by Tonya Kappes
Maggie’s eyebrows shot in surprise. “No. I’m getting over a heart break.”
“I know you almost as good as I know Mitch, and you weren’t in love with someone Hazel didn’t approve of. I know it and you know it.” Wendy’s expression grew still and serious. “Now, you need to figure out a way to save that farm, and get that antique ring on your finger where it belongs.”
Without another word, Wendy got up and told everyone goodbye.
Why hadn’t Mitch told her? Maggie wondered. She had to think it was because of his passion for saving the farm, but it was a big issue to overlook. Especially since he had the opportunity when they got in their little fight.
“Get to work.” Beth laughed when Wendy shut the door behind her. “I can’t believe how much she loves going out of town. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she’d leave Grandberry Falls in a heartbeat.”
“Without Mitch?” Belle questioned and shot a curious eye over at Maggie.
Maggie smiled. Even without Mitch.
Chapter 25
A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you. ~ Unknown
Having Maggie close to him all day played havoc on his emotions. He was already an emotional wreck that she was anywhere near Grandberry Falls, but in his office was a little too close for comfort.
Her perfume was enough to send him through the roof and Susie keeping her eyes on them didn’t help matters. Maggie didn’t ask him anymore questions about Wendy or the engagement, which was a relief. She scoured every paper they had received from Van Meter and Associates and had some great questions written down for him to ask Patricia Van Meter.
“So how was ‘girl’s night in’, last night?” Mitch asked.
Tommy had told him that some of the girls came in to top off ‘spa night in’, making it ‘spa night out’. He said that Maggie hadn’t joined them, and he knew she was probably at Hazel’s going through all the paperwork. . .again.
“It was fun.” Maggie wiggled her glittery blue nails in the air, and laughed. “Do you think Patricia Van Meter is going to like my nails?”
“What do you think Patricia is going to do when she finds out that you are on the case?” He asked.
He tried to keep all conversations on the professional level. He could picture Susie on the other side of the door with a glass held up to it listening in. Thank God, she didn’t have internet on her computer, or she’d be on Facebook changing her status to something like, Mayor Dozier is in deep water and in need of saving.
Maggie put her hair up in a pony tail with one of his rubber bands off his desk. Her tried and true shampoo filled the puff of air she created sending Mitch’s senses into a tizzy.
“I think they were going to give me this case. When I didn’t show up, they fired me. This would be a big winner for them.” Maggie thumbed through the file.
Mitch pretended to listen, but he was having a hard time. He hadn’t spent this much time with her in years. This eminent domain problem had to be solved and quickly, before it destroyed his life both professionally and personally.
“Granny would call this fate.” She tilted her head towards him. Her big brown eyes dug into his soul.
“Ummm…” He wasn’t sure if she meant them being together or her being here. “What?”
He had to have time to think, his head was cloudy with crazy thoughts swirling around.
“This.” She picked up the documents. “I got fired because I wouldn’t have been able to take my Granny’s land. Fate.”
Maggie went back to looking things up on the computer that he had no idea about. Damn her! He loved watching her in her element. She was a great lawyer. Passionate and caring. She still had the same qualities Hazel Greenlee had instilled in her and they were brightly shining today. This only confused the situation even more.
“Mitch, it’s getting late and I have to go.” Susie zeroed in on Maggie, but Maggie didn’t pay any attention to her as she continued going from document to document and typing things on the computer.
Mitch looked up, towering over Maggie, with his chin almost touching the top of her head. He didn’t appreciate Susie’s dipped eyebrows and frown. Wendy mustn’t have told her friends, because Susie would’ve asked him first thing. He looked at his watch. Time seemed to fall away when he was with Maggie.
“Okay. Go ahead.” He shook his sleeve back over his watch. “We won’t be much longer. I’ll lock up.”
Hesitant, Susie gave a slight nod and curled her lip.
“Bye.” Maggie chirped with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
When Susie shut the door, Maggie busted out laughing. God, how he’s missed that smile she does only when she laughs. His heart fluttered at the open-mouthed giggle.
“People are so worried about me being near you.” Her features hardened. “You’re off limits—right?”
If she only knew, she was one touch away from him being on limits and he was a single man. He reminded himself she was vulnerable. Wasn’t that what women said when they landed in bed with their ex after their current relationship crumbled? He continued to picture her and Grady in New York City to keep him from grabbing her and kissing the senses back into her.
“Why don’t we go grab the late night showing of your favorite movie?” He avoided her comment that had turned into a question. He wasn’t able to answer her honestly and he wasn’t going to start lying now.
He might be a politician, but an honest one if there was such a thing.
Chapter 26
If grass can grow through cement, love can find you at every time in your life. ~ Cher
Great idea, Maggie thought letting her nerves calm down. If he stood over her any longer, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stop herself. Memories of their night took over her imagination.
“Are you okay?” Mitch’s hand radiated heat on her shoulder. He leaned over and looked at her.
No, she was definitely not okay. Nothing was right in her life. She couldn’t exactly pinpoint where it went wrong as she played the last week in her head.
