Over the next six months, Maggie began taking college courses to become a social worker. She had an undeniable urge to help people in need. At first, she joined her parents with the work they did with Rae Harker. But as time went on, Maggie felt she had an opportunity to help the children who were still on the streets and prostituting to stay alive.
Maggie began by spending more time on the streets of Kensington. Of course, there was still organized prostitution and drug dealing. Once Rock and his gang were arrested, it wasn’t long before others took over the various territories. Maggie sought out some of the underage prostitutes first and tried to convince them to return to their families, to get off the streets. Some actually listened, and with Colby’s help, they were placed back with their families. But others, who had no one in the world who cared about them, drew Maggie to Kensington day after day.
Maggie’s most satisfying moments were when she met with Max and Cali’s parents. She had made a pact with Max and Cali that one day, their parents would know everything, and she intended to fulfill her promise to them. Maggie took Ron and Juliet Frey with her to meet the two sets of parents. The only gift Maggie had to give them was information. It was a sad meeting, but at the parents’ request, she described the lives and deaths of Max, Cali, and later, Seth. Max and Cali’s parents had finally found closure, even though it was painful. Both couples were grateful to Maggie and the Freys for contacting them, and they vowed to stay in touch with Maggie.
Lorraine and Rob had bought Maggie a used car, and Colby had taught her how to drive so she could get back and forth to Kensington. Colby tagged along with Maggie two or three days a week “to help,” but it was really because he was concerned for her safety. It was no secret that Maggie had helped to bring Rock to his knees, and Colby feared that Rock would have someone on the outside harm her.
After almost nine months of school, working a part-time job, and talking to the people of Kensington, Maggie felt exhausted. She and Colby were sitting in the living room after Joey had fallen asleep one evening. Colby rubbed his hand down her leg. “You’re looking very beautiful tonight,” he said.
“Oh, I’m sure my T-shirt and baggy sweat pants are a real turn-on,” Maggie teased.
“I like my women dirty,” Colby said, brushing her ear with his tongue.
Maggie giggled. “I’m really tired. How about if we call it a night?”
Colby stood, gently grabbed Maggie’s hand, and led her into their bedroom. Maggie went into the adjoining bathroom to brush her teeth. She came back into the room, stretched her long arms, and growled out a loud yawn. Colby looked up from the bed, where he was sitting.
He stood and walked over to her. He put his muscular arms around her waist and pushed his groin toward her groin.
“I love you, Maggie,” he whispered in her ear.
Maggie guided him over to the bed and removed his boxers. She kissed his chest and slowly moved down his body until her plump lips caressed his penis, ever so softly and gently.
Colby reached down and pulled Maggie up until they were eye to eye. He put his lips on hers. Instinctively, they opened their mouths, and their tongues tangoed. Colby lay Maggie back on the bed and put his mouth over her right breast, and then he slowly bathed her body with his lips and tongue until they were both unable to hold out any longer. As Colby entered her, they were filled with a yearning and love for each other that was so intense it felt like the world had ended, and they were the only two people left.
When they finished making love, Colby went out into the kitchen and brought back a bottle of champagne and two glasses.
“Well, this is a little fancy. Don’t you think?” Maggie questioned, wondering why he’d decided on the expensive bottle of champagne that his parents had sent them when they moved in together.
Pretending to talk like a caveman, Colby grunted, “Nothing is too fancy for my woman.”
Before Maggie could come back with a funny comment of her own, Colby dropped to one knee and held a diamond ring out in one hand. He took her hand in his. “Maggie, will you marry me?”
Stunned into silence, Maggie sat and stared at Colby. She hadn’t thought about them getting married. He couldn’t want to make a wife out of a whore, she thought. Almost a minute had passed as Maggie sat silently, staring at Colby in disbelief.
“Um, you want to cut a brother a break, here? You’re making me really nervous,” Colby said.
Maggie’s eyes met his. “I love you, Colby…”
“But?” Colby pressed.
“But you come from a good family. A nice background, and I, well, you know where I come from, and believe me, you don’t know half the things I did with other men over the years. I’m just confused, and I want you to really think about this before you get into something you’ll regret,” Maggie explained.
“I will never regret loving you. Your past is something that was dealt to you, not something you did by choice. There’s a difference. You did what was required to stay alive so I could find you,” he said. “I’m not an idiot, Maggie. I know what I’m doing.”
Maggie smiled sweetly, and her eyes looked intensely blue in the warm lighting of the bedroom. “Are you really sure you know what you’re doing? Have you talked to your parents?”
“I’m a grown man, and I don’t need my parents’ permission. However, I did tell them I was going to ask you tonight,” Colby replied.
“And?”
“And they know all about you, even some of your past,” he said to put her at ease. “All they care about is that I’m happy. They trust me to make good decisions. They’re great people, and you’re going to love them.”
Maggie relaxed a little knowing that Colby’s parents were OK with him getting married. Then Colby gave her the rest of the information.
“I’ve already asked your father if I could marry you…he said yes. Your mom was pretty happy about it too, I might add. I mean, I am the most handsome, charming, remarkable man ever,” Colby sang.
“Yeah, and humble. You forgot to mention how humble you are,” Maggie teased.
“OK, let’s try this again,” Colby said.
He stood up, grabbed the glasses and champagne bottle, and walked out of the bedroom to the hallway. He turned on his heel and came back into the room. He dropped to one knee, holding out the diamond ring, and took her hand in his.
“Maggie, I love you. I don’t care what happened in your past because I’m marrying you to go with me into the future. Nothing you can say would change the love and admiration that I have for you. So…please, stop being a nudge and tell me, will you marry me?”
Maggie intentionally delayed answering. Then she ran her fingers through his thick hair. “Yes, I’ll marry you, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
They shared a prolonged kiss, and then Colby slid the diamond ring onto her finger. Maggie looked down at the ring. “This is beautiful. It’s so big. Does Joey know?” she asked.
“Who do you think helped me pick out the ring?” Colby said with a grin.
“That sneaky little rat,” Maggie sang.
Maggie cast her gaze down to the brilliant stone on her finger. Her life had changed so much over the last couple of years. So much happiness and an equal amount of sorrow, she thought. Then, like someone had slapped her across the face, she looked at Colby with urgency.
“What’s wrong?” Colby asked.
“Nothing…I’ve got to call Juju. She’s going to freak the hell out when I tell her this one,” Maggie sang as she skipped toward the phone.