Recap of Chapter 25: When Chloe was out dancing with friends at the Little Bear, she saw Matthew come in with a mysterious blonde woman. She gathered the courage to confront him and Penny arrived on the scene just as Chloe had tossed a drink in Matthew’s face. Her mistake quickly became clear when Penny introduced the blonde as Matthew’s sister.
Martin awoke to the sun shining on the foot of his bed, indicating it was much later than he usually slept. He lay there, his head on the pillow listening to his little spot on the lake waking up. He heard the loons calling to each other on the lake and the birds in the trees; if he really concentrated, he could hear the water lap onto the shore and slap against the downed log half in and half out of the water. He turned away from the window to glance at the empty spot in the bed where Chloe would have been only a month ago—blinking sleepy eyes up at him, her hair tousled in that adorable way. He smiled at the memory before sighing. It was much easier to bear all the loneliness when he hadn’t felt the companionship of good company. What’s that the scientists say? “It’s easier for something in motion to stay in motion?” That must also be true of hearts. Once it’s been stirred to life, it’s easier for it to keep on being stirred than to return to being dormant. Barney jumped up on the bed, nosing Martin. “Isn’t that right, boy.” He scratched behind his ears. “I might’ve been better off if she’d never come at all. Now it feels damn lonely ’round here, doesn’t it?” After a few moments, he added, “Just a couple of old bachelors we are, isn’t that right, Barney. Well, let’s get to it. There’s breakfast to eat—that means last bites for you—and a walk to be taken.” He sighed, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. “Much to do. Much to do.”
He’d spoken to Chloe many times since her visit. They even made plans to get together before winter set in. Of course, the three people who’d made it so lively at his cabin a couple months ago had all returned together where they could see each other whenever they wished. And Penny told him that Matthew’s sister was thrown into the mix now too. They were all out and about, enjoying the weather with hikes at Alderfer/Three Sisters, strolls around the lake, and dancing the night away at the Little Bear. It all sounded so lively. It was he that was left alone in the quiet. A quiet so loud that he found no peace in it. To say he was a bit jealous was a gross understatement.
At first, Martin loved the idea of Chloe’s independence—her modern approach to sex and commitment. It all seemed so carefree and progressive. But still, the way things were with Penny’s mother was so different. Even in the so-called summer of love in the ’70s, when the stigma of premarital sex had all but disappeared, their love was so sweet. They knew they were headed for the altar the first time they were together intimately. This new thing, although exciting, was something altogether different. Martin knew his mind well enough, but he had to guess at what Chloe was thinking. He didn’t think of himself as overly sentimental, but it didn’t mean nothing. It’s not that he was especially needy. He’d been on his own for nearly a dozen years. But, what’s a guy to do by himself like this but overthink things?
After breakfast, Martin and Barney took a walk around the lake. Martin had always been a problem-solver—a man of action. This nonsense of pining for noise and companionship was ridiculous. Halfway through the loop around the lake, he declared the situation to be just that to Barney. Then he declared that he had hatched a plan. “If they can do it, by God, so can we!”
They rushed through the door and Martin went straight to the attic, fetching down the suitcase. “We are not helpless now, are we?” he mumbled out loud while Barney watched, his tail swishing the ground below the ladder.
“ …what’s a guy to do by himself like this but overthink things?”
“There is no need for us to mope around here feeling sorry for ourselves,” he said descending the ladder with a suitcase in hand. “Not when there’s something we can do about it.” Barney followed him down the hall into the bedroom. “We’re going to Colorado, buddy. And this time, it’s us who are doing the surprising.”
And so, two hours later, Martin was buckled into a seat, getting ready for takeoff with Barney perched in the seat next to him. It was pure luck that the last-minute flights he booked had many empty seats, and again that he was able to sweet-talk the airline into letting Barney in the seating area of the plane. Although Martin worked his charm, it was Barney that sold it, with his sweet face and ready tail wagging. Flight attendants never failed to find him adorable, offering him water and extra pretzels, and generally treating him like a VIP.
It was just after 10 pm when Martin stood on Chloe’s porch. He set his suitcase to the side and at the last minute, had Barney hold in his soft mouth the bouquet he brought. The better to have his hands free to capture Chloe in his arms the second she opened the door. He checked his breath and rang the doorbell. He was hoping it would be a wonderful surprise that thrilled her on sight. A grand gesture. How could it fail? No immediate answer. He rang again, encouraging Barney to hold the pose.
After several tense moments, the door opened. Chloe looked disheveled: messy hair, smeared eye makeup, she appeared in the doorway as she covered herself with a dressing gown.
“Surprise,” Martin said in a sexy voice. Barney dropped the flowers and began to prance. Martin scooped them up and offered them to Chloe who looked truly shocked. “I’ve shocked you,” he said, thinking it was adorable. “You’re speechless.” He stepped forward to embrace her, but she blocked his way.
“Oh, Martin,” she said, looking apologetic. She dropped her eyes. “You should have called.” Instantly wary, he said, “But that would spoil the surprise, now, wouldn’t it?” Through narrowed eyes, he watched her discomfort and stall tactics. Her body language said it loud and clear. He wasn’t welcome. Then, he clued in. He ran his hands over his face and sighed. “You have company,” he said, knowing it was true.
“I’m so sorry, Martin. I had no idea you were coming.”
“Got it,” he said. There wasn’t anything else to say. He turned, called Barney, who seemed confused at being denied entry, and headed down the sidewalk. He stopped to lay the bouquet on top of the hedge, caught a snapshot of Chloe looking miserable watching him from the backlit doorway, and disappeared into the dark.
