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Matt tried sneaking into his apartment before his parents woke up. His dad met him in the living room with a cup of coffee and a smile. Matt tried not to think about the previous night as he greeted his dad. Ellen popped out of the kitchen, holding a spatula.
She hugged him, happy to see him. "I'm so glad you're home. I'm fixing breakfast, so go have your shower," she said.
Grateful for his bag, he let her believe he just arrived from the airport. He took a shower and dressed for the day. When he entered the kitchen, he stopped in his tracks.
"What's she doing here?" he asked. Then he glared and said, "I'm glad you could join us for breakfast, Sady." Ellen and Sady exchanged grins.
"I came to return your CD," Sady lied wearing her big doe eyes. "Your mom, I mean Ellen, was nice enough to invite me to stay."
Matt's dad, Paul, just looked at him and shrugged. "Get used to it," he suggested.
"You look like your dad," Sady told Matt. "But with your mom's pretty eyes."
Matt yanked out a chair and the legs screeched across the floor. He flopped down and wondered when the nightmare of ruling women would end. His dad wasn't complaining. In fact, he was unusually quiet... and smiling at his wife a lot. Matt rubbed his forehead and looked at Sady. She winked and he prayed Amanda would never witness this domestic scene, or he'd never hear the end of it.
"Your mom was just telling me about the trip she and your dad are planning," Sady told him. He gave her a suspicious look, then turned to his mom hoping she wouldn't say Niagara Falls.
"We're taking a cruise," Ellen announced.
"You're kidding!" Matt replied without thinking. "I mean, that sounds fun," he added lamely, looking to his dad for confirmation. His dad smiled and shrugged again.
"I was telling them I once did a beauty pageant cruise," Sady continued. "We ran into a storm and most of us got seasick. I learned a lesson- never book a cruise during hurricane season."
"How many years did you do beauty pageants?" Paul asked.
"Too many!" she admitted. "Then I became a librarian, and that was too tame. My uncle sent me to Michigan to keep me out of trouble." She smiled at Paul, thinking Matt would look like him in thirty years. Ellen was petite, but his dad was tall.
"Maybe we should take an Alaskan cruise, Paul," Ellen suggested. "We could book a fishing charter before the cruise." Paul's eyes lit up, and Ellen smiled at him.
Matt wanted to scream, Just book one and go, when he felt a foot under the table, rubbing his leg. He looked at Sady, but she was focused on her food. Oh, hell no! One of his parents thought his leg... He jumped out of his chair, startling everyone.
"I'm just going to head to the office to see if they need my help," he croaked. "Thanks for the breakfast, Mom. I'll catch up with you later, Dad. Sady, I'll see you at work."
He ran for the door, and Sady saw the look of desperation in his eyes. She finished her breakfast and thanked Ellen. Ellen wouldn't let her help clean so she went back to her own apartment. Matt was sitting in the hall, leaning against the wall with his head in his hands. "Are you okay?" Sady asked as she opened her door.
He shook his head as he rose to his feet and followed her. "It's not safe to go home until they leave," he complained. After he explained the 'under the table' incident he frowned at her for laughing.
"Tell you what," she offered. "I won't laugh if you let me drive your truck."
"No deal," he said.
"If you drive, then I'm allowed to have fun once in a while," she countered.
He agreed and said, “You'll have fun either way.”
"There's cereal in the kitchen," she told him. "You really should have stayed to finish breakfast. Your mom serves an amazing meal. Your dad told me how much his appetite has increased since he got here," she teased.
"You're shameless," he said. "Now stop talking about my parents like that!" He grabbed a bowl of cereal and sat at the table to eat.
"He especially recommended the dessert," she continued.
"Sandy-Sue, if you don't stop..."
"I'm just saying!"
"Say it to someone else," he complained. "No- wait! Don't do that either."
"Please say I can tell someone," she begged. "Uncle John? Amanda?"
"Are you trying to kill my dignity? How's it going to sound if everyone finds out I can't even go to my own apartment because my parents came to visit and turned it into a... I can't even say it!" He took his bowl to the kitchen sink and rinsed it. "I'm afraid to go home to brush my teeth! They're probably in my shower... and will you please stop laughing? If they don't leave soon, I'll have to move!"
Sady shoved him down the hall to the bathroom and pulled out a new toothbrush. "Dollar store special, for times like this," she said with a smile as she handed it to him. "You can throw it away when you're done with it."
"No, I'll throw it away when my parents leave," he said.
He turned to brush his teeth, and she yelled, "I'll meet you at the truck!"
She sat in the driver's seat and waved when he entered the parking garage. "Nice truck," he said, leaning against the side. She patted the passenger seat, and he shook his head. "That's not the deal we made. And you've had more than a few jokes at my expense."
