“You – you did?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought you said you slept.”
Joe smiled, his blue eyes smoky and warm. “I stayed awake for a while after you fell asleep, just holding you, and then when I saw it was almost nine o’clock, I just held on for a couple of hours. Called her, got the news, fell asleep around one.”
“And?” Maggie held her breath.
“The asshole was found guilty. He got two years, and a pretty hefty fine.”
“What?” Maggie almost screamed the word. “Two years? For trying to kill Reena?”
“Whoa. What? He tried to what Reena?”
“Yeah.” Maggie was shaking with rage. “You should have seen the bruises around her throat.” She got to her feet. “I have to call her right now.”
She went in to the living room and retrieved her cell from her purse. She called Reena, hoping that she’d pick up.
“Maggie? You OK?”
“Mitch.” Worry crashed through her chest. “I’m fine. Where’s Reena? Is she OK?”
“In bed, sleeping. And she’s – she’s not great.”
“Goddammit.” Maggie saw red. “What the hell happened? Two years? How the fuck’s that even possible?”
Mitch sighed. “Yeah, I know, sweetheart. But in the end, the judge didn’t have much to rule on, really. Reena was the only one who testified, and since she wasn’t actually raped, it’s a legally appropriate sentence.” He paused. “Two years plus a huge fine for beating a woman is actually pretty harsh, Charlotte told us.”
Maggie was speechless.
“Maggie?”
“How much is the fine?”
“Well, this part’s actually kind of interesting, and it makes me think the judge was really on our side. He fined Simon two million dollars, with the stipulation that it has to go to a women’s organization, or a range of organizations that work to help victims of violence. Reena decides where the money goes.”
She blinked. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow. That’s… kind of a lot.”
“Uh-huh.”
“He’ll appeal?”
“Charlotte doesn’t think so. Better to pay the fine and take the two years – which is really something like nine months with good behavior – than to take his chances and go to trial again. I think it shocked the hell out of him and his lawyers that he was even found guilty, to be honest, and if they appealed, I just bet all the women would come back and testify this time.” He sighed again. “And really, for a guy like him, two million bucks isn’t a big deal.”
“I guess it isn’t.” She shook her head. “But how’s she doing?”
“Shocked.” Mitch’s voice took on an edge now. “She knew it was bad when the other women backed out, but she thought that in her testimony, she’d shown how violent and dangerous he was, and she was hoping for the maximum of four. But I gather we were lucky for the jury to give us the guilty verdict at all. The odds were against us.” He was quiet for a few seconds. “Especially since I couldn’t back her up.”
“That wasn’t your fault, Mitch.”
He was silent.
“Mitch? Are you OK?”
“I will be. When Reena is.”
Maggie exhaled. “So it really did all come down to her, in the end.”
“It did.”
“God, she’s tough.”
“Yeah. But she’s done now. I’m going to take her away for two weeks. We leave tomorrow, first thing.”
“To Open Skies?”
“Yeah. Nick says it’s gorgeous.”
“Well, when Mia was all beaten and battered by life, it helped her to go there. I hope it’ll help Reena. And you, too. You must be stressed and worried.”
“I have been. I still am.”
“So take her, Mitch. Let her sleep and rest. Drink lots of wine and make lots of love.”
“I can do that, Maggie.” She was relieved to hear the smile in his rough voice. “I can do all of that.”
Chapter Seventeen
Late the next morning, Joe brought Maggie a cup of coffee and a croissant that he’d bought from the café across the street from her apartment while she was still sleeping. She took both with a tired smile, and he sat down next to her on the sofa.
“Maggie?”
“Hmmm?”
“Can we talk about us now?”
She looked at him. “I suppose we should, right?”
“What do you want to happen?” he asked quietly. “You have so much to deal with right now with your Mom, and I want to be here through all of it. Will you let me?”
“Yes.”
“…Yes?”
“Yes. I – I like having you around.” She paused, gathering her thoughts. “I like it a lot.”
“I’m glad.” He touched her cheek. “What do you need me to do right now?”
She glanced at him, her eyes welling with tears. “Help me plan a funeral?”
“Oh, baby.” Joe pulled her to his chest and held her close. “I’m so, so sorry.”
She gripped his upper arms, glad to have him there with her. Mia and Katie had both offered to stay with her, but she wanted Joe to be the one to stay, when he could. She craved his solid warmth against her while she slept.
“Joe?”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll need a bit of a break from working on your sculptures, but…”
“You take all the time you need.” He smiled at her. “I’m not holding you to anything, OK, and if you want that in writing, gimme that napkin and I’ll write another addendum to our agreement right now. Chicken scratching on a café napkin is legally binding, isn’t it?”
She managed a grin. “No, that’s OK. I trust you.”
Joe’s heart stopped. “You do?”
“Yes.” She wiped her eyes. “But what I was going to say is that I’ll get back to work soon. I’ll want to – I’ll need the distraction.”
He looked down at her, his whole body actually hurting for her. “You sure?”
“Totally. Creating something beautiful? It’ll help. I know it will.”
