* * *
"If you want my opinion, the guy stopped by to see you to try to
figure out if getting married is the right thing to do," Scott offered plainly
as he dried himself off on a chaise lounge. Ken had just left after spending
nearly four hours poolside with Maddy and her friends from Fred Astaire.
"Or maybe he just wanted one last fling before he ties the knot!"
Lloyd teased, playfully punching her in the shoulder. He was blissfully
unaware of the ludicrousness of his statement, considering Ken and
Madeline's passionate, but chaste history. However, Maddy wasn't about
to 'fess up to keeping her virginity intact to this new group of friends, nice
as they were. Something gave her the distinct impression such news would
raise a few eyebrows as well as concerns for her mental health.
"Nah Lloyd, Kenny's not like that; he's a very honorable guy and he
knows I have high standards. I don't go after other women's boyfriends,
fiancées or husbands-it's just not my style. Besides, if he does break his
engagement, I want it to be entirely his decision with no influence from
me. If he's having second thoughts about marrying Erin, he shouldn't go
through with it period, regardless of how I feel or what I do."
"Yeah, you have a point," Rebecca concurred. "But I gotta say,
Maddy, he gave you the perfect opening to tell him how you really feel. I
don't know-if it was me and I still loved the guy, I'd tell him."
"Rebecca, I can't hurt a woman I've never even met-a woman who's
done nothing to me just because Kenny and I couldn't get our timing
straight! It wouldn't be right; I wouldn't want someone hurting me like
that! And even if I did admit my real feelings, there's no guarantee he'd
end things with her anyway. I got the very strong impression that he's
resigned himself to his decision, even if it's wrong. I don't think he could
live with the guilt of hurting her and her family by backing out now."
"Well maybe you have a point," Rebecca conceded. "Still, I'm amazed
by you, Maddy. Do you know how many women would move in for the
kill in this situation? Hell, I've had girlfriends who had no qualms about
stealing my boyfriends right out from under my nose!"
"It was strange though, when he called her on his cell from my
apartment," Maddy admitted. He didn't tell her where he was, for obvious
reasons. But it was more than that-it was almost as if he felt stifled by
the whole conversation, like she has him on a short leash or something.
Anyway, he's not the upbeat, gregarious, fun-loving guy I remember. And
for someone about to get married, he's sure not excited about it."
"All I can say is for the guy to spend an entire Saturday afternoon on
a Holiday weekend with an old girlfriend, and not his fiancée, something is
terribly wrong," Lloyd commented.
"And Maddy, I saw the way he looked at you," Rebecca added,
"Girlfriend, he's still in love with you-I don't care what you say or what
he says!"
"Yeah well, love isn't the only issue here," Maddy stated sadly. "Or is
that the problem? Isn't real love about letting go? If that's the case, I am
strong enough to do that. Someday, if he ends up coming back to me, I
will know for sure that his feelings for me are real-provided I'm still
available, of course."
"I still think it's rather odd that he wants you to go over to his place
for a barbeque," Scott went on, "What's with this desire for you and his
fiancée to be friends? If you ask me, that's just strange. Look, he's
apparently made his decision, even if he's not 100% sold on it. So why
rub salt in the wound? He's got one helluva nerve as far as I'm concerned.
Obviously he knows you're upset, even if you weren't open about how
you really feel. I just can't figure him out; if he does still love you, he
should at least let you maintain some dignity."
"You know," Maddy said, brightening, "Maybe in a way it would be
good for me to take him up on his invitation; maybe if I meet her
something will just finally snap inside and I'll be able to move on."
"Uh, Madeline I think you may be spending too much time listening
to those motivational tapes of yours," Rebecca noted with a hint of
sarcasm and a raised eyebrow.
"No, no! Maybe that's the answer," Maddy insisted. "And you know,
Scott, if you were to come with me, it might not be so bad." She smiled as
she playfully smacked him on the knee.
"Well, ok," he agreed. "But I want you to think long and hard before
you do it."