Chapter 28
Richie’s plane was due to arrive in Hyannis a little after five. Maddie found it hard to concentrate all day. She was feeling both nervous and unsettled, unsure and excited at the same time. She didn’t know how this weekend was going to go. How she was going to feel when she saw Richie again. Knowing that he wanted to make things work was a step in the right direction though.
She changed outfits several times, not sure what felt right. She finally went with a black sweater, faded jeans, and dark brown cowboy boots he’d given her a few years ago for Christmas. She loved them and they looked good with everything.
Hannah had told her earlier that she was going out with friends after work so Maddie thought it might be nice to just get takeout and eat at home on the deck. They could have a drink or two and enjoy the view and talk.
She got to the airport early and went inside to wait for Richie’s plane to arrive. She checked her messages while she waited and was thrilled to find that an author she’d offered to represent—the suspense author that Sara had loved so much and that Maddie did, too, when she read the book in one sitting—had emailed to accept. She wanted Maddie to be her agent. It made her day and Maddie immediately emailed her back and suggested they talk next week about next steps. She began to mentally make a list of all the editors she knew who might love the book.
She saw a small plane coming in and checked her watch. It was most likely Richie’s flight. Sure enough, a few minutes later, people got off the plane and walked toward the terminal and Richie was one of them. He smiled and waved when he saw her. When he reached Maddie, he pulled her in for a hug.
“It’s so good to see you.” He smelled of woodsy cologne and home.
“You, too. Did you have a good flight?” Maddie asked as they walked toward the car. “Is that all you have for luggage?” He was just carrying a duffel bag.
“It was fine. Crowded. Every seat was filled on both flights. I didn’t have that much to bring. I left my suits behind, for now. Most of what I need is in Chatham.”
They reached the car and climbed in. Richie threw his bag in the back seat.
“What do you want to do for dinner?” Richie asked.
“Every place is going to be so crowded this weekend. What about getting some Chinese takeout and eating on the back deck? We can relax and unwind.”
“That works for me. Do you want me to call in our usual order?”
“Sure, that would be great.”
Richie placed the call and they made small talk for the rest of the drive. She told him about her recent sales and the author she’d just signed. He told her how things were going with his job. They talked about the weather and how the forecast looked great for the long weekend.
“I thought we’d have a cookout on Sunday and have Sara and the kids over and Ben and Joy. I thought it would be fun for them. Poor Ben is miserable with his crutches.” She told him all about his accident and recent grumpiness.
Richie sympathized. “I’d be pretty grumpy, too, if I had to wear a cast and deal with crutches for weeks.”
“And I feel for Joy. She’s had to put up with it.”
“That, too,” he agreed.
When they reached the Chinese restaurant in East Harwich, which was their favorite local spot, Maddie pulled up to the door and Richie went inside to pick up the food. Twenty minutes later they were home and eating on the deck.
Maddie took a sip of wine as she nibbled on an egg roll and looked out at the ocean. In the distance a barge was going by, heading toward the Cape Cod Canal. The water was still, unusually calm. A soft breeze ruffled her hair. It was a gorgeous night to sit outside.
When they’d had their fill, Maddie packed everything up and put the leftovers in the refrigerator. Richie got another beer and refilled her wineglass. They settled back into their seats and Maddie took a deep breath. It was time to have that talk.
“So, you said you want to try again. Are you sure about that?” Maddie asked.
“Maddie, I’ve never not wanted to be with you. I know things felt off with us this past year but I thought it was just something people go through. The ebb and flow of a relationship. When you said you thought we should take some time apart, it threw me. But it also made me wonder if you were right. So, I agreed. I went to Manhattan. But it’s not the same there without you.”
“It hurt me when I saw how you were with Laura. The times when she’s come here or we saw her in the city, there was something there that just didn’t sit right with me. I never worried that you were cheating, but I just didn’t get a good feeling about her. She was too familiar with you. You never saw it though. And I think we did kind of drift apart. My sister’s death just made it worse. I withdrew from everything. It’s been hard.” Her voice broke as her emotions took over and she felt her eyes grow damp. She willed the tears back.
“When Kathryn called and said she saw the two of you, that just brought it all up again. Imagine how you’d feel if you saw some guy like that with me?”
Richie sighed. “I’m sorry, Maddie. I didn’t see it at all. Didn’t see that it was inappropriate. Frankly, I liked the attention, especially these past few months in Manhattan. I thought you were overreacting a little. But you may have been onto something.”
Maddie felt a sudden chill and shivered. “What do you mean?” She stood and took her glass of wine with her. She walked a few steps away and leaned against the deck railing and stared out at the ocean. There was a long moment of silence before Richie continued talking. When he spoke, she turned to face him and placed one hand on the railing, for support.
“So, like I said, I never picked up on any kind of a vibe from Laura before. But after you and I talked and we decided I was coming home today, I told the office I was heading back to Chatham. Laura wanted to go for a goodbye drink Tuesday night after work.”
“Just the two of you?” Maddie asked.
“Not at first. Several others came with us. But after a few drinks, everyone was ready to head home. Laura insisted I stay for one more, said she needed my advice on a personal matter. So I agreed to stay.”
“What was the personal matter?” Maddie sipped her wine and waited.
Richie sighed. “I’m an idiot. Kathryn was right; you were right. Not that there was ever anything going on, but Laura told me that she was thinking about leaving her husband. And that she didn’t want me to go back to Chatham.”
Maddie tightened her grip on her wineglass. “She was interested in you.”
Richie nodded. “Apparently so. I sat there in shock while she went on about how we were meant to be together. She felt that we were soulmates or some nonsense like that. I couldn’t listen to it all. It didn’t make any sense to me.” He looked sheepish and truly surprised that he’d had no idea how Laura felt.
“What did you tell her?” Maddie lifted her wineglass to take a sip but kept her eyes on Richie the whole time.
“I told her that I was very sorry, but I didn’t feel the same way. I told her that I still love my wife.”
“And what did she say to that?” Maddie shivered. And felt anger grow that Laura would make a move on her husband. What gave her the right to do that?
“She seemed perplexed. I think she was convinced that I would give it a go with her. Oddly enough.” Richie shook his head at the ridiculousness of it.
“You never picked up on her signals, but she kept sending them and assumed you knew how she felt, and that you must feel the same. So, all she had to do was tell you to stay and that would be the end of it.” For some reason, Laura had believed that her feelings were reciprocated.
Richie looked at her and his eyes widened. “You know, I think you’re exactly right.”
“Well, that settles it then. You’re not going back to Manhattan,” Maddie said. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Richie, she just didn’t want Laura trying to spend time with her husband.
Richie stood and walked over to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “No, I’m not.” He leaned in and his lips touched hers, gently at first and then more firmly.
Maddie felt the anxiety she’d been carrying with her for months begin to ease. She pulled back and spoke softly, “Welcome home.”