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“I hope so.”
Lexi followed Max inside, where she noticed the original ten hooks on the wall now had two additional rows under them. “That’s so sweet, how each of the kids has a hook.”
“Family tradition.” Max took her coat and hung it with his on the tenth hook on the first row, just like always.
Even the scents of cinnamon and cloves were as familiar to her as anything ever had been. “I, um, I need a second.”
Max turned to her, seeming startled to see tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“For the first time in a very long time, nothing is wrong.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Being here again is so special.”
“Having you here is special for me, too.” He held out a hand to her, and she took it, returning the smile he gave her. “Let’s go find my son.”
Lexi wasas sweet as he remembered, and so appreciative of the little things that made up his life, such as the hooks on the mudroom wall. He vividly recalled pointing them out to Chloe the first time she came with him to the barn, and she’d said they were cute. But Lexi… She knew they were so much more than cute to his family. They were part of the tradition that made the Abbott family what it was. She got it, and he appreciated that so much.
Still holding her hand, Max followed the sound of voices to the great room, which made up the center of the barn.
Caden let out the usual cry of happiness when he saw Max and came running.
Max released Lexi’s hand and lifted his son into a hug.
“What are you doing back?” Caden asked. “I don’t have to go home, do I?”
Max had known there would come a day when Caden would prefer the company of others to that of his father, but he’d expected it to take a few more years. “I wouldn’t think of ruining your fun.”
“That’s good, cuz Chase and Molly just got here, and we’re going to play tag in the yard.”
Which worked out well for Max’s plan to speak to his parents. “This is my friend Lexi. Can you say hi?”
Caden immediately went shy, ducking partially behind Max as he looked up at her. “Hi.”
“Hi, Caden. It’s so nice to meet you.”
Caden shook her hand. “You, too.”
Max introduced her to Chase and Molly, who greeted him with hugs and kisses.
Molly and Linc came over to give Lexi hugs.
“It’s so nice to see you again, honey,” Molly said.
“You, too,” Lexi said, tearing up again as she hugged his dad.
“I was wondering if I could talk to you guys for a minute,” Max said, glancing at the kids.
“I’ll go out with them,” Elmer said as he got out of his recliner and came over to hug Lexi. “Nice to see you again. Twice in one day.”
“We saw each other at the diner this morning,” Lexi said to Max.
“Ah, I see.”
“Come on, kiddos,” Elmer said. “Let’s go play.”
The kids ran past him to the mudroom to bundle up.
“What’s going on?” Linc asked after Lexi and Max sat on one of the sofas.
“Chloe sent a gift to Caden, along with this.” He got up to hand the letter to his parents, before returning to sit with her.
