“That’s fine, Max. I’ll be around. Just give me an hour or so’s notice, okay?”
“Great, thank you.”
She nodded then grinned. “It sounds like the meeting went well. Are you happy with the results?”
I grinned back. “Very happy.”
Unfortunately, Marcus was not happy when I told him of my sudden plans.
I did my best not to wince at his disapproval. “It’s a family emergency,” I added when Marcus’s frown verged on turning into a scowl.
“Is someone dying?” he asked bluntly.
I shook my head.
“Then how is it an emergency?”
Given that he hadn’t made a single birthday party his wife had thrown for their sons since I started working here, I knew this wasn’t hyperbole on his part, but it didn’t matter. I’d made a promise to Marnie and Steph, and I wouldn’t break it.
“I have to go. But I’ll be back tomorrow,” I assured him. “There’ll be plenty of time to get the preliminary work done before the meeting on Monday.”
“Max.” Marcus shook his head heavily. “You’re this close to securing a real future for you in the firm, and the last thing you want is to falter right before the finish line. You can’t afford any distractions right now. You’ve signed the client to a preliminary agreement, but that’s not going to be enough to hold them here if they feel undervalued.”
“I’ll make sure they don’t.” But I also wasn’t going to make my best friend and his family feel undervalued, especially not this close to the holidays. I couldn’t go back on my word now, I just couldn’t. Not after talking to Marnie.
Besides, it was just one night.
“I’ll handle it, sir.”
It wasn’t the first time Marcus had been angry at me, and it wouldn’t be the last. Experience had taught me it was better not to dwell on other people’s feelings, especially when I had no hope of changing them. Right now, I needed to get home, pack, and get on the road. To Edgewood, land of a dozen decent memories and a thousand bad ones. Well, really only a few bad ones, but they took up so much space in my brain that they felt limitless.
Whatever. I wouldn’t be there long enough to dwell on the past.
…
A quick change of clothes and a hastily packed overnight bag later, I was cruising along on the I-87 highway on my way to Edgewood for the first time in ten years. My jaw ached from clenching it so much, and not just because of the snow making the visibility crap. Returning to the town where my worst memories lived had never been part of my plans. But I could set aside my issues and make the girls’ holidays a little less bleak, at least for one night.
Which reminded me I needed to call Hal about my plans. I said his name aloud and waited for my phone to dial.
He answered after a single ring. “If you’re calling to bail, Max, I swear to God—”
“I’m not calling to bail.” Of course, if I hadn’t already talked to Marnie, I would have been calling to bail, but he didn’t need to know that. “I just wanted to let you know I’m on the road now.”
“Really?” Hal sounded both surprised and pleased. “That’s great. I thought I’d have to fight a lot harder to get you back here, honestly.”
“Well…”
He sighed. “Here it comes.”
“I’m only staying for the night.”
“You’re coming all this way just to spend one night here?” Hal exclaimed.
“I’ve got a prep meeting tomorrow for a big deal going down on Monday, and I have to be here for those.”
“Have you ever heard of Zoom?” my best friend asked sarcastically. “I understand it’s all the rage these days.”
“Ha, ha,” I deadpanned. “Yes, I’ve heard of Zoom, but these sorts of meetings are never as effective online as they are in person.” Hal didn’t say anything. “Hal. C’mon, you know I wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t a big deal, but this client could make or break my career with the firm. I’ve been working toward this moment for the past three years. Three years.”
“Max,” he said on a sigh. “I know how hard you work, and I’m glad things are finally coming together. And hey, it’s really not necessary for you to come out if you’re this busy. The girls will understand.”
The hell they would. “You’re such a liar. They’re singing and dancing about it, aren’t they?”
“To the tune of ‘Let It Go,’” Hall affirmed, a little bit of good humor entering his voice. “Look, if you’re sure, then I’ll let them stay up late tonight so they can spend time with you when you get in. It’s sweet of you to do this for them.”
“And you.” Because now that I was listening to him, really listening, I could hear the stress in Hal’s voice. Of course he was stressed—he was running his own contracting company, taking care of two young daughters over their school break, and going through a divorce, all without any backup. Suddenly, I felt like crap for not doing better on the visit front. Even a single phone call a week might have made a difference for him, but I’d been so wrapped up in this deal that I’d forgotten everything except work. “I’m coming for you, too.”
“Eh, I’m doing okay. Nicky’s tour ended six months ago, and he settled back in town, so he’s helping out with the girls when my neighbor can’t.” Nicky was Hal’s brother, four years younger than us. I barely remembered him. “Be careful on the drive, all right? They’re forecasting a hell of a storm front coming through. Snow’s already coming down here.”
“You bet.” Hal and I said good-bye, and I felt good enough to turn the volume up on the radio. Holiday songs on all stations, familiar and merry and mindless, just what I needed to listen to when I had too many things to think about already.
The first two hours of the drive were a breeze, but my cheer began to ebb as the snow piled up higher and higher between the lanes and on the side of the highway. By the time I turned onto State Route 10, the veil of snow beyond my windshield made it hard to see anything. My wipers might as well have been standing still for all the good they did me. The road was practically abandoned—not surprising, considering the destination—which was good, because I didn’t want to hit anyone. I wasn’t going to stop, though, rear-wheel drive bullshit and poor visibility or not.
That wasn’t exactly careful behavior. If I turned around now, I could get back to Schenectady in under fifteen minutes and find a hotel. But if I did that, I’d spend the one night I’d decided to take to see Hal and his daughters by myself, which completely defeated the purpose of driving up here for the night in the first place.