The columns weren’t anything particularly groundbreaking, as far as news went. They were clearly written, effortless with a light sense of humor so subtle that Max didn’t realize he was smiling until he put the paper down. Delia must have enjoyed writing these, or she wouldn’t have filled her time with it, but he could also see how she yearned for something more exciting to write about.
He frowned as he folded the papers and returned them to the basket, knowing there was still one more thing he could read.
As silently as possible, he crept upstairs with the lamplight lowered as far as it could go.
Delia was asleep, and the pages he was searching for sat on her dressing table, next to the jewelry box where she’d hidden them before.
Max picked them up, gathered the clothing he’d set out for the next day and his valise, and with one last look at Delia, went back downstairs.
He extinguished the lamp. And then he went to the hotel.
MAX PRESSED A HANDto his mouth to hide yet another yawn. Thankfully, it had been a quiet day at the hotel. It had given him plenty of time to think, to reread some of what Delia had written.
And to make a decision.
“You look like you’re going to fall asleep standing up.” Liam came to join him near the front desk. “It’s past time for you to head home for the night.”
Max opened his mouth to protest, but Liam shook his head.
“I run the place. I’m telling you to go home. Make up with your wife. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“All right,” Max conceded. “I’ll be in early.”
Liam shook his head, but he was smiling. “Go. Get some rest.”
Max gathered up the things he’d left in the unused room where he’d gotten approximately one hour of sleep the night before. He tucked Delia’s writing into the valise and headed outside.
He stood in front of the hotel for a moment, taking in the cooling air and the view of the mountains soaring up to the sky toward the west. It was funny how spending so much time contemplating his life and everything that meant so much to him made him appreciate the world around him even more.
Drawing in a determined breath, he started toward home. When he reached the house, he hesitated a moment, his hand hovering over the doorknob. The words he planned to say to Delia went through his mind. And more than anything, he realized, he wanted to know what she would say.
He pressed the door open, only to find an empty house.
“Delia? Anna?” he called, just in case they were upstairs. But no one answered him. The scent of roasting meat met his nose, and he wandered back to the kitchen. Supper was in the oven, but Delia was nowhere around.
Furrowing his brow, Max returned to the parlor. Everything was neat and in its place, even in Anna’s corner. He marveled over the change in the girl. If Delia left, he was so afraid of what that would do to Anna. But it would be better for her to leave if she couldn’t be honest with him when he spoke to her.
The front door opened then, and Delia bustled in with a wrapped parcel. She stopped short when she saw him. “Max.”
The sound of his name on her tongue almost undid him. Half of him wanted to cast aside all his doubts and sweep her up into his arms. The other half ached at the sight of her and wanted nothing more than to leave and go back to the hotel.
“I’m so happy you’re home,” she said, sounding relieved as she set the parcel on the nearby endtable. “Where is Anna?”
“Likely with her friends.”
Delia frowned. “No, she told me she was going to meet you at the hotel. She wanted to surprise you there and walk home with you.”
“I came straight from the hotel,” Max said. “I didn’t see Anna. Are you sure that’s where she went?”
“She’s been so careful to tell me where she’s going lately,” Delia replied. “I can’t see her lying to me.”
She was right. Max moved toward the door. “I’ll walk back and look for her.”
“All right.” Delia laid a hand on his arm.
Max didn’t shake it off. A hundred emotions clashed with just the feel of her warm hand against his sleeve, but there would be time to think about that later. To talk to her, and to figure it out. Right now, he needed to get Anna. “I’ll find her,” he said, both reassuring Delia and himself.
But after walking the route between home and the hotel twice, searching the entire building, and talking to both Liam and the new front desk clerk, Max came up empty.
