Tell Me a Secret (19 page)

“We’d love to have her. Does this mean we need to find another rock?”

“No. Dad’s friend, George Brummell, is he still doing private investigation work?”

“Yes, why?”

“I want to find Maggie’s dad.”

“I thought she said he worked out of the country.”

“That wasn’t exactly true. She doesn’t even know who he is, but I’m going to find him and get him to come to her graduation.”

On Thanksgiving Day at four-thirty, Jace’s heart pounded and his breath came faster when he saw Maggie pull into the drive. He was still adjusting to all the emotions brought on by the sight of her. Definitely a new experience and the crazy thing was they weren’t connected to lust. He did lust for her, but this was stronger, deeper, than anything he’d ever experienced. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and shut out the rest of the world. Keep her safe and never let anyone hurt her again. Funny how in the past after he slept with a girl he couldn’t wait to get the hell away from her, but with Maggie he never wanted to leave.

Beautiful in a soft blue skirt that rippled with the breeze, her hair fell loose to her shoulders, the way he liked it. By the time he reached her, she was unloading two containers of food. He reached for the dishes, set them on the trunk and then pushed her body against the car door and kissed her as if it would be the last one he’d ever get.

She squirmed and he held her tighter. Then someone called her name.

Short and squatty next-door neighbor Lurleen Hogan waddled across the drive and embraced Maggie in a tight hug. When Maggie coughed from the grip, the woman released her and began to prattle.

“Jace, I had no idea you knew Maggie. Is she your girlfriend? Have you two been seeing each other long? Is it serious? My goodness, you two make a good-looking couple. You’re probably wondering how I know her. She was one of George’s nurses. As a matter of fact, his favorite.”

Mrs. Hogan took a quick breath and stroked Maggie’s arm. “He looked forward to the days when you worked. It was so sweet of you to attend his service. It would have meant so much to him.”

While his neighbor rambled, Jace retrieved the dishes and hoped she’d take the hint.

“Jace, tell your mom and dad, I’ll be moving after the first of the year. My sister lives in Shreveport and we always planned to live together if we were ever alone. But poor thing, has the early stages of Alzheimer’s and bless her heart, most of the time she doesn’t know if she’s washing or hanging out, so that won’t work for me. Instead, I’m moving to Dallas to be near my daughter.”

Lurleen’s eyes lit up. “Maybe the two of you want to buy my house once you’re married. Wouldn’t that be great? Living right next-door to your parents and think of all the free babysitting you’d get.” Then she grinned at Maggie and said, “You’ll love the gazebo in the backyard. It’s such a peaceful place.” She grabbed Maggie’s hand and inspected it. “Oh my goodness, I’m rushing things, aren’t I? You’re not even engaged yet. Well, Christmas is always a good time to propose. Don’t you think so, Jace?”

Jace opened his mouth to say something, but Lurleen barely took a breath and started again, so he closed it. He nodded and shook his head like a bobble-head-dog in a car window as he tried to answer her rapid fire questions. He held up a finger to stop her, but apparently she didn’t understand the signal.

“I see you already have your mom’s Christmas lights on the house. I’m not putting any up this year. I have too much to do before I move. So much packing and I’m going to have to scale down and get rid of furniture.”

He wasn’t sure if the long-winded conversation or the thought of preparing for the move caused Lurleen to sigh as if she needed a nap, but he seized the opportunity. “Nice visiting with you, Mrs. Hogan, but we’d better get in the house. Dad’s ready to carve the turkey.”

He nudged Maggie forward before the woman could start another sentence.

Maggie called over her shoulder. “So nice to see you, Mrs. Hogan. Happy Holidays.”

He clamped his teeth together. “Shh, don’t encourage her. She’s not following us, is she?”

When they stepped onto the porch, Maggie took a quick peek. “No, she’s not.”

Before he could grab the knob, his mom opened the door and issued an apology. “I’m sorry. Lurleen can talk up a storm.”

