by Natalie Ann
“So Bob tried to parent Matt into being nicer to you?”
“Something like that. That’s when the troubles started. They never really fought because Matt is low key that way, but he resented it. It just seemed that I had Bob, who was giving him grief, and then Ken had Colleen and her kids and there was Matt. Kind of left alone.”
She’d heard bits and pieces of this over the years too. “That has nothing to do with him leaving me though,” Dena said.
“No. But Bob took this transfer to get me away and Matt didn’t have much of a choice. That drove a wedge between us. But then he found you and he was the kid he used to be. He was so happy. We all were. We just loved you.” Penny reached her hand over and laid it on Dena’s. “We still love you.”
“I repeat, it’s not your fault.”
She couldn’t and wouldn’t blame Penny for this. No one was to blame but her and Matt. Especially not the woman who stepped in as a substitute mother for her so often in life.
“I should have asked more questions his senior year. Especially when he was adamant he was going to Columbia and living closer to his father. But I didn’t. I just figured it’s natural for couples to be apart at college and you two would figure it out.”
“Years later, it seems we might.”
“I just ask you to give him a chance. Looking back, maybe you guys rushed things too much. You were both so young and planning your lives rather than taking it day by day. That’s where I feel I should have stepped in as a mother and said something. Not just a mother to him, but to you too.”
Penny had always tried to step in when Dena needed to speak to a woman and didn’t want to always go to her father. It wasn’t just Matt she’d lost when he left, but Penny too. The problem was, she couldn’t continue her relationship with Penny when Matt wanted nothing to do with her.
“I’m giving him a chance. I’m opening myself up to him more than I ever thought I would. If someone asked me six months ago what I’d do if I saw Matt, my answer would probably be walk away. Being in a relationship with him again never crossed my mind.”
“Are you doing it because of his accident?”
“No. That would be the wrong reason. That would be no different than him coming to be with me because of it. If I’m to believe he is here because he knew he made a mistake and he wants me back, then he has to know that is the reason I’m with him.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Penny said.
“I did. Like you, I didn’t ask the right questions, or I didn’t listen to him when I should have. I was set in my ways as much as he was and we were too young to do what you said. To take it day by day.”
“Matt always wanted what he wanted when he wanted it.”
“He did. He’s still like that. This time though, he’s going to have to learn to be patient because I’m not rushing a damn thing.”
“He needs someone to push him too,” Penny said.
“I think we all do at times.” She went with her gut and reached her other hand for Penny’s and laid it on top. “I’ve never thanked you.”
“For what?” Penny asked.
“For being the mother I never had when I was a teen. You were Matt’s mother and I’m sure it was hard for you to parent us both but you did it. You stepped in at times when I needed a woman’s opinion, even if it meant going against what you’d say to your own son. Just like now. Telling me to push him.”
Penny smiled. “I always wanted a daughter. I thought I had that with you. When Matt ended things with you, we were all crushed, but you can’t force someone to love another person either. I understand how hard it’s been for you to see me over the years and though I was hurt you avoided me, I realized you had to do what you could to move on.”
“That was wrong of me too,” she admitted. “You’ve been nothing but wonderful to me. For me. I shouldn’t have kept my distance like I had.”
“Everything happens for a reason. Maybe we can all get it right this time around.”
“Maybe we can,” Dena said softly when she felt a lump form in her throat. She wasn’t sure she could lose Penny again if things didn’t work out with Matt.
Going to Have
Matt was walking out of the courthouse on Wednesday flying higher than a kite in a tornado.
This was what he was missing.
This was what he wanted.
This was what he was going to have.
He’d sat in the courtroom and he’d heard testimony on all sides. He’d written down notes, he’d tossed questions at Tina to ask and got the responses he’d been hoping for.
Just because he wasn’t walking around and talking to people on the stand, the jury, or the judge, it still felt like his case.
Would he get the glory if they won? When they won?
Nope, he wouldn’t. But he knew what he did made a difference in this case and that was enough.
They’d be wrapping things up in the next day or so and maybe there’d be a verdict by the end of the week, but the bulk of his work was done in his mind.
As much as he’d love to celebrate, he knew everyone else was too busy working, so he went back to his apartment. He walked around and looked everything over carefully trying to figure out what had any meaning to him.
Nothing. Not one damn thing.
Sure, he’d take the furniture with him or put it in storage until he knew where he was going, but not much needed to be with him right now.
He should have figured that out almost two months ago when all he did was pack up a bunch of clothes and throw them in his SUV and drive to Lake Placid.
What he needed was Dena. That’s what he was going to have too.
He took a deep breath, pulled his wallet out of his pocket, and found what he was looking for. Dave Lawson’s card—and he made a call he couldn’t believe he was actually doing.
The next morning, he made his way to his doctor’s office and took a seat in the waiting room.
When he was called in, his doctor said, “You look great, Matt. You’ve gained ten pounds, but it sure the hell doesn’t look like it.”
“Thanks. I’ve been getting a lot of exercise in.” Though now that he thought of it he hadn’t done any of it the entire time he’d been here. He’d been too busy.
