Where Two Hearts Meet (8 page)

Chapter Two

Matt pushed open the door of the bagel shop. The jovial bell did little to lift his spirits. He scanned the small tables and soon spotted his friend Keith Stevenson.

“Morning, Matt.” Keith pushed a steaming cup of black coffee and a cinnamon raisin bagel toward him.

Matt settled into the chair on the opposite side of the table, thankful his friend knew what he always ordered. “I got some great news.”

“Really? You’d never know it by looking at you.”

“Thanks.”

Keith chuckled. “So what’s going on? Were you up late with the kids?”

“No, Tessa and I had a fight last night.” Matt took a quick sip of the hot brew. “Couldn’t sleep much after that.”

Keith’s smile slipped away. “Sorry. I take it she’s not responding to your plan to be more affectionate?”

Matt scoffed. “No, I’d say our relationship has gone from cool to below freezing.”

“Well, hang in there. You’ve got a lot to overcome. We’re not talking about a little sheet of ice that built up overnight. It’s more like an iceberg. And it’s taken three years to freeze that deep. It’s going to take awhile to melt.”

Matt cocked his head. “You’re just full of encouragement today, aren’t you?”

“I want to give it to you straight.” Keith munched on his blueberry bagel and then looked back at his friend. “So what’s the good news?”

He told Keith about the letter he had received from the lawyer in Oregon. “I’m now the proud owner of Lost Lake Lodge.” Matt smiled in spite of his tired condition and the memory of his wife’s hurtful response.

“That sounds great.”

“Yeah. I want to move there. That’s why Tessa’s so upset. She doesn’t even want to consider it.”

Keith nodded. “Most women don’t like moving. And with everything that’s happened, I can see why she’s not too enthusiastic about the idea.”

“You should have heard her.” Matt shook his head, recalling the stinging words Tessa had flung at him last night. There was no way he would repeat them to his friend. They were too humiliating.

“So what are you going to do?”

Matt blew out a deep breath. “I don’t know. I want to win back Tessa’s trust and love, but that seems just about impossible with the way things are going.”

“Hey, come on. This is no time to give up. God is on your side. He wants your marriage healed, and He gave you this land for a reason. You just have to figure out how it all fits together.”

Matt nodded and tore off a bite of his bagel. He and Keith had been praying together for the past few months and looking for practical ways for Matt to renew his relationship with Tessa. So far his efforts seemed useless. Tessa hadn’t softened at all. But maybe this was all part of God’s answer—he just didn’t see it yet.

“Let’s do our Bible study, and then we’ll spend some time praying this through.”

“Sounds good to me.” Matt reached into his briefcase and retrieved his Bible. He might not know what to do about the Oregon property or how to convince his wife to believe in him again, but he knew this much—the answers he needed were in his hand between the pages of this book.

* * *

Tessa pulled the tray of apple walnut muffins from the large commercial oven. Their sweet, spicy fragrance filled the teashop kitchen. They were the fastest-selling muffins at Sweet Something, but she wasn’t even tempted to taste one this afternoon. Last night’s argument with Matt still tumbled around in her mind, setting her nerves on edge and stealing away her appetite.

Tessa’s sister, Allison, walked into the kitchen wearing a white apron over her long black skirt and white ruffled blouse. She had pulled her golden brown hair into a low ponytail and tied it with a bright red ribbon. They hardly looked like sisters.

Tessa’s olive skin and dark brown hair were like their father’s. She wore her hair in a short, carefree style with fringy bangs that framed her face and fit her petite stature. Allison was taller and blue-eyed like their mother, and her movements always reminded Tessa of a graceful ballet dancer.

Allison reached for a tray of delicate teacups and saucers. “What time is that group of ladies from the historical society coming in?”

“I think they said three o’clock.” Tessa absently laid the hot pads on the counter.

Allison studied her a moment. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Why?” Tessa picked up a knife and began tilting each muffin so they would cool without getting soggy on the bottom.

“Come on, I know something is bothering you. You’ve been distracted and moody all morning.” Allison stepped over and plucked a hot muffin from the tin. Peeling off the paper, she gave her sister a steady look.

Tessa released a slow, deep breath. She didn’t want to tell her sister she might be moving, but how could she avoid it?

“I’m waiting.” Allison took a bite of her muffin and leaned back against the counter.

“All right.” Tessa huffed and set aside her knife. “Matt inherited some property in Oregon, and he has this crazy idea we should move there.”

Allison’s eyebrows lifted. “You mean live there permanently?”

