A Summer Romance

by Tracey Smith

  “We match.” Aaron was the one to break the silence, although he still looked a bit star struck as he stared intently at Maggie taking her in from head to toe.

  “You look fantastic,” Maggie replied, unable to stop staring herself. She liked the way his broad shoulders strained against the material of his dress shirt.

  “You stole my line.” Aaron regained his composure, smiling his dimpled smile and extending his arm. “Shall we?”

  Maggie smiled at his attempt at formality, hooking her arm through his and allowing him to guide her to the truck waiting in the driveway. Aaron opened her door and helped her in, closing the door for her once she was seated.

  “I guess I’m doing things a little out of order,” Aaron said once he’d joined her in the truck and started off down the driveway.

  “What do you mean?” Maggie asked.

  “We should have had our first date weeks ago,” Aaron clarified.

  “Better late than never,” Maggie replied, feeling nervous butterflies as if this truly was a first date, despite the fact that she’d spent every night of the last week wrapped in this man’s arms.

  It was a short drive to town. Aaron passed through Sweetwater to the edge of town and pulled up alongside a beautifully restored old Victorian house. The only clue that it had been converted to a restaurant was the parking area set to the side and the awning in the front.

  Aaron once again crossed around the truck to open Maggie’s door and help her down. The air was still muggy despite the fact that the sun had set. Aaron offered his arm and escorted Maggie to the entrance.

  At the front door Aaron gave his name to the hostess who found his reservation in her book and politely showed them to their table. As they walked through the restaurant Maggie could feel people’s eyes on them. She’d nearly forgotten the way people in this town regarded Aaron. He seemed unaffected, staring straight ahead as they were ushered to their table. Maggie tried to be as stoic as he was.

  Still Maggie couldn’t help but notice the stares and the whispers as they were seated. This continued as they reviewed the menu and placed their order. One woman was staring so boldly that Maggie found the nerve to stare right back, making direct eye contact until the woman finally turned away.

  “Don’t worry about them,” Aaron advised, noticing where her attention had been diverted.

  “How can you stand it?” Maggie asked.

  “You get used to it,” Aaron shrugged.

  “You shouldn’t have to,” Maggie said, glaring around the room one last time and catching the eye of several onlookers who weren’t able to turn away fast enough.

  “We can go if you want.” Aaron’s voice sounded defeated as he placed his napkin on the table.

  “No!” Maggie replied hastily. She realized that her reaction was bothering him more than the whispers and stares. “If you can ignore them, so can I,” she assured him.

  “I wish you didn’t have to.” Aaron seemed so deflated, which only fueled Maggie’s desire to make this evening a success.

  “I have wonderful news,” she said cheerfully just as their food arrived. Aaron looked at her interestedly so she continued. “I bought a Jeep,” she announced.

  “Wow, that’s great!” Aaron smiled genuinely and Maggie relaxed a bit. “I have to admit I was wondering who’s Jeep that was parked in the driveway. So where did you find it?”

  Maggie told him of her trip to town and happening across Ms. Brandy’s flyer. As she recalled the events of the day she forgot all about the people in the restaurant around them.

  “So I paid her the $3,000 down and I will work for her to pay off the rest, which should take just to the end of summer. I still have a little bit of money left over from selling my old car, enough to buy groceries the rest of the summer at least,” Maggie finished rather abruptly. She felt a bit awkward having mentioned the end of summer. It was something that neither of them had discussed yet, although it had been weighing heavily on her mind lately.

  “Looks like it was a good day for both of us on the job market then,” Aaron replied, seemingly unaffected by the mention of the possible end to their current situation. “I got my first contract to start maintaining some properties in Savannah.”

  “Is that what your meeting was about?” Maggie asked, relieved that their conversation had not stalled as abruptly as her story had.

  “Yep. Earlier this week I was contacted by a Mr. John Branson, he owns some rental properties in Savannah and needs someone to help keep them up.”

