Page 59 of Must Love Flowers
“What do you mean?”
“It matters to me. I was an ass.”
She crossed her arms and cocked her head to one side. “I’d say that’s an accurate statement.”
“Listen up, okay?”
She was a captive audience. “All right.”
“You remember Kurt? He’s the other guy who comes into Starbucks with me.”
“I do, but what does he have to do with anything?”
“His mother had hip replacement surgery a while back. She had the daughter of a friend come in to help her after she got home from the hospital. Her bedroom was upstairs…Well, that doesn’t matter. The point is, she brought this young woman into her home.”
Maggie wasn’t sure why this was important information, but she decided to hear him out. “What’s that got to do with me?”
“Nothing, but it might help explain my reaction. Only after Kurt’s mom was able to climb her stairs again did she realize several valuable items were missing from her jewelry case. Kurt was furious that someone had taken advantage of his mother. He confronted the girl, who adamantly denied stealing anything. She was outraged at the suggestion. It ruined the relationship between his mother and her best friend. Kurt started checking around pawn shops and eventually found several of the missing pieces. The sad part is that his mother trusted someone unworthy of that trust. I…I didn’t want the same thing to happen to my mother.”
“And you’re telling me this because you were afraid I might steal from your mother?” Nick wasn’t helping himself any.
He shifted uncomfortably. “Yes, and I was wrong. I’m sorry, Maggie, and I hope you’ll be willing to give me another chance.” He lifted his head to meet her look. “I jumped to conclusions when I learned you had family in the area, thinking there wasn’t a good reason for you to be living with my mom when you had other alternatives.”
She considered his explanation. Admittedly, she might havehad her own suspicions had their situations been reversed. Especially after hearing what had happened to his friend’s mother.
“Mom mentioned that your situation at home wasn’t ideal.”
Maggie didn’t confirm or deny it.
“Well?” he asked. “Do you think we can put this behind us and be friends?”
She let him sweat it out for a few seconds before she smiled and gave him her hand. The thing was, she liked Nick. She’d had a great time at the movie with him. He was fun, and while she’d been hurt by his distrust, she understood he was looking after his mother’s best interests.
Nick’s smile took up half his face as he eagerly took her hand and shook it. Then, surprising her, he pulled her forward into a tight hug. “Congratulations on the scholarship.”
“Thanks,” she said, hugging him back. Her spirits were too high after the positive news to hold on to her anger for long. His arms felt good, and she breathed in his warmth and genuine delight at her award. She was happy he’d been at the house so she could share the good news with both him and Joan.
“My guess is that champagne is cold by now. Let’s celebrate.”
“Let’s,” she agreed.
Side by side, they bounded back down the stairs.
As if anticipating their arrival, Joan had brought out three flutes and set them on the kitchen counter.
Nick opened the refrigerator and removed the chilled bottle.
With an expert hand, Nick twisted off the foil and wire before taking hold of the bottle and twisting it instead of the cork.
“It looks like you have experience opening champagne,” Maggie commented at the knowledgeable way he handled the bottle.
“I worked for a caterer while I was a senior in high school,” he mentioned. “My supervisor said there was no need for the cork to pop if the bottle is opened properly. As I recall, he said that if I did it right, the sound would be the sigh of a contented woman.”
Joan burst out laughing. Maggie smiled, too, before turning her attention to the widow. Something had changed for Joan, as well, if her smile was any indication. Maggie suspected it had to do with the widow friend Joan had found in Mary Lou and the counseling group.
Nick expertly poured into each glass before distributing them to his mother and then Maggie.
“To the future Florence Nightingale.”
