The Better Man (Chicago Sisters)

by Amy Vastine

  “I want nothing to do with him, Kendall. I can’t handle it.”

  Kendall’s forehead creased. “That scares me.”

  “It shouldn’t. This doesn’t change the way I feel about you.”

  She crossed her arms and closed her eyes. When she opened them, the way she looked at Max terrified him. “It changes the way I have to feel about you, for Simon’s sake.”

  Kendall gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek and went back out into the dining room, leaving Max alone with his thoughts and doubts. He couldn’t lose her because of his father. But how could he make this work?

  * * *

  BY THE END of the night, Max and his staff had successfully fed every customer who had walked through the door of Sato’s. There hadn’t been one single complaint and several patrons had shared their positive experience with Max before leaving. Mr. Sato was thrilled. Jin took notes. Max counted tonight as a win, even if his mother and Paul’s date night had ruffled his feathers.

  He rubbed his eyes. The clock in his office said it was a little after eleven o’clock. The kitchen was closed and cleaned. The day’s receipts had been counted, the credit-card report sent and daily sales information recorded. All Max had to do was set the alarm and lock up. He shut off the lights and headed out.

  The city was quite tranquil this time of night. There were still cars on the roads, but the sidewalks were almost empty. It made him feel alone, something he was just beginning to think he’d never have to feel again. He pulled out his phone and searched for an address. There was only one thing he could do to avoid the lonely road ahead. He asked the driver to change his destination.

  Kendall’s street was quiet. Her house was dark except for the porch light she’d left on. Max texted his arrival so he didn’t wake Simon.

  She pulled the door open, wearing flannel pajamas and glasses. She was beautiful. “Hey there,” she said, taking in his somber expression. “What’s wrong?”

  Lucy appeared from behind her. “Kind of late, isn’t it?” she asked, ever the ferocious guard dog.

  He kept his focus on Kendall. “Can I borrow your car?”

  “Sure, but where are you going?” She looked worried, as if she thought he might say back to California. Her concern gave him a little hope.

  “I need to talk to my dad and I can only imagine how much a cab would cost to Lake Forest.”

  Her lips curled up into the sweetest smile. He wanted to kiss her so it would never fade. She disappeared from the doorway before he could do just that. When she reappeared she had shoes on and keys in her hand. “Want some company?”

  * * *

  HIS NERVES KICKED in as soon as they exited the highway. He almost asked Kendall to pull over at the first gas station they came upon so he could buy some cigarettes, although he doubted smoking a whole pack would help, given his level of anxiety.

  Kendall’s hand moved from the steering wheel to his leg. “It’s going to be okay.”

  He placed his hand over hers and squeezed. “Thanks for coming with me.”

  “I lean on you, you lean on me. That seems to be our new thing.”

  The next breath went in a little easier after she said that. He liked the thought of having someone he could count on and being that someone for Kendall.

  It wasn’t too long before they drove up to what appeared to be a mansion. Landscaping lights illuminated the trees and shrubs that surrounded the house. Red brick covered the entire exterior. This place was so humongous, it looked like it could take up an entire city block.

  “This is where he lives?” Max bent forward to get a better view through the windshield.

  “This is it. This is where Trevor grew up.”

  The knot of anger that had taken up a permanent home in his stomach since he found out his father was alive and well grew larger. Paul Montgomery had enough money to support ten families. Max almost asked Kendall to drive away.

  “He told me he offered your mother money, but she said she wanted him or nothing,” Kendall said as if reading his mind.

  Max pulled his eyes away from the house and set them on Kendall, his reason for being here. “Of course he said that.”

  “Does that sound like something your mom would do?”

  It did. Max let his head fall back against the headrest. That didn’t mean it was true. He’d have to ask his mother before he’d believe it.

  “Do you want me to call him so he knows we’re here?” Kendall asked, taking her phone out of her purse. He nodded and she dialed.

  Paul opened the front door before Max mustered up the courage to get out of the car. Kendall waited for him to make the first move. It was now or never. He pulled the handle and pushed the door open. He wasn’t going to go inside the house, he had decided. He didn’t need to see any more of Paul Montgomery’s wealth.

  “Is everything all right?” Paul asked as Max made his way up the brick paved walkway with Kendall at his side.

  “As all right as it can be,” Kendall answered since Max didn’t.

  “Come on in out of the cold,” he said, stepping back inside.

  Max shook his head. “We’re not staying.”

  “Oh,” Paul said, coming back out. He wore a navy blue robe over his pajamas. Max hadn’t worn real pajamas since he was a little kid.

  “I came here to get a couple of things straight.” Max reached out in search of Kendall’s hand. Her fingers were cold when they found his. “My mother is important to me. Kendall and Simon are important to me. I want them to be in my life. I understand that means there are going to be times when our lives intersect.”

  “I don’t want to cause you any trouble. I know I don’t deserve anything from you.”

  “You don’t, and I’m not really offering you anything. Let’s be clear. This isn’t me forgiving you or welcoming you into my life. This is me setting some ground rules I can live with because I refuse to give up Kendall and Simon.”

  Kendall squeezed his hand a little tighter.

