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Journaling at the coffee shop, Maggie struggled to concentrate because of the awful music playing on the radio. The singer sounded like a pelican being strangled. On top of that, it was a Christmas song. Not that she had anything against Christmas music, but this particular song was overplayed and overdone. With last night first and foremost in her mind, it was hard for her to focus, so she came to the coffee shop to journal in quiet. No such luck.
Kate entered the coffee shop, plopped down in a chair across from her and said, “Okay, two things. One, how did it go last night and two, what the heck is that music they’re playing? I thought this was supposed to be a place you can come to relax and settle down, not get your spine all in a bunch.” The girl behind the counter turned the dial on the radio and changed the station.
“Does your magic always work so quickly on people?” Maggie teased her.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, it does.”
“Good to know.”
“Okay, now that point two has been dealt with, what about point one?”
“Point one? Oh yes, the infamous date last night.”
“Yes, and you are failing miserably at your attempt at being sly. Spill it, kid.”
As if by some sixth sense, Hannah walked in the door. Kate followed Maggie’s gaze, turned back to her, and said, “See, my magic powers are in full force today.” She waved Hannah over to the table.
“The moment of truth is upon you, Mags,” Hannah said as she sat down. “I want every last detail. Don’t leave anything out.”
“Geez, you guys act like I spent an evening with someone famous.”
“Honey, you spending the evening with the Hemsworth brothers would be as boring as watching the History Channel compared to who you were with.” This was from Kate.
Hannah laughed. Maggie did too.
“Okay, okay. I hate to disappoint you though. There aren’t any steamy stories to share. He made us dinner – he has a great house by the way – and we sat around talking until about midnight and then I went home. End of story.”
“You are a way better storyteller than that, my friend,” Hannah said. “At least tell us all the gory details of what you talked about. Discreetly, of course.”
“Ah, yes, discretion,” Kate agreed.
“You two are unbelievable,” Maggie said.
“Thank you,” they said in unison.
She shook her head at them. “I’m trying so hard to get out of feeling like I’m still in high school, but with you two around, that’s impossible.”
“I’m missing your point and you’re stalling, Mitchell,” Hannah said.
“Well, I was nervous at first, but there is something about being around Josh that calms me.” She looked out the window. “I think it was like that when we were in high school too. He’s so relaxed and sure of himself, and he was the only person I knew who could come by the house, and not be afraid of my dad. My dad would insult him left and right and Josh would just let it go.” She stared out the window for a moment.
“Did you talk about your dad at all?” Hannah asked.
“Yeah, we did. Nothing too intense, but just how I’ve been feeling since he’s been gone.” Wanting to be done with the topic of her father, she moved on. “We mostly talked about work, music, books – life in general. It was nice.”
“So, how did it end?” asked Kate.
“It ended with us agreeing to be friends and go from there. I was honest about not being ready for more than that right now and he was fine. Overall, it was a really nice evening.”
“Well then, kudos to you, Maggie Mitchell,” Kate said. “This was a big step for you and you took it beautifully. My hat’s off to you.”
“Mine as well,” said Hannah. “Maybe you’re finally putting your past behind you.”
Maggie thought of the newfound information about her past. The lump in her throat made it difficult to swallow her sip of coffee.
“Maybe,” was all she was able to say.
*
As she drove up to her house, Maggie’s heart skipped at seeing the familiar Jeep sitting in her driveway. She couldn’t decide if it was from excitement or nerves or maybe both. Josh was relaxing in a chair on the front porch.
“So what did I do to merit this surprise visit?” she said as she climbed the porch steps.
“Just being you,” he said; his smile turning her insides to mush. “I was hoping you had some time today for me to take you somewhere.”
“Hmmm, okay. I’m a bit nervous about that one but…”
“You’re just gonna have to trust me,” he said as he stood up and reached for her hand.
She placed her hand in his and turned, assuming they were going to get in his Jeep. Instead, he led her down the porch stairs and around the back of the house. Maggie’s curiosity grew with every step.
They made their way around the garden, Josh leading her through the gate that went down to the small strip of beach below. Her heart pounded faster and faster as they weaved back and forth down the narrow, sandy path. The ice plants on either side made the hillside plush and green.
