Chapter 16 #2
"If you don't sign," Michael answered, "I will file the design theft case, the breach of guardianship motion, and the conspiracy claim by close of business tomorrow. The B. Johnson thread will be added to the filings. Every piece of evidence on the phone in front of you will be entered into the public record. Every name in Vanessa's messages, every paid contact, every screenshot. Vanessa will lose her boutique within a week, but she will regardless of whether you sign or not.” He shrugged. “I suggest you distance yourself from that matter if you don’t want to go down with her sinking ship.” Then went back to the divorce.
“The difference of whether you sign or not is whether your name appears in the filings as her co-defendant.
I expect it would. I expect, Kevin, that the financial qualifications certificate behind your head would not survive a criminal conspiracy indictment. "
Kevin looked at the certificate on his wall, his eyes widening as realization struck.
Then he looked back at the document on his desk.
His eyes scanned it once again. Without uttering another word, Kevin picked up the pen from his desk.
Then he started to initial where he had to, and signed all the spaces clearly marked for his signature.
When he was finished, he set the pen down and slid the document back to Michael.
Michael picked up the document, checked the signatures, and then placed it back inside the leather folder.
"Thank you, Kevin," Michael said evenly. "I will file the executed contract with the court this afternoon. You will receive a stamped copy by courier in the morning. The decree will be granted within fourteen business days."
Kevin didn’t answer. He sat with his shoulder slumped.
"I will also advise you," Michael continued, "that any communication from yourself or Vanessa to Maggie now goes through me.
Direct contact will be treated as harassment and added to the existing filings.
Neither of you is to set foot on the premises of Maggie's boutique, her home, or any property she owns. Is that understood, Kevin?"
“Understood,” Kevin muttered, raising his head and his eyes meeting Maggie’s.
Maggie stood. "Goodbye, Kevin," she said.
Kevin didn’t answer her, he just gave a nod. When they walked to the door of his office, he stayed exactly where he was, watching them go.
The receptionist looked up as they passed her desk.
Maggie gave her a small, polite nod. Michael held the front door open.
Maggie walked out into the warm late-afternoon Sanibel sun with the leather folder, with Michael right behind her, carrying the leather folder under his arm.
Inside that folder was the signed end of two of the worst years of her life.
Maggie didn’t speak until they were on the sidewalk. Then she turned to him. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears, and the look of relief on her face made him want to pull her to him and hold her.
"Michael," Maggie said. “Thank you so much.”
“I told you we’d get the divorce signed.” Michael smiled.
"Well, I think that deserves a coffee,” Maggie told him.
“My treat. And I just so happen to know a vendor not too far from here that makes an excellent brew.” She smiled shyly at him.
“Maybe we can sit on the bench overlooking the sea and have a celebratory coffee.” She blew out a breath.
“I can’t believe that’s over.” She raised her brows.
“Or how truly impressive attorney Michael Heart really is.” She gave a shake of her head. “That was so cutthroat.”
“It had to be done,” Michael assured her. “Men like Kevin are quite happy to let things drag on until they get exactly what they want.”
The coffee vendor was a small wooden cart tucked under a striped awning on the corner of the bay road, run by an old fisherman Maggie had known since she was a girl. He smiled when he saw her, made the two coffees without asking what they wanted, and waved her off when she tried to pay.
"On the house today, Maggie," he told her. "You look like a woman who just won the lottery."
"Oh, Joe, it's something much better than the lottery,” Maggie answered joyfully. “Kevin finally signed the divorce papers.”
"Wonderful news, Maggie,” Joe said, delighted. “Now the coffee is definitely on the house.”
Michael and Maggie carried the coffees down the path to the wooden bench overlooking the small public beach.
Maggie sat with Michael close beside her.
The late afternoon sun was beginning to soften over the water, and the gulls were calling from above.
Neither of them spoke for a long moment as they sat sipping their coffees and going over the events of the day.
