She stared at the ceiling, wondering how she’d gotten herself into such a predicament. When he’d come home earlier, she’d been three pages into something she knew she could never send to Roy. She hadn’t even sent her first piece, nor the second one she’d written about Anna. The one she’d worked so hard on today had been line after line about Max.
Except it wasn’t an article. She hadn’t been lying to him when she’d told him it was a story, because that was exactly what it was. It was the story of how she’d first met him, their wedding, and the days since. She’d skimmed over the top of her own feelings, focusing instead on him and what made him someone she’d come to greatly admire. His gentleness, his love for Anna despite fumbling through fatherhood, his desire to do well at his work, his patience with her when she suspected he might have hoped for a wife in every way when he married her.
He was a good man, inside and out. And she wasn’t ready to share him with Roy or the entirety of New York City.
So, all the pages she’d written sat in the bottom of her jewelry box.
And every day she felt further and further from the woman that she’d been back home. All her life, all she’d wanted was to make a way for herself—on her own, without a man.
Now, here in Crest Stone, she didn’t know what she wanted.
Chapter Ten
“IT DOESN’T HURT?” MAXasked for at least the third time since they’d left the house.
Delia smiled at him patiently. He’d been at her side, holding her as if she’d topple over at any moment, for the entire stroll—and she hadn’t complained at all. “It doesn’t. I’m fully healed.”
“You’re holding her up as if she might fall down,” Anna said from Delia’s other side.
Max nearly stopped right where he was on the board sidewalk. Anna never spoke to him without being asked, and even then, she said no more than was required to answer the question.
Max recovered quickly. “I suppose I am.” He backed away a little, still keeping his arm wrapped around Delia’s. “Better?”
Delia shared a smile with Anna before turning back to Max. “I’m fine, thank you. In fact, why don’t you go on and see Mr. Hannan while Anna and I visit with her teacher? She mentioned to me at church that she’d be at the school preparing for her pupils next week. We’ll wait on the bench in front of the schoolhouse for you afterward.”
He couldn’t hover over her forever, and it had been days since she’d hurt her ankle. She walked just fine now, without even a limp. “All right,” he said, not entirely wanting to leave her without help. “I shouldn’t be long.”
Max forced himself to let her go, but he looked back several times as he made his way more quickly down the sidewalk. She was chatting amiably to Anna each time he turned around. Satisfied she didn’t need his help, he reached the hotel quickly and went inside. It was Sunday, his one day off during the week, but Liam was at the hotel every day.
He lifted a hand to Henry at the desk and made his way to the small office Liam kept in the rear of the building.
“Foster!” Liam said when he saw Max at the open door.
Max glanced across the man’s desk. It was covered in papers, and he looked as if he’d been there for hours. “We saw Mrs. Hannan at church services. She said you were here before dawn this morning.”
Liam glanced down at the mess. “I suppose I was. I have so much to get done, and this new business . . .” He trailed off and shook his head, clearly overwhelmed. “I fear she won’t forgive me if I keep being gone at all hours.”
“If it’s any consolation, she spoke with pride about your work,” Max said.
Liam smiled. “Enough about me.” He gestured at the chair beside Max. “Sit. Let’s figure out what this manager work will entail.”
They spent several minutes discussing Max’s new position. As the conversation progressed, he grew more and more excited at the prospect of it. He’d gain more responsibility for the day-to-day workings of the hotel, make decisions that would impact both guests and those working for Liam, and still get to do what he loved most—speaking with the people who came and went.
They agreed he would start taking on the extra work later that week, and Max left at the end of their conversation, eager to tell Delia the news. He moved quickly down the sidewalk toward the schoolhouse.
