I Still Dream About You

was now ready to make her big move. Not as soon as she had hoped, but as Babs liked to say, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.”

BABS WAS RIGHT. Ethel and Brenda were delighted that Maggie had sold Crestview out from under her. But despite all Maggie’s efforts, she began to feel guilty about stealing the listing. Yes, Babs was not a nice person, but still, what she had done had not been exactly ethical. When her part of the commission came in, after she paid off her loan and the rest of her bills, she would send what was left to Babs. It wouldn’t be the full commission, but it was at least something, and then she could go with a clear conscience.

Blast from the Past

Monday, January 19, 2009

ALTHOUGH CRESTVIEW WAS SOLD, MAGGIE STILL HAD TO HOLD open houses until escrow officially closed, to try to get a backup offer. Today, as Maggie was about to lock up the house and go home, she heard a man’s voice in the hall.

“Hello. Anybody here? Maggie?”

The minute he said her name, she knew who it was, and her heart began to pound. She walked into the hall, and there he stood. When he saw her, he smiled and said, “It’s your old decrepit boyfriend, come to say hello. How are you, Maggie?”

“Charles… I can’t believe it’s you.”

“Oh, yes, it’s me. Only with gray hair.”

They hugged, and Maggie said, “Well. I’m just stunned, but what are you doing here? Oh, not here, but in Birmingham?”

“We had to put Dad out at St. Martin’s, and I had to sign some things.”

“Oh, I see…”

“I’m sorry to drop in on you unannounced like this, but I ran into Mrs. Dalton, and she said you’d be here today, so I thought I’d take a chance.”

Maggie was so thrown at seeing Charles that she was at a loss for words. “Well, I’m just stunned,” she repeated.

“Me, too,” he said. “What happened, Maggie? Seems like I just left home a couple of years ago… but it’s been over forty years, and I have a grown granddaughter. Do you believe it? But I swear to God, Maggie, you don’t look a day older than the last time I saw you.”

“You’re sweet to say so, Charles, even if it isn’t true, and you look just the same yourself. Can you come in and sit down?”

“I can’t, I’m on my way to catch a plane; I just wanted to say hello…”

“Will you be coming back?”

“Oh sure, we all do eventually; I just don’t know when. Mrs. Dalton told me that David and Mitzi are buying the place. I’m glad.”

“Me, too.”

They stood and chatted a little about old friends and how much Birmingham had changed over the years, both avoiding the obvious two elephants in the living room: the subject of his wife and why Maggie had wound up unmarried and selling real estate.

As she stood there looking at him today, she was struck by something. With his blue eyes and sandy hair, Charles looked exactly like an older version of Tab Hunter, one of her all-time favorite movie stars. Why hadn’t she noticed it before?

After a few more minutes of small talk, there was an awkward silence. Then Charles suddenly looked at her and said, “Oh, Maggie… you broke my heart, you know.”

Tears immediately came to her eyes. “I know I did. I broke my own heart, too. I’m so sorry.”

“I’ve always loved you, you know.”

“Yes, I do. I do know.”

They stood for a moment, not knowing what else there was to say. Then Charles finally said, “Well, I guess I’d better go.”

Just then, a beautiful blond woman cracked open the door and stuck her head in. “Hello? May I come in?”

Charles looked embarrassed. “Sure, darling, I’m sorry.”

Maggie had heard that he had married a beautiful blonde, but this woman was much younger than she’d expected (they always are). But Maggie was gracious and said, “Oh, please, come in.” Charles put his arm around the woman and said, “Honey, this is Margaret; Maggie, this is Christine.” Christine put her arm around his waist and smiled at her. “Are you the famous Margaret I’ve been hearing about all my life?”

Maggie was a bit flustered. “Well, I don’t know.”

“Daddy always told us he had dated Miss Alabama, but we never believed him. But I guess it’s true. I’m so happy to meet you.”

Then Maggie said, “Oh. Oh! You too, Christine.”

“Daddy was a nervous wreck all the way up here, and now I know why. You are just as beautiful as he said you were.”

Charles looked very uneasy, then glanced at his watch and said, “Well, come on, sweetie, we have to leave or we’ll miss our plane.”

Christine shook Maggie’s hand. “It was wonderful to meet you. If you’re ever anywhere near Lake Lugano, Switzerland, come and see us,” she said as Charles pulled her out the door. “Promise?” she added.

“Yes, I promise,” said Maggie.

“Bye, Maggie,” Charles said.

“Goodbye, Charles.”

Of course, she should have known Christine was his daughter when she smiled. As she watched them drive away, a wave of sadness flooded over her. If she hadn’t been such a complete fool, that beautiful girl might have been her daughter.

AS THEY DROVE away, Christine said, “What a beautiful lady. Was she as pretty as you remembered?”

“Yes.”

She looked over at her father. “Dad, why are you blushing?”

“I’m not blushing.”

“Yes, you are. I think you still like her. Did you ask her?”

“No.”

“Did she have a wedding ring on?”

“No.”

“Then why didn’t you just ask her? If she’s not married, and you’re not married, why didn’t you?”

“It’s much more complicated than that. I’m sure she’s probably seeing someone.”

“It wouldn’t hurt to ask, would it?”

“Well, we’ll see. Maybe the next time I come back, I’ll give her a call.”

“All right. But I just hope you don’t wait too long.”