Wayward Hearts (2 page)

If only they could've stayed in that moment.

“You know you don't stand a chance against me.” The hiss of Sierra's voice behind her startled Maxi out of her daydreams.

She turned to glare at the tall blonde. “Don't go ordering your new nameplate yet.”

Sierra snorted. “I'm not intimidated by a farm girl from Hicksville. As far as I'm concerned, the partnership is already mine.” With a dismissive wave of her hand, Sierra sashayed back to her own area.

Maxi let her irritation roll over her and slide away. Sierra would not ruin the deliciousness of this moment. Maxi's days in “Hicksville” were long over, and her future as a partner at
Baronne's
shimmered as brightly as the mirrored lights. Nothing or no one would get in her way.

She allowed herself one last glance at the tattered photo in her hand before slipping it into the pocket of her purse inside the drawer. With one sharp click, she shut away the past and focused her energy on the future.

 

****

 

A little after nine o'clock, Maxi jogged up the stairs to her second floor walkup on West Fifty-Sixth Street, excitement pumping through her system. Fumbling with the key in the door, she pushed her way inside, dropped her takeout Chinese food on the scarred coffee table and kicked off her heels. She already itched to take out her portfolio and see where she could improve it. Ideas buzzed in her head for innovative, new hairstyles.

Her cell phone jangled as soon as she opened the takeout container. She jumped to grab it out of the jacket she'd draped over the arm of the lumpy brown couch. Must be Lance. He said he would call her tonight to make a date for the weekend. She smiled, ready to share her good news with the man who was becoming an important part of her life.

But it wasn't Lance.

She stared at the display and blinked, not believing her eyes.

Jason Hanley?

Her heart took off at a gallop in her chest. Why, after two years of silence, would he call now? On the very day she'd dug his picture out of her drawer. Maxi's hands shook so hard she had to set the phone on the couch beside her. What would she say to him? Unbidden memories of their last encounter crowded her thoughts. The ugly accusations, the words hurled in anger. She wasn't prepared to deal with all that right now. So, coward that she was, she let the call go to voice mail.

Her relief was short-lived when the phone chimed again seconds later.

She groaned. Knowing Jason, he'd keep calling until she picked up. She paused for one deep breath. “Hello?”

“Maxi?”

Her heart stuttered at the gruffness of his voice. “Yes.”

“It's Jason. Sorry to call out of the blue like this.”

The serious tone had her rising off the sofa to pace the small living area. Something was wrong. She could sense it. Panic clutched her throat. “What is it? Is Mama all right?” Her mother's multiple sclerosis had been under control, but you never knew when a setback could occur.

“Bernice is fine.”

Thank You, God
. If anything had happened to her—

“It's your dad.”

A flash of hot anger shot through her chest. She tightened the grip on the phone until the metal bit into her flesh. Hadn't her father caused the family enough misery? “Let me guess. Another drinking binge?”

“Not this time.” He paused long enough for Maxi's palms to grow damp. “There's been an accident at the farm. Your mom asked me to call you.”

Maxi eased herself down onto the arm of the sofa, dread pasting her mouth closed.

Jason gave a long sigh. “There's no easy way to tell you this, Max. Charlie's dead. You need to come home right away.”

 

 

 

 

2

 

Jason Hanley ran his fingers around the tight collar of his dress shirt and wished he could loosen his tie. If he lived to be a hundred, he'd never get used to wearing a suit. Felt like a straitjacket, all stiff and confining. The last time he'd worn this brown monstrosity had been at Lily and Nick Logan's wedding. Now, seated in the fifth row of the Good Shepherd Church, he waited for Charlie North's funeral to begin.

Jason's stomach did a slow roll in anticipation of seeing Maxi again. He hadn't heard from her since she'd left for New York over two years ago. Any minute now, she'd walk through that door, and Jason wasn't sure how he felt about that.

