An Unexpected Match (13 page)

“So that's it?”

“In an ugly nutshell, I guess it is.”

That couldn't be all when there was so much more she wanted to know. Did he still miss his former wife? Did he still love her, even after all she'd done and all this time had passed? It had only been a few weeks for her, and yet she no longer knew what she thought about Tom. What did that say about the feelings she'd had for him in the first place?

When she looked up from her hands, Matthew was watching her, as if he expected her to have some sort of reaction. Was he thinking she would pity him now? Why would he ever think that? He'd coped so well and was doing an amazing job of parenting Elizabeth all on his own. He'd handled the situation so much better than she would have if she'd been the one left to fend for herself and a child.

“It's not the kind of story I should share if I ever plan to date again, is it? It doesn't make me come off sounding like a pillar of strength or anything.”

He laughed at his joke that was anything but funny, but Haley didn't join him. For one thing, he had no idea how appealing a handsome single dad could be to single women. If while he was growing up he'd watched any TV sitcoms instead of always cramming his nose in a book, he would know that.

“There's nothing you want to say?” he prompted again.

Of course, there was. Only Haley wasn't sure he was ready to hear it. He'd admitted a lot to her today, but there were other things he hadn't said. This might not be the time to prod him for more, but she sensed there would never be a good time.

“Did it seem like déjà vu when your wife left you?”

His gaze narrowed, and his Adam's apple bobbed. “What do you mean?” he asked, though it was apparent he understood what she was asking.

“Not too long ago, you said that you'd wanted your life to turn out differently than someone else's. You meant your mother's life, right?” She waited for an answer, but from his hard stare, she sensed she wouldn't get it. He hadn't invited her into this part of his story, and she could see that he resented the intrusion. Still, she ignored the warning bells, hoping it would help him to talk about the past.

“I was little when your dad left, but I have memories of some of it,” she continued. She could still remember Elliot Warren, the lanky man who seemed friendly enough when he was around but who often didn't show up to family events. “The divorce was hardest on you, wasn't it?”

“Why do you say that?”

He'd answered her question with another question rather than to deny what she'd said was true. She noted it, but she didn't call him on it. “Your mom leaned on you an awful lot, even before the divorce, but that first time we saw you guys afterward, she did it even more.”

“You remember that?” He waited until her nod before he continued. “She called me the ‘man of the house.' I was fourteen years old. Nowhere near a man.”

“You had to grow up fast.”

He made an affirmative sound in his throat.

“Do you hear from your dad at all?”

“I received a card when I graduated from law school. Not even a card when I was married or when Elizabeth was born.”

Haley nodded. Having had such warm memories of her own father, she couldn't imagine the empty place that kind of parental absence could create.

“You didn't want Elizabeth to ever know pain like you felt after your father's desertion.” The last she didn't even pose as a question. She knew it was true.

“A lot of good all my plans did. History repeated itself, and there wasn't a thing I could do about it.”

Haley's heart squeezed at his words. She could only imagine how powerless Matthew had felt in both situations. Even as a boy, he'd always been compassionate toward any weakness in others, but he couldn't tolerate it in himself. “You couldn't be held responsible for what your ex did any more than you could for your father's actions. They made their own choices, and they have to deal with the consequences.”

“With Stacey, I should have known better. I should have—”

Haley shook her head to cut off his argument. “Would you really have done anything differently? You loved her, right? So you still would have married her. The rest…just happened.”

He appeared to ruminate on her words, weighing their merit. “I wouldn't take it back, I guess. I got Elizabeth out of the bargain, and I wouldn't trade her for anything.”

“Me, neither.”

She smiled at him. Despite all the personal information he'd shared, Matthew smiled back. No matter what their differences on other subjects, they could always agree on his daughter.

“Well, I, for one, think you've done a great job,” Haley
said. “First, with your brothers and then with Elizabeth. You've been both mom and dad to her.”

“I don't think so.”

Haley expected the compliment to embarrass Matthew, but she never expected him to frown and shake his head that way. “What do you mean?”

“Have you met my brothers? Would you claim a role in helping to raise those Neanderthals?”

“I guess not when you put it that way.”

