"Just dinner. You're not marrying the guy. All you need to do is to get through a meal," Maggie told herself, staring in the mirror.
"Then why are your hands shaking?" Melanie asked from the doorway.
"Mel." Maggie sighed.
Melanie sat next to Maggie on the vanity bench and started to brush the red hair out.
"Maggie, I've only known you for two years but you don't get nervous. I mean, even with the Myasthenia Gravis, you went into denial but not fear. Should we be calling a neurologist?"
"It's just—it's my first date in two years. With Victor Kiriakis, no less. I'm afraid I don't remember how to date. Mickey and I let that part of our life go by the wayside and now to start all over again with someone new. I'm nervous about it," Maggie said.
"You're talking about sex?" Melanie's eyes widen. "Maggie, I didn't think you thought about sex anymore. I mean, do you realize things changed after the '90s?"
Maggie heard laughing from the doorway. "Julie, shut up! It's your fault I'm in this mess. And Melanie, even if I never have sex again, I still think about sex." Especially now that I know Victor's interested.
"Darling, it is just dinner, not dinner and breakfast, with a show in between. Just throw on a gorguous suit and swept your hair up. Relax and have a good time," Julie said.
"Hi! I thought you might need help," Jennifer smiled at her aunt as she came in.
"What I need is to be rescue from Julie and five minutes alone. Just let me have time to collect my thoughts," Maggie said.
"Aunt Maggie—"Suddenly Jennifer felt bad for Maggie being strong-armed into a date. Maggie looked at her niece.
"I'm not mad at you, Jen. There's just a lot going on and I can't have Hortons in my ear constantly telling me what to do. I just need to figure things out."
"We'll just leave you alone then. I'm sorry, sweetie," Julie said.
"Oh, I know you meant well. As usual, you just managed to stick your nose where it doesn't belong. We love you anyway," Maggie said as Julie and Jen left the room. Melanie lingered for a moment, uncertain if she was in trouble for her remark.
"Maggie?" She asked hesitantly.
"Mel, I love you. And we're never going to talk about my sex life, past, present or future except in very vague examples. Now let me get ready," Maggie kissed Melanie's forehead.
Maggie put her emerald suit on and noticed her wedding band catch the light. I wonder what Emily Post has to say about dating while wearing the wedding band of your dead husband. She slipped off her wedding rings and put them in her jewelry box. She found an emerald necklace and placed it around her neck.
"Wow! You look great, Maggie!" Melanie said enthusiacally when Maggie joined the family in the kitchen.
"You really do, sweetie," Julie agreed, giving Maggie's left hand a squeeze. When she felt the absence of rings, her eyes widen. "Maggie?"
"I'll explain later, Julie, o.k.? Just don't mention it right now," Maggie said. Jennifer gave the two women a confused look. Footsteps sounded outside. "There's Victor. I'll see you later."
"Actually, Aunt Maggie, we feel the need to meet your date and find out his intentions. Gram always met my dates," Jennifer said, cheekily.
"Cute. And you were going to get out of dish duty this week, Jen. Don't wait up as his intention is to try to get me into his bed," Maggie said as she walked out the door.
"Maggie!" The women groaned.
"Hello, Maggie. I was going to come in," Victor said, surprised when Maggie met him outside.
"Melanie, Julie and Jennifer are here, in the kitchen. They want to grill you about your intentions."
"Oh. And do you want to ask me about my intentions?" Victor asked.
"Victor, you've been coming over to have coffee for past six months. You've said I love you. I think I know your intentions," Maggie pointed out.
"My intentions are-"Victor was cut off by Maggie kissing him, "nothing but the purest kind. Although maybe not right now at this moment."
Maggie laughed. "I figured out my situation. Now what are we doing about yours?"
"It's eleven thirty-seven. She should've been home by now or call," Melanie said, staring at her cell phone.
"I know. We shouldn't tease her so much." Jennifer agreed.
"She's sixty-nine years old. I'm sure she can deal with anything," Julie said.
"Oh, God, what if she's sick? What if Maggie got so stressed, she relapsed and it was too late and Victor's too distraught to call anyone?" Melanie theorized.
"Melanie! Maggie's fine. I think she's really, really pissed off at me right now and she might not come home," Julie said sheepishly.
"Ever? Like she ran away with Victor?" Jennifer asked.
"I also think she hasn't been out on a date in a very long time and she took off her wedding rings without saying anything. And I might've played another joke on her. So Maggie might not be home tonight," Julie said.
"Julie Williams, what did you do?" Jennifer demanded to know.
But Julie refused to say.