The Waiting Game

by J. L. Fynn

  “Soda bread. You couldn’t have.”

  “Shhh,” I said, enjoying how much she was enjoying this.

  We each ate a bowl of stew and then went for seconds. The chef I’d hired from New Orleans’ Irish Channel had definitely known what he was doing. We mostly ate in silence, but being able to look at Maggie next to me was enough. Knowing that she was here, with me, in this room was everything.

  “We never did see one of those giant rat things you told me about.”

  “Giant rat things?”

  “The things you told me about with the big, bright orange teeth.”

  “Oh.” I smiled. “Nutria.”

  “Aye, we never saw one. They don’t really exist do they?”

  “No, I swear they do.”

  She scrunched her mouth to one side. “I don’t believe it.”

  “Are you questioning my honor and integrity?” I said in mock horror. “I’m deeply offended.”

  “Since when have you been honorable?” She pushed out her chair and moved to sit on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. “An honorable man would never do what you’re about to do with me on that bed over there.” She wriggled against me just a little to make herself comfortable.

  “Is that so?” I said, feeling myself go hard under her weight.

  She put her mouth so close to my ears that she was almost touching it, but she didn’t give me that satisfaction just yet. “Aye. ‘Tis so.”

  That was enough to send me over the edge. I picked her up and tossed her onto the bed. She giggled which only made me want her even more. I climbed on top of her and pressed my full weight into her body, covering her mouth with mine. She tried to roll so she was on top—I was beginning to learn that Maggie liked to be in control—but just this once I wanted to be the one steering the action. I kissed her furiously, and she arched her back, rocking her hips against mine. Intense yearning pulsed through me, and I pulled the shoulder straps of her dress down so I could get full access to her neck. I kissed a trail from the crook of her neck, down her shoulders, then down to her heavy breasts. I pulled the neck of her shirt down further, exposing her, and couldn’t stifle the gasp that escaped my throat. Maggie’s body had changed since our son was born. Her breasts were fuller, and her belly rounder. But she was more beautiful then ever, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

  She took the opportunity to wiggle out from under me and pushed me onto my back so she could straddle my waist. I growled at her for taking control, but her wicked smile told me she knew I loved it. And I did.

  As long as we were tangled up in each other I had nothing to complain about.

  ***

  Afterward we lay together on the bed, naked and satisfied. Maggie’s head rested on my chest, my arm around her, and she had one leg haphazardly thrown over mine.

  “Mmm,” she breathed after being quiet for a long time. “That was lovely.”

  “It was,” I agreed.

  “As nice as this is, though, we better be moving. The day’s half gone.”

  “Why?” I asked, surprised. “I rented the house for the whole night. I figured this was just round one.” I wiggled a lascivious eyebrow at her.

  “But I have to get back to the baby.”

  “I already talked it over with Jim. He said that just this once he’d watch him for us.”

  “Aye, I know, but not for the whole night.” She moved to sit up.

  I pulled her back to the bed, I rolled to my side so I was positioned over her, resting my weight on my elbow. “Yes, for the whole night.”

  Maggie pushed me off and sat up again, shaking her head violently. “Not going to happen. This was wonderful,” she looked around with longing on her face, like she already missed our time together even though it wasn’t quite over, “but I need to get back to Jimmy. He’s too little to be away from his mam all night long.”

  “But it’s just one night,” I said, sitting up next to her.

  “As much as I love you, Tommy—” she paused, then amended, “love this, I mean.” She’d never told me she loved me before, and it seemed as much of a shock to her as it was to me. “As much as I love this, I’m a mother now, and that’ll always come first.”

  It hurt that she wanted our time together to end so abruptly, but I knew she was right. “And that,” I hooked my arm under her knees and pulled her into my lap, “is exactly why I love you too.”

  I kissed the tip of her nose, and then her chin. Soon, her arms were wrapped around my neck again, her mouth crushing against mine, and she shifted her weight to push me back down on the bed. I knew we’d have to leave soon, and we would, but I was happy that neither of us was quite ready for our day to be over.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  I FELT LIKE I’d been waiting for Maggie to get back from Jimmy Boy’s room forever. She’d been trying to put him to sleep, but he was almost a year old, and he had developed quite a stubborn little spirit. I’d joked that he got it from his mam, but Maggie put the blame for his bull-headedness squarely on me.

  Still, this was the first time we’d had an opportunity to be alone together since the latest season ended, and I was feeling particularly anxious.

  Finally Maggie emerged from the back of the doublewide. I jumped up and grabbed her, tossing her onto the couch, causing her to let out a high-pitched squeal. “Stop that!” she said. “You’re going to make me wake the boy up, and I just went to all the trouble of putting him to sleep.”

  “I can’t help it,” I said pulling her closer to me on the couch. “Seven months is a long time to go without seeing your face.”

  “It hasn’t changed all that much, has it?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “Let me see.” I leaned in and pretended to inspect her forehead. “This looks fine,” I said, kissing the spot. “Cheeks look good,” I said, kissing her there too. “Nose as cute as ever.” I kissed her softly right on the tip of her nose. “But what’s this? I think something’s changed about your lips. I’m not sure. I’ll have to go in for a closer inspection.” I leaned in, but she closed more than half the distance between us, and we kissed the way I’d been dreaming about for the past seven months.

