by Shealy James
“Bye Daddy,” Maggie said as she kissed his cheek. We walked out without her saying anything to her mother.
When we were out the door and away from the house, I asked, “So things aren’t any better with you and your mother?”
“That in there?” She pointed back to the house. “That was tame compared to what’s coming this afternoon. I don’t care. I try to ignore her. It’s blatantly obvious that I’m not one of her Barbie dolls. I even picked my dress for tonight, which irritated her almost as much as chipped nail polish would. Wait until you hear her complaints about how I wear my hair makes me look fat. Those are my favorite because it doesn’t matter if it is up or down, I still look fat according to her.”
We kept walking down the street while we talked. “I know you’re joking, Mags, but she shouldn’t speak to you like that. When I first met you, you could hardly look me in the eye, and now you’re bold and confident because you have been away from her for four years. Don’t you think you should stand up to her? Have you ever tried talking to her about it?” I grabbed her hand, so she would know that I was trying to be supportive and not condescending. Maggie didn’t pull away. She also didn’t look at me. Her eyes were steadily trained on the sidewalk.
“No, I have never talked to her about it. I’m afraid that she will either get worse knowing how much it bothers me or nothing will change. If nothing changes, then that is practically a confirmation that she doesn’t care about me. If I never know, then there’s always hope that deep down she loves me and doesn’t know how to show me.”
“Or she could apologize and tell you she loves you, and she would also learn to respect you. It’s something to think about. If she says anything else to you in front of me, I don’t know how much more I can listen to without saying something to her.”
She stopped and let go of my hand and placed both of hers on my chest. “Please don’t do that. I’ll think about talking to her, but no promises. Let’s run, so we can get back and nap.”
We went on a run around their entire neighborhood. We ran at a faster pace than usual. I think we both wanted to get back to the house to nap. When we did get back, we showered in our separate rooms. I was sitting in the bed in the blue room texting Max when Maggie came in wearing pajama pants and a fitted tank top with her mostly dry hair in a loose bun on the top of her head.
To keep my thoughts distracted from her body, which I had missed holding, I focused on my conversation with Max. “Max said he wants to go to lunch. What time should I tell him? It’s eleven now.”
“One thirty? Two? Never?”
“One thirty it is. That gives us a good two-hour nap. Come here.” She climbed in, and it felt like I could breathe again, like one of my limbs was reattached. She wrapped her body around me, and I held her close and kissed her hair. She sighed deeply. It wasn’t long before we were both asleep.
My alarm on my phone went off right on time, and we had actually slept the whole time. The last thing I wanted to do was move now that I was exactly where I wanted to be, but it wasn’t the time to make that move. I kissed Maggie’s hair to wake her up, and unsurprisingly, she groaned.
I laughed against her hair and then spoke quietly to her. “Wake up, Mags. We have to go meet Max, and then you have to come back and get ready with your mom.”
“No.” She wrapped herself more tightly around me.
“Sorry pretty girl. You have a hot date tonight, and you need to do whatever it is your mom wants so that everyone can be jealous of me.”
“Shut up.”
I laughed again. She was adorable when she was tired. My hand traveled down her side to a particularly ticklish spot on her side. “You can either get up or I can pinch this sweet little spot right here.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Please,” she pleaded into my chest.
I started ticking her, and she immediately started squirming and squealing. “Ok. Ok. I’ll get up. I hate you.”
I laughed. She rolled out of bed pouting and started to walk to her room to get ready. I grabbed her hand and pulled her to me. “You don’t hate me.”
“No…I don’t,” she said into my chest.
I kissed her forehead wishing this time it was her lips, but we didn’t have time for that now. After a moment I sent her on her way with a slap on her ass on her way out. “Hurry up. They are going to be waiting on us.”
I was downstairs waiting with Max and Becca when she came down. She still looked tired, but she was beautiful like always. We went to lunch and then brought the girls back to Maggie’s. I grabbed my bag and headed to Max’s house to hang out and wait to get ready. Of course Max asked about Maggie and me the instant the girls were gone. As soon as the question left his mouth, I said, “Max, like I told you on the phone, when I know what is going on with me and Maggie, I’ll let you know. We haven’t really had a conversation, and I don’t want to push her.”
He laughed. “First of all, you will have to start that conversation because she is probably terrified. Remember, she has never had a boyfriend before. Second, if you hurt her, we will kill you. Maggie always comes first. You need to remember that.”
“No need for the reminder. She comes first for me too. I’ve never had a Maggie before either, so I’m in unchartered waters here too. I can’t bang her a few times and move on. For one thing, I don’t want to move on from her. I also know she isn’t that type of girl, so you don’t need to go all tough guy on me. We both know I could take you.”
Max rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say. Don’t forget I have Jim Miller on my side, but I’m not worried. you’re more protective of her than I am anyway. I don’t think I have to worry about you hurting her. I may have to worry about her hurting you with that giant vagina you grew over the last semester.”
“Fuck off, dude. Don’t even get me started on you over Becca.”
