Her mother didn’t want to go. She was still in trauma mode after seeing her only child through a near-fatal illness. They’d been to family therapy to cope with the post-traumatic fallout, and everyone was better than they’d been, but her mom was still struggling.

  That’s why Lexi had promised to check in during this weekend away, even though she was twenty-eight. She would always check in with them after what they’d sacrificed for her. Her dad had sold his successful HVAC business in Vermont and put a big chunk of the profit from the sale into saving her life. After she aged off their insurance when she was twenty-six, he’d paid out of pocket to keep her covered. Everything had been a struggle, and they’d been right by her side through it all.

  While she was in treatment, she’d befriended a young woman named Gillian, who’d had no family support. Lexi’s parents and grandparents had rallied for her, too, making her part of holidays and other events. They’d mourned together when Gillian passed away two years ago. That loss had been a setback for them, a shocking reminder that even after everything they’d been through, Lexi could still die.

  “But you’re not going to die today or tomorrow, and you finally got to see Max Abbott,” she said with a giddy feeling inside. “Today was a very good day, and tomorrow will be even better.” During long weeks of isolation during her treatments, Lexi had been driven to talk to herself when she hadn’t been permitted to have visitors. That habit had lasted into remission and would likely stay with her forever.

  “Max has grown into a gorgeous man, as if there was any doubt about that.” But could they recapture the magic of young love after all the living they had done in the last ten years?

  “Only time will tell.”

  Chapter Three

  “The future for me is already a thing of the past. You were my first love and you will be my last.”

  —Bob Dylan

  The silence woke Max in the morning. Accustomed to the enthusiasm with which his son began each day, everything felt off without Caden in the house. Max got up, changed into workout clothes and hit the home gym he’d installed in the house’s third bedroom, since he had no time to go to an actual gym. He was in the shower by eight and on his way to the barn by eight thirty, eager to see his son after a night apart.

  He knew he ought to be thankful for the break, but he vastly preferred being with his little boy than being without him, even if he was in the best possible hands with Molly, Linc and Elmer.

  In between thoughts of Caden and what they might do that day, Max relived the night with Lexi and picked over the things she’d told him as he drove toward the covered bridge that led to Hells Peak Road.

  Cancer, of all things.

  And he’d had no idea she was going through such a harrowing ordeal.

  That was by design on her part, but he wished she would’ve made an exception for him. What could he have done, though? With college and Caden to consider, it wasn’t like he could’ve moved to Houston to be on Team Lexi. But he could’ve called and visited and supported her from a distance.

  Knowing he would see Caden in a few minutes, Max felt a surge of excitement as he pulled into the driveway at the barn, threw his truck into Park and killed the engine. He walked into the mudroom, where the walls were covered with hooks from the original Abbott ten and now their many children. Caden loved that his hook was first on the second row and took his job as a role model to his younger cousins very seriously.

  Max stopped on the way into the kitchen to listen to his son’s excited chatter as he talked to Elmer about something that’d happened at school and how funny it was when the teacher found out about it.

  “She was so mad,” Caden said, giggling, “but we couldn’t stop laughing.”

  Elmer’s low chuckle made Max smile. His grandfather took endless pleasure in Caden and vice versa. “Well, it’s not very nice to put something that makes fart sounds on the teacher’s chair.”

  “I know, but it was hilarious,” Caden said. “You should’ve seen her face.” He lost it laughing all over again while Max desperately hoped the whoopee cushion hadn’t come from his house. He assumed he would’ve heard from Mrs. Langtree by now if it had.

  “What goes on around here?” Max asked when he stepped into the kitchen.

  Caden let out a shriek followed by “Daddy” as he ran to him, nearly toppling his chair at the table in the process.

  Elmer reached out to grab it.

  Loving the greeting he always received when they spent time apart, Max lifted his son into the air, realizing it wouldn’t be long until he was too heavy for such things.

  Caden hugged him like he hadn’t seen Max in weeks. “We had so much fun. Grandpa-Great let me stay up until ten so we could finish watching The One and Only Ivan. It was so good!” He squiggled to get free the way he often did these days, so Max put him down, and he ran off, yelling for Grandma. “Daddy’s here!”

  “Ten o’clock, huh?” Max asked his grandfather as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

  “It was a good movie.”

  “I see you’re still spoiling the grandkids, even the second generation of them.”

  “When you’re good at something, it makes sense to stick with it.”

  Max laughed. “You could teach the master class.”

  “That’s a lovely compliment, my friend. He’s an absolute delight, but of course you know that.”

  “Yes, I do. I missed him so much, and yes, I realize that sounds ridiculous.”

  “Nah, I get it. How was the reunion?”

  “Better than expected.”

  “Your mother will gloat.”

  “I come prepared for that.”

  “Prepared for what?” Molly asked as Caden led her into the kitchen by tugging on her hand.

  “To tell you the reunion was better than expected. And I left at nine, so I win the bet.”

  “Oh damn,” Molly said. “I was hoping you danced the night away.”

