Chapter Eighteen: First Fears

After I leave with the deed to my house, I am nearly useless until we make it to my house. Thankfully, neither Keith nor Jenna try to make me talk.

Until we get to my house.

"We are here, Mags," Jenna says softly.

"Thanks." I try to smile as I make my way out of the car.

I peer at the house I have lived in for the last several years.

The house is my own. The house that I was supposed to inherit from Mamaw and Papaw.

Keith gets to the door before me, and I throw him my keys. He unlocks the door and goes inside to make sure it is safe. Jenna and I stay outside and I glimpse around the neighborhood to see if there are things that aren't right. I don't see anything that looks amiss. Until I see a car that looks somewhat familiar.

"Jenna, is that a government car?"

Jenna looks at the car in question and nods. "Strange, wonder why there is a car watching your house?"

I shrug in confusion as Keith comes out.

"Everything looks good in there. What's going on?" Keith looks around and sees the car. "Shit, I have no contacts at the station anymore. I don't know who to trust."

"Does Keiran have access to a government vehicle?" I ask Keith.

He grabs his phone and makes a call.

"Keiran, whatcha doing? Oh… You are at Maggie's? Come on out… You scared the girls… No, I'm not happy about that… Fine… See you in a minute." Keith looks down the street and Keiran comes out of the car with his friend, Mackenzie.

"Hello, Miss Magnolia, Miss Jenna, how are you doing today?"

I look at Keiran and Mackenzie; Mackenzie looks uncomfortable.

"It's been a long day. I want to eat and shower. Change my clothes. Why are you watching my house, if I may ask?"

"Keiran is worried about you. So, here we are. He's such a great guy, don't you think?" Mackenzie is looking at Keiran like he is the best man on the planet.

She is looking at me like I am shit on her shoe.

"He seems to be a nice guy. We haven't spent a lot of time together. Yet…" I look over at Keith and he looks concerned.

"Don't worry, my Magnolia. We are soon going to be spending a lot of time together. I want us together and we can't do that here. I realize you are not comfortable here, and I will do whatever it takes to make you happy. There is a cattle ranch in Texas I own and it is waiting for us. We will have an amazing time there, growing our family."

"That sounds amazing, Keiran. But I think we are going to need to stay here for a while." Keith replied.

"Of course. There is no rush. We will have forever so a few weeks is no big deal." Keiran takes my hand and kisses it.

"I am going to shower. Can one of you get us something to eat? I am hungry again." I look at Keith and he nods.

"Of course. Takeout will be here by the time you get out." I smile at Keith and go to my bedroom. I look around the room that has been mine for years. The room that I now know was where my grandparents slept before Papaw's death and Mamaw's fake death.

I don't know if I can take anything. But it makes me happy to know I can take some if I want to. I grab clothes and Jenna comes into the room.

"Do you want me to start packing your clothes?" Jenna asked me with concern in her eyes.

"How is that going to work with Keiran and Mackenzie here? I don't trust them." Jenna smiles as she shows me a text.

Let Mags know I am taking Mac and Keiran to get food. Pack something while we are gone. Love you. -Keith

"I will help you grab some totes and my suitcase. Thank you, my bestest friend."

Jenna laughs, "Anytime. We need to hurry."

We run outside and grab my suitcase and several totes. I hope we got enough for all our stuff.

"Are you wanting to bring anything?"

I think about it.

"I want my chair and footstool over there and the two rocking chairs on the front porch. Some of the knickknacks and kitchen items. Maybe the mattress?"

"Your stuff is nice…"

I cut Jenna off. "So is yours. If you don't want that couch of yours, I will take it!"

She laughs and we quickly pack up all of my clothes except what I will need for the next few days, which I put in the top dresser drawer. Once done, I look around the room and find a few things I want to pack. Some books, pictures in frames and albums, my birth certificate, social security card, and passport, which I put in the suitcase in the front.

I go into the bathroom and have a quick shower. I forgo shaving to save time. Not that I will have someone to shave for, not anytime soon.

Washing my hair feels amazing. Rinsing it, I feel like I am cleansing a part of my soul. Conditioning my hair makes me feel like I am putting my life back together.

Washing my body, I feel the filth of this situation disappear.

Rinsing the body wash, I can feel the stress leaving me.

I finish my shower and dry and dress. Nothing fancy, just some black leggings and an oversized purple t-shirt. Today is all about comfort, not style.

Jenna is nowhere to be seen, so I go looking for her. She is in my craft room and she is packing more of my stuff.

"Honestly, Mags, there is not that much in here. Your sewing machine would fit into one tote. Your yarn and fabric all should fit in another tote. Two if you packed them lightly. Your books might be another. And the things you made we can bring." Jenna tells me, and I smile.

"That sounds like a plan. Let's get them done! Hopefully, we can finish before Keith, Keiran, and Mackenzie come back."

Jenna smiles and we get to work.

I pack my sewing machine into the rolling tote I store it in. In with that also goes the box with my buttons, thread, needles, and bobbins.

Not wanting anything to get messed up in transit, I put some fabric around the machine and zip the lid, putting the rolling tote into another tote. With the space left over, I put more fabric in this tote.

I close the lid and start with my yarn, knitting, and crocheting supplies. I see Jenna tackling the rest of the fabric and actually, can fit all my knitting and crocheting stuff in it.

