“He’s here with me,” she declared, staring the old woman down.
“That doesn’t surprise me one little bit. Filth gathers.” Mrs. Bouchard made no attempt to sugar coat her opinion. “Well, just because Agnes Devereaux has decided to bring a whore and a convict to our town does not mean I’m just going to sit by and let them influence my poor, innocent grandson.”
“Grandmother, please.” One of the boys from the band looked completely embarrassed by the scene that she was causing. Several people nearby had stopped to stare. Maggie and Aaron were still speechless, not sure how to handle the old woman.
“It’s lovely to see you too, Mrs. Bouchard!” Andi practically shouted at the woman as she stepped between her and Maggie. “Wonderful night for a barbeque isn’t it?” She spoke to her as if she was very hard of hearing, and Maggie suspected that the woman’s hearing was just fine. She’d seen Andi use this tactic before to thwart the old woman’s venomous ranting. It seemed to work, if only for a minute. Mrs. Bouchard sputtered as Andi led her away from the group, continuing to talk very loudly about the food and fireworks and acting as if the woman hadn’t said anything unpleasant.
“I should go,” Aaron said quietly.
“Please stay,” Maggie said. “I was hoping we could watch the fireworks together.”
Aaron met Maggie’s gaze. She could see the longing in his eyes and the sadness. “I was too,” he practically whispered. Then he turned and walked away.
9
“I’m sorry about tonight,” Andi said as they pulled into the driveway. “Mrs. Bouchard is just a crazy old witch. You can’t pay her any mind.”
“It wasn’t just her,” Maggie admitted. “I saw the way people looked at him. It’s not fair, they don’t even know him.”
“It’s a small town,” Andi replied as if that was explanation enough. Maggie was beginning to think that this “small town” wasn’t for her after all, but that thought just led to the question that had been hanging over her head since she started this journey. What next? She was too overwhelmed to tackle that question right now, so she once again just pushed it to the side.
“I wish you would’ve stayed for the fireworks,” Andi added after a few minutes of silence.
“I just wasn’t in the mood anymore,” Maggie replied. Andi nodded her understanding. They pulled up to the house and saw Aaron’s truck parked in the driveway. Maggie’s spirits immediately lifted.
“Is that his truck?” Andi asked.
“Yes.” Maggie was smiling as she reached for the car door handle.
“Do you want me to stay?” Andi asked, sounding concerned.
“No, thanks for the ride.” Maggie said as she jumped out of the car and closed the door before her friend could respond. She walked up to the porch with a racing heart.
As Andi pulled away the headlights flashed across the front of the house and for a brief moment Maggie could see Aaron’s silhouette sitting in a rocking chair, but then the lights were gone and he was once again shrouded in darkness. Maggie climbed the steps slowly. Her heart was racing and she wanted to run to him in her nervous excitement but she wasn’t sure which Aaron she would find, the playful flirt, or the sad man who had come to once again warn her away. She stopped when she reached the top of the steps and waited.
“I just wanted to make sure you made it home safe.” His tone was somber. Her heart fell a little. She heard the porch creak as he took a few steps in her direction. The night was dark; there was no moon. She felt him approach and saw when he was close. She reached out and grasped his wrist.
“Please stay.” The whispered plea was the same one she’d made at the barbeque, but the implication this time was so much more. She heard his rapid intake of breath. She held her own waiting for his response.
“The fireworks will be starting soon,” she added. “We should be able to see them from my balcony.” She let her hand slip from his wrist to his palm and wove her fingers through his. “Stay,” she whispered again, stepping closer so that her chest pressed against his.
“For the fireworks?” his voice was strained.
“For me.” She could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He leaned his forehead down against hers.
“I should go,” he said reluctantly.
“But do you want to?” she challenged.
“No,” he conceded. “I keep telling myself I need to stay away from you. But it doesn’t seem I can.”
She smiled and turned from him, pulling him by the hand into the house.
They crossed through the first floor without turning on a single light. She led him up the stairs to her room. Neither of them said a word. She passed the bed without looking at it, but was overwhelmingly aware of its presence. They stepped out onto the balcony as the first firework exploded in the distance.