have strong feelings for her. I thought it was love, but could it have been? Could it really have been love if I knew all along she loved Jeremy? Was I just in love with the idea of love?
I sit stoically, looking across at her beautiful face, and I know that, yes, I did love her. But does it mean it’s impossible to love her in a different way? An excited feeling starts to unfold. I don’t have to suffer anymore. It is really enough for me to see Mattie happy. I can do this.
All these thoughts are pinging through my brain when I hear the front door open and Jeremy yelling, “Mattie! I’m the man! I found your favorite scones.” He walks into the room and his big smile immediately drops as he looks at Mattie, with her tear-stained face.
“Mattie?” he asks, glaring at me.
Mattie jumps up from her chair and crosses the room to Jeremy. “It’s okay. Cade and I were just talking it out. He didn’t makeme cry. I did that all on my own.” She smiles at me.
Jeremy crosses the room and places two coffees and what looks like the famous scones on the table in front of me. He takes Mattie’s hand, and they sit down on the couch, together.
“She cried all last night, you know.” Jeremy’s brow is knitted together. He doesn’t look violent, at least not yet.
“That’s why I came by, to apologize to Mattie.” I pause. “I want to apologize to you, as well, Jeremy. I was caught off guard, first by seeing the both of you, and then finding out you were married. I think I was on overload. What I did was…well, I don’t know what to call it. An adult tantrum?”
Mattie tries to muffle a giggle.
Jeremy relaxes a little beside her. “At least you’re original. I’ve never seen or heard of anyone using music as a weapon before.”
He’s calling me out. That’s exactly what I was doing. He isn’t going to make this easy. I don’t blame him. I was wrong.
“You’re absolutely right.” I look at Mattie again, “I really am very sorry.”
Jeremy isn’t through. “All I know is, Mattie cares about you. She values your friendship. From what I’ve seen so far, to be honest, Idon’t get it.” He pauses. “But I trust her judgment. She tells me you’re a good guy so I’m willing to go along with her opinion. She told me how you helped her last summer, and for that, I want to say thank
you.”
I didn’t expect that, especially from Jeremy. I look back and forth, taking in the two of them. They sit together as a unit, hands clasped. I hate when Scott is right. They do belong together.
“I should have come to see you, both of you, before this. I think it would have helped things along.” I give a comforting smile to Mattie. “Scott told me I needed to see you together, and damn it to hell, he was right.” As I say the words, my face probably looks like I just ate a lemon.
Mattie and Jeremy both laugh as he puts his arm around her. I’m shocked, but the affectionate gesture doesn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. Is this all I needed to do? I still love her, yes, but seeing her so happy is like a soothing balm to my aching soul. All the bitterness and sadness are lifting out of me. This is where she should be, right where she is. The realization is so sudden, so profound, I’m momentarily quiet.
Jeremy nods. I can tell he knows exactly how I feel. He reachesover and picks up the box of scones, offering me one. Our eyes connect for the briefest of moments. This is his peace offering. I’m taking it.
“So, are these scones world famous or something?” I ask, taking a napkin and placing the scone on my leg.
Mattie rolls her eyes. “Don’t get him started! He’s convinced the bakery on Queen Anne Hill makes the best scones, so he takes an hour every Sunday to traipse across town to get them.”
“They’re worth it.” Jeremy winks at Mattie.
I know what he’s really saying—she’s worth it. I get it. It took me long enough. Mattie and I were at the beginning of love. Jeremy and
I sit stoically, looking across at her beautiful face, and I know that, yes, I did love her. But does it mean it’s impossible to love her in a different way? An excited feeling starts to unfold. I don’t have to suffer anymore. It is really enough for me to see Mattie happy. I can do this.
All these thoughts are pinging through my brain when I hear the front door open and Jeremy yelling, “Mattie! I’m the man! I found your favorite scones.” He walks into the room and his big smile immediately drops as he looks at Mattie, with her tear-stained face.
“Mattie?” he asks, glaring at me.
Mattie jumps up from her chair and crosses the room to Jeremy. “It’s okay. Cade and I were just talking it out. He didn’t makeme cry. I did that all on my own.” She smiles at me.
Jeremy crosses the room and places two coffees and what looks like the famous scones on the table in front of me. He takes Mattie’s hand, and they sit down on the couch, together.
“She cried all last night, you know.” Jeremy’s brow is knitted together. He doesn’t look violent, at least not yet.
“That’s why I came by, to apologize to Mattie.” I pause. “I want to apologize to you, as well, Jeremy. I was caught off guard, first by seeing the both of you, and then finding out you were married. I think I was on overload. What I did was…well, I don’t know what to call it. An adult tantrum?”
Mattie tries to muffle a giggle.
Jeremy relaxes a little beside her. “At least you’re original. I’ve never seen or heard of anyone using music as a weapon before.”
He’s calling me out. That’s exactly what I was doing. He isn’t going to make this easy. I don’t blame him. I was wrong.
“You’re absolutely right.” I look at Mattie again, “I really am very sorry.”
Jeremy isn’t through. “All I know is, Mattie cares about you. She values your friendship. From what I’ve seen so far, to be honest, Idon’t get it.” He pauses. “But I trust her judgment. She tells me you’re a good guy so I’m willing to go along with her opinion. She told me how you helped her last summer, and for that, I want to say thank
you.”
I didn’t expect that, especially from Jeremy. I look back and forth, taking in the two of them. They sit together as a unit, hands clasped. I hate when Scott is right. They do belong together.
“I should have come to see you, both of you, before this. I think it would have helped things along.” I give a comforting smile to Mattie. “Scott told me I needed to see you together, and damn it to hell, he was right.” As I say the words, my face probably looks like I just ate a lemon.
Mattie and Jeremy both laugh as he puts his arm around her. I’m shocked, but the affectionate gesture doesn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. Is this all I needed to do? I still love her, yes, but seeing her so happy is like a soothing balm to my aching soul. All the bitterness and sadness are lifting out of me. This is where she should be, right where she is. The realization is so sudden, so profound, I’m momentarily quiet.
Jeremy nods. I can tell he knows exactly how I feel. He reachesover and picks up the box of scones, offering me one. Our eyes connect for the briefest of moments. This is his peace offering. I’m taking it.
“So, are these scones world famous or something?” I ask, taking a napkin and placing the scone on my leg.
Mattie rolls her eyes. “Don’t get him started! He’s convinced the bakery on Queen Anne Hill makes the best scones, so he takes an hour every Sunday to traipse across town to get them.”
“They’re worth it.” Jeremy winks at Mattie.
I know what he’s really saying—she’s worth it. I get it. It took me long enough. Mattie and I were at the beginning of love. Jeremy and
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