Chapter 45
Jake
I decided to take Maggie into my grandfather’s old study. The space is empty, except for a misplaced oak table with two mismatched chairs. The room has dark carpet that has seen too many years. I try not to wince at the faded stains that were made by, who knows what. Maggie plops down in the chair by the door, and I sit across from her.
“Carmen invited you,” I begin feeling so out of place. I had planned on taking Carmen for a picnic by the lake. Instead, I’m forced to deal with Maggie. Seeing her face, not covered with blood, is oddly disorienting. For years, all I could see was her bloody face and contorting body. She had been shot twice, once in the leg, the other in the side. The blood on her face came from a cut that she had gotten while struggling with Amber. “I’m relieved to see you.”
“Jake, you were my best friend. I loved and cared about you and you turned your back on me. Why?” Why is the magical question? I could have made up some sort of lie about how I was busy and couldn’t catch up with her. But lying is never going to be something that I’m okay with. I pride myself on truth.
“I couldn’t protect you, Maggie. You were like a sister to me. I should have known that this was coming. Amber was weird that day. She didn’t talk to me during her tutoring session and…”
“And you are God so I should bow down now,” Maggie says with sarcasm. Her comment throws me off for a bit, so all I can do is give her a negative.
“No.”
“Jake, stop blaming yourself for what happened to me. There was nothing that you could have done. Once you accept that, you will have a much happier life. Now that we’re done with the mushy crap, do you want to go for a swim? I think I spotted a pool.” Maggie may look girly, but she’s a dude on the inside. She hates emotional crap when it has to do with her and another person. And she’s really forgiving.
“Are you hungry?”
“When am I not hungry?” she challenges before standing. “Got any hot men here, that aren’t taken?”
“How am I supposed to know whose hot?” Maggie laughs.
“Maybe Carmen will tell me. She’s the busy bee. I should thank her for inviting me. Chelsea flew me first class,” Maggie says as she hustles out the door. She has a slight limp, but I can barely notice it.
“Do you know what room you’re staying in?” Maggie nods.
“In whatever room Carmen had. It’s easier for me to get to. Donald didn’t want to put me on the third floor,” she explains as we walk into the kitchen. Carmen isn’t there, which is somewhat disappointing. Peter is sitting at the kitchen table reading a book. When Maggie spots him, her mouth opens wide.
“Not single,” I whisper to her and she scowls at me.
“Seriously?”
“He’s not death either,” Peter playfully warns, which meant that he heard me.
“What are you reading?” Maggie asks as she slides into the chair beside him.
“A history textbook. I have to take my final soon,” Peter tells her.
“So, how long have you been married?” Peter closes his book and sighs.
“Since June twenty-fifth. Are you also on the Peter should have a fun time crusade?”
“No, but I’m joining. I think that we could be best friends. What are your political views?”
“Don’t know.”
“Religion?”
“Christian.”
“Pro-life or pro-choice?”
“I hate politics,” he finally responds and Maggie claps.
“Jake, he can be a part of our trio,” Maggie squeals.
“What about Dom?” I ask her. Maggie glares at me.
“He tried to get in my pants last year, and failed miserably. So instead, he goes and dates Bridget, one of my ex best friends. She stole my boyfriend. Can you believe it? I…”
“Do you have twitter?” Peter quickly asks. Maggie, being Maggie, kisses his cheek. Chelsea happens to come in right at that exact moment.
“Don’t worry, Peter. This place is secret. Donald told me before we got there.”
“Maggie,” Chelsea playfully says. “Hands off of my merchandise.” Maggie laughs.
“So you’re the lucky lady?”
“Yes,” Chelsea replies, and a smile stretches her face. “Oh, Tiller just texted me. The food is ready. Yum!” Chelsea loves a good burger. With the hope of seeing Carmen, I rush out to the back yard and find the surprise of my life. Amongst the house guests is a detective. I’m unsure of how to react to this. My heart is pounding because something good can’t come of this. He seems to be in deep conversation with Grace. That surprises me. The girl has kept a low profile since arriving here. The hairs on the back of my neck are doing the tango. This isn’t a coincidence. Those two know each other. They sit in the shade while everything seems to be going on normally. She has probably told them a lie so that no one would eavesdrop. I concentrate on their lips, seeing if I can make out what they’re saying.
“Someone has a secret,” Peter comments when he sees where I’m staring.
“Should I go over there to tell the detective to keep things discrete?” I ask. Peter shrugs, which means that he has no idea what I should do. I glance around the small private gathering by the picnic tables and don’t see Carmen. Where is she? This isn’t sitting well. Grace tosses up her hands, as if she can no longer deal with this situation. So the idiot is harassing her. I decide that I’m going to tell him to leave. I walk over to the oak tree and hear the officer say, “I wondered where you were, Grace. What are you hiding?”
“Nothing,” she shouts. “Now get out of here! The department told you to stop following me.”
“I don’t trust pretty young girls like you. I really don’t,’ the man snarls.
“That’s just because you hate that I’m standing up to you, now get the hell out of here before I call the police.” He raises a hand as if to strike her, but I yank his punching arm. The man is tall, muscular, and has ash blonde hair. He whispers something nasty under his breath, yanks my hand from his grip, and Marches off. I look at Grace, who seems grateful that I sent the guy on his way.
“He’s a tick that I’ve been trying to get rid of for four years. I have no idea how he found me,” she comments, before walking off.