“That’s what he said. Can you believe it?” Tessa closed her eyes and shuddered. “I’m just sick about the whole thing. We had a terrible fight last night right in front of the kids. You should have heard him. He was going on and on about wanting to change careers and move out there like it was nothing more than a two-week vacation.”

“Maybe he’ll change his mind when he thinks about it a little more.”

“I doubt it.” Tessa thrust her hands into her apron pockets. “That man is so stubborn!”

“Funny, I never would’ve described Matt like that. He’s always seemed like a pretty reasonable guy to me.”

“Allison! How can you defend him? You know all the trouble his business failure caused us. Justin had to go to community college, the kids had to stop all their music lessons and sports, we lost the house and our savings. We almost lost everything!”

“Tessa. You had to move into a condo and get used to one car again. I wouldn’t exactly call that losing everything.”

“We lost a lot more than our house and savings. We lost our sense of security, and that’s hard to restore.”

“At least you have a family,” Allison said softly.

Immediately, Tessa regretted her hasty words. Allison and her husband, Tyler, had recently learned they might not be able to have children. “I’m sorry, Allison. I know you’re going through a lot, too.”

Allison wrapped Tessa in a comforting hug. “It’s okay.” Then she stepped back and looked at Tessa with a sad smile. “I know this seems like a huge issue right now, but let’s not let it rock our boat. Our anchor is firm. The Lord’s in control.”

But Tessa felt like a little boat tossed on a stormy sea. “Moving would be terrible. I don’t even want to think about leaving Princeton.”

“No one is moving today. This whole thing may just blow over. Let’s trust the Lord and see what happens.” Allison picked up her tray and headed into the dining room. “I’ll go set those tables.”

“Thanks.” Tessa chewed her lip as she considered her sister’s words. Sometimes Allison’s spiritual strength amazed her. How could she hold on when her prayers went unanswered? Her faith seemed like a rock, strong and unshakable.

Tessa shook her head sadly.
I used to be like that.
But the last three years had left her feeling weak and beaten down.

But whose fault was that? She was the one who had slipped away from midweek Bible study, and she rarely took time to pray or read the Bible on her own. Sunday mornings were no better. She struggled to get herself out of bed in time for church and only made it to services two or three times a month. Matt and the kids went every Sunday, with or without her.

Allison returned to the kitchen. “Tessa?”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t worry. This is all going to work out for the best.”

Tessa forced a small smile for her sister’s sake. But she couldn’t shake the turbulent feelings swirling through her stomach.

* * *

The phone rang in Matt’s office. He looked up from his computer screen and rubbed his eyes, thankful for the break.

Though he had a degree in accounting and was a CPA, he hated working with numbers all day long. But as a supervisor for Ampler, Madden, and Politzer in the auditing and accounting department, he had no choice. They serviced small to midsized companies in the pension, not-for-profit, and manufacturing industries. The job held little interest or challenge for him, but it paid the bills and provided for his family. So he kept at it, day in and day out.

Matt picked up the phone on the second ring.

“Matt, it’s Keith. You got a minute?”

“Sure. What’s up?”

“I’ve been praying for you and Tessa all morning, and I think I’ve got an idea.”

“Okay, shoot.”

“I know you’ve been looking for extra things to do around the house to make it easier for Tessa, right?”

“Yeah, I spent all last Saturday cleaning out the garage.” Matt turned his chair away from his desk. Outside his third-story office window, the first traces of golden-green leaves sprouted from the oak tree.

“What did she say?”

“Nothing. She’s been bugging me to do it for weeks, but she didn’t even notice.”

“Wow, she didn’t say anything?”

“No. She’s too busy with the kids and the teashop to notice anything I do, unless I make a mistake, like forgetting to give her a phone message or taking the car when she needs it.”

“I think it’s time to bring out the big guns.”

“What do you mean?” Matt spun back toward his desk and picked up a pencil.

“Plan something big, something she can’t miss.”

“Like?”

“Like a really romantic date. What does she like? French food, Broadway plays, classical concerts?”

Matt scratched his chin. “It’s been awhile since we did anything like that. Money’s been tight. We usually just rent a video or grab some pizza.”

“See, that’s what I mean. If you plan a really special date, that’s bound to get her attention. She’ll have to warm up a little.”

“You think that’ll work?”

“Yeah, women love romance. Trust me.”

“Okay, I hope you’re right, ’cause I’m in the doghouse and fresh out of ideas.”

Chapter Three

Matt hopped out of the van and hustled to open Tessa’s door.

