“Well, I guess if you get to spend the day with Bitsy and Hank, it won’t be too awful. Not as fun as with me, but you can’t have everything.”
“I look forward to seeing you back next week for your breakfast meeting. Hope you have a good weekend.” She picked up a dishtowel and threw it over her shoulder.
“You too, sugar.” He turned back to Jenna and Sean. “Happy Thanksgiving, Chief. Come on Jen, why don’t you help me out to my truck.”
“How can I resist such a winning offer?” She walked ahead of him and held open the door.
The bell gave a quick jingle as the door clicked closed behind them, but Sean continued to stare after Marshall as he loaded the desserts into the backend of his truck.
“He’s not coming back today.”
Sean turned to Maggie, his body relaxing. “Happy Day Before Thanksgiving.” He flipped the bill of his cap, revealing a twinkle in his eyes. Resting his hands on the counter separating them, he brushed his lips against hers with a soft wisp of hello.
“Good morning to you, too,” she murmured as her eyes fluttered open.
“Mmmm, it is now.” He stepped back from the counter and reached for a large to-go cup.
She laced her arms and leaned against the back counter, watching his slow stride across the café. A million bubbles of excited anticipation simmered in her belly, all due to a simple touch of his lips. She couldn’t believe he was actually hers. How can he be yours if he doesn’t know who you are? The voice of accusation shouted in her head.
She yanked the dish cloth from her shoulder and began wiping the clean coffee mugs, setting them in even rows on the shelf. “You’re making yourself awfully comfortable here, Chief. Are you gonna even ask for a cup of coffee, or since the crime is so low in town you thought you might take up stealing to give Alvin something to do?”
His answer was the sloshing of coffee into his cup. The wave of fear retreated calming the seas for the moment. She heard the soft slide of his cup along the counter behind her. Peering over her shoulder, she couldn’t stop the tug at the corner of her mouth.
He’s dreamy. This man made her feel as if she were fourteen, drawing hearts on the cover of her spiral notebook with Sean & Maggie 4Ever in the center of each.
“How much do I owe you, ma’am? Or did I pay enough before I picked up my cup?”
She placed a lid on his coffee, running her fingers around the rim to snap the lid in place. “Well, I’ve been told this is the best coffee in town…”
“Even better than the fast food joint?”
“Even better than that place…”
“Huh,” he said, lifting the cup for a deep drink. “It is quite tasty.”
“And, since it’s such good coffee, I think I might need more than a little kiss.”
“So what were you thinking?”
She slithered around the counter and stood a few inches from him. “Something like this,” she said, wrapping her arms around his waist, stretching tall on tiptoes. His lips were a breath away from hers and she could feel his heart pound heavy in his chest.
He drew her closer, his arms giving her no room for escape. His gaze searched her face as if he were looking for a sign, advance or retreat.
She answered his question by reaching higher and touching her lips to his. The kiss consumed her mind and body. She was falling through the clouds, filled with wonder and excitement, not wanting the moment to end. Her heart pounded. Nothing else existed. She couldn’t breathe, but oxygen didn’t matter. Only him. Only her. Just the two. Nothing else mattered.
A bell chimed in the distance. Every time a bell rings an angel gets wings. Maybe it was when beloveds kissed, an angel got wings. Perhaps she really was enveloped by the clouds of heaven.
“Oh, dear. Didn’t mean to interrupt,” Jenna’s voice was like ice water.
Maggie thrust away from Sean. Her head was filled with clouds and her legs seemed to be made of barely formed gelatin, but she walked behind the counter. Where was her common sense? Draping herself over her man in the middle of a store! Why isn’t he embarrassed? I’m embarrassed. Embarrassment, like pie, should always be shared.
“Well, I guess I should be getting to the station. I’m sure Alvin isn’t in yet.” He picked up his cup and fit his cap back to his head. “Have a good day, ladies.”
Jenna rested her hip against the display cooler. “Have a good day, Chief.”
He nodded and gave a wink to Maggie as he walked out the door.
Maggie grabbed the dishcloth and began drying the remaining mugs.
“Girl, that was so hot!” Jenna squealed.
