Chapter 39 Matty
MATTY
As Ivy and I stepped inside Miss Loreen’s bakery, the bell above the door jingled, and the smell of sugar and warm bread wrapped around us like a hug.
Her little arm was snug in its purple cast, the sling looped around her shoulder, but she clutched my hand tight with her good one, chin tipped up like nothing in the world could slow her down.
“Cake,” she whispered, conspiratorial, as if that weren’t the only reason we ever came here after our drive to Madden.
Miss Loreen popped her head up from behind the counter, her handkerchief holding back a halo of gray curls. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite Magnuson,” she said warmly. Then her gaze dropped to Ivy’s sling. “And what have we here?”
Ivy immediately held out her casted arm, awkward but determined, showing off the shiny ring I’d slipped onto her finger earlier. “I got a pweety ring.”
Miss Loreen bent closer, eyes crinkling. “Gosh, isn’t that beautiful?”
Ivy’s smile split wide. “I’m engaged to Daddy.”
I laughed, ruffling her curls. “Engaged, huh?”
“Uh-huh.” She nodded so hard the sling tugged against her shoulder.
Miss Loreen’s brows shot up, though her grin was pure delight.
“Hudson and I are engaged,” I said proudly, chuckling. “And this is my promise ring to Ivy that I’ll always be her forever daddy.”
“Oh, honey.” Miss Loreen pressed a hand over her chest, her eyes misting. “That’s just about the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. Good for you, Ivy. Every girl deserves a promise like that and two handsome daddies to protect her.”
Ivy ducked her head shyly, but her whole little body squirmed with pride.
“And you know what?” Miss Loreen pulled a flip-top container from the display and slid in Ivy’s favorite—strawberry shortcake with extra cream. “This one’s free today.”
Ivy gasped, balancing the box carefully in her good hand, the sling on her other arm tucked close to her chest. “Thank you, Miss Loreen!”
“You’re welcome, sugar pie.” Miss Loreen winked, then turned to me. “And, Matty… congratulations. Y’all make such a handsome family.” She covered her hand over her mouth and whispered, “And made me a few bucks in that betting pool Dusty has going on.”
I groaned. I already knew, since Hudson and I became a frequent topic in town, that someone would have a bet going on, but I didn’t need to know the details.
Ivy tugged at my hand, eager to go. “Daddee, come on. We have to meet other Daddy.”
I swooped down to pick her up. “Faster this way.” I kissed the top of her head. “Let’s go meet up with Daddy, then, before he puts us both in the naughty corner when we get home.”
The bell over the bakery door jingled again as I shouldered it open, Ivy giggling against my chest, her cake box wobbling precariously in her good hand.
The late-afternoon sun spilled over the boardwalk, painting the storefronts gold and stirring up the faint smell of hay and horses from the hitching posts at the end of the street.
“We’re late,” I murmured to Ivy, lengthening my stride. “Rowan’s going to throw glitter at us for making him wait.”
“I love glitter,” she said, eyes going wide, as if the very idea were magic.
I huffed a laugh.
A familiar figure came our way. Todd. He had a small paper sack in one hand, his shirt sleeves rolled, his face pinched like he hadn’t slept well.
My first instinct was to keep walking, to avoid whatever conversation he thought he was owed.
I’d thought we could have stayed friends, but he was deliberately confrontational.
Todd stopped dead, shifted his bag from one hand to the other, and lifted his chin. “Matty,” he said, voice rougher than I expected. “Can I—please—can I have a moment?”
I slowed, tightening my grip on Ivy, who leaned her head on my shoulder, watching curiously. My pulse thudded as his words about Hudson surfaced sharp in my memory.
“Make it quick,” I said.
He nodded, swallowing. “About before, I was out of line. I thought—stupidly—I might still have had a chance with you, but I was being delusional. Now that you two are getting married… I should walk away for good. That’s—I just wanted to let you know I won’t be that presumptuous again.”
The words hit like gravel underfoot. I pulled my brows tight. “And how do you know I’m getting married?”
Miss Loreen was the first person I told since Ivy and I returned to town.
Todd let out a shaky laugh. “Hudson’s expensive engagement ring. It’s all anyone in town is talking about. You can’t buy a cup of coffee without hearing about it. They’re making a bet right now about how much it cost.”
Heat pricked the back of my neck. This town and its gossip mill. Lightning-fast and relentless. “Figures,” I muttered.
Todd offered a small, regretful smile and moved aside. “Anyway, I wish you both the best, Matty. Really. Maybe someday I’ll find someone to love me the way you love him.”
