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

when she wanted to pace her frustration off. Marie could be frustrating sometimes.

Suddenly it dawned on Maddy that Marie was selfish. All their friendship, Marie had been the one who chose the movie, the restaurant, the party they would go to. Maddy knew it and didn't mind, then. It was just her friend's personality.

"Are there any good looking farm boys around there, Maddy?

I'll bet you're bored to tears out in the sticks." Marie hadn't even realized Maddy wasn't listening.

"Larry’s been asking about you? Did you hear me?"

"Yes, I heard, Marie, and I don't know why you'd think I care about where he is." Her snappish tone shocked Marie.

"Well, as a matter of fact, he said you haven't returned the ring and he thinks you're still engaged."

"The ring is on my entry table right where I left it with a note. I told him the engagement is off. We are not engaged and that's final. Okay? So don't bring up his name to me anymore. And, please make sure he gets the note if he asks again."

As excited as she'd been to hear from her friend back home, Maddy suddenly was becoming very tired with this telephone call.

"Well, I think you're protesting too much. He looks great and he misses you." Larry was on Marie's mind but Maddy's thoughts centered on the handsome face of one complicated, but sexy deputy who had entered her life so casually and wanted her to stay in Nielsen. Larry Preston seemed like a million years ago.

"Well, I hope you didn't tell him where I was. I don't want to talk to him, much less argue with him."

"Well, it did, kind of, slip out the other night at the concert in the park, Maddy. Sorry."

"He doesn't know my number here and don't you give it to him. I don't have anything to talk to him about." Maddy could have wrapped the phone cord around her insensitive friend's neck. "Marie, you know what he put me through before I left, I just don't need any more people telling me what I should do with my life right now."

"Hey, Maddy, I'm sorry, really. You never said not to say anything to anyone. You all right, you sound weird."

"I'm fine, Marie. Just a little tired. I went out tonight, and I had such a good time." She looked at Alec sitting in the kitchen patiently. "I'll probably see the realtor tomorrow or something, I'll call later this week."

"You better. The sooner you get back to civilization the better, girl. Your boss called and you didn’t get the promotion. But that shouldn’t change anything. Just come home. We all miss you. Talk to you later. Bye."

"Ice cream's melting." Alec handed her the bowl. His was empty. Sitting down she took a bite and rested her head on one hand.

"I suppose you heard."

"It's kind of hard not to. Sorry about losing the promotion. Your friend's pushing for you to go back to Chicago and take up life as you know it, huh? Was that Buffy or Skippy?" He gave a wry grin.

"You heard me call her Marie, silly. I'm sure law enforcement calls for eavesdropping occasionally too, huh?" The ice cream was totally melted and she put it down."I didn't think I'd get the promotion anyway. I don't know how to play politics well enough. Or, maybe I really didn't want it."

"I didn't realize that you were getting pushed and pulled so much from all of us. I know I want you to stay, but that's selfish. You have to make up your own mind, Maddy, not for me or them. I had to learn that too. I got married right out of high school for all the wrong reasons, trying to please everyone but myself. I just didn't realize she didn't love me enough to try and work it out. It turned out to be a mess until I took control of my own life." He spoke softly, very wisely and gave her a wink. "I'll try and not push, too. But you let me know if this Larry gives you trouble."

"I can handle Larry. Do you have to go already?" He got up and put his black cowboy hat on. His smile was beguiling and he planted a warm kiss on her cheek, cupping her chin in his hand.

"Yes, I have to work early tomorrow, too. Besides, you need some time to yourself to think. I had a real nice time tonight, despite the mix-up with Becky. My friends all like you a lot. Like me." Maddy walked arm in arm with him to the door. He hugged her close.

"Sorry about the ice cream melting. Can we have strawberry next time?" She said in a small voice not wanting to look up at him for fear he'd say, no, there'd be no next time.

"Sure." He lifted her chin again, "Strawberry it is. Now be sure and lock everything up tight after I leave, Miss Independence."

She nodded and he opened the door and started out. He paused, then in one natural move he swept her into his arms and kissed her passionately. Relieved to feel him close to her again, Maddy didn't resist. She kissed him back.

"Strawberry." He murmured and walked out the door. She watched until he drove away.

"Strawberry." She whispered softly to herself.

***

In the morning, Maddy faced the fact she was going to have to go grocery shopping. She really hated to grocery shop, just more decisions to make. But, she liked to eat, so she couldn't hold off any longer.

The automatic doors parted and a young, carryout boy with a bright smile was the first thing she saw.

"Hi, Maddy," he said cheerfully as he put groceries in a sack for a customer. Dressed in a high school jacket, he took his job seriously. Tommy was taller than Maddy, fresh-faced with brown hair and an infectious grin. The very first time she'd run into the store for garbage bags, he spoke to her right away like