“Thank you, Alvita. I really hope I will be.” Motherhood was only the next existentially challenging endeavor I would overcome, but I felt so fortunate to have my family’s support along the way.
Alvita took my left hand in hers. “Let me tell you something about being a mother. And, it may seem silly taking advice from a woman who has never had her own children, but I worked in a nursery before I left the Caribbean, so I hope this can offer at least some guidance.” I took a breath when she paused. “Everyone is going to be so sure that they know how to tell you to raise your child. How you feed them, who gets to hold them, the list goes on forever. But Maggie, you were meant to be a mother. The way you tend to people like they are your own family, the way you care for your husband, your horses, your students…there is no doubt in my mind that you are carrying the luckiest child in the world. Use your instincts. Don’t doubt yourself,ever. And lean on your husband.” She turned her head to where Mike spoke to a group of people. “He’ll be there for you whenever you need it, no matter how many times you tell him to leave you alone.”
The tears defied me, stray droplets gliding down my cheeks as I wrapped my arms around her again. She hugged me back and, for a moment, she felt like the mother I always needed. I felt so grateful for this moment, this night, this life.
“That means so much to me,” I sobbed.
“Oh, now, honey, don’t let your mascara run from that. You’ve got plenty more to be happy about today.”
I laughed softly, pulling away and scrubbing my face with the backs of my hands, appreciating that I had this wonderful woman supporting me.
After another hour, I buzzed with a full stomach and a whole heart. This night was emotional and perfect, and Jack was the only one to blame. I wandered into the kitchen for a glass of water. Felix—who had insisted on bartending that night, even if all I drank was water—leaned against the counter with his signature smirk. “Maggie, what can I get for you?”
While he spoke to me, his eyes scanned the room behind me. “More like what canIget foryou?” I chuckled. When his brows raised, I asked, “Looking for someone? Or a hot date?”
He hid the flash of fear on his face and winked at me. “I’ve always got a hot date.”
I shook my head and gave him a knowing smile. Felix was a known playboy in the polo world. Women talked, and they were not shy about dropping Felix’s name. “Just some water, please.”
Felix made a show of throwing some ice in a shaker and filling it with tap water from the refrigerator. I laughed as he exaggerated shaking the basic mixture and pouring it into a tumbler glass with intricate indentations along the bottom. “Here you go, madam. Seven-fifty.”
I mocked a gasp. “Wow, I’d better let the host know they arewayovercharging guests for their drinks.”
He drummed his fingers along the countertop. “Hey, somebody’s gotta compensate for the bartender drinking all theliquor. Not to mention the little blonde fireball over there.” His nod forward led me to turn around, facing Lina only a few steps away.
“Something going on with you two?” I asked out of pure curiosity. Whatever he said would definitely be reported back to Lina.
Felix shrugged, still holding that flirty smirk. “You tell me. If there is, I’m never hearing about it. That woman avoids me like the plague.”
I recalled my conversation with Lina the day before, wondering if he knew it was Lina he kissed that night, and if he was trying to question her about it. But I shook my head and gave him a smirk of my own. “I’m sure she’ll come around.”
Shaking his head with a chuckle, Felix lifted my glass before handing it to me over the counter. “Cheers to your birthday, Maggie. I’ll drink to that.”
Chapter thirty-nine
Maggie
As soon as I turned away from my interaction with Felix, a hand grabbed my upper forearm and led me to the hallway bathroom. Before I knew it, Lina was shoving me inside and locking the door behind us.
“What was that about? I saw him looking at me. Did he mention something?” Her tone was desperate, eyes wide. Terrified.
“No, no. I mean, sort of.” I shrugged. Clearly, my answer did not match her urgent need for clarification. She rolled her hands, motioning for me to go on. “He was looking over at you, so I asked if something was going on. He just said you avoid him like the plague.”
Without a moment’s thought, Lina burst out laughing. So hard that she curled over, and her body shook. I wasn’t sure why, but I laughed along with her. It felt so good. So refreshing that I could mindlessly justlaughwith someone like we were teenagers making dirty jokes.
What I didn’t realize, though, was that maybe Lina’s leaning over wasn’t so accidental. She opened the bathroom cabinet andpulled out what looked like the bag full of makeup I seldom got the chance to use. Confusion laced my thoughts, as I was sure I had put it away in my bathroom upstairs after getting ready this morning. Lina straightened and unzipped it, rifling through the contents until she found a compact of pressed powder and its matching powder puff.
“What are you doing?” I asked as she dabbed the round applicator into the powder and pressed it below my eyes and beside my nose.
“Touching you up. It’s your party after all.”
I scrunched my brows in disbelief, and Lina shrugged. “Youhavebeen crying for half the night.”
“Those are happy tears!” I laughed through my defense.
“I know,” she smiled. “But Mike and Alvita will want to take pictures of you and everyone. I didn’t want to do you the disservice of ignoring your tear-streaked face.”
Another laugh burbled out of me.
