Three of Hearts (12 page)

Laughing Mae tried to disengage Megan from around her waist and answered all the little girls questions, “Yes, I’m going to stay with you Megan. Of course we can have a tea party. We can definitely watch a movie and absolutely no, you can not have cookies for dinner, but maybe for dessert.” Ending with a wink, Mae leaned down and kissed Megan on her head and Megan squeezed Mae’s waist one more time before skipping back to watch her cartoons.

Mae smiled as she watched Megan skip away and turned to face Robyn.

Robyn smiled and said “Ok, well if you need anything give me a call. I left my number and Bryan’s on the counter.”

“Thanks Robyn” Mae said appreciatively.

“Bye kiddos, I love you, be good for Mae.”

Robyn kissed Megan and ruffled Aidan’s head, she walked out the door.

“Okay, have you guys eaten lunch yet?” Mae asked Aidan and Megan.

After voting for bologna and cheese sandwiches with pretzels, the kids ate and Mae cleaned up the kitchen.

“Why don’t we head over to my place? Aidan you can bring your game or you can watch TV while Megan and I are having a royal tea party” Mae said smiling toward Megan.

“Oh Mae, can I wear my princess dress? Please, please, please?” Megan asked with exuberance.

Mae just couldn’t help but smile, this little girl was so precious. “Of course you can, sweetie. Hurry up go change and then we will go.”

Megan ran up the stairs and quickly put her purple and pink tulle dress with its matching pink shoes on. She ran back down the stairs and straight over to Mae. “Mae, I’m ready to go. Can we use your pretty tea cups with the plates?”

Megan’s happiness was contagious. Mae grabbed Megan’s hand and, making sure Aidan was following, walked through the connecting interior door. Deciding to keep it open, so the kids could go back and forth, Mae propped the door open with a large book from a nearby bookcase.

“Aidan, make yourself comfortable, while I go up and change. You, Megan, go on ahead and sit at the table for our tea party.” Mae says smiling “Why do you need to change?” Megan asked, confused

“Well I can’t go to a royal tea party with a beautiful princess, looking like this,” she said with exaggerated clarity.

Hearing Megan’s giggle was Mae’s cue to climb the stairs.

Mae’s eyes fell on the chaise lounge and memories of what she and Seth had done this morning came swarming back to her. She bit her bottom lip as image after image flooded back through her mind. Mae, remembering how Seth made her feel, and knew that would be one of the best encounters of her life.

Realizing she was keeping Megan waiting downstairs, Mae walked to her closet and took the light green dress she wore as a bridesmaid in her cousin’s wedding, off the hanger. It was sequined at the top with a layered organza skirt.

As she put the dress on, Mae felt a tad ridiculous but knew Megan would think it was wonderful. She finished dressing and made her way to the stairs when she heard the crash and the breaking of glass. Concerned for Megan, Mae ran down the stairs holding the stiff skirt up around her knees.

Aidan stood in the space between the couch and kitchen, as Megan stood crying against the kitchen counter. Mae immediately went to Megan and kneeled down in front of her, roughly examining Megan all over to make sure she wasn’t cut anywhere. When she was sure Megan was unharmed she asked softly “Sweetie, what happened?”

Sniffing, Megan wiped her hands under her eyes to stop her flowing tears.

“I’m sorry Mae, I was trying to surprise you and have the party all set up for you. I didn’t mean to break your pretty cups.” Megan finished and then started to cry again While giving Megan a hug, Mae said “It was an accident, I’m sure. You stay here, while I clean up the glass,” Megan nodded her head but continued to have tears roll down her face.

Mae walked over to where two of Nana Jean’s teacups laid on the floor. One had smashed into about twenty pieces while the other stayed pretty well intact except a detached handle and a tooth size chip off the rim.

Mae went over and picked Megan up in her arms. The little girls’ face was blotchy and her nose was red as her hair. Mae kissed her nose and Megan looked up and into Mae’s eyes with such sadness.

“Mae I’m really, really sorry.”

As sad as she was that the tea cups broke, Megan being so upset was more troubling to Mae.

Speaking softly Mae said “Accidents happen, Megan, but next time, please wait for me before you pick them up, okay?”

