to buy a wedding dress. Your father nickeled-and-dimed me in the divorce—”
Her father had said she got a lot of money from it. Whatever. “I need to stay in your house for a little while.”
Her mother blinked.
“For just a little while, I swear it, until I get back on my feet.”
“You’re not on your feet? What do you mean? I thought you loved that little house.”
“I do, but they are going up on rent, and I lost Gordon Romero—”
“What? Why?”
“It was just a bad fit. Mother, listen—Conrad is going up on the rent, and he wants a year lease, and he wants a pet deposit, and right now I can only cover about five months of bare-bones expenses, so unless you can loan me five thousand dollars, I need to find some place to go.”
“Oh dear,” her mother said, and looked genuinely distressed. “I can’t loan you five thousand dollars.”
“I didn’t think so.”
“This is unfortunate timing.”
Carly actually snorted. Her mother was the one with unfortunate timing. “But you’re going to get married, and you’re going to live with Mr. Sheffington and Jamie, aren’t you?”
“No, he’s going to live here and Jamie is going to live with his brother.”
Carly mentally stumbled. “Jamie is going to live with Max?” Why hadn’t Max mentioned it?
“Toby’s house is small and dated. We’d be much more comfortable here, starting our new life together. Oh dear, the timing is just not good,” she said, her brows furrowing into a frown as she thought about it. “Have you asked your father?”
“Oh, believe me, Mom, I know all about bad timing. And guess what? Timing isn’t good for Dad, either.” She picked up her bag. “May I have the extra room or not?”
“Of course, sweetie. Of course.” Her mother smiled and stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Carly. “The timing may be bad, but I am always here for you.” She laughed. “I know it may not always seem that way, but my children are always first and foremost in my mind. If you need to stay here, we will figure it out.” She let Carly go.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“But please, sweetie, not before Toby and I get married. There’s just too much going on right now.”
“Sure,” she said. She hoisted her bag onto her shoulder. “I’m going to take off now.”
“Call me later!” her mother trilled.
Carly walked outside into a fine mist that had started to drench the town. She could feel that the temperature was dropping and remembered the first real cold snap of the season was supposed to arrive later this evening. She got in her car and sat a moment. That burn behind her eyes was there again, but Carly was not going to be defeated in this. She was not. She swiped angrily at the single tear that slid down her cheek and drove to Max’s house.
* * *
Max answered the door and opened his arms to Carly. She walked into them and let him wrap his arms around her, holding her tightly as she rested her cheek against his chest. “What a fucking disaster,” he said.
“The worst.” She lifted her head. “Can I ask a huge favor?”
“Anything.”
“Do you have some sweats I could borrow? I can’t wear this stupid ugly dress another minute.”
He smiled with surprise. “I do. Come on in.”
Hazel and Baxter were on the couch, of course, one on either side of Jamie. He was leaning forward, watching a dog show competition on TV. “How is he?” she whispered.
Max shrugged. “I think he’s okay now. He has to be eased into new situations and the kids . . . I think they threw him a little. Come in,” he said, and with his hands on her shoulders, he nudged her in the direction of his room.
In his room, Max went into his closet and Carly asked, “What does it mean, ‘loyal Dad’?”
“Jamie?” he asked from somewhere inside. “I can’t say for sure, but I think he’s expressing his uncertainty about Dad’s new arrangement.” Carly could hear him rummaging around until he appeared again, holding a hoodie and some sweatpants.
“You know how he says, ‘loyal dogs, intelligent and loyal,’ right?”
She nodded.
“That’s what he admires about dogs. They’re loyal to you, no matter what. I think he’s trying to tell Dad he wants him to be loyal, too. And I think he feels like Dad isn’t being loyal right now.” He shrugged. “That’s my best guess. Will these do?” he asked, holding up the sweats.
“Yes. Thank you so much.” She reached for the