The next tote should be my books and hair supplies, but I don't think they will even take up half of the tote.

Which they don't.

I see two more totes and think about what I can put in them. Maybe my kitchen stuff?

I hear the front door open and Keith yells, "Hunnies! Daddy's home!"

I look over at Jenna, and she laughs, rolling her eyes.

"Coming, lover!" I shout back.

Jenna tries to not laugh and puts the book she has in her hands down. I grab her arm and wink at her. She nods in agreement. We leave the bedroom, and I make sure to shut the door. My bedroom as well.

"Come on, lover girl! We ain't got all damn day!" Keith yells back.

Keith, Keiran, and Mackenzie meet us in the hallway.

"Darling husband! That is no reason to yell when I was on my way. You should know better!" Jenna replies, giving Keith a look.

"Miss Magnolia, was that you telling Keith you were coming?" Keiran looks concerned.

"Of course. She loves my husband almost as much as me. How do you think we are so close, Keiran?" Jenna wraps her arms around me, and I do the same. Keith comes behind us and kisses each of our cheeks. Then we do the same for him.

"Yes, any man that wants to be with me has to share me with this stud and his beautiful woman right here."

Keith pulls me in tighter and smiles. "I am the most blessed man in the world to have two amazing women in my life. Only hope when the time comes, I have a little girl that looks like both of my girls."

I can barely hang on without laughing my ass off.

I glance over at Keiran and he looks like someone stole his puppy. Mackenzie is pissed, to say the least.

"Keiran, I thought you said Keith was a man of integrity? How can that be if he is with two women?!"

Yeap, Mackenzie is furious.

"There is no reason why… I can't even find the words to say! Keiran is an amazing man, who any woman would be proud of having! And you Keith, told him of your friend, Magnolia, being such a wonderful woman and that he HAD to get to know her! Why did you not mention that she was in a relationship with you?" Mackenzie nearly shouts.

"Hey, now. None of that! Everything is fine. Keiran knows I love Mags. She is part of my family. The best friend of my wife. And that means that she is part of my family." Keith smiles.

"Keith… you never said…"

Keiran is stopped by Jenna, laughing her ass off.

Mackenzie is looking even madder, and finally, Keith and I lose it.

After several minutes of us laughing, I calm down enough to say something.

"Alright, let's calm ourselves. Mackenzie, honestly, nothing is going on between Keith and me. The idea of seeing him naked scares the shit out of me. Keith has always been a one-woman man. That woman is not me, it's Jenna. Has been since the day they met. We joke with each other. That's it. Not that I have to explain myself to anyone. No offense, Keiran, but we are not in a relationship last I checked. So, don't go picking out the wedding china. Because I already have my own. Now, I am hungry. Let's eat!"

These words seem to calm at least Keiran down. He looks less like someone hurt him and more understanding that we were joking. Mackenzie still looks like she wants to kill me.

She must have a thing for him. Poor girl. She doesn't stand a chance.

When we get to the kitchen, Jenna is helping Keith and Mackenzie get the food ready. I was excited about the huge spread on the table. Fried chicken, coleslaw, collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread.

Yummy.

Keiran looks over at me and smiles. Walking over to me, he picks up a flower that was sitting on the table that I did not realize was there. "Miss Magnolia, I hope your shower was what you needed. You look lovely and great minds must think alike." Keiran says as he hands me a purple rose. "I hope I am not too forward in saying that the meaning is true for me."

Truthfully, I know nothing about what a purple rose means. But I smile, taking the rose from Keiran and smelling it. "It is a beautiful rose, Keiran. Thank you very much. I look forward to seeing what the meaning is after we eat. A wise choice in food. I am starving!" I grab a small vase for my rose and put it in some water, setting it on the table.

"You don't know what a purple rose means? What kind of woman are you? That lavender-colored purple means love at first sight. You must be an idiot…" Mackenzie retorts in disgust.

"MACKENZIE! ENOUGH!" Keiran shouted.

Keiran comes up next to me and puts his arm around me. I think he is trying to make me feel better.

"Mackenzie should not be talking to you that way, Miss Magnolia. I am sorry that you had to hear that."

Keiran pulls me into a hug, nearly crushing me into his chest. It's uncomfortable. While he doesn't smell bad, I don't want to be this close to him.

Especially as he sniffs my hair and kisses my forehead.

I pat his back and try to move away from him, which doesn't seem to work.

"Keiran, maybe you should let Maggie go, man. She may need to breathe. Or something." Keith calmly states.

I can feel a second pair of hands on my back, and I know they are Keith's. This comforts me.

"Keith, I want Miss Magnolia to know that I will take care of her! No matter who bothers her. As the woman of my life, she deserves the best." Keiran loosens his grip on me and when I look up at him, I notice he is staring at Mackenzie.

This is the first time that I am scared of Keiran. Really scared.

AN:

I am sorry that I haven't updated it until now. It was a rough week since I got my COVID shot. I lived through it though!

My kids are partly to blame for the lack of posting.

Thanks to my team for making this story happen.

I also want to thank each of you who read and comment on this story. Even if I didn't thank you already, know that it means a lot to me.

Now, let's pray that I get over my writers block!

Thanks, everyone!

Be safe!

Brier