Three days into what was supposed to be her home away from home and Maggie hadn't quite settled in. Any thoughts of sleeping in were shattered with birds gathering at the tree outside her window chirping and squawking about how to disrupt her dispain life. Then there was the garbage truck making its rounds creating a ruckus. The quiet headache she wanted to dull out grew louder as she heard movement outside of her bedroom door. Maggie put the pillow over head hoping it would help. "Way too much wine."
She'd spent the night before and the one before that sipping a bottle of red and trying to comprehend how she allowed herself to get this far in a relationship and she wasn't really in love. Then she questioned if she even knew what love was. But quickly decided she did because she said vows to a man that surely didn't care for her existence. Yet here she was in Boston planning to do what? Maggie had no idea. Realizing she was no closer to resolving the issue than when she jumped on the plane to the other side of the country, she left the bed to shower.
Moments later Maggie found Bill outside in his garden with Lisa, his girlfriend. She watched them from the kitchen window before joining them. Maggie was genuinely happy her father found love again. Lisa was beautiful. The Josephine of all trades she called herself. Why be a Jackie when you can be Josephine? She loved the late iconic entertainer. Lisa quit her corporate job years ago as CFO to a major tech company to run her own company. Maggie noticed that her mocha skin seemed to drink the sun while her silver pixie cut perfectly framed her face shimmered under the morning rays. Lisa wore big tortoise framed glasses reminiscent of Iris Apfel, which made her look very chic even while digging in dirt.
Maggie was in awe of the garden they created while in quarantine. Variety of flowers and vegetables. She joined them and took a seat at the empty garden table.
"Maggie, you look worn out. Did you sleep at all?" the concern in Lisa's tone and face. "A little" she winced.
"You can't lose sleep over men darling. No. Today we fix that."
Maggie looked over to her dad for a clue. But Bill was no help. He shook his head and mouthed I'm out and attempted to slip away into the house.
"Hold on dear. Now Bill Pierce you are not going to run off he and not at least bring your daughter and I some tea and coffee? I assume that's what you were on your way to do hmm.."
"Baby you know me too well. I was even going to fix some french toast and bacon for you two. The coffee will be out in just a few."
"Thank you sweetheart!" Lisa grinned and winked at Maggie.
" Now...What are you going to do Maggie?" She got right to the point as she crossed her legs. Maggie liked Lisa. She reminded her of Catherine and a bit of her mother at times.
" I honestly don't know. I haven't had time to process it all.
" Sooo you had time to waste settling. But...but you need time to figure out your feelings for someone you said vows to...but wasn't there to hear them. But you are here now. And ...um..you don't know what to do?" Lisa couldn't stop blinking.
She was perplexed by Maggie's stubbornness to do the thing she needed to do.
"Lisa, it hasn't been a week since I walked down the aisle. I need to process all of this. I can't just go downtown and say Jackson I love you do you..l"
"So we are getting to the good part. You love him. That might be the most honest you've been with yourself in a long time huh? And let's be honest about another thing, you weren't walking down the aisle to marry that man. Those vows prove that. Maggie I know the world is scary. The thought of being alone is tough. But just being with someone for the sake of the idea of love or not being alone is wrong. You do yourself a huge disservice, baby. I was so afraid when I met your dad. I didn't think I could love someone like I love him. Especially after him being so deeply in love with someone else, your mom for some many years. Hell I was terrified of you. But you have to trust where love takes you and what it will give you. And it gave me a partner that I want forever. It gave more than my imagination could ever create. Don't limit yourself to the confines of the circles your mind is doing right now. You only have to answer to yourself. But we love you. And darling if you can stand in front of a group of people and say vows and the intended party wasn't present to receive them, I know you can tell him in person. The longer you wait…" Lisa started to fan herself and didn't finish and just did a curt nod.
Maggie flung her hair back while her head remained facing upward to the sky and eyes closed. "Carpe diem huh?"
"Why be Jackie when you could be a Jospehine darling?" Lisa giggled and rubbed Maggie's knee playfully.
Bill appeared with the food and drinks. "Dad, change of plans. I am going to need a mimosa. Liquid courage to seize the unknown."
Bill leaned down, moved her curls away from her forehead and placed a kiss. "You'll be fine baby girl."
THREE HOURS LATER
"You can do this.
