by Paige Dearth
After almost nine months of school, working a part-time job, and talking to the people of Kensington, Maggie felt exhausted. She and Colby were sitting in the living room after Joey had fallen asleep one evening. Colby rubbed his hand down her leg. “You’re looking very beautiful tonight,” he said.
“Oh, I’m sure my T-shirt and baggy sweat pants are a real turn-on,” Maggie teased.
“I like my women dirty,” Colby said, brushing her ear with his tongue.
Maggie giggled. “I’m really tired. How about if we call it a night?”
Colby stood, gently grabbed Maggie’s hand, and led her into their bedroom. Maggie went into the adjoining bathroom to brush her teeth. She came back into the room, stretched her long arms, and growled out a loud yawn. Colby looked up from the bed, where he was sitting.
He stood and walked over to her. He put his muscular arms around her waist and pushed his groin toward her groin.
“I love you, Maggie,” he whispered in her ear.
Maggie guided him over to the bed and removed his boxers. She kissed his chest and slowly moved down his body until her plump lips caressed his penis, ever so softly and gently.
Colby reached down and pulled Maggie up until they were eye to eye. He put his lips on hers. Instinctively, they opened their mouths, and their tongues tangoed. Colby lay Maggie back on the bed and put his mouth over her right breast, and then he slowly bathed her body with his lips and tongue until they were both unable to hold out any longer. As Colby entered her, they were filled with a yearning and love for each other that was so intense it felt like the world had ended, and they were the only two people left.
When they finished making love, Colby went out into the kitchen and brought back a bottle of champagne and two glasses.
“Well, this is a little fancy. Don’t you think?” Maggie questioned, wondering why he’d decided on the expensive bottle of champagne that his parents had sent them when they moved in together.
Pretending to talk like a caveman, Colby grunted, “Nothing is too fancy for my woman.”
Before Maggie could come back with a funny comment of her own, Colby dropped to one knee and held a diamond ring out in one hand. He took her hand in his. “Maggie, will you marry me?”
Stunned into silence, Maggie sat and stared at Colby. She hadn’t thought about them getting married. He couldn’t want to make a wife out of a whore, she thought. Almost a minute had passed as Maggie sat silently, staring at Colby in disbelief.
“Um, you want to cut a brother a break, here? You’re making me really nervous,” Colby said.
Maggie’s eyes met his. “I love you, Colby…”
“But?” Colby pressed.
“But you come from a good family. A nice background, and I, well, you know where I come from, and believe me, you don’t know half the things I did with other men over the years. I’m just confused, and I want you to really think about this before you get into something you’ll regret,” Maggie explained.
“I will never regret loving you. Your past is something that was dealt to you, not something you did by choice. There’s a difference. You did what was required to stay alive so I could find you,” he said. “I’m not an idiot, Maggie. I know what I’m doing.”
Maggie smiled sweetly, and her eyes looked intensely blue in the warm lighting of the bedroom. “Are you really sure you know what you’re doing? Have you talked to your parents?”
“I’m a grown man, and I don’t need my parents’ permission. However, I did tell them I was going to ask you tonight,” Colby replied.
“And?”
“And they know all about you, even some of your past,” he said to put her at ease. “All they care about is that I’m happy. They trust me to make good decisions. They’re great people, and you’re going to love them.”
Maggie relaxed a little knowing that Colby’s parents were OK with him getting married. Then Colby gave her the rest of the information.
“I’ve already asked your father if I could marry you…he said yes. Your mom was pretty happy about it too, I might add. I mean, I am the most handsome, charming, remarkable man ever,” Colby sang.
“Yeah, and humble. You forgot to mention how humble you are,” Maggie teased.
“OK, let’s try this again,” Colby said.
He stood up, grabbed the glasses and champagne bottle, and walked out of the bedroom to the hallway. He turned on his heel and came back into the room. He dropped to one knee, holding out the diamond ring, and took her hand in his.
