A Turn in the Road - Debbie Macomber [81]
“I haven’t known him long,” Bethanne said, cutting Max off. “Tell me more.”
“I think we should head out.” Max stood and started for the door.
“We’ve got time,” Bethanne countered, winking at Al.
“You don’t know?” Al looked from Bethanne to Max and then back again.
“Bethanne, come on,” Max said through clenched teeth.
“I’d like to hear what Al has to say,” she told him. “Come back and sit down.” When Max hesitated, she added, “Please?”
Max claimed the chair he’d recently vacated, but he didn’t seem pleased about it.
“Max rides his motorcycle from one end of the country to the other, and along the way he helps people in need,” Al explained. “If he comes across someone in trouble, Max lends a hand. Sometimes it’s talking to them, like it was with our Sherry. Other times it’s getting them something to eat and a place to live. All he asks in return is that whoever he helps pays it forward.”
“He’s definitely one of the good guys,” Bethanne said. Now she understood what the mechanic in Wells, Nevada, had been talking about.
“I’m no saint,” Max grumbled.
“He doesn’t talk about it, either. As you might’ve noticed, he doesn’t like people knowing what a soft heart he has.”
“How’d you find out?” Bethanne asked. “Other than through Sherry, I mean.”
“Rooster.”
Max grunted in disapproval.
“Name’s a bit odd. His real name’s John Wayne Miller. John Wayne played a guy called Rooster in a movie called True Grit back in the sixties and apparently that’s how Rooster picked up the nickname.”
Bethanne nodded. “Yeah, I heard that.”
“I wish you two’d stop talking about me as if I wasn’t here,” Max complained.
Al continued to ignore Max. “Max stops by to see Susie and me every now and then.” He smiled at Max. “This is the first time he’s ever brought a lady friend.”
“Actually, Max helped me when our car broke down in Nevada.” She caught his eye. “I don’t recall you asking me to pay it forward.”
“Can we go yet?” Max asked pointedly.
“I was with my daughter and mother-in-law, and—”
“Ex-mother-in-law,” Max corrected.
“Yes, I’m divorced. Max and I just sort of hit it off.”
Al looked pleased as spiked punch. “I always wondered why he never had a woman in his life.”
“I prefer my own company,” Max said.
“Doesn’t look like it to me.” Al laughed. “You’ve found someone special, and you should be grateful. It’s not much of a life, racing from one coast to the other, especially if you’re alone.”
“I like my life the way it is.”
“Sure you do,” Al muttered sarcastically.
“I do,” Max said. He held his hand out to Bethanne; it was time to leave.
“No need to rush off. Susie’s on her way home and I know she’d love to see you.”
Bethanne agreed with Max’s friend. “We should stay and say hello to Susie.”
“She’d be real disappointed if you took off,” Al said. “Besides, she’s bringing lunch. I’ll give her a quick call and tell her to pick up enough for five.” He grinned. “I eat as much as two normal people, so she automatically buys two of everything when she’s feeding me.”
“Lunch,” Bethanne said sweetly.
Max nodded reluctantly.
Sure enough, Susie arrived about ten minutes later and the men met her in the driveway. Al and Max brought in grocery bags and two six-packs of beer, plus an equal number of sodas.
Susie was a petite woman who stood a full foot and a half shorter than her husband. She had curly brown hair and big hazel eyes. Clearly she adored Max and welcomed Bethanne with a warm smile.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to meet you,” she said, rushing inside. “Al and I were so thrilled to hear from Max, we immediately changed our plans and headed for the lake house.”
Bethanne followed Susie into the kitchen and began unpacking groceries, setting the food on the kitchen counter.
“What else can I do to help?” Bethanne asked when she’d finished.
“Grab those bags over there,” Susie said, pointing to the chips.
Bethanne was put to work opening bags of potato chips and emptying them into plastic bowls while Susie made a salad.
Al and Max moved onto the deck, where Al turned on the barbecue.