She looked up at him with a perplexed expression, her dark eyes serious.

He smiled, glad she seemed to notice his gallant efforts. She looked great tonight. She wore a red and black flowered dress made of soft, gauzy material. It wasn’t a new outfit, but he hadn’t seen her dressed up like that in quite a while. Black beaded earrings dangled from her ears, and her lips were painted an inviting warm red. He had done a double take when she walked down the stairs at home, and he’d told her how great she looked. But she’d waved away his compliments as though she didn’t believe him. Regret hit his heart. He hadn’t complimented her often enough.

He let his gaze drift over her again, and it made him wish that she didn’t hold herself so aloof every night. It had been too long since they had enjoyed each other as husband and wife.

Maybe tonight would help melt the ice. That was all he hoped for, just a little hint that she might be willing to rebuild the closeness they’d once shared. Of course he wanted more than that, but he was a patient man. He could wait.

Tessa glanced around as they stepped through the restaurant door and smiled. “I’ve always wondered what this place was like.”

Matt held back a grin, thankful he had chosen the Lawrenceville Inn. A friend at work had recommended it, telling him the atmosphere was romantic and the food was excellent. He checked out the room and nodded. Tessa would like this. The owners had converted a historic home into a cozy restaurant complete with antique furniture, vintage lighting, glowing candles, and original paintings on the walls. The delicious smell of roasting meat and hot bread floated out from the kitchen, making his mouth water.

A smiling hostess seated them at a linen-covered table in the renovated parlor and handed them each a menu.

Tessa smiled as she glanced around the room. “This is very nice.” Suddenly her smile faded. She lifted her gaze to his. “Matt, can we afford this?”

“Don’t worry.” He reached across the table and took her hand. Her cool fingers didn’t move, and he wished with everything in him that he could change the choices he had made—they had cost them much more than their savings and home. They had stolen away the trust that had characterized their relationship for almost twenty-five years.

“It’s okay. Tonight’s special.” He forced a small smile. “Let’s relax and enjoy it.”

Slight lines of worry still creased her forehead, and unspoken questions shadowed her large brown eyes. “All right,” she said softly, then focused on the menu.

Tessa’s silence shook Matt. Thankfully the waitress came and took their order. Tessa seemed to relax a bit when he asked her about the plans for her sister’s upcoming art show at Sweet Something.

Matt looked up and smiled as the young waitress returned with their meals. He led in a brief prayer, then dove into his meal. Focusing on the delicious seared rib eye, he ate with only a few brief comments directed toward his quiet wife. About halfway through his meal, an associate from Matt’s office walked up to their table.

“Hey, Matt, enjoying your dinner?” Jerry Fisher’s eyes lingered too long on Tessa. “And who is this lovely lady?”

Irritation flooded Matt. Who did Jerry think he would be having dinner with? “This is my wife, Tessa. Tessa, this is Jerry Fisher from work.”

She smiled and nodded, then lowered her gaze.

Jerry chuckled. “Well, aren’t you a lucky man to have such a lovely wife.”

Matt glanced across the table and read the discomfort on Tessa’s face.

“Say, I heard about that land you inherited out in Oregon. What an opportunity. When are you moving?”

Matt clamped his mouth shut and glared at Jerry. This was the one subject he had promised himself they would not discuss tonight.

Jerry leaned closer, grinning like some stupid Cheshire cat. “So when do you think I should apply for your position?”

“I haven’t made a decision yet,” Matt said, barely hiding his irritation. Jerry had worked under Matt for only about six months. There was no way he had the skills necessary to step into Matt’s job.

Tessa stared back at Matt with wide, pain-filled eyes, her face flushed.

“Come on, let me in on your plans,” Jerry continued. “You are leaving, aren’t you? I mean, that’s what I heard from Ben Stackwell.”

Tessa’s chair scraped on the hardwood floor as she pushed back from the table. “Excuse me.” She snatched her purse and hurried off toward the restroom.

Matt turned to Jerry. “I don’t want to discuss this with you right now.”

“Sorry, I didn’t know it was a secret. Everyone’s talking about it at work. You did tell your wife, right?”

“This isn’t the time or place for this discussion. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to finish my dinner.”

“You don’t have to get huffy. I get the point.” Jerry walked away, looking offended.

Good! That guy had a lot of nerve, bringing up that subject here at a restaurant in front of Tessa. What would she say now? Could he salvage the evening? He closed his eyes and shot off a quick prayer.

