So, Here I Am

Chapter Twenty Five Laurent and Maggie

Since she and A.J. returned to London, and her talk with Soraya, Maggie had been getting back to work.  She sold all but two of her companies when she was fifty, so she could spend more time on her philanthropic work, and her intention was to travel more.

She had been talking and skyping with Laurent on a regular basis now, getting to know each other again, getting closer.  They were finding, maybe not so much to their surprise, that they really did "like" each other as people and not just as people in love.  They were forging a genuine friendship, as well as the love they had always felt for one another, and it was a lovely feeling, if not a little weird.  The more they talked, and they had talked about that night, the more she felt at ease with him.  When he had to leave at the end of their conversations, she genuinely didn't want him to go.

-- It's time -- she thought -- it's time, if he still wants to -- to commit to him, but will he still want me ?  Have I made him wait too long?  What if he's found someone else?  Would he still want me in his life? --  Her heart sank at the thought it might be too late.  They had both agreed that it would be when she felt comfortable.

-- But what choice did he have, -- she thought. -- maybe I've been too hard on him -- he said he would always be ready to have her back in his life again -- next time they talked, she would ask him.    It was their usual greeting

"Hey, beautiful "

"Back atcha"

"How are you doin' today?"

"I am absolutely fantastic, Laurent, 'cos I am in love!"

He was a little taken aback, and laughed as he questioned her why

"K, what's going on?  Who you in love with?

"A puppy at the shelter!"

"Oh, Ok" he sounded slightly dejected at her love for something, someone that wasn't him.

"It's you, Laurent, you ass, I'm in love with you, and you know this!"

"Yeah, well, I know, but usually we chat for about an hour and then get down to business.  What's going on, Maggie?"

"OK, well, if you would like .... I would like for us to be a couple again .... you know, go out on dates and stuff......you come here, me go there .......stuff like that ......if you want ....." She was trying to make it sound light, like she was inviting him to a barbeque in the backyard.             There was silence from his end, and his head was hung low, all she could see was the top of his head, his twists falling over his face, the face she wanted to see so badly.  She couldn't see his expression at all.

"Lau.  Laurent.  Say something.  Please."

Another few seconds passed, seeming like an eternity, then he raised his head.  She couldn't read his expression, and she was scared. -- Shit.  Shit.  Fuck --.  She'd left it too late, he'd found someone else.  Her heart was in her mouth.  --  But you said you'd love me till your dying breath -- she whined in her head.   Then

"About fucking time !!  God, woman!!  You're enough to try the patience of a saint!!"  He was full out laughing now.

"Don't do that ! I was imagining all kinds of stuff!"

"Like what?"

"Like you found someone else, I'd made you wait too long ..."

"It's only been a few months, Maggie.  And anyway, you didn't have faith in me?  If I can't wait a few months for the love of my life ...."    He didn't get to finish his last words..

"What did you just say?"

"You heard me.  The.  Love.  Of.  My.  Life"  He said each word slowly, separately, and relished every second of it.  He would never hold back telling Maggie how he felt about her, not that he ever had.

"I love you, Laurent Nicolas Bourgeois"

"And I love you, Margaret Alexandra McLean"

"Don't you EVER, ever call me that again" she was laughing at him calling her by her birth name, as much as she hated it.

"OK, that's it, offer rescinded !!" She yelled at him, laughing loudly. He spoke softly to her now

"Ok, Ok, Maggie...... Maggie"

"So how do you want to do this ?  You come here, me go there? It's so long since I've been to L.A."

"Come here, please.  We have a couple of workshops, and a benefit performance at the Getty museum.  Oooh, and a gala for the fashion institute.  Apparently, Larry and I are two of the best dressed men in fashion !"

"Really ? I mean, really !" She couldn't hide her amusement at the title.  But then she thought, when they cleaned up, and they cleaned up really well, they could both look sexy as fuck when they wanted to.

"Now, that's not nice ! Anyway, that way, I can show you off to the world.  I WANT to show you off to the world."  With that last sentence, he said so softly, he sounded so happy.  Just then, Maggie changed the subject

"Hows Larry, Lau?  He has talked to Soraya, hasn't he?  Oh, I feel so bad for him !  I told him she'd do this to him, but he didn't seem to care.  Is he OK?"

"He's OK, hurt, bruised ego, but he'll be ok.  I told him to stop keeping his brain in his dick, it would function much better in his head. Not so pleasurable, but better" Maggie chuckled at that.

They left each other with the promise to lock down dates for Maggie to go to L.A., within the next couple of weeks.

Laurent "Maggie ?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you. Thank you for choosing me. Larry told me to do everything I could to get you back in my life, that you would be worth the wait.  He was right"

-- Very wise man, Larry -- she thought, suddenly having a deep affection for him.