Maggie sighed and polished harder.
“You can’t ignore me all day, Maggie. You kissed your boyfriend. It is not a mortal sin, regardless of what Sister Agnes told me in the sixth grade.”
Maggie set the mug on the shelf and slowly turned to face Jenna. “I know. I just can’t believe how quickly I can lose track of where I am. I would’ve continued kissing him until tomorrow morning if you hadn’t interrupted us.”
“Doubtful. Sissy Jenkins is on her way over. She would’ve totally stopped you, and then hammered you for details until you waved the white flag. That woman is relentless. I wouldn’t want to ever get in her cross-hairs. Although, she is a good one to know. She knows everything about everybody.” Jenna slid her arm around Maggie’s shoulders. “But you have nothing to worry about. You don’t have anything in your life that everyone doesn’t already know.”
At the sound of the egg timer, Maggie rushed through the swinging door to remove the final chocolate pies. She slid the delicate pies on a cooling rack and then leaned against the metal counter and swallowed, fisting her hands against her tearing eyes. She couldn’t risk anyone in this town knowing what they didn’t already know.
15
The sound of racing paws scraping against hardwood and incoherent yells assailed Maggie as she walked through the front door of Bitsy and Henry Grey’s home on Thanksgiving afternoon. She held one of the large carriers from the shop while Sean propped open the door with his shoulder and balanced two similar crates filled with desserts. Once she was through the door, Sean followed, allowing the storm door to slam as a golden retriever puppy slid to a stop at her feet.
Setting the carrier on the polished wood floor, Maggie picked up the wiggling ball of fur and was rewarded with rapid wet kisses on her chin. The subtle smell of puppy breath assaulted her nostrils but she wouldn’t give up the cuddle. “I didn’t know Bitsy and Hank got a puppy.”
Sean set his boxes on top of Maggie’s and scratched the head of the puppy. “I didn’t know I would have to fight for your affections with a dog.”
“GORDIE!” Jane raced down the hall barefoot with a leash in her hand, a harassed smile on her lips. “Hey, you two. You caught our little maniac.”
“He’s yours?” Maggie asked as she snuggled the wiggling puppy closer.
“No. Gordie is Lindy’s niece’s puppy. We’re just dog sitting for the weekend.”
“Oh. I guess you want him back?”
“Naw. If you can keep that little terror settled and away from my nieces, who believe he’s some kind of animated stuffed animal, I will be eternally grateful.”
“I think you might have to pry this dog out of my girl’s hands.”
Sean patted the puppy’s head again before leaning down to lift all three carriers.
“Let me help you. Maggie, the kitchen is just through the living room. Everyone is congregating in there. Mom is in heaven doting on one man after another. The house is filled with them since Sean’s brothers arrived fifteen minutes ago.” Jane paused and whispered to Sean, “My girl, huh?” Her voice carried, settling in a warm pool in Maggie’s belly.
“Drop it, Jane.”
“OK, but let me take one of those carriers. I would hate to think that all of Maggie’s work could be destroyed with a simple stumble of those clumsy feet of yours.”
“Who’s calling who clumsy, Miss I Trip Ove
r All Inanimate Objects?”
“That’s Mrs. I Trip Over All Inanimate Objects, Chief,” Lindy said as he lifted the extra carrier from Sean’s arms. “It’s good to see you, Maggie.”
“You couldn’t defend me any better than that, dear?” Jane glared over her shoulder.
“Sweetheart, I thought you said being a Christian meant no lying. I simply corrected Sean where he was in error.”
“Hmphf…” Jane flipped her head forward just before she rammed her shoulder into the doorframe of the kitchen. “Don’t say a word.”
Both men chuckled as they passed Maggie.
The kitchen was double the size of her industrial space at the café, with antique white cabinets and granite counter tops. The room was charming, warm, and inviting. Envy was a sin, but at that moment, Maggie envied Bitsy Grey to the point of needing confession.
Two separate stovetops, one a range with an oversized oven below, were being manned by Bitsy and Jane’s sister, Molly, a petite blonde, who was a younger version of her mother.