  “What kind of ground rules?” The air was cold enough that they could see their breath. Paul wrapped his arms around himself.

  Max had thought about nothing but the rules on the way over here. Now his heart was beating so fast, he couldn’t think straight. He took a deep breath and stole a glance in Kendall’s direction. “I’m not ready to talk about what happened between you and my mother. I’m not sure I’ll ever want to know. Do not offer up stories or things you remember about my mom when you two were...together.”

  Paul nodded.

  “What happens between me and Kendall is between me and Kendall. You do not get an opinion. I don’t care that you’re one of the reasons I’m alive, or who else was your son. You have no say in this relationship.”

  “Kendall makes her own decisions. Always has.”

  “That’s true,” Kendall said. “But you have a way of letting me know when you think I’ve made the wrong one.”

  “I’ve been trying to look out for you and Simon,” he said in his defense. “Without Trevor, I thought you needed some help.”

  “She doesn’t need help unless she asks for it. I hope she won’t need your help with me.” He turned to Kendall. “Can you handle that?”

  She nodded and smiled. He was glad she had offered to come along.

  “I’ll keep my opinions to myself, then,” Paul said, sounding slightly wounded. He stared at his feet. “Can you two come inside so we don’t freeze out here?”

  “We’re almost done. My mom doesn’t get to decide who I choose to be around, and I don’t get to choose who she lets into her life. But know this—if you hurt her again, I will show you no mercy.”

  Paul actually laughed. Not in a mocking way, but as if the threat filled him with pride. “I wouldn’t expect anything else.”

  “Last one a
nd you can get back to bed,” Max said, wishing he wasn’t so proud and had taken Paul up on his offer to go inside. “I don’t like you. I don’t forgive you. I don’t know that I ever will. The way you’ll show me you care about that is by keeping your distance and respecting my wishes.”

  “Understood.”

  “Good.” A feeling of calm came over him, and Max held his hand out, the only peace offering he was willing to give. Paul stared at it for a second, perhaps wondering if this was some sort of test, a trick maybe. He reached out slowly and took Max’s hand, shaking it firmly when it wasn’t pulled away. “See you around,” Max said, backing away.

  He and Kendall jogged back to the car, which was thankfully still warm from the drive over.

  “You did great,” she said as she backed out of the driveway. “I’m proud of you for finding a way to make this work.”

  Max suddenly felt exhausted. His adrenaline was no longer flowing and his whole body ached for his bed. He held her hand and closed his eyes. “Anything for you.”

  Kendall drove him home and double-parked outside his building.

  “Thanks for coming with me,” he said. “Having you there helped a lot.”

  She twisted in her seat to face him and gave him her crooked smile. “I saw you subtly ogling me when you got nervous. It really is your thing.”

  “Pretty girls—helping me out since 1987,” he said, making her laugh. “I hope you know how serious I am about you. I want this. I want you.”

  “Good,” she said, reaching for his tie and pulling him closer.

  “Good.” He initiated the kiss this time. Sweet and soft. She tasted like toothpaste and felt like true love.

  He pulled back, then kissed her one more time on the cheek. “You better go home before Lucy comes looking for you. And me.” Smiling like a fool, he grabbed the door handle and slipped out of the car. They had all the time in the world to feed this flame. He wasn’t going anywhere. Well, he was going home, but that was as far apart as they’d ever be.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  KENDALL STOOD IN the doorway to get a full view of the bedroom as Max came up behind her. She could hear Simon counting in the living room. The two of them were in the midst of an intense game of hide-and-seek.

  “All finished?” he whispered.

  “I think so. What do you think?”

  Max took a look over her shoulder. “Kendall,” he gasped, pushing past her and standing in the center of Aidan’s new room. “This is incredible.”

  Once it was decided that Max would get his son every other weekend, he enlisted Kendall’s help in setting up a room for him in the condo. There was a race-car bed and checkered-flag curtains. Colorful grandstands filled with cheering fans and race cars crossing the finish line were painted on the wall behind the bed. Kendall had found a dresser that looked like a mechanic’s tool chest and a traffic-light lamp for the nightstand.

  She’d managed to keep Max out of this room until today, although she wondered if he hadn’t taken a peek when she wasn’t around. He seemed genuinely surprised, so maybe not.

  “Ready or not, here I come!” Simon yelled from the other room.

  Max put his finger to his lips and slipped into the closet.

  “Mommy, where did Max go?” Simon asked as he meandered down the hall.

  “If I told you, that would be cheating. You have to look for him.”

  “Whoa! This is Aidan’s room?” The mural was similar to the one in Simon’s room. The accessories and fancy bed were not. Simon’s look of jealousy was something Kendall hadn’t seen before. “I want a race-car bed!”

  “Don’t you have an uncle to look for?”

  “But how come he got this?” Simon asked, picking up a pillow in the shape of a red race car.

  “You act like Santa didn’t bring you five hundred presents earlier this week. Stop whining and find Max before he’s lost forever.”

  Simon scowled and tossed the pillow back on the bed. He opened the closet and Max came tumbling out. “You found me,” he said, trying to sound disappointed.

  “Let’s play with Aidan’s toys,” Simon suggested, tugging on Max’s arm.

