He didn’t argue. “Yes, it could have.”
“What made you step in?”
Max’s gaze stayed on the road ahead. “Someone needed to. Afterward, Sarah thanked me and introduced herself. She asked what I was doing in town.” He gave a small shrug. “I told her I was looking for a job.”
“And she hired you on the spot?”
“She did.” His grip eased on the steering wheel. “Said she needed help out at Refuge Cove. Maintenance, repairs, grounds . . . things like that.”
“Hiring someone based on gut instinct sounds like something she would do.”
“It does.” His expression softened. “She gave me a chance.”
There was more to the story. Hadley could feel it. But she didn’t push. Whatever it was, Max would tell her when he was ready.
A few minutes later, the road curved, and Refuge Cove came into view.
They were here. But Hadley hoped she and Max might talk more about this later.
Max stepped inside Refuge Cove behind Hadley and took in the familiar scene.
Caleb stood near the table with Millie, the two of them mid-conversation and grinning at each other.
Sheriff Sutherland leaned against the counter beside Naomi, listening as she and her mom talked. He tried to snitch slices of the cucumber Ruby sliced until Ruby playfully smacked his hand with a wooden spoon.
Near the back door, Wyatt and Kori stood close together, Baby Grace in Kori’s arms. Thunder stretched out at their feet like he had no intention of moving anytime soon.
Two of their newest guests gathered in another corner chatting quietly to each other.
Then there were the dogs. Hamilton, a husky, lay near the fireplace. Biscuit, a cocker spaniel, lay nearby, with Tinkerbell cuddled close. Good Boy lingered near Baby Grace. There were two other dogs—belonging to their guests—but they remained close to their owners.
Naomi dried her hands on a towel as she glanced up with a grin. “Hey—you made it. I just checked on Juno. She’s doing really well. All the puppies are nursing, and she finally settled down.”
Hadley’s shoulders eased. “That’s a relief.”
“How’s my favorite niece doing?” Ruby asked.
“Better now that I’m here.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Ruby paced between the stove and the table, setting out dishes. The woman was a force to be reckoned with and had a way of making people feel like everything would turn out all right as long as she was nearby to help fix it.
The smell of dinner filled the room, rich and comforting. Pork roast seasoned with sage and red pepper flakes, stewed potatoes, collards, and pickled cucumbers.
“Now, you two go on and sit before everything gets cold,” Ruby said.
They didn’t argue.
Max pulled out a chair for Hadley before taking his own seat beside her.
As Naomi and Ruby put the food on the table, everyone else joined them.
After they prayed, conversation picked up around them. Voices overlapped as dishes were passed and small moments were shared.
There had been a time when Max didn’t have this. A time when he’d felt all alone.
Refuge Cove had changed that.
