“I suppose. Minnie’s not one to complain.” With a steady look in Matt’s direction, she added softly, “Never was.”
Now what was that supposed to mean?
“Do her parents live nearby?”
“Two towns over. Anson and JoAnn help when they can, but sometimes I think Minnie does better without them around. Anson and Jo can’t last more than a minute or two without mentioning Paige and dissolving into tears.”
“Which would be hard for Kimber.”
“Uh-huh. But that’s okay. Me and that little thing have become pretty close. I get a kick out of watching Minnie deal with Kimber. Oh, but she’s getting a run for her money!”
She padded to the tiny linen closet and pulled out two towels. “After you get settled, come downstairs and we’ll make plans.”
When he was alone, Matt sat on the crocheted bedspread and took a deep breath. At the moment, it didn’t matter that he’d lost most of his Texas accent around the time he’d been doing his best to climb up the corporate ladder at SavNGo Discounters. It didn’t matter that most of the time he lived out of a suitcase, spending very little time in one place—his job of facilitating grand openings of stores kept him on the road.
For one brief moment, Matt felt vulnerable and full of hope. Like he did years ago. Just after he’d buried his dad and realized he had nowhere to go. Well, nowhere until Mr. and Mrs. Wyzecki offered their home and asked him to help with the dishes.
Once again, he felt accepted and wanted. And that—well, that felt good.
Picking up his cell phone, he called Jackie, his personal assistant. “I’m in,” he said, not bothering with small talk. “Anything you need from me right away?”
“Grab a pen, Matt,” she replied with a husky laugh. “I always need something from you.”
Chapter Two
Oh, it was him. Matt Madigan. Spiky brown hair. Eyes as blue as the sky. Perfect jaw. Flawless smile. Shoulders broad and solid. Matt Madigan was standing in her card shop.
Minnie Clark pulled the invoices she’d been reading a little closer to her face. One foot tapped in a nervous rhythm, keeping pace with her pounding heart. Funny how some things never changed.
She still was drawn to Matt like a child with a shiny new penny. Memories of ninth grade came flooding back. He used to wear frayed button-downs and old Levi’s. Scuffed boots and his hair a little too long.
She’d worn a perpetual, lovesick expression whenever he was within ten feet.
Of course, he’d rarely said a word to her—he’d been a senior and Paige had been his on-again, off-again girlfriend.
Minnie had just been a mousy replica. Oh, but how she’d dreamed things were different.
Now, years later, here he was, standing three feet away and looking at a row of cards right in her very own store.
As Minnie noticed that those worn jeans still fit his backside real fine, slowly Matt turned. Walked toward her. Down went the invoices. On the counter went a card.
“So, is that everything, Matt?”
Blue eyes blinked. “I’m sorry…do we know each other?”
She held out her hand. “Minnie Clark.” He shook it.
“Hi.” He smiled. Her eyes focused on those lips. Those cheekbones.
“Now I remember. Mrs. Wy said you owned this shop. It’s real nice.”
“Thanks.” A moment passed. It felt like an eternity.
Filling the gap, Matt gestured to his right. “I, uh, really the like your front windows.”
Minnie turned to where he pointed at her Back To School display. “Thanks. Alice and I tried real hard on them.” Oh, for heaven’s sakes! Tried real hard?
“And, Minnie…I was sure sorry to hear about Paige.”
Just hearing her sister’s name still brought pain. “I appreciate that. She’s missed by a lot of people.”
“I suspect so.” Leaning forward, Matt braced two elbows on the counter. “I heard you’re raising her daughter, Kimber.”
“I am.”
A tiny silence stretched for what seemed like an hour, or maybe just a couple of seconds. No matter what, it felt too long.
Minnie picked up the card and scanned it. “Two fifty-seven, Matt.”
He pulled out a five dollar bill. “I guess we’ll be seeing each other around town some. I’m buying Mrs. Wyzecki’s house. Heard you live right across the street.”
“I do.” She handed him his change. “I sure am going to miss Wanda living there.”
His eyes narrowed.
Minnie realized she’d effectively said she wasn’t looking forward to him being there. Great. Yet another super interchange between her and Matt. “We’re real close.”
“Oh.”
She pasted on a smile. “If you need anything…just let me know.”
“Thanks. I’ll do that.”
Minnie watched as he walked to the door. She was tempted to ask exactly why he’d come back, what he’d been doing since he’d been gone. But it wasn’t the time and, frankly, none of her business.
As a matter of fact, she should know better than to even care. She had Kimber and work. And, well, it hadn’t been all that long since Peter had dumped her like a pile of logs. Only six months.
She did not need to be mooning over Matt Madigan.
At least not anymore.
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE Kimber would do something that was exactly like Paige. An idiosyncrasy that made Minnie want to laugh and cry all at the same time.
Or, like at that very moment, want to go back to bed and retreat from the world because things were just too hard.
This was one of those moments.
Arms folded across her chest, the five-year-old held her ground. “Why can’t I go down the street by myself? I’m real good on my bike.”
Minnie’s dad had taught Kimber to ride a two-wheeler last week. Now, in the little girl’s mind, there was no turning back.
“Kimber, you just learned to ride. You’re not ready to go out by yourself.”
“I am, too.”
“No, I don’t think so. You don’t even know everyone around here yet. What if you got lost?”
“I won’t.”
“But you could. Sweetheart, if something happened to you, I’d be so sad. Besides, it’s too early to go out and play. It’s only seven. Most people are still eating their cereal.” Minnie pointed to the little girl’s bowl, a pile of soggy rice puffs floating on the top. “Sit down and eat.”
“I’m done.”
“Then you’ll just have to be patient. I’ll have time to go out with you in an hour.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Oh, well.”
“I wish I was home.” With a scowl Kimber went back to her room and closed her door, just as Paige had done when she hadn’t gotten her way.
And Paige had always wanted her way.
For a split second, Minnie glanced at the phone. She could call Mrs. Wyzecki and ask for advice. In a flash, Wanda would stride