“Maggie, I love you. I don’t care what happened in your past because I’m marrying you to go with me into the future. Nothing you can say would change the love and admiration that I have for you. So…please, stop being a nudge and tell me, will you marry me?”
Maggie intentionally delayed answering. Then she ran her fingers through his thick hair. “Yes, I’ll marry you, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
They shared a prolonged kiss, and then Colby slid the diamond ring onto her finger. Maggie looked down at the ring. “This is beautiful. It’s so big. Does Joey know?” she asked.
“Who do you think helped me pick out the ring?” Colby said with a grin.
“That sneaky little rat,” Maggie sang.
Maggie cast her gaze down to the brilliant stone on her finger. Her life had changed so much over the last couple of years. So much happiness and an equal amount of sorrow, she thought. Then, like someone had slapped her across the face, she looked at Colby with urgency.
“What’s wrong?” Colby asked.
“Nothing…I’ve got to call Juju. She’s going to freak the hell out when I tell her this one,” Maggie sang as she skipped toward the phone.
Chapter One Hundred Forty-Six
The two months that followed were the most invigorating of Maggie’s life. She and Colby made wedding plans. Lorraine and Rob insisted on paying for the wedding, despite Colby’s insistence that he had it covered. Juju was to be Maggie’s maid of honor, and Joey and Mara were to be her bridesmaids. Keith, Maggie’s brother, would stand as Colby’s best man.
Two days before Maggie and Colby were to get married, Edward and Penny Derby, Colby’s parents, arrived. It was the first time they’d met Maggie in person. The morning of the day they were to arrive, Maggie’s nerves got the better of her. She had tried on and tossed aside every dress in her closet. Finally, she called Lorraine.
“Mom?” Maggie said in a desperate voice when Lorraine answered the phone.
“What is it, honey? What’s wrong?” Lorraine asked, instantly panicked.
“I don’t know what to wear, and what if Colby’s parents hate me?” Maggie cried.
“Oh for goodness sake, Maggie. First of all, no one could ever hate you…you’re a very unique and special woman. Second, you have plenty of dresses you can wear. Why don’t you wear the black dress with the light purple stripes we just bought?” Lorraine suggested.
“Do you really think so?” Maggie asked.
“Yes, I think it’s perfect,” Lorraine stated in a comforting tone. There was a long, awkward pause, and Lorraine knew there was more that Maggie was worried about. “What is it, Maggie? What’s bothering you?”
“What if…what if they think I’m not good enough for Colby? Oh, Mom, you know some of what I’ve done. Would you want Keith to marry a girl who was a hooker?” Maggie whined.
“Maggie Clarke, that’s all behind you now. If Colby’s parents are anything like him, they won’t give a rat’s ass about any of that stuff. Stop putting yourself down and quit judging yourself. Everyone loves you and admires you for all that you’ve coped with in life,” Lorraine lectured, annoyed at the thought that someone would ever judge her daughter.
As it turned out, Lorraine was right. Edward and Penny were warm and charming. Their love for their son was palpable. Colby had filled his parents in on some of Maggie’s past, and to their credit, they viewed her as a strong and powerful force to have survived such a horrid childhood. Besides,
Maggie and Joey were irresistible with their fun-loving ways and quick wit.
On the morning of the wedding, Maggie woke up and turned on her side. She looked at Joey and Juju, who had slept with her the night before.
“Morning, girls. Time to wake up,” Maggie said gleefully.
Both girls opened their eyes and smiled. Then they slowly climbed out of bed and began the process of getting ready. Maggie had selected a simple, off-white satin gown with tiny pearls sewn around the bust. She had insisted on something a bit more demure than Lorraine had wanted her to wear.
Maggie and Colby were married in the church where Maggie had been baptized. The reception for sixty close friends and family members took place in a restored barn at the Terrain at Styer’s in Glen Mills. The day was perfect, right down to the toast that Juju gave as the maid of honor.
