Weaving the Strands (13 page)

“That must have been very frightening. Thank
goodness he came by.”

“No kidding,” she continued. “There was absolutely
no hanky-panky.”

“No. I realize that now. I’ve been a fool. I
shouldn’t have assumed.”

“You most certainly should not have,” she stated
firmly.

They resumed walking, John searching for what to
say next.

“So that’s why you suddenly turned so cold to me?”
Maggie asked, glancing over at him.

John nodded.

“You’re an idiot,” she stated.

John nodded again. “I really am sorry. And I’ve
missed you terribly,” he said, tightening his grip on her hand. “We’ll need to
get that attic door fixed,” he added lamely in an attempt to change the subject.
“What’s up there?”

He sensed the complete change in her demeanor
before she answered. “John, you wouldn’t believe it. That attic is full of the
coolest stuff. Fascinating household accounts and records that probably should
go to the Historical Society. And an entire collection of vintage silver.”

He had no idea what vintage silver was, but her
almost reverent tone indicated how happy the discovery had made her. Just
talking about it had lightened her mood and that was enough for him. They
walked their dogs for the next hour while he happily learned more than he ever
wanted to know about the subject.

They were approaching the south entrance when
Maggie checked her watch. “Oh, my gosh. It’s almost four! I’m going to the
Torreses’ for dinner. I’m supposed to be there at four, and I’ve got to pick up
a pie at Laura’s first.”

John burst out laughing. “When did this get
scheduled? Sam caught me on my way out the door this afternoon to invite me for
dinner tonight.”

“Right after church today. They knew I was meeting
a blind date. Joan was so worried I’d be kidnapped and dismembered in a ravine
that I promised I’d stop by afterward to show her I was all right. Those little
sneaks!”

“They wanted us back together, for sure,” John
said.

They smiled at each other. “We’d better get
going,” Maggie said.

“Not yet, young lady,” he replied as he pulled her
into his arms for a slow, luxurious kiss. Even Eve and Roman seemed to approve
as they ceased pulling on their leads and waited patiently.

When the reunited couple’s lips finally parted,
Maggie rested her head briefly on John’s chest before reluctantly stepping
back. “We’re going to be late. I’m sure Joan is getting anxious about me. Why
don’t we arrive together?”

“Good plan. I can’t wait to see the looks on their
faces.”

“We’re lucky to have such caring friends.”

“We’re lucky in a lot of ways,” John replied as he
planted a kiss on the top of her head.

***

As promised, Maggie called Susan
much later that night to report on her meeting with the mysterious dog lover.
“You’ve got to be kidding! It was John? No way!” Susan exclaimed.

“You should have seen us hovering by the entrance,
stealing glances at each other before we realized what was up.”

“Like the plot of a movie with Meg Ryan and Tom
Hanks,” Susan interjected.

“Exactly,” Maggie laughed. “And then it came out
that he actually thought I was seeing Frank Haynes,” Maggie sputtered, the
thought striking her as both irritating and ridiculously funny.

“What? That’s preposterous. Haynes is a weasel.”

“And you should have seen Joan and Sam when we
showed up for dinner together. They were trying to fix us up again. Not too
subtle. They loved how it all came together. Sam practically turned himself inside
out, grinning.”

Susan sighed. “I’m really happy for you, Mom. John
is a nice guy. I always thought he was crazy about you. I was so disappointed
that you two broke up. But what about the other guy? DogLover7719. What are you
going to do about him?”

“I’ve already sent an email and cancelled. First
thing I did when I got home. Now that I’m back with John, I couldn’t possibly
go out with someone else.”

Maggie switched the focus to her daughter.

“What’s new on your end? Anyone interesting online
for you?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. We’ll see,” Susan replied with
a yawn. “I don’t have the energy to get into all of that now. I’ve been meaning
to tell you that Mike and I have decided about the holidays,” she stated
firmly.

“Oh? And what have you decided?” Maggie asked,
bemused. Her children were back to being their bossy selves.

“Mike, Amy, the girls, and I will all come to
Rosemont for Thanksgiving. I’ve got the week off, so I’m coming on the Friday
night before, and they’ll arrive on Tuesday.”

Maggie couldn’t hide her delight. “That’s
wonderful! I thought Mike couldn’t get the time off. I can’t wait to see the
twins. I miss you all so much. It’ll be fun to have you here. And it’ll be like
Rosemont’s coming out party,” she said in a rush.

“I knew you’d be excited,” Susan replied. “Rosemont
will be the perfect setting for Thanksgiving. You really need falling leaves
and frost on the pumpkin. Not palm trees and sun, even though that’s what I’ve
grown up with. Christmas, however, will be here. You’ll have to come home to
California to be with us. Mike and Amy are adamant that they won’t take the
girls out of their own home for Christmas.”

Maggie felt a pang of regret and instantly felt
guilty. What had she expected? She had promised to get out to California every
month on business when she moved to Westbury, and hadn’t been back once.
Granted, she had made that promise before she had been elected mayor of
Westbury. Just one more example of how she was letting her work rule her life,
she realized. She was changing things with John and she would change this, too.

