Chapter 16 #2
“You do?”
“I couldn’t let you have them all.” He teased her.
Cat scanned the table, then asked, “What about ketchup?”
“Oh, yeah.” He ran over to the fridge, grabbed a bottle, and handed it to Cat. “There ya go.”
We all sat down and started eating. It took Mia and me a full glass of wine to get through the awkward small talk, but after that, the conversation came easy.
It didn’t take long to realize that Mia wasn’t just a pretty face, she was intelligent and funny with a good head on her shoulders.
It was easy to see why Thatch had been so crazy about her.
I was pouring us both a second glass of wine when Cat asked Mia, “Do you ride motorcycles, too?”
“No, sweetie, I don’t.” She glanced over at Thatch as she told her, “I’ve ridden with Thatch a couple of times, but that was when I was much younger.”
“What else did y’all do?”
“I don’t know. All sorts of things.” A smile swept across Mia’s face as she said, “I lived next door to Thatch and his brother, and we were always up to something. He was a bit of a daredevil and always talking me into doing things I would’ve never dreamed.”
“Like what?”
“Like riding a motorcycle,” Mia answered with a giggle.
“But that was just one of many things. One time, he’d convinced Camden and me to go with him to the cliffs out by the lake.
I’d thought we were only going there to hike, but then out of nowhere, Thatch ran and jumped off the edge of one of the highest cliffs and into the water.
Clothes and all! I was completely freaked out, but he kept insisting that we do the same.
I remember being totally against it until his brother took off running and jumped in with him.
I just stood there on the edge of this crazy cliff watching these two goons laughing and splashing each other in the water.
I almost left them there but had no idea how to get back to the car. ”
Sounding completely invested in her story, Cat asked, “What did you do?”
“The only thing I could.” Mia leaned towards Cat with a smile. “I jumped in with them.”
“Was it scary?”
“Yes, it was very scary, but it was also a lot of fun.” She glanced at Thatch again. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget that day.”
I knew all along that Thatch had feelings for Mia, but at that moment, I realized she loved him—and it wasn’t the friendship kind of love.
She truly loved him back then, and she still loved him now.
I had no idea what had gone on between them, but it had to have been something pretty significant to keep them apart all these years.
Thatch gave her one of his nods as he replied, “It was a good day.”
“I want to jump off the cliff.”
Thatch and I both turned towards Cat at the same time and said, “Not a chance.”
Cat pursed her bottom lip with a pout, and Thatch and I both started laughing. I reached over and placed my hand on her thigh. “Maybe when you get older. Much, much older.”
“So, how did you two meet?” Mia asked.
“We have Mr. McClanahan to thank for that,” I answered.
“Mr. McClanahan?”
“He was a friend of Thatch’s and one of my hospice patients.”
I went on to tell her about the day Thatch came into the nursing home and had asked me out.
I left out a “minor” detail of how we hooked up and that we’d spent the next few months doing more of the same.
Instead, I simply told her that we’d taken our time getting to know one another.
When I was done, Mia said, “Being a hospice nurse has to be tough.”
“It is, but I really enjoy it. It’s nice to feel like you’re doing something to help others.” I let out a sigh. “But some days I wonder if I’m making any difference at all.”
“Don’t let her fool ya. She’s incredible at her job.”
Mia’s eyes were trained on Thatch as he stood up, walked over to me, then leaned down and kissed me on the forehead.
She continued staring at him as he began picking up empty dishes and carrying them over to the sink.
When he returned to grab the remainder of what was left on the table, Cat asked, “Can we have cake now?”
“Sure.” He put everything in the sink, then returned with a knife. “How about you two? You want some cake?”
“No, I’m stuffed,” I answered. “I couldn’t eat another bite.”
“Same,” Mia replied.
“Suit yourself.”
After he cut Cat a piece, Thatch cut one for himself, and they both dove in. Mia and I were sitting there giggling at them when she leaned over to me and said, “Cat is an absolute doll. You’ve done a wonderful job with her.”
“Thank you, Mia.” Cat looked up at me with frosting on the tip of her nose and smiled. “I think she’s pretty great, too.”
I watched them for a moment longer, then got up and walked over to the sink. When I started working on the dishes, Thatch called out to me, “Hey, what are you doing over there?”
“You cooked.”
“Yeah, but I invited you and Cat over to celebrate her birthday. Now get over here and have another glass of wine.”
“I’m just getting things started.”
“I’ll help.”
Mia got up and started gathering all the dirty dishes, causing Thatch to shake his head with a sigh. We both ignored him and continued to clean the kitchen while he ate his cake with Cat.
As soon as Thatch was done, he came over to us and smiled. Like it was the most natural thing in the world, he slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me close as he lowered his mouth to my ear. A chill ran up my spine as he whispered, “Do you ever do what you’re told?”
“Guess that depends on what I’m being told.”
I glanced over at Mia, and she looked positively heartbroken as she stood watching us together.
I still had no idea why she’d come here to see Thatch, but it was clear some things needed to be said between them.
I leaned into Thatch and closed my eyes.
It was just for a moment—just long enough to soak him in, then I gazed up at him and said, “Cat and I should get going.”
“What?”
“It’s getting late, and I need to get Cat home.”
“No,” Mia interjected. “I’m the one who should go. I’ve intruded enough.”
“You’ve been great. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you, but you came here tonight to see Thatch. I’m sure you have things to discuss with him.” I wasn’t exactly lying when I said, “Besides, Cat has a skating party tomorrow with her friends, and I don’t want her to be tired and all that.”
“You’re really gonna go?” Thatch asked, sounding surprised.
“It’s not that I want to.” My eyes skirted over to Mia and then back to him. “But I need to. You know I do.”
“All right.” He studied me for a moment, then said, “I don’t like it, but if you gotta go, then you gotta go.”
I gathered up Cat and her new dolls and then Thatch followed us both to the door. I gave her hand a little tug and said, “Say thank you to Thatch for your gift and your nice dinner.”
“Thank you, Thatch.”
“You’re welcome, kiddo.”
I could feel Mia watching us from the kitchen as I eased up on my tiptoes and quickly kissed him. “Thank you for everything. It was very sweet of you.”
“Well, I had ulterior motives, but ...” He snickered, then kissed me once more. “Maybe some other time.”
“Hopefully, that’ll be sooner than later.” I smiled warmly. “Bye, Thatch.”
“Bye, babe.”
I raised my hand and waved at Mia. “Bye, Mia.”
“Bye, Rebecca. Drive home safely.”
“Will do.”
With that, I led Cat out to the car, and we both got inside and buckled up. As much as I didn’t want to leave, I put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway, leaving Thatch alone with another woman—something I never thought I’d do—and wouldn’t have with any other man.
I knew Thatch was different.
I could trust him—with my safety, my daughter, and most of all, with my heart—which was one of the many reasons I’d fallen in love with him. I just hoped he felt the same way about me.