Sam came into the room and sat down beside her on the couch. He watched the play on the floor for a minute, and then said to her, "Eric seems to be getting along with them quite well."
"Yes. He's playing a computer game with them."
Sam raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. "With blocks?"
"Don't ask me."
"Well, whatever he's doing they seem to be hanging on his every word. But that's not why I came over here. I wanted to let you know that Mom and Dad are talking about coming here for Christmas."
"What? Why?" Maggie felt nervous and wasn't sure why.
"I thought that would get your attention. They've heard about Eric--"
"From you, obviously."
"And they want to meet him since you seem to be serious about him. You know how they can be a bit over-protective."
"But I'm not ready!" she blurted out.
"Ready?"
"I mean, I haven't even known him that long. But I do love him. What if they find something wrong with him?"
"Do you really think they would?"
"How do I know? I realized tonight that there is still a lot that I don't know about him."
"Does that make you feel more cautious?"
"No," she said automatically. Then she smiled at her brother. "No, I feel perfectly safe with him. Thanks for asking that. I've been wondering about the differences between us, but the bottom line is that we love each other. Everything else can be worked out."
He put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her. "I'm happy for you. And you sound ready for Mom and Dad to meet him. At least he has a reputation they can check out before they get here. When they came to meet Anna, it was, hmm, stressful."
"They love Anna!"
"Now they do. But they had to get to know her. It all turned out okay once they got to know her. Anyway, just be prepared to see them around Christmas."
"Okay."
"Is he trying to explain binary numbers to those kids?" Sam asked.
"Beats me. He's all excited about their random choices."
"Interesting, the way the genius mind works."
"He really is a genius then?"
"Oh yes. I've been reading up on him. In the computer world he's been known as a phenomenon since he was a teenager. I'm frankly surprised at how well he fits in with people outside his area of interest."
"I never really notice that side of him. Maybe it's time I did. I know he worked hard to be more than just a nerd when it came to socializing."
"Come on. Let's go rescue him from the kiddos. Or them from him," Sam said with a laugh.
Maggie and Eric took Jennifer in to her parents, who were watching the football game. The little girl fell asleep in her father's arms almost immediately.
Cody looked at them and said, "What did you play that wore her out so much? We need to try it at bedtime at home."
Holly and Jason came over and grabbed the couple before Eric could respond. They went to the dining room and sat at the table where Jason proceeded to grill Eric about everything in his life. Maggie wondered if every man around her was over-protective. Maybe it had to do with her looks.
She had a good time talking to Holly, who had some different ideas for her.
"How about taking some aptitude tests? I have a variety of tests that we give at my agency. It might help you, especially if you're thinking of returning to school, to narrow down your interests."
"Maybe. I guess it couldn't hurt," she replied, noticing that Eric had glanced at her sharply when Holly said that. She had told him about her idea of returning to school--hadn't she?
Everyone ended up joining them in the dining room for dessert. The dessert wine Eric had brought went perfectly with the pies.
"All of you had better take home leftovers," Betsy reminded them.
"We have it all planned out," Julia said. "When we were putting stuff away we divided it up. It's all ready to go."
They sat around the table, sipping wine, and talking of everything from the Sully Point Project to the latest antics of Joshua, which involved dumping an entire bottle of shampoo onto a carpet. Eric held Maggie's hand and she felt thoroughly content with her world.
Finally everyone began to leave. Hugs and kisses were given and received. Eric left the rest of the bottles of wine that hadn't been drunk, over Frank's protestations. Maggie gathered up leftovers along with a piece of pecan and a piece of pumpkin pie.
In the car on the way home, Eric said, "I can't tell you when I've had a more enjoyable time. Those are a great bunch of people."
"Mm, yeah," Maggie said sleepily. She could hear her comfy bed calling her name.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the seat. She was almost asleep when she felt the car slowing down.
"Are we there yet?"
"Not quite. I have to show you something."
She opened her eyes to see that Eric had pulled into a parking space in front of Lucretia's. He turned to Maggie and said, "I can't keep it a secret until Christmas--I have to tell you about it now."
"Tell me what?" Maggie asked, bemused.
"Here's the thing. It was supposed to be a Christmas present, but...You see that empty building next to Lucretia's shop? I'm buying it for you. So that you can start an arts and crafts business here in town."
Eric was looking at her with a huge smile on his face, clearly waiting to hear that she was thrilled. There was silence in the car for a full minute.
"Maggie? Did you hear me?"
She turned to face him, and knew her face had flushed red. "Let me get this straight. You are buying me a building so I can start my own business. And you've even picked out what business it is to be. Correct?"
"Well, yes, but--"
"And you did this all without consulting me at all? You didn't think that maybe I should have some say in it? It being my life and all?"
"No, I mean, yes. You have to understand--"
"Oh, I understand all right. You think you need to make this kind of decision for me. That the brilliant Eric Stanton knows better than average little Maggie. That somehow I can't make decisions on my own. Believe me, I understand perfectly."
She saw his mouth shut firmly this time, unwilling to say anything.
