Lucille was coming downstairs when Maggie burst through the door nearly giving her aunt a heart attack.
She held her hand to her chest as though she was trying to calm her heart rate "Jesus, Maggie don't do that! I don't know how many more surprises my old heart can take."
Maggie laughed "well, then you'll want to sit down for this one."
Lucille walked down the last four steps and stood next to her niece "is everything alright?"
Maggie shrugged and walked into the living room. Lucille followed her and sat down on the couch. Maggie started talking fast; like she always did when she was excited about something.
"I can't believe it! I don't want to believe it but it's true! I think I'm still in shock."
Lucille was getting annoyed "Maggie!"
She turned to her aunt and said "sorry. You know how I am when I get excited."
Lucille nodded and watched her niece sit besides her.
"Aunt Lucille; I'm pregnant!"
Lucille's mouth fell open. She was speechless. Maggie was worried. She had been expecting yelling or crying anything but silence.
She whispered "aunt Luce? Are you okay? Please don't be upset I was only kidding. I just wanted to get your reaction...Ha ha."
Still nothing. Maggie wanted to slap herself. It was supposed to be a joke.
Lucille suddenly shouted and slapped her niece's knee "Damn it Maggie that was not funny! You shouldn't joke about that! What did I ever do to you huh?"
Maggie shrunk back and said "I need to get back at Marty and Jacob for getting me dirty. I also wanted to get back at Uncle Henry for calling me a snitch. I thought I'd try it out on you first. I'd like you to be in on it."
Lucille rolled her eyes but then started smiling "you have a sick sense of humor my dear but I love it!"
Maggie smiled brightly "so you think I can get them all in one shot?"
Lucille laughed "most definitely! Can I ask you something?"
Maggie nodded.
Lucille said "I don't mean to pry but is it even a possibility?"
Maggie cocked her and said "what do you mean?"
Lucille was becoming comfortable. Talking about sex with Henry was one thing but talking to anyone else about it made her extremely uncomfortable.
Lucille managed to say "have you and Marty had sex?"
Maggie's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets "aunt Lucille!"
Lucille covered her face "I'm sorry it's not my business! Forget I said anything."
Maggie said "no it's okay. You just caught me off guard is all. To answer your question...yes we have. I'm not usually so easy but I just feel such a connection to him and I don't know how long he will be here. It just felt right."
Lucille smiled "you don't have to explain yourself to me honey. I just want to see you happy."
Maggie smiled "I am very happy. What about you?"
Lucille smiled and looked at her wedding rings "I feel like I'm in a dream. I can't remember ever being so happy. It's kind of hard to describe but I love having my family back together."
The timer buzzed from the kitchen.
Lucile said "come on. I'll make us some tea and we can plan how to get back at boys."
Lucille turned around and heard Maggie shout "my god what happened?!"
Lucille was startled and turned around to face her niece "what are you talking about?"
Maggie pointed to her neck "how did you get those bruises?"
Lucille's hand flew to the back of her neck and she said "it's not important. Just drop it Maggie."
She watched her aunt go into the kitchen. Maggie quickly followed her.
She stood near Lucille and touched her arm. In low voice she said "did uncle Henry..."
Lucille interrupted and yelled "don't you dare finish that sentence!"
Maggie jumped.
Lucille sighed and lowered her voice "I'm sorry. I'm just protective of my husband but no Henry didn't cause the bruises. My Henry would never hurt me."
Maggie crossed her arms "then who did?"
Both women jumped as Henry's voice floated through the room "your father!"
Maggie's mouth fell open and Lucille glared at her husband "Henry!"
Henry stood besides his wife and said "well it's true."
He looked at Maggie who was still speechless. Henry felt for the the young woman who he thought of as his own.
He touched her shoulder "Mags?"
She slowly shook her head in disbelief "no you're lying. He would never hurt anyone especially not you aunt Lucille."
Henry said "he kissed her Maggie! He had her pinned against the counter digging his fingers into her; hurting her. It was something your grandmother and father set up."
Henry felt his wife touch his arm in order to calm him down. He took a deep breath.
