"You can leave if that's all you have to say."
"I want you to reconsider. If you don't want to be with me, OK, fine. I'll get over it eventually, but this? You getting married just because you think that's what you've got to do? That's so stupid, Mags."
"That's not why I'm getting married. I love him. That's why."
"Careful," he taunted. "Your low GPA is showing."
I gritted my teeth. "You can be a real jerk, you know that?"
"And you were never this dumb when we dated!" he yelled. "I can only account it to the company you're keeping."
"And that's your cue." I turned to leave and he grabbed my arm.
Then he yelped and glared at me. "How do you keep doing that?"
"Doesn't matter," I muttered sadly. I felt Caleb's anger as he heard what was going on through me. I assured him it was OK. I was sending Chad home anyway. "Go home, Chad. I'm sorry that you think that I'm ruining my life, but it's the opposite. One day you'll meet a great-"
"Oh, really?" He turned in an angry circle. "The old You'll meet a great girl and forget all about me bit?"
"I was going to say you'll meet someone and know what it's like to want to marry them, no matter what."
"Ah… I guess this is it. I tried. At least I can say I tried."
"I guess so." I swallowed. "I really do hope you have a great life. I hope school is great and you do well with football…meet someone one day."
He nodded, deflated. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that stuff. I just love you, Maggie. And I hate to think that your life took a turn for worse because of a stupid thing I did last year."
"You don't get to take credit for my decisions, Chad," I said softly. "I didn't take a turn for the worse. I would never have met Caleb and his family, and Dad would have never woken up from his funk if everything hadn't happened that way. You can't…outrun your destiny."
He gave me a strange look, but eventually just nodded once. "Bye, Mags. See you around maybe."
"Probably not," I said, not unkindly. It was just facts.
He nodded with his back turned as he strode to his car. I felt a heavy relief tainted with a hint of disappointment. I needed a minute before going back inside. I went to the side of the porch and stood, watching the cars as they zoomed and crawled through my neighborhood. My older neighbor lady was shelling peas or something on her porch swing. She waved and I waved back just as the front door opened. I stayed put. I heard Mom's thoughts as she pulled her phone out and dialed a number. She was angry.
"Haddock's here!" she hissed. "Maggie's real father. How the hell did Haddock find out about Maggie? How the hell did Maggie find out about Haddock?"
The person on the line, a male, said, "Sweet thing, just keep focus. I just need to you to come back to California and forget all about those hillbillies."
"Oh, I will," she said with surety. "I just need to do a couple more things and then I'll be on my way."
"Did you get the bracelet?"
"Yep. And I stole a couple rings and things from that twit that lives with him now." She laughed. "That'll fetch a pretty penny for when I get back. And I talked to Jim about Maggie coming back with me. He refused to hear a word of it, of course. She's fallen in love with some boy here."
The man laughed and I wondered why he would be happy to have me come back with her to California. "Well they could both come and work in our restaurant if they want."
"He's loaded. Hiring Maggie for cheap live-in labor is out now. Besides, she's really too pretty for manual labor."
"If she looks anything like you, she's as pretty as a peach."
I swallowed vomit.
"She looks just like me," she said proudly. "Anyway. I got most of the things I came for. All of which should set us up for a little while. Maggie won't be able to help us like I thought, but it's fine. She can stay in this po-dunk town all she wants." She examined her nails.
"What about life insurance. She got any?"
"Jim does." She laughed. "Too bad we're divorced now or I could kill him before I leave. Then he'll at least be of some use to me."
I felt the last remaining shred of feeling for my mother drain away. As I watched her back leave, I knew there was never any real love for me from that woman. I felt an odd, dull ache. It was as if I were sad, but it was irrelevant. The hole or void she may have inflicted on me was long filled. But it didn't mean that it didn’t hurt like the dickens to see with your own eyes that your mother could give two craps about you.
I heard Caleb come onto the porch and I waited knowing he would find me within seconds. He did. The hard set of his mouth told me he already knew everything. He pulled me by my elbows and rubbed my back.
"Don't spend another second thinking about that woman," he commanded softly.
My phone buzzed with a text. I assumed it was Bish telling us he was almost there, but it wasn't.
It was Beck.
I jumped and scrolled to read it.
We're fine. We holed up somewhere Ralph knows out of the way. Stop texting me. I don't want to see u. I don't want to know u anymore. When the coast is clear, let me know. Otherwise, we'll stay gone for a while.
I stared at it sadly. I had saved her life and she didn't want to know me anymore?
I slammed my phone shut and looked up at Caleb. "Wow. What an ungrateful cow."
Chapter 14
Caleb
Yikes.
Maggie was livid. With good reason, mostly. Beck was being childish. Yes, humans didn't understand us, but this was a little ridiculous. Or maybe I was just being biased because she was hurting my Maggie.
"Baby, don't worry about her. She's just…"
"I just don't understand how she can be that way. And my mom? And Chad? Is everybody out to make me feel like crap today? I shouldn’t be having doubts the day before our wedding."
"What kind of doubts?"
"Not wedding doubts, just…doubts. Why is all of this happening?" She sniffed and the first - of what I figured - of many tears slid down her cheek, effectively breaking my heart. "You don't have any doubt?"
