The reporter continued, “We’ve received exclusive footage of Bradley leaving this apartment building at three in the morning last week, while he was M.I.A. Our sources tell us that Brad has been spending his free time with a mystery woman. And, folks, this is not Maggie Vaughn’s place since we all know she has moved on herself,” the reporter smiled. “Sorry ladies, but it looks like Brad is back to his old ways and won’t be settling down anytime soon.”
Maggie felt like she might throw up. As pictures flashed across the screen of Brad and some big-breasted blonde. More evidence of what he had been up to all week. Maggie couldn’t look at anyone, her eyes were laser-focused on the T.V. Carl cleared his throat, “We should get going, Evelyn.” Evelyn nodded and placed a gentle touch on Maggie’s shoulder as they walked out.
Brad could feel everything crumble around him. He had no idea how to explain that nothing had happened. Yes, he’d had a lapse in judgement, and went out drinking but he had never slept with anyone. He had been so spooked by his feelings for Maggie...and instead of talking to Maggie, he had run off. He knew the videos looked bad and nothing he said would make any of it okay. Brad cleared his throat to speak, to apologize and tell her everything, when Maggie looked over at him. Her face was emotionless. “Leave,” she stated.
Brad reached out to grab her hand. Maggie pulled it back from his reach and repeated, “Leave.”
“Please, let me--” Brad attempted. Brad could see her composure beginning to break, her lower lip trembled, and tears starting to well.
“I need you to leave!” she yelled this time. Maggie knew this had been a mistake. She had let her guard down and had known she never should have. Now there were videos to prove to her she had been right not to trust him, that it had all been an act.
Brad knew it was no use. His shoulders slumped. He knew he had ruined everything with her, and she would never believe him if he tried to tell her the truth. He had let his fear of loving someone again ruin the best thing that had ever happened to him. Brad got up from the couch and walked out the door.
Chapter 14
Maggie spent the rest of the year alone. Janet, Lori, and Jim tried to get her out of the house. For New Year’s they invited her to join them to go out for drinks, but Maggie declined. She hadn’t heard from Brad since Christmas night. He hadn’t even attempted to call and explain. She wouldn’t have believed anything he told her, but the fact that he made no attempt was even worse.
Carl came over and checked on her daily. After he had left that night, he was worried about her. He knew she had finally opened herself up to love again and now he blamed himself for making that deal with her in the first place. Had he let it go, he wouldn’t have to sit by and watch his daughter get her heart broken for a second time.
Maggie kept telling her dad she was fine and that it was no big deal, that the whole thing had been an act. That they needed to keep up their romance for a bit for the show, but Carl knew she wasn’t telling him the truth. Yet, he let Maggie use that story and never questioned her.
After the New Year, Maggie threw herself back into work; anything to not think about Brad. By February, she had thought that she had finally gotten over Brad, until one night she took Jim up on his offer to join him and Billy for dinner. When she arrived at the restaurant, she noticed that they weren’t alone, and another man was sitting at the table. Maggie’s blood boiled. She had explicitly told everyone she was done with dating and didn’t want to be set up. She had thought that she had made herself perfectly clear, but obviously not.
Maggie glared at Jim as she approached the table. She had at first thought about turning around and leaving, but it wasn’t this poor man’s fault that her friends were such idiots. As she got closer to the table, she recognized that the man joining them was no stranger, but Todd. Maggie had no idea why the hell he would show up here, let alone sitting with Billy and Jim. Seeing Todd brought back raw memories of Brad. Maggie realized that she wasn’t truly over Brad as part of her hoped that maybe Brad was there too.
Jim stood up immediately when he saw Maggie and the look upon her face. He rushed over to cut her off. “Before you freak out, I need you to hear me out,” he held up his hand as she looked ready to murder someone. “Todd asked to see you. He had called several times saying he needed to explain, but I told him you wanted nothing to do with Brad. I tried, but...then he told me things weren’t good with Brad and that there had been a huge misunderstanding and he only wants to help. Brad is like a brother to him and he only wants the best. So, I agreed to listen, and I think you should too.”
Maggie knew she had only two choices, to leave and never look back or hear the man out. She figured whatever he had to say had to be good to get him to travel halfway across the country to see her. “Okay, Okay. I’ll listen but doesn’t change the fact that I’m done with Brad,” she pointed out to Jim.
Maggie walked over to the table. She made no attempt to hide her anger from Todd as she sat across from him. “Hi Maggie, it’s good to see you,” Todd squeaked out.
“I wish I felt the same,” she retorted dryly.
Todd shifted in his seat, feeling rather uncomfortable under her venomous glare. “I want to thank you for coming--” Todd started and was immediately cut off.
“I had no idea you were going to be here. If I’d have known, I promise I would not be sitting here. But since I was lured here under false pretenses, I’ll stay and at least get a nice meal, even if the company is rather unappealing.”
Maggie glanced over and saw Jim look at her with pleading eyes, asking her to lay off. Maggie rolled her eyes at him and turned her attention back to Todd. “So, I hear you have some things to tell me?” she asked, ready to be done.
“What you saw in those pictures, or what you were led to believe, is not accurate,” Todd started.
