History Repeated Part 3: Mending Bridges
Tears stained Tess' pretty face as she sobbed on the couch.
Why had she done it? Why had she let him go? He had said everything that she had wanted him to say, everything that she had waited years for him to say.
Morals. That's what it was. She was a good girl, with lovely old fashioned, girl-next-door morals.
Maybe she would have found it easier to take Nick up on his offer if she had that streak of badness within, a little bit of the devil inside her. But she didn't.
She was sure her girl-next-door rule book would spell the end of her love life, one day.
She got up after hearing a knock at the door. It was 9pm, who would be calling around so late? She wondered. She was sure she would screen if it was Dale. She had had about enough of him as she could take for one day. She wasn't in the mood for one of his pitches.
Yes, she had been in love with him, but in hindsight knew that she had made the right move in ending things. The girl-next-door rule book strikes again!.
Before pulling open the door, Tess made a quick dash to a nearby mirror, wiped her tears away, and made her self look at least a little presentable.
"Oh," Tess stared at the figure in the doorway, "Hey." Maybe it would've been better if the person at the door had been Dale. It would've made things a lot easier, she could've just slammed it in his face. It was different with Nick, she could never do that.
"Can I come in?" He asked softly.
Tess hesitated. Did she really want to go down that road again?.
"Nick I-"
"Please, Tess. It'll only take a couple of minutes... I'm on my way to the airport anyway" He told her.
"This late?" She was amazed that he would be heading home so late in the evening.
"Yep, this late" He answered.
Tess agreed and let him in, "Maybe you can have that coffee I promised you."
Nick sat at the table while Tess made the coffee. Things were difficult, but at least they weren't having another screaming match.
"Um.... Nick," Tess placed the coffee's down on the table, before taking a seat beside him.
"It doesn't matter Tess, you were-"
"No," She looked up into his face with deep remorse. "It does matter, Nick. I shouldn't have said all those things... I didn't mean to bring up the past. I just..." she trailed off. She was never any good at explaining her feelings. "I'm sorry"
Nick nodded, "Me too. I should've just walked away, Tess"
"Why didn't you?" Her soft voice asked
Nick sighed, then spoke from the heart, "I guess seeing you after all these years brought back some old feelings... I needed to hold you again, Tess... I'm sorry if I stuffed things for you."
Tess shook her head, "Like you said, Nick, I wasn't complaining. It takes two to tango, remember?" Tess reached over and put her hand on his, "How bout we call it a moment of temporary insanity?"
He smiled, "Deal."
Nick stood up, "Anyway, I better head off."
Tess followed him to the door, "But you haven't even finished your coffee"
"I got what I came for," He told her softly as he laid a hand on her shoulder.
Tess smiled as she leaned in and hugged him, "And I'm sorry about your... goolies"
Tess heard him chuckle. He pulled away, "That was part of the insanity as well."
As Nick stepped out the door, he turned back to Tess, "Don't be a stranger, Tess"
Tess simply nodded and smiled before closing the door.