I hope that’s Maggie knocking or else when I open this door, I am going to look like a real jackass standing here in only my boxer briefs. Placing my beer and the remote control to the TV on the coffee table, I get up. When I open the door, Maggie is on the other side looking like a scared cat.
I lean against the frame “You okay?”
“I thought I heard someone outside snooping around.”
“You afraid it could be this ex you mentioned?”
She nods taking a gulp of air. As scared as she is, I take pleasure in observing her reaction to my being practically naked as she rakes her gaze up and down my body. It gives me faith that there is hope for something to develop between us.
“It’s probably nothing but if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll investigate.”
“Th-thank you,” her timid voice cracks.
It pisses me off that she’s this afraid of the bastard. I’ve seen my fair share of domestic disputes to know that he has hurt her mentally and physically. He better not ever show his face around here. “Stay here,” I instruct.
“Be careful.”
Her concern for me is cute. “I’ll be fine. I’m a police officer, I’ve been trained for this,” I remind her. I grab my gun from my holster even though I doubt I will need it. I slip on a pair of my sneakers not bothering to get dressed. I doubt I will find anything at all.
Outside, armed with my Maglite and weapon, I inspect the property for any signs of an intruder. When I go to the trash bins on Maggie’s side of the unit I am met with the hiss of a ferocious opossum and her babies rooting through the garbage. They managed to get one of the lids off and are having a feast.
I go back in and give her the news that she has a bandit family of opossums stealing her garbage. Relief crosses her face, and I wrap her up in a bear hug, holding her head to my bare chest, rubbing soothing circles on her back. “You gonna be okay?”
“Will you stay with me, just until I get sleepy?”
“Sure. Whatever you need, pretty girl. I know you aren’t ready to let me in yet but when you are, I’ll be here.”
“I appreciate it, Calder. I do. Thank you for understanding.”
“Come on.” I lead her to the couch, and we sink down into the cushions together. I switch the TV on to a Z Nation marathon. Maggie snuggles into my shoulder and it feels right holding her in my arms. I press my lips to the top of her head when her breathing evens out. Her hair smells of cherries and vanilla as I breathe her in, enjoying this moment. For now, she’s giving me this. It’s a step forward.
My own eyes grow heavy and I lay her down on the couch then cover her with the blanket from her bed. As much as I enjoy being with her my neck will kill me at work if I don’t get a good night’s sleep.
Before I retire to my own bed, I leave her a note inviting her to go to the turtle festival with me this Saturday. It’s a big deal around here. All the businesses close for the weekend, so Maggie can’t give me the excuse that she has to work at the diner.
Chapter 6
When I awaken the next morning, I feel a bit foolish that I was afraid of some critters in the trash. I was scared it was Chris which is dumb considering. But it could have been Flip and that scares me more than anything. I peel my blanket off and a piece of paper falls to the floor. It’s a note from Calder.
Maggie,
Thank you for trusting me last night. It’s a step forward in our friendship. This weekend is the annual Crimson Cove Turtle Festival, I’m hoping you’ll want to attend with me this Saturday. It’d mean a lot to me.
Calder
I don’t want to lead Calder on. I know he wants more than a friendship. I’d be a liar if I said I don’t think about him and what it would be like to be with a man like him. Someone who is caring and sweet. A man who will treat me right. I should tell him no, but I know that I won’t. I don’t know what a turtle festival consists of, but it sounds as though it means something to him.
He kind of melted my heart when he said he’d want to read my words. Chris never offered. He always made fun of me and made me feel ignorant for even attempting to try to write. The door between us is closed again and there is part of me that wishes that it wasn’t. I take out some paper and a pen to leave a note of my own for Calder.
Dear Calder,
Thank you for being here for me last night. it means a lot to me. I appreciate you not thinking I was childish or laughing at me. I’m not ready to go there just yet with you when it comes to my past but you’re right it is a step forward. I do trust you and you make me feel safe. I’d love to go with you this Saturday.
Maggie
I haven’t seen Calder for the past few days. He’s been working nights, and I have been working the breakfast and lunch crowd shifts at the diner. It’s funny in a town so small and seeing the same faces regularly he is the only friend I have made. I guess I don’t really open myself up to anyone and the residents aren’t as welcoming as one might think to outsiders. I try to fly under the radar as much as possible. The less I chance anyone being able to recognize me the better.
It’s the morning of the turtle festival and I have no clue what to expect There was a note under our shared door when I woke up that told me to be ready to leave by nine. I decided to switch things up and curled my hair and did my makeup. I am still getting used to wearing it again. Chris said he hated when I wore makeup. Said only whore’s wanted to wear it. I knew at the time that it wasn’t true, but I got used to the abuse. I blamed myself for a long time for losing my baby but now I know that it wasn’t my fault. I stayed because I thought partly that I deserved it for not protecting my child better, and I believed that I had no way out.
I check my appearance one final time in the bathroom mirror hating that I can’t see my full body. Calder liked my green dress, so I am wearing it with a jean jacket and a pair of brown cowgirl style boots that I picked up from the local thrift store. A knock sounds on my front door and I assume it will be Calder ready to leave for the festival. I open the door to him. He’s wearing his uniform.
