Page 89 of The Thorne at My Side
MAGGIE
“Heck of a wedding right, Mags?” I look up from where I’m reading an article about AI Media to see Cole MacDonald walking towards me.
“It is a really good party.” I say with a smile. When Cole reaches me, I stand and he leans in for a hug. He’s sweaty and there is a faint trace of farm animal on him. Occupational hazard, I suppose. His hug feels warm but void of the heat I would feel with Austin. I can’t help but compare. Cole looks good, rugged, but his suit fits a little loose on his frame and I miss the way Austin’s clothes were tailored to him. Urgh! I can’t get him out of my mind.
“Have you met Levi Jackson? We call him Jack. He’s new to town since you left us for bigger and better things,” Cole smiles and I know he’s teasing but that doesn’t change the sting of pain I feel. I’m sitting here, unemployed, going into a new year, single, at my younger sister’s wedding. What was the point of leaving and trying to make a name for myself if I ended up right back where I started?
“I haven’t yet. Hi Levi, I’m Maggie Collins.” I paste on a smile as I hold out my hand to shake.
“Seriously call me Jack, I barely reply to Levi anymore.” He smiles and it lights his entire face, but it doesn’t set butterflies free in my belly like Austin’s does. “It’s great to finally meet you!” He says as we shake hands.
“Finally?”
“Yeah, I’ve been following the campaign and election closely with the seniors this year.” He says as he pulls out the seat next to me. Cole leans against the side of the table and crosses his arms to follow the conversation.
“You’re a teacher?” He nods. “I can only imagine how much there was for them to learn this year.”
“The kids were really engaged. Some of them cast their first vote.” I was already into politics as a teen but I think I’d have been even more into it if he was my AP Gov teacher. “But I think the biggest thing was knowing someone from Lakeville had a hand in history being made.” He smiles again and Cole playfully punches my shoulder.
I blink deliberately because I wasn’t expecting that.
I guess it makes sense that people back home would know about my job and my involvement in the campaign but it never occurred to me that they’d tout a local connection.
“I umm, honestly don’t know what to say,” I give a little shrug. Still not believing strangers would be proud of me.
“Well, you’re a writer, not an improv comedian, and I put you on the spot.” Jack laughs, “Are you going to be in town for a few more weeks?”
“I think so, why?”
“Well, the kids come back at the end of next week. I’d love to have you visit and tell them about working on the campaign.”
“Oh? Umm.” How do I tell him I got replaced by a robot? That I got fired. That I have no career momentum and wouldn’t make agood role model for impressionable kids.
“Think about it,” Jack says as he stands. He and Cole are being called to the dance floor. “It doesn’t have to be a big deal, I mostly want to do it so I can get out of creating one lesson plan.”
He winks and I let out a little nervous laugh.
I watch the two of them join Jimmy Lewis and Holden Monaghan, also high school friends of mine, and they start to line dance to a Nine Inch Nails remix.
I can’t remember the last time I participated in dance floor antics like that. Maybe college? Even then it was rare.
I’ve been career focused for the last half of my life. And look where it got me.
I nod at my older brother CJ as he comes to sit down next to me while I take in the whole scene. Liz and Kyle's wedding is what dreams are made of. The ceiling is covered in white twinkle lights with holographic snowflakes hanging down so when people move around the lights twirl and little refractions dance on the tables and through the room.
The tables themselves have beautiful evergreen, white rose, and berry branch centerpieces that I was up until midnight putting together with Mom. The place cards are in mini snow globes that people can take home and put their own photos into.
Flameless candles are everywhere creating a romantic vibe that even the coldest hearts have to appreciate. The party has been rocking for hours. Liz and Kyle appear to be relishing every moment of their special day, as they should.
"Was it a mistake to leave home?" I ask CJ after we sat through three songs in silence.
"Hell no," he responds and shifts so he's facing me. "You and I were both destined for bigger things. I'm the head of the Emergency Department in a sizablemetropolitan area. You're a sought after speech writer who just worked on the winning presidential campaign. That's huge. Way too big for Lakeville."
"Does that make us bad people? Getting out? Wanting to get out?"
"Again, no. It means we can appreciate where we came from and know there is more out there for us."
"I'm making a New Year's resolution to talk to you and Liz more." I tell him as I watch my sister get twirled around by her husband.