“So, Brad was photoshopped to depict him having had a rather good time with some blonde?” she quipped.
“Well, no. The pictures are real. Just the woman in them is not some random hook-up--it was his ex-fiancée, Christy,” he informed her. “After his weekend with you he needed to mend things with her--”
Maggie could feel her stomach sink. Not only did he not love her, but he was hooking up with his ex right after they had been together?! Maggie had known he had been engaged before; a piece of information Brad had told her about in the cabin. Maggie’s brain could not fully process why Todd was telling her all of this, it didn’t matter anyway, she was done with Brad.
“Why are you telling me this now?” she asked, even more upset.
“Because, Brad has fallen off the deep end. He won’t take any calls; he hasn’t shown up for any of his appearances or to the set for work. He’s a mess!” Todd exclaimed.
“And why should I care? Do you think I’m not a mess?! He tore my heart out and stomped on it!” she cried. “So he wants his ex back--”
“Brad never went to her house to patch things up. He needed to deal with his demons from the past with her, so he could move on with you. Don’t you understand he is in love with you, but he couldn’t get over the pain of what she did to him. He figured that by telling her everything about how she had made him feel would help him heal. He needed to do this so he could be with you!” Todd explained.
“Why didn’t he call me to tell me this himself?” she asked, more confused and upset than ever.
“I don’t know, maybe he was worried you wouldn’t believe him. Or maybe he’s just a stupid male!” Todd exclaimed.
Maggie knew he was right. No matter what Brad may have told her that night she never would have believed him. Maybe secretly she had been looking for a reason to run and the videos gave her one. She had been so scared of her own feelings that she was willing to jump to her own conclusions about Brad.
Then Jim chimed in. “Maggie what he’s saying about Brad is true, or at least the going off the deep end part. Haven’t you seen the news?” Jim asked.
Maggie had avoided all things ‘Brad’, so she
had no idea that he had been on a drinking bender and was close to ruining his career. She looked at Todd. “I...I don’t know that I can trust him again,” she stated. “I need to go.” Maggie got up abruptly from the table and ran out of the restaurant. She got into her car and made no attempt to leave, instead she let the tears of pain flow.
********
Brad lay on his couch, still in the same clothes from two days before. He couldn’t remember when he had showered last. His apartment had bottles of empty beer and booze strewn all over. Brad looked at his phone and saw that Todd had tried to reach him all day again. After he had left Maggie’s, he came back to L.A and tried to get back to work. But it only lasted a few weeks, then he started to not show up on time, and then he would miss whole days of work all together.
By the end of January, he was in a full out depressive state and had quit responding to Todd’s texts. He had hit rock bottom and he no longer cared about his career. He had lost the only thing he cared about, and he knew he’d never get Maggie back. He had picked up his phone hundreds of times to dial Maggie’s number, only to stop himself, unsure of how to tell her the truth. He wanted to tell her he loved her, but now he was too afraid. He knew whatever they had had between them was gone. He had ruined it and broken her heart in the process. So instead, he turned to booze to numb himself. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.
Now it was May, he received a wedding invitation with a note inside. It was from Carl and the note reminded him that he had made Carl a promise that he needed to keep. Carl explained how Jim and Billy had come to see him and they had explained everything. Now it was Brad’s turn to fight for his daughter if he truly loved her.
Brad looked at the wedding invitation and saw that the ceremony was not only in two weeks, but it was at the resort. Brad flung the invite on the coffee table and grabbed himself a fresh beer.
Chapter 15
Maggie smiled at Evelyn as she finished the final touches of her makeup. She had been so happy for the two of them when they announced they were getting married. She was surprised when they told her the wedding was to take place in four weeks. Carl had told her, when you know, you just know and then gave her a look. Maggie turned away from her father’s gaze. He had never pressured her to talk about what happened between Brad and her but had seen the media reports. He would only make comments that we need to sometimes find out the truth for ourselves and that things are not always as they appear to be. Maggie would shrug his comments off and change the subject.
Over the last two weeks he let things go and Maggie figured he had finally moved on and was now concentrating on marrying Evelyn. They had decided to have the wedding at the resort, which Maggie was not thrilled about. She had never wanted to step foot back on that property again as it held too many memories she wanted to forget. But who was she to tell them where they could get married or that she wouldn’t be there?
When the day finally arrived, Maggie was so caught up in all the activity of getting things ready, she barely had time to think about Brad, for this she was grateful.
Evelyn had turned the resort into the grandest thing she had ever seen. The ceremony was outside, and the views of the mountains were breathtaking. The indoor restaurant had been turned into a large reception area, decorated throughout with white and gold. Maggie was her father’s best woman and Evelyn’s best friend was her matron of honor. As they exchanged vows, Maggie smiled on the outside, but inside she was dying.
When the vows were exchanged, and Carl and Evelyn kissed, and they all headed inside for a spectacular meal. All of Maggie’s friends had been invited and all were there to celebrate her dad with her. As Carl and Evelyn began their first dance as husband and wife, Jim came up to Maggie. He held a gift in his hands and placed it in front of her.
“What is this?” she chuckled.
