That letter. That damn letter. He shook his head at the memory of the words he’d read. He’d known there was more to her heartbreak. He even knew there was more to her husband cheating on her. But he never knew her husband could have been so cold, so heartless. And to think he hadn’t been here because he was too damn selfish and stubborn. It caused something deep down inside of him—something he hadn’t felt in a long time—to ache in a way he’d never felt it ache before.
“Here you go.” Evan handed Maggie one of the mugs before taking a seat in the chair next to her. “I can’t guarantee it’s any good.” He chuckled. “I’m an instant coffee kinda guy.”
Maggie managed a smile, most likely at his pathetic effort to cheer her up, but a smile was a smile regardless, and he’d claim it as a slight victory.
He watched closely as she took a sip, humming in appreciation. “It’s good. Thank you.”
Evan felt his shoulders sag with relief, taking a sip from his own cup. To be honest, he wasn’t much of a coffee guy, at all. He only drank the stuff in the morning after a big night. But today he would drink all the coffee he had to, because he wanted her to open up to him. To tell him the real truth.
“If I’m being honest, I suppose I knew something was going on before he died,” she said after a few beats, her focus on a bird flying overhead. She sighed heavily. “He was always working. Like, more than any one person should work. His excuses were credible—I didn’t know not to believe him. He was this big-shot lawyer, so of course I assumed they worked weekends and nights.”
She glanced at Evan, her gaze imploring, as if she were waiting for a response from him. But he remained silent, watching her, waiting for her to talk. Because right now, what she needed to do was talk, and he needed to be the one to listen to her. She had no one else.
“When I found out he was having an affair, I didn’t think it would be …” Trailing off, she shook her head at a loss for words. “I didn’t think it was to such an extent. I mean, a divorce? It’s just so … so final. He really didn’t love me anymore. But I never would have thought …” Maggie sighed again, not finishing her sentence. Resting her elbows on her knees, she clasped her mug between her hands as she stared straight ahead. “How do you just end something? Just like that?”
Evan sighed, looking down at his barely touched mug of coffee. He was wrong; he couldn’t drink it. Hell, he doubted he’d even be able to stomach a beer right now. He felt sick at the look of sheer despondency and rejection in Maggie’s beautiful green eyes.
“You know what I think?”
She glanced at him, waiting.
He continued, “I think he did you a favor with that letter.”
She stared at him.
“Don’t you get it, Maggie?” He shook his head. “You don’t have to be that grieving, faltering widow anymore. You’re so much more than that. You’re a strong, powerful, independent woman. You’re a mom, for Christ’s sake. You’re worth so much more than to be just some dead asshole’s wife. This is your chance to move on and leave it all behind.” He didn’t know if he’d said too much. Dead asshole might have been crossing some line, but he had to say it. And, thankfully, Maggie didn’t look hurt or offended by his words—in fact, she looked empowered.
“I say, you and me, we drive down to Boston, and you end it once and for all.”
She looked slightly confused, and he made a point of jutting his chin at the gold ring that still adorned her finger like a shackle. He knew better than anyone that Maggie needed to get rid of that ring in order to free herself.
Maggie glanced at her watch, her brow furrowed with thought. “We can’t just go to Boston.”
“Yes we can.” Evan shifted in his chair, nodding. “I can get you there and back before school gets out. Scout’s honor.” He held his hand up in emphasis.
“You were never a Boy Scout, were you?” She narrowed one eye, a dubious smile pulling at her lips.
“Nah.” He shrugged, grinning deviously.
With a deep breath, Maggie looked back at the water, biting her bottom lip in contemplation. “You’re right. I need to end this.”
He watched as she looked down at the gold wedding band. Then her eyes met his, her gaze wary and full of apprehension. “I need to finally move past Tom, once and for all.”
Evan smiled, and, without hesitating, he reached out and took her hand in his.
Chapter 27
Evan and Maggie made it to Boston in record time. The mid-morning flow of traffic on the Interstate had been surprisingly quiet, and they made it in just over an hour.