Megan nodded her fiery head and put her arms around Mae’s neck, hugging with all her might. Returning the precious embrace, Mae kissed Megan on the cheek and put her down on her feet.

The tea party went on without any other mishaps.

Mae used apple juice as the tea and she placed small vanilla cookies on a plate. She even, used her placemats and linen napkins to make sure her royal tea party was lacking nothing.

Mae showed Megan how to sit up straight and how to pick her tea cup up and extend her pinkie out. She also taught her to talk with a proper British accent.

They talked about all the news going on throughout their make believe kingdom, and how frightful it was when, recently, the Evil Queen tried to cast a spell that caused all of the court to turn green with brown warts.

Mae laughed at the limitlessness of Megan’s imagination. Megan, in turn, complimented Mae on her beautiful princess dress and Mae made up a story of how the dress was given to her by a fairy with instructions to wear it when she met a special little girl.

Megan had never had such a tea party in her whole life. She loved Mae and hoped she would be around for a long, long time.

Later, Mae, Aidan, Conner, and Megan enjoyed a pizza party together. All four of them laid on the couch and watched the ending of some skateboarding competition, eating pizza right out of the box.

“Mae can we have a movie marathon?” Megan asked with hopefulness in her eyes.

Before she answered Mae looked over to Conner and Aidan to make sure they were on board with it before answering. The boys both agreed that a movie marathon would be fun, especially if they made popcorn with extra butter.

So making sure Megan was in her pajamas and adding the finishing touches to the popcorn, they all sat down to watch Harry Potter.

By the middle of the second movie, both Megan and Aidan were sound asleep.

Conner helped Aidan upstairs and told Mae he was going to watch TV in his room.

Mae carried Megan upstairs and placed her in bed. She tucked the blankets all around her and made sure her favorite doll was next to her. After kissing her head, she walked out the door and closed the door.

Before going downstairs she looked in on Aidan, his room was already dark and his arm was hanging over the side of the bed.

Conner was sitting on his bed, propped up against his headboard with his laptop on his lap and his TV on.

Saying good night one more time to Conner, Mae went down stairs and straightened up.

Mae’s cell phone rang: Seth.

He told her how he saved the day and he asked how the kids were. Mae told him everything was fine.

“I miss you, honey,” he said, and it warmed Mae’s heart.

“I miss you, too,” she answered, hoping she had the same effect on him.

“So what are you wearing?” he asked with faux huskiness

Mae laughed and gave a detailed description of the sexy lingerie she was wearing as she looked down at her cotton sleep shirt and ratty sweat pants.

Seth groaned and said “I can be there in three hours.”

Laughing again she said “Oh no, you stay and I’ll see you tomorrow, what time will you be getting back?”

“I’ll leave here first thing and come straight home; I know you have to be at the hospital for your shift.”

So they agreed they would see each other late morning and Mae said good night.

When she ended the call she thought of how much she had come to care for Seth in the short time she had known him. She curled up on the couch with her book and at about 11:00pm, she made sure everything was locked up and climbed up to Seth’s room and fell fast asleep.

Mae was dreaming of sweet kisses and not so sweet caresses when she was awoken by an odd sound. She picked her head up and listened, looked at the clock and noticed it was 2:45am. With immediate thoughts for the safety of the kids, she threw the blankets off her and raced to the door. After a moment or two she heard another thump, a low curse and then what sounded like the kitchen door. She ran over and looked out the large picture window that faced the lake. She watched as a dark figure walked across the deck, down the stairs and headed for the dock.

Mae grabbed her phone and quickly made her way downstairs and turned the deck light on. As she walked across the lawn, she saw Conner looking at her guiltily. Crossing her arms over her chest, she waited for Conner to explain what exactly he was doing.

Not daring to look her in the eye, Conner stammered, “Hi Mae.”

Arching her eyebrow she said quietly, “Hi Conner, whatcha doing?”

“I was, uh, just going to sit on the dock.”

Looking toward Conner, she said “And what were you expecting to find on the dock in the middle of the night?”

Sticking his hands in his pockets and focusing on a knotty bit of wood on the dock, Conner said “I was, uh, going to…” He sighed in defeat. “Alright fine, I was going to take the boat out.”