She thought she loved Grady—well, what she considered love was a working companionship. She thought Mitch Dozier was long in her past and Hazel was doing great in Grandberry Falls. Little did she realize she was relieved not to be getting married. Mitch was still a big part of her life, and the farm was getting sucked up right from under her.
No, she definitely wasn’t fine.
Taking a breath, she said, “I’ll be okay. It’s just that….”
Mitch interrupted, “you don’t have to pretend with me. I’m sure you are devastated about your engagement. Grady was a good guy.”
Shaking her head, she didn’t want to hear him take up for Grady. He was wrong. She could only think of Mitch. It was far too much for her to handle right now.
Mitch swirled the chair around and put his hand out. She took it, like she’d done so many times before. “Let’s go. Doc awaits.” He referred to Doc from Back to the Future.
“You always know what I need,” she said hoarsely.
She looked down at her hand. The five-carat fake ring was long gone, but she only saw the antique ring she’d tried on so many times in her life and remembering what Mitch would say, “If we aren’t married by the time we are thirty, this ring is yours.”
“Excuse me.” Maggie pretended she needed to go to the bathroom. Any more memories would have her bawling like a baby. She closed the door and leaned against it, fighting for composure. Damn, it’s what she got for going back into the past.
With a deep breath, she opened the door. Mitch turned to face her and she lost it, crumbling to the floor.
Mitch wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair like he’d done when her father passed away. “It’s okay, Maggie. We will figure this out.”
Maggie longed to hear the other words he’d always followed up with, I’ll take care of you.
But he didn’t.
“It’s just land and a guy.” His voice was tight as he spok
e and his muscles stiffened up. “Meet me in twenty?”
“Okay.” Maggie wiped her tears, and regained her composure.
“I’ve got some paperwork to finish up here and I’ll be over. Other mayoral duties call.”
Chapter 27
Take away love and our earth is a tomb. ~ Robert Browning
There wasn’t much she could do in twenty minutes. To kill time she headed over to the Trembling Cup. She was going to need caffeine if she was going to the late-night showing. Getting a latte and going to the park to see the last showing of Back to the Future sounded pretty good.
Through the glass window, a familiar and most welcomed wave motioned for Maggie. “Hey, girl!” Jenna waved from a corner table. Her perfect black bob gave way to a graceful sway.
The Trembling Cup was busy from the after-dinner crowd. It was tradition to eat at the Fatted Pig and finish the night off at the Trembling Cup for dessert.
Jenna was always one of Maggie’s favorite relatives. She was a pillar of strength and when Richard was killed. She stayed poised the entire time, even though her life was turned upside down. Jenna turned her grief and the town’s grief into a charitable cause by bringing awareness to the community on the effects of drinking and driving.
Jenna stood up, her green eyes glowing.
“Hi, Jenna.” Maggie set her purse on the table. “It’s good to see a refreshing face.”
Maggie was beginning to feel the town closing in on her. She knew how the town felt about the outlet mall, but she sure didn’t want it to be on Hazel’s land. She was going to fight tooth and nail, no matter who stood behind her.
“I don’t know how refreshing it is.” Jenna smiled, swiping her hands through her hair. She picked up a few papers sitting on the table. “Working on the benefit. It gets bigger and bigger each year.”
Maggie had read in the Grandberry Falls Chronicle how much the benefit had grown as the town had grown. Surprising, since it was held on New Year’s Eve and there was a strict “no alcohol” policy. That’s the great thing about Grandberry Falls; you could always count on the community to rally behind each other.
“How’s Samantha? I haven’t seen her in so long.” Maggie questioned her aunt about her cousin.
Jenna ran her hands through her hair. “She’s already got senioritis and her senior year hasn’t even started yet.”
“I can’t believe she’s going to be a senior. Time flies.” Maggie picked up a couple different pieces of paper on the table, looking over the centerpiece options.
“I’m glad to see you realize how precious time is.” Jenna had a gentle way of reminding Maggie just how much Grandberry Falls was the center of their lives.
Maggie wasn’t in the mood for more lectures.
“How is the MADD benefit coming along?” Maggie asked, changing the subject.
She wondered if she’d be in town that long. If not, she’d definitely make it back to support her aunt. Being in Grandberry Falls, going to the park, the hoedown, and visiting with her friends has made her realize all the things she thought she’d never miss. She even liked seeing Susie today.
“Very busy.” Jenna waved to Liz Day coming through the crowded door. “And I couldn’t have done last year without my co-chair.” Jenna’s eyes lit up like she pulled one over on Liz.
Maggie scooted over to make room for Liz and the big binders she was carrying.
Liz heaved them onto the table. “Hi.” She shook her wrists trying to undo the strain. “These are a few of the sponsors I’ve collected so far.”
Jenna grabbed one of the binders and began to thumb through it. “We still have six full months until the benefit. We are going to rock it this year.”
“I know.” Liz sat down in the open chair next to Maggie. “Maggie, I won’t ask how you are. I’m sure you’re devastated. You know I’m divorced and if you need anything, I’m here,” she said, pulling her long brown hair to the side
Maggie never thought of her broken engagement in those terms, but Liz was right. It was like a divorce. She and had Grady lived together, without Hazel’s approval. Maggie should’ve known better. Grady had the best of both worlds, as Hazel put it. “Why buy the milk when you have the cow for free.”
