Little Penn toddled into the kitchen as Maggie was
finishing up the morning dishes. He
tugged on her skirt. She bent down and picked him up. Anne Roberts was on the
phone in the living room. Maggie brought him in and dumped out a simple puzzle
on the floor. Concentrating was hard when all she could think of was the way
she had destroyed any chance of marrying John with her confession that morning.
As soon as the Missus was off the phone, Maggie cleared her
throat, her pulse beat in her ear.
“I thought John’d be back by now?”
“He asked for some personal time. I don’t expect him back until
after dinner.”
Sadness clouded Maggie’s
heart and tears stung. Penn looked up and handed her a piece of the puzzle. She
cupped his chin, smiled and placed it in the wooden frame.
“He’s getting awfully good at that, isn’t he?” remarked
Anne.
“He’ll be ready for preschool before they’re ready for
him.”
The women laughed. “He’s a bit of a wild boy, though,” Anne
admitted.
“Not wild, exactly. Just curious, and a bit lively, I’d
say.”
“Right, Maggie. I’ve got to keep a positive attitude.”
“Certainly is sweet and loving,” Maggie said.
With the puzzle finished, the boy made his way to his
mother and raised his arms. She picked him up and kissed him several times,
making him giggle.
Now I’ll never have one of those.
Maggie checked her watch every half hour, then every ten minutes. After the dinner dishes, she sat down with a plate, but simply pushed the food around. Within ten minutes, John burst through the archway. Maggie turned a
jaundiced eye to him.
“Bout
time,” she muttered.
His
face was flushed and his eyes bright. A small smile played with his lips.
“Guess
you had a great day on the town, eh?” She asked.
“Might
say.”
“Goodnight,”
she said, pushing to her feet.
John
grabbed her arm. “Not so fast, young lady.”
She
cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Sit
down. I believe our conversation from this morning wasn’t finished.”
“It
was as far as I’m concerned.” She attempted to rise again, but John’s large
hand on her shoulder stopped her.
“Close
your eyes.”
“What
for?”
“Close
‘em. You won’t regret it.”
She
did as he told her with a sigh.
“Okay.
Open,” John said.
He knelt
before her, with a tiny, velvet box in his hand.
“Please
marry me, Maggie.”
He
flipped open the box. Inside was a ring with a small diamond on it.
“What?”
“You
heard me.”
“Where’d
you get this?” She took the ring and looked it over carefully.
“It’s real,
if that’s what you’re wondering. Knee’s getting’ sore down here, missy. Well?”
“Already
said yes, once, didn’t I?”
John
laughed and shook his head. “I’ve got the prettiest girl with the biggest
attitude.”
“This
where you were today?”
“Yes.
And I found a lovely little bed and breakfast in Greenport
at the end of Long Island. Made a reservation for this weekend. Mr. Roberts
gave us two days off.”
“Oh my
God.”
“Off
to City Hall tomorrow to sign the papers.”
“Did
you tell him?”
“Let
him be surprised. Nothing’s going to stand in our way, Maggie. Nothing.”
“Knew
there was a reason I loved you,” she whispered.
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