Page 31 of Lovesick
My mom spotted us and quickly set down a pitcher of iced tea on the cloth-covered table, then ran over without a sound and pulled us into her arms. The rest of the party realized we were here and flocked around us, greeting us, laughing, toasting and asking questions.
I knew I couldn’t answer them all right now, so I didn’t try. I just kept my side pressed against Maggie, smiled, said “Hi!” a lot, and occasionally got in a more personalized greeting. This was bad. If my jaw already ached from smiling so much, how would I make it through the whole party?
Eventually, my dad asked, “Do you want to sit down?” My bones reminded me that sitting was a great idea, and I let him guide me to a comfortable chair they had brought from the living room.
“Marty!”
I knew that voice. I turned and shook the hand of my older brother, grinning. “Joshua! It’s been a while. How are things in Rayne?”
He rolled his eyes, folding his muscular arms over his chest. We were very alike, Joshua and me. We loved sports growing up that we both had translated into a hobby of regular workouts and runs. “It hasn’t been that long. I visited you like three weeks ago soon after you went to the Big Easy for treatment. We aren’t here to talk about me, anyway.” We both watched Maggie chatting excitedly with Zoe and Abigail. “So that’s her, huh?”
“Yep.” A fond smile stole across my face as I watched her signature wild gestures. “That’s her.”
“Why do you always get the hot ones?” Joshua joked. “But really, man, you look happy. And… well…I mean, you looked happy last time…but this time you look really happy.”
“I was happy at first, Josh. But if I’d been honest with myself. I knew I didn’t love her. Like her, yeah. Love her… not so much. As it turned out she felt the same way. And up until Maggie came back into my life, I spent a lot of time trying to drink the pain away.”
“Be grateful… you found her again.”
“I am,” I told my brother. “I definitely am.”
“Good.” We shared a short bro hug, and he let me sit down. “Well, I’m helping Daddy out with the food, so let me get back to that. Plus, between you and me, I think all these people might want to talk to you for some reason, and I’m keeping you to myself.” Joshua winked and headed across the back patio to the house.
He was right. As soon as he left, Zoe wandered over to say congratulations and gave me a sideways glance. “Marty. I’ve got a… personal question.”
“Okay… shoot. What is it?”
Zoe glanced over her shoulder at Maggie who was standing nearby. Leaning closer, she whispered, “I want to know. How did a guy who could barely walk… according to Maggie… go out and buy a quality rock like that?”
When I started laughing, Maggie walked up and put her hand on her hip. “What so funny?”
Zoe rolled her eyes. “It’s about your ring. I want to know how Marty managed to buy it.”
I smiled at Maggie. “Go ahead. I can’t believe you haven’t already told her.”
Chuckling to myself, I watched as Maggie’s eyes widened staring at her ring and explained, “You remember I told you about Mrs. Franklin, Marty’s case manager that I know from the cancer center.” Zoe nodded and lifted Maggie’s hand for a closer look at the diamond. Then Maggie turned to me. “Why don’t you tell her. It’s your story.”
So I did. I explained how when Mrs. Franklin learned Maggie was moving in with me I had confided in her about how when I got better I planned to propose to Maggie. The next thing I knew, Mrs. Franklin showed up in my room with her computer, and she helped me look for an engagement ring I liked. A day later, we made arrangements for her to purchase it for me at a jewelry store in the French Quarter known for their fine diamonds.
Zoe’s jaw fell slack. “Oh, my God! You bought this from Marseilles?” I nodded. Then she let go of Maggie’s hand and gave her a big hug. “Girl, this man… does really… really love you.”
The two were still giggling and examining the ring when Maggie’s mom and grandma arrived. They came over and hugged me, and her mother went on a long spiel about how she had always known we would get engaged someday, and she would be so proud to have me as her son-in-law.
Her grandma smiled, nodded and agreed with everything Maggie’s mom said, occasionally giving me a pat on the shoulder. My dad came over, his hand held open with wiggling fingers, and asked me if something was missing. I correctly guessed beer, and my dad and I talked about how cutting back was going for him.
Later, Maggie came over, snacking on baby carrots. “I’m trying to eat healthy,” she told me. “I graduated. I have my job now. No more late night snacking… And I’ll have a wedding dress to get into.”
“Whatever,” I told her warmly. “As long as you don’t lose your sexy butt.” I felt a part of me twitch, and I grinned - another positive sign I was getting better.
“Hush!” She giggled and sent furtive glances around. “Anyway, I was thinking. We can’t stay in the cancer center housing for much longer, and we don’t need to. As soon as I get my first paycheck - actually when I get my sign-on advance - we can move in somewhere. An apartment, maybe? Close to my work?”
“That will be expensive,” I pointed out. “And I won’t be able to help out with the bills for…a little while. I do have a fairly healthy savings account… if we need it.”
“Marty, my salary as an RN is not too shabby. Let’s keep the money in savings in case of an emergency. The only question is where… Where should we live?”
“I also have to think about LaFleur Flowers,” I pointed out. Right now, I wasn’t in much condition to lay mulch and run a register, but I wanted to go back to the family business when I could.
“Yeah, I know. I’ve thought about that some.” She paused. “Lafayette is only an hour from NO. When you’re better, we could put down some money for a house somewhere about halfway between the cities. Then, we could both commute.”