"What on earth made you think that I'd want this? Have I ever said I wanted a shop of my own? Have I even hinted that I wanted to make arts and crafts my job? How dare you presume to make that kind of decision for me!"
"I thought you were just not focusing on what you really wanted."
"Not focusing...Eric, I'm not the airhead you seem to think I am. How--why--"
"I'm sorry, Maggie. And I don't think you're an airhead. Frank tried to tell me I was presuming too much--"
"Frank! You told Frank you were doing this? Who else did you tell? My brother?"
"No, no, nobody else. I saw that you were unhappy with public relations, and everyone said how much you were into doing arts and crafts. It seemed to me that you were going to stay doing something you didn't enjoy, when you could be doing something you felt passionate about. Then I thought maybe money was a stopping point for you, and that I could take care of that part of it for you."
"You thought I'd just accept a building, accept money from you for this?"
"Well, yes, I thought it only made sense."
"You really, really don't know me very well, Eric. I would never let you buy me a freaking building! If I ever do start up my own business it will be with my own money, or a loan from the bank. I'd die before accepting a handout from you like that."
"A handout? Maggie, you're taking this all wrong."
"Wrong? Did you, or did you not, buy me a building? With the intention of my starting up an arts and crafts business...all without asking me, ever, if I wanted any of it?"
"I...I wanted it to be a surprise."
"Oh, it's a surprise all right. I'm surprised at how you could think I'd go along with this."
Maggie had crossed her arms across her chest, and was
breathing rapidly. Eric was obviously thinking fast, trying to figure out how this had gone so wrong.
"Maggie," he said, tentatively. "I didn't think. I wanted to do something special for you and I just assumed. I assumed a lot. Of course, I know it's your life and your choice, what you end up doing. I wondered tonight when I heard Holly mentioning school to you, and I guess that's partly what pushed me to tell you about this now. Are you seriously thinking of going back to college?"
Maggie threw up her hands. "I don't know yet! I know I mentioned it as a possibility to you before this. I need time to explore a lot of different avenues, to see what it is I really want to do with my life that means something. I'd never considered an arts and crafts shop, but now that I am, I can tell you it doesn't really appeal to me. I love all my crafty projects, but they are just for me, not something I feel like teaching or selling. And you'd know that, if you had bothered to ask me about any of this instead of presuming for me. Man, I am so sick to death of people thinking they can or should decide for me, of being over-protective. I'm not a helpless little girl!"
Eric looked up at that and gave her a small smile. "No, you are definitely not a little girl. But maybe, okay maybe I was led astray by how small and petite you are. I forgot that you are a fully capable adult and that is...terrible. Can you forgive me?"
"I don't know. I'm still completely blown away by all this. First I spend half the evening hearing from various family members just how smart you are, the genius in our midst, and must confess that kind of blew me away. Now this. How can you be a genius and be so utterly stupid about me?"
He cringed. "I'm only a genius in particular areas, not when it comes to people. I'm still learning about people, how to interact, how to live really. Please forgive me. It was crazy stupid of me to assume so much. I should have talked to you."
"Eric, do you think we have too many differences to make it?"
"Don't say that. Yes, we have differences, but I love you! Maybe our differences can only enrich our lives together. Does it bother you, the whole 'genius' thing?"
"A little bit, I'll admit that. I don't want you seeing me as dumb compared to you."
"No, no, no, I never would. You don't understand--to me, you are the genius. Your passion, your zest for life, the way you are with people, so open and honest, your ability to have fun--it's all so different from what I've been all my life. I'm in awe of you."
"Really?" she asked, feeling suddenly quite a bit better.
"Really. Don't let my idiocy with the building interfere with the good thing we have going here."
"All right. I forgive you. As long as you promise, sincerely promise, to never make decisions about my life without consulting me again."
"I promise. Are we okay now?"
"We will be," she said, and leaned across the seat to kiss him briefly.
He started the car and as they drove away, she asked, "What about the building? Did you actually buy it or were just in the process?"
"The closing was to be this week. I can get out of it. It will disappoint Lucretia, however. She owns that building and has wanted someone to buy it for a while."
"Hmm. I wonder..."
"What?"
"I was thinking about what is missing on the town square. You know what we need there? A music shop. A place where people can buy music cd's but also instruments. You know, Eric, you would be perfect to do that. With your interest in music, you could really make a go of it."
"Uh, wait a minute. I have an interest in music but I wouldn't want--" He stopped and groaned.
"See what I did there?" Maggie asked, grinning at him.
"Yeah, yeah, okay I get it. That's not a bad idea for a shop here. Just not run by me."
"It's too bad my sister loves L.A. so much. If we could get her out here, she'd be perfect for it. She loves music."
"Which sister is this?"
"Beth. Her name is actually Maribeth, but she likes it shortened. She's the true baby of the family in terms of age. She's a year younger than me. She and I used to share an apartment in Philadelphia. Then I ended up here. She went out to L.A. in hopes of becoming an actress. I don't think that's gone too well for her. Maybe I should ask her if she'd be interested in a project like this."
