“We don’t need a safe word for dinner with your family.” I laugh. “Come on, let’s go.”
He kisses the top of my head, and I can feel that his lips are tipped up in a smile when he does so. But he does as I ask, and takes my hand, leading me up to the front of the house.
When he pushes open the door, the smell of home cooking and the sounds of family assault me. Something delicious is clearly being prepared in the kitchen, and there’s laughter and animated conversation. He leads me down a short hall and into the room that’s filled with people.
“Hey, guys.”
The conversation stops so suddenly, I clench Max’s hand. Then, just as fast as it fell silent, sound fills the room again.
“Heidi, you’re here!” Kat is the first one to hug me. “I knew you guys would be perfect together. My matchmaking at country night totally worked, didn’t it?”
I squeak out a sound, but she’s squeezing me so tightly, I can’t properly reply. Max does it for me, instead.
“Kat, let her go. And I’m not going to dignify that matchmaking comment with a proper response.”
Kat releases me, but shoots daggers at her brother, prompting me to laugh. “Sorry, Kat. The dancing that night was a good push in the right direction. How about that?”
“I’ll take it,” she concedes.
“Hey, Mom,” Max says, and I pivot just in time to see him hugging an older woman. Coming up behind her is who I assume must be Max’s dad. And if his rugged, silver fox good looks and easy smile are what Max has in his future, then I’d be lucky to be around at that time.
“Dennis Donnelly. Nice to meet you, Heidi.” His handshake is warm, strong, and steady. But I notice the limp Max has mentioned, and my practiced eye can see the lines in his face that must be from chronic pain. My heart thuds against the walls of my chest, thinking of how Thad’s carelessness almost made it so this man wasn’t standing in front of me today.
“Thank you for having me,” I say, just as Max’s mother slides her arm over my shoulders.
“Heidi, we’re thrilled to have you here.” She starts to guide me into the kitchen, and I cast a panicked glance over my shoulder at Max, but he’s in conversation with his brother and doesn’t see me. Kat does and gives me a wink as she follows. “It’s been so long since any of my boys brought someone for dinner, I was starting to worry.”
“Mom, don’t freak her out,” Kat chides before passing a large — thankfully — glass of wine my way. She sits down on a stool lining the counter, and I do the same.
“Can I help with anything?” I ask, desperate to shift the conversation away from mine and Max’s relationship.
“Oh no, you just sit there, and we’ll chat while the boys get everything set at the table.”
Max walks into the kitchen at that moment, and I feel his lips press a kiss to my head, then he’s moving to a drawer, pulling out some silverware, and heading back out of the kitchen. Sawyer and Beckett cycle in, each grabbing dishes, glasses, napkins, and then leaving. It’s been so long since I was around a family this closely connected, and the normalcy of how everyone knows their role and just chips in is comforting.
“Now, all Kat has told me is that you and Max work together. Are you a nurse? Or a therapist?”
I gulp down my wine. Shit. How the hell do I answer this? Why didn’t Max and I discuss what to say?
“Actually, Heidi used to be a nurse on the peds ward years ago, but now she’s doing her final residency rotation with us. We’ve been working together closely for a while now, and it’s clear this is her calling. Clarence has already decided he wants to hire her when she graduates. I’ve told him he’d be a fool not to; she’s a great doctor.”
I twist around on my stool, unaware that Max had come back into the kitchen. My heart feels like it might burst at his easy answer to his mom’s question. First, because he’s so forthcoming about who I am, and second, because of what he said about me. About my work and my future. He might have said it all so casually, but every word of support and praise falls on me and sinks into the part of me that has been craving a partner who builds me up, instead of tearing me down.
“Well, Westport General is lucky to have you back, I’m sure.” Claire pats my arm. “Now, who’s hungry?”
And just like that, the moment I was dreading is over. Max’s family didn’t bat an eye at finding out we’re not just dating, but that we also work together.
Dinner is delicious and loud. The Donnellys are an animated group, everyone with stories to tell and teasing to be done, but all of it lovingly. At the end of the evening, I’m left wondering why I was ever nervous. As Max and I say our goodbyes, his dad surprises me by folding me into a gentle hug.
“You’re good for him, Heidi.” When he pulls back, he winks, then turns to give Max a hug before I can say a thing.
As we drive away, Dennis’s words sit with me. He may think I'm good for Max, but Iknowhe’s more than good for me.
And when I look over at the man who’s holding not only my hand, but also my heart, I can’t help but send out a desperate prayer to the universe.
Don’t let this be too good to be true.
Chapter twenty-four
