Buried in Bargains (Good Buy Girls) (6 page)

Topiary bushes decorated in white lights lined the steps to the large front doors. The doors were open, and Bianca Madison stood there in a strapless pewter gown with her dark hair swept up to the crown of her head and styled with a cascade of curls trailing down her back. She looked radiant, and Maggie wondered if it was because Max Button stood at her side in a black tuxedo with a matching pewter pocket square.

Bianca turned to Max and whispered something in his ear, and he gave her a smile of such brilliance that Maggie caught her breath. Had it really been just six months ago that he’d been serving ice cream at the Frosty Freeze while wearing a faded Yoo-hoo T-shirt and khaki shorts?

“Max!” Laura cried as she spied her former math tutor. She tripped up the stairs and hugged him and then Bianca, and gushed, “You two look amazing.”

They both blushed and returned the compliment. Sandy ushered Josh, who was enthralled with the white lights on the bushes, up the steps, and more hugs were exchanged.

Finally, it was Maggie’s turn. She kissed Bianca’s cheek and then hugged Max.

“I’m so proud of you,” she whispered to Max. He grinned, and she asked, “You’re happy?”

He nodded, looking choked up. “I didn’t think I could ever be this happy.”

“I’m so glad,” Maggie said.

“Me, too,” he said. He reached out a hand and took Bianca’s in his, giving it a squeeze. She glanced back from where she was greeting the next guests, and the smile she gave him was dazzling.

Maggie beamed at him and followed her family into the main room. There was a coat-check station, but Maggie opted to keep her wrap on. They followed the sound of music and laughter down the short hallway to the enormous ballroom.

The doors were open, and the room was already filling up. Tables were set around the room for older guests to sit, and the dance floor was crowded with younger guests dancing to the music from the band at the end of the room.

Garlands of pine had been strung across the massive ceiling, and paper lanterns in shades of red, green, gold and silver in all different sizes were strung all along the garlands, giving the room a soft and festive glow.

“Oh, wow,” Laura said, taking it all in.

“Wow, indeed,” Maggie agreed. “I can’t believe Bianca managed all of this in just one week.”

“Laura, come dance with me.” Aaron Lancaster, looking very dashing in a dark suit and tie, appeared and held out a hand to her. Laura grabbed his hand and the two of them strode out to the floor.

Maggie felt someone approach her side and turned to see Ginger there.

“He looks just like his daddy did at our prom twentysomething years ago,” Ginger said. “And Laura looks like you.”

“Except,” Maggie began and Ginger said with her, “she has Charlie’s eyes.”

They smiled at each another.

“Oh, Ginger, where did the time go?” Maggie asked.

“I don’t know,” Ginger said with a shake of her head. Then she straightened up, and said, “Uh-oh, don’t look now.”

“Don’t look at what?” Maggie asked. She turned to see what Ginger was looking at.

“What do you not understand about
don’t look
?” Ginger asked, turning to face her. “Sam Collins is here.”

“Oh.” Maggie turned her head away. She focused on the dancers even though it about killed her not to check out Sam. She tried to make her voice sound casual when she asked, “So, who did he bring with him?”

Chapter 7

Ginger was quiet for so long that Maggie feared the worst.

“Do not tell me that he brought Summer Phillips,” she said.

“No,” Ginger’s voice was pensive. “He seems to be alone.”

“Alone? Really?”

Ginger grinned at her. “When are you going to admit that you like him?”

Maggie turned away. “I—”

“Oh, please,” Ginger waved a hand at her. “I’m your best friend. I know you.”

“Ugh, can we not talk about it now?”

“Okay, but just for tonight,” Ginger said. “Tomorrow I thumb-wrestle you into admitting it.”

Maggie laughed. “Deal.”

“Something is going on with Sam, though,” Ginger said. “He’s just hanging around the front door like he’s waiting for something.”

“Or someone.” Maggie sighed.

Mercifully, her phone rang, and she fished it out of her clutch. She checked the caller ID and was surprised to see Sandy’s husband Jake’s number pop up.

“Hello?” she answered. The band and crowd noise made it impossible to hear. “Hello, Jake?”

“Aunt Maggie,” his low voice was just a rumble.

She stuck her finger in her ear and signaled to Ginger that she was going to duck out to take the call.

