Right in Time (18 page)

Closing the door behind himself, he stood at the entry as Maggie shuffled her sock covered feet along the hardwood floors to the kitchen island.  She tried to pull out a stool, but the foot got caught on the island’s edge, making the simple task difficult.  In frustration, she yanked the stool out so hard that it crashed to the ground unexpectedly, causing him to flinch.  Apparently not blinking an eye, Maggie opted to leave the stool where it landed and hoped on to the counter, rejoining her cup of tea that sat beside her. 

Danny wasn’t sure how many minutes had passed before he finally had the balls to cross the threshold in to her kitchen.  He found himself walking up to the island, standing right in front of her legs that dangled over the edge.  He tried to match her eyes, but she kept them locked on her tea as if it would disappear the minute she looked away.  Following her gaze past that, he saw that she was most likely watching it to ensure it wouldn’t spill as he finally reached her hands that trembled despite her efforts to steady them.  Without thinking he took the cup from her hands and put it down on the counter, his hands clasping over hers, bringing them together.  It was finally then her eyes met his.

“She might be sick again” were the words that barely escaped her lips.

Danny knew not to pry.  The look on his face must have read unsure though as she tentatively continued, letting him more and more in with each sentence.

“My mom.  Breast cancer.  Everything’s been okay for two years, but the tests…they don’t know that it is yet.”

“When will she know?”

“Monday, most likely, at the latest.”

These were probably going to be the longest few
days she’s had in a very long time.  “I’m sure everything will be okay.”

“Really?  Really?” 
Her voice rising on the latter.  “You sure about that?” she spat out in a spiteful tone.

“Maggie, I …” he started to apologize, but knew she probably didn’t want to hear that either.  He found his hands travelling from hers, up her bare forearms to her elbows when he felt her shiver and stop.

Chapter Thirty Eight

Maggie closed her eyes and breathed deeply.

“I just can’t do this again.”

“I know.”

She started to make a face, but stopped herself.  She knew he was trying.  And the truth was, she liked the feel of his hands on her and the closeness right now was something she felt was holding her together.  It was all she could muster to lift herself up on to the counter that if he let go, she was afraid she would crumble to a million little pieces.

“Tell me what you need.” She heard Danny say just above a whisper, yet she could still hear the crack in his voice.  Breathing deeply to process, she knew she just needed to think about anything but.

“I need to go to the movies.” She announced opening her eyes.

“O…kay?”

“That stupid animated thing about the whale is still playing, right?”

“As far as I know?”

“Perfect.”

“Maggie…”

She hopped off the counter before he could finish that sentence, planting her mere inches from his chest, her eyes almost even
with his lips, making it nearly impossible for her to try and look anywhere else.  Taking in the closeness, she felt herself gulp. 

Yep, a distraction would be good.

“Mindless comedy time.” She said, answering what she knew he was going to ask.  “I can’t think about this anymore.  So, I’m not going to.  For the next two hours.  Then I’m going to come home and most likely cry until I fall asleep and then re-do that on repeat until I get a phone call.  Plan to join me?”

She could see him studying her face, searching her resolve.  “I’ll buy the popcorn.”

Chapter Thirty Nine

Caleb called her the next morning, waking her up actually.  Half asleep, she honestly couldn’t remember what it was she had called him about.  That was until he apologized for waking her, but said he called so early after getting a voicemail from Danny saying he better check in.
 

Everything she said would happen last night did; the movie took her mind off everything (3D dancing whales can do that, you know) and after assuring Danny she would be ‘okay’, she settled in for the night and cried herself to sleep on the couch.  The tired mixed with being all cried out allowed her to fill Caleb in pretty easily.  He felt horrible that he wasn’t there for her.  He shared the same sentiments that Danny voiced last night, even volunteering to come home.  She was in her defiant ‘what can anyone help’ mood so she of course shot that down right away.  He was just being his amazing self and she knew and appreciated that, and although having his arms around her would feel really good right about now, she couldn’t do that do him.

Missing a call from
Maggie wasn't that big of a deal, normally.  They both had their own lives and they both knew that, but when Caleb got the voicemail from Danny, he knew that this was one call that he shouldn't have missed.  Caleb had gone out after the show that night with everyone for his bassist Pat’s 30th birthday and was out at the bar when she had called, not even feeling the phone's vibration in his back pocket.  Not being there for her was something that weighed on his mind and he felt horrible about.  She had been so open with him when they first met about what she had been through with her mom that when she filled him in on what was happening now, he knew how torn up she must be inside.  And the fact that she wasn't there for her, but Danny was?  That ate at his heart.  He knew that they were being cordial to each other now, but as far as he was concerned, Danny would be the last person she would want around as a shoulder to lean on. 

Chapter Forty

Maggie’s days repeated themselves with routine until her mom finally called to say that results would be in on Friday.  At her mom’s insistence, she stayed home and didn’t go to the doctor’s with her.  And, just like her mom pulled, at her insistence all her friends stayed put and didn’t head to her place to keep her company either.  She managed to get a few hours of sleep, but clearly not enough as everything put her on edge.  Especially every time her phone rang.  She literally jumped.  But it always ended up being someone else calling to talk about something else.  Finally, twenty minutes after her scheduled appointment time, her phone rang and it was her mom.

