn, a nerve jumping in her jaw. “Geez, Hanley. I don’t know.”

  She was lying. He’d bet his Harley on it. “I think you do.”

  She leapt to her feet, brushing grass off her pant legs, not looking at him. “It was a bad day, that’s all.”

  She took off at a brisk pace toward the house. He jumped up, annoyance shooting through his system. He was not about to let her off the hook. Not this time.

  He covered the distance between them in two seconds and grabbed her arm. “Wait a minute. We need to deal with this. The way you left town has bothered me for a long time. I called, I sent e-mails, but you never answered.”

  She tried to squirm away, but he held her firm. Her gaze remained focused on his chest where she surely must be able to see his heart beating at a ridiculous rate. This close he could see the sweep of her lashes on her cheek, the faint dusting of freckles near her nose. When she raised her eyes to lock with his, fire blazed in their hazel depths.

  “I thought a clean break would be better. My life’s in New York. I figured yours would be here with Susie.”

  He scowled. That didn’t answer his question.

  “Why’d you two break up anyway?” she demanded.

  “None of your business.” Trust Maxi to avoid his question with an attack of her own. “What was it about Susie that made you so crazy? You never cared who I dated before.”

  Her nostrils flared for a moment before she struggled again to get free. He only tightened his grip, suddenly aware of how fragile she seemed compared to his own muscled arms.

  The look in her eyes changed from anger to one of almost pain, making his breath catch. When her bottom lip began to quiver, the irrational side of his brain could only manage one powerful thought. What would it be like to kiss those lips?

  His breathing became labored, his chest tight. Slowly he lowered his head toward her. He heard the sharp intake of her breath, smelled the traces of lemonade on her mouth. The tension shimmered between them until the sound of her cell phone pierced the silence. Maxi jerked away from him, pulling the phone out of her pant pocket.

  Jason raked a hand through his hair, his pulse rioting. What had he almost done?

  “Lance. Hi. Yes, everything’s fine.” She turned away from Jason, one hand over her free ear. “No, I can’t leave yet. I told you. We have to put the farm up for sale and find a place for my mother…”

  Who was Lance? And since when was she selling the farm?

  “Philippe understands my situation.”

  Jason saw Maxi’s back stiffen and frowned at the sudden desire to ease her tension.

  “There’s no reason for you to come here.” She sounded panicky. “If I need you, I’ll call. Yes, I promise. I miss you, too. Talk to you soon.”

  Maxi clicked the phone off and stayed with her back turned for a moment, taking in a long breath.

  Jason waited for her to turn around. When she did, her mask was in place, emotions contained.

  “Who’s Lance?”

  “Just a friend.”

  He snorted his disbelief. “Yeah, right.”

  “Fine. A friend I’m dating.”

  “Sounds like a hair stylist.”

  “Actually he works on Wall Street.”

  Awkward tension hovered in the air between them. She fiddled with a necklace sitting at her throat. He tried not to think about almost kissing her moments before.

  “So your boyfriend didn’t even come with you to your father’s funeral?” He couldn’t help the snide tone.

  Her mask slipped. “Don’t you dare lecture me about relationships.”

  A swarm of indescribable emotions churned the lemonade in his stomach. Maxi had a boyfriend. A rich, New York boyfriend. Why did that bother him so much?

  “You’re right. It’s none of my business.” Mentally he counted to ten and backpedaled to focus on what he’d been trying to achieve. To recapture their former friendship.

  If that were even possible.

  The stiffness in her slim shoulders relaxed a touch, though she appeared wary.

  He blew out a breath. “Look, I don’t want to fight with you, Max. Can’t we please go back to the way we used to be? You were my best friend, and I miss you.”

  She didn’t move, except to blink twice. Finally she nodded. “I’ve missed you, too.” Her chin trembled for a moment before she stuck it out, an act of defiance, like the old Maxi.

  “Friends again?” Jason held out his hand to her and waited.

  An untold emotion flickered over her face before she took his hand. “Friends.”

  Her slim fingers gripped his hand, sending a flood of warmth through his arm. For some reason, even though he’d accomplished his goal, Jason wasn’t nearly as happy as he’d expected.

  5

  The familiar jingle of the bell brought waves of nostalgia crashing over Maxi the next day as she pushed through the door to Peg’s Cut ’N Curl. The scent of green apple shampoo blended with hairspray fumes to assault her senses. It felt like coming home.

>   So much so, that she had to swallow a rush of emotion.

