The Truth About Fairy Tales (12 page)

             
“This place is perfect. I’ll be fine right here, even if I will be lonely, missing my girl by my side.”

             
Those words did terrible things to me. But mostly, they gave the new Maggie’s heart reason to hope.

****

              Lee Worthy had been the closest thing to a father figure I’d ever known, even though I’d met him for the first time when I was thirteen. He’d been stern but loving and I’d taken to him like a fish to water right from the start.

It had been months since I’d seen Lee last, but he hadn’t changed one little bit. Slightly older than Gran, Lee had a full head of white hair and sharp blue eyes that assessed the little surprise I’d brought home
. Although he didn’t say it, I think he decided right then I wouldn’t be joining his little firm no matter what lies I might be telling  myself.

             
After a very simple country meal consisting of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and red-eye gravy, Lee took Jackson off to show him around the town, which I knew really meant find out what his intentions were concerning me.

             
Jackson didn’t seem to mind too much and me, well, I was scared to death, but it did at least give me time alone with my Gran. I couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or not right now.

             
We did what we always did together—what I’d grown up doing and how she always managed to get whatever was bothering me out in the open. We walked.

             
The small town of Santa Anna is located at the foot of the Santa Anna Mountain, which is pretty much just a hill. Gran’s house is close enough to walk to the foot of the mountain and through the years, we’d gotten good at walking that path.

             
“He’s a nice man, Maggie. I like that boy, but I’m not going lie. I was surprised as all get out to see you show up on my front porch with any man. You were always so determined never to repeat your mother’s mistakes. Never let any man hurt you. You’ve changed honey—you’re softer. Do you love him?”

             
I stopped right in the middle of that gravel road and turned to look at her. Where had that come from? My grandmother knew me better than that, didn’t she? How many times in the past had I told her I’d never let myself show that kind of weakness?

             
As I watched my sweet, steadfast, strong grandmother standing next to me with that expression of hers that rarely ever changed no matter what I’d done, I wasn’t so sure anymore. I didn’t, did I? I couldn’t; after all, I’d just met him. There was no way you can fall in love like that. Love didn’t happen that way.

             
“No…no, Gran, we’ve only met. He’s just a friend.”
Yeah, and the guy I’m sleeping with, the one I’ve shared more of myself with than any other human being on the face of the earth and that includes people I’ve known most of my life. That includes this woman right here in front of me.
I tried to shut out all of those nagging thoughts, but as she continued to watch me with that steadfast look of hers, I was the one that had to look away.

             
I wasn’t sure of anything anymore. Since meeting Jackson, my plans for the future didn’t seem so important anymore.

             
“Uh huh…well he’s a good man. They don’t come along too often. Especially the ones that will put up with all the crap we throw at them sometimes.”

             
Gran and I were sitting in the living room watching TV when Lee and Jackson returned. I’d expected to find a slightly subdued Jackson, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, he was laughing at one of Lee’s silly jokes when they walked into the house together.

             
Lee shook Jackson’s hand, kissed my grandmother’s cheek, and then pulled me to my feet. “Maggie, walk me to my car.” Just like that and just like Lee. I knew he wanted some quiet time with me to understand how involved I was with Jackson, but he’d already made his decision regarding him. He liked him.

             
“Looks to me like you got yourself a suitor.” That was a deliberate Lee comment aimed at getting a reaction out of me. It worked. He’d known that I was expecting some sort of assessment of the situation from him.

             
“He’s not my suitor. Jackson is just a friend.”

             
Lee’s laugh always reminded me of what I imagined Santa Claus must sound like. I realized he’d maneuvered me into just the precise position he wanted me in. “That’s not what I heard…” he added ever so quietly.

             
“What did he tell you?” I blurted out and was rewarded with another pleased laugh.

             
“Now, I’m not going to tell you that, Missy, and you know it. That’s client attorney privilege. I will say this…I like him. He’s not the type you can lead around by the nose and that’s exactly the kind you need.”

             
I could feel those blue eyes of his focus on me. I was never more thankful that we were far enough away from the lights of the house, so that he couldn’t read my expression. That bright red color that I knew was there in my cheeks would have been a dead give-away to dear old Lee.

             
“I don’t know what Jackson told you, Lee, but we’re just friends. That’s all and I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

             
He didn't buy my attempt to appear self-righteous. Lee knew me too well.

             
“Uh huh. You’re grandmother got to you first, huh? I bet she gave you the third degree, didn’t she? Well, honey, I know you’re not surprised. What’d you expect showing up here with a man?”

             
“Lee. Gees, you’d think I just killed someone or something. I
have
gone out on dates before. It’s not like Jackson is the first guy you’ve seen me with.”

             
“I know, but he’s different, and you can deny it all you want. You ain’t fooling anyone. All of the others were weak. You could tell them what to do and they’d do it. This one ain’t weak and he’s definitely not the type to let you call all the shots. He’s different, so you might as well admit it. And I’m pretty sure I just lost my partner.”

             
“This conversation is ridiculous. I have five more months left before I’m finished with school and then I’ll be back here, so don’t you get any ideas.”

