Bethanne agreed with Max’s friend. “We should stay and say hello to Susie.”
“She’d be real disappointed if you took off,” Al said. “Besides, she’s bringing lunch. I’ll give her a quick call and tell her to pick up enough for five.” He grinned. “I eat as much as two normal people, so she automatically buys two of everything when she’s feeding me.”
“Lunch,” Bethanne said sweetly.
Max nodded reluctantly.
Sure enough, Susie arrived about ten minutes later and the men met her in the driveway. Al and Max brought in grocery bags and two six-packs of beer, plus an equal number of sodas.
Susie was a petite woman who stood a full foot and a half shorter than her husband. She had curly brown hair and big hazel eyes. Clearly she adored Max and welcomed Bethanne with a warm smile.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to meet you,” she said, rushing inside. “Al and I were so thrilled to hear from Max, we immediately changed our plans and headed for the lake house.”
Bethanne followed Susie into the kitchen and began unpacking groceries, setting the food on the kitchen counter.
“What else can I do to help?” Bethanne asked when she’d finished.
“Grab those bags over there,” Susie said, pointing to the chips.
Bethanne was put to work opening bags of potato chips and emptying them into plastic bowls while Susie made a salad.
Al and Max moved onto the deck, where Al turned on the barbecue.
“How long have you and Max been together?” Susie asked as she sliced tomatoes.
Bethanne peeled a cucumber. “We aren’t exactly together. We only met a few days ago.” Although it felt as though she’d known him for a lot longer…
“Really? Well, you found yourself a gem of a guy. I don’t know what happened to him. Max has never spoken about why he lives the way he does, but it’s obvious there’s some tragedy in his past.”
If Max hadn’t explained, then Bethanne didn’t feel she could.
“He’s done so much for others,” Susie went on. “Rooster told us that he helped a handicapped woman in Boston by replacing her roof. And a friend of ours told us about a family who was about to lose their home due to the husband’s unemployment. When the bank threatened to repossess it, Max stepped in and made the late payments.”
Just then Max appeared in the kitchen doorway. “What are you two talking about?” he asked suspiciously.
Susie rolled her eyes. “Why do men always assume we’re talking about them?”
“Ego,” Bethanne said, and they laughed. If any man didn’t suffer from an outsize ego—in her opinion, anyway—it was Max.
“Hey, Max, I bought you chocolate ice cream,” Susie said as she arranged silverware on the table on the deck. Smiling at Bethanne, she added, “He’s got a weakness for chocolate ice cream.”
Max snuck up behind Bethanne and slipped his arms around her. “What I have is a weakness for you,” he said, kissing her cheek. He whispered, “Promise me you won’t believe a word these people tell you.”
“And why is that?”
“I already told you, Bethanne, I’m no saint.”
“You make it sound as if you’re ashamed of helping other people.”
“I’m not, but I don’t like to broadcast it.”
“So, you’re a lone wolf, a drifter who needs no one, riding off into the sunset.”
He frowned and muttered, “You making fun of me?” in a mock-ferocious voice.
Bethanne laughed. “Guess so.”
They ate hot-off-the-grill cheeseburgers around three o’clock. Bethanne liked his friends. Al and Susie carried the conversation, regaling her with stories about their children. Sherry was the youngest of three, and their problem child, although she’d successfully gone through rehab and had now returned to school. In large part due to Max, as the couple were quick to remind Bethanne. Max scowled every time they mentioned his name.
Bethanne helped with the cleanup and Max suggested they leave close to five. The afternoon had been perfect in every way. Al and his wife both hugged her before she went out to join Max on the Harley.
“He needs you,” Susie whispered to her. “He’s a lost soul.”
Bethanne smiled and hugged the other woman back. “I’m so glad I met you and Al.”
“Me, too. I hope we’ll see you again.”
She put the helmet on and climbed onto the bike. As they took off, engine roaring, Bethanne slipped her arms around Max’s middle and relaxed against him. After a while she loosened her grip. Occasionally she even stretched her arms out at her sides, feeling free and unencumbered. She sensed that she was finally getting to know him—that they’d breached some barrier.
The return to Branson seemed to take far less time than the trip to the lake.
Annie was sitting in the lobby waiting for Bethanne. “Mom!” she cried. “Where did you go? Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“When did you call?” Her purse had been near her most of the day, but she hadn’t heard her cell.
“Half an hour ago.”
That explained it. “What did you need?”
“Everybody left me,” Annie complained.
Bethanne managed not to sigh—or say something sarcastic. “Where’s Grandma?”
“She’s still out with Rooster. They went to see the Oak Ridge Boys. At breakfast I said I didn’t want to go and Rooster jumped at the chance. I haven’t seen them since.”
Ruth had gone with Rooster. That was a shock. “You spent the entire day on your own?”
Annie nodded, then shrugged. “I had fun shopping, though.”