Goodbye, Magnolia (Cornerstone Book 1)

by Krista Noorman

  She rolled her eyes at him.

  As the carriage rounded the corner and headed up Grand Avenue with it’s long row of trees and old fashioned street lights, the majestic white porch of the hotel peeked through the trees.

  “Oh my goodness,” declared Sarah.

  The carriage turned to the left and pulled up to the front of the hotel.

  “The Grand Hotel,” the driver announced.

  “Wow!” Simon exclaimed.

  “Double wow!” agreed Maggie. She had seen the hotel before, but it never ceased to amaze her.

  The porch was huge, longer than two football fields, with a hundred white rocking chairs spread along its length for the guests to relax and enjoy the view of the Straits of Mackinac. Thousands of red geraniums, the hotel’s signature flower, decorated the porch, and American flags flew proudly all along its expanse.

  “This is really impressive,” Simon gushed as they climbed the stairs.

  When they arrived on the porch, they took in the view of the Straits, the gardens below, and the famous Esther Williams swimming pool.

  “I could get used to this,” Maggie said with a sigh.

  Once they were settled in their rooms and rested from their journey, Maggie and Sarah returned to the porch to await DeDe’s instructions for the rehearsal. She arrived within minutes along with a very familiar face.

  “Hello, team!” DeDe greeted them. “Simon and Anna are already with the couple. We’re about to get started, but let me make some introductions. Governor, I’d like you to meet Maggie James and her assistant Sarah James.”

  “James and James,” the governor stated as he extended his hand to Maggie. “Are you two related?”

  “By marriage, sir. Sarah recently married my brother.”

  “Well, congratulations, young lady.” He reached out to shake Sarah’s hand as well.

  “Thank you so much,” Sarah replied.

  “I hope you’ll enjoy your time here with us and take lots of pictures for my little girl.”

  “Oh, we will,” Maggie promised. “It’s so lovely to meet you.”

  “And both of you as well.” He left them then to join his family for the rehearsal.

  DeDe gave Maggie a squeeze. “You look great, by the way. That dress is killer.”

  “Thanks!” She felt beautiful in her tea length pink sundress with the flowing skirt.

  “Are you ready for this?”

  Maggie nodded. “Absolutely.”

  “Then go do your thing.”

  The bridal party and family gathered in the Tea Garden around the fountain, where the ceremony would take place. DeDe’s planning and efficiency got the rehearsal done in record time, and every moment, every detail of the rehearsal and dinner, was thoroughly documented by Maggie and Simon.

  When dinner was over, Lacey and George went with Simon to the end of the porch for pictures at sunset with the Straits in the background. Maggie followed and watched from a distance. Unlike that day back in college when he had made her feel so uncomfortable in front of the camera, he was very good at getting his couples to relax and be themselves. He had a way of getting them to interact with each other and with him so they were comfortable enough to do some of the more fashion inspired poses that he was known for. She was a little envious of his talent at that moment.

  Maggie leaned against one of the pillars while she watched.

  When Lacey and George left, Simon walked over to the edge of the porch and looked out at the water. He stood there for several minutes and seemed deep in thought.

  The click of her heels against the porch floor turned his head.

  “You are amazing at this job,” she complimented him.

  He gave her a once over, really looking at her for the first time all night. “Miss James,” he spoke in that flirtatious way of his. “That is a dancin’ dress.”

  She spun around and the dress lifted a bit, then flowed around her legs as she stopped.

  He stepped forward and took her hand, spinning her around, then pulling her backwards into his arms.

  “Hi,” he whispered and spun her out again making her skirt twirl even more.

  Maggie laughed happily.

  He spun her around again and pulled her in. This time, he placed one hand on her back and held her hand against his chest with the other, and he started to sway.

  “Simon, there’s no music.”

  “Who needs music,” he whispered into her ear.

  She smiled and relaxed into his arms. “I meant what I said. You’re very talented.”

