The Long Way Home

by Shann McPherson

  “Oh, honey. Don’t scare the poor boy.” Jane laughed, adding, “This is so weird. Isn’t it?”

  “Yes!” Maggie exclaimed, turning to the stove to stir the ground beef and red sauce she had on simmer. “I suddenly feel very old.”

  “Oh, honey. Katie got her period at eleven! I’ve felt old for the last four long years.”

  Maggie laughed again and the two women said goodbye before ending the call.

  TJ raced up to his bedroom to start packing his duffle bag in preparation for his sleepover adventure with Sam and Ben. Maggie was left alone with her thoughts. She couldn’t help but smile at the prospect of having a night all to herself. Maybe she would take herself out to dinner. Maybe she would come home, order a pizza and put on a romantic comedy. So many options. She couldn’t wait.

  ***

  “Hey, Coach!” TJ yelled, running through the gates of Field Four. He high-fived Evan on his way, sprinting toward the rest of his team like a moth to a flame.

  Evan chuckled on his way over to the fence. He removed his sunglasses and smiled at Maggie through the chain link as she stopped on the other side.

  “How you feeling today?” he asked quietly, his voice low like he didn’t want to allow the plethora of women hanging around nearby to overhear.

  “I’m feeling a lot better.” Maggie looked at her ring finger. There was a faded tan mark where her ring had sat for sixteen years, but she felt lighter without it. Free. “I didn’t get to say thank you yesterday.” She met Evan’s striking blue eyes with a shy smile. “Thank you. Really. There’s no way I would have been able to do that on my own.”

  He shook his head dismissively, before a whistle blew in the distance, causing him to look over his shoulder. “I should get back to the game.” He thumbed back in the direction of the diamond where the boys were all taking their places. But then he paused, looking at her with an uncertain expression she couldn’t quite place.

  Was he nervous?

  “Hey, what are you doing tonight?”

  She felt all the air escape her lungs, unable to stop the curious smile from curling her lips. “Me?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, you.”

  She swallowed her nerves. “Um, TJ’s staying at Jane’s house with Ben and Sam. Jack has a … date.” God, it was difficult for her to even say the word out loud; her first born was going on a date.

  Evan arched a brow. “With my niece?”

  Maggie smirked. “Yep.”

  “He better not get all handsy, or he’ll have me to answer to.”

  “My son is nothing if not a gentleman,” she replied with mock indignation, causing him to laugh.

  Evan’s smile waned, his eyes serious again. “I was wondering if maybe you’d like to grab a bite to eat. Maybe have a drink …” He clamped his mouth shut. “Oh God, this totally sounds like I’m asking you out on a date. I didn’t mean … I mean … I don’t … it’s not—”

  “Evan, it’s fine.” She flashed him a wry smile. “I know how you are with your not-dates.”

  He bit back his grin and she was almost certain she could see a tinge of pink flush his cheeks; uncharacteristic for a cocky, self-assured man such as him.

  “Why don’t you come over and I’ll cook.” She shrugged. “My way of saying thank you for yesterday?”

  He stared deep into her eyes for a long moment, the hint of his smile still lingering despite his sudden seriousness. “You know you don’t have to thank me, right?”

  She nodded, her heart racing with anticipation. “I know. But I want to thank you. And it’d be nice to have some grown-up conversation over a meal and a glass of wine. It’s … been a while.”

  “I’d like that.” Evan winked at her. He actually winked. His smile, both adorable and devastatingly handsome, effortlessly stole her breath away.

  Schooling his expression, he turned and jogged off to the team’s dugout. All the while Maggie could feel the glaring eyes of Evan Boyd’s fan club from behind her. But she didn’t care. She smiled to herself. Tonight, she had a not-date with the most eligible bachelor in Jewel Harbor himself.

  ***

  On her way through town, after dropping TJ off at Jane’s house for his sleepover with Sam and Ben, Maggie glanced sideways as she waited at the stop light, her gaze landing upon the neon pink sign hanging above Barb’s Beauty Salon. She looked at herself in the rear-view mirror, zeroing in on her wayward, flyaway hair and the drab color of her split ends. It had been forever since she’d had her hair done. And she remembered meeting the kind woman, Barb, at little league a few weeks back. She’d told Maggie to stop by any time. And what better time than now? She hoped.