She stepped through one set of French doors that opened out onto a large veranda. A fire pit was at one end and heaters warmed spots along the balcony, which was decorated with more twinkling white lights and pine boughs.

“Jake, can you hear me?”

“I can hear you,” he laughed. “Can you hear me?”

“Loud and clear,” she said. “Oh, Jake, I wish you were here. Sandy looks amazing, and Josh is so handsome in his little suit.”

“Oh, do me a favor and take a picture of them and send it to me, would you?” he asked.

“Definitely,” Maggie agreed. “Did you want me to go get Sandy? I know she’d love to talk to you.”

“I’d like to,” he said. “But first, could you do me a big favor?”

“Anything,” Maggie said. Jake’s voice was gruffer than usual, and she suspected he was feeling low to be missing the holiday festivities with his family. “You’re all right, aren’t you? You weren’t wounded were you?”

“No!” he said right away. “Nothing like that. I just miss my family.”

“Oh, Jake,” Maggie sighed. “What can I do to help?”

“Is there a band there?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you suppose you could ask them to play ‘Unforgettable’ by Irving Gordon?”

Maggie felt her throat constrict. “Your wedding song. Oh, Jake, that’s so romantic.”

“Yeah, I want Sandy to know I’m thinking of her.”

“Will do,” Maggie said. “Should I have her call you after?”

“Yeah,” he said. “That’d be good.”

“Okay, Jake, I’m on it. Take care of you,” she said.

“I will,” he agreed. “And Maggie, thanks.”

Maggie put her phone back in her purse and blew out a breath. She really liked that boy. She hurried into the ballroom and signaled to the bandleader that she had a request.

He was a good-looking, older gentleman with thick white hair. Maggie whispered her request in his ear, and he gave her a warm smile.

Maggie made her way around the dance floor back to Ginger’s side.

“Who was that?” Ginger asked.

“Jake.”

“Sandy’s Jake? Is he all right?”

“He’s fine,” Maggie assured her.

The band was winding down its song, and Sandy and Josh joined them. Maggie dipped her head at Sandy and put a finger to her lips. Ginger nodded in understanding.

“Ladies and gentleman, we have a special request,” the bandleader announced. He looked at Maggie, and she smiled her encouragement. “This next song goes out to Sandy from her loving husband, Jake.”

The band kicked in and the bandleader, in a voice reminiscent of Nat King Cole, crooned “Unforgettable” into the microphone. Sandy’s eyes went wide, and she blushed as the entire room turned to look at her.

“But how?” Sandy asked.

“He just phoned it in,” Maggie said.

Sandy’s eyes were watery, and she nodded as if this was something she would expect Jake to do. She held her hand out to Josh.

“Will you come and dance to Mommy and Daddy’s song with me?”

Josh gave her a shy smile and put his hand in hers. Together they strode out to the empty dance floor and everyone watched as the mother and son held hands and moved in a slow circle. Josh grinned up at his mom as she twirled him, and then he giggled.

“Adorable,” Ginger whispered.

Maggie turned to agree and caught sight of Sam, looking knee-wiltingly handsome in a black tuxedo and bow tie. His gaze met hers, and then he turned and hustled out the door into the hallway.

She wondered what that meant. Maybe his date had arrived. Curious to see who she might be, Maggie stood up on her tiptoes. In moments, Sam returned, and when Maggie saw who entered the ballroom behind him, she gasped and clutched Ginger’s arm.

Ginger took one look at Maggie’s face, and then she spun to see what Maggie was looking at. She let out a muffled shriek, which caused everyone around them to slowly turn to the door.

Still in his fatigues, Jake strode into the ballroom. Other than the sound of the band playing, the entire room went silent. As if sensing something was happening, Sandy looked up from Josh. She stumbled to a halt and pressed her right hand over her mouth.

Josh looked up at his mother and then spun around. His blue eyes went wide, and he yelled, “Daddy!”

Then he started to run as fast as his chubby little legs could carry him. Jake knelt down and scooped up his son, clutching him close.

“Daddy! You’re here!” Josh cried as he patted his father’s cheeks as if to make sure he was real, while Jake planted kisses all over his son’s face.

Jake shifted him onto his hip and strode out onto the dance floor. Sandy stood transfixed, staring at her two men. The tears were coursing down her cheeks and sobs rocked her shoulders.

