A heaviness settled over Max, knowing how much Piper had endured the past few years. It couldn’t have been easy, especially being married to someone who didn’t share her dreams or goals.
“After Nick died, the community rallied,” Mom said, a smile on her face. “The past four months, there have been hundreds of volunteers here to help Piper finish the house. Everyone hoped she could keep it and run it as a bed-and-breakfast, but there was no way she could wait for it to turn a profit. She had to sell.”
“And that’s when you called me.”
Mom’s eyes glowed with pride. “Thank you, Max. From all of us. Even though she doesn’t own the house any longer, she was so happy to stay and manage it. I think she’s hopeful that one day she can purchase the house again when she’s in a better financial situation.”
His mom had given him a lot to think about. There was a part of him that wanted to hand the deed back to Piper, but the truth was, he didn’t have a thick bank account, either. He was comfortable, but he couldn’t take such a big hit.
“Now.” Mom set her face and squared her shoulders. “I have something I want to ask you.”
Inwardly, he grimaced. He had a hard time saying no to his mom, which was why he now owned a bed-and-breakfast. “What is it?”
“It’s about Tad.” Sadness slanted her mouth at the corners. “I can’t seem to reach him. He already has several scouts watching him and he’s being recruited by half a dozen colleges.”
Max knew as much. His brother had a better chance of going pro than Max had.
“I don’t like what it’s doing to him,” she said. “It’s going to his head, just—”
“Just like it went to my head.” He didn’t need her to say anything for him to know what she was thinking.
“You know I love you, Max, and that I’m so proud of you, but—”
“But I didn’t make good choices.”
She nodded.
“That’s why I’ve come back,” he told her. “To redeem those mistakes.”
“You can’t redeem your past by your own deeds.” She studied him. “Only God can redeem you. You know that.”
He had rededicated his life to God after his last concussion, and his mom had told him it was enough. But it didn’t feel like enough. He needed to make it up to a lot of people.
“What would you like me to do?” Max asked.
“I want you to reach out to Tad. He respects and admires you—”
“He used to respect and admire me.”
“He still does,” she said gently. “He’s just lost and I can’t find a way to get through to him.” Her eyes pleaded with him. “Will you help?”
“I don’t know if I can make a difference, but of course I’ll try.”
Relief flooded her face. “Thank you. Since your dad died, Tad has been craving a male role model.” She wrapped her arms around Max’s waist one more time and then said after a brief pause, “If you could find a way back into Piper’s heart while you’re at it, I’d love that, too.”
He hugged her back and sighed. “It’s not going to happen, Mom. I don’t plan to get romantically involved with anyone, let alone Piper. There’s too much between us.” Ultimately, he’d only disappoint her again. Hadn’t all his other relationships proved that to be true?
“I will never give up hope,” she said.
“Ever the matchmaker.”
“I do what I’m good at—and you will, too.”
He wasn’t sure what he could do for Tad or Piper, but he’d come back to make things right with the community and that’s exactly what he would try to do.
* * *
Evening had fallen and Piper was weary in body and in spirit. All she wanted was a nice hot bath and her comfortable bed. Her feet ached from running up and down the steps all day, her back ached from making all the beds and her arms were sore from vacuuming thousands of square feet of rugs.
But it was her heart that hurt the most. Now that Max owned the bed-and-breakfast, it changed everything. Her one consolation when selling was the knowledge that she would stay and manage the business. It had been her lifelong dream. But now? Now, she would have to leave. She couldn’t stay in the house with Max, no matter how much she wanted to operate the bed-and-breakfast. Too much had come between them.
Piper entered the kitchen and set a stack of dish towels in a drawer. The room smelled of sugar cookies, beef stew and fresh bread.
“I’m going to tuck in early.” Mrs. Anderson covered a wide yawn with her hand, then untied her apron. “There’s some beef stew warming on the stove and some bread toasting in the oven. I ate while you were upstairs vacuuming. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not.” Piper smiled, though her heart was heavy. She leaned against the center island. “You’ve done more than your share today. You should try to get some rest.”
“I’ve only done my job.” She patted Piper’s hand. “You’ve done the majority of the work. You shouldn’t push yourself so hard.”
Piper placed her hand on her stomach and gave Mrs. Anderson a reassuring smile. “I’ll be fine.”
“Don’t stay up too late.” Mrs. Anderson yawned again and then crossed the wide room to her bedroom door. “And be sure to offer some of that supper to Max.”
Before Piper could protest, Mrs. Anderson slipped inside her bedroom and closed the door.
Earlier, after his mom and brother left, Max had offered to help Piper get the house ready for the grand opening, but she had insisted she didn’t need his help. It wasn’t quite true, but she was still a little shaken from his sudden appearance and needed her own space to think about the ramifications. He was tired from the drive, so he went up to his third-floor apartment to get a few hours of sleep. The last thing she wanted was to go up there and offer him some supper. If she did, they’d have to talk and she wasn’t ready to talk.