“Mom?” Maggie asked cautiously, not knowing whether a good or bad reaction would meet her ear on the other end.  She felt everything within her clench up.  Whatever her mom said on the other end of the line she knew they would deal with and fight through, but with all she had she hoped it was good news.

“I have lumpy boobs.” Maggie’s mom announced.

“You have…okay?  What did the doctor say?”

“I’m all good, it’s nothing to worry about.  Just muscle and tissue and stuff that showed up that caused the issues.  No cancer.”

And with that Maggie let out the biggest breath.  It felt as though everything had been sucked out of her in one fell swoop; the stress, the anxiety, the worry all went away with the knowledge that everything was okay.

“I feel the same way, kiddo.” Her mom echoed.

“I am so glad you’re okay.” Maggie said, feeling herself on the verge of crying again, but this time it was at least for a good reason.

“Me too.  I get tired of all this cancer shit.”

“I know.”

“So then, new topic!  We still on for lunch on Sunday?”

“Yes, sounds good.  I’ll call you when I’m done the delivery.  Oh, and mom?  I love you.”

Chapter Forty One

Maggie sunk in to her couch, a huge grin forming on her face.  The happiness she felt after hearing the good news was echoed in the feeling of warmth from her pillows as they wrapped around her.  She felt herself drifting off to sleep, the stress of the past week finally being lifted off of her shoulders.

When she rolled over and checked the time on her phone, the four o’clock hour staring back at her made her wonder whether to get up and try to be productive for the rest of the day or whether to just go throw on her PJ’s and crawl in to her real bed, calling it a night.  But then she saw all of the missed calls and text messages that were waiting for her on her phone.  She had forgotten to call her friends and Caleb, letting them know that everything was okay and opted for the mass text to all; killing multiple birds with one stone. 

Not even two minutes after she sent it, her phone rang again, Caleb’s smiling face coming up on her called ID screen.

“Hey” she said when answering, her voice still groggy from her nap.

“Hey, I’m happy to hear everything is okay.  How’s your mom?”

“She’s happy.  Just tired of even having to deal with this at all, but happy.”

“I bet. And you?”

“
I’m good.  Just tired in general.” She replied, followed by an awkward silence.  “It’s been a long day.”

“I’m sorry.  I’ll let you go.”
Caleb answered with a slight sound of disappointment in his voice.

“
No, it’s okay.  The shows are going good?”  Maggie added, but Caleb could sense the lack of interest in her voice.

“They were
great.  But seriously, I’m going to let you go.  If you want to talk later, you know you can call me at any time, but for now, go and get some rest, okay?”

Ever the caring boyfriend
Maggie thought to herself.  But instead of bringing a smile to her face, it didn’t.  “Okay, babe, I will.  Thanks.”  And with that, they hung up the phone. 

Maggie decided to trudge off to bed, not bothering to take off her clothes or makeup and climbed in, not knowing what had gotten in to her.  She drew the covers right up tight under her chin and shut her eyes, hoping that sleep would take over but before it could, her phone went off again.  This time, name and number, not being met by a smiling image.

Groaning, she closed her eyes and hit the answer button.  “Hi Danny.”

“Hey, sorry, am I interrupting something?”

“No, I’m just tired.”

“Oh.  Okay.  Well, I got your text.  I’m happy your mom’s tests came back okay.
”

“Thanks.”

“And…well, you know that thing I invited you to earlier in the week?  Well, my friends are getting together again tonight so I thought you might want to get out.  Celebrate…kind of.  Seeing as we don’t have rehearsal and all…”

Maggie had to shake herself slightly awake to process the invitation.  Sleep would be so amazing right now and she knew it.  And that is the excuse she used when she thanked him for the invite, but let him know she was going to pass.  And that was also the mantra she had running through her mind during the two hours she lay in bed without said sleep actually taking over. 

“Fuck it.” She said, rolling over, grabbing a change of clothes and jumping in the shower, but not before she sent Danny a text letting him know she was in.

Chap
ter Forty Two

Twenty minutes in a cab and she arrived at a club that she hadn’t been to before.  She didn’t really know what she was getting herself in to, but she was instantly rethinking her decision.  It was dark and looked abandoned from the outside, while all other clubs on the popular block stretch of venues had lines forming, this one had none.  The look on Maggie’s face must have spoken volumes of her uncertainty because as Danny met her at the door and ushered her in to the entry, he assured her that it wasn’t open, so not to worry.  When they got inside, the full house lights were on and there were five other people milling around.  They stopped what they were doing and took notice when they entered the main room.

“Maggie, I’d like you to meet the rest of The Classics.”

“Hi.” Maggie said nervously, as each of the group members came up and introduced themselves and shook her hand.

“We’re doing another show in Vancouver in a few days and were rehearsing tonight and I thought you’d like to come hang out.” Danny told her.