Page 74 of One Night With The Nanny

“He did. He was the best,” Penny declared, earning sincere hums and murmurs of agreement from everyone.

Fin was crying as he leaned into Walker and Dash was holding Gavin and rocking him. It occurred to Max as he went to comfort Reid that no one had mourned the passing of his father. If Max had to guess, no one missed him or would ever describe him being “the best” anything.

“I’m so sorry,” Max whispered and carefully put his arm around Reid.

“I knew this was coming but I wasn’t ready either,” Reid confessed and pushed his face into Max’s shoulder, his body shaking as he did his best to muffle his cries.

“We’ll help them get through this,” Max said as he rubbed Reid’s back and held him, stunned but deeply touched. He wasn’t sure if it was his place or if Reid wanted to be comforted. But it was an honor to be trusted and to be the one to hold Reid while he was hurting. “I didn’t get to meet Gus, unfortunately, but this had to give him an incredible amount of peace,” he told Reid quietly and gestured around them. “He was able to let go knowing his children were surrounded by love and support. I can’t think of anything I’d want more as a father.”

Reid laughed shakily, nodding as he looked around them. “That was all Gus cared about and Penn and Penny are going to be okay because they have all of us.” He pushed out a slow, steadying breath. “If I know Gus, he doesn’t want a fuss and he’s made all the arrangements so Penn won’t have to deal with any of that. But we’ll need to talk to Morris’s mom. Morris Senior and Gus were pretty close and they helped each other get through chemo together.”

Making lists and organizing was also how Reid coped when he was in pain or felt helpless, Max was learning, so he took out his phone and began taking notes.

“Morris’s mother is Evelyn, correct?” Max asked and Reid nodded.

“Evelyn’s his mom. She’ll be ready to help,” he predicted. “We’ll talk to her about the repast and probably have it here or at our place.”

“Repast?” Max asked, then shook his head. “Never mind. I can Google whatever I don’t know about American funeral traditions,” he said to himself, but Reid grabbed his hand.

“Thank you.” he said, squeezing it as he smiled at Max. “I told myself that I’d be ready and that I’d have Penn’s back when the time came, but I was sinking back there,” he confided with a toss of his head at the door.

Max knew he was referring to the immediate aftermath at Briarwood Terrace and shrugged it off. “I believe you were in shock and we recovered,” he said, making Reid smile as he offered his lips.

“We recovered. Thank you for covering for me and getting us all here in a quick and orderly fashion.”

“It was nothing at all,” Max replied as he kissed him. “I merely remembered there were two cars waiting out front. I’m glad I was able to be of use,” he said simply, but he was realizing that he wanted more.

Max didn’t want to be of use, he wanted to belong and to be responsible for this big, beautiful, chaotic family. He wanted them to be his, too, and to be by Reid’s side through the highs and the lows.

“Stop it. You’re always useful and I’m glad you’re here,” Reid said, taking Max’s hand in his. “They might not have as much use for me these days, but we could keep an eye on them together,” he suggested and Max smiled as he raised their hands and kissed Reid’s knuckles.

“I’d like that very much and I would consider it a privilege.”

29

Sunday, 12:20 p.m. …

It was a far more crowded and emotional brunch than they were used to, but it had been a beautiful morning and the tightness that had resided in Reid’s chest after the news of Gus’s passing was finally gone. The gathering had also served as a repast for Gus after Penn and Penny’s return from the family cabin up in the Appalachians.

They had gone up on Thursday with Morris, Cadence, Agnes, and June to say goodbye to Gus. Penn had already turned Gus and Laurel’s beloved porch swing into a bench and positioned it under a tree with a view of the lake and Penny’s camp across the water. Gus and Laurel’s ashes were buried under the bench and they had returned Saturday evening. Reid could see that Penn was at peace when he arrived for the repast with Morris and Cadence.

Morris Sr. and Evelyn had come over from Park Slope with two cakes, two pies, two dozen cupcakes, and two trays of cookies. Evelyn brought all of Gus’s favorites and fun treats for the kids. Along with Agnes, the two created a light and celebratory mood and Penn and Penny kept everyone laughing for hours with their favorite memories of Gus.

Reid was relieved to see Penn happy and healing, they had all been worried about how he would cope with losing Gus. Reid had also grieved and healed in the two weeks since Gus’s passing. He and Agnes helped the Tuckers make arrangements and supported them when they were at their lowest, but Reid had Max at his side to support him.

And the realization began to dawn on Reid that he was the only one who didn’t have someone to hold onto the day Gus died. Fin or any one of their friends would have pulled Reid into their arms and cried with him, but everyone else had someone they belonged with and he would have been a third wheel.

Until Max came to the rescue. He stepped up when everyone was in shock from the news and Reid fumbled and Max continued to step up. He spent most nights at Briarwood Terrace, comforting Reid after a long day of managing the agency and keeping track of everyone else. Reid had to be strong for the Tuckers and their friends, but at night, he cried on Max’s shoulder.

Mia and Sophia had insisted that Max focus on Reid and his family, with both girls stopping by frequently. Having them around in the evenings had been a lovely distraction and seemed to cheer everyone up. For Reid, watching Max and the girls bonding at Briarwood Terrace was like watching a new branch budding on one of his orchids. They were healing and growing and their little family had become precious to Reid, too.

Like Dash, Max excelled at small acts of thoughtfulness and knew how to put a little more fuel in Reid’s tank with impromptu neck and shoulder massages or a cup of coffee on the back terrace when he was feeling rundown. He made lists to keep up with Reid’s lists and rules and Max even had a list of all the kids’ names, birthdays, and favorite snacks. He’d begun to dote on them and Reid melted a little whenever he watched Max and Mia playing hopscotch or tag out back. Mia had become Dash’s sidekick and was thrilled to have so many new little siblings.

Reid waited until everyone had left and Dash and Gavin had retired to their room for “a nap” to slide around the table and join Max on the window seat.

“Is everything alright?” Max asked and his brows jumped when Reid took both of his hands and nodded.

“Everything is…great, Max,” he began, not quite sure why he was so nervous. Perhaps because he was admitting that he had been wrong. “In fact, things are pretty much perfect now. With you here.” Reid rolled his eyes, mostly at himself. “I was skeptical that we would have enough in common and I couldn’t imagine any way a man like you would be happy here or fit into our lives. But it seems you do. Very well. And I wouldn’t mind if you stayed and we were in a relationship.” The last part came out in a rushed mumble.

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