Page 67 of Absinthe Minded

Maggie didn’t look happy.“I’ll be in my room.”

Oh boy. Not now. Not today.I finished diaper duty, settled Ella into her crib, and went to find Maggie. “Rough day?”

She shrugged. “Can we talk a minute?”

“What’s up, gorgeous?” I sat on the edge of the bed.

“How are the kids?”

I had the feeling she hadn’t asked me in here to talk about the kids. “I had a situation that had to be dealt with in the office. I had Hildie come sit with them.”

Maggie sighed and dipped her chin to her chest. “This isn’t working.”

“Where the hell is this coming from? I thought we were good?”

“We’re far from good.” She shook her head and stood. “Since you got here, everything is different. Someone put an engagement announcement in the paper. My boss and most of New Orleans saw it. You seduce me, sleep in my bed, make me nuts with your stupid grins and compliments, and the kids are getting too attached. I think you need to go.”

I listened to everything she had to say. By the time she quieted, I had to unclench my jaw to speak. “My turn?”

She shrugged.

“I don’t want to leave.” My voice cracked.

She stared as if waiting for me to say more, but I’d cut through all of the bullshit and said what I needed to.

Unfortunately, Maggie disagreed. The woman exploded. “That’s it? That’s all you have to say? Of course, you don’t want to leave. Too bad, Gabe. We don’t always get what we want.”

“Ah, there it is.” I stood.

“Therewhatis?”

I knew better than to argue with her when she was like this, but that didn’t stop me. “You’re pissed because I screwed up your perfectly planned out life.”

“What plan? I haven’t had a plan since Rebecca and Joe died.” She tilted her head and studied me like I was one of her books.

I had no intention of going anywhere for long, but we both needed time to cool off. “I’ll leave if that’s what you want, but don’t lie to me or yourself.”

“It’s true.” Maggie’s voice cracked. “I have no idea what I’m doing with the house, or the kids, or you.”

I lowered my voice. “Do you want to know why I ended things with you?”

She stared at her hands. “I remember every word you said to me, but go ahead and tell me again.”

“You had a plan for everything. I couldn’t figure out where I fit into it. You didn’t want kids. I want a house full. You wanted to live in New York. I live here.”

“That’s crap. I loved you. It killed me when you threw me away with the whole—you deserve a chance to follow your dreams—routine. I always thought you’d found someone else, that you’d woken up and realized I wasn’t good enough for you.”

My mouth fell open. How could she be so wrong? She acted as if we’d lived through two different relationships. Sure, I’d ended things, but I’d always regretted it. “There has never been anyone else for me.”

“Then why did you never return my calls?”

“I thought it’d be easier for you. A clean break.”

“No, Gabe, it was easier foryou.” She turned her back to me. “I was twenty-one and stupid. I had big dreams, but I would have changed them for you.”

“And I was twenty-six and loved you too much to ask you to do that.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “I’ve never stopped loving you.”

“You honestly expect me to believe that? I’ve been back in New Orleans for a year. You never called or stopped by. Not until you needed something from me.”

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