The Pursuit

Five

Sarah was a delight and more low key than Maggie assumed. Maggie was impressed that her dad had such luck with her. She was brilliant, a retired National Park Service ranger, and history buff. Maggie monopolized all of their conversation and her dad barely got a word in. He smiled the whole dinner watching them exchange stories and interests. Maggie came to find that Sarah and her late husband Thomas had met when they were interns with the National Park Service at Yellowstone over thirty years ago. They fell in love and then relocated to the East coast where they both worked on Civil War battlefields, respectively, until they retired three years ago. They had two kids, both older than Maggie.

Sarah was insistent that  she'd introduce them all next time they were up to visit from the city. Her son, Prescott works as a headhunter for major financial corporations in the state,  while her daughter Abby just finished her second year of medical school. Maggie felt so content in Sarah's presence, more than she thought she would.

Later in the evening as Maggie laid in bed, she was brought back to the unknown girl she found that past weekend. The police had released a sketch of the girl but Maggie had yet to see it. There was fear that lingered in her forethought. Would the girl haunt her dreams more prominently now? If her face is known would it become more terrifying to sleep? You need to go see Dr. Potter again before you lose your shit, again.

The next day  she had yet to look at the picture. During her visit with Dr. Potter he suggested she decide to find the courage  to look in order to distinguish between the past and present. She left the office with new weekly sessions scheduled for the next few months  and a hefty prescription for valium.

Work had been a whirlwind.  Her students were intrigued to know what happened as they heard gossip throughout the school from students and teachers alike. Maggie chose to stay mum about it and not let it drag into her professional life. She didn't need to have a panic attack at school. She did fill Jamie in on everything that happen though, including the sex with Sam. Jamie insisted on another night out again at Sullivan's since it had been so successful for Maggie, and for Jamie too. Jamie had apparently hit it off with a friend of Brandon's but went home with another guy. Maggie reluctantly agreed to go out again but in the back of her mind she secretly feared what could happen.

When Friday rolled around Jamie picked up Maggie at her father's house. Maggie chose a similar outfit to the prior week, this time hair down and tight sweater. Jamie donned a low cut shirt again and skirt. The girl was begging for all eyes to be on her.

They pulled into the parking lot and Maggie checked her reflection in the mirror. She curled her auburn hair and applied fresh lip gloss. So desperate... she chastised herself. They made their way in and greeted Pete. He was happy to see them again, especially as the bar was a bit quieter than last week. Maggie grabbed their order and found Jamie upstairs already surrounded by some company. Maggie scanned at the group and narrowed in on Brandon who was sitting with Jared Smith, an ex-boyfriend, and absolute dickwad. He was the asshole of their graduating class. What a mistake you made with that one, her conscience reminded her. Remember when he called you a bitch for denying him sex? Ugh she shook her head quickly. His eyes met hers and he smiled at her but  her skin crawled in response.

Brandon smiled and greeted Maggie with a hug. Jared watched Maggie take a seat next to Jamie. Maggie looked at the others and recognized Brandon's partner and, next to Brandon, a petite brunette with piercing amber eyes. Those are Sam's eyes, she thought and stared at the girl.  Brandon cleared his throat and introduced Maggie to his partner, Nick Hart, a transplant from Colorado. He seemed genuine as he shook her hand, his hair combed over  with enough gel he'd probably be flammable. Then Brandon turned his attention to the female next to him. "This is Abs," Brandon said as he turned his gaze to the petite woman and she smiled at him. They must be together, Maggie thought, They're cute.