Page 22 of Hope for the Best

Chapter 8

Charlie Morgan

Three months later

It was now May, and the renovations on the lake house were complete. The family would start rolling in during the weeks to come. There was never a time during the summer when everyone in the family would be in Arkansas at the exact same time, but the calendar was full during those months with most of the bedrooms and guesthouses being spoken for.

Max had taken over the master bedroom as his own, and even if he wasn't currently in Arkansas, no one stayed in there besides him. He was also building another structure on the property. Plans were made and the construction was scheduled to begin later that summer.

Charlie knew all of this because he had been staying in the guesthouse for almost nine months. He had been on-site, so he was helping his father envision and design the plans for the secret cabin in the woods. It would be small and modest on the outside but expansive and high-tech on the inside with an underground bunker.

Charlie didn't ask his dad any questions about his plans. If you asked Max what he did for a living, he would say that he was a stock trader. That would explain why he seemed to sometimes come into windfalls of money. But there was speculation about Max. He traveled a lot and was an expert in martial arts and weaponry. Casey seemed to follow in Max's footsteps. The two of them both worked in stock trading, and they traveled together quite a bit. Some people speculated that Max and Casey were modern-day pirates, but Caleb had a career in the FBI, and he would know if his own family was doing anything illegal. They did, however, look like modern-day pirates with their man buns, suntans, and leather sandals.

Charlie chose not to worry about what his dad and brother did during their travels.

Max has always been a secretive person and this construction project in the woods was not something Charlie went around talking about—he wasn't tempted to tell anyone. The main person he talked to already knew there would be construction on the property, and she didn't care. She was discreet, and she knew not to tell anyone. Charlie was in the middle of having a conversation with his father, and they were talking about Hope, so Charlie was thinking about her at the moment.

"Hope was saying how it flooded under those trees when we were little, and I looked into it, and she was right. I didn't remember that. I'm glad we moved plans for the project to the other location. I like it better there, anyway."

"How did she remember that?" Max asked.

"I don't know. Her dad didn't even remember it, only Hope did. That's why I went to the zoning office to confirm. She said she remembered looking out at the trees and seeing the water pooling. I think she has a photographic memory or something. When she tells a story, she gives details that make me think she's got some kind of ability to snap pictures in her mind. Her recall ability is amazing. She remembers those kids' charts at her work."

"I knew she was sharp," Max said.

"And I knew something must be going on with you two if she's got you shaving." He pushed at Charlie's shoulder, and Charlie made a face at his dad.

"Hope might have indirectly had something to do with me physically shaving my face, but it's not because I'm trying to impress her."

"Then what'd she say to get youphysicallyshaving?" Max asked, teasing him.

"She told me the truth, which was that you guys would all be coming here this weekend. She said it was weird enough that I was living out here by myself and that I should at least shave to avoid a bunch of questions from everyone about my mindset."

"She's right," Max said. "I was about ready to take it to you if I showed up and saw you out here still looking like a bear."

"You look like a bear half the time."

"That's because I am a bear," Max said.

"But you're more of a fox… or a wolf. Dapper and charming and cunning. Last time I saw you, you were looking more like… a sloth?"

"A sloth?" Charlie said. "That's a little too far. I haven't stopped working since I've been out here."

"I was talking about looks more than work ethic, but I'm glad you shaved either way," Max said. "It wasn't good to see you out here not looking in a mirror, and I'm glad that girl finally got you doing it."

"I'm not doing it to impress Hope. She just suggested that I do it so you guys don't give me a hard time."

"You already said that," Max said. "And you've mentioned Hope five or six other times since I've been here."

"So?"

"So, it's only been a few hours."

"Well, we hang out quite a bit. I see her all the time, and talk to her, so it's just natural that I bring her up. I wanted to tell you things she said."

"And you have no feelings for her?"

"No, dad, no. Of course not. We're not. Hope and me… we're friends, but nothing more than that. She's friends with this other guy, and AJ is coming out here tomorrow, and I know he's planning on trying to talk to her."

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