Page 89 of The Weekend Crashers
“It was symbolic—the changing identity of the town.”
“This town is a special place,” Maggie says. “Belinda, again, I’m so sorry for running out like that on Sunday night. Things with Piper just blew up and I had to deal with it.”
“Maggie, you certainly don’t owe me an apology,” she says, taking the lid off her cup and blowing gently into the steam. “I was just hoping nothing was terribly wrong.”
“To be honest, things have been better.”
Belinda’s hazel-gray eyes are focused on her with kindness. And it gives her hope.
“I need to make some changes in my life, and realizing this, I thought of you and what you’ve accomplished by building your life around your passion. I admire that so much. It hasn’t been something I’ve ever been able to do. And so instead, I put all my focus into Piper. And I realize now I need to stop doing that. For both our sakes.”
Belinda sighs. “I appreciate that, but I think you’re giving me too much credit. I never had children, so I was never torn between two things. You’re probably being too hard on yourself.”
Maggie’s phone rings. She glances at it with her persistent and unrealistic hope that Piper will reach out after all. She jumps up: It’s Ethan.
“Belinda, I’m sorry—I have to take this.”
She holds up her finger to emphasize she’ll be just one minute, then walks outside of the clamorous food court, ducking around the corner of the neighboring bookstore and pressing the phone to her ear.
“Ethan? Is everything okay?”
“Hi, Maggie. Everything is fine. But the thing is, we’re down at City Hall. Piper wants to get married today. So, here we are. And I just think that in spite of what’s going onbetween the two of you, she’s going to regret not having you here.”
Maggie’s stomach drops. She’s two hours away, and her mind shifts into high gear, searching for a way Ethan can possibly hold Piper off until she gets there. But then she stops herself: If Piper wants to get married at City Hall today, Maggie needs to respect that.
“Ethan, it’s incredibly kind of you to call me about this. And I know it’s not for me—that you’re doing it for her.” That’s love. What more could a mother want for her child? “But Piper knows what she wants. Trying to interrupt that would be a mistake. I learned that the hard way. So don’t you worry about it. Just... well, congratulations.”
“Are you sure?” he says.
She is sure. Although, when she ends the call, her heart is so heavy she’s momentarily disoriented. Despite what she said to Ethan, she still wants to run back to New York. Instead, she goes back inside the marketplace where Belinda is waiting.
Maggie hasn’t even had a chance to tell her the idea yet.
“Sorry about that,” Maggie says, slipping back into her seat. Piper is getting married.
Piper is getting married!
Belinda sips her coffee, then leans forward.
“Maggie, whatever you’re dealing with back home, let me assure you that no one has life completely figured out. Certainly not me.”
Maggie shakes her head. “Please, let me finish or I’ll lose what little nerve I’ve mustered.” She takes a breath. “I’m thinking about moving to New Hope. I want to do something with knitting... maybe open a yarn shop. That might be a ways off, but in the meantime, I’d love to teach at your retreats if you’ll have me. And then, if I’m able to open a yarn shop, we can find a way to create synergy between the store and your retreats. Wecan expand your class offerings, even do some off-site at the shop. I just think the possibilities are so exciting.”
A strained silence settles over the table.
“Maggie,” Belinda says. “We’re selling the inn.”
She’s not sure she heard her right. “What do you mean?”
“Max wants to move back to Philadelphia.”
She’s shocked. It takes her a moment to recover.
“Is that whatyouwant?”
“No,” Belinda says. “But there’s an offer on the table, and we could retire comfortably on it. Max doesn’t want to work forever. It’s not fair for me to ask him to.”
“Have you tried?”
