by Toni Kelly
Maggie managed to calm her nerves as Ethan’s warm side brushed hers. He escorted her to her place on one side of a stone altar decorated by hundreds of white flower petals. Everything seemed surreal. Even Bryan seemed anxious as he paced beside Ethan.
A moment later the violinist started playing Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major. Up until that point, it had taken everything within her to hold off more tears, but the instant she caught Bryan’s expression as Elsie started her walk toward him, tears fell freely. As little girls, she and Elsie had played out this day repeatedly. Never had she imagined the real day would be even more amazing.
Maggie smiled and sighed. Happiness for her friend swelled in her chest. She wiped her eyes and glanced up, catching Ethan’s gaze. She could have sworn he looked almost wistful, but the intensity in his stare made her forget everything else. It seemed an eternity before he broke the connection. The loss of his attention left a pang in her chest. Was she wrong to want him? Had she imagined everything between them?
She let her eyes drift closed as Elsie and Bryan exchanged their vows. The vows they spoke were beyond romantic. Perhaps one day she would be saying such treasured words to someone who loved her and whom she loved in return. When she opened her eyes to watch the bride and groom kiss, she avoided looking directly at Ethan. There was no sense in torturing herself and turning a happy day into a sad one. When the priest announced the bride and groom as Mr. and Mrs. Kelley, she clapped, laughed and cried at the same time. Fortunately, the crowd watched the newlyweds or else they’d have thought her a basket case.
“It’ll be all right,” Ethan said. He didn’t smile and for once, his features carried a note of uncertainty, as if he wasn’t quite sure he meant what he said. He knew. Despite Maggie’s outward happiness for Elsie and Bryan, Ethan knew she suffered.
“I’m fine.” She cleared her throat and lifted her chin. Today was Elsie and Bryan’s day.
“Ready?” He lifted his arm for her to grasp.
She nodded and slipped hers through his. As he escorted her down the aisle, neither said another word.
* * * *
“I think your staff cooked enough food for an army,” Ethan said to Bryan, a hand on his stomach. “You might need buses to take us home later.”
“You’re telling me.” Bryan said. “I thought brides and grooms never ate. Boy, was I wrong. A bit of whiskey will help it go down better.”
“I agree with you there. How does it feel being a married man?” Ethan followed Bryan into the cool cellar, weaving through the maze of wooden racks housing thousands of dusty bottles. “Last time I saw you this insanely happy was after Moira O’Brien kissed you. First year, wasn’t it?”
Bryan laughed, handing back a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey Rarest Vintage Reserve. “This should do. I remember that kiss. Moira wore cherry-flavored lip gloss.”
Ethan righted a couple wooden barrels and took a seat, then loosened his bowtie slightly. “Is that what it was? I swore the girl possessed some kind of mystic powers over you. Truly though, I wish you and Elsie much happiness. She’s a great woman.”
Bryan sat across from him and placed a couple of tumblers on a wooden crate next to them. “Yeah, I know. What about you? Anything happening with Maggie?”
“Haven’t a clue. She won’t hear me out.”
“Have you thought, maybe you argue too much?”
Ethan frowned. “I wasn’t arguing, not completely. I told her I didn’t know what I was going to do with her.”
Bryan put a hand to his forehead. “You’re joking.”
“What’s wrong with an honest statement?”
“Do you care for her?”
“We’ve discussed this already. You know I do.”
“Do you love her?”
“I told you before,” Ethan said. “I can’t give you an answer.”
“Why?” Bryan pulled the cork on the whiskey and filled each tumbler a third of the way. “Because it doesn’t make sense? Because it means you lay your heart out there for anyone to trample?”
“Of course it doesn’t make sense. I signed my divorce papers a few days ago.”
“Yeah. Before last night, you hadn’t slept with a woman in over a year.” Bryan took a deep breath and released it. “I’ll say this one last time. If you love her, go after her. Don’t let Miriam ruin you for the right woman.”
