by C. J. Harte
Chapter Seven
Maggie was hungry. In spite of only four hours’ sleep, she was happy and relieved. Derek had arrived at Susan’s shortly after nine p.m. and attempted to get Maggie, the kids, and Paul headed back to the hotel. He was outmaneuvered by Maureen, who was determined to keep the odd ensemble together and had reset the table. After introductions, she herded the adults back into the dining room, while the younger children were put to bed. Great tactical maneuver. Can’t leave without the kids, Maggie reminded herself. In all the confusion of the evening, Maureen even managed to find her camera and take pictures.
Tom, Kyle, and Derek talked football incessantly and planned a fishing trip for the next summer. Betsy, however, sounding more like a lawyer than a physician, lost no time in asking questions, some subtle, some not. It was obvious Betsy would get information one way or another.
It was midnight before they got settled back in the hotel suite. Paul excused himself and left them to talk.
“I’ve got to admit,” Derek stretched out on one of the chairs in the living area, “this is certainly one of the strangest situations you have ever gotten yourself into.” He paused to look at Maggie, sitting silently across from him. “What’s going on?”
“God, I’ve never had to really behave before. I really like her, Derek.”
“What do you want from her?”
She thought about Derek’s question and wondered what she could offer someone like Susan. Susan was probably a woman who wanted commitment and stability. Maggie remembered the jokes she used to make. Monogamy—isn’t that some type of hardwood? In the past she’d closely associated sex with drugs, drinking, and instant gratification. At some point in her life, things had changed. She couldn’t really remember why or when. Now she wondered if she could be the kind of person Susan wanted.
“Susan is the nicest person you’ve been involved with in a long time. I’m not trying to sound mean, but are you ready to make that type of commitment? She seems very, well, I guess, traditional.”
Maggie hated hearing her own thoughts put into words. She feared the changes she saw happening around her. Derek was slowly moving away from her as his life with Paul grew. “I don’t know. A couple of days ago I was remembering Paula. You know, I thought we would be together forever. I really loved her. What went wrong?” Tears threatened.
“If you remember, you were more interested in your career. The travel, the music, and the groupies.” He leaned over and put his arms around her and let her cry. “She was staying home studying, being faithful. She was making plans for a future. You were out doing…well, I think your comment was ‘too many women and too little time.’ She finally decided she didn’t like waiting up wondering if you were coming home. She may have stopped trusting you, but it was a long time before she stopped loving you. I love you, Mags. There have been times I haven’t approved of what, or whom, you did. I certainly wouldn’t have met Paul except for your rather unconventional behavior.” Maggie groaned and tried to refrain from smiling. “If you want to explore a relationship with Susan, go ahead. But, and this is a big one, she’s not like the other women in your life. Be honest with her. And respect her. I think she genuinely cares about you.”
Maggie sat back. She put her near empty bottle down. Does Susan really care? “I do care about her.”
“I know you do, Mags. See what she’s feeling. Don’t be afraid to talk to her.” Maggie smile and promised. After saying good night, she paced her room for an hour before falling into a dream-filled sleep.
*
Maggie’s thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of breakfast, followed quickly by Maya, her assistant, and finally Paul. Paul briefed her on information he gained from the background check on Susan. He provided detailed information about Susan, her family, and her employer. As usual, he had been thorough in his investigation. Susan sounded like a Girl Scout. Her boss, Ed, however, sounded interesting. A plan began to emerge.
Chapter Eight
“Susan, please help me with this.” Once again Ed was obsessed with his search for some rock star. “Can’t you call a few friends, please!”
“Ed, I am not a drug rehab counselor.”
“But you must have friends who are. You know how to get information.”
Susan’s active imagination jumped in. I’m caught between a rock singer and a heart place. Very clever, Susan. “Ed, I always regret getting involved in these things. What is so important about—what’s her name again? I got you the list of rehab places.”
