Magnolia Storms Read online

  Maggie fought a laugh. “A bat?”

  “We had one trying to live in the chimney, and a couple of months ago, it flew right in the house, that little furry monster with beady eyes. I know they catch mosquitoes, but some of them have rabies. Me and Cammie liked to never get it out of the house. Chasing it around with brooms and a mop.” She shook her head. “If it weren’t for Josh and his fishing net—” She stopped abruptly like she’d let a secret slip and looked up at Maggie. “Sorry, but it is nice to have a man around sometimes.”

  “Makes sense, I guess.” Another little sliver of hurt needled into Maggie’s chest. Yes. It would’ve been nice to have a man around. Hadn’t she thought the same thing over the years? She’d tried dating. Really tried. But no one ever lived up to what she’d been looking for. No one had ever understood her either. No one had ever felt like home the way her best friend Josh had.

  “I’m going back to the hospital. Call me if you need anything. Or get Josh.” She tried to keep her tone even. Not full of the sarcasm she’d felt saying those words.

  “We’ll be fine.”

  All the way to the hospital Maggie fought to still her emotions. Tears built up and blurred her vision, but she rubbed them away. It wouldn’t do any good for her to lose control. Everyone was depending on her. In the parking lot, she squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. “Help me, Lord. I can’t fall apart.”

  A cold wave of fatigue settled over Maggie in the ICU waiting room, as if her arms and legs thrummed a heavy, achy tune. She took a seat, leaned her head back, and let her heavy lids shut. Visions of blue eyes filtered through her thoughts. Sparkling and deep like sky and sea. Josh’s eyes, and that adorable little boy’s, too.

  This accident and the timing. The weather. Josh. The perfect storm to destroy her heart.

  All over again.

  Darkness crept in.

  The dream fired up. Wind, rain, thunder. The turbulent surf burying her father, ripping him away. She held out her arms, but she couldn’t grab hold of him. She stretched out her hands, begging for something, anything, to help her reach him.

  Then she and Josh were on the sailboat steering out to Deer Island, happy and smiling, the sun bright and warm against her shoulders. Suddenly, the water started to churn with enormous green and brown swells. Gulls circled, mocking them as a wave crashed against the hull and capsized the boat. They held on and fought the currents, but Josh was torn away.

  No!

  Farther and farther. She tried to catch him but sunk into the depths. The weight of the water crushed her chest. Air. She needed air!

  Her eyes popped open, and she gasped. Lungs filling with oxygen and the scent of antiseptic. She glanced around. Where was she?

  Bright lights. A lady sleeping across the room on the hard plastic chairs.

  A door opened, and a woman in scrubs entered. Maggie blinked. The hospital. What time was it? Her fingers dug around the seat until she felt the cool screen of her phone. Four-fifty.

  “Y’all can come in now. It’s close enough to visiting hours.”

  Maggie followed the nurse down the hall. “What time will the doctor be by again? I need to do a few things for my sister at home.”

  “Probably mid-morning, no way to know. You can write your name and number on the whiteboard for him or any of us to call you.”

  Cammie’s lids lifted when Maggie entered. “Go home and open the store. Keep my phone with you in case vendors call. They pay people to take care of me here.” Her scratchy voice held a ring of big-sister authority.

  “I will in a minute, but I waited all night to see you.” Maggie moved to the side of the bed. “You can at least let me look at you while I can. How are you? Can I get you a Sprite or something? Can you eat?”

  “Don’t worry so much.” She pointed to the rolling tray beside her. “They brought everything I’m allowed to have.” A plastic cup with a straw and an empty container of pudding stood there.

  “That’s not much.”

  “I’m not exactly running off the calories.” Her eyes closed. “Pull up a chair and sit with me if you’re going to stay. I’m not much company right now.”

  Maggie complied. If she were in Cammie’s place, she wouldn’t be good company either. But Cammie had always been the patient one. For a Marovich.

