Sean had everything required to continue with theapprenticeship program, and Patrick was the star hitter for his Little League team. It felt as if the dark thundercloud that had hung over their heads for weeks had moved on and bright sunlight shone down on them.
With her eyes burning from lack of sleep, Maisy poured herself a cup of coffee and sank onto a chair at the kitchen table.
Her mother joined her. “Another sleepless night?”
Maisy sipped her coffee, then nodded.
“Are you sure you made the right decision? You know better than anyone that the reason Chase intervened is because he deeply cares for you…for all of us.”
“I know he does. It’s more than that, Mom. His life is in Chicago. Everything and everyone who is important to me is here. Long-distance relationships are problematic. His career is all-consuming. I have my own sets of dreams and goals. Consequently, we’ll both be torn and neither of us happy.” Maisy didn’t mention the differences in their financial and social standings. It was understood she would never fit into his world, or he into hers.
Her mother slowly absorbed Maisy’s words. “Only God knows what would have happened to us if Chase hadn’t stepped in when he did,” her mother continued.
Maisy didn’t disagree. Chase had lifted the burden that had nearly crippled them with fear of the future.
“You realize,” her mother continued, “it couldn’t have been an easy decision on his part, especially when he promised he wouldn’t help.”
Tears leaked into Maisy’s eyes; she blinked rapidly, refusing to let them fall. “It’s for the best,” she insisted, convinced that if she said it often enough, she’d come to accept it as the truth, which it was.
“He loves you, Maisy.”
“I know, but it’s for the best for us both. It’s difficult now; in time he’ll accept I was right to end it when I did.”
“What’s going on here?” Sean asked as he made his way to the coffeepot.
Mom had Sean’s lunch packed, and he grabbed it, along with the filled thermos. He paused in front of the table where Maisy sat and waited for her to answer.
“We’re discussing Chase.”
Sean’s gaze moved to Maisy.
“Go ahead and say it,” she muttered, knowing that if he wasn’t voicing it aloud, he was thinking it.
“Say what?”
“I told you so,” she returned.
“I did tell you,” Sean said, “but knowing I was right doesn’t give me any pleasure. Chase Furst isn’t the man for you.”
“I disagree,” their mother inserted. “Maisy loves him, and this decision has broken her heart. And Chase loves her, too. Anyone with eyes could see how deeply he cares for Maisy.”
“Maybe,” Maisy reluctantly agreed.
Sean was silent for a long moment. He started out of the kitchen, but then turned back. “I never thought I’d say this, but Mom could be right. When you first met Chase, I had plenty of doubts, and with good reason, but I can’t fault him. I know you’re brokenhearted, and I’m sorry. You might reconsider, Maisy. He’s a good guy. I never thought I’d say this, but he’s sort of grown on me.”
He continued out of the kitchen and said, before he disappeared into the hallway, “I won’t be home for dinner tonight. Katie invited me over. She’s cooking.”
Maisy and her mother shared a smile. Sean was seldom home for dinner these days, as he spent more and more time with Katie. The two had become close, often spending evenings together. This was different from any of the other relationships Sean had had in the past. The family had never met any of the other women Sean had dated. From the simple way his eyes brightened when he said Katie’s name, Maisy knew this girl was special.
Within the next hour, Mom and Patrick left for school, and Maisy was alone in the house. She spent the morning taking over the chores that generally fell on their mother. She got the spaghetti sauce going in the slow cooker, did two loads of laundry, shopped for groceries, and vacuumed the entire house.
She was putting the vacuum away in the hall closet when the doorbell rang. She headed to the front door and opened it to find Chase standing on the other side of the screen.
Her breath caught in her throat, and for an instant it felt as if her heart was about to explode. Too stunned to react, she stood as still as the Washington Monument at the unexpectedness of seeing him.
“I know I should have let you know I was coming,” he said, “but I was afraid if I did you wouldn’t agree to see me.”
Maisy’s mouth had gone completely dry, making speech impossible.