“Are you on duty today?”
“Kind of. I have to block off the road for the parade, then there’s pictures. Some of the kids like to sit in my cruiser and get their picture taken. Then I’m officiating the turtle race.”
“Sounds like a busy day.”
He grins. “Yeah. Sorry about that but after the race I’m all yours.”
“All mine…hmmm.”
He takes my hand. “If that’s what you want.”
“We’ll see.” I lock my door and today when I get in the front seat of his cruiser, I’m not nervous. Well not as nervous as the last time. The previous time when he pulled up alongside me, I didn’t know it was him at first. I thought I was being stopped and the guy was going to arrest me. Luckily for me it was Calder wanting to give me a lift. I feel his eyes on me and turn my face toward him. “Do I have something on my face or something?”
He chuckles. “Maybe I just like looking at you.”
“Stop that!”
“What, staring at you? I can’t do it.”
“You’re too good to be true.”
“You’ve just not been with the right guy—me.” He points a thumb to his chest. “I know how you should be treated, and I get that you aren’t used to men being sensitive to your needs but I’m not like your ex, Maggie.”
Boy do I ever know that he is so far removed from being anything remotely like Chris. “I know that.”
“Good. Because like I told you before I can wait until you are.”
Town is more crowded than I expected. Calder parks his cruiser and exits the car. I watch him help another guy I recognize as another deputy who frequents the diner, set some road blocking barricades out of the back of a truck.
He gets back in the car, handing me two bags of candy. “How do you feel about parades?”
“What?” I stare at him confused.
“So, we kind of have to ride in the parade and throw candy out to the kids,” he tells me.
“Okay…I guess I don’t have much of a choice.”
“I knew if I told you ahead of time, you’d say no.”
“I would not have.”
“Yeah you would’ve, but I’ve got you here now and we’re already in line.” He motions for me to look and yup we are in line behind parade floats. So much for laying low.
The parade turns out not to be as big of a deal as I was making it to be in my head. It took us about forty-five minutes to roll slowly down main street tossing candy out of our windows and waving to the kids as they eagerly grabbed the treats and put them into their plastic bags. Seeing their smiles was actually fun.
Now I am standing off to the side and watching Calder in action, Calder the deputy. He’s great with kids and it’s such a turn on. Taking his time with each one, he asks their name and what they want to be when they grow up. Then he sits them in his driver’s seat, sticks a police badge sticker on their shirt, and takes their picture with a polaroid camera. Once the photograph has developed, he gives them their photo along with a bag that contains safety tips and coloring books. The man takes pride in his job. The smile on his face when he is speaking to these kids makes me feel…proud of him.
The final kid accepts their items and Calder walks over to me and takes my hand. “You’re so good with them.”
“Ah, comes with the job.” His grin is infectious, and I can’t resist kissing him on the cheek.
“If you say so but I find it sexy.” I can’t believe those words came out of my mouth, but they did. Being here and watching how he is…it’s hard to resist his charm.
“I do. You ready to go see the greatest turtle race in the world.” I am a bit miffed he ignored my sexy comment but give him a nod.
As we walk down the street holding hands, I can feel eyes on us and hear the hushed whispers. In a town like this I suppose people are bound to talk. Calder is probably Crimson Cove’s most eligible bachelor. Not to mention the cutest as well. The race is on the beach and most of the same kids who were getting their picture taken are lined up behind a box full of turtles. The raceway is marked off with red ribbon and wooden stakes leading to the ocean shore. The turtles have numbers painted on their shells and the children are so eager to see them race.
I try to release Calder’s hand, but he grips mine tighter and pulls me to the start line.
“Thank you all for joining us for the annual turtle race. The entry fee is five dollars, but the money goes back into the Andrea Michaelson Foundation. A non-profit organization started in my sister’s memory to protect the turtles of Crimson Cove. Andrea dreamed of becoming a marine biologist and coming back here to start her own rescue, and I am proud to say that my parents are fulfilling her wishes.” He nods to a man and woman and I can see some family resemblance. They must be his parents. I had no idea about his sister.
After his speech he lets go of my hand to collect entrant fees and hand out turtles. Each kid takes their turtle and lines up at the start line. Once everyone is in place with their turtle Calder removes his gun from the holster and fires it up in the air signaling for the race to start. The kids release their turtles and they take off moving fast for the water. Faster than I imagined. The kids are screaming for their turtle to make it to the water first, cheering them on with vigor.
I loop my arm through Calder’s. “What’s the winner receive?”
“A trophy.” We stroll to the finish line and await the moment a winner will be declared.
The race wraps up and I’m starving.
“You’ve not lived until you’ve had one of Marnie’s blooming onions.” I don’t think onion breath is what I intended but he’s so excited about me trying it I can’t tell him no. In the end he’s right. The blooming onion is delicious. We’re sitting at the picnic tables eating our food and drinking fresh squeezed lemonade when a couple approaches us. Calder’s playful demeanor immediately fades, and he becomes tense. His hand is gripping my thigh so hard, I take his hand in mine and give him a firm squeeze of my own.
