“Love isn’t always easy. Your Pa and I have had a lot of practice. We were hotheaded kids once, too,mijo.”
It feels impossible for them to have ever been anything but perfect for each other, but a small part of me takes solace knowing that they had their own difficulties. If they managed to work through everything, maybe that leaves a little hope for me and Maggie.
“I cared about her so much, even before I left Montana. When she showed up here and said she was pregnant, everything with Chelsea came rushing back, and I just panicked.” I don’t think I’ll ever stop feeling guilty for the way she looked at me that day. “But I never felt like this about Chelsea. Even when we called off the wedding, it didn’t hurt like this. Every time Maggie walks away, it feels like I’m getting torn in half.”
Ma hums behind me, quiet and thoughtful in a way that I know means what she has to say next is going to hurt, but that I need to hear it.
“Stop giving her reasons to walk away,” she says bluntly, her voice not losing an ounce of affection. “You screwed up,badly, right from the start. You have to talk to her. Stop making assumptions and stop making decisions without her. Did you talk to her about Chelsea?”
My shoulders stiffen under her hand, but she just keeps rubbing gently over my shirt.
“I… no,” I admit softly. “She told me you filled her in on the basics, but it was too much to talk about last night. We were both so worked up already, and it just… it was too much. I don’t know how to talk about it without feeling like I’m making excuses for how I treated her.”
Ma pats me on the back, a little more firmly this time, and I look up to see a frown flit over her face for just a moment. She sighs and takes a seat next to me before taking my hands in hers.
“Giving context isn’t the same as making excuses,mijo. You can’t expect her to forgive you just because you’ve had it rough, but you can ask her to give you a little grace,” she says, her voice gentle. “If you’re willing to buck up and take responsibility for your actions, I’m willing to help you. Maggie deserves better than what you’ve given her so far, don’t you agree?”
It’s a rather loving way of saying—no, actually, that one was pretty pointed.
And she’s right.
“Of course she does. She deserves the world,” I say, misery and affection winding together in my voice. “But I don’t know how to give it to her. I don’t even know how to beg her for a second chance.”
The smile on Ma’s face turns a touch proud, and she squeezes my hands reassuringly. “Better figure it out, then,” she says, her words blunt even if her tone is fond. “You need to go talk to her properly. Show her she can lean on you, that you’re reliable and mature.”
I huff out a shaky laugh. “I don’t feel like I’m any of that right now. I want to be, but I’m scared, Ma.”
“Take a little time. She needs to process things, and you need to think of a proper apology.” Her lips twist into a wry grin. “Anda better proposal.”
“Thank you, Ma.” The words don’t really encompass everything I wish I could say right now, but they’re as close as I can get. It’s nice to know she trusts me to handle this on myself, that she thinks I’m capable of it even if I don’t. “Really. Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me for believing in you,mijo,” she says.
I kiss Ma on the cheek before trudging back up to my room, needing the space to get my head on straight. My bed still smells like Maggie, vanilla clinging to my sheets, and I bury my face in the pillow she slept on last night.
My phone pings in my pocket before I can really relax, and I scramble to pull it out, hoping it’s from Maggie.
A brilliant smile spreads across my face when I see her contact lighting up my screen.
Sweet Magnolia: Taking the parents back to the motel, need to talk to them for a while and let everyone cool down. Still pissed at you. Can you wait for a bit until we can come back? Might be tomorrow, maybe the day after.
The text is terse, but I can read between the lines. She’s just as anxious and off kilter as I am about all of this. The fact that she even texted me is enough to bolster my hopes that she won’t just call it quits here.
As for the question, I almost want to laugh. Can I wait?
I’d waityears, if that’s what it took to have my sweet Magnolia back by my side. That’s the easiest promise I’ve ever made. She can take as much time as she needs to sort throughthings with her parents, I’ll still be here when she’s ready. No matter what it takes to get her back, I’m willing to do it.
Bennett: I’m sorry for fucking things up so much. I’ll wait as long as you need.
I don’t want to say the rest of it over text—she deserves a proper apology in person—but I don’t want to leave her hanging.
This feels like a good start.
Chapter Twenty-Four
MAGGIE
Bennett: I’m sorry for fucking things up so much. I’ll wait as long as you need.