“M.J. Carson is the lead singer in the band Reckless.” Ed stopped and stared at her, “Susan, have you noticed that you’ve been extremely distracted lately? We discussed her last Monday. She’s looking for backing for an independent production company. Come on, just a little help. This could be a really big contact.”
Susan glared. She was the financial person, not the glad-hander.
Before she could answer him, a chauffeur in a crisp dark uniform entered the office. It was enough of a distraction for Ed to investigate, leaving all previous discussion unfinished. And women are accused of being nosy. Susan’s enjoyment of the reprieve from questioning was short-lived. A few minutes later Ed was walking back toward her with a strange look on his face. This did not look good. Do they now send limousines to tell you someone has died? Susan wondered. “It’s for you. There’s a gentleman and a lady waiting in the limo to take you to lunch. I mean us. Who is it, Susan?”
To lunch? Do they feed you and then tell you the bad news?
She couldn’t remember standing up, but she was walking out of her office. The chauffeur was holding the front door open. Susan remembered that at her father’s funeral, there was always someone opening and closing doors. With each step she tried to remember what bad news could be waiting for her. Her mother had looked well that morning. She didn’t think they would send a car from Jacksonville if something happened to Tom or Betsy. She stopped at the door, confused. When she looked around she found Ed, the receptionist, and most of the staff following. She felt like the mother duckling in Make Way for Ducklings, her daughter’s favorite book. Only this time it was more like make way for way-too-curious ducklings.
The stretch limo parked at the curb did not provide any clues as to the identity of the people inside. At that point, Susan didn’t want to know. When the chauffeur opened the limo door, Paul stepped out. Susan didn’t need to see the face of the other person. She recognized the legs. Seeing them meant that her work, her place of sanctuary, had joined her world of chaos.
Maggie leaned forward and flashed her incredible smile. Susan’s throat tightened as one long leg exited the door, followed by the second. Susan felt a gentle pulsing beginning in a very private area of her body. She remained immobile, not sure she could trust her body. Finally Maggie was standing in front of Ed. Maggie extended her hand.
“Hello. I hope I’m not interrupting your day.”
“Hi, I’m Ed…Ms. Carson? M.J. Carson?” The astonished look on Ed’s face quickly changed to one of delight.
Susan stared. M.J. Carson? Maggie Carson-Baxter. Is Maggie the person Ed has been looking for? Ed’s comments floated randomly, drugs, sex rumors, legal troubles. No, this can’t be my Maggie! Wait, when did she become “my” Maggie?
“Yes. And you must be Ed Howard. I have heard quite a bit about you. Susan sings your praises.” Maggie put her sunglasses back on, but she couldn’t hide that warm grin.
Everyone stared at Susan. She wanted to wiggle her nose and disappear, but there was no magic today. Maggie continued with introductions.”This is my attorney, Paul Williams. I was hoping the four of us could have lunch and maybe talk some business. Susan insists you’re the person we need.”
The grin that spread across Ed’s face underlined his excitement. As he led the group back toward his office, Ed introduced Maggie to the staff. Several asked for autographs. That was just enough diversion for Ed to pull Susan aside and demand to know why she denied knowing M.J. Carson. She ple
aded ignorance. Strangely, Ed believed her. The other members of the staff stared. Susan wondered if her zipper was open or if her hair had changed color. It didn’t matter, she wanted to hide. Instead she quietly followed the procession to Ed’s corner office while the receptionist made reservations for lunch.
The trip to the restaurant and the lunch were a blur. At first Susan sat numb and listened to Paul and Ed discuss business with frequent commentary by Maggie. As she listened, however, she was impressed with Maggie’s knowledge and detail in her business ventures. Any other time, she would be thrilled to be sitting in a small alcove overlooking Lake Eola, next to an attractive woman, discussing business. Today her emotions were flying all over the place.
