Page 27 of Christmas Treasures (Sugarville Grove #6)

Logan cut off mid-sentence when he spotted Max standing in the doorway. “Hey, Maxer. Are you sick? You look terrible.”

“Thanks a lot.” Max forced a smile and placed the snacks on the counter. “I brought some cheese and crackers from the shop that I thought you guys would enjoy.”

Nolan straightened, his expression shifting. “What’s happened? You don’t look okay.”

Max hesitated, rubbing his neck. “Yeah, I’ve been better. Didn’t sleep much last night.”

“How come?” Mom asked.

“I did something stupid,” Max said. “You know how Charlie doesn’t do Christmas?”

Everyone nodded.

“But she’d been doing all these Christmas things with us, and Bianca and I thought we should get her a tree.

” Max’s throat tightened. “Let’s just say me showing up at her door with a noble fir didn’t go well.

She recoiled at the sight of it. Like I’d slapped her.

Said I was forcing her into something she didn’t want.

She told me to take it away. And to get out. Bianca was crushed. So was I.”

Abby set down her glass. “Oh, Max, I’m sorry.”

Laney gazed at him with her head tilted to one side, sympathy in her pretty eyes. “That must have been heartbreaking for you both. I can imagine how excited you both were.”

“It was stupid. I should never have done it,” Max said. “Now I’ve scared her off.”

Logan frowned. “If a thoughtful gesture sets her off, maybe she’s not ready. Or too damaged. Either way, you don’t deserve that treatment.”

Luke nodded, concern flashing in his eyes. “He has a point. If she’s that quick to shut you down, she might not be capable of meeting you halfway.”

Abby raised her hand, interrupting. “Wait. Max, you said she told you that you were forcing something on her. Do you think that was what bothered her more than anything?”

Max shook his head, confusion flaring. “I guess so. I just don’t understand how someone wouldn’t want a Christmas tree, especially when a little girl’s in their life. And trust me, she and Bianca were growing close.”

“Her parents died around Christmas,” Laney said. “I’m imagining she has a lot of conflicting emotions this time of year.”

Abby nodded, clearly in agreement. “Or she could be someone who’s had people assuming they know what’s best for her all her life.

As a woman—a veterinarian in a male-dominated field—I’ve had enough men making decisions for me without asking what I actually want.

It’s infuriating. Even when their intentions are good. ”

“She might have felt like you were trying to take control of her life, and that’s definitely not something she would want,” Laney said.

Max felt the weight of that sink in. He rubbed his face, exhausted. “I think you’re right. But there’s nothing to be done now. She was furious. Hurt. I’ve never seen her look that vulnerable. It was like I’d broken something she’d been trying so hard to hold together. ”

Mom crossed to him, her hand firm on his shoulder. “Charlie isn’t angry with you. She’s scared. You touched a wound without realizing it.”

Dad set down his potato peeler. “Doesn’t mean you ruined it. She’ll come around, once she cools off. And you know for next time. Soft touch is the way to go.”

Max looked at his father. “Next time? I don’t think there’s going to be a next time.”

Dad’s eyes crinkled. “You love this woman, don’t you?”

Max’s throat closed. “Yeah. I do. I didn’t expect to fall so hard, but I have.

” He glanced toward the living room, hearing Bianca giggle.

“What really hurt was seeing Bianca. She was inconsolable last night. Said everyone leaves. Her mom, her grandmother, now Charlie.” He smiled, though, thinking of her incredible insight, especially for an eight year old.

“She told me Charlie was broken, just like her, and I that I couldn’t fix her. ”

“What a sweetie,” Abby said.

“So smart,” Laney said.

“Very smart,” Logan said. “Bianca’s right. You can’t fix her. And it’s not your job.”

Max swallowed. “I can handle getting hurt myself. But seeing Bianca like that…I don’t know if I can risk her heart again. Honestly, I feel like it was a huge misstep on my part—letting her get close to someone I didn’t know well enough. I’ve got to do a better job.”

“Hey now, don’t be so hard on yourself,” Abby said. “I felt the same way about the kids at first. Sure I would damage them permanently. I made a few doozy mistakes too, but kids are resilient. Bianca’s going to be fine. She has you and all of us.”

“You can’t shelter Bianca from every hurt,” Mom said. “But I understand. I used to lose it whenever someone hurt one of you. Yet I had to act like a reasonable adult instead of a mama bear.”