Piper turned off the stove and moved the stew to a trivet on the counter. The kitchen was part of a large private space with a living room and dining area that she shared with Mrs. Anderson. It connected to the formal public dining room with a swinging door that could be locked, if need be. At the back of the private living room was a door leading to the rear stairwell, giving them easy access to the second and third floors, as well as two other doors leading into Piper and Mrs. Anderson’s spacious bedrooms.
Now that Piper had moved out of the third-floor apartment, this was her new home until the baby was born sometime around Christmas. Before that day, she had hoped to have enough money to rent a little place to call her own.
At least, that had been the plan. Now, with Max living just two floors above, she’d have to find a place sooner than she’d hoped. But there was no money. Every penny she’d made on the sale of the bed-and-breakfast had gone to pay off creditors. It would take several more months of hard work to pay off the rest.
There was a knock outside the dining room door. “May I come in?” Max asked.
Piper’s pulse started to pound as she paused while taking a bowl out of the cupboard. “Of course,” she croaked out. “Come in.” She quickly glanced at her reflection in the chrome-covered toaster and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. She had changed out of the paint-stained overalls she was wearing before, and put on a pair of black shorts and a simple white-striped shirt. She had also brushed her hair and put it up in a ponytail.
Max pushed open the door and stepped into the room. He had changed into a pair of close-fit jeans and a cotton hoodie. His hair was a bit mussed and his beard a little darker.
He was so good-looking it almost hurt. She forced herself to stop thinking about how handsome he was. It didn’t matter what the man looked like. It mattered only how he behaved—and there were a few things Piper had read about Max in the gossip columns that had left her unimpressed. He was notorious for leaving a wake of broken hearts in his path.
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His glance took in her and the living space in one broad sweep. “Does this house never end?”
A smile tilted one side of her mouth. She couldn’t help it. “It’s a lot bigger than I thought it would be when I was small.” She motioned him to come in all the way.
“Is this where you and Mrs. Anderson live?”
Nodding, Piper went to the cupboard and pulled out another bowl. “Are you hungry?”
“Famished—and that smells amazing.”
“You have one of the finest cooks in Timber Falls working for you.” She filled both bowls and then put on oven mitts and took the bread out of the oven, all the while conscious of his presence.
“And fresh bread?” Max shook his head, coming farther into the kitchen. “I can get used to this.”
Piper worked silently as she took out a couple of spoons and some napkins. How long did Max intend to stay? Was he back for good? Or was this only a stopping point on his quest for bigger and better things?
“Can I help?” he asked. “I feel like I’ve been useless all day.”
“You can get out the milk and some cups.”
The dishes were housed behind glass-front cabinets, so it was easy for him to locate the cups.
When all was ready, they brought everything to the small table tucked into the bay window and took a seat. Piper’s hands trembled with the uncertainty of talking to Max again. She wasn’t ready to discuss the past, nor was she ready to tackle the issues at hand. She’d had time to think—and she’d made some decisions—but it wouldn’t be easy to share. At least, not yet.
Outside, dusk had just started to fall and there was a warm glow over the lush landscape just beyond the window, offering an intimate setting inside. A pretty white gazebo sat in the center of the yard and would one day be the site of small wedding ceremonies or bridal showers. All around them, lights were turning on in the other houses and the sounds of the neighborhood were beginning to quiet. It was a time for families to gather, to share the little nuances of their days together. Knowing the size of Timber Falls, it was safe to guess that Max would be discussed around most of those dinner tables. News of his arrival would have spread quickly.
“Would you like me to say grace?” Max asked.
Piper nodded and bowed her head.
“Lord, thank you for this day, for this food, and for good friends, both old and new. Amen.”
“Amen,” Piper whispered, suddenly not as hungry as she’d been before.
Steam lifted from their bowls as they dipped their spoons into the stew.
“Has Mrs. Anderson eaten?” Max asked.
“Yes. She’s already gone to bed.” It was early for the older woman, but Piper would not tell Max. He didn’t need to know that she was probably trying to play matchmaker.
They ate for a few minutes before Max broke the silence. “My compliments to the cook.”
“I’ll be sure to tell her.”
Max set his spoon in his bowl and then looked up at Piper. “I feel like I should apologize for buying your bed-and-breakfast.”
“Don’t be silly.” She forced the stew down her throat. “You were a godsend.” At least, that’s what she had thought when she learned there was a buyer who was willing to pay top dollar and wanted her to stay on. If she had known it was Max, she might have questioned God’s choice—just like she was doing now.
“I don’t feel like a godsend.” His eyes were so soft in the glow of the setting sun. “I feel like an intruder. I know how much this house means to you—has always meant to you.”
There was a part of Piper that felt like she knew Max Evans inside and out. They’d grown up together, shared all their greatest hopes and dreams, their deepest hurts and fears. But ten years had passed, and both of them had changed a great deal. Neither one was the person they were at graduation. In almost every sense of the word, Max was a stranger to her.
She took another bite of stew before she spoke again. She needed to tell him what she’d decided and couldn’t put it off any longer. “Every weekend is booked through the first of the year, so you shouldn’t need to worry about income. I’ll stay on for the next two weeks to get things up and running, and to give you time to find a new manager, but I think it’ll be best for both of us if I leave.”
