Page 98 of The Weekend Crashers
“Bee,” he says, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Max’s surprise appearance shakes Maggie’s confidence in their plan. But if Elaine noticed the tension, she doesn’t act like it. Instead, after Belinda steps away, she suggests they help themselves to some hot mulled cider. Maggie eagerly agrees.
“I’m so glad you lured me out here,” Elaine says, stirring her drink with a cinnamon stick. They sit on an ottoman near the portrait wall. “It’s been far too long since I visited. I love New York—and after all these years I do consider myself a New Yorker. But it’s like Dorothy said: There’s no place like home. I realize now that when I told you about the retreat, I actually wanted to get back here myself. And now I have a reason to make sure I do it more often.”
Maggie feels a surge of hopefulness. “Does that mean you’re going to move forward with this idea?”
Elaine nods. “It’s certainly worth exploring. Yes. Yes, I think this is something I want to be a part of.”
“Oh, I’m so glad you feel that way!” She glances out the windows to the deck, where Belinda and Max are still deep in conversation outside, the breeze picking up Belinda’s long braid. Now that Elaine is in, the stakes of that conversation are higher; they need Max on board.
Maggie, too, could use some fresh air. She hesitates to leaveElaine alone, but she can entertain herself for a few minutes. It will give her the chance to mingle with the knitters. She excuses herself, telling Elaine if she needs anything she’ll be on the front porch.
Outside the Purl, she finds the lobby is empty except for the front desk clerk and a guest reading an iPad on the couch. Maggie walks past them both, out the front door to the porch swing. It’s the spot where she saw Piper and Ethan in that upsetting moment last Sunday night. She doesn’t want to think about it now. Looking back is pointless. She’s there, in that moment, to take steps to make things right moving forward. And that’s all she can do.
She looks at her phone and sees, to her great surprise, a missed call from Piper. But before she can call her back, she hears someone’s approach on the creaky wooden steps. Distracted, she looks up.
Aidan.
He smiles at her, the bright sunlight making his eyes look more auburn than brown. She takes in the dimple in this cheek, the gold stubble along his jaw.
“I didn’t expect to find you out here all by yourself. Isn’t there a party going on?” he says.
“What are you doing here?” She stands up from the swing and it bounces gently behind her.
“Well, Cole told me he and Kalli stopped by here for something called a yarn swap. And I figured I should come in solidarity. I know how viciously competitive you knitters can get, and I didn’t want him to be outnumbered.”
She smiles. “Very considerate of you.”
They stand looking at one another. She wants to press herself against him, but holds back. She knows, on a rational level, he’s not therejustfor Cole. But she still isn’t sure where they stand.
“I guess you should go in and find Cole.”
“I guess so.”
He steps forward and touches her forearm, and she inches closer until they’re close enough to kiss. But they don’t.
“May I take you to dinner tonight?” he says.
She wants to say yes, but she can’t let herself get distracted. This is a business trip, and she needs to be open to wherever the day—or evening—takes her with Belinda and Elaine.
“This party could go awhile, so I’m not sure about dinner,” she says, slipping one hand into her back pocket. “But I’m around later.” She hands him her brass room key. In her overnight bag, she’d also brought back the one he gave her last Saturday night—she returned it to Belinda. From the look on his face, he remembers what happened last time they exchanged a room key.
“Are you sure?” he says. “Because unlike you, I’m going to actually use this key.”
“I’m sure,” she says.
He gives her a wink and heads inside just as Elaine walks out. She’s wearing her coat. That’s not a good sign.
“Are you leaving?”
Elaine walks closer, reaches out to hold both of her arms and says, “Yes. I’m leaving. But I’m so glad I came.”
Maggie’s confused. They haven’t even had lunch yet.
“We have a reservation at the restaurant here. Don’t you want to talk things through?” She searches Elaine’s expression for any hint that the plan has gone south, but she seems cheerful.
