Luke stood outside the room while Maggie checked up on Roxi. They’d asked for a bit of privacy. After another week’s worth of rest, he was feeling better, though there was still some lingering weakness after his encounter with the dark entity. Though Roxi wasn’t truly on the mend, she wouldn’t be until he could solve the problem of Mithras’s compulsion.
Lost in his thoughts, the door opening startled him when Maggie stepped out.
Maggie smiled warmly. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”
“No worries, just wasn’t paying attention.”
“Would you like to take a walk with me? I could use some fresh air.”
“Sure. Just let me check with Roxi.”
Maggie nodded.
Poking his head in the door, he smiled, happy to see a bit more color in Roxi’s cheeks. “Do you mind if I take a walk with Maggie?”
“Not at all.”
“Should I send someone up to keep you company?” he asked.
“No. I think a bit of solitude would be nice for a bit. Go. You need a break.” She picked up a book. “Besides, Patrice loaned me this. It’s been a while since I curled up with one.”
Luke nodded and pulled the door shut behind him. “Shall we,” he said, sticking his arm out for Maggie.
Looping her arm through his, she led him to the stairs. “I think Rhonda and Pablo have some hot cocktails going in the bar—Irish coffees, Spanish coffees, hot toddies, and the like to go with the fresh snow.”
“That sounds splendid.”
After they bundled up, they found a thermos and had Rhonda fill it with a hot toddy. They stuffed a couple mugs into their pockets and headed outside into the snowy afternoon. Though it wasn’t coming down as hard as it had been overnight and through the morning, a steady snowfall added to the few inches already laying across the snowy landscape of his cottage’s nook in the Meuse River.
As they stopped part way around the solarium, Luke pulled out the mugs and handed them to Maggie. She held the mugs while he filled them, snugging the thermos in a pocket after he’d closed it. In silence, they strolled around the outside of the solarium toward the river. Shouts and laughter greeted them on the wind. Off at the southern edge of the property, their friends were currently involved in a raucous snowball fight, running and yelling like excited children. He couldn’t tell who all was involved since they were bundled up, but sharing in their delight, even from afar, lightened his mood and brought a content smile to his face. It didn’t matter how old his friends were, and some of them were well past a century, they could still find joy in the simple things.
Seeing Luke and Maggie, one of them sprinted toward them, raising their arm.
Maggie stopped and raised her unoccupied hand. “So help me, if you hit us with that snowball, I will ask this burly gentleman on my arm to throw you in the freezing river, and I will personally help him.”
“You’re no fun,” Pablo said, his shoulders drooping in a full body pout.
“Go throw that at Sam…” Maggie called back.
Luke winced as Sam ran up behind Pablo, giggling furiously, and shoved a giant wad of snow down the neck of his coat. Laughing at Pablo’s squeal of dismay, Luke squeezed Maggie in a one-armed hug. “Sorry, buddy. Looks like she got you good there.”
Pablo turned around and trudged back toward the mayhem, doing his best mopey Charlie Brown shuffle. Maggie laughed, the bright pure sound bringing light to Luke’s heart. Turning away from the distant snowball fight, they walked toward the river and the small patio along its edge, though they kept an eye on the fight to ensure no one else tried another sneak attack.
Luke handed Maggie his mug while he cleared the snow off two of the chairs and faced them so they looked out over the river. Once he was settled, Luke held the mug under his nose, inhaling the spicy aroma of cinnamon, clove, brandy, and lemon. Venturing a sip, he exhaled happily. The short walk had rendered it the perfect temperature.
“Thanks for coming out with me,” Maggie said after a sip of her toddy.
“Of course. This was a good idea. I didn’t realize I needed some fresh air.”
“I figured you could use a bit of a break. You’re a very focused and solicitous man, but that also means you sometimes forget to take the time you need for yourself.” She reached out and patted his knee.
“Thank you for looking out for me. I appreciate you, Maggie.”
“Like Pablo said, we take care of our own, and you’re mine. We’ve been through too much together.” She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder. “I’ll always look out for you for as long as you want me to.”
Reaching up, he rubbed her cheek with his glove covered hand. “And I’ll always take care of your heart for as long as you let me.”
Maggie chuckled. “That sounds like Zel.”
“They charged me to be gentle with your heart. And you should know by now that once I commit to a course of action, I see it through. I love you, Maggie, and that hasn’t changed.”
“I am glad. I love you, too.” She sat up and took another drink of her hot toddy.
After Luke finished his, he pulled out the thermos and refilled their mugs. As they sat quietly, they held hands, doing the best with their gloves on, and watched the Meuse roll by as a gentle snow blanketed the trees, the distant shouts of their friends drifting by on the breeze. And for one afternoon, they found tranquility and allowed it to find them as well.