“Michael, you have no idea what you did for me today,” Maggie told him, turning to look at him. “This is going to change my life and has lifted this heavy weight from my shoulders.”
“I’m glad I could help you, Maggie,” Michael told her, his eyes holding hers. “You know I’m always here for you.”
They finished their coffee and knew it was time to head back to Sweet Blossom Bay.
They stood up at the same time. Their shoulders brushed, and they turned to stare at each other.
Michael took a step forward, and so did Maggie.
The next thing he knew, Michael had reached out and cupped her chin in his hands.
“Maggie,” he groaned right before his lips crushed hers.
Her hands gripped his shirt and tightened as she kissed him back, and the bay fell away around them. There was no one else in the world at the moment except for them. Michael had no idea how long their kiss lasted, but when they finally pulled apart, he didn’t let her go.
He rested his forehead against hers and drew her into the circle of his arms.
"Maggie," Michael said softly. "I have wanted to do that for so long.”
“I’ve wanted you to kiss me since…” Maggie swallowed. “Since our last kiss at the bonfire on my prom night.”
“Me too,” Michael admitted. “I have loved you for a lifetime, Maggie, and while I don’t want us to rush this, I can tell you that I’m going to love you for the rest of my life.”
"I have loved you for so long, Michael," Maggie said quietly.
He drew back slightly and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"I want to be careful with this," Michael told her. "I don’t want to rush into anything.”
“I agree,” Maggie told him. “We’ve waited forty years, and now that we’ve finally confessed our feelings, we have time.”
“I’m glad you agree with me," Michael said with a smile. "Because I decided yesterday afternoon, while I was working with Tom at the bakery, that I’m moving home. Permanently. I’m winding down the Miami practice. I want to be here. In Sweet Blossom Bay."
Maggie's whole face lit up.
"Michael," Maggie breathed. “That’s fantastic news.” He kissed her forehead. “I guess we should be heading home.”
“Yes.” Maggie sighed, and they turned to walk arm in arm back toward the car.
"So," Maggie said, smiling up at him as they walked. Her eyes held a teasing glint." Does this mean we are… what is the term, going steady?"
Michael laughed. "Do they even call it that anymore?" he asked.
"I have no idea," Maggie admitted. “I’ve been out of touch with the dating world for what feels like an eternity.”
“Me too.” Michael nodded. "Let us call it exclusive," he suggested, “We’re in an exclusive relationship.”
"Exclusive relationship," Maggie repeated, trying the word out. "I like that."
"Good," Michael answered, kissing the top of her head.
As they slid into the car and Michael started the engine, Maggie turned toward him.
"Michael," Maggie said.
"Yes," Michael answered.
"Who is going to tell Linda about us?" Maggie asked.
Michael smiled. "We’ll tell her. Together," he answered. "I think we should do it as soon as we get back to Hearts Hotel.”
“Like now, today now?” Maggie’s brow furrowed, and she looked at him in a slight panic.
“Yes, Maggie,” Michael said adamantly. “I’ve waited long enough to start taking you out and having a real relationship with you.”
“Didn’t you just say you wanted to take things slow?” Maggie argued. “Maybe we should slow down with telling Linda.”
“Yes, but not that slow,” Michael told her. Then lifted a brow and glanced at her. “What if I make you a deal?”
“What deal?” Maggie looked at him curiously.
“I promise to seriously consider telling you what really happened to Salty,” Michael turned the tables on her. “If we tell Linda about us tonight.”
“Well, that’s not fair,” Maggie huffed, then looked at him suspiciously. “You said seriously consider. That’s not a yes or a no; it’s the same as saying, ‘Heads I win, tails you lose.’ It’s limbo.”
Michael laughed. She was adorable, and they were finally a couple. He took a breath and let it out as his heart swelled with joy.
This is going to be the best summer I have had in years. And he drove them home, the thick, suffocating weight of guilt he’d felt over Evelyn faded away, and for the first time since she’d passed away, he felt at peace with her memory.