Maggie and Mr. Middleton

Chapter One - The Middleton Estate

Chapter One

Song: "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" by Julie London

As Mary Beth ignited the dilapidated, rust-covered Oldsmobile and began the drive to the airport, Maggie glanced back longingly at her beloved city. Although boarding school abroad had been her unfortunate reality during much of her formative years, San Francisco was still her home. She recalled the morning fog and the distinct chill in the air. She smiled at the thought of the blue and windy sea and the brilliance of the golden sun gleaming down on the expansive city. She began to ponder and question her new life in Massachusetts. Would she be terribly lonely, forgotten even? She knew that it couldn't come close to the magic of her city by the bay.

Maggie was pulled from her pensive thoughts by the sound of her sister's voice. "Well, are you ready?" Mary Beth asked, with a smile and a hint of laughter in her voice.

Maggie sighed and suddenly felt her heartbeat increase. No. The answer was no. She would never be ready to leave her home, her only family – her sister. "I guess so," She replied through gritted teeth, desperately wishing she had inherited the carefree gene that Mary Beth had always seemed to possess. Instead, her mind was seemingly always filled with worry, anxiety, and fear, especially since the accident. She breathed, in and out... in and out... in and out, desperately trying to calm her nerves, to get her heartbeat to rest.

Mary Beth leaned over and gave her a friendly pat on the knee. "Quit worrying so much, Mags. You're smart, I know you'll make a great nanny."

Maggie smiled and breathed out an obligatory thank you before returning to her thoughts. As they inched toward the airport, she couldn't believe that this was happening. Since graduating college early with her teaching degree several months ago, Mary Beth did all the convincing and urging she could to get Maggie to go out, to spread her wings in a different place. Maggie knew that it was what she needed too, but it didn't stop the fear of the unknown from taking root.

Mary Beth pulled the tattered car up to the terminal and gently shifted it into park. Maggie gathered her two measly suitcases from the trunk and exchanged a long hug and a tearful goodbye with her sister; Mary Beth promising that she was simply a phone call away. Mary Beth slipped back into car and waved as drove off.

She checked in, headed through security and boarded the large aircraft, that was taking her to the east coast. She glanced around. A mother and baby in front of her, a businessman to her right. As the plane taxied and began to take off, Maggie looked out the window, admiring her home for the last time, knowing that she had left her heart in San Francisco.

***

"I'm Tom," The driver reached out with a smile, and offered her his hand. Maggie recognized him as the hired driver that Diana told her that they hired from time to time.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Maggie," she replied. The driver seemed pleasant and had a kindhearted quality about him. He led her to a luxurious looking car, heaps better than Mary Beth's sad looking Oldsmobile. Along the way, they exchanged pleasantries, Maggie observed the beauty of the fresh fallen snow, and Tom told her a little bit about Fillmore, the town of which she was now a resident. She inquired a little about Emily, the little girl that she would be caring for, but was cautious not to pry too much.

After a couple hours of traveling, they had finally reached the estate, just after the sun had set and the sky turned to night. Maggie was in awe. The word house, simply did not suffice for this particular dwelling. It was a sprawling, Gothic manor, almost sinister looking from the outside, but was made beautiful by the charmingly glistening Christmas lights, neatly placed along the trim of the residence. Maggie guessed the house set on hundreds of acres and had evergreen trees as far as the eye could see.

"Wow," Maggie gasped. Tom chuckled.

"It's pretty spectacular, Miss Edwards," he agreed. "Well, let's get you inside. Diana's been waiting all day for you." Tom carried Maggie's bags in and led her through a grand foyer with mahogany wood trimmings and an elegant marble floor. They walked through several rooms before reaching the living room, in which Diana was passing time, sitting by the warmth of the fire, knitting.

"Oh, I was beginning to worry!" Diana exclaimed, tossing her yarn aside and rising from the easy chair to greet Maggie.

"I'll put the bags by the staircase," He said, as he puttered out of the room.

Diana Drake, was a kind looking person, just as Maggie had found Tom to be. She was older with a few wrinkles lining her face, perhaps in her early 70's. She had dark blonde hair swept into a bun and wore a long, plain navy colored dress. She wrapped Maggie into a warm hug, something Maggie didn't know she had desperately needed.

"I'm just so glad you're here! I knew you were the right person for the job as soon as I saw your resumé. Emily will be so excited to meet you tomorrow, she has been talking about you all day!"

Maggie grinned, appreciating Diana's jovial spirit. It reminded her so much of her mother's own ways. "I'm very excited to meet your granddaughter as well," She commented, trying to remain poised and professional at all times and was confused when this sent Diana into a fit of laughter.

"Oh dearie, she's not my granddaughter! She is Mr. Middleton's, the owner of this home," Diana explained as she attempted to control her amusement.

Maggie felt embarrassment overcome her. "I thought that you owned this home."

"Oh, no, no. And please, call me Diana. I just run the home for Mr. Middleton and look after Emily. Although at my age, its becoming a little more difficult, which is why I hired you."

"Oh," Maggie muttered, simply not knowing what to say next.

"You do know of him, don't you?" Diana asked.

"Mr. Middleton?" Maggie replied thoughtfully. "I'm not sure that I do."

Diana worked to hide to surprised expression on her face. "Mark Middleton, he owns the Middleton Hotels Corporation. This is his estate, although he's not here very often. Always, off, exotic places and all, opening new hotels," She explained dreamily.

Although Maggie had not heard the name Mark Middleton before, she most definitely had heard of Middleton Hotels. She nodded in acknowledgement and Diana continued to talk.

"Well, let's get you upstairs. Come, I'll show you to your room." Diana led Maggie through the halls, up the grand staircase, through the hall, to her room. "I hope it's alright," Diana said as she opened the door. As Maggie entered the room, she was beside herself. It was an enormous space, larger than the minuscule apartment that she and Mary Beth had shared in San Francisco. The bedroom, like the other rooms, was also filled with dark mahogany wood and dimly lit. Painted a soft yellow, it suited Maggie perfectly. "It's wonderful!" Maggie exclaimed to Diana as she walked over to admire the bay window overlooking the snowfall on the vast acreage overlooking the rear of the estate.

Diana chuckled, "I'm glad. Well, I'll leave you to settle in. My room is two doors down and Emily's room is across from yours. Let us know if you need anything. Oh, and breakfast is served at 8."

Maggie nodded and thanked Diana profusely. After settling in, her mind was racing. Not so much with worry, but with curiosity. She wondered about the days ahead, about Mrs. Drake, Emily. But mostly, she wondered about Mr. Middleton. Who was this mysterious figure? Why was he never here? Did he not care for Emily, his own daughter? Maggie's heart sunk at the thought and hoped that it wasn't true.

Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be as bad as she thought.

***Thank you for reading! Please let me know your thoughts!***