Right Next Door

Chapter 10

Maggie

She was on Cloud Nine all day. Nothing could ruin her mood, she thought.

Then Robert happened.

"I'm just saying. What do you really know about the guy, Mag?"

She had stopped by the station to see if he had time for a quick lunch. She didn't owe Robert anything but wanted to be up front with him about her feelings for Brandon so there was no confusion on his end.

"We have been spending a lot of time together, Robert. He's a great guy and Aaron loves him. I want you to make an effort to get to know him. I know that's selfish of me, but you're a big part of my life and I don't want things to get weird between us."

Robert glanced around the outdoor café area and fiddled with the lid of his Coke bottle cap.

"I will make an effort, if that's what you want. I don't want things to be weird between us, either, but I'm not gonna make it easy on him. He will have to earn you, Maggie."

This had Maggie's eyes bugging out of her head. "EARN ME?" She scoffed at the idea. "You've got to be joking. Rob, I am sorry I kissed you, I really am. But I'm not some prized cow up for a blue ribbon. I am giving you the courtesy of getting to know Brandon because it's my life and I want to date him. I'm not dating nor have I ever dated you. If you cannot accept that, then I'm afraid I'm going to need some space for a while."

Robert looked at her as though she had slapped him. All of the blood drained from his face.

"You can't cut me out of your life, Maggie. You can't keep me from seeing Aaron. He's like a son to me."

"He's NOT your son." Maggie realized she was yelling and quickly lowered her voice to detract from the attention they were gathering from the patrons surrounding them. "I appreciate everything you do for me and MY son," she hissed through gritted teeth, "but until you can get over yourself and this crush you have on me I'd say you need to stay away from me. I'll see you later, Robert." Maggie quickly stood to leave but Robert caught her arm as she tried to make her escape.

"Please, Maggie."

She didn't say a word. She just looked at his offending hand on her arm as if it were burning her alive and he quickly let her go.

The buzz she felt from her indecent make-out session with Brandon was long gone by the time she made it through all of her appointments and errands that day. When she picked up Aaron from Extended Care he was a ball full of energy she just didn't feel capable of dealing with. She took him to the park on the way home and as soon as they pulled up the driveway to their house he asked if he could play in the backyard.

"Change your clothes and wear something you don't mind getting dirty. It could be muddy outside." The rain had finally subsided and knowing they'd have to take Dolly out anyway, she didn't mind if the boy wanted to play outside.

When she made her way into the kitchen she noticed a small note scribbled on the chalkboard placed on the wall next to the refrigerator.

The kitchen is fixed & I made a small repair in your guest bathroom. If you need anything, just call me. - B x

The note he left, as mundane and platonic as it could be, still made her warm throughout. Her bad mood and crummy afternoon were long forgotten.

Maggie mulled over what to fix for dinner and decided on Sloppy Joes with homemade French fries and green peas. It wasn't the healthiest meal, but it was easy to make, and that's what she needed most this evening.