John dropped into a chair and ran his hands through his hair. Who was that woman in the message? Was she really the woman he’d married several years before? Had she changed? Or had he been unwilling or unable to recognize her for who she really was?
Unwilling to dwell on those questions, he picked up the phone and dialed Maggie. She didn’t answer.
Was she deliberately avoiding his call? And why wouldn’t she? He could only imagine the lies Kim had told her.
He felt sick. Had Kim cost him a chance at happiness with Maggie and her son?
Chapter Seventeen
Gloria clutched the gift Maggie had just given her. “What is it?” she asked delightedly.
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise Christmas morning.” She forced a smile and attempted to sound upbeat, though she was feeling anything but cheerful.
“As if I’m going to wait until Christmas morning to open it,” Gloria teased.
“You’d better,” Maggie insisted, wagging a warning finger.
Gloria suddenly frowned, sensing something was amiss with her friend. “Is everything all right? You seem a little glum.”
“Oh, I’m fine,” she assured her.
“You don’t sound fine. Come with me into the kitchen. I’ll brew us up a pot of coffee.”
“That sounds nice.”
A few minutes later, sitting at the small dinette table in Gloria’s kitchen, Maggie confided in her friend about her encounter with John’s wife at the mall earlier.
Gloria’s eyes widened in shock. “I’m sorry, Maggie. That must have been awkward, to say the least.”
“She definitely took me by surprise.” Maggie made a frightened face.
“She was kind of scary, huh?”
Maggie nodded. “You could say that.”
Gloria gave her hand a sympathetic pat. “I’m sorry that woman had to come along and ruin your day, but didn’t John tell you he’s divorced from her?”
“Yes, but he may have lied to me.”
Gloria looked skeptical. “Or the scary woman lied. I get a good feeling about John,” she said. “Has he been anything but decent and kind to you?”
“Well, no, but men who lie about their marriage status tend to be good at it.”
“Maggie, ask him outright if he’s being honest with you.”
“What’s to say he’s going to give an honest answer?” she said reasonably, and suddenly remembered the woman telling her John had a son. She emitted a haggard sigh.
“What?” Gloria prompted, and appeared to brace herself for what was coming.
“His wife—ex-wife—whatever—said he has a son.”
“Did he ever mention having a child?” Gloria asked, surprised.
“No. But his wife—I think her name is Kim—well, I would think she would know.”
“Maggie, talk to the man. Give him a chance to explain. Does John really strike you as a man who would neglect to mention having a child? He seems to like kids, and certainly gets along well with Rickey.”
“That’s true,” Maggie sighed. “But, I don’t know, Gloria. In the bigger picture, I’ve been indecisive about … everything—even separate of this new information. Do I really need the drama of getting involved with a relatively newly divorced man whose ex is apparently still in the picture? I have to think about Rickey and…”
“I understand your fears, Maggie,” she cut in. “I also know you’re afraid to give John—or anyone—a chance, because you’re afraid it’ll somehow undermine the love you felt for Shane. You’ll always love Shane, and no one can change that.” She paused briefly. “And speaking of ‘change,’ you have to realize that you can’t stop it. Change is inevitable as time passes.”
“I’ve never been good with change,” Maggie admitted. “And embarking upon a relationship equates to big changes.” She sighed. “I like my life, Gloria. I have a wonderful son, a nice little home, a job that meets my needs, and the best friend I could ask for.”
“Indeed, you’re blessed,” Gloria said cheekily, with a big smile. “But did you ever think God might be trying to tell you something?”
“Such as?”
“That’s it’s really time to move on, that He wants you to have a loving man in your life again—a man who can love your son as his own. Men like that don’t come along every day, honey. I should know.”
Maggie gave her a questioning look.
Gloria smiled. “My oldest, Chad—Dan isn’t his father. I was married young, to a man who it turned out hadn’t a clue how to be a husband and father. He left me with a little boy to raise and no means of support. Thankfully, I had parents willing to help out. They watched Chad so I could go to school and ultimately, like you, I got a job with the State. But about midway through my schooling, I met Dan.” She smiled. “And the rest is history.”
