“The Ted and Mandy thing threw me, I’m not going to lie. I mean, I knew there was something there, but I’d been gone only a few weeks and they were in love, and all that drama happened from her past.”
“That was scary,” Bailey said. “Ted was like a man possessed when she went missing.”
“It’s lovely to see those two all loved up,” Pip said.
“I bet. I’m looking forward to seeing the improvements at Tea Total. So what else has been happening?”
“Mr. Goldhirsh and Aunt Jess are now married and living at the ranch.”
“I know, I’m sorry I missed that wedding.” And she was; Maggs loved those two people.
“Fin has been away visiting his sister, as she had a baby,” Pip said.
“Where are his family?”
“Maine. I don’t know the details, as Joe won’t tell me no matter how hard I hit him. But I think he’s estranged from them in some way. Anyway, he went to see his sister and came back frowning and grumpy with a new Harley Davidson.”
“Wow, cool, but he’s always grumpy,” Maggs said, thinking about the man she saw when she arrived back in town.
“Fin? No way, he’s happy most of the time. It’s just with you he’s grumpy, because you guys have always had that thing.”
“What thing?” Maggs asked Pip.
“The attraction thing that you both deny.”
Her eyes swiveled from Pip to Bailey and back. “What?”
“Oh, come on, you don’t think we haven’t noticed,” Pip scoffed.
“She’s just returned, Pip. Maybe this isn’t a conversation for now,” Bailey stepped in.
“It’s not a conversation for anytime,” Maggs said. “You cannot be serious, me and Fin?”
“All right, calm down, and yes, I am serious. You asked, and I told you. If you say it’s not true, I believe you,” Pip said. “But I think it’s a good match, and it would tie things up neatly.”
“And let’s be honest, my aim in life is to tie things up neatly for you all.” Her throat felt tight.
“And there she is, the sarcastic redhead we all love,” Bailey said.
It felt good to hear those words; it meant she could be that person again, even if for now she was acting.
“You’re probably right,” Pip mused. “Fin has way too much emotional baggage to make a stable partner.”
“He’s a good guy,” Maggs said. “But not my good guy. And we all have hang-ups, Pip. Some just have a few more than others.”
“True that.” Pip got to her feet. “And now we need to leave you to sleep. But we’ll be back, because you need help getting your Christmas tree up, plus we have two years to catch up on.”
Pip hugged her hard, Bailey hugged her gently, and then they were gone.
Maggs showered, then fell into bed. Lying there, she thought about the pills she’d left behind in London. Cold turkey, she’d told herself. No more meds. Her mind whirled with thoughts, and she wished she’d not been so rash now.
It would take her time to be the person she was… well almost was. She’d never be completely whole again. That day six months ago had changed her beyond recognition. It had given her a fear she’d not even known it was possible to experience.
Chapter5
Fin wandered down the main street of Ryker Falls. It was cold, the air puffing from his mouth as he breathed. He’d spent the last two days searching more of the mountains, and still no sign of the femur’s owner.
They’d had a dump of snow, and Bas from the garage, who also ran the secondhand store, had been through town clearing the roads with his plow. Christmas music belted out of the stores, and he guessed soon he’d need to look at buying some gifts. He always spent Christmas with the Trainer family and their extras. He’d never made the trip to spend it with his.