The woman studies me intently, and I notice she’s pregnant. The man has his hands in the pockets of his tan Dockers. His jaw ticks. “Hey.” The greeting sounds forced.
“Who’s your friend?” The woman questions.
“Roger. Carly. This is Maggie.” Calder doesn’t give me a label when he introduces me, and Carly is annoyed at the fact. I can see her studying us trying to fit together the pieces wondering if we are a couple. The way she keeps focusing on Calder it is easy to recognize there are feelings there.
“Hi. Nice to meet you.” I extend my hand to her and the last thing she wants to do is shake my hand.
“Roger runs the volunteer fire department,” Calder explains.
“Oh, so you guys are like work friends,” I state, and Calder’s hand is back on my leg but this time his touch is intimate. Which leaves me wondering if it is because he likes me or more about the fact that he had some sort of relationship with this pregnant chick.
“We go way back. Childhood friends,” Carly says, beaming in a fake demeanor at her husband. I now see the rings on their fingers. “WE all grew up here in the Cove together.”
“We were just finishing up with our food and Calder promised he’d take me on the Ferris Wheel. I’m sure we’ll see you guys around. Maybe we can get together and have dinner sometime, and y’all can tell me stories about Calder in his school days. You know the embarrassing stuff.” I move to get up from the table and Calder follows my lead staying oddly silent, and I hope I haven’t crossed a line. They clearly make him uncomfortable, and I am eager to hear the story behind this awkward encounter.
The woman gives me a forced smile and her husband holds his hand out to Calder who accepts it reluctantly. “It’s good seeing you, man.”
Calder’s response is a curt nod. I grab our trash and dispose of it. While I am at the garbage bin Calder comes up behind me wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his head on my shoulder. He kisses my neck and whispers, “Thank you.”
“No problem. I could sense how tense the situation made you. I’m sure there is a story there.” I turn to face him.
“There is but let’s not spoil today with it. What’s this about me taking you on the Ferris wheel?” He takes my hand in his and leads me away from the food court and to the ticket booth.
“For a small town you guys sure go all out for your festival.” They have everything. Craft booths. Old time photos. Food. Games. Rides.
“You should see the Christmas bazar the quilting club hosts.” He laughs.
“Do you play Santa or one of his elves? I could go for seeing you in some tights.”
“I’m the grinch.” He pinches my butt and I squeal.
We make our rounds riding all that they have to offer, and evening time has snuck up on us. We’re walking along the shore hand in hand. Today has been kind of perfect. I’m not used to things going in my favor, but I am trying to enjoy it. Trying to let go and allow myself a slice of happiness with Calder for however long it lasts.
“I had no idea about your sister. I’m sorry for your loss.”
He shrugs his shoulder. “Was a few years ago. She was sixteen and had her whole future mapped out, but then her boyfriend happened. My sister thought he hung the moon and that they were gonna be together forever.”
I don’t tell him how close to home this discussion hits for me. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.” I don’t tell him it’s because his words are hard to hear. They sound so familiar.
“Nah. It’s fine. It feels good to get it off my chest. Anyway, she had recently gotten her license and was excited to show off her new car. My parents spared no expense and against my wishes and advice bought her a brand-new Mustang. I thought it was a mistake. She needed something she could bang up and not worry about. She only had the car for three hours and went to show it off to her boyfriend. Only when she got to his house, she found him with who she thought was her best friend. She took off and b
reezed through a four way stop and was t-boned by a drunk driver. They both died on impact.”
“Oh God, Calder. That’s terrible.”
“Yeah and that couple who approached us earlier that was my ex-fiancée and my former best friend.” I thought he was going to say Roger was the boyfriend.
“I don’t know what to say except I am sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything. No reason to apologize. Carly called me a month before they got married telling me that she made a mistake and that she wanted to be with me. I turned her down and the night of their wedding I had too much to drink and crashed my cruiser.”
“I guess she didn’t like seeing us together then and probably married him because of the baby.”
“Yeah, that was my estimation too.” He kicks at the sand.
“Are you…do you still love her?”
Turning into me, he holds my face between his hands. “There was a time I thought I would never love anyone but Carly, but I was wrong. I loved the person I thought she was. When I needed her the most, she abandoned me for another man. That’s not the kind of woman I want to be with.”
“They did that to you when your sister passed away?”
“Yup.”
“And they have the nerve to try an act like you should want to hang out with them? Wow.”
“Don’t give them a second thought. I don’t. I’ve moved on with my life. And I am hoping that moving on will include you. I like you, Maggie. I want to get to know you. We can take this at your speed. Whatever you want. All I am asking for is a chance.”
Unable to resist, I lean up and kiss his lips. Maybe I can do this. Start a new life here with Calder.
Chapter 7
Calder
Maggie’s lips touched mine and it was the only invitation I needed. I was hoping that by my opening up and laying everything out for her, my past, my baggage that she’d want to share hers with me as well. I won’t pressure her though. She’s guarded, and I get that. We’ve been taking things slow seeing each other when our schedules match up. I go into the diner even when I’m not working to see her face. Sometimes I see her hanging around outside the library writing in her notebook. Everyday my routine revolves around my job and when I will see her again.
Calder & Maggie Page 4
