Lindy whistled. “Hey, Sean’s not perfect, but no need to steal the dog.”
“Lindy…” Jane scolded.
He set the tray of drinks in the middle of the breakfast table. “What’d you do to the poor girl, Taylor?”
Jane patted Sean’s shoulder. “Let her go for a little walk. The fresh air might do her some good. It must be overwhelming to be bombarded by all of this family…umm…charm.”
“But nothing happened. One minute we were sitting here laughing at one of Millie’s stupid stories…”
“Hey, watch it, Taylor. I could never tell a stupid story. It’s not possible. Right, sweetie?” she turned to her husband.
“Yes, dear.” Jason kissed her on the top of her head.
“See. You’re the stupid-head, Taylor.” Sean waited for Millie to stick her tongue out at him, but was pleasantly disappointed when she sipped her water instead.
Jane slid in beside Sean. “Listen. We aren’t the easiest bunch of people to be around. We are like a really bad opera, loud, fast-paced, and hard to understand. She’ll come around. From the little bit she’s told me about her life, I imagine it’s been a long time, if ever, since she’s spent the holidays with a large family. It was just her parents when she was growing up. She has an uncle, but I think he is more of a family friend than actual family. Give her time. Let her have a little break. OK?”
Mac rested his hip against a tall stool near the island. “Jane’s right. Maggie seems like a real nice girl, but a bit skittish. Joe and I were only around her for a little while last night and she seemed pretty guarded. Sweet, for sure, but tense. Nervous. Can’t imagine how whack it must be to meet your significant other’s family for the first time, and then have to spend a holiday with them. Could be she just needed a break. But, if I’m not mistaken, there’s a lot of layers under the surface of that girl. It’s more than just nerves over Thanksgiving and our general obnoxiousness that’s causing her to run. You sure you want to peel them back?”
“Definitely.” The thought of what he would find chased a chill up his spine.
16
The air was cooler than she anticipated. Maggie snuggled Gordie, taking in the late autumn yard dotted with leaves. She wished she could find her scarf and revel in the comfort the little strip would bring on a holiday. She had to let it go. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—accept the implication of her scarf being more than simply misplaced. The panic bubbling out of her was just the remnant of the years living in constant fear. Releasing a slow breath, she tightened her grip on the puppy. She shouldn’t have run away.
Sean and his friends were having normal holiday conversations about normal life.
The kind of life she desperately wanted.
The puppy yawned and wriggled as he woke from his nap. He licked her chin, lapping her with sloppy kisses.
“OK, do you want to play?”
His kisses quickened in response. She set him down in the damp grass.
He ran, his feet moving faster than his legs, causing his head-over-heels tumble in the grass.
“Not much of a dancer, are you?” She squatted and patted the grass in front of her as the puppy charged forward.
“He better not be. He was named for Mr. Hockey and the dude might come and correct the dog if he becomes more of dancer than a fighter.” Sean’s hands were shoved in his pockets.
She patted the dog on the head and tossed a tiny stick for him to chase before she stood. “Who’s Mr. Hockey?”
“Don’t let Jane or Lindy hear you ask that question. You’ll be tortured with a dissertation on one of the greatest hockey players in modern history.”
“So,” she looked over her shoulder at the puppy that was systematically destroying the stick. “That’s who the dog is named after? Some hockey player? You don’t think it’s a little weird that Lindy’s niece named her dog after a hockey player?”
“Nope. Lindy’s Canadian, so I’m assuming his niece is Canadian. They take hockey pretty seriously up there.”
“Oh…” Weird. Named the dog after a hockey player, huh…
“Maggie, I don’t know if you are aware, but your new friend, Jane, is one of the biggest sports fanatics on the planet.” His smile was soft and teasing.
She shrugged her shoulders. “I guess we haven’t talked about it much. When I first met her, it was through church, so that’s mostly what we talked about. I knew she was married to a guy who worked for some hockey team, but I didn’t realize she was a fan. We mostly talked about cookies and Jesus.”
