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“You know, a backwater.”
“Annie, Annie, Annie,” Maggie said, shaking her head in exasperation.
“I mean it in a nice way. There’s nothing here.”
“I’mhere,” Steve said. “You could have moved here for me, because this is where my work is.”
“I know, but with the baby, it’s necessary for me to move, do you see what I mean? I never could have done it without a really pressing excuse.”
The discussion had given Maggie and Justin a lot to talk about. They were trailblazing a new kind of relationship for them both. Although Justin had never been married, “In spite of his advanced age,” he’d said, he had been in a serious relationship, and living apart had never been an option in their minds. They’d ended up breaking it off before they moved in together, but it was just the way couples evolved. They dated for a while, and then if they were serious about each other, they moved in together.
Maggie had had all the red flags not to marry Russ, but she did it anyway, thinking love could conquer all. But what it couldn’t conquer was deceit. So she was taking this time living alone to learn about herself.
What was it about Maggie that made it so easy for her to ignore all the signs of serious problems with Russ? Claudia was even in Tortola, staying at a neighboring resort, while Russ and Maggie were on their honeymoon. Russ had arranged for lavish spa days for his bride, and he’d escape to see Claudia. Or he’d leave the room after she fell asleep, often after he’d had sex with her, and go to Claudia. It was a morsel that Claudia couldn’t wait to share with mutual friends, and it eventually got back to Maggie.
She didn’t need that information to finally wise up and leave, however. The day before their honeymoon ended, she somehow had been added to a text message to Russ from Claudia, and he was either too drunk or too preoccupied to notice her number, at least at first. He was in the bathroom and she was out in the living area of their suite. Dinner had just arrived, piles of fresh seafood, cold champagne, a salad to die for. All her angst about his behavior at the wedding had vanished. He’d more than made up for it, and furthermore, she believed his story that her aunt had failed to tell her that he was fighting Claudia off. The reception had been ruined for her, but the honeymoon was wonderful, until…
I’m having a fabulous time in Tortola! Next time, let’s go without your wife.
It took her a minute to figure out what she was reading, too, so she couldn’t blame Russ for being a dunce. It was clear she’d been added intentionally.
She sat on the bed, her phone in her hands. He came out of the bathroom, sincerely shocked.
“I’m obviously leaving tonight,” she said.
“You can’t leave now. It’s nine at night.”
“Oh, I’m leaving. First though, I’m going to apologize to my aunt for calling her a liar. Then I’ll send this text to Randy. He’s going to be my lawyer, by the way. Get your own.
“You can ask that whore to spend your last night together, or extend your vacation without the old ball and chain. I don’t get it, but oh well. Please leave so I can pack in peace.”
“Can I just explain?”
“No. I don’t care,” she said, getting up to pack.
She called the desk to see if there was anyone who could help her pack up, and that was enough embarrassment for Russ, so he left. It was such a relief! She couldn’t wait to get out of there. The concierge would arrange for a car, make reservations at the airport hotel, and get her a flight out separate from Russ’s. She told anyone who would listen:My husband brought his mistress on our honeymoon.
Amazingly, there was a red-eye to Miami. She’d have plenty of time to pack, get to the airport, and get through security. By eleven, she was in her seat, crying over the phone to her aunt, waiting to take off. She’d spend the night in Miami and get a flight up to Jacksonville in the morning.
The first order of business was getting out of her townhouse as fast as possible. She didn’t want there to be any chance of running into the happy couple. She filled her car up with as much as it would hold, locked up her house, and headed to Rose’s townhouse in Pensacola. The next day, they’d go back with a U-Haul and get all they could manage out, staging it for Randy’s friend Fritz to list and sell.
And the rest was history.
Her life had become, in just a couple of months, a few short weeks, everything that she’d dreamt of. Standing next to Annie as she said her beautiful vows to Steve, Maggie glanced up at Justin and winked.
“I promise to love you forever, to support you through life, to be there for you during the good times and the difficult times. You’re the love of my life.”
Everyone chorused, “Aw,” as she threaded the ring on his finger.
When the minister pronounced them man and wife, Maggie became a little choked up. Her best friend was a married woman and would soon be a mother. Her life would be changed forever by the ceremony.
Val and Aunt Elizabeth had a little cake and champagne reception for them at the Broussard mansion, and then later on Alfonso was having a big barbeque at their house on the outskirts of town.
“I guess we have to go,” Justin said.
Maggie looked at him sidelong. “If it’s possible, you may be more antisocial than I am. I’m the maid of honor. I have to go.”
“Oh, right,” he said. “How long do you think this is going to last?”