She bit her lip and climbed out without saying a word. Then she went to the passenger side and climbed in before she let loose. He got behind the wheel with a sigh. She poked his arm, and he looked at her, waiting for another joke.
"Matt, I'm glad you have parents who still love each other and you," she said, her brown eyes serious and no longer laughing.
He reached over and squeezed her hand. "So am I, Sassafras... But I'm still burning those bed sheets!"
"Maybe you should wrap them up and give them as a going away present," she suggested.
"That's wrong!"
"You can send them as an anniversary gift."
"When did you become so warped?"
"I think that all started on the bus trip to Sinful," she replied. "The first one. Yup, that's definitely where I fell in with bad company and started down the wrong path. I guess that makes it your fault. You looked through my bag first, remember?"
"And you stole my cell phone!"
"See what a bad influence you were? I'd just met you. It's no wonder I want to send your parents used bed sheets," she teased.
"Yeah, that subject is off limits- now and forever."
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked when Sady and Matt entered the office door.
"Matt's running away from home," Sady snickered. "I came to watch the fun."
Harry smiled, happy to see they made up. CJ poked her head out of her office, took one look, and grinned at Harry.
"Welcome home," she told them. "Where's Ryan? Did you feed him to the alligators, Meadows?"
"No, he stayed behind in Sinful," Matt replied. He started to explain when Sady began to bounce beside him, waving her hands.
CJ's brows rose. "A pot of coffee and the conference room? I'll take that as a yes," she mumbled when Sady rushed past her. With a look at Matt she asked, "Are we going to need something stronger than coffee?"
He shook his head and followed Sady to the conference room. Harry brought the coffee and everyone turned to Sady, waiting.
"We can't start yet," she told them. "We have to wait for Amanda."
"CJ, I changed my mind. I'll need something stronger than coffee," Matt fumed. When Amanda arrived he asked, "Did you run every red light while you were speeding?"
"How's your parents?" Amanda asked and his face turned red. "I thought so!" She hugged Sady and then surprised them by hugging Matt. "Hey, I'm glad you're back. I had no one to pick on," she grinned.
In Matt's ear she whispered, “It's a good thing our girl is smiling, or you'd be on your knees looking for your manhood!”
Sady told them the story of their discovery in Sinful. By the time she finished she was standing and gesturing wildly in her excitement.
"I take it you had a good time then?" CJ asked dryly. Sady nodded with her eyes sparkling. "Then why don't you get out of here and enjoy the rest of the weekend? Matt, Amanda says your dad arrived yesterday?"
His brows dropped, and Sady covered her mouth.
"Why don't you bring them over for supper tonight?" Harry asked.
"Can I leave them?"
"No, Matt, you can't leave them," CJ replied.
"Then can I stay?" He paused to check his phone for a text message. "Never mind," he grinned. "Mom says she and Dad are leaving this afternoon. I'm gonna go give them a push... I mean a hand."
"Wait for me," Sady yelled.
"Me too," Amanda called. "I'm not done with your dad yet. He's not sneaking out of town while my back is turned!"
***
As Matt hugged his mother goodbye she whispered in his ear, "I like her, Matt. Don't let her go or I'll be back and it won't be just pictures with me!" Then she pulled back and nudged him.
Amanda had Paul by the arm and she was unloading an earful on him. His face was red and his foot tapped impatiently. Sady hugged Ellen and whispered, "I'll go rescue him, or you might not get out of here."
Sady wedged herself between Paul and Amanda, then pulled him toward the door by his hand. At the door she hugged him and said, "I like you. You're cute."
Paul got embarrassed, then glared at Sady and Amanda. When Amanda took a step forward he shouted, "Let's get out of here, Ellen!" He grabbed the bags, yelled goodbye to Matt, and ran for the elevator.
"Be sure to send your husband back when he needs another tune-up," Amanda called down the hall. Paul scowled and said something under his breath. Ellen scolded him for his language and then smiled. Paul was just like their son, Matt.
"Well, that was an ordeal," Amanda said when the elevator closed. "So, what are we doing this afternoon?"
Sady hid a grin at the look on Matt's face. It was the same one Paul had worn a few minutes ago. Matt didn't reply, but he took Amanda by the arm and marched her to the elevator. When the door opened, he pushed her in and said, "Goodbye." Behind his back Amanda winked at Sady down the hall.
"Are you going to shove me into the elevator too?" she asked. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to his apartment, then sat her on the couch. He ran his hand through his hair, then sat next to her.
"I have something I need to get off my chest," he finally said. His blue eyes were serious when he looked at Sady. "First, I'm sorry I hurt you the day my mom showed up. Can you forgive me?"
