Chapter Text
It turned out to be easier for Nancy to fly into O’Hare and drive a rental car down to Hawkins, which wouldn’t have been a big deal at all except that her flight from Seattle was delayed and she didn’t get to baggage claim until 10:30pm.
“By the way,” her mom had said, “do you think you could give Maxine Mayfield a ride from Chicago?” If she hadn’t been looking, Nancy wouldn’t have recognized Max. But as she scanned the faces around the luggage carousel, a woman’s eyes met hers; she had freckles and bright eyes, and her hair fell in familiar curly waves. Was going gray still premature in your forties?
“Sorry I’m so late,” Nancy said, when the rental car was squared away and they were safely on the road. “Did you have to wait long?
Max laughed. “I kind of wasn’t going to tell you, but my flight got in early, so it’s been about four hours, yeah.”
“Oh! I’m sorry.”
“It’s no problem. So, can Robin not make it?”
Nancy smiled tightly. “She’s coming in tomorrow night. She had work stuff.”
“Is she still working at that restaurant?” Max asked. “It must be hard to get away, I guess.”
“No, thank god!” Robin wasn’t there to feel unsupported, so Nancy rolled her eyes. “Food service got to be too much, so she got a job as an office manager at a big company downtown a few years ago. She finally has 9 to 5.”
“Oh, wow! That must be nice for you!”
“It’s great,” Nancy said politely, and though it really was great, she didn’t want to think about Robin right now. “Is your guy coming? Sorry, um, was it…Ken?”
Max grinned. “So close. Kevin. And no, Kevin is…” She smiled at whatever thought that pulled up. “Kevin is in the past.”
“Oh, sorry. When did this happen?”
“About two years ago,” Max said, and then laughed when Nancy winced. “It’s no problem, Nancy. I haven’t been back since we broke up, I think. My mom moved out near me, so it’s tougher to get out here.”
“Right. Mike told me that. Sorry.”
Max waved Nancy’s apology away and lounged back in her seat. “I have to admit, it’ll be nice to see everyone, even given the circumstances. I don’t think I’ve seen Will since…”
She trailed off. Not even Maxine Mayfield was brave enough to say since the last funeral .
“So!” Nancy said, after an awkward pause. “Seeing anyone new?”
“No,” Max mused. “I mean, there have been a few people since Kevin, but it’s never gotten serious. I went on a few dates with a woman, actually.”
“Really? How did that go?”
“She was really nice, but it turns out I’m definitely straight.” The corners of her mouth curled up into a grin. “Just really love the dick, you know?”
“Mm.” Nancy let herself smile, and when Max gave her a questioning look she laughed. “That’s what toys are for, Max!”
Max laughed too. “I wish you all the best on your journey, Nancy.”
A short silence fell. “Does that…work for you?” Nancy asked. “Not having someone?”
Max considered. “Yeah, it does. Not forever, maybe. But, yeah honestly, maybe forever. I mean, I’m not alone. I have my mom, I have El and all you guys, I have people in Santa Fe. I’ve been there, what, fifteen years now?”
Nancy shook her head admiringly. Max smirked at her. “What? What’s that look mean?”
“Ah.” Nancy blushed. “I feel so old-fashioned saying this, but I just remember being in my 20s, before Robin, and being terrified of getting old and being alone. Which is stupid, I know it’s stupid, but…” She sighed. “I wish I was as fearless as you, Max.”
Max laughed. “It’s not that bad. It’s great, actually! And I’m not old, I’m in my prime,” she teased.
“Very true,” Nancy agreed.
“Well, I guess you don’t have to worry about that, anymore,” Max said, smiling. Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it out. “You’re about as settled as it gets, huh?”
And because Nancy knew Max was distracted by her phone, she let herself frown at that.
They kept it light the rest of the drive. They talked about work: Nancy spoke about her latest assignment at the Seattle Times , Max about starting a sports therapy practice. Nancy listened attentively and asked questions politely and felt relief when they pulled up outside Max’s hotel. It was nice to see her, but Nancy really wanted to get home and decompress.
But that didn’t mean she’d forgotten her manners. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay with us?” Nancy asked. It felt a little wrong to be dropping an old friend off at a hotel. “I know my mom would love to have you.”
“No, I’m good,” Max said. “I like having my own space.”
“Well, do you have a way to get around? You can call me if you need.”
“It’s taken care of.” Max smiled mysteriously, and Nancy raised an eyebrow, but didn’t press.
It was after 1am when Nancy got home. The house was dark, but the door was unlocked, and her mother was sitting on the recliner in the living room with the TV playing, fast asleep. Nancy turned it off, and kissed her mother’s forehead, and gently shook her awake.
“Mom, you didn’t have to wait up.”
“Mm.” Karen Wheeler blinked her eyes and sat up. “It’s so late…you poor thing.”
“I’m fine, mom. It’s only 10pm my time.”
“I hope the basement is ok. Holly and Mike and Laura have the guest rooms.”
“Of course.” Nancy took her mother’s hand tenderly. “Mom. Go to sleep. I know my way around.”
Karen nodded, but still asked, twice, if Nancy wanted a glass of water, or anything to eat. The only way Nancy was able to get her to bed was to go to bed herself. As soon as she hit the pillow, she knew she’d be able to sleep, despite the jet lag; it had been a long drive, and a long flight, and a long day.
But before she did, she checked her phone, and opened her messages with Robin. She had one new message.
Nancy’s finger hovered over the call button, and then dropped away. She scrolled up. She and Robin were ok, right? They were a good couple, right?
Normal stuff; happy stuff; cute stuff. If she’d seen a message like “Happy leap day!” on a friend’s phone from their partner, she would have found it sickeningly sweet. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the most recent message before today, and for some reason, Nancy kept reading.
The bad news, of course, was news of the funeral. She and Robin never did have a chance for that talk.
Enough stalling. Nancy screwed up her courage, and called Robin.
“Hey,” came the tinny voice on the other end of the line, after three rings. “Everything ok? It’s late there.”
“Yeah,” Nancy answered. “My flight was delayed, and it’s a long drive.”
“Sorry. How is everyone?”
“I only talked with Max, and mom really briefly. Max is fine. She’s Max.”
“Max is tough as hell.”
“Her hair is all gray now.”
“Whoa!”
“You have to see it to believe it.” There was a pause, an awkward pause, and Nancy bit her lip. “Listen. I’m really sorry for the timing of all of this. I promise I haven’t forgotten we need to talk.”
There was a long pause. Nancy screwed her eyes shut and shook her head. She shouldn’t have brought it up. Stupid, stupid. “There’ll be time for that,” Robin said. “Just focus on everyone there.” It was the right answer, the supportive answer, because Robin was a good partner. But Nancy could sense, from long practice, how far Robin was pushing her feelings down, so she could be there for Nancy. Robin was amazing. Robin was great.
That should have made things easier. Right now, it just made everything harder.