A Serial Romance

Chapter Ten, by Jennifer L. Stevenson

The persistent chirping of Maggie’s cell phone awakened her before dawn.  She squinted in the milky streetlight streaming in from the windows. Huckleberry, curled at the end of the bed, issued a grumpy meow.

Who would call at such an hour?

She heard Cam’s voice.

“Maggie, I’m sorry it couldn’t wait,” he said. “I need to see you. Right now.”

Fully awake in an instant, Maggie sat up in bed.

“Forget it, pal,” she snapped. “You’ll never set foot in this place again. I know what you’ve been up to. ”

“I know, I know,“ Cam said. “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please let me see you.”

“Get lost,“ Maggie said. “It’s another trick.”

“I’m coming over,” Cam said. “I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Don’t you do it!”  Maggie shouted into the dead phone. “Don’t you even dare!!”

Five minutes? Five Minutes!

How could she bathe, dress and be spiffy in five tiny minutes?  And more to the point, should she wear her new jeans or the red shorts?

Just as he promised, Cam soon pounded on the door of the darkened Book Nook.       “C’mon Maggie,” he yelled. “Give a guy a break. Open up.”

Lights blinked on inside. He heard the locks turn, and the door slowly opened. Maggie stood at the threshold.

“Here’s the play-by-play Cam Welder. You have two strikes against you. You have one chance left,” Maggie said. “Only one chance left to tell me what this is all about before you’re outta here.”

Maggie stood aside.

Flushed from her shower, adorable in red shorts and clearly mad as hell, Cam nearly tripped at the sight of her.  Who looks this good at 5 a.m.? Cam thought he’d like to spend a lifetime of mornings finding out.

Despite her anger, Maggie sneaked a peek at Cam with concern.  This home team hottie was a wreck. Eyes tired, face unshaven, clothes pulled out.  Wrinkled, she smugly surmised, clearly not from a night of happy passion play with Callie. He looked miserable. She busied herself making coffee.

“Go ahead, Cam – play ball,” Maggie said, not looking up.

“That’s just it, ” Cam  replied.  “I can’t play anymore. After meeting with Mom and Callie last night, I realized I couldn’t go through with their plan, their game, their scheme. I’ve been walking and thinking all night.”

Maggie stared at Cam, suddenly still. Could this be an answer to her midnight wonderings? Could this be a dream revealed?

“Somewhere out there, on some street,” Cam motioned to the still-dark and sleeping city, “I realized that I need my own plan.  My life….”

Cam trailed off. Maggie looked at him, questioning.

“No, that’s not right either,”  said Cam, balling his fists in frustration. “I’m not saying this right.”

He shook his head, trying to focus. He gazed about the Book Nook, which now looked so familiar to him. He promised himself he’d do anything to save it – and anything to help this proud, determined woman standing in front of him.

Cam looked at Maggie, then reached out and gently brushed a lock of blonde hair from her eyes.

“Dammit, Maggie,” Cam said quietly, “all I know is that my plans have forever changed. My life has to be our life. ”

“Oh, Cam… this is so sudden,” said Maggie, her heart pounding, not daring to believe or trust.  “How can you possibly know?”

“I knew it the moment that I met you,” said Cam, quickly taking Maggie into his arms. All of his confusion was gone. He realized he’d never felt this sure, this positive.

“Hey, how could I ignore you?” he asked, chuckling softly. “You fell into my life… literally.”

Maggie gazed up at him, her eyes suddenly swimming with bright tears –  of relief, of joy.

“You don’t get it, do you? “ asked Cam, his arms tight around her waist.  “I adore you Maggie Lambeth. You, your curly hair, your crazy wonderful Book Nook and even your sneaky cat.”

Then, Cam cupped Maggie’s face gently and tipped it upward. Their lips almost touching, they took a sweet breath together.

“I love you, Maggie,” said Cam, kissing her deeply.

“And I love you,” replied Maggie, relaxing against his broad chest.

Cam pulled back and gently shook her shoulders. “And we can save this place, Maggie,” Cam said. “Together, we can do anything!”

“We sure can! You’re not the only white knight who’s rescued this damsel in a day,” said Maggie. She told Cam about the letter from the mysterious publisher who provided the life-changing, business-saving, inheritance.

“A homerun!” Cam shouted happily. “And we’ll need all the money we have to fight City Hall. Say – what was the publisher’s name?”

Maggie told him.  Cam laughed.

“Yup, that’s makes sense. He’s still stealing bases to win the game.”

Maggie looked puzzled.

“You know him by his book name, but that publisher used to be known by his baseball name – Rocket Peters. “

“The guy in my Mom’s picture?” Maggie asked.

“The very one. “

Maggie smiled, then reached up to embrace Cam’s strong shoulders.

“I’m starting to think,” she whispered, her lips barely brushing his,  “that you baseball players are useful.”

“Baby, you can bet on it,” murmured Cam, drawing her close, claiming her with a kiss that promised both passion and fate.

And melting into Cam’s desire, Maggie knew that her deepest questions had been answered.

She was – finally and forever – safe at home.