“It’s not always that easy, though, is it?” she said.
That last summer here had left Maddy completely untrusting of love. She’d been guarded at best in the relationships she’d had leading up to Nick. And that particular relationship hadn’t exactly helped matters.
Maddy sighed. “I guess not. I finally got the courage to put my heart on the line with Nick, and look what happened. I’m feeling more guarded than ever. One step forward, ten steps back.”
“How are you feeling about all that? I know it’s only been a few days.”
“Honestly—I’m beating myself up for not seeing it sooner. There were signs. The way he guarded his phone, the times he just kind of disappeared, the way his eyes strayed. How could I have been so blind?”
A long pause ensued.
Maddy shifted the phone. “Are you there?”
“Yeah... Listen, Maddy, can I be completely honest with you?”
“Well, nothing good ever comes after that question.”
“It’s just... I’ve noticed you can kind of bury your head in the sand sometimes. Maybe you did that with Nick. Maybe deep down you knew something was wrong, but you ignored it to protect yourself.”
Maddy bristled a little.
“I mean, I understand why you’d do that,” Holly continued. “You’ve been hurt in the past, and it’s only natural you want to avoid pain.”
What she said had a ring of truth, Maddy had to admit. She’d sure ignored all the signs where Nick was concerned.
“Fair enough,” she said. She knew Holly only wanted what was best for her.
“I know this thing with Nick hit you hard, but you can’t give up on love, Maddy. With the right person, it’s truly a wonderful thing.”
Maddy laid her head against the sofa back. “I don’t know if I believe that. I was already skeptical, and this thing with Nick just put me over the edge.”
“I know, honey. But give yourself a little time to heal, and keep an open mind. God has someone special for you, I just know it.”
Maddy gave a wan smile. Holly was the ultimate romantic. She lived on romance novels and the Hallmark Channel. “We can’t all have a Jacob in our lives.”
Holly gave a breathy sigh. “He is pretty wonderful, isn’t he? But he’s not an anomaly, Maddy. There are other terrific men out there if you just let yourself open up a little bit.”
“So you say.” The muted sound of a car’s engine filtered through the window as it passed the house. It seemed to be slowing nearby.
Maddy twisted on the sofa and pulled back the gauzy curtain. Whatever Holly was saying was lost on Maddy as she watched a car swing into Connor’s driveway. A minute later the headlights went out. Even under the darkness of night she recognized his lazy gait as he approached his house. Someone was keeping late hours.
“Maddy, did you hear me?”
“What?”
Holly chuckled. “Where’d you go? I just gave some of the wisest advice of my life.”
“Sorry. Gram’s neighbor just got home. Connor—the man who helped lure me here.”
“Lure?That’s putting a harsh spin on things.”
“I just don’t trust the guy.” She watched as he mounted the porch steps and disappeared into his house.
“That doesn’t exactly distinguish him from any other male you’ve met.” There was humor in her tone. “Could it be you’re just a little jaded, my dear?”
“It’s not men I don’t trust. It’s love.” But in the aftermath of her experience with Nick, she wondered if that first part was true.
She watched the house next door, for what she wasn’t sure. “I just know he was in on Gram’s scheme.”