“That’s okay. Her husband was a patient. When I met her, I understood why he was such a quiet man.”

“What was she babbling about?”
 

Jace leaned against Maggie. “Nothing much. She’s moving to Dallas to live with her daughter, so she had the two of us married, with children, and living in her house for the benefit of free babysitting. I can’t believe the lung capacity of that woman.”

“Oh no. I’m so sorry,” Elizabeth said.

“She’s just lonely. They were married over fifty years. I see it all the time at the hospital. When someone loses their spouse after being together that long, it’s a hard adjustment.”

Jace handed the dishes to his mother and when she walked away, he pulled Maggie close and kissed her again. “I love you, and I’m so glad you’re here.” As crazy as Mrs. Hogan’s rant sounded, the idea of spending his life with Maggie suddenly made perfect sense. Especially with her soft in his arms, smelling so good, and her mouth sweet and warm against his. As she surrendered to the kiss, a small familiar voice broke the moment.

“Is she your girlfriend?”

Jace eyed his nine-year-old cousin standing across the room.

“Yes, she is. Maggie, this is Sydney and she’s a troublemaker.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Hi, Sydney. It’s nice to meet you,” Maggie said.

“Kissing is gross. Why do you kiss Jace?”

He cupped his ear. “I hear your mother calling.”

“Nuh-uh, but I’m telling on you.” She spun and ran toward the kitchen with Jace and Maggie right behind.

“Jace’s girlfriend gives him the honey-glow,” she announced.

“Sydney!” The slender woman said and stepped forward. “I’m Kim Adams, Bobby’s—Dr. Adams’ wife, and I apologize for little Miss Sassy Pants’ behavior.”

“No need,” Maggie said.

 
“This is Ashley.” Kim gestured to the older girl with the same bright blue eyes and golden curls as Sydney. “Girls, y’all go outside and play while we finish getting everything ready.”

Jace pulled a chair from the table for Maggie and then took one for himself.

Elizabeth addressed Maggie. “Jace said you’re not working this weekend. Would you like to go to the game with John and me? We plan to leave early Saturday and come back Sunday morning.”

Jace leaned forward and twirled a strand of Maggie’s hair around his finger. “She’ll go.” She cut her eyes over at him, but they weren’t angry, so he didn’t give her a chance to answer. “I want you there. It’s my last regular game.”

She gave in and smiled. “Okay.”

He loved her so much at that moment, he couldn’t stop himself. He leaned close and kissed her.

She pushed him away. “Stop it.”

“Everyone in this room knows I kiss you,” he said.

“Jace, stop embarrassing her,” his mom said. “Go out to the deck and tell your dad, Jared, and Uncle Bob we’ll be ready to eat in fifteen minutes. Oh, and don’t let Heisman come in the house.”

 
~~*~~
 

With Jace gone, Maggie took a minute to admire the dining table through the doorway of the kitchen. White china plates rimmed with gold marked each setting and in the center of the table an amber vase held bright yellow mums.
Someday I want china and crystal and a big cheery dining room for my family. My family.
The thought made her tremble.

Kim’s voice got her attention. “I was surprised when Elizabeth told me Jace had a girlfriend. Of course, Bobby is taking credit for it since he arranged the tutoring.”
 

“That’s Bob for you,” Elizabeth said. “He still claims matchmaker status for getting John and me together. Maggie, would you put ice in the glasses, and Kim, if you’ll put those rolls in the bread basket, we’ll be good to go.”

As always, Maggie felt at home in Elizabeth’s kitchen, and loved how they included her as if she was a member of the family. When Mrs. Hogan mentioned the words
engaged
and
babysitting
, Maggie’s heart fluttered. Before her relationship with Jace, she’d daydreamed about being with him, but now, the thought of being
married
to him caused her skin to warm.

Elizabeth walked over and slid her hand over Maggie’s shoulders. “I want you to know, John and I are happy you and Jace are together.”

“Thank you. How did you meet John?”

