“Thanks Ma.”
“Well, you be sure to tell her she’s welcome here anytime and that we are anxious to meet her. Okay?”
“I will. Speaking of… I should probably give her a call.”
“Yeah, gotta call that imaginary girlfriend or she might get mad…” Cam whispered under his breath as Chase walked by. In response, Chase gave him a light punch on the arm.
Chase walked into the kitchen and sat on the bench at the breakfast nook. He pulled up the photo of Maggie. An ache reverberated in his chest.Should I actually call her? I just said that to add credibility to my story… but I do miss her…
Chase stared at her contact info, debating whether or not to actually press the button. The distance and time apart the last few days had given him space to process—and question everything.Can I do this? Can I really be all in with someone again after Amber? I mean, I like Maggie but if I call her—what do I even say? Just give her an update I suppose. I did leave suddenly. But, I don't even know if I'm going back to LA anytime soon.He took a deep breath and despite his reservations, tapped the green button. Holding the phone up to his ear, he waited for her to answer. Instead, it went straight to voicemail.
Chapter 26
Maggie
Maggiepulledintoagravel parking lot and read the words on the building, “Valley View Lodge.”What have you gotten yourself into Maggie?
Pounding her head on the steering wheel, Maggie chastised herself.Really? You thought you could be spontaneous and get on a plane and just show up at Chase’s family farm?That’s it. I’ve lost my mind. And, now I’m about to star in my own horror movie.
She observed her surroundings. The rustic lodge was run down with worn wood siding. A faded “open” sign hung on the door.You got yourself into this mess, now you gotta get yourself out of it. Time to go into this creepy lodge and ask for directions.
Maggie had successfully navigated her way from the Chattanooga airport to northern Alabama, but about an hour into her journey the landscape turned extremely rural and her GPS stopped working. Now, it was 5 pm on a Friday night and she was officially lost.This is my nightmare.
Forcing herself out of the car, she warily approached the log cabin-looking building. Upon entering, her fears dissipated slightly. It appeared to be a small restaurant with a few booths and a handful of tables. Two families with small children were happily eating dinner. Country music played softly in the background.
“Howdy there ma’am. Can I help ya?” A man with an oversized cowboy hat and a Sam Elliott-style mustache greeted her.
Maggie was awestruck. He was by far the coolest real cowboy she’d ever encountered. “Um… hi, I, uh, think I might have taken a wrong turn. I was wondering if you might be able to help.”
“I reckon we can help you out darlin. Just take a seat and I’ll be right with ya.”
Cowboy man made his way behind the diner counter and spoke to someone in the kitchen. Then, he headed back to Maggie’s table holding a plate. “I can’t send you on your way hungry. Our visitors ain’t allowed to leave without tryin some of Charlene’s pecan pie.”
“Oh okay…” Maggie looked warily at the pie. She’d never had pecan anything before.
“Don’t look so nervous. That pie’ll change your life.”
“It looks delicious.” Maggie politely took a small bite. She had heard about Southern hospitality before, but she’d never actually experienced it. Now she understood what people were talking about.
“My name’s Bud. And who are you?” Maggie noticed Bud smelled like years of smoke... Not in the overwhelming you-clearly-smoke-a-pack-a-day way, but like the you've-been-around-a-lot-of-smoke-all-your-life way. He was a thick man, built like a rock, with hands that seemed to be pure muscle. They had to be at least three times the thickness of Maggie’s. Deep lines in his face left traces of all the storms he had weathered throughout his lifetime.
“I’m Maggie. My GPS stopped working about twenty minutes ago, and I have no idea where I am. Do you happen to know how to get to Smith & Sons—it’s an organic farm?”
Bud shifted in his chair, sitting up. “Ah, yeah. Yeah I do. Everyone round this part knows that place.”
Maggie bent to take another bite. When she looked up, she glimpsed his eyes for the first time. They were a deep honey brown. There was something familiar about them.
“Ma’am?”
“Ah, sorry. This pie. It’s so good. How much do I owe you?”
“It’s on the house. You best get going so you make it there before dark. It’s blowin up a storm out there. The farm is just down yonder about twelve miles. Take a right when you see an old oak tree that’s broke in two. Follow the gravel road for another mile. You’ll see a big steel gate entrance that says Smith & Sons. You can’t miss it.”
Maggie laughed nervously, “You overestimate my abilities.” She set down her fork, stood, and pushed in her chair.
“I reckon you’ll do just fine, Cinderella.”
Maggie spun back around. “What was that?”
