Chapter Twenty-Four

Trig

I vowed to stay away from Wes and Jane’s home. No dinners. No playing ball with the boys and definitely no Maggie. As much as Wes pissed me off, he was right. Maggie was fragile. She needed to move past the charges against her and get on with her life. A life that didn’t include me.

So when Jane texted me, inviting me to come eat with them that evening, I turned her down. I was closing the shop, getting ready to head home. I texted her two simple words. Sorry. Busy.

Almost immediately, the phone rings. I don’t even bother checking who it is. I know it’s her, and she’s talking before I can get out a hello.

“I got good news and I got bad news.”

She sounds like her usual chipper self. I can hear the boys squabbling in the background and picture her standing in the living room gesturing for them to settle down.

“Which are you going to give me first?”

“Ha! Neither.”

Something crashes in the background and Jane gives a small, feminine growl. “Michael, give your brothers a popsicle and sit on the porch with them. I need just a moment to talk with your Uncle Trig.”

The boys cheer in response and a moment later it’s quiet except for Jane’s grumbling.

“I swear they wait till I’m on the phone to fight with each other. I think they time it perfectly.”

“So, what’s the good news?”

“Not telling. You need to come to dinner if you want to find out.”

“Wes wants me to stay away from Maggie.”

I expect a response from this little tidbit, like shock or indignation, but she doesn’t miss a beat.

“Oh, poo. You like Maggie. She likes you. In fact, that’s what Gwen I want to talk about.”

I flinch. The easy way she says the words makes me uncomfortable. Something prickles inside my chest. Gwen and Jane had been talking about me and Maggie, and for some reason that doesn’t sit well with me. I’m not sure why. Jane doesn’t sound upset, but she can’t be happy I was hugging Maggie the other day. The memory brings a wave of guilt. I agree to come for dinner because what choice do I have?

Instead of heading home I turn the truck the direction of Jane and Wes’s home and get there just after dark. Thomas meets me on the driveway with a fierce bear hug.

“The police were here today,” he says, his eyes shining with excitement.

My heart pounds. “What?”

He tells the story of how bad guys came and wanted to take Maggie. But he saved her by calling 911. The police came but Aunt Gwen made all of them go away.

I have no idea what he’s jabbering about, and I need to get to the bottom of this story. Now. He jogs beside me as I hurry up to the house.

“Is Maggie here?” I ask him.

“Yup. I wouldn’t let them take her. I called the police. Did you hear my story?”

“I did, buddy. I did. I’m proud of you.”

Inside, everyone sits at the table. I breathe a sigh of relief to see Maggie sitting in her usual spot, across from me. I stare at her, silently questioning her about what happened, but she just shakes her head and looks away. Jane serves dinner. Wes says grace, and everyone eats, but no one is talking about police or bad guys. I’m starting to wonder if Thomas made up the whole thing.

I’m not sure what to say, so I don’t say anything, but it makes me worry Maggie’s in more trouble. I barely taste my food. Maggie’s barely touching her dinner. When the boys finish, Jane tells them to go watch cartoons and I sense an immediate shift in the air.

Wes frowns. Gwen looks pensive. Jane smiles at me and Maggie’s avoiding my gaze.

“Thomas said the police were here,” I say quietly.

Gwen draws a deep sigh before beginning. “Thomas called them when Immigration came to pay Maggie a visit.”

I glance at Jane. “Is that the bad news?”

She shakes her head. “Neither, actually. The bad news is they have other charges against Maggie, from a few years back.”

My chest tightens. “Oh?”

“Two truancy charges,” Gwen says. “They’re from the months following her mother’s death.”

Maggie wipes her eyes, but says nothing. I’ve never seen her cry. Ever.

“Did you say there’d be some good news?”

“The liquor store will probably drop charges,” Gwen says. “But the judge will still see the arrest record and the old truancy charges. I know the judge and he’ll toss her out if he can.”

Shit.

“We want you to come to court and testify that Maggie did a good job at the garage. We need character witnesses to say she’s basically a good citizen.”

Maggie draws a sharp breath. “Basically?”

When I first heard that Maggie might be deported, I didn’t believe it could really happen. Wasn’t deportation for people who’d done seriously bad shit? Maggie was just a teenager and a smart, hard-working college student. How could they justify kicking her out?

I know I need to stay away from her, but I don’t want her to be that far away. Ireland. Jesus. She doesn’t even know anyone there. How could she manage all on her own in strange country? Panic twists inside me.

I can’t lose her.

“Why don’t I just marry her?” I say the words without thinking.

“What the hell, Trig?” Wes growls. “How is that going to look?”

“Why don’t you quit worrying so much about appearances?” I shoot back. “Her life is seriously going to be fucked up if they toss her out of the country.”

Maggie’s staring at me, not saying a word. Her eyes are wide, unblinking and I’m not sure if she’s even breathing.

“Chill out, Maggie,” I say to her. “We need to get serious about this. I’m not going to be a fucking character witness. Not if they’re talking deportation. We need to amp up our game a little. We need to come out swinging. Land the first punch.”

