Road Not Taken

Chapter 19: Face to Face

I can't believe it; I must be dreaming right?

"Um.... Sparky? You okay there?" He says.

"Do you two know each other?" Todd asks.

"Yeah, so don't be mad." Katie says.

"Katie! You know she's not supposed to contact anyone from her past."

"Todd, trust me you will want to make an exception for this one."

"Oh, and why is that?"

I speak up. "Because this is Matt. My.... Matt."

Matt gives me a smirk.

"Really? This guy?"

"Hey! I'm right here!

"Alright, fine. I will allow it."

"Allow it? Who is this guy anyways?" Matt asks.

"He's an ex-cop, used to work with witness protection." Katie answers.

"And I was good at it."

"Sure, you were."

"You know I was."

"Then how come it was so easy to find her?"

"You call two years easy?"

"Her picture was online."

"Under a different name."

"With the same face."

While they argue, I stare at Matt in disbelief. I reach out and touch his face with one hand. "It really is you."

He smiles. "Yeah, it's me."

I drop my hand. "Can we talk outside?"

"Yes." We go outside of the gallery and stand in front of the sign. "So, Jessica Blue?"

"Yeah, I had to change my name and just went with it."

"I like Tessa better."

"Me too." I can't wait any longer. I throw myself at him and he wraps me up in his arms. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too." I look up and he leans down and kisses me. He pulls away and we both have smiles on our faces. "I missed kissing you."

"Wait a second, if you are here then-"

"You're safe now Tessa."

I let out a sigh of relief and pulled him back down for another kiss. I pull away and I know that I must tell him about Katherine.

"What is it?"

"I have to tell you something." I say and he releases me.

"Before you do, can I say something?"

"Um.... sure."

"I love you and now that I found you, I want nothing more than to be with you again, Tessa." I pull him into another heated kiss, I break the kiss and rest my forehead against his. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"So, what did you want to tell me?"

"First, I love you so much." I say. "Second, I am not really sure how you will take this."

"That bad, huh?"

"Depends on how you look at it." I say and take his hands in mine. "I have a daughter."

"You mean, Mallory?" He looks confused.

I sigh; I should have phrased that differently. "I mean you have a daughter.... with me."

He takes a step back. "I.... I have a daughter?"

I nod my head. "Yes."

"I have a kid?"

"Yes."

"And you are sure it's mine?"

"Yes."

"I....um.... I don't know what to say. What's her name?"

"Katherine Elizabeth Green."

"You gave her my last name?"

"Well, she is your daughter."

He smiles, which shocks me a little. "When can I meet her?"

"Wait, so you're not mad?"

"No, why would I be? Sure, I was shocked at first, but I'm not mad."

"Really?"

He sighs and takes my hands in his. "I know that I should be mad, but honestly the fact that I have a kid with you makes me love you even more."

"You mean it?"

"Always." He says and pulls me into a kiss.

I pull back and we stare into each other's eyes, daring the other one to ask.... what comes next? "So?"

"I want this, I want us."

"I want this too."

"I wish we could start over, get a second chance."

"You love me, and I love you. We don't need a fresh start. We need each other."

"You really mean that?"

"Of course, I mean it." I missed this man so much. I love him more than life itself. "I know, I broke the promise the last time I said.... but I promise no more running."

"Well, this time you didn't have a choice. But if you did it again, I would always find you." He says jokingly.

I smile. "Such a stalker."

"Yep, can't get rid of me that easily."

I give him a quick peck on the lips. We walk back inside, hand in hand. "I love you."

He gives my hand a squeeze. "I love you too."