Page 85 of Goodbye Paradise
Hot tears sprang into my eyes. “Iknow, but…” It wasn’t like me. I’d finally stood up for myself. And doing that wasn’t like me, either. “I went too far. Isnapped, Maggie. Because Caleb was trying to throw me away.”
Her eyes bugged out. “He wouldneverdo that.”
“Yes he would. Hedid. I don’t even know what’s going to happen now.”
“God, why? That makes no sense.”
“Because…” I looked into her patient brown eyes, and I got it. I understood why Caleb would want to pay back all the wrongs he felt he’d caused. There were flecks of gold in Maggie’s caring eyes. She was beautiful and Miriam was beautiful and they deserved everything. “Miriam,” I choked out. “He said he should marry her.”
Maggie gave a long, slow blink. “Oh.” Her shoulders sagged. “Oh, Caleb, you idiot.”
“What?”
“He’s trying to undo one disaster with another one.”
“Well…” I swallowed hard. “It’s only a disaster forme.”
She shook her head. “Not true. What if there’s a man out there for Miriam. Someone good and true, who she deserves to meet?”
“But what if there isn’t?”
Maggie shook her head. “It’s not easy to be Miriam. An eighteen-year-old single mother with no education. She’s going to have a tough road. But we’re all here to help her. And she deserves to figure some of it out for herself. Not to have some guy she was half in love with throw his life away so they can be unhappy together. That’s a recipe for heartbreak.”
Just hearing her say it eased me. Even if I didn’t know if Caleb would ever believe it. “She always wanted to marry him.”
“And so do you!” Maggie cried. “I love my sister, Josh, and so does Caleb. But he doesn’t love her likethat. It’s not fair to anyone.”
“Except the baby,” I pointed out.
Maggie threw her hands out wide. “This baby is gettingfiveparents and a cousin. No baby ever had it so good.”
A fair point.
Maggie sighed. “Oh,honey. I hope he comes to his senses soon. I think he may have shared this plan with Daniel, actually. He’s all grumpy, too. And he won’t tell me why.”
“Men,” I said.
Maggie giggled. “Did you really throw his clothes out the window?”
“I really did.”
“I’m sorry I missed it. And maybe Mr. Stupid got the message that you are not to be trifled with.”
Did he? Obviously not. Because if he had, he wouldn’t be gone right now.
Part Four
The Gospel According to Caleb
Twenty-Six
I’D DRIVENTO RALPH’S Tavern for two reasons. The first was that I couldn’t face any of my family. And the second was that I only knew of one bar in the county. The guys from the shop often came here, and spoke of it frequently.
Parking my new (to me) Toyota in the lot, I’d heard the sound of music and laughter before I even opened the door. Inside, I liked the look of the place. There was dark wood paneling and soft lighting. Two pool tables lined the back wall.
My next thought was just a reflex.I should bring Josh here. It took me a second to realize how fucked up my brain really was. I’d just wrecked things with Josh. I’d made himcry, for God’s sake, and slap me. The look on his face was going to be with me a long time. And even if I made it up to him somehow, he’d still know.
Nobody gets to throw me away, he’d said. But that’s exactly what I’d tried to do, without realizing how he’d take it. And then! Even if Josh could forgive me, there was still poor Miriam to consider.