“I get that,” Abby said.

Luke laughed. “Oh yeah you do. This one went all mama bear at the science fair.”

“Never mind that.” Abby flushed, shaking her head. “No one wants to hear that story.”

“We do though,” Logan said, with an evil smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“This is about Max right now,” Abby said, shoving Logan with her elbow.

Logan clutched at his side as if she’d hurt him. “Fine. But I’ll get it out of you later.”

Max exhaled. “Do you guys really think I should reach out to her? Say I’m sorry? I didn’t really handle it well in the moment.”

Dad met Max’s gaze. “I say write her a note. Apologize for not asking first. Explain that you understand now. Bring flowers. Not a Christmas bouquet, mind you. And invite her to your Ugly Sweater Party. No pressure, just a door that stays open.”

Abby smiled. “Your dad’s right. This puts it in her court. If she’s still interested, she’ll accept your apology.”

“After she cools down, I bet she’ll feel terrible for acting that way in front of Bianca,” Laney said. “At least that’s how I would be.”

“You’ve never done anything close to that,” Nolan said, wrapping an arm about his pregnant wife. “You’re too full of sunshine and rainbows for that.”

“I did throw a shoe at my ex-fiancé’s head. That was very edgy,” Laney said, laughing.

“Only because he was in bed with your bridesmaid,” Nolan said. “That was an extreme situation. But yes, I agree to keeping the door open. And apologizing without trying to make an excuse for your behavior will go a long way.”

“Unless she’s really that broken,” Logan said. “Some people aren’t able to react with emotional maturity. They just don’t have it in them. For whatever reason.”

Luke popped a top off a beer and handed it to Max. “Yeah, look at my ex-wife. Left her own infant. No reasoning with her did any good at all.”

“If she doesn’t forgive you, what are we going to do about pizza?” Logan asked.

“Logan, honestly, your brother’s in pain,” Mom said.

“What? Charlie’s pizza’s really good,” Logan said. “You all were thinking it, but I’m the only one who’ll say it.”

“No one was thinking anything of the sort,” Nolan said, chuckling. “We’re all being supportive of Max, not thinking about pizza.”

“That veggie one is really good,” Laney said, rubbing her round tummy. “The baby loves that one.”

“We could order anonymously,” Logan said. “I could have my secretary pick it up for us.”

“Logan Hayes, that’s enough,” Mom said. “You know Santa’s checking his list right now, and I’m afraid you’re about to move over to the naughty side.”

“I’m pretty sure he’s already there,” Luke said.

Laughter rippled through the kitchen.

“Do you think she thinks you’re only after her for her money?” Logan asked, suddenly serious. “Because I could put together a prenup for you guys.”

“I don’t think so,” Max said. “I told her point blank I wasn’t interested in her money but maybe I should have said more. Given her more reassurance. God, I’ve messed up everything about this.”

“Whatever her reaction is or isn’t will tell you what you need to know,” Dad said, returning to the subject at hand. “And if you get more serious, I’m sure you’ll have a conversation about money. And you certainly don’t want to bring up money and lawyers at this stage.”

Logan held his hands up. “I’m just saying—I’m here if you need me.”

“It’s all so much more complicated because of Bianca.” Max ran his hands through his hair before picking up his beer.

“Welcome to parenthood,” Luke said. “I hate to break it to you, but you’ll never make another decision in your life without thinking about if it would be good or bad for Bianca.”

“For sure,” Abby said. “But if it’s right between you, it will all work out as it should. Families are made in all different kinds of ways. We’re the perfect example of that.”

“If she says no to the sweater party, does that mean you’ll cancel it?” Logan asked, sounding hopeful.

“That hurts, bro,” Max said, tapping his chest.

“He doesn’t mean it,” Laney said. “Your sweater party is the best night of the year.”

“It sure was last year.” Nolan kissed his wife’s cheek. “Can’t believe it’s been a year of wedded bliss already.”

Logan rolled his eyes. “You’re all kind of gross.”

“Love is all we have, in the end,” Mom said, philosophically, ignoring Logan. “And it’s worth fighting for. Write the note.”

Max looked around the room at the people who stood by him through every mistake and misstep. “I’ll write the note.”

Mom squeezed his shoulder. “Good. It’s never a bad decision to leave the porch light on. Just in case.”