“You all right?” Evan asked as they took the exit off the freeway.
Maggie toyed with her wedding ring, twisting it around and around. “Yeah.” She looked out at the Boston cityscape as it flew by in a haze. A million conflicting thoughts raced through her head. “I’m just nervous.”
She felt his hand touch her knee. Normally, that might have been an intimate gesture, a hand on her knee. But from Evan, right at that moment, his touch helped to ease the trepidation roiling low in her gut. It was his show of support. Thank God he was there with her; without him she didn’t know what she’d be doing right now. She knew for sure she wouldn’t have been in Boston, that much was true.
Taking a deep breath, Maggie closed her eyes a moment. This was it. This was what she needed to do. This was how she finally allowed herself the chance to move on, once and for all.
***
Fifteen minutes later, Evan was navigating the Audi beneath the lush canopy of sycamore trees lined on either side of the narrow road. Through the thicket, he witnessed flashes of headstones as far as the eye could see. Despite the bright sunshine and blue sky up above, the atmosphere in the cemetery was morbid and foreboding with sadness.
He glanced at Maggie as she stared out through the window, silent as she continued twisting the gold ring around her finger. She looked so small, so uncertain, so scared. He wanted to reach out and touch her hand, pull it into his. But he didn’t. She didn’t need him right now. She needed whatever it was she was about to do. And he was going to be right there with her.
“Stop here,” Maggie said, her voice hoarse and soft.
Evan pulled over to the side of the cemetery road, putting the car in park and shutting off the engine. Silence ensued. Rubbing his palms up and down his jean-clad thighs, he glanced sideways at Maggie, following her gaze up the grassy knoll to the looming sycamore that hung over a marble headstone which looked a lot newer than many of the others surrounding it.
Maggie made a move to get out of the car, but Evan wasn’t sure if he should follow or wait. When she looked back at him, he could see the pleading in her green eyes. She wanted him to go with her. Maybe she even needed him to go with her. He made quick work of unfastening his belt and hopping out of the car, hurrying to meet her on the other side of the vehicle. Without saying anything, Maggie began up the hill and he walked beside her toward the grave at the very top where they came to a stop. Evan read the inscription on the shiny Calacatta marble.
Thomas James Morris. Son. Husband. Father.
Cheater, he thought derisively.
In the center of the headstone was a picture of the man himself. Dark hair, chiseled jaw, handsome face. He looked a lot like Jack. Not someone Evan could imagine a vibrant, free spirit like Maggie to be married to. Far too clean cut and smarmy looking; a typical lawyer, really. But attractive nonetheless. It was easy to see why a woman might fall for his charms.
“You selfish, unimaginable bastard.”
Surprised, Evan glanced at Maggie to find her glaring down at the grave.
“You cheat on me for a year and a half and don’t even have the damn guts to tell me to my face. You write a poorly penned letter and expect that I’m just going to accept that?” she scoffed. “Well, no, Tom. No, I don’t accept it. I did everything for you, everything you wanted, everything you ever needed, and you couldn’t even find the decency deep within your black soul to be honest
with me? Sixteen years, and for what? You end it with a fucking letter you weren’t even sorry to write?” A sob broke through her words, and she wiped at the tears trailing down her cheeks.
Evan wanted to reach out, to place a hand on her trembling shoulder, just to let her know that he was there. But he didn’t. He would be there if she fell or if she broke, but he knew right now, all she needed was to get her words out. This was her closure.
“I hate what you did, Tom. You broke my heart. You broke me.” Maggie shook her head. “And I wish I could hate you, but the truth is, even after everything, I can’t. I can’t hate you because you gave me those two beautiful boys, and I love them so much that it kills me to think what would happen to them if they ever found out the truth. One day they’ll know. I’ll tell them the truth of what you did, but not now. Not for you, or for me, but for them. They don’t deserve that.” She sniffled, exhaling a ragged breath, glaring at Tom’s picture as if it were him right there in front of her. “I can’t keep carrying the weight of this. I’m better than this. I deserve better than this. I deserve to be able to move on, and I know that I can be happy again. Happy without you. So, this is it. I’m done.”