“We were at a party. I noticed him right away. I thought he was the most handsome man I’d ever seen. He and Bob were on the football team. John was a senior and Bob, a freshman.” She laid a serving fork and knife next to the platter holding the turkey. “Anyway, Bob introduced us and I could tell John was interested in me, but I’d heard he was a ladies man, so I played hard to get and wouldn’t go out with him. But he kept calling until I gave in.” She transferred potato salad into a cut-glass bowl. “My parents were not happy. This looks delicious and it’s so colorful. Are those black olives?”

“It’s called Festive Potato Salad. Along with the olives it has other odd ingredients. Carrots. Dill pickles. Cabbage. It doesn’t sound like something I’d like, but I do.”

Surprised to learn John had also been a player, Maggie guessed the old adage proved true.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“Why were your parents unhappy?”

“I was a senior in high school and they thought a college senior was too old for me.”

Kim laughed. “Unhappy doesn’t begin to describe my parent’s emotions concerning Bobby and me.”

“How so?” Maggie asked.

“He’d started teaching at the university and I was his student.”

Maggie’s eyes went wide. “How did you get away with dating a teacher—or did you?”

“We were sneaking around for a while. But Bobby knew if our relationship was discovered, he’d lose his job. So I dropped out. My parents were livid. During Christmas break, we got married and I started back to school, and as they say, the rest is history.”

Elizabeth softened her tone. “I realized Jace was crazy for you when he asked my help with the rock. But tell me, Maggie. How do you feel about him?”

The question caught her off guard. She’d not even admitted how she felt to him, but she didn’t see a way out of this. Feelings were one thing, but she couldn’t say them out loud. Words were like grains of salt coming from a shaker. They pour out easily, but they’re impossible to put back.

There is only one happiness in life, to love and to be loved.

~George Sand

Lost in thought, Maggie relaxed in the hospital cafeteria and spooned whipped cream from the top of her hot chocolate. She brought the cup of warm cocoa to her lips and blew across the surface, then sipped. It felt good going down and eased the tension left from the previous day’s celebration.

Someone cleared his throat and she looked up to find Jared smiling down at her. He ran one hand through his tousled hair and held a mug with the other.

“Hey.” Maggie said and smiled.

“Mind if I sit with you?” He stuck his finger out and wiggled it toward her. “You have a little whipped cream right there.”

Dabbing her mouth with a paper napkin, she gestured for him to take the chair across from her. “I wanted to thank you for saving me yesterday.”

“Saving you? How?”

“When you came in the kitchen, your mom had just put me on the spot with a question about Jace. Your timing was perfect.”

“Mom worries. I was engaged and two weeks before the wedding, my bride called it off. I went through a rough patch and Mom doesn’t want Jace hurt like I was.”

“That’s terrible. What happened?”

“She chose career over marriage.”

“I’m sorry. I thought in today’s world a woman could have both.”

“Not in my case. She’s an artist and wanted to study in New York. It’s all behind me now.”

“What
are
you doing here? Someone you know sick?”

“No, I dropped off the final plans for the new wing.”

Maggie glanced at her watch. “Well, I’ve got to get back to work.”

“I’ll walk you out.”

When they reached the elevator and the door opened, Jace stood inside. His jaw tightened and his lips stretched thin with tension. He glared first at Jared, then at her. She threw her arms around Jace. “This is a surprise.”

He pushed away, keeping his eyes on his brother. “I thought I’d visit the children’s ward. I came to find you, but I guess you’ve already finished your break.”

“I ran into Maggie in the cafeteria. I’m on my way out so she’s all yours. I’ll see you both later.” Jared stepped past them.

The doors closed and she focused on Jace. “I’m glad to see you.”

He arched an eyebrow. “
Are you
?”

Because of his tone, she tipped her head back to meet his gaze, then grabbed his arm and pulled him into the stairwell. “Yes, why wouldn’t I be?”

“I thought maybe I’d interrupted something.”

“Cut it out. There’s nothing going on between Jared and me.”