He approached the patio and pool area and saw Maggie, Dinah, Nancy, and Bridey at a table in deep discussion with, Jenel, the event planner. No one noticed him right away, but when they did the temperature dropped from broil to freezing in a matter of seconds. Dinah gave him the evil-eye, Nancy looked at him sideways, and Maggie flat-out ignored him. Since he was completely clueless, he decided to put himself out there. "Hi, ladies, what's up?"
Bridey looked up from the chart she'd labeled. "Deliveries are starting to arrive today for Monday and you have a guest, dear." She tipped her head and raised her eyebrows in the direction of a familiar female shout.
"Ohmigod, I just heard the stories about what happened to you yesterday." Amanda Hartford rushed over to him and assaulted him with a full, on-the-mouth kiss he was sure would qualify for part of his yearly physical. "Joe told me you and Gabe were leaving for D.C. with him, and he said I can fly back with you."
He pushed Amanda away from him, wiped his mouth and heard Maggie's chair hit the pool deck as she got up and ran toward recently raised tents. Dinah followed her and Nancy stopped him when he would've gone after her.
"She won't hear anything you have to say right now, Graeme."
"But, I—"
Nancy pressed her hand against the middle of his chest. "Go to Washington and take care of whatever you need to take care of, then come back to her. She'll be more receptive in a day or so."
He whirled, grabbed Amanda's upper arm and growled, "What the hell just happened? And what the hell are you doing here?"
"Nothing happened, and I flew in with dad for the barbeque."
"I seriously doubt you did nothing." He released his hold on her and acknowledged Webster's motion for him to join him inside the house. "Stay away from me, Amanda. We're done. And, you can find your own way back to D.C."
Not long after the debacle at the ranch, he and Gabe passed through security at DFW. They bought sandwiches and bottle water for the flight to D.C., then joined Webster at the gate in time to board the plane. They found their seats and when Graeme situated himself, he pulled the now crinkled envelope from his pocket. He studied the innocuous white packet, front to back, back to front.
Gabe shook his head. "Are you going to open that thing or chant "open says me" over it?"
"I'm just wondering what's inside and why Junebug chose me."
"Look, you know it's money. If it's five bucks, buy a hamburger. If it's fifty, you've got a couple more options."
Graeme ripped open the sealed edge. "There's so much swimming around in my hea—" He stared at the dollar amount written on the check made out to him, then glanced over at Gabe. "Holy fucking shit."
Gabe took the envelope from him and looked inside. When he handed it back, he pumped Graeme's hand. "I've often wondered what it'd be like to shake the hand of a millionaire."
* * *
Monday morning after breakfast, Maggie left Andy in the kitchen with Vidalia who'd promised him a day of making cookies and colored water for a homemade aquarium. Andy was psyched.
She ventured out to the pool's edge to view the chaos that would become the premier charity event of the year. The whole scene from the patio to the three large circus-like tents looked like a fire ant hill that'd been poked with a stick. There were a thousand people running everywhere.
"Maggie, can we talk?"
Glancing around, she realized the voice belonged to that Amanda person from Washington, D.C. She faced the exceptionally pretty blonde who'd all but slapped her in the face yesterday. "I really don't think we have anything to say to each other."
"But we do, or rather I do." Amanda looked out across the pool, then back to Maggie. "Graeme and I have been close friends for a few years and for a time, we were very close."
Maggie raised her hand to stay the confession or declaration. Either way, she was pretty sure she didn't want to hear it.
"Please, let me explain."
"All right, I'm listening." Straightening her spine, she waited for the explanation.
"Graeme told me months ago we were through. Thing is, I wasn't and I'm used to getting my way."
Maggie didn't disagree, she'd already figured that much out on her own. She waited for her adversary to continue.
"Anyway, I started trying to recruit him for the next vacant senate seat thinking that would assure me his loyalty and gratitude and, eventually, his ring." She shrugged and smiled sadly. "I was wrong."
There was nothing Maggie cared to say to that. She didn't want to make her feel better by taking away even some of her guilt.
"Plus, I didn't know he was even remotely interested in anyone else until Bridey told me last night. At any rate, Maggie, I'm apologizing and if we see each other after tonight, I'd like us to try to be friends. Can we do that?"
Maggie searched Amanda's face for any trace of insincerity or flippancy, but saw none. At least the woman had the grace to appear contrite. Overwhelmed by a sudden urge completely out of character for her, Maggie shook Amanda's outstretched hand, and pushed, knocking her off balance and into the pool.
To the woman's surprised expression, Maggie said, "I suppose it won't hurt us to try, right?"
* * *
Country and Western music filled the sultry night air as Graeme joined the throng of guests and charity contributors. He spoke to several people on his way to get a beer from the bar. Just to the left of the pool, the band played a George Strait classic, Amarillo By Morning, for several two-steppin' couples. He dodged a few children, Andy being one of them, playing chase through the multitude of adults.
So far Maggie was nowhere to be seen. He entered the first of the three tents housing buffet tables laden with cantaloupes, honey dews, strawberries, potato salad, ranch style beans and barbeque briskets and chickens along one side. The rest were filled with tables and chairs.
