A Turn in the Road (Blossom Street #8)(50)

“And you love him,” Max said. “I understand that. But do you love him enough?”

“We have children together, a twenty-year history as husband and wife. I already told you all this.”

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

“I don’t know how I feel. I can’t deal with this,” she whispered, and her voice cracked.

“Bethanne, listen,” Max said, speaking softly now. “This doesn’t have to be decided this very minute. I thought we were going to connect after your son’s wedding. It’s in July, right?”

“July 16.”

“You have lots of time. We both do.”

Despite what he’d said about understanding, he really didn’t. No one did. “I want this over now. I can’t be seriously considering getting back with Grant and dreaming about you. Why you? Oh, Max, why does it have to be you? Of all the men I’ve dated in the past six years, none of them made me feel the way you do.”

“Me, too,” he whispered, his voice husky. “No one. Not ever. I loved Kate, adored her, but that was…different.”

Neither spoke for what seemed like a long time. Then Bethanne saw Annie and Ruth walking out of the restaurant. “I need to get off the phone.”

“Where are you?”

“Albuquerque.” Fearing he might try to find her, she added, “Don’t come. Please don’t try to follow me.”

“I won’t.”

“Goodbye, Max.”

“Goodbye.”

Annie was staring intently at her and so was Ruth. Rather than say anything more, Bethanne snapped her cell shut and dropped it in her purse.

“Who was that?” Ruth asked.

Bethanne felt incredibly guilty and guessed she must look it, too. But she didn’t respond. She had a right to her private conversations, dammit! Ironically, she’d been trying to do something that should please them.

“You were talking to Max, weren’t you?” Annie said.

Not waiting for a reply, both women turned toward the parking lot. Bethanne went back inside the restaurant, to the ladies’ room. Her nerves were a mess.

Instead of feeling better after talking to Max, she felt worse. She hadn’t settled a thing. Quite the contrary; she’d muddled her thoughts and emotions even more.

Washing her hands in the empty room, Bethanne looked at herself in the mirror and announced, “I am my own woman. I will not let the dictates of my family influence my decisions.” Then she dried her hands carefully with a paper towel and left the bathroom.

When she got to the car, Annie was in the driver’s seat with Ruth in the back. Bethanne climbed into the front passenger seat and closed the door. She automatically reached for her knitting.

Without a word, Annie backed out of the parking space.

“I have to tell you that I’m worried about you,” Ruth said, leaning forward. She apparently felt obliged to impart her misgivings.

“I appreciate your concern, Ruth, but you don’t need to worry. I know what I’m doing.”

“What about Dad?” Annie cried.

“What about him?” Bethanne asked. She continued to work the white cashmere wool, knitting faster than she’d thought possible. Thankfully, the pattern wasn’t so complicated that she had to study every row.

“He loves you! Doesn’t that matter?”

“Of course it does,” Ruth answered for her. “I think we should leave your mother alone. She’s right. This is her decision.”

“I’m not sure I can keep quiet,” Annie said, completely ignoring the fact that Bethanne was sitting beside her and could hear every word.

“Your mother wants to return to Grant on an even playing field,” Ruth said stiffly.

“What does that mean?” Bethanne asked, twisting around in her seat.

Ruth wouldn’t look at her. “It means,” she said, glancing at Annie, “that Bethanne wants to have an affair with this biker before she takes your father back. It’s tit for tat.”

“Ruth!” Bethanne could hardly believe she’d said that. “How can you even suggest such a thing?” After all these years she’d assumed her mother-in-law knew her better. “If it’ll help either of you, I’ll let you know that Max and I have done nothing more than kiss.” She instantly regretted telling them even that much.

“Mom,” Annie said in the same voice she’d used as a little girl when she wanted something important. “I promise I won’t bring up Max’s name again if you’ll do just one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Give Dad a chance. It isn’t fair when Dad’s in Seattle.”

What do you think I’m doing? she wanted to shout. This is all about giving him a chance.

“It isn’t like Max is trailing behind our car on his motorcycle,” she said tartly.

“Just don’t do anything foolish, okay?”

“I’m not a foolish woman,” she told her daughter.

“I didn’t used to think so,” Ruth muttered under her breath but loudly enough for Bethanne to hear.

“I am not a foolish woman,” Bethanne repeated, and then suddenly realized her purse wasn’t within sight. “Did either of you pick up my purse?”