The driver came around the corner and slowly pulled up to Peter's address. Fran and Max looked at each other, then Max got out and held the door for Fran. Fran grabbed the bag of Peter's things and Maggie's list and got out of the car, then Max shut the door. They stepped up onto the sidewalk and looked up at the building.
"Do you know which apartment?" He asked.
"Yeah. It's on the tenth floor. Maybe we won't have to buzz them." Fran said, and looked back and forth on the street to see if anyone was headed into the building, then she spied someone in the large lobby who had just come out of the elevator. "Come on!" She yelled to Max, then grabbed his hand. He followed her as she ran for the door, then took hold of it as the woman inside opened it and came out. They exchanged smiles, and Fran and Max hurried inside, then walked over to the elevator, which had already closed. Fran realized she was still holding his hand, then let go and pushed the up button for the elevator. Max started rubbing his stomach.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" He asked. "Maybe we could just tie it on the doorknob or something?"
"No no, never like that. Always in person. We don't want him thinking he has any chance of getting her back if that other girl doesn't want him."
"True. I suppose you're right." He rubbed his stomach some more. The elevator door opened, and a man got out, then they stepped inside and were alone together. Max looked up at the numbers as they started heading up.
"Come on, now, Mr. Sheffield! Take a big breath and start to toughen up, okay? This kid hurt your daughter, remember? Crushed her spirit! You want him to see how angry that makes you feel!" Fran patted the back of his shoulders. Max did as she said and straightened up and took a deep breath. He remembered how angry he was at Peter, and he let that fill him up. He felt almost like he was growing taller, and hoped he was looking more intimidating.
They stepped out of the elevator and Max followed Fran as she looked for the apartment number. When they found it, they stopped in front of it, looked at each other, then nodded. They were ready. Fran checked the bag of things in her hand and Maggie's list, then reached over and pressed the buzzer for the apartment. After a moment, the door was unlocked and then opened, and there stood an unsuspecting Peter, completely caught off guard.
"Oh, hello- Fran. Uh, Mr. Sheffield." Peter gulped hard and went pale. Fran held out the bag Maggie had stuffed his belongings into.
"I believe these are yours. And this is a list of things Maggie needs back from you. We'll wait." She handed him the list and he looked over it. He began to visibly sweat on his upper lip.
"Who is it, Peter?" A woman's voice came from inside. Peter looked back and just then his mother appeared next to him. "Oh, hello. May we help you?"
"Um, mom, this is, um, Maggie's dad, and her uh, Fran, her nanny… um…"
"Oh! Maggie's father! Maxwell Sheffield, is it? And yes, Fran, I think I've heard her mention you. How wonderful to see you both! Is Maggie with you?" Fran and Max glared at Peter.
"No, she isn't. We're just dropping off Peter's belongings, and retrieving Maggie's from him." Max clenched his jaw, and Peter's mother saw it, and saw the glare they were giving to her son.
"Peter… is there something going on I should know about?" She asked, turning to look directly at him. A shadow moved across the daylight coming from the windows on the far side of the apartment, and they realized immediately that it was Peter's father. He turned and walked over to join them, wondering what was going on.
"Hello," He said, then looked at Peter, then his wife. "What's all this about?" He asked. Peter was quiet.
"Why don't you tell them, Peter?" Fran said, crossing her arms in front of her.
"Peter, did something happen with you and Maggie?" His mother asked, then she reached for his arm.
"We, we uh, we just broke up, that's all. They just wanted to get her things back. That's all, mom."
"You broke up?!" His mother and father both gasped.
"What happened, Peter? Please tell me you didn't do something…" his mother looked from him, to Max, then Fran, then back. Peter glanced up at her, then quickly looked away.
"Maggie called here last night. Didn't you two have a date? What happened? Come on now, Peter! They wouldn't have come over here just for two kids breaking up. Say something!" His father bellowed.
"She called here? You told her where I was?" Peter asked, going more pale.
"Of course I did! She's your girlfriend. Well, now I guess she was your girlfriend. Is that what this is about?" His father looked at Max, and Max nodded. "Peter, what on god's earth did you do?"
Peter gulped and stepped back from everyone, and looked down at the bag and the list in his hands.
"I forgot we were supposed to go out last night. I just forgot."
