15

 

“C’mon Maggie, it’s only dinner and a movie.”

“No, Vera, I told you. I don’t date.” When would Vera give up? Maggie didn’t want to be introduced to Vera’s latest boyfriend’s best friend, brother, or cousin but after two months, she still wasn’t getting the message.

“That’s right. What you do is fall in love.” Vera turned the sign from “closed” to “open” and then faced Maggie with arms crossed.

No argument there. Maggie didn’t date, but she hadn’t done such a great job of guarding her heart after all. But the man had lived practically next door, and once she’d gotten to know him, her heart didn’t stand a chance. No matter. She wouldn’t make that mistake again. “All right. Point taken. Which is why I’m definitely for sure not going to date. Why take any more chances?”

She hadn’t seen Jack again before he’d left. He’d obviously taken quite literally her request, her only knowledge that he’d gone being a brand new basketball he’d left for Lexi on their doorstep. A short note inside the package stated only that he hoped someday they could be friends again.

Maggie did hope so.

Her life had now settled into a peaceful, if somewhat lonely, routine. No more trouble with Lexi, thank God. No more teachers calling, and no more stealing. Who would have thought that facing her greatest fear would bring about the change they both needed?

Richard and Paula were allies now, not enemies. Lexi visited with them every other weekend, and even if boundaries were occasionally crossed, Maggie could tell that Richard was trying. In a rare and uncharacteristic moment of generosity, he offered to pay for Lexi’s tuition to the college of her choice.

“Why take chances? How about because you’re alive? Don’t you want to feel the rush of being in love again? There’s plenty of fish in the sea.” Vera moved behind the counter and started to clean the espresso machine.

Plenty of fish in the sea. Yes, but none of them were Jack. And no, she didn’t want to feel that way again, thank you very much. Having one’s heart ripped out seam by seam was not pleasant or beautiful, no matter what the poets said.

Maggie turned toward Vera. “When I’m ready, you’ll be the first to know it.”

“I hope it’s not too late by then.” Vera glanced up from the espresso machine but then stared at something over Maggie’s shoulder. Vera’s eyes widened a bit, making Maggie turn around to find out which customer had caused such a reaction.

Jack.

Heavens, he was like a GQ dream, dressed in a white button up Henley and jeans. Had he ever looked this good before? The perpetually crinkled forehead appeared relaxed for a change. His eyes no longer reflected despair, but instead simmered with something like…hope?

Maggie couldn’t move, and only did so when Vera sidled up next to her and elbowed her. Hard. “Ahem. We have a customer.”

“Right. Hi. Hello. I mean, welcome back. What will it be, the usual? Of course, you’ll have the usual. Americano, Vera.” She turned to shout the order to Vera, who unfortunately still stood only inches from her.

Vera winced and rubbed her ear. “Got it.”

Jack smiled. “An Americano would be great, but what I’d really like is fifteen minutes with my favorite barista.”

“I’m busy working. Unless you didn’t mean me.” She threw a glance in Vera’s direction, whose forehead wrinkled in confusion.

“I did mean you, Maggie.”

Of course he did. Maybe she was having some kind of a stroke. She didn’t seem to be putting two and two together at the moment, but that might be because her heart was beating in time to a heavy drum solo.

Vera came up behind Maggie again, practically shoving her from behind the counter. “The boss says you can take a break.”

Maggie found herself inches from Jack now, the messy apron she wore a reminder of the first time she’d ever laid eyes on Jack Butler.

This time she remembered to remove her apron as she led him to a table near the back. Hands shaking, she pulled out a chair and sat down. Jack wanted to talk. The last time they’d talked, it was to say good-bye. He hadn’t loved her enough to stay, so what was he doing back now?

She folded her hands in front of her. “So. What do you want to talk about?”

“I’ve missed you, Maggie.” He smiled, taking her hands in his own.

Her hands unclasped and went willingly with him. The traitors. “What are you doing here?”

“You’re mad.”

“That’s beside the point. Are you going to answer the question or what?”

“All right, that’s fair. I’m here because I’m back to stay. I got my old job back, too. Calhoun left a spot open for me. I guess he knew even before I did that I’d be right back. Maybe because he saw the way I feel about you.” His warm eyes were simmering with desire.

Maggie’s breath hitched. Her poor old heart couldn’t go there again. “But you left. I can’t go through that again. Remember, Jack, I have a daughter and everything I do affects her, too.”

“I know. It’s why I had to go away and make sure I could be the kind of man you need, the kind of leader in the home that you and Lexi both deserve. I’ll be honest. I didn’t think I could be. You deserve so much better than me, but I want to know if you’d at least give me a chance to prove that I can be that man. I can take care of you and Lexi.”

Her resolve melted. Not a surprise because this was Jack after all, but how could she risk her heart again? “You’ve changed, somehow. And it isn’t just the beard.”

“Do you like it?” He rubbed his chin, smiling. “It doesn’t have to stay. I’ll leave that up to you.”

As it so happened, she thought the beard made him heart-melting handsome, not that he required any help. “I like it.”

“The real difference is inside, Maggie.” He let go of her hands and touched his hand to his chest. “Now I’ve forgiven myself, because Christ first forgave me. To do anything less than what He’d do is just stupid.”

That was the difference in him, and no wonder. Jack had finally come back to God, to the place where he belonged.

Maggie swallowed the sob of emotion in her throat. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I finally understand why my grandfather forced me to church all those years ago. Going wasn’t a chore to him, it was a privilege. All he wanted was for me to find that joy, too, and though it took me a long time, I finally have. And it’s because of you.”

“Would you kiss her already?”

Maggie turned to see a smiling Ryan standing near the counter with Vera. He’d come in when Maggie wasn’t paying attention, or maybe while her heart beat so loudly in her eardrums all other sounds had faded to the background.

Jack stood. “Give me a minute. I have to do one thing first.” He knelt beside Maggie’s chair. “Before I left, I told you I loved you. And I meant it. Will you marry me, Maggie?”

Her lips quivered so that she didn’t think she could formulate a response as she stared into the eyes of the man she loved more than she’d ever thought possible. “Yes,” she said before he could change his mind. “I love you. With all my heart.”

Then Jack kissed her, more passionately than he ever had before, as though he’d left behind all the ghosts of the past. He was hers now, completely. “She said yes, in case you missed that,” Jack shouted to Ryan.

Yes. Yes to a great love again, for the second time in her life. Yes to second chances, yes to loving without holding back, and yes to the God who graced her with more happiness than she could ever deserve.