15. Bonus Epilogue

Michael Hoffer

I 'm enjoying the Christmas Mixer quite a bit, except I'd prefer for there to be some alcohol in this punch. Plenty of girls have come up to chat with me, and I've got a few numbers already. That's when I see her. It can't be her. Not after five years.

Yeah, I've counted the years since I last saw Mandy Schmidt. She ran away from what we had and left me heartbroken. When did she get back? Why is she back? Will she pull me under her spell all over again? Someone bumps into me, and I take a step back.

"Isn't that the one who got away?" My brother Danny says. "Cat got your tongue?"

"That's her. That doesn't change anything. I'm too old for her, and we want different things." I say.

"A lot can change in five years. Maybe you should talk to her."

"I…"

"Didn't pin you as a coward."

"Will you go find your wife? I think I saw the mayor flirting with her a while ago."

My brother frowns and starts looking frantically for Merry, his wife. He should go find her because I'm not lying. The scumbag mayor of Woodland Falls was putting the moves on my sister-in-law. She can take care of herself, but I've seen him get handsy with the ladies.

I put my cup of punch on the counter and brace myself. It has to be done. I need to know what's going on with Mandy. I walk up to her, a serious look on my face. When she sees me, her eyes open wide, and I see a fleeting flash of panic pass across her features.

There are people on both sides of her, so she can't escape. I feel an intense relief at that and gather my thoughts as I approach her. In just a few more strides, I'm in front of her, but I can't seem to get any words out.

"Hello, Michael."

Her voice is as sweet as ever, and my throat seems to have dried out as if I were out in the desert.

Say something, Michael. For the love of god, say something .

"Why are you back?" I blurt out.

My voice is rough and menacing. I can't help it. She hurt me badly.

"That's the first thing you say to me, Michael Hoffer? How dare you?"

Her outraged tone makes heads turn towards us, wondering what's going on between us.

"You're the one who left. You and your grand dreams were beyond what someone like me could give you. So why are you back?" I whisper-shout.

Her face goes pale and she looks like I've hit her with how shocked she is at my words. A lot of people are staring at us right now, but I'm not one to back down from a fight. Trouble is, I don't want to fight her. I want to hold her in my arms and welcome her home.

She looks up at me defiantly and tells it like it is.

"I don't owe you or anyone else any explanations."

With that, she pushes past me, grabs her coat, and leaves Sam's coffee shop. My brothers glare at me from where they're standing in a corner, but I couldn't care less about what they think. I've messed up and pushed away the one woman I've ever loved.

Mandy Schmidt

I should have known he'd be here tonight. I'm such a fool, but it's boring at grandma's house and I needed to get away for a bit. He looks delicious enough to eat. Even though his words hit me like a gut punch, he's right. I was the one that left.

Now, I've come back with my tail between my legs, and I don't even know how to start rebuilding my life. Things did not go as I expected in New York, and now I'm paying the consequences. I got into debt trying to make it big on Broadway and owe some people a lot of money.

The worst part is I might just need Michael Hoffer's help in order to sort out this inheritance my grandma left me. Repairing and remodeling her house might just be the ticket for me to sell it and mollify the ones I owe money to.

How do I approach him, though? I know I hurt him. I was so naive. I thought I was the brightest star out there and would be a smashing success from the get-go. I've never stopped thinking about him, though. I would see us celebrating my success and push myself harder to make it happen.

The dream became a nightmare, however, and returning to this small town was inevitable. His harsh words wake up a lot of guilt and anguish inside me, and as I get into my car to go back home, my thoughts are whirling around my head, confusing me.

What do I do? And how do I get Michael Hoffer to help me when I know I broke his heart and I might break it all over again?