Another headshake from his mother, her tight little curls twirling with the movement. “That’s a crying shame.” She shot Max a little frown and Max resisted the urge to sigh.
Erin gave Max’s shoulder a little squeeze before she left the table. Her touch lingered after she moved on, making it clear to him that he was going to have to make some sort of decision sooner or later, and from the expressions on their faces, the action was one that did not go unnoticed by the rest of the family.
When his mum started to clear the table—party officially over now the guests of honor had left—Max and Chloe jumped in to help, unable to ignore years of ingrained habit. His mum grinned at his dad. “Trained them well, didn’t we?”
His dad stretched back in his seat. “I take all the credit,” he said lazily.
His mum’s eyebrows shot up. “Is that so?” When his dad only grinned, his mum elbowed him on the shoulder as she walked by, in a way that made Max smile a little. It was nice that some things, at least, remained constant.
It was after he’d set the pile of dessert plates down on the kitchen counter that his mum fixed him with a very direct look. “Are you really going back to the UK, Max?” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chloe leaving the kitchen in a move that he had no doubt was deliberate. Bloody deserter. Max didn’t answer. He’d long since learned that the best thing to do with questions that his mother knew the answer to was to stay silent. “But what will you do there?” she pressed. He started loading the dishwasher just so he didn’t have to look at her.
“I don’t know, Mum,” he said on a sigh. “But it’s not right to stay here with you just for the sake of it either. I’ve already been here longer than anyone expected.”
He heard the tapping of her perfectly manicured nails on the countertop. “It won’t be good for you. Just sitting around, doing nothing.”
He glanced up at her from where he was putting in the last plate, cocking one eyebrow. “Who says I’ll be doing nothing?”
“If you had a plan or a…” Max straightened to see her glancing down the corridor, in the direction of Erin’s bedroom. At least she never claimed to be subtle. “A someone, well then it would be different, but…You can’t just go home and do nothing. You can’t just let your life stop like that, Max.” Max felt his control slip slightly, enough that he glared at his mother. She winced and he shook his head in apology, pulling one hand through his hair.
Chloe provided a brief distraction, coming in with the remainder of the clutter from the table, but his mum was not giving in so easily. “What about your old firm?”
Max sighed. “I doubt they’d take me back now, even freelance.”
“Well, have you thought about where you’ll live?”
“I’ve got my flat.”
His mum pursed her lips. Her lips were still red, making him wonder just what kind of nuclear lipstick she’d applied. “Yes, the flat you rented out and, as far as I’m aware, have not tried to get back from the tenants.”
Max gritted his teeth. “I’ll figure it out, OK? Stop worrying.”
“He can stay with me,” Chloe piped up, leaning back against the counter next to Max and giving his arm a friendly punch.
Their mother frowned at her. “You don’t need the distraction,” she said sharply. Then she softened her tone. “You need to focus, sweetie, your residency is one of the most important times in your career.”
Chloe just rolled her eyes at Max.
Clearly considering it a losing battle now Chloe was on his team, his mum sighed. “I’m going to bed, I’ll see you both tomorrow.” She hesitated before she left the kitchen and glanced back at Max. “I can’t stop worrying, you know.” Her tone was ever so slightly sad. “It’s a mother’s prerogative.” She smiled almost wistfully before she left them alone.
Max looked at Chloe, grimacing. “Am I a terrible son?”
She shrugged. “Yeah, I reckon so.”
He stared at her a moment, then laughed, turning to put the kettle on to boil. “Thanks.”
“Any time.” She patted him on the arm. “So. What’s up with the sexy architect?”
Max got down two mugs, smiled at her over his shoulder. “Well, I’m just fine, thanks for asking.”
She huffed. “Why don’t you bring him along tomorrow?”
“No. I didn’t even invite you.” He put a mint teabag in one mug, regular in the other. Held up a third mug to Chloe, who shook her head.