  “Thank you.” He looked at her seriously for a moment. “You’re pretty good, too.”

  “Pretty good, huh?”

  “Well …” He pretended to question himself. “Pretty anyway.”

  She playfully punched his chest.

  “Ow!”

  Maggie looked back as she heard some people walk out onto the porch. She felt a little funny dancing with no music, and Simon sensed it.

  “Wanna walk?” he asked.

  “I should probably get some rest for tomorrow,” she replied.

  “But you’d rather take a walk with me.” He confidently took her hand and led her down the steps, along the drive, and off of the Grand Hotel property. He weaved his fingers through hers as they walked Grand Avenue toward town.

  She squeezed his hand and let go. She didn’t want to give him the wrong idea. Although, showing up in this dress and dancing with him on the porch probably weren’t the best decisions she had ever made. And walking together in the moonlight in this romantic setting made her feel weak around him.

  “So, what happened to you?” She broke the silence first.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You disappeared.” I knew you would.

  “Miss me?” he asked with a little twinkle in his eye.

  She glanced over at him, the street lights glowing on his face, his eyes on the sidewalk ahead.

  “Yes.” Even she was surprised by her answer.

  He looked over at her. “Really?”

  “Don’t get all flattered,” she commanded. “I should be really ticked off at you right now.”

  “Should you?”

  “Stop responding with a question.”

  “Why?”

  She groaned in frustration. “Simon.”

  “Sorry.”

  “So, where have you been?” she asked curiously.

  “Around.”

  She was fed up. “Single word answers won’t work either. Can we go back now?”

  “Can we?” He grinned mischievously.

  Maggie groaned again. He wasn’t taking her seriously at all.

  “I’m kidding.” He held up his hands to block any attacks. “Just walk with me a little longer.”

  They walked in silence through the town. It was quiet except for the clop clop clop of the horses’ hooves on the street. He took her hand again and wound his fingers through hers. She didn’t let go this time. He led her past the shops and hotels to the boardwalk. They passed the library and several cottages and came to a little bench just before the boardwalk ended. It was dark there, with only the subtle lights from the boardwalk path, the faint glow of the houses, and a light from the elementary school across the street.

  Simon sat on the bench and pulled Maggie down beside him. They sat for a few minutes listening to the water rushing in and out along the shore. He held tightly to her hand.

  Maggie was the first to speak. “What is with you? You seem different somehow.”

  "I've been doing a lot of soul searching the past few months,” he admitted.

  This surprised her.

  “I've made a lot of mistakes,” he continued. “And I'm sorry. I’m so sorry, Maggie. I knew you didn't want to be with me, but I pushed the issue anyway, and I feel really bad about that.”

  Maggie gulped. She didn't know what to say.

  "I haven't made the greatest choices in my life, and that's because my focus was in the wrong places. I see that n
ow."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean if I had actually paid attention in chapel back in college, maybe I would have figured out sooner that God's plans are better than mine. I've been looking for happiness everywhere but where I should’ve been."

  She was surprised to hear him speak of God. Though they attended a Christian college, Simon had always been a bit of a campus rebel and much more interested in girls than in his spiritual life.

  “Well, it sounds like your soul searching has been a good thing,” she managed.

  He replied with a squeeze of her hand.

  “I’m thinking of leaving Michigan,” he confessed.

  “You’re what?” Maggie felt completely blindsided.

  “Uncle Pete’s doin’ fine with his studio now. We talked about it, and he doesn’t need me to help him any more. I’ve actually been thinking of moving since before he asked me to help, so I think it’s time.”

  “What about the wedding part of his business?” Surely he needed to stick around for that.

  “Oh, Pete’s been referring all his wedding calls and emails to you for months now.”

  “He ... he has?” Maggie barely got the words out.

  Simon nodded. “Yeah, I told him to.”

