by Lori Ryan
“Your message has been saved. Press five to send or zero to delete.”
Maggie pulled the phone away from her face and stared at the keypad. Did she want to be this vulnerable? Beg him to stay? Ask him to love her when she truly didn’t know if she loved herself?
Lucky nudged her hand.
Without thinking she pushed the number and ended the call.
Lucky hissed.
“I know big guy. Sorry.” Maggie rubbed his back as she sank back in the bench. She’d never been anyone’s forever love, never wanted to be, until now. And now it was too late.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Ben stood in his office, staring out the picturesque window overlooking the Seattle skyline. Had he done the right thing?
Deciding not to dwell on his decision any more, he punched the button on his desk phone to call his assistant.
“Yes, sir?” Andy answered.
“Any word on my phone?”
Ben had lost his phone somewhere between the plane and baggage claim two days ago. So far, the airline had turned up nothing and he’d been too busy with meetings and negotiations to get a new one.
“Oh, no sir. They never recovered it so I ordered a new one this morning. It should be here any minute.”
“Okay, thanks Andy.”
Ben glanced down at his watch. It was just after one. He had a meeting at two to shore up the final wording of the contract with his attorneys before signing the formal documents to move forward with the sale of his company. Ben and his board would then begin the arduous task of going public.
Soon they would start out on the “road show” as the bank called it. They would travel extensively, trying to find prospective investors, giving them their best dog-and-pony show. The sale would mean even more work for Ben but he looked forward to the distraction. Giving his mind over to anything other than the woman who haunted him day and night would be a welcome diversion.
Ben was happy with his decision, or so he told himself over and over. Going public was the best for everyone involved. Especially him. If that were true then why did he feel so empty inside?
Someone knocked on Ben’s door and Patrick stepped inside. “You ready for this?” He slapped his hands together and rubbed them like he was starting a fire.
“I can see you are.” Ben laughed as he sorted through the mess of papers on his desk.
“Want to grab some lunch before we head into the meeting?”
Another meeting with bankers.
Ben’s stomach grumbled. He hadn’t had much time for anything since his return, least of all eating. “Sure. Let me just call and check on my mother one more time.”
Patrick didn’t say anything but Ben knew he was borderline obsessing. He’d been calling his mom fifty times a day. He probably didn’t need to call again. Something deep in Ben’s gut burned, thinking he wasn’t needed back at home. Something in his heart ached as well. Maggie apparently didn’t need him either. He hadn’t heard from her.
Staying in Canyon Creek long term had never been an option. Until it was. Until it had begun to nag at him as a possibility. As a hope.
“Come on,” Patrick said, waving to the door, “you can call her after our meeting and tell her how much money her son is going to make.”
“The money won’t come right away, Patrick.”
“I know,” he smiled, “but still, the potential’s there.”
Ben’s face fell.
“What?” Patrick’s brow furrowed.
Making a ton of money had never been Ben’s intent when opening Sumner Integrated Software Solutions, but now it was a real possibility—not that he hadn’t already made a nice nest egg so far. But his real passion had been in software development itself, helping companies achieve their goals through innovative technology, something he would have even less time for once his company went public. A board of directors was one thing, but answering to stockholders too would be even more taxing.
Patrick came close and snagged an arm around Ben’s neck. “Come on, let’s go grab a sandwich now. Then we’ll celebrate tonight with a real meal and a stiff drink.”
“Or two?” Ben smiled.
“Or three.” Patrick laughed as the headed toward the door.
They almost ran into Andy on their way out. He carried a small box in one hand and a cell phone in the other. “Oh, sorry, boss. Your new phone is here. I charged it and set it up for you. Hope that’s okay, it’s just downloading everything now.”
“Oh, yeah thanks,” Ben said. “Just put it on my desk.”
“Sure thing.” Andy strolled to the desk and set Ben’s phone on the wooden surface as he began to organize the papers.
“Just leave it, Andy, I’ll get to the papers later.” Ben and Patrick walked through the doorway out into Andy’s outer office.
Ben turned back to glance at his desk when he heard the incessant ping of his phone.
“Wow,” Andy called from behind them. “You’ve got a lot of messages and texts here, Boss.” Andy waved the phone in his hand.
Ben had survived two days without a phone, what was another few hours? “I’ll check it later, after we sign all the paperwork. There’s probably nothing important on it anyway.” He’d checked in on his mother almost hourly and everything with her and the lodge was fine.
Patrick patted him on the back. “Come on rich man, buy me lunch.”
Ben shook his head as they strode toward the elevators. Rich man. There was so much more to life than money. Losing his father and returning to his childhood home had finally taught him that hard lesson. True riches lay where you least expected them—in family, health, loyalty…and love.
Chapter Forty
Maggie glanced down at the open box on her lap. The last few letters from her father were barely visible through her swollen lids. She’d read nearly all of them and had gone through a full box of tissues.
He’d started from the beginning, holding nothing back, writing about the early years of his marriage to her mother. He talked about how much he’d loved her and how happy they’d been to welcome Maggie.