Maggie looked at her aunt "is it true?"
Lucille looked down and nodded.
Maggie stormed out the door before either of them could stop her. They jumped as the door slammed.
Lucille looked at her husband in fear "this isn't good Henry. What do you think she's going to do?"
Henry slid his arm around her shoulder and kissed her head "I don't know baby."
That night Henry sat on the porch looking at the stars. He was so angry and his mother and brother! He was supposed to meet his wife in the shower but he ended up coming out here instead. He didn't feel like he had the right to touch after another man hurt her. He began think about yesterday. He was scared to death when she let out that blood curdling scream. He thought she hurt herself but to find his brother kissing her / forcing her well, let's just say he was ready to kill Fred.
Lucille came outside and whined "Henry!"
He looked towards her frowning face "what's wrong?"
She sighed and walked over the chair. She touched his shoulder "you were supposed to join me. It's boring without you."
He smirked "sorry babe. I got distracted."
She touched his shoulder and softly said "what's more important than making love?"
He watched her lower herself on his lap.
She rubbed his chest "I need you Henry. My body is on fire. I thought about last night and how you gave me that massage in the bedroom. I've been turned on ever since."
He smiled as she leaned down and kissed his ear. She licked the shell outline and blew into his ear. He gasped and she moved her lips over his cheek until she got to his lips.
She whispered "please Henry."
All the bad thoughts he had just seemed to disappear. He quickly stood up with her in his arms and headed inside the house. She laughed when he shut the bedroom door with his foot. He playfully tossed her in the bed causing her to laugh even harder. There was no foreplay this time which was fine by her because she needed to feel him moving inside her now!
They both came and collapsed on top of her. She was smiling. He kissed her and rolled out of her. She missed the connection and snuggled into his side. Only when he was pulling up the sheets did he notice the bruises on her side. He gripped the sheets.
"Henry stop it!"
He looked at her and she grabbed the sheets and pulled them over their bodies. She straddled him much to his surprise. She grabbed his face forcing him to look at her.
In a gentle voice she said "don't blame yourself my love. It doesn't even hurt anymore. You came to my defense before anything horrible could've happen. You're my knight and shinning armor."
He looked at his wife and finally smiled.
She smiled and said "there that's better! I know that when you're smiling you're happy and content. It breaks my heart when you're unhappy."
He leaned forward and kissed her. He spent the rest of the night making love to his beautiful wife.
Maggie went to her father's house. She slammed the door Margaret to jump and nearly drop the plate. She looked angrily at her granddaughter and said "Maggie that's not very lady like "
Maggie pointed her finger at her so called grandmother and through gritted teeth "don't you dare talk to me! I don't know who the hell you think you are but I will not have you coming in and destroying the lives of the people I love!"
Margaret said "I don't know what your talking about!"
Maggie said "you helped my dad make a play for my aunt! You've already gotten rid of my mother so I'm only going to tell you this once. Don't you dare hurt Lucille Langston! She's the closest thing I've ever had to a mother and she's been through so much. First, experiencing the death of a child and now losing her husband. That's too much for anyone to take. The last thing she needs is some evil bitch taking away the people she loves!"
Margaret slapped her granddaughter. Maggie held her throbbing cheek in shock. No one had ever hit her.
Margaret's demeanor changed and she said "you will not speak to me that way!"
Fred entered the room and felt the tension. He saw Maggie holding her cheek and about to cry. He looked at his mother and shouted "you hit my child?!"
Margaret said "you should've heard the way she talked to me. I just did what you should have a long time ago."
Fred was beyond furious "get out!"
Margaret was shocked "excuse me?"
Fred was livid and said "I should've listened to Henry! You're not to be trusted. Get out and if you go anywhere near my family I will personally arrest you!"
Margaret said "you're making a big mistake."
She grabbed her items and left.
Fred grabbed some ice and gently placed it on his daughter's cheek. He said "you okay Mags?"
She nodded and blinked back the tears "I think so I just wasn't expecting to be slapped."
He said "I still can't believe she did that!"
They sat down and he grabbed two sodas.
