Page 14 of Protecting Maggie
“This is just how we are around each other,” Josie said with a smile. “On our own, we’re each kind of shy, believe it or not. But when we get together it’s as if we’re different people. Outgoing and talkative.”
Everyone chuckled, and Maggie even joined in. She could understand that. Once upon a time, she was the same way. Reticent around strangers, but she came out of her shell when she was around people she knew and liked. But life had changed her. Now she felt as if she were on the outside looking in. Knowing in her bones that if people knew who she was, what she’d been accused of, where she’dspent the last two years of her life, they’d turn their backs on her. She felt tainted. Even though she hadn’t done what she’d been accused of, the feeling was still there.
Wren pulled up outside the small restaurant in downtown Riverton and said she’d be right in after she parked. They went inside and were immediately seated at a booth. The interior of the restaurant was quirky and casual, which was a relief for Maggie, since she was wearing jeans and a T-shirt.
Wren joined them and, after a small discussion about the choices on the menu, they put in their orders with the waitress. Maggie was a little worried about the prices, as they weren’t exactly cheap, but she decided to hell with it. She deserved this little moment of happiness. She’d worry about where her next meal was coming from later.
“So,” Josie said after the waitress had brought them drinks. “On a scale of one to ten, how overbearing were the guys yesterday?”
Maggie grinned. “They weren’t bad.”
All three of the other women rolled their eyes.
“Right. They can be intimidating when they want to be. I think it’s in their SEAL genes or something.”
“I really am sorry for being a part of their ambush,” Remi said. “I knew Vincent was concerned about the Navy woman he knows, but I didn’t realize he was going to bring Preacher and Smiley with him to confront you about it.”
“It’s okay,” Maggie said.
“It’s not. But I’m relieved that things seemed to work out. How do you know Adina?”
The conversation flowed easily. Maggie relaxed as the topic of her incarceration didn’t come up. She could pretend that she was a normal woman out for lunch with her girlfriends.
Their lunches were brought out, and Maggie’s eyes widened at the size of the portions.
“It’s no wonder Americans are so overweight, huh?” Wren said with a chuckle.
Maggie had gotten a Reuben sandwich and the fries were literally overflowing off her plate. The Iowa Porker sandwich Remi ordered was the same, except it was the breaded and deep-fried pork tenderloin that was hanging over the bunandplate. The BLT Wren got was so thick, there was no way she was going to be able to get her mouth around it. And Josie’s cobb salad was as big as her head.
At least the problem of what she was going to eat for dinner or lunch tomorrow was solved. She’d have enough leftovers for at least one more meal. Maybe two. And the food was delicious. Probably because all she’d been eating for weeks was ramen and hotdogs, but still.
Between bites, Wren said, “I hear you’ll be back in this area later this afternoon to talk to Julie.”
Maggie looked at her blankly.
“You didn’t know Preacher was bringing you for an interview with her later?” Remi asked.
“I mean, I knew he had talked to someone for me about a job, but I don’t know the details,” Maggie admitted, feeling kind of stupid for not asking more questions.
“Julie is awesome. She’s married to a former SEALcommander. She has this amazing secondhand shop here in downtown Riverton. She helps high schoolers get formal clothes at cost or for free for their dances and stuff, as well as more casual clothes for those who need it. She really helped me when I first arrived in town,” Wren said.
“Me too,” Josie agreed.
Shawn’s comments about clothes made a lot more sense now. But learning who her interview was with and for what kind of job didn’t make Maggie relax. “I don’t know anything about fashion,” she admitted quietly.
But none of the women looked concerned. “Oh, it doesn’t matter,” Remi said with a casual wave of her hand.
“It doesn’t,” Wren insisted, when she saw the skeptical expression on Maggie’s face. “Julie hasn’t always had an easy time of it. She’s the daughter of a former senator and was raised with a silver spoon in her mouth. It wasn’t until she was kidnapped and taken south of the border to be a sex slave that she realized there was more to life than tea parties and crumpets.”
“Crumpets?” Josie asked with a small laugh. “What the hell are those?”
“I have no idea,” Wren admitted.
“I don’t know either, but now I have a great idea for a Pecky cartoon. He makes friends with a crumpet and has no idea what he is,” Remi said.
Everyone laughed, but Maggie was still worried about the interview she had with this Julie person later.
Remi leaned in and put a hand on Maggie’s arm. Again,it felt strange to be touched in a friendly manner, and not grabbed by a guard or a fellow prisoner.
