Chapter 109: ParanoiaBobby watched out the window of his first-class seat as the runway came into view, felt the bump as the wheels touched down. He'd flown with Savannah to Dallas, rented a car to drive her to Deanna's, then driven back to the airport for his flight to New York. Just like every time he left his daughter, he'd felt the hole in his heart, but those emotions had been tempered by his annoyance with Deanna. He shook his head to dispel the negative thoughts. He'd see Savannah again soon. And for now, he had Maggie to look forward to. A home-cooked dinner with a beautiful redhead sounded just about right.Brown leather carry-on bag slung over his shoulder, he headed to the escalator that would take him to the taxi stand. "I'm back. I'll see you as soon as I get a cab," he texted quickly as he stepped onto the steep moving stairway.Seconds later his phone blipped. "I see you now, bayou boy." Puzzled, Bobby scanned the diverse crowd waiting at the bottom of the e
Chapter 110: Clearing the AirMaggie and Michael had both said that they'd never dated each other. Michael did admit that they'd slept together once. Bobby rubbed his chin as conflicting thoughts whirled through his mind. Michael and Maggie are friends. He inspected the photograph in his hands. They look like more than friends. He exhaled sharply. Damn Deanna for wrecking my heart."Everything's just about ready," Maggie called, breaking into his thoughts.He shook his head and replaced the picture. Let it go, son. Just let it go.It was easier said than done. Maggie smiled at him and asked him to pour the wine for them, and he had to resist the impulse to believe that her smile mocked him. They sat at her small kitchen table and heaped their plates with scampi. A small garden salad of fresh greens was topped with her homemade vinaigrette, and a fresh warm baguette complimented the meal."I'm so glad you're here," Maggie said, lifting her glass.He touched his glass to hers
Chapter 111: Secrets SharedSpent, Bobby tenderly kissed Maggie's temple, separated his body from hers, and collapsed beside her on the bed. Following their union on the couch, they'd moved into the bedroom, making love for hours. "Now the bed is much fucked-upon," Maggie giggled.He gave her a wry look and linked his fingers with hers. "Lucky bed. Lucky me," Bobby murmured.Maggie rolled onto her stomach and propped her chin on her hands. "I'm pretty sure I'm the lucky one. Sore, in a good way obviously, but lucky.""We'll compromise and say we're both lucky," he said, lightly tracing the tiny sun tattoo on her hip. A smile played on his lips. "Tell me about this, cher."She glanced over her shoulder to the yellow and orange sun before looking back at him, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Casey and I went to Daytona for Spring Break one year during law school." Bobby grinned as he imagined young Maggie on the loose for Spring Break. "We were kind of drunk and I wan
Chapter 112: Birthday SurprisesIn front of Maggie's office building, Bobby leaned casually against the door of a taxi, a smug smile playing on his lips. Over the last several weeks he'd put into motion a plan for celebrating Maggie's thirtieth birthday. He'd coordinated with Michael and Ben to ensure that the whole celebration would take place across four days, with one surprise after another."You need to take off work on the Friday before your birthday," he'd told her.Maggie had eyed him suspiciously. "Why?""Beautiful women with birthdays coming up soon should not ask questions," he'd replied, kissing her nose lightly. "I'll meet you in front of your work at 4:00 sharp on Thursday afternoon. Bring your suitcase packed for the weekend."She'd giggled. "I need a suitcase? What should I take?""Pack tropical," he'd answered cryptically.At the stroke of 4:00, Maggie pushed her way through the revolving door and out into the afternoon sunlight. Bobby grinned as she clipped dow
Chapter 113: Naked Friday"I don't think I want to go into town today," Maggie said as she and Bobby lingered over an al fresco breakfast. "I don't even think I want to get dressed today." She smiled lazily and reached her arms over her head in a stretch that pushed her bare breasts front and center.Bobby rewarded her with his lopsided grin as his cock offered an enthusiastic salute. "Okay by me. Hell, we can go naked all weekend if you want." The truth was that since they'd gone below deck the previous night, neither of them had bothered with clothes. They'd fucked hard in a heated, feral sort of way, come back on deck to drink more wine, then headed back to the master cabin to make love more slowly the second time. The third time, they'd faced each other on their sides, joined intimately, each leaning back to watch as his cock speared in and out of her slick pussy. Across the breakfast table, he watched a sated smile cross her face, and he knew she was reliving last night a
