5. Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Mandy

T wo days later, I'm still reeling about seeing and talking to Michael Hoffer on Christmas Eve. His family was so kind to me that I couldn't say no to their invitation. I tried my best not to look at him or engage him, but I don't think I was fooling anyone, especially his brothers.

I look around Grandma's living room and am glad I got the utilities back on. Otherwise, I'd be freezing right now. I didn't realize my grandmother was such a hoarder, though. The house is full of junk, and in the six months that she's been gone, the spiders have created nests everywhere. I want to tackle the ones in the living room before Michael gets here, but it takes me a while to find the ladder and broom.

Going up the ladder with the broom in one hand is a bit of a circus trick, but I manage it. I've got three of the four corners of the room done and am ready to do the fourth when there's a knock on the door. I shout a 'come in' in a squeaky voice and wonder if these tight leggings were a wrong fashion choice today.

"Hey, Mandy."

His voice still can melt my insides, and I get all wobbly.

"I'll be right there," I call out.

I continue to sweep the cobwebs with the broom, knowing I'm unsteady on my feet with Michael in the room. I overextend myself and I just know when I've lost my footing, and I'm going down. I yelp and let go of the broom. I'm just waiting for the pain that will come when I hit the floor or some furniture on my way to the floor.

Something stops my descent, though, and I feel muscular arms envelop me. I look up into his eyes, and warmth fills my body. My reaction to him is immediate, and I start to press my legs together in need.

"I've got you." He whispers in my ear.

You do. You really do, Michael Hoffer.

He puts me down gently, and I can't help but blush profusely.

"Thank you. That was a broken arm waiting to happen. I really can't afford that right now."

"I'll get the last cobwebs out for you."

"That's okay, you've done enough. Let's talk business."

I guide him over to the dining room table and sit on one of the chairs. He sits across from me, and for a moment, I'm frozen, watching this gorgeous man before me. How I had the ovaries to leave him five years ago, I'll never know. I guess I was too hungry for success and fame. I know I'd make different choices today.

"Before we talk business, Mandy, I'd like to apologize for my behavior the day of the Christmas Mixer."

"You don't have to do that, Michael."

"I do, Mandy. I was rude and let my anger out, and it wasn't pretty. That's not me. You know that's not me."

"I was surprised. That's why I reacted so harshly."

"I just thought I would never see you again. Except in the movies or something like that."

"Michael…"

"I just wanted to apologize and let you know I'm one hundred percent good with working with you on this project. What's your end goal, to sell?"

"Yes, unfortunately, I need to for personal reasons. This place has a lot of nice memories for me, but I've got no choice."

I really hope he doesn't fixate on what I've just said. Michael is a knight in shining armor, and he's always ready to save a damsel in distress. I don't want to play that role in his life. I'd rather he'd love me for who I am and that we complete each other. What the hell am I thinking right now? I did not come back to Woodland Falls to rekindle my romance with Michael Hoffer.

"So you said you had a list?"

Oh good, we're on the same page. We start going through my gigantic list of repairs. It takes us a couple of hours. We order in pizza for lunch and seem to be in sync with our conversations. When he's ready to go, I ask him to stay for a bit.

"Michael, I'm so sorry—about—about how it ended."

Pain covers his face, and I'm kicking myself for having said anything.

"I should have never left the way I did. I was a coward. I thought you would try to convince me to stay, and I would have. Dreams and aspirations filled my head, and I didn't want to let anything get in between that goal. So, I did everything wrong. I'm sorry."

He looks at my tear-stricken face for a minute and seems to make a decision.

"I would have convinced you to stay. I wanted the whole house with a white picket fence dream. The dog and the two and a half kids. But I was too keen on my own dreams."

"I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't be. I should have been more supportive and told you we'd travel together to where you could find success. That's what true love is. I could have gotten a job anywhere. All I needed was you. And I lost you because I wasn't willing to be more flexible, more understanding. There were two of us in that relationship, Mandy. It's not all on you."

I cover my face with my hands as tears start flowing steadily now. Maybe if things had been different I wouldn't be in all this trouble now. Maybe I'd be working in New York with my husband at my side, cheering me on. It's useless to think about that, though. I made my choice, and he made his. I'm still crying into my hands when I feel strong arms surround me.

Michael has come over to my side of the table and is hugging me. I let go and sob uncontrollably in his arms. It's not really all about how I ended things. It's a lot about what happened to me in New York, but I can never tell Michael Hoffer about that. He'll lose all respect for me.

"I've got you, baby. I've got you." The words are spoken so low that I almost miss them.

Being in his arms is like a calming balm that comes over me and makes me feel that everything is alright. I've needed these arms so many times during the past five years. I need to be strong now, though. We're not entangled any longer, and I don't have space in my life for love.

"Oh god, you're all wet from my tears and snot." I tentatively smile at him.

"I can handle a little tears and snot. No problem." He smiles back.

"I needed to ask you something about payment."

"Sure, what's on your mind."

"Can I do it in installments? I don't have all the cash up front."

"We can do a payment plan. Would that work for you?"

"Yes, definitely! I'm so sorry I can't pay everything in full right now."

"Don't worry about that anymore. We're friends. We can work things out together."

It seems a little bit more than friendly between us, but I'm desperate for a new connection with him, so I'll take it. I go to the bathroom to wash my face and gasp when I see how terrible I look. I dry my face, put my hair up in a ponytail, and plaster a huge smile on. That ought to do it. I walk Michael to the door, and he tells me he'll have a quote for me first thing in the morning.

The next day, he insists on coming over and walking through every single line item in the quote. My grandmother left me some spending money, but I need to do something to add to it to be able to pay for all the renovations. Michael seems more amicable now and is smiling more, which makes me happy. I don't want to be the cause of his pain. Not anymore, anyway.

We decide on a start date after New Year's, and I begin getting excited. I'll be able to pay most of my debt if I sell my grandmother's place, and hopefully, I'll be off that loan shark's radar soon enough. I'm sure everything will work out as long as I keep my secrets from Michael Hoffer.