Title: A Little Respect
Author: Misty Flores
Teaser: Pursuing a relationship with Aiden after discovering Bianca in bed with Babe, Maggie begins to question even her own self worth when she finds herself delving deeper into a baby kidnapping mystery, and an intense love triangle.
PART EIGHT
It comes so easy
When you get to the part
Where you're breaking my heart
Hide behind your smile
-- Take A Bow, Madonna
--
"Whose little girl are you? Whose little girl!" Bianca's smile grew broader when Bess' mouth widened into a gummy baby smile, giggling as she squirmed in Bianca's arms. "You're your mama's little girl, that's who!"
Jamie kept his focus on his cellphone, standing just a few feet away, shoddy sneakers somehow out of place in the Chandler courtyard.
"And your Uncle Jamie's," Bianca continued, eyes twinkling with affection, "And mine, too!" Her heart nearly burst with love, and she resisted the urge to squeeze the baby any tighter against her chest than she had. "Yes you are!" she said, planting a kiss on the little crown, inhaling the baby powder scent.
God, she adored this baby.
Jamie sighed, and when she glanced up, he wore a concerned frown. "There's no word from Babe. I don't know where she'd go."
Bianca's expression faltered. It had been weird. Really, weird - Minutes after being reunited with Bess, after nearly a week of worry and fear and all out war with J.R., all Babe had done was kiss her baby and then pushed her into Bianca's arms, leaving the mansion. Hours ago.
Still, despite the fact that Bianca was confused and bewildered, she felt optimistic. Bess's chubby palms wrapped around her wrists, and Bianca righted her easily, cradling her against her chest. "I don't know, but I'm sure she'll be back any minute." She blinked, remembering the moment, lingering on Babe's expression. "Jamie," she began hesitantly, "Did you get the feeling that she was about to make some kind of big announcement?"
"Yeah," Jamie agreed, plopping down on a nearby patio chair. "That's what makes it more weird. I mean, why run off?"
Bianca let out an exhalation, distracted by a small cry from Bess, as the baby wiggled in her lap, eyes red. "Well, don't you worry one little bit!" she said, tone rising an octave, bouncing the baby lightly. "There's no way she would leave you for very long." Sliding palms around Bess' tummy, she laid her cheek against the Bess's little brown head. "You're going to be back in your mama's arms before you know it." She said it quietly, as if she were almost trying to reassure herself.
"What if something happened to her?"
Bianca glanced up and sighed. "Jamie, I think she's just freaked about J.R."
"Yeah, but she's behind the wheel," Jamie insisted. "And Babe is not Nascar ready."
Bianca said nothing, glancing down at the baby.
"Hey!" Bianca's head jerked up, eyes settling suddenly on Maggie, as her former roommate burst into the courtyard, eyes on Jamie. "I've been looking for you!"
Bianca's heart suddenly came into her throat, and she swallowed, staring at Maggie beseechingly, until her friend turned and finally saw her.
Whatever hope that Bianca had that Maggie hadn't been avoiding her was destroyed utterly at the distinctly uncomfortable look in Maggie's beautiful face.
Almost immediately, Maggie was ready to run. Again. "Or, you know, we can..." Glancing back to Jamie, Maggie pointed behind her, "Why don't you just come back to the apartment, and we'll-"
"No, Maggie," Bianca interrupted, glancing fitfully back to Jamie. "Why don't you stay." It wasn't a question. Maggie wasn't going to run from her. Not again.
Maggie's eyes met hers intensely, and a fake smile came onto her face, tone dismissive. "I'm actually running some errands, and you guys look like you're busy-"
"We're not busy," she said shortly, swallowing down the uncomfortable ache in her stomach. "Can the errands wait?"
Maggie was hanging on by a thread - she clearly didn't think they could. "They're sort of... piling up."
Bianca licked her lips. Maggie was looking at her with this strange expression, and Bianca hadn't ever seen it from her. Maggie had never tried to distinctly to avoid her.
She had to fix this.
"Maggie, it's..." she took a breath, and pleaded, "It's important."
Something shimmered in Maggie's eyes, and somehow, Bianca had gotten through. Maggie's head bowed, obviously agreeing, and in that minute, Bianca realized she had darkened her hair.
Jamie took the hint, clearing his throat in the wake of the awkward silence. "Okay! Bess and I are going to catch up." His big hands reached clumsily for Bess, holding her in this odd football stance. Bianca's eyes widened in sudden worry.