Maggie couldn’t help smiling at the serene expression on Gloria’s face.
Gloria suddenly chuckled. “Sometimes I think Dan likes Chad better than the three we had together,” she whispered. “They have so much in common…”
Maggie joined her chuckling, but quickly sobered. “John does seem to care a lot about Rickey.”
“I agree. It appears he adores him, and the admiration is mutual.”
Maggie shook her head miserably. “Gloria, but that’s my fear—and has been from the beginning. What will it do to Rickey if John isn’t the man he seems to be? What if he is fooling us?”
“You have to talk to him,” Gloria said succinctly. “What else can you do?”
“I can live my life,” she said with a shrug. “I don’t need a man in my life to be happy.”
Gloria pinned her with a look. “You love him, don’t you?”
Maggie averted her eyes. “It’s a little soon for that? Don’t you think?”
Gloria smiled sadly. “Apparently not,” she said, still eyeing her friend with a knowing look.
Maggie turned back to her and shook her head. “I…” She sat quietly for a moment. “I…” She shook her head briskly and gave a frustrated growl.
Gloria rose from the table and freshened their coffee. When she sat back down, Maggie wrapped her hands around the steaming cup. “I guess it wouldn’t do me any good to deny having feelings for John, my very astute friend,” she said with a humorless laugh. “But having them doesn’t mean I want to.”
“But having them is significant,” Gloria pointed out. “You told me you haven’t felt anything for anyone, and that you didn’t think you were even capable at this point.”
“I was so in love with Shane…”
“But maybe that very fact should make you receptive to another relationship—specifically one with John, I mean. You know how good it can be to have a loving partner. You had one before, and you recognize that potential in John.” She sighed. “Can you imagine how difficult it must be for folks who’ve been in a bad relationship to persevere and give love another chance. Like me,” she added with a wry smile.
“Like John…” Maggie muttered. If John was telling her the truth, that is.
“Hey,” Gloria said, “you don’t have to rush headlong into anything. Give John a chance to explain, though. It’s only fair.”
“I guess…” Maggie checked her watch. “Hey, thanks so much for the coffee—and the ear. But I should go. I need to pick Rickey up from his friend’s house.”
“Tell him ‘hi’ for me,” Gloria said, rising from the chair. She followed Maggie to the front door. “Oh, hold on a sec. I have fudge for Rickey.”
“Oh, how you spoil him,” she laughed.
“I have fudge for John too, but…”
Maggie inhaled deeply. “I don’t know if I’ll be seeing him,” she admitted.
“Well, I hope you do…” Gloria passed her the fudge.
***
“Mama, can I have a kitten for Christmas?” Rickey asked.
“May I have a kitten?” Maggie corrected.
“Yeah, may I?”
“I’m afraid not,
” she told him. “I’m afraid I’m allergic to cats.”
He wrinkled his nose. “My friend at school is allergic to peanuts so he can’t eat them, or even touch them. Is it like that?”
“Yes. I’m afraid I can’t eat cats,” she teased.
“Mama! You wouldn’t eat a cat even if you weren’t al-ler-gic,” he enunciated carefully.
“You’re probably right. And I wish I wasn’t allergic to them,” Maggie told him. “I love cats. Especially kittens. They’re adorable, but I’m afraid they make me sneeze and sometimes break out in an itchy rash.”
“Maybe we could get another dog,” Rickey suggested.
“I think we should probably be happy with the dog we already have,” Maggie said. “Pocomo is a pretty special dog.”
“That’s true,” Rickey acknowledged. “He loves us a lot.”
“Yes, he does,” Maggie agreed, as they arrived home. “And we love him a lot too.” She paused long enough in the driveway to press the garage door opener, and then pulled into the garage.
Rickey scrambled out of the car. “Is John coming over later?” he asked eagerly, as Maggie climbed out of the car.
“No, honey. I don’t think so.”
