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

home for a quick shower and change of clothes then over to Maddy's and the barbecue. He worried that seeing her Chicago friends again, nice as they were, might somehow make her homesick for the big city. It wasn't fair to think that, especially after meeting Larry Preston and seeing how he treated Maddy, but he still worried.

When he pulled up in front of Maddy's house, they were all lolling on the wicker lawn furniture on the porch.

"Hey, man. Don't ever go shopping with these two. They wore me out." Skip groaned getting up to help Alec unload the barbecue grill.

Maddy and Buffy helped with the grocery sacks and took them into the kitchen. Alec gave Maddy a quick kiss in passing, which turned into several more.

"Thank you. I've waited all day to do that."

"I hate to discourage such a good kisser, but the company is arriving early." Maddy pointed to several cars that had pulled up outside.

"Let them wait." His kissed her again, and Maddy couldn't help but melt right into it, leaving them both a little breathless. Buffy blundered in just then with an empty glass.

"Oh, I'm sorry about that but there's some guys here, big guys, and they want to know where to put the keg."

"Be right there, Buffy," Alec started to pull away but Maddy yanked him back.

"Just a minute, you tease. You finally get me to wait for that darn truck of yours to turn in my driveway and then you leave me for a keg." She crossed her arms and looked away, waiting for his reaction.

"So you do wait at the window just to see me, huh? I thought so." He sounded pleased.

"I guess I do." Maddy's breath caught in her throat. "It kind of scares me. We've only been back together such a short time sometimes I think it's too good to be true. But then you leave and I can't wait for you to come back. I guess I worry you might not want to be stuck with me."

"Hey, don't worry about that. I know it's going fast, it is for me too. And I know that it worries you. But Maddy, don't think about it so much, it's like I've been waiting for you all my life. I don't want anything to ruin it either. It's a second chance for us."

"I was afraid when you heard what Larry said."

"Don't worry about Larry, that’s in the past. You're my girl now. Just believe that."

"I believe." Maddy held his face in her hands, her heart beating with relief and joy. He said she was his girl, Maddy's heart beat even faster and she didn't hesitate to kiss him this time.

"We hate to break up a Kodak moment here, but there are people thirsting and starving outside this very door." Skip broke in with Buffy trying to pull him back.

"You big city people have lousy timing." Alec hugged Maddy and raised one eyebrow.

"No, just empty stomachs. What time is this shindig supposed to start? There are a lot of people here already. Come on." Skip yelled over his shoulder.

The old picnic table in the back was covered with a bright plastic tablecloth and Tim and some others set up a keg of beer with a washtub full of ice and pop.

Skip grabbed Alec and tied a big chef's apron on him. Maddy giggled when she read the bold, black letters on the front that said, "I love the chef." After cranking his head to read it, he frowned at Skip who in turn, pointed to Maddy.

"It's from her, Man, not me."

"Thank goodness." Alec grimaced and caught Maddy's arm as she walked by. "Hey, do you? Love the chef, I mean?" Kissing him hard and quickly, Maddy just smiled and slipped away again without answering.

"Let's see how good you can cook before I commit myself." She grabbed a plate of raw hamburgers and gestured to the fast growing crowd.

The evening went fast, too fast. They ate, drank, played volleyball and Frisbee and cuddled by a fire later. But all too soon it was over and everyone began to leave with promises of getting together again. Her first house party was a success.

* * *

Buffy and Skip were up early for their return trip home.

"Okay, so here's the name and number of the landlord, just have him do the paperwork and send it to me to sign. Since I've got everything I need here, you can use whatever you want of my furniture. Just send the clothes and shoes and books. Well, here's a list. Just put everything else in storage. That way you'll be moved in before the wedding."

"Hey. deputy, how about a hand with the luggage? I'm creaking worse than an old door after all that volleyball last night." Skip winced, flexing achy arms while the girls said their goodbyes.

Following arm-in-arm, the girls hurried after them, giving each other instructions on a variety of things from the wedding to the apartment. For just a brief moment thoughts of going back to Chicago crossed Maddy’s mind. It only took one look at Alec as he smiled and put his arm around her and the feeling passed.

The finality hit her; her old life was in the past, like her other childhood memories. Even though it was a little sad, the decision to stay was hers and she was content with it. Buffy poked her head out the window and madly waved goodbye as they drove down the street.

"Are you having second thoughts about staying now that they're leaving?"

Sighing, she shook her head. "No. Not really. Just going to miss my friends. Maybe it's the way my friendship with Marie ended. It was kind of a mixed up mess for a while, and I think I knew it would come to that. I've never been good at change. No, I'm not unhappy."

"A little sad is normal." He finished for her, and she nodded, leaning into his secure arms. "Well, Skippy and Buffy are great. I