“That makes a difference for sure. Sitting at a desk all day long and not taking a break isn’t good for your back or your leg. I know you’ve got a desk job, but it seems like you’re making it work.”
“Actually I’ve been staying in Lake Placid for almost two months. I work a few hours, I get up and exercise, maybe go shovel. I try not to stay seated for any longer than I need to.”
“I hate to say this, but you might need to practice that for the rest of your life. Sitting all day isn’t good. Not with your injuries and neither is standing. You need a happy medium.”
“I’ll figure it out. When do I need to come back?”
“At this point, I’d say a year unless you are having any issues. Honestly, you’re almost as good as new. Or as good as I’ve ever seen anyone before after your injuries.”
Matt shook his hand and walked out the door knowing that he made the right decision last night.
It was time to push a partnership out of his brain.
Instead he was going to fill it with owning his own practice.
He could pick his cases.
He could be his own boss.
He could work when he wanted most of the time.
Why had it never crossed his mind before to do this?
Because he’d always had his eye on the prize and it never wavered when it should have. He never opened himself up to other possibilities because he saw what he wanted and that was all he’d focused on.
Again, he was wrong.
He had a lot of making up to do to Dena. He had a lot of making up to do to himself.
***
Dena was walking out of her patient’s room when her cell phone went off. She normally ignored it, but since she wasn’t with
someone, she glanced at it quickly and saw it was Matt telling her to go up front if she could.
She looked at the clock and frowned. She’d thought his flight wasn’t due back until six tonight, but it was just four now.
“Amber,” she called over. Amber was sitting at the desk looking at her computer before she had to see another patient. “Can you cover for me a minute?”
“Sure. What’s going on?”
“Matt just texted me and asked if I could go up front.”
“Well, go,” Amber said. “I’ll check in on the patient in three. What and who is it?”
“Eve Hennessy. Just a follow-up from her tummy tuck. Should be her last one,” Dena said.
“Piece of cake. I’ve got it. Go give your boy a hug and a kiss. And if he brought you any goodies, I get the first one, not Rene since I’m covering for you.”
“Deal,” Dena said.
She walked through the back offices to get to the front and then came out that way to see Matt in the waiting room holding flowers. Yeah, her heart just took off on a mad sprint.
“What do we have here?”
“A surprise,” he said. “Something cheerful on this cold day.”
“It’s not that cold out now. The snow is even melting. Though I’m sure it’s a lot colder than the city.”
“Extremely. Not to mention there’s no snow there.”
“But you came back early,” she said, finding comfort in that.
“I did. I called ahead about my flight and they said they’d put me on a waitlist. I had nothing keeping me there any longer and figured I’d take a chance.”
“I’m glad you did.” She wrapped him up tight in her arms and planted one hell of a kiss on him. Was Ava watching? She sure was and Dena didn’t care in the least.
“I might go away more often if I’m going to get welcomed back like that,” he said.
“Come on back to my office. Actually if you aren’t in a rush, I’d like to introduce you to my friends if they aren’t with patients.”
“Sure,” he said, following her back.
“This is my office. I share it with Rene and Amber. We try to leave the rest of the rooms open for treatments and patients.”
“Smart move,” he said.
“I’ll take you back where all the exam rooms are. The front is all the treatment rooms for procedures us girls do. The back are the rooms we use for follow-ups or surgeries and such.”
Amber was just coming out of the exam room when Dena and he rounded the corner. “No food, just flowers. Sweet flowers, but next time we’d like chocolate.”
Dena shook her head. “Matt, Amber Monroe. She was a few years ahead of us in school, so I’m not sure if you remember her or not. She thinks she’s funny but more times than not, she’s just spouting hot air.”
“Cute, Dena,” Amber said, reaching her hand out. “Nice to meet you.”
“Same,” Matt said.
“I keep telling Dena I want to have a dinner party and throw you to the wolves. Let’s see how well you do.”
Dena rolled her eyes. “I told her no.”
“It has merit,” Rene said, walking out of another room. Little Rene made her way over, strutting and looking silly while she tried to be tough. “Don’t you hurt her again. I’d hate to kick your butt.”
Matt looked like he might be scared and she found that adorable. “Now, Rene. Matt, you can win Rene over by bringing her food. She looks like a grasshopper but eats like a pig.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, reaching his hand out to hers.
“Rene is married to Cole McGuire.”
“Then I’ll definitely keep it in mind,” Matt said, smirking.
“And this is my boss, Max Hamilton.”
Max came forward and shook hands with Matt, held his stare longer than most and almost tried to intimidate Matt like a big brother would. Talk about super sweet. She had some damn good friends.
“Nice to meet you,” Matt said.
“I think a dinner party would be a nice thing. I’m sure I could convince Quinn to throw one. We never use the dining room and she hasn’t made a big meal in a long time.”
“If Quinn is cooking, I’m there,” Rene said, giggling.
“I’ll let you know,” Dena said, trying to silently tell them to all back off.
