The Letter(44)

He sauntered around the corner to the Sweet Tea and froze in his steps. Maddy was outside the inn, standing next to a car with some man. The man reached up and pushed one of Maddy’s always wayward curls back from her face. Gil’s breath stopped, captured in his lungs. Feeling a bit like a voyeur, he ducked behind a tall bush, chastising himself the whole time. He should just step out and say hi. Yet, he couldn’t make himself move.

The man was dressed in an expensive coat, driving a flashy new sports car, a small overnight bag in his hand. He had city slicker written all over him.

The man reached over and kissed Maddy. On the lips. Kissed her. With his hand all possessive, cradling her face. The man got into his car and drove past Gil. A Missouri license plate mocked him. He turned and watched Maddy just stand there watching the man drive away. It didn’t take much math to add up the score. That had to be her ex. They’d obviously gotten back together and he’d spent the night. A person would think he would have learned his lesson the first time. With Crystal and her ex, Bryan. But, no, it looked like he was destined to relive his lessons. If Maddy was still hung up on her ex, why hadn’t she just told him? He thought that they’d been going somewhere, he and Maddy. But, he must have been wrong. He must have just been a diversion for her while she was here in Comfort Crossing.

He was a fool. A great big fool.

He spun on his heels and strode away, back to his store, back to familiar territory where he could sort things in order and they stayed that way.

Gil walked back to the Feed and Seed, no longer thinking the morning was so glorious. He slammed into the store and wore himself out moving boxes, unpacking merchandise, and moving more boxes. Lou kept a wide berth. If he noticed Gil’s foul mood, he didn’t say a word.

Larry came into the store mid-morning. “Need another can of that paint Rebecca picked out. What was it called? Seaside Sand, or Sandy Tan, or Seaside Beach. You know the one I’m talking about? Just looks like beige to me. Don’t know why they need such fancy names.”

“Seaside Sand.” Gil walked with Larry over to the paint aisle.

“Guess Madeline’s ex came to see her, huh?” Gil couldn’t keep himself from asking.

Larry looked at Gil and nodded. “Yep.”

He’d been right. It was her ex.

“Spent the night and was on his way this morning. Rebecca would chide me for saying so, but the guy is kind of full of himself.”

“That so?”

“Yep. You got that paint?”

“Sure, I’ll mix it right up.” Gil opened the paint can, dialed in the right colors, and put the can in the shaker. “It’ll be just a sec.”

“No hurry. Gotta grab some nails, too.” Larry wandered off while Gil stood staring at the paint can. There was no avoiding it. Her ex had come to town and spent the night. Well, just fine. He could play low key. He could play the doesn’t-mean-a-thing fling.

The heck with that. It had meant something to him. But not to her. He was done with women. Done. Finished. Off the team.

~ * ~

It was a beautiful day out and Madeline decided to walk to the Feed and Seed and visit Gil. She’d missed him last night. The whole ordeal with Justin had thrown her for a loop. She was glad he was gone and hopefully she’d made her point. There was no getting back together. Just a few short weeks ago she would’ve probably been so thrilled to hear he wanted to get back together with her, but no longer.

She’d changed in the last weeks. She’d seen real love like Josephine had for Paul all these years. Rebecca’s love for Larry. Then she had whatever it was with Gil. She knew she cared about him. Lots. With that she picked up her pace and hurried down the street to his store.

The bell jangled as she walked into the store. Gil looked up from the counter where he was checking out a customer. She felt her face break into a goofy grin, her heart fluttered in her chest, and she walked on air over to the counter.

“Hey, Gil.”

He nodded at her, concentrating on checking out his customer. Well, she didn’t want to disturb him. She patiently waited for him to finish.

“Come back if you need more, but I think this will do.” Gil handed a sack over to his customer.

“Thanks for your help.” The lady took her sack, smiled at Madeline, and left the store.

A shyness settled over Madeline all of a sudden. “Busy morning?”

“Not bad.” Gil was terribly busy shuffling papers and rearranging a display on the counter.

“I just thought I’d stop by and say good morning. It was a pretty day for a walk.”

“Yep.” He turned his back to her and placed a box on the shelf behind him.