When Matthew finally stopped chuckling, he looked at her directly, his gaze warm. “But thanks for saying that. It means a lot.”

Her cheeks warmed under his stare. He'd been pleased with her praise after all. “You're welcome. I meant every word.”

They both had been resting their forearms on the table, and Matthew leaned forward on his as if he had something important to say. But then he pulled back and stood up quickly, gathering their cups and carrying them to the sink. Suddenly, Haley felt a tingling at the back of her neck. Had he been about to kiss her? No, she must have misunderstood. He would never do that.

Shaking away the thought, she cleared the rest of the flatware and joined him at the counter. She couldn't let her silly fantasies get the best of her. She might have once had a crush on Matthew, but he'd never cared for her in return. Probably on the rebound herself, she was in no position to entertain romantic thoughts about anyone, and Matthew in particular.

Strangely though, Matthew did seem to be in a hurry for her to leave now, when before, he'd delayed her departure several times. Within a few minutes she was in her car and feeling clearly put at a distance.

Matthew had opened up to her tonight in a way she'd never expected, and it was easy to guess that he wasn't used to sharing that way. Maybe this was how men reacted when they were faced with the increased intimacy of a close friendship. By taking a step back.

She would have compared this experience to that with her former fiancé, but she realized now that they'd never shared their private stories. Her whole relationship with Tom had been safe and brotherly because Haley'd been unwilling to be hurt again.

Letting her feelings develop for Matthew a second time probably would be a mistake. The two of them had finally become friends, and she didn't want to risk losing that friendship. Still, she wasn't sure what had just happened, but she sensed that something between her and Matthew had changed.

“H
ey, Matthew. Come take a look at this.”

At the sound of Trina Scott's voice, Matthew pushed through the kitchen door and headed down the hall. His mother's friend waved to him from the entrance to the formal living room.

“What is it?”

Despite the fact that she'd just called out to him, Mrs. Scott held her index finger to her lips to tell
him
to be quiet. She indicated the Queen Anne-style sofa his family used only on holidays. Sprawled across it his favorite person in the world lay sound asleep.

Elizabeth's Easter basket remained wrapped in her arms, and evidence of the last chocolate egg she'd nibbled on remained in the corners of her mouth. Matthew only hoped she hadn't wiped her sticky fingers on the sofa.

“It's been a long day for her,” Mrs. Scott said in a low voice.

“For all of us.”

Though the words had come from his mouth, Matthew found that he didn't mean them the way he would have a
week ago. Sure, it had been more than fourteen hours since he'd led an enthusiastic refrain from the old hymn, “He Arose,” at the sunrise service and he was tired, but it was a good tired. It had been a great day, from the special music at the midmorning formal service to the egg hunt to the Easter dinner where his mother had outdone herself, serving ham, turkey and roast beef with every side dish imaginable.

“It's been a good day,” Trina said, as if she'd read his mind.

“That it has,” he agreed.

“Too bad Caroline and Jenna couldn't make it back for the holiday. It would have been nice to have everyone together.”

“Yeah, too bad.”

“Caroline loves your mother's roast beef.”

“It's one of my favorites, too.”

“Oh, really? It never ceases to amaze me how much you two have in common.”

Matthew had to smile. He was too tired to avoid the direct hits of her
hints.
He hoped one of these days that she and his mother would drop their mission, but it was apparent from the number of subtle mentions today that they hadn't done it yet. The Warren-Scott event had been more relaxed than usual, though, without the pressure of active matchmaking. He'd talked and laughed, thoroughly enjoying himself for the first time in a long time.

“Can you believe what a great hit Elizabeth's colored eggs were?”

Until Haley spoke, Matthew hadn't realized she'd followed him out of the kitchen, where they'd finished their share of cleanup duty.

Matthew looked back at her, silently thanking her for redirecting the conversation. Otherwise, he could have
expected to hear another litany of Caroline's many personal qualities.

“Eating an art project wasn't so bad after all,” he said.

Haley grinned, and he smiled back at her. Earlier she'd looked so pretty in that soft yellow sweater set and the skirt with tiny flowers all over it, but she appeared more relaxed now in jeans and a sweatshirt. This look suited her more, he decided. Natural. Without a need for makeup or other symbols of vanity.

