Chapter 9 #2
"Only my clients' privacy," Maggie said. "Which I take very seriously."
The bell over the front door chimed.
Maggie turned, and her heart did a flip, waking the butterflies in her stomach as Michael walked into the boutique.
He looked very handsome, which Maggie wished she had not noticed quite so immediately.
He had changed since breakfast into a soft charcoal shirt with the sleeves rolled to the forearm, faded denims, and Nike trainers.
He came through the door with the easy, unhurried confidence of a man who had never once in his life worried about whether he belonged in a room.
He had something in his hand, Maggie noted distantly, a small wrapped box, dark blue and glossy with a thin silver ribbon.
His eyes found Maggie first, instantly warming as he moved toward her.
“Who is that?” Vanessa breathed, clearly impressed by the rugged man walking toward them.
“That’s Michael Heart, Linda’s brother,” Maggie answered her.
As Michael stopped in front of them, Vanessa immediately stepped forward, holding out her perfectly manicured hand. “Hello, I’m Vanessa, Kevin’s fiancée.” Michael politely took her hand for a quick shake.
“Michael Heart,” he introduced himself.
“Maggie tells me you’re Linda’s brother,” Vanessa purred like a predator stalking its prey.
“I am,” Michael confirmed, his eyes watching her intently as if assessing her; then, abruptly, as if he’d formed his opinion, he turned away from Vanessa to Maggie. “Hi, Maggie, if you’re busy, I can come back.”
“Oh, no,” Maggie said, grateful for the distraction and the perfect timing for getting rid of Vanessa. “Vanessa was on her way out.” In more ways than one. Maggie was shocked at the catty comment that popped into her head.
Maggie felt something hot and entirely unwelcome flare in her chest that was close to jealousy as she watched Vanessa touch his arm.
“Michael, I just realized that I need to have you at mine and Kevin’s wedding,” Vanessa drawled.
“I remember that Kevin did say he wanted the Hearts at our special day.” She sighed.
“It’s just been so stressful with the divorce he’s going through that we’ve been remembering as we go who else we need to invite.
” She turned and threw Maggie a black look.
“Maggie is being so difficult and dragging it out. But I can’t blame her, it must’ve been so hard for her to let someone like Kevin go.
” She let her arm stay on Michael’s and put a hand on her chest. “We just want to move on now. I can’t even have the engagement party yet.
But, we’ll get that invitation for mine and Kevin’s Christmas wedding to you and Lucy as soon as I get home. ”
“Lucy?” Maggie and Michael looked at her, confused.
“Yes…” Vanessa looked at them as if they’d lost their minds. “Come now, you’re both in your early sixties, you can’t be going senile yet.” She gave a soft laugh. “Lucy, your sister.” She looked at Michael.
“You mean…” Michael started, but Maggie cut him off. She was sick of Vanessa.
“Sorry, Vanessa,” Maggie stepped in. “But I know both Linda and Michael won’t be attending your wedding either because mine and Toby’s Christmas plans are with them.” She put on a sweet smile as her eyes met Vanessa's. “So don’t waste an expensive invitation.”
“Maggie's right!” Michael confirmed, politely stepped out of Vanessa’s grasp. “Thank you for the offer, but both Linda and I are not available for December as we already have plans.” He turned and met Maggie’s eyes, and her heart lurched. “With Maggie and Toby.”
“We’ll send one anyway,” Vanessa said, her eyes brimming with confidence. “Because I’m sure Maggie will be changing her mind soon about attending the wedding. Kevin really wants Toby to be his best man.”
“He’s nine,” Michael pointed out. “Isn’t he a bit young for that responsibility?”
“Oh, he’s just the token best man…” Vanessa’s eyes widened as she realized she’d just nearly blurted out something she shouldn’t have. “I mean, Kevin does have other groomsmen that will sort out all the adult things that need to be done.”
“Vanessa,” Maggie said, stepping between her and Michael. “I’m sorry, but I have some business to discuss with Michael, and he is a busy man who doesn’t have all day.”
“Of course,” Vanessa said, her eyes narrowing, before they moved to Michael. “It was really nice meeting you, Michael.”
He didn’t respond. Michael just gave her a tight smile and a small nod.
