The Summer Of Max and Jessica

Chapter 5 Talking

Mrs. Danlee and I stopped talking as we heard foot steps on the front porch. The back door opened and from the kitchen I heard Max's voice. "Gram I home." 

"In the living room" She called back before turning to me once again and smiling. Max made his way in the room, smiling at his grandmother. It was sort of adorable. He had a big, genuine smile on his face when he saw his grandmother. He was gorgeous there was no doubt and when he smiled it hit his deep blue eyes and made them shimmer. "Hi Gram" he said and then as if he realized I was there, "hello" he said. 

"Honey, did you get everything on my list at the store, can I start supper?" Mrs. Danlee asked him. 

"Yup, although I don't really understand why you need so much of everything, 6 bags of sugar?" I laughed at what Max had just said, Mrs. Danlee loved to cook and we used to all tease her about how much she would by too. Although we had no problem ever eating what she prepared. "Anyways, I have to finish getting the bags from the car."

"I can help you." I said without hesitation. I used to carry the bags in for her all the time so it seemed like my job. 

"Thanks" he said as I got up putting a smile on his face again. I followed him out of the living room but I saw Mrs. Danlee smiling to herself as I left. Why?

Once we were outside and making our way towards the car in the driveway he turned around to look at me. "So..." He started. I looked at him as if he should continue "You never answered my question?" "What?" I asked. 

"Who are you? I mean I know your Jessica but..." He said pausing there as if he didn't know what else to say. 

"Oh. Right. Well, you didn't answer me either, your grandmother had to tell me who you are. But yeah I am Jessica. I live next door in the summer. I have known Mrs. Danlee since I was born."

"So, you asked about me then?" was all he said a smug smile on his face.

"No." I said abruptly "When I went in, your Grandma said, 'I see you met my grandson Max' and then believe it or not I put the pieces together and decided that you must be Max, her grandson."

"Congrats Sherlock"  We both laughed and by now we had made our way with the groceries to the kitchen where set them down as we headed back for the last of the bags in the car. Once outside again I asked, "So, why haven't I ever seen you here before your Grandmother told me were the same age and I have been coming here since I was born, but not once have I met you? To be honest I didn't know she had grandkids or any kids..." I trailed off.

"Yeah" He answered scratching the back of his head the running his fingers through his hair to mess it up some more. "I don't really know the answer to that either" he said. I looked at him. We had stopped near the car and were standing there looking at one another as he spoke, "My mom isn't the nicest women to be honest she's a work-a-holic and kind of a bitch, she hates this place so she stays away from here. Mrs.Danlee is my dads mom so I guess after he died and she remarried and thought we could just block her out of our life. That is until it was easier for her to send me here then worry about looking after me this summer of course." He laughed a little at that and then realized how much he had just told me. 

"Aw Shit, sorry." He looked at me as if he was hoping I would except his apology. "I didn't mean to say all that. I guess I just have never told anyone that before..."

He had never told anyone before? AND. HE. JUST. TOLD. ME. "Don't worry about it" I said "I'm sorry" I said. Referring to what he had said about his father.

"Thank you." He said. "But, lets not worry about any of that, we should probably get these bags in." I could tell he was still embarrassed about all he had told me because of the way he looked at the ground and lightly kicked the gravel driveway.