Chapter 2: Mistakes

He hadn't taken anyone's calls or messages. He wasn't ready to discuss Emma, not with anyone. But Sunday afternoon, he looked down at his front doorstep to see a basket full of jam. Maddy. He stooped down and picked up the note lying on top:

Mr. Knightley! I brought you some of your favorite jam to get you through a tough time. I know you and Emma are fighting, but you can still talk to me, and I won't breathe a word. I'm still your friend. Now call me already! Mama and I are worried.
Love,
Maddy

He grinned despite himself. He picked up the basket and took it inside, plopping it on the kitchen counter. Then he took a seat in one of the chairs and took out his phone. He took a deep breath as he heard it ringing.

"Alex Knightley, is that you?"

"Hi, Maddy."

"You're home! I am so glad you called. Did you get my jams, then?"

"I did, thank you so much."

"Oh, you're welcome, honey. My pleasure. I have a few new recipes that I'm trying out this weekend so you have to come over. You are staying, right? You up-and-disappeared on us there, mister. Oh! But I'm not going to ask a question about that. I know it's not easy to talk about, sugarpuff. But I will say that she has been more than kind to me. You know, that girl makes a lot of mistakes, but she has a good heart."

"I…don't know if I'm staying, Maddy." He couldn't believe that Maddy of all people was defending Emma.

"Oh, you young'uns are so dramatic these days. But that's alright. You know, my Jane is going through the same thing as you. What with her splitting from Frank and all, everything is just topsy-turvy. But like Mama always says—I was telling Emma this the other day—like Mama always says, 'Good men are like vegetables. They always turnip!' Get it? Turn up? And you're a good man, Alex. Things are gonna work out just fine for you."

Alex's head was spinning. Clearly there was something he wasn't following. "Maddy, sorry. I'm confused. Did you say Jane…broke up with Frank?"

"Did you not know? And I was so good with keeping the secret! Mama and I were veeery discreet. Well, that's alright, everybody else knows. I'm sorry I kept it a secret, baby. Frank and Jane were dating for a while, but they broke up right when Jane left the office. But she's doing okay, so don't worry. She's got a new job that she is getting ready for and she is all kinds of busy!"

Then—then he had been right! Frank and Jane were dating! He knew he was right no matter what Emma said.

Emma.

"Maddy, I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to call you back. I need to go."

"Already? Well that's alright, sugarpuff. But you had better call me back soon!"

"I will, Maddy." He hung up.

That was it. That's what she had been blind to. Frank, that cruel, cold-hearted jerk! That bastard had been callously flirting with Emma, seducing her, when he and Jane were already together! He knew he should never have trusted that flirtatious two-timing scumbag. And now Frank had broken Emma's heart. And Jane had left. And Alex had left, too, left Emma alone and hurting and lost. And she had still risen to the challenge and kept the business on its feet, all by herself. But she might never forgive him. And he might never forgive himself.

He had to go back.