Page 75 of Sunsets and Happy Ever Afters

CHAPTER 34

Maya bolted upright, waking with a start, making her head hurt. Her hand flew to her forehead, and she winced as she calmed her breathing. She’d forgotten to set her alarm and panicked about what time it was. Then she relaxed back into the pillows, remembering she didn’t have a client until late morning.

Opening the second bottle of wine had not been the wisest idea, but she’d been determined to numb the pain — the feeling of rejection from being stood up and then the shock of Sam’s deceit.

All along PeterPan26 had been him! And he’d known he was talking to Maya. Last night, she had been consumed with fury and had spent the evening sobbing into a box of tissues, texting Emma everything.

Now, she took time to reflect — more soberly. She checked her phone. There was a text from Sam: I’m so sorry, Maya. Please believe me, I never meant to deceive or hurt you. Please tell me what I need to do to fix this and I’ll do it. I don’t want to lose you. X

Since their first misunderstanding, as Maya liked to think of it now, he’d made every effort to make up for his behaviour. He’d always been a true gentleman towards her and given her the confidence boost she needed — in person and online. And now, reading between the lines, she realised how much he must like her.

And he had tried to be the hero by rescuing her from being stood up.

Emma had even mentioned this last night — she’d phoned Maya in the end, and they’d talked into the early hours of the morning. She’d agreed that Sam should have told Maya who he was earlier on, but she could also understand how it had got harder the more they’d communicated.

Sam’s heart was in the right place. They’d become good friends where the children were concerned. But maybe it was more than that too? She kept remembering sitting on Kittiwake Cove beach, watching the sunset with him. She’d become at ease in his company. And maybe she could understand him remaining anonymous. It was difficult being a widowed man, and many women might be put off by that fact. She hadn’t pitied PeterPan26, or treated him any differently, because she hadn’t known that he was a widower. Whereas when she was with Sam, at times she’d found herself treading on eggshells because of his dead wife, afraid to say the wrong thing.

But he’d deceived her. Was that any way to start a relationship?

Relationship? she thought suddenly. Maybe Sam only meant he didn’t want to lose her friendship. He’d said nothing about a relationship…

Feeling emotionally drained and unsure what to do next, Maya pushed back the duvet and turned on the shower in the en-suite. She raised her face into the spray, the hot jets of water massaging her temples and easing her self-inflicted headache.

After a long day of appointments, Maya slumped on the sofa and closed her eyes. She needed to change out of her tunic. She still hadn’t replied to Sam. She hadn’t spoken to anyone really, except Emma, who’d texted to check how her head and heart were.

Maya missed her children. They’d been gone nearly a week now, something she never got used to because Kyle had them so infrequently, leaving her feeling empty and lonely. She needed them more than ever right now. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten properly all day, so she forced herself off the sofa and into the kitchen.

Maya pottered about, opening and shutting cupboard doors, trying to build up the motivation to cook. Just then, the doorbell rang.

She answered and gasped. Sam, dressed in a suit and tie, as if he’d come straight from work, was standing on her doorstep, holding large sheets of card.

He pressed his finger to his lips, then reached down to a boombox by his feet. He pushed the play button and Dido started singing ‘Here With Me’. The scene in front of her was familiar. It suddenly dawned on Maya that the song was from the LoveActually soundtrack. She remembered she’d told Sam that the cue card scene was her favourite part in the movie. She chuckled nervously, holding her hand to her mouth as, card by card, Sam slowly revealed his message to her:

Maya, with these notes I want to tell you

I’m sorry.

Really sorry!

For being a complete jerk. He pulled a face as he revealed this card.

I should have been honest all along

And askedyououtonadate

Becausethenightwewatchedthesunsettogether

IknewIwasfallinginlovewithyou… Maya gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

Iwantyoutohavethisasagift

toyoufromme

Instead of another cue card, she noticed he was holding the painting she’d loved — the Kittiwake Cove sunset from the gallery. The one that reminded her of that evening. He’d bought it.

Ignoring Maya’s attempts at refusal, Sam handed her the painting, awkwardly trying to keep the cue cards in order, which made her giggle again, and as she wiped a tear from her cheek, she realised she’d started crying.

She wanted to speak, to protest that the painting was too extravagant a gift, but he held his finger to his lips and continued with the messages on the cards.

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