After he exited the last tent and made his way back toward the patio, he saw Maggie standing by the entrance to the first tent. She was a vision in a frilly, lime-green sundress and cowboy boots, a western straw hat on her head. A glass of lemonade in her hand, she was talking to Dinah, Ben and Amanda.
He'd rather hash their business out in private, not in front of several hundred people, but he also thought they'd waited long enough. When he reached the group, he exchanged pleasantries, then, taking Maggie's hand, he walked her to an area behind the pool with less traffic. The band also chose that moment to take a break, so he could actually speak and be heard. She'd come with him without argument, but she wasn't talking either. Evidently, he remained in the hot seat.
"Maggie, I don't know what was said the other day, but I'm not involved with Amanda Hartford."
"I think it had more to do with her tongue down your throat."
"I didn't kiss her back." Exasperated, he set his bottle on the ground by his foot, and slipped his hands into his hip pockets, palms inward, to keep from pulling her into his arms. Her steady gaze shouted her skepticism. He didn't know how to approach the situation. Give him a mission to plan, a machine gun nest to take out, or a bomb to diffuse, but he always had trouble finding the right words to say. Damn it, I've never been good at this.
"Look, Maggie, I want to make this right between us. What do you need me to do?"
"I need you to be here for us. Me and Andy. Every Day." She raised her hand and straightened the collar of his shirt, ran her finger tips down the buttons to his belt buckle.
He grabbed her hand, startling her. "This is neither the time nor the place, darlin', to start something I'm going to want to finish."
She reclaimed her hand and shook her head. "What I'm trying to say is with your line of work, you'll always be out on an OP. I can't forever wonder if you're coming home to us. I won't do it."
The band chose that moment to start up with a party staple in Texas, The Cotton-Eye Joe. Graeme saw dancers rush to the make-shift dance floor and crowd around the pool forming the dance lines. He forged ahead in spite of the loud playing and singing.
"Th
at's what I wanted to tell you, honey. I quit INTERCEPT today."
"What?" Maggie tilted her head to hear.
Graeme repeated the statement as the singer sang the chorus, You stepped in what?, the dancers shouted, Bull Shit! He wasn't sure if she heard him that time either, but she might've smiled. When he practically yelled, "I quit my job", the band leader said, What's on your boot? with the shouted answer, Bull Shit!
He gave up. Leaning down to her, he cupped his hand behind her ear and repeated the words, "I quit my job because Junebug left me a little over a million dollars. I'm coming home!"
Bull Shit!
She heard him that time, looking up at him blinking as if trying to absorb what he'd said about the money, about everything.
"I don't know how else to assure you I will be here for you and Andy. Will you marry me?"
Suddenly, the band stopped playing before the end of the song. Shouts and screams filled the air amid sounds of people splashing into the pool. Graeme grabbed Maggie's hand and pulled her around to see what was happening. The water churned with some of the men rescuing children from the deep end.
"Graeme, I don't see Andy!" Maggie shouted in a panic. "Where is he?"
He hit the water about the time Gabe did. They swam to the bottom and found Andy jerking on something caught in the drain. Graeme wrapped his arms around the boy who fought him every inch of the way to the surface. Handing him off to Maggie and a couple of others, he went back to find Gabe pushing off the bottom for the surface.
On the pool deck, Graeme accepted the airplane charm with its broken chain from Gabe. "Thanks, Man."
"Sure." He clapped Graeme on the back. "Anytime, and right now I need a beer."
He handed Andy the charm minus the chain and hugged him tightly. "You scared your mommy and me, do you know that?"
"I guess, but I lost it when we fell in."
"The next time something like this happens, you come get me. I'll get it for you or buy a new one. You and your mom are more important to me than anything in the world. Do you know that?" He hugged him again then shared a fist bump.
Maggie looped her arm through his. "Thank you for being here when we needed you. If you'll have us, the answer is an unqualified yes."
"Yeah?"
"Yes, I will marry you."
He handed Andy off to Bridey, standing next to Andrew, then hugged Maggie, kissing her until they were breathless.
The band members shouted, "YEEEE HAAAW!" While the onlookers clapped.
Cupping her face in his hands, he looked at her in amazement. "So sorry I'm getting you wet."
"It's okay, I'm not that wet."
"You're about to be." He picked her up, swirled her around and jumped into the pool. They surfaced, gasping and sputtering.
Maggie laughed in spite of the dunking. "I love you, Graeme McAlister."
"And I love you, Maggie Benning."
He had his family at last.
EPILOGUE
Two months later.
Maggie stood in front of the full length mirror as Dinah fussed and fidgeted with the train of her wedding dress. She'd told herself the choice had been illogical since she'd been married before. Besides, she and Graeme had decided to marry outside at the newly renovated dock with only a small number of friends and family.