  On the green light, Maggie continued ahead instead of turning left, and she pulled into a parking spot outside the salon. She noticed the familiar blonde woman through the window, sitting on one of the station chairs, flicking through a magazine, dressed head to toe in leopard print. Maggie smiled to herself; she didn’t know Barb, but she liked what she’d seen so far. She had a feeling the woman could be a friend.

  Walking into the small salon, Maggie paused in the doorway, taking in the somewhat familiar scent of toner and bleach, and the unexpected sound of a Shawn Mendes song playing.

  “Oh hi, hun!” Barb glanced up from the magazine in her hands, a smile of recognition curling her painted-pink lips. “Maggie, right?”

  Maggie nodded. “Yeah. You told me to pop in any time I was after a pamper sesh and a chin wag?” She shrugged her shoulders, nervously continuing, “Well, I was hoping you might be able to fit me in?”

  “What’re you after?” The woman stood, crossing the small salon, her gaze narrowed as she inspected Maggie’s hair.

  Releasing a big breath, Maggie swallowed her trepidation. “I feel like a change. Something a little … different?”

  “Hmmm.” Barb picked up a section of Maggie’s long tawny brown hair, looking closely as she twisted the wavy lengths between her fingers. “Do you trust me?”

  Maggie examined the woman’s over-bleached hair, the dark roots poking through, the way it was teased a little to create volume she didn’t necessarily need. Did she trust her? She didn’t even know her. She lied, “Um, I … I guess.”

  Barb smiled eagerly, her eyes lighting up. “Well, take a seat right here.” She placed a hand on the white leather chair she’d just vacated. “I’ll go out back and grab us each a wine cooler while you get yourself nice and comfortable.”

  Taking a seat, Maggie released another heavy breath, looking at herself in the reflection of the big mirror in front of her while Barb disappeared through a hot pink curtain that separated the salon from the back. Chewing her bottom lip, she considered everything for a moment while trying to reason with her self-doubt. It was time for a change. She was ready for a change. This was the beginning of the rest of her life.

  Chapter 29

  “So, how are you liking Jewel Harbor so far, honey?”

  Maggie sipped her glass of sweet bubbles, wincing a little as the sparkling wine fizzed on her tongue. It was horrible, but she managed a smile when she saw Barb’s curious gaze in the reflection of the mirror. “Oh, I like it here. It’s so different to Boston.” Nodding, she continued, as if more to herself than to Barb, “I think I made the right decision coming here, especially for my boys. Boston held too many memories …”

  Barb continued painting bleach onto the ends of Maggie’s hair, wrapping each section in aluminum foil, meticulous with her work. “How are the boys coping?” She added quickly, “I hope it’s okay that I know, but news travels fast in this town.”

  Maggie’s eyes widened at Barb’s question. Jewel Harbor was a small town, and she knew news traveled fast. Of course, the locals would have heard her tragic backstory by now. Clearing her throat, she said, “Yeah. I think it’ll take some time, but things are slowly starting to get back to normal.”

  “And are you okay?” Barb looked at her closely, pausing what she was doing to place a gentle hand upon Maggie’s shoul
der.

  “I’m okay,” Maggie answered truthfully. Because she was. The truth of Tom’s affair and the fact that he had been planning on leaving her before his death would die with her. She couldn’t let it get out for her boys’ sakes. And it was okay. Because of Evan. She had him to confide in, and that was enough. “In fact, Evan Boyd has helped a lot.” She smiled at the thought of Evan, her heart jumping at the thought of seeing him so soon, just the two of them.

  “Evan, huh?” Barb lifted a brow, the hint of a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth.

  Feeling her cheeks flush with heat, Maggie looked down at her hands. “Yeah. Actually … he’s coming over tonight,” she confessed. “I’m cooking him dinner. My way of thanking him for being there for me these last few weeks. Without him—” She shook her head, sighing heavily. “Without him, I don’t know where I’d be, right now.”

  “Ah, so that’s the reason for the makeover,” Barb teased with a wink.

