“Understood,” Kevin muttered, raising his head and his eyes meeting Maggie’s.
Maggie stood. "Goodbye, Kevin," she said.
Kevin didn’t answer her, he just gave a nod. When they walked to the door of his office, he stayed exactly where he was, watching them go.
The receptionist looked up as they passed her desk. Maggie gave her a small, polite nod. Michael held the front door open. Maggie walked out into the warm late-afternoon Sanibel sun with the leather folder, with Michael right behind her, carrying the leather folder under his arm. Inside that folder was the signed end of two of the worst years of her life.
Maggie didn’t speak until they were on the sidewalk. Then she turned to him. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears, and thelook of relief on her face made him want to pull her to him and hold her.
"Michael," Maggie said. “Thank you so much.”
“I told you we’d get the divorce signed.” Michael smiled.
"Well, I think that deserves a coffee,” Maggie told him. “My treat. And I just so happen to know a vendor not too far from here that makes an excellent brew.” She smiled shyly at him. “Maybe we can sit on the bench overlooking the sea and have a celebratory coffee.” She blew out a breath. “I can’t believe that’s over.” She raised her brows. “Or how truly impressive attorney Michael Heart really is.” She gave a shake of her head. “That was so cutthroat.”
“It had to be done,” Michael assured her. “Men like Kevin are quite happy to let things drag on until they get exactly what they want.”
The coffee vendor was a small wooden cart tucked under a striped awning on the corner of the bay road, run by an old fisherman Maggie had known since she was a girl. He smiled when he saw her, made the two coffees without asking what they wanted, and waved her off when she tried to pay.
"On the house today, Maggie," he told her. "You look like a woman who just won the lottery."
"Oh, Joe, it's something much better than the lottery,” Maggie answered joyfully. “Kevin finally signed the divorce papers.”
"Wonderful news, Maggie,” Joe said, delighted. “Now the coffee is definitely on the house.”
Michael and Maggie carried the coffees down the path to the wooden bench overlooking the small public beach. Maggie satwith Michael close beside her. The late afternoon sun was beginning to soften over the water, and the gulls were calling from above. Neither of them spoke for a long moment as they sat sipping their coffees and going over the events of the day.
“Michael, you have no idea what you did for me today,” Maggie told him, turning to look at him. “This is going to change my life and has lifted this heavy weight from my shoulders.”
“I’m glad I could help you, Maggie,” Michael told her, his eyes holding hers. “You know I’m always here for you.”
They finished their coffee and knew it was time to head back to Sweet Blossom Bay. They stood up at the same time. Their shoulders brushed, and they turned to stare at each other. Michael took a step forward, and so did Maggie. The next thing he knew, Michael had reached out and cupped her chin in his hands.
“Maggie,” he groaned right before his lips crushed hers.
Her hands gripped his shirt and tightened as she kissed him back, and the bay fell away around them. There was no one else in the world at the moment except for them. Michael had no idea how long their kiss lasted, but when they finally pulled apart, he didn’t let her go.
He rested his forehead against hers and drew her into the circle of his arms.
"Maggie," Michael said softly. "I have wanted to do that for so long.”
“I’ve wanted you to kiss me since…” Maggie swallowed. “Since our last kiss at the bonfire on my prom night.”
“Me too,” Michael admitted. “I have loved you for a lifetime, Maggie, and while I don’t want us to rush this, I can tell you that I’m going to love you for the rest of my life.”
"I have loved you for so long, Michael," Maggie said quietly.
He drew back slightly and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"I want to be careful with this," Michael told her. "I don’t want to rush into anything.”
“I agree,” Maggie told him. “We’ve waited forty years, and now that we’ve finally confessed our feelings, we have time.”
“I’m glad you agree with me," Michael said with a smile. "Because I decided yesterday afternoon, while I was working with Tom at the bakery, that I’m moving home. Permanently. I’m winding down the Miami practice. I want to be here. In Sweet Blossom Bay."
Maggie's whole face lit up.
"Michael," Maggie breathed. “That’s fantastic news.” He kissed her forehead. “I guess we should be heading home.”
