Our New Normal

Part 14: The Pick Up

With road conditions worsening, Max finally makes it to Hartford after slowly maneuvering around icy patches and trying his best to see through the bombshells of rain hitting his windshield.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

If it doesn't clear up after picking up Luna, he doesn't know if he'll be able to make it home safely with her in the car.

But he's fully committed now.

As he pulls into Raynette's driveway, he grabs his umbrella and rushes out under it after shutting the car off. Making it to the stoop's overhang, he collapses the black short handled umbrella and tucks it under his arm momentarily. Ringing the doorbell, Max waits patiently until Raynette opens the door.

"Max? What are you doing here? I thought you said you were picking Luna up Saturday?" She says shocked by his behavior.

"Yes, well- I realized she's my daughter and I can take her home whenever I please." He says promptly and she looks him over before allowing him inside.

"Max...I didn't know you were coming this morning." Georgia's father Harold, says confused.

"Spontaneous arrival." Raynette bites slightly at her own words.

"Where is my daughter?" Max asks and Raynette looks at him a bit apologetic.

"Max, about the other day..."

"Where is my daughter?" He asks again.

"I was out of line and I shouldn't have said what I did."

"You were out of line. It was unappreciated and inappropriate; not to mention how hurtful it was. Frankly, your apology will never make up for what was said. Now, if you will please gather my daughter and her things- I have a long drive back and would like to get going." Max stands his ground firmly- probably for the first time in his entire life and Raynette and Harold sigh heavily before they begin gathering her things.

***

As the day goes on- finally hitting 5:30- Helen finds it odd that she hasn't heard from Max.

Driving to Hartford is only a 2 and a half hour drive- so it shouldn't have taken him 10 hours to get back to the city.

Unless he still isn't talking to her.

Though she would hardly blame him- he could at least let her know he made it back okay- especially because she's seen how shitty it's become outside.

"Still here?" Turning to her door, she finds Reynolds leaning against its frame.

"I could ask the same." She smirks.

"Yeah...stopped in to get some fresh air- Iggy has my shift with Vijay." He says and Helen just nods understandingly.

"How is he?"

"Holding on."

"He's such a good man. I keep praying that he'll hold out. That by some miracle he will pull through...but as a doctor...I know the odds and they aren't favorable in the least." She slouches in her chair. Her blue jeans leaving her legs cool, while her sweater burns her.

"Yeah- I'm the same as well. I just wish there was something else I could do. Some kind of golden ticket I could find to bring him back up and roaring." She sighs and stares at the corner of her miniature portable sink and the glass shield in front of her. "Are you okay?"

"Do you think I'm being too...ridiculous? Like am I overly paranoid when everyone else seems to have come to grips that this virus and these masks are our lives now and forever?"