“Do rethink your answer for the wedding, Maggie,” Vanessa said sweetly, before her eyes flashed with a warning. “We don’t want to have to…” She raised an eyebrow. “Let's not make this another expensive, drawn-out battle. Kevin has the right to want his grandson at his wedding.”
With that, she spun on her heel and flounced out of the shop.
The door swung shut, and Vanessa was gone.
As soon as the door swung shut, the two shop assistants appeared.
Diane, the second assistant, had been out when Vanessa had arrived and must have come in from the back door, then hung back in the break room while they waited for vicious Vanessa, as they called her, to leave.
They greeted Michael, who smiled and returned the greeting.
“Shall we go through to my office?” Maggie suggested.
“Sure,” Michael said as he followed her through to her small office that was next to her studio.
She took a seat in front of her desk, and he sat in front of her.
“So that was Vanessa?” Michael asked.
“Yes, that’s Vanessa,” Maggie said, blowing out a breath.
“She came all this way just to get you to change your mind about taking Toby to their wedding?” He did not look convinced.
“That was just the excuse she needed to see if I had any new pieces on display,” Maggie told him with a smile. “And to try and get a photo of the wedding dress I’m working on for a top celebrity.”
“Get a photo?” Michael frowned.
“Yes. Vanessa sells knock-offs of clothing from high-end boutiques,” Maggie told him. “That’s one of the big reasons I don’t want my boutique to have any association with hers.” Her jaw clenched. “And if Kevin gets his claws into even a tiny percentage of mine, I’m ruined.”
“We won’t let that happen,” Michael assured her. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
Her eyes fell on the gift he was cradling on his lap.
“Is that for me?” Maggie said, jokingly looking pointedly at the brightly wrapped box.
Michael looked down at the box as though he’d forgotten about it. Something shifted in his face. His eyes darkened with haunting emotion.
"This," Michael said quietly, lifting it, "is a gift for you from my father."
Maggie went still. Her brows shot up, and she looked at the box. Her heart clenched, and her breath hitched.
"Your father," Maggie said softly, her voice hoarse.
"I know how that sounds," Michael said, with a small, unsteady smile. "Today, after our breakfast, I went back to the hotel. Linda and I decided I needed my own office. The logical choice was…”
“Your father’s office,” Maggie finished for him. She swallowed her throat, suddenly dry as she realized the implications of what he was saying. “You opened your father’s office after all these years.”
He nodded. "Linda and I opened it together," Michael continued, and his voice had gone rough now.
"It’s the first time either of us has set foot there in fifty-two years.
And it's all exactly as he left it. Uncle George kept it clean all this time but ensured nothing was changed or left out of place.” He ran a shaky hand through his hair. “It was like a shrine.”
Maggie's eyes had filled with tears as she watched and listened.
"We found a desk drawer filled with every card we’d ever made him.
” His eyes dropped from hers back to the box, “Beneath the cards were three birthday presents as he knew he was going to miss Linda’s, yours, and mine that year.
” He swallowed, and his eyes shone with unshed tears.
“He was supposed to be back three weeks before Christmas that year.”
“Oh, Michael,” Maggie breathed. “That must’ve been so difficult for you and Linda.”
He looked at Maggie and smiled. “It was at first. But it had to be done.” His eyes went distant. “It was like the last piece of him that needed to be let go.”
“I wonder how Uncle George is going to take that,” Maggie said.
Michael shook his head. “Linda and I are going to the hospital this evening to let him know.” He pulled a face. “We thought it best we broke the news while he was still in hospital.”
Maggie gave a soft laugh at his attempt to lighten the mood. “Probably a good idea. He was very protective of that office.”
Michael put the gift on the desk and slid it toward her.
“Happy seventh birthday from my father, Maggie,” Michael said, in a low, gruff voice.
Maggie reached out, without thinking about it, and laid her hand over his, where it cradled the little box.
"Thank you.” Maggie reached out and picked up the box. A smile touched her face. “Your father always color coordinated the wrapping paper for birthdays and Christmas so we’d know which presents were for each of us from him.”
“That’s right,” Michael confirmed, watching her palm the box. “Are you going to open it?”
