“And thank you for letting us take things from the house.” Susan snuffled. “I love some of this stuff.”
Maggie smiled at the two faces she cherished most in the world. They were wonderful children, and things were going to work out just fine.
Chapter 8
The remainder of the week flew by for Maggie. Wednesday was chaotic with movers packing and loading all day. She decided to ship her car to Westbury and keep Paul’s car to use in California. The twins had an early release day from school on Thursday, and Mike brought them over to Maggie’s so she could spend the afternoon with them. The day was clear and mild, so Maggie took Sarah and Sophie to the park near her house.
She planted herself on a bench and turned her face to the sun. The happy shouts of her beloved granddaughters and the occasional “Gramma, watch this!” filled the space. How dreadfully she would miss this. Maybe her kids were right. Maybe this move was ill conceived. Maggie abruptly stood up and strode onto the playground.
“It’s not time to go, is it?” Sophie asked, surprised that her grandmother was coming toward them.
“No. Not even close. I just need a hug,” Maggie said as she scooped her into an embrace and Sophie nestled close.
“Gramma, push me!” Sarah called.
“Come on, Sophie. I can push both of you.”
They set off for home, hand in hand, when the sun’s rays slanted low through the trees. Over the girls’ favorite dinner of mac and cheese and hot dogs, Maggie asked if their dad told them she was moving to a great big house in Westbury. They nodded sullenly. “Don’t be sad,” Maggie said with a brightness she didn’t feel. “I’ll come here all the time for business, and we’ll see each other as much as ever,” she assured them. “My new house is so big and grand it even has a name. Rosemont. Everyone in town knows the house by its name.”
“Like a castle?” Sophie asked. “Does it have a drawbridge and moat and stuff?” Sarah chimed in.
Maggie smiled. “Not quite like a castle. It’s not that old. No moat or drawbridge, but lots of nooks and crannies.” They were quiet as they considered this. “Would you like to come visit me there this summer? You could help me explore the house and the big yard around it,” she added.
This definitely hit a respondent cord. “Oh, could we?” Sarah breathed. “That would be fun,” Sophie agreed.
“Absolutely,” Maggie said. “There are five extra bedrooms—you can take your pick, and you can share one or each have your own room. And you can meet my new dog, Eve,” she added.
“You have a dog?” both girls cried at once. “Daddy didn’t tell us,” Sophie said rather indignantly.
“Yes. You’ll love her. She’s a doll. You can take her on walks and play with her. She’ll adore you,” Maggie promised. “Let me show you photos,” she said as she opened her laptop and brought up pictures of Rosemont and Eve. They were full of questions about both, but Eve was definitely the bigger attraction. “The one thing Rosemont doesn’t have is toys,” Maggie continued. “So when you come, we’ll have to go out and buy new ones to keep at my house.” And with this happy prospect before them, Maggie sealed the deal. They would most definitely visit this summer.
***
Maggie finished the week with an impromptu going-away party thrown for her on Sunday afternoon by Helen Farley, the one friend she would sorely miss. Helen and Maggie ran in the same circles and had many common acquaintances. The turnout was good, and Maggie was satisfied that she got to say goodbye. She could sense the unspoken astonishment at her decision to pull up stakes. She didn’t supply any details about her new home and skillfully sidestepped the occasional intrusive question. The exception to this was Helen; she gave Helen the whole story, including her intention to return frequently on business and rent or buy a place in the area. “Okay,” Helen said. “I’m not going to pretend to understand all this, but I’ve known you long enough to know when you’ve made up your mind. I’ll miss you terribly. You better keep your promise to stay in touch,” she added tearfully. Maggie hugged Helen long and hard and promised that she would hardly notice that Maggie had moved.
***
Susan picked Maggie up the next morning to take her to the airport. She was sullen and uninterested in small talk. When they parked at the terminal, Maggie turned to Susan. “I know this is sudden and difficult. It is for me, too. I know you and your brother will be fine with me a bit further away. I wouldn’t be doing this otherwise. I could never start over again and form a new life for myself if I stayed here. I’ve always supported you in your dreams,” she said, turning to look directly at Susan. “I now expect you to support me in mine.”
