Staying Grounded (A Rocky Harbor Novel Book 1) Page 20

  Graham laughed. “Terminal, not port.” Maggie shot daggers at him and he dropped his smile. “And I never said I needed a woman at every terminal. I didn’t and I don’t. I had a few women friends across the country.” Had. He broke ties with them and hadn’t thought about a single woman except Maggie O’Fallon.

  “You have two minutes left, Mr. Riley.”

  Graham leaned forward and dropped the envelope on her desk. Slowly she reached for it and slid out five pictures. He cringed when she gasped and swore. “What the hell is this, Graham?” She shoved the pictures back in the envelope and tossed them back at him. “You had me followed?”

  “No, Stockton hired a P.I. to follow me. I’m sorry he’s involved you in this mess.”

  “The guy you punched? What do I have to do with any of it?”

  “He blames me for ruining his life and wants to do the same to me. My job, my reputation, my…woman.”

  “I’m not your woman.”

  “Well, Stockton thinks you are and wants to ruin you as well.”

  Maggie pushed back her chair and got up to pace the room. “My career. Everything I worked for because of some stupid sexual urges.”

  “You have to admit, those sexual urges are pretty damned strong.”

  She swirled around, daggers in her eyes. “You’re making a joke of this? Do you even care about my career? About yours?”

  “I quit Global Air yesterday. I’m hoping that will make him happy and he’ll back off.”

  “You’re not fighting him?”

  Graham shook his head. “What’s the point?”

  “Are you kidding me? Aren’t you angry at him?”

  “I’m annoyed that you’re getting hurt by all of this, yes.”

  “Annoyed? That’s it? You should be furious, Graham. Throwing things, swearing, fighting for your job and your name. What’s wrong with you?”

  God, she looked beautiful. Emerald eyes wide and furious, cheeks flushed, and hands flailing as she talked. He wanted to stop her mouth with his, cover her hands with his body and forget about everything except her soft skin and throaty moans. He wasn’t about to go a round with Maggie, not when she was fired up. It didn’t matter to him if he left his job. He’d find another. It wasn’t worth the time, energy, or money to fight something that would inevitably come down to a stupid scene in a courtroom with Stockton’s ground for lawsuit thrown out. Graham was confident his lawyer could handle it all. He didn’t really care.

  “It’ll all work out for me. I’m worried about you.”

  “Really? Because you didn’t seem all that worried about me last week. Or the week before. Or hell, the week before that. You can leave, Mr. Riley. And take your pictures with you. I’ll fight this battle on my own. Like always.” She tossed the envelope back at him and marched to her door, opening it with great force.

  “Maggie.” He reached for her and she swatted his hand away. He’d hurt her, that was obvious. Her cheeks were red with fury, her fists clenched and ready to fight, but it was her eyes, filled with sadness and hurt and pain, that did him in. The fissure in his chest tore his heart in two, crumbling to the pit in his stomach.

  “Your five minutes were over a long time ago. There’s nothing I can do for you, Mr. Riley. You have no emotions or feelings or balls to fight for what you want. You walk away from relationships, from family, from conflict so you don’t have to deal with life. You fly your planes, locking yourself in a cockpit in your own little world, not giving a single care what the rest of us are doing or feeling or needing. Walk away like you’ve been doing for years. Like you did with your job. Leave me the hell alone.”

  Graham gritted his teeth before he said anything as venomous as what Maggie just said, angry because she hit the nail on the head. Instead, he nodded and walked by her, ending this chapter of his life.

  Forever.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Maggie

  Surprisingly, Edward hadn’t left Joan’s side in the past two months, but there were suitcases by the front door when Maggie came over for dinner the following Sunday.

  September had brought in cooler nights, and the streets turned a little more empty, but the tourists would be back in a few weeks for leaf peeping season. Until then, Rocky Harbor enjoyed the business, nothing crazy like summer days, just relaxed crowds enjoying the crisp autumn air, red and golden leaves, and freshly picked apples. Maggie found her parents on the patio, her mother with a blanket tossed over her legs, and her father sitting next to her typing away on his laptop.