Sean’s brothers, Mac and Joey, were crowded in the spacious breakfast nook with Millie, Jason, and a man Maggie didn’t recognize.
Sean slid his carrier onto the island beside the other two before he sidled around the marble slab and wrapped Bitsy in a hug.
She squealed and smacked a loud kiss on his face. Squeezing his cheeks between her hands, she smiled up at him. “Now the day is complete. I have all of my boys and most my girls. I only wish dear little Emory could be here and the whole family could be together.”
“Oh, yes, dear little Emory will be missed today. She does so much of the heavy lifting,” Jane said.
Bitsy pursed her lips. “Jane, it’s Thanksgiving. There’ll be no negative talk, especially about your sister. Understood?”
“Yes ma’am.”
Bitsy nodded. She turned to Maggie with a smile. “Oh, Maggie, I am so glad you could join us today.” She lifted the lid of the middle carrier and peeked inside. Closing the lid, she looked back to Maggie. “My dear, you’ve really outdone yourself.”
Maggie’s cheeks warmed. “Just played around a bit. The carriers have built in coolers. All of the desserts should be fine for over twelve hours. They could probably be put outside, to get out of the way, until you’re ready for dessert.”
“That’s a wonderful idea. Joey, Mac, Jake, take these lovely boxes of treats to the mud porch. Please place them on the table. Do not put them on the floor.” She lifted a single eyebrow toward Joey.
The lanky baseball player grinned as if he were waiting for a photographer to snap his photo. “Bits, would Joe ever do anything like that?”
“Joseph, you’d do much worse. That’s why I keep my eye on you. Your mother would want it that way.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The three men each picked up a box and disappeared through a doorway on the opposite side of the kitchen.
Sean, Jane, and Lindy whooshed into the booth.
Sean patted the open cushion beside him. “This is prime seating.”
“I think I’ll stand. I shouldn’t have the puppy at the table.”
“Gordie’ll be fine at the table, won’t he, Bits?” Lindy asked, draping his arm across his wife’s shoulders.
“Of course. Until a couple years ago, Henry would have Koufax sit beside him in the nook while he ate breakfast and read the paper. It’s nice to have a dog in the house, at least for the day.”
“Well, if you’re sure it’s OK?”
“I’m sure, dear. Sit and enjoy the kids.”
“Hey, why doesn’t Jane have to help?” Molly asked over her shoulder as she whisked gravy.
“She has guests, Molly. When you have guests I don’t make you work in the kitchen.”
“Yes, you do.”
“I’m sure you’re wrong, but it doesn’t matter. Jane needs to entertain her friends. Make sure that gravy doesn’t get lumpy.”
Molly returned her focus to her pan and whisked faster.
“My dears, can I get you anything to drink?” Bitsy asked.
“Mom, I can get the drinks.” Jane slid from the back of the bench and crawled out the front.
“Jane, dear, that is no way to behave in front of company.”
“Aww, Bits, we aren’t company. We’re family,” Millie said.
“Yes, but this is Maggie’s first time to our home. I want it to be special, memorable.”
“Jane scooting under the table will definitely leave an impression,” Millie cackled.
Jane shot her a wicked glance over her shoulder as she passed the men coming back from the mud room.
“Hey, you stole our seats,” Joey whined.
“You are twenty-six years old, stop being a baby, Sprout.” Mac knocked him on the back of the head. Mac was the same height as his two younger brothers, but his frame was larger, thick and muscular where his brothers were lean. His dark hair, just graying at the temples, was cut short, not quite Sean’s style, but definitely more corporate than Joey’s carefree locks. He was three years older than Sean, but sun had weathered his face with deep laugh lines giving him a distinguished air. Women probably swooned for Mac Taylor.
Not her, of course. Maggie grinned.
Joey shoved Mac into the table of the breakfast nook rattling the decorative pumpkins in the center.
“Hey, watch it!” Sean clamped his arm around Maggie’s shoulders, protecting her and the puppy.
“Yeah, ballplayer,” Jason pointed his finger at Joey. “My wife’s a vessel. Don’t make me go old school hockey on you.”
