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“Being with Max was wonderful?” Angie asked.
“Just like always, after I explained to him where I’d been and why. I realized I should’ve told him what was going on, because it was hard on him when I just disappeared. But after he said he wanted to see other people while we were in college…” She shrugged. “I found out this weekend that he still cared very much about me.”
“He was always the nicest boy,” Angie said. “We loved him and his family.”
“He’s still the nicest boy and a wonderful single father to Caden.”
“What happened to the child’s mother?”
“Shortly after the baby was born, she told Max she wasn’t ready to be a mother. He’s been a single parent ever since, but he gives tons of credit to his parents and siblings for supporting them both. His mom watches Caden after school and in the summers so he can work.”
“What does he do for work?” Larry asked.
“He divides his time between the family sugaring facility and Christmas Tree Farm. The business has exploded since the catalog went live, and the town is full of people coming to visit and to find the handsome catalog models.”
“I get that catalog,” Carol said. “Those Abbott and Coleman boys are handsome.”
“Yes, they are, even more so than they were when they were younger,” Lexi said, standing. “I’m going to unpack and shower. Thank you for dinner.”
“It’s great to have you home, honey,” Larry said. “We’re so glad you had a wonderful time.”
“Thanks. It was fun.”
She cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher before she went into her room to unpack and check her phone to see if Max had responded.
Not yet.
Lexi showered, changed into pajamas and threw in a load of laundry. She was in bed scanning the day’s headlines on her phone when he called an hour later. Her heart lurched with excitement when she saw his name on the caller ID, just like it used to back in high school when he’d call her every night after dinner.
“Hi,” she said.
“How was the trip home?”
“Long. I left Butler at nine and just got home an hour ago, with a stop for a new phone.”
“I wondered why I didn’t hear from you last night.”
“Sorry about that. I didn’t realize my phone had died until after I got back to the rental. I didn’t have your number to text you on my computer.”
“No worries. As long as you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. Did you have a good day?”
“It was okay. Back to the grind after a fabulous weekend. And then I had to talk to Caden about Chloe.”
“How’d that go?”
“He was curious, which I suppose is to be expected, and he said he’d like to meet her. He also loved the gift she sent, but Daisy didn’t. She was growling and snapping at the truck. It was pretty funny.”
Lexi laughed. “Poor Daisy.”
“She’ll eventually get used to life with a very busy boy. They’re super cute together. She sleeps in bed with him. I know I shouldn’t allow that, but Ringo used to sleep with me, so how can I deny him?”
“You can’t.”
“He asked if you’re my girlfriend.”
“Did he? What did you say?”