“OK.” He thought for a few seconds. “I’ll ask Dad to pitch in with organizing things for the restaurant, so I can be here with you more.”
“You think he’ll agree? I thought he told you to do this on your own.”
Joe laughed. “Oh, believe me… when I tell him that I need his help so I can be with you, he’ll work twenty-hour days.”
She blinked. “Why would he?”
“Because, sweetness, both he and Mom have been dying for you to come back in to my life. Two years they’ve been telling me what an idiot I was to let you go.”
“Yeah?”
“Hell, yeah. There’s no way that Dad would pick up the slack at the restaurant for me, but for you? I think he’ll have my mess cleaned up in record-time so I can focus on you.”
“I know you’re busy, Joe,” she said. “I mean, the menu alone is a major thing and I know you’re having trouble with it. I don’t want you to feel like you have to babysit me. I’ll be OK on my own. Really.”
Joe held her face in his hands, gently pulled her to him. Their lips met in a sweet, tender kiss and Maggie breathed in the comfort he offered.
“Maggie,” he said against her mouth. “I am going to be here. My parents are going to be here. Your friends are going to be here. You’re not on your own, and you never will be. You hear me?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“OK, then.” He kissed her again. “Now eat your breakfast. We have lots to do, and you need your strength.”
**
Three days later – the day before Rita’s funeral – Maggie, Katie and Mia met at Maggie’s place for a wine night. After having helped Maggie clear out Rita’s
apartment for the previous two days, they all needed a bit of a break.
“So.” Katie squirmed on Maggie’s sofa. “I – I have something to tell you guys.”
Maggie and Mia looked at her, worried.
“Oh, God. What?” Mia asked. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Katie said. “I just – I don’t know if this is the best time to bring it up. But the way that things have been for all of us lately, I’m not sure that a good time will present itself any time soon.”
“OK,” Maggie said. “What is it?”
“Adam and I are trying.”
A pause.
“Trying?” Mia said. “To have a baby?”
“Yes.”
Maggie and Mia gazed at her worried face.
“But – that’s amazing news!” Maggie said, raising her wine glass. “Why didn’t you want to tell us that?”
Katie’s dark eyes met Mia’s golden ones.
“Because of Nick and I.” Mia sighed. “Because Katie is practically psychic and somehow she knows that we’re struggling right now.”
“You’re what?” Maggie stared at her in horror. “What the hell is going on? And why did nobody say anything to me?”
“Oh, sweetie.” Mia smiled. “I didn’t say anything to any of you. I mean, you’ve been dealing with your Mom and Joe, Reena’s been in court. My little relationship problems are nothing big in the grand scheme of things, I can assure you.”
“So tell me now, then.”
“Well.” Mia hesitated. “Nick’s been… odd lately.”
“How?”
“Just – distant. He shows up late to my place, he disappears during the day for hours and won’t tell me where he’s been. He used to talk about a future with me, but now he doesn’t want to even discuss living together, or taking any more serious steps. He shuts down whenever I try.”
“Really?” Maggie blinked. “That doesn’t sound like him. The man is crazy about you.”
“He is,” Katie said quietly. “And maybe that’s the whole issue, Mia. Maybe he thinks things are so great the way they are, he’s scared to change anything.”
“I could understand that,” Mia said. “But he won’t admit to it. He won’t even admit that he’s been detached and removed. He blames work, but I know he isn’t being honest.”
“Mia,” Maggie said hesitantly. “You sure he’s not – not cheating on you?”
“I’m sure.” Mia sighed. “No, this is something else. And I can’t get him to talk to me, no matter what I try. That’s why I’m…” Her voice trailed off.
“You’re?” Katie prompted.
“Thinking of taking an assignment in Thailand for four months.” Mia drank the rest of her wine in one gulp.
“You’re what?” Maggie and Katie practically shouted at her.
“Guys.” Mia laughed a bit at the looks of horror on their faces. “Come on. This isn’t unusual for me and my work, you know. Until Nick came along, I was out of the country traveling and researching about five months every year. You know that.”
They nodded, knowing that Mia was right.
“So, this would just be a return to how I did things before Nick. I’d do my research on the ground, and produce three books over an eighteen-month period… just like I’ve done lots of times before.”
“And Nick?” Katie asked. “You’d want him to go with you?”
“Well, that’s the part he and I would have to talk about.” Mia bit her lip. “I think – I think it’d be better if he stayed here.”
“So… this would be a break?” Maggie said.
“Yeah. Time for us to think about what we both want.”
The women looked at each other.
“When are you going to talk to him?” Katie said.
“I was hoping last night,” Mia said. “But he went and bought a car yesterday and it took so long and he called to say he couldn’t come over, yet again. I just didn’t want to have the conversation over the phone. Maybe this weekend.”
“God, Mia.” Katie shook her head. “You sure about this?”
“I am.” Mia smiled. “I called Grant Bishop this morning and told him to send me the plane ticket. Just in case, you know.”
Maggie choked on her wine. “Without talking to Nick first?”
