“You’re my sister, of course you’re in the right.” Nash gave her a gentle smile.
“I love you.” She wrapped her arms around him and hugged. “But actually, I’m in the wrong this time.”
“I don’t believe you, and I love you too.” She felt his lips in her hair. “Now let’s go.”
“I—ah, I just need a minute. I’ll be back.” Maggs was suddenly gripped by nerves. What if Fin didn’t want to forgive her? How would that make her feel? Would it change everything?
Winding through the people who had started to appear on the street, she headed for Tea Total. She could use the bathrooms there and get herself under control again. Panic wasn’t a foreign emotion for Maggie, but she didn’t want or need it right now. She didn’t see the woman who stepped in front of her. They collided, stumbled a bit, and righted themselves.
“Linda! Sorry about that; I didn’t see you,” Maggie said to the woman who had sold her the gallery. Was she the writer of that note?
Linda Foster was an attractive woman who was always dressed exquisitely. She was also formidable, ruthless, and not someone she’d ever really warmed too. She’d driven a hard bargain when selling her gallery and screwed every cent she could out of Maggie.
“No harm done. How are you, Maggie?”
“Good, thanks. You?”
It may be just because she knew about the note, and it may be that her imagination was running wild, but to Maggie’s eye she looked nervous. There could be any number of reasons for that, she reminded herself.
“Such tragic news about Simon Linbar, isn’t it? I know you were friends with them and—”
“I was never his friend!” Linda paled.
“Oh, I thought you were. I’m sure you mentioned them to me once.”
“I have no idea where you’d come up with something like that, Maggie.” Panic was in Linda’s face now.
“Right, my mistake then.”
“I have to go. I-I’ll see you around.”
“Yes, see you, Linda.”
Odd, and getting odder, Maggie thought, walking into Tea Total.
“Hey, Miss Marla.”
“Hello, Maggie dear. I thought you were taking part in the musical chairs?” Miss Marla wore a bright red wool Christmas sweater dress with I’d Rather Be Naughty Than Nice on the front, with red leather ankle boots. The woman had style.
“Yes, heading there soon. Can I ask you a question, Miss Marla?”
“Do I think you and Fin are the perfect match?”
“Ha, no.”
“Well I’ll tell you anyway. The answer is yes.”
“Why?” Maggie gave in to her curiosity.
“I’ve never known two people more aware of each other than you two.” Miss Marla bustled about, cleaning the counter. “You’ve fought the attraction for years because it terrified you. Now you’re not.” She finished with a beaming smile.
“Um, well—”
“Oh come on, Maggie. It’s time you faced up to this. Neither of you have found anyone, because you’ve always been destined for each other.”
It made a sort of weird sense when put like that. Plus, there was always that feeling in the pit of her stomach she got when Fin was around. She never got it with anyone else.
“Okay, well maybe, but that’s actually not the question.”