“I’ve already had my heart trampled.” Ethan placed the heels of his hands against his eyes, rubbing where it throbbed with a dull pain. He reached out for his glass and sipped, letting the smoky velvet liquid coat his throat.
“I hate to tell you this but it won’t get any easier,” Bryan said. “Then again, why would you want it easy?”
Why ever? “How do I know when I find the right woman?”
“Only you can answer that.”
Chapter 10
Maggie smiled, standing on the terrace, which overlooked the gardens. Down on the open lawn between two long rows of flowers, a happy newlywed couple twirled amongst their guests. Near midnight, and the reception was still in full swing.
“Wine, miss?” a server asked at her elbow.
“Yes, please.” She accepted the glass of wine the server held out. “Thank you.” One more drink might just make her tipsy enough to sleep without images of Ethan entering her dreams. A breeze blew, making her shiver and sidle closer to an outdoor heater. Ethan danced with Mrs. Rogers. The older woman looked stunning in a silky sage colored dress with her blond hair pulled up into a French twist. She laughed with ease, obviously entertained by his charm. Maggie didn’t blame her.
From across the garden, his gaze flipped up and met hers, holding it a moment before Mr. Rogers tapped on his shoulder.
“That’s all, folks.” Tipping up her glass, Maggie emptied her remaining wine and left it on a nearby table before heading inside.
“Going somewhere, Maggie?” Rick stood in a black tux, his dashing appearance marred by an angry glint within his hard gaze.
“What are you doing here?” The wine’s effects flooded her. She swayed and grabbed the railing. Rick’s right eye appeared bruised, his nose swollen. “What happened to your face?”
“Why don’t you ask your friend?”
Ethan? “When?”
“Turns out not all locals here are quite friendly. Still, wasn’t hard to break and enter.”
“This is my friend’s wedding.” Maggie shook, fists clenching at her side. “How dare you?” She took a step past him. “Forget it. Just leave. I’m going to bed.”
“Good idea. I’m afraid now is not a convenient time, though, dearest.” He dug his fingers into the flesh of her arm, twirling her. The motion, like choppy ocean waves, made her dizzy.
“Not now, Rick. You’re hurting my arm. I leave tomorrow and we can talk when I get back.” At this point, she’d say anything to have him leave. She should have known he wouldn’t take her rejection lightly.
“It’s your fault, you know.” He pushed her back, edging toward the stairs leading down the side of the terrace. “Turns out she enjoyed the thrill of being with an engaged man.”
What was he talking about? “Please, I don’t understand. You’re rambling. My head hurts.”
“I’m talking about Shelley.”
Maggie’s gut flexed at the mention of the woman who’d made her life miserable for several months. “Not my problem,” she gritted out from between clenched teeth. “Please leave or I will cause a scene and have them drag you out.”
“I don’t think so.”
She took a step back, faltered on the stairs. A needle of fear wove its way through the alcohol’s haze. “No.”
Rick pulled a shiny, black object from his pocket. “Yes.”
A painful, sharp flash ricocheted through her head. Darkness fell.
* * * *
“Maggie.” Ethan’s heart threatened to beat out of his chest as he scanned her empty bedroom.
“Did you find Maggie?” Elsie poked her head past the door fr
ame, panic-stricken, by her expression.
“No,” he replied, pushing into the hallway.
“Bryan, she’s not up here.” Elsie rushed down several stairs and leaned over the banister. “She must still be outside.”
“Not in the garden or anywhere near the house,” Bryan called up to them from the bottom of the stairs, his cheeks flushed red from his efforts to find Maggie.
“Something’s wrong.” Ethan couldn’t explain how he knew it, but a twisting low in his gut told him Maggie was in trouble. “I saw her on the terrace.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Bryan glanced between him and Elsie. “She might have gone walking.”
Tears welled in Elsie’s eyes. “At one AM?”
Ethan shook his head. “I saw her near an hour ago. She stood on the terrace watching the party, drinking wine. Didn’t look like she was going anywhere except maybe to bed.”