  Nothing had changed in the time she’d been away. Tangerine walls still provided a backdrop to the hair styling stations. The same large hair dryers lined the far wall. Peg Hanley, her barrel shape and familiar topknot of wispy reddish hair, stood snipping Millie Simmons’s gray curls that didn’t need trimming at all.

  The only real difference Maxi could see was the new girl at the reception desk. Maxi smiled, recalling the good times she’d had when Lily worked at that desk. Those simple things seemed even more memorable today for some reason.

  “May I help you?” the girl asked.

  “I’m here to see Peg.”

  The girl eyed Maxi’s spiked hair and large hoop earrings and then moved down to her mosaic halter top and tight designer jeans. Her disapproving look made Maxi raise her chin. “No need to get up. I know the way.”

  Before the girl could sputter a protest, Maxi breezed by the reception desk toward Peg, who turned and let out a whoop. Dropping the comb, she rushed forward to envelop Maxi in a crushing hug. The simple affection had tears smarting.

  “If you aren’t a treat for these tired eyes,” Peg said. “Haven’t changed a bit, except your clothes are fancier and you’re still too thin.”

  Maxi laughed. “Thank goodness you haven’t changed either.”

  “Let me finish with Millie here while we chat.” Peg went back to her hair cut. “So how are things at that swanky establishment of yours?”

  Maxi hesitated, wondering why immediate words of enthusiasm didn’t spring to her lips. She forced gaiety into her tone. “Great. I’m in the running for a junior partnership. If I can get back in time to beat out the ice queen.”

  “Ah, one of those types.”

  “You have no idea. And she’s out for blood.”

  “Don’t wrinkle that freckled nose worrying about the likes of her. If your boss has any sense, he’ll recognize true talent when he sees it.”

  Maxi grinned. “Thanks. Actually that’s one of the reasons I dropped by. Would it be OK to use the shop to practice some New York style hairdos, if I can line up a few guinea pigs? I need to update my portfolio.”

  Peg raised one eyebrow above her wire-rimmed glasses. “I wouldn’t mind seeing some of those fancy dos myself. As long as I’m not booked up, the place is yours.”

  Maxi kissed her cheek. “Thanks. I knew I could count on your support.”

  “I’d rather you come back here to work,” she grumbled.

  Maxi laughed out loud. “I miss you, too.”

  Peg brushed off Millie’s neck and sent her to pay the bill. She shook out the black cape and laid it over the chair. “So have you seen that boy of mine since the funeral?”

  Tension hummed through Maxi’s shoulders. “Saw him yesterday.” She forced herself not to think about the near kiss.

  “He still mad at you?”

  Maxi frowned. She hadn’t realized the extent of their estrangement was common knowledge. “I think we’re back to a good place again,” she replied.

  Peg gave her a penetrating stare. “You still in love with him?”

  An infusion of heat spread up Maxi’s neck to her cheeks. She felt as exposed as a streaker in a football stadium. “In love? No. I got over that high school crush a long time ago.” She tried to give a convincing smile. “Actually I’m dating a very nice guy now—a businessman on Wall Street.”

  Peg didn’t move a muscle or even blink. “A businessman? Guess the city’s changed you after all.”

  Peg’s unsettling remark stayed with Maxi the rest of the day, irritating her mood like an uncomfortable rash. All through dinner, which her mother barely touched, Maxi couldn’t help reliving Peg’s unspoken criticism. Though Maxi didn’t give a fig what most people thought of her, she valued Peg Hanley’s opinion as much, if not more, than that of her family.

  The phone rang, startling Maxi out of her brooding thoughts.

  “Hey, sis. It’s Aidan. Just wanted you to know I made it home safe and sound.”

  Aidan had left that morning, needing to get back to his job in Arizona. The sound of his voice increased the pangs of loneliness. “Glad to hear it.” She tried not to envy him being able to leave all the problems here behind him.

  “How’s Mama?” he asked.

  “About the same. I’m not sure if it’s her illness or depression over Charlie, but all she wants to do is sleep. I can barely get her to eat.”

  At Maxi’s feet, Shep whined. She pushed open the screen door as she talked and let him out.

  Aidan sighed on the other end. “Let’s pray the house sells fast, and we can find a good place for her. I hate leaving you with the brunt of all this.” He paused. “You sure you’re OK?”

  Maxi swallowed her sadness. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

  “Well, call me anytime if you need to talk.”

  “I will. Thanks.”

  Maxi hung up feeling more desolate than before. She tidied the kitchen, let Shep back in, and went to check on her mother, who’d dozed off on the couch. Maxi roused her and got her into her room and settled in bed with the German shepherd lying guard on the mat.