We kept messing with each other for a bit until we had to get ready for the party. Once it was time to go, Max, his dad, Tom and I walked over to Maggie’s house dressed and ready to go. Max walked in the door like he lived there, so I followed him. Maggie’s parents and sisters were standing in the living room.
“Well hello!” Mr. Miller said loudly. He had definitely had a pregame cocktail or three.
“Maxwell, go see what is taking Maggie and Becca so long. Catherine and Carolyn have already tried and don’t want to keep marching up and down the stairs in their shoes.”
“I’ll go,” I offered. “I need to take my bag up anyway.”
“Thank you, Parker.”
I ran upstairs and threw my bag on the bed in the blue room. I walked a little ways down the hall to Maggie’s door. I knocked. “Come on Mags. Everyone’s waiting.”
“Be right down!”
I headed back down, and her mom gave me the “Well?” look. “She said she would be right down.”
She looked past me and said, “It is about time Margaret Anne.”
I turned and I saw Maggie in a dark blue beaded gown. It was strapless, and she wore expensive looking jewelry to match. Her dark brown curls were pinned back, so you could really see the length of her neck and her bare shoulders. The dress was fitted like it was made for her curves. The image of her like that was stunning.
Her mother immediately went over and started fussing over her like Maggie had predicted. She hadn’t touched her sisters, so it irritated me knowing how much that bothered Maggie. She tugged on Maggie’s dress, and tucked a loose strand of her hair up. When I heard her say that she was so much better off with her hair up, I walked over and stepped in between Maggie and her mother. “You look gorgeous.” I bent down and kissed her lips chastely.
She blushed and smiled, “Thank you.”
Her mother stopped and gaped at me, but I didn’t look up at her. I wouldn’t take my eyes off of Maggie. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Maggie.
“Let’s celebrate with a glass of champagne before we go to dinner.” Mr. Miller started, “We have a lot to
celebrate this year: our health, Maggie’s school and soccer, friends and family being together to celebrate, and something very special this year. My first born daughter, Catherine, has agreed to marry Tom.” Shouts of excitement rang through the room as Maggie’s dad popped the cork on the champagne. Everyone hugged, shook hands, and congratulated Catherine and Tom. Champagne was passed out, and Mr. Miller declared, “Cheers!” and we all drank.
Afterwards, we piled into a shuttle that would be running throughout the neighborhood, so everyone could have a good time without driving. The small bus took us to the clubhouse. Maggie stayed very close to me the whole time. I think she was worried that I wouldn’t have fun since this party was “stuffier” than the July 4th ones that I had been to before. The party included a sit down dinner with several courses. Fortunately my mother had me go to a lot of symphony events growing up, so I was accustomed to the number of forks, glasses, and plates. After dinner, we were all escorted into another ballroom with a dance floor, smaller tables, and an elaborate dessert bar. There was a Big Band set up on one side of the dance floor. Maggie led me to a section of reserved tables. “These are ours.”
We sat down with Max and Becca while everyone else socialized. Maggie never really offered more than a wave to anyone except the older men who kept telling her to save a dance for them. If they tried to talk to her any more than that, she would introduce me, and I would briefly talk with whoever was addressing her. I could tell she was incredibly uncomfortable talking with all of these people. It wasn’t long before the infamous Wallace came up to greet Maggie. She was standing in between me and Max from talking to some old lady when he walked up. He grabbed her and hugged her and kissed both of her cheeks. I already wanted to deck him, so I had to shove my hands in my pockets to keep from ripping him away from her.
“Wallace, this is Parker,” Maggie said.
We shook hands. His grip was firm, but mine was threatening. “How’s it going?”
“Parker? Nice to meet you. Do you know Maggie from school?”
“Yes, we live together.” His eyes widened.
Max stepped over sensing the tension. “Hey Wallace. Parker is one of our roommates at school. How are you?” They shook hands and then Max returned his hand to Becca’s waist.
“Doing well, Max. Roommate, huh? Interesting.”
I ignored the rest of their conversation and turned to Maggie, “Wanna dance?”
She smiled brightly, “Sure.”
We went out and danced to a couple of songs before her dad asked if he could cut in. I let him and went and joined Becca who was sitting at the table while Max danced with his mother.
With the next song, Max was back to get Becca, and Maggie was passed off to some old man. I danced with Maggie’s mom then her sister, Carolyn, who then sat with me at the table for a while before some old man asked her to dance. I was counting the seconds until I could go get Maggie when Mr. Miller came and sat down next to me.
“So, Parker, how long have you been in love with my little girl?”
I looked at him shocked. “What?”
“You’re watching her like you’re ready to pounce anyone who touches her wrong or if anyone under the age of sixty tries to dance with her. You drove all this way to come to a party that she hates. I know she is incredibly crabby when she is home, and I can only assume that has something to do with you. She has been happier at school this year than she was the last two, and I know about your piano performance, which was a nice touch by the way.”
I thought for a second. Was I in love with Maggie? This wasn’t the first time this had crossed my mind, but it was the first time I believed it could be possible. Yes. I am. I’m in love with Maggie Miller.
“I’ll ask you again, son. How long have you been in love with my daughter?”
“I think since the day I met her, sir.”