  “Hey, pumpkin.”

  “Dad? What’s with the suitcases? You said you weren’t leaving for another month.”

  “We thought we’d drive across country. Check out Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, maybe the Sequoias.”

  “We?”

  “Your dad and I are taking that road trip we talked about going on.”

  “Before Liam died,” Maggie whispered. Wow. After her day from hell, this wasn’t what she expected. Tears pooled in her eyes and for the first time since she was a little girl, she felt her mother reach for her hand.

  “Maggie, it’s okay. We don’t have to go if it makes you sad. I know the trip meant a lot to you when you were a little girl. If you can clear your schedule you’re more than welcome to come with us.”

  “That’s not it.” Maggie sat on the edge of her mother’s chaise lounge and sagged into her embrace. It had been nearly two decades since her mother held her, and Maggie let the tears flow. She didn’t realize what an ugly crier she’d become until she used her shoulder to wipe her running nose.

  “Sweetheart, what is it?” Her mother stroked her hair, making Maggie cry even harder. This. This was what she’d been waiting for her entire life. For her mother’s love, her mother’s embrace, her mother’s nurturing. For too many years Maggie had to be strong and now…when she needed her mother the most, she was actually there with open arms.

  She didn’t want to leave her mother’s arms. Ever. Maggie continued to cry, missing her mother’s smell. Not the Chanel No. 5 she wore when going to fancy dinners with Edward, but the daily citrusy scent she used to splash on after her shower. Maggie would never forget her special lunch dates with her mom. Joan would spritz her as well and they’d dress up and shop and eat chocolate croissants and sip iced tea.

  Special memories that ended too soon.

  “I’ll leave you girls alone,” she heard her father say before leaving.

  When her eyes were finally dry, Maggie sat up and didn’t let go of her mother’s hand. “How do you do it, Mom?”

  “Do what, sweetheart?”

  It had been two decades since her mother used any type of term of endearment, but she’d cry about that one later. It was too soon to talk about their troubled relationship but maybe her mother could shed some light on both of their love lives. Or lack thereof. “How do you love a man so much and not let it tear you up inside?”

  “I think you’re asking the wrong person.”

  “You stayed with Dad, even with his traveling and his—”

  “Wandering eye. Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I love him. And I know he loves me.”

  “You’ve been so sad. For years, Mom. He’s left you time after time and I’ve had to sit here watching the show. Watch you glow with happiness when Dad entered the house and turn into a timid, depressed lump every day and night he was away. What happens when he takes off again?”

  Joan stretched her legs and placed her feet on the patio, pausing before pushing herself up to standing. “Let’s walk.” They strolled the beach in silence, enjoying the setting sun and the crashing waves. “I haven’t been the mother you’ve needed, and for that, I’m truly sorry.”

  The cord of tension that squeezed her heart every time she saw her mother’s empty face loosened a notch. “You gave up your life for him, Mom. Including a relationship with your daughter.”

  “I know. I’m a terrible mother.”

  “No—
”

  “Yes, I have been. I’ve lived the past twenty years only thinking about myself. My psychiatrist said—”

  Maggie stopped suddenly. “You’ve been seeing a psychiatrist? Who? When?”

  “Benny’s been bringing me for the past year. I told her not to tell you. I didn’t want you to be offended.”

  “I’m not offended, Mom. I don’t want to be your therapist. I want to be your daughter.”

  Her mother’s eyes filled with tears and she wiped them away. “I wish I could be the mature one in our relationship. You deserve the best, Maggie. Don’t ever settle for anyone unless he’s the best.”

  “And Dad is the best?”

  “For me? Yes. I’ve loved your father since the moment he walked into my British Lit class during my junior year in high school.”

  “And you two married right after high school. How did you know he was the one?”

