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Oh, Josh, can we really do this? I would love a break,” called Maggie. She took the coffee carafe and poured two cups of coffee, adding sugar and a healthy portion of International Delight-Caramel Macchiato coffee creamer to hers.
“Coffee’s ready,” she said, as she carried them into the bedroom. She put his on the counter and took a sip of her own.
She finished getting ready for work, making the bed and picking up the few things scattered about the bedroom of the small condo she shared with her boyfriend, Josh Beaumont.
“It would be great to go to Florida. Just think; warm weather, sunshine, beaches, and mojitos every evening.”
“Sure we can,” replied Josh, checking his reflection in the mirror and straightening his collar. "My parents would love to have us.”
Josh had delighted Maggie - or Mary Margaret McDonald is what the plaque on her desk at work read - by suggesting the trip down to his parents’ place in Sarasota for a week. The couple has not had a vacation while Josh was in college and money was still tight. The student loans would take years to repay, but with his new job and her salary they would be relatively comfortable.
They turned out the light, took their coffee and moved into the small kitchen.
"I am looking forward to seeing you in that little bikini," Josh said.
"That sounds risqué," she replied and cocked one eyebrow.
"I only meant you have a fantastic figure, but now that you mentioned it, it is a little bikini.
"Oh, stop." She smiled and turned away. Maggie was attractive, and at five foot seven, with dark auburn hair and blue eyes she turned the heads of men wherever she went. Josh counted himself lucky, and it helped that he didn't have a jealous bone in his body.
“What are you thinking, Josh? You're positively leering at me.”
“I just thought we might reenact the beach scene in the movie ‘From Here to Eternity,” he said, waggling his eyebrows Groucho Marx-style.
“You get me to Florida, and we just might do that,” she exclaimed, throwing the dishtowel at him.
Josh had recently passed his bar exam, and there would be a few weeks before he started his new job. This trip would be a celebration and a little break before he began as an associate with the firm of Bates & Dunlop in Atlanta. Her career was Sales Analyst with First Federal Savings and Loan.
They had met when he went into her bank to open a checking account. It was an instant attraction. That was three years ago, and they were thrilled sharing the small - economical - condo on Peach Tree Street. It would not have been so comfortable if not for the fine restaurants and lounges nearby. Even the historic Fox Theater was within walking distance.
With some wheedling, Maggie was able to rearrange her work schedule. Mr. Ambrose, her boss, had finally granted her the time off. “You know, Maggie, you’d better come back. You’ve been with us quite a few years now, and you've worked your way up the ladder." He used both hands to remove his glasses and held them to the light. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and polished the lenses. "Why, I remember when you started here. It was after high school and before you took those night classes at the college. Mr. Higgins, from the home office, was very impressed with you when he made his quarterly visit.” Ambrose inspected the lenses again. Satisfied, he put them back on adjusting each arm of the thin wire frames. “We think that with a few more courses you would be eligible for another promotion.”
“I appreciate the compliment, and I will be back... don’t you worry,” she replied, with a natural smile.
When Maggie got home, she and Josh began packing.
"I can't believe we got such a reasonable flight on such short notice," he said as he tossed his leather ditty bag onto the baggage.
"We can chalk that up to your detail-oriented, a matter of fact, no-nonsense, type-A personality, my dear Rhett," she said in a soft Southern drawl as she added their bathing suits to the pile in the suitcase.
"Why, Miss Scarlett, what about my manly charm and the charismatic influence that I have on women?" he asked with a mock drawl sounding more like Kentucky than the Old South.
She burst into laughter, and kissed him on the cheek. "If you ever thought of taking up acting... Don't!"
It was a mad dash to ATL through Friday evening traffic. When they finally made it to the airport, Josh handed the cab driver an extra fiver since he'd made almost every light in route. Maggie hurried off to get in line at the baggage counter while Josh hurried to keep up. It was a case of 'hurry up - wait' avoiding collisions and dodging other travelers all rushing in different directions. They made it to the gate just as the overhead voice announced their departing flight.
"I'm exhausted," Maggie said with a sigh. She took the center seat as Josh stashed their carry-on into the overhead storage compartment before sliding into the aisle seat. "Airports exhaust me." She fumbled with the seatbelt, and it finally clicked in place.
"Why don't you close your eyes and get a nap. We've got a short two hours before we land."
"Baby, you're the greatest..."
When Josh would later relate this experience to friends, he would swear that she was asleep before she even finished the sentence.
