Second Chance In Stonecreek

by Michelle Major

  This moment was amazing and made everything worth it. Cole was worth it. Finally Morgan realized she was, too. She thought about Maggie’s words from last weekend and was happy to know that she’d finally given her mom a reason to be proud.

  * * *

  Maggie checked her appearance in the hallway mirror one more time, fingering the amber necklace she wore, then glancing at the clock above the mantel. Griffin was almost twenty minutes late. An uneasy feeling had settled over her and no matter how many times she tried to reassure herself about his feelings for her, she couldn’t shake her anxiety.

  The house was quiet thanks to her dad, who’d taken Morgan and Ben out to dinner so it wouldn’t be quite such a throwback-to-high-school scene when Griffin came to get her.

  Suddenly her phone chirped, vibrating almost insistently on the entry table. She rushed toward it, trying to tell herself that the panic welling inside her was just her mind playing tricks.

  Her whole body went numb as she read the message.

  Emergency in Seattle with Cassie. On the road now. Sorry about tonight.

  Three simple sentences but they ripped through Maggie with the force of machine-gun fire. She was being stood up.

  She smoothed a hand over her chiffon dress as humiliation washed over her. What could be so urgent that he couldn’t wait a few hours to start the drive north? Maggie wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but all her insecurities tumbled forward like the text had unlocked the Pandora’s box that held each of her demons and set them free to wreak havoc on her heart.

  A knock at the front door had her heart hammering in her chest. Maybe he’d changed his mind and turned around to be with her before rushing off to his another woman’s side.

  Drawing in a deep breath, she opened the door to find Trevor standing on the other side. He straightened his tie and gave her a lopsided smile, looking almost as uncomfortable as he had when she’d found him with another woman on their wedding day.

  “What happened?” she demanded, knowing he must be there on Griffin’s behest.

  He shrugged. “I’m sorry, Mags. I don’t know. He got a phone call and freaked out, throwing clothes into a bag and heading for his car without much of an explanation. It involves—”

  “Cassie,” she interrupted. “He texted that much.”

  “He shouted at me to check on you as he was walking out the door. I didn’t have a chance to ask him anything more. Mom tried calling, but he’s not answering.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You’re a horrible liar,” Trevor said gently. Griffin had told her something similar and she vowed at that moment to figure out how not to show her emotions on her face. She was sick to death of people being able to read her every feeling, especially when it felt like she was regularly getting kicked in the gut.

  “At least tell me this wasn’t some grand plan hatched by the two of you to pay me back for walking away from the wedding.”

  He shook his head. “I’ll admit it’s still difficult for me to see you with my brother. One moment I’m okay with it because I know I couldn’t have made you happy, but the next it grates under my skin because...” He huffed out a humorless laugh. “Basically, Griffin’s getting everything I ever thought I wanted and he doesn’t even seem to care.”

  “Trevor.”

  “This isn’t about me.” He waved a hand, dismissing her concern. “And it has nothing to do with the wedding. I promise you, Maggie.”

  She nodded but looked away, embarrassed anew by the tears that filled her eyes. Her life felt utterly ridiculous that after being betrayed by one brother, she’d been consoled by the other. Now the roles were reversed, only Trevor was little comfort against the yawning ache stretching across her heart.

  “He cares about you,” Trevor offered with a sigh. “If that helps at all.”

  She swallowed. “He told me he loved me.” What a strange admission to make to her ex-fiancé, but she couldn’t stop the words. “I believed him.”

  “I doubt he was lying, although I’m also not sure Griffin actually knows how to properly love someone. As fantastic as our mom is, both of us seem to take after Dad as far as our stunted emotions go.”

  “Not helping,” she muttered.

  “I wish I knew how to help.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “If you still want to go to the dance, I could be your date. As friends, of course,” he added when she looked at him sharply.

  “Wouldn’t the gossips in town love that?” She shook her head. “Thank you for the offer, but I couldn’t hold it together at the dance. As soon as someone asks about Griffin—”

  “Which would be five seconds after you got there,” Trevor confirmed.

  “Right? I’d lose it, and I’m done with my private life being fodder for the rumor mill around here.”

  “You can hold your head high, Mags.” Trevor lifted a hand, like he might reach out to her, then shoved it back into his pocket. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”

  She pressed her lips together and nodded. “Too bad that doesn’t make me feel any better right now.”

  “I hope it will soon, and I’m sure Griffin will call you once whatever he’s rushing toward settles down.”

  “No.”

  Trevor’s brows lifted. “He’ll call, Maggie.”

  “I’m not sure I want to talk to him.”

  “You can’t mean that.”

  “Yes,” she said with more confidence than she felt, “I can. I don’t know what happened to send him rushing to Seattle. But if I’m not important enough to share something like that, it isn’t working. I’m not going to settle. I’ve done too much of that in my life. If he won’t let me in on everything, I don’t want anything.”

  “Is that what you want me to tell him?”

  She met his gaze. “Out of respect for me, I’d ask that you let me handle it. I need time to focus on the election next week.”

