Part 10 (1/2)

Mitch could still see it, and that was a problem. It wasn't his job to defend Maggie or Hazel. It was his job to do what was best for Grandberry Falls.

”Mitch?” Susie questioned why he didn't answer her. ”Seriously, what did you see in her.”

Mitch looked at her and turned away when he heard Maggie yelling at Hazel. He could only recall one other time when they had yelled at each other and it wasn't when she accepted Grady's proposal. It was when Maggie decided not to come back to Grandberry Falls after college. Hazel had a hard time understanding why Maggie didn't want to come back and serve the community.

”Oh my G.o.d.” Mitch jerked away from Susie's grasp. Her mouth widened in a dramatic O and her face drained of all color. ”You are still in love with Maggie Greenlee.”

Mitch stepped backwards. He wasn't about to confess to anything. His mind was confused from what happened moments ago, and Maggie being in town.

”Have you told Wendy?” Susie stomped around. ”How could you do this to her. She's given you her life and you dump her once *little miss goody-two shoes' waltzes back into town.”

”Shut up, Susie.” His words were sharp. Folding his muscular arms across his chest, he remained calm. ”Nothing is going on with me and Maggie. You need to focus on this eminent domain case as my a.s.sistant, not Maggie Greenlee. It's the community we need to protect first and foremost.”

If he could dodge a bullet about Maggie, he was going to. Wearing his emotions on his sleeve was one of his downfalls.

He curled his shoulders in as Susie dug her nail into his chest. ”You hurt Wendy and I'll hurt you.”

”You need to talk to Wendy.” Mitch held his voice calm and steady. He wasn't going to be the one to tell Wendy's friends that their engagement was called off.

”What did you just say?” Maggie held the office door open with Hazel standing behind her. Maggie had the envelope from Hazel's purse in her hands.

”Nothing.” Susie planted a s.h.i.+t-eating grin on her face. Mitch wasn't going to cross her or Wendy. He was sure once this eminent domain case was over, Maggie would be going back to New York and this whole ordeal would finally be over.

Maggie pointed to Mitch the way she used to order him around when they were kids. ”You and I have some business to discuss.”

Hazel slung her purse over her shoulder and scooted past Mitch and Susie. Before she left, she turned. ”Maggie knows everything. I give you permission to use her as my lawyer from here on out.”

There was a twinkle in Hazel's eyes and a small grin on her paper thin lips. Mitch rolled his eyes. There was more to Hazel's plan than Maggie helping on the eminent domain case-he's seen that sparkle a few times in his life from her. He had to be sure to keep it strictly business, nothing more. After all, everyone in town knew that Hazel had already married off Maggie to Mitch.

Maggie had already gone back into his office and was on the phone. When he entered, she motioned for him to shut the door. As always, he did what she told him to do. Unfortunately, he felt himself falling back into the pattern of doing what she said and his heart was following.

Chapter 24.

Superst.i.tion: Don't watch a friend walk away or they will walk out of your life. . .forever.

”Every time I see you, you're standing by this old waterfall.” Wendy laughed as if sincerely amused..

A gentle nudge of envy tugged at Maggie's soul. For a split second she pictured Wendy going over the handrail they were standing in front of-only for a second.

How could she not be happy for Wendy and Mitch? They were two great people, who were way more caring about Grandberry Falls than her. And they would make a perfect *First Couple' for the town.

Maggie slipped the quarter back into her jeans pocket. Her dreams never came true before, why waste another cent?

This time, she was going to wish for the eminent domain case to go their way. She's spent all day going over the paper work from Patricia Van Meter, looking for anything; but had come up short-way short.

”I couldn't tell you how much money I've invested in this waterfall.” Maggie placed both hands on the handrails, making sure they would stay put. After all, she couldn't be responsible for them.

Wendy brushed her blonde hair behind her shoulders, showing a faint tan line. ”You are coming to the Hair Pin for spa night, right?”

Maggie had her doubts she was wanted there. No matter how hard she tried to fit in, it just wasn't working out. Wendy of all people was being nice to Maggie, when Maggie was acting the worst to her.

”We all want you there, Maggie.” Wendy gently touched Maggie's forearm. She winked. ”Plus you never know what might be said when you're not there.”

She's right. If Wendy only knew that she heard Beth describe her dream about Maggie being left at the altar, and how she was hiding behind the fake bush in the lobby of the Fatted Pig that morning.

Maggie couldn't hide anymore. This town has turned her back into someone she really liked, not the aggressive lawyer she was in New York. She was going to gain the respect of these women once more. She was going to win the eminent domain case or figure out something for this community.

”Yes.” Maggie nodded. ”I'll be there in a minute.”

”Promise?” Wendy's eyes showed a gleam of hope.

”Promise.”

Maggie's spirit soared. She hoped Wendy would give her another chance at friends.h.i.+p. She pulled the quarter out of her pocket and turned away from Wendy. She couldn't watch Wendy walk off. Hazel always said that if you watch a friend walk away, superst.i.tion has it that they walk out of your life forever. And that was one superst.i.tion she didn't want to come true.

She needed her friends more now than ever, and with a flick of the wrist, she changed her wish for the first time in years.

Maggie lifted her head up to the sun and let the warmth flow down her face. She was going to give her all to this town. Then she'd make her decision on her future and what it held for her.

If nothing else, she had a wonderful community with friends who love her to fall back on.

The chattering women were lined up like little ducks with their legs straight out and hot pink Styrofoam sticking out from their perfectly manicured toes. Beth held a gla.s.s of champagne talking to Susie, whose hand was in Belle's as Belle filed down the acrylic nails.

Maggie looked around for Wendy or any other faces she might recognize. Liz and Jenna were picking out polish over by the hors d'ouevres.

”Hi!” Jenna waved Maggie over. She held up a bottle of OPI. ”I think I'm going to pick out this cool black like you see on celebrities.”

”Everyone is wearing that color in New York.” Maggie had seen a lot of colors actually on the eclectic group of New Yorkers she had hung around with.

She picked up a few different colors and set them back down. Maggie couldn't remember the last time she had color on her nails. She had to be in court and no judge took a lawyer with lime green nails seriously. The pale pink was always the color of choice.

”How about this?” Maggie held the blue glitter nail polish up in the light.

If she was going to go out of her box, why not blue and glitter?

Liz took the bottle and smiled. ”Why not? Me too.”

Maggie greeted everyone with a simple h.e.l.lo. She was glad to see *girl's spa in', included a few more people that weren't in the group. It made it a lot easier for her to think up strategies she was normally so good at doing on the spur of the moment. But when it came to these girls, she seemed to have a hard time expressing how she felt. She wondered if it was her ego getting in the way all these years.

She always felt like she had to prove herself in Grandberry Falls. Everyone made sure she was taken care of when her parents died. She appreciated their concern, but it just made her want to prove to them that she was stronger than they gave her credit for.

No matter what, she was going to make something of herself.

She had, but realized that she had gone about it the wrong way.

”Sit here next to me.” Wendy patted the empty salon chair.