by Force, Marie
“I don’t mean to resurrect difficult memories. Sorry.”
“It’s all right. It’s our story, and we own it. And besides, it all worked out the way it was meant to. I honestly believe that.”
Maggie sat up straighter when she saw Corey’s doctor come through the double doors to the waiting room. “Mom, I have to go. I’ll text you later.”
“Hang in there, Mags. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Chapter 26
Maggie stashed the phone in her pocket and approached the doctor. “Is there news about Corey?”
“Come on back.”
With a sinking feeling full of dread, Maggie followed her to the same room they’d been in earlier.
The doctor closed the door. “She came through the surgery and is in recovery. We did a CT scan and saw no sign of bleeding in her brain.”
“That’s good news, right?”
“Very good news.”
“Is she conscious?”
“Not yet, but we’re more optimistic after seeing the scans. It’s a wait-and-see thing for now. She’s not out of the woods yet, but she’s better than she was.”
“Can I see her?”
“When we get her settled in a room. If you give me your number, I’ll have one of the nurses call you.”
“Thank you so much.” Maggie gave the doctor her phone number and returned to the waiting room to text Brayden, Teresa and Arnelle, updating them on Corey’s condition.
Each of them responded with relief and pleas for Maggie to keep them informed. Since she had a little time, she went to the cafeteria, bought a cup of coffee and took it to a bench outside the emergency entrance, where she tipped her face into the warm sunshine and thought about what Brayden and her mom had said about the things she could control and the things she couldn’t.
In time, hopefully she’d get better about not taking the setbacks suffered by her clientele so personally. Or maybe she wouldn’t. Maybe she would always take their setbacks to heart and feel responsible when their program failed to make a difference for someone they tried to help.
Her phone rang, and she took the call from Kate. “Hey.”
“I heard about Corey. How is she? Are you all right?”
Maggie told her sister what she knew.
“I can tell you’re blaming yourself, Maggie, and it’s not your fault.”
“I wish I was home last night. Maybe I could’ve kept her from leaving.”
“If she was determined to go to him, nothing could’ve stopped her. Not even you. When we hired you for this job, we never expected you to be on duty twenty-four hours a day. Everyone is entitled to time off and time away, including you.”
“Thanks. I know. I just wish this hadn’t happened.”
“I know, but I need you to tell me you understand it’s not your fault.”
“It’s not my fault.”
“All we can do, Mags, is provide the tools. We can’t make our residents use them. And this is why they sign the release absolving us of responsibility for them. Because they’re adults and can do whatever they want, even if it’s not what we’d advise them to do.”
Maggie recalled how Ashton had absolutely insisted on what he called the hold-harmless release form. Everyone who entered the facility signed it to protect the owners and staff from liability in situations like this one and what’d happened to Debbie.
“Thanks for calling and reminding me of what my job is and what it isn’t.”
“You’re doing so great. The fact that you care like you do is the most important thing to the residents. That’s what they need most. Someone who cares.”
“True. We do give them that.”
“Yes, you do. So how was your date with Brayden?”
“It was really great. He arranged for us to stay in the city after the fundraiser.”
“That’s so sweet. I love that he did that. And of course you’re beating yourself up for being there rather than at home when Corey left.”
“I was. I’m better now. I talked to Brayden and Mom and now you, and you all said the same things. It’s a learning curve for me on how to deal when things go sideways. I met some people at the fundraiser last night, and they invited me to join their networking group. I think it’ll help to have actual contact with other people in this field, rather than just relying on online support.”
“I agree. It’ll be good for you to be connected to others in the field. You’re doing everything right, Mags, despite a really rough couple of weeks. Why don’t you and Brayden come for dinner so you can have some Poppy time? That’ll make you feel better.”
“I’d love to. Let me see what time I get out of here. I’ll let you know.”
“Either way, it’s fine—and it’s an open invite. You know that.”
“I do. Thanks for the support.”
“Love you so much, and I’m so, so proud of you.”
Kate’s kind words brought tears to Maggie’s eyes. “Thanks. Means a lot. Love you, too.”
“Text me later.”
“I will.”
Two hours after Maggie saw the doctor, she received a call that Corey had been taken to a room in the ICU. The nurse gave her the room number. “You need to be prepared that she looks pretty banged up, but she’s stable and was awake for a short time, which is very good news.”
“That’s great. Thank you. I’ll be up soon.”
Maggie texted the room number to Brayden and asked him to update the others.
Got it, he replied. Will be there soon.
Maggie also sent a quick update to her mom as she took the elevator to the third floor, where she requested entry to the ICU. The nurse who let her in showed her to Corey’s room.
Maggie stepped into the room and gasped at the bruises that covered the young woman’s face, arms and neck. Tears filled Maggie’s eyes and slid down her cheeks. She would never understand how someone could do such a thing to another human being, especially someone they’d once professed to love.
Her heart broke for Corey. She’d been through so much. Maggie laid her hand on Corey’s shoulder and gently brushed the hair back from her face, which was so swollen, she might not have recognized the girl if she hadn’t known it was her.