"Oh, what are you going to talk about?" Maggie quipped. "Being messy? Nap time?"
"Yeah, among other important things" Jamie said flippantly, among other things. Bess was clearly uncomfortable. Bianca's palms curled in, and she pressed them against her body, trying to keep from snatching Bess back from Jamie's incapable hands. "Ooh, she's a perfect listener!"
"Ummm..." Bianca reached hesitantly for Bess' unsupported head. Jamie had no idea what he was doing.
"She can't yell, she can't complain--"
Bess let out a distinct mew, contradicting him. Jamie furrowed his eyebrow.
"Um, Jamie-"
"She can't get away," he amended, adjusting his hold.
"You haven't had a lot of experience with babies," Bianca said, eyes focused on Bess, teetering in Jamie's arms like a seesaw.
Jamie didn't seem to notice. "Well, she's not a trig problem," he defended. "I've got human instincts. And besides, Dad's here, Krystal's here. Relax." Glancing back at Maggie, who was still standing behind him, he nodded to them both. "I'll just take her for a walk-"
"Bye," Maggie said, turning her head.
"Bye," Bianca said, waving her hand as Jamie disappeared into the courtyard, murmuring to Bess, obviously intent on discussing whatever he could.
It left her behind with Maggie, and now that they were alone together, Bianca realized she had no idea what to do, or what to say.
There was a curious tightness in her chest, one that made her stiff, made her throat almost raw, and her stomach almost nauseous, as Maggie licked her lips and looked away, at anything but Bianca.
Nothing was ever right when Maggie was mad at her.
"Well," she began, almost laughing too hard in an attempt to keep this casual. "You must be running on empty?"
Maggie smiled weakly. "A heavy class load."
Bianca fought the bitter laugh. That wasn't a new excuse. "Too heavy to check your messages?" she said, a bit more anger in that than she intended.
Maggie's eyes lifted to hers, and an incredibly fake smile moved over Maggie's features. "Oh, I'm sorry about that. Look, my phone has been schitzing out on me like you wouldn't believe. I mean, every time that I do get a window to call, either my phone's dead or I think it's just too late to call you back, that's all." It was completely polite. And completely fake.
The ache inside her didn't go away. "Right," she said, her mouth widening into an uncomfortable smile - what she always did when she didn't know what else she could do. "Maybe you're afraid that I'll actually answer and you'll actually have to talk to me?"
Maggie rolled her eyes. "No, you-" Her voice went even lighter. "You're really making too much of this. You've been busy too," she said, pointing at her. I mean, you've been just moving into..." she faltered, and Bianca felt herself tremble a little. "Greenlee's place," Maggie finished, and finally, FINALLY, she looked at her. Bianca's insides shook when Maggie just as quickly looked away. "Look, next time you call, I promise I will call you right back."
It was like they were having two entirely different conversations.
"Maggie," she said finally, "I haven't seen you since you walked in on me and Babe in bed together, and I don't think that's a coincidence."
There. She said it. It was out there. In the open.
Maggie's polite fake face just dropped. "You're right," she said immediately. "I don't want to talk about this."
And she ran. Again.
"No, Maggie, don't!" On instinct, Bianca moved fast, grabbed hold of Maggie's wrist, holding on desperately, keeping her from leaving. "Don't," she said again, pleading now, "avoid me anymore. Things are a mess between us. I just want to make it right."
--
"Aiden."
Shoes squeaking on the hospital's linoleum floor, Aiden turned, taking in the beautiful Anita, smiling at him.
"Anita," he greeted, careful, as he considered his reaction to her, the sudden barrier in his heart that made this a little easier now - as Maggie lingered in his thoughts, like she was the night before, head thrown back, body glistening with sweat, rolling her hips hard against his, in time with his thrusts-
He took in an easy breath, fighting the smile.
"You're back," she said. "I missed you."
"I missed you too," he said politely.
"Where'd you go?"
He pressed his lips together, eyes on the floor, before they lifted and met hers directly. "I went to New York. With Maggie."
"Maggie," Anita repeated, obviously trying to place the name. "Oh, Maggie Stone? Bianca's Maggie?"
The phrase caused a strange lurch in his stomach, but he kept his easy face. "More like, my Maggie, now. That's what I'm hoping."
