“I’m not good for your life, Maddie. Nothing good can come of this.”
“Can’t I decide that?”
“If it was just you and me,” I sighed. “But we have a history. There’s a history that none of us can shake, I’m sorry.”
“Do you trust me, Logan?”
“Yes.” There was no hesitation in my answer. I trusted Maddie as much as I trusted my brothers.
“I trust you as well. I’m not going to ask you again about what my dad did and why you hate him. I think you’ll tell me when you’re good and ready. And that’s fine. But I’m not cool with the hot and cold game. You can’t tell me you like me in one instant and then tell me that you’re no good for me and we’re never going to work out. Do you hear me? That’s not going to fly.”
“I don’t know what you want from me, Maddie.”
“Let’s give it a fair shot, can you do that?”
“I don’t understand why you care so much.”
“If you don’t have any interest in me and you don’t want to see me, then fine. I’ll move on. You’re not the only guy in the world. I’m sure there will be someone else I don’t have to beg to date me ...”
“Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?” I cut her off, not wanting to think of her with another man. “Aren’t I a bit old for you?”
“You’re twenty-five, not thirty-five.”
“I’m a twenty-five-year-old loser, and you’re a twenty-year-old with the world at your feet. You can do anything you want, Maddie. You can be anyone you want. Go explore the world. Go save orphans. Go and become a feminist for women’s rights. You don’t get stuck with someone like me, I’ve seen what it does to someone.”
“Are you talking about your mom?” she asked softly and I nodded. “Can we sit down?” She grinned. “My legs are a little tired.”
I turned around and crouched down. “Get on my back.”
“Wait, what?”
“Get on my back, I’m going to give you a piggyback.”
“No way, Logan. I’m too fat for you to carry me.”
“You’re not fat.”
“Well, I’m not a little kid.”
“Shut up and get on,” I commanded her. “I’m going to take us to a clearing so we can sit or lie down.”
“I can walk there.”
“No, you’re tired. Get on my back and don’t say another word.” I felt her arms slide around my neck as she gingerly got onto my back. I stood up and she wrapped her legs around my chest.
“Are you sure, Logan? You can put me down if I’m too heavy.”
“You’re not heavy at all, you silly girl.” I started walking and continued back with our conversation. “And yes, I was talking about my mom. She had her whole life ahead of her before she got caught up with my dad.” I sighed. “She wasn’t rich like you or anything, but she was smart and beautiful and she could have done anything she wanted.”
“I know.” Maddie’s voice was soft and I stopped walking for a moment.
“What do you mean? You know?”
“My mom told me that your mom was the most beautiful girl in school. And that she had the longest blonde hair she’d ever seen in her life.”
“Your mom knew her?”
“Yeah, they were friends.” Maddie’s voice was hesitant. “Best friends, I think.”
“I didn’t know that.” I frowned at Maddie’s words. How could I have not known that?
“My dad was in love with your mom for years,” Maddie continued. “I don’t know if you knew that. He was heartbroken when she dumped him.”
“What?” I almost dropped her as the words ripped out of my body. “What do you mean, she dumped him?” I was frozen inside. How could my mom have dumped him? They had never dated before.
“Your mom and my dad dated for a few months before she dumped him for your dad.” Maddie sounded surprised. “I thought that was why you may have been annoyed with my dad.”
“That’s not why.” I continued walking until we came to the clearing and Maddie slid off my back. She had a slightly worried expression on her face.
“Maybe we shouldn’t talk about this. I thought you knew.”
“I had no idea. Tell me more.” My eyes focused on her face intently. “Please.”
“Well, there’s not much to tell. Our parents were best friends. My mom loved my dad, but my dad loved your mom. Your mom loved your dad. When she dumped my dad, my mom and dad started dating, but my mom was so jealous she stopped talking to your mom. And basically that was the end of the friendship. My mom says she has always regretted the friendship ending like that, but she never really knew what to say. When your mom died, she cried for a few weeks straight, and she told me everything.”
“I never knew.” I shook my head. Had my dad known that mom had been dating the mayor before he had stolen her away from him? And why had Mom never said anything? She knew about the trips to Manor Road, yet all she had ever said was that people paid for their sins.
“That’s when I started looking for photos of you and stuff,” she paused. “She wanted to see what you guys looked like. They had always talked about when they got married and had kids, but they never got to share it together. My mom felt responsible for trying to make your mom see reason about your dad.”
“See reason about my dad?” I frowned.
“Well, you know. Being a criminal and all that.”
“My dad was a good man.” My voice rose. “My dad wasn’t born a criminal. He was going to go to college. He was going to be someone. My mom didn’t make the wrong choice. Your…” I was shouting and Maddie placed her hand on my arm.
“Please, Logan.” She bit her lip. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry. I don’t know your dad. I’m just saying that my mom regrets what happened with your mom when they were in high school.”
“My dad loved my mom.”
“I’d like to meet your dad.”
“That’s not a good idea.” I shook my head vehemently.
“I’d like you to meet my dad as well.”
“Another bad idea.”
“I think he’d like you.”
“I’m sure he would love to hear that you’re dating Logan Martelli.”