Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

Maja couldn't help but chuckle as she hooked her arm through his and they headed for the car.

As long as Abner and Shirley hit it off, her matchmaking wouldn't have been in vain.

Upstairs.

After lan's teasing remark, Abner had straightened up in his seat.

He glanced at the barely touched dishes in front of them and picked up a rib with the nearby cutlery, placing it onto Shirley's plate.

Shirley had planned to linger, but her phone chose that moment to buzz. It was her mother calling.

She pressed the answer button with a hint of resignation in her voice.

"Mom, I really got held up with work at school, I didn't stand him up on purpose. I know, okay, I'll meet him in an hour."

Ending the call, she stood up.

"Abner, how long do you plan to stick around Greenfield? I have a training out of town for the next few days. Next tyou're in

Greenfield, can we grab a meal together?"

Her mother had set her up on a blind date, and she couldn't bail on the arrangement.

Abner also got to his feet. "Letwalk you out."

"I drove here."

"So, can you givea lift?"

Shirley was speechless.

Eventually, they both climbed into the car.

Shirley took the driver's seat, punched in the hotel's address into the GPS, and realized that it was only a mile from her place.

Was he really so close and never thought to call her?

hiding the flicker of

several conversation topics in his head

them.

you

finishing his exams, and

had tried to find him, but that first year, he

"In North America."

graduated a year ago, right? Thought about working back here in

boy, and

scenes.

"Haven't thought about it."

lit up Shirley's face as she drove. "Remember when you found out I wanted to be

too."

about the distant past, something he probably

it. lan mentioned you've got someone you fancy. Is it

stiffened instantly, and he had a sudden

and Shirley wisely let the subject

to the hotel, and Abner didn't immediately exit. He dawdled for three whole minutes before

phone on the

had inadvertently provided him with

you were helpless without your

"Let's head back

car made a

a crossroads, Shirley suddenly

first birthday with me.

freaked out when I couldn't find you at home,

standing in his shop

his gaze drifting to the store,

"Yeah, I remember."

there not saying a

her eyes crinkling

watched her from the corner of his eye, noting her

grew up pampered as

suffered, it was probably during those years with