* * *

Tessa took one last glance in the restroom mirror. No matter how much makeup she used, it didn’t help. Her reflection seemed to shout: “You’ve been crying.” Tessa sighed and pushed open the restroom door. She needed to get back to their table. There was no use pretending they didn’t have a huge problem to work through.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, a tall man stepped into her path.

“Tessa! This is a wonderful surprise.” Bill Hancock’s gaze traveled over her with a look of slow-warming delight. The recently divorced, forty-something owner of Hancock’s Flowers made a habit of complimenting Tessa’s creativity and baking every time he came into her shop for coffee. He seemed to notice each time she got her hair cut or wore a new outfit, things Matt never noticed or bothered to mention.

Heat filled her face. “Hello, Bill. It’s nice to see you.” Her glance darted across the room to the table where her husband sat.

“This is a nice place. I guess we read the same restaurant review.” His blue eyes danced, and the dimple beside his mouth deepened.

“My husband picked it.” Tessa nodded toward Matt.

Bill’s smile faded as he looked toward their table.

“Why don’t you come over and I’ll introduce you?”

“That’s all right. I don’t want to interrupt. I’m in the middle of dinner myself.”

“You wouldn’t be interrupting.”

“No, I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

His meaningful look sent a shiver up her back, and then he turned and walked upstairs. Watching Bill go, she felt torn. This was crazy! What was she thinking? Bill was a friend, and her husband of almost twenty-five years sat across the room waiting for her.

She turned and wove her way through the tables to rejoin Matt and face the discussion she dreaded.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

She nodded and sat down.

“Who was that you were talking to?”

“Bill Hancock. He owns Hancock’s Flowers across the street from Sweet Something.”

Matt frowned toward the stairs.

Tessa could almost see the wheels turning in his mind. Did he suspect the way Bill flirted with her? Was he jealous? A little thrill ran through her at that thought.

Matt reached for her hand again. “I’m sorry Ryan interrupted our dinner. He’s . . .” He shook his head. “I can’t think of a nice thing to say about him.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Tessa slid her napkin onto her lap. She’d lost her appetite, but focusing on her food was the only way to avoid the probing look in Matt’s eyes.

“Yes, it does matter. I wanted tonight to be special. Just you and me with plenty of time to enjoy each other.”

Tessa felt a little smile tugging at her lips. That was such a sweet thought. Not at all like the things Matt usually said.

“I didn’t want to talk about the Oregon property tonight.”

Tessa’s smile faded. “Did you tell someone at work that you were leaving?”

“No, but I did ask Marlene how much vacation time I have coming. She wanted to know where I was going, so I told her I was flying out to Oregon to check out some property I inherited.”

Tessa’s stomach churned. “What about our plans to go to the Jersey shore with my family in August? We’ve been saving for that since last summer.”

“I didn’t say we couldn’t go to the shore. I have three weeks coming since I only took one last year.”

“And you want to spend that extra week in Oregon?”

“Yes.” Matt looked at her like she was being very thickheaded. “How can we make a decision unless we take a look at the property?”

“We? You mean you expect me to go along?”

“Of course I want you to come. I think the whole family should see it. I’d like us to make this decision together.”

Tessa laid her napkin on the table. “And how are we supposed to afford this trip?”

“We can work it out. I’ll go on the Internet and find the lowest fares. I’m sure I can get a good deal.”

“When did you intend to go? We can’t just pull the kids out of school whenever the whim strikes us.”

“I thought spring break would be a good time. Come on, how long has it been since we’ve had a fun family vacation?”

“Exactly three years and five months.” The wounded look on Matt’s face sent a guilty stab through her heart.

“Tessa, I can’t change what happened in the past. All we have is the future. Please don’t be afraid to grab hold of this gift and enjoy it with me.”

“Enjoy it? Matt, do you hear yourself? How could I enjoy uprooting our family and traipsing off into some forest fantasyland?”

Matt grimaced at her caustic words. “God gave us this property, and I think it’s a great opportunity for our family to start over in a new place.”

“Matt, I don’t think this is a good idea.” Tears filled her eyes as she laid her trembling hand over her heart. “It’s just like last time. I have this feeling in here that it’s all wrong.”

Matt pressed his lips together, and a stern, stony look filled his face. “Tessa, I’m the leader in this family. I want you and the kids to come with me to Oregon to see this property.”

Anger flashed through her, and she blinked away her tears. So that was what it came down to. He was pulling the old I-am-the-leader-so-you-better-submit trick. Tessa shuddered and glared at her husband. He didn’t care what she thought. He had backed her into a corner. She had no choice at all.