Evan watched as she struggled momentarily, twisting her wedding ring off her finger. She looked down at it for a few moments, staring at the gold as it reflected the sun rays breaking through the canopy of the branches overhead. And then, with another heavy exhalation, she reached forward and placed the ring on top of the marble.
“This ends here,” she whispered, adding with the faintest smile, “I’m going to be okay. Our boys are going to be okay. I promise, I won’t let anything or anyone hurt them.” She crouched down, and gingerly placed a shaking hand over Tom’s photo. Bowing her head, she closed her eyes, her shoulders trembling with emotion. “Goodbye, Tom,” she managed in a voice so soft it was almost lost in the afternoon breeze as it rustled through the leaves of the cemetery trees.
After a few silent moments, Evan watched Maggie force herself up onto unsteady legs. With a heavy sigh she scrubbed her hands over her face, sniffling again. Finally, she braved a look at Evan and he gave her a small encouraging smile. She walked to him, her hands shoved deep into the pockets of her jeans.
“You good?” he asked, reaching out and squeezing her shoulder gently.
“Yeah.” She nodded, glancing back at the headstone once more before meeting his eyes again with a smile that momentarily took his breath away. “Actually, I’ve never felt better.”
With another smile, and a moment’s contemplation, Evan threw caution to the wind. Wrapping his arms around Maggie’s slight shoulders, he pulled her against his chest, holding her so tight. With a soft kiss to the top of her head, he felt her relax against him, her arms moving around his waist. And there, by her late husband’s grave, beneath the shade of a sycamore tree, he felt her let go.
***
The drive from Boston had been quiet and contemplative, but companionable between Evan and Maggie. The radio played Flashback Friday hits and the occasional song caused them to either cringe simultaneously, or laugh out loud. But, otherwise, not a lot had been spoken between the two. There was an obvious tension hanging between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable or uneasy, it was just there in the words neither of them said.
By the time they returned to Jewel Harbor, Maggie was due to collect TJ from school. As Evan pulled up to the wharf to head back to his boat shed, there was so much she wanted, needed, to say to him to thank him. He’d helped her today in a way she’d never imagined another person could help her. Driving her to Boston, to Tom. Being right there by her side the whole time. Giving her the nudge she knew she needed but, for some reason, couldn’t seem to push herself. But how could she possibly thank him for everything in the thirty seconds before she had to leave.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Evan glanced at Maggie, adding, “At little league?”
“Oh, yeah.” She nodded, suddenly feeling so stupid for thinking he’d meant something else. Little league, of course. She almost rolled her eyes at herself. “See you tomorrow.”
They both got out of the car, Maggie moving around the hood to the driver’s door Evan was holding open for her. When she hopped in, he flashed her another smile and closed the door for her, waving once before turning and walking down the steps to the docks.
Maggie gripped the steering wheel tight, collecting what she could of her wayward thoughts. Sighing heavily at herself, she pulled out onto the road and headed in the direction of the elementary school. Her gaze momentarily flitted down to her naked ring finger, causing her to smile.
Chapter 28
Maggie picked the boys up from school, and the relief that she’d felt at finally letting Tom go was doubled when she saw the smiles on her sons’ faces. They were happy. And their happiness was all she needed. She didn’t need Tom’s money or the status it provided. She didn’t need the big house, or the vintage Porsche. She didn’t need the affluence. Neither she nor her sons needed the kind of life Tom seemed to believe they were required to live. He was unhealthily obsessed with that first-class lifestyle—the kind he was born into and the kind he believed everyone aspired to. Maggie had gone along with it because he was her husband and, in a way, she felt almost trapped. But now that he was gone, she was strong enough to admit she didn’t need or want it. All she wanted was for her sons to be safe and happy and healthy. And that admission was like a weight off her shoulders. She wished she’d been strong enough to admit it years ago. If she had, things would have no doubt turned out so differently.
