She gasped. Without another word, she grabbed the dress and scampered to the bathroom. Minolo’s was the Italian restaurant Maggie had wanted to try for months after a five-star review from one of her clients. Problem was, it was always booked out weeks in advance, and we never knew when exactly our workdays ended. As it turned out, one of my clients, whose horses I managed, was close friends with the owner. It helped having some strings here in Golden Meadow. Even though he did me a favor, I would’ve spent any amount on getting my wife the best for her day.
“So…” Lina kicked her foot forward and stared at the ground. She spoke quietly. “Is the operation going smoothly?”
I chuckled, matching her volume. “The operation?”
“Yes,the operation.” She mimicked my low tone of voice. “This is a very intricate plan involving someone else’s life without their knowledge. I think that constitutes using the term ‘operation.’”
Shaking my head to mute my laughter, I looked her in the eye. “It’s a go.” She chuckled. “The other operatives are there getting everything else in shape.”
Lina saluted.
“Felix should be there soon to help. The caterers are coming in about thirty minutes.”
Now, any playfulness in her expression was gone, replaced with a grimace. “Okay.”
“What is that?”
“What is what?”
“You did that when Alvita brought his name up the other day. Do you have something against him?” I asked out of genuine curiosity, though I wouldn’t hold it against her if she thought poorly of him. It wasn’t an unpopular opinion of Felix Aguado.
She quickly shook her head, ditching any negativity on her face. “Nope! Just haven’t gotten to know him much, that’s all.”
My brows raised with a disapproving look. I knew she was lying, but I left it alone. As if on cue, Maggie emerged from the hallway, stealing my breath like she always did. While her hair and eyes looked exactly as they did a moment ago, the white, ankle-length dress Lina and I picked fit her like a glove. Every shapely curve was enhanced, every accentuation of her body elevating my heart rate. Her bump only raised the possessive animal inside of me that wanted to keep her to myself, to glare at anyone who thought she was anything butmine. The straps on her shoulders—that would no doubt have to be shielded with a jacket due to the cold—made my fingertips itch to touch her skin. The dress’s pearly shine reflected the sunlight coming through the windows. I wanted to take a picture. Make it last forever. I touched my left pocket to make sure her gift was safely secured within it.
“Ready to go?” she asked with the dainty innocence with which she always carried herself.
I cleared my throat, realizing I was speechless, and nodded.
This fucking woman.
Lina’s lips turned up as she bounded for her friend, wrapping her into a tight hug. “You look incredible, Maggie. Go have the best birthday night.” Maggie hugged her back. Her eyes closed as gratitude fell over her features. Lina was no doubt the woman she needed over these last few months. I was grateful for her, too.
“Thank you so much for everything today, Lina. I can’t even begin to repay you.” Maggie pulled away, the two still gripping each other’s forearms.
Lina waved a hand in dismissal. “Absolutely not. I want nothing but your friendship and dirty barn jokes.” They both laughed. “Okay, okay, go. I’ll see you later.” I was afraid her words would give tonight away, but Maggie just replied with a smile before turning to me.
I reached out my hand, and she took it with grace. As we walked out the door, Lina shouted after us, “Goodbye, my beautiful Hennicke’s!”
I almost went back inside to shake her.
“I can’t believe you got us into Minolo’s!” Maggie gushed as soon as I pulled onto the main road. “How did you do it? I’ve been trying to get in there formonths.”
“Derek Stride, one of my clients, knows the owner and pulled a few strings for us.” I smiled, proud that I could do this for my wife. “Plus, I told him it was your birthday, and he had to give us this whole package deal thing.”
Maggie giggled. “You and your connections. You know, if we weren’t in the polo industry, some may think you’re part of the mob.”
“Yeah, the German mob in the middle of Pennsylvania.”
“It could happen.”
All I wanted was to skip to later tonight, but this was Maggie’s day. I was going to enjoy every moment right along with her. Taking my eyes off the road every few seconds to glance at my future wife, I really took her in. Thought back to that day in her kitchen when she broke down in my arms after telling me she was pregnant. How broken she looked, having no one else to turn to. How trusting she was to let me take care of her from the very start, but never failing to tell me exactly how it was.
My father always talked about how I needed to be ready to enter a relationship. Granted, his talks never penetrated anything into my thick head back then, but he saw how quickly I skipped from woman to woman.
Take it slow,he always reminded me.Make sure you conquer everything you need to before handing yourself over to someone else.
The words echoed throughout my brain as I moved my right hand to rest on Maggie’s leg. She placed her hand on top of mine. I definitely hadn’t conqueredeverydemon that haunted me before giving myself over to Maggie. Rather, I let her inside to fight them with me. Maybe I could have done it on my own. Maybe Maggie could have recovered just fine after the embarrassment her father left her with that night. But we didn’t have to. We gave in to each other. Trusted each other with everything inside us, just like Maggie trusted me with our baby inside her. The realization flowed through me that neither of us would ever be alone after this. We had far too many constants in our lives to ever lie at rock bottom alone.