"But you did go out last night. Please tell me you were alone, Peter." His silent response was all his father needed to know.
"Come on, Peter! You've got to be kidding me! I'm so sorry, Mr. Sheffield. I thought we raised him to be better than that. He has two sisters! Peter, you have sisters! Not to mention a mother! Don't you have any respect for them? For women?"
"Of course I do, dad! I just- it was stupid, I know! I just-" Peter didn't know what else to say.
"I talked to Maggie last night. She called here. She seemed like she was worried or something. I just thought they got their plans confused or something. How did she find out? Did she go there, to the restaurant?" Peter's father asked.
"No," Fran said. She stared at Peter as she recounted Maggie's version of events. "She waited and waited for him to show up. She was standing at the front door, looking out the windows. She was worried something happened to him. So she called here to see if he was home, and when you told her he'd gone to another restaurant instead of the place he was supposed to take her to, I guess she started getting that feeling that something wasn't right. She called the burger place. She talked to a woman there and asked if there was a boy that matched his description, then she found out he wasn't alone. He was with a girl. So I'm sure she was still thinking it had to be someone else, not Peter. So she told the woman his name and asked if she could get him and tell him the call was urgent. So of course, it was Peter, and he did come to the phone. I could hear Maggie yelling at him from her bedroom. It devastated her. Then I found out he broke up with her right then, over the phone from the restaurant. Maggie spent all last night crying her eyes out." Fran stopped and let that sink in with everyone, especially with Peter. He looked at the floor and reached up to rub his neck.
"Oh, Peter!" His mother gasped. "How could you do such a thing!" Peter gulped hard again. "Who is this girl? How long have you known her? Have you been seeing her without Maggie knowing?"
"No, mom, I just- last night, that was the first time we- I just-" he stammered.
"You thought you'd test the waters, didn't you?" His father's voice boomed. "Make sure you had the next one lined up before you dropped the current one? I can't believe you, Peter! Well, I'll tell you right now that if you think you want to go out with this girl, you're gonna tell her what you just did to Maggie. You're inviting her over here to meet us, and then you'll tell her what happened last night. And you'll tell her you already had a girlfriend. And if she still wants to go out with you, well, that's too bad, because you aren't allowed. Not until you learn how to treat women. I'm so embarrassed, Peter. And ashamed. Did we not raise you to be better than that?"
"I didn't mean to hurt Maggie, I just thought- I don't know, it didn't seem like a big deal. I just thought- well, Joey said-"
"Joey! Joey said to do it, didn't he? That dumb sack of- pardon me." He apologized to Fran and Max and turned around, rubbing his face, then he turned back to them, shaking his head.
"Peter, go and get her things right now. All of it. Maybe it's better for Maggie that you did break up with her, if you were going to be doing stupid things like this. That poor girl!"
"Yes, I'm sorry to say it, but I do think she's better off right now than she was a day ago," Max said, still clenching his jaw. "But Fran called a bunch of her friends to come over and help her through this, so she'll come out of this just fine, but probably a little less trusting." Peter glanced back at Fran and Max, then turned and hurried away to get Maggie's belongings. His mother crossed her arms in front of her, visibly distressed.
"I'm sorry about all this. We thought he was better than this. We never figured he'd hurt her this way. If he did it because his friend told him it was no big deal, then maybe he needs to work on finding better friends. Because it was a very big deal. Maggie was just glad it didn't happen in person, in front of people, because that would have completely humiliated her," Fran said.
"Please tell her we're so sorry. We love Maggie, we were happy that he'd found such a nice girl. I just don't understand him. I just don't-" Peter's mother whimpered.
"Neither do I," his father barked. "But please understand this, Mr. Sheffield- it won't go unpunished. Whatever we have to do to make sure he learns his lesson, we'll do it. I promise you that much. And whoever this other girl is, if she's a decent girl, well, then, maybe we just stopped a ton of hurt from happening to her, too." Max nodded.
Peter skulked back into the hallway towards them. He had emptied the bag Fran brought and had put Maggie's things back into it, along with the list. He nervously stuck his arm out and handed it to Fran.
"I think that's everything," he said in a whisper.
