Page 31 of A Magnolia Move-In
Maggie’s expression softened as she nodded softly. “Yeah. I just don’t…” Her voice trailed off as her gaze became hazy as if she were lost in her thoughts.
“You don’t want a baby?”
Maggie shook her head. “It’s not that.” She swallowed. “What about Elise? I don’t want him to struggle with our baby because he feels it’s somehow replacing the one he lost.”
I frowned. “Did he say this to you?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Did you tell him your worry?”
She shook her head again. “No,” she said softly.
I paused, picking my words carefully. Then I leaned forward and wrapped my hand around hers. “Humans have an unlimited capacity for love. Just because he loves your baby, doesn’t mean he’s forgetting Elise.” I squeezed her hand. “He’s just expanding his circle of love.”
Maggie’s eyes filled with tears, and my heart ached for my daughter. I gave her a supportive smile, knowing that it would do little to help her feel better. We sat in silence for a few moments before she nodded and sat a little straighter.
She pulled her hand from mine and returned to eating. I did the same, wanting to talk more about the baby situation, but knowing that I shouldn’t push her. I wanted her to keep confiding in me, and if I suddenly pushed her too far, I might wreck what I’d worked so hard to foster between us.
“So, what were you going to say to me?” she asked after she took a sip of her soda.
I cleared my throat, shifting in my seat. Right. I was going to tell her about Spencer. I wasn’t sure if we should move on from our conversation. But I decided to let whatshe’d said go for now. I had to have confidence that she would come to me again when she was ready.
“I want to interview Spencer for the paper, but he’s really private,” I said as I pushed the spaghetti sauce on my plate around with my fork. I was full and worried about my daughter.
Maggie nodded. “Clementine says that all the time. She tries to get him to talk, but he just wants to stay in his repair shop.” She sighed. “He had a better relationship with her dad. Makes it hard for her to have a relationship with him.”
I could see that. He seemed so closed off, and it intrigued me.
“But you’re doing okay living with him? He’s not, like, a secret foot licker or anything?”
I wrinkled my nose. “A what?”
Maggie just laughed. “You know what they say about the quiet ones.” She raised her eyebrows and leaned in as if that was all she needed to say.
“No. What do they say?”
“That they…you know.” She sighed. “They have weird fetishes.”
I shook my head. “Not from what I can see. He’s perfectly normal, albeit quiet.”
“Good.” She fiddled with her napkin. “You know, you can always come stay with me at the inn.”
“Yes, I know.” I picked up the napkin resting on my lap and wiped the sides of my mouth. “Now, tell me more about what’s happening at the inn.”
Thankfully, Maggie took my bait. Soon we were laughing and chatting about the interesting guests she had staying there. I sat back and smiled, enjoying how relaxed Maggie was here in Magnolia.
It may be a place where strange people settled, but in the end, everyone in this town seemed to find their happiness. After all, I was living proof of that.
If I could only figure out what would make Spencer happy, then my mind could finally settle.
I was going to make it my mission to crack that nut.
Everyone deserved happiness, even Spencer.
TEN
Naomi
