The Escort (26 page)

"It's not dangerous, I would never ask her if I thought for one moment it was."

"I know that, you know that. But Dan doesn't know you that well at all. Listen, I'm not saying he's right, what I am saying is he's entitled to feel that way. But breaking up with you, that's harsh."

"I know." She sat down heavily on the sofa. Her tears were about to start, there was nothing to hold them back, the anger she had felt before had stemmed them, but now the loss hit her.

"Oh, Max. Come here." Robin sat down next to her and put her arms around her. "He'll come round."

"You didn't see him, Robin. I think I blew it."

"Don't blame yourself. He blew it, losing you is going to hurt him, you know that."

"He was so angry with me. And what if I've caused trouble between him and Helen. They are so close and she depends on him."

"Listen, Helen made her own decision, brothers and sisters fall out all the time. It'll blow over."

But Max wasn't so sure.

***

It was some time later before Max could pull herself together enough to get up. There was no way she was going to let Dan’s behaviour stop her from going through the rest of the files she had brought over from Bob’s house. These were the final pieces of the puzzle, and she hoped by going through them she might be able to narrow the embezzler down to two, or even better one. They would still need Helen’s help to frame them, but it would be less work, and less chance of something going wrong.

Try as she might, she could not find a hole in the plan they had set out, and Max was certain there was no way Helen could be in any danger. All she had to do was apply for a loan, her bad credit score because of her arrears should mean she should be instantly turned down. This was when they believed the switch took place, and the cash got diverted.

It was like a giant pyramid scheme, the embezzler using new loans to pay off old ones. Eventually it would catch up with him, or he would simply disappear with his pile of money. The bank would go after the original clients. That was when the bank would be dragged through the press, and it’s reputation shredded.

The only thing nagging at Max, making it hard for her to concentrate was what if whoever was doing this was going to lay low for a while. The fire proved they knew Bob was on to them, but when they rifled his office they would have found he had no hard proof. Hopefully this would make him bolder, more confident in his ability to hide his crime.

By the time her head was a fog of figures and words that made sense, it was late. Robin had gone out to get some food, and she sat alone, thinking about the day. Her mind kept casting back to her decision to call her parents, until finally she went to her address book and found the number.

Dialling it carefully, she waited for the ring tone, fighting herself not to hang up before it was answered. Then it was too late. “Hello. It’s Max. I was phoning to see how you both were...”

“Are you the biggest idiot to ever walk this planet?” The words came from Helen, but they pretty much summed up his own feelings towards his behaviour. “Do you have any idea what you’re throwing away?”

The answer would be yes, again. He knew, he understood, but he didn’t know if he had the guts to go and face Max, not yet. But he hated the thought of how bad she must be feeling. His actions had been out of line, and once he had calmed down, and Helen had explained things to him properly, completely unjust.

“I don't know what came over me, Helen.”

“Well whatever it was I suggest you go buy some more flowers, and get over to her place while you still have a chance to salvage your relationship with Max.”

“You think she’ll take me back?”

“That’s up to her. She was trying to help, Dan. And you said some horrible things.”

“I know.” He rubbed the stubble on his chin, trying to figure out what to do. “I want to apologise to you too Helen. You are entitled to do what you want with your life. Make your own decisions, I should have supported you instead of having a melt down.”

“Apology accepted,” her voice softened. “The thing is I’m used to you, Max isn’t. I’ll tell you what I told her. I know you haven’t been going out that long, the two months thing was a lie, for whatever reason...”

“Helen, I’m sorry, it’s complicated, but I did it for a good reason.”

“I know, because you have a big heart Dan. We all make mistakes, say the wrong thing. You’re not perfect. Sorry to shatter your illusions, but you are human like the rest of us and have the right to get things wrong. But being the good person that you are, you are going to haul your ass over to Max’s apartment and apologise. You know what Mom says about not letting the sun set on an argument.”

