by Jeannie Moon
The new field house at the college was impressive, complete with an indoor turf field and a running track positioned around the perimeter. When she walked in, she spotted some people in the stands, which she figured were parents. There were two other women standing near the bench. In the middle of the field, she spotted Will. He was crouching down, low to the ground, his long legs awkwardly folded in half, talking to a group of kids. They were completely focused on him, they were smiling, and Will was totally in his element.
A striking figure, Will towered over pretty much everyone in town. Maggie herself was just shy of five-seven, and he was almost a foot taller than she was. Unlike a lot of basketball players, he wasn’t lanky. Will was big, and powerfully built, with long, defined muscles in his arms, legs, and back, and strong, broad shoulders.
Maggie went to the sideline to deposit her bag, smiling when Will caught sight of her, and waved. The flicks and pulls deep down in her belly were becoming the norm when she was near the man.
And she liked the sensations. She liked the stirring desire she felt. It made her feel more alive than she had in months. Years.
More than a little self-conscious, she had to wonder if Will inviting her to help out was as much about her, as it was about the kids.
“Maggie, come here and meet the team.”
Nervous. She was nervous to meet a pack of twelve-year-olds who obviously possessed more nerve than she did. The group was divided equally between girls and boys… three of each.
Looking at them, Maggie was blown away by the amount of hardware on six kids, most of whom weren’t teenagers yet. Legs, arms, feet—one boy had lost both legs to mid-thigh. It was sobering.
“Guys,” Will said. “This is Maggie. She’s going to be working with the team.”
“Are you the pilot Coach Will told us about?” The boy who had lost both legs stood up. He was a beautiful kid—long and lean—his hair and eyes were jet black and his skin had a bronzy, olive tone.
“That’s me,” she said. God, she was so out of her element. Will, on the other hand, looked like he was born to deal with kids. “I’m Maggie.”
“Come on. Over to the fence. Do your stretches.”
The kids scrambled and Will came to her side, quietly supervising.
“They don’t bite, you know?”
“I guess I’m sensitive about what they’ve all gone through. I mean…”
“Everyone is different, and kids are resilient when you give them the chance.”
She glanced to the sidelines and saw the two women who’d been hanging back jump in to help.
Will nodded in their direction. “Kelly and Joanna. A PT and an OT who’ve volunteered to work with us.”
“That’s a good idea.” Feeling restless as she watched the kids get warmed up, Maggie sat on the turf and popped off her prosthetic. “I guess I should get in the game.”
Shucking off her sweatpants, Maggie felt a little uncomfortable being so exposed in only her spandex shorts, but if she was going to help move the kids along in their recovery, she had to move as well. Pulling her running leg and sleeve from her bag, she examined it before putting it on like she’d practiced.
It felt strange. This wasn’t the first time she’d tried out the blade, but once she stood, moving on a turf field was really different. She bounced from side to side, bending her knees, stretching, and finally running ten yards.
When she finished, with her hands on her waist, Maggie turned and saw Will and the kids were watching her.
“How did it feel?” Will called to her from the sidelines.
“Different,” she replied. “Very different.”
“Really?”
Maggie nodded. “Yeah. When I get used to this thing, I could have some speed again.”
Will gave her a thumbs up as she tested the new leg out a little more, but it was Maggie who was mesmerized by the man and the way he mentored the kids. He was patient and firm, encouraging, and very kind. Maggie wondered what made a guy like him tick.
The boy from earlier, the double amputee, ran up to her side. “You didn’t tell me your name, my friend,” she said.
He had the sweetest grin, and the light in this kid’s eyes gave Maggie a look inside a remarkable heart.
“Daniel Costa. Everyone calls me Danny.”
“So,” Maggie began, “what happened?”
Danny stretched his arms over his head. “Drunk driver. I was walking home from the bus stop with my mom. He hit us.”
“Oh, my gosh.” There was a burn in the pit of her stomach as the rage bubbled. “And your mom?”