Jake opened up his other arm and swept her into a family hug. The bandleader’s voice faded out, and the band played a hushed version of the song while Jake hugged Sandy close and kissed her lips and hair. When she pulled back she was still crying, and Josh reached forward and cupped her face, and said, “It’s okay, Mommy. Daddy’s home.”

Sandy kissed her son and her husband, and the three of them continued their dance. Maggie wasn’t sure who started it, but someone began to applaud and soon the whole room was clapping and cheering and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

“Oh my god, look at me,” Ginger said. “I’m a mess.”

Maggie sniffed and nodded. “I’ll go fetch us some tissue.”

She turned to leave and found Sam and Roger standing behind them. Sam handed her a handkerchief, and Roger did the same for Ginger.

“Thank you,” Maggie said as she blotted the skin beneath her eyes and the tip of her nose.

Maggie had never been a pretty crier. Her nose and eyes turned bright red and her skin got all blotchy. She lowered her face and let her hair hang in front of her in an attempt to cover the damage.

Sam leaned close, and asked, “Are you all right?”

“Just emotional,” she said. The knot in her throat was still tight and her voice came out gruff.

Sam smiled at her, and Maggie suddenly remembered that he had been loitering by the door and in the hall.

“Did you know Jake was coming back tonight?” she asked.

Sam pursed his lips and whistled while studying the garland above their heads.

“You did, didn’t you?” she asked.

“His dad might have called the station to see if I could pick him up at the airport with a squad car to get him here in time,” Sam said.

“Aw.” Maggie felt her eyes well up again. “That was so nice of you.”

“Jake’s dad was the QB of our high school team when I was a freshman,” he said. “He’s a good man.”

“Is he here?” she asked, scanning the crowd.

“He and his wife are driving up from Florida as we speak,” he said. “They’re excited to see their boy, but they knew Jake wanted to surprise Laura and Josh.”

“Well, it was an amazing surprise,” Maggie said. She put her hand on his arm, and said, “Thank you.”

Sam looked like he was about to say something, but just then the song ended and Laura popped out of the crowd. She grabbed Maggie’s hand and dragged her out onto the dance floor to go give Jake a welcome-home hug.

Maggie cupped Jake’s face and kissed both of his cheeks. He grinned at her in just the same way Josh did when he was really happy, and Maggie felt her heart lift.

“Welcome home, Jake,” she said.

“Thanks, Aunt Maggie.” He grinned, and Maggie let Laura have her turn.

Turning away from the group, Maggie dreaded to think of what she must look like. She decided to scoot to the bathroom and attempt some damage control. Plus, that would give her a few minutes to get it together. She was still feeling watery and was afraid she’d start bawling again at the sight of the reunited family.

Maggie slipped out of the ballroom and into the hallway. The bathroom that she was familiar with was locked. She decided to try farther down the hall. In a house this size there had to be another bathroom. She looked in on a small study and a coat closet. She heard voices coming from behind the next door, and she thought maybe she could ask there for directions to the bathroom.

The door was ajar, so she glanced around it before pushing it open, not wanting to interrupt if the catering staff were having a meeting.

The voices kept on in a rush, however, as they obviously didn’t notice her at the door.

“This can’t go on, Diane,” Michael Claramotta said.

Maggie felt her heart thump hard in her chest. Joanne’s husband Michael and Diane Jenkins, his new hire, were standing at the back of the room. Diane had her arms crossed over her middle as if she were upset and trying to hold it in. Michael looked distressed—not angry, but very agitated.

“Don’t you see?” he asked. “I have to think about Joanne and the baby. I can’t let this hurt them.”

Diane gave a small nod, and her voice was wooden when she said, “I understand.”

“It just can’t go on,” he said. “It’s not right. Not for you. Not for anyone.”

Diane sobbed and nodded, and Michael reached out and pulled her close in a reassuring hug.

“You’re going to be okay,” he whispered against her hair. “I promise.”

Maggie slowly backed away from the door. Her throat was dry, and she felt as if someone had reached into her chest and tied her insides into a fancy sailor’s knot.

“Maggie,” a voice called her name.

Maggie spun away from the door and turned to see Joanne, barreling down on her and just seconds from walking in on her husband with his arms around another woman.