“Mom,” Susan asked. “Are you still there?”

Maggie smiled. “Just lost in thought for a moment.
I’ll come out to California for Christmas. You can count on me.”

Chapter 28

In the end, Loretta Nash accepted
the position of financial analyst at Haynes Enterprises. She moved the kids
across the country at the beginning of the school year, over their objection,
and was completing her second week on the job. The work only involved routine
bookkeeping so far, and she hadn’t been very busy. When she had asked Mr.
Haynes for more duties, he advised her to be patient; he was working her into
the business and these things took time.

It was four o’clock and she had finished
everything on her desk. Today was Halloween, and her kids were excited about
trick-or-treating. Making new friends at school was proving especially hard for
ultra-shy Marissa, so Loretta wanted her to have fun tonight. If she could get
off work early, she’d have time to fix dinner and help the kids get into their
costumes. Marissa was going to be a princess and Loretta would do her hair and
makeup.

Loretta glanced warily in the direction of Mr.
Haynes’ office. Should she ask for this indulgence? She slung her purse over
her shoulder and laid her jacket over her arm. She hesitated, then slowly
approached his partially closed door and knocked softly. When he didn’t answer,
she nudged the door open and leaned in.

“Mr. Haynes,” she said, clearing her throat.

Frank Haynes looked up and didn’t bother to
conceal his irritation.

“I’m sorry to bother you. I was wondering if I
could leave a bit early. I’ve finished everything for today.”

“Why would you need to leave early?” he snapped.

“It’s Halloween, sir. My kids are little. I’d like
to get home to help them get ready to trick-or-treat. They’ve had such a hard
time adjusting,” she began. Haynes cut her off with a waved hand.

“Certainly you can,” he replied his aggravation
suddenly dissipated. “I insist upon it. I forgot that it’s Halloween. Haven’t
had trick-or-treaters at my place in years.”

He came around his desk and began to walk her to
the door.

“You know where you should take the kids, don’t
you?” he asked solicitously.

“I was going to go out in our neighborhood. And I
think their school has something planned.”

“Oh, no. You need to take them to Rosemont. I
understand Mayor Martin hands out the good stuff—full-sized candy bars
and everything. You won’t want to miss that.”

Whether she did or not, he didn’t know or care. He
smiled inwardly at the mental image of Martin face-to-face with her husband’s
mistress. And not knowing it. This was turning out to be a good day after all.

“You remember how to get to Rosemont, don’t you?”

“Yes, I think so,” she replied slowly.

“Have a good time tonight,” Haynes called as
Loretta hurried to her car.

***

Loretta’s mind reeled as she drove
the short distance to her apartment. Rosemont? She might get a glimpse inside
the place. And meet Paul’s wife. Was she ready for that? She was curious; had
been for a long time. She’d be able to size her up at last. For years, Loretta
had practiced the speech she’d make to Maggie Martin when they finally met.
Tonight with the kids in tow would not be the time. That day would come. For
now, she and the kids would make Rosemont their first Halloween stop.

She pulled into her apartment parking lot and
called to her children as she opened the front door. “Hey, guys, I’m home.”

“Mom! I’m so glad you’re here,” Marissa exclaimed.
“I can’t get my costume on by myself. And I want to go out early.”

Loretta swept her daughter into a hug. “We will,
sweetie. Let me make a quick dinner, then I’ll help you get ready and we’ll all
go. Sean, any homework?”

“No. They can’t give homework on Halloween. It’s a
law or something,” he yelled from his bedroom.

“There isn’t any such law,” Loretta said feeling
the need to straighten him out. “But there should be,” she concluded when he
raced out of his room, wildly brandishing the sword to his superhero costume.

“My boss let me off early and told me the best
place to trick-or-treat around here is a big old mansion known as Rosemont. The
mayor lives there. She gives out great candy. So we’ll start there; what do you
think? Let’s eat and get out of here,” she said, ushering her excited children
into the kitchen.

***

An hour later, the entire Nash family
approached the massive arched entry to Rosemont. They found a spot to park
along the bottom of the driveway and made the long walk uphill in the company
of goblins, witches, and Disney characters. Loretta pushed Nicole, dressed as
Tinker Bell, in the stroller while Marissa and Sean darted ahead. At the
insistence of her children, Loretta had dressed herself in black jeans and a
turtleneck, tucked her blond hair into a black cap, and painted her face to
become a cat.

The massive door stood open and light from the
foyer chandelier poured onto the stone steps. The entrance was lined with
pumpkins of various shapes and colors and huge urns of potted mums. Loretta had
to admit the house was truly gorgeous.

She could see a nice-looking middle-aged man handing
out candy, but a group of tall teenagers dressed as ghouls blocked her view of
the person next to him—presumably Maggie Martin. Marissa shrank back at
the sight of them and grabbed her mother’s hand.

“You’re fine, sweetheart,” she assured her
daughter, not taking her eyes from the spot where she knew Maggie was standing.
“Here,” she said, thrusting Marissa up the steps. “Those big kids are leaving.”

