Chapter 29
CHAPTER 29
TANDY
R ose volunteered to keep my cats until my house is finished, and I had to bite my tongue not to tell Dallas that he absolutely has to marry this girl. She’s adorable. Plus, she likes cats.
I’m living in the second story of my house until the flooring downstairs is done. It’s manageable but not ideal. But we don’t always get what we want.
Matthew has been here every day this week, directing crews, making sure the buildings get finished. He’s polite, but we haven’t said much to each other.
I’ve stayed out of his way because this is hard for both of us. It’s beyond kind that he’s even still helping me.
Zach pulls up in front, and I make my way down the stairs. This is an unexpected visit, but there is little doubt the reason for it.
I glance into the kitchen as I walk outside. They’ve started laying the flooring.
“I’m stepping outside. Will I be able to go back upstairs?”
Derek stands and stretches. “You’re good until I get to that part by the door. Then you won’t be able to walk on it for twenty-four hours. Are you sure you want to stay upstairs?”
“I’ll be fine. I have a mini fridge up there. I won’t starve.” I step outside and wave to Zach. “What brings you here?”
“Gosh, I wonder what reason I would have to drive over and talk to you?” He flashes a half-smile that makes him look like Matthew.
“I’d invite you in, but they’re laying flooring.”
“The place looks great.”
“Your granddad gets the credit for that. He’s been wonderful.” I sit on the top step.
Zach drops down beside me. “I’m worried about him, Tandy. When he’s not here, he’s packing. But he hardly speaks to anyone. We get one-word answers. Has he talked to you about where he’s planning to move?”
I hate hearing that Matthew’s upset. “He hasn’t. We’ve only talked about ranch stuff.”
Zach runs his fingers through his hair. “And forgive me for butting in where I might not be wanted, but sometimes when family members throw a fit about two people falling in love, they’re wrong. Very wrong. My aunt is the only one who has the slightest issue with Granddad getting married again. And considering that she barely visits, it seems a bit hypocritical to expect him to stay lonely so that she can have this fantasy image of what love looks like. I loved my grandma. I miss her, and I know without a doubt that she’d want Granddad to be happy. She wouldn’t care that y’all dated in high school.”
“I appreciate what you’re saying.”
Another truck pulls up, and Eli hops out. “Hey, Zach. I didn’t know you were here. Hi, Miss Tandy. I came to chat with you.”
“Y’all are just one surprise after another.” I scoot closer to Zach so that Eli has room to sit. “What’s up?”
Eli adjusts his cowboy hat. “I don’t like seeing Granddad upset. Maybe if you talked to him rather than just deciding on your own, you could figure something out. Communication and all that.”
“The two of you drove out here to give me relationship advice?”
Eli nods.
And Zach says, “Pretty much. I almost walked away from a relationship with Haley because of her brother.”
I turn to Eli. “And I suppose you have a personal example you want to share.”
“I think you already know about how things went south with Delaney. Because she wouldn’t talk to me.” He leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees. “Granted, we had a rough start because I wouldn’t talk to her.”
“Matthew and I talk.”
The look Eli gives me makes me want to wash his eyes out with soap.
“I just want Granddad to be happy. And you too. I guess I thought if you knew the rest of us really like you, that maybe you’d change your mind.”
“I’ll think about it.” I stand and dust off the back of my pants. “I need to head back inside before they tile the entryway. I appreciate that y’all stopped by.” I shoo them toward their trucks. “Now go before I ask y’all to take off your shirts and pose for pictures.”
Laughing, they walk away from the porch.
I run back upstairs. “Derek, I’m back inside. Just holler when I need to start my twenty-four-hour timer.”
“Will do. And I think you’re crazy.” Derek chuckles.
“I believe that has already been established.” Trapped upstairs, I’ll have lots of time to think about what Zach and Eli said. Just like I promised.
It’s been four hours since my confinement began, and I’m bored.
I change into my jammies and crawl into bed with a Big Hunk bar. Every afternoon this week, Matthew has left one on my porch. Every bite reminds me of how much I miss him.
The sun sinks low, and I scroll through social media, watching videos about nothing and hoping something will catch my interest and distract me from my thoughts.
Maybe Zach and Eli are right. I should talk to Matthew. As much as I don’t want to get between him and his daughter, I should probably let Matthew make that decision.
But it’s easier to choose on my own. Or am I deluding myself that it’s less painful to walk away than to have him pull back? I admit that self-protection is a big part of this.
Fifty years ago, we both left. He crawled out the window, and I responded by leaving town. Now, I’m getting out of an uncomfortable situation and claiming it’s what’s best for both of us. But is it?
At the five-hour mark, I’m pacing and staring at my phone. Then I tap out a text to Matthew.
Me: Maybe we should talk.
I should’ve googled to see if I can unsend a message before sending it. Because I hit send less than a minute ago, and I’m already having second thoughts.
Matthew: We should.
Me: I’m trapped upstairs until tomorrow afternoon. But I can text.
Matthew: If you look under the bed, you’ll find a surprise. A care package of sorts.
Me: Derek told you I was staying up here?
Matthew: He did.
Me: I miss you.
Matthew: I miss you more.
Me: It’s my fault Donna is mad. She overheard me talking to Lilith on the phone, and the part she heard made it sound like we were living out a spicy romance.
Matthew: I want to be in a spicy romance with you and not be the villain. Any chance of that?
Me: What about your daughter?
