Maggie Moves On(78)

A chorus of the Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night” broke out in the kitchen. She could pick out both Dean’s and Cody’s voices when they joined in.

“That’s their cleanup song,” Nirina explained.

“We’re just having fun,” Maggie told the moms, suddenly feeling both defensive and envious. This is what guys didn’t get about bringing a woman home to the parents. It said things that weren’t necessarily true. Set expectations. Made things weird. Showed girlfriends a glimpse of something they weren’t truly a part of.

No matter how old she got, Maggie had accepted that she would always have that longing to belong. To be loved easily and without question. In this moment, the need for it was so keen it took her breath away.

“There is nothing wrong with having fun, sexually or otherwise,” Blaire said firmly, letting her therapy degree show.

“Nothing at all,” Mama B agreed, refilling Niri’s water glass and trailing a hand down her daughter’s braids. They shared a look, one so full of familiarity, of love, that Maggie had to look away.

“What’s your family like?” Niri asked suddenly.

“You pretty much know,” Maggie joked, gesturing toward the kitchen where Dean was helping load the dishwasher and Cody was getting tutored in science.

“That was really wonderful what you did, taking Cody in,” Mama B told her.

“No parents?” Blaire asked.

“My mom died when I was in college,” Maggie said. “I don’t have any siblings.” Not really, at least.

“I’m so sorry to hear that, sweetheart,” Mama B said, reaching over to squeeze Maggie’s hand. “How about your father?”

“It’s complicated,” she hedged, feeling like a major downer on their happy little picnic.

“We know all about that,” Sy’s mom said, raising her glass in Mama B’s direction and winking.

“Honey, you and I wrote the book on complicated,” the woman responded with a shake of her head that had her yellow plastic earrings jingling.

Maggie couldn’t imagine anything complicated about the Wrights. They were too loving, too accepting of each other to have withstood any real drama. They were the TV family she’d secretly longed for.

“Oh Lord, here we go,” Niri said. “It’s too bad I’m pregnant with your grandbaby because this girl needs a drink if we’re gonna be talking about your scandalous sex lives.”

Maggie blinked while both moms laughed.

“We’ll spare you the details,” Mama B said. “But we weren’t always this simpatico.”

“But everyone ended up where they were supposed to,” Blaire reminded her.

“I fell in love with Emmett while he was still married to Blaire,” Mama B confessed. “And let’s say that neither one of us acted in a respectful manner to the institution of marriage.”

Maggie simultaneously wanted to hear the whole sordid story and wished she were inside on dish duty.

Blaire rolled her eyes. “It was one kiss, Breonna. While we were talking about separating. Not some torrid affair.”

Mama B winked at her. “Let me be the bad girl in this story.”

“You couldn’t be the bad girl if you tried,” Blaire said with affection. “Anyway, Emmett and I divorced, and he and Breonna got married. And we made it work.”

“With a lot of work,” Mama B reminded her.

“But eventually, we realized we’re stronger together, working toward the same goals, than we ever would have been apart,” Blaire explained. “And then I met Morris, and here we are.”

“We’re not perfect. But we’re damn hard workers, Maggie. And what we’re trying to say is like recognizes like,” Mama B told her. “So whatever you are to our son, you’re someone special to us.”

Maggie swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. She missed her mother so acutely in the moment that she felt actual, physical pain.

“You’re an incredible young woman,” Blaire said, taking her other hand. “What you’re doing for the small businesses in this town when they so desperately need it. What you’re doing by giving that sweet boy a place to stay and a steady paycheck. You’re doing beautiful, good things.”

Maggie blinked back tears that welled up without warning. “Thank you.” She barely managed to get the words out.

“Y’all need to stop telling people this story,” Nirina complained.

“We own our vulnerabilities and our truths,” Blaire reminded Nirina. It had the ring of a family motto.

“And we learn to love ourselves no matter what,” Mama B said, giving Maggie’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

“Y’all aren’t terrifying my girl, are you?” Silas called from the open window.

“Are those dishes done yet?” Mama B yelled back.

“No, ma’am,” he answered. Maggie could hear the affection in his tone and wondered if he knew how very lucky he was.





28



Silas punched the button on the air compressor, bringing it to life. Kevin barked like a dog possessed. Over the whine of the compressor and rabid barking, he heard a car pull up the drive. Seconds later, Maggie hopped out of Dean’s Mini Cooper and eyed him, hands on hips.