His mother sat beside him, dressed in black, a tissue pressed to her nose. Jason draped an arm around her shoulder and squeezed, eliciting a watery smile in return. Ever since Maxi had worked at his mother's beauty shop during high school, Ma had looked on Maxi as the daughter she never had. Today, she likely grieved more for Maxi's pain than for the loss of Charlie North.

The organ began its sad refrain. From his position at the end of the aisle, Jason turned his head to watch the procession enter the church. Pallbearers carried the coffin up the main aisle, followed by the somber figures of the family. Jason's pulse sprinted as he strained to see around them. Right behind the coffin, Calvin North pushed his mother in her wheelchair. Multiple sclerosis had ravaged the proud woman and turned her into an invalid. His gaze moved past them and a burst of red made Jason's lips twitch. Maxi hadn't changed her hair, at least not the color. But today her usual spiky cut was tamed into submission. She looked different somehow. All sleek and sophisticated, like a real city girl.

Why did that thought irk him so much?

Maxi's big hazel eyes stared straight ahead, dulled by sorrow. The smattering of freckles she so hated stood out in stark relief against the pallor of her skin. Knowing firsthand the volatile nature of her relationship with Charlie, Jason guessed she would be suffering from a wide range of emotions—the main one being guilt.

As the procession moved past, Maxi's ravaged gaze flicked over to Jason. Their eyes met and held for a brief moment before she jerked her head back and stumbled forward. Her brother, Aidan, caught her arm to steady her, and they moved past.

Jason hardly heard a word of the service. His attention remained riveted on Maxi several rows ahead. Her shoulders shook as she wept in Aidan's arms, and Jason wished he could be the one to comfort her. Like he had all through high school.

His heart ached for her pain. Despite Maxi's difficult relationship with Charlie, Jason knew his death would devastate her. He shifted on the hard pew, the scent of candles and funeral flowers drifting by him. He must be a real jerk, because in spite of everything, he envied Maxi. At least she knew her dad, even if they never got along. And now she'd have closure—something he would likely never get with his own father.

When the service finished and the family filed out of the church in solemn procession, Jason hurried after them, hoping to catch a moment alone with Maxi. But as he sifted through the crowds in front of the church, he couldn't see her anywhere. At the curb, Aidan North helped his mother into the car. Jason tried to peer into the backseat, sure Maxi must be inside.

“Hello, Jason.” Even after the trauma of losing her husband, Bernice North still had a smile of welcome for him. She looked much older than a woman in her mid-fifties. He imagined her illness had something to do with that.

She held out her hand to him. “Thank you so much for coming. I hope you have time to come back to the house for refreshments. Everyone's welcome.”

There would be no trip to the cemetery since Charlie was being cremated. Jason didn't hesitate for a minute. No matter how mad Maxi might be at him, he couldn't pass up the chance to see her again.

“Thanks, Mrs. North. I'll be there.”

 

****

 

Maxi moved like a robot through the living room of her parents' sprawling farmhouse, offering drinks and trays of sandwiches to the people who'd come by to pay their respects. Keeping busy allowed her to avoid thinking, or feeling, anything. On automatic pilot, she smiled at neighbors, gave the appropriate responses to their words of condolence, and scurried on to the next guest as soon as it was polite to do so.

She still couldn't believe Charlie was dead. Crushed by his own tractor. Her family had worried his drinking would end in something like this one day. Now their worst fears had come true.

A waving hand from the other side of the room caught her attention. Her mother motioned her over and a pang of guilt swamped Maxi. She should be paying more attention to Mama, instead of running from her emotions. Mama was the one who'd be most affected by Charlie's death. After all, she depended on him for everything.

Too bad Charlie wasn't dependable.

She set the tray of sandwiches on a side table and weaved her way over to the wheelchair in the corner, crouching down so her face was level with her mother's. “What is it, Mama? Do you need something?” A breeze at the open window lifted the curtain and ruffled Maxi's bangs.

“I'm fine, dear.” Despite her assertion, the strain of the past few days showed in the lines on her face. Her light brown hair, streaked with a good deal of gray, needed trimming. Her mother reminded Maxi of a wilted rose—once beautiful but now withered by time and disease. Much like the faded furniture in this living room.