“It’s dark, Helen. The sun has already set,” he said, searching for his sense of humour.

“That’s better. I’ll speak to you later.” She hung up.

Dan placed the phone down, and then went to look out of the window at the dark sky. It was late, but Helen was right, he needed to talk to Max. his first thought was to call, but then he decided that if she were going to have a go at him, it might be better if it was face to face.

If he was going to go at all, he had to go now, and hope she wasn’t already in bed. Or that Robin would bar him from going in. There was only one way he would find that out, so he grabbed his keys and went out to his truck. Starting the engine, he smiled, it’s not as if she wouldn’t know he was coming, his truck was so loud.

On the short drive over to her apartment he tried to put into words his apology, and his pathetic explanation. He knew there was no excuse for what he had said, the question that now obsessed him was did Max love him enough to forgive him.

And if she didn’t, was this the end of their relationship?

He had to admit, he was not hopeful that the outcome would be a good one. Pulling up in front of her home, he looked up, the lights were still on, so someone was still up. It might be Robin, and if so, he didn’t rate his chances of getting her to wake Max up too highly. If he left a message with her, would she pass it on, or would she be unforgiving towards the man who had broken Max’s heart. Only one way to find out.

His raised his hand to knock, but the door flew open before he had a chance for his fist to make contact with the door.

“About time you showed up.”

“Hello, Robin.”

“Get in here,” she said, pulling him in and shutting the door quietly. “Max is in her room, crying probably. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not the person who should hear that, am I? Are you a complete idiot?”

“It would appear so, because you’re the second person to ask me that tonight.”

“Well make it good. I had high hopes for you. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am.”

“You sound like my mom.”

“You’re lucky I’m not my mom or I would clip you round the ear. Now, get in there and make this right, before I completely lose my faith in men.”

He didn’t ask what she meant, and at this moment he didn’t need to know. His sole concern now was Robin, and making her accept his apology.

Max lay in the dark, unable to sleep. She had only come to bed to get away from Robin, it was easier to cry in private. The tears had wet her pillow, and her face felt swollen and puffy. It had been bearable while she was busy working on the files, but once she put them away, all she could do was think of Dan. Her ex-boyfriend.

More sobs escaped her, but the knock on the door forced her to try to get them under control. She wiped her eyes, and turned towards the door. “I’m fine Robin. Goodnight, I’ll speak to you again in the morning.” Another knock. “Goodnight, Robin,” she said, her voice firmer.

“It’s not Robin.”

“Oh, damn.” She dragged herself out of bed, knocking the lamp over as she tried to switch it on.

“Can I come in?” He sounded more concerned now.

“No. I mean, yes. Wait a minute.” The imagine looking back at her from the mirror said it would take more than a minute to fix that face.

“Max, please let me in, I need to talk to you. To apologise to you.”

“I look a fright.”

“I don't care.”

“I do.”

“Just open the door. I’ll close my eyes if you want. But please, don’t leave me hanging out here.”

He sounded so sorry for himself, she almost let him straight in. But he had brought this on himself, and a small part of her wanted him to suffer, in the same way she had been suffering since they had parted earlier in the day.

However, she wasn’t that strong, and opened the door for him, telling him not to look at her. He came in, and she dived for the box of tissues on her dresser, and began to blot her swollen eyes, knowing it would do no good, they would be puffy for hours.

“Max. I’m sorry. I was stupid, foolish, any name you want to call me. I am especially sorry for the things I said about you and my family. I know you wouldn’t hurt them. Will you forgive me?”

She stood looking away from him, but slowly turned around, her hand shielding her face from him. All she could see was his face, and the anguish on it. “No. You were right to be angry. I’m not good with people, not people who are close to me anyway. But I have only got Helen’s best interest at heart. I wouldn't hurt her.”

“I know. I know,” he repeated, his hands clutched together as if he was trying to keep them under control. Instead he stepped forward towards her, but she stepped away, and so he halted, his body deflated. “Will you ever forgive me?”