As they finished lunch, Maggie ordered a bottle of Perrier Jouët. As the champagne was poured, she said, “To a profitable venture for all of us.” After sipping from her glass, she turned to Ed. “I’m impressed with what you have done and what you may be able to do for us. I want to make sure, however, you thoroughly understand what I plan, how I operate, and what I want to do. I would like Susan to work closely, at least for the next month, with me, or my assistant, and learn my operation.”
Susan fought to contain her response. “We have other staff we generally assign to handle this sort of detail. I don’t handle production.”
Maggie had her own agenda. “But you have such a keen mind and would be able to provide guidance in our planning.” Paul and Ed sat quietly. “I want this to be successful, and you’re the one that can do it. Besides,” Maggie covered Susan’s hand, “I trust you.”
Susan stared at Maggie…no, M.J. Carson. Did she really know who this person was? No matter her personal feelings, Susan realized this was business. Knowing this was a losing battle, she gritted her teeth. “Of course.”
“Well, if that’s decided, Ed and I will go draw up preliminary contracts while you two discuss details.” Paul stood, promising to send the limo back.
“Susan, I’m excited. We have so much to talk about,” Maggie said.
Oh, really! Susan doubted there was much to talk about.And I have some swamp land in Colorado I want to sell. “Look, Maggie, I don’t know what’s going on. If you feel you owe me something, you don’t. I really need to get back to work as soon as the limo gets back.”
“Susan, can you just listen?”
For what? So you can have a few more laughs at my expense? Susan managed to keep the conversation impersonal until they were in the car. “Look, Maggie…M.J., whatever your name is. I appreciate you giving your business to my boss, but you don’t owe me anything. We can find someone else to travel with you. I really don’t know anything about production, and I would prefer not traveling.”
Maggie rolled up the window behind the driver and took her hand. “This must all be confusing. I promise you there is more to be explained. Just trust me a little longer.”
Susan blinked at the use of the word trust. She pulled her hand away. Trust! That’s a mouthful for someone… Susan stopped. For someone who… “You don’t owe me any explanations. I do need to get back to work as soon as possible.”
When they arrived at the office, Maggie held on to her hand.“Just stay in the car, please.”
After picking up Paul, Maggie again tried to hold Susan’s hand. Paul didn’t mind, or didn’t notice. Susan noticed and quickly slipped her hand back into her own lap. She leaned away making her hands, and body, out of reach.
At the hotel, they were escorted to a special elevator and to a suite high above Disney. A uniformed guard opened the door to a cacophony of children, phones, and voices raised in discussion. Shortly after their arrival, everyone except Derek, Paul, Maggie, and Susan was herded out of the room. Susan’s imagination took off. Looking at Derek, she wondered, Does he know what happened? Is he going to be the aggrieved husband? Is he threatening a divorce? Life had become like riding Space Mountain; she never knew where the next hill would end or begin.
Maggie sat next to Susan on the couch, which sent Susan’s blood pressure soaring. Paul leaned on the arm of Derek’s chair. Susan’s stomach rumbled. Maybe I can throw up and that will change the topic.
Maggie spoke first. “Susan, Paul is my attorney and a really close friend, but he is also Derek’s lover.”
“I know he’s your—” Susan stopped and looked across at the two men. Only then did she notice the casual way Paul’s arm draped across Derek’s shoulder, the way they looked at each other. Turning back to Maggie, she asked, “He’s what? Is this some kind of California thing?”
“No, it’s an NFL thing,” Derek answered, laughing. “Our sophomore year I met Maggie in a gay bar. We started hanging out together. Maggie was comfortable with her sexuality and I was scared shitless. Growing up, I internalized enough of my parents’ homophobic ideas, they became my own.” Derek turned toward Maggie and the look spoke volumes about the depth of their relationship. “Maggie did more than provide a cover for me, she helped me deal with my own sexuality. She’s my best friend.”
Maggie’s eyes glistened.
“So, my senior year, when I knew I was going to go high in the NFL draft, we decided to get married. Fifteen years ago, I would have been a pariah, and now I’ve been able to have a great career. She’s been successful in her music career. It’s worked well for both of us.”
