Chapter 45
THE MOMENT
ZEKE
Maggie’s appointment took a little over an hour, and I sat in the waiting area with a library book. The way she looked didn’t matter to me. I only wanted her to feel happy with herself. If a shorter haircut would help, then that was the least I could do for her.
Only I didn’t consider how much Maggie’s new look might send me into cardiac arrest. When she emerged with what she called a “fiery pixie cut” I resembled a cartoon in how my jaw dropped and my tongue lolled out.
Her shorter hair allowed me to see the slope of her delicate neck, the angle of her jawline, the perfect arch of her dainty ears.
That had to mean it was true love, right?
Why would I notice Maggie’s ears if I didn’t love her?
“What do you think?” A rich, pink blush worked its way across Maggie’s cheeks. Her hands moved automatically to curl around the ends of her hair, only now there weren’t any strands dangling down far enough.
“I think you’re stunning, but it doesn’t matter what I think.
How do you feel?” It was a struggle to take my eyes off her.
Rather than looking at the receptionist to pay, I kept my focus on Maggie, not even bothering to look as I scribbled something that barely resembled a signature.
There was something different about her face, too.
I couldn’t identify what the difference was, but I liked it just the same.
Maggie’s blush grew deeper. “I feel amazing! Kaitlin did such a good job!” She babbled the rest of the way through our evening, including dinner, about how well her stylist knew the color palette and how much she enjoyed that salon.
I didn’t understand two thirds of what she said, but I loved how excited she looked while saying it.
Maggie hadn’t been this happy in months.
“Actually, Kaitlin said they may have an opening soon.” My wife’s smile fell at the corners as she waited for my response with bated breath. “What do you think?”
I shrugged. “I think the Americans there are all military spouses, so the salon likely has a high turnover rate.”
She rolled her eyes, but the wide smile returned.
Leaning against the wall, Maggie waited for me to unlock our apartment door.
We were finally home for the evening after having dinner at a restaurant near the salon and picking up a few things at the market.
I didn’t want the night to ever end; this was the best day we’d had together in months.
“I really do have to spell things out for you, don’t I?” she mused once we were inside.
“What do you mean?”
Maggie rolled her eyes again and then laughed to herself. “A job, Zeke. I’m talking about getting a job. At the salon.”
“Oh.” I blinked a few times to process what she meant. That was something both Chuck and Barb encouraged me to do so that I only said things after considering all of the implications. “We don’t need you to work, you know. I’m happy to pay for everything you want or need.”
My wife nodded. “It’s not about money. I just worked really hard to get through cosmetology school and I want to have something to show for it.”
“If working at that salon is what you want, then I say go for it. We’re making a new normal, right? Will you keep your appointments with Barb? Your wellbeing has to come first.”
“Of course!” Maggie positively glowed, clapping her hands gleefully as she jumped on the balls of her feet. “I could just kiss you!” She grabbed my head with both hands and yanked my face to hers, then planted her lips firmly on mine.
I hadn’t done more than kiss her forehead since the night of my autism diagnosis. Kissing my wife made the world finally stop spinning as it reoriented itself to her axis. Maggie was the center of my everything; the only person worth living and breathing for.
I loved her. Whether she ever returned the feeling or not, Maggie Hayes was the love of my life.
“Can I sleep in your room tonight?” Her hopeful voice broke through my intrusive thoughts. She bit her bottom lip as she waited for my response. “We don’t have to do anything! I just…want to be near you.”
Slowly, a smile spread across my face as the hope from the kiss blossomed deeper in my chest. “You never have to ask, Trouble,” I assured her. “Wherever you are is exactly where I wanna be.”