  “That’s wonderful, Aaron! I’m so happy for you.” Maggie felt a swell of pride that he was realizing his dream of branching out his business, although she wondered if that meant he’d be moving to Savannah. It was a several hour drive from Sweetwater. Suddenly she realized the decision of their fate was not only in her hands. “Will you still work for Ms. Devereaux as well?” Maggie asked hoping it sounded like a casual question.

  “Sure. I explained to Mr. Branson that I couldn’t start until after the harvest. But once that wraps up, my schedule will be wide open. I still plan to maintain the grounds around the house for her, but that only requires one day a week. I do kind of owe her for all of this really,” Aaron answered. Maggie felt her chest tightening. If he only needed to be here one day a week then moving to Savannah would make the most sense. Was this dinner his way of telling her good-bye? Perhaps the decision was not hers at all.

  “What do you mean ‘owe her’?” Maggie asked weakly, taking a sip of water. She actually only wished for Aaron to continue talking because she couldn’t seem to find the breath to say much on her own at the moment.

  “Well, it’s kind of an odd story, of how I ended up here. I still really don’t understand it myself. But I’ve been grateful for every moment since I arrived, despite the warm welcome from the townsfolk.” Aaron rolled his eyes and nodded toward the room. Maggie again realized that she’d forgotten all about the other people in the restaurant. Being with Aaron had a way of making her forget everything else.

  “Everything about this place has been like a dream come true. Especially meeting you,” Aaron emphasized as he reached across the table to take Maggie’s hand. “For that alone I could never thank Ms. Devereaux enough, but now this too.”

  “I don’t understand. What does Ms. Devereaux have to do with this new job?” Maggie asked.

  “Well, at first I thought Mr. Branson had seen the ad I ran in the paper, but it turns out that he hadn’t even really decided for sure that he wanted to hire on anyone. He’s been keeping up the properties himself, but he just bought a few more houses that need renovating so he’s really got his hands full right now and was thinking of hiring someone to help. He’d only mentioned it to a few close friends and then out of nowhere he received a letter in the mail from Ms. Devereaux recommending me for the job.”

  “Is she a friend of his?” Maggie asked, although a part of her already knew the answer.

  “He doesn’t even know her, or how she came to know that he was interested in hiring any help,” Aaron told her with a tone of disbelief. Again Maggie wondered who was this Ms. Devereaux and why was she taking such interest in their lives?

  “He said he almost didn’t call me, but then decided it was at least worth meeting me. We met here in town for lunch yesterday. That meeting went so well that he wanted me to come take a look at the properties today. I didn’t mention any of this before because I wasn’t really sure if it was going to pan out, but today he offered me the job!” Aaron finished his story with a wide smile. Maggie could see the pride in his eyes and she couldn’t help returning his smile.

  “Ms. Devereaux must really be fond of you,” Maggie answered, still unsure of what any of this meant for them.

  “That’s the strangest part, Maggie. I’ve never met her.”

  “What do you mean you’ve never met her?” Maggie practically shouted in surprise “How is that possible?” she asked, lowering her voice again.

  “Have you met her?” Aaron a
sked.

  “No, but… I just assumed,” Maggie said.

  “I haven’t been here that much longer than you. When I arrived the house was empty, or at least has always appeared that way. I’d never seen anyone coming or going until you arrived. When I got here the only thing waiting for me was a letter and a key. My paycheck is directly deposited into an account that was set up for me when I took the job. I’ve never met her,” Aaron said again, shrugging to show his own bewilderment.

  “So how did you end up here?” Maggie asked, feeling as if she was on the verge of discovering a piece of this very confusing puzzle.

  “She brought me here,” Aaron answered quietly.

  Before he could elaborate, the waiter appeared to clear their empty dishes and deliver the bill. Aaron looked a bit relieved. Maggie sat back, realizing that she’d quite literally forgotten everyone else in the room.

  As they exited the restaurant Maggie paid no heed to the prying eyes of the other patrons. Her mind was racing, trying to connect all the pieces and make sense of it. Maggie felt like if she could just understand why Aaron was here then maybe she could figure out why she had been brought here as well. The longer she stayed the less she believed that the flyer placed in front of her dorm room had been put there at random. She felt like she’d been chosen by Ms. Devereaux, brought here for a reason, but she still didn’t understand what or why. She was hoping that maybe Aaron could help her find the answer.

