Page 124 of My Heart Will Find You

“I can understand that feeling. Henry is like a human magnet.”

Ben laughed. “He is. That day Mom was due in surgery and Henry was well-known to the staff, so she let Max stay with him.”

“HEA,” Etta said. At Ben’s look, she said, “And that led to a happily-ever-after.”

“Eventually, yes. Mom used to say that she married Dad because Max wanted him so very much. It started out as a marriage of convenience for them. Dad wanted a family and Mom needed help. Later, it became a love match. Mom was type A on steroids, while nothing ever flusters Dad.”

Some things do, she thought. “And what about Max? Which parent is he like?”

Ben smiled. “He’s Dad all over again, except that he can never seem to settle anywhere. My brother has been offered a job in Mason, Kansas, but no one believes he’ll take it. He’s a bit of a tumbleweed. Which brings me to what I was told that I must ask you. But feel free to say no.”

“What is it?”

“Dad is fierce about finishing the last part of your novel. He said that by now you know the ending.” Ben waited for her reply.

“I do,” she said softly but didn’t elaborate. She didn’t want to repeat that memory in thoughts or words.

“Dad made me swear to ask a favor of you.”

“What does he want?”

“He asked Max to drive down to KC and go on a road trip with you. Of course Max said yes. Dad wants to see what’s been done to that little town, Garrett. Max is a good photographer and an even better artist. He’s not as good as Dad but close.”

She thought of Max with Nellie’s watercolors and the sketchbooks. “I bet he had years of lessons from Henry.”

“He did! So maybe you’ll agree to go with Max to see the town? And maybe you’ll make a recording of the last part of the story so Dad can transcribe it?”

“Yes, I’ll do that.” Etta could feel her heart in her throat. She was to go with Max.

“I think you two will get along, but be warned that my brother isn’t the heroic man like in your story. And by the way, he’s not read the story you and Dad are creating. Max is more—” Ben cut off as he looked to the side. “Speak of the devil, here he is. Max! Come here and talk to Etta.”

To her shock, Max,herMax, took the phone. The last time she’d seen him...

“Hi,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

It was Max’s face. His voice. She looked at him as though drinking him in. Studying the face she loved. “Your ear is scarred,” she managed to say.

Grinning, he put his fingers on his earlobe.

Max’s fingers. Max’s smile.

“Oh that,” he said. “I caught it on barbed wire when I was a kid. Mom sewed it back on.”

And Henry never said a word when he heard that in my story, she thought.I’m going to kill him.

“I hope you’re okay about this. Dad conned me into doing work for him. Not thatyouare work, but...”

Etta was recovering. “I know Henry. It’s always, ‘Get the story done no matter what.’ Sure, I’ll do it. Come here whenever you can.”

“Actually, I was thinking of leaving in about an hour. I’ll get there late, so I’ll see you in the morning. If that’s okay with you. I’ll be in Dad’s little house. He said you chose my room to stay in.”

She’d said it was Ben’s room and Henry didn’t correct her.“It was the buffalos on the curtains that did it.”

“I’ve always loved animals. I better go. Caro has me on babysitting duty. I’ll see you soon.” He handed the phone back to his brother.

Ben said, “You’re sure about this? It’s not an imposition?”

“No, I look forward to it.”

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