In addition, the dress, which had belonged to Bridey's grandmother, was crafted of handmade lace and too delicate in Maggie's view for exposure to the elements. She'd finally agreed when, to the outdoors, Bridey said, "Pish, the dress has survived over a hundred years. It will be fine." And as to other people's opinions, Graeme said "Nobody'll give a shit." Dinah asked her a question interrupting her reverie.
"So, how'd the press conference go this morning?" Dinah pinned an errant curl in place in Maggie's modified French twist.
"Nothing we didn't already know. Andrew's been reseated at the helm of Southern Star Airlines, with Graeme serving as VP of Operations." Maggie checked her makeup and added another brush of blush to her cheeks. "Are you sure mom is bringing Andy here first?"
"She assured me she will. Did they say anything about Riordon? Ben said he reached some kind of deal?"
Maggie placed the backs on her mom's diamond stud earrings. "Yes, Trevor told all for a deal from the DA. He won't go to trial, but he'll do time for smuggling, records tampering, tax evasion and being an accessory to Wyatt's murder. He implicated Talmadge in the break-ins and sabotage of my truck. Widmore, on the other hand, is pleading innocent of all charges and is awaiting trial.
"More importantly, Wyatt's name and reputation have been cleared. His honor restored. Andy growing up with no dad is hard enough without adding in drugs and suicide."
"That's so true." Dinah fastened the new single pearl and diamond drop Graeme had given Maggie for a wedding present then admired the effect in the mirror. "Simply elegant."
"Wow. Mommy, you're pretty."
"Hey, you, are you trying to sneak up on me?" She reached out and pulled him to her.
"No, me and Nannie just got here."
Nancy entered behind Andy. She finger combed his hair, then looked up and saw Maggie. "Oh, baby, you are beautiful. Do you feel all right? You're a little pale."
"Yeah, pretty good. The blush keeps disappearing is all."
"Oh, Dinah," Nancy said pointing her finger. "Jenel needs your caterer expertise before you walk down the aisle as Maid of Honor."
"Okay, I think my work here is done. We have something Old, Borrowed, New and the Blue is where?"
Maggie patted her left thigh just above the knee. "Right here."
Dinah smiled. "Hey munchkin, come on and go with me."
"Bye, mommy." Andy rushed up and plastered himself to Maggie, crushing her dress.
She knelt to his level. "I'll see you in a few minutes."
"Sure" He grabbed Dinah by the hand. "Come on, DeDe, let's go."
When the tornado left with Dinah, Maggie sat on the edge of the bed by the night stand. She took a sip from the glass sitting there and replaced it, careful not to dribble down her chin.
Nancy had stepped out briefly, but rushed back into the bedroom. "Maggie, are you ready? Ed's out front waiting—oh, honey, you're as white as your dress. What—"She glanced her daughter and squealed. "Good Lord in Heaven, you're pregnant. Does Graeme know?"
"Not for certain, I haven't seen him since the lab confirmed it yesterday. I'll tell him today."
* * *
Half an hour later, Maggie stepped out of the car onto a wide swath of white satin that, she noticed, followed the entire path to the dock. Dinah and Jenel had put it down to protect her dress. They'd also hung baskets full of fall flowers to brighten the landscape, since this part of Texas was beige and brown in November.
Maggie met Dinah a short distance from where the guests were seated. Dinah handed her the bouquet of white roses and baby's breath with three yellow rose buds for their budding new family.
Ed walked up to her side. "Shall we?"
Maggie placed her hand on his arm and answered, "Yes."
They followed Dinah to the dock, past everyone dear to her, toward the ones who meant the world to her. Andy took her hand to place it into Graeme's then ducked under them to stand in front of the preacher.
Fifteen minutes later, Maggie heard the words, "I now pronounce you husband, wife and family".
Andy looked up at her. "Mommy, am I family?"
Graeme lifted him into the crook of his arm. "Andy we're all family now."
Holding up his hand, Andy said, "High five."
After they slapped hands, Maggie asked, "How would you boys feel about adding a little sister or brother to our family?"
"Yeah?" When she smiled and nodded her confirmation, Graeme's grin lit up his face, then he kissed her. In the background, she heard Andy let out a "Woo Hoo!"
After so many months of sadness and despair, her world had finally righted on its axis. She'd found love and family once more.
About the Author
Thank you for reading my book!
I write contemporary and historical romances but, unlike so many other authors, I didn't write from childhood or read long into the night beneath the covers with a flashlight. I found romance novels and authors like, Linda Lael Miller, Barbara Bretton, and Suzanne Brockman, as an adult. After reading about a million, I discovered numerous people residing in my head, all looking for a way onto the printed page.
I'm a member of Romance Writers of America and Yellow Rose Romance Writers, plus I'm a regular contributor to a new blog, Smart Girls Read Romance.
My husband and I live in North Central Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex where we enjoy our family and playing with our grandchildren. In addition to writing and researching with my fabulous critique partners, I enjoy my Bridge group, crochet, and tracking down our relatives through genealogy. Find me on my website, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Wattpad.
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Out of the Shadows
By
Geri Foster
Out of the Shadows
By Geri Foster
Copyright 2013 Geri Foster
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
9 Ways to Fall in Love Page 48
