Page 39 of It's a Wonderful Knife

He grunted. “I know.”

“Can’t you see anything redeeming in the others?”

“I just like being with you. Why do we need to spend so much time around other people?”

I laughed. “Because that’s how life is. There will always be other people, Max. Some of them will annoy you. You just have to let it roll off of you and focus on the good parts of them. Almost everyone hassomegood parts.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“I do.”

Some tension left his wiry body. “Okay. I guess if you weren’t the way you are, willing to see past the surface, we wouldn’t be together. I suppose I need to appreciate the side of you that always looks for the best in people.”

“You can do that too.”

“God, no I can’t. I immediately see the worst in people.”

“That’s just a habit. You can make a new habit.”

He didn’t respond, so I wasn’t sure if he agreed or disagreed.

After a few moments, he said softly, “I’ll try.”

“That’s good enough for me.”

And it really was.

****

It was still pouring at what should have been sunrise, and there appeared to be no end in sight. Max and I trudged through the mud and rain to the dining hall. When we got there, we found a group of guests already there with a very tense-looking Mona.

“I’m sorry, folks. I tried to contact you through the cabin intercom system, but it seems to be on the fritz. I was going to tell you we’d bring you breakfast so you didn’t have to come all the way down here through the rain.”

Hermina hugged Mary Puppins. “Oh, that would have been wonderful. My little pup is shivering.”

“Well, we’re here now.” Penelope shook her arms to shed some of the rainwater from her coat. “I hope we can still get food.”

“Of course.” Mona nodded. “Just take a seat, and Elle will get the food out quickly.”

There were a few minutes of scraping chairs and uneasy laughter as we settled in our seats. As promised, Elle arrived with platters of hashed browns, scrambled eggs, and, of course, bacon. There was also a choice of biscuits and gravy or whole-wheat toast. I had a strong suspicion Elle had thrown that wheat toast in for Max’s benefit. Especially since Max seemed to be the only one who opted for that choice. Everyone else descended on the biscuits and gravy like hunting dogs on a rabbit.

An hour passed with the storm raging overhead as everyone ate their breakfast. There was the occasional nervous laughter anytime the thunder crashed, and Amelia had her hand glued to Santiago’s arm. Gianna watched them, looking frustrated and borderline annoyed. For whatever reason, Santiago had completely stopped responding to her flirting. Maybe Max was right and he’d dumped her once he’d gotten what he wanted from her. Santiago definitely struck me as someone who was completely absorbed with himself.

When the meal seemed to be wrapping up, Mona cleared her throat. “I’m afraid there’s some bad news I need to deliver, folks.”

“No hayride?” Gerald joked, holding up crossed fingers.

Wincing, Mona said, “No, it’s way more serious than that.”

Gerald’s face fell. “Oh.”

Max glanced at me, his face tense.

“I’m sure it’s okay,” I said softly, patting his hand.

Mona’s voice was strained as she said, “I’m sorry to have to tell you that the river is flooding its banks, and the road out of here is washed away. The storm took the bridge out last night.”

Everyone gasped.