Maggie’s mouth fell open.“You didn’t know about her?”
“No.No idea.She thought it was her boyfriend’s at first, but somehow it came out that she’d been with me before going back to him.He insisted on a DNA test, and when it showed he wasn’t Delilah’s father, he took off.She said she tried to find me but, like I said, I was bouncing from place to place for work so tracking me down wasn’t easy.”And that still upset him.All that time, he’d been robbed of his little girl.“Finally, she found someone with my new phone number and called me.She was fighting a losing battle with cancer, worried about what would happen to Delilah and pretty much on her own.As soon as we hung up, I headed to Florida.I stayed there about two months, until Phoebe died, then brought Delilah home.”
Maggie shook her head.“Oh, Braden… I don’t even know what to say.”
“That was pretty much how I was when I found out.Now I can’t imagine my life without Delilah—even if I don’t always know what I’m doing.”
“No parent knows what they’re doing.But, from whatI’ve seen, you’re figuring things out.Delilah is healthy and happy—that is a victory in itself, Braden.I’m serious.”
Their meals were delivered, putting their conversation on pause.Once again, he appreciated their ability to have a comfortable silence between them.He also appreciated that she looked cute even when she was eating.
“What about you?”He wiped his mouth with his napkin.“Cody’s dad?”
Her expression instantly shuttered.“We met in college.He wasn’t ready to be a father.I guess he’s still not because he’s never reached out—and he knows where we are.So, yeah, he’s not in the picture.”She watched a drop of condensation slide down the glass and onto the table.“Between me, my brother and parents, I think Cody’s happy.When I was traveling for work, it helped to know he was with the people who love him the most.”
It was his turn to be speechless.A man abandoning his child?Braden couldn’t wrap his head around it.But, knowing all this, made him admire Maggie all the more.Still, he didn’t want past hurts to get in the way of tonight’s conversations.There were plenty of other things for them to talk about.“You miss your job?”
“I do.I started volunteering for the group in college and started working for them as soon as I graduated.”She sighed.“My supervisor, Opal, wants me to come back—yesterday.”She smiled, then shrugged.“Working with International Healthcare Initiative is hard, incredibly hard, but eye-opening, necessary work.My son has everything he wants and needs.But the women and children I work with?I can’t begin to describe some of their living conditions.It’s hard to come home knowing that kind of suffering is out there.”
And it weighed on her heavily, he could tell.“You have a big heart, Maggie.”
“No, I really don’t.I just… I have so much.”She nibbled on her lower lip again.“Going and helping out is the least I can do.”
“Are you planning to go back soon?”He hoped not.Like she said earlier, long-distance relationships rarely worked out.And while Cody might be used to his mom coming and going, he wasn’t sure it was best for Delilah.
“I can’t.Not yet.”She hesitated.“I haven’t been medically cleared yet.I got really sick and was hospitalized on my last assignment.I was sent home to recover and, I think, it was difficult for my family to see me that way.”She shrugged.“I’m much better now, obviously, but my family still worries—especially Cody.”
“That’s not a surprise, Maggie.It’s normal for the people that love you to worry about you.Cody’s protective of you so seeing you vulnerable had to be hard on him.”He thought about Cody earlier, sitting them down and telling them like it is.A little man trying to make his mom happy.
“I didn’t want to tell him when I was hospitalized.I was so sick—the first twelve hours I wasn’t sure I’d pull through.All I could think about was Cody and what to say to him.I couldn’t tell him that I might never come home.That he might never see me again.I couldn’t put that fear into him.”She shook her head.“He likes to act touch but he’s a little boy, you know?My job has taught me a lot of things.Fear isn’t good for children.It gives them anxiety and steals their childhood from them.I didn’t want to put that on him, but I did.My choices led to my illness and that’s all on me.”She glanced at him, wary now.“Thankfully, we never had to have that conversation.”
Braden was still reeling from everything she’d told him.She’d been hospitalized, at death’s door, far from home, and blaming herself for worrying her family—her son.What aboutherstress level?First things first, he asked, “You’re okay now?”
“I’m getting stronger every day.The doctor said he expects to clear me at my next appointment.”She waved a hand, as if to dismiss his worry.“My mom is a nurse.She works at the urgent clinic in Mason Springs.You don’t have to worry about me, I promise.”
Too late.“I appreciate you telling me.”There were a whole lot of thoughts and questions circling through his brain.But one area stuck out the most.He wasn’t sure he had a right to ask it, but he asked anyway.“Is there something else you can do?Work wise?”His thoughts shifted to Cody.“That won’t put you at risk?”
She visibly retracted from him.“Every job has risks, Braden.You could fall off your horse and get trampled tomorrow.People have car accidents every day.I can’t give up on the people that everyone else has given up on.I made a promise to someone—” She broke off.“I can’t quit.I don’t expect you to understand it, but… I can’t.”
A promise to whom?And what, exactly, had she promised?He didn’t understand but he’d try, if she explained a little more.He had at least a dozen more questions but stopped himself from prying.This was their first date.Tonight, he wanted to start making good memories with her.In time, she’d open up to him.At least, he hoped she would.“You’re an amazing woman, Maggie.I sure as hell couldn’t do what you do.I admire you—your loyalty, dedication and strength.”
Her gaze locked with his, searching.
Dammit.He’d put her guard up.He hadn’t meant to, hehadn’t known.But he’d done it all the same.“I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
“No, I’m sorry.”She smiled, the posture easing once more.“I’m very defensive about my job.People are supportive of what I do—until they find out I’m leaving my child behind.I’m not happy about leaving Cody.I hate it, actually.But it’s a job requirement.”
There was a lot to unpack there, he could sense it.But he’d wait for her to share whatever it was that tied her so firmly to her work.“You care about your work.I can respect that.”He reached across the table and covered her hand with his.“There’s a lot to learn about each other.But you should know, Iwantto know you, Maggie Cooper.I want to understand what makes you, you.”
She seemed mystified by his statement.“Really?”
“Really.”He nodded.
“I’d like to get to know you, too, Braden Parker.”She turned her hand over and threaded her fingers with his.
“Does that mean you might let me take you out again?”
“I guess that depends on you.”There was mischief in her eyes.