Millie smacked a kiss on Jason’s cheek. “I love you, tough guy. But don’t worry about me. I’ve gone a few rounds with little Joey in my day. I babysat him a couple times, he never crossed me again. Isn’t that right, Joe-Joe?”
Joey’s face shot through deepening shades of red before landing in the range somewhere between eggplant and passing out. He turned on his heel toward Bitsy, who held a wooden spoon in her hand. “Bits, you know he started it.”
She began tapping the spoon in the palm of her hand. “I don’t care. You are twenty-six years old, Joseph Malone Taylor, and at some point in your life, you need to take responsibility for your actions and your reactions. I don’t have time to deal with you right now. Go find Henry and the girls. They went looking for some dry leaves to make decorations, but they’re probably at the tire swing.”
He rubbed his neck where his slightly unkempt hair brushed the collar of his shirt and nodded his head. “Yes, ma’am.” He scuffled his feet as he disappeared through the open doorway.
Bitsy turned with a sigh and pointed the wooden spoon in her son-in-law’s direction. “Jake, go check on your son. He is probably awake from his nap.”
Jake nodded and nearly ran out of the kitchen.
Bitsy swiveled on her heel and marched over to Mac. “And you,” she said with a poke of the wooden spoon in his chest. “You know that awful nickname riles poor little Joey. He is a young man and you need to start respecting him.”
Mac’s cheeks flared. “Yes, ma’am.”
She turned toward the table. “All of you need to respect him. He is not the little one trying to keep up anymore. Or the gangly boy whose arms and legs seemed to sprout faster than the rest of his body. He is an adult, as are each of you, and I expect you to start behaving like adults. Is that clear?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sean, Millie, and Jason mumbled in unison.
“I mean, my heavens, what must poor Maggie think of all of you? She’ll think I raised a house full of heathens and I will not have it.”
They all nodded.
She twirled and made her way back to Molly, who was vigorously whisking the gravy.
Millie started to giggle. “Man, it’s like we’re thirteen again.”
Sean chuckled and kissed Maggie on the forehead. “That look just comes out of nowhere and shames you back to acne and dirt bikes.”
“Never fails to put me in my place.” Mac plopped down beside
Millie.
Lindy shimmied under the table. “I think I’ll go help Jane.”
“’Fraidy cat,” Millie muttered.
He stood, wiped his hands down his jeans and shrugged. “If Bitsy’s happy, everybody’s happy.” He kissed his mother-in-law’s cheek and whispered something in her ear before he went looking for his wife.
Maggie stroked the puppy that had fallen asleep.
Mac, Millie, and Sean began to share anecdotes about dinners at the farm, but she was having a hard time focusing. Her brain was trying to calm her heart and her stomach while keeping her feet from bolting out the door.
She never thought caring—loving—would cause this much fear in her spirit. Hearing all of the yelling, laughing, good-natured fighting, and emphatic discipline was almost more than her senses could handle. She knew she should be happy, joining in with laughter and stories of her own. She swallowed hard, fighting against the tears ready to spill over her cheeks and the worry of the hurt these new bonds might bring. She wasn’t certain she could survive another loss, let alone dozens. She was falling in love with more than just Sean. In her life, love equaled death. And there were no happy endings in her stories.
~*~
Sean listened to Millie’s long-winded story about a youth group pool party Jane and Molly had thrown when he, Millie, and Jane were twelve. He’d heard Millie’s recounting of her organization of the girls throwing the boys into the pool more times than he had recited the Pledge of Allegiance. But the story was funny, at least, Millie’s enhanced, somewhat embellished version. He chuckled as she began to describe the climax of the story with more enthusiasm. Was Maggie enjoying his childhood antics?
She was stroking little Gordie’s fur with a slow steady rhythm, clutching him tight, not listening to a word Millie said.
“Hey, you OK?” he whispered in her ear. Fear was mirrored in her dulled, blue eyes. The same as when she’d held the knife on him. “Maggie?”
“I think I need a little fresh air.” She scooted from the bench and fled out the back door with the puppy, nearly colliding with Jane and Lindy, almost upending the tray of drinks he carried. She muttered a quick apology, but kept moving.
From Scratch Page 15
