Chapter 16: You Bought Me A What??

Maryanne exits her room the next morning and finds Riley bouncing around her room, laughing and playing with her Barbies.

"Good morning Riley," she chuckles at the sight.

The little girl squeaks and halts for a moment, heaving as she is out of breath. "Morning!"

"Let's go get you some breakfast."

As they wander down the hallway together, towards the stairs, Max exits his room, buttoning up his suit.

"Oh, good morning." Maryanne dips her head, a blush forming up her neck.

Max nods back, "Morning. How was your sleep?"

"I slept well, thank you. What about you?" As she notices him straightening his suit and smiling down at Riley, her next words tumble out. "Are you going out?"

"Oh, yeah. I've taken too many days off the last few weeks. I have to go into the office for the next few days to go through paperwork."

Maryanne's heart drops and her shoulders lower with the disappointment. "Oh, okay."

They descend the stairs together, entering the dining room side-by-side with Riley run