He stepped closer and slid an errant curl behind her ear. His warm fingers trailed down her cheek and rested lightly on her shoulder, his touch warming her better than a steaming cup of hot chocolate. “Cookies and Jesus. Two of my favorites. I can see how sports wouldn’t have come up.”
“I don’t really know much about sports. I used to watch football, but that was a long time ago.” She bit her lip, dropping her gaze to the puppy.
“That’s OK.” His voice was low and it melted through her. He lifted his other hand to her cheek and slid his fingers to her neck, gently stroking as he tilted her chin up, forcing her look at him. His voice dropped to a whisper. “I don’t want to talk about sports, Maggie.”
“OK…” Her voice matched his tone.
“I want to know why you ran out of the house. What happened that scared you?”
Unseen ice sliced through her. Jerking away, she folded her arms across her middle and focused on the stumbling puppy. “I don’t know what you mean.”
He placed a hand on each shoulder, his touch feather-light. “Yes, you do.” His voice was still low and laced with calm reassurance. “I want to understand. Help me understand.”
She felt a wet tear race down her cheek. She swiped at her face. She shouldn’t be crying. She should be ecstatic. She was living her dream, one that she’d wished, hoped, and prayed for most of her adult life. And yet, she remained chained by irrational fears.
She pivoted and wrapped her arms around his waist and hid her face from the inquisitive gaze. “I’m being silly. I think I’m just tired and missing my mom and dad.” She closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into his warmth. He felt like an electric blanket on an endless blizzard night, and she was colder than the center of Antarctica—a cold that had little to do with the November weather. “I can get a little weepy at the holidays. It’s so nice to be here with all of you. But it’s just a little overwhelming.”
His hands glided up and down her back. “You aren’t being silly. I miss my mom and dad every day. And the holidays are a hundred times worse. I am blessed to have my brothers and the Greys. I still have family to help bridge the gap and not allow me to feel so empty. You’ve not had that, at least not for a long while. I can understand why this could be difficult.” He kissed the top of her head. “I just want to make it a little easier.”
Tears pooled behind her tightly shut eyes. He was right, more right than he knew. She was a mess and he wanted to be with her in spite of that. Her nearness to them—to Sean in particular—made them targets. She couldn’t be certain when, but she knew now that the monster was free, each of their lives were in danger. They were vulnerable and blissfully clueless.
“Maggie, I don’t know what is going on in that mind of yours. I get really nervous when you go quiet.” His hand continued its soothing strokes. “I promise I’ll protect you. Nothing you could ever say or do would make me love you less. Let me help you.” He pressed another soft kiss to her temple.
Slice. All of her resistance, her fears, and her secrets, all of it fell away in the safety of his arms. Sean would protect her. She knew it. Her champion. And he would protect everyone else, her whole family. She would help him.
“I love you, Sean.” Her voice was a whisper, barely audible through the rustling of the leaves and the growling puppy. But she knew he heard because his hand stilled on her back and he drew her tighter in his embrace.
He lowered his lips near her ear pressing a soft kiss
just above her sweater. “I love you, too.”
A sigh rolled through her body. The fear, anxiety, and distress, tangled like a vicious web her entire adult life, evaporated in the breathing of one breath. She rested her chin to his chest. “Really?”
Lowering his forehead to hers, his face reflecting his tender sincerity, he whispered, “Really.” His lips brushed hers lightly with barely the weight of a breeze.
Sparklers lit in her belly, tiny bright bits of light bursting through her.
He rested his chin on her head. She was content to simply stand in his embrace.
Voices grew louder, a mix of deep, male tones and sweeter, high-pitched girl voices, breaking the tender bubble they’d created.
She took a step away from him, his arms still hung loosely around her waist. Lifting her gaze, she met twinkling brown eyes reflecting the feelings bubbling inside of her. She had no doubt that he truly loved her. No doubt. And with the assurance, she needed to tell him everything. She couldn’t wait any longer. She had to tell him. Tonight. “Hey,” she whispered. “After dinner…are you doing anything with your brothers?”
