Page 28 of Race to the Beach

He nodded."They would have told you, but they knew you were injured.They are anxious to see you finish the race."

She shook her head."It's not going to happen.I’ve been giving it a lot of thought, and it’s going to need a lot of work."

"But you're a mechanic.Right?"When she nodded, he said."Then you shouldn't have any problem fixing it, right?"

"It’s going to take a lot of time and a lot of money.I don't have enough of either of those things."The sadness and disappointment were written all over her face.

"Maybe I can help with that."

Her gaze rose to meet his.Confusion shone in her eyes."I don't understand.How are you going to help?"

Their conversation was interrupted when their food was delivered.The only problem was that he no longer had an appetite.His stomach was knotted up with nerves.He had no idea how Maxi was going to take the news he had for her.

She squeezed some ketchup onto the plate."So, what is it you were going to say?"

He swallowed hard.Then he reached into his back pocket and withdrew a fat white envelope with a rubber band around it.He placed it on the table and slid it across to her."This is for you."

She glanced down at the envelope.She picked it up and slipped the rubber band off.When she peeled back the flap on the envelope, she gasped.She glanced around to see if anyone had noticed that she had a large wad of cash.Then her confused gaze met his.With another quick glance around to make sure no one was paying any attention to them, she slid the envelope back across the table to him.

"I don't know what that is, but I don't want any part of it."She frowned at him.

"It's okay.The money is for you."

She shook her head."I don't want it."

At the time he'd collected the money, he hadn't thought that she'd reject it.Maybe she just didn't understand."But this will help you with the repairs on your car."

Her gaze narrowed."I don't take handouts."

He shook his head."That's not what this is."

The rigid line of her shoulders eased."Well, I definitely can't accept a loan either."

His mind raced to find the right words to get her to take the money.He had absolutely no idea how to do it.

When she looked expectantly at him, as though waiting for him to scoop up the envelope, he asked, "Have you spent much time on this island?"

She shrugged."I've visited a handful of times over the years."

"Have you gotten to know any of its residents?"

"You mean besides you?"When he nodded, she said, "Well, there's my aunt."

"Besides her."

"A few of her friends, but that’s it."

"If you spent some time on the island and got to know its residents, you'd find that they take care of each other.When someone's in need, the others show up for them.And that's what this money is.They are showing up for you."

"But they don't even know me."

"True.But they know your aunt, and they know that one of their own caused the accident.In fact, the bulk of the money is from the owners of the goat.They are so sorry about the accident."

Maxi was quiet, as though digesting his words."Tell them thank you, but I can't accept it."

Well, that wasn’t what he was expecting.His gaze moved to the bulging envelope.He had no idea who had given him what.And even if he did, he knew the good people of Bluestar Island wouldn’t want to take their donations back.They’d want it to go toward helping Maxi.He wanted it to go toward helping her.

“Please take it.”His gaze met hers.“You have to understand that something like this is normal for Bluestar.When one of their own is in trouble, they always pull together and help them.”

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