8

8

Amelia

It’s been a week since Sam left the apartment. After he left, I did a web search and learned he owns a major investment company in New York. Not only that, but Sam’s a multi-millionaire. I had no idea and apparently Sam believes I was only after his fortune. One minute he loves me and wants me to come to New York and the next minute he’s out the front door. I haven’t heard a word from him since he left, but I haven’t tried to contact him either. Besides being hurt, I’m angry. Angry that he thinks so little of me.

I’ve been miserable for the past week— barely able to eat or sleep. The closing on his father’s house is scheduled in ten days and I’ll have to talk to the other realtors in my office about the situation. One of them will most likely take over and handle the sale of the home. This might mean I lose my commission.

Sam

I close the tailgate on the pickup on my father’s driveway.

“I guess that’s it.” My brother wipes his forehead with his hand.

I nod and give him a tight smile.

“Why don’t you talk to me, brother?”

I huff. “Because —like I’ve told you a hundred times before— there’s nothing to talk about.”

He shakes his head. “Suit yourself then. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving and I’m gonna eat those burgers before they get cold.” Steve takes the front porch steps two at a time. “Did you get extra pickles on mine?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course.”

When we hit the living room, Steve pushes into my side and tries to indulge me in a race for the kitchen. Just like when we were kids.

“Asshole,” I mutter as I block him with my shoulder, and we practically trip over each other’s big bodies in the small bungalow. I reach the kitchen countertop a millisecond before my brother and grab the fast-food sack and wave it in victory.

Steve narrows his eyes. “Fries or rings?”

“One of each.”

I open the sack and put the food on the countertop. We plop down in the lawn chairs we’ve been using in the house after we got rid of all the furniture.

“A little more than a week and the new family will take over,” Steve muses as he looks around the kitchen. “Lots of good times in here. Remember when Mom burned the pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving?”

I laugh. “Geez, smelled like dead pumpkin for months.” I pop a French fry in my mouth.

We eat our food in silence until my brother interrupts my thoughts. “You know you can head back to New York any time now. I can handle the final paperwork.” He shrugs and takes a drink. “You’ve been here long enough, and I know you need to get back to work. You don’t need to be here for the closing.”

“I suppose not.”

“Unless you want a few more days with your girl.”

I growl. “She’s not my girl.”

My brother holds up his hands in surrender. “Whoa. Sorry.”

“Not my girl anymore,” I grumble.

“Are you gonna tell me what happened?”

“Not much to tell.” I take a bite of my burger. “Same old story. She found out who I was, and she was using me for my money.”

“What?” My brother furrows his eyebrows. “How do you know that?”

“She’s broke, Steve. Like really broke. She’s thousands of dollars in debt. Tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Not only that, but she’s filing for bankruptcy.”

“It doesn’t mean she’s after your money though, right?”

I take a drink from the straw. “She didn’t tell me about the debt and bankruptcy. I came across the paperwork on her desk while she was in the shower.” I grab an onion ring from the sack. “And before you ask, I wasn’t snooping. I was looking for my wallet and cell phone and the paperwork was right there.”

“If she were trying to keep it a secret, don’t you think she would have hidden the paperwork?”

I shrug. “Maybe…”

“Just because you’ve been screwed over once doesn’t mean every woman you meet is after your fortune, you know.”

“Maybe I jumped in too soon with Amelia.”

“It’s been a year since Ruby, man. At some point, you gotta get back on the horse.”

“You sound like Dad, asshole.”

Steve grins. “No offense. Dad was a very wise man, you know.”

I nod. “Agreed.”

“Besides that, you liked this girl since you were in school. You’ve known her since what? Elementary school?”

“Yeah.” I suck the cola from my drink cup.

“I think you would’ve known long before this if she’s as awful as you think she is.”

“Maybe.”

“Well, if you ask me—”

“Well, I didn’t ask you.” I grumble.

“Ruby burned you. You’re not going to get over that and it’s always going to be there. I get it, but I don’t think you’re giving Amelia a fair shake.”

“Why didn’t she tell me her financial situation? How can I trust her?”

“Brother, why didn’t you tell her your financial situation?”

“That’s different.” I pop another fry in my mouth.

Steve shakes his head. “You’re being unreasonable. She hasn’t done anything wrong. Has she done anything wrong?”

I sigh. “She hasn’t.”

“Except she hasn’t told you about her financial situation. Well, you haven’t told her about yours.”

“I see what you’re saying.”

“Did you ever tell her about your secret notes?”

I chuckle. “No.”

“Why the hell not?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug.

“Well, you better get your shit together or the best thing that’s ever happened to you is going to slip right through your fingers because you’re being a stubborn bastard.”

“The best thing that’s ever happened to me?” I scratch my head. “How the hell do you know?”

“Because you’ve been walking around here like a lovesick dog for the past few weeks.”

“A lovesick dog? Really?”

Steve tosses his wadded-up burger wrapper at me. The paper hits my shoulder.

“Jerk,” I mumble.

“If nothing else, you owe her an apology for running out on her. If you decide you want to be with her, take things cautiously.”

I let out a breath. “I just can’t go through what I went through with Ruby. I misjudged her and she used me.”

“Her father was a swindling crook. This is totally different.”

“I’ll think about it.”

As much as I hate to admit it, my brother is right. I don’t want to lose Amelia. If she wanted to keep her finances a secret, she would’ve hidden her paperwork. Deep down I know Amelia would never be the type to do to me what Ruby did.

Amelia

I’m finishing dinner and there’s a tap on the front door. I check the peephole, and no one is out there.

“Who is it?” No answer.

I cautiously open the front door and peer around in the hallway and no one is around. On our doormat is a beautiful bouquet of a dozen red roses and baby’s breath filling a vase.

“Oh, my goodness.” I bring the flowers and card inside and set the fragrant arrangement on the coffee table.

I pull the card from the envelope and open it.

My dear Amelia,

I’ve been in love with you for longer than you realize. You’ve been my muse since the first time I saw you back at Cedar Springs Elementary School. I had a crush on you in middle school and high school, but never had the guts to tell you how I felt. Well, I’m telling you now. Amelia, I’m in love with you.

I’ve been an idiot. I do want you to come to New York with me if you can ever forgive me for the things I said.

Hopefully —if you’re still speaking to me— you’ll meet me at the Magnolia Hotel Friday at 6:00 p.m.

XOXO (Yes, it’s been me all these years)

Sam

I gaspand clutch the note to my chest.

It’s Sam. It’s been Sam all those years signing my cards with XOXO.