The last part I direct at Gwen. I know she’s trying to help but she’s nowhere near as committed to Maggie as I am.

“I’m not comfortable with this,” Gwen says. “This feels a little like immigration fraud. If they suspect that, they’ll boot her and maybe prosecute you.”

I’m feeling strangely exhilarated. “Let them try.”

Maggie’s still staring at me, but her color’s a little better. At least she’s not going to do a face plant at the prospect of marrying me. I can see why she’s shocked. I’m a little shocked too, but I’m also pleased. I like the idea. A lot.

“She can just keep living here,” I say. “Nothing needs to change.”

Wes narrows his eyes. “We’re talking about some sort of arrangement, right?”

“Obviously, Wes. It’s an arrangement that we’ll keep for whatever amount of time for Maggie to get citizenship.”

Jane sighs, a goofy smile on her lips. “I think it’s brilliant. They wouldn’t separate a young couple just starting their lives together.”

“They’d have no trouble separating a young couple,” Gwen says sharply. “Especially if it looks like an arrangement.”

Maggie throws her hands up in the air. “Great! How about I show up in court with a baby bump! Would that help?”

Wes gets up from the table with a huff. He drags his hand through his hair and paces around the dining room. “This is ridiculous! We can’t marry off a nineteen-year-old girl.”

“Especially since I haven’t agreed to anything.” Maggie’s voice is shrill. She grips the edge of the table and looks at each of us in turn.

“Could this work?” I ask Gwen.

“As a lawyer, I have to tell you this is reckless.”

Sometimes I forget she is, in fact, a lawyer. Naturally she wants to cover her own ass. In spite of that I can see something in her eyes and her lips tilt upward with the hint of a smile.

“But?”

“It helps that you have money, because no one’s going to suggest you’re doing this to profit.”

“I’m doing this so they don’t put Maggie on a plane.”

“Fuck my life,” Maggie mutters.

Wes returns to the table, glancing down at his phone. “The courthouse has a twenty-four-hour waiting period, but I know a few folks down there. They might waive that.”

I’m surprised he’s looking into any of the details. He’s had a change of heart. I guess he’s decided to set aside his love of appearances. Now all I need to do is convince Maggie. She’s glowering at me, like she’s daring me to pop the question.

“Let me do this.” I whisper the words.

It feels like it’s just me and her sitting here, even though I know everyone’s staring at the two of us, each of them thinking something wildly different. Wes is trying to keep from freaking out. Gwen’s probably wondering if she’s making a terrible mistake. Meanwhile Jane’s wishing she could slip away and look at bouquet ideas on Pinterest.

“Nothing will change, Maggie.”

Her jaw trembles and she swallows hard. I wish I could pull her into my arms and tell her everything’s going to be all right. The fragile look in her eyes makes my heart twist. I want to fix everything for her.

Every damn thing.

“For how long?” she whispers.

“However long it takes.”

“Why, Trig? Why are you doing this for me?”

“Same reason I do anything for you. I care about you.”

She flinches, like I just said something shitty and she looks away quickly. “Aren’t you seeing someone?”

“No.” I’m taken aback not only by the question but the wounded note in her voice. “I haven’t in a long time.” Not since I met you. I leave that part off.

Her pain vanishes and doubt takes its place. She doesn’t believe me. Why that is, I can’t understand and I’ll need to get to the bottom of that. Maybe Wes said something to her about my past. I wouldn’t put it past him. He was worried I was going to lead her astray. Too bad. She’s mine now.

“You need to make a decision,” I tell her.

She shrugs a shoulder. “All right.”

Jane’s eyes shine. “I suppose I better get busy if we’re having a wedding.”

“It’s not going to be a big deal,” Maggie says. “We’re not having flowers and cake and dresses.”

“Of course we are,” Jane counters. “We’re taking pictures. Putting them in album. We have to look credible.”

“I’ll pay for everything.” I tell them. “All of it. Whatever Maggie wants.”

Maggie’s jaw drops.

Jane and Gwen start talking, jabbering about flowers and Jane’s old dress. Would it fit? Where could they find one in a day’s time? They complain that they can’t throw a reception. Or can they? The debate swirls while Maggie sits, quiet, stunned. Wes wanders off to check on the boys. A surge of adrenalin hits my bloodstream.

I need a suit. Damn. I’m getting married. If I’d known things would go this way, I’d have bought something new. I’m as surprised as Maggie, but I’m pleased too. I’ve never wanted a steady girl-friend, much less a wife. Maybe that was because I never imagined I could have Maggie. It’s just make believe, but it’s still a connection I have with her. A bond. We’ll have a pretend marriage, even though everything I feel for Maggie is one-hundred-percent real.

“Well, ladies, I’m going to head home. Think I need to see if I have a decent suit or something.”

Jane beams at me. “Wear that charcoal grey suit. That’s my favorite. Oh, that reminds me, we’ll need a boutonniere.

I turn to leave, gently tugging a coppery strand of Maggie’s hair as I pass her chair.