"If we find anything else, or if Maggie remembers something, we'll be sure to get it back to her. In whatever way she's comfortable with. Just let us know," his mother squeaked.
"Thank you. If there's anything else, I can swing by to get it," Fran said. Max sure appreciated the gesture. His stomach was churning. He took another breath and puffed his chest out.
"Oh my gosh! I forgot!" Peter's mother blurted out. "Peter, you two were supposed to be going to her winter formal, weren't you? That's why we got you a new tuxedo! Oh, please tell me Maggie hadn't gotten a dress yet has she?"
"No, no. Thankfully she's very picky. She hadn't found anything yet. But she did buy the tickets," Fran said.
"Well, Peter, you'll be paying her back for that. It's the least you can do. The absolute least," His father said. Peter nodded his head, but wouldn't look at his father.
"Well, we better go. We've gotta keep an eye on Maggie and her friends, and make sure this weekend is all about lifting Maggie's spirits," Max said. He kept his hands clutched together behind him- he wasn't feeling like this was the time to be shaking anyone's hands. He stepped back from the doorway and Fran followed suit.
"Peter, isn't there something you should say? It would be better if it was to Maggie, but given the circumstances, it might be best if you say it to them," Peter's mother scolded. Peter glanced over at Fran, but was afraid to look at Max. He cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done what I did. I'm sorry for hurting Maggie. If you could please tell her I'm sorry."
"And we're very sorry, too. Just please know that we'll be doing a lot on our end to prevent anything like this happening again. And please tell Maggie we're incredibly sorry. She didn't deserve this. Not at all." Peter's mother was getting tears in her eyes.
"Thank you." That was all Max could say. His heart was racing.
"I'll tell Maggie. Thank you. We better get going now. Goodbye." Fran reached for Max's sleeve and tugged it, and he turned and followed her back down the hall toward the elevator doors. They heard the apartment door clack shut and the locks click, then Peter's father's voice bellowed. They knew Peter was getting an earful. Fran pushed the elevator button and it immediately opened, and they both stepped in. Fran hit the button for the lobby and when the doors closed, they both let out their breath. "Oh my god! I'm glad that's over!"
"Yeah, no kidding," Max huffed. They both tried not to hyperventilate. He started rubbing his stomach again.
"You okay?" Fran asked. "Hey, it's all over now. Now we just focus on Maggie, okay? And you know what? We might get more time with her now, too, if she isn't going out so much. That's good, right?" Fran asked, as she took hold of Max's arm. He looked over at her, then tried a smile.
"Yes, I guess that's a good thing. Yes. We'll focus on Maggie, get her happy again." He took a deep breath and exhaled. "Boy, I'm glad that's over with, though. And I'm glad his parents took it very seriously. I wasn't expecting a talk like that. That was pretty… intense."
"Oh, I know! Boy, that Peter's gonna have a crappy weekend! And a crappy few months, too, probably!"
"It sure sounds like it. I almost feel bad for him, but then I don't. I hate what he did to her. Maggie was saying he would get his- that what goes around comes around. So we can tell her he's getting his now, can't we?"
Fran laughed. "We sure can! Did you see how shocked he was to see us? Man, he turned all the colors!" They both started laughing, and Max was surprised that he was already feeling better. The elevator doors opened and they stepped out into the lobby, then walked back out through the doors to the street where the car was still waiting for them. The driver opened the door and Fran jumped in, and Max followed.
"Well, now to go find some movies that have absolutely no romantic relationships in them whatsoever!" Max called out.
"Hey- just for the girls! We can get some rom-coms if we want. Or whatever we want."
"True. But just be careful that Maggie doesn't see them."
"Gotcha. Hey, are you getting hungry? I think I burned off my breakfast with all that."
"You know, I think I am. Maybe we can grab something nearby, and take it back with us. Sound like a plan?" He asked.
"Sounds good to me! Oh, and one other thing…"
"What's that?" He smiled, looking over at her.
"Thank you for calling me Fran- when you were talking to them."
"I did? Oh, I hadn't realized… oh, well, you're welcome."
Fran smiled and patted his arm, and they rested back in their seats for the ride to the video store.
"Got everything?" Max asked, as they arranged the bags in their hands.
