Chapter 12 #2
Maggie opened her eyes and blinked a few times. Then she looked back up at him to see a wide smile stretching his face. “Tomorrow works for me.”
“Let me give you my number. Is six okay?”
“That’s perfect.” Maggie was off tomorrow, though she had social media posts to schedule for Grace, and a couple other online clients she’d taken on.
“Do you have any food restrictions?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I’ll eat pretty much anything.”
“There’s not much around here, but there’s a steak house towards State College, if that sounds good.”
“That sounds great.” He programmed his number into her phone and texted himself. Then jumped when he saw the time.
“I better get started on the clean-up. Kitchen’s closed.”
“I’ve just got a couple of tables to cash out.” She returned to the dining room in a daze. Holy shit. She was actually doing this. She was going on a date!
What the hell would she wear?
When she got back to the Haven that night, Maggie messaged Grace. It was late, but Saturdays her employee, Bobby, opened for her so Maggie took the chance she was still awake.
Maggie: I need help!
Grace: What’s wrong?
Maggie: I have a date tomorrow and nothing to wear!
Grace: Do you know where you’re going?
Maggie: He mentioned a steakhouse near State College?
Grace: Oh I know that one. It’s not super fancy. Show me what you got.
Grace: And who asked you out?? Spill!
Maggie: Well, I kinda asked him out but not really? I had turned him down but changed my mind and asked if the invitation was still open.
Grace: That’s adorable, but it doesn’t answer my question.
Maggie: It’s Luke
Grace: I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING BETWEEN YOU TWO!
Maggie: [blushing emoji]
Grace: This is so exciting! Okay let’s see what you have to work with.
Maggie pulled her limited wardrobe out and spread it over the bed.
She’d been meaning to hunt down a thrift store or something, but hadn’t got to it yet.
Nothing remotely date-worthy had made the cut when she ran.
She never would have believed she’d accept a date from another man, so it hadn’t been a priority.
Grace: Girl, we need to go shopping.
Maggie: Ha! In a couple of paychecks.
Grace: Come over tomorrow and you can borrow something.
Maggie agreed and set an alarm for the next morning.
Then she pulled her uniform shirt off over her head and stripped down.
She gazed sadly at her boring beige bra.
Cute bras in larger sizes weren’t only difficult to find, they were usually expensive.
But she wished she had something sexy to wear under her outfit tomorrow.
She hadn’t dressed up for Sean in years, a fact he often bemoaned. But anytime she got dressed up when they went out, he got insanely jealous. And a jealous Sean was dangerous.
Would Luke be the same? Maggie thought about it while she scrubbed her day away. She’d never thought Sean would get that way, but when she thought back on it, there had been warning signs early on. Signs she ignored, or mistook for love.
She couldn’t quite put her finger on why, but she didn’t get the same feeling from Luke. But she reminded herself as she toweled off, she was smarter now. She wouldn’t let herself get caught up in the cycle again.
The next day, Maggie walked into Too Sweet a few minutes before closing to see Bobby behind the counter.
“Hi, Maggie. What can I get you?”
“I’m actually here to see Grace. We have plans.”
“Maggie! Fancy meeting you here!” Maggie rolled her eyes as she turned around. Kirk sat at a table in Too Sweet, a cup of coffee and an empty plate in front of him. He lifted out of the chair and strode over. She sighed. This guy just kept popping up like a weed.
“Hello, Kirk.”
“What’s new?”
“I have plans with Grace.” Hadn’t he been paying attention? Lord save her from inattentive men.
“What are you gals up to?”
“She’s helping me with something.” It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that it was a date with another man, but that was just too mean.
“Are you still staying with Virginia? I’d love to see you again.”
Thank God for Bobby. “Hey mister, we’re closing in five minutes.”
Kirk raised his hands in defense. “No worries, I’ll be out of here.” To Maggie, he said, “Can I get your number?”
“I-I’m in a rush, Kirk.” She turned back to Bobby. “Can you let Grace know I’m here?”
“Sure thing.” Bobby leaned back through the door to the kitchen and called for his boss. “Maggie’s here!”