Juju stood from her seat next to Maggie. “Tonight, we’re here to celebrate two people who got hitched. I always knew Maggie would get married someday, and I always knew she’d marry somebody great.” Juju turned to face Colby. “Colby is a really cool guy and has been great for all of us.” Then she took Maggie’s hand in her own. “I know Seth is looking down from heaven and is really pissed off he ain’t here, but he’d be really happy that ya picked Colby to marry.”
Finally, Juju looked out over the wedding attendees. “Maggie is the first person in my life who really understood me. She’s always loved me for who I am. That’s just how she loves. So here’s to a hundred years of happiness.” Juju lifted her glass and turned back to the newlyweds. “Now, Colby and Maggie, go on your honeymoon and make me an aunt. I love ya both.”
The wedding had been simple and perfect, as far as Maggie and Colby were concerned. It wasn’t until after they returned from their honeymoon that Colby gave her the news he’d been keeping from her.
“Maggie, I know you’re still in school. But I was thinking that instead of walking the streets of Kensington a couple of times a week, we should open a place where kids and teenagers can go,” Colby said.
“What does that mean? Like a shelter?” Maggie asked, intrigued.
“Well, it means we can open a place where kids can get help. I don’t know. A hot meal, counseling, clothes…we can figure it out,” Colby explained.
“That sounds great, but where are we going to get the money to do all of this?” Maggie asked.
“You know, for a girl who always has her nose buried in a book, you’re not all that resourceful, are you?” Colby mocked.
“What do you mean?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
“What’s your last name?” Colby asked.
“Clarke. I mean Derby,” Maggie said, playing along.
“Right.” Colby exhaled in an exaggerated fashion. “I’m a descendant of Elias Hasket Derby,” Colby said.
Maggie cocked her head to one side and gave him a confused look.
“My father is the only surviving heir of Elias Hasket Derby. He was a very wealthy merchant who died in the late seventeen hundreds and left a large fortune. The generations after Elias continued to grow that fortune. My father is a very rich man.” Colby sat quietly and let the information sink in.
“Does that mean you’re rich?” Maggie finally asked, catching on.
“Well, yes, it does, Mrs. Derby,” Colby said.
Silence followed.
“So, that means I have money we can work with to open a place in the city. The kind of place you dreamed about having, Maggie,” Colby explained.
Maggie studied him. “Why didn’t you tell me before now?”
“Well, you never asked,” Colby countered.
“Oh, right. Like it’s perfectly normal to ask a man living in Kensington who is helping break up a prostitution ring if he is filthy rich,” she chided.
“I think it’s a perfectly reasonable question to ask,” he said.
Maggie considered the information she’d just learned.
“Why didn’t you ask me to sign a prenuptial agreement?” Maggie wondered.
“Because I plan on being married to you until we’re shriveled up, old prunes,” Colby remarked.
Maggie embraced him. “Listen, you might shrivel up, but I’m not. I intend to keep my girlish figure, bub.”
“I’ve given some thought to what we should call this place,” Colby began. “I think it’s important that the name represents you and the people who you’ve loved and lost.”
“So, what do you think we should call this place?” Maggie asked.
“Seth’s Fortress,” he said with certainty.
“I love it, Colby. Seth would have loved it too,” Maggie said with a heavy heart.
A few months later, Maggie and Colby opened Seth’s Fortress in Philadelphia. The organization focused on homeless teens and prostitutes. It provided food, counseling, safety, and shelter to those in need. It was a place where kids found solace. There was a difference between prostitutes who were willing to sell their bodies and those who were unwilling. The signs were subtle to most, but not to Maggie. She could pick out the kids who had been forced into the business. Often, the police punished these young girls and boys for doing what they were being forced to do. News of the place spread quickly. Within three weeks, they were helping at least a dozen kids a day.
On Maggie’s days off, she often took Joey to a movie or to the local bowling alley after school. Joey had a knack for all things athletic, and she’d grown fond of bowling after one of the girls in her class had a birthday party at Facenda Whitaker Bowling Lanes. Maggie and Joey enjoyed the time together; bowling was their “special” thing to do.
