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“Maybe we just need to dig a little deeper,” I suggested, a playful smile dancing on my lips. “You never know what treasures you might find.”
“Perhaps,” Max agreed, his expression warming ever so slightly. “Maybe we should start by exploring some new paths together. In fact, as it’s such a beautiful evening, why don’t we take a walk right now?”
“Sounds like a plan,” I replied, excitement bubbling within me.
Without warning, Max reached out and intertwined his fingers with mine as we walked away from the house. This simple gesture held a depth that left me speechless, my heart swelling with unspoken emotions.
We stayed silent for a few moments, both enjoying the simple pleasure of peace and closeness. Without warning, he stopped, softly placed a hand on each of my upper arms, and looked deep into my eyes, his expression open and concerned.
“Listen, Mia,” he began hesitantly, his voice laced with both regret and hope. “There’s something I need to tell you. I haven’t been completely honest.”
My heart sank at his confession, my mind racing to the darkest conclusions. “Max, what do you mean?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
“Please don’t be mad. I’m sorry I’ve been a bit... weird,” he pleaded, his eyes searching mine for understanding. “But you deserve to know the truth.”
I tried to steady my breathing, preparing myself for whatever revelation lay ahead. Despite the whirlwind of my thoughts, one fact was undeniable: Max held greater significance in my life than I had ever anticipated, and I couldn’t let a hidden secret come between us.
Max seemed to sense my anxiety and moved his hands down my arms, settling on my hands, which he gently squeezed.
“Actually... do you mind if we keep walking?” he suggested, nodding towards the path leading to a quieter town. “I’ll explain everything soon, I promise.”
“Alright,” I agreed hesitantly, ignoring the uneasiness knotting in my stomach.
As we began our journey, the rhythmic sound of our footsteps merged with the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. The soft rustling of leaves and the gentle chirping of crickets created an atmosphere of intimacy amidst nature’s embrace. The closer we walked together, the more I noticed how his steady presence anchored me.
“Max, what is it you haven’t been honest about?” I prodded, unable to bear the suspense any longer.
He let out a sigh as if preparing himself for a tough conversation.
My mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions - fear, hope, anticipation, anxiety - all vying for attention as I tried to make sense of Max’s words.
“Max, can you at least hint at what you will tell me?” I asked, attempting to mask my growing unease with a playful tone.
“It’s hard to put into words, Mia,” he replied gently, a small smile gracing his lips. “Just give me a few more minutes, and I promise you’ll understand everything.”
We walked further, keenly aware of our intertwined hands, the warmth of his touch providing some solace amidst the uncertainty.
A soft hoot from my friendly owl brought me back to the present, its call echoing through the night like a soothing lullaby. Despite my inner turmoil, I allowed myself to revel in the beauty of nature’s embrace, the intimacy of this moment shared with Max.
As we journeyed further along the path, the silhouette of the Thornton family home diminished, eventually fading into a faint outline against the starlit sky.
Chapter 21
Asweroundedabend in the path, we reached Pebble Point beach, and the reassuringly familiar soft sound of ocean waves lapping at the shore enveloped us. The silver moonlight cast a shimmering belt across the water that seemed to beckon us forward. As we reached the water’s edge, I breathed in the salty air, appreciating the natural beauty surrounding us.
We walked parallel to the shoreline, our feet sinking into the cool sand with each step, and I could sense that Max was finally ready to speak.
He took a deep breath, his face softened by the moon’s glow. Max paused, and I saw the tide of emotions he’d held back. “You know, Mia,” he began, the sea’s rhythm lending a tremor to his voice, “every day I wake up and I see her in them. In Lucy’s laugh, in Logan’s stubbornness... and it’s beautiful, but it’s also a constant reminder of what we’ve lost.”
I reached out, both my hands finding his in the moonlight. “They’re lucky to have you. You’re their rock, Max. And I know it’s not easy to let someone new into your life, into your family.”
He squeezed my hands, his eyes reflecting the stars above. “I didn’t realize how much I was holding on to the past until I met you,” he confessed, his words barely above a whisper. “You’ve brought this... unexpected joy into our lives. But I’m scared, Mia. Scared of moving forward, scared of what it means to feel again.”
I nodded, letting his vulnerability wash over me. “It’s okay to be scared, Max. It means you’re stepping out of the shadows and into the light. And you don’t have to do it alone.”
A wave rolled in, wrapping around our ankles, and I felt him take another deep breath, finding his ground. “But I want to move forward. I... want to move forward with you,” he said, his eyes earnest and searching.
Max’s confession, carried by the breath of the ocean, seemed to hang in the moonlit space between us. The rhythmic crashing of the waves provided a gentle background as he began to speak, his voice raw and thick with emotion.