“She died.” He said it quietly, with resolution and a level of solemnity that moved her.
No words. Maggie had no words to respond to the boy who’d been through such an unspeakable tragedy. “How old were you, Danny?”
“Um, I was nine.” He stretched his back again. “What happened to you?”
“A missile hit my plane. There was a fire.”
“That sucks.” Calm, collected, Maggie really liked this kid. “Did you love flying?” he asked.
“Yeah, I did.”
He paused, thoughtful. “I loved my mom.”
Never, in all her days, had Maggie felt so small. Sure she missed her life, but all the people she loved were still with her. Danny started doing a few practice sprints while Maggie recovered from the proverbial slap in the face, and wiped the tear that tracked over her cheek.
“You look like you’ve had an epiphany.” Will stood next to her, watching Danny run up and down the turf.
“That thirteen-year-old boy has more heart, and more strength, than I could ever hope to have. Talk about a reality check.”
“Kids have a way of doing that to you. When I first started teaching, I was still getting over the loss of my basketball career.” He kept his eyes on Danny, who was now running on the track, his long stride eating up the distance. “But then I’d meet a kid who was going through more and who did it better. It was a wakeup call. The loss of your leg is not minor by any stretch, but you still have so much, and you can rebuild your life.”
“Are you a psychologist as well as a teacher and a coach? Anything else I should know about?”
“No,” he smiled. “I just get people.”
“I don’t know how you do what you do. The teaching. It’s more than I could imagine taking on, and you don’t break a sweat. About anything.”
“That’s not true. I sweat the teaching all the time. You never know what a day is going to bring, and the kids deserve my best. But I love it. The work made me see I was more than a basketball.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I was a pilot. I figured if I ever left the navy, I’d be a pilot.”
“You’re more than your wings, Maggie.” He gave her a little push. “Now go hit the track.”
* * *
MAGGIE WAS CURLED up on the couch in his den, dead asleep. After an hour of running, and a carb-heavy breakfast, she’d passed out when he’d gone to change into a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. Now he was out stringing lights on his boat and thinking about the woman in his house.
When she’d arrived at the track, he knew she’d been apprehensive, but he admired the way she dug in with the kids, especially Danny, who had a knack for putting things in perspective for people. As much as he liked Maggie—and he did like her—he expected her chat with Danny had been enlightening.
Now he was staring at the boat and wondering if he needed to do anything special other than string lights since he was not only going to carrying the town’s VIP, but Santa as well. ‘Santa’ was the high school principal, Leo Gaines. Leo had been teaching in town since the 70s and he knew everyone. He looked like Santa with his white hair, generous waistline, and newly grown beard.
Lifting his head when he heard footsteps, Ethan and Cooper were coming toward the dock. Good, they could help with the damn lights. It had gotten really cold, really fast, and he cringed at the thought of the night on the water. He did
n’t think the temperature was supposed to drop like this, making him wonder if he should stash a bottle of brandy on the boat to keep everyone warm.
“How’s the SS North Pole coming along?” Coop climbed over the gunwale into the bow of the boat and walked toward Will, while Ethan stood on the dock.
“There’s a woman in your house,” Ethan said. “She’s sleeping.”
Will nodded. “She is. Busy morning.”
Cooper and Ethan looked at each other with raised eyebrows and wide eyes. Ethan hopped into the boat and the two of them closed in on Will.
“You want to explain what you mean by ‘busy morning’?” Ethan asked. “Because if it’s what I think it means…”
“It doesn’t.” Will could only wish it was more. “She came out early to work with the Paralympic kids and then ate the jumbo stack of pancakes at Lindsey’s.”
“So she’s in a carb coma.” Cooper laughed. “Only Maggie. Damn.”
Will folded his arms as he leaned his hip into the pilot’s seat. “I have never seen a woman eat so much in my life. Six pancakes, bacon, juice, coffee… it was incredible.”