"Oh." Anita's tone was odd, but for once, Aiden didn't find himself fighting not to look for something deeper in her inflection. "That's nice. She seems like a lovely girl. Any reason you went? Or just a lovers getaway?"
"I had a family problem," he said. "Visiting my aunt."
"Oh." Anita nodded. "She's allright, I hope."
He thought about that. "She will be. I came to see Ryan-"
"Oh, I won't keep you long," she came forward, "I was just hoping to talk to you about something."
Her eyes lowered, her voice almost a whisper. Aiden's brow furrowed in concern. "What is it, Anita?"
"It's Zach Slater."
--
Maggie had sat down, and Bianca's heart had lifted some, as she found herself easily slipping back into her 'Maggie tone'. Carefree, easy, her heart lifting at just being able to share this with her, talk about her and Babe's plan, catching J.R.'s true intentions.
She almost smiled at just the feeling, being able to talk, finally talk, to Maggie, and for a minute, she could make believe that the last week hadn't happened, so caught up in telling Maggie her story.
"And we caught the whole thing on tape. J.R. was even more freaked out when we pulled the covers back and he saw that Babe and I still had our clothes on!" She settled into the chair, smiling triumphantly to Maggie.
Maggie only sat quietly, hands in her lap, like a prim school girl. Bianca's smile faltered slightly, when Maggie said after a beat, "You didn't owe me an explanation or anything."
Her tone had softened, but Bianca still felt a sting. Yes, she didn't... technically, but... but it was Maggie, and...
She blew out an uneasy breath, smiling gently. "I just wanted you to know the full story."
Maggie shook her head. "Thanks," she said sincerely, "But it's not like... you know, Lena walked in and saw this whole thing and then ran off." Bianca's throat closed in suddenly. "I mean, then you'd have to worry, if the love of your life misunderstood." Bianca's smile was frozen. "How is Lena?"
She blinked, so absorbed in trying to understand exactly what Maggie was saying, that she nearly missed the question, too taken aback by Maggie's formal, polite tone.
Something had changed Maggie, and it was more than a hair color.
"She's fine," she said, aching just a little, "Lena and I are fine."
The name hung between them like a barrier, and Bianca wanted suddenly to bat it away. But Maggie didn't seem to sense it, her voice was still easy, polite.
"Ok, so... now my confession?" Bianca's heart jumped slightly, and she nodded, eager to hear Maggie talk to her. "Well, you know, I've been a little confused about this whole heteroflexible thing."
Maggie certainly had a way of summing things up. "Heteroflexible?" she repeated, suddenly amused.
Maggie rolled her eyes, a small subtle blush painting her features. "Gay?" she elaborated. "Straight? Am I leaning?" Bianca's eyes dropped slightly, suddenly remembering her promise to help Maggie through it. She hadn't... exactly. "But it's okay!" Maggie said, obviously catching the guilty expression. "And I don't want you to worry. But I ... well I had to sort of get away from everything around here."
Bianca's mouth twitched, but she nodded, understanding completely. "Ok, well, everybody does sometimes."
Maggie's expression was odd. "I went to New York."
Bianca blinked, sudden surprise making her mouth open slightly. That was... far. "You went to New York?" she repeated.
"And I went with Aiden."
Again, she was caught off guard, the name twirling her insides with sudden tension, head shaking in confusion as she rose off her chair, a weird reaction. "Aiden? Devane?"
"Yeah, Aiden," Maggie said, and her entire face transformed, suddenly far away from her. "He's... sweet and nice and well... hot, let's face it. Don't you think?" Bianca blinked, as her mouth opened, but no words seemed to come out. "Well, okay," Maggie said, rushing into her next sentence, "Maybe you don't really find him attractive, but believe me, he is really, really hot."
Bianca's entire body was stiff, and her smile stayed on her face stupidly, as she struggled to think, always diplomatic, "I think he's very good-looking..."
"Yeah, well..." Maggie leaned, her tiny friend now suddenly full of energy. "We've kinda gotten close pretty recently, and we've hung out and I've gotten to know him, and he's really... amazing. And not that I'm bailing on everything that I said to you -- I think I'm going to try it out with him. What do you think?"
The words had hit her like a tidal wave, and for a second, Bianca couldn't really breathe.
The tension inside of her only wrapped harder, like a coil.
When Maggie looked at her expectantly, Bianca had to reprocess the words, and shake herself out of her daze, realizing Maggie actually wanted an answer.
