Chapter 35 Part 35
Maggie
That Monday when she drove to the ranch, her heart had been in her throat, but she soon discovered that Asher wasn’t there. He’d left the previous day. Nobody had told her where he went, or why he’d left, and she felt guilty about it.
She was sad knowing Asher wasn’t there. There was no chance of running into him, or seeing him in the distance. She could tell that Melody missed him, too. When they were at the main house, every sound of a boot had her looking up in anticipation, but you could see the disappointment on her face when it wasn’t Asher.
It had become the family joke. Melody smiled until she realized who it was. Her face would drop, and the Fitzgerald men would all complain that they were just as likable as Asher. The only other person Melody got excited for was Thomas Fitzgerald.
It had been three weeks, and Asher was still gone. He’d phoned once to tell his father that he was helping Polly pack up the house. He hadn’t reached out to her, and she was too scared to send him a text. His last words had given her a sliver of hope that, in time, he might forgive and talk to her.
She ate dinner with the family every night, and on that Friday night, she’d agreed to go out with Eden and her brothers while Thomas watched Melody.
It was still light out when Eden insisted on having her brothers help her clean the kitchen after dinner. Melody was inside with them, and Maggie was sitting on the bench swing with Thomas.
“I’ve heard that sadness has a season, and like all seasons, the sadness will pass, too,” Thomas said.
“You don’t know the whole story, Thomas,” Maggie said, looking at her hands on her lap.
“I might understand more than you think, Maggie. I’m in no position to judge anyone, not on their past, or their mistakes. I, too, have had my fair share of mistakes.”
Maggie took a deep breath. She needed to tell someone, and if Thomas judged her or hated her afterward, then so would Asher. She needed to get it off her chest, once and for all. She loved the Fitzgerald family, and she trusted Thomas. He was the father she’d always wished she’d had growing up.
“I was 18 when I left home. I was adopted, and although my new family wasn’t abusive, they didn’t love me. They didn’t care if I stayed out late, or if I passed in school; I was just there. So I left the day I turned 18 and never looked back. I was so young, and the city seemed so daunting. I found work in a restaurant, washing dishes. I had no experience whatsoever, but within three months, I’d worked my way up to being a waitress. I barely survived on my salary and tips, literally living from one day to the next. Sean was a regular at the restaurant who took an interest in me. It was very flattering in the beginning. He seemed so sophisticated, plus he was smart. He bought me nice things and took me out. Two months later, I moved in with him and stopped working at the restaurant. I thought my life was perfect. Things started to change after that, and Sean became abusive. Six months later, he told me it was time to earn my keep.”
As tears rolled down Maggie’s cheeks, Thomas placed his arm around her shoulder. “You don’t have to continue, Maggie.”
“You need to know what Asher knows, then you’ll understand why he’s so mad.”
“There’s nothing you can tell me that will make me think any less of you,” Thomas said.
Those words gave Maggie the courage to continue. “I cried so much that first time. I felt worthless, but Sean told me how proud he was of me, how special I was, and how much he loved me. I was so stupid. The ‘dates,’ as he liked to call them, became more frequent, and sometimes the men were abusive. Sean would threaten me, tell me that I was worthless, that nobody else but him would ever love me, and that if I loved him, I’d do it.”
“If I had known you then, Maggie, that man would’ve ended up with a belly full of buckshot.”
Maggie sniffed and smiled. “On the side, Sean had gotten involved with drugs. Some of his clients like to dabble, and on my last night there, Marjorie, another one of his special girls, died as a result of an overly aggressive client and cocaine. I realized then that I was going to end up like Marjorie, dead in some cheap motel room. I took every dollar I could find in Sean’s apartment, and I ran. I left everything behind and just left. I found out I was pregnant about 8 weeks later, which means that I have no idea who Melody’s father is.”
“That doesn’t take away from who you are now, Maggie. Your heart is pure, and you love that little girl. I can see it. This changes nothing for me,” Thomas said, wrapping his arms around her.
Maggie leaned her head against his chest and cried. “I’m sorry I lied to Asher. I didn’t ever want him to know about my past. It’s something I’m so deeply ashamed of.”
“How did Asher find out?”
“I was putting Melody down for the night when someone called my phone. Asher answered it, and then he watched a video of me that was sent to my phone.”
Thomas grunted. “Men can be stubborn fools.”
The screened door opened, and Blair cleared his throat. “Come on, Maggie. Wipe your eyes, but don’t make yourself too pretty. I don’t feel like fighting tonight.”
Thomas grunted again, and Maggie smiled weakly. “I doubt you’ll do any fighting tonight.”
“You’ll be the prettiest woman there,” Blair said.
“Are you really making a move on Maggie while your brother’s not here?” Thomas asked him.
Blair shrugged his shoulders as he leaned against the doorframe. “Not my fault he’s an idiot.”