  “Not exactly. I left with Lexi, and we went back to my place to catch up.”

  “Is that right?” Molly said, her eyes going wide.

  “Now you’ve gone and done it,” Elmer said with a chuckle.

  “How is she? Where’s she been?”

  “She’s good, and she’s been in Houston.”

  “What’s there?”

  “The MD Anderson Cancer Center.”

  “What?” Molly asked, her face going flat with shock.

  “She’s been battling leukemia on and off since our freshman year of college. She had a stem cell transplant a year and a half ago and is now in remission and trying to figure out what’s next.”

  “Dear Lord,” Molly said, sitting at the table.

  Caden climbed into her lap, seeming concerned by her reaction. “What’s loo… Look…”

  “Leukemia is a kind of cancer,” Max said. “My friend Lexi from high school had it, or I guess she has it. She said she won’t be considered cured for four more years.”

  “I can’t believe we never heard about this,” Elmer said.

  “She wanted it kept private. She said she didn’t have the capacity to manage everyone knowing.”

  “I can understand that,” Elmer said. “Can you?”

  “I guess,” Max said. “But was I just anyone? You know I wondered for years where she was and what’d become of her. If you hadn’t run into her mom that one time at the grocery store, I would’ve thought she was dead.”

  “Who are we talking about?” Linc asked when he joined them in the kitchen.

  “Lexi,” Molly said. “Max saw her at the reunion and found out she’s been battling cancer all this time.”

  “Oh wow. Sorry to hear that. She’s okay now?”

  “She is, but she’s got four years until they consider her cured.”

  “Are you angry with her, Max?” Molly asked.

  “I was,” he admitted, “before I saw her and found out where she’d been. I was surprised she didn’t tell me what was going on. We’d agreed to see other people in college, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t care about her anymore.”

  “She was so crushed about that,” Molly said. “Remember?”

  “I do, but we were going to colleges three thousand miles apart. I was trying to be realistic.”

  “And she had hoped you two were forever,” Molly said.

  “Is anyone forever at eighteen with three thousand miles between them?” Max asked.

  “I suppose it can be done, but I always supported your decision. You were old enough to know that wasn’t what you wanted.”

  “It wasn’t about her. It was about the situation. Ten minutes with her last night took me right back to all the things I loved about being with her. It was always so easy.”

  “Hmmm,” Molly said with a satisfied smile.

  “Don’t say too much, son,” Linc said, “or you might regret it.”

  “You hush,” Molly said to her husband. “You want the scoop as much as I do.” She nudged Caden off her lap, got up and then returned to the table a minute later, handing a hundred-dollar bill to her grandson. “Take your daddy skiing this weekend.”

  “Can we, Dad?”

  “If we get the snow that’s forecast.”

  Caden handed Max the money. “You’d better hang on to this. I tend to lose stuff.”

  If Max had one frustration with his son, that was it, but they were working on him being more responsible about keeping track of his belongings. “I’ll keep it safe for you, pal.”

  Molly took a sip of the coffee Linc had poured for her. “How long is Lexi in town?”

  “Just through the weekend.”

  “Did you invite your friend to my party?” Caden asked.

  “I did. I hope that’s okay.”

  “Sure, that’s cool.” He looked up at Max, seeming uncertain. “Grammy said Chase and Molly are sleeping over tonight and I can stay if I want to. She said I’m a big help with them. Would you care if I stayed another night?”

  Caden knew that Max missed him when he slept out, thus the uncertainty. “That sounds like fun.” Caden adored his cousin Chase and never missed a chance to be with him. The time he had with his cousins kept Caden from being lonely for siblings, or so Max suspected. “What about Murphy?”

  “He’s staying home with his mom and dad,” Caden reported. “He’s too young to sleep over.”

  Thinking about his baby nephew sparked the oddest thought. Could Lexi still have children after her treatment? And honestly, what business was that of his?

  “Another night off, son,” Linc said without looking away from his morning copy of the Burlington Free Press. “Whatever will you do with yourself?”

  Max had no idea.

  * * *

  Lexi had a response from her mom in her inbox that she read as she sipped from her first cup of strong Vermont coffee, another thing she’d missed about her home state.

  So glad to hear the reunion was fun and you reconnected with Max. I can’t believe he’s a single dad to a seven-year-old. I’m sure he’s a wonderful father as he has a wonderful father—and grandfather. I can’t wait to hear all about it. Were there any sparks? You two were so cute together once upon a time. Dad and I have held out a secret hope that you might find your way back to each other.

  “Whoa,” Lexi said. “Easy, ghost rider.”

  Thanks for being so good about checking in and understanding how we worry about you. We promise to work on scaling that back now that you’re doing so much better. We’re thankful every day for your recovery, and we want to let you spread your wings and fly free. You’ve certainly earned that after everything you’ve been through. Enjoy the rest of your weekend in VT, and we’ll see you Monday. Love you! Mom

  Lexi appreciated the effort they were making to back off from the critical caregiver role they’d played for so many years. Untangling the complicated emotions that came with serious illness wouldn’t happen overnight, and their family therapist had told them to be kind to each other as each of them worked through their trauma on their own timelines as they found a new normal.