He owed Haley for more today than a couple of subject changes from their matchmaking mothers. If not for Haley, he probably wouldn't have enjoyed this great day as much as he had. He would have missed out, too.

He was grateful to her for calling him on his indifference last week regarding the Easter story. Until she had said something, he hadn't even been aware of how jaded he'd become. How many other significant moments in his life had he overlooked because he was too caught up in what he'd lost to see what he had?

Even church today had been different, mostly because of God's message but also because Haley had convinced him to open his heart to it.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd heard more than piano notes and well-crafted lyrics in the hymns he led, but today the message from each song touched him. Reverend Boggs's sermon had affected him in a special way, reaching a place in his heart that had long been dormant. It wasn't as if God had started speaking today. Matthew had just forgotten to listen.

“Well, big brother, I guess I'm out of here,” Logan said from the doorway.

Matthew startled at the sound of his brother's voice. He hoped he hadn't been staring at Haley.

“Yeah, me, too,” Dylan chimed. “I'm sure people are going to want to
see
tomorrow.”

“They won't want to see
you?
” Matthew asked with a lifted brow at his brother's optometry humor.

“That, too, hopefully. But seeing is pretty important for most people.”

“It's great to have job security.”

Their mother was the last to enter the room, still wearing her apron. “Now everyone, are you sure you don't want any more to eat? I could warm up that ham and—”

“No,” the rest of the Warrens and Scotts in the room said in a chorused groan that made Elizabeth rouse from her sleep.

Amy Warren sighed. “Well, I never.” But she was smiling as she said it. She had force-fed them all afternoon, so it had been a good day for her, too.

“Thanks for dinner, Mom.”

Matthew crossed the room, gathered her in his arms and planted a kiss on the top of her head. Then releasing her, he hugged his brothers by turns, giving each of their backs several firm pats.

Haley was right. His brothers had turned out pretty well, even if they did skip out on his mother's events sometimes. They were just better at avoiding her manipulation than he was. Maybe that was just the burden of being the eldest child.

Trina Scott stood up from the sofa and collected her purse. “Amy, thank you again for inviting us today. It was a lovely dinner, and it was so nice having most of us together again.” She stepped over to hug her friend. “We should do it again soon.”

“How about next Saturday night?”

“Sounds good to me. What do you think?” Trina looked
from Matthew to his brothers and then to Haley, waiting for someone to jump on board.

Matthew jumped first. “Sure, Mom. That's a great idea. Count Elizabeth and me in.”

“Oh, let me check my calendar.” Haley held her hands wide, bending over an imaginary planner. Looking up, she grinned. “I think I can make it.”

“I don't even need to check mine,” Dylan told them. “I'll be there.”

“Can you put me down as a ‘maybe'?” Logan said with a sheepish expression.

If looks could kill, the one their mother lobbed at Logan would have made a good start as she stood there with her hands planted on her hips.

Matthew couldn't help but to chuckle. “He's waiting for a better offer.”

Logan's comment didn't surprise Matthew, but the fact that both of his brothers had tentatively agreed to a family dinner on a Saturday night had flabbergasted him. Theirs was a big reversal from their conspicuous absences while Haley's sisters were in town.

Either Dylan and Logan had enjoyed themselves today and looked forward to another day like it or they couldn't turn down a home-cooked meal. Matthew didn't know about them, but he found it easier to accept their mother's invitation when they didn't have to worry about being ambushed with another matchmaking attempt. He could just relax and enjoy spending time with family friends.

“A guy's got to keep his options open,” Logan said, though he didn't meet his mother's gaze when he said it.

“You should know,” Matthew said with a smile.

Logan shrugged, not bothering to deny it. At first, no one said anything, as they all exchanged uncomfortable
glances, but then Haley snickered. A chorus of chuckles followed, and even Amy couldn't help grinning.

Although he laughed along with the rest of them, Matthew was surprised that his brother's words had struck a chord with him. Even if Logan practiced his own form of speed dating without the bell, he kept his options open. It surprised Matthew to realize he could be influenced by the brother he'd never understood, but he had to wonder if he should take a look at his own options. In all the time since Stacey left, Matthew had refused to even consider dating. Maybe he wasn't ready to allow his mother to choose for him, but was ready to consider the possibility of meeting someone?

