Page 72 of Loved By Tandy

Dots dance like he’s typing and answer, then disappear. But no message pops up. I guess our conversation is over.

I get down on all fours and peek under the bed. He’s stashed a beautiful floral box under here. Inside is an assortment of treats. Not just candy. But chips and jerky. There is enough in here to keep me sated for at least twenty-four hours.

Me:I just opened the box. Thank you.

Startled by a noise outside the window, I whip around to see Matthew grinning at me.

I yank open the window. “What in the blazes are you doing? You are going to fall and break your leg.”

“Beau warned me of that possibility. Let’s try to avoid that. Step back so I can climb in.” Matthew holds his trench coat closed as he climbs in.

When I see that his legs are bare, I wiggle my finger in his face. “You better not have climbed in here wearing only a coat. I think long ago, it was established what a horrible idea that is.”

He takes a step toward me. “Are you asking me to take off my coat?”

“No. I’m not. There is perfectly good scaffolding set up outside this house, so why in the world are you climbing that rickety ladder?”

“Beau would be hurt if he heard you insulting his magical ladder. Do you know how hard it was to convince Ava to tell us where she hid it? Mad Dog convinced her. We didn’t ask how. But it took him a while.”

For every step I take backward, Matthew matches it with forward motion. Soon, the backs of my knees are touching the bed.

“Why did you climb in my window?” I put my hand on his chest, but then grip his lapel in my fist so that he can’t pull away.

He smiles at my hold on his coat. “Because I love you. And because we need to talk. And—” He pries my fingers off his coat. “Hold that thought.” He runs to the window and hollers, “You can take it away now.”

“Matthew Gallagher, without a ladder, you can’t leave.”

“Exactly, and neither can you. We have lots of time to talk.” He unties the belt on his coat and yanks it open to reveal a Matchmaker Ranch T-shirt. “I got the logo from Cami and had a place in San Antonio make me a run of shirts. All red. If they still sell those bedazzler things, you could add some bling to your shirt.” He shrugs off the coat and turns around. “And I had STAFF printed on the back because if you won’t marry me and let me live with you, then I’ll have a small cabin built on the property—using my own funds—and beg you to let me be part of the staff. I’ll be the greeter at the front gate, welcoming all the love birds. But I want to be near you. I want to walk with you in the mornings. I want to feel your hand on my back as I fall asleep. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Tandy.”

“What about your daughter? I don’t want her to hate you. Or me.” I became a therapist because I handle others’ conflicts much better than my own.

He pulls down the legs of his sweatpants that were bunched up just above his knees. “We talked for a long time the day after you left. It took me that long to be civil with her. And then I went point by point through her accusations. I explained that Catherine wasn’t replaceable, and if Donna thought she was, I can’t fix that for her. Donna was worried about you living in the house, and now you aren’t. And I won’t either. And to counter her comments about you being after my money—which is a joke—I gave her part of her inheritance early. Then she’ll get a third of whatever’s left when I die.”

“What did she say?”

“At first, she refused to accept it, saying that wasn’t what she meant. But she did. And I offered to fund therapy if she needed to talk to someone. I know she’s having a hard time with Catherine’s death. It’s been years, and Donna is still struggling. But because she stays away, I didn’t realize how much she’s still grieving. We talked about how lonely I felt after losing her mom, how hard it was to even get out of bed. There were tears. Hers. Not mine. It was a good talk. In the end, she said she wanted me to be happy, and felt better knowing that I’d struggled after Catherine’s death. We’re okay now.”

“I want y’all to be a happy family, like you were before I crashed into your life.”

He wraps his arms around me. “You didn’t crash anything, and I want everyone to be happy too. Me included. I can’t keep my life on hold. The way I figure it, if I drink lots of water and eat my veggies every day, I might eek out twenty years with you. We might not get out of our rocking chairs much, but I’d happily spend all day on a porch if you were next to me.”

“I want the big pretty bow that ties everything into a happily-ever-after.” I don’t want to walk on eggshells when Donna visits, but I do want Matthew.

He reaches into his pocket. “Will you accept a small pretty ring and a happily-ever-after? Please.”

“Yes.”

Matthew’s lips meet mine, and for a moment, the rush of young love washes over us. But when it passes, what’s left is a love deeper than I was capable of giving at eighteen.

“Hold that thought.” He gives me a quick peck before running to the window. “She said yes!”

Cheers erupt from down below, and someone sets off fireworks.

I join Matthew at the window and wave at the crowd of our friends and family gathered below.

“When do you want to get married?” I loop my arm around his and rest my head on his arm as we watch the fireworks display. “And did you buy all those?”

“Yep. It’s a good thing you said yes. And that there isn’t a burn ban in the county. That would’ve complicated things.” He kisses the top of my head. “Let’s get married soon. And just to be clear, I made sure all three of my children knew that my intention was to win you back, to convince you to marry me. And they want to be here when we tie the knot. If that’s okay with you.”

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