Rekindled Romance

by Lorraine Beatty

  “I never got any letters. Or phone calls.”

  Matt shook his head. “I called your cell phone two or three times a day.”

  Shelby rubbed the tension between her eyes. “I didn’t have a cell phone.”

  “You must have. Your mom gave me the number and your address at school.” He touched his temple as if calling up a memory. “Someplace on Belmont Street.”

  A sinking sensation formed inside her. “I never lived on a street by that name. Ever.”

  “Why would your mother deliberately give me bogus information?”

  “To ensure I got out of Dover and got the education she never had.”

  Shelby’s gaze locked with Matt’s. The realization of what had occurred changed everything. To a point.

  His voice was rough, tinged with regret when he spoke. “I should have tried harder.”

  “I should have reached out to you.” Shelby’s heart ached with the sadness of it all. She moved to the trunk and touched the carved heart again. “Things could have been so different.”

  Matt moved toward her. “It’s not good to dwell in the past, Shelby. Things happen for a reason. We both moved on. I have my family. You have your career. Those are good things. I guess it was just the wrong time for us.”

  Shelby looked up into his blue eyes, her heart filled with love for this man. “Is there a right time?”

  He reached out and touched a stray hair near her temple. “A do-over?”

  She nodded, unable to take her gaze from his. The deep blue darkened as he gazed into her eyes. His hand came up and rested against the side of her face, and she tilted her head into his palm.

  “I hope so.”

  His words were spoken so softly she was certain she’d heard them only in her heart. Matt’s strong hands gripped her shoulders, drawing her closer. She thought he was going to kiss her, but instead he pulled her against his chest, wrapping her in his warm embrace. Neither one spoke or moved.

  A part of Shelby’s heart that had long been scarred began to heal. Nothing could change the past, but now they could finally put it behind them. Slowly, Matt released her, taking her hand in his. They walked from under the old oak and back toward the park.

  *

  Shelby curled up in her bedroom chair, flipping through a magazine. It was late and she should be in bed, but she was reluctant to see the day come to an end. She was pleasantly tired and relaxed. A good feeling. Nothing like the exhaustion she normally knew after a busy day at work. She’d come home, showered, had a light meal and called her grandmother.

  The Durrants’ picnic had been more enjoyable than she’d anticipated. She’d expected to feel uncomfortable, out of synch with the people there. Instead she’d felt very much a part of it all. Like she belonged in Dover.

  But mostly her thoughts centered around Matt. It felt good to finally clear away the past. What a mess. The perfect storm of bad circumstances. She could see clearly now how her fear coupled with her mother’s meddling had cost her the thing she wanted most. She’d spent the rest of her life trying to replace it with her career.

  So what would her relationship with Matt be now? Being held in his arms had torn away the flimsy curtain protecting her emotions. Her love for him was as deep and as strong as the day he’d given her his ring. But no one could go back and redo the past. He’d said he hoped they had a second chance, but he’d probably meant as friends. Anything else was impossible.

  The phone rang. She rose and quickly moved to the nightstand. It was nearly eleven. Who would be calling at this hour?

  “Hello.”

  “Shelby, I’m sorry to call so late.”

  “Matt?” His voice was tense, filled with a frightening urgency.

  “I need you to come over here.”

  “What happened? Are the children all right?” Fear sent a paralyzing jolt through her system. She couldn’t bear it if anything happened to Cassidy or Kenny.

  “Yes. It’s Ty. He’s been shot. Mom and Dad are trying to get a flight out to Dallas to be with him. I need to take them to the airport in Jackson. They’re both too upset to drive. Can you come over and stay with the kids?”

  “Of course. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

  “Thanks.”

  Shelby hung up, her heart aching for Matt and his family. His brother Ty was her age. They’d graduated from high school the same year. She hadn’t known him well. He’d worked at the store the summer she did, but Ty had worked when Matt was off so she’d had little opportunity to get to know him. She sent up a prayer for Ty. She couldn’t begin to imagine what Mr. and Mrs. Durrant must be going through.