  “You’re going to win,” Trevor promised, and Maggie appreciated his confidence. “I won’t say a word to Griffin. Do you want to know the details of why he left when we get them?”

  Her stomach burned. “I don’t. If it ends, I have to make a clean break. There’s no other way.”

  “I’m sorry,” he repeated and leaned in to give her a quick hug.

  “Thanks for coming here. I know it wasn’t easy.”

  “Anything for you, Mags.” With a wave, he headed back to his car.

  Maggie closed the door to the house, an odd calm settling over her. Her heart might be shattered into a million pieces, but she’d recover. Or at least she’d move forward past the heartbreak.

  What other choice did she have? She went upstairs and took off her clothes, hanging the beautiful dress she’d bought for the dance in the back of her childhood closet. She kept the necklace on as she showered and washed off the makeup she’d so carefully applied.

  Her family returned home, each of them shocked and supportive at the sudden turn of events. Her father got out ice-cream sundae supplies and they gathered around the kitchen table, each trying to comfort Maggie in their own individual ways.

  “Seriously,” Ben said, pumping his fist in the air, “why won’t anyone let me shank one of the Stones?”

  “Because you’d go to jail and I’d be sad,” Maggie answered calmly.

  “Yeah, Ben, who’d fart at the dinner table if you weren’t around?” Morgan asked with a smirk. “We’d miss it so much.”

  “No one farts at the dinner table,” their father said, followed quickly by a loud trumpeting sound coming from Ben.

  “We’re not having dinner now,” the boy said, taking an extra dollop of whipped cream. “It doesn’t count.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Morgan asked, biting down on her bottom lip.

  “I’ll be fine,” Maggie said and forced a smile. “Life happens but
we keep moving on, right?”

  Jim nodded. “You’re the strongest person I know, Mags.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Maggie cleared her throat. “I think to help make me feel better that everyone should watch a movie of my choice tonight without complaining.”

  Both Morgan and Ben groaned. “Not the Hallmark channel again,” Ben said in a whine.

  Maggie shook her head. “I was thinking that disaster movie you were telling me about last week.”

  “Seriously?” Morgan asked. “You want to watch Meteor Wave? It’s supposed to be terrible and so inappropriate.”

  “Sounds perfect,” Maggie told her.

  They all piled into the cozy family room and, indeed, the movie was as bad and as perfect for her mood as Maggie expected.

  And when her phone hadn’t rung by the time she went to bed, Maggie knew she’d made the right choice. If Griffin wanted her to be a real part of his life, he would have called. He would have shared with her whatever trouble he was having. That was what people in relationships did. Right?

  But what had they really had other than a few special moments and a couple of idyllic nights together? Maggie wanted something real, something she could count on. She deserved that.

  Or maybe love just wasn’t in the cards for her. That was fine, too. She had a full life, family and friends she cared about and a job she loved. That would have to be enough.

  At least for now.

  Epilogue

  “Congratulations, Maggie.”

  Maggie turned from Irma Cole and Chuck O’Malley to where Jana Stone stood with a mix of hope and regret in her eyes.

  “Thank you.”

  “Is it okay that I stopped by your victory party?” the older woman asked, fidgeting with one of the buttons on her blouse. “I understand why you might not want anyone from my family here so—”

  “I’m glad you came,” Maggie said honestly, giving Jana a hug. “Your support during the campaign meant a lot to me.”

  “I know you’ll do a great job for the town, like you always have. You’re a good girl, Maggie.”

  “Hopefully Jason will get over his loss quickly.”

  Jana waved away that concern. “He’ll find something else to complain about soon enough. That branch of the family is a bunch of negative Nellies.”

  Maggie smiled at the description. “Please have a drink or a piece of cake,” she offered, hating the awkwardness that enveloped them.

  “Griffin called a few days ago,” Jana blurted.

  Pain lanced through Maggie at the mention of his name, but she kept her features even. She’d become an expert at masking her emotions in the past week.

  “I don’t want to hear about it,” she said, taking a step away.

  “He had a good reason for—”

  Maggie held up a hand. “I can’t do this, Jana. Not tonight.” She glanced around the crowded reception room at the Miriam Inn, filled with so many of her friends and family members. It gave her strength knowing everyone had come out to celebrate her landslide victory in the election. She wouldn’t spoil the mood by having a complete breakdown in the middle of her party.

  Griffin’s mother took a deep breath. “But you should know—”

  “How’s my best girl doing?” Maggie’s father was next to her suddenly, pulling her in close to his side. “You need anything, sweetheart? Hello, Jana.”

  Jana inclined her head. “Jim.”

  “I’m great, Dad,” Maggie lied. She truly was happy that she’d been reelected. It was her chance to prove she deserved her position as Stonecreek’s mayor.

  “Your grandmother asked if you’d stop by her table. There’s some inn guest she wants to introduce you to—owns a techie company of some kind.”

  “Let’s go now,” Maggie said quickly.

  She glanced up to see her father’s gaze lingering on Jana, who continued to finger the button of her blouse.

