Grimm's Last Fairy Tale (25 page)

“Mom, I have news for you. You're human. We've all done stupid things. I'm probably about to do another one now. I'm marrying a friend on the spur of the moment. But it feels right, so I'm going with it. Can you just forgive yourself and go grab a burger with me?”

They laughed and Maggie got herself around, wishing somewhere deep inside that she had a moment to talk to Jacob, but that would have to wait.

“Actually, yes. Don't ever tell anyone. You are sworn to absolute secrecy. You must promise to take this to the grave . . . Oh, mom, I'm sorry!”

“Oh, girlie, we don't have time to worry about things like that. Please don't get maudlin on me!”

“Thank you! Anyway, this is just between you and me, but I've been trying them on, hoping. I just had no idea he was feeling the same way and that it would happen so quickly. I have a dress picked out. I hope that doesn't ruin things!”

“Not at all. To be honest, I'm whipped right now and I just want to see you happy. If you have one picked out that you're happy with, I'm delighted. But I do want to see you in it.”

“Oh, yes, I want you to see it! It's gorgeous. But in a kind of understated way. You know me. Less is more.”

“I know you. Can't wait to see it!”

Roxanne in that dress took Maggie's breath away. She was stunning. She could have been wearing a feed sack and her glow would have made it exquisite. This was going to be a great weekend and she just had to put the last few hours behind her.

“And so am I. I have no delusions. It didn't happen for me. But that in no way affects the happiness I feel for all of you kids. Believe me when I tell you that.”

“I do believe you. Thank you!”

“So, the rest of the family should be here this evening. I can't wait. This is a real treat. I mean, I just saw them all. And now again for this happy, happy occasion.”

“Get that dress off right now! Hand it to me. I'll pay while you get dressed. We've got to get you back to your dorm to finish this. This is too important to mess up! You can do it. You just have to focus!”

“OK, mom, thanks for understanding! I love you!”

“I'll entertain the troops tonight and we'll all see you in the morning. Can you just do me a favor? Call Peter and ask him where they're staying tonight.”

When she got back to her room, she remembered David and the journal. She called him for a status report. He didn't answer. She thought to herself how he had better be on his way and he better not disrupt her joyous weekend.

She pulled out her laptop and tried to write, but the thought of the events of the weekend had her all scatter-brained. She realized how exhausted she was from lack of sleep and her general decline in health. She laid down on her bed and slept until the phone rang.

It was Richard and his family. She told them to go ahead and check in and then come to her room. As soon as they arrived at her room, the phone rang again and it was Rhiannon. She had come with the kids, but her husband had to work and stay behind. She seemed a little put out by it, but was doing her best to disguise it. As soon as she hung up, a laughing Rachel called. She had run into Rhiannon in the lobby and they were giggling like the best friends they were. Maggie was so glad that they could spend some time together and hoped that it would take Rhiannon's mind off of the absence of her mate.

Before she knew it, her room was full of joyful noise and kids jumping on beds. This is as it should be, she thought to herself.

“Everyone, quiet a minute. This is all so sudden, but I'm glad that you could put your lives on hold to be with us for this unexpected celebration. However, Roxie has a very important paper due by midnight and will not be with us this evening. That being said, we won't let that stop us from having some scandalous fun.”

The grandchildren all clapped their hands and the children rolled their eyes. They suddenly remember the mom that they grew up with and what trouble she could get into. Suddenly, they were gripped by fear until Maggie assured them that it would not involve anything illegal or immoral. Remarkably, it didn't seem to mollify them in the least.

“Alright, but at one minute after midnight, Roxie is ours!”

Rachel spoke for the other siblings who were busy scheming.

“I won't stop you! First off, let's find someplace cheap and fun to eat. Then I thought we could have a good, old-fashioned scavenger hunt with family teams. How does that sound?”

There was a resounding chorus of laughter and clapping and Maggie knew she had come up with a winner.

They found a Chinese buffet and everyone sat and grazed until they were stuffed. While they were eating, Maggie was making up her lists of things to be found. This would occupy them for the evening and before long it would be bedtime, a time that Maggie couldn't wait for.

The hunt took hours, during which Maggie sat in command central, her room, and took advantage of the quiet by working on her book.

Rachel's family came in first, which was no surprise to anyone. For one thing, her children were a little older and for another, she had just as devious and fun-loving a mind as Maggie herself.