Sady hugged him. "I already have."
He took a deep breath, then let it out with a sigh. "You know I'm bad with words, don't you, Sassafras?"
"You're good with bad words," she teased. "Are you trying to tell me you like me?"
"Yes... no. I mean I more than like you," he said, sounding confused.
"Matthew Meadows, are you not saying that you love me?"
"Quit confusing me," he complained, while she smiled.
"Okay, I'll make it easy for you," she said, getting serious. Kneeling on the couch cushion she took his face in her hands. "I love you, Matt."
He stared for a few moments and she said, "It's not hard... or don't you feel that way about me?" He didn't move and her brown eyes filled with sadness. She dropped her hands, biting her lip. "I'm sorry if..."
Matt reached out and yanked her onto his lap, "Hell yes, I love you!" He wrapped her in a kiss that made her head spin. Then he eased back slightly and whispered, "Don't ever doubt it, Sady."
She ran her fingers through his hair before pulling him back for a marathon round. They were both breathing hard when they finally broke apart and Sady gazed at him with her heart in eyes.
"You're killing me with those eyes, Sassafras," he told her, smoothing a piece of hair off her face. He feathered his lips across her cheek then leaned closer to brush her lips again, making her smile.
"Do I need to call Uncle John?" she teased.
"I'll call him if you like," he offered.
Her look grew serious. "What do mean, Matt?"
"I'm not losing you again, Sandy-Sue Morrow."
Sady teared up and held him close. "I'm not going anywhere, Matt."
"Are you turning down my proposal?" he asked with a smile.
She sat up with a sputter. "Proposal? That wasn't a proposal! Maybe I should call Amanda instead of Uncle John!"
"No need to threaten me," he joked. "I know very well how to propose- because I asked your cousin," he added when her brows went up. He ran the back of his hand down her jaw and she shivered. "Would you settle for a promise of a proposal?"
She paused then said, “Right now I'll settle for I love you.”
Before he could reply she turned toward his front door, distracted by the rattle of the knob.
"Ignore it," he whispered.
The sound of the lock turning and the door crashing open made Sady giggle. Amanda marched in blowing a whistle like she was busting an underground rave. Matt glared at her. "How did you get in here? You're interrupting us," he complained.
"That's the whole point," Amanda said placing her hands on her hips. "Ellen forgot to give you back the key, so she left it with me. I had a copy made for myself."
His mouth dropped and Amanda looked at Sady. "I'm taking her with me. There won't be any sinning on my watch. Uncle Sam is counting on me," she warned while he cussed and Sady snickered.
"So, is this a church now?" he barked.
"Why? Do you have something to confess?" she demanded.
"Not to you! And you acting as a moral compass for anyone outside the state prison is laughable! Besides, I'm not done," he scowled.
"Oh yes, you are!" she insisted.
"We're still busy," he said pointedly and waited for her to leave. She parked herself on a chair.
"Well, get on with it!"
"How can I, when you're here killing the mood?" he asked.
"Consider me a material witness, so you can't claim she took advantage of you," Amanda suggested.
"I doubt that's going to be an issue with you here," he complained.
Amanda checked her watch and tapped her foot. "Well, you have about thirty seconds to finish your business, Stubbles."
"You're a real romantic, aren't you?" he asked acidly.
"Yep. I'm also a good timekeeper. Now are you going to waste your time talking to me or take care of business?"
"You can't be serious," he huffed in exasperation.
"Try me," she replied.
Matt turned to Sady with a helpless look. "This isn't how it's supposed to go," he told her.
"Blah, blah, blah," Amanda scoffed. "You've had plenty of time. Don't blame me if you wasted it!"
"I didn't waste..." he protested. Amanda looked pointedly at her watch and stood.
Matt shook his head and gave Sady a smile that melted her. With a sigh he pulled her close. The kiss was smoking when Amanda grabbed his arm and yanked him off the sofa.
"You're gonna be working out of the demerit hole if you keep this up," she told Matt.
Turning to Sady she asked, "How many times did he swear before he came clean?
Sady lifted one finger with a giggle, while Matt protested, "That's none of your business!"
"Wrong!" Amanda announced. "We need to work on your language. You'll be held in contempt of court if you say that in front of a judge."
Matt glared, "I'm not going to be in front of a judge!"
Amanda snorted. "You think a preacher will let you say that in his church? You need more help than I thought. You're almost as bad as your dad."
Then she continued, "Come on, Sady. We have things to discuss."
She pulled the reluctant Sady off his couch and dragged her to the door. Sady sent him a happy smile and Matt had to grin as Amanda smirked over Sady's shoulder. They had come a long way since that bus ride to Sinful, Louisiana over a year ago. And neither of them would change a thing.