“But… It’s Sunday. Is he coming tomorrow instead?”
“No.”
“But he has to work the rest of the week. When will we see him?”
Maggie shrugged. “Honey, he’s really busy with work, and the holiday coming up. We may not see him for awhile.” If ever, she silently added.
“Oh, he’ll call!” Rickey said with certainty. “He’ll probably ask us to meet him for dinner or something.” He spun around and ran into the house.
When Maggie stepped inside, he was already opening the sliding door to allow Pocomo outside.
“Good boy,” she praised him.
“Me or Pocomo?” he inquired, his brows furrowed.
Maggie laughed. “Both of you.”
“Oh. Hey, Mama, did I see fudge in that package from Gloria?” he asked nonchalantly.
Maggie chuckled. “Yes, and you may have one piece.” She remembered the fudge John had bought for him. It was tucked in her purse. “Oh, honey, would you like to try this fudge? John … uh …well, he bought it for you, at the mall today.”
“Okay,” he said eagerly. She passed him the baggie and he pulled out a piece and took a bite. “It’s good!” he declared. “But Gloria’s fudge is better.”
“You’ll have to be sure to tell her so.”
“Can I… I mean, ‘may’ I call her now?”
“Sure. That’s a great idea.”
She dialed the phone for him and he placed a quick call to Gloria. “Thank you for the fudge, Gloria! I had some from the mall, but yours is way better.” He paused for a moment, listening. “Okay, yeah, that would be great. Okay, I’ll see you soon. Come over!”
He hung up and dashed to Maggie, who was now unloading the dishwasher. “Gloria is going to teach me how to make her special recipe fudge! Isn’t that great?”
“It is great.”
He turned toward the back slider when he heard Pocomo barking. “Maybe another animal stopped by,” he said hopefully.
He started for the door but stopped and spun back around when the phone rang. He hurried to snatch it up.
“Rickey, don’t…!”
Too late.
“Oh, hi, John! Yeah, Mama’s here. Are you coming over?” He cocked his head, listening. “Yeah, Mama gave me the fudge. Thank you a lot. It was good.”
Maggie couldn’t help smiling. Rickey had been very diplomatic in answering John. She knew he preferred Gloria’s homemade fudge, but he was still appreciative of the candy from the store.
“Yeah, she’s right here,” he said, and thrust the phone at his mother.
Maggie reluctantly accepted it. “Hello.”
“Maggie, uh, hey…” John sighed. “Look, I know…” He paused, as if searching for the right words.
“Yes?”
“Maggie, I know you had a run-in with my ex-wife today,” he said in a rush.
“Uh, well, yes.”
“I want to apologize for anything she may have said to you that may have been upsetting to you—or that may have misled you. Is there any … chance I could stop by—so we can talk?”
“I’m afraid tonight isn’t good for me. I have a lot to do to get ready for tomorrow—with work and school…” She let the words hang in the air.
“I understand. Maybe we could meet for dinner sometime during the week?”
“Maybe so,” she said noncommittally.
He didn’t immediately respond, and she heard his defeated sigh at the end of the phone line. “Maggie, please…”
Her heart lurched at his pleading tone. But… She did have a busy week ahead, so it wasn’t a lie. And the truth was, she needed time to think.
She hated to hurt him, but her heart was at stake too—and Rickey’s. She couldn’t risk any more pain. And she certainly didn’t need the complication of an embittered ex wife to contend with. The woman seemed vicious, and who knew what she was capable of? She had Rickey’s safety to think about first and foremost.
“You’ll call?” John prompted again.
“I’ll try.” She hung up the phone and entered the family room. She sat down on the sofa and leaned her head back.
“Mama, are you all right?” Rickey asked, as he sat down beside her and leaned his head against her shoulder.
“Oh, yes, honey. I’m fine.” She abruptly sneezed and remembered Rickey had apparently been playing with a kitten. “Into the bathtub, young man,” she said, struggling to hold herself together.
“Ah, mama,” he groaned.