“Where does she put it?” Ethan wondered. “I saw her on the couch and she doesn’t look like a woman who can eat her own weight.”
Will shrugged. “She works out. I saw her in shorts and a work out top. The woman is in good shape.”
‘Good shape’ was an understatement. Maggie was in incredible shape. She wasn’t thin, she was fit—strong, shapely. Every muscle was defined without being bulky. Her body was gorgeous. It was her strength of will, however, her mind, that had Will tied in knots.
But the amount of food she’d consumed was still impressive.
“I like her,” Will admitted to his friends. “It’s kind of like you said, no bullshit with her. She’s just, I don’t know, real.”
“What are you going to do?” Cooper wasn’t going to let go of the comment without an answer. “Because I think we’ve already talked about this.”
“I don’t know. There’s a lot to think about.”
Ethan rolled his eyes. “Stop being such a candy ass. Make your move, and if she’s not interested, you’ll know.”
“Did you just call me a candy ass?”
“Yes,” Ethan said. “She’s a grown woman. Treat her like one.”
Shit.
Will had made himself believe this whole thing with Maggie was complicated because of her injury, but Ethan had made a good point. She knew her own mind; if she didn’t want to go out with him, she’d tell him to back off.
It was that simple, and Will was a little pissed at himself for not taking her feelings into account. It was a dick move, to be honest, and he’d like to think he could do better.
“So I just ask her out and see what happens.”
“That’s it,” Coop agreed. “She’s smart, and she’s not going to say yes unless she’s into you.”
Thinking about the number of kisses they’d shared, there had to be something between them. Their chemistry was off the goddamn charts, which made him wonder why he hadn’t made a move. It didn’t have to be anything crazy. Maybe dinner or a movie. Something.
He was definitely a wuss.
Movement at the corner of his eye made him look toward the house. Past the white fence, the remnants of summer shrubs, and the now dull-green lawn of his yard, Maggie stood on the back deck.
Her hair was still in its long thick braid, but there were wispy gold strands blowing around her face. She was wearing her worn NAS Pensacola sweatshirt and pants, and what looked like one of his winter jackets. It was a good thing, because it was damn cold on the water.
But what struck him was the way the sun, filtered by high snow clouds, played off her hair and skin. She took his breath away.
Ethan leaned in. “This girl has got you by the balls, man. I can see why, but if you don’t make a move soon, I’m going to. Mother of God, she’s hot.”
“Fuck off,” Will growled, watching every step Maggie made across the lawn toward the boat.
“You shouldn’t have let me sleep like that,” Maggie chided. “Hi Cooper. Hi Ethan,” she said before turning back to him. “How long was I out?”
Extending his hand to help her onboard, Will answered, knowing she was going to be pissed. “About an hour.”
“Seriously? Why did you let me do that?”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Pffft. It was the damn pancakes. They were too good. I swear Lindsey whips some magic pancake flour in there or something. I couldn’t stop.”
“That’s the truth. You ate enough for three people.” He regretted it the minute he said it. Maggie’s face froze in place. “Damn it.”
He heard Cooper and Ethan mumbling words like idiot and asshole from behind him, which didn’t help.
This was it. Not only was she going to walk away from him, but the town would lose their Christmas Boat Parade VIP—a two-for-one nightmare.
“Maggie, I’m sorry…”
She looked away. No response.
“I’m really, really—”
“Oh, would you shut up?” She cut him off. “I like breakfast, and I ran for the first time in two years. And I kept up with a kid who apparently has wings on his blades. I feel no shame.”
“No?”
“None. The only thing that’s bugging me now is that I fell asleep while you three were out here in the cold getting the boat ready.”
Cooper had his head bent and was chuckling. “God, Maggie, I love you. If only because you made Fitz sweat.”
“I’m glad I could provide some entertainment.” Grabbing a handful of lights, Will watched as Maggie, Cooper, and Ethan figured out where to secure the strands of lights to the windshield.