“Nothing definite…why?”
“I just thought you could stay for a little while after you bring me home. We could talk about some stuff.”
“If you want to.”
“I do.”
“Then it’s a date.” He laid a quick kiss on her forehead. “We have company.”
Henry was walking with two little girls, about five and seven years old, who were spinning around as they each talked.
Joey was behind them talking to Jake, who was carrying something wrapped in a blanket.
The puppy scurried to meet the girls.
“GORDIE!” The younger of the two girls dropped to her knees and scooped up the dog. His hind legs dangled nearly to her toes as she struggled to carry the puppy.
“Hey Lizzie, why don’t you let Papa carry Gordie into the house?” Henry lifted the puppy with one hand and carried the dog like a football under his arm. His thick mustache hid most of his wide grin as he stared at his granddaughter. “Hey kids,” he shouted to Sean and Maggie. “Joey and Jake say that Bitsy’s raring to go with dinner. We best be getting inside.”
“Yes, sir.” Sean draped his arm over Maggie’s shoulders and they strolled toward the house.
Joey slid up beside Maggie and mirrored his brother, throwing his arm across her shoulders. “What were you two doing?”
Sean smacked Joey in the head. “None of your business. You already got sent outside once for being an idiot. Idiot is not a streak to keep alive.”
Joey rubbed the back of his head. “Good thing Joe doesn’t need his head to hit the long ball.”
Sean snorted. “Boy, you better pay closer attention to this off-season training and less attention to the off-season girls.”
“Hey,” Jake came up beside them. “Little ears.” He pointed to his two daughters trailing their grandfather.
“Looks like you got the littlest ears tucked away in that blanket.”
Jake lifted the top of the afghan and revealed a tiny tuft of white blond hair and the fullest cheeks Maggie had ever seen on a baby. “Oh, he’s adorable. What’s his name?” she asked.
“Henry. After his grandpa.”
“Good choice,” Joey said. “One of the best men I’ve ever known. Couldn’t have asked for a better fill-in dad.” The corner of his mouth lifted to a grin. “Taught me how to make the throw to second with barely a hop.”
“Not a bad father-in-law, either.” Jake followed Henry and the girls through the backdoor.
Joey turned and blocked their entrance. “Just so you know. Those girls saw you two making out. I would be prepared for some serious interrogation at dinner. If not by Bitsy, then by Lizzie, who might be worse.” He left Maggie and Sean on the back patio.
“Which one’s Lizzie?” Maggie asked.
“The little one who tried to pick up Gordie.”
“Well, she’s too small to ask any real questions.” Maggie nodded for confirmation.
Sean laced his fingers through hers. “You haven’t met Lizzie.”
~*~
“Bits, I couldn’t eat another bite. Everything was so good.” Henry leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach.
Bitsy lifted her linen napkin to her lips and dabbed. “Oh, thank you, Henry. But it wasn’t just me. Molly did all of the work on the gravy.”
Molly looked up from feeding the baby. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Of course, dear. But I do hope you all saved room for Maggie’s desserts.”
“I’ll go get everything set up.” Maggie pushed away from the table.
“I’ll help you.” Jane followed her into the kitchen.
Sean resisted the urge to follow. He didn’t want to leave Maggie for even a second. But he sensed that Jane wanted to talk with her alone. She was the closest thing to a best friend that Maggie had. Girls needed friends. He wanted Maggie to have everything. He would give the world if he could.
Mac rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward. “She seems better.”
“Not sure why, exactly, but she’s definitely less anxious.”
“Probably the make-out session in the yard.” Joey leaned his chair back on two legs spreading his arms wide. “Joe knows a little action always calms him down.”
Millie threw her napkin at Joey. “Sprout, can you even see maturity on the horizon, or is it so far out of your view you’d need to trek Mount Everest to find it?”
He dropped the legs of his chair with a thud and shoved away from the table. “I’ll go see if they need any help in the kitchen.”
“Not without me.” Millie stood. “Who knows what will come out of that unfiltered mouth of yours?”