  Joan’s smile lit up her eyes. “Besides the obvious good looks and charm, you mean? Edward O’Fallon has a way of making the ladies feel like they’re the only one in the universe.”

  “No offense, but how did you know he wasn’t doing and saying the same things to other girls? Or was he?”

  “A skeptic, are you? Yes, I was skeptical at first too. Edward was quite popular, played soccer in the fall, and worked a full time job supporting his family after school. He didn’t have much free time and when he did, he chose to spend it with me. That’s how I knew. He could be with anyone he wanted and he chose to spend his time with me. Your father has always been a flirt and I wouldn’t change that for anything in the world. It’s fascinating watching him turn the heads of other women and knowing at the end of the day, he’s mine.”

  Maggie didn’t comment on the time he’d spent away over the past twenty years and the women he’d been photographed with and was rumored to be having affairs with. In her mother’s eye, the end of the day was when he made it home.

  “You’re a beautiful, young woman who deserves the best.”

  “Yeah, about that…”

  “Is there a man in your life?”

  “Not anymore.” Maggie continued walking, slowly so her mom could catch up. She’d recovered quite well since her stroke, but there was still a noticeable limp.

  “Would you like to talk about it?”

  “He’s just like Dad.”

  “Irish?”

  “Hardly. A pilot. He doesn’t do relationships or commitment. Hell, he can’t even commit to living in one place.”

  “And you love him anyway.”

  “I want stability. I know a destructive relationship when I see it and that’s been ours from the beginning, but there’s a pull there. A chemistry. An attraction that goes beyond the physical. He makes me laugh and makes me feel like I’m the center of his universe when he’s around. And when he’s gone, it’s like I don’t exist. No phone calls. No texts. No emails. Nothing.”

  “Yet you fell in love with him anyway.”

  “You keep saying that and I can hear your smile in your voice. I don’t want to turn into you and Dad. No offense, but your relationship is severely dysfunctional.”

  “I know. We’ve been seeing the therapist together and—”

  “We? Dad goes too?”

  “I’ve never doubted your father’s love for me. It’s why I’ve allowed him to see other women.”

  “I really don’t want to hear about this.”

  “I couldn’t give your father all of me, but I could give him that.”

  “Seriously, Mom. I don’t want to hear about that part of your relationship.” She’d never consider an open relationship with Graham. She couldn’t imagine another woman touching him, kissing him. Or Graham’s hands stroking and soothing another woman as he had for her.

  “Okay.” They turned around and headed back to the house.

  “Graham is being unlawfully sued by some guy with a grudge, who has pictures of us together. Nothing compromising that I know of, but he’ll probably put a spin on things. I was supposed to be Graham’s therapist for…a work-related incident, and once we realized the chemistry between us, he went to another therapist and she medically cleared him. I didn’t breach my oath, but the media is going to twist this to sell airtime.”

  “And how is Graham handling it?”

  Maggie told her mother the rest, about Graham’s nonchalance and his willingness to give up his job without a fight, just to avoid confrontation.

  “It sounds to me like the two of you need to be locked in a room and have an all-out argument. It really helped your father and me. We weren’t allowed to leave until we expressed every fear, every desire, every feeling bottled up inside. It was ugly and exhausting, but look how it turned out. And if you both leave hating each other instead of loving and respecting each other, then you’ll know it was never meant to be.”

  “What kind of wack-job therapist are you seeing?” When they reached the patio Maggie turned to her mom and hugged her tight. “Thank you. And I hope you and Dad have a great time. Please call me and let me know how you’re doing.”

  “I will.” Joan pulled back and stoked Maggie’s cheek. “One day someone is going to hold you so tight that all those broken pieces inside you are going to come back together again.”

  ***

  Monica Hedgton had been a tough patient over the past few months and today was no different. Still fighting—literally and figuratively—her anger issues with her ex-husband, the woman continued to blame everyone and everything for her mountain of issues. Hopefully Maggie would be able to break through to her soon.