  As they drove down the road Maggie waited for him to continue his story, but he remained silent seemingly lost in thought. Rather than pushing him, she decided it was time to open up to Aaron about her past. She hadn’t even told him about medical school or why she’d left. He’d already trusted her with so much of his own past and she owed him the same kind of honesty.

  “Do you remember how I said I’d moved to Boston for school?” Maggie began, but before she could continue they came around a bend on the dark country road and saw a car pulled off into the ditch with the hazard lights on.

  “I wonder if they need help,” Aaron said as he pulled up behind the car. “Stay here,” he told Maggie before he climbed out of the truck and walked to the car to investigate. Maggie saw him open the door to the vehicle and duck down to look inside. He immediately straightened and rushed back to the truck throwing his door open wide.

  “Call 911!” he said. “It’s Lacey Buchannan and I think she’s gone into labor.”

  ~15~

  Maggie jumped from the truck and ran to the car. She tossed Aaron her cell phone. “Call,” she instructed as she leaned down over Lacey who was slumped in the driver’s seat clutching her protruding belly and moaning.

  “Lacey, Lacey, look at me,” Maggie commanded as she grasped the sides of her face and forced the girl to look at her. She was bone white and drenched in sweat. Her breath was coming in short gasps and her eyes were glassy as she tried to focus on Maggie’s face.

  “It’s too soon,” she whispered before she was wracked with another pain that had her doubling forward as she cried out.

  “Mama!” came a cry from the backseat, and Maggie turned to see little Courtney sobbing.

  “It’s okay, honey. Your mama is going to be fine,” Maggie promised as the little girl continued to wail.

  “The ambulance is on its way,” Aaron said, coming up beside Maggie.

  “Take Courtney,” Maggie directed. “I need to move her to the back seat.”

  Aaron followed her instructions without question. He opened the back door and bent down to look at the frightened little girl.

  “Hi, Courtney. Do you remember me?” Aaron asked in a soft voice. The little girl nodded her head.

  “From the picnic.” Courtney’s little voice trembled as tears streaked down her face.

  “That’s right, we met at the picnic,” Aaron continued calmly. “I’m going to unbuckle your seat belt now, okay?” He waited for the little girl to nod before he undid the restraint and lifted her from the car.

  “Your mama is gonna be just fine,” Aaron told her as he held the small girl in his arms. “We just need to give her a place to lie down until the doctors get here. They’re on their way, okay?” Aaron’s soothing voice had calmed the child. She sniffled and nodded her understanding.

  “The doctors are coming?” she asked.

  “Yes, baby, they are coming to help. Should be here any minute,” he promised as he slowly walked with her back towards his truck.

  ~

  “Lacey, I need you to stay with me,” Maggie said. “I need your help. We are going to move you. Do you think you can move?”

  Lacey shook her head. “I can’t.”

  “Yes you can,” Maggie insisted. “We are going to do this together. First you’re going to swing your legs out of the car. Come on, Lacey, I know you can do this.”

  With a little help Lacey managed to shift in her seat, allowing her legs to swing out and her feet to touch the ground.

  “See, that was easy,” Maggie encouraged. “Now I need you to wrap your arms around my neck like you’re giving me a hug. I’m going to help you get to your feet.”

  “I can’t,” Lacey cried as yet another contraction had her folding down over her belly and crying out in pain.

  Maggie rubbed her back and reminded her to breathe until the spasm had passed.

  “Okay, now put your arms around my neck.” Maggie’s tone left no room for argument. Lacey did as she was told. “Hold on tight, don’t let me go,” Maggie told her as she wrapped her arms around the woman’s waist. “Now on three. One. Two. Three.” Maggie heaved, pulling Lacey to her feet. As soon as she was upright Maggie felt a rush of fluid hit her feet.

  “Oh God!” Lacey cried, as her knees began to buckle.