Out of his side vision, Matthew caught sight of Haley moving closer to Elizabeth on the sofa. All the noise had apparently disturbed his daughter from her catnap because she sat up and rubbed her fists across her eyes. Haley drew the child up on her hip, and Elizabeth linked her arms around her babysitter's neck. As the child nuzzled under her chin, Haley glanced over at him and smiled.

Matthew's heart squeezed. He wanted to believe it was because Elizabeth deserved better than he'd given her. Because she shouldn't have to grow up without a mother figure in her life due to her father's fear to take a risk.

If only he could blame his strong reaction to seeing Haley with his daughter on his guilt for falling short as a parent, he could handle that. But it was more than that, and he knew it. This was complicated, confusing and so out-of-control that it shouldn't fit anywhere in his life. He didn't have to open himself to meeting a new person who might fit into his and Elizabeth's life. He had the feeling he already knew her.

 

Something hadn't felt right to Haley from the moment her mother had told her that they should drive separately
to Mrs. Warren's home. Any other time her pragmatic mother would have insisted that two people going to the same place must ride together for both convenience and energy conservation. But not today.

On this second Saturday in April, southern Indiana had poured on a taste of pre-spring sunshine and heat all day, but Haley pulled her sweater tighter around her shoulders. Though she'd dressed for dinner just as her mother had directed, her skirt and sweater didn't feel warm enough. The chill, she recognized, came from inside of her.

When Haley pulled up to the curb, her mother's car was already parked out front. Matthew and Dylan would be here soon. She doubted Logan would come at all, not when he'd had almost a week to find alternate plans. Grabbing the plate of ham-pinwheel hors d'oeuvres that she'd been assigned to bring, Haley hurried to the house.

No one answered when she rang the bell or when she knocked, so Haley pushed the door open and stepped inside.

“Hey, is anyone home?”

Voices filtered down the hall from the kitchen, but still no one came to greet her. Setting her plate of appetizers on a bench near the front door, she slipped out of her coat and hung it in the closet. Retrieving the plate, she started down the hall. Strange how she had the same anxiety that she'd felt right after her breakup, the night when she'd had no idea what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.

Just as she pressed her hand to the swinging kitchen door, voices came again from inside.

“Do you think she's figured it out?” Mrs. Warren asked.

“Of course not. She's curious, but she hasn't put it all together.”

That came from Haley's mother. She started to push
through the door and confront the two women with whatever
it
was, but they spoke again, causing her to hesitate.

“What about him?” Trina Scott asked.

“I don't think so. When he called a few minutes ago, he said he'd be right over.”

Haley's breath caught. Were they talking about Matthew and
her?
Had they finally found out about the secret she'd hidden for so many years? Had they changed the targets of their matchmaking?

But then the sound of running water upstairs drew her attention from the women in the kitchen. If the two mothers were in the kitchen, who was up there? Had she missed seeing a car outside?

She put her hand on the door again just as it swung out, narrowly missing hitting her in the head.

Her mother stopped, steadying the floral centerpiece in her hands. “Oh, Haley. When did you arrive? I didn't hear the door.”

“I just got here.”

Amy followed Trina out of the kitchen, her movements tight rather than relaxed the way they usually were. “Well, it's Haley.” Her gaze flicked to the front door. “None of the boys have arrived yet.”

“None?” Haley pointed to the stairs. “Then who's up there?”

“Oh, that,” Trina said with a dismissive brush of her hand. If a sneaky smile hadn't appeared on her lips, she might have been almost believable. “That's Caroline up there. She decided to fly in for a few days. Isn't that nice? Just to see her dear old mom.”

“Yeah, nice.” The sense of dread that had rested on the periphery of Haley's thoughts took center stage now, and acid stirred in her stomach.

“Caroline's just freshening up after her flight,” Trina explained.

Trying to clear her thoughts, Haley took a few steps away from her mother. She stopped in the doorway to the dining room. Instead of arranged for a big family gathering, the formal dining table was set for two, with china, crystal water goblets and cloth napkins. Tapers jutted out from two crystal candlesticks set with enough room between them for the centerpiece Haley's mother still held.