Max lowered his spoon to the side of his bowl, his eyebrows coming together. “What? No. I don’t want you to leave, Piper. This is your home, your dream. I didn’t come to take it away from you.”
“I know.” She couldn’t look him in the eyes, so she pushed a piece of beef around her bowl with the spoon. “I’m not mad. I just don’t think it’s a good—”
“I do. I only bought this place because my mom reassured me that I had a manager to take care of all the details.”
“You can hire someone else.”
“No one that will do as good a job as you.” He leaned back in his chair. “If anyone should move out, it’s me. If that’s what has you worried, I’ll—”
“It’s your house now. I can’t ask you to leave.”
“It’s not a big deal. I’ll bunk with Tad for a few weeks until I find something to rent.”
Piper finally looked at Max, a brow raised. “I’m not going to let you bunk with your eighteen-year-old brother. There’s a very nice apartment, fully furnished, on the third floor that belongs to you. It would be silly to make you look for another place to rent.”
“And there’s a very nice apartment right here for you to live in.” His gaze fell to the rise of her stomach for a brief moment. “I know you need the job and, more importantly, I know you want the job. Please don’t quit, Piper.”
Just the thought of leaving made her want to weep, but it was for the best—wasn’t it?
“We’re adults,” he said. “Can’t we find a way for this to work?”
Piper set down her spoon and clasped her hands on her lap, but didn’t respond right away.
Max took a deep breath. “I’ve thought about what I would say to you when, or if, I ever had the chance.”
“You don’t need to say anything.” She shook her head, not wanting to discuss the past—at least, not now, not when she was still reeling from his sudden appearance in her life.
“I made a lot of mistakes, Piper, and I have a lot of regrets, but when I look back at my life, the biggest regret I have is how I treated you.”
She didn’t want to hear what he had to say, but she couldn’t walk away now. There was a part of her that didn’t want to forgive him. He’d hurt her very deeply, especially knowing what he did about her past. His betrayal had wounded her to her core. A simple apology didn’t feel like enough—yet, what more could he offer?
Nothing. A wound as deep as hers could not be healed by mere words. Nor could she open herself up to ever trust him again.
“I know there is nothing I can do to make things right between us,” he said. “But I want to try. I know how much this house means to you and I want you to stay, for as long as you like. And, maybe someday, if you are able, I want to sell it back to you. I’ll keep this house for as long as it will take.”
Tears sprang to Piper’s eyes, but she forced herself to hold them at bay. “You’d do that for me?”
Max reached across the empty space between them and gently put his hand over her clasped ones.
Piper held her breath as she met his gaze.
“I’d do anything in the world for you, Piper.” He seemed to be trying to control his own emotions. “I know I hurt you, and more than anything, I wish I could go back and make different decisions, but it doesn’t mean I stopped caring about you.” He smiled and creases formed at the sides of his mouth. “You were my best friend—and to be honest, no one has ever replaced you. I’ve had a lot of acquaintances, and some friends through the years, but I’ve never met anyone who I could call my best friend.” He paused, his smile di
mming a bit. “I miss having a best friend. I miss you.”
She could no longer hold the tears in check. One slipped down her cheek. She had missed him, too, for a long time, but she had learned to live without Max Evans in her life. The idea of trying to resurrect a relationship, after so much time and pain, was too much to even consider. She could never take that risk again, especially with a baby on the way. She needed to stay strong, both mentally and emotionally, so she could deal with the demands of motherhood. But, could they work together? He seemed genuine in his desire for her to remain—and, if it meant that one day she could own the house again, then that was a risk she was willing to take.
Piper wiped at her tears and unclasped her hands, forcing him to remove his. She sat up straighter, resolve strengthening her spine. “We are adults,” she agreed. “And we should be able to work together.” She held his gaze. “But that’s all that we can ever be, Max. Coworkers. Nothing more. Ten years ago, our friendship died, and once something dies, it’s lost to us forever.”
The light in his eyes dimmed even more, but he nodded, as if accepting whatever she had to offer.
He was quiet for several minutes, but then he said, “I’m happy you’ll stay, Piper.”
Even though things weren’t perfect, she was happy to stay, too.
Chapter Three
The next morning, Piper was out of bed and dressed for the day before seven. She hadn’t slept well the night before, but there were so many tasks left to accomplish before the grand opening at three. She couldn’t lie in bed, even if she had wanted to.
By one in the afternoon, she was utterly exhausted and was thankful when her friend Liv Butler appeared at the rear entrance of the house. “I’ve come with fresh flowers and brochures hot off the press.”
Mrs. Anderson was busy making another batch of sugar cookies, claiming the three hundred she had made the day before wouldn’t be enough. Max was on a ladder outside, cleaning an old bird’s nest out of an eave of the house. Piper was seated at the little alcove desk under the back stairs, updating their Facebook page with some pictures to encourage people to stop by the open house between three and six before the first guests would check in.
A Home for Her Baby Page 3