Chapter Nineteen

Miles stood in his old office at the Checkerberry a few Saturdays later, his desk empty save for a cardboard box holding the last of his personal items that sat atop it. Melancholy shuffled him from the room, but his growling stomach guided him down the hall toward the kitchen. Surely his grandmother would allow him one last meal before he left.

He was still family, after all.

He’d driven back from Columbus last night, too depressed by the quiet of his still boxed-up apartment to want to stay. Despite its great view and vast amenities, the place didn’t feel like home. He’d already begun to doubt it ever would. Besides, he had belongings still needing to be packed and a house to put on the market. Too bad right now he had little desire to do either.

And while his first few weeks on the job had gone more smoothly than expected, he’d still struggled night and day to keep focused. That’s what having Stephanie Fitzpatrick on the brain will do to a man.

Miles would know—he’d lived through losing her twice now.

The dining room was empty this early but not silent as muffled sounds from the kitchen wafted toward him. Miles wove his way through the usual cluster of tables, rounded the tall bar that separated the kitchen entrance from the main dining area, and stopped before the swinging kitchen doors. Strains of Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” greeted his ears, accompanied by a very off-key second voice. With a grin, Miles pushed the door aside and stepped in.

“Damn it, Brent,” Maddie called, her back to the door and her hands busy rolling homemade cinnamon rolls. “You know you’re not supposed to interrupt Carrie time.”

“Is that why he’s always down at EAT? Because you won’t let him in here?”

Maddie twisted to offer Miles a scowl, her chestnut brows drawn low and apple cheeks rosy from exertion. “He’d better not be. That place is a heart attack waiting to happen.”

Miles crossed the room to grab a drinking glass. “Maybe that should be my next stop,” he muttered.

“If it’s a death wish you’re after, I could save you the trip and just add some strychnine to your rolls.” She flashed him an evil grin.

Miles offered her what little smile he could muster but kept his distance as he filled his glass with water then took a good long drink. There’d never been the slightest hint of romantic vibes between him and Maddie, but she’d never offered to nix him before, either. Maybe he shouldn’t have given her such a hard time about that latest bakery invoice after all.

“I appreciate the offer, creepy as it may be, but I’d better pass. Ruby would be devastated, you know.”

Maddie snorted. “Always the modest one.”

“I’m lyin’, I’m dyin’.”

She eyed him for a moment, eyes slowly narrowing. “Okay, out with it. What’s got you in such a dark place this morning? Usually you’re traipsing through here on a Saturday, gloating about your latest conquest.”

He traded his glass for a banana and sighed. “Yeah, well, there hasn’t been a latest conquest. Not since…her.”

“Her as in the one that was staying down the hall?”

“Maybe.”

When he offered no more, she turned back to her work with a shrug. “I have a rule in my kitchen, Miles—start talking, or start walking. If you want someone to play twenty questions with, Ruby’s sure to be in her office by now.”

“Damn, Maddie, have you always been this harsh, or is it just a holdover from our last produce prices face-off?”

“I mince onions, Miles. Not words. You know that.”

And he did. Learned it her first day here when she’d called him out on his flirting. Maddie had drawn the line in the sand and posted an imaginary “Cross at Your Own Risk” billboard beside it. He’d immediately backed away but respected her for it. Still did.

“Yeah, I do. But this isn’t something I can talk to Ruby about. She wouldn’t understand.”

Maddie chuckled. “If it’s a matter of the heart, I’m sure she would.”

“See, that’s just it—this can’t be that kind of discussion. I don’t do the heart thing.”

“Sounds like the heart and the head are finally starting to, well, butt heads.”

“Too bad the head has to win.”

“Why’s that?” she asked.

“Let’s just say I’ve seen firsthand what happens when that whole ‘happily ever after’ train derails. And it ain’t pretty.”

Maddie set the last roll into a large tray and wiped her hands off on a towel at her waist. “What are you talking about? You’ve never been in any relationship that lasted longer than a few weeks to my knowledge. Or is there some deep, dark secret about Miles Masterson that Ruby hasn’t somehow managed to divulge over the years?”

“I’m not talking about me, Maddie. I’m talking about my folks.”

She planted a hand on one fist. “But I’ve met your folks, spent some time with them last summer when they came here for a visit. You think they aren’t happy?”

“No, I don’t.” Or the rest of the country that’s fallen victim to divorce, with its ever higher-climbing rates. Maddie threw him a questioning look, and Miles sighed. “It’s all a lie, Maddie. When I was a kid, it was all a show for me. After I moved out, they skipped town so they wouldn’t have to pretend in front of the rest of us anymore. They insist they’re still married, but I have my doubts. Why else would they always come back here instead of me going to visit them there?”

“All pretend? I don’t think so, Miles. ‘Cause I’ve seen unhappy, seen the way it dims the fire in people’s eyes. Like your cousin, or your last fling. Sure, they try to hide the hurt, but it’s there. Now, your folks? If there was a hurt, it’s long since healed, because they were genuinely happy when they were here last. And they had the menu to prove it.”

“Menu?” Miles snorted. “Are you trying to tell me you can judge the health of a relationship by a couple’s menu choices?”

“You don’t think I can?” She leaned back against the countertop and folded both arms across her chest.

“They aren’t happy, Maddie.”

“Key lime pie.”

He frowned. “What?”

“They split an order of Key lime pie after dinner each night.”

“So?”

“So it’s a proven fact that Key lime pie is an aphrodisiac…and typically ordered by couples who are sexually activ—”

Miles plugged both of his ears. “Nanananananana. That’s the last thing I want to hear about.” Her brows rose in unison, and he shook his head. “You really buy into this crap?”

“Wanna know how many times Kayla and Brent have snuck a piece?”

“Dang it, no!” He knew darned well they were happily…involved. Quite happily, given both their perpetual good moods and all of Brent’s gloating these past few months. Any day now Miles full well expected to hear there was a bun in the oven.

A baby. What would that be like, having a baby in the family? An odd sensation settled over Miles, one he couldn’t quite place.

“Look,” said Maddie. “I have no idea what got you thinking that your parents were unhappy. And maybe at one time they were. But even in the darkest hours there’s still hope, still a chance that things can turn around. What’s that saying? Love conquers all?”

“Uh huh. If that’s the case, then why are we both sitting here, over thirty and single?”

She smirked. “Because I’m not looking, and you’re a male whore.”

“I really need to teach you how to mince those words.”

“No, I really need to finish these rolls. And you, buddy, need to go track down that hot little number of yours and stop being an idiot when it comes to women.”

Miles watched Maddie work in silence as he considered a new reality—one where his parents truly didn’t hate each other, and didn’t fake happiness for the family’s sake. Had he read them wrong? Let one overheard conversation mistakenly influence him all these years?

Maybe so. At ten, that’s all he could process—the here and now. Not the future, not the possibility of a change, just the here and now. In fact that’s all he’d ever allowed himself to process, out of fear. Stephanie had seen that, which was why she’d been able to walk away. Because unless he changed, she’d never have his whole heart.

His gaze shifted to the door. Could he change? Could he open his mind to the possibility that love was really out there waiting for him?

Would Stephanie even give him another chance if he did?

Miles grabbed an apple and headed back toward his office, a plan already beginning to take shape in his mind. Only one way to find out…