  Maggie’s cheeks heated. “No … I just …” She paused to consider her words, taking a big breath and releasing it slowly. “It’s time for a change, is all.”

  Barb hummed, continuing with Maggie’s hair. “He’s a good man, our Evan.” With that, she gave Maggie a furtive glance, her tone changing when she added, “Just … be careful with him.”

  Maggie stiffened a little, the anticipation that had been roiling in her belly suddenly balling into a heavy lump as she remembered Jane’s warning in the same tone. “W-what do you mean? Be careful with him?”

  She watched Barb obviously struggle to come up with the right words, a small crease etching between her overplucked brows. For a long moment nothing but silence sat heavily between them, accompanied by the generic pop song playing through the small salon.

  “Barb?” Maggie pressed, wanting to hear her take on the elusive Evan Boyd.

  With an exasperated sigh, Barb’s shoulders sagged. “Look. I love Evan. He’s a good man. But … he’s been to hell and back. I don’t know the ins and outs. I know it has to do with a woman. But he’s not the boy he was when he left. He came back a changed man. He drinks a lot, and he enjoys the company of women,” she said hurriedly. “This is a small town, and people talk. I don’t much care for gossip, but you seem like a nice gal and I know you’ve been hurt. So just be careful. That’s all. A friendly warning.” She shrugged and, with a sympathetic smile, she changed the topic of conversation.

  Maggie was no longer paying attention to what Barb was saying. Her mind was elsewhere. She sagged in her chair, suddenly feeling very deflated. She knew Evan was appreciated by the women in town; she’d seen it herself every Saturday morning at little league. She’d even witnessed one of his not-dates with one of his many admirers. But was there more to it? Did Evan’s past and what happened to him while he was away affect who he is now? Was this what Jane was warning her against? Was she destined to get hurt if she let him in?

  Watching while Barb continued talking about the latest episode of some Real Housewives television show, Maggie stared blankly at her reflection, hoping like hell tonight was the right thing to do. Her heart had been broken—it was still broken—in the worst way. Sure, tonight was just dinner between friends, her way of saying thanks, a not-date. But what if it was more? What if she was just fooling herself? What if Evan was a risk she couldn’t afford to take?

  ***

  “There’s two twenties in my wallet. You take them,” Maggie said as she drove through the darkening dusk toward the center of town. “I want you to pay for the tickets and the popcorn. And then for ice cream after, okay?”

  “Mom, things have changed since the olden days,” Jack scoffed from the passenger seat. “Girls are more self-sufficient now than they were back when you were my age.”

  “Oh, of course!” She mock gasped in exasperation, slapping a hand to the side of her head. “Must be my old age brain forgetting again. It was so long ago.” She shot him an indulgent eye roll which caused Jack to chuckle quietly to himself.

  A companionable silence fell between them as some pop princess sang through the radio. Maggie smiled as she thought back to her first date. All the way back to when she was fifteen and Mitchell Holmes had asked her to the movies. He was the older, popular jock, captain of the basketball team. She was the quiet yet slightly rebellious girl from the questionable side of town. The whole school had been talking about their impending date all week, to the point where Maggie had wondered if it was some sick joke. A bet. À la She’s All That, one of her favorite movies when she was a teen. But it hadn’t been a bet. Mitchell had met her at the multiplex. He’d paid for the tickets, and the overpriced concessions. About twenty minutes into the movie, he’d done the sneaky scratch-of-the-head maneuver, his arm snaking around her shoulders, and Maggie had nestled in closer, smiling to herself as she chewed on a Red Vine. After the movie, Mitchell had taken her for a drive in his slightly souped-up Honda. They listened to their favorite songs on the radio until they made it to the beach where they sat on the sand and talked for hours while watching the water. It had been the most romantic night of her life. As romantic as a date could be for a fifteen-year-old on her first real one-on-one with a boy. Like Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill all rolled into one; everything her teenage dreams had been made of. After that date, she and Mitchell went steady for three months—an entire lifetime in high school terms—but they slowly drifted apart, their romance short-lived. It was still a nice memory, though.

