Chapter 32
Of all the times to leave the door unlocked. Maggie blinked against the sudden brightness. “Mom?”
Her mother’s eyes swung to Josh and flew open wide. Her hand shot to her mouth. “Oh!”
Maggie sprang to her feet. “What are you doing here?”
“You’re—you and him ?”
“Lower your voice, Mom. Zoey’s sleeping in the—”
“Maggie!” Mom grimaced. “Dear God in heaven, what can you possibly be thinking?”
Josh rose, his face like stone. “She asked you to lower your voice, Mrs. Hughes.”
Mom narrowed her eyes at Maggie. “How could you? He’s your brother . It’s immoral what you’re doing. What would Ethan say about this?”
Maggie’s face went nuclear. Not only because of her words but because Josh was hearing them too. “What are you doing here,
Mom? You can’t just barge in and—”
“What am I doing here? What is he doing here, alone with you, making out on the couch with you like you’re a couple of teenagers?” Her gaze drifted pointedly
over Maggie’s hair.
Face burning, she smoothed it down. “Mom, this isn’t a good time.”
“I can see that! If you’d simply returned my calls, this could’ve been avoided. I came to talk some sense into you regarding Derrick. But now I see the truth. I can’t believe this has been going on behind my back all summer.” She clutched her heart and muttered something to herself—possibly the Hail Mary prayer, though she hadn’t set foot inside a Catholic church for forty years.
Josh stepped between mother and daughter. “Maybe it would be best if you got a hotel room tonight. You and Maggie can talk
in the morning after you’ve settled down.”
Mom’s spine stiffened. She tossed her short black hair. “Don’t you tell me when I can speak with my own daughter. She clearly
hasn’t the sense God gave her.”
Maggie closed her eyes. If only the floor would open up and swallow her. “Please don’t, Mom.”
“This is not the way I raised you! Have all my efforts gone to waste that you’d shame me this way? Ethan must be rolling over
in his grave, and who could blame him! Messing around with his brother of all people. Your brother.”
“We don’t see it that way,” Josh said firmly.
“Oh, I’m sure.” Mom gave a harsh laugh. “But I’ll bet your parents do!”
Maggie glanced at Josh, but he hadn’t taken his eyes off her mom. A shadow flickered on his jaw as his muscles twitched.
Mom’s gaze toggled between them. “You haven’t told them. You’ve been hiding this from them. They’re gallivanting all over
Europe, clueless that their daughter-in-law is betraying their dead son!”
“Stop it, Mom!” She had to get her out of there. Maggie sidled around her and snatched the door open. “You need to leave now.
Please. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Mom didn’t budge. “I’m only telling you the truth. If you’re embarrassed, it’s because what you’re doing is shameful. I go out of my way to set you up with a nice young eligible man and you betray me this way—and after all I’ve done for you. You’re ungrateful and you only think of yourself.”
“That’s it.” Josh took Mom’s elbow and ushered her toward the door, his expression lethal. “Your daughter asked you to leave.”
At the door Mom shook off his hand, glaring at Maggie. “We are not finished talking about this, Maggie. I have to drive back
tonight, but I’ll be calling you tomorrow.”
She wouldn’t be staying. Maggie almost sagged in relief.
“And you’d better answer! Hopefully you’ll have come to your senses by then.” Mom slammed the door behind her.
Maggie didn’t realize she was shaking until Josh pulled her into his arms. It felt as if all her energy had drained through
her feet, leaving her as weak as an overcooked noodle. She buried her heated face in the cradle of Josh’s shoulder. She couldn’t
even look at him! The things her mother said repeated in her mind on an endless loop. Shame washed over her.
His hands moved over her back, soothing. “You okay?”
The knot in her throat choked off her words. She nodded.
“I wanted to throttle her. I’ve never seen her like that. I mean, I knew from the things you’ve said she could be a real piece
of work. But wow. I’m so sorry, honey.”
“I’m fine.” This wasn’t even anything new, though her mother usually saved her worst behavior for when they were alone. Mom
preferred that everyone else adore and respect her, then they’d believe that Maggie was crazy when she complained about her.
“She’s wrong about all of it, Mags. You know that, right?”
Maggie wasn’t so sure. She was too busy trying to forget all the times her mother had flung many of the same words at her. She’d realized sometime during high school that her mother was a narcissist. When Maggie was older she’d researched the topic, read a dozen books on the subject. But that knowledge gleaned never seemed to stop the damaging effects of her mother’s harsh words.
“I’m not your brother. Your mother’s only mad because you dumped the man she wanted you with.”
“I know.”
“What’s so special about this guy anyway? Why does she even care who you’re dating?”
“He’s the son of one of her board members.”
Josh sighed. “Of course. It’s all about her. Having him as a son-in-law would give her some kind of advantage at work, I take
it.”
“I guess so.”
“You can make your own decisions. You’re a perfectly capable woman. A wonderful person. It was all I could do to stand there
and listen to her say those things about you.”
“Thank you for making her leave.”
“I wanted to clap a hand over her mouth. She’s wrong about you, Maggie.” He took her face in his hands and stared intently
at her. “You know that, don’t you?”
“I know.” In her head anyway. When Mom was slinging words like darts, however, it was sometimes hard to convince her heart.
But what if Mom had a point about Josh? Deep down Maggie had been worried his parents might view things the same way as Mom.
Might see her relationship with Josh as a betrayal to Ethan. “Do you think your parents will be okay with this?”
He didn’t answer for a moment. “I don’t know. It’ll probably come as a surprise. They might need some time to adjust. I was thinking we should wait till after the anniversary to tell them.”
She’d hoped he would allay her fears. But he’d given her honesty at least. Brad and Becky definitely shouldn’t come home to
this startling news on top of the anniversary they were all facing. Waiting a couple weeks made sense. They’d tell them before
Maggie went back home.
“Maggie...” His gaze sharpened on her. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you? About us? Please don’t let what your
mom said scare you off.”
“I’m not.” She gave a wan smile. “She knows just how to get to me, though.”
His thumbs swept her cheeks as he stared at her adoringly. “Don’t let her ruin this. We’re just getting started and I’m loving
every minute. I think you are too.”
Her heart buckled. Until ten minutes ago Maggie couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so happy. He swept her away. “I
am.”
His expression softened. “I don’t want to lose this. I don’t want to lose you.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then glanced
toward the door. “Does she always bust right into your house like that?”
“Pretty much.” Though at home Maggie was more deliberate about locking the door for that very reason. She had no reason to
do that here.
He drew away and took her hand. “Come sit down with me. Let me hold you awhile.”
“If you don’t mind, I think I just want to go to bed. I’m so exhausted all of a sudden.”
He squeezed her hand. “Of course.”
She walked him to the door, where he turned and gave her a soft, soothing kiss. “If you need to talk, call me, no matter the time.”
“Okay.”
Then he pressed one last kiss to her lips and slipped out the door, leaving Maggie alone with her thoughts.