"What do you mean you can't reach her?"
All trace of tiredness was gone from her face as she looked at him like he had uttered the most ridiculous statement.
Maxwell wished it was really that.
He wished for this night at least he could separate himself from the mess that his goddamned stepsister seemed hellbent on causing over and over again.
He wished he had not gotten himself involved in her mess that day when she called him for help.
Yet when he thought of the fact that he probably wouldn't have met Reyona otherwise, he simply sighed and looked at the woman who seemed just a breath away from getting up and storming out of the diner.
He leaned towards her. "See…" he paused as the waitress came forward to clear her plate of hash browns.
Maxwell had done exactly what she had suggested. He watched her eat.
And enjoyed every single moment of it.
His pensive mood was already lifting just by being this close to her.
Until she started talking.
He waved the waitress away when she asked if they needed anything else.
Then he lowered his voice and said "I am not trying to bullshit you here, okay. I meant just what I said."
"Did you hear what I said at…" Though only two other people were eating separately away from them, Reyona looked at them and lowered her voice further as her eyes flashed at him. "Do you understand at all? This is none of my problem if you think of it, but then I am involved in it. That sweet woman is so apprehensive about what will happen to children she is not even related to. All you need is to get a damned statement from your sister, and you are telling me you can't reach her?"
"That is because I can't…" Maxwell leaned back with a sigh. "You know what? Let's take a walk."
"I don't want to take a walk with you," Reyona said automatically.
"I will explain everything to you, Dexter. I just don't want to do it whispering."
She glared at him and said "Fine."
Maxwell signalled to the waitress as he reached for his wallet.
"I don't need you to pay for me," Reyona said as she saw him taking wads of $500 bills out of his wallet.
"Must you be disagreeable about everything?" Maxwell said with exasperation. "It doesn't suit you, Dexter."
"Fuck you," Reyona said automatically.
"Wow, that is a statement I never thought I would hear anytime soon from such a proper lady like you, Ms. Dexter."
Her retort was interrupted as the waitress got to them.
He dismissed the waitress when the latter exclaimed that his payment was way more than what the lady got.
"After you, milady," Maxwell said with a slight bow.
Oh, he could see how much she was ready to rip into him at that gesture, but instead, she yanked her primrose jacket off the back of her chair and walked out of the diner.
Maxwell couldn't stop the genuine smile that crept onto his face.
Yes, they were in an even messier situation than they were before, yet he just couldn't shake off this feeling of rightness that comes with being around her.
What would he give to have her crave his company too?
For now, he quickly walked out after her, firmly keeping his eyes on her glorious hair even when they wanted to stray downwards.
It was already so late, and the traffic outside was less compared to when Maxwell drove into the parking lot of the roadside diner.
"Start talking," she said once they got outside, and she put on her jacket.
"There is a park close by. Why don't we take a walk there?"
She looked like she was about to argue, but then she turned and headed towards the direction he gestured.
The night breeze gently tickled his nose with her elusive scents.
He wished he could wrap himself in that scent and never…
"Are you going to talk, or do we have to walk to the North Pole first?" she asked testily, even though she was facing the direction they were heading.
No other choice.
"I got a call from a friend working at the agency today. Susan is nowhere to be found."
There was no point telling her the other damning details that Steve had added.
She was silent for a moment, and he had to look at her.
As if she could feel his gaze on her, she said slowly. "So, let me get this straight. Your sister, who you made sure got some time at a rehabilitation centre instead of jail, escaped the centre?"
"Exactly that," Maxwell simply said.
She nodded, then turned to face him.
The streetlight was on her back and her face was slightly shadowed as she said "So, she waltzed out of the center and nobody noticed her?" Before Maxwell could respond, she continued "Let me get this straight. Now, I have to tell her children who got foisted on me by their currently unconscious aunt that their mother is nowhere to be found, just like their father was. And then what? Let them be sucked into the system?"
"They will find her," Maxwell said in resignation.
"They?" she asked, as if in contemplation. "In the meantime, what would you do? I am the one who got cheated on for God's sake. Now, everyone is waltzing off, and I end up being the one responsible for them? Make it make sense."
"You don't have to do…"
"You are damn right. I don't have to do anything! And you know what? I am done with this bullshit. Find your damn sister or my fucking ex. Take care of your family drama because I am done doing it for you all." she reached into her bag, took out a card, and stretched it towards him. "Here. Do what you wish with it."
Maxwell reached for the card to see who it belonged to.
She brushed past him on her way to the direction where they were coming from.
"Hey, hold on," Maxwell said as he saw the card belonged to a social worker.
"No, you wait!" Reyona said as she stalked towards him with her finger wagging "None of you should ever involve me in your ugliness again. And I am sending your money back to you. Don't test me by sending it back. I don't ever want to see you again!"
She turned back sharply and let out a sudden cry.
"Reyona!" Maxwell hurried to her as she doubled over to hold her ankle while her face contorted with pain. "Did you sprain it?"
"Get away from me!" she gritted out as she massaged her left ankle.
"Are you still feeling pain? Why then are you…?"
"I said get lost," Reyona said again, and he could hear the pain in her voice despite the fire in her eyes.
"Tough luck then."
Before she could resist, he bent down and swept her in his arms.
"Let me…"
"I am not going to do such a thing, ma'am. I know my touch disgusts you, but I have no intention of watching you hop back to your car. So, would you please make it easier for both of us by keeping still?"
"I did not ask you to…"
"Thank you. I so love it when you are this agreeable," he said in a cheery tone that surprised her enough to stop her struggling.
Glad for his momentary win, Maxwell walked back towards the direction of their cars.
The laminated card lay silent on the ground.