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

the same dear, little Maddy from old Chicago who always was so amiable." Larry Preston had been caught off-guard and reacted with a sneer.

Sauntering over to him, she looked him square in the eye. "It sure isn't."

"Not pulling any punches, huh? Country life must be invigorating." He gave a cynical glance around the old-fashioned kitchen and leaned against a cupboard in a challenging way.

"Sure is. And if you think Marie opinion is going to help you, it won't. Now you've got her under your influence. It's apparent that she doesn't know what I want or need either." Maddy added.

"Do you know what you want or need, Maddy? Seems to me you always had a problem with that. I know that better than anyone." He tried to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear in an intimate gesture, but she slapped his hand away. If he was trying to fluster her, it wasn't working.

"Larry. For the first time in my life, I do know what I want. And believe me, it isn't you. And you should have known better than to try a stunt like this."

"Come on, Maddy, you can't even order from the menu without asking me what I think. You need me, and you know it." Stiffening, his jaw clenched tightly he reached for her but stopped when the others came in for lunch. He backed off temporarily.

While munching on sandwiches, Skip and Buffy raved about the charisma of the old house and their approval pleased Maddy.

"You know, we drove all day and half the night, thirteen hours from doorstep to doorstep to come get you." Buffy chatted aimlessly as she ate.

"Get me? I didn't tell anyone to come and get me. I thought you brought me my car."

"Marie, the last time we talked you said Maddy put the house up for sale and wanted us to come get her." Skip's tone was accusing. Unconcerned, the dark haired girl shrugged and remained silent.

"Skip. What I told Marie is that I hadn't made up my mind yet and I would let her know later in the week. That’s why I was so surprised to see you guys."

Skip and Buffy were both upset with Marie at the turn of events. Larry sat back smoking a cigarette, a smug smile on his face as if enjoying the unrest he had caused. Maddy had to put a stop to it for that reason alone.

"Well, never mind. Everything is settled now since I talked to Marie. Are you ready for this? I'm staying. Now put out that cigarette in my new home, Larry." Maddy's voice was clear.

"You've got to be kidding. Staying where, here?" Marie stared incredulously. Larry stubbed his cigarette out, his eyes missing nothing. Skip and Buffy swallowed hard and looked at each other.

"Now, now, Maddy's just trying to rattle us." Larry's voice was smooth as oil.

"Well, she's succeeding." Marie was near tears.

"Maddy, are you really considering staying here?" Buffy said in a quiet voice. "You're not just saying that because you're mad at Marie and Larry?"

"No, I'm not just mad. I've come to love this little town and this house and the people. It's like being in a free fall and when I landed here in Nielsen I just knew it was where I wanted to stay. I feel grounded." Everyone knew she meant every word she said just from the calm look on her face.

She got up to get dessert, the table occupants grew dead quiet. Maddy smiled to herself, I really like being in control for a change.

"You can't mean it." Marie threw her half-eaten sandwich down. "What about your job and apartment, and us? Your whole life is in Chicago not Nebraska."

"I called my supervisor this morning. She won't have any trouble finding a replacement. As far as the apartment is concerned, I'll sublet until I find a buyer." The confidence was building.

"Maddy? About the apartment," Skip and Buffy looked at each other, "we'd lease it from you, maybe even buy it later. I mean, if you're sure. We never thought you'd be happy anywhere but in the big city." Buffy said hesitantly.

"I thought so too, but my life here is so much more. It's simple as that. And if you want the apartment it's yours." Only Larry and Marie were silent and didn't congratulate her. Marie sat sullenly, but Larry kept looking at her as if trying to figure out a way to change her mind.

Maddy stubbornly refused to back down for any of them.

"I'll be okay financially for a while so I'll get by until I find something to do here. Actually I've been thinking this place might make a nice bed and breakfast inn. I have more ideas and a few options." Maddy cut the dessert and passed the plates around.

"Well, we're going to miss you, but if you're really sure, and you look like you are, we'll come back to visit." Buffy said with a renewed enthusiasm.

"What a turn of events." Skip sat back, smiling. Teasing he turned to Larry. "You're awfully quiet, old man, not quite prepared for what happened, huh?"

"She won't go through with it." He said sardonically and turned brooding eyes on Maddy. "It's too much of a change and we all know Maddy hates change."

"You don't know me as well as you think, Larry. But I should thank you. It was your extra curricular activity that made me want something else, something better."

"I wonder though, if Maddy here is telling us everything." Larry's mind was slowly piecing things together.

He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands, staring intently at Maddy. "It seems when she said she'd come to know the people, she brightened up as if she'd found someone special to know. Am I right?" He found the emotional button and he pushed it.

Surprised, Maddy wished she could push him out of her house right then. He'd turned the tables on her again, like a snake tracking down its prey, he'd figured out an angle to try and