  She dressed quickly and hurried across the driveway. Matt yanked open the door before she could knock. He looked distracted. Lines of worry bracketed his mouth, and his blue eyes were darker than usual.

  “Thanks, Shelby.” He motioned her inside. “The kids are asleep. I haven’t told them anything. I’ll do that when I know more. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.” He rubbed his forehead and glanced around the room. “I need to get to Mom and Dad’s. They’re frantic.”

  Shelby’s heart ached for him. He was rambling. Trying to think of every detail. She reached out and touched his arm. “Matt. Don’t worry about anything here. We’ll be fine. Go do what you have to.”

  “Yeah.”

  He looked so distraught she wanted to hold him, but that was out of the question. Instead she put a smile on her face and gestured toward the door. “Go. I’ll be fine.”

  Matt pulled out his keys and started for the door. “Oh. In case I’m not back, the kids have to get up around six-thirty to get ready for school.”

  Shelby put her hands on his chest, intending to turn him toward the door. To her shock Matt laid his hand over hers. “Thank you, Shelby. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  She smiled, her heart beating triple time. “That’s what friends are for.”

  His eyes softened, and he touched her cheek with his fingers. “I guess so.”

  He turned and went out the door. Leaving a fluttering of hope in her heart. Maybe he still cared a little. Slowly she shut the door, knowing that friendship would be a poor substitute for her real feelings. But she would take what she could get and be grateful.

  Chapter Ten

  It was midmorning the next day before Matt had a chance to slow down and regroup. He poured a second cup of coffee from the pot on his credenza, then sat down at his desk. He was beat. It had been after four in the morning when he’d finally gotten back home from Jackson-Evers Airport. He and Shelby had exchanged only a few words when he’d returned. He’d had nothing new to report on his brother’s condition, and he’d sent her home with little more than an appreciative thank-you.

  He’d managed a couple hours of sleep before having to get the kids off to school and come to work. It was going to be difficult to focus on his classes today; his thoughts and prayers were all with his brother. A light tap on his open door drew his attention. Carl Young was standing there, a sympathetic expression on his dark face. He must have heard the news.

  “Hey, Matt. I’m sorry about your brother. Have you heard anything?”

  “Some. I talked to my mom a few minutes ago. He came through the first surgery all right, but there’s another one yet to go.” His brother had been shot three times and there’d been doubt in the beginning if he’d pull through. Praise God, he was holding his own so far.

  “How are your parents holding up?”

  “As well as can be expected.”

  “I’m praying for him.”

  “Thanks. Never can have too much of that.”

  “Amen.”

  “Who’s running the store while your dad is gone?”

  Matt leaned back in his chair, one hand on the armrest. “He hired an assistant manager earlier this year. Young guy named Troy Ballard.”

  “Good to hear. I was afraid you’d have to run the place for a while. Then that would leave me to take all your classes.” Carl
chuckled and winked.

  One of the things Matt liked best about his friend was he could count on Carl to lighten any situation. “Get your ugly face out of here.”

  Carl waved and disappeared.

  *

  Shelby’s arms pumped in rhythm with her stride as she kept pace with Pam on their daily walk. They’d had to postpone it to the afternoon due to a schedule change at Pam’s job. The morning walks had quickly become something Shelby enjoyed. She was feeling stronger every day. Leading a healthy lifestyle was proving to be less of a torment than she’d expected.

  “Are you serious?”

  Shelby stopped suddenly, turning back to her friend, who stood still in the middle of the sidewalk, hands on hips.

  Pam shook her head in disbelief. “I cannot believe your mother did such an underhanded thing to you. Deliberately giving Matt a phony address and phone number.”

  “Well, she did.” Shelby waved her to catch up and resume their walk. She been telling her friend about the things that had been discovered when she and Matt had compared notes at the picnic yesterday. “I guess she thought she was doing me a favor.”