“I think it’d be a great idea,” Matt said. “I’d love to meet the rest of your friends.”
“Perfect,” Amber said. “I’ll call Quinn tonight and get it all set up. You just show up and enjoy yourselves. Matt, you might need a combat shield.”
“Relax, Matt. No one is going to do anything to you. I’ll protect you if they do.”
She wished she didn’t say that when everyone started to grin as they looked at her. Crap, she just gave herself away.
Smile On His Face
A few days later, Dena was pulling into Max’s house with Matt. She’d never expected Quinn to jump so fast on a dinner party. Well, it was more like an afternoon party with everyone’s family and kids.
Cole had to work that night, but Rene said he wasn’t missing it for anything, so they worked around everyone’s schedule.
“How much am I going to get my balls roasted here?” Matt asked before they got out of the car.
“I honestly can’t tell you. You know most of the people here. Or you’ve met most of them. I really think everyone will be fine.” She hoped.
They climbed out of her SUV and he reached in the back to grab the wine and beer. She was frustrated that Quinn never let anyone bring food. Celeste might be the only one allowed and she probably brought dessert.
Dena didn’t even have a chance to ring the doorbell before it was opened by Max’s daughter Lara. “Dena,” she said, hopping around in a circle. Lara was always hyper. “You’re the last one here.”
“You can blame Matt,” Dena said, taking her shoes off at the front door. “He couldn’t figure out what to wear.”
Lara giggled. That carefree giggle that most kids had and Dena realized she missed that in her life.
At Lara’s age she was trying to figure out how to get through that preteen stage without a mother in her life. Though Lara could relate because Max’s ex-wife rarely spent any time or talked with Lara or Davy, but Quinn had stepped in and filled that void.
For some reason Dena was wondering why her father never dated again. Did she have something to do with her father never moving on with his life? She knew now it wasn’t that her father was pining for her mother by any means.
The two of them followed Lara to the back of the house where everyone was milling around between the huge kitchen and island and family room. There were snacks everywhere and drinks flowing. “Sorry we’re late,” Dena said.
“Matt didn’t like what he was wearing,” Lara said and everyone started to laugh.
She looked over and saw his face redden. Talk about adorable. “No. Actually I was running late,” she said. “Matt was ready to go when I got there.”
“It’s nice you’re making excuses for him,” Amber said, “but we know Dena normally changes her outfit a few times before she leaves the house. It’s a good thing we wear scrubs at work.”
Matt nudged her and said, “Nice to know that some things never change.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Let me make introductions. You know a lot of people, but we’ll go around the room. That’s Quinn, Max’s wife and the genius behind all the food you’re going to eat.”
Quinn walked forward and held her hand out. “I’m not sure how much of a genius I am, but the snacks are from me. The sweets from Celeste.”
“And I’m sure you remember Celeste from school though she was a few years ahead of us,” Dena said.
“I do. It’s nice to see you again, Celeste,” he said, nodding to her.
“My husband, Caleb, is over there playing with Quinn and Max’s daughter Jocelyn and his nephew TJ. He’s a little antisocial and would rather hang out with the kids,” Celeste said.
Matt turned his head and looked at the man on the couch with a scruffy beard. A little boy on his lap and a girl on the floor knocking blocks over. Caleb lifted his hand and waved and then went back to the kids.
“Caleb is at that end of the room because he’s trying to stay away from me. I’m Zach Monroe, Amber’s husband.” Zach moved in front of Matt and shook his hand. “Caleb is more a grouch than anything. We work together, so I know.”
Amber burst out laughing. “Caleb isn’t a grouch. You just get on everyone’s nerves.”
Zach pulled his wife next to his side and kissed her on the cheek. “I don’t get on your nerves.”
“Never that,” Amber said and moved back to the side. Dena really wasn’t jealous over all the couples in the room, but at times she had to fight that ugly green monster from making an appearance.
“You remember Cole,” Dena said.
“Yep, good to see you,” he said across the room to the tall man that was married to Rene. Bob had been Cole and Celeste’s father’s captain at the State Trooper barracks back in the day. She’d known that.
“And this is Riley Hamilton, Max’s younger sister. She’s a dentist in town if you need any work done,” she said, winking at him.
“You aren’t afraid of dentists like Trevor, are you?” Riley asked, laughing.
“I’m not afraid of dentists anymore,” Trevor said, walking forward and shaking hands with Matt too. “Good to see you again. If you didn’t know, Riley and I are newly engaged.”
“I’d heard,” Matt said. “Congrats.”
“So the last couple is Nick and Mallory Buchanan. Nick is Zach and Caleb’s boss,” Dena said, laughing.
“Not my boss,” Zach said. “Well, not really.”
“No one is my boss but Celeste,” Caleb shouted across the room.
Nick shook his head. “I own NB Innovations. Zach is my right-hand man and Caleb gets to do what he wants when he wants; otherwise he might leave and I don’t want to lose him.”
“Nick and Rene are brother and sister,” Dena said. “They’re from Richmond, Virginia. The same with Zach. They moved here so that Nick could be with his wife, Mallory.”