He reached for Paul’s hand. “Then four years ago, I met Paul and life became a little more complicated. Paul knew up front we were both gay. I apologize if you feel deceived. You see, there are many people who’ve taken advantage of Maggie’s celebrity status or her generosity.”
The full import of this message floated in the cobwebs of Susan’s mind. Holding Maggie’s hand, kissing her—all this time feeling guilty. Suddenly many of their conversations had new meaning, a different interpretation. The whole time I was sitting and apologizing to Maggie, she must have been having a great laugh.
The quiet was broken by Derek, excusing himself, saying he was sure we had much to talk about. He and Paul left.
Maggie tried to move closer, but Susan stood and walked away. “Please say something,” Maggie said.
Susan was numb. Once again, she recalled Ed’s comments: rumors of divorce, M.J.’s playing around, drugs. Was she just a fling? Some brief entertainment? She had difficulty fitting all this information into the orderly world in which she lived. Had Maggie lied? Was Maggie just playing a game? Could Susan trust her?
“Susan, please talk to me.”
Susan finally turned and looked at Maggie. Who is this woman? What does she really want? With no ready answers, Susan opted for the more familiar. “Maggie, could you please have someone drive me back to my office? I have a lot of work to finish this afternoon.”
Chapter Nine
Of all the possible reactions, this was not one Maggie had anticipated. Had she mistaken Susan’s interest? “Susan, don’t you understand? There’s no reason we can’t be with each other.”
“Yes, there is. Now will you please take me back to work?”
No one had ever told Maggie no. “Just sit. If you don’t want to pursue a personal relationship, then I must remind you that we have a business one. I’ll have my assistant come in and we’ll start,” she said, turning to the phone.
Susan struggled with her tumultuous feelings. She remained silent except when asked a question. Her answers were short and to the point. Only when informed that she would be accompanying Maggie to Atlanta for a concert the next day did she protest. “Maggie, I can’t just abandon my family on short notice. If you want me to review financial records, I’ll be glad to do that from my office.”
“I expect you to be available whenever I need you,” Maggie said. “I’ll call Maureen, Ed, and anyone else. Now, let’s finish our business.” Forty minutes later Maya left to finalize their travel arrangements.
Susan couldn’t remember ever being this angry. Accustomed to controlling her actions and emotions, she just wanted to run out of the damn room, but she wanted it to be a g
raceful run. At this point she wasn’t sure she was capable of that much coordination. “If we’re finished, I need to go home, pack, and spend some time with my family.”
*
Maggie wanted Susan, but she knew Susan had to come freely. To get beyond the business side of Susan, Maggie had to be patient, a characteristic she had never mastered.
The next day the private jet was loaded and waiting when Maggie and Susan boarded. Maggie provided introductions. “This is Karl. He’s been my manager for four years. Outlasted all the previous ones. Guess I pay him well.” Karl rolled his eyes while shaking Susan’s hand. “This is Jeremy. He and I formed Reckless eight years ago. He’s the drummer, and a damn good one.”
“And I put up with all her bad jokes. Glad to meet you.”
Susan remembered briefly meeting Maya, Maggie’s assistant, and said hello. Susan doubted she would remember most of the rest of the crew.
In Atlanta, the entire top two floors of the Peachtree World Resort had been reserved for Maggie’s entourage. In spite of Susan’s protests, Maggie insisted they share a large two-bedroom corner suite.
“I’m sure you want to meet with your own staff later, and I’ll want to sleep. I’ll arrange for my own room.” Susan started to walk up to the desk.
“Susan, we’ll be sharing a large two-bedroom suite and you will have your privacy. I…” Maggie hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “I would appreciate having you nearby…to consult with or answer any questions about our business.” Sighing, she realized Susan wasn’t smiling and the twinkle in her eye was dimmed. “I also want to get to know you better. I don’t have a lot of experience with this friendship thing, but I really want to try.”