  That term, new normal, had come up a lot in therapy. For a time, Lexi had expected to return to the life she’d been leading when disaster struck. But then two years became four and four became six and her college friends graduated and got married and started families, while she cycled in and out of the hospital while waiting for a stem cell transplant with her mom as the donor. It had taken two more years until she was stable enough to have the procedure. Then it was postponed again while she battled a massive infection from the grueling chemo regimen that preceded the transplant.

  After the transplant, she’d developed graft vs. host disease and several other life-threatening complications that had dragged out her time in the hospital by months.

  The roller-coaster ride had been breathtakingly stressful, and then…

  She’d lived.

  The ending of the story was far less dramatic than the earlier chapters had been, which was why she and her family were still spinning as they lifted their heads up to see what’d been going on for everyone else while they were waging war against cancer. Everything else had faded to the background during those years. Once, during a particularly harrowing time in her illness, her dad had been shocked to realize a new president had been elected two weeks earlier and he hadn’t noticed.

  That’s how all-consuming it had been. They’d lost track of everything and everyone who wasn’t the doctors and nurses keeping her alive.

  Lexi typed a reply to her mom. It was great to see Max, and the same old sparks as always were still there, for me anyway, but I expected that. Not sure how he felt to see me, but he was shocked to hear where I’ve been and why I dropped off the map. I think he was hurt that I didn’t tell him what was going on. Maybe I should have, but I would’ve hated for him to see me down and out like I was so often during treatment—and you know he would’ve wanted to come.

  I’m looking forward to seeing him again this weekend and meeting his son. He absolutely glows when he talks about Caden, which is very sweet. It’s nice to be back in Butler. I forgot how beautiful it is—and how cold! It’s only twenty-eight this morning, and snow is threatening. I hope it snows like crazy. I’ve missed snow.

  Give Dad, Gram and Gramps a smooch from me and try to have a great weekend. Everything is GOOD—now go live. That’s an order. Love you. Lex

  After a shower, she got dressed in more of the warm clothes she’d bought for this weekend. Some of them had been acquired through the Green Mountain Country Store’s catalog, which she’d looked forward to receiving every quarter while she was away. It was like getting a piece of home in the mail—and seeing Max’s handsome face in the pages of the catalog was an added extra.

  Lexi was eager to get out in town and see everything and everyone who’d once made up her carefree childhood days. Her first stop was the diner, which had been vastly expanded in her absence. When she stepped inside, a million memories assailed her in one fell swoop that left her breathless. The scents of coffee, bacon and maple syrup along with the low hum of chatter and laughter took her right back to countless mornings there with her parents and grandparents.

  “Come in and grab a seat at the bar,” a smiling blonde said as she circulated with a pot of coffee. “I’m Megan Abbott. What brings you to Butler?”

  “I’m Lexi Bradshaw. I grew up here and am visiting for the weekend.”

  “Welcome home.”

  Lexi took a seat at the bar. “Thank you.”

  An older man sitting next to her leaned in to whisper to her. “If you turn the mug over, Megan will fill it for you.”

  Lexi turned over the mug. “Thanks for the insider info.” Then she did a double take. “Mr. Stillman? Is that you?”

  “It is, but I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage, young lady.”

  “Lexi Bradshaw. Max’s friend.”

  His eyes widened with recognition. “Oh, so you are. I see it now. You’re all grown up since the last time we saw you.”

  “It’s been ten years since I was here, but it’s a relief that it’s mostly still the same. Except I’d have thought y’all would’ve gotten cell service by now.”

  “That’s never gonna happen. People here like being off the grid.”

  “Y’all are weird.”

  “Where’d you pick up that Southern twang?”

  “Houston. Been there awhile.”

  “I heard,” he said, his gaze softening. “I’m really sorry for what you’ve been through, sweetheart.”

  “Thanks,” she said, encouraged to realize Max had already updated his family on where she’d been and why. She wondered what else he’d told them. “I’m better now and thinking about the future for the first time in years.”

  Megan came by with the coffee and filled Lexi’s mug. “What can I get you to eat?”

  “Do you still have the best pancakes in Vermont?”

  “We sure do.”

  “That sounds good, with a side of hash browns and fruit, please.”

  “Coming right up.”

  “Are the hash browns still to die for?” Lexi asked Mr. Stillman.

  “They sure are. I only eat them once a week because I have to watch my waistline. Megan is always trying to fatten me up.”

  “How is she related to the Abbotts?”

  “She’s Hunter’s wife.”

  Lexi smiled. “I like her for him. He was always tightly wound, as I recall.”

  Elmer’s bark of laughter made her laugh, too. “That he was, but Megan has smoothed out his rough edges.” He pulled out an iPhone. “I only use this for pictures and when I got the Wi-Fi.” After scrolling through some photos, he held one up to her. “That’s Hunter and Megan’s family. Carson, Cory and Claire.”