Beyond Eighteen(19)

“I don’t know what the hell to do, Max. I tried calling Dan but his phone when straight to voicemail. Should we call Dad’s lawyers, or Buck for that matter, and find out what the hell is going on? All I know is we can’t tell Mom; it would just push her over the edge.”

Calvin collected the papers and began to tap them on the counter. The sound of him straightening the pages and the rhythm with which he banged the edges against the granite became the only thing I could focus on.

“No, don’t call Buck. And you’re right, it’s best not to say anything to Mom yet. Shit, Cal, I just know Dad wouldn’t do this. There is no way he would sign these papers without talking to his lawyers. If Dad signed them, he must have had a good reason.”

“Good reason? Max, do you really think Dad just gave Buck the same percentage of ownership that we all have? And where does Dad’s remaining fifteen percent go?” Calvin said as he plopped the stack on the counter and began to pace the kitchen.

“I assume Mom will absorb Dad’s remaining fifteen percent. Hey, let’s take a breath and wait to hear from Dan. Maybe he knows what’s going on. Where is he, anyway?”

“Who the fuck knows. He always seems to disappear when the shit’s hitting the fan. That’s just Dan,” Calvin accused.

I knew where Cal was coming from. He was still bitter that our dad chose to teach Dan the business and give Calvin the freedom to be who he was. Okay, well, freedom is too strong a word; Dad’s disappointment at Calvin’s lack of interest in working for the family business took its toll. But nothing like the pressure Dad had given me before I left for California.

Somewhere in my mind I was clinging to a small sliver of hope that Dan would know exactly what was going on and how to handle the situation so I didn’t have to be involved. I looked across the island at Cal. His eyes were vacant. Fuck, he obviously doesn’t know what to do. Dad was right; he just doesn’t have it in him. I’m gonna have to head back to California with Wilson, make sure she’s okay, pack up what I need from the condo, sign my resignation papers, and come right back here. Fuck, hold on, I’m getting ahead of myself. I just need to talk to Dan.

“Why hasn’t Dan called back yet?” I demanded.

“I never really trusted Buck,” Calvin muttered.

Cal’s words didn’t even register. And even though it felt like my fate was sealed it didn’t stop me from trying to figure out a way I could get Dan and Calvin to deal with this situation without including me.

I heard Wilson’s voice, then, mingled with my Mom’s. Both of them were smiling. Oh, thank God. I noticed my mom was holding Wilson’s hand as they came in. When Mom wrapped her arm around Wilson’s shoulder my heart dropped from the middle of my throat back down into my chest. My whole body relaxed and the world stopped for a moment as Wilson’s eyes met mine and she nodded. I didn’t even realize my expression has been asking a question.

“Maxi, Wilson and I talked about it and we both agree…you’re worth hanging on to,” my mom teased as she gave a quick squeeze to Wilson before she came over and wrapped her arms around my torso. I felt every word she uttered soak into my skin and enter my blood, giving me an opportunity to relax a little. I took a deep breath. One down, one to go, I thought as she looked in my eyes. I could tell she’d been crying. Immediately I looked over at Wilson. Her eyes were also damp with faded red around her eyelids.

“Everything okay?” I asked hesitantly. Wilson nodded her head.

“Um-hum,” my mom answered with a delicate tone. Yeah, there’s no way in hell that I’m gonna drop the Buck bomb on her right now. The last thing mom needed to hear was that Dad signed away a portion of GP before he died. I was just glad to see her arm around Wilson and that she was smiling again.





Chapter Nine


~ Wilson ~





Oh my God, I’ve never done anything so difficult in my life. Yeah, dealing with death is scary and a notch too close to unmanageable. And I would never think of minimizing the kind of pain I went through when I lost my grandparents, and even Frank; but to stand across from Nancy, the mother of the man I love, and listen to her tell me how devastated Max was when I left and then continue to tell me how horrible she felt when she found out it was her words that drove me away…the whole idea was too much. Here she was, with her husband just dying, and she had to deal with me and my freak-out moment.

It took every ounce of restraint I had not to tell her about drinking too much and kissing Nick. Good thing Joanie’s voice flooded my mind and somehow subconsciously talked me off that ledge, making me realize that my mistakes would only hurt her needlessly. Besides, if Max could forgive me for my transgressions, then that was all that mattered…I think.