  “Thanks again for stopping by,” Maggie told her.

  “Of course,” Jana said tightly. “Nice to see you, Jim. Give me a call next week about that commission for the vineyard garden.”

  Maggie heard her father’s sharp intake of breath, but then he smiled and nodded. “Will do.”

  They turned and headed for Grammy’s table.

  “Are you sure you won’t talk to Griffin?” her father asked quietly. “He’s left several messages in the past days asking me to have you contact him.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, “but no. Have you ever heard the term ‘ghosting’?”

  Her dad cringed. “I don’t think that’s what he meant to do.”

  “It’s been almost two weeks since he left and suddenly he decides to call? Too bad. Now that the election is officially over, I have more than enough to keep me busy.”

  “Busy isn’t the same thing as happy.”

  “Close enough,” she told him. “I’ve moved on, Dad. There’s no room for Griffin Stone in my life. He simply wasn’t the one for me.” She smiled under her father’s scrutiny, keeping her eyes bright.

  “I actually believe you mean that.” He leaned in and kissed the top of her head. “Good for you, Mags.”

  Who was the master of the poker face now? “Let’s go talk to Grammy’s VIP guest before she grabs the mic to call me over.”

  “You know her so well.”

  Maggie moved forward, because what other choice did she have? And if the ache in her chest had become a familiar companion, no one else needed to know.

  * * * * *

  Don’t miss the stunning conclusion to the

  Maggie & Griffin trilogy:

  A Stonecreek Christmas Reunion

  Coming in November 2018!

  And if you missed the first book,

  Falling for the Wrong Brother

  is available now wherever

  Mills & Boon Cherish books and

  ebooks are sold.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Season of Wonder by RaeAnne Thayne.

  SPECIAL EXCERPT FROM

  Keep reading for a sneak peek at New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne’s next

  heartwarming Haven Point romance,

  Season of Wonder,

  available October 2018 from Mills & Boon books!

  Dani Capelli and her daughters are

  facing their first Christmas in Haven Point.

  But Ruben Morales—the son of Dani’s new boss—is determined to give them a season of wonder!

  Season of Wonder

  by RaeAnne Thayne

  1

  “This is totally lame. Why do we have to stay here and wait for you? We can walk home in, like, ten minutes.”

  Daniela Capelli drew in a deep breath and prayed for patience, something she seemed to be doing with increasing frequency these days when it came to her thirteen-year-old daughter. “It’s starting to snow and already almost dark.”

  Silver rolled her eyes, something she did with increasing frequency these days. “So what? A little snow won’t kill us. I would hardly even call that snow. We had way bigger storms than this back in Boston. Remember that big blizzard a few years ago, when school was closed for, like, a week?”

  “I remember,” her younger daughter, Mia, said, looking up from her coloring book at Dani’s desk at the Haven Point Veterinary Clinic. “I stayed home from preschool and I watched Anna and Elsa a thousand times, until you said your eardrums would explode if I played it one more time.”

  Dani could hear a bark from the front office that likely signaled the arrival of her next client and knew she didn’t have time to stand here arguing with an obstinate teenager.

  “Mia can’t walk as fast as you can. You’ll end up frustrated with her and you’ll both be freezing before you make it home,” she pointed out.

  “So she can stay h
ere and wait for you while I walk home. I just told Chelsea we could FaceTime about the new dress she bought for the Christmas dance there and she can only do it for another hour before her dad comes to pick her up for his visitation.”

  “Why can’t you FaceTime here? I only have two more patients to see. I’ll be done in less than an hour, then we can all go home together. You can hang out in the waiting room with Mia, where the Wi-Fi signal is better.”

  Silver gave a huge put-upon sigh but picked up her backpack and stalked out of Dani’s office toward the waiting room.

  “Can I turn on the TV out there?” Mia asked as she gathered her papers and crayons. “I like the dog shows.”

  The veterinary clinic showed calming clips of animals on a big flat-screen TV set low to the ground for their clientele.

  “After Silver’s done with her phone call, okay?”

  “She’ll take forever,” Mia predicted with a gloomy look. “She always does when she’s talking to Chelsea.”

  Dani fought to hide a smile. “Thanks for your patience, sweetie, with her and with me. Finish your math worksheet while you’re here, then when we get home, you can watch what you want.”

  Both the Haven Point elementary and middle schools were within walking distance of the clinic and it had become a habit for Silver to walk to the elementary school and then walk with Mia here to the clinic to spend a few hours until they could all go home together.

  Of late, Silver had started to complain that she didn’t want to pick her sister up at the elementary school every day, that she would rather they both just took their respective school buses home, where Silver could watch her sister without having to hang out at the boring veterinary clinic.

  But then, Silver complained about nearly everything these days.

  It was probably a good idea, but Dani wasn’t quite ready to pull the trigger on having the girls alone every day after school. Maybe they would try it out after Christmas vacation.

  This working professional/single mother gig was hard, she thought as she ushered Mia to the waiting room. Then again, in most ways it was much easier than the veterinary student/single mother gig had been.