"Dad, why did you kiss aunt Lucille?"
He sighed and rubbed his face "you just jump right in don't you? You wouldn't understand."
Maggie glared at him "try me!"
He sighed "there's no excuse. I've always had a crush on her and last night I got drunk. I finally decided to act on my feelings."
Maggie sighed "why don't I believe you? You want to know what I think?"
He sighed and nodded.
She said "I think you're jealous of the relationship uncle Henry and aunt Lucille have. You lost your wife and Aunt Lu was here to pick up the pieces. She and uncle Henry helped raised me which helped all of us since we both lost the people we loved most. I think you may have a crush on her but I know you would never do anything to jeopardize that trust. This is all Margaret's fault!"
Fred looked at her and said "it's not all her fault honey. I have to take responsibility for my actions."
She smiled "you need to apologize to them!"
Henry looked at his drink "no way! I'm sure they wouldn't talk to me besides I don't deserve their forgiveness."
She said "dad!"
Fred smiled and patted her hand "it's okay. I've ruined everything because of my own selfish actions. The last thing I want to do is ruin her birthday week."
She sighed "oh daddy. I'm sure after you explain everything..."
"No Maggie! I don't want to hurt them anymore. I took Jacob away, brought Margaret into my home betraying them, and kissed his wife. I've accepted the fact that I won't be forgiven this time."
Maggie was heartbroken and couldn't help but say "so does that mean I have to distance myself from them too?"
He smiled said "of course not. That would break their hearts. I think I'm going to bed. You can stay the night if you want."
She sighed "I would but I have work tomorrow; maybe this weekend."
He nodded.
Maggie kissed her father and started to leave when he stopped her "Mags!"
She turned around and said "yeah dad?"
He opened the draw and gave her an envelope.
He shrugged "it's a birthday card. It's nothing bad I promise. I always give Lucille one; a tradition I guess. If the time seems right would you mind giving it to her and let her know how I'm truly sorry I am."
She could tell how bad he felt and smiled "sure."
He said "one more thing! If you wouldn't mind can you let them know I won't bother them again and tell Henry he was right about Ma."
She saw the far away look in his eyes and heard the sadness in her father's voice which frightened her. She said "are you okay?"
He smiled "I'll be fine Mags. Have I ever told you that you're the one who saved me after your mother died?"
She slowly shook her head negatively.
He smiled and said "well, you are and I'm incredibly proud of the young woman you've become. I hope you know that."
She grabbed his arm and said "of course I do. Are you sure you're alright?"
He touched her nose "I'm sure. It's getting late. Why don't you go on home? I don't like you being out this late."
She smiled at his protectiveness "oh daddy. I'm a grown woman!"
He smiled "you'll always be my baby girl no matter how old you get. I love you Maggie."
She kissed his cheek and hugged her father tightly "I love you too daddy. I'll call you when I get home."
He nodded and watched her leave.
Maggie called her father when he got home to let him know she made it safely.
Marty saw the bruise on her cheek "what happened?"
She moved before he could touch it "Margaret Langston. That's what happened!"
Marty's eyes widened "she hit you?"
Maggie nodded.
Marty said "are you alright?"
Maggie shrugged and her voice cracked "I don't know."
Marty immediately took her in his arms and let her cry. After a few minutes she composed herself and said "I'm sorry I don't know what got into me."
Marty said "don't apologize just talk to me."
She said "Margaret helped dad act on his feelings. He kissed aunt Lucille."
"What?"
Maggie cut her eyes at him and he cleared his throat "sorry continue."
She rolled her eyes and said "anyway. He was drunk but he had her pinned against the counter and apparently left bruises. Uncle Henry and Aunt Lu won't talk to my father for obvious reasons. My father threw Margaret out after she slapped me. All the while my dad seemed very...calm I guess which scared me. I'm afraid he's going to do something stupid!"
Marty said "like what?"
She whimpered "I think he might...commit suicide."
Marty was stunned "he's not like that. He has too much to live for besides he'd just come right back so it's not like he'd accomplish anything."
She had been holding back tears but she started laughing "oh Marty."