Her mother smiled. “Look who's here. It's Jason.”

Maxi's hand froze on the arm of the wheelchair. How had she missed Jason standing off to the side? She grappled to keep her expression neutral as she slowly straightened. Faced with the reality of seeing him again, she found herself unprepared for the onslaught of conflicting emotions. After two years without contact, she had no idea what to say to him. So she said nothing—and simply stared.

He looked so different, she almost didn't recognize him. He'd filled out through the chest and shoulders, giving him a more rugged look. His hair, which skimmed his collar, had deepened into a beautiful chestnut color. His stunning blue eyes, however, remained as intense as ever. Right now they shone with sympathy.

“Hello, Maxi.” He stepped forward to kiss her cheek. “I'm so sorry about your dad.”

His breath tickled her ear before he moved back. With that one tiny action, and the familiar scent of his cologne swirling around her, her long-standing crush roared back to life.

“Thanks. You sure look…different.” The words were out of her mouth before she could think. In order to steady her hands, she crossed her arms over her chest.

He smiled at her. “I suppose I do.”

“Jason was one of the first responders here when I called for help. He's a volunteer firefighter now,” Mama told her.

Maxi looked down at her mother and blinked. She'd almost forgotten Mama was there.

“Remember, I wrote about it in my last letter?”

Maxi couldn't admit she didn't remember—that she tried her best not to think about Jason Hanley at all. Instead, she shrugged. “I guess.” She turned back to the intensity of Jason's gaze.

“I'm training to be a fireman over in Kingsville.”

Maybe that explained the fire in his eyes.

“I never thought you'd leave the auto body shop.”

Jason tugged at his tie as if he wanted to pull it off. “Guess you didn't hear that Tony's garage burnt down. Ironic that I'd choose firefighting because of a fire where I worked, huh? Anyway, that type of work never did anything for me. I want to do something that will make a difference for people.”

Maxi couldn't conceal her surprise. When had Jason Hanley grown up? Before she left, he'd been adolescent in his ways, riding motorcycles and running with resident bad boy, Marco Messini. A multitude of questions raced through her brain, tangling her tongue, but now was not the time or place to rehash old issues.

“How about you? What are you up to these days?” Jason asked.

“Didn't Peg tell you?” Maxi always worded her letters to his mother in a careful manner, conscious that every bit of news would be relayed to Jason.

“She said something about a swanky shop in New York.”

Maxi smirked. Sounded just like Peg. “Yeah. I'm at
Baronne's
on Fifth Avenue. You've probably never heard of it, but it's pretty prestigious.”

“I'm glad. I know how much you wanted this.”

An unidentifiable emotion flashed across his features. Features she had to admit were very attractive. For several seconds, she couldn't tear her eyes from his.

“I have to go…serve more food.” She waved her arms in the direction of the kitchen.

“Sure.” He paused. “Listen, can we get together before you go back?”

She hesitated.
Bad idea
, her brain screamed. She scrambled for an excuse to say no, but when nothing came to her, she shrugged. “I guess so.”

“Great. I'll call you.”

He kissed her cheek again. Maxi closed her eyes, drinking in the familiar scent of him. Then she forced herself to step away into the safety of the crowd.

 

****

 

After the majority of the guests had departed, Maxi sought a moment of solitude outside on the porch steps. With only the family's faithful farm dog for company, she stared out over the expanse of their property. Acres and acres of green pasture interspersed with newly growing wheat fields, spread out as far as the eye could see. Good thing they'd have time to hire workers before the crop would need harvesting. If they didn't sell first. Off to one side, Maxi could see the outline of the barn and the offending tractor parked outside. It sat askew, like no one had bothered to park it properly after finding Charlie underneath it. She wondered who had found him and how they got the tractor righted again.

She swore silently at her father's stupidity to drive such a dangerous machine after drinking. How could he be so reckless with his life and end up leaving Mama all alone when he knew how she depended on him?