Chapter 8

Julie was in the town square. After she and Maggie had ended their phone call she quickly called Doug.

"Hi Daring. Where are you?" Julie happily greeted Doug over the phone.

"Well, fair lady. I am on my way back to the house. I just dropped off Ciara at home form dance. Where are you?"

"I am in the town square headed in that direction. I was calling because I don't want you to make any plans for tonight. We are having dinner with Maggie and Grandma."

"Okay, that sounds great. Is something wrong with Maggie? She usually doesn't plan dinner last minute."

"I asked the same thing but she said nothing was wrong but she needed to talk about something very important but she wouldn't tell me what it was. The next part is the strangest. She bought the old lake house back and that is where we are having dinner."

"That is strange. I am kind of worried now."

"So am I, I have been worried since the moment I ended our call."

"So why did she buy the lake house?"

"She didn't really say. She said it was up for auction and was a good price and she felt it was a good investment for when the girls came to visit, they could stay in the old house."

"But doesn't she still have the house she and Mickey were living in when he died?"

"Yes she does. That is what is throwing me off. When the girls visit that is where they stay. They don't feel comfortable at the mansion so Maggie keeps up the house for them. But why would she buy the old house."

"I don't think Maggie is as 'okay' as she lets everyone believe. Do you think his might have something to do with Mickey?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't think Maggie is done grieving over Mickey. I think buying the house is acting as a token of Mickey's memory to Maggie."

"You could be right. I think that is also why she spends so much time at Chez Rouge. Doug I just wish there was something we could do for her."

"I think doing what we ae going to be doing tonight is what she needs. Maggie is in a place where she needs to be surrounded by people that love her and that loved Mickey."

"Doug sometimes I look at Maggie and it makes me miss Mickey so much more. Mickey and I were so close, he was like a father to me. When I see Maggie I expect to see her great big smile accompanied by Mickey's. I haven't seen her smile like that since he died, even with Victor." Doug began to hear the crack in Julie's voice and knew she was almost in tears just thinking about Mickey.

Doug and Julie had ended their call and they were both on their way home. They made it to the drive way a couple minutes apart. Julie stepped from her car and Doug say the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Julie, darling what's wrong?" Doug said walking to her to comfort her.

He wrapped her in his arms and she let go of all her tears. In the middle of the driveway Doug and Julie stood embracing each other. Doug held Julie close while she cried. He held one arm around her resting his hand on the small of her back while his other rested on the back of her held pulling her as close to him as he could. Doug didn't know what was wrong with Julie, although he had an idea, but he knew it wasn't the time to ask because right now all Julie needed was to know he was there.

Around 10 minutes later Julie broke their embrace saying, "Let's go in." Doug and Julie made their way in the house and sat down on the couch.

"Julie, can I as what is wrong?" Doug asked turning to her and brushing a tear from her cheek.

"Nothing is really wrong. I have just been thinking how grateful to have you in my life. Today when we were on the phone discussing Maggie grieving for Mickey I began thinking about what I would do in Maggie's situation. I came to the conclusion I honestly don't know what I would do. Doug you are my everything. I honestly couldn't imagine going through life without you. When I look at Maggie my heart honestly hurts for her." Julie by this time was in tears again.

"Fair lady you've got nothing on me. You mean more to mean than anything in this world. I wouldn't trade even our worst days for all the money in the world. Life with you is nothing less than an adventure and I wouldn't want it any other way. We are none promised tomorrow but I know if something was to happen to either one of us we could survive. We would survive through the memories, photographs, videos, letters, and our loved ones; just as Maggie is. My heart aches for Maggie too. Mickey was one of my best friends. I miss him too but Mickey isn't gone, the wonderful memories we have of Mickey keeps him alive."

Once Doug finished he pulled Julie close to him and they sat entwined in each other's arms counting their blessings and being grateful for the time that had been given to them with their wonderful family and friends. Although Mickey, Tom, and several other close family members were gone they still felt blessed to have been graced with the time they had shared and the wonderful memories that had been left behind.