“If I’m going to be riding on this fine vessel, I want it to sparkle like a Vegas casino. No use in doing things halfway.” Maggie’s mouth curved up at the corner, and Will thought he might have to feed her pancakes every day.
* * *
THE CHRISTMAS BOAT Parade was one event that brought people from all over the south shore. Boaters from Holly Point and the surrounding towns decorated their vessels and from different points on the shore, Christmas music blasted from speakers. Some people, the most intrepid, brought chairs and blankets to the beach, while others were on artificially heated decks at local restaurants, or at the yacht club, being served hors d’ oeuvres and cocktails. Either way, people had fun, and Maggie, considering she didn’t want to be identified as a VIP, was excited to be part of it.
When Maggie headed home to change clothes after decorating the boat, he received his marching orders from Cooper and Ethan. He was not allowed to fuck this up.
For some reason, his friends didn’t trust him to handle things with her. And if he thought about it, he wasn’t sure himself. “She’s under your skin,” Coop told him. “If you let her get away, you won’t forgive yourself.”
Logistics for the parade were a little tricky, because it brought in a lot of visitors, but one of the nice parts of living in a waterfront village was that he didn’t have to rely on roads. Will drove the boat to the dock down the road from Maggie’s house to pick her up. Uncomfortable or not, she was primed to have a good time, and just like she wanted, the boat sparkled like a disco ball.
Dressed warmly, with a fuzzy Santa had on her head for good measure, she waved and called out to people on the shore. She teased Leo, just like she had in high school, and sat next to Will as he navigated around the harbor. At one point she kissed his cheek.
No words passed between them. No words were necessary.
After it was over, Will came to grips with the fact that he’d most definitely regret it if he lost her. Probably for the rest of his life.
* * *
WILL HAD BEEN charming, and Maggie had an amazing day.
Having a good time had been easy. He was funny, easy going, and sweet. From the morning with the aspiring Paralympians to the boat parade, Maggie not only felt like part of th
e town again, she was starting to feel that wonderful gift of Christmas in her heart.
It was hard to describe, but there was a warmth, a comfort, that came with the season, and Maggie was starting to see she needed her family, her friends, and her home to bring it back. Rehabs facilities and hospitals just weren’t going to cut it.
But Will was an unexpected surprise. If her heart had started to thaw, it was his doing. Everything about him, his quiet strength, his compassion, his humor, were like an antidote to the numbness that had consumed her. Combining him with a healthy dose of her family, and Maggie had started to feel like herself again.
Once he’d secured the boat at the town dock a block away from her house, Will helped her out, immediately wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Well, are you going to ruin my reputation?”
Maggie giggled. “Hardly. I had a wonderful day. Thank you.”
“I’m glad. I did too.”
“Your first game is this week, right?” She’d memorized the basketball schedule. Pathetic, but she didn’t care.
“Yeah. Are you going to be there?”
“I wouldn’t miss it. I don’t think my brother would forgive me.”
Continuing to hold her tight, Maggie made no attempt to get away. He felt too good.
“I have a crazy week,” Will began, “but I’d love to take you out next weekend. Maybe dinner on Friday night?”
“Oh, um…” A date! He was asking her out on a real date. “I’d, ah, I’d love to.”
Will’s smile went wide, crinkling his eyes at the corners, melting Maggie’s heart.
“You just made my day, Maggie Benson.”
With her arms securely around his neck, Maggie pulled him close. Will had no idea that he’d made her entire year. “Thank you for everything. I can’t wait ’til next week.”
Will pulled back and his blue eyes picked up all the colors from the holiday lights on his boat. He was so handsome, with his dark hair and long lashes, Maggie’s body ached.
“Will you look at that?” Will nodded toward the sky, and when Maggie’s eyes followed, she saw a snowflake drift down from the sky. Then another and another.