She doesn't answer. She just keeps moving, her jaw set.
“Maxine, stop,” I say, reaching out to catch her shoulder. She finally halts but refuses to look at me. “Your little ass can’t walk that far with those short legs anyway.”
The corner of her mouth twitches—not quite a laugh, but close enough. I take the opening and pull her into me. She doesn'tfight it; she just buries her head in my chest and lets out a jagged breath.
“You don’t get it,” she mumbles into my sweater.
“I think I might, Lil Mama. And believe me, shutting her out like this doesn't help. It’s just eating you alive.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Eli,” she snaps, finally cutting her eyes toward me.
“I know what bitterness looks like,” I say softly. “You don’t have to talk to her every day. You don’t even have to be best friends. But don't let her disrupt your peace so much that it keeps you from enjoying your mother while she’s still around. You’re punishing yourself as much as you’re punishing her.”
I tilt her chin up, trying to catch her gaze. “And by staying away, you might be missing out on an opportunity to see that Justine has grown. People change, Max.”
“It's not as simple as you're making it out to be, Eli.” Max's sharp, humorless laugh cut the air. “Just because you and Elliot had your big, emotional breakthrough and made up, it doesn't mean things will be the same for Justine and me. At least not right now.”
Cars pass us on the street as she stares into the distance, her gaze finally cutting back to me.
“We can’t be in the same room without fighting,” she says, her voice tight. “She always makes excuses for her poor choices. My mother never stands her ground with her. And whatever she wants, she just—” She stops, the words snagging in her throat. “I do everything while she gets a free pass. The easy life.”
I dip my head, catching her gaze to pull her focus back to me. “But do youhaveto do everything? Maybe your sister is waiting for permission—or your approval—to step up. Maybe she’s intimidated by everything you’ve accomplished and—”
She scoffs, the sound cold and disbelieving. “That girl has never met a person who could intimidate her.”
“You’d be surprised. You said she’s younger, that she’s childish. Maybe your little sister needs you to show her a few things. Maybe you need her to show you how to relax and let someone else take care of things—even if they aren’t done perfectly. Even if they aren’t done exactly the way you’d do them.”
She falls quiet, but she listens.
“Maybe the reason you have such a hard time finding your own brand of peace, and the reason you had to come to another country to borrow mine, is because you’re allowing your resentment to hold it hostage here.”
Max flinches, but she doesn’t argue. She just looks away, her eyes glossy and distant.
I look across the street and raise my hand. Max’s eyes follow the movement as the black SUV I arranged earlier pulls away from the opposite curb, makes a slow U-turn, and comes to a stop at the sidewalk near us.
“I’m going to go back to my hotel,” I say, my voice low. “I’m staying at the new one near the soccer stadium. Lara said it had the best rating.”
She bites her bottom lip. “Okay.”
“It just seems like you have some family things to take care of, so I’m going to leave you to it. But, can I see you tomorrow? I want to talk.”
She nods. “Yes, of course.”
I lean down to kiss her on the cheek. “Think about what I said. I’ll call you later,” I say.
“Eli,” she calls out, eyes fixed on the pavement before finally meeting mine. “I know I have work to do, too.”
I lean down and kiss her on the lips this time. “We all do, Lil Mama. It’s just a matter of when we decide to do it.”
Max
I step back inside, the heaviness of the afternoon following me in. My mother is standing right by the door, shamelessly adjusted like she’s been pressed against the wood for the last five minutes.
“I tried to listen to what y’all were talking about,” she admits, smoothing her apron, “but he talks too low and you didn't say much at all, for a change.”
“Mommy,” I warn, my voice sounding more tired than I intended. “I just needed a minute.”
“Well, your minute is up. Wash your hands. I need help with these peas.”