  “Okay. Here we are.” Maggie pulled up to the curb outside the movie theater, glancing up to the marquee shining brightly over the box office.

  There were only two movies showing. Only two cinemas. But there was a long line that trailed the sidewalk. Young and old, teenagers on first dates and married couples on date nights. She smiled before glancing at Jack, feeling emotional.

  “Oh God, Mom. You’re not gonna take a photo or anything, are you?” Jack grimaced.

  “No.” She rolled her eyes, managing a smile. “My baby is growing up, is all.” She flashed him a knowing look as she added, “It’s customary for a parent to become emotional during these milestones.”

  Jack shook his head, laughing under his breath, but then he stiffened, whisper-yelling, “There she is!”

  Maggie followed his wide-eyed gaze, spotting the beautiful blonde standing by the lamppost outside the theater. She was dressed in a cute yellow sundress with flowers all over it, and a little white cardigan thrown over the top, her long hair left out, flowing in the gentle night breeze. Maggie glanced briefly at Jack to witness a look of awe in his eyes, and something inside caused her heart to constrict. But she forced herself to pull it together. He wasn’t her little boy anymore.

  “Okay. Call me if you need anything,” she said, causing him to look at her. “I’ll be here at eleven to pick you up. If Katie needs a ride home, let her know I can drop her off.” She smiled, knowing that if all went well with their first date, she would absolutely be driving Katie home. Anything to squeeze in a few extra minutes out of their night together.

  “Thanks, Mom.” Jack smiled before moving to open his door. With a fortifying breath, he flashed her one last nervous grin before getting out of the car.

  Maggie watched from the opposite side of the street as Jack jogged over to Katie. She waved, nervously tucking her hair behind her ear. He placed a hand on her shoulder, saying something. The two shared a shy smile before walking together toward the end of the long box office line, laughing and giggling together about something no one else would ever be privy to.

  With a deep breath, Maggie pulled away from the curb and continued to the pub. She had intended on cooking Evan dinner, but she’d ran out of time, getting caught up with Barb at the salon. So, she’d called the pub and ordered a few dishes from their menu to take away. She was sure Evan would understand. She couldn’t even understand why she was nervous. It was just dinner between friends. So what if Evan was the playboy Barb made him out to be? What on earth was there to be nervous ab
out? She reminded herself, yet again, that this wasn’t a date.

  She repeated the words over and over again in her head. This isn’t a date. This isn’t a date. This isn’t a date. But who was she trying to fool? This was totally a date. She just hoped she didn’t end up getting hurt like everyone seemed to think she might.

  The pub was busy as Maggie snaked her way through the dining room. She waited at the restaurant counter for her pick-up order, and her gaze landed on the bar, more specifically on Liam, the cocky, self-assured bartender she’d met the first night she’d come to the pub.

  Moving swiftly back the way she came, she made her way to the bar and waited while Liam openly flirted with a pretty young girl while pouring her a vodka cocktail. Maggie couldn’t help but laugh to herself; he sure did have a gift with the ladies.

  “Miss Maggie!” Liam exclaimed when he turned, his eyes lighting up as he sauntered toward her. “To what do I owe this delight of a pleasure?”

  Taken aback by his greeting, Maggie felt her cheeks blush when he winked at her, leaning closer over the bar; she was only human, after all. Snapping herself out of her daze, she shook her head, collecting herself. “Hey, Liam.”

  Resting one of his hands on the counter, Liam offered a lascivious smirk. “What can I get you, sweetheart?”

  Trying so hard not to roll her eyes or swoon like a teenager, Maggie squared her shoulders. “I need a six-pack of beer.”

  “O-kay …” Liam raised a dubious brow. “Any certain kind of beer?”

  Biting her lip, Maggie looked up in thought. What kind of beer did Evan like? She’d only seen him with a nondescript pint glass and the beer Travis had bought after the work they’d all done at her house a few Sundays ago. She couldn’t remember the name on the label.

  “Maggie?”

  Coming back from her thoughts, Maggie met Liam’s smiling eyes. Again, her cheeks betrayed her and she tried to remind herself that she was a grown woman. Clearing her throat, she asked, “Do you know what kind of beer Evan likes to drink?”