  She hadn’t questioned why there was a sudden pickup in inquiries over the past few months. That’s how things went sometimes. There would be a lot of emails all at once and then very few for weeks, so she’d thought nothing of it.

  Her mind raced. She was shocked by this turn of events.“Where will you go?”

  “California,” he answered without hesitation.

  Maggie swallowed hard. So far?

  “There’s just nothin’ keeping me here any more.” He avoided looking her in the eye. “I’ve been spending a lot of time out there at my parents’ house, looking for a place to live, getting things ready to transition my business out there.”

  Maggie let go of his hand. She couldn’t concentrate with his thumb rubbing against hers, and she had things she wanted to say. “So, you’re not just thinking about this then? You’ve already made your plans. You’re leaving.”

  Simon was silent.

  Maggie stood. “Why am I not surprised?” She fled down the boardwalk.

  “Maggie, wait!” He had to speed walk to catch up with her.

  She spun around to face him. “What was that all about at the wedding then, if you were already planning on leaving?”

  Simon looked out at the dark waters, avoiding eye contact once more. “I wasn’t planning to leave then.”

  “Right.” Maggie nodded knowingly. “So this is about what I said at Christmas.”

  He looked at her again. “I’m glad I heard that, otherwise I never would have known that’s how you really felt.”

  “I knew this was gonna happen.” Her anger boiled up. “You can’t tell someone you’re not going anywhere then totally disappear from their life.”

  He was flabbergasted. “You didn’t believe me when I said that anyway.”

  “Yeah, well ... I wanted you to prove me wrong.” Maggie blurted the words without thinking, and she was as surprised as Simon by this sudden, unexpected truth.

  It hung in the air between them.

  Sudden tears sprung to the surface. She tried unsuccessfully to hold them in.

  Simon stepped closer and took her face in his hands, gazing tenderly into her eyes.

  “Then tell me to stay.”

  Maggie couldn’t say anything. She wanted to, but she couldn’t seem to reconcile the changes in him with the untrustworthy man she thought he was. Fear was still holding her back from telling him what she really wanted to, from asking him into her life, from finally moving on.

  She looked down.

  He let go and sighed. “Then I’m going.”

  She watched him walk briskly across the yard of the elementary school, back over to Grand Avenue, and up the hill toward the hotel. She couldn’t bring herself to follow. Sadness washed over her, and then a sudden panic that she might never see Simon again after Sunday. Tears spilled over her cheeks, and all the reasons she’d been holding onto for not being with him seemed insignificant in that moment. All she could do was pray.

  Oh, Lord, I thought he wasn’t the one for me, but my heart is breaking right now. I think I’ve made a huge mistake. Show me what to do. Please, help me to see the big picture.

  June 19, 2010

  Lacey Hartman & George Summers

  Maggie awoke on the wedding day with puffy eyes from crying herself to sleep. Sarah had been asleep when she returned to the room, so she shut herself in the bathroom and let the tears flow.

  She sat up in bed thinking almost all night. For all those months, Simon had stayed away, avoided vendor gatherings, and this year’s convention in Vegas. He stopped coming to her parents’ house to play cards with Tom and the guys. She no longer saw him around Hastings. He really had disappeared.

  But could she blame him? After he overheard her conversation with Sarah, she understood. She had hurt him deeply with her words. But she thought he would eventually come back. She thought at some point there would be a conversation and all would be well again. Because he always came back.

  Only he didn’t. And now he would be thousands of miles away. He was leaving for good.

  As the morning light filled the room, Sarah stirred. She rolled over and saw Maggie’s sad expression.

  “Mags, what’s wrong?” Sarah climbed over onto the bed with her and held her while she cried.

  “Simon’s moving to California,” she mumbled.

  “California? Wow! I can’t believe that.”

  “It’s because he heard us talking at Christmas.”

  Sarah shook her head. “I’m sure that’s not why he’s moving.”

  “It is. He’s leaving because of what I said.”

