So, Here I Am

Chapter Twenty Four A.J. and Soraya

They all spent the last day in Paris together. Mama and the Twins showed Maggie and A.J around their neighbourhood, introduced them to their friends, spent time talking, and mama and Larry cooked them all a delicious celebratory dinner on their last evening together.   

In the candlelit kitchen, dirty dishes in the sink, drinking cognac and coffee, they all sat, full to bursting, and talked animatedly to each other.  Laurent had been kind and attentive to Maggie, and she was happy for that. --  It would be enough for now  -- he thought.  Maggie rose from her chair, and tapped a knife to the edge of her glass, to get everyone's attention.

" I would like to say a few words, if that's ok ?  These past few days have been a roller coaster, to say the least.  But I feel that I, as well as A.J., have found my family too"   Everyone replied with a unanimous "Aaaawww !!"

"OK, ok, but honestly, if there is a silver lining to all this ..... turmoil that we have endured ..." she says looking at mama B "it's that we have found each other in the end. We have found our family.  We have all found love here..." she finishes looking directly at Laurent.  He smiles at her, and raises his glass.                                                                                                                                                Maggie "To family, and to love"      Everyone "To family, and to love"                                                   

They all chink glasses, toast each other, and as Maggie takes her seat, Laurent leaves the room.

On this particular day, Maggie was in her office when her phone rang. It was Soraya.

Maggie "Hey girl, how you doin' ?"

"I'm good, I've missed you guys. How's A.J. ? How did he do with you guys' visit?"

"Haven't you talked to him? We've been back for a few days now."

"No, I don't know what to say to him"

"Well you'd better get over that right quick.  He needs his friends right now, Raya.  He's been through a lot lately"

"Yeah, I know. Can we... um.....can we meet for a chat?"

"You want to tell me now, or wait till we meet ?"

"Wait.  When can we do this ?"

"Sounds serious, Soraya. You OK?"

"I'm OK, I just need to tell you something, get something off my chest, is all"

"OK, how about brunch tomorrow at Taste ? I love their breakfasts !"

"Lovely, see you there. 11 ? Bye "   Maggie is slightly intrigued, but that can wait, she has work to do.

The next morning, Maggie and Soraya meet for brunch at Taste in Soho.  They are famous for their breakfasts, and Maggie is hungry.   They greet each other with their usual kissy face silliness, and find a table, and order coffee.

Maggie "How you doin', sweetie?  You sounded serious yesterday."

"I need to ask you ...um.....tell you something" Soraya says nervously

"Out with it Raya, you know I don't do well with people who beat about the bush"

"OK, I don't think he told you, but A.J have been seeing each other again, like on dates..... and stuff ....."

"And "stuff" ?" Maggie says, raising an eyebrow

"Dates, then, no stuff ...."  yet.

"Raya!! When did this happen ? How? Why didn't he tell me?" She was disappointed in A.J that he hadn't mentioned anything about Soraya, but then she realised that he had had a lot on his plate recently, and that maybe she should lighten up on him a little ...  ok, a lot.

Soraya "I'm sorry, we just started talking, and then coffee, and then dinner, another dinner, a day out here and there ..."

"When ?"

"Before you guys went to Paris. I haven't seen him since he got back, I thought I'd just leave him to his feels for a while"  Maggie sighs loudly, fiddling with the corner of the table cloth, then looks Soraya in the face

"Is it serious, Raya?.  Do you mean for it to be serious this time?  'Cos you know what I'm going to say, don't you Raya?  You hurt him again, and I'm gonna hurt you."

"I know, I know, he said you would say that"

"What else did he say, Raya?"  Every sentence was ending in "Raya?", as if to push home some point she was trying to make.

"He said you are only trying to protect him from getting hurt again, and I get it, I do.  But I feel differently about him now, Maggie.   And he trusts me, and loves me enough not to hurt him. Please believe me"   Maggie just stared at her across the table, then let out a long sigh of resignation.

"You're both grown ups, you don't need my approval.  He's big enough and ugly enough to look after his own heart now, I don't need to do that anymore.  But if his heart hurts, then so does mine, understand me?"

"Yeah, I do.  You're right, we don't need your approval, but we'd like it, all the same"  Then a thought suddenly struck Maggie, and it went straight to her heart.

"What about LARRY ?!"

"What ABOUT Larry?"Soraya replied.

Maggie's eyes were wide open now, and her mouth agape at the nerve of the girl to have just said that.

"What do you mean "What ABOUT Larry" ?!  He adores you, when he's here he follows you around like a little puppy, he'll be devastated!!   Another heart in the dirt, I told him you would do this to him! "  Maggie was talking loudly now, and some diners were turning to see what the fuss was about.   She carried on, not even bothered whether she was annoying anyone with her volume.

"When you tell him, and you WILL tell him, he'll blame me !!  Oh God, like I haven't done enough to those boys already !!  Fuck !!  Fuck, fuck,  FUCK!!   She was yelling obscenities now, and the whole restaurant was silent to hear her rant.   Becs, the manager came over to their table.

"Everything OK, Maggie? Need to take a moment outside, do we?"

"No, sorry, Becs. Sorry" she was mouthing to nearby diners "Sorry, ......sorry"   And to the very scared waitress who brought their food, "Sorry"

Soraya "I know he'll be hurt, Maggie, but you can't help who you fall in love with. I didn't love Larry, and he certainly didn't love me.  I will tell him, I will.  But I love A.J.  I always have, and I always will"