“Jack’s got a girlfriend! Jack’s got a girlfriend! Jack’s got a girl—Argghhh!”
Maggie was dragged from her thoughts by the shrill sound of agony resonating from the living room. Wiping her hands on the dish towel, she ran to the door that led from the kitchen, poking her head out to see Jack pinning TJ on the rug in the center of the room. The two boys were wrestling as if they were the main event in some Las Vegas Ultimate Fighting Championship title bout.
“Stop it!” she yelled with a warning tone.
“He’s being annoying!” Jack yelled while trying to get his little brother into some kind of chokehold.
“But … you’ve … got … a-a girlfriend!” TJ continued breathlessly, his teasing grin remaining in place despite his big brother’s wrath.
“Stop it!” Maggie repeated, pointing at TJ. “Or no little league tomorrow.”
“Ha!” Jack laughed, pushing TJ away. He was twice his size, but, thankfully, he knew to use minimal force. “Mom yelled at you.”
“No, she didn’t, she was yelling at both of us. Weren’t ya, Mom?” TJ adjusted the skewwhiff neck of his T-shirt, following her back into the kitchen. “Mom? Did you know Jack is taking Katie to the movies tomorrow night?” he asked in that teasing tone, no doubt only to get a rise out of his big brother.
Maggie rolled her eyes.
“Keep it up, Teej, I dare ya!” Jack yelled from where he’d settled back onto the sofa in front of the television.
“I do know that, yes.” She speared TJ with a pointed look as he pulled out one of the stools, perching himself at the breakfast counter to watch her continue making her famous lasagna. “And you should leave him alone. Maybe one day you’ll want to take a girl to the movies. Would you want to be teased about it?” She raised a brow.
TJ made a mock gagging sound. “Ew, yuck. I’m never going to date.”
“You’re going to stay Mama’s boy forever?”
“Nah, I’m gonna be a ladies’ man.” He flashed a mischievous grin, reaching forward to steal some of the grated cheddar from the glass bowl on the counter before shoving it into his mouth.
She blinked at him, wondering where her ten-year-old had gone.
Suddenly, Maggie’s cell phone started ringing from the countertop where she’d placed it right next to her glass of wine. She glanced down to find Jane’s name flashing on the screen, and she didn’t know why, but nerves fluttered deep in her belly. H
ad she realized Maggie wasn’t really sick today? Was she calling to tell her not to bother coming back to work on Monday? To tell her to return her personalized apron? Her heart hammered as she reluctantly reached for the device. She answered with a hopeful smile.
“Oh hi, honey,” Jane’s cheerful voice announced through the phone. “I was just calling to see how you’re feeling?”
“A lot better,” Maggie answered truthfully, conscious of TJ still sitting at the counter, careful not to say too much. “Thank you.”
“Oh, I’m so glad.” Jane continued, “I was also calling because Sam and Ben have asked if TJ can come sleep over tomorrow night.”
“I’m sure he would love that. Just let me ask him.” She pulled her cell away from her ear, TJ looked up with a questioning glance. “Would you like to stay over at Sam and Ben’s house tomorrow night?”
His blue eyes lit up. “Yeah!”
Maggie laughed at his reaction, going back to the phone call. “Did you hear that?”
Jane chuckled. “I sure did. The boys will be so happy. Brad’s going to set the tent up in the backyard so they can have a camp out. S’mores and everything.”
“TJ will love that,” Maggie said, smiling at her excited son. “Thank you for the invitation.”
“Are you dropping Jack at the movie theater tomorrow night?” Jane’s question sounded tentative, almost as if she was just as nervous as Maggie was at the prospect of her eldest child’s first proper date. She admitted sheepishly, “I don’t know how this is supposed to work. I’m sure times have changed since we were teenagers.”
Maggie laughed. “I was going to drop him off and then pick him up at eleven. I told him to make sure he takes Katie for ice cream after the movie. And to be a gentleman, or else he’ll have Brad to answer to.”
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