Matthew: We talked. Too hard to rehash that conversation over text. Next time we’re together, I’ll fill you in.
Me: I’d invite you over now, but you can’t come in the front door.
Dots dance like he’s typing and answer, then disappear. But no message pops up. I guess our conversation is over.
I get down on all fours and peek under the bed. He’s stashed a beautiful floral box under here. Inside is an assortment of treats. Not just candy. But chips and jerky. There is enough in here to keep me sated for at least twenty-four hours.
Me: I just opened the box. Thank you.
Startled by a noise outside the window, I whip around to see Matthew grinning at me.
I yank open the window. “What in the blazes are you doing? You are going to fall and break your leg.”
“Beau warned me of that possibility. Let’s try to avoid that. Step back so I can climb in.” Matthew holds his trench coat closed as he climbs in.
When I see that his legs are bare, I wiggle my finger in his face. “You better not have climbed in here wearing only a coat. I think long ago, it was established what a horrible idea that is.”
He takes a step toward me. “Are you asking me to take off my coat?”
“No. I’m not. There is perfectly good scaffolding set up outside this house, so why in the world are you climbing that rickety ladder?”
“Beau would be hurt if he heard you insulting his magical ladder. Do you know how hard it was to convince Ava to tell us where she hid it? Mad Dog convinced her. We didn’t ask how. But it took him a while.”
For every step I take backward, Matthew matches it with forward motion. Soon, the backs of my knees are touching the bed.
“Why did you climb in my window?” I put my hand on his chest, but then grip his lapel in my fist so that he can’t pull away.
He smiles at my hold on his coat. “Because I love you. And because we need to talk. And—” He pries my fingers off his coat. “Hold that thought.” He runs to the window and hollers, “You can take it away now.”
“Matthew Gallagher, without a ladder, you can’t leave.”
“Exactly, and neither can you. We have lots of time to talk.” He unties the belt on his coat and yanks it open to reveal a Matchmaker Ranch T-shirt. “I got the logo from Cami and had a place in San Antonio make me a run of shirts. All red. If they still sell those bedazzler things, you could add some bling to your shirt.” He shrugs off the coat and turns around. “And I had STAFF printed on the back because if you won’t marry me and let me live with you, then I’ll have a small cabin built on the property—using my own funds—and beg you to let me be part of the staff. I’ll be the greeter at the front gate, welcoming all the love birds. But I want to be near you. I want to walk with you in the mornings. I want to feel your hand on my back as I fall asleep. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Tandy.”
“What about your daughter? I don’t want her to hate you. Or me.” I became a therapist because I handle others’ conflicts much better than my own.
He pulls down the legs of his sweatpants that were bunched up just above his knees. “We talked for a long time the day after you left. It took me that long to be civil with her. And then I went point by point through her accusations. I explained that Catherine wasn’t replaceable, and if Donna thought she was, I can’t fix that for her. Donna was worried about you living in the house, and now you aren’t. And I won’t either. And to counter her comments about you being after my money—which is a joke—I gave her part of her inheritance early. Then she’ll get a third of whatever’s left when I die.”
“What did she say?”
“At first, she refused to accept it, saying that wasn’t what she meant. But she did. And I offered to fund therapy if she needed to talk to someone. I know she’s having a hard time with Catherine’s death. It’s been years, and Donna is still struggling. But because she stays away, I didn’t realize how much she’s still grieving. We talked about how lonely I felt after losing her mom, how hard it was to even get out of bed. There were tears. Hers. Not mine. It was a good talk. In the end, she said she wanted me to be happy, and felt better knowing that I’d struggled after Catherine’s death. We’re okay now.”
“I want y’all to be a happy family, like you were before I crashed into your life.”
He wraps his arms around me. “You didn’t crash anything, and I want everyone to be happy too. Me included. I can’t keep my life on hold. The way I figure it, if I drink lots of water and eat my veggies every day, I might eek out twenty years with you. We might not get out of our rocking chairs much, but I’d happily spend all day on a porch if you were next to me.”
“I want the big pretty bow that ties everything into a happily-ever-after.” I don’t want to walk on eggshells when Donna visits, but I do want Matthew.
He reaches into his pocket. “Will you accept a small pretty ring and a happily-ever-after? Please.”
“Yes.”
Matthew’s lips meet mine, and for a moment, the rush of young love washes over us. But when it passes, what’s left is a love deeper than I was capable of giving at eighteen.
“Hold that thought.” He gives me a quick peck before running to the window. “She said yes!”
Cheers erupt from down below, and someone sets off fireworks.
I join Matthew at the window and wave at the crowd of our friends and family gathered below.
“When do you want to get married?” I loop my arm around his and rest my head on his arm as we watch the fireworks display. “And did you buy all those?”
“Yep. It’s a good thing you said yes. And that there isn’t a burn ban in the county. That would’ve complicated things.” He kisses the top of my head. “Let’s get married soon. And just to be clear, I made sure all three of my children knew that my intention was to win you back, to convince you to marry me. And they want to be here when we tie the knot. If that’s okay with you.”
“I’d feel better if they were here.”
“And as for where we get married, I have an idea.”
“Okay?”
“What better way is there to christen a matchmaking business than with a wedding? We should get married here, down by the couple’s cabin near the river.”
“That’s a perfect idea.”
“We’ll have to use a tent because the rec building won’t be finished for a month or more, and I don’t want to wait that long.”
I inch up and kiss him again. “Neither do I.”