Thread: One Night...Forever Changed (Reydan and LingeringDesire)

She looked amazing. More beautiful than he ever remembered. Even when they had gone to prom platonically together at the end of high school. A soft teal dress hugged her figure and silver jewelry sparkled at her throat and in her ears. The breath caught in his throat. Keeley seemed a little nervous, but tried to laugh it off, complimenting him on the store. He could see the hesitation in her eyes, however, and wondered if she could see the anxiety mirrored in his own. Keeley had been both the biggest reason for his return to Hammond's Cove, deep down, and also his largest source of hesitation over the decision. He leaned in and kissed her cheek gently, feeling his stubbly beard brush against her soft skin. She smelt great, a mixture of shampoo and a hint of perfume, and he came away with a lingering sweetness on his lips from her cheek. Thanks for coming he said quietly, his voice over-laden with affection. He didn't know quite why, but he was so desperate that she enjoy herself. That she be near him. He offered her his arm and guided her through the party. People kept stopping to talk to him, to congratulate him or ask him about when he'd be selling some of the stuff, but he only had eyes for the woman on his arm. Finally they reached the buffet table. Do you want a drink? he asked, unsure about whether mothers drank alcohol whilst breast-feeding. He grinned ruefully. Are you allowed? I'm probably being dumb but I know so little about infants. He gestured to a row of glasses filled with orange juice before picking up one himself. Noticing her glance he smiled shyly. Oh I don't drink anymore, not after he paused. He was about to say not after that night. He'd been so ashamed of himself, bottling his courage and having to be drunk to confess his feelings to his equally drunk friend, a girl he had loved for most of his life. They'd tumbled into bed together, one drunken night of passion, and afterwards, so ashamed of having treated her like any other girl, Matt had been unable to look her in the eye. But he'd never drunk a drop after that. Never forgiven himself for screwing up the thing he wanted most in life. Not anymore he finished lamely. He bucked up suddenly. Her surprise. He'd almost forgotten. Come with me he smiled and practically dragged her to the back of the store. Look at this he grinned, sweeping his arm in the direction of the back wall of the shop. You couldn't see it from the storefront because of the shelves but the back wall was painted in an enormous, wall to wall and floor to ceiling, map of the New England coast. Covering it were all sorts of diagrams and pictures. Sea patterns, rock formations, migration paths for seals and fish, even small images of the animals themselves. It was his homage to her. Had to get it up there! he grinned, watching her earnestly for a reaction. You always told me I should do something with all the doodles and maps I drew, so when I opened the shop here I thought I'd pay homage to my own little Hammond's Cove muse. He drew her attention to two tiny figures just off of the dot that was Hammond's Cove on the wall. The larger was a small figure of a scuba diver, auburn hair wafting in the sea, giving a thumbs up. Its you he added, smiling at the image, when I told you in my first email after we both left for college that I couldn't hack it and you sent me an image of yourself on your diving training and told me that if you could do that I could manage anything. He pointed to the smaller figure. It was a tiny mermaid, with curly hair and piercing blue eyes. Painted that today he added softly. Felt like after seeing you two at lunch it wouldn't be right to part you here. He didn't add that he had wanted to put a third figure in. Himself. With them. Like some sort of perfect Hammond's Cove version of the sacred family. Mother, child and.... That was the problem. He wasn't father, and as much as he felt his old feelings for Keeley stir, he worried that her new life would leave her reluctant to commit to anything new with him. Especially after how he had treated her. He was about to say something more when he felt a slap on his back. Just checking to see that you're still coming to lunch tomorrow bro! exclaimed his brother. Todd, Bud in hand, was clearly more than a little merry and had missed the wall painting entirely. Kenzie seemed more alert however, trying to follow her sister's gaze to examine what they had been looking at so intently a moment ago. You ok there Keeley? her sister asked. Matt treating you right?