“Yeah I thought so. I saw the way you looked at her then as well. Have you told her how you feel?”
“No, sir.”
“Have you had sex with her?”
“What? NO! No, sir!”
He gave me a mischievous grin. “Ha. Just checking. Well, go get her.” He nodded to where she was dancing with a bald older man with wandering hands. I laughed when she had to move his hand off her butt for probably the tenth time.
“Are you going to cut my balls off?”
“You hurt her and I’ll kill you, but I can see how you feel about her. Even more, I can see how she feels about you. You take care of her and love her like she deserves, and your family jewels will stay where they belong. After all I want grandchildren one day, and Maggie is the only daughter I have who will give me grandkids I will actually like.” He chuckled as he got up and patted my back. “Welcome to the family, Parker.”
I sat there in shock for a second, but I didn’t want to waste another minute. I needed to tell Maggie how I felt. Her dad indicated she felt the same way, and he didn’t want me wasting any more time either. I got up and caught Maggie’s eye. She smiled, and I stalked over to her. She excused herself from her bald dance partner and headed towards me.
“You ok? I saw Daddy talking to you.”
“Yeah. You want to keep dancing?’
“No. Let’s take a break. My feet hurt. Let’s go outside and sit for a minute.”
I let her lead the way, but I kept my hand on her back. Outside there were rocking chairs and benches on the wrap around porch. Maggie wrapped her arms around herself when we stepped out into the cold. I took my jacket off and wrapped it around her, and she looked up at me with a bright smile as she sat on one of the benches with black and white striped cushions on it. “Thanks.”
I sat next to her and wrapped my arm around her pulling her close. “Anytime.” I paused for a moment. “You know I would do anything for you, right?”
“Yeah? Parker, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. Everything is right. I just…I just need to tell you something.”
She looked at me concerned.
“I-“
“Maggie! There you are. It is almost midnight.” It was Wallace.
“Ok. Thanks.”
“Are you coming inside?”
“No, Wallace. I’m going to stay out here with Parker. You should go inside.” He looked surprised but turned and stomped back inside.
“That guy is a douche.”
She laughed and shook her head. “I know. I told you.”
“I can’t believe you kissed him.”
“First, I didn’t plan it or do the kissing. He kissed me. Second, it was chaste and lame, like a pity kiss.”
“Oh.” I sat there for a moment looking out over the golf course.
She grabbed my hand bringing my attention back to her. “I don’t want to talk about Wallace. What did you want to tell me?”
I stood pulling her up with me. “Walk with me.”
We walked down the path toward the lake. I held her hand tightly trying to get my nerves under control. When we reached the end of the path, I turned to face her. I took her face in my hands. She came up to the top of my chest normally, but tonight her forehead was right at my lips, so I kissed her there before I spoke.
“Maggie, I know that I’m not the easiest person to get to know, but you have broken through all of my bullshit and become one of my best friends. You’re the one person I can talk to about my mom, about the music, about the things I did when my life was getting out of control. You made me want to be a better person for my dad and brother because all along you believed that I was better.”
She stared back at me as tears started filling her eyes. “Parker-”
I placed a finger on her lips. “Let me finish. From the first day I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. You didn’t believe it yet, but you were. Over the last three years, I have watched you become more confident and somehow more beautiful. When you were hanging out with other guys, it killed me inside, but I didn’t understand why. I didn’t know why it h
urt. I didn’t want to admit that I had feelings for you. I pushed you away because I was afraid of those feelings.
“When your dad went into the hospital, I saw you go back to being the frightened shell of the person you have become. It scared me. I wanted to take you away and protect you from that pain. Sleeping with you in my arms every night and watching you become part of my family has been…remarkable. I miss you when you aren’t with me, and I can’t get enough of you when you are.”
I paused and took a deep breath. Before I spoke I looked deep into her eyes like I was trying to somehow crawl into her through her soul. “What I’m trying to say is that from the first day I saw you, Maggie, I have been falling in love with you. I’m in love with you, and I’m done being patient. I want you as mine. I want to tell your parents and our friends that you’re mine. I want to walk everywhere with you in my arms. I want you to one day be my wife. I want you to be the mother of my children after we go to law school and save the world. I don’t care what we do or how we do it as long as we do it together.” When I finished saying what I had to say to her, I handed her a penny that I had found earlier and kept in my pocket knowing I would need the good luck tonight.
Maggie
Oh my God! Parker said he’s in love with me. Everything he said was wonderful and what I have needed to hear from him. Being patient wasn’t easy, but this payoff was totally worth it. I had butterflies, no hummingbirds beating their wings in my stomach, a sob stuck in my throat, and my heart was racing like I had run sprints up and down stairs. My body’s reaction to him was so strong that I felt like I was completely losing control over it. I was shaking, and he wrapped his arms around my body. I felt his warmth, and I couldn’t help but wrap my hands around his waist.
He looked amazing in his shirt and vest with his hair rumpled from running his fingers through it. He was so strong and confident, that his words shocked me with their vulnerability. I didn’t quite have the words to express to him yet. I was still in shock. Finally, I choked back a sob, “Parker.”