"Yeah, looks like it. Let's get back to the house so we can pig out. And I wanna check on the girls, and catch them up on everything!" She grinned. Max smiled, and held the door of the delicatessen open for her. They began walking back towards Park Avenue. Fran shifted her bags into one hand and reached for the crook of Max's arm and held onto it as they walked. Fran was smiling, looking around at the people passing by, and the traffic. The city was alive, and it felt good to her. It felt like she was getting a new start herself, not just Maggie. Only for her, she didn't have to suffer a horrible heartbreak the previous night to get there. Fran turned and looked at Max, who was walking quietly next to her, lost in thought. She really wanted to know what he was thinking about, but realized he might need some time to process everything. She knew he had never had to deal with anything like this before, so maybe she should just hold back her urge to get him talking for a while. At least she had their lunch together to look forward to, and the movies on top of that.
When Max suddenly realized how quiet they both were, he glanced over at Fran. She looked really happy, and it made him happy that she was walking close next to him, with her hand clutching his arm. He felt a small rush of adrenaline through him, and had to focus to calm it back down. He remembered what Maggie had said, and her words kept coming back to him, over and over.
"Hey-" he wiggled his arm and looked over at her. "How are you doing?"
"Good!" She smiled. "You?"
"Much better. Thank you for helping out with all of that. I mean it. If you hadn't volunteered to deal with getting her things back, I don't think I would have offered to do it myself. I wasn't sure what to say when she brought that up. I guess I figured she'd just ask one of her friends. But I'm glad we both went, and that we were able to speak with his parents. I just hope he's learned a very powerful lesson. I never pegged him to be the kind of boy that would get up to foolishness like that, you know?"
"Yeah, I know. I didn't, either. But it sounded like that friend of his might be the type, and maybe convinced him to go ahead and do it- to go out with that other girl. But from how upset his father was, it sounds like he might not be seeing much of that friend anymore, so maybe that's good, too. But anyway, it's in his parents' hands now. We don't need to do anything else, except take care of Maggie."
"That's true. And thank you, too, for coming up with that idea to get her friends over to be with her. I have a feeling if you hadn't done that, that she'd be in bed all weekend, feeling sorry for herself."
"Yeah, that's what I didn't want her to do. He's not worth it. It hurt her pretty bad, but I think it's better that she talks about everything as much as she can, instead of keeping it to herself. I think that'll help her get through it faster, and it won't crush her self esteem so much."
Max looked at her again, and smiled. She really was a good friend, not just to Maggie, but to him as well. They continued walking, close together, her clutching his arm. Max noticed a few looks from passers-by, glancing at Fran, then at him, or vice-versa. Many of the people seemed to smile, or at least have a smile in their eyes. It made Max wonder about what other people might be thinking of the two of them, walking together down the sidewalk. Did they look like a couple? With the way Fran was clutching his arm, he felt that they probably did, and it didn't bother him one bit. Let them think that. He didn't mind pretending that they were, either.
They turned the corner and took the back way home, so they could bring the food into the kitchen. When they got to the house, Max opened the gate for her, and then she opened the back door for him and they headed into the kitchen. They set all their bags on the island counter, and Fran grabbed the bag with Maggie's belongings in it.
"Hey, is it okay if I run upstairs and just-"
"Go ahead. I know you're dying to tell them. I'll get this food sorted out."
"Thank you!" She patted his back, pulled off her coat and draped it over a chair, then grabbed the videos for the girls, too, and ran up the back stairs. Niles burst through the door from the dining room just then, startled to see Max.
"Oh! You're back!" He said, then looked at Max tentatively as he was pulling containers and wrapped sandwiches from the bags. "So, ah, how did things go, if I may ask?"
Max smiled. "They went well, Niles." He began taking off his coat, then set it over Fran's. "I expect Peter will be the one suffering for a good while now, not Maggie."
"Oh, goodie! So he was there? Did you really lay into him?"
"Well, he clearly didn't expect us on his doorstep. But his parents were there, too. And we had to tell them what happened. His parents were so upset with him!"
"As they should be! Oh, I'm so glad he'll be getting his come-uppance! Miss Margaret deserves to be treated better than that. And how are you and Ms. Fine? Did you manage alright with all of that-" Niles wasn't sure what to call it.