Corey’s left eye was swollen shut.
Her right eye opened. She grimaced when she saw Maggie. “Sorry,” she said, licking dry lips.
“Take it easy. Don’t try to talk.”
“Shouldn’t have…”
“Shhh. You’re going to be okay.”
“Hurts.”
“I know.”
Corey dozed off again, and the next time she woke, she seemed surprised that Maggie was still there. The nurse had come in and said she could have a little bit of water, so Maggie held the straw for her as she drank through swollen, split lips.
The small effort expended to take a sip left her depleted.
Maggie put the cup back on the table, wishing there was something she could do besides stand there and be mostly helpless.
“Maggie.”
“Yes?”
Corey took a deep breath, let it out and closed her eyes. “I think I’d like you to call my mom.”
“I can do that. Do you know her number?”
Corey gave a slight nod that she seemed to immediately regret, and keeping her eyes closed, she recited the number.
“What do you want me to tell her?” Maggie asked.
“Everything.”
“I’ll be right back.” Maggie went into the waiting room to place the call to Corey’s mother. The woman didn’t answer, so Maggie left a message. “This is Maggie Harrington, a friend of Corey’s in Nashville. Could you please give me a call?” She gave her phone number and ended the call, hoping she would hear from the woman sooner rather than later.
She answered a few other texts, including one from Karen in Arizona, who reported that Debbie’s kids had made a smooth transition to their new school and were doing as well as could be expected.
Thank you for the update. Please give the kids our love and keep in touch.
She also checked her email on her phone and found a message sent last night from a sergeant in the Nashville Police Department letting her know that Trey had made bail and would be released.
Maggie blew out a deep sigh. If only she’d seen that message last night, Corey might not be in the ICU. She was about to return to Corey’s room when her phone rang with a call from Corey’s mom.
“This is Maggie.”
“This is Corey’s mother, Brianne, returning your call. Have you seen Corey?”
“I have.”
“Is she all right? I haven’t heard from her in months.”
“She’s all right, but she’s in the hospital.”
“Oh my God. Because of him? I told her he was no good. She never listens to me.”
“She’s been through a lot, and I think she could use your support. She’s fully aware that she should’ve listened to you.”
“What happened?”
Maggie told her everything she knew as gently as she possibly could.
“I had no idea she was pregnant,” Brianne said, sounding tearful after having heard the whole story. “Where is she now?”
“In the ICU of Nashville General Hospital.”
“I’m on my way. I’ll be there in less than two hours.”
“I’ll stay until you get here.”
“Thank you so much for calling.”
“No problem. I’ll see you soon.” As Maggie ended the call, she received a text from Brayden.
I’m outside the ICU.
She went out to let him in and led him to the waiting room.
He held a cloth shopping bag. “Change of clothes.”
“Bless you.”
After putting the bag on a chair, he held out his arms to her.
Maggie walked into his embrace and let him surround her with his strength and the scent of leather, horses and sunshine that she’d forever associate with him.
“How is she?”
“Awake, alert and in a lot of pain. She looks dreadful. Her entire face is bruised, one eye swollen shut, her lips split.”
“Motherfucker,” he muttered under his breath as he tightened his hold on her. “And how are you?”
“Better than I was. I talked to my mom and Kate, and they said the same things you did. I’m realizing it’s going to be a process toward accepting there’s only so much I can do for them. They have to be willing to do the rest.”
“That’s exactly right.”
Maggie pulled back to look up at him. “How did the riding lessons go?”
“Good,” he said, smiling. “Travis is a natural. He’s going to be my star student. Reminds me a lot of myself at that age. Jimmy and Lily are a little overeager. I had a talk with them about making sure they’re following the rules of the stables and not acting up around the horses. They’re all great kids. Some are just more natural around the horses than others, which is usually the case.”
Maggie rested her forehead against his chest for another minute. “I’m going back in with Corey for a bit. Her mom will be here in the next couple of hours. I can get an Uber home if you don’t want to wait.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll wait.”
Maggie smiled up at him. “And I shall reward you with dinner at my sister’s if you’re up for that.”
“Works for me. It’ll be good for you to see them after the day you’ve had.”
Wait for a man who truly sees you, and when he appears, make sure you notice.
She went up on tiptoes to kiss him. “I really, really like you.”
His smile was the best thing ever, as was his obvious pleasure in hearing that. “Is that right?”
Maggie nodded.
“That’s good, because I really, really, really like you.”
“That’s a lot of reallys.”
He kissed her. “Go take care of Corey. I’ll be here.”
Over the next week, Brayden was there. At the hospital, at home, at the stables, at her sister’s house, in the car and in bed. He seemed to know what she needed before she needed it. Maggie began to understand what it was like to have a true partner, someone she could lean on in the bad times, laugh with in the good times and count on to have her back.