Mae suspected as much, but now that he admitted it, what was she going to do?

“Please don’t tell my dad, he’ll have a coronary.” Conner pleaded

“Conner, I don’t know if I can do that. He specifically told you, you couldn’t. You don’t even have a license.” Mae said looking at the boy who looked so much like his father.

“Mae, I’ll do anything. Anything!” Conner said willing to get on his knees to beg

Going against her better judgment, Mae thought she could agree to that. I mean after all, he didn’t actually get on the boat which meant he didn’t actually go against his father.

Other than being out of bed and sneaking out, he didn’t do anything.
Yeah,
Mae,
who
are
you
trying
to
convince?

“Ok, fine, Conner, but promise me, you won’t try this again.” Mae said with a guilty conscience.

“Oh Mae, you are the best, I won’t do it again, thanks, thanks a lot” Conner yelled excitedly and ran up and hugged Mae, which squeezed breathe from her.

Winded from his strength, she said, “Ok, Con, back in the house and you are doing the breakfast dishes in the morning.”

“Absolutely, no problem.” Conner gave her a wicked grin that would put his father’s to shame.

Mae watched as Conner ran up the stairs and ran up to his room.

She stood in the yard and watched as his bedroom light was turned on then quickly turned off. She sighed and began the slow walk back up to the house.

Back in bed, Mae found herself unable to fall back asleep. She sat up and turned on the bedside lamp, releasing a soft yellow stream of light. A glimmer of light reflected off Maggie’s picture.

Mae stared at the woman who was Seth’s wife, and the mother of his children.

As sad as Maggie’s tragic end was, Mae respected her. She gave up her life, for her family. She wanted Megan even though she knew she would never see her grow up. Remembering how she thought earlier Maggie’s smile looked as if she had a secret; Mae considered that maybe that secret was Maggie’s courage and unconditional love.

The next morning, after breakfast, Mae instructed the kids to get ready for school.

Conner and Aidan were so excited that they were going to ride in Mae’s Camaro. Holding Megan’s backpack, Mae made sure Aidan and Megan were buckled into the back. Mae climbed into the car to find Conner toying with the radio. She gave him a firm stare.

“What?” Conner said.

“Don’t you know it is a deadly sin to change a girls’ radio station?” Mae asked in good fun.

“Oh, sorry” Conner said as if Mae caught him sneaking off again.

“Conner, I’m just kidding, go ahead put on whatever you want,” Mae laughed.

They pulled out of the driveway and Conner asked Mae to stop for a moment. Michael Upton was coming down his porch and his smiled radiated when he saw Conner inside the Camaro.

“No way, dude. You’re going to school in that? So jealous.” Michael said.

Conner looked at Mae, Mae looked at the small backseat holding Aidan and Megan, “Come on, hop in Michael!” she told him.

Following Conner’s directions, Mae pulled into the school’s complex and watched as Conner and Michael climbed out of the car and strutted off to the door, as if it was a natural thing for them to get a ride in a sports car.

They were so into character, they didn’t even notice, or least acknowledge, the group of girls staring after them.

With a smile on her face, Mae drove over to the smaller of the two buildings and dropped Aidan off.

Aidan turned to Mae and said “Thanks Mae, it was really cool of you to hang out with us yesterday and to drive us to school this morning.”

“Any time, Aidan. Have a good day.” Mae said, touched that Aidan complimented her with so many words, considering how quiet he is, generally.

Looking in the rearview at Megan, Mae pulled out and said “And off to your preschool, Sweetie.”

Megan smiled her toothless smile and looked out the window.

When Mae arrived at the preschool, she was sadly mistaken, to think that she would just be able to drop Megan off. Megan pleaded for Mae to come in and see her school and meet her teachers. Realizing that her denial was as strong as a cup of jello, Mae gave in to Megan and let her pull her toward the school.

Megan took Mae on a tour of her preschool, stopping at all of her favorite areas; from her cubby, where her coat and backpack went, to the kitchen play area and lastly over to the reading area that was furnished with pillows of every color of the rainbow thrown all over the place.

As Megan was telling Mae all about story rug time, Mae heard, “Megan who is your friend?”