             
“Uh huh. You just keep telling yourself that, but don’t except me to believe it. Not that I would mind one little bit, Maggie. I want you to be happy and if Jackson Riley can do that then wherever you end up will be fine with me. To be honest, Maggie, you know I’ve never expected you to go through with that plan of yours to join my firm in the first place. I never believed you would when you made that little promise in the first place. I always figured you’d grow tired of that idea a long time ago and find yourself some fancy firm in Austin.”

             
“I want to be your partner, Lee. I’ve been working my whole life for this. No man, no matter who he is, is going to change that for me. It’s too important to me.”

             
“Maggie, you’re about to find out when you love someone things change. It’s just a part of life, honey. Your whole world is turned upside down. I felt that same way the second I met that wonderful woman in there.”

             
That surprised me enough to take all of my anger away. Lee never talked to me about his feelings for Gran before. He’d always kept them secret, although, I have to confess I’d always wondered. I mean, he looked for reasons to spend time with us. The only thing I knew without a shadow of a doubt was that he and my grandmother were friends. Good friends, that’s for sure, but
just
friends. Now I wasn’t so sure.

             
“You love Gran? You never told me you loved her. Gran never mentioned…”

             
“No I just about bet she didn’t. I told Sarah a long time ago how I felt about her. I’ve been waiting patiently ever since for her. I don’t know why she’s holding out, really. She tells me she’s too old to get married again. She tells me it isn’t possible to find love twice in a lifetime and I tell her that’s crazy. You have to take the opportunities the good Lord gives you and not be afraid of them.”

             
“I don’t know what to say. I guess I’ve always thought of the two of you as just really good friends.”

             
“Well, honey, we are that and a whole lot more to each other. You don’t need to say anything, but maybe that you don’t mind too much. Your grandmother would hate the thought of our relationship, whatever it is, making you unhappy. I know we never talked about this stuff before, Maggie, and I guess that was because I still think of you as my child, and well, you don’t talk about some things with your kids. I’m not sure why I’m telling you now except that maybe I want you to be okay with this. Are you okay with it, Maggie?”

             
The old Maggie would have snorted at the thought of my two favorite people in the world falling in love, but the new me went easily into his open arms

             
“I think it’s just wonderful. It’s perfect. You know I’m crazy about you. I’d like nothing better than for you to be officially part of our family. You’ve been the only father I’ve ever known. I’d like nothing better than for you and Gran to share your lives, but you’re right about one thing. She’s one stubborn lady. It will take some convincing to talk her into marrying you. But don’t give up, okay?”

             
He patted my shoulder, unaccustomed to so much affection from me. “Yeah, I know she’s a hard nut to crack, kind of like her granddaughter. That guy of yours had better have a whole lot of determination and patience in him is all I can say.”

             
That left me speechless again. I didn’t want to consider Jackson as my guy. I couldn’t. He was just someone I was with for the moment. It meant nothing to me more than that. I wouldn’t let it mean anything, because I had plans. My future was here with Lee and Gran. Bright, promising—the perfect career. I wouldn't wait around for Jackson to choose me over all those other women past, present future in his life.

             
I stayed outside for a long time after Lee left. What was wrong here? What had the two people who I cared about so much really seen in me lately? Were they simply seeing all the unusual behavior that I’d exhibited since meeting him, which I hated to admit, was so completely out of character for me that I hardly recognized myself. I could only imagine what the two people who were my family must be thinking.

             
If I was being honest, and I should at least be that with myself, I hadn’t been acting like me since that first night I’d met him. Was I changing, or was it simply the effects of someone so unexpected like Jackson on me? If it was more than that, if it wasn’t just the sex, then where did that leave all my well-planned-out goals for my life? I’d tried to convince myself, Jackson, my grandmother and Lee that nothing had changed, but that wasn’t the case. I was only kidding myself and not doing a very good job of it at that. I wasn’t the same—physically, emotionally. I’d changed and there was no returning to that old Maggie, no matter how desperate I might be to prove to everyone including myself that I could have it all. I no longer believed that. I no longer wanted it all. I only wanted…

             
The screen door closed gently. I turned to see Jackson’s dark silhouette against my grandmother’s porch light and I tried to kill the uncertainty growing inside of me. All of my new unwelcome awareness and, yes, longings returned.

             
“Maggie?” I caught the questions in his voice that I couldn’t answer. I could only pray that he didn’t have any idea just how lost I felt at this moment.

             
“Hi.” I went all too easily into his arms. I let him hold me close and nothing in the world felt more right than being here in the only place that I could ever remember calling home with the man that had changed my life more than I could ever allow him to know.

             
“You’re grandmother sent me out to find you. She’s ready to turn in—her words not mine,” he said when I pulled away from him. “Come inside and tell her goodnight.”

             
My grandmother was standing in the doorway waiting for me when Jackson and I walked back inside.

             
“There you are. Did Lee go home?” I could only nod in the face of her intense gaze.

             
“Well, I’m off to bed. You kids stay up as long as you like.” She kissed my cheek and gave me one of her little hugs before turning to Jackson. I could almost swear I saw some little acknowledgement pass between them. Something along the lines of co-conspirators up to no good. They’d been talking about me I was almost certain of it.

             
After she’d gone to bed, Jackson and I stayed up for a long time talking. “I like your grandmother, little bit. She’s a lot like you? Straight-forward, honest…caring.”