“Down and to the left,” she said, throwing out a lazy arm in the direction of the restroom. Or was it right? She was upside down. Gosh, this was confusing.
“Actually, I might have found what I was looking for right here.”
She quickly flipped herself right side up at the sound of his voice. “Max,” she said, sounding as surprised as she felt. “I thought you left.”
He shook his head somberly and could not quite read the expression on his face. It was possible that he might be having second thoughts.
“Why did you take so long?” she asked nervously.
He tossed his suitcases on the open chairs before looking up to meet her gaze. “I wanted to see if you would really wait.”
Mutual symmetry, she thought. He had made her wait one hour for every year he had waited for her. She saw the hurt on his face and decided to try explaining one last time. “Max, I really am sorry. Like I told you, when I regained my memory, everything came back so fast—”
“I don’t wanna hear…I don’t wanna hear any of that. I just want you to answer one question for me.”
She nodded, apprehensive as to what his question might be and hoped she wouldn’t say something to mess up again when she answered.
“Before you came to the motel,” he began. “In the week we were apart…did you see Richard? I mean…is that the reason you came back to me? Because you found out he didn’t want you?”
Her throat tightened and tears welled up in her eyes when she saw how much this question tortured him, how being option two was more than just a complex. “Max…I didn’t even pick up the phone.”
He nodded. “That’s it.” He closed the gap between them and cupped her face in both his hands. “That’s all I wanted to hear.”
And then his mouth covered hers, making up for lost time, invoking every feeling she thought she would never experience again.
“I love you,” he breathed against her lips.
“I love you more.”
She didn’t know how long they were lost in that kiss, but when he finally pulled away, she felt dizzy. They took one suitcase each and he slung his arm over her shoulder as they walked to the exit.
“Are we ever going to see your family?” she asked.
“I rescheduled our flights. We leave tomorrow, but tonight…you’re mine.”
* * *
Christmas Eve. It was late evening when they turned down the familiar tree-lined street. Danny opened the cab door before it came to a complete stop. She helped Max unload their bags and inhaled the rich smell of whitebark pine. She had been born and bred in Los Angeles and it always took some time to adjust to the colder temperature. The icy winds alone were enough to chill her to the bone.
They lugged the bags and suitcases up the stairs to the wooden porch and Max held the screen door open as she walked inside. They stopped at the entrance of the dining room and set down the bags.
“Momma, we’re here,” he called out.
His mother came rushing out of the kitchen and threw her arms around him. “I missed you, baby.”
“Missed you, too, Ma,” he said, kissing her cheek.
“Hi, Mommy Jess.” Danny was also pulled in for a tight hug and she took in the sweet scent of pecan nut pie that lingered on his mother’s clothes.
They walked through the dining room to get to the living room and sat down.
“So, Danny. How have you been? Max told us that you don’t remember anything, you poor child. I called to speak to you a few times, but you were always in the shower or at the store or you had some or other doctor’s appointment.”
Danny noticed the pang of guilt that wrinkled his face as more of his lies were revealed.
“But just make yourself right at home,” his mother continued. “You always did.”
“Mom, Danny regained her memory a few days ago.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. It must have been so hard for you, but at least you had my boy there to take care of you.”
Again, she noticed the guilt on his face and placed her hand over his. She didn’t want him to feel guilty about that one, stupid lie anymore. “Your boy always takes care of me.”
Their eyes met for a few seconds and a slight smile curved on his lips.
“I don’t know why you two don’t get together,” Mommy Jess said. “You stare at each other like love-sick puppies all the time.”
“Actually, Mom, Danny and I decided to test your Leo-Aries compatibility theory.”
Her face beamed and her smile stretched from ear to ear. “Don’t test it for too long. I want me some more grandbabies.”
Max chuckled and swiftly changed the topic before she got too hooked on the idea of having another grandchild. “Where’s Kevin, Ma?”
“In his room. Just give him some time alone. He’s been a lot better since he got back, but he gets a bit depressed at night.”
Max nodded. “And Jo-jo?”
“Her flight was delayed so she’ll be here early tomorrow morning,” she replied, standing up. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have kitchen work to do.”
Danny shook her head. When Jordan and Max were together, they became kids again, fighting and bickering over every little thing. She liked watching them, though. She liked watching all of them because they gave the word bond a deeper meaning. She loved this house. She loved this family. She loved the man beside her. Right in his arms was the place where she always felt like she belonged.
* * *
It was almost ten o’ clock Christmas morning when Max’s eyes were finally ready to see daylight. Between jet-lag and an emotionally draining week, sleep had come very easily. For the last six Christmases, he had slept in Dom’s old room, Danny in Shane’s and Jake in the guestroom. Although his mother was old-school, this year she had suggested they sleep in the same room and it was almost surreal to wake up beside her on this cold Christmas morning.
He kissed her forehead and her eyes fluttered lazily. “Good morning,” she said, stretching her arms.
“Merry Christmas.”
She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “A very Merry Christmas. What time is it?”
“Almost ten.”
“What?” She immediately tossed off the covers. “I’m supposed to be helping in the kitchen.”
Max held back a smile. Helping was the key word. His mother had assigned her to all other forms of kitchen duty after the turkey debacle in the first year. Danny chopped vegetables, made salads, washed dishes, anything that did not involve a stove.
She was in and out of the bathroom in a matter of minutes. After a quick kiss, she left the room. Max took his time getting showered and dressed.
When he finally left the room, it was a mad-house. Kids were running everywhere; some screaming, others throwing tantrums.
Kevin emerged from his man-cave, yawning and stretching before running his hand through his ruffled hair. “It’s a fucking zoo.”
Max smiled. His eyes were barely open and he was already cursing. “How did you sleep through all this?”
“Happens every Saturday,” he responded tiredly. “So used to it now.” He walked over to Max and gave him a quick hug. “Merry Christmas, bro.”
“Same to you,” Max said, walking down the long hallway to the living room.
There he saw Dom and Tracey, neatly laying presents under the huge tree. On the side of the room, Shane and Debbie were arguing over which Christmas carol CD to play. He greeted his brothers, kissed his sister-in-laws, and then listened for twenty minutes as Shane spoke about how commercialized Christmas had become.
His brother talked incessantly and he eventually made up an excuse and left the room. He was Dom’s problem now.
Max walked to the kitchen and took a moment to appreciate the sight. The three women he loved most in this world were all in the same room. His mother and Danny were chatting at the island counter as they worked, while Jordan mixed a batter at the table on the other side of the large kitchen.
“Merry Christmas,” he said, placing a kiss on his mother’s cheek.
“Merry Christmas, baby.”
He moved over to Danny, who was chopping carrots, and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back to his chest. “Love you,” he whispered, placing a kiss on the side of her head.
She only smiled, shy to say anything back in front of his mother.
And then he rushed to Jordan.
“Don’t even think about it,” she warned before he caught her in a choke hold, but he did it anyway. She was an inch shorter than him, which actually made it impossible to resist.
He tightened his grip around her neck. “Don’t be a sissy and complain to Mom.”
She punched him hard in the stomach, briefly knocking the air out of him, and he released her. “Ow.”
“Who’s the sissy now?”
She adjusted her glasses and continued mixing the cake batter. “You didn’t respond to my text.”
Max decided to keep the mood light and not tell her the reason he had not responded was because he’d been wasting away in a motel room. “How does one respond to a picture of two turtles humping?”
She giggled and nodded her head towards Danny. “So does she know the truth now?” She kept her voice low so they wouldn’t be heard from the other side of the kitchen.
“Yeah. It got really bad before it got good again. And now it’s…perfect.”