You've seen each other naked. Many many MANNNY TIMES" she took a few seconds to reflect on the those times. Maggie let a deep sigh and regained her composure.
"Just say hello.Make small talk and then BOOM. Hi Jackson, you know that wedding I was in ..and I was the well the bride? Well Jackson you should have been the groom. Funny story because my vows ummm I kind of said them to you. Yeah, yeah yeah yeahh you kind of had to be there no...no literally you had to be there." She grabbed her purse from the passenger side and opened the car door to head to the office .
She quickly sat back down. "This is a bad idea. What am I doing?"
She took a deep breath and counted to ten. Maggie repeated the steps twice then exited the vehicle and made her way to the huge building.
Upon entry she was impressed by the grand building and its interior. One could get lost in the beauty of the atrium alone. Maggie felt so small in the majestic space and wondered what it looked like at night. She continued her original journey to find Jackson Avery.
Of course the top floor.
Hi I am Dr. Maggie Pierce I -I don't have an appointment but I need to speak with Dr. Avery. I know that is something people come up here and probably ask all the time because he's Dr. Avery and I know you need an appointmen..:
"Dr. Pierce, he's expecting you." The blonde woman looked at Maggie very plainly.
"He is? But how? CATHERINE!"
"Claudia he doesn't know. Dr. Pierce he doesn't know." a tall slender woman with brunette hair quickly approached Maggie. " I am sorry about the confusion. I'm Vanessa Timmons, the EA here. We received a phone call from Dr. Fox a few days ago informed us that you may stop by to speak with her son and if so to make room on his calendar for you. He doesn't know you are here. Please don't tell Catherine we told you. We were told to be discreet." she was relieved to know Jackson wasn't waiting in his high tower to embarrass her.
No worries. I really should have just called him and made an appointment to meet after work hours to not disrupt his work day.
Maggie noticed Claudia roll her eyes and returned to her phone.
The brunette noticed as well. "Dr. Pierce, do you need anything while you wait? Jackson will be out of his meeting in about 10 minutes."
Maggie shook her head and thanked the woman for her kindness. Whatever Vanessa said to Claudia before she disappeared to the office in the back must have rattled some kindness into the cold bat. She made her way to Maggie with options of drinks and Maggie declined and popped in her earbuds to ignore her.
The various paintings on the wall caught her attention and decided to get a closer look at each she waited for Jackson.
Rackin' my brain, searchin' again
I'm stuck all on you through and through
We get lostWe can see
Forget yesterday
Move it far away
No need to delay
Forget yesterday
Move it far away
No need to delay
Jackson had been in meetings all morning. His next was in two hours and was looking forward to leaving the office for a break. When he decided to leave Seattle to take over the foundation in Boston he didn't realize how many meetings he would need to sit in that had absolutely nothing to do with the end goal of the things he needed to accomplish. There were meetings about meetings. Meetings that could have been an email. And those emails that shouldn't have occurred at all. Like the one he just left. People who want to hear themselves talk and throw around dollar amounts to see who has more leverage. But he had to play his part cause he would need each of those individuals very soon for a program he wanted to spearhead.
"Always the last one out of the room." Vanessa interrupted his thoughts.
Jackson laughed. "Well you never know, they say the meeting is adjourned about 20 times before they actually get up to leave. And next thing you know we are in here an extra 15 minutes because someone thinks it's okay to spend thousands on flowers for a banquet instead of giving it to a school or funding a program that needs it."
Jackson gathered his belongings and left the conference room and walked with Vanessa as she brought him up to speed on various projects.
She led him out to lobby and notice the woman in the corner staring at the painting. She looked familiar. Her body… "Maggie?"
Jackson put down his leather portfolio and left it at the receptionist desk. He slowly walked up behind her. She was humming and very entranced by the artwork he personally picked out to adorn the waiting room. He wanted to touch her hair but remembered. Instead tapped on her shoulder. She quickly spun around.
"Jackson. Hi."
"Maggie. What are you doing here? Wait, is your dad okay?"
"Oh yeah he's great. Has a garden um his fine. Better than fine he's wonderful. I'm here on vacation."
Boston? Boston for vacat. Waa-wait. You are on vacation? " the shock in his voice that she would be on vacation mirrored most at Grey's Sloan. Maggie on vacation was unheard of. "Oh honeymoon! Congratulations by the way."
