Chapter 7
Calder
Maggie’s lips touched mine and it was the only invitation I needed. I was hoping that by my opening up and laying everything out for her, my past, my baggage that she’d want to share hers with me as well. I won’t pressure her though. She’s guarded, and I get that. We’ve been taking things slow seeing each other when our schedules match up. I go into the diner even when I’m not working to see her face. Sometimes I see her hanging around outside the library writing in her notebook. Everyday my routine revolves around my job and when I will see her again.
I’m busy at my desk, catching up on my paperwork for court, for the speeding tickets I wrote last month when I get an unexpected visit from Carly. I look up to see her standing by my desk. “Can we talk?”
“Make it quick, I have a lot of work to do.”
“Somewhere private?”
I glance at my watch. “My shift ends in twenty minutes.”
“Okay. I can wait. Maybe we can meet at our old spot.” She smiles, and it doesn’t reach her eyes. There’s a sadness there. As much as I don’t like Carly for what she did I can tell something is bothering her and that she’s hurting.
“I guess I can manage. I need to be back in town though in an hour to pick Maggie up after her shift.”
“It won’t take long. I promise.”
“Fine.” I finish up what I’m doing and get in my car. Passing by the diner I slow down to see if I can catch a glimpse of Maggie through the window. Standing at the counter, she looks up, and I wave only to have her quickly turn her head like she didn’t see me when I know that she did. I haven’t done anything wrong, but guilt consumes me. Does she somehow know what I am doing? I start to stop the car and tell her, but I am ready to get this over with. Whatever Carly wants to say I am sure it will be nothing good. I park my cruiser at the campground and make the hike to Crimson Point. A place we used to come as teens to sneak off on our own.
Carly is standing off to the side, her red hair blowing with the ocean wind. A sight I once craved. A twig snaps under my boot and she turns to smile at me. “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”
“I’m here so talk.”
“Okay, I’ll get right to it. I left Roger today. Neither of us were happy, and we married for the wrong reasons. I’m still in love with you, Calder. We can be together like we were always meant to be.” She takes a step toward me, and I take two steps back.
“Carly. Had you been two years earlier with this revelation then yeah. I would have loved to hear you say this, but now it’s too little too late. I don’t love you and I will never ever be with you. I’m sorry about your luck with Roger but whatever you are searching for you aren’t going to find it with me.”
“It’s that girl, Maggie, right? You don’t even know her. No one here does. She turned up here out of nowhere, and I don’t trust her. She’s hiding something. I’ve tried finding any record of her and she’s either a ghost or a fraud.”
“Stop. I don’t want to hear it. You leave Maggie alone. She’s got nothing to do with how I feel about you. Sweetheart, you made your bed with Roger and now you can lie in it alone for all I care. Don’t contact me again.”
“Calder, please.” She rushes me and attempts to kiss me, and I gently push her away because she’s pregnant.
“Just stop. I said no.” I shake my head as she starts to cry. Used to, her tears would kill me but now I don’t care if she cries a river.
“I love you,” she whisper sobs.
“Maybe you do, Carly, but I don’t love you. Go home to Roger or not but I’m done.” Not waiting for a response, I get back to my car and drive back to town to pick Maggie up. I know I am making the right decision. Maggie is the only choice.
I get to the diner and I feel like a jackass. I’m twenty minutes late. Luna says she caught a ride but says she doesn’t know who with. I call bullshit but don’t push it. When I get home, Maggie is sitting on the front porch steps waiting for me. She’s changed out of her waitress getup and is hugging her knees to her chest with her head resting on top.
I get out of the car and she doesn’t budge. I get to the steps and she still hasn’t bothered to look up at me. “Hey.” I lift her head. I can tell that she’s been crying. The tip of her nose is red, and her eyes are watery in appearance. “I’m sorry I was late.”
“It’s fine. Your friend, Roger, came by the diner and offered me a lift. Said there was something he wanted to talk to me about.”
I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a tension headache coming on. “What did he want?”
She shrugs. “I’m really not in the mood to talk about it.”
“I’m going to put my gear up and change. Then you and I are going to have a discussion and you’re going to tell me what he said to you.” Fucking Roger and Carly. I stay out of their way they need to stay the fuck out of mine. They are a fucking nightmare.
I hang my holster and change out of my uniform into a pair of jogging pants. When I walk back out onto the porch Maggie has gone inside. I knock on her door, but she doesn’t answer. She’s not getting off this easily. I want to know what Roger said.
“Open up, Maggie. This discussion is happening.” I knock again but no response other than the volume on her TV going up. Screw it. She has left me no choice but to take advantage of the door between our apartments. I don’t knock I simply unlock it and let myself in. She’s sitting on her couch sulking. “What the hell. Why wouldn’t you open the door for me?” I stand in front of the TV with my arms folded across my bare chest.
“Because I don’t want to hear you say it.”