Susan sighed heavily. “You’re right, Mom. I know you are. And you know that I love you and want you to be happy. I guess it’s just a little scary for me to be so far away from you,” she said with an embarrassed laugh. “I may be a high-powered litigator, but I guess part of me still wants my mom around.” Susan smiled at Maggie. It was Maggie’s turn to stifle her tears. “Let’s get your suitcase out of the trunk before we both start blubbering,” Susan said.
They walked to the security checkpoint going over the details that would fill the next week for each of them. “I’ll be back before you know it,” Maggie assured her. They held their hug a bit longer than usual. Maggie picked up her carry-on, and turned toward her future.
Chapter 9
Maggie’s flight arrived late, and she hurried to the rental car company. She was relieved that there was no line and she was able to walk right up to the counter. Her hopes of getting on her way quickly, however, were dashed by an agent in a talkative mood. He didn’t take the hint from Maggie’s clipped answers that she was in a hurry. She did her best to act with patience she didn’t feel, and snatched the keys from his hands when he finally held them out to her. She firmly declined his offer to review the features of the car and headed to the lot at a trot.
If she made really good time, she would get to the Westbury Animal Hospital in time to pick up Eve. Maggie was anxious to see her new companion and was equally as anxious to avoid a night at Rosemont alone. She called the hospital from the car and said she was on her way but might be a few minutes late. The young man told her that he had to leave on time that night but that Dr. Allen was usually there for a while after closing and would probably let her pick up her pet. He promised to let Dr. Allen know she was on her way.
Maggie concentrated on the drive. This was no time to miss her exit. She arrived in the parking lot at twenty minutes after six. The lot was empty and her heart sank. She stumbled as she hurried to the door as it was flung open and an ecstatic Eve bounded out to greet her.
Maggie dropped to her knees and threw her arms around the squirming dog. “You don’t know how much I appreciate being able to have Eve with me tonight.” She beamed up at John. “My flight was delayed, and I had a Chatty Cathy car rental agent. I drove like a maniac to get here. I’m really very grateful you waited. The lot was empty, and I thought that I was too late.”
“It was no trouble. I was catching up on paperwork,” John assured her. “I live on the other side of the square and walk to work, weather permitting. I usually stop at one of the restaurants on the way home for dinner.”
“Are you done? Would you like a lift home?”
John knew an opportunity when he saw one. “I just need to lock up,” he said. “Are you hungry? Or are you full of delicious airline food?” he teased. When she shook her head and said that she was, indeed, starved, he proposed that the three of them walk over to Pete’s for dinner. They could leave her car at the hospital, and she could drop him off at his house after dinner.
Pete tucked the three of them into a cozy table by the window. Only a handful of the other tables were occupied, but Pete was also handling a robust weeknight takeout business. The special was old-fashioned baked ziti with homemade bread and a salad. A sign announced that customers could add Laura’s Pie of the Day—which today was blueberry—for five dollars more. “I w
ish I could have fed my family at Pete’s when my kids were little,” Maggie mused.
John helped her out of her coat, and she relaxed back into her chair. Eve curled up at their feet. Maggie ordered rainbow trout and a house salad. John opted for salmon on a cedar plank and a cup of homemade vegetable soup. While they waited for their food, Maggie filled John in on her preliminary conclusions from her review of the bank statements.
John whistled softly. “We’ve got trouble in River City, that’s for sure,” he said. “I know a pretty fair percentage of the people in this town,” he continued. “Hardworking, decent people who take care of their families, their homes, and their neighbors. Give-you-the-shirt-off-of-their-backs kind of folks. We can’t let a few crooks ruin what so many have worked so hard for. I won’t stand by and let that happen.”