“What if she’s hurt?” A lone tear slid down Elsie’s face.
“Hey, baby.” Bryan climbed the stairs and pulled her into his arms. “Everything is going to be fine. Maggie will be fine.”
Ethan wasn’t sure about that, but voicing his concerns aloud wouldn’t help. “I’m going searching for her.”
Bryan whipped his gaze upward at him. “I’ll go with you. We can cover more ground between the two of us.”
“I’ll call more help,” Elsie said, taking a deep breath. “In case you aren’t able to find her quickly.”
* * * *
Maggie awoke with a groan, her temple throbbing something awful. “Ethan?”
“Not here.”
Rick? She pushed off the hard, knobby ground and sat up. Rick sat a couple feet away from her, arms resting over his knees, a revolver in one hand. Images from the wedding reception came flooding back. Rick. Angry. “What is going on?”
“Hell if I know.”
She tried to stand then collapsed. “Why are my ankles tied together?” She reached down to undo the knot.
“Don’t touch that,” Rick said, raising the gun.
“Okay.” He’d gone off his rocker. She lifted her hands in surrender. “Okay, I won’t.” She brought her knees into her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “Rick, what are you doing with a revolver?”
“I don’t know.” Rick dropped his gun hand and used the other to rub his face. Beneath the moonlight streaming through the trees, he glared at her, his eyes red-rimmed and bloodshot. “Were you crying?” she asked.
“What do you care?”
They were in a forest, that much was obvious, but she didn’t know where. He must have knocked her out, which meant he couldn’t have dragged her far unless he used a vehicle. “I spent nearly four years with you, Rick. I do care.”
“Doesn’t seem so when you’re hanging all over Ethan.” His words came out on a pout like a five-year-old.
“You left me, remember?”
“How can I forget? You’re reminding me every second.”
“Every second.” Maggie’s arms shook as she placed her hands on the leaf-strewn forest floor. “You ass. I’ve only had three interactions with you in the past week, none of which has been pleasant. Although kidnapping me and hitting me over the head with a revolver was by far my least favorite.”
Rick’s jaw dropped. He poked his head up from his knees. “I didn’t think–”
“No, you don’t think. That’s always been the problem. Otherwise you would have thought of how I felt walking in on you and Shelley naked and entwined in our bed. You would have thought about how I felt explaining everything to our friends and returning ninety wedding gifts.”
“I fell in love.”
“I thought I was in love.” Maggie patted her chest and leaned her forehead into her hand. “I can’t believe I spent four years of my life following you around and obeying you like some sick puppy. Not to mention two months crying myself to sleep every night because I thought myself inadequate.”
“You cried over me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” she said. “I was obviously still under the effects of my self-delusion.” The statement was daring but she didn’t care.
Rick bent his head, averting his gaze. “I cried over Shelley. I guess I understand now how you felt.”
Stunned, Maggie said nothing and hugged her knees. Branches rustled above. She shivered as a strong gust hit her back and swept her hair off her bare shoulders.
“I’m sorry, Maggie. For everything. I didn’t mean for it to get this far.”
“Doesn’t feel good, does it?”
“No.” Rick set his gun on the ground and wiped both eyes with the heels of his hands. “You’re different now. Strong. I don’t feel like I’ll ever get over her.”
“I guess that was a positive about our break up. It gave me time to think what I wanted and who I was. You’ll do the same.” And she’d met a man who made her feel strong and wonderful. Oh Ethan, where are you? Wind picked up again and a fat drop landed on her nose. Maggie flinched. “Oh, no. Rain again. At least it waited until after the reception.”
Leaning forward, Rick reached for the knot around her ankles and undid it.
“What are you doing?”
He tilted his head up. The night’s shadows hid his eyes. “What does it look like? Letting you go. Unless you want to sleep on a wet forest floor?”
She didn’t understand his change of heart but she wasn’t going to question him on it. She rubbed where the rope scraped her skin, then pushed herself into a standing position. The gun still sat beside him on the forest floor. “Are you coming?”