  “Oh no you don’t,” Maggie said, holding her up. “It was just your water breaking. Lacey, I need you to help me. This baby is coming. We need to get you into the back seat.”

  “It can’t come. Not now.” Lacey shook her head in denial.

  “Whether you like it or not, this baby is coming. Arguing with me won’t change that fact. Now I need you to take a step.”

  “Here, let me help,” Aaron spoke up, appearing beside the women. He wrapped his arm around Lacey, supporting most of her weight as he helped Maggie maneuver her around to the backseat.

  “Where’s Courtney?” Lacey asked frantically.

  “She’s fine,” Aaron assured her. “She’s right back there in my truck.” Lacey stared into Aaron’s eyes with a look of sheer panic on her face.

  “I won’t let anything happen to her.” he promised “You just let Maggie help you.” Lacey nodded as Maggie helped her to recline back onto the rear seat.

  “You should go check on Courtney.” Maggie told Aaron as she adjusted Lacey onto the seat. He nodded and jogged back to his truck.

  “What’s happening to my Mama?” Courtney was sobbing again. Aaron climbed into the truck and tucked the little girl under his arm.

  “By the looks of it she’s having a baby,” Aaron answered honestly.

  “Why is she crying?” Courtney cried as she snuggled into his side. He stroked her head just like he used to do for his little sister when she was upset.

  “Well, sweetie, it hurts to have a baby.” He didn’t know how to answer her questions without being honest. “But you know what?”

  “What?” she looked up at him with big, scared eyes.

  “It’s worth it. Because this part will only last a little while and then she’ll have a beautiful baby just like you and your brothers.”

  “Did it hurt like this when she had me?” Although the child had stopped crying again her lower lip still trembled.

  “A little. But I bet she forgot all about that the moment she saw your beautiful, big brown eyes.” Aaron poked the tip of her nose and elicited a small smile from the girl.

  “She’s gonna be okay?” Courtney asked again.

  “I promise.” Aaron hugged her and kissed the top of her head. “I’m gonna go c
heck on her, okay? See if they need any help. I’ll be right back. Can you be a big girl for a few minutes and wait here?”

  Courtney nodded and Aaron opened the door to the truck. “Here take this,” he told her, handing her a flashlight that was under the seat. “If you need me just turn it on and wave it around in the air. I’ll see it and come right back,” He promised. The little girl nodded hugging the flashlight to her chest.

  He jogged back over to the car and found Maggie on her knees knelt down in front of the back seat. Lacey was laid back on the seat with a blanket draped over her raised knees. Maggie’s hands were beneath the blanket.

  “You’re doing great!” Maggie encouraged. “I can feel the head. Take another deep breath and push.”

  “Push?!” Aaron exclaimed. “Shouldn’t she wait for the paramedics?”

  “There isn’t time,” Maggie responded calmly, only briefly glancing up at Aaron and then turning back to Lacey. “Good, now push,” Maggie instructed.

  Lacey cried out as she bore down. Aaron shifted anxiously, wanting to be back at the truck with Courtney. He felt much more capable of soothing a crying child then dealing with this.

  “One more, Lacey. I can feel the shoulders. Push!” Maggie demanded.

  Lacey screamed as she gave every last ounce of energy she had. And then, just as the sound of her cry was dying away, Aaron heard the distinct shrill cry of a newborn baby.

  “You did it,” Maggie said, lifting the bloody infant from under the blanket and laying him on his mother’s stomach.

  “I need something to tie off the umbilical cord. A zip tie, shoe lace, anything.” she instructed, looking up at Aaron.

  He nodded numbly, still staring at the squirming little baby. Even though it was covered in blood and slime and God knows what else, it was still the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

  “Aaron, now,” Maggie said. He jumped at the command and then nodded, running back to the truck to find what she needed.

  “Is Mama okay?” Courtney asked as soon as he opened the door.

  “Yeah, she’s great. The baby’s here. I need… I need your shoelace,” Aaron said, feeling a bit lightheaded. Courtney pulled off her shoe and handed it to him, confusion all over her face.