Page 135 of The Twelve Dates of Christmas
Before Kate had time to properly object, Drew had discarded his blanket and hot-water bottle and headed off into the darkness. Kate sighed and pulled her blanket closer around her.
Ten minutes later he was back. Kate didn’t look over; she was transfixed by the film.
“That scarf makes you look like a tube of Swizzels,” said a voice that wasn’t Drew.
Kate turned abruptly. It was Matt. He smiled at her. The light from the screen showed the crinkles around his eyes. Kate stared at him, confused. She couldn’t seem to formulate a sentence.
“We need to talk,” said Matt.
“Where’s Drew?” she asked.
Kate leaned around the deck chair to look at the chip van. Drew waved at her and smiled smugly. He was sharing a bag of chips with a man whom Kate recognized from Drew’s description as Archie.
“What’s going on?” said Kate, turning back to face Matt.
“You need to listen to what I have to say without interrupting,” said Matt.
“Don’t tell me what to—”
“Please, Kate,” Matt implored. “For once in your life, don’t argue with me.”
Kate closed her mouth. She hugged the water bottle and sat facing the screen.
“Talk,” she said.
“Sarah and I split up,” he began. “We split up the night I delivered your tree.”
“The night you accused me of ruining your relationship...” Kate couldn’t help but interject.
“I was angry,” said Matt. “I took it out on you because I was angry that I was still in love with you. Am in love with you. Have always been in love with you.”
He said the words slowly and carefully, like a confession.
“Sarah knew it,” Matt continued. “She recognized the signs; she was still in love with Oliver and I was in love with you, but she was the only one brave enough to admit it for the both of us.”
Kate’s head was spinning.
“But I saw you both the other night,” Kate objected. “Carrying bags out of the café.”
“You saw Sarah picking up the costumes for the school plays, whichyou’dasked the Sex Kittens to help her with,” said Matt. “If you’d stuck around to spy on me a bit longer, you’d have seen Oliver come to meet Sarah and take her home.”
“I wasn’t spying!” said Kate. “I was just passing by.”
“Why are we even talking about this?” said Matt. He ran his hand through his hair. “I’m trying to profess my love for you here!”
“But you got married,” said Kate.
“What?” asked Matt.
“When I was traveling.”
“That was thirteen years ago!”
“You still got married,” said Kate.
“My heart was broken,” said Matt. “I’d pushed you away. Out of the country, as it turned out. I’d lost you because of my own stupidity. So I threw myself at the first woman who’d have me.”
“You didn’t lose me,” said Kate quietly. “Not really.”