"Actually, yes. Ms. Fine was fantastic. We weren't sure how it would go, but I rather think went perfectly. Matter-of-fact, right to the point, and his parents got upset with him, wanted to know why, and were very upset for Maggie. I guess they like her a lot, and were ashamed of what he did. Fran's upstairs right now dishing on everything with the girls. I bet she's loving every bit of it."
"I bet!" Niles smiled, and he kept smiling at Max. Max glanced over at him and saw the expression on his face.
"What?"
"You used her first name."
"I did? Oh. Hmm. Well… Apparently I did that earlier, as well. When we were talking to his parents. I uh, hmm…"
"It's perfectly alright, sir. You're not in trouble. It's nice. Are you needing any help with all of that?" He asked, gesturing to the huge quantity of food on the counter.
"Oh, we thought we'd grab some lunch after we went to get videos. We picked up a couple movies to watch for ourselves, too. Oh- we grabbed you a sandwich from the deli as well, if you're hungry."
"Oh, you didn't have to do that! But thank you! Thank you very much. I am a bit peckish. Are you two eating in here?"
"I'm not sure yet, I don't know if she wants to watch a movie with it or not. So, are you alright if we might need your help with the girls this weekend? Like with ordering food, and helping out if they need it?"
"Absolutely, sir! Don't worry about that at all. But I'm sure they won't want me hovering around, they might all want the girl time so they can trash on the male species. I don't want to get in the line of fire."
Max laughed. "True. But I don't expect they'll need more than food, and maybe if they need pillows or anything for the sleepover."
"Whatever they need, it's no bother. But what about you and Ms. Fine? Will you be dodging the sleepover?"
"Ah, good question. Well, we'll watch a couple of movies, I know that much. I don't think she wants to be too far away for too long, in case Maggie might need her for any reason. And I don't really want to be too far, either. Not after seeing how upset she was. But we'll try to stay out of their way, if they want us to."
"Well, good. It's nice that you both will be able to have some time together, too." Max looked over at him. "I mean, well, you know…" Max kept looking at him, making him uncomfortable. "Oh, come on, now, sir. There's nothing wrong with it. I know you like spending time with her, and now you can. It'll be good for you. For both of you." Max turned a little bashful, and went back to sorting the food. "Here, let me take your coats, and we can set the table here for lunch and see what Ms. Fine wants to do when she comes back down."
"Alright."
Niles picked up their coats and left the kitchen, and Max went about getting plates and napkins and began to set the table. He scolded himself for pushing back at Niles. He couldn't help but feel like Niles was teasing him, and that always got to him. But he knew Niles meant well. Niles came back into the kitchen right as Max finished setting everything down on the kitchen table. Niles headed for the fridge to retrieve drinks, and Max headed for the cabinet for glasses.
"Ah, Niles… I'm sorry if I was a bit- ah, sensitive with that a moment ago."
"Oh, no worries. It's a sensitive subject, I know."
"Sensitive subject?"
"Isn't it?" He looked at Max as he brought the glasses over for ice. "Sir, if I may say, isn't it about time? Isn't it about time to stop pushing back when it comes to her?" Niles asked.
Max gulped. "I suppose it's just been easier to do than giving in," Max said softly. Niles looked at him, wide-eyed, surprised that he was actually admitting he was doing it. "What?" He noticed Niles' look. "Yes, it's been on my mind today. Maggie had a bit of a discussion with me on the subject."
"She did?" "Yes. She was sort of asking me about relationships and all. Then she asked why I haven't had one since Sarah."
"Oh." Niles reached for a glass and filled it with ice, then did the same with the other two glasses. "What did you say?"
"I said I'd rather not go through all that nonsense- of dating. That I'd rather sort of, you know, step into the role."
"Step into the role?"
"Yes. Know the woman already, be good friends, want the same things…"
"Mmm hmm…" Niles raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah." Max looked back at the stairs, then back to Niles, making sure Fran wasn't coming down yet. He helped Niles bring the drinks to the table. "Maggie said didn't I already have that with Fran."
"Oh." They both got quiet and sat down at the table.
"You can go ahead and eat, Niles. I'll wait for her."
"Oh, I can wait, too. I don't want to be rude."
