Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“Enough,” Max snaps, making me blink rapidly. “I’m happy to have a calm discussion with you about this, but I will not be yelled at and belittled by you. Especially not in front of your son, who I happen to have a lot of respect for. So, when you’ve calmed down, you can come find me.”
He reaches for his jacket as he turns to Alex.
“I’ll see you later, buddy.”
“’Kay.”
Alex’s face is pale as he watches Max walk out the door.
“I can’t believe he just left,” I mutter and lean against the counter, hanging my head in frustration. I want to discuss this like a rational adult, but all of my worst fears flashed before my eyes at least a dozen times since I got off the phone with Max and pulled up to the house.
“Mom,” Alex says softly.
“Not now, Bubba. I’m sorry, but I’m very upset.”
“Mom, I need to talk to you,” he says, and I can hear the urgency in his voice, so I put my own love-life issues to the side and look down at my son.
“Why are you crying?”
“Mom.” He sniffles. “I’m sorry. I told Max that it would be okay if we went skiing.”
Oh, God. “Alex.”
“I knew you would say no, and I really wanted to go, so I told him that it wasn’t a big deal. That I was supposed to have ski lessons this year anyway, but we didn’t have time for them.”
“Alexander.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispers and brushes a tear from his cheek. “I just…my friends can ski, and I know Dad loved to ski. I wanted to go, too. And it was the best, Mom.”
That’s what I was afraid of.
“I was really good about listening and doing exactly what Max said, and he only took me on the beginner hill. It was safe the whole time, I swear.”
“Alex, what you did is so wrong.”
“I know.”
“It’s not just you who got into trouble. I yelled at Max, and I was so scared.”
“I know,” he says again, more tears rolling down his cheeks. “I just wanted it so bad.”
“You don’t get to lie to get things you want, even if you want them really badly,” I remind him. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, but we are going to have a sit-down conversation.”
“A serious one?”
“Probably the most serious one we’ve ever had. And, yes, there will be consequences.”
“I know,” he repeats, hanging his head. “What do we do now?”
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, my brain whirling.
“We both need to go and apologize to Max,” I decide. “Get your coat on, right now.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He rushes to the mudroom for his coat, and I pick mine up off the floor, then pull the front door open and stop short when I see Max sitting on the top step, his head in his hands.
“Whoa, he’s still here,” Alex says, coming to a stop next to me.
“I see that,” I reply. “Bubba, why don’t you go get your shower out of the way before dinner, okay? I’ll be in to check on you in a few minutes.”
“But, I have to—”
“And you will. In a little bit.”
He nods and walks back inside. I pull the door closed behind me and sit next to Max, who hasn’t even looked up, even through my conversation with Alex.
We sit in silence for about two minutes until I can’t stand it anymore.
“You didn’t go.”
“Nope.”
His hands are in fists, dangling between his knees. The sun has set, and the snow is falling. Big, heavy flakes that make the air hushed as if it holds a secret.
Because maybe it does.
It’s cold enough to see my breath, but not enough to drive me inside.
“I owe you an apology,” I begin, “for yelling at you without listening.”
“Thank you.”
“Alex admitted that he lied to you.”
“He did,” he agrees, then sighs. “But I’m not going to throw a kid under the bus, Wills. I’m the adult, and I made the decision to take him after he asked. He said you wouldn’t mind, but I should have called.”
“Yeah.” I nod once. “You should have called. He’s been pushing my buttons lately. When ski season started, he asked for lessons. I just can’t, Max.”
I sniff at the tears that want to fall.
“I get it,” he replies. “But you need to remember that it wasn’t the mountain that killed Cary.”
“I know, but come on, Max.”
“If he’d been in a car accident, would you forbid Alex from riding in cars?”
I shake my head out of frustration. He’s right, I wouldn’t. “I know it’s not rational, but I can’t change it. The thought of him being on skis absolutely terrifies me. Maybe because I see so much of his dad in him, I’m worried that he’ll make a bad decision.”
“You can’t control that,” Max says. “But now that I know you don’t give your permission, I won’t take him again. You have my word on that.”