Chapter 37 – Metaphorical Chickens
Liam
The expression “all your chickens have come home to roost” is not scary enough for the way I feel at this very moment. Chickens are supposed to return home. It should be the thought of chasing chickens that gives people nightmares.
Anyway, my metaphorical chickens have scattered.
Maggie’s here.
Not only that, she’s talking to my mother.
Dinner hasn’t started. Everyone is milling around as much as they can in one large narrow room with long narrow tables making walking around like entering and exiting a freeway system. I’ve never said “pardon me” so many times in my life.
There’s a stage on one end where I assume you might put a small quartet or a conference speaker with a microphone.
In our case, it hosts the little round table where my parents will sit.
I’d like to walk over and look at all the enlarged photos in beautiful frames and the themed décor representing all their favorite things, but not right now.
Now that we’ve found a place to stand out of everyone’s way, I’ll just stay right where I am and hope for the best.
I’ve introduced Rosalie to a few people, but at the moment, she’s staring up at the gorgeous wood beams overhead and all the twinkling lights.
Despite the odd shape, it really is a beautiful restaurant, and she loves beautiful things.
Is there a way I can absorb her chill without exchanging it for my panic?
Every time Maggie’s gaze sweeps the room, I brace myself for when she’ll spot us.
“I should have started dating you the first year you worked for me,” I mutter, half to myself.
“What?” Rosalie turns to me and smiles. “I had a boyfriend at the time. What was his name?”
“Curtis. Good guy. All wrong for you. Okay, I should have started dating you right after you two broke up.”
“You were kind of a mess back then, a loveable mess, but I wasn’t ready for you anyway. Things happen when they happen.”
“Yeah, but your last ex isn’t here.”
Rosalie glances around until she spots Maggie talking to my mother, and then she starts to laugh.
It’s not the polite laugh of society people.
Rosalie snort laughs and slaps her leg. I take her drink out of her hand so it doesn’t slosh down her gorgeous dress.
She ordered a Sprite at the bar. I got a Coke.
We both agreed being on top of our game for a night like this would be best.
Carefully swiping under her eyes where tears have fallen, she says, “Oh, Liam. It’s going to be okay. Your mom doesn’t even like her.”
“How can you tell?”
“Because the look she’s giving Maggie is the look she gives me when the kids are being squirmy and poking each other.”
“But why is Maggie here, and how does she know my parents?”
“A mystery to be unfolded.”
“Why are you so calm about this?”
“Like you said, she’s not my ex.” She’s enjoying this way too much, but I can’t help laughing, too.
She and I keep doing mood swaps, and I’m not sure if it’s because we’re that in sync or because we’re getting used to each other on a more personal level.
I should be the calm one. I usually excel at it.
Of course, I’m usually dealing with other people’s problems and not mine.
“Are you sure that’s just Sprite in your glass?”
She raises one eyebrow at me. “You gave me permission to be okay with whatever happens tonight. Give yourself that same permission. Unless you still have feelings for her, and then you’re dead to me.”
“You have no competition there. But I still feel bad. Maggie put a lot of work into our relationship, and I kept one foot out the door the whole time.”
“I could have told you that, but it was none of my business.”
“Oh really?”
“You liked her because she was smart and spoke her mind. She was the one pushing the romance. At least, that’s what I gathered based on your body language the one time I saw you two together.”
“No wonder she gave up in the middle of dinner. I’m the worst.”
“You dated for what, like three months?”
“Four.”
“Liam.” She takes me by the shoulders, trapping me in place since I’m holding both our drinks. Not that I mind. This is Rosie trying her hardest to look serious, which makes me smile.
“What, Rosie?”
“You are not responsible for everything. Maggie’s a big girl. She’s totally over you. I guarantee it.”
Right at that moment, Maggie turns and looks in our direction, and it’s pretty obvious when recognition dawns. Her eyes go wide with surprise. And then they narrow in calculation.
Rosalie drops her hands from my shoulders and takes in a deep breath. “Okay, the only thing I can guarantee is that she didn’t know you’d be here. I don’t know how that’s possible. Is she your parents’ tax lawyer, by chance?”
“It’s that or we’re secretly related.”
“Gross.” She laughs nervously. “Oh my gosh. They’re coming over here.”