Max opened his drink and poured it into his glass, and Niles did the same. "Niles? Can I ask you something? Have I been really bad with all of that? I mean, have I treated her poorly, because of, well, my issues? You can tell me honestly."
"Honestly?" Niles glanced back at the stairs, then back at Max and lowered his voice. "You were fine at first. Most of your arguments were out of genuine concern for the children. And when you started to realize that she knew what she was doing, and the children were doing so much better, it was like- it was like you needed to find a reason to keep her at arm's length. I don't think you really wanted to, but maybe you felt like you were supposed to. And not so much because she was your employee."
"No? Then why?"
"She was different. She is different. I mean, my god, Ms. Babcock hits on you all the time, she practically throws herself at you, and you could care less. But if Ms. Fine did that, I'm sure it would fluster you. Not that she would do that. And not because she doesn't like you that way."
"What do you mean?"
"Because she's more careful than that. She's careful with you. And it's not easy for her, I'm sure. She's used to being very direct with people, not beating around the bush. But with some things, well- she's just got to be more careful, that's all."
"But why? What is it about me? Why do I do things that would make her feel she has to be careful with me?"
"Honestly? Because I think she doesn't want to see you hurt. Or be upset. She knows what you've been through- what the children have been through. She feels it, too. Deeply. If you ask me, I think she doesn't ever want to see you all hurt like that again. Or hurt for any reason. Especially you. And last night, with Maggie… did you know she stayed with her for hours and hours? When you came home, she was still in Maggie's room. I think she was in there past midnight, just letting her cry it out."
Max was feeling emotional. He knew Fran had stayed with Maggie for a good while, but didn't realize it had been that long. "That was very kind of her to do."
"I was. But she didn't think twice about doing it. It came naturally."
Max thought a moment, then glanced at the stairs again. "Niles, you said especially me- that she especially didn't want to see me hurt again."
"Yes."
"Why especially me?"
Niles sighed and shook his head, then leaned back in the chair.
"Why do you think? I mean, if the situation were reversed, would you want to see her get hurt again? Would you want to see her get involved in a relationship where the man would intentionally hurt her?"
"Of course not!"
"Have you been worried that you would hurt her like that?"
"No. No, I would never do something like that to her."
"I believe you," Niles said. Max looked at him for a moment.
"Do I make excuses? To keep her at a distance or something?" Niles just looked at him, letting him think it over himself. "So I do hurt her. I am the one hurting her. By not letting her be close to me like she is to the children." Niles kept watching him as he turned things over in his mind.
"Did you ever think that maybe you could be a comfort to Ms. Fine, too?"
"A comfort? Me? Well, I try to be- I mean, to comfort her. But it seems to only be… like the times when she goes on a date that doesn't go well, and she get her hopes up. I try to comfort her, I suppose, afterwards. Hug her. But I feel a little guilty then because I'm always glad it didn't work out."
"Do you like doing that? Comforting her?"
"It's… I don't know. I suppose a hug is nice. But it doesn't feel like that's what I'm really doing- comforting her. I guess I still hold back. Because she might go on another date, and there I'll be, waiting at home. Waiting for her to come back to me when things go wrong."
"Is it jealousy that makes you hold back from her?" Niles asked. Max mulled it over.
"I don't know. I'm sure there's a bit of that. But it's not just that. It's- it's like even if she comes to me for a hug, as if she's upset about a date not working out- it's like she's over it right away. I know I wouldn't be. Is she taking any of those dates seriously? Or just acting like she is? If it was me she went out with, would she take me seriously?"
"I can't speak for her, but if she isn't taking them seriously, then maybe there's a reason for that. Maybe she's just going through the motions because she feels she has to, and she doesn't want to take them seriously, because she doesn't want to get close to them. Maybe she'd rather it was someone else she wants to get close to- someone else she wants to ask her out."
Max looked over at Niles, then at his glass. He turned it in his hand, then lifted it and took a sip, then set it back down on the table. "Niles? Do you have best friend?" Niles was surprised by his question.
"A best friend? Well, I have friends. I don't know that I'd exactly call anyone in particular my best friend. I think I reserve that title for someone who I was truly close with. I mean, really close with."
"So Fran's not your best friend?"
"She's one of my closest friends, but not in the way a best friend should be. She and I don't hang out together and go places, like she does with Val. Or even you, for that matter."