She couldn’t recall any happy memories. He’d shared things Maggie had never known before.
There were years of heartache when her mother left, the only comfort he’d found was in a bottle, and belittling her. Lashing out had been his coping mechanism, especially since she looked so much like her mother. When he would see the hurt in her eyes, he said he’d hated himself all the more for it, and the cycle of drinking would continue.
Mostly, his letters were filled with regret and remorse and always one request. Her forgiveness.
Letter after letter, Maggie felt the walls around her heart crumble. She knew she had a long way to go, learning to love her father, and herself, but for the first time in a long time, she wanted to try. She was tired of blaming him, tired of hating him. Valerie had been right, she had to find peace.
As always, when she thought of the future, she thought of Ben. Three days and still she hadn’t heard from him. No call, no texts. Nothing in response to the voicemail she’d foolishly left. Why hadn’t she deleted the damn message when she’d had the chance? Lucky, the cat, that’s why.
It was just as well. She had no idea how to begin a relationship anyway. She needed to work on the one with her father first.
She pushed the button on her phone and pulled up her contact list, pressing the number for her father’s new facility.
“Hello,” his gruff voice answered.
“Hey, Dad,” Maggie said softly.
“Hey, Mag Pie.” She could hear the smile in his voice but it was also laced with concern, something new. “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah.” She sniffled.
“Maggie, what’s wrong? What happened?” He sounded as if he would defend her no matter the cost. Her father had never fought for her. He’d always fought against her.
“I read some of your letters.”
Silence filled the air between them.
&nb
sp; “Dad?”
“I’m here.” His voice broke.
“I want to say I forgive you, but I don’t know…”
“I know, Maggie. I know it will be hard, if it ever happens.”
“I want to, it’s just, I have a lot of stuff to work through, you know?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I’m going to see a therapist this week,” she said.
“I think that’s a great idea.”
“Maybe sometimes you could come with me?” She gnawed her bottom lip.
“Absolutely,” he said, happiness in his voice. “I’ll do anything for you, Maggie.”
“Will you stay sober?”
“I can only promise you today, Mag Pie.”
Maggie nodded. It was the truth, and the best answer he could have given her. She wouldn’t have wanted anything else.
“Okay, then for today, I forgive you.”
“Oh, Maggie, I—” His voice broke and she heard a muffled sob.
“I’ll come see you tomorrow, we can talk more. Okay?”
“I’ll look forward to it all night.”
Maggie laughed. Just the idea of seeing her made his day? How many times had she wished that as a little girl?
“Well, have a good night and I’ll see you tomorrow, Dad.”
“Okay. And Maggie?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you,” he said softly.
“We’ve got a lot of stuff to work through, Dad. You may not say thank you after.”
“I’ll always be grateful you gave me this opportunity to make amends, Maggie, no matter what happens.”
Maggie swallowed back a sob.
“I love you, Maggie.”
Tears filled Maggie’s eyes and broke the edge of her lashes, falling down her cheeks. “I love you, too, Dad.” And she did. For the first time in a long time, she felt the love for him.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” The hopefulness in his voice filled Maggie’s heart.
“Yeah, Dad. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Night, Maggie.”
“Night, Dad.”
Maggie hung up the phone and a sense of peace and calm enveloped her. She wasn’t sure what the future held for her and her father but for the first time, she actually felt optimistic, like they had a chance.
Her stomach grumbled.
A loud meow echoed below her feet.
A winter storm was pummeling Canyon Creek and despite everyone’s warnings, Maggie had brought Lucky home with her. She needed to make sure he was safe. He’d spent his life guarding other animals. It was her turn to repay the favor.
Plus, she wasn’t one hundred percent convinced Lucky wasn’t somehow channeling John Sumner. The cat seemed to give such good advice these days.
“Yeah, let’s get something to eat, big guy.”
Maggie stood and wiped her nose with the sleeve of her huge sweatshirt but stilled when her doorbell rang.
Lucky roared, racing to the front door. Someone really needed to tell that cat he was just a cat, not a lion. She laughed to herself but sucked in a breath as she looked through the peephole at the familiar face.
Ben. Holding several boxes.
“Let me in, Maggie.” He pounded on the door. “It’s fucking freezing out here.”
Maggie unlocked the door and pulled it open.
Lucky hissed at Ben.
“Right back at you, you mangy cat.” Ben snarled, nudging the cat gently back in the door with his booted foot.
“Hey,” Maggie swatted at him. “Be nice to my cat.”
“Your cat?” Ben raised a brow.
Maggie didn’t want to admit she’d enjoyed Lucky’s company over the last week, more than she should have.
She closed the door and studied the man she’d fallen in love with. He looked the same, no worse for the wear like her. “What are you doing here?” she asked quietly.
Ben glanced around her living room as if looking for something, or someone, then back at her. “Are you all right?” He surveyed her body from head to toe before settling on her face. “You look like hell.”
“Gee, thanks.” She shook her head. “What’s in all the boxes?”
