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Chapter Forty-nine
It’s closing in on six o’clockand Maggie is doing a final check of the day’s receipts when she hears footsteps behind her and feels Nadine at her back. “Busy day,” Nadine remarks. “I’m pooped.”
“When you’re good, word gets around,” Maggie says with a smile, recalling one of the first things Nadine ever said to her.
They watch Jerome cleaning up his station and preparing to leave. “You like working here?” Nadine asks Maggie.
“I do.”
“But you’re not going to stay.” Nadine says this without anger or recrimination. “At least not for long.”
Maggie is about to protest when Nadine stops her.
“It’s okay. I knew when I hired you that you wouldn’t be here more than six months, tops. That’s the problem with hiring smart people. They catch on quick, do a great job, get bored, then leave. And you are by far the smartest receptionist I’ve ever had, so I knew from the start that it was only a matter of time.”
“Well, I’m not leaving yet,” Maggie says.
“Thank God for that. But when you do, I just ask that you give me a little notice. Don’t you go eloping on me.”
Maggie laughs. “I don’t think there’s any chance of that.”
“You never know. You’re smartandyou’re beautiful. And not all men are as stupid as your husband.”
“Craig’s not stupid.”
“He is if he lets you get away.”
“Okay, I’m out of here,” Jerome says. “See you tomorrow. Have a good night, everyone.”
“You, too,” Maggie says as Nadine waves him out the door.
“So, what are your plans for the evening?” Nadine asks.
“Well, it’s Wednesday, so Craig’s taking the kids for dinner, and I signed up for this stupid gym membership, so maybe I’ll take a class….”
“Ooh. Be still, my heart.”
Maggie grabs her purse from behind the reception counter and slings it across her shoulder, something that’s much easier to do now that it’s no longer weighted down by her gun. “See you tomorrow.”
“Don’t strain anything.”
“I’ll try not to,” Maggie says, deciding to stop at Starbucks for something sweet before heading home.
She sees Richard Atwood even before she reaches the door. He’s sitting at a table near the window talking to a young woman with waist-length brown hair. She watches as the woman throws her head back to laugh at something the handsome accountant has said and sees her hand reach across the table to cover his.
“You go, girl,” Maggie says, doing a quick turnaround and heading directly to her car. She pulls out her phone and punches in Dani Wilson’s number.
Dani answers on the second ring. “Maggie?” she whispers, having obviously glanced at her caller ID. “Is there a problem?”
“No problem. Why are you whispering?”
“Didn’t realize I was,” Dani says, although her voice remains barely audible.
“I was thinking of going to the gym, and I know you said it wasn’t exactly your thing, but I thought I’d ask anyway….”
“Well, bless your heart. That’s real sweet of you, but…”
“Is that call for me?” Maggie hears Nick ask.