“Thanks! Send her back!”
He lifted the partition next to the register. “Go on back.”
“Thank you, Bobby.” She slipped through the doorway, away from Kirk, and headed for Grace’s voice.
“Let me just finish cleaning and then we can head up.”
“Thank you for this.” Maggie bit her lip and pushed Kirk from her mind.
“Anytime! You want a cupcake before we head up?”
Maggie shook her head. “I’m too nervous.”
Grace tilted her head and started up the stairs to the apartment. “Luke’s a great guy. You don’t need to be nervous about him.”
“He’s not the problem,” Maggie eyed Grace, wondering how much she should say. “It’s… been a while.”
Grace looked back over her shoulder at her, but didn’t say anything until she shut the door. “How long has it been?”
Maggie tried to do the math and started to give herself a headache. “Years,” she finally answered.
Grace nodded and took Maggie back into her bedroom. She threw the closet doors open. “So, what are you thinking? Dress, skirt, pants?”
Maggie stared at the explosion of color the bi-fold doors revealed. “Wow. I don’t have the foggiest idea.” She ran her hands over the different fabrics. “I hope I don’t spill anything on it.”
Her new friend gave her a sad chuckle. Maggie looked back at her and saw how she looked at the closet like an old photo album. “I haven’t worn the dressy stuff since I got back to Hawthorn Hills. I used to wear it more, but I don’t have the opportunity anymore.”
Maggie had only ever seen Grace in her chef uniform or casual clothes. There was a story there, but she didn’t want to pry. So, she changed the topic. “Would a dress be too fancy?”
“Nah.” Grace waved her off. “I have a few options.” She reached into her closet and pulled out a handful of hangers. “Do you want to change in the bathroom?”
“Works for me.” Maggie slipped into her bathroom and pulled her t-shirt and jeans off, laying them on the closed toilet seat.
Grace handed her dress after dress through the crack in the door, and Maggie tried them all on. She ended up choosing a comfortable dark green wrap dress in a soft knit fabric. The long sleeves were perfect for the March weather.
“What about shoes?” Grace asked her.
“Shit. I just have my chucks.”
Grace tutted. “What’s your shoe size?”
Maggie’s feet were a bit smaller than Graces, but they found a pair of ballet flats and stuffed the toes with tissue. “We should go shopping soon.”
“Is there a thrift store around here?” Maggie laughed sarcastically.
Her hostess made a face. “I wouldn’t buy second hand shoes. Gross.”
“You saw my entire wardrobe in the photo I sent you.”
“Yeah, about that. What happened?”
Maggie’s throat tightened. She opened her mouth to speak, then shut it again. Repeatedly.
At her silence, Grace drew closer, placing her hands on Maggie’s shoulders. Her new bestie stared into her soul, and a mask that Maggie hadn’t realized Grace had been wearing fell away. Grace knew her struggle, personally. Of that, Maggie was certain.
“You don’t have to tell me. But I’m here if you want to talk, okay?”
“I…Thank you. I made a mistake, many years ago. I’m trying to correct it now.”
Grace smiled, and the moment had passed. “Well, you’re going to knock Luke’s socks off.”
“Thanks.” Maggie closed the bathroom door, untied the dress, and hung it back up, then changed back into her street clothes. “I want to get back to the Haven and shower.”
“Do you need to borrow some make up?”
Maggie called out as she pulled her clothes back on. “Nah. I’m going to stop at the pharmacy and grab some things on the way.”
Grace put the shoes into a bag, hanging them off the dress hanger, then followed Maggie out to her car. “Have fun tonight.”
“Thanks.” Maggie opened the driver’s door and slid into her seat. When Grace leaned over, she rolled the window down.
“Remember what I said. You don’t have to be nervous around him.”
Maggie nodded. “I appreciate that.”
“And I expect details tomorrow!” Grace gave her a salacious wink and walked back to her bakery.
She could feel the blush spreading over her cheeks and down her neck as she pulled out of the parking space. Her insides felt like they were going to vibrate right out of her body with excitement. The possibilities were endless.