Ben walked further into the house, his eyes skimming each wall. “Where’s your cable jack?”
“I don’t have cable,” she answered, lifting Lucky and following Ben into the living room.
“You do now, but I need the jack.”
“Ben, what are you talking about?”
“I had it turned on yesterday.”
Wait, what?
“There it is.” He squatted on the floor and set the boxes next to him.
“Ben!”
He glanced over his shoulder like she was a nuisance. “What?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Setting up Wi-Fi?”
“Wait, what? Why?” Maggie’s shook her head.
“Well, technically, I’m setting up your cable modem to your wireless router. Do you have a flashlight?”
Maggie stood, dumbfounded. “Did you get my message?”
“Your voicemail?” he asked, never looking up.
“Yes.”
“Yeah, I got it.”
She walked closer. “And?” She crossed her arms over her chest. God, was she actually tapping her foot? She stilled the movement.
He said nothing and went back to his work.
“Ben!” she shouted.
“What? I’m busy.” He fumbled with cables and wires.
“With what?” Maggie asked.
“I can’t live here without Wi-Fi, Maggie. It’s just ridiculous that you haven’t had it until now.”
Her entire body stilled. “You can’t live here without…” She let the words trail off.
Ben stood and turned to her. He gently scooted Lucky from between them and Maggie was surprised the cat didn’t hiss.
In fact, Lucky, smiled. Could a cat smile?
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Ben stepped closer, “but I believe you asked me to come back.”
Maggie swallowed hard, stepping back.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. “In fact,” his gaze moved to the ceiling as if in thought, “I think your exact words were,” his gaze returned and his light brown eyes locked on hers, “I love you.”
Maggie drew in a sharp breath. He had heard her message.
Ben cocked his head, a small smirk curling his beautiful lips. “Did I hear you correctly?”
Maggie nodded.
“Good.” He dropped his hands and squatted back to the floor.
“Ben!” she shoved his shoulder.
“What?”
“Do you have something to tell me?”
“Oh yeah,” he glanced over his shoulder, “I love you, too. Now go get me a flashlight.”
Lucky crawled under Ben’s arms as he twisted the wires and cables.
“You see, boy,” Ben talked to the cat as if he was a human, “this connector has to go here so your mommy can get Wi-Fi, so I can stay here. Otherwise I can’t run my company.”
Lucky meowed happily and rubbed against Ben’s leg.
“Ben,” she whispered.
“Flashlight, Mags.”
Maggie stumbled over her feet as she raced to the kitchen, rummaging through every drawer until she finally found a flashlight. She turned and ran into a hard chest. Ben.
Slowly he took the flashlight from her hand and set it on the kitchen counter.
“I love you, Maggie.”
Maggie’s breath caught in her throat. He loved her. “What about your company?”
He shrugged, “Yeah, I love it too, but not in the same way.”
Maggie swatted his chest. “That’s not what I’m talking about. I thought you were going back to Seattle for good.”
“Nah,” he shook his head. “I just went back to sign the papers.”
“To go public?”
“No.” Ben’s hold grew tighter.
“To
what?”
“To sell it.”
Maggie’s mouth fell open. “Your entire company?”
“Yep,” Ben answered nonchalantly.
“But why?”
“It’s not my passion anymore.”
Maggie searched his face, afraid to ask the question. “What is your passion?” She swallowed, fearing his answer.
“My family, the lodge, creating software. Fireplaces.” He waggled his brows.
Maggie nodded. “Those are certainly things to be passionate about.”
“Oh, yeah, and…”
Maggie waited with anticipation, a smile threatening to break free.
“And I’m really passionate about Wi-Fi. You should know that from the get-go.”
Maggie glanced at the boxes and equipment strewn on her floor. “I can see that.”
“And I’m really passionate about this emerald-eyed minx who I can’t seem to get out of my dreams.”
Maggie smiled, a real smile, for the first time in days.
“What are you passionate about, Margaret Anne?” Ben asked.
Lucky meowed and waltzed through both their legs.
Ben looked down. “Besides your cat.” He laughed.
Maggie stared up at the ceiling. “Hmmm, let me think. The lodge.”
Ben’s lips found her neck.
Maggie tilted her head.
“Fireplaces,” she said.
“Hmm, hmm,” Ben murmured against her jaw.
“Guns N’ Roses.”
Ben pulled back? “What?”
“Guns N’ Roses. I love their music.”
Ben stared at her in disbelief. “Since when?”
“Since your mom and Sally dragged me to an ’80s open mic night in Denver. Axl Rose is hot.”
Ben raised one skeptical brow. “You’re lying.”
Maggie smiled and nodded. “I’m lying. About Axl Rose, not the open mic.”
“I should punish you for lying to me.” Ben’s eyes smoldered.
Maggie’s belly flipped. “You should.”
Ben smirked, obviously pleased with the idea. “What else are you passionate about?”
Maggie wrapped her arms around Ben’s neck and pulled up onto her toes. “You,” she said as she pressed her lips against his.
Ben moaned and ground his hips against her.