  I got so caught up in the feel and taste of her that I didn’t hear the door opening or shut, or footsteps walking across the carpeted floor. But then, neither did Maggie. We were only interrupted when we heard a loud clear of someone’s throat.

  “Ah-hem.”

  We jumped away from each other so fast you’d think we were two thirteen-year-olds getting caught together in the woods.

  “J-Jim,” I stammered. He’d given us permission to be together, but him knowing what we were doing in the abstract was one thing. Seeing us together like this—on his couch—must’ve been quite another. I studied his face to see if I could find any anger there, but honestly I saw none. Just some quiet bemusement.

  “I thought you were going to New Orleans for the weekend,” I said lamely.

  “I am. I got halfway there and realized I’d forgotten something. I promised Chris—” he chuckled to himself. “There was something I forgot at the house.”

  “Well, I was just on my way,” I said, standing up. “So I guess—”

  “No you weren’t,” Jim cut in. “Sit back down. I’ll be out of here in a second. But there is something we should talk about. If you keep coming over here all the time when I’m not home, people are going to catch on and get to talking. I don’t think you can keep this up without getting caught.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Even if Jim was okay with us being together, the rest of the Village wouldn’t be, and it was nearly impossible keeping anything a secret around here. “I guess I should stop coming by,” I said.

  “No, it’s not that at all,” Jim said. “I had an idea last night. You know how we’re moving into our house next week?”

  I looked over to Maggie, but her face stayed calm. She’d told me she wasn’t too keen on moving into a permanent house, but she wasn’t putting up a fight with Jim e
ither. “Yeah?”

  “Well, I was thinking. The property’s big enough. You could put your trailer next to the house. People might talk for a little bit, wondering why you don’t just build your own house, but we’re good enough friends—have been for enough years—that I don’t think people will think too much of it. That way if you do go in the house, it’ll be less likely that people’ll notice. And anyway, you might be going in to do your laundry or something. No one will bat an eyelash. What do you think?”

  I looked to Maggie again, but her face remained impassive. As uncomfortable as this situation was for me, I could only imagine how uncomfortable it was for her. Jim had been my best friend my entire life, but she barely knew him. She hadn’t learned his temperament. “That’s a really kind offer,” I said. “I really appreciate it.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Jim walked to the back of the house and came back with a paper bag. “Well, you two have fun. I’ll see you in a couple days.”

  The minute he left, Maggie visibly relaxed.

  “Incredible,” I said.

  “And you didn’t believe in the magic of the sidhe,” she said. “I told you they were around us.”

  I pulled her from the couch and stood her up, holding her in my arms. “Would you dance with me, my love?”

  “There’s no music.” She looked around as if she might find someone to commiserate with over my lunacy, but before she had a chance to object further, I wrapped her in my arms and started to sway us back and forth. She relented with a smile, then rested her head on my chest and moved with me to the music in our heads.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  A COUPLE MONTHS after Jimmy Boy’s first birthday, Maggie finally agreed to a weekend away at Jim’s request. He said she deserved one night off, at least, and he was anxious to introduce us to his friend Chris. Maggie was still hesitant about leaving the baby overnight, but Jim assured her John and his new wife Katie could take care of Jimmy for a couple days without scarring the child for life. Maggie had only relented once John had convinced her it would be good practice for them since they’d be having one of their own in just a few weeks.

  “So, is it nice having a night away from the baby?” Chris asked Maggie at dinner.

  “Aye,” Maggie said. “I have to admit it is. Although I miss him already.” We were sitting in Commander’s Palace, a beautiful restaurant in the Garden District of New Orleans. The ambiance was quite different than what we were accustomed to at home. The waiters were dressed in crisp, white shirts with tuxedo vests and black slacks. I caught Maggie marveling more than a few times at the crystal chandeliers and the opulent table settings.

  “Have you ever been here before?” Chris asked me while a waiter placed a piece of bread on a small plate in front of me. Chris was the only one who seemed to be trying to keep the conversation going. I still felt awkward being with Maggie around Jim and adding Chris into the mix wasn’t helping.

  Honestly, I needed to get over it. Jim had made it patently clear that he didn’t have a problem with our relationship, and I certainly didn’t have a problem with his.

  I smiled at him. “Nope. Never even heard of it.”

  “You live right outside of Slidell and you’ve never heard of Commander’s Palace?” Chris said with a flourish. “Well then, I’m glad I brought y’all here. You’re in for a treat.”

  I bit into the bread, and the flavors that caressed my tongue were indescribable. The warm butter and garlic took me to another place. Who knew bread could be so transcendent? I looked over at Maggie and she seemed to be enjoying her roll as much as I was. “Well if the rest of the food is as good as this bread,” I said, “then you’re right.”

  “The rest of the food’s even better.” He winked.