"If that were the case, maybe I should buy the building after all. Although, aren't we doing the same thing to Beth that we've agreed not to do to each other?"
"Good point. I'll call her and just throw the idea out there. See how she responds."
They'd arrived at Maggie's apartment parking lot, and Eric shut off the car. "So, is this good night? Or can I come up?"
She was startled, and then appreciative that he'd asked. "Please do come up. You are forgiven, and I think we've learned some stuff about each other in the process. And I have to say, buying a building for a girl is a nice gesture."
He laughed. "Believe me, I'll not make that mistake again with you. No more buildings unless you ask for one."
They ran up the stairs, carrying a bag of leftovers and pie. Once inside, and after the food was put away, Eric turned her to face him and kissed her passionately. His kisses were just amazing, she thought. Like a wonderful present each and every time.
When he came up for air, he said quietly, "Now I know we're really okay."
"You know, we might need to have make-up sex to be sure," Maggie suggested.
"That is, of course, necessary."
She laughed and threw her arms around his neck, planting little kisses all over his face. "I love you, Eric, I love you."
He hugged her tightly to him. "Thank God."
Chapter 5
The next week, Maggie called her sister Beth. She discovered that Beth was depressed and very unhappy about her prospects there. Maggie felt there was more to the story than what Beth was saying, but she couldn't get it out of her. She finally got off the phone with her, deciding to sic her sister Rose on Beth to find out what was going on.
She continued to work on her gift for Holly. Ever since she found out that Holly owned the bakery in Sully Point, and since she'd been going in there often, she'd thought that the look of the place might be enhanced by two macrame hangers. She was making them out of silken chord, and they were tiered, so that there could be baskets inserted on each level, filled with rolls, cookies and more. She thought the golden color of the cords would go well with the butter-yellow color of the walls.
Her quilts were finished, the decoupage boxes were all done except for Eric's. It had taken some begging on the phone to her mother to get her to send a couple of childhood photos. That phone call had been cut short by her mother getting another call. The questions about who Eric was, who his family was, had just started. Maggie had felt relieved at the reprieve.
Not that she was worried about her parents liking Eric. He was easy to like. He'd decided to go ahead and buy the building from Lucretia, and Maggie was pretty sure it was only due to his wanting to take it off Lucretia's hands to make the woman happy.
The first big snow of the season started at the end of the next week, in the evening when she was staying at Eric's place for a change. He sat in the big rocking chair, in the area in front of the bay window, and she sat in his lap, curled up under a blanket, her head on his chest. They'd had a wonderful dinner. He had finally made the lasagna, and it was just as good as expected. When the snow started, they'd brought their brandy over to watch it through the window.
Maggie wondered if it were possible to be more content. The quiet of snow falling outside seemed to penetrate the cabin on the beachside cliff. It felt to her like they were in their own little bubble of time and space, suspended in the randomness of snowflakes falling to earth.
"Ah, I get it now. Randomness can be fascinating."
He looked down at her as she looked up at him. "Exactly!" He bent his head and kissed her softly, and then she laid her head back down against his chest. She could hear his heartbeat, slow and steady, strong and reassuring. She fell asleep, listening to that heart
so filled with love.
When he was carrying her into the bedroom, she woke up.
"Where--oh, I fell asleep."
"Yes, you did, and you even snored a bit."
"I did not!" she said, horrified.
"Oh yes, you did," he said, laughing at her expression. "I think it was because of the brandy."
"I never snore. You must have misheard."
"Darling, you snore when you've been drinking."
"Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"Because, it's..."
"Don't say it!"
"Cute."
"I told you not to say it."
"Uh oh. Sounds like I'm in trouble."
"You bet you are, pal. Put me down."
"Okay." He dropped her on the bed. "Now what?"
"Now--you pay!"
She attacked him with tickling and it turned out he was surprisingly very ticklish. He managed to distract her fairly quickly, however, with kisses and caresses that turned her on and sent her thoughts of revenge flying. She'd once asked him how, if he'd been such a geeky teen and even adult, that he'd gotten so good at being with a woman.
He'd looked uncomfortable, but then admitted to reading--a lot. Lots of romance novels. He said it was the only way he knew to get the information he needed. Once he had started dating, which had been after he was twenty-one years old, he'd put the things he'd read about into practice and discovered that, for the most part, his dates were responsive.
"But being with you, Maggie, your passion, your love, that has taught me more than any book ever could," he'd said.
The night of the snowstorm she was pretty sure he used every move he'd ever read about. They didn't fall asleep for good until around five in the morning. They woke up a few hours later, freezing. The heat had gone out, along with the lights.
Stumbling around getting dressed, they layered shirts and sweaters with warm pants. Maggie ended up wearing one of his tightly-knit cabled sweaters that came down to her knees. They called around and discovered that part of the town was without electricity. The Grainger family was gathering at Holly and Jason's house. It had been specially designed by Jason to withstand any weather, and had redundant heat and electrical sources.
Love Promises (Sully Point, Book 4) Page 9