  Sarah put her arm around Maggie. “Did he say that?”

  She nodded in reply. “He wanted me to tell him to stay, but I don’t think I can.”

  “Why not? Maggie, why do you think you’re so upset about him leaving?”

  Maggie had no reply.

  “It’s because you love him, and you don’t want him to go.” Sarah shifted until they were facing each other. “Look, I know Ben hurt you, and I know you’re really scared, but you have to let that go. You have to finally take this chance or you’re never gonna find out if Simon’s the right guy for you. You have to be willing to open your heart again, even at the risk of it being broken. Otherwise, you’re not allowing God to bring you the one he’s been preparing for you all this time. Maybe that’s Simon. Maybe it’s not. But you have to try.”

  Maggie wrapped her arms around Sarah and hugged her tight.

  Sarah grabbed a tissue and wiped the tears from Maggie’s face. She then scurried about the room, grabbed a wet washcloth for Maggie to wash up with, brewed a pot of coffee, and laid their clothing out on the bed. She really was an amazing assistant and sister.

  Maggie walked over to look at her reflection in the mirror. “I can’t go to the wedding looking like this.”

  “I’ll take care of you.” Sarah called the front desk and had some cucumbers sent up to help take away the puffiness.

  Maggie laid back on her bed with the cucumbers over her eyes, trying not to cry again. But every time she thought about her conversation with Simon, the tears threatened to fall. Get control of your emotions. You have a job to do.

  “Here’s coffee.”

  Maggie heard her set it on the stand next to the bed.

  “You’re the best,” Maggie declared. “Thank you.” She peeled the cucumbers from her eyes.

  “Now, if Simon’s leaving, then he might as well see what he’ll be missing.” Sarah held up Maggie’s little black dress. “Let’s make you look stunning.”

  Maggie looked at her dress and smiled. “Let’s.”

  Sarah worked magic on Maggie’s hair, giving her soft curls all over her head. She normally pulled her hair into a bun or pony
tail to keep it out of her face while she worked, but on this day she left it down. Her long loose curls flowed over her shoulders and tickled her back, half of which was revealed by the low cut back of her dress.

  There before her in the mirror was the reflection of a beautiful girl, with no evidence of puffy eyes. She smiled at Sarah.

  Sarah smiled back confidently. “He’s an idiot if he leaves.”

  The girls gathered their equipment and headed to the salon, where Lacey and her bridesmaids were getting their hair and makeup done. Maggie was relieved that Simon was spending the morning with the guys on the golf course. She would be able to work much better without him around, at least until the wedding.

  “Good morning, Maggie,” Lacey greeted her with a hug. “Hi, Sarah.”

  “Are you ready for this?” asked Maggie with a smile.

  “More than ready to marry the man of my dreams,” Lacey gushed.

  The salon was alive with commotion as the bride, her eight bridesmaids, and two flower girls were worked on by several hair stylists and makeup artists. Lacey had brought a group of stylists along for the occasion.

  Maggie photographed every step of Lacey’s hair being styled and each stage of her makeup. Lacey was a beautiful girl, but when they were through, she looked breathtaking.

  When the rest of the girls were ready, carriages took them to the Governor’s Summer Residence, situated on the bluff above town. It was such an honor to be invited into this home, which had been used as the summer residence for every governor of Michigan since the mid-1940’s.

  As soon as she entered the house, Maggie walked over to the windows and looked out at the view of the Straits and the little town below. She was very grateful that her job had brought her to this beautiful place.

  She listened as the bridesmaids chatted and waited on Lacey hand and foot. They made sure she was comfortable and had something to eat so she wouldn’t pass out at the ceremony. The maid of honor poured several glasses of champagne and a couple tiny cups of juice for the flower girls.

  “To Lacey and George.” She held her glass in the air.

  Maggie smiled to herself as she snapped a few shots of the flower girls tapping their cups together and then against Lacey’s glass.