  “Some favor. Shel, your life could have been totally different.”

  “Maybe. But I do love my job, and Matt had a wonderful wife and two amazing kids. It all turned out the way it was supposed to, I guess.”

  “What now? I mean, do you and Matt have a future? Do you want one? Does he?”

  The women walked in place at the street corner while they waited for a car to pass. “I doubt it. We’re friends again. But as for anything more—well, he’s been through the devastating loss of his wife to cancer. He’s not going to get involved with someone who’s going to be battling health issues all her life.”

  “It’s not like you’re dying or anything, Shel. Your heart condition is very minor. Easily managed with meds and taking good care of yourself.”

  “I don’t think he sees it that way. He sees a woman who might die suddenly and leave him and his children grieving a second time.”

  “I guess I get it. To a point. Have you heard any more about his brother, Ty? I was just sick to hear about that. So horrible.”

  “Matt texted me earlier and said Ty came through the first surgery all right but he still has a long way to go.” She sent up another prayer for Matt’s brother.

  They walked in silence for a while before Pam spoke again. “So. Do you love Matt?”

  The question brought Shelby to a stop. “What are you talking about?” Pam kept walking, forcing her to catch up.

  “You have that same look on your face as you did that summer. You have the same tone of voice when you say his name. Your eyes get all dreamy when you talk about him or his kids. It’s a perfectly logical question.”

  But there was no logical answer. The wall between them now was more like a small curb, easily crossed. The attraction was there on both sides, but as for anything more… “I don’t know how to answer that.”

  “It’s simple. Yes or no.”

  “Yes. I think I always have. I just didn’t realize it until I came home and saw him again.” He was the reason she’d never found someone to share her life. No one else had measured up.

  “Then what are you going to do about it?”

  “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

  *

  Shelby pulled the mail from Matt’s box as the school bus rolled to a stop in front of the house. She smiled and waved as Cassidy strolled up the driveway, receiving a halfhearted wave in return. She studied the child closely as she meandered to the sidewalk and plodded up the porch steps. “You all right?”

  She shrugged, dropping her backpack on the floor. “I guess.”

  Resting a hand on the girl’s shoulder, Shelby steered her to one of the wicker chairs. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”

  Cassidy remained silent a long moment, head bowed and shoulders slumped. “I hate the way I look.”

  Shelby inhaled slowly, her heart aching. She had to resist her impulse to pull Cassidy into her arms and tell her how beautiful she was. Her instincts told her that wasn’t what the little girl needed to hear right now. “What don’t you like?”

  “Everything. My hair is boring and my face is yucky.”

  “How would you like to look?”

  “Like my friend Molly. She wears cool makeup and stuff.”

  Shelby fought the urge to smile. Was there a female on the planet who hadn’t felt the same way at one point in their lives? “Do you wear makeup?”

  “No.” She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Dad won’t let me. He says I’m too young.”

  Shelby took her small hand in hers. “Maybe if you told your dad how important this is to you, he’d change his mind.”

  “He won’t. He wants to keep me a baby. I’m almost twelve. Besides, even if I could, I don’t have anyone to show me how to put it on.”

  “I can show you.” Shelby regretted the words the moment they left her mouth. She shouldn’t be going against Matt’s wishes.

  “Would you?” Cassidy sprang to her feet, her face aglow. “That would be so cool.”

  Half an hour later, Cassidy and Shelby looked in the mirror of Shelby’s bathroom at the final result of the makeover. Cassidy looked years older. Maybe too old. A niggling doubt crept into Shelby’s mind. Cassidy was a pretty little girl. She had a fresh, natural beauty of her own. Looking at her now, Shelby wished she hadn’t suggested this experiment. “You know, Cassidy, this has been fun, but it’s too much makeup for you to wear to school. You know that, don’t you?”

  “No.” Cassidy met her gaze with a pleading look. “It looks good. I look like a teenager.” She struck a pose, tilting her head at a coquettish angle.

