Page 59 of Awaiting the Storm
Matty.
My heart stutters at the sight of her.
She’s wearing dark jeans, boots, and a navy blouse that highlights the blue in her eyes, making them appear even more vibrant than the afternoon sky. Her braid is pulled over her shoulder, with a few strands escaping to frame her face. Her face is a mask as she takes the seat directly across from me, next to her father.
Our eyes meet briefly, and she offers a quiet nod—polite but distant.
Her dad gently squeezes her shoulder. “Hey, sweetheart. Thanks for coming.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it,” she replies.
Holland winks at her. “You’re going to be rich now, Miss Matty,” he says. Chuckling, he adds, “At least for a day or two.”
She gives him a soft smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “That’ll be a nice change of pace.”
The attorney enters and shuts the door behind him before diving straight into the business at hand. He passes both Albert and Holland a manila folder containing the necessary paperwork—the purchase agreement, closing disclosure, survey, and title reports. He goes over the details of each document one by one, stopping to point out where Holland or Albert needs to sign. I listen with one ear, but my attention keeps drifting back to Matty.
She fidgets, tapping her pen against the legal pad and shifting in her seat. Every so often, her eyes drift toward me and then flick back to the attorney, hoping I don’t notice as she tries to pay attention.
Except I do notice.
I notice everything.
I’ve missed her more than I should. More than I can explain.
The closing process takes nearly forty-five minutes while the attorney walks the men through every line, every legal clause. It’s friendly, cordial. Holland and Albert trade quips, but Matty stays quiet.
When the last page is signed, the attorney offers his congratulations to both parties and leaves to make copies. Holland and Albert fall back into easy talk, reminiscing about a fishing trip they took in the ’90s that ended with Waylon and one of the Ludlow girls in the Snake River.
I lean closer to Matty while they’re laughing.
“Matty,” I murmur.
She glances at me, her eyes guarded.
“You want to go to dinner tonight?”
She blinks. “Dinner? Tonight?”
“Yeah. To celebrate the closing.”
Her expression shifts. A flicker of annoyance. “I don’t know that I think this is an occasion that warrants celebration.”
My chest tightens, but I nod slowly. “All right. Then go to dinner with me because you want to.”
That takes her aback. Her gaze holds mine for a beat.
I don’t push. I just wait.
Finally, she sighs. “You sure you want to go to dinner with me? You didn’t exactly get to eat last time, did you?”
“Nope,” I say, holding back a smile. “Not a damn bite, but I’ll be sure to snack before we go this time. Just in case.”
Her lips twitch. “I guess I could meet you at the Foraged Bistro. Try again?”
I shake my head. “No. I was thinking we’d do something different this time.”
“Different?”