  Cool air blew from a vent above and sent a shiver across Maggie’s shoulders. She crossed her arms and watched her sister sleep. The machines kept up their constant beeps and whooshing. A patient across the way moaned and hollered periodically. The best way to pass the time might be to develop an orderly plan for the day, and listing it on her phone seemed like the best thing to do. The time passed quietly. At last, Maggie rose, stretched, then bent down and pressed a kiss on Cammie’s forehead. “I love you, sis.”

  “I love you,” Cammie whispered. “Thank you.”

  The prospect of working at the store and readying the house for a storm held less appeal than sitting at the hospital, but she’d promised.

  ALWAYS NICE TO WAKE up in his own bed. Not that he’d slept much in the night. Josh stretched, careful to avoid bumping into J.D.

  How did that booger always end up under the covers with him? He watched his son’s chest rise and fall, thinking back to that first day he’d brought J.D. home from the hospital. So tiny and helpless cradled in his arms. How he’d vowed to be a good father like Mr. Marovich.

  And J.D. owned his heart, that was for sure. Maybe Maggie had been right. Maybe he should travel inland in case the weather turned bad.

  There were no evacuation notices yet, though. The storm could stall out and only dump a bunch of rain. Plus Maggie would need his help, like it or not. He pushed away her hurricane nonsense as he pressed to his feet. Not every storm was a Katrina. People here weathered the small storms. Knew what to do. The town didn’t run away every time the wind blew.

  Like both the women in his life did.

  Of course, Maggie had given him the choice to follow, unlike Trisha.

  His feet led him down the hall to the coffee pot in the kitchen. His only addiction, but a strong one. He ground the Guatemalan beans and took a deep whiff of the robust aroma before pouring black granules into the filter. Guatemalan was the best coffee in the world as far as he was concerned. Thankfully, he piloted ships from all over the globe and could get the good stuff from a few Central American friends he’d made.

  Outside the kitchen window, swallows filled the limbs on one of the moss-covered live oaks still standing in the backyard. He and Maggie spent many days climbing the old trees’ sprawling limbs. They’d fished together. Ridden their bikes round and round the blocks of this neighborhood together. Grown up together. Shared their first kiss together.

  The image still struck a blow that left him aching for air. He’d loved the girl as far back as he had memory. Buying the house beside Cammie hadn’t been the best idea. He had to have been subconsciously hoping he’d run into Maggie after Trisha left. Maybe not subconsciously at all.

  The flash of an orange shirt caught his eye, and a wave of almost black curls. Maggie already plodded around the yard next door in red rain boots. What was she doing back from the hospital and outside so early?

  She entered the dilapidated shed and threw miscellaneous pieces of wood and old tools out the door to the ground. By her jerky movements, he’d guess she was frustrated about something. Not so unusual.

  Steam rose from the brewing coffee. A cup of Guatemala’s finest might perk her up. Not that she needed more intensity. He chuckled, filled two mugs, and then headed outside.

  “You need help?”

  A thud echoed as her elbow banged against the frame of the shed. “Ouch.”

  That had to hurt. Not a good start.

  Her brows screwed into all manner of angry angles. “Don’t sneak up on someone at this time of the morning.”

  “Still like coffee?” He held out his peace offering. “It’s the good stuff.”

  The muscles in her face loosened
, and she eyed the mug.

  Josh took a swig of his and let out a contented sigh. No way would she refuse. Her coffee addiction blew his out of the water.

  She stomped toward him. “Fine. I could use more caffeine to get through today.”

  “No sleep?”

  “Some.” Her curls shook back and forth. “Hard to rest in those places though.”

  His thoughts went to his careless words the night before and to her mother’s cancer. “I never got to tell you how sorry I was for your loss. I loved your mother, too.”

  Her features softened, and she gripped the cup with both hands as if holding onto a lost moment. “My parents loved you. Like the son they never had.”

  The gates of his heart pried open, allowing memory after memory to parade through his mind. The ones he’d lain awake all night banishing. Her dad teaching them to drive. Her mother always pinning on his boutonniere before the high school dances. The whole family sailing out to Deer Island. His eyes stung—both from the grief and the lack of sleep. “Cammie said you took good care of your mother when you moved her up to Jackson. Flew her all over the country for second opinions and treatments. Were at her side until the end.”

