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“Thanks again for having Caden this week.”
“We love having him. He and Savvy have the best time together, and he’s sweet with Sierra and Sawyer, too.”
“He loves hanging with you guys.”
“Safe travels tomorrow.”
“Thanks. I’ll check in tomorrow night.”
“Sounds good.”
“See you.”
Max wasawake at seven the next morning, but Lexi was still sound asleep. He tried kissing her, but she never moved. “Hey, Lex,” he whispered, giving her shoulder a gentle shake.
She moaned.
“We need to get moving. We wanted to get an early start today.”
The only thing left in her room was the mattress she was leaving behind. She’d bought a new one that would be delivered when she arrived in Vermont.
“Lex.”
Her eyes opened and then closed again. “Tired.”
“How can you be tired when you slept for twelve hours?”
Her shoulder lifted in a shrug.
“You can sleep in the truck.”
“’Kay.”
“Lexi.” Their nineteen-hundred-mile drive would take twenty-nine hours, and Max was eager to get going.
“I’m awake.” She forced herself to rally, to get up and shower and get dressed while he took several of her bags downstairs. Then he took a quick shower, packed his bag and grabbed her last bag on the way out.
He found Lexi in the kitchen, sipping coffee with her parents and grandparents, and noted the deep, dark circles under her eyes and the unusual pallor. As soon as they got to Vermont, he would insist she see a doctor, because something wasn’t right.
Her family waved them off a short time later, promising to see them in Vermont in a month or two. Their house was on the market, and they’d begun packing up to move.
Lexi had nodded off shortly after they drove away from her house, which put Max’s nerves further on edge.
Driving the rental truck was easy enough, but the ride was hardly luxurious. He felt every bump in the road, but Lexi never stirred.
She was still asleep when he stopped in Louisiana for gas and later when he stopped in Mississippi to use the bathroom and get something to eat.
When he returned to the truck with chicken tenders and fries, he tried to nudge her awake.
“Lexi, wake up. You’re scaring me.”
“Mmm,” she said without opening her eyes. “Sorry.”
“I got some food.”
“Smells good.”
“Have a few bites.”
