With that, I clamber out of bed and wrap myself in a filmy gown before going downstairs to make breakfast. It’s so nice being with Max because our days are carefree and relaxed. We often eat breakfast together, and then he works out while I garden a bit. We’ll have lunch by the pool, and maybe some afternoon shenanigans take place in bed. This is all finished off with a romantic evening where Max cooks us a delicious dinner before we repair upstairs for another round of steamy fireworks.
But today, Max comes back from his run and hops directly into the shower. Then he chows down a muffin at light-speed while I watch with amusement.
“What is it honey?” he growls.
I giggle.
“I thought I liked to eat, but clearly, I’m no match for you.”
He merely wolfs down another muffin, making that two.
“I have the appetite of a bear, sweetheart, the better to devour you with. Now, Each, tell me what you want to do today. Does a walk on the beach sound good?”
Laughing, I place my palm in his as he pulls me up to my feet. “Sounds great, Uncle Max. Lead the way.”
We exit the cottage and take the path to the beach. The grass transitions into sand as we cross the boulevard separating my family’s house from a line of waterfront homes. Then, we stroll silently along the shore, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the gentle ripple of the ocean.
Max squints a bit in the distance. “There’s a restaurant on the pier with outdoor seating isn’t there?”
“There is. Want to grab some lunch?” I squint up at him, shielding the sun from my eyes with a hand at my brow.
He smiles down at me and says, “Yeah, let’s eat.”
I giggle again.
“Yeah, but you just had two muffins!”
The huge man merely shrugs and pats his tummy.
“Hey, I’m a bear, sweetheart, and bears get hungry fast.”
With that, we make our way to the restaurant. It’s a no-frills shack called Mo’s, but it’s nice with a gray terrace and plenty of outdoor seating.
“Ah, this is the life,” I sigh blissfully as I kick back and prop my bare feet on the railing of the deck. My eyes are closed, and I’m soaking up the sun, but there’s no sound from my dad’s best friend. I look over at him and see that he’s staring out into the water with a pensive look on his face. Immediately, I sit up. Oh god, he’s not having second thoughts about being together, is he?
“What is it, Max? You seem to have a lot on your mind.”
He starts to speak, but then pauses as the server appears to take our orders. We both put in requests for lobster rolls and fries, and with a friendly nod, the server disappears once more. Then, Max answers my question without prompting.
“I’m just thinking about how peaceful this is, and how it’s really satisfying. It’s so different from my usual pace, which is non-stop go-go-go. That lifestyle is getting old. Hell, I’m getting old.”
I laugh. “You’re not getting old. You’re not even fifty yet.”
His eyes gleam.
“Well, I’m close enough,” he says with a smile.
I shoot him a stern look that melts into a smile. “Forty-nine isn’t old! But tell me about your life because even if it’s hectic, it sounds amazing with the traveling, the cities, the shows, and the glitz. I want to know about all of it.”
He cocks his head at me.
“Really, sweetheart? You want to know about what I do for a living?”
I laugh.
“Yes of course! I’ve known about you all my life, but I’ve never really known you. I’m curious and interested.” I turn to face the handsome man, my smile open and inviting. He grins a bit.
“Well, if you’d known me nearly thirty years ago, you would have never guessed that the high-school baseball stand-out secretly wanted to be a makeup artist.” He laughs, but it doesn’t hold much humor. “I got the craziest looks and responses when I told people that’s what I wanted to do.
I snort.
“How close-minded.”
He merely shrugs.
“This was decades ago, so it was to be expected. People had very narrow world views then. But there was more to me than just athletics and the usual things expected of guys in those days. I wanted to create and to be artistic because you don’t have to be female to feel that desire.”
I nod.
“Yes of course. How did the rest of the baseball team take it?”
Max shrugs.
“They were surprised. I mean, they knew I had a girlfriend, so I was straight, but they definitely ribbed me about the make-up thing. It was tough in the beginning. I basically showed up in NYC with a hope, a prayer, and no connections. I was doing all sorts of odd jobs to stay afloat.”
My eyes go wide.