They reached the bottom where a large beach towel had been laid out on the sand. Maggie’s heart warmed at the idea that Josh had planned this ahead of time and knew she would come down here with him.
They sat side by side on the towel, watching the water.
“Do you remember how we would come down here in high school?” Josh said.
“I remember all too well. We were escaping my dad.”
“I guess you could look at it that way.” Josh grabbed a stick that lay nearby and began doodling in the sand.
“You didn’t see it that way?” she asked.
“Not always. I just wanted to be with you.” He smiled at her.
They sat for a little while listening to the lap of the small waves and the seagulls as they flew across the water.
“Your father didn’t worry me as much as you think, Maggie. My only fear was that he would one day hurt you or your mom. I used to try and think of ways I could protect you, but came to realize I had to just pray that God would watch over you if I couldn’t.”
Maggie looked at her hands folded in her lap.
“I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch with you after what happened at the prom. I was so confused and hurt, and I thought for sure you’d never want to see me again.”
“I always wanted to be with you, Maggie. Your dad wasn’t easy, but he’s not you and you’re not him. Your dad made choices in life that had an effect on you, but you could never control what he would do any more than he could control you or your mom.”
More thoughtful silence fell between them.
Josh nudged Maggie with his shoulder.
“Hey, I didn’t bring you down here to talk about the things of the past that are sad. I brought you down here to say that it’s time we leave those things in the past and start fresh. This may have been a hideaway before from something awful, but now we’re going to make it a hideaway for us to relax and have fun together. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“Okay, now if memory serves, we used to play a little game called ‘truth or dare’. The clean version, of course.”
“Of course. However, we’re old enough now for the adult version,” she teased.
He raised an eyebrow at that. “Tempting. Very tempting. But we’ll save that for another time. For now, I’m going to go first and dare you to go into the water at least up to your knees.”
“What? You’ve got to be crazy! That water has got to be so cold right now.”
“Okay then. Truth it is. You have to tell me with complete honesty what you thought of the dinner I made for you.”
“Oh well, it’s into the water I go then. That’s a no-brainer.” She began to take off her shoes and roll up her pant legs.
“I can’t believe you said that! Now I know you were lying when you said it tasted good.”
Maggie laughed and headed for the water.
Josh shot up off the towel and ran for her. He swept her up in his arms and amidst her kicking and protesting, carried her into the water.
“Since you have now insulted my cooking, I believe it is time for you to get much more wet than up to your knees.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Maggie said, pausing from her attempts to wriggle free. “That water is freezing!”
“Oh, but I would. You see, dare is the name of the game and I’m all for it.” And with that, he tossed her right on her butt into the waves.
Standing over her with a triumphant look on his face and reveling in his accomplishment, Josh never saw it coming when Maggie grabbed his legs and yanked him into the sandy water. Sputtering and shaking his head like a dog, he looked at her in shock.
“Aha!” Maggie said. “Two can most definitely play this game.”
Despite their shivering, the two began splashing each other until they were soaked to the bone.
*
Trudging back up the hill in wet jeans and a sweater, Maggie felt nothing but light and happy. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had that much fun.
She and Josh made it to the mudroom off the back of the house and commented on how they were proving in that moment the reason for mudrooms.
Handing Josh a towel, she began to dry herself off as best she could.
“I actually have sand in my ear,” Josh said, rubbing a corner of the towel in his ear.
“I’m afraid I have sand in places I don’t even want to think about.” Maggie’s teeth chattered.
“On that note, I think I’ll go home and get myself washed up. I do believe my work here is done.”
“You intended to get me muddy and wet, was that the goal?”
“Nope. Just smiling. It’s a beautiful thing to see.” He kissed her cheek, handed her back the towel, and was out the door.
After a long, hot shower and with the warmth of Josh’s voice in her ears, Maggie took a book and curled up by the fire in the study. The letters stared at her from her mother’s desk, daring her to find out more. Josh was right. Her dad was gone and he had no power over her or how she lived her life. What she needed to do was clear. She just needed to summon the courage.