I was such an idiot.
We hit town and about two blocks in, Max turned right. He drove into a residential area and parked in the drive of a house that looked like it was built in the seventies and the Brady Bunch lived there. Max got out and I did too. He didn’t wait for me to get to his side before he headed to the front door.
My stomach clutched painfully.
The door opened and Barb stood there.
“Max,” she greeted then her eyes came to me still making my way up the path and she said, “Nina.”
“Barb, how’s she doin’?” Max asked as Barb moved out of the door and Max moved in.
Barb held the storm door open for me as I made my final approach and she answered, “Hangin’ in there.” She closed the door behind me and turned to us, her gaze on me. “It’s good you’re here. She’s talkin’ a bit and the bit she says is mostly about you.”
I nodded, unsure if this was good or bad, decided to go with good and whispered, “Where is she?”
“Upstairs,” Barb answered, closing the front door on the storm door.
“I… planned something. I hope you don’t mind,” I told her, avoiding Max’s eyes.
Barb studied me then her eyes filled with tears she didn’t let fall and she whispered back, “Glad someone has a plan. I have no stinkin’ clue what to do.”
I reached out and grasped her forearm, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“How about I make some coffee while you bring her downstairs?” I suggested, Barb nodded and I went on, “Can Bitsy Dodd get into your house?”
I felt something come from Max and watched Barb’s body jolt.
“Bitsy?” Barb asked.
I nodded again. “Yes.”
“Sure, Brody’s here, he or Max can get her in the house,” she said. “They’ve done it before lotsa times.”
“That’s good,” I told her and turned to Max who was studying me, his eyes intense but his expression was blank. “Can you take care of Bitsy?”
“Yeah,” he replied and his eyes went to the door before going to Barb. “Someone’s here.”
Barb turned back to the door and I took off my coat. Moving into the house, I dropped it on the couch and I went in what I hoped was the direction of the kitchen. Luckily, my hopes came to fruition.
Max followed several moments later.
“It’s your Mom and Steve,” he told me as I searched the cupboards for coffee.
“Good.”
“Nina, you know what you’re doin’?”
I found the coffee, took down the canister and yanked out the pot from the coffeemaker.
“Not really,” I replied.
Max got close as I filled the pot. “Don’t know ‘bout this shit but I’m guessin’ now’s a sensitive time.”
I pressed my lips together and turned off the faucet.
Yesterday, according to Max, I had this. Yesterday, he trusted everything I did with Mindy. Yesterday, he let me take care of everything.
Today, or, I should say now, after whatever happened, he wasn’t so sure.