A Heart to Heal. Allie Pleiter

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      Max’s smile was pleased but cautious. They went around to the back of the establishment, where Max hit a doorbell. After about a minute, Karl, the friendly older man who owned the place, pushed open the door. “Maxwell! Saw that boat out on the river the other day—pretty spiffy. It’s good to see ya, son. Gimme a second to clear the decks.”

      Heather felt a twinge of guilt as Karl went back inside. “I didn’t even think about the front steps before I suggested Karl’s. I’m sorry.”

      “Don’t be.” Max almost looked as though he meant it. Was he really okay with her choice, or was he using this as a lesson in how challenging Gordon Falls could be for him? “I was a regular here back before I got hurt, and I’ve always liked the place. He just has to move a few things to give me a clear shot to the front. He’s always good about it, but...” Max finished the thought with weary eyes rather than words. “I can get in easier at Café Homestead, but I like their pie better here. You gave me an excuse to make the extra effort.”

      “Me, too. Everyone always goes there for pie, but I think it’s better here.”

      The door reopened. “Okay, all set. Corner table’s all waiting.”

      “You rate the corner table at Karl’s?” Heather asked. It was always taken when she came here, and it was a favorite spot with the best view out the window.

      “Sort of,” Max admitted. “It’s the only place I fit, so it’s a backhanded benefit. Evidently you get a free coffee if Karl has to move you to make room for me.” He said it with a cheerful tone Heather didn’t fully believe.

      He had good reason. Heather was astounded how much effort it took to get Max through the back of the coffeehouse, around the existing tables and settled in the corner spot. It made her feel terrible at how easily she breezed in whenever she felt like it.

      “Don’t go all pity party on me.” He sent her a dismissive grin, tossing back his tousled hair. “I get seated first on the airplane, and if we ever go to Disney World I can get you on Space Mountain without waiting in line. This is nothing. I’m used to it.”

      She sat back in her chair. “Why did you ever say yes to here if you knew it would be such a hassle?”

      “Because it’s where you wanted to go.” He peered toward the chalkboard that held Karl’s daily offerings. “And like you said, the pie is good here. Besides, I like Karl and I don’t get to see him as much. They have blueberry today. Awesome.” When she stared at him, he added, “Don’t you ever do things that are a hassle just because you want to do them?”

      Heather thought of the fifty-minute drive she made to her preferred hairstylist. “I suppose I do.”

      “So, are we just pie celebrating, or did today’s victories rate pie a la mode?”

      His eyes could stop a train when he smiled like that. “Oh, definitely with ice cream.” Karl had walked up, so when Max nodded in her direction, she said, “Dutch apple pie a la mode and coffee, Karl.”

      Karl wrote on the little green notepad he always used. “And what about you, Hot Wheels?”

      “Blueberry. With ice cream. And coffee.”

      Karl scribbled, then tucked the notepad into his apron pocket. “Done and done. Coming right up, kids.”

      Heather laughed. “Kids?”

      Max looked after the old man as he limped away. “Karl’s hip isn’t doing so good. Age. I guess to him we’re all kids. He told me once that he has a granddaughter about our age, but I’ve never met her.”

      “He didn’t try to set you up?” Max was handsome and Karl poked his nose in everyone’s business.

      Max shot her a look that belonged on a pirate. “Would you set me up with your granddaughter?”

      She laughed at the way he could make fun of himself so easily. “Well, now that you mention it, I suppose I’d hesitate. You drive a flaming toaster, after all.”

      He laughed, as well, but Heather caught something in the way Max looked at the man. “How long has your dad been gone? JJ told me he passed away, but I never did ask her much more.”

      “Years.” Max tapped his chair. “It’s probably for the best. I don’t think Pops would have handled this too well. My dad was hard-core military. A ‘walk it off’ kind of guy who even had trouble when JJ wouldn’t re-up after all she’d been through. This isn’t a ‘walk it off’ kind of thing, if you’ll pardon the pun.”

      Heather decided she would try a different approach. “Why do you make so many jokes about it?”

      “Why wouldn’t I?”

      “Well, it’s just that you say it doesn’t matter, but you make it matter all the time by making cracks about it. Dark, on-the-edge-of-not-quite-so-funny cracks.”

      Max put both elbows on the table and pasted an enthralled look on his face. “No, really, counselor, tell me straight-out what you think my issues are.”

      “Close your mouth, son. She’s pretty, but she’s already sitting with you” came Karl’s voice over Heather’s shoulder as he put down the two slices of pie. “Don’t try so hard.”

      “This is school related,” Heather felt compelled to point out, waiting for Max to back her up.

      “Could have fooled me.” Karl nudged Max’s shoulder. “Nice going, Hot Wheels.”

      Heather remembered the one reason she didn’t come to Karl’s more often—it was ground zero for the local gossip chain. Why hadn’t she remembered that if she showed up at Karl’s with Max, it would take about seventeen minutes for folks to start making inferences? She pulled a notebook out of her handbag and put it on the table with a pen.

      “Oh, that’ll throw them off for sure,” Max whispered loudly.

      “You weren’t helping.”

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