"Umm. No um vacation. Not a honeymoon. Since I didn't get married. Not ..not getting married."
"Oh. I'm sorry." Jackson wasn't sorry at all. He was relieved. But he couldn't understand why she was here. "Maggie are you alright?"
"Yeah um I'm fine. I wanted to get away from Seattle for a bit and my dad thought it would be um good to come back to Boston for a while for a break. I remembered you here and decided to see the work you were doing. I should have called. I'm sorry for.."
"Don't apologize. I'm glad you are here. Would you like a tour?" Maggie nodded. "Lead the way Dr. Avery.
They made their way back to the lobby after he showed her around. "You should come back when I have more time to show you the Fox Dream Center.
"Absolutely. You are doing a lot of good here Jackson. I'm proud of you."
"How about we grab a drink later tonight?"
Maggie bit her lip and chuckled a bit.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Hmm mm it's something. What's so funny?
"This feels very familiar. Doesn't it?"
Jackson knew what she was referring to.
"Oh when I asked you out for just drinks and then Chive popped up?
Maggie bursted into a stream of laughter.
He didn't realize how much he missed her until that very moment. There had been nights he wanted to call and tell her. But fought against his selfish needs and let what he assumed was her happiness with someone else, be.
"The question now Pierce are you going to run from me like you did before?"
Maggie looked like a deer stuck in headlights.
"Jackson!" She was shocked but small part of her was turned on and he knew it. He knew her.
"C'mon Maggie you practically ran out of the hospital that night with Chive." he laughed. "It's just a drink, Pierce."
She shook her head.
"It's not Avery."
"It isn't?"
She looked down at her feet and away from Jackson's intense gaze. It was doing too many things to her. Too many feelings rising and screaming. And some just wanted to say his name. She didn't trust her feelings right now.
"How long are you here Maggie?" Jackson sensed there was more to this visit she wasn't saying but needed to know the timeframe he was working with.
She looked up at him, "I'm not sure."
"I'll pick you at 7."
It wasn't just drinks.
They had dinner as well.
The conversation had been quite light and fluid. Jackson took her to a restaurant he wanted to try and both decided to experience it together, Buttermilk Bourbon.
He didn't want a relationship. Jackson wanted to work on himself and be better than the person he turned into the last few months in Seattle. But sitting across from her reminded him that he was the best version of himself with Maggie. The way she lit him up and motivated him. Maggie had no idea of the impact he had on his life. It was so hard to let her go. And Jackson didn't know if he could ever let her go again. He would break the relationship rule for her. He could commit to the only person that challenged him to want more for himself.
The waitress approached.
"Would you like and desert" she asked.
"I think my cup runneth over' Jackson's eyes never let Maggie's as he responded.
Maggie's mouth dropped.
The waitress laughed. And then asked Maggie if she wanted anything.
"I'll take a Fresh Fruit Shortcake please."
The waitress took their plates. A few seconds went by of awkward glances and silence.
"Maggie, why are you really in Boston?"
"Tell me what you know Jackson."
"I don't know anything. But something happened to bring you here. Also, it's been a long time since you and I have been cordial but here we are as if nothing has transpired between us. I just want to know what's going on."
The waitress placed the beautiful dessert in front of Maggie and replaced Jackson's empty drink with a full one.
He watched her take a bite and she offered him a piece. "Maggie!"
She put the fork down. "I…"
Maggie wrestled with her emotions and didn't know where to begin. She was on the verge of yelling, crying and laughing. A russian roulette of feels.
"I said my vows to you on my wedding day"
He didn't say anything. He just looked at her. She took his cocktail and gulped it. And ate another piece of her dessert.
"Maybe I should have the waitress bring us milk?" she said it low but not low enough.
"Maybe you should. Maggie you did what?"Jackson didn't think he heard correctly. Part of him was ready to kiss her, but another part was furious. They spent over a year apart for what reason? He wanted her. Only her. He wanted her to trust it. Trust them.
"I said my vows to you. I married you instead of the groom. I Maggie, pledge my undying love to you, Jackson.. . I take you Jackson Avery to be my husband . affirm my love. to have to hold. blah blah blah. You had to be there.
Now where's the waitress? I'm going to need a pitcher of wine for the rest of this."