Chapter 25 #2
Maggie wanted to break down, but she held it together because Corey needed her to be strong.
A woman in a white coat came into the now-crowded room and introduced herself as Dr. Halstead.
“How is she?” Maggie asked.
“Have a seat,” the doctor said as she sat at the table.
Maggie sat across from her.
“I understand Ms. Gellar put you on her list of contacts when she was here to deliver her baby.”
“Yes, she has no family in the area. She’s been staying at our facility.”
“I’m sorry to have to tell you she was badly beaten and is in very critical condition.”
Maggie whimpered.
Brayden sat next to her and put his arm around her.
“We’ve taken her up to surgery to contend with some internal bleeding and the reopening of her previous surgical site.”
At that news, Maggie dropped her head into her hands. “Is she going to be okay?”
“We don’t know yet. Our primary concern is a rather significant head injury.”
This could not be happening.
The next few hours seemed to unfold in slow motion as Maggie and Brayden waited for news. At two, she suggested Brayden go to the house to carry on as planned with the kids and the riding lessons.
“I wouldn’t feel right leaving you here alone.”
“I’m all right. The kids will be disappointed if we cancel.”
“I’ll come right back after.”
“Ask Teresa to send me some jeans and sneakers?”
He kissed her forehead. “I’ll take care of it, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Thanks again for the great night.”
“I’m sorry it ended here.”
She offered him a weak smile. “A wise person once told me that we can’t control what other people do.”
“Keep reminding yourself of that.” He kissed her cheek and got up to leave.
Maggie watched him go, thankful for him and the support he offered so easily, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him to want to be there for her.
She recalled something her mother once told her when she was mourning the loss of the more serious of her two college relationships.
He’s out there, she’d said, and when you find him, you’ll know it because he’s there for you, he listens to you, he sees you.
The right guy makes you feel like the most important thing in his world.
Wait for that guy, and when he shows up, make sure you notice.
Was Brayden that guy? The one she’d hoped to find someday? He checked all the boxes on her mother’s list, and suddenly, more than anything, she wanted to talk to her mom about him and Corey and Debbie. She found a secluded corner, away from the main waiting area, and put through the call.
Her mom answered on the third ring, sounding like she’d run for the phone. “Hey, this is a nice surprise.”
“Are you busy?”
“Just doing some yoga before I have to pick up the boys.”
“I can call you later.”
“Now is fine. What’s up?”
Maggie’s throat closed, and she couldn’t breathe or speak.
“Maggie? Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” She forced herself to calm down and do what Brayden had told her to do all morning: breathe.
“What’s wrong, Maggie?”
“I… I think this job might be too much for me.” The words, once spoken, could never be stuffed back into the jar where she’d kept them contained for months.
“Why do you say that? From what I’ve heard, you’re doing a brilliant job.”
“One of the moms died last week.”
“I know. Have you heard what happened?”
“Her mom told me she had an enlarged heart.”
“So she was probably a ticking time bomb. You have to know there was nothing you could’ve done to prevent her death, right?”
“How do I know that for sure?”
“Maggie! It’s not your fault.”
She wallowed in the comfort of her mother’s emphatic words. “Last night, I stayed in town with a friend.”
“I assume you’re allowed a night off every now and then.”
“Yes, but while I was gone, one of the residents checked herself out to return to the man who beat her so badly, their baby was born prematurely. He got released from jail yesterday, and today, I’m at the ER waiting to hear if she’s going to survive the head injury she received when he beat her again—so badly, she’s in surgery. ” Her voice caught on a sob.
“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry that happened to someone you care about.”
“She’s so young and has no one.”
“Which is why she went running back to him the first chance she got. He’s her someone, for better or worse.”
“Why does it make all the sense when you put it that way?”
“It’ll never make sense to you because you’re not in her relationship. Maybe at one point, before it went bad, he was the first person to ever truly care about her. Maybe she’s still hoping to find that guy in him again.”
“I hope she’s done looking for that in him after this.”
“You need to prepare yourself for the possibility that she’ll continue to go back to him. You can only do what you can, honey. You can’t live their lives for them. You can only try to make their lives easier and more comfortable while they figure it out for themselves.”
Maggie absorbed her mother’s words of wisdom, letting the comforting sound of her voice wash over her. “Thank you for listening.”
“The job isn’t too much for you, Mags. It’s that your heart is too big to handle the hurt sometimes. It’s always been that way. Your dad and I were very concerned about whether the job would break your big, beautiful heart.”
“You were? You guys talked about that?”
“Here’s a newsflash you can share with your sisters. We talk about you guys all the time.”
Maggie laughed. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Are you all right, honey?”
“I suppose I will be. I’m really worried about Corey.”
“I’ll say a prayer for her—and for you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“So about this ‘friend’ you stayed in town with… Anything you want to tell me about her or him?”
“You still suck at subtlety.”
“So my daughters tell me.”
“His name is Brayden, which you know because Jill and Kate have big mouths, and I think I love him.”
Clare gasped. “You do? Really?”
“I think so. He’s amazing, smart, sweet, talented and quite possibly the sexiest dude I’ve ever met.”
“Oh, well…”
Maggie laughed again. “You asked.”
“This is truly wonderful news. How does he feel?”
“I don’t know. It’s still early days, but he arranged the night away for me, which was really sweet.” Maggie told her about the fundraiser they’d attended and about him accepting the award on behalf of his late mother.
“How long ago did he lose her?”
“A couple of months ago in a car accident.”
“The poor guy. It’s still new.”
“Yes, and she was his only family.”
“Oh dear. Well, I’m glad he has you and that you have him.”
“Don’t get too excited yet, and don’t tell Dad.”
“I don’t keep things from him. You know that.”
“You guys are divorced. Why can’t you act like it once in a while?”
Clare cracked up laughing. “We’re not divorced when it comes to our beloved daughters.”
“I’ll tell him when I’m ready to, Mom. Seriously, don’t tell him. He’ll fly here to give Brayden an inquisition.”
“You’re right. He probably would.”
“So keep it between us for now. I promise I’ll tell him when the time is right.”
“Fine. I’ll keep your secrets. For now.”
“How’s the wedding stuff?” Maggie asked, because she wanted to keep her mom on the phone for a little while longer.
“It’s all done but the waiting. Andi made it super easy on us. She’s got it down to a science after all these years of overseeing weddings at the hotel. Although she said she’s never helped to plan a wedding for one of her own kids.”
“Does it bug you when she refers to us that way?”
“Nah, I got over that years ago when I realized how lucky we were that you girls had her to lean on when I couldn’t be there for you.”
“Sometimes all that seems like a million years ago, and then other times, it feels like it happened last week.”
“I know what you mean. Even after all these years, it’s still weird to me sometimes that I’m married to Aidan and not your father.”
“That’s because you missed the part where your first marriage ended.”
“Very true. I want to add that I love Aidan madly. Wouldn’t want you to think otherwise.”
“I know you do.”
“I missed a lot during those years.”
Clare had often said how she left three girls behind and woke up from her coma to three young women who’d nearly finished growing up without their mother.
“I don’t mean to resurrect difficult memories. Sorry.”
“It’s all right. It’s our story, and we own it. And besides, it all worked out the way it was meant to. I honestly believe that.”
Maggie sat up straighter when she saw Corey’s doctor come through the double doors to the waiting room. “Mom, I have to go. I’ll text you later.”
“Hang in there, Mags. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”