Chapter 34
Maggie’s ears were still ringing with her mother’s accusations. Sitting in the Food Lion parking lot, she’d listened to the
tirade, steeling herself against the harsh words.
And as she pulled from the lot, she battled the familiar sense of shame and insecurity. She was so tired of feeling this way.
Of letting her mother make her feel this way. For years Erin had advised her to seek therapy for the emotional abuse she had
endured—was still enduring. Maybe Erin was right.
Maggie’s recent therapy had been focused on her grief and loss, but now that those feelings had somewhat abated, maybe it
was time to focus on her relationship with her mother. Figure out some way to manage her mother’s behavior and maintain her
sanity.
When she returned to the beach house, rather than go next door and pick up Zoey, she flittered through the house, dispensing
with clutter. She cleared her mind as she did the breakfast dishes and started a load of laundry. By the time she finished
she felt calmer.
She was about to run next door when her cell phone rang. At the sight of Josh’s face on her screen, her lips turned upward. Remembering the way he’d come to her defense last night, she went all warm inside. Ethan had been supportive about her mother, but Mom only ever showed him her good side. She was quite charming when she wanted to be. He didn’t fully understand why Maggie found her so exasperating. As painful as last night had been, at least Mom exposed her true self to Josh.
Maggie accepted the call. “Hi there. On lunch break?”
“Yeah, for a few more minutes anyway. Have you heard from your mom?”
“Oh yeah. She gave me an earful a little while ago. It was basically last night’s scene, take two. I’m still trying to shake
it off.”
“I’m sorry. And I’m really sorry to add to your worries. But Erin tracked me down at the marina. Your mom called her this
morning and told her about our relationship.”
Maggie palmed her forehead “ What? Why would she do that?”
“I think we both know the answer to that.”
This was not how Maggie had wanted her best friend to find out. “How upset is she? I have to call and explain.”
“It’s okay. I talked to her. She’s fine, honey. She’s not upset with you.”
“Are you sure?”
“She felt a little blindsided at first, but once I told her we hadn’t wanted this to overshadow the anniversary, she understood.
In fact, I think we can count on her support—if needed—when we tell my parents.”
Maggie could hardly believe it. She wasn’t sure she would’ve been so understanding in Erin’s place. “Really?”
“Really. So try to relax a little. Your mom might be adept at getting her way, but she’s not a magician. And she’s apt to
find that the Reynoldses aren’t quite so easy to manipulate.”
“I’m sorry she’s causing all this drama. I hate that she does this stuff.” Maggie had worked so hard to keep her mom away from the family. When they’d been planning Maggie’s wedding, it was practically an Olympic event.
“This is not your fault. You don’t have to apologize for your mother. This isn’t exactly the way I hoped our relationship
would start out, but we’ll get through it. However, we’re gonna have to tell Mom and Dad sooner rather than later.”
“You’re probably right. If Mom reached out to Erin, what’s to stop her from calling them too?”
“She, ah, actually asked Erin for their number—but of course she didn’t give it.”
Why did her mother have to be so manipulative? “Grrr! I can’t believe she’s behaving this way. Well, yes, I can, but it’s
still infuriating.”
“It’ll be okay.” Josh’s voice was soothing. “Mom and Dad’ll be home tomorrow, and we’ll just head Nora off at the pass.”
If her mother reached them first, she’d try to convince them that Josh and Maggie’s relationship was inappropriate at best
and incestuous at worst. “Are you sure we shouldn’t call them? I’d hate to tell them over the phone, but it would be even
worse if my mom ambushed them with this.”
“If I thought Nora could get their number, I’d be in favor of calling them. But they’re so private with their information—their
phone number isn’t available online. I checked.”
His parents refused to even use a credit card on the internet. “That’s a relief. And they don’t have any friends in common
since they live so far apart.”
“Would your mom have any other way of getting their number? Is it written down in your house anywhere?”
“You think I’d actually give my mother a key to my house? I have a trusted friend who’s watering my plants. She knows all about my mom. I can’t believe she’s doing this—and all over some guy she wants me to date.”
“You mean... the doctor ?” His tone held a note of humor.
“Erin mentioned that little detail, huh?”
“Are you sure you wanna pass that up for a lowly tour-boat captain?”
“Hey, I happen to be very proud of my tour-boat captain.” She bit her lip. She’d felt so defensive of Josh that she’d just
given away her feelings. But she had begun thinking of him that way. How quickly that had happened.
“You just called me yours ,” he said softly.
“Guess I did.”
A beat of silence ensued. “I like it.”
She wished he were here with her right now and not clear across the island. She was eager to build on their already-solid
foundation. But they just might have to survive an earthquake first.
“Hold that thought,” she said.