RABBIT HEART || MARVEL (1)

FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE: A STRANGE COINCEDENCE

THE NEXT MORNING

MAGGIE WAS BARELY ABLE TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT DUE TO HER EXCITEMENT.

However, she woke up early the next morning. Only because she told Bucky that she would go with him and his family to the train station. The brunette wanted to see her boyfriend off before he departed to England, her home country. And it filled her heart with joy that she would be joking him there soon if the experiment went well.

Thomas was gone long before Maggie woke up. He made sure to kiss his wife goodbye once more and left for New Jersey. Maggie made sure to leave her mother a note before quietly left the house. If she didn't let her mother know in some way or form where she went, it made her mother anxious.

The walk to the Barnes family home wasn't long, only five minutes away from her own. Once she reached the front door, Maggie gave a loud enough knock for just anyone to hear. A couple seconds later, the door opened to a middle aged woman. She had curly brown hair put up in a messy bun and steel blue eyes. The woman wore an apron over her clothes, looking as if she was in the middle of cooking breakfast. It was Winifred Barnes.

Winifred was Bucky's mother and a close friend of Maggie's mother. One day she would be Maggie's mother in-law, though the woman already treated her like a daughter. Winifred was one of the sweetest souls on Earth. Not to mention hardworking and an amazing mother. She always invited Maggie's family into her home for dinner parties. And even though her husband passed away, Winifred did her best to raise both her children.

"Oh! Why good morning, Maggie," Winifred greeted with a smile. "Please, come inside."

The woman held open the door as Maggie entered the house. The door closed behind her and she followed Winifred into the kitchen/dining room.

"I didn't think you would be here so early," Winifred said with a small laugh. "I've barely finished breakfast. And James and Becca are still asleep."

"I thought I could come and see if you need any help," Maggie said. "What do you need me to do?"

"Why thank you. Do you mind grabbing the plates and silverware and set up the table for me. All I have left to do is finish these pancakes. I also made some eggs and bacon. There's also some orange juice in the fridge."

"It sounds like you've had a busy morning, Miss Winny." Maggie set up the table as she talked, focusing on making sure everyone had enough silverware.

"Yeah, I wanted to have one last family break before you two head to the train station," Winifred said, a bit of sadness in her tone.

"And how are you holding up?" Maggie asked, walking back over to the older woman.

"I'm doing what any mother can do." Winifred tried her best not to start tear up. "And I have faith that God will bring him back safe and sound."

Maggie gave a soft smile, rubbing the woman's back as a sign of comfort. Then Winifred turned around. Her powder eyes widened as she remembered something.

"I almost forgot! Let me see the ring," Winifred said.

Maggie excitedly held out her left hand, showing Winifred the ring. The woman smiled as she analyzed it, looking close.