I took her face…her gorgeous, tear-streaked face in my hands and looked her straight in the eye. “Doubt? No, not ever. Not about you, not about us and not about what we’re meant to be doing right now.”
“But all of these things keep popping up,” she argued, but the fight was just gone right out of her. She sniffled, her fists wrapped in my shirt front, whether she knew it or not. “I don’t doubt us either, of course not. I just don’t understand why things have to be so hard-”
“It’s worth it because it’s hard, baby. Your dad, your mom, Bish, Haddock, me…Chad,” I growled his name, disgruntled, “every one of us has been pulled to you for a reason. We just need to see how we can make it all work…where hopefully, they don’t kill each other.” I smirked for good measure.
The desired effect was a smile and she complied with a sigh. “Yeah, I know. You’re right.” She slipped closer, her hands going around my waist. “You’re really awesome, you know that?”
“I am looking forward to an eternity of you stealing my lines, sweetheart.” I pulled her closer, loving the way she bit her lip sideways, her heart beat hitching a slight bit, in anticipation of my kiss. “An eternity.”
And then I worked hard to keep in a groan when her lips wrapped around my bottom one and tugged. Bish had the worst timing a guy could have when he pulled into the driveway at that moment. She licked her lips as she pulled back. She smirked at my expression.
Smirked!
"Thank you."
"Don’t thank me yet," I said in a foretelling manner.
She cocked her head to the side. "Am I about to find out what all the sudden math problems have been about?"
"Yep." I took her hand and we met Bish half way.
"What's up?" he said easily.
"Something," I said. "Something that is breaking all the rules. Something that I hope you'll accept and understand." I turned to Maggie. "And somethin
g I hope you'll forgive me for."
Her lips fell open. "What…"
I nodded for Bish to follow me and pulled Maggie with me to the smaller, but nice three bedroom, Victorian house next door to Maggie's father's. She got a little excited, thinking the obvious conclusion, so I hurried hoping to stop her disappointment. "This isn't the house I bought for you, baby."
"It's not?" she asked softly.
"No." I turned to Bish. "It's the house I bought for you."
"What's that now?" he said in utter confusion.
I started with a breath, "The groom is supposed to buy his bride a house and present it to her on their wedding day. And please don't be embarrassed or anything. I understand how hard it's been for you. And I know without a doubt that given enough time, you could have bought my sister this house yourself, but there isn't any time left. I want you to have it."
He sputtered. "But what about Maggie's house?"
I gulped a little and peeked at her. "I…have other plans for us. Don't worry. I'll take care of her."
"But…" he tried and stopped. "No. No, I can't take this. It's too-"
"It's not too much. You gave my sister the one thing she's always wanted. And to know that she and Maria will be safe and sound with you there to protect them and make sure they're happy, and I have no doubt that you will, is worth so much more than any stupid house." I looked him straight in the eyes. "We've had our differences, but this house is my gift to you as a thank you for taking care of Maggie all of those years, and now moving on to taking care of my sister. She's been through…so much." I felt my throat betray me with a choke. I cleared it. "Take it. Take the keys and start your life with her knowing that every bad thing, every sacrifice you both have made wasn't in vain. It wasn't for nothing." I reached into my pocket and held out the keys for him to take. "Take them."
I heard his prideful thoughts through Maggie, but they swiftly drifting away as his need to make my sister happy replaced them. He still had to protest though. "Caleb, come on…"
"You don’t need to thank me or do anything," I told him. "Taking care of my sister is thanks enough. You promise to take care of my sister, and I promise to take care of yours."
He looked like he wanted to tackle-hug me. Luckily he just shook my hand and nodded. "Yeah. Promise. Thank you, Caleb. Gah, just…thank you. This was all that I wanted…to give Jen and Maria a home." He scoffed at the house with a smile. "And the house beside Dad's just happened to be on the market?"
I smiled and shrugged. "I plead the fifth."
"Thanks. If there's ever anything…"
I nodded and looked down at my Maggie. "So…"
"So this is what you've been hiding?" I nodded. "And you really thought I'd be upset with you about this?"
"I just want you to understand that I didn't buy you a house. I know I was supposed to, but I have other plans for us that I'll spring on you later. A house isn't one of them."
She took my face in her hands as Bish went inside. "You are the sweetest man that ever walked this earth. You know that?" She was crying again, but happily this time.
I just shook my head. "The guy almost pummeled me daily trying to protect you. How could I not appreciate that?"
"I love you a million times more than I did two minutes ago. I didn't think that was possible." She sniffed and I wiped the tears under her eyes with my thumbs.
"Me either," I told her and moved one of her hands to my heart. "Feel that? A million times a minute for you." I smiled and enjoyed the way her heart sped up in happiness. "Your family is my family. And if there's ever anything that I can do for them for taking care of you until I found you, I'll do it."
She let her nose rub mine once. Then she leaned back and took a shuddering breath. "Give me the tour?"
"Sure." We met Bish inside as he looked around the empty rooms just waiting to be filled with their things. Maggie ran her fingers along the window sills and followed him. She listened to him as he pictured bringing Jen there tomorrow after the wedding and what she'd think of it.
