A Turn in the Road (Blossom Street #8)(72)

She was completely relaxed when Annie stepped into the bathroom and sat on the edge of the tub.

“Do you need anything, sweetie?” Bethanne asked.

Annie didn’t say anything right away. “I’m glad Max isn’t here,” she mumbled.

“I know.” Bethanne tried not to sound defensive.

“I can see how much you like him.”

“I do.” Bethanne understood her daughter’s concerns. “You’re afraid Max might ruin any chance of a reconciliation between your father and me. Look, Annie, I know how much you want me to get back with your father. But what you need to remember is that nothing’s the same as it was six years ago. Our family will never return to the way it used to be. You and Andrew are adults now. I’d never attempt to convince either of you to enter a relationship you didn’t feel was right. I expect the same courtesy and respect.”

Her daughter blinked and then nodded.

“We understand each other?”

Annie nodded again. “Just promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Give Dad a chance. Just give my dad a chance.”

Twenty-Three

“Mom,” Annie whispered. She hadn’t slept. The glowing digital alarm by her side told her it was a little after three. There was a strip of light under the door from the hallway, but except for that and the clock, the room was dark. Grandma Hamlin snored softly in the other bed.

“Hmm?” her mother returned groggily.

“Are you awake?”

“I am now,” Bethanne said, and rolled onto her back.

Annie stared at the ceiling. “Are you mad at me?”

Her mother sat up, leaning against the pillows, and studied Annie. “Why would I be mad at you?”

“Because of what I said about Max,” she whispered. “The thing is, I think I might really like him if it wasn’t for Dad.” Annie had lain awake, examining her feelings, and realized that Max and Rooster were good guys, kind and helpful. She had no idea what would’ve happened at the lake if they hadn’t come by when they did.

“You really care about him, don’t you?” Annie sighed. Her father could have put an end to this romance and he hadn’t. More than that, he’d actually insisted they leave Bethanne alone to make her own decision. Annie admired his attitude, which she viewed as brave and selfless, but she wanted to shout at him to do something and fast. He wouldn’t listen, though. Both her parents were such complicated people.

“I do care about Max.” Her mother’s voice was tender.

“It’s kind of weird watching my mother fall in love with someone other than my father.”

“I can’t say I’m in love with him, Annie. It’s too soon for that. I’m…infatuated with Max, but we haven’t faced any real difficulties yet. I think it would be easy to fall in love with him one day. I like Max a lot, and I hope things work out so we can be together, but they might not.”

“But you love Dad, too, right?” She felt as if the dream she held of seeing her parents reconcile was crumbling at her feet.

“I do care a great deal for your father. I can’t dismiss our years together because of an error in judgment he made.” Her mother lay down again. “However, I doubt that you woke me up to chat about your father and me. What’s up, sweetie?”

Annie sighed, unsure where to start. “I heard from Vance again.” She made it sound like he’d only emailed her a couple of times. The fact was, Vance had contacted her nearly every day since he’d left for Europe with Matt and Jessie. She hadn’t answered most of his emails.

“You mentioned that he’s homesick and wants to come back to Seattle.”

“He can’t. His ticket home isn’t good until next year. When he tried to change it, the airlines wanted to charge him for a whole new ticket. He doesn’t have that kind of money and he can’t ask his parents. He says the airline’s being unreasonable and I agree with him.”

“He must have known that when he booked his flights.”

“But he already paid for his return ticket!”

“He’s had a pretty quick change of heart, hasn’t he?” Bethanne commented. “He’s only been in Europe a couple of weeks.”

“Yes…”

“What aren’t you telling me, Annie?”

That was the problem with her mother, Annie thought. She read between the lines far too easily.

“Okay.” She closed her eyes tightly. “Vance wants me to meet him in France at the end of the month.” There, she’d said it, and held her breath while she waited for her mother’s reaction. “What do you think about that?”

Annie should’ve known. Her mother always did this. She turned everything into a question. “I’m not sure,” she admitted. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you. I need advice.”

“All right,” her mother said. “Obviously, this is bothering you. Otherwise, you’d be fast asleep.”

“And so would you,” Annie added, smiling.

“True.”

Her mother didn’t sound upset, though, and that was reassuring.

“First, how do you feel about Vance?”

“Now or before we left?”