“I don’t know,” Maggie answered, sucking in a shaky breath.
“I want to but…” She turned the box in her hand.
“It’s like…” She swallowed hard. “It’s like the last thing your father wrapped for me.
” She smiled sadly. “He never forgot about me. Your mother, father, and even Uncle George always included me in all your family functions, traditions, and never forgot my birthday.”
“You’re part of the family,” Michael reminded her. “Our mothers were childhood best friends. Our family goes way back.”
Maggie's heart swelled. The Hearts had taken her in when her parents were killed. Not once had she ever felt like a burden to them or an outsider. His family had been at all her sports games, ceremonies, and Uncle George had walked her down the aisle.
Something tickled her cheek, she wiped at it and was surprised to find it was wet. Maggie grabbed a tissue from the box on her desk.
“Now look what you’ve done,” Maggie accused Michael. “You’ve ruined my makeup.” She gave a watery laugh. “What did you and Linda get?” She changed the subject as she wiped her eyes.
Michael reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out an antique pocket watch. “He gave me this.”
“Your grandfather’s watch!” Maggie said. “You loved that watch.” Her brows rose. “We thought it had been lost when…” She swallowed. “When…”
“We did,” Michael answered her. “He always had it with him, even when he got deployed.”
“That’s…” Maggie didn’t have the words. “Wow.”
“I know,” Michael nodded. “It was a shock to Linda and me when I opened my present.”
They sat in silence for a few moments staring at the watch before Michael cleared his throat, put the watch back in his pocket, and sat back in his chair. “Linda got that charm bracelet she wanted with charms of all the places she wanted to visit around the world.”
“I remember that bracelet she wanted,” Maggie said. “We went past the jewelry store nearly every day after school to stare at it in the window.”
“Now it’s your turn,” Michael prompted.
Maggie smiled, and shaky fingers opened the gift. She pulled the lid of the square box and sucked in a breath.
“What?” Michael said.
Tears sprang to Maggie’s eyes as a lump burned in her throat. “He got it for me.”
“Got what for you?” Michael asked, sitting forward.
Maggie pulled up a beautifully intricate antique gold locket on a long gold chain. “The locket I wanted to put the photo of my parents in.”
“It’s beautiful,” Michael said softly, admiring the locket.
Maggie nodded. She stood and walked around the desk, holding it out to him. “Would you help me put it on?”
“Sure,” Michael agreed, standing.
He reached out to take it, his fingers brushing her palm and sending a warm spark up her arm.
Maggie turned her back to him and lifted her hair with both hands.
Michael stepped closer. She could feel the heat of him behind her, the quiet steadiness of his presence.
His fingers were gentle as he fastened the clasp at the back of her neck.
The locket settled cool and perfect against her skin, right over her heart.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Maggie turned slowly to face him. The locket rested warm against her collarbone, a piece of the past brought back to life by the man standing in front of her.
“How does it look?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Michael’s eyes moved from the locket to her face. His voice dipped low and rough.
“Beautiful,” he said.
Their eyes locked. The air between them grew thick and still.
Maggie felt her heart hammering against the locket.
Michael’s gaze dropped to her lips for the briefest second.
He leaned in just a fraction, and Maggie found herself leaning too, drawn by the same pull that had lived between them for forty years.
A sharp knock sounded on the office door.
Maggie startled and stepped back. Michael did the same, clearing his throat.
“Come in,” Maggie called, her voice not quite steady.
Diane, one of her assistants, stepped inside, looking annoyed.
“Sorry to interrupt, Maggie, but Vanessa came back after you went into the office. She dropped these off.” Diane held up two cream envelopes with Michael’s and Linda’s names written on them in elegant script.
“And she snuck a few photos of the sale rack before I could stop her. I’m sorry. She was fast.”
Maggie let out a tired breath. “Thank you, Diane. It’s not your fault. Vanessa is… Vanessa.”
Diane nodded and left, closing the door behind her.
Maggie looked at Michael. The almost-kiss still hung in the air between them, warm and unfinished. She touched the locket at her throat, feeling the weight of it, the weight of everything.
Michael’s eyes followed her fingers to the locket, then lifted to meet hers again. The emotion in them made her heart ache in the best and most terrifying way.