“Yes. I forgive you. You were entitled to say what you did. We all have our opinions. And you’re right, it’s better if split up.”

“I’m sorry?” he asked, taking another step closer.

“That’s what you want isn’t it? Well I think it’s right. I don’t know how to behave around families, and with Helen going through such a difficult period, I think it might be best if I was out of the way. I’ve cause you enough trouble, and the last thing I would ever want to do is drive a wedge down the middle of your family. She needs you, and today I felt as though I was ripping you apart.”

“No. We’re brother and sister, we’re used to disagreeing, but it’s cool now. She phoned and told me how stupid I was, and I agreed with her. One thing you have to learn about being in a family is that you have to compromise, forgive and move on, and when you're a jackass, admit it.”

She smiled despite herself. “A jackass?”

“I think that’s the polite term. She’s called me a lot worse.” His body softened, and this time he did move closer, and she didn’t move away. “There is nothing wrong with you, there is plenty wrong with me. I am too proud for my own good, I admit it. I wanted to help Helen, and I couldn’t. But you could, and I should have been gracious about that. And I wasn’t. Again, I’ll say I’m sorry.”

“Dan, I can’t do this. I’ve never liked confrontation, you have to promise me we’ll talk things over like adults in future. I promise to discuss things with you, but I’m not willing to simply be a good little woman and do as you want. I have a mind, and opinions that matter.”

“I know. You forget I have had Helen as a sister, talk about opinions. I get that, and today I was out of line. I guess us dating has had more of an effect on me than I thought. I can’t use it as an excuse, but I think the whole Angie episode screwed me up more than I thought. But I’m on top of it now, I’m aware of that part of me that is insecure, inferior even.”

She went to him, touching him lightly. “You have nothing to be insecure about. It’s all in your head, I don't compare you to anyone else, at least not in a material sense. Physically, well that’s where you come into your own.”

“I’m not just a pretty face, Max.”

“I know, you have big muscles too, and a tight butt.” She stroked his chest, resting her hand on his chest, then looked at him directly. “But most of all you have a big heart. I know what happened today was through your need to protect the people you love. It’s part of the way you’re put together. I think that perhaps things started off all wrong between us, and it’s left us muddled up somewhere. We’ve only know each other for a little more than a week, but even we’ve bought into the notion that we’ve been together for months.” She sighed, and then carried on. “You don't know me, and you don't have the trust in me you would if we had been together that long.”

“I do trust you Max.”

“With you, but not your family, and there’s nothing really wrong with that.”

“What are you saying?” There was such uncertainty in his voice.

“That we need to take a step back, take things slower.”

“Slower. But you do still want to see me?”

“Yes, please.”

He leaned down and kissed her on the lips. A light kiss, and one that she didn’t deepen. The last thing she wanted right now was sex.

“Let me deal with work, and then we can see where we are after that.” She hated saying this, but she needed space to handle this professionally. If her judgement was clouded because of her feelings towards Dan, then things might get messed up, and Helen might end up in trouble.

“You want us to take a break?”

“A week. That’s all. Then this will be over.”

“Will we be over Max?”

“No. That’s not what I’m saying.”

“It sure sounds like it.”

“I’ll prove it to you.” She steadied her nerves. “I phoned my parents today. I spoke to my father, and I’ve arranged to meet them next weekend.”

He smiled, and rubbed her arm affectionately. “You did it. I know it’s the right thing to do.”

“Maybe. We’ll see.”

“I hope it goes well for you.”

“For us. I want you to come with me. If it fits in with your shifts and everything. They’re coming next Saturday, I’m a bit nervous, but I think it’s a bit late for a crash diet.”

He brightened at that. “Don’t you dare change a thing, you’re beautiful just the way you are.” He held her close, and the way his hands roamed over her curves made her believe his words. “You do whatever it is you need to do this week, then we put it all behind us. I’ll organise the cabin, you organise your parents.”