  Maggie’s lashes lowered, and she gave a slow nod.

  A sobering hush fell between them, sucking up all the air. Even the swallows quieted in the solemn moment.

  Josh struggled to find words. Why exactly had he come out here? “You like the coffee?”

  “It’s good.”

  “Just good?”

  Her gaze lifted to meet his, a bit of the sass returning. “Glorious. Thank you.” She chugged back another gulp. “Now I’m off to find the storm shutters I bought for this house. All I can find are the old ones. They probably never even unpacked the new ones.”

  “Tried the attic?”

  “It was such a mess up there last I looked.” Her head dropped back with a sigh. “And I need to get this finished so I can open the shop at ten. I haven’t figured out if I can leave Aunt Ruth at the shop alone when the next visiting hours roll around. I’d like to talk to the doctor again if I can catch him.”

  Sounded like an invitation if he ever heard one. “No need to beg. I’ll be happy to help.”

  Chapter 6

  SHE HADN’T ASKED FOR Josh Bergeron’s help. Now she had to spend even more heartrending minutes with him. Face searing as annoyance burned across her cheeks to the tips of her ears, Maggie led Josh to the attic pull in the garage. She did need to get to the store, so his intrusion might be marginally helpful.

  Once the ladder extended, he took a step up, but stopped. “Oh, can you check on J.D. while I look around up here?” His eyes widened into a pleading gaze. A flirty gaze.

  She remembered that look all too well. Like when he’d talked her into skiing in a bayou full of alligators. She’d held on tight to the rope that day and moved into the boat at a speed akin to pelican diving for a fish. Now, her jaw tightened as she tried to come up with an appropriate retort. She sure didn’t want to unearth more of the past.

  “You know,” Josh continued, “J.D. talked about you when I got home last night. How you read to him and colored a puppy with him while you were in the hospital waiting room. He’s dying for a puppy, but it’s hard enough finding someone to watch...” He blew out a long breath. “Oh, and you gave him spicy candy he thought were called Hot Tomatoes.”

  That stirred up a chuckle. Hot Tomatoes. “Fine. I’m going over because J.D.’s cute, and his father left him all alone next door.”

  “Bad me. I didn’t want to wake him when I first got up, and I didn’t know you’d rope me into all this work.”

  “Rope you? Really?” She turned toward the open garage door. “You practically begged to help me, and you know it.” She stomped into the squishy wet grass between the two yards.

  His rich laughter trailed her.

  Of course he’d laugh. He’d gotten his way like always. After climbing the cement porch steps and opening the door, a cautious step brought Maggie inside the house. No surprise, the decor reeked masculine and nautical. A map and an antique ship’s wheel hung on one wall. A large marlin mounted on wooden planks hung above the fireplace. Humph. If she were in charge, that thing would be in a back bedroom or the garage, not in the living room. Most of the rest of this tacky decor, too.

  She couldn’t help but look around and imagine what if. What if she’d stayed? What if they’d made it to the altar? What if they’d had children? Would they be good parents together...a team like her own mother and father? Smiling pictures of the blond boy at different stages hung along the wall in the hall, and she ran her fingers over the glass. Something pinched inside, and she ached for the life she might’ve lived.

  Shake it off. Even if she had stayed here, they probably never would have lasted, the man was so stubborn and single-minded. One way. His way. She continued down the hall. The first room held a blue chest of drawers and twin bed made to look like a sailboat, but the covers lay flat. No J.D.

  Her stomach did a little flip. Where was he?

  She quickened her steps. The next room looked to be an office, and the walls were bare. The perfect place for all the old maritime junk.

  In the last room, a small blond head lay on a pillow in the middle of a king-sized bed. The vision caused her insides to pinch harder, and she held her breath. Lord, he’s beautiful. Did I make a mistake? Would that precious child have been hers? Instead, J.D. had a mother who wasn’t interested in her own flesh and blood. How was that even possible?

  Moisture fought its way out from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks in big sloppy tears. She sniffled and mashed them away.

