Letters From Al by Pieper, Kathleen (ebook audio reader TXT) 📕

Did he remember their first kiss, too, she thought. It had been so special, tender. They had waxed poetic about it then. Later, they'd made teenaged promises, sharing plans, goals. Suddenly she snapped back.

"I sure hope there are some pictures of my aunt around somewhere," Maddy changed the subject once again, avoiding the magnetism that seemed to draw her to him. "I feel like I missed out on so much, but I want to catch up while I’m here."

"There'll be plenty of time to catch up on her life. Now, getting back to us, we were pretty serious about each other. Didn't we go to a dance together that year?" Alec cleared his throat, amusement flickered in his eyes.

Shrugging, she couldn't look at him. She had been very serious. They spent every moment together and had gone to the homecoming dance that year. She looked over at him standing so casually in the doorway. Was he thinking like she was, remembering? They'd gone for a long walk, kissed under the oak tree in the square. It was her first kiss. He'd even carved their initials on the bandstand, against town regulations. Did he remember all that? She did. But she said nothing because it evidently didn't mean as much to him as it had to her.

"I wish I had known her better. Maybe I could have helped."

"If it's any consolation, she had a lot of good friends around her. The whole town helped. The women brought in food and cleaned. The men cut the grass in summer, scooped snow in winter. We kept it up until she had to go to the nursing home. Now Aunt Polly is the only one who keeps tabs on the place, done a good job, too. She is your suspicious neighbor. She'll be glad to meet you, like me."

He raised his brows and gave her a wink. The look spoke volumes and Maddy was torn between excitement and caution at the flirtation. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. How could she answer that?

"So, are you are going to stick around at least for a while?"

"I will for a while. Don't know how long yet. I hadn't planned on it permanently, I've got a job, you know." Anonymous sounding words came out of her mouth, not very convincing but at least it was something.

He stepped ahead quickly cutting off her exit, his strong arm blocking the doorway. "You really like that job, I mean you wouldn't even consider staying a while? You might get to like it here." His breath was soft on her cheek. She could smell the faint aroma of his aftershave, all woodsy and clean.

"My job is my job. Of course I like it. What kind of a question is that?" She felt cornered.

"I'm sorry. I guess I'm getting ahead of myself. It's just that I feel like I'm getting a second chance at something important here and you mentioned a boyfriend. I don't mean to pry but you didn’t sound very happy about it. Like I said if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm available."

It was hard to admit she'd left behind a dead-end job, a lonely apartment, and a boyfriend she didn't trust. True she had friends and felt comfortable in her little apartment, but only because it was convenient. The scary part was she had been tempted to go back just because she didn't want to face the thought of change. But she'd be darned if she would admit that to herself, or him, now.

"To tell you the truth, Alec, I'd planned to dispose of my great aunt's things as quickly as possible. After all, I had no reason to think there was anything for me here. It's a pretty small town after living in Chicago. I don't think I’m much of a small town girl. I don’t know if I'd be content here."

"Well, that makes sense, I guess." Alec regarded her quizzically for a moment, but if he was disappointed, he didn't say so. It made her feel awful inside, but stubbornly she fought it off, wanting some breathing room.

"I have a full life back in Chicago. I can't, just, up and, well, you know, leave." She struggled again.

He shrugged, this time when he looked at her it was in a different light.

"I pushed too hard, you don't need to explain anything to me. It's just been good seeing you, really, Maddy." He smiled and excused himself. "Hey, I'll go check the back door and make sure everything is locked up for the night and then I better get going. I've got an early shift in the morning."

Maddy only half noticed his departure. Her head was throbbing equally from fatigue and stress. She hadn't planned on sparring with Alec. She hadn't expected him to even be in Nielsen anymore. But how could he presume to interfere in her life? If only he'd kept in touch all those years ago, just a few lousy letters might have made all the difference in her life.

Stepping cautiously into the living room, she gazed in wonder at the room so lovingly arranged. Even under sheets and in a dusty state, the room flowed in beauty with rich wood and classic, elegant taste. Slowly she uncovered a few more pieces, running her hand over the mantle of the old fireplace, long unlit. Her feet sank into the plush, delicately flowered carpet.

Emotion overwhelmed her, envisioning her great aunt greeting guests in the ambiance of this very room. Gently Maddy touched the velvet fainting couch and pulled the sheet from the ornate settee. Cleverly arranged knick-knacks, little music boxes, southern belles dancing on porcelain pedestals, birds in ceramic branches sat as they had when Aunt Madeline had lived here.

The mirror above the fireplace showed her reflection, the wonder of living such a life. Suddenly a man's strong features appeared beside her, Alec. They looked at each other through the mirror's