“Mattie, Graham has come calling,” her mother called up to her room. “Would you rather not see him? I could tell him to leave.”
“Nee, don’t do that. I’ll be right there.”
She scampered down the stairs, then, unable to stop herself, practically leapt into his arms the moment she saw him. “Graham, it’s so good to see you.”
To her relief, his arms curved immediately around her as she clung. “Mattie? Mattie, good heavens! What’s going on?”
Oh, but no one else on earth felt like Graham. The taut muscles of his chest and shoulders felt just right to lean into. His height was the perfect size for her to tuck her face into his neck. And his embrace felt the way it had always been. Warm and solid, comforting but not too firm.
“Mattie?” Graham was soothing her, rubbing between her shoulder blades—right in the area that had been so sore after her surgery. “Mattie, what is wrong?”
After taking comfort in his arms another minute, she stepped away.
Blue eyes met hers as a lump formed in the back of her throat. Should she tell him the truth? Or not?
If she told Graham the truth, it might change the way he thought of her. After all, he had warned her to stay away from William.
But if she didn’t tell him the truth, the lie would always be between them. Even if Graham never guessed the truth, it would be like a cut between them, festering, infecting everything . . .
“Mattie, you can tell me anything, right?” Reaching out, he clasped her hands so they were swinging slightly between them. His grip was easy and sweet.
Slowly, she met his gaze again. When the corners of his eyes crinkled, she saw the unabashed truth there. And that’s when she knew there was only one thing to do.
Mattie gathered her courage and spoke. “William came here.”
Holding her at arm’s length, he gazed at her in confusion. “And?”
“And he kissed me, Graham.”
In a flash, cold hurt filled his gaze. “I see.”
Stepping close to him, she shook her head. “Nee! You don’t see. Graham, he kissed me without my wanting. And then . . . he upset me,” she added in a rush. “So I hurt him like you showed me.”
He blinked. “You did what?”
Pulling him into the living room, she stopped in front of the fireplace. “I jabbed him with my knee, Graham,” she said, barely blushing at all. “Your trick worked well.”
It was obvious he was fighting a smile as he sat. “He went down on the floor, hmm?”
She nodded. “He was terribly hurt.”
“Gut.” Taking her hands, he rubbed his thumbs along her knuckles again. “Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head. “No. He scared me, though.”
“I’ll talk to him, you can be sure of that. Believe me, he’ll be sorry for coming over here.”
“It may not be necessary. My mamm talked to him, already.”
“No. He needs to hear from me.” His voice was hard as stone. “What he did wasn’t right. Besides, I told him to leave you alone.”
That caught her off guard. “Why?”
“Because—” His cheeks turning red, he stopped. “Never mind. Now isn’t the time to continue our talk. Now, are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. Well, I mean, I will be soon.” It was then that she noticed he seemed off—a tension emanated from him, making him seem almost like a stranger. Actually, Graham looked as down and out of sorts as she’d ever seen him.
Slowly, she realized that he must have been upset about something when he arrived. “Are you all right?”
“Truly? Nee.”
“I see.” Mattie noticed his lips were pursed so tight that a faint sheen of white surrounded them. His body was stiff, too. All he did was stare at the fireplace.
As the flames crackled and her hands and face warmed, Mattie wondered how to help him. Was he waiting for her to say something—just the right thing?
She didn’t know what that was.
Perhaps she should offer him comfort? Maybe she could remind him about that Bible verse from Isaiah? As far as she knew, Graham’s faith had never wavered. Perhaps that would comfort him more than anything she could think to say.
But just as she was about to speak, Graham stretched out his legs and finally looked at her. “I’ve just come from seeing Jenna.”
Unable to stop herself, she winced. And though it made no sense, being her old, familiar friend, jealousy settled inside of her. “Oh?” she asked in what she hoped was a terribly offhand way. And how did you find Jenna?”
“Full of news.” Graham was looking at the flames again, but a bit of humor, dark and ironic, tinged his voice. “I went to her house, full of anger and self-righteousness . . . but when I left, I felt humbled.”
Humbled? “Graham, what happened? What did she say?”
He turned to her, his beautiful blue eyes full of questions. Making Mattie realize he was only half with her. Part of his mind was back at Jenna’s house, back with their conversation.
Feeling completely confused, Mattie wrapped her arms around herself and waited. Too much had happened today to understand.
Finally Graham spoke again. “Mattie, I have a lot to tell you about our conversation. But suddenly, it doesn’t matter so much anymore. And I’m realizing, too, that I don’t want to think. I’m exhausted. Would you mind if we just sat together for a bit? If we sat together and I held your hand, and we just watched the fire?”
There was only one response she could make. “Of course, Graham. We can sit here as long as you want.” Without another word, she held out her hand.