Maggie was completely and absolutely in love with him, but she didn’t know whether he felt the same about her, so she kept her feelings to herself even as the words wanted to burst forth from her lips every time she was around him. She was almost certain he loved her, too.
He was due to arrive at Kate’s to meet her any minute, and she couldn’t wait to see him after having been apart most of the day while Kate’s hair-and-makeup goddesses prepared her and Jill for Buddy’s fundraiser.
“Thank you so much for getting me out of this one, Poppy,” Kate said to the baby in her arms as she stood by in jeans and a ponytail to watch the proceedings. She’d wanted to be with them while they got ready, but had said repeatedly how glad she was to not have to go.
“Poppy said, ‘You’re welcome, Mommy,’” Jill said.
“She knows Mommy has had her fill of formal occasions and would be very happy to never go to another one.”
“Mommy is a drag,” Jill said with a teasing grin for Kate.
“Happy to be a drag if I get to stay home with my sweet Poppy.”
“And her daddy,” Reid said as he came into the room to check on them. “You ladies look gorgeous.”
“We do look rather awesome,” Jill joked, striking a pose next to Maggie.
Jill wore a midnight-blue gown, while Maggie was in red. They’d declined Kate’s offer of a stylist and had shopped for their own dresses on a recent Saturday.
“Hot damn,” Ashton said when he joined them, wearing a black tuxedo. He pointed to Jill. “I’ll take that one.”
“Good, because the other one is all mine.”
Maggie hadn’t seen Brayden follow Ashton into the room, so she wasn’t prepared for what he said or how he looked in a tux.
“Y’all clean up rather well,” Reid said.
Brayden came over to Maggie, put his arm around her and kissed her cheek. “You look incredible.”
“I could say the same to you. The tux is hot.” She reached up to touch the stubble on his jaw. “The entire package is hot.”
“Likewise.” They stared at each other for a long moment full of yearning.
At least that was what it was for her. The eight hours since she’d woken up with him had dragged, and she wished they had nowhere to be and nothing to do but be together. She checked her phone and found a text from Corey.
Thank you so much for everything, Maggie. I’m going to be released tomorrow, and I’m going home with my mom. Thanks for bringing my stuff here, for being there for me through the worst of times. I’m sorry I disappointed you all by going back to Trey. I won’t make that mistake again. I promise. Someday, when I have my shit together, I want to come back to Matthews and see you guys. You saved my life. I won’t forget you.
Maggie blinked back tears as she read the heartfelt text. I’m so happy you’re going home and feeling stronger. We’re always here for you. Text me any time, and please do come visit. You’ll always be welcome at Matthews. xoxo
“You okay, Mags?” Kate asked.
“Yeah, just got a sweet text from Corey. She’s being released from the hospital tomorrow and going home with her mom.”
“I’m so glad to hear she’s well enough to go home.”
“I know. Me, too. And she said she’s done with Trey.”
“That’s a relief.”
Maggie shut off her phone and stashed it in her purse, determined to have a real night off. Teresa was on duty and more than capable of handling anything that came up.
“Are you guys ready?” Ashton asked. He’d drawn the designated-driver card and was taking them in Reid’s SUV.
“Ready when you are,” Jill said.
“You k
ids have a nice time,” Kate said. “Don’t stay out too late.”
“And use a condom,” Reid added, making them all laugh.
“Shut up, Dad,” Ashton said.
“Yeah, shut up, Dad,” Brayden said.
Maggie loved the way Brayden fit in, as if he’d always been part of them. That was just another on the long list of reasons she loved him. Her heart was so full of love for him, her sisters, her new niece and her new life. For all its many complications and heartbreaks, the job was also rewarding in ways she was discovering every day. Such as earlier when Travis had thanked her so profusely for the riding lessons.
“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had. Ever.”
Having learned to take the victories where she could find them, she carried the little boy’s joy with her as Ashton drove them into town.
Chapter 27
Maggie, Brayden, Jill and Ashton walked the red carpet and posed for photographers, who recognized them as Kate’s sisters, probably due to the recent interview they’d done together.
“Who’s your date, Maggie?”
“Oh, um, this is Brayden.”
His hand on her back made her feel safe and loved and supported. Being with him made everything better, more fun than it would’ve been without him, and tonight was no different. Buddy’s gala was all about fun. After dinner and a performance by their famous hosts, the doors to a second ballroom opened to a carnival street fair, complete with every imaginable game, as well as cotton candy, peanuts, popcorn, funnel cakes and a massive chocolate fountain in the middle of the huge room.
“Holy crap,” Brayden said, his eyes lighting up. “This is awesome.”
“Buddy doesn’t screw around,” Ashton said. “Last year, the games brought in three hundred thousand dollars.”
“Shut up,” Brayden said. “That’s insane.”
“I know. Let’s go do our part.”
They played every game: Pick a Duck, Water Coin Drop, Balloon Pop, Gone Fishing, Beanbag Toss and Spin the Wheel. Maggie learned that Brayden excelled at the shooting games, hitting every target—even the moving ones—and winning her three huge stuffed animals.