3
Chapter Three
Max looked at himself in the mirror. He didn’t look too bad, dressed all in black with a green tie. If he was put in a room with a lot of nicely dressed people, he would easily blend in.
Then again, it wasn’t him he was worried about. His focus was on Mary. Max’s heart went out to her knowing that she didn’t want to be anywhere near the resort, given her current company, but she wasn’t allowed to leave. She was a grown woman. How was she not allowed to do something different?
There was nothing wrong with being non-confrontational, but she was being steamrolled by her mother and sister. Max didn’t see it being fair. If only there was something he could do.
Think about it. If she hadn’t come to Mountain Ridge, you wouldn’t have met her.
Doubtful that sex is on her mind right now.
Max wondered what the sister had planned. There was something going on, and they clearly had a plan for Mary. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have dragged Mary out here. Their actions were awful, but they weren’t psychotic. Or maybe they were, and it didn’t matter if she had a backbone; Mary had no chance of standing up to them.
As he left his cabin and headed along the path towards the Front Lawn Cottages, Max wondered what possessed someone to sleep with their sister’s fiance, hijack all of their wedding plans, and go on what would have been her sister’s bachelorette weekend. It sounded like the sister had mental problems. Max couldn’t believe that Mary was related to someone who was happy to cheat and lie.
And he couldn’t believe how a mother would say her daughter was trying it on when Mary said she didn’t want to go on the water. The fear in her eyes had been very real, and the mother accused her of faking. Max had met some insane parents in his time, but this was something else.
He wished he could do something to help Mary. He might have only been in her company for a couple of minutes, but Max knew he wanted to be there for her. If she would let him, that is. Max wasn’t about to force anything.
Although he might just urge Mary not to go to dinner with the rest of the bachelorettes. Just a little bit. She might even smile. Then he could have her all to himself.
Selfish, yes. But Max liked the sound of that idea.
He reached the cottage Mary was staying in and knocked. There was silence. Had she gone on ahead already? Max knocked again. Then he heard some shuffling. Someone was inside.
The door finally opened, and Mary looked out. The first thing Max noticed was that her eyes were red and that there were tear marks on her cheeks, her mascara running a little under her eyes. She had been crying?
“Oh, Max.” Mary sniffed and swiped at her face with a hand. “I…I’m sorry, but I…I don’t think I’m going anywhere.”
“What’s happened?”
“It’s nothing.” She managed a smile, and she failed. “You go off and enjoy your evening. I think I’m going to stay in.”
“You don’t want any company.”
“I’m not really in the mood for company.” Mary swallowed and started to close the door. “I’m sorry.”
Max could see she was withdrawing into herself. He didn’t want that. He blurted out before he could stop himself.
“Do you want to go for a walk with me?”
Mary stopped.
“What?”
“We don’t have to do anything. Just walk, and you can just talk to me.”
Mary frowned.
“I don’t think I can tell you anything.”
“It doesn’t have to make sense. Just speak rubbish. I’ll listen to what you have to say.”
Max knew he was being a bit presumptuous, but he didn’t want to lose any opportunity to be around her. And seeing how miserable she was, he wanted to cheer her up. Max wasn’t sure how, right now, but he would.
Mary looked like she was about to refuse. Then she sighed and opened the door wider.