15.
Later that night…
"Maggie! How was the dance? See any cute boys?" asked Fran, as the eldest child of the Sheffield family shuffled in the door after attending the Spring Fling at school.
"Oh Fran, it was horrible!" declared Maggie, running over to Fran with tears rushing down her cheeks.
"Aw, I'm sorry… that bad?" said Fran, enveloping her into a hug.
They both walked over and took a seat on the couch, so Fran could attempt to find out why she was so miserable. Fran then soothingly rubbed Maggie's back while she told her story.
"Yeah, well you know that girl Jessica?"
Fran sat back on a pillow and racked her brain trying to remember, and then recalled that she was the one that Maggie frequently paraded around the mall with. She was a bit of a bossy, loud-mouthed, blonde girl who basically thought her shit didn't stink.
"Oh yes, that Gregor girl you hang out with…"
"Well, after tonight, not anymore!" proclaimed Maggie, clearly upset with the girl.
"Why Hun? Please, tell me what she did," said Fran, concerned.
"First off she lied! She told me that me, her, and this girl Katrina would all dance together there since we didn't have dates," relayed Maggie, wiping her teary eyes with her knuckles.
"And she didn't!"
"No, she didn't even say hi to me!"
"And to top it all off, she was all over Jesse Hughes and she knows I like him."
"Not your Jesse!"
"Oh, yes—him."
"Aw, that's terrible. She's a horrible girl and you don't need her Mags! She's not worth it. You are too good of a person to have to put up with her silly antics."
"It's just—I dunno. Why do people always have to treat me like that Fran?" asked Maggie, leaning her head on Fran's shoulder and looking off across the room sadly.
"Because you're a sweet, beautiful, wonderful person honey. Jessica was just jealous of how amazing you looked tonight and tried to get back at you for no reason besides that. Don't let her get you down, okay? I'm sure you had an alright time with Katrina, and the key is to make Jessica believe you did. Acting like you were perfectly fine without her company will really bother her and that's about the best you can do right now."
"Okay," said Maggie in a small voice.
Fran affectionately rubbed her arm and gave the insecure girl a reassuring smile.
"I love you Fran, and I'm glad you're always here for me when I need you," announced Maggie, giving her a loving hug.
"I love you too."
Maxwell stood in the doorframe on the other side of the room watching the two of them. He was only passing by, but stopped when he realized he had stumbled upon a troubling situation that involved his daughter. He was glad Miss Fine was there to comfort her in her time of need.
Look how well she handled Margaret, he thought. She'll make a wonderful mother someday.
He walked off, not wanting to disturb them, with tears welling up in his eyes at such a warm, comforting picture they made. Maxwell never regretted the moment Fran Fine stepped into their lives and knew he never would.