“I don’t know. It was at my table and had your name written on it,” he smiled, handing her the box. “So, I brought it over.”
Maggie raised an eyebrow up at him, certain he was up to something. She slowly untied the red ribbon and opened the gold box. She reached inside and pulled out a snow globe. It was the same one she had been holding when she told Brad about her mom. Inside the box there was a note. Maggie picked it up and read, “Meet me outside where we first kissed.”
Maggie glanced at Jim, who had a smile on his face. “I think you should do what it says.”
Maggie hesitated.
“Sometimes you have to take the leap, Maggie. I know it’s scary, but you don’t want to regret never trying all your life. I know you thought you’d never love anyone again after Isaac, but life brought you a second chance at love. Take it and run,” he encouraged her.
Maggie smiled and hugged Jim.
Maggie walked out of the reception, her dad glanced over and watched her walk out of the room and smiled to himself. Maggie could hear her heart pounding in her ears. She was so scared to let him back in and so scared not to.
When she looked out into the clearing, she saw Brad standing by himself, his hands in his pockets. He had on a finely fitted black suit coat and sleek black pants. He was obviously dressed for a wedding and she had a feeling Jim was not the only one involved in this setup. Maggie slowed her pace, not sure of what to say, when Brad turned his head in her direction. The look in his eyes one of awe. Maggie stood only inches away.
“You look breathtaking!” he whispered. Maggie could see the look of love and insecurity in his eyes. She stood there in front of him in a champagne-colored gown with spaghetti straps and a sweetheart neckline. The satin, mermaid styled gown fit her body perfectly.
“Thank you,” she murmured back.
Brad fidgeted from one foot to the next, not sure what to say and then it all spilled out. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve told you everything from the beginning. I... I messed up. I know you may never be able to forgive me, but if you’d give me another chance I promise to spend the rest of my life making it up to you,” he rushed out. “Maggie Vaughn, I never thought I’d love anyone ever again, but from the moment I met you, you’re all I ever wanted. And I pray we never spend another day apart,” Brad continued.
Maggie just looked at him and asked. “Why didn’t you tell me that the pictures were of you and Christy and you never slept with her?”
“I was scared that if you knew how damaged I was, you’d run. I’d vowed never to love another woman again, but you...you captured my heart and now...I never want you to let go. That is...if you’ll give me another chance?” Brad asked, praying she would.
Maggie took one step closer, their bodies almost touching. “Will you promise to be open and never hide anything again?” she asked.
Brad nodded his head, “I promise.”
Maggie reached her hand out and wove her fingers into his. “Then, yes,” she smiled. Brad smiled back and bent his head down to kiss her plump cherry lips. Maggie closed her eyes as she finally took the leap.
Epilogue
“Are you ready?” Maggie called out to her dad and Evelyn as she walked into their house.
“We’re coming,” Carl called back as he and Evelyn emerged from the kitchen. It had been a year and a half since they married, and they still acted like newlyweds as Carl basically chased her out of the room. Evelyn laughed and turned around to plant a sweet kiss on Carl's lips.
Maggie rolled her eyes. “Come on, you two love birds, we don’t want to be late,” she proclaimed.
Carl and Evelyn followed Maggie out of the house and got into her car. Maggie was so excited to have them see Brad’s new restaurant Giovanna. After Carl and Evelyn’s wedding, Brad decided to leave Hollywood for good to pursue his other passion, food. He knew his mother would be proud to see him start his own restaurant and it was only natural that he named it after her.
Brad planned an intimate opening for only their friends and family. He was so excited and nervous for everyone to taste his food. Maggie couldn’t stop exclaiming to everyone how amazing of a cook he was; since moving i
n, she had gained ten pounds thanks to his phenomenal meals.
When Maggie, Carl, and Evelyn arrived, most everyone else was already there. Maggie smiled and greeted all her friends. She was also so happy to see Todd had made it. He was the closest thing Brad had to family and he had supported him the whole time in his decision to leave show business and pursue other endeavors.
Brad had planned a family-style meal for the evening, with four courses. They all sat together at one large table laughing and savoring the fine food. Everyone exclaimed how wonderful everything was and gave Brad many compliments on his abilities as a chef. When the final course arrived, Maggie exclaimed she was too full and could not possibly have anything else. Brad informed her it was her favorite, tiramisu, and Maggie gave in.
Brad walked up behind Maggie and placed the small plate with the dessert in front of her. Maggie picked her fork up to dig in when she noticed a flash of light twinkle off a one-carat square-cut diamond ring placed atop the tiramisu. Maggie placed the fork down and picked up the gorgeous ring and turned around to face Brad still behind her. When she turned, Brad was down on one knee.
Brad grabbed the ring from her hand and took her left hand in his. “Will you marry me?” he asked softly.
Maggie placed her right hand up to her lips and merely nodded yes. Tears welled up in her eyes, so overcome with emotion. Everyone around them cheered and clapped as she stood up and placed a kiss on his lips.
Brad looked into Maggie’s eyes. “I love you, and you’ll always be my best Christmas present.”
I hope you enjoyed reading A Date for Christmas as much as I enjoyed writing it.
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