  The meal went as well as could be expected. I got to know a bit more about Chris. I’d heard Jim mention his name quite a few times in recent months, but I hadn’t known things had become so serious between them. Every once in a while Chris would pat Jim on the hand or slap his arm for emphasis, and it was clear that the two of them were more than comfortable with each other.

  Jim didn’t say a lot during the meal. It dawned on me halfway through dinner that it must’ve been as awkward for him to be out with Chris and his wife as it was for Maggie and I to be out with them, but even so, he seemed happy.

  More than that, though, something else hit me during dinner as well. Something that in hindsight I was ashamed to have never thought of before. Seeing Jim with Chris—sitting happily next to his lover—made me realize for the first time the weight Jim must carry with him every moment of his life.

  I’d always known he was different. Known that if anyone found out about him, he’d be ruined. But somehow my prior insight had ended there. I’d never thought about how all that must translate internally for him.

  Being in love with Maggie, but not being able to really be with Maggie, brought me to a place that made it possible for me to fully understand his position. Normally if I had a crush on a girl, I could tell everyone. Get excited. There was something to say for that.

  Having a secret relationship was so isolating. When you met that special person, everything about your world changed—colors seemed more vibrant, your step became lighter, even birds’ singing took on a different tone—but with Maggie I had to keep it all to myself. I had to pretend like everything was just as it was before.

  How must that have been for Jim all these years? And of course, for him it was much worse. Arguably, it was my fault for falling in love with Maggie. In theory I could’ve fallen in love with any girl. But Jim—he didn’t have that luxury. There was never going to be a woman he’d fall in love with. There was never even the possibility of happily ever after for him.

  But, in spite of all of that, this night Jim was happy. There was no one from the Village to judge him here. No reason to put on any pretense. He could allow himself to relax. I realized that the Jim at the dinner table was the Jim that should be. That should’ve always been. The Jim that I wished could’ve been.

  We finished dessert—a gorgeous crème brulee with powdered sugar on top in the shape of a fleur de lis—and it was time to find our next adventure.

  “What are you two doing after dinner?” Chris asked.

  “Probably going back to the hotel.” We were staying at the Columns, a stately hotel not too far away.

  “Lame!” Chris said. “The night is young. You should come out with us to a bar. There are certainly enough to choose from.”

  “They don’t have very much time to themselves,” Jim cut in. “Let them have their fun, and we can have ours.”

  Chris relented with a pout, and we said our goodbyes and parted ways. Maggie and I decided to walk to our hotel because it wasn’t far and the Garden District was majestic with its grand houses on either side of tree-lined streets. Maggie clearly enjoyed every step, but I couldn’t wait to get her alone in our room.

  Finally we reached the hotel, and I fumbled for a long time in my pocket for the key. I tried to lead Maggie straight to the bed, but she insisted on freshening up. I heard the faucet turn on in the bathroom, and flopped down on the duvet, sighing. I flipped through a few channels on the TV, but nothing could distract me from the idea of Maggie naked just behind that door.

  “Tommy,” her voice called to me from the bathroom.

  “Yes?”

  “Come here a moment.”

  I damn near ran into the large bathroom. Maggie was reclining in a huge tub with bubbles up to her collarbone. The ends of her hair were wet and only the faintest outline of her breasts could be made out through the white foam.

  “Well? Stop gawpin’ at me and get in,” she commanded.

  I didn’t have to be told twice. I pulled my shirt over my head with one hand and undid my belt buckle with the other. Naked, I slid into the tub behind her and wrapped my legs around her waist. We sat like that for a long time, me rubbing her shoulders while she lay back against my chest.

  “What happe
ned to that necklace you used to wear?” I asked, working the muscles at the back of her neck.

  Her eyes were closed as she relaxed into my touch, but I didn’t miss the slight wince when I mentioned the necklace. “I lost it a few months back,” she admitted. “The cord was worn, and I think it must have fallen off when I was out in the woods looking for plants.”

  “I’m sorry.” I kissed the spot where her shoulder met her neck. “I’ll find you a new one.”

  Maggie nodded, a content smile lighting her face, and we settled into an easy quiet. I continued to knead her shoulder with one hand while the other trailed over her collarbone and down her chest. I cupped her breast, gently rolling the pert nipple between my thumb and finger. Maggie pressed her head back against me, and I kissed the side of her lips.

  Soon, she rolled so we were facing one another and in no time at all, our relaxing soak transformed into something a lot more invigorating.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  “HERE, GIVE ME some of that.” I motioned toward the laundry at Maggie’s feet.

  “You’re not folding any of my clothes,” she scolded. The two of us were in Jim’s big new living room, and Maggie had just brought in a fresh pile of laundry. Jimmy Boy was sitting in his playpen, happily knocking two trucks together. In any other situation the noise would’ve been irritating, but somehow, in this context, it sounded like music. I was with Maggie and my son, like a real family. It was everything I could’ve ever asked for.

  “And why not?”

  “What sort of wife do you take me for? If it ever got back to Bridget that I let a man fold my clothes, I’d never hear the end of it.”

  “Since when do you care what Bridget Sheedy thinks?”

  She raised an eyebrow at me. “Fair enough.” She tossed a pair of her panties at me with a devilish grin.