“I’m looking forward to getting together with the committee again. I’m sorry that the subject is so dire, but it’s helping me meet people and makes me feel useful.” John considered this silently.
“I was always so busy helping my husband with the social obligations of his job. We had something on the calendar almost every night of the week. Paul used to say that if they gave awards for best supporting actress in real life, I would win hands down.” As she said this, Maggie realized that Paul hadn’t said that for many years. And she wasn’t so sure that being the best supporting actress in someone else’s life was such a compliment, anyway. Maybe she was just a really good doormat. She shifted uncomfortably. “After Paul’s death, all that stopped. The college got a new president, and he and his wife took over. I’ve been feeling adrift. I have a lot of energy and time on my hands. Tonya Holmes really impressed me. I’m looking forward to helping her.”
John smiled. “So tell me more about this mysterious Maggie Martin that’s just blown into town.”
“Believe me—I am not the least bit mysterious,” she replied with a laugh. She told him about her education, her consulting business, her kids, and her childhood. He kept her talking through the main course and into the piece of blueberry pie they agreed to split. His question about what she liked to do for fun caused her to pause. “You know, I’m not sure.” She smiled ruefully. “Most of our free time was focused on activities connected with the college. I’m not really sure that I enjoyed a whole lot of it. I was too involved in the doing of it all,” she admitted.
John looked into her eyes and waited patiently for her to continue. “To be honest, I’m glad to be making a fresh start in Westbury,” she said. “I didn’t feel at home last week in California. My only second thoughts are about leaving my granddaughters. But I’ll be back on business regularly and will see them almost as much as I ever did. I guess that should tell me something. Shouldn’t it be hard to turn your back on a life you’ve spent more than twenty years living?” She shrugged.
“I’ve monopolized the whole conversation,” she said apologetically. “I’ve been around self-absorbed people my whole life, who do just that. I positively hate it. And now I’ve done it! I’d like to know more about you, John,” she said. “Were you born and raised here?”
John looked at his watch as he snatched the check from Pete. “I’d be happy to tell you about myself, but it’s getting late. I think that discussion will have to wait. How about we do something Saturday night?” he asked. “Maybe it’s time you found out what you like to do for fun. Is there anything that comes to mind, or do you want me to surprise you?”
Incredibly, she heard herself accepting in a voice that sounded absolutely giddy. “Surprise me,” she added, to her further astonishment. Maggie barely paid attention to their conversation as they strolled through the cold night to collect her car. Her mind was racing as she realized that she had just accepted her first date in more than twenty years.
Chapter 10
Maggie slept long and hard, and the sun was pouring in through the cracks in the shutters when she reluctantly pushed herself up and out of bed the next morning. She fed Eve and took her coffee into the library to set priorities on her to do list: find a good dry cleaner; find a gym; find a new nail tech. The list was long. She needed to prepare a report for a client. And she wanted to check with her realtor to see if her California house had any showings over the weekend.
Maggie was hunting for the realtor’s card when she heard a car on the drive. She looked out the library window to see Sam pulling up to her mailbox and stuffing a large envelop into it. She rapped on the window and motioned to the door. He removed his parcel from the mailbox and met her at the door.
“Good morning,” he said cheerfully. “Tonya told me you’d be back and asked me to bring you these reports on the pension plan for the last seven years. That’s all we’ve kept,” he added apologetically.
“That’s wonderful, Sam,” Maggie assured him. “Most people don’t keep any of this. I’ve got a ton of client work today, but I’ll crack them open tonight. I was going to call you,” she added. “I’d like to tackle the kitchen first. It needs new appliances and a coat of paint, but the cabinets and countertops are fine, don’t you think?” Sam agreed and Maggie continued. “Where would you suggest I go to buy the appliances, and can you install them if I have them delivered?”