  Sadness settled around Shelby’s heart. Cassidy was rushing toward something she wasn’t ready for. “Let’s wipe this off now.”

  “But it looks good.” She leaned closer to the mirror, staring at her image.

  Shelby dampened a rag and handed it to her. “Cassidy, you’re a pretty girl. You don’t need all this makeup.”

  A pout pulled down the corners of her mouth. “But I want to look like the girls in your magazine.”

  For the first time, Shelby experienced a rush of resentment toward the young women featured on Tween Scene’s covers. “Cassidy, remember when I changed your picture to make you look like a cover model?”

  “That was so awesome.”

  Shelby gently took the girl’s face between her hands. “The girls on the covers look exactly like you. We change all the pictures that way. Wait. I’ll show you.” Shelby moved into her room and retrieved a candid photo from her briefcase.

  “Who’s that?” Cassidy asked, studying the picture.

  “Yasmine.”

  The girls eyes widened. “No way. I saw the cover of your magazine. She was perfect.”

  Shelby nodded. “That’s what she really looks like before the makeup and hairstylist and the special lighting. And of course the computer enhancements.” Shelby watched as the child digested this new information and her shoulders slumped.

  “She looks like a regular old girl,” Cassidy lamented.

  Shelby gently took the little girl’s hands in her own. “We all look like regular girls, sweetheart.”

  Cassidy frowned. “But I want to look beautiful.”

  “I know. All women do, and makeup helps us look our best, but we have to be careful not to use too much.”

  Cassidy looked in the mirror at her freshly scrubbed face and frowned. “Now I look like dumb old me.”

  Shelby rested her hands on the girl’s shoulders, peering at their reflections. “Smile for me.” Cassidy pouted for a moment then complied. “When you smile, it’s like the sun coming out. You have a smile like your daddy’s.”

  Cassidy giggled. “He says I have my mommy’s smile.”

  Shelby ignored the sting in her heart. This could have been her daughter. “Maybe what you really need is a new look. Next time we’ll play with your hai
r and try some new styles. Sometimes a new haircut can change your whole attitude.”

  “Cool. Thanks, Shelby.” Cassidy twisted around and gave her a hug. “You’re the best. I’m so glad you moved here. Hey, could I invite some of my friends over and you could show us how to do makeup and hair? For regular girls like us, I mean.”

  “Sure. I think that’s a great idea.”

  Cassidy’s face lit up. “I have a better idea.”

  Shelby gave her a wary look. “What?”

  “We could do it at my slumber party. We could stay up all night doing hair and makeup and order pizza and stuff.”

  Shelby liked the idea. She’d enjoy doing girl things with Cassidy, but she’d also welcome an opportunity to teach her and her friends the truth and dispel some misconceptions. “I’d love to help out. You need to okay this with your dad though, and it might be a good idea to check with your friends’ mothers. Make sure they know what we’re going to do because some moms may not want them trying out makeup yet.”

  “Cool.”

  “When is your party?”

  “This Friday.” Cassidy turned away quickly, walking out into the bedroom.

  “Oh?” Odd. Matt hadn’t mentioned it to her and he usually kept her apprised of all the children’s activities for the week. But then, the party was on Friday and he was off that day, so he probably didn’t see any reason to tell her since she wouldn’t be involved. Hopefully he wouldn’t object to her putting in an appearance at the party.

  *

  Matt closed the dishwasher and started the cycle. Kenny was tucked in bed and Cassidy should be on her way. As if sensing his thoughts, she appeared at his side, an impish grin on her face. That usually spelled trouble. He eyed her skeptically. “What?”

  “I love you, Daddy.”

  He grimaced, tossing the dishtowel over his shoulder. “Yeah, yeah. Out with it.”

  “Can I have a slumber party this Friday night? Please? Please?”

  Matt sighed in mild irritation. “Sweetheart, we’ve had this discussion before.”

  Cassidy set her fists on her hips and frowned. “I know. We have to have another grown-up in the house. But I don’t see why.”