  Rolling her shoulders to relieve the tension in her back, Maggie opened her mini-fridge and took out a bottle of water. She’d nearly finished it when Tiffany knocked on her door. “I’m out of here. Need anything else?”

  “I’m good. Enjoy your weekend, Tiff.”

  “I have a date with this guy my mom set me up with.”

  Maggie laughed. “That doesn’t sound promising.”

  “She sent me pictures of him. He’s the son of one of the women in her knitting club and is new to the area. Total hottie.”

  “Knitting club?”

  “Yeah, keeps Mom off the streets, out of trouble,” Tiffany teased.

  “Enjoy yourself.”

  “Do you have any plans for the weekend?”

  “The usual,” she lied. If all went well, by the end of the weekend she’d be smiling like a kid on Christmas morning.

  “Oh, I hope not. You need to get out there, Maggie. Go live it up.”

  “Dually noted. Have fun.”

  Maggie turned to her desk and loaded her bag with her laptop and a few files she’d go over if things didn’t go her way.

  By the time she got to her car her stomach was growling, from hunger or anticipation she wasn’t sure.

  “Excuse me. Are you Margaret O’Fallon?”

  Startled, Maggie turned to find a fairly attractive man dressed in khakis and a sports coat behind her.

  “Can I help you with something?”

  The man flashed what he probably meant to be a charming smile, only it gave her the chills. “Ms. O’Fallon, I’m John Legend.” She would have snorted if he didn’t creep her out. “Obviously not the singer, I get that a lot.”

  “Is there something you need, Mr. Legend?”

  “Do you have a minute?”

  “Not really.” Maggie clutched her purse and laptop bag straps tighter and casually looked around her small parking lot. She always parked in the back of her building, wanting to save the close spaces for her patients and for the clients next door. No other cars were there, everyone clearing out early to enjoy their weekend. If only Maggie left with Tiffany.

  “Do you sleep with all your clients, or was this Graham Riley’s way of buying your signature on his release form?” He shuffled his way in between Maggie and her car.

  “Excuse me?” Rage filled her face as she clenched her keys between her fingers, tempted to claw at the man’s face.
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br />   “Mr. Riley came to see you for counseling and within days he found his way into your bed. Don’t you think that’s a bit unethical, Ms. O’Fallon?”

  “You are completely out of line. Please get out of my way or I’ll call the police.”

  “You referred him to Ms. Waters, who also quickly cleared the man when he clearly had anger issues. Was he sleeping with her too? I’m sure you saw what he did to Keith Stockton. Did you know he put his own father in the hospital as well?”

  She’d seen enough many movies to know better than to rise to his bait. Keeping her professional face she used when her patients got out of control, she hid her clenched fists clenched and relaxed her jaw. “I suggest you double check your facts, Mr. Legend, if that is truly your name. It’s sad when people jump to conclusions. It usually leads to them making fools of themselves.”

  “Don’t you feel foolish jumping to the conclusion that Mr. Riley is innocent? He has a reputation of charming his way through life and getting what he wants.”

  “And you know this how? I don’t believe you told me who you are or what you’re doing or why you feel the need to harass me.”

  “I’m a reporter for Entertainment Buzz and my sources have all been verified.”

  Maggie let out a humorless laugh. “Entertainment Buzz? Well, there’s a credible source. I don’t see why you’re harassing me. I’m of no entertainment to anyone.”

  “Oh, but you are. You’ve been photographed in some…compromising situations with your patient, who is all the buzz right now.”

  “If you’ll excuse me, I need to be going. This has been truly enlightening and I’m sorry to say you’re wasting your time. You’ve already wasted enough of mine.” Maggie pushed her way past the man with shaking hands, attempting to find the right button on her key fob to unlock her car.

  “So you don’t deny having a sexual relationship with Graham Riley?”

  “Goodbye.” She unlocked her car and slid into the front seat. Before she could close the door he grabbed on to it, preventing her from making a getaway.