“Mayfair Appliance on Sycamore has all the high-end stuff you’ll want,” Sam replied. “Why don’t you pick them out and let me buy them with my contractor’s discount. I can install everything. I don’t have any extra work scheduled right now, so I can start painting as soon as you decide on the color. Go down to Westbury Hardware—they’re two blocks south of the library—and select your color. I’ll pick it up after school and get started. Or whenever you have time,” he added hastily.
“Perfect. I’m anxious to get going on this. Pencil me in for every afternoon until we get Rosemont up to snuff. If you get called out on an emergency for another client, I’ll understand. Everything I want to have done can be put off if necessary.”
Sam was delighted at the prospect of a steady stream of work. And Maggie was glad that she could help supply some of his much-needed supplemental income.
With the happy obligation of shopping for home improvements on her agenda, Maggie dove into the report she promised her client and pushed the send button on her email just before noon. Anxious to begin putting her own stamp on Rosemont, she headed out to Westbury Hardware.
As she considered colors and selected paint chips to take home, her mind kept returning to her upcoming dinner with John. He was certainly an interesting man. She found herself listing his attributes as if he were a sales prospect: calm, an animal lover (obviously), smart (well, he was a doctor, after all), articulate, concerned about others, probably financially well off, fun, easy to talk to, comfortable to be with, and darned good looking. And interested in her. Or was he? She thought so, but maybe she had been out of circulation so long that she couldn’t really tell anymore. Maybe she was just kidding herself. And was she ready to date again? Did she ever want to date again? She had been telling herself that she would never get involved with another man after finding out that she barely knew Paul after all those years of marriage. And yet here she was daydreaming about a man she barely knew, like she was in high school. She forced her attention back to the stack of paint chips she was holding with the thought that maybe John wouldn’t follow up about this weekend. Maybe she didn’t have anything to worry about after all.
She returned home, and after careful consideration of her options, left a message for Sam that she wanted her kitchen to be painted a warm beige called Toasted Coconut. She selected a soft yellow with the happy name, Yellow Ducky, for her bedroom. Sam arrived shortly before five with the paint in hand and began to prep the kitchen, and Maggie retreated to the library to work.
Chapter 11
Alex Scanlon planned to spend his day preparing a motion for summary judgment. He had no client appointments scheduled and was looking forward to a day of research and writing. He was good at both and enjoyed them.
He opened the large envelope
that had been shoved through the mail slot of his office. As Tonya promised, it contained copies of the pension plan annual reports. He put them on the corner of his desk and took one of them into the break room to thumb through while the coffee brewed. By the time he filled his cup and returned to his desk, he was hooked. He spent the rest of the day pouring through the papers, compiling notes and making lists of items to follow up on. His assistant said goodnight hours ago. He took off his glasses, rubbed his tired eyes, and placed a call to Maggie Martin.
“Maggie? This is Alex Scanlon. Tonya said you’d be back in town. I’ve spent the day looking at the pension fund reports. Have you had a chance to review them yet?”
Maggie replied that she had just started and asked him if he had come to any conclusions. Alex let out a heavy sigh and spent the next thirty minutes going over his notes. Maggie listened attentively and interrupted him only occasionally for clarification. “I don’t want to sway your analysis,” he said. “But I don’t think the information can be interpreted any other way.”
“I don’t think so either,” Maggie agreed. “I’ll get through this material tonight, and I’ll call you in the morning if I disagree with you or have anything to add. Assuming I corroborate your conclusions, we need to bring this information to the committee as soon as possible.”
“If I haven’t heard from you by ten tomorrow morning, I’ll call Tonya,” Alex said.
“You sound exhausted. There’s nothing more to do tonight. Go home, try to relax and get a good night’s sleep,” Maggie added in a motherly tone.
***
Tonya Holmes arrived at Scanlon & Ryan shortly before five on Wednesday night. She wanted to copy an agenda and set out materials before the committee arrived at five thirty. The call from Alex the morning before had confirmed their worst fears. She wondered if this small group could tackle what appeared to be ingrained and pervasive corruption in the town’s government.
Coming to Rosemont Page 7