  The sheets rustled. He must’ve been waking. She used a corner of her T-shirt to make sure she’d cleared all the evidence of her ridiculous emotions.

  J.D.’s eyes blinked open. He looked her way, and then he shot straight up. “Hey, Miss Maggie.”

  “Good morning, pumpkin.”

  “I’m not a pumpkin. I’m a boy named J.D. We drew pumpkins at preschool.”

  A laugh loosened the ache inside. “I know, silly. Pumpkin is a nickname because you’re cute and sweet.” She sat on the edge of the bed and tweaked his nose.

  “But I already have a name.”

  She couldn’t help but run her fingers across a wayward strand of his hair, pushing it down. The strand was soft and feathery under her hand, stirring up more raw emotions. “Right. Your name is J.D.”

  “No.” His nose scrunched up, and he cocked his head. “Like pumpkin, but not.”

  “Okay.” Whatever he said. It was too early for her to make sense of it. “You want breakfast? Your dad’s next door helping me get storm shutters from the attic.”

  “Captain.” He scooted to the edge of the bed and slid to the floor. Prints of red sailboats covered his blue pajamas.

  Boats everywhere. There was no escaping them. Maggie stood and considered his word. “You want Captain Crunch?”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s a cereal, and you said captain.”

  “My other name is captain. Sometimes mate, too. Or sailor.” He stared at her like she was pretty dense.

  “Oh.” It figured. Josh was totally indoctrinating J.D. into the dangerous life of the sea.

  They entered the wood-paneled kitchen. So dark. The walls could use a fresh coat of a light paint. Or maybe he should change out the dark paneling for a narrower beadboard. Maggie opened the refrigerator. “What do you eat for breakfast?”

  “Daddy cooks eggs. But I want what you said.” His arms crossed, and he stared up at her with puppy-dog eyes.

  “What I said?” A prick of uneasiness brought her brows together.

  “Captain cereal.”

  Uh, oh. A sinking feeling told her she’d misspoken. “Where do you keep the captain cereal?”

  “We don’t have any.”

  Of course they didn’t. “How about we have eggs like Daddy makes?”

  He shook his head. “You sai
d captain cereal. I’m a captain. I need captain cereal.”

  “I can make the special Maggie’s cheese omelet.”

  His disappointed face aimed up at her.

  “Let’s go next door and see what cereal Dahlia has.” Or go let Josh take the flack for her mistake. She held out her arms, and he willingly came to her and snuggled close.

  Though she hated to admit it, she could get used to this warm toasty feeling. But she obviously had a lot to learn about kids.

  MAGGIE HAD BEEN RIGHT about one thing. Josh wished it hadn’t been this thing as he bent over and cut open another box. Cammie and Ruth had never opened the new storm shutters. This project would take a while, and he still hadn’t found the socket set he’d need. Probably in storage. Either that or Trisha had made off with it. Like she had with most of his money and belongings. Why, he couldn’t figure, since she’d left him for a casino mogul.

  Anyway, he’d have to run to the hardware store.

  “You’re not making much progress from the looks of it.” Maggie’s voice snuck up from behind and coiled around his heart.

  Josh turned to find her standing in the garage looking at the panels on the ground. J.D. was settled happily on her hip still in his pajamas. Didn’t she know to dress him before bringing him out? “Morning, captain.” It wasn’t until he pressed his lips to the little boy’s cheek that Maggie’s sweet floral scent drifted to him. She was so close. A current jolted through him. Heated his chest. And for one moment, the world seemed right.

  But no. That scenario would never be. She’d never come back here. Or to him. He glanced at her face but she cut her eyes away. Had she felt it, too?

  “I want captain cereal for breakfast.” J.D.’s voice brought Josh crashing down to earth.

  “What?” The sentence hadn’t fully reached his brain.

  “Miss Maggie told me about captain cereal. I want some.” J.D. played with one of Maggie’s curls as he talked. The picture pecked hard at Josh’s heart.

  Oh, man. This was messed up. “She did, huh? We usually have eggs.”