“No arguments,” she asserted.
He rose and slowly climbed the stairs. She let Pocomo into the house and then turned off all the lights. It was early yet, but she hadn’t been lying to John when she’d told him she had a busy week ahead. Might as well get to bed early, she thought. She was going to need all the rest she could get. Christmas was exactly one week away, and there was still so much to do.
She hadn’t wrapped any gifts yet, nor had she done her shopping for Christmas dinner. She remembered that she’d accepted John’s invitation to join him on Christmas Eve, and that she had also asked him to join her and Rickey for Christmas day.
How was she going to get out of those engagements? Once again, the happiest season of all had become rife with complications.
***
“Did you talk to John?” Gloria asked.
She and Maggie were sitting in the break room at work, enjoying their afternoon tea. Both women were looking forward to the end of the work day.
“I sort of talked to him,” Maggie responded.
“Do you feel better then?”
Maggie shook her head. “I don’t feel anything,” she said with a shrug. “I just can’t deal with much more right now. First and foremost, I need to get Rickey and me through the holiday and…”
“Maggie!” Gloria chided, “Christmas isn’t to be endured. It’s to be enjoyed. It’s the time to celebrate the birth of Christ. It’s the season of joy and hope.”
Gloria didn’t miss the flicker of pain on her friend’s face. “I know you lost your husband during this time of year, but you have to try not to associate the season with loss. For Rickey’s sake…” she urged.
“I know you’re right,” Maggie said. “I really do want this to be a wonderful holiday for him. I know I didn’t handle myself very well during the past two holidays, but…”
“It’s understandable,” Gloria was quick to assure her, since it wasn’t her intent to make Maggie feel bad. “But it is time to turn it around—to take your life back—to take your holiday back.”
“So you’ve said,” Maggie smiled.
“I do tend to say a lot,” Gloria admitted.
“But you do mean well,” Maggie acknowledged with a chuckle.
Gloria raised a finger. “If you decide you’re not go
ing to spend Christmas day with John, I want your promise you’ll come over to my house.”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“You won’t be!” Gloria cried. “We always have a crowd. Friends and family alike. It’s always a good time. For dessert, we have a birthday cake for Jesus. We all sing happy birthday to Him. He’s the reason for the season, after all.”
Maggie smiled. “All right. We’ll be there…”
“Hey, if it happens you and John manage to work things out, bring him too,” she said. “The more the merrier.”
“We’ll see…”
Chapter Eighteen
John replayed the message from Maggie. “John, I apologize, but I’m afraid Rickey and I won’t be able to get together with you for the holidays. I want to thank you for … offering, but… something … has come up. We hope you have a wonderful holiday.”
He sat down in the chair in his small bedroom. When he’d seen the blinking light, indicating a message waiting, he’d somehow sensed it was Maggie cancelling.
Of course, it didn’t take a mind reader to figure out that she wasn’t interested in seeing him any longer. He’d called her twice during the past week, inviting her and Rickey to meet him for dinner, but she hadn’t taken his calls. He’d left messages and she, in turn, had left messages, declining his offers, but she had been careful to leave them while he was working, so the two couldn’t actually speak. She’d made it abundantly clear she wasn’t interested in him in any way, shape, or form.
With a sigh, he rose from the chair and picked up the duty belt he’d draped over the back of the chair. As he was clasping the belt, his phone rang. He eagerly crossed the small room to view the caller ID. It was Kim.
Kim. The source of his problems.
He ignored the ringing phone and walked downstairs. He considered packing a lunch, but remembered that the swing shift was having a potluck. He hadn’t made anything to contribute, but found a plate of homemade cookies a friend’s wife had given him. They weren’t nearly as good as Maggie’s cookies, but would have to do.
He finished readying for work, grabbed the plate of cookies, and headed for his patrol car. As was true for the start of many holiday weekends, his call load was hectic and unrelenting. He was kept busy until dinner time, and barely had time to grab a quick bite at the potluck, before he was dispatched again.
The Happiest Season Page 15