"Is that how you know if someone's your best friend?"
"Because you do things together? Well, I suppose, in some ways. Think about the other adults you spend the most time with, and not just for work. But at home, when you aren't working, that sort of thing. Now, Ms. Fine is my friend, even Val to a degree. And I go out with my other friends on occasion when we have days off. I guess I'm the sort that can have a lot of friends and acquaintances, but as for a best friend, maybe I'm reserving that for if I ever meet someone I want to spend my life with. Now Ms. Fine, at first impression she might come off as someone who can be friends with anybody. In some ways she can. If she sees an old friend she hasn't talked to in years, she can jump right back in like they've never been apart. But they wouldn't be her best friend. And of course, she has Val. They've known each other since they were children, they can fight each other like cats and dogs, and turn right around and fight for each other. They have the kind of relationship I don't think they'll ever tire of. That's a best friendship, for certain. But with Ms. Fine, Val doesn't have to be her only best friend. Ms. Fine has so much to give, it never stops, and it never seems to drain her. She thrives on it- the giving. But I just think it might make her a bit sad when she doesn't get as much back as she gives. A best friendship has to be an equal friendship. She has that with Val. But I don't think Val is enough for her."
"Not enough? You mean, she needs more friendships?"
"I mean, maybe she needs another best friend. And I don't mean like me, or like Val. I mean someone she can, oh I don't know, really relax with? You know, after a hard day, or a difficult time, to just go to, and not even have to say anything. Don't you wish you had someone… someone who's arms you could collapse into, anytime? And they could collapse into yours? I don't know that Ms. Fine would quite want Val for that."
Max knew what Niles meant. And now that he said it out loud, Max couldn't think of anything else. What would that be like? Could Fran be someone who he could really feel that way with? Might she want to be able to feel that for him? Did she already, and he was keeping her from it? Thinking about it made him hurt, and feel ashamed. She stayed with Maggie for hours and hours, because she was the one Maggie needed the most. Who did he need the most? Did he even need to ask?
They heard footsteps on the back stairs, and Fran came bouncing down in her heels. She took a look at both men and raised her eyebrow.
"Okay, now what the hell has been going on in here?" She asked, smiling.
"Oh, nothing," Max said quickly. "Just waiting for you before we started eating. So, how were the girls? Did you dish?"
"Oh, I so dished! They loved it! Especially Maggie. The girls were cheering, and Maggie was smiling from ear to ear. I think it really made her day. And you know what?" She swatted Max's arm as she sat down between him and Niles. "She's really glad you went there, too. She didn't have to say it, but I think it really made an impact on her that you were looking out for her, too."
"Really?" Max smiled. "Well, of course I'm going to look out for her. She's my daughter, and I don't want anyone hurting her." Fran smiled, and reached for a container, then started dishing some food onto her plate.
"Oh, and one other thing-"
"What's that?"
"We're getting kicked out of the living room. They're all coming downstairs to watch the movies, and to eat. So, Niles, they're gonna want to order a bunch of food in a little bit. And it turns out, there isn't enough room for all of them to sleep in Maggie's room, so we may need to set up the living room for them. So, it looks like we can't watch our movies out there. We'll have to figure something else out to kill time, I guess."
"Well, Mr. Sheffield has a big television in his room…" Niles hinted. Max blushed a little, then recovered.
"The TV in your bedroom? Well, I dunno, wouldn't that be a little…"
"It would be fine, I mean, if you want to. We can move things around, or get some chairs. I have the chaise in there, and then the bench, but that might not be so comfortable. But we can figure something out, if you still want to watch movies with me."
"Of course I want to watch movies with you! I just figured, well, you know."
"Yes, I know, but don't worry about all that. It's just movies. And if the girls end up needing us, or Maggie does, well, we'll be here. You know. So…"
"Okay, then. We'll figure something out." She smiled, and Max felt relieved, and Niles was grinning. He was loving this. They all grabbed food and unwrapped their sandwiches and happily began to dig in. As Fran was recounting the story of what she told the girls, Max glanced over at Niles, and they both gave each other knowing looks. He was glad he had talked to Niles about everything. He was feeling so much more at ease now, and was loving the story Fran told.