Chapter Thirty-Four
Malee walked out of the Fourth Street Gym, her hand in Max’s. The last of the day’s light faded to a purple-blue on the horizon as dusk set in.
Max stopped and turned to look up at the place. Dropping her hand, he signed, So, what do you think?
“I like it.”
I didn’t want to change too much. I like the old school atmosphere the place has always had, but I thought some of the equipment needed an upgrade.
She nodded and stared up at the new sign painted on the brick wall in black and white, illuminated by a new gooseneck lamp mounted above it. “I like what you’ve done. And I like that you kept the old name.”
I’m looking at adding some more classes geared toward adolescents. We’ve had a great response for the class we have now.
She searched his eyes, smiling up at him. “It’s good to see you so excited about this. You have a passion for it.”
He grinned. I guess I do.
She was so happy for him. Several weeks ago, she’d had her Cochlear Implant surgery and since then had gone for her post-op appointments. And finally, next week she would go back to have the initial activation of the device, and she would hear for the first time. Max was making all her dreams come true, and it was so good to see him attain his own dream of purchasing this gym.
“I’m so happy for you, Max.” She wrapped an arm around his waist and stared up at the sign again. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, and they turned toward his big truck. He opened the door for her, and she climbed inside. Her eyes followed him as he moved around the hood and slid behind the wheel.
He backed out of the spot and turned down a street that ran parallel to Main Street. Malee gazed out the window as they rolled through town. Her eyes landed on a green neon frog in the window of a bar, when suddenly Max was slamming on the brakes. She turned to look at him, but he was already shoving the truck into park and climbing out. She frowned as she watched him angrily stalk around the hood to the curb. And that’s when she saw him.
A young boy was sitting on the curb, his knees to his chest, like he was waiting for something. Her eyes lifted to the establishment. Otto’s Pub.
Why on earth was this child—who couldn’t be more than seven or eight years old—sitting on the curb in front of a bar as darkness fell?
Malee climbed out of the truck and moved to Max. He was squatted down in front of the boy, talking to him. When his eyes lifted to hers, he gestured toward the bar. His father is inside the bar.
She replied in sign, not wanting the boy to understand they were talking about him. Why is he sitting on the curb?
He’s waiting for his old man.
Max, he’s just a child.
I know. Then her husband said something in a quiet reassuring tone to the boy and gestured to Malee. He signed as he spoke. “Malee, this is Ben, the boy I told you about. Ben, this is my wife, Malee. She can’t hear. That’s why I’m using my hands to communicate with her. It’s called sign language.”
“She really can’t hear?”
“No, son. Can you wait here with her for a few minutes? I’d sure feel better if I knew she wasn’t waiting alone.”
“I guess so.”
“I’m going to go inside for just a minute, okay?”
“Okay.”
Then Max stood, his eyes connecting with Malee’s. Stay with him. I’m going to have a few words with his father.
She nodded, and he strode angrily inside. Malee’s gaze followed him then dropped to the child. She smiled, sat beside the boy, and put her arm around him. Glancing over her shoulder, she could see Max through the glass door. He was standing halfway down the bar, yelling at some man.
***
Max stared at the drunk on the stool, Ben’s father. By the looks of him, he’d been in here quite a while. Max spoke loudly, wanting everyone in the place to hear what a loser this guy was. “You leave your kid sitting out on the curb while you sit in this bar and get shit-faced drunk! What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Who the fuck are you to tell me anything?” the man growled, his watery eyes focusing in on the big muscular man who leaned toward him. “Wait a minute. I remember you.”
“I remember you, too. I know all about your story. I know your wife died, and I know you’ve spent every night drowning yourself in alcohol ever since. You get social security for the boy, and what do you do with the money? You drink it away in this bar.”
“It’s none of your fucking business.”
“I’m making it my business.” Max pointed toward the street. “From this moment on, that boy will never sit on a curb outside a bar again; he’ll never wait alone at night for a drunken father to come home; he’ll never open the door to an empty refrigerator again. And do you know why? Because he’s coming home with me, where he’ll be fed and clothed and loved. And you’re not going to do a damn thing to stop me. You know why? Because you like to drink, and you like to have that government check to do it on. You push it, I’ll make sure he’s taken from you legally, and all those checks will stop. So, if I were you, I’d be glad someone was taking care of him; take the checks and leave it be.”
“He’s my son.”
“Not anymore. You want to get help for your alcoholism, I’ll be glad to help you. But if you come to my door and try to take Ben, you’ll have to go through me. You ain’t gettin’ that boy back. Over my dead body…or maybe yours.”
Then Max slapped a fifty on the bar and growled at the bartender who was looking at Ben’s father with distaste. “His drinks are on me. Pour him another.”
Ben’s father did exactly what Max knew he’d do; he pushed his glass forward for the bartender.
Max stalked toward the door, knowing the man would never give him any trouble that couldn’t be bought off with some drinking money. If he were a betting man, he’d bet the guy would drink himself to death before too long.