Next—Rhiannon and her family, due to her extremely competitive nature. They all sat and told stories until Richard and his family came in and then it was time to call it a night. The children asked Maggie to tell them a story before bed and she obliged them, but rather than the usual Three Little Pigs or Rapunzel, she chose to tell them a new story, a story of a ghost who loved a woman and spent his days trying to make her forget some of the sadness in her life. The children were more mesmerized than the grandchildren and afterward, suggested that she write it down.

Goodnights were issued and kisses and hugs abounded and all too soon her room was empty and quiet until she realized she had a message on her cell phone. It was David. He had left a message telling her that her journal was at the front desk. She ran downstairs and there it was, at the front desk, with a note inside:

existence I now live.

My best wishes are with you always,

Maggie threw herself onto the bed, hugging the journal, glad to have it back in her possession and glad to have David out of her life. Somewhere in the midst of trying to talk herself into brushing her teeth and washing her face, she fell asleep, fully-dressed and smiling.

in which a joyous event is followed by

a scary something which you will

just have to read to understand

Maggie was awakened by little knocks on her door and she opened it to a floodgate of little bodies fresh and ready to start the day. She promptly sent them back to their families and told them to give her thirty minutes and then to meet her in the lobby. She prepared herself for the day and then went down to meet them.

To her surprise, Peter and Roxie had already arrived and all were looking famished. The entourage headed out, following Peter and Roxie, to the cute little train caboose diner, where they enjoyed pancakes enough to feed a small third world country. Maggie was so thankful for this time and for the circumstance that allowed them all to be in the same place at the same time and she prayed in her heart for many more such occasions.

After they had finished, they all went to the mall to buy the children some matching clothing so that they could be a part of the bridal party. Maggie found herself a nice dress and when she looked in the mirror, she realized that she had lost weight and was looking a bit pale. She told herself to just try and get through the day and then she could get herself home. Once there, she could crawl into bed with the boys and not get out until she was good and ready to begin treatment.

Everyone decided to go ahead and eat a nasty lunch at the food court since they were there. Then they headed back to the motel so that the younger kids could nap and the older ones could go for a swim. Maggie chose to nap herself. She was so tired and the excitement of the weekend was zapping what little strength she had. She couldn't let on to anyone, though. The last thing she wanted was to put a damper on the wedding.

At five o'clock, everyone began to dress. Peter had taken care of flowers and ushers and an organist. He had left no stone unturned. What a man this was who had found her little girl.

They arrived and Maggie and the girls made their way into the bridal dressing room and found a breathtaking Roxanne already dressed and anxious to begin her new life. The men took the children and sat down and waited. While the ladies were all doing last minute touch-ups, they heard the wedding march and found Richard waiting outside the door to escort Roxie down the aisle. Maggie and the sisters scurried to find their seats and waited breathlessly for Richard to deliver Roxanne to Peter. When that was done, the preacher began his part and then the couple recited their quickly-written vows to one another.

It was a lovely ceremony. All of Maggie's children were now married and she was feeling a mix of relief and a tinge of uselessness, which lasted only until the grandchildren ran to her after the newlyweds kissed, making nasty noises and funny faces. They still adored her. Children have a way of letting you know that you are not obsolete, that you still matter. Maybe she had some things left to accomplish and some opportunities to be there for them when they felt like their families weren't.

The family dispersed and changed into casual attire and met at the restaurant for the intimate reception. Peter and Roxanne clearly had people who cared for them, that was easy to see. Glasses were raised, toasts made, and wishes pronounced before the couple finally escaped to drive to the airport for their flight. Everyone else relaxed and enjoyed about another hour, sharing memories of Roxie's childhood and speculating what kind of life the two of them would share.

Finally, the festivities ended and everyone headed home, choosing to drive through the night while the children rested. This was a practice that Maggie had utilized when they were young and they continued the tradition. She was silently thankful for it this evening. She was more exhausted than she had ever been and she just wanted to sleep so that she could head home early in the morning.

She arrived back at her room and packed the laptop so that it wouldn't tempt her to stay up later than she needed to. She turned on the TV for mindless noise and readied herself for a quick departure in the morning, and then remembered unresolved issues with Jacob. Oh, how he must hate her for all that she had put him through.

“It was David trying to connive his way into my life. He was reading my journal and in it was the the way you revealed yourself to me. He used it to try to turn my mind around. I'm so sorry.”