Waking Up in Charleston by Sherryl Woods

Author:Sherryl Woods [Woods, Sherryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Unknown
Publisher: Unknown
Published: 2006-05-21T23:00:00+00:00

13

N ow that Caleb had persuaded Amanda to see her father—at least he hoped he had—he needed to prepare Max for the visit. He could have left it to chance, but he was convinced that wouldn’t be fair to either one of them. No, he’d started this. It was only right that he do all he could to smooth the way. It would help if he happened to catch Max in a mellow state of mind.

Unfortunately, as it turned out, Max didn’t seem to be in any mood to listen to anything Caleb had to say this morning. He’d had a restless night and when Caleb arrived, he was busy berating Jessie for everything from the pulp in his orange juice to the weather.Jessie ushered Caleb into the kitchen to get his coffee, then made a face at Max’s continuing tirade. “You’re on your own with him. He’s being even more impossible than usual.”

“Any particular reason?”

She lowered her voice. “He’s scared, but you never heard that from me.” In a louder tone, she said, “I have cleaning to do. Help yourself to some of that pecan coffee cake while it’s still warm. And there’s more coffee when you’re ready. You’re going to need it.”

“I heard that,” Max hollered from the dining room.

“I meant for you, too,” Jessie retorted.

Caleb warred with himself over the coffee cake, but it was a lost cause. He cut a large slice, poured himself a cup of coffee, then went to join Max. He gave the old man a chiding look. “Given the way you treat her, you’re lucky that woman doesn’t quit.”

“What do you care?” Max growled. “Unless you’re worried you’ll lose access to all her baked goods.” He pointedly eyed the coffee cake.

“That’s part of it of course,” Caleb acknowledged unrepentantly. “Then, again, I think she’d keep me supplied, anyway. At least I show her my appreciation.”

“And I don’t? I pay her a bloody fortune to keep up with this place.”

“But not enough to make her take your abuse,” Caleb chided. “She does that because she cares about you.”

Max scowled at him, then sighed. “Okay, you’re right. Fortunately Jessie knows my bark is worse than my bite. She gives me a lot of latitude, especially these days.”

“Feeling sorry for you?” Caleb inquired, knowing how much that must grate.

Max nodded. “Can’t say I like it.”

“Few people would.”

“Then you might want to rearrange your face, as well. You’ve got that pitying expression back on it again,” Max grumbled.

Caleb laughed. “Sorry. I’ll see what I can do.” He forced an exaggerated smile. “Is that any better?”

“You’re not a bit funny,” Max said, then gave him a hard look. “What brings you out here this morning, anyway? You still checking up on me after what happened the other night? I don’t need you hovering. I get enough of that from Jessie. The woman hardly goes home to sleep these days. I think she’s afraid I’ll go off and leave something on the stove and burn the house down.”

“Max, have you left anything on the stove?” Caleb asked, not even trying to disguise his concern.

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