A man at the end of the bar stood and started clapping as Max walked past, and before he made it to the door, the whole bar was applauding him.
***
Malee stood when Max came back out.
We’re taking him home with us, Malee. I can’t leave him with that man any longer.
She wasn’t sure what had happened in the bar, but if this was the boy he’d told her about so long ago, then she supported his decision, and she was so proud of her husband at that moment.
He knelt and spoke to the boy in low tones. Ben looked back over his shoulder toward the bar for a moment, then nodded and slipped his hand in Max’s. Together they walked to the truck.
***
Max pulled down the gravel drive.
He parked and looked over his shoulder at Ben buckled in the backseat. He signed as he spoke. “Ben, when there’s a lady in the car, a gentleman goes around and opens the door for her. Do you want to see how it’s done?”
Ben nodded, slurping down the last of his milkshake. They’d stopped at a drive-thru and fed him. Meals out were something this child was probably never treated to.
Max winked at Malee, then climbed out of his side. He opened the door for Ben and helped him out, then said, “Okay, buddy. Watch this.”
He opened the door for Malee and held his hand out for her. She slipped her hand in his as he helped her down out of the truck, and then Max shut the door.
“Simple, right?”
Ben nodded.
“What other doors do we open for ladies?”
Ben frowned, then pointed at the door to the farmhouse.
“That’s right. Would you like to hold the door for her?”
He nodded and ran up the porch steps to hold the screen door open. Once they were in the kitchen, Max squatted down in front of Ben. “Hey, buddy. You’re Dad said he didn’t mind if you stayed with us for a while. Would you like that? I’ll show you all kinds of cool stuff around the place.”
“I guess so.”
“You can even stay in my old room. You want to see it?”
Ben nodded excitedly.
Max stood and held his hand out to the boy and took him upstairs.
Max had a big bed covered in a navy blue comforter. There was a dresser with an old football on top and a stack of MMA and tattoo magazines. The room was a basic white that hadn’t been painted since the boys were young.
“What do you think, Ben? Would you be okay sleeping in here tonight?”
“I guess so.”
“You know, now that I’m married, no one uses this room anymore. How would you like to make it yours?”
“But I have a room at my house.”
“I know, son. But this could be your room when you stay with us. You could even put some posters up and maybe we could paint it a different color. Would you like that?”
He shrugged. “I guess.”
Max picked up the football and sat on the mattress tossing it in the air. “I talked to your dad, Ben. We just thought maybe you’d like to stay here with us, since your dad is gone a lot of the time. Then you wouldn’t have to be alone so much. And I sure could use a helper around the place.”
Ben sat on the mattress next to Max and stared at the floor. “What about my dad?”
“Well, I think he’ll be spending a lot of time out, trying to find a good job, and if he knew you were safe here and we were taking good care of you, he wouldn’t worry about you.”
Ben looked up at Max with earnest eyes. “Is my dad worried about me?”
“I’m sure he doesn’t like leaving you alone, Ben.”
“But I have Mrs. Larsen.”
“I know you do, but she doesn’t live with you.”
“But, who will look after her if I’m gone? I have to go home and check on her. She needs someone. I can’t leave her.”
“I have her phone number. Would you like to talk to her? Then maybe tomorrow we could go see her. How would that be?”
Ben nodded. “Okay.”
Max pulled his phone out. “Give me a minute to talk to her first, okay buddy?”
“Sure.”
Max passed him the football. “You want to hold onto this for me?”
Ben grinned and nodded.
Max stood. “If you want to lie on the bed and toss it in the air, that would be okay. But no shoes on the bed, okay?”
Practically before the words were out of Max’s mouth, Ben was toeing his sneakers off and scooting back to plop on the big bed. Max grinned and walked downstairs.
Taking a seat at the kitchen table, he called Mrs. Larsen. After he explained the situation to her, he signed to Malee to go upstairs and get Ben.
A couple of minutes later, Ben skipped into the room holding Malee’s hand. Max passed him the phone. While they talked, Max pulled Malee aside and signed to her, appreciating the fact that he could talk in front of Ben without him knowing what was said.
He’s worried about Mrs. Larsen.
Malee frowned. Is she the elderly woman who lives next door to him? The one you said looked out for him?
Yes. He feels like he needs to be there to take care of her.
That’s so sweet. She looks out for him, and he thinks it’s the other way around.
I told him we could take him to see her tomorrow.
Malee nodded. I think that’s a good idea. What did he say about his father?
Not much. He was concerned his father might be worried about him. I didn’t exactly explain that he was moving in here for good. I don’t want to drop that on him all at once. I figured we’d take it day by day and see how he does.
Malee nodded. He’s an adorable boy.
I’m sorry. I should have discussed all this with you.
It’s okay. You did the right thing.
Max looked over at Ben, then back at Malee. We’re starting a family, just not the way I’d imagined.
She grinned up at him. Have I told you lately how much I love you?