Ivy tightened her arm around me as if somehow she sensed the man I was talking to had tried to take me away from her daddy. I gave him a curt nod, then adjusted her higher on my hip. “I’m sure you will. Thanks for the apology, Todd.”
When we walked on, I didn’t look back, and I hoped he didn’t as well. Only the future lay ahead of us, and mine wasn’t with him.
Ivy and I passed the flower shop, and she perked up at the riot of color in the window display. I slowed, staring at the buckets of roses and wildflowers spilling over each other in the evening light. My chest gave a tug.
“What do you think, Bug?” I asked her. “You think Daddy would like some flowers?”
“Yes!” she chirped, her little hand waving in her sling. “Flowers are pwetty.”
“All right, then, but you gotta help me pick which you think might be Daddy’s favorite. I don’t know anything about flowers.”
As I stepped in with Ivy on my hip, a familiar jingle announced our arrival. Who in Bristlecone Springs thought it was a good idea for every store to have the same bell above the door sure had a weird sense of humor. It’d been that way all my life.
The air, green and cool, was a relief from outside. Buckets of roses and tulips lined the windows, colors spilling together in the fading light.
At the counter stood Cameron, his apron streaked with pollen, a rag in his hand. Across from him stood Spencer, the new pastor. We hadn’t formally met yet, but I’d heard enough about him through the grapevine. A pastor who bought the whole town beer. Interesting.
Both men looked a little too stiff, like I’d walked in on an argument. Cameron’s complexion was rather red, given that he was naturally pale. He was so easygoing and quiet that I couldn’t help wondering what could have gotten him so upset.
“Matty.” Cameron’s smile slipped on, polished but warm enough. “And Miss Ivy. What can I do for you both?”
I nodded at the pastor as Ivy leaned out of my arms, pointing her good hand toward the flowers. “That one, Daddy!”
Cameron chuckled, crouching so he was eye level with her. “She’s got good taste. The roses or daisies, sweetheart?”
“Woses,” Ivy said immediately, then ducked her head against my shoulder like she’d just confessed something scandalous.
Cameron looked at me for confirmation, and I nodded. “How many?”
“Make it a dozen.”
“Whole dozen it is.” Cameron straightened. “You want me to wrap them up proper?”
“Please.”
While Cameron worked, Spencer cleared his throat, stepping a little closer. “Matty, is it?” he said politely. “I don’t think we’ve officially met. I’m Spencer, the new pastor. Word around town is you’re engaged. I take it to this little one’s father? Congratulations.”
Heat prickled at my neck. In this town, news traveled faster than fire on dry grass. Spencer was new to town and seemed to already know about my history with Hudson.
“Yeah, thank you. Appreciate it.”
He smiled faintly. “Finding someone who loves us back is one of life’s richest blessings. If you’re still looking for someone to officiate, I’d be honored. Would be my first wedding in Bristlecone Springs.”
“Kind of you,” I said carefully. “We’ll…we’ll see. Some things I still need to discuss with my fiancé.”
Fiancé. Damn, it was good to say that.
He nodded once, then slipped past me, the bell chiming as the door shut behind him.
Cameron’s shoulders eased as if a weight had left the room. His smile was still there, but softer now. But something in his eyes went beyond him being tired. Maybe even a little wounded. What kind of history did he have with the pastor?
“Everything all right there?” I asked, keeping my tone casual. “He’s not…harassing you, is he?”
Cameron widened his eyes and shook his head too fast, the motion betraying him, even though his voice stayed steady. “Oh no. Nothing like that. Pastor Spencer and I…we knew each other before. Just didn’t expect him to settle in Bristlecone Springs. That’s all.”
There was a hollowness in the way he said it, like the words carried more weight than he’d allow me to see.
“I see.” I didn’t press.
He wrapped the bundle of deep red roses in brown paper with practiced hands, but his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Classic choice.” He tied the twine with a quick tug.
“Hudson’s a lucky guy. A man who buys you flowers is a keeper.
Imagine owning a flower shop but never being given a rose in your lifetime. ”
For a moment, I caught the faintest crack in his voice, the way his eyes dimmed before he blinked it away.
“Ah, well, perks of owning the place. I don’t need anyone to bring me flowers when I’ve got all of these at my fingertips.
” He gestured broadly to the riot of color spilling from every bucket and vase, the sound of his laugh hollow beneath the sweetness.
Cameron handed me the roses. “On the house today.”
I wanted to say something—anything—that might ease the shadow in his face, but he was already moving toward the back. “Thanks, Cam. I hope you find someone to bring you flowers.”