“I appreciate it.” Maggie wondered why someone as beautiful and nice as Liz Day was divorced. Liz had delicate facial features, resembling Nicole Kidman, all the way down to her slender nose. “I’m keeping myself busy with the whole eminent domain issue.”
Jenna slammed the binder shut and threw her hands in the air. “Thank you, Lord!” She turned to Maggie. “I’m so sick of walking on egg shells around you. I told mom you needed to know, but she wouldn’t hear of it.”
Hazel had good intentions, but those might have backfired on her, Maggie feared. This acquisition had been going on long before Maggie knew about it and now was in the final stages. Van Meter always brought Maggie in for the final kill and that’s what she was worried about. The meeting she missed before she was fired had to have been about the farm. All the dates in the paperwork matched the dates of her emotional breakdown.
“I hope it’s not too late.” Maggie was honest. There was no reason to sugar coat it. “If it weren’t for Butch, I still wouldn’t know.” Maggie stood up and grabbed her purse. “I’m going to let you two get down to business. I’m going to grab a latte and head to the park for the last showing of Back to the Future.”
“Maggie Greenlee, haven’t you seen that movie enough?” Jenna’s laughter filled the café. She turned to Liz and said, “When she was kid, she made me watch that movie eight times in one weekend.”
“One of my favorites.” Liz smiled. “I wish Hayes, my son, was in town. He’d love to have seen it at the park. He has visitation with his father every other weekend in Cincinnati.”
“I’m sure they’ll show it again.” Maggie said her goodbyes.
She didn’t have much more time to spare. She’d make it to the park, under her favorite tree and pop-a-squat. Mitch would know where to find her. He always did.
Chapter 28
Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired. ~ Robert Frost
He couldn’t find Maggie anywhere, not even under her usual tree. There was a family of five planted on a blanket, and they didn’t look like they were going anywhere soon.
“Hello.” Mitch shook hands as he walked around the park, keeping one eye open for Maggie.
“Did you bring this beautiful moon, Mayor?” Butch asked.
Mitch looked up at the full bright circle. It gave off so much light, he had to look beyond the lake to realize it was the moon.
“I can’t take credit for it.” He smiled and gave a slight wave to Butch.
The park was crowded. Grandberry Falls used to have weekly movie night, but with the economy, it wasn’t cost effective to have them but quarterly. It was great for the community, and for a small business owner like Butch, but the insurance was enough to take a small business down. With the growing population, maybe Grandberry Falls could make movie night more frequent.
Nonchalantly, he glanced over his right shoulder, took three steps backward and then whispered, "New moon, new moon, true and bright, if I have a lover let me dream of her tonight. If I am to marry far, let me hear a bird cry. If I am to marry near, let me hear a cow low. If I am to marry never, let me hear a hammer knock."
Unfortunately he didn’t hear a cow, he heard a cackle. A very familiar cackle.
“I think you have to take bigger steps.” Maggie’s knees were pulled up to her chest underneath her shirt.
He’d never seen her there. She looked like a small child curled up.
Of all people to see him doing the “moon dance,” Maggie would be his last choice.
“What are you wishing for? Dream, bird, cow, or hammer?” She took a drink of her latte.
“Down in front, Mayor.” The crowd laughed at someone shouting out for Mitch to sit down.
He waved, and squatted down, doing his best d
uckwalk towards Maggie.
She laughed. “If you can’t make it as mayor, you can definitely pull off impersonating a duck.” She scooted over, giving him some room on her blanket. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
He didn’t want her to be sorry. We wanted the cow low.
“Don’t be.” He wasn’t sure if he wanted to fess up about the broken engagement.
The outdoor screen flickered and static dotted it. Everyone started to take their seats in the grass or any spot that was available. He glanced over at her profile. It was as though she never left. His heart fluttered when her gaze met his. She broke into a wide-open smile.
“I can’t believe it’s so crowded. And I hardly recognize anyone.” Maggie squinted trying to see through the dark. She strained her neck looking around.
“You wouldn’t believe how much Grandberry Falls has grown.” Mitch could’ve given her all the statistics, but it was boring. “That’s why the state thinks it’d be good for the economy to put an outlet mall near the interstate.”
Maggie picked up the folder. “I read the data regarding putting an outlet mall in remote counties, right off the major interstate has increased jobs and incomes in communities like Grandberry Falls. And I agree. But what about the families that are losing their jobs? Do you think that Butch’s dad is going to be a cashier at J-Crew?”
Mitch understood exactly what she was saying. He’s read all the stats and even walked several other sites over the past year.
“I just hope it’s not too late.” Maggie stared at the screen. “I should’ve been included from the beginning.”
“I know, but…” Mitch looked to see why Maggie was sh-h-h-ing him.
He smiled. She loved this part of the movie where Marty and Dr. Emmett Brown are in the parking lot. Dr. Brown tells Marty, “If my calculations are right, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you’re going to see some serious shit.”