Page 92 of Unforgiven

“I’m glad. She’s special.”

“I agree.”

Feeling like the words he said were going to matter, Seth added, “Just so you know, Melonie doesn’t give her heart easily. Take care with it, okay?”

“I’m doing my best. I’m only calling on her properly so your parents don’t get mad.”

“I see.”

Lott looked at him. “You aren’t acting like that’s a good thing.”

“Oh, I’m sure it is. But, um, don’t forget that she’s still Melonie. Even though I’m not supposed to know about it, she’s still the girl who snuck out to see you when my parents weren’t happy about you calling on her.”

“You want me to sneak around with her again?”

“No, but, um, if she needs you to sit in her living room on a formal call, then that’s what you should do. And . . . if Melonie needs you to talk about your feelings, then you’re gonna need to do that too. Women like that sort of thing.”

“Does Tabitha?”

“I think so.” Feeling Lott’s gaze on him, Seth swallowed hard. “I’m still trying to figure out a way to be the person Tabitha needs me to be. But I’m willing to try. And if I fail, I’m willing to try again.”

“Falling in love is hard, isn’t it?”

It hadn’t been for him. He’d crushed on Tabitha when he was fourteen, ached for her when she was married, and spent the last two years building a new, more solid relationship between them. All of that had been hard.

Everything except falling in love.

“I think relationships are hard, Lott. Good ones, at least. I reckon that deciding who to marry is the most important decision in a person’s life. The person who’s beside you is going to help you be the man you want to be. She’s also going to help you when you aren’t.” He grabbed the level, made sure the board was straight, and then added, “That’s not just for now but for years and years, Lott.”

“I never thought about marriage like that.”

“Like you’ve pointed out a time or two, I’m no expert when it comes to a lot of stuff. But prison gave me some time to really think about things.”

“Sometimes you act like going to prison wasn’t the worst thing in your life.”

Seth knew Lott was studying him carefully. “That’s because sometimes it wasn’t. Not every hurt is obvious to others, you know? Everyone’s got something that aches that they don’t like to mention.”

Lott’s eyes widened, then he nodded. “What’s next?”

“Grab the screwdriver and start taking down the old cabinet doors.”

Seth was pleased that the boy was now following his directions without question. Maybe the two of them were figuring out a lot of things about each other at last.

He reckoned that was a very good thing.

32

The Zimmermans’ house was quieter than usual. According to Melonie, her father was late coming home from a horse auction and her mother was in bed with a migraine. Good manners would have been for Lott to tell Melonie he understood that it wasn’t a good evening for a visit and go home.

He stayed.

Melonie seemed pleased that he didn’t take off. Though it was probably a mistake, he walked right in when she held open the door. All day long he’d been thinking about this visit. Debating about whether he should stop by or not.

“It’s gut to see you, Mel.” That was the truth too, though he feared he might wish he’d been more circumspect when her father realized he’d sat with Melonie unchaperoned.

She smiled at him. “I didn’t think you were coming over today. Did we have something planned that I’ve forgotten?”

“Nee.” He followed her into the kitchen. “To be honest, I wasn’t planning on coming over, but when I was walking home I changed my mind.”

---