Page 74 of The I Do Over

Hard.

Looking up at her mother, she smiled. “That is possibly the greatest thing you’ve ever said.”

“Well…I have my moments.” She grinned. “Here’s what you need to remember more than anything—your father is a bully. He’s charming to strangers, but the reality is that he has always liked to have his own way and he gets upset when people don’t fall in line. Up until the two of you eloped, he liked Knox. A lot. But the two of you disrupted his plan to send you to a high-profile school so you could go into medicine. He used to brag about that all the time.” Her smile faded. “I’m sorry that I didn’t fight him harder. For you and me.”

“Mom…”

“No, it’s true. It was easier to just let him have his way, even when I knew he was wrong.” She paused. “He used to make me think I was crazy. He’d tell me I never said something that I knew I did or he’d try to tell me I promised to do something that I know I never promised. He took advantage of my mental state.” She took Maddie’s hand in hers again. “Don’t let him do that to you. If it comes to a choice between Knox or your father, choose Knox. Choose happiness.”

She started crying again and didn’t stop for a long time. “I’ve messed everything up again. Maybe…maybe we’re not meant to be.”

“Oh, I don’t believe that. I think some relationships just require a little more hard work.” She wiped away Maddie’s tears. “Now, why don’t you go freshen up and I’ll see if Nora has any snacks for us before you have to go.”

“I’m not sure I should eat anything. I was still queasy earlier. I’m hoping to make it to my cabin without any incidents.”

“Then I’ll see if we have some ginger ale.”

They stood and Maddie looked at her mother’s face and wished they had more visits like this. She missed having her to talk to and knew she had to take advantage of every cognizant moment they had together. “I love you, Mom,” she whispered before hugging her.

“I love you too, my sweet girl.” Pulling back, she gave Maddie a reassuring smile. “Go wash up and let’s see what Nora’s got for us.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

In the bathroom, Maddie cringed at her reflection in the mirror. “Good thing I am traveling alone. I’d probably scare Knox with these racoon eyes.” Doing her best to salvage at least some of her makeup, she wiped her face and washed her hands and figured it was the best she was going to do. The thought of reapplying her blush or mascara just seemed like way too much work.

Knowing it was getting late and she needed to get on the road, she made her way back out to the living room. Her mother was standing by the French doors that led out to the backyard. She had a garden out there that she loved so Maddie figured that’s what she was looking at.

“So what’s currently in bloom?” Maddie asked as she came to stand beside her.

Turning, her mother gave her a curious look.

Unfortunately, Maddie knew that look well.

“Oh, hello,” her mother said casually. “Are you here to look at the garden too?”

She willed herself not to cry and forced a smile. “I am! It’s beautiful out there, isn’t it?”

“It is. It’s a lovely place for children to play too. You should bring your little girl here to pick some flowers.”

Oh, God…

It would be foolish to correct her, so Maddie simply nodded.

“And your husband,” her mother added. “It would be nice to see the three of you in the garden where you got married.” Then she let out a happy sigh. “I always knew the two of you would make beautiful babies.”

“I need to go,” Maddie said quietly before kissing her mother on the cheek.

And then she said a hurried goodbye to Nora as she ran out the door.

Knox spent the weekend in his childhood home with his parents. It hadn’t taken much to get him to completely confess to everything that transpired between him and Maddie from the time she showed up at SEAL Security until he showed up on their doorstep. His parents had listened to him and even though they had figured out a long time ago that he had been the injured party where he and Maddie’s eloping was concerned, they were still sympathetic.

He took comfort in being with them and came to the realization that he regretted how long he tended to stay away. It wasn’t until he was leaving on Sunday afternoon that they dropped a bombshell on him.

Maddie hadn’t lied about everything.

She had written to him.

And they still had the letters.

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