The Pursuit

Seven

When Maggie got back to the house it was nearly noon and she found her dad out, probably on a job. She let herself into the house and fiddled with switch but the lights didn't go on.  The power was out. Panic set in quickly. She could feel her blood literally pumping through her veins. It's okay, you don't have to go down there, remember? She did her breathing exercises as she walked back out to the garage. She entered the small area and opened the circuit breaker and flipped the switches. The lights came back on in the house and she breathed in one last time. She found  herself calming down, thinking in particular about Sam.

He insisted on arranging a date for that evening and would be coming to get her in several hours. He also insisted on exchanging phone numbers and properly meeting her father. After their "last hurrah" in bed Sam knew something was off and prodded her about her uneasiness. 

Maggie felt forced into telling her about their parents dating. He laughed it off and say no one would be able to tell him not to be with her and vise versa. Sam said his mom would get a kick out of it, but something in his tone put her on edge.

While she waited for her date she called Jamie and filled her in. Jamie was all happy and filled Maggie in on her night, sharing the details of her hookup with Nick. Jamie shared that she felt it would be the last time as she was starting to talk to an old boyfriend. Maggie prodded for information but Jamie wouldn't let her in.

Hours later Sam was at her doorstep. Dressed to impress with a bouquet of flowers and box of chocolates. Maggie let him in but her dad still wasn't home yet. He had texted about a house fire a few miles up the road that would delay him into the night. Her dad apologized about not being about to officially meet Sam but he had to assess the damage. Once Sam knew they were alone his eyes changed from the polite green to the dark amber that Maggie enjoyed.

They were late for dinner, Maggie's hair off kilter from exploring each other in her childhood bedroom. Sam held her hand as they ordered their meals then insisted on ordering the best wine the restaurant had to offer. They talked more about their pasts and Maggie found herself intrigued by this mystery man. She still wasn't sure why he lied to her at the bar, or if he knew Jane Doe.  As a lull came in the dinner she saw Sam's eyes darken and his stare became inquisitive.

"What? What's the matter?", Maggie looked around the restaurant and the other couples, trying to decipher the issue.

"I don't think it's proper dinner conversation, but it's something that's been bothering me all day. Ever since you left me this afternoon", he said emphatically. Shit, what does he  know.

Maggie fiddled with the last bits of her meal and looked at Sam, "Go ahead, ask it. I would try my hardest to answer if I can".  She gulped and grabbed her wine, taking a generous sip.

He leaned in over the table and took her hand in his. His thumb rubbed her hand. Get it out man! "When were you going to tell me that you found a body in the woods last week?" he asked in a hushed whisper.

Maggie shook and tried to remove her hand from his but he held on tight, trying to get her to not recoil.  She felt shamed in that instant and she didn't want him to judge her. "I'm just curious, because I don't know if you know this but that girl who you found was at the bar that night we met", he said matter of factly. Maggie just looked at him shocked.

Maggie took another sip of her wine and looked at their hands intertwined. Out with it! "Yes, I found the body in the woods. I only discovered she was the girl from the bar last night. That's partially why I left the bar. I couldn't be there with you and know that you walked in with her and you implied she was your sister", Maggie responded to him sharply.

Sam looked wounded and searched her with his eyes, looking for some sort of beacon. "I didn't intend for you to think she was with me. My sister was upstairs with your friends that night. You could check with all of them. That poor girl was there for literally five minutes. I only acknowledged the her  because your eyes went there first", he admitted.  Maggie looked back at their hands and then to his eyes. "I never intended to lie to you and I never want to lie to you", he professed. He squeezed her hand.

"I understand, sorry. I jumped the gun there", she apologized.

"It's okay, you could make it up to me later", he winked at her. He removed his hand and put his fingers  up to signal for the check. 

"What if I don't go back with you to your room?", she challenged him. He met her gaze and leaned in closer to her. She could smell his expensive cologne.

"Who said we're going back to my room?" he winked again and retrieved the check from the waiter.

They ended up going back to Maggie's house. Her father wasn't home yet, but it was still early. They sat in the renovated and oversized family room. Her dad had the room built out and updated with the best technology for entertainment. Maggie changed into yoga pants and t-shirt. They settled into the couch and snacked on popcorn and wine. Maggie found herself relax again. This feeling was what she had in the past before her mom died. She was so at ease then. He could be good for you, just try.  She smiled and settled into Sam's body. They watched Forrest Gump play out and Sam began quoting lines to her. Then they got to the scene where Forrest's momma is dying and the tears started to build in Maggie's eyes. I miss her so much, she cried to herself.

As if sensing her pain Sam turned to look down at her. "Maggie", he paused and she looked up at him. He wiped her tear as it escaped. "What was she like? I don't see a lot of pictures up of you with her", he observed.

Maggie thought about it and looked into his eyes. He had lost his own father a few months ago, surely he knows how you feel, why is it so hard, she thought. He held her and kissed her lightly on the lips. "She was amazing", Maggie finally said. "She had so much love to give everyone she met. She gave to best hugs in the whole world", Maggie felt the tears gather and she let them freefall. "She was a great baker, always patient, always considerate. She never got mad or angry", Maggie paused. Sam just watched her as she reflected. "She had the best laugh in the entire world", she paused as Sam kissed her tears as they fell. "Do you wanna hear it?", Maggie asked him with hopefulness.

"Of course  I do", Sam said with a small hesitant smile. Maggie got up from the couch and found the disc  from her parent's twentieth wedding anniversary. She had it converted to a disc after she nearly burnt through the tape after her mom passed. She loaded the disc into the DVD player. She hadn't watched the tape in over a year. She stood sand started  skimming through the images. 

Sam came up behind her and held her there and kissed her neck. He rested his head on her shoulder. She found the part and let it play out. She watched her mother, with her new haircut and highlights dressed in a white linen dress and trendy wedges. She was so young. Dad is fucking lucky to have had her, she thinks quietly. The party was in their backyard a year before her death. She was so fucking happy. Maggie shakes her head in disbelief. Sam leads her back to the couch and they watch.

Speeches are being made by the maid of  honor and the best man, her godparents. There's a joke shared about Maggie's parents running off after the ceremony to have alone time and Maggie could hear herself in the background making noises to make her distaste apparent. Her mom lets out a loud cackle that vibrates through the entire yard. Maggie sobs quietly and Sam holds her. He keeps her in place and the video plays into the cake cutting. Her dad cuts the cake with her mom to recreate their wedding day. They were teens then, she remembered, her dad was twenty and her mom eighteen. The cake was huge and overly frosted. Her dad takes a piece and feeds it gently to her mom. Then when it's her mom's turn she takes her father's head and pushes his face into the cake making a mess everywhere. The crowd erupts and Maggie enters the frame belly laughing.  Her mother's laughter starts again and her father starts to chase her through the yard demanding kisses. The laugh sends a shot of light through Maggie's empty chest.

Maggie started to laugh out loud and felt the warmth run through her body. Sam's hand rubbed her arm and pulled her in closer. He kissed the side of her face and she felt her eyes drift close.