Maggie was returning to her seat after throwing a strike when she saw the long, narrow face and black eyes staring at them. His hair was still shoulder length and greasy. His hunched posture looked demented, and his large hands hung at his sides like dead weights.
Maggie stood, frozen in time, and her body was unwilling to take commands from her mind. She wanted to take Joey by the hand and run. Her breathing was labored and she felt lightheaded. It was too much for her to see him again. Maggie feared that the end of her life was soon.
A yellowish-brown, toothy smile spread across John William’s gruesome face. Her fear and shock was evident, and her reaction brought sheer pleasure to the hideous creature. John William thumped down the two steps and into the pits where the bowlers sat. He continued to walk toward her, and she managed to make her right foot move and then her left. She made it back to Joey right before John William entered the area where they were sitting.
Chapter One Hundred Forty-Seven
“Well, if it isn’t Maggie. Look at you, all grown up and trying to act like you’re not a filthy whore,” he ridiculed.
“What do you want?” Maggie asked.
“Oh, I just wanna catch up. See how you’ve been. Find out who this gorgeous little creature is here with you. I could get a pretty penny for that one,” he said.
“You need to get out of here before I call the police,” Maggie threatened.
John William started to laugh. “You won’t call the police. Because if you do, then Myles would surely kill you and that little bitch of yours,” he said, gesturing toward Joey. “I’m pretty sure she’s gonna be my bitch soon.”
Joey was standing behind Maggie. Her face drained of all color as she grabbed onto Maggie’s hips.
“Leave us alone,” Maggie said in a weak voice.
“Nah, the fun is just startin’, bitch. Myles has been looking for a new girl, and it looks like you got the kid he wants.”
Maggie’s mind was whirling as she frantically tried to come up with a way to get away from John William. Suddenly, she realized that there were many people around them, and she wasn’t a helpless eleven-year-old anymore. She straightened her back and took a step closer to him.
“I suggest you leave us the fuck alone, John William.” Maggie yelled his name. “Otherwise, I’m going to make such a scene that you’ll wish you never knew me. Who the hell do you think you are? I
’ll tell you who you are; you’re a fucking low-life, maggot-eating swine,” Maggie spat.
John William was an imbecile, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew Maggie would do exactly what she’d just described. So instead of standing there, he gave them a sinister grin, turned, and headed to the bar inside the bowling alley.
“Maggie, let’s leave,” Joey said.
“No. If we leave now, he’ll just follow us home. It’s too dangerous,” Maggie warned.
Maggie took Joey by the hand and rushed over to the counter where the cashier stood.
“Can I use your phone?” Maggie pleaded.
The old man behind the counter gave her a searching look. Satisfied that she wasn’t trouble, he handed her the phone. “I’ll dial. No long distance calls.”
Maggie pulled the piece of paper from her purse and read off the numbers as the old man dialed. It rang four times, and at the thought of no one answering, panic rose and fell in waves causing her stomach to clench into a tight knot. After the fifth ring, a voice sang in her ear.
“Yeah?”
“Tony?”
“Who the hell is this?”
“This is Maggie. I need your help,” she begged.
“Where are ya, Maggie?”
“Facenda Whitaker Bowling Alley,” Maggie stated. “I’m here with Joey, and the nice man at the shoe counter is letting me use the phone.”
“I see. What exactly is the da issue?” Tony asked.
“John William,” Maggie said.
“He’s dare now?” Tony asked.
“Yes.”
“He botherin’ you?”
“Yeah. He said he liked Joey,” Maggie said. The old man at the shoe counter was listening to every word. She hoped Tony would pick up on what she was trying to say.
“Is that right?” Tony asked rhetorically.
“Yep,” Maggie said, grateful that Tony and Vincent had met Joey at the Melrose.
“OK, here’s what you’re gonna do. Stay put. When ya see me and Vincent come in, pretend like ya don’t know us. Then get in your car and go home,” Tony instructed.