Fort the first time, Mia looked angry. “I was going to talk to him about the offer ten times over the past week, but he couldn’t seem to find the time, or he was too tired to come to my place, or when I brought up a more serious talk over coffee, he begged off. The man’s had plenty of chances, believe me, including last night, when he just blew me off.” She poured some more wine. “I have a deadline of this weekend to give Grant an answer, and I’m not going to make him hold on just because Nick won’t grace me with a conversation.”
Katie and Maggie studied her face.
“You OK, Mia?” Katie said.
“Yeah, I really am. It’ll feel good to make a decision at last, you know?”
“Goddamn,” Maggie said. “I can’t believe it.”
“I don’t know,” Katie said. “If you go, it may well be the best thing for you guys. If he’s not sure what he wants, give him some time and space to figure it out – and advance your career in the meantime, right? Like you said, this is how your job has been for years, and if Nick wants to be with you long-term, he needs to understand that travel is a big part of what you do, anyway.”
“Yeah, I agree,” Maggie said. “And who knows? Maybe he’ll join you in a couple of months.”
“Maybe.” Mia smiled, trying to shake off her feelings of worry and helplessness. “Now, enough about me… let’s celebrate Katie and Adam trying to have a baby. That’s the best news I’ve heard in ages!”
The women drank, then all hugged.
“Is the trying fun?” Mia asked with a grin.
“Oh, yeah.” Katie blushed. “Totally spontaneous and I know Adam’s loving not using a condom.”
The women giggled.
“And now we need to drink to you and Joe getting back together,” Mia said to Maggie.
“We’re not back together,” Maggie said. “Not properly.”
“So what are you?” Katie asked.
“I’m still not totally sure, to be honest with you. He’s just… here for me.” She glanced up at her friends. “He listens, and he makes sure I’m eating, and he’s spent the night, though not every night. We – we kiss. But nothing more.”
“Sounds like you guys are taking it nice and easy,” Mia said gently. “Getting to know each other again?”
“Yeah.” Maggie exhaled. “And he and his Dad are so busy with the restaurant, and I want to get back to work on the apsaras next week.” She swallowed. “After the funeral.”
Her friends reached out and held her hands.
“You sure?” Katie said. “That’s not too soon?”
“No.” Maggie wiped the tears from her eyes. “Joe says there’s no rush at all, and that he’ll give me as much time as I need to finish the last three sculptures, but I really feel like I need to focus on something now. Something other than missing my Mom, I mean.”
“Yeah, I can understand that.” Mia smiled sadly.
“I know you do,” Maggie said quietly, remembering that Mia’s parents had been killed in a car accident almost seven years before.
“But you feel like you’re back together with him?” Mia said. “Like… dating him? And you guys are exclusive?”
“Yes to all three questions,” Maggie said. “I’m with him, and we’re taking it slow, and he’s exactly what I need right now. He’s… wonderful, actually.”
“Well, then,” Katie said. “I will resist my usual desire to kick him in the head when I see him. If he’s truly changed – and I think that people can if they really want to, you know – and he
’s taking care of you, then I’m on board. And I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks,” Maggie said. “You know what? I’m happy too. Despite everything, and despite being fucking miserable…I’m also happy.” She looked at her friends. “Is that crazy? Is it even possible?”
“No and yes,” Mia said. “That’s love. A bit of sunshine in the rain. Your life is pouring it down right now, Maggie, and Joe is offering you some light. Take it, honey. It’s OK to take it.” She smiled. “It’s OK to be happy.”
Chapter Eighteen
Worried and in pain, Nick looked over at Mia standing next to Maggie at Rita’s grave. The funeral had just ended and the men were watching the women surround Maggie. She looked shocked and exhausted, and the women seemed to almost be physically holding her up.
Joe stepped forward now, and Maggie looked up at him. He held out his hand and she took it, no hesitation at all, and he put his arm around her.
“Come on, sweetness,” he said. “To the restaurant, OK?”
She nodded, then looked at the others. “So, I’ll see you at Joe’s.”
“Of course,” Reena said quietly. “We’ll be there, Maggie.”
Joe led her away to his car, and the others stood looking at each other, feeling hopeless and helpless. Then they paired off and walked to their own vehicles, with Reena and Mitch going with Katie and Adam, since Mitch hadn’t wanted to bring his motorcycle to the funeral and Reena didn’t have a car.
Nick closed Mia’s door for her, already dreading being alone with her, even just for the short drive to Joe’s restaurant. Her silence on the way to the funeral and then to the cemetery had been more than sad, somehow.
It had been loaded with something, some huge, unspoken thing. He knew that she wanted to tell him something, or ask him something; maybe both. He also knew that he wasn’t going to like it, whatever it was. He’d had that exact feeling for almost a week now, and he’d gone out of his way to not give her the opportunity to say the words, whatever they were.
You fucking coward. If you’ve lost her with your bullshit and refusal to talk to her about what’s going on, then face up to it. You may have royally fucked up, Spencer, and if so, hiding won’t change it at this point. It’ll just delay the inevitable.
Fighting History (Fighting For Love Book 4) Page 13