  Weariness settled into Maxi’s bones as she locked up for the night. In the darkened kitchen, the lonely glow of her cell phone beckoned to her. She picked it up, her mind turning to Jason. The longing for his soothing presence became a physical ache.

  They’d agreed to be friends, hadn’t they? She could ask him to come over. They could talk about old times, play some cards, watch a movie. Her heart beat faster as she punched in the first few digits of his number. Then the memory of their encounter at the shelter made heat flare in her cheeks. She snapped the phone off and tossed it on the counter. Probably a very bad idea. In her vulnerable state tonight, who knew what could happen?

  She walked into the living room, straightened the pillows on the couch and turned off the lamp. With no desire to watch mindless television, she decided to turn in early, hoping things would appear brighter in the morning after a decent night’s sleep.

  With any luck at all, she wouldn’t even dream—especially not about Jason.

  ****

  Jason checked his pager and his cell phone to make sure both were still on. He’d been on call for the Kingsville Fire Department for the past eight hours and now looked forward to a hot shower and the comfort of his bed.

  He ran a hand over his gritty eyes and checked the time on the clock of his truck. Twelve thirty. He should make it back to Rainbow Falls by 1:00 AM. With any luck, his mother would be asleep.

  He blew out a weary breath. Maybe the time had come to get a place of his own. He hated the thought of leaving, but once he became a fireman full time, he’d be working crazy shifts, and his mom didn’t sleep well, waiting to hear his truck in the driveway.

  His thoughts turned to Maxi as he swung the vehicle onto the country road leading into town. Soon he would pass by the Norths’ farm. Would he see any lights on, or would Maxi be long asleep?

  Darkness spread out before him, broken only by the long beam of his headlights. Above him the stars winked a silent greeting. He felt like the lone person alive on the planet.

  A sudden flicker up ahead caught his attention. For a moment, he thought it a trick of his imagination until the flicker became a red glow. He craned his neck to see better, his instincts kicking into high alert.

  Fire!

  He hit the accelerator hard to get closer as fast as he could. Fear gripped his insides the minute he realized where the light was coming from.

  The North farm was on fire.

  Jason slammed down his foot on the accelerator and pulled out his cell phone. He punched in the speed dial number for the Kingsville Fire Department.

  “It’s Hanley. Fire on rural road eight. Charlie North’s place. Looks like the primary burn is the barn. I’m going to check the house. Meet me there.”

  Gravel flew as the truck roared onto the side road leading to the property. His pulse po
unded in his temples.

  Please God, let Maxi and her mother be all right.

  Jason watched the flames shoot from the barn as he jumped from the barely parked vehicle. Thank goodness the chicken coop was far enough away not to be affected. Not so, the main house. Smoke wisped up from the roof of the house. His blood ran cold. The fire had spread, probably from embers blown over in the wind.

  He bolted up the porch stairs to pommel the front door, calling out for Bernice and Maxi. He tried the handle, knowing it would be locked now that Maxi was home.

  With no response to his banging, he took a run at the door and hit it hard with his shoulder. Pain radiated through his arm, but the door didn’t budge. Fear closed his throat.

  You’re a firefighter, Hanley. Slow down. Think logically.

  Jason turned, picked up a wooden chair from the porch, and ran to the front window. He heaved the chair with as much strength as he could muster into the pane of glass. Shards flew everywhere. He leapt through the jagged opening, mindless of the sharp pieces that tore at him. He seemed to be moving in slow motion as he ran into the hallway. Shooting a glance toward Bernice’s main floor bedroom, Jason hesitated for a split second. Then, at the sight of smoke in the stairway, he bounded up toward Maxi’s room.

  Perspiration beaded on his forehead and dripped down his spine. The smoke got thicker as he ascended, burning his nostrils and throat. Black mist, like evil tendrils, swirled around him. He coughed, trying to cover his nose and mouth with the crook of his elbow. Somewhere in the house, Shep barked. He tried to call Maxi’s name but choked instead. Acrid fumes stung his eyes and blurred his vision, further hampering his ability to see. He crawled his way along the wall to her door.

  Relieved the handle wasn’t hot to the touch, Jason pushed into the room. Through the haze, he could only make out vague shapes. He felt his way to the bed, groping until he hit a lump.

  “Maxi.”

  She didn’t move.

  Running his hands over her, he found what felt like a shoulder and shook. When there was still no response, he gathered her body, blankets and all, into his arms and staggered to the door.