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They chatted in a group, and then he picked Maggie out. “Can I speak to you in private?”
Frowning, she wondered what was going on.
“Of course,” she said, following him away from the group.
“I have a message for you, dear. Justin was up at the clinic all night. We had an emergency, and he just came in a bit ago. He’s asking if you’d mind if he came later this afternoon.”
Fighting disappointment, Maggie knew to say anything butthat’s finewould be totally unreasonable. The man was a doctor, he had emergencies, and she’d better get used to it. But she had a question.
“No, that’s perfectly fine. But I’m curious. Why didn’t he get in touch himself?”
“Our internet and cell service went by the wayside last night and was still out this morning. Of course he wanted to call your cell from the landline, but for some reason he couldn’t access his contacts. He tried calling the landline, but there was no answer, so you must have left already.”
She thought of that ringing phone as she’d lugged everything to the boat.
“What’s your landline number and I’ll call him now.”
She got out her phone and he rattled off a number.
“Thank you for understanding. Now I’m going to go flirt with your mother.”
Maggie laughed, happy that such a handsome successful man was interested in her mom. Some of the men from the bar at the VFW in Pensacola who had tried wooing her were a little sketchy.
She went to a corner and called the landline at the Chastain residence. A tired-sounding Justin answered.
“It’s Maggie. I just talked to your father.”
“I’m so sorry. I feel like I keep doing one thing after another to disappoint you.”
“Justin, no. It’s fine. You’re going to have emergencies. This silly party is getting on my nerves, and that’s probably wrong of me, but I can’t help it. I’d rather be home, too. As a matter of fact, I might take my dog and leave for Bayou Cottage in a bit.”
“I have an idea,” he said. “Give me a minute to figure it out. And you don’t have to agree to it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Just wait, okay? I’m going to hang up but will be in touch in a minute or two. I see your number on caller ID, so I can call you back.”
“All right,” she said doubtfully. She felt like everyone was double-talking. “I’ll talk to you later.”
She rejoined the party, mingling and trying not to choke to death on small talk, which she hated with a passion, but it seemed like she’d had more of it than ever before since moving to the cottage. After ten minutes, Dr. Chastain approached her.
“Miss Angel, I’m to give you the keys to my car and directions to our home. My son asked that you join him there.”
“Oh, he did, did he?” she asked, laughing out loud. “I don’t think I’ll be missed if me and my dog leave, do you?”
He looked around at the party of old people and laughed with her. “No, I think you’re safe. And while I have you here with me, what would you think about me dating your mother?”
“It would be fine if she wants it. She lives a little far away,” Maggie said, thinking of her wonderful father and how happy he’d be to know Rose was finally going to have companionship again. “I’m all for it, Doctor.”
“Call me Vic,” he said, handing over his keys.
She looked and saw the stylized silver B on the leather fob. “A Bentley? Ah, no way. I have a puppy with me,” she said, picking up Brulee.
“I know that. It’s my fault you have that dog. I told Justin to find them homes or else.”
She laughed, knowing he was an animal lover.
“It’s easy to get to our place,” he said, smiling. “When you pull away from the curb, make the first left, then a right, go five miles on Moultrie, and it’s the last house on the left side of Moultrie Avenue.”