Opening the cylinder of the revolver, he emptied the chambers of their cartridges and stood. “Just for your peace of mind. I don’t need this thing anyway.” He heaved his arm back and pitched the empty gun into the darkness of the forest. “I think I’m going to hang back this time around. Your friends will probably crucify me and I’m sure Elsie’s worried sick.”
Maggie didn’t doubt it, but she wasn’t going to rub it in. Despite the surreal feel to the situation, something had changed between her and Rick tonight. They’d reached some kind of common ground or understanding. “She’ll be okay. Are you sure you don’t want to head back?”
“I’m sure. I think I need to stay out here a while. I want to think things through for a change.” He pointed ahead. “Just head straight. You’ll see lights after a couple hundred feet. Follow them and you’ll find a way out.”
“Thanks.”
“And Maggie?”
She turned back to face him. “Yeah?”
“Thanks for hearing me out and, uh, not calling the police. I’m really sorry about your head.”
She nodded and turn around, heading in the direction he showed her. Tonight had by far been the most frightening and strangest night of her life. It seemed fitting, considering the past week. She could hardly believe it had come to an end so soon. Ethan. She’d miss him, but she wasn’t going to force another man to make her part of his life. Love didn’t work that way. “Love?” She laughed as cold, fat raindrops pelted her face and hair. She’d be soaked before reaching the house.
“Hello? Maggie?”
“Ethan?” Beyond rain and trees, he stood in his tux. The rain plastered his dark waves of hair against his forehead. Water dripped down his face and rolled off his jacket. Maggie’s chest grew light and she ran toward him even with heels which sank into the muddy earth. “I knew you’d find me.” And she’d never been happier to see anyone.
Ethan closed the distance and lifted her into his arms. “Are you hurt, love?”
His grip tightened as if he’d never let her go and admittedly, she didn’t want him to. “No, I’m fine. But don’t let me go.”
Chapter 11
Ethan’s chest squeezed as he carried Maggie’s bags to his Mercedes coupe and placed them in the trunk.
“I can’t thank you enough for agreeing to take me to the airport. I know Elsie and Bryan needed rest before leaving for their honeymoon.” She s
at in the passenger seat, and he closed the door, then rounded the car to the driver’s side and got in.
“No worries, when is your flight time?” Ethan asked.
“Four thirty-five.”
“Wait.” He paused as he started the car. “This afternoon? Why are we leaving at seven AM if it’s an afternoon flight? I’m assuming Elsie knows nothing about this, otherwise, she’d never have let you go.”
“No, she doesn’t. I told her I changed my flight time to earlier. Honestly, I just wanted to give the honeymooners some peace and quiet. And after last night, I couldn’t sleep.”
He hadn’t been able to either. Throughout the night, he’d pictured her torn and tattered dress and grown angry all over again. “I still can’t believe you didn’t press charges. If I ever see him–”
“Ethan.” Her hand rested on his thigh a moment before she pulled it back. “It’s okay. I know he’ll never forget what he did and I know the next woman around, he’ll be a better man for it. I only wish for his happiness.”
She was a better person than he. Gripping the steering wheel, he blew out a long breath. “Okay. Let me take you to Powerscourt.”
“The estate?”
“Sure. You have time.”
“Is it even open at this hour?”
“I have a contact. We’ll grab some scones, a couple coffees and sit out in the gardens. I swear you’ll make your flight on time.”
“Okay.” Maggie smiled. “That would be nice.”
* * * *
The chill morning’s golden mist covered the gardens at Powerscourt. Sun’s rays beat down, drying dew off leaves and flower petals. The carefully mowed lawns surrounding the house bordered several stone terraces and wove around trimmed trees. Like enormous stone steps, the terraces linked the house to a lake. The backdrop view of the mountains took Maggie’s breath away.
“It’s even more beautiful than I imagined.” Maggie turned in a full circle as she scanned the garden. “With rain from last night and fog–it looks like some kind of dreamscape.”