He turned to us once we reached the kitchen. "Wow, it's a gorgeous house."
"Yes," Maggie agreed. "And you have plenty of room for Maria…and maybe more one day."
He gave her an affectionate look. "Only you would make babies walk through the door before I've even had a chance to bring the bride."
"I'm just saying."
He laughed. "I know exactly what you're saying." He shook my hand. "I think I'll head back before Jen starts to wonder. Ought to be fun trying to keep this a secret all night."
"Math works wonders for me," I told him.
He hugged Maggie into his side. "I'll try that. Thank you. I guess…I'll see you tomorrow."
She nodded and smiled cutely. "I'll be there!" she sang.
"I can't wait," he said, seemingly to himself. "Bye, guys."
"Bye," Maggie said softly. She turned to me. Her eyes held the promise of something that would make me a very happy guy tonight. "Take me home, Mr. Jacobson," she said and bit her lip.
"Yes, ma'am," I whispered and took her hand to lead her to the bike.
I was surprised to find Kyle and Lynne gone when we got back to the apartment. I was glad, let me tell you, but surprised. It didn't matter that tomorrow was our wedding and I had major plans to run away with her for days after. It didn't matter one bit. I still wanted her every night, every minute.
She pulled the hoodie off as soon as we got in, kicking her Converses off by the front door. I smiled at the display. "I'm taking a shower, OK?" she called.
"Need any help in there?" I bellowed and held in my laugh.
I heard her giggle. "Tomorrow night, I will definitely need your help."
Backfire. Daggum… I swiped my face and looked for something to do. I went into the kitchen and saw Bella's bowl on the counter. I sighed. That was something that was going to change as soon as we got back. I missed my girl. She stayed with Mom and Dad most of the time because I was in school, but no more. She and Maggie got along great and we were going to be our own little family. And Bella was going to be included in my plan, too. I couldn't wait until tomorrow where I could tell Maggie everything and hope she was as excited as I was.
There was laundry folded on the counter which meant that Rose had been there. I set out to put it all away to give me something to do. The obsidian box I gave Maggie was on her side of the bed. I peeked in it quickly to see if my vows were still inside. They were, still folded as I'd put them in there. I knew she hadn't written hers yet, what with all the craziness going on, but I really wanted her to read mine before tomorrow. Oh, well. They were just words, right? She knew I loved her.
As soon as I was done with the clothes, Maggie and I traded places. She came out in her towel and pawed through her clothes on the chair for something to wear. I went into the shower and hung my head, letting the scalding water beat on my neck and back.
I found myself smiling. Even after everything that happened today and yesterday and the day before that, tomorrow was what mattered more than anything.
She was almost mine.
Chapter 15
Maggie
I could hear his thoughts in the shower. The man was so happy about tomorrow and was even wishing the minutes away so that it would get here faster. I found myself giddy as I pulled my shirt over my head to go with my gray sweatpants. It was an old cheerleading shirt of mine from camp. It said, "Yeah, that's it, that's right!"
I rolled my eyes at the girl I used to be. There was nothing wrong with cheerleading and in fact, I kinda missed it. It was a good workout and those girls were funny and so competitive. But it just wasn’t me, wasn't who I was.
This was me. I looked around the room and rubbed the bedspread. This right here.
I glanced at the little obsidian jewelry box on the bedside table and noticed it was turned the opposite way. I glanced at the bathroom door and realized that I'd completely forgotten to write my vows and he'd been checking to see if I'd read his yet. I fel
t awful. He'd put so much thought into it and I had just forgotten all about it.
I knelt down on the floor and placed the box on the bed like the precious thing it was. The lid lifted soundlessly and I opened the crisp paper. His handwriting was totally a guy's. I smiled at it as I began to read.
Not a day has gone by for me that I haven't been waiting for you. That I haven't dreamed of a faceless you. That I haven't imagined what you would feel like under my palms. Waiting was never the problem, it was doubting. I began to doubt that you were real, that you were actually coming to me.
But I should never have doubted you.
I'm amazed when I look at your face to see the love I feel for you smiling back at me. I would do anything you asked of me to keep that smile there. You are all there is, my world...
I'm honored just to be in your presence, let alone have your heart. I adore the way you look at my world. The love you have for my family. How you can be so completely innocent and so achingly sexy all at the same time. How you're always selfless, and there, and full of love even after everything you've been through. Baby, I've said it a million times and I'll continue to say it 'til my last breath…
You're amazing.
Tomorrow you'll be mine in every way, every sense, every second, but I know that no matter how tight I hold you, it'll never be close enough. No matter how long or hard or passionately I kiss your lips, it'll never be sating.
You're my soul-mate, my reason to keep pulling air into my lungs, my gorgeous significant that fits in my arms and my life perfectly, my whole life, my love, my partner in crime, my very heart, my amazing girl.
Marry me. Take the beating heart in my chest and do with it what you wish. It's been yours since the day you saved my life. You've been saving it ever since. I love you, baby, more than will ever be understandable, but I dare you to try.
Independence (The Significance Series) Page 14