She lifted Nicole from the stroller and pushed her
forward as the teens stepped aside.

Loretta and Maggie locked eyes. Something in the
woman’s expression changed and Loretta’s stomach lurched. Had this woman
recognized her? Had Paul ever told Maggie about her? Had he shown her Loretta’s
picture?

She released the breath she had been holding when
Maggie glanced down and fixed a warm smile on Marissa, who was inching out from
behind her brother.

“Those boys really scared me!” Maggie said. “I’m
glad they’re gone. I need a nice princess,” she directed her remark to Marissa.
“And Tinker Bell. Don’t you look beautiful,” she said, gesturing to Marissa’s
costume. “I’d like to get a good look at your dress.”

In spite of herself, Loretta smiled. Darn it. She
didn’t want to like this woman. She didn’t want her to be so kind to her
children. And she hated that Maggie was trim and so pretty. Not at all what she
had expected; not at all what Paul had described.

Maggie turned to the man just as he was telling
Sean how much he admired his superhero costume. “If I can interrupt you two, I
think we have treats for everyone.”

She reached behind the man and retrieved a large
orange bowl filled with virtually every type of candy bar in existence. “Here,”
she said holding out the bowl. “Take what you’d like.”

She turned to Sean.

“Why don’t you take one for your mom, too? I’ll
bet you know her favorite,” she continued with a wink at Loretta.

Loretta quickly turned away. This wasn’t what she
had envisioned at all. She retreated into the shadows.

“Is this a real castle?” Marissa said, her voice
breathy with wonder. “Do you live here?”

Maggie laughed.

“It’s my house, yes,” she replied, glancing up at
the tall stone facade. “I’m glad you like it. It’s not a castle, but it is
beautiful.”

Maggie turned back to Marissa before greeting the
next group of trick-or-treaters. “We have an Easter carnival on the lawn here
in the spring. It’s lots of fun. You’ll have to come back then.”

“Thank you,” Loretta’s children called as they
stepped out of the way of the surging crowd to rejoin her.

***

John made a quick dash for more
Halloween candy at seven thirty, and they ran out of that by nine. The crowd
had thinned significantly by then. Maggie turned out the porch light, and John
secured the cantankerous old lock on the front door.

“How many kids do you think we had?” Maggie asked
as she led John to the kitchen where an anxious Eve had been sequestered during
all of the excitement.

“I’ll bet you had at least three hundred. I’ve
lived here all my life, and I don’t remember anyone ever trick-or-treating at
Rosemont. You were the main attraction today. Every family on my staff came
by.”

Maggie smiled; she liked being generous with
Rosemont, letting people get close to the grand old house and enjoy it. She
would have brought Susan and Mike here to trick-or-treat when they were little.

“I think Rosemont likes having visitors, don’t
you?” she asked as John put his arms around her and drew her close.

“I don’t think houses have feelings,” he said
softly into her lightly scented hair.

“Then you don’t know anything about this house,”
she whispered in reply.

They remained wrapped in each other’s arms,
swaying slowly in the silence, relishing their closeness.

“Do you have surgery in the morning?” Maggie asked
with a ragged breath.

“Nope. I postponed the one patient on the
schedule. I planned to stay here with you until I was sure that the
trick-or-treaters were done, and you wouldn’t be bothered by anyone.”

“That was nice of you,” she murmured dreamily.

“I knew you’d be mobbed. Can’t be too careful with
my best girl.”

Maggie smiled into his shoulder. “So when do you think
the coast will be clear?” she asked, leaning back and looking into his eyes.

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” he replied,
raising one eyebrow.

She shook her head. “Not at all. I’m thinking we
really can’t be sure that the danger’s passed until morning. Who knows what
prank one of these older kids might play in the wee hours?”

“Good point,” he replied as he pressed his lips to
hers. “Exactly what I was thinking.”

“Why don’t you spend the night with me?”

John took her hand and kissed her open palm, folding
it into his own. He turned and, together, they slowly climbed the stairs
through the darkened house.

***

Maggie woke the next morning to the
tangible comfort of a lover in her bed. She blushed; what a night it had been.
She never dreamed that passion in her fifties could surpass the lust of her
twenties. She carefully crept out from under the covers and collected her robe
from the hook in the bathroom.

With Eve trotting happily at her heels, she headed
downstairs and soon returned with a mug of steaming coffee. She set it on the
nightstand and watched John slowly wake to its pungent aroma. He opened his
eyes and rubbed his hand across his face.

“Well, Mayor Martin. How are you this morning?” he
said, reaching for her hand and pulling her onto the bed. “That was my most
memorable Halloween ever.”

“I’m perfect, actually. I brought you a cup of
coffee,” she said, pointing to the nightstand.

“Thank you. Haven’t had anyone do that for me in a
long time. Not sure if anyone’s ever done that for me, for that matter. But
right now, there’s something more important that I haven’t done in the morning
in a long time,” he growled as he slipped her robe off her shoulders and pulled
her under the covers.