  Max looked at his watch. “He should be here any minute. Why don’t we wait for him? Your mom did such a nice job getting everything perfect, let’s not mess it up.”

  “Fine.” Simon’s bottom lip jutted out and the sulking began.

  So much had changed over the last six weeks. Simon had started at his new school, and he was thriving. The smaller setting and more individual attention were exactly what he needed to chase away the yucks. Just before winter break, he’d actually spoken to one little boy in his class. It was a major breakthrough, and something Kendall hoped would happen more often and with a variety of peers when he went back after the holidays.

  Simon wasn’t the only one overcoming obstacles. Max survived Thanksgiving and Christmas with his father in the picture. He opted to work on Thanksgiving Day to avoid any confrontation, but he had been there Christmas Eve when Kendall’s entire family, including Paul, gathered to celebrate.

  The two men exchanged little, other than meaningless pleasantries, but it was a start. Max had a tough road ahead, especially since his mother was moving to Chicago and had every intention of welcoming Paul into her life. The whole thing flabbergasted Kendall as much as it did Max, but who were they to judge? Their relationship could easily raise a few eyebrows.

  Kendall had fallen in love with the man who looked like her dead husband. A man who was her husband’s half brother, a secret love child. Max didn’t think it was too funny when she’d called him that once. She hoped if he believed he was created out of love, he’d be more accepting of all the love that was being offered to him now.

  Love was hard enough without all these extenuating circumstances. Kendall and Max both had to overcome their trust issues and be willing to drop their defenses. That meant fighting their instinct to hide their feelings. Only time would tell if they could make it work. The good news was they both wanted to try and neither one was willing to walk away.

  The door buzzer sounded and Simon sprinted to the intercom. “He’s here!”

  Max planted a kiss on Kendall’s forehead. “Thank you for this. He’s going to love it.”

  She took his hand and led him to the front door. Simon nearly tackled his cousin when he walked in. Aidan didn’t mind. He was a big fan of Simon. Katie and Jason carried in so much stuff, it looked like the little guy was moving in permanently. Katie had three pages of notes and reminded Max five times to call her if he had any questions.

  “He’s got it, honey,” Jason said, taking the notes she’d written and handing them to Max. “Let’s go.”

  Katie’s eyes were wet and Kendall couldn’t help but feel for her. Had Trevor survived his last tour of duty, they would have gotten divorced and Kendall would have been where Katie was right now. How could someone ever take care of your child better than you could? It would have been very difficult to relinquish control.

  “He needs a night-light at bedtime. I packed one in case you don’t have one. There’s also a humidifier in that bag because I wasn’t sure how dry it was in here. Our place is so dry in the winter.”

  She’d literally thought of everything. No wonder there was so much stuff.

  “He’ll be fine. I promise to return him on Sunday in the same condition he’s in now,” Max assured her. “I have Kendall one block away if I need help. Plus, I’ll call you if I have any questions.”

  Jason gave him a thumbs-up behind his wife’s back. “All right. Let’s say goodbye to Aidan.”

  The two boys came running out of Aidan’s new room with cars in both hands. “Mommy, come see my room!”

  Kendall and Max hung back while the rest of them went to check it out. Max frowned and motioned to the pile o
f stuff that now littered his living room floor.

  “Be nice,” she whispered back. “I would probably be the same way.”

  “No, you wouldn’t. That’s why I’m dating you and divorced from her.”

  “Cool room,” Jason said, leading the pack back into the living room. “Did you paint that?”

  Max gave all the credit to Kendall. Katie carried Aidan in her arms. She told him to be good for his dad and was failing miserably at not getting emotional.

  “He’s going to have a blast with Dad, right Aidan?” Jason said, taking the boy from his mother. Kendall was certain the guy was afraid he was never going to get out of Max’s condo. He handed Aidan to Max. “We’ll see you on Sunday, and we’ll call you tonight before bed.”

  “And don’t forget to have him brush his teeth with the toothpaste I packed,” Katie said as her husband pulled her toward the door. “He can’t use adult toothpaste. It’s in the notes.”

  “Got it,” Max said.

  “He’s got it,” Jason echoed.

  She shook loose and gave Aidan one more kiss goodbye. There was no doubt in Kendall’s mind that Katie would be calling more than once at bedtime. They all waved as Max shut the door. He set Aidan down so he could run off with Simon. Pressing his back against the door, he let out an exasperated sigh.

  “Do I really have to brush his teeth with special toothpaste?”

  Kendall laughed and nodded. He had so much to learn. “You better read your notes. There will be a quiz later.”

  Max pulled an album from his shelf and slid the record out of the sleeve. There was always music playing at Max’s house. Kendall loved it. Being with Max allowed her to rediscover some of the things she’d given up during her marriage to Trevor—music, art, little pieces of herself she’d forgotten. Max appreciated her talents and respected her need for independence.

  He carefully set the needle in place and held out his hand to her as the song began to play. Smiling, she took it and let him pull her close. His other arm snaked around her waist while hers wrapped around his shoulder. Her fingers scratched the hair at the nape of his neck as they began to dance in a small circle.