Chapter Sixteen

In the following months, the future Maddie had originally planned for herself finally began to take shape.

She’d moved to her parents’ house only long enough to sell hers. After the sale was completed on the great big house in Flower Mound that she’d never wanted to begin with, she moved along to phase two of her plans - touring some plots of land Kathy had found.

She settled on the fifth location they explored, and paid cash for twenty acres in the countryside southwest of Fort Worth, Texas, with the intention of making her non-profit animal shelter a reality.

The land she chose already had two water wells and electrical lines running to it, so Maddie met with a builder.

“I’m going to live on the land,” she told him, “but I also don’t want everyone driving past my house to get to the shelter, either.”

The man thought a moment, then said, “How about this?” and drew her a sketch that placed her private residence at the back of the property where she’d have optimum privacy.

She nodded her enthusiasm, eyes blazing with excitement, and replied, “Guess we need to go mark the location out and get started then.”

She’d also drawn up a business plan, and between the financial backing from the bank, the proceeds from the sale of the house, and the payout of Eric’s life insurance policy, she finally felt in control of her own destiny.

Apart from the short layover at her parents’ place, she’d insisted on being completely self-sufficient, moving onto her property in a RV while construction of the house and facilities she desired got underway.

***

Mason and Allen had salvaged Gentries Unlimited. They’d been fortunate enough to find a lawyer specializing in corporate theft, who’d agreed to take the case pro bono.

In pulling files together, Mason had realized that he could, in fact, prove the origin of Toby Mitting’s stolen data. The attorney had a field day in court with the defense witnesses who’d lied under oath and said that Harbinger Inc’s text-blocking program had all originated in Harbinger’s labs.

When the judge ruled to uphold the injunction barring Harbinger from using any of the ill-gotten data, Mason was overjoyed.

But he didn’t know how to contact the one person he wanted to call and share the good news with – he’d never thought to get Maddie’s number from her.

Instead, he celebrated with his office staff - all the while wishing he could hear Maddie’s voice.

***

Late one September afternoon Maddie stood in Kathy’s guest room, looking at herself in the full-length mirror that hung on the closet door.

“I really don’t want to do this,” Maddie grumbled.

“I know you don’t,” Kathy chided her. “But you promised me you would, so, you’re going.”

It was the night of Maddie’s twenty-year high-school class reunion, and Kathy had talked her out of her usual routine of being a recluse.

“Do this one thing for me, and I swear I won’t make you go anywhere else, hermit-lady,” Kathy had pouted.

“Okay, okay, fine.”

Now Maddie’s eyebrows furrowed, and she frowned.

“Does this look all right?” she said, turning around to try to see what the back of the dress looked like.

“It flatters your shape, and it brings out your eyes,” Kathy assured her, referring to the forest green wrap dress that hit just above the knee. “You look amazing, Mad, trust me.”

For the millionth time, Maddie pulled out her cell phone and his note and started to dial Mason’s number - and for the millionth time, she sighed and put them both back in her purse.

I waited too long, she thought mournfully. It’s too late now, I’m sure. I just hope he’s not there tonight – especially with someone else. I couldn’t bear to see that.

Kathy could tell what Maddie was thinking by the look on her face.

“Are you ever going to call him?”

Maddie sighed.

“I’m sure it’s too late for that, Kathy. And what would I even say?”

“I don’t know. Maybe just speak from your heart? It’s not like you haven’t had time to think about it.”

Maddie shook her head.

“I missed my chance with Mason Gentries. Now, I have to live with it.”

She looked once more at her reflection and sighed.

“Okay, let’s go,” she murmured. “Let’s get this over with.”

***

Mason fixed his cufflinks in place, scowling at himself in the mirror.

I would rather take a beating than do this, he told himself for the hundredth time. But I told Allen I’d go, and if I don’t, he’ll never shut up about it.

Besides, maybe Maddie will be there…

He purposely forced himself off that train of thought. After all, he hadn’t heard a word from her since he’d left the cabins that crisp March morning.

Guess she made her decision about her future, and it doesn’t include me, he told himself once more.

God, I hope she’s not there tonight with someone else. Seeing that would completely wreck me.

He came out of his reverie and stared back at his reflection.

“Let’s get this over with,” he muttered, then turned on his heel and headed out his front door.

***

Maddie parked her car, then paused just for a moment to steel her nerves.

Kathy made you promise to go to this thing, but she never made any mention of how long you actually have to stay. So, walk in, take one lap around the room, and leave. Come on, girl. You can do this.

She willed her heart to stop racing as she climbed out of her car and slowly walked across the lot to the entrance.

***

Mason had scrawled his signature on the sign-in sheet, politely taken the name tag thrust at him, then made his way to the far end of the long rectangular room where an open bar had been set up.

“Whiskey on the rocks, please,” he said, handing the man one of the three tiny red tickets he’d been given at the sign-in table.

Drink in hand, he stood over against the wall, swirling the whiskey and glancing around to see if Maddie had arrived.

A shrill voice to his left made him cringe on the inside.

“Mason Gentries? Is that you? My, my, you got tall, built, and handsome, didn’t you?”

He gritted his teeth even as he turned his head and casually remarked, “Hello, Beverly.”