"I..." she struggled. "I think that's great!" she said, hoping for more cheer than she actually felt. It wasn't enough. "Yeah," she tried, and then kicked herself, "Yeah!" she managed finally, "I mean, if the attraction is there, then... why not?"
Maggie was looking at her with an odd twinkle in her eye, and Bianca found herself suddenly drinking in Maggie's beauty. Of course there was attraction - who wouldn't want Maggie?
"Right," Maggie said, echoing her words. "Why not?" Bianca looked down. "Plus, if -- you know, if you don't take a chance, you could miss out on finding the love of your life, right?"
There it was again. That phrase - the words hung onto Bianca like a parasite, and again, she lingered on Maggie, beautiful Maggie.
"Right," she answered weakly.
--
So Ryan was shot - Kendall was once again the prime suspect, and good ole' Ethan Ramsey and Zach Slater, newcomers who were both hiding their own secrets, had somehow gotten themselves mixed up in it.
Aiden considered the information Anita had given him, Zach Slater's past history with Maria, Maria's obvious strong feelings for him.
It made sense that Edmund's call to him had been so full of rancor. The bloody bastard was trying to steal the man's wife. As if Maria hadn't been taken from Edmund enough.
Aiden's jaw squared, already moving, intent on finding Ethan and subjecting his fellow countryman to some questions of his own.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and automatically, he fished for it, flipping open the cradle and pushing to his ear. "Devane."
"So did you do it?"
Aiden's steps faltered, until the voice registered and he laughed, free hand on his hip, "Robin," he greeted. "A man doesn't speak of his sex life."
"There was sex!" his cousin squealed.
"Robin!"
"I was just bloody hoping for a kiss! I didn't know you were both sluts!"
"Stop that," he said, fighting his smile and failing miserably.
"So are you in love? Are you getting married? Can I be the maid of honor?"
"I'm hanging up now."
"What? I like her! Anna loves her!"
"It's been one bloody week."
"And you're smitten."
He paused, considered that. And smiled. "Perhaps."
"Well, good - hold on to her. If you screw it up, I'll beat you myself."
--
Aiden and Maggie.
Aiden and Maggie.
Aiden and Maggie?
Bianca frowned, gathering Bess closer to her, holding the bottle at the correct angle, checking for bubbles. When had that happened?
"So you tell her what really happened?"
Bianca glanced up, and swallowed, shrugging as Jamie settled down next to her. "Yeah," she said, "She didn't seem to care that much..."
"Right," Jamie said, rolling his eyes. "Was I the only one that saw her face that day?"
Bess gurgled, and Bianca adjusted the bottle, careful as she kept the baby secure. "Did you know she was dating Aiden Devane?"
Jaimie looked confused, "She's dating Aiden?"
"She says they've been hanging out." Bianca clucked her tongue, swerving to face Maggie's roommate. "Do you remember her saying anything...?"
"No," Jaimie said, obviously thinking hard. "But I mean, I have been in the hospital and kinda distracted with... you know... Babe."
Bianca felt a flush of something, as she closed her eyes, exhaling uneasily, "Yeah," she admitted. "Me too."
"Though you know what?" Jamie poked her slightly. "Remember that day in the casino? He was there."
Bianca's eyes jerked open. "What?"
"Yeah!" Jamie said, nodding. "Yeah, I remember! He stopped her when we were looking for you. I don't know what they were talking about, but they looked kinda friendly."
Bianca suddenly had the scene in vivid Technicolor, a sudden picture of Maggie being overtaken by a tall, dark and handsome man, staring down at her. She had been wearing a tank top that day - Maggie had beautiful shoulders, and she knew how to flirt...
She frowned. Maggie had run from her, and Aiden... he hadn't been at the fundraiser, now that she thought about it.
Could Maggie have run to Aiden? Was Aiden the one to catch her?
Bianca curled her arms tighter around Bess and kissed her temple, remembering Maggie's face as she talked about Aiden - sweet and kind and really, really hot.
Bianca felt suddenly justified - Maggie and her tall dark and handsome men.
The pit in her stomach was a hard, rough knot, but Bianca ignored it.
And still...
"Jamie," she said, head lifting, "What's in New York?"
Jamie looked even more confused. "The Mets?"
Bianca sighed, distracted by Bess's gurgling. "Never mind."
Nevermind.
end chapter