Jason lifted his glass and took a quick sip, watching them fade. “That’s my wife, the ultimate protector.”
Lindy patted him on the shoulder. “She’ll make a great mom.”
“I just hope our kid is as good as little Henry.” He nodded toward Molly holding the sleeping baby.
“I don’t know whether it’s because he’s a boy or I’ve had three, but I would have ten more if they were all as good as Henry.” Molly patted the baby’s back. “After Chelsea, it took me over a year to even consider another baby. And then, there’s our little Eliza…”
“Wha’d I do?” Her little blonde head popped up at the mention of her name.
A low chuckle rumbled through all of the adults.
“Nothing, Squirt,” Jason said. “I was just telling your momma that I wanted a baby like your little brother.”
“But what if yer baby is a durl instead of a boy? It won’t be jus’ like Hen-wee, if it’s a durl.”
“I guess you’re right. Maybe if we have a girl she’ll be just like you.”
“I guess. But jus’ so you knows, it tooked a lots of work to get me this ways.”
“Really?”
“Yep,” she laid her hand on top of his. “Kids don’t jus’ come out like me. You gots to work at it. Momma says I’m ‘a piece o’ work’ almost every day.”
“I see. Thanks for the advice, Lizzie.”
“Anytime.” She turned back to her grandfather and the game of tic-tac-toe resting between them.
Molly stood, cradling the baby in her arms. “The one thing that is certain. You’ll never be bored as a parent.” She turned to her husband. “I’m going to lay him down. I want all hands free to tackle those desserts.”
Jake stood. “I’ll help you.”
Gordie raced in from the baby’s bedroom where he had been sequestered during dinner.
Lindy leaned to the right and lifted the dog into his lap with a single hand. “Settle.”
The puppy let out a deep sigh and stretched across Lindy’s lap, his head draped over his forearm so he could watch the table.
“So, how did you end up with this puppy?” Sean patted the dog’s head.
“He’s my niece, Isabelle’s, dog. Gordie was a
gift from her boyfriend…the musician. The genius thought giving a grad student a puppy was a good idea.”
“But how did he end up with you?”
“She’s in Chicago watching the same boyfriend perform this weekend. Izzy is starting her PhD program in physical therapy at Ohio State this winter. Jane and I thought it would be a good idea to have her stay with us. I travel with the team for some games, leaving Jane home alone. My sister and my mother didn’t like the idea of Izzy living on campus, so it seemed like a good fit. She’s the only granddaughter and likely the favorite even if my mother won’t say it. She’s a sweetheart and we’re both glad to have her, we just didn’t know we were getting the peeing machine, too.”
Mac’s eyebrows drew together. “You have a niece old enough to be in a PhD program?”
“Well, she’s super smart and a little young for the program, but my sister, Flora, is ten years older than me. So, Iz’s more of a little sister than a niece.”
“And the boyfriend?” Mac questioned.
“Skylar…” Lindy shook his head. “He’s in a band. Lead singer with tattoos covering his left arm. They’ve dated for six years. I’m not really sure what she sees in him. She probably wants to save him, or something. He’s beyond flakey. He got her the dog when she told him she was moving to Ohio. He thought she would be lonely. Idiot.”
“So…how do you really feel?” Jason leaned back in his chair, a smirk lifting the corner of his mouth.
“I know. I’m a little protective. She’s so young and innocent. She’s wasting the best part of her life on a moron.”
Carrying a tray of assorted desserts, Jane laughed. “Talking about Sky, dear-heart?”
“He just gets under my skin.”
“Well, Isabelle loves him, so he’s family until she changes her mind.”
“I guess.”
“I know.” She slid the tray on the back sideboard and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “Telling a girl who she should love never works out.”
Millie followed Jane into the room with a matching tray. “Yep, cause look how it worked out for you.”
Lindy snatched Jane into his arms, jostling the puppy, who jumped from his lap. He kissed Jane with a loud smack and smiled. “I think she did pretty well. I know I sure did.”
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