Chapter 114: More OptionsDays later in the oncologist's waiting room, Michael sat back and grinned smugly, recalling the look of shock on Maggie's face when she'd walked into her surprise party. Beau's idea had been brilliant and contacting Ben to take care of the details had been a stroke of genius. All Michael had had to do was to provide the venue. He couldn't recall the last time he'd had a party at his place.Now, he glanced to his left at Maggie in the chair beside him and noticed that she seemed to have acquired a nice glow from her time in the Keys. He recalled his impression from the night of the party, that anytime she and Beau were close they were touching in some way, Maggie reaching to take his hand or Beau's hand resting gently on the small of her back, as though neither of them could stand to be apart from the other. Making sure Maggie gave Beau a shot seems to be turning out successfully, he considered, feeling very pleased with himself."Michael?" called the nur
Chapter 115: Foxhole Friends for LifeAs Michael was ushered to his recliner in the chemotherapy room, he glanced around. "Will Luther Robinson be here today?"The nurse smiled benignly. "I'm not sure. Let's get you settled, shall we?"Quickly, she hooked him up to the IV and left to assist another patient."Excuse me," said a woman seated in the recliner across the room. "Luther got good news last week. He's in remission.""Is he?" Michael stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Good for him.""They can't tell us anything," she nodded her head, indicating the hospital staff. "HIPAA and all that."Michael nodded. "Thanks for telling me." He settled back into his seat with his thoughts.The television on the opposite wall was tuned to a daytime talk show. Michael rested his head against the back of the recliner and closed his eyes, intending to doze."I figured I'd find you lazing around here."Michael opened his eyes to see Luther standing at the foot of his chair, brown eyes sparkl
Chapter 116: Meeting the BeaulieusTiny loose gravel crunched beneath her brown leather sandals as Maggie clipped along the pavement. She paused, scanning the great lawn looking for Bobby. Anxiously, she dialed him again. "I still don't see you," she said."I see you and you look beautiful. Stay where you are, cher. I'll be right there."She dropped her phone back into her summer bag and distractedly wiped her palms on the skirt of her sapphire-colored sundress. She glanced down at herself, and for the hundredth time that afternoon, she hoped that the dress was appropriate for a July 4th family celebration. Bobby had asked her to meet him along with his parents and Savannah for a picnic supper in the park before the fireworks.Squinting with a hand shading her eyes, she finally saw him striding towards her, lop-sided grin in place, and she let her eyes drink in the way his shoulders and chest were showcased by his fitted brown V-neck t-shirt. Khaki cargo shorts ended where his
Chapter 131: EpilogueIt was a crisp fall day as the new black Range Rover made its way carefully through the narrow lanes, coming to a stop at the base of a hill. The deep cerulean sky was accented by the vibrant scarlets, pumpkins, and golds of autumn leaves. Bobby shifted into 'Park' and looked over at Maggie.She chewed her lip anxiously. "I won't be long.""Take your time, cher." He smiled at her reassuringly. "We're not in any hurry."Maggie sighed deeply and unfastened her seat belt. She stepped out of the car and opened the door to the backseat, leaning in to retrieve a small bundle before closing the door again. "I won't be long," she repeated.Bobby watched as she carefully picked her way up the hill. "Daddy, can I go, too?" Savannah chirped from the back seat."No, June bug, let Mommy have a minute. Then we'll go to the country. Are you ready to pick some apples?""Yes! Apples!" she responded, and she began to sing a song about picking apples.At nearly the crest
Chapter 130: So Typically MichaelBrian smiled warmly as he welcomed Maggie and Bobby into his office. "I'm happy to have you here," he said, "I only wish it were under different circumstances."Maggie nodded mutely as she took in her surroundings. The law offices of Brian Murphy & Associates occupied a converted three-story building on W. 79th. The building had once been residential. The outer walls were exposed brick, and Maggie found that along with wood accents and details, everything worked together to create a comfortable, relaxed feel. Brian himself was casually dressed in khaki slacks and a white button-down shirt topped by a forest green V-neck cardigan. "This is a nice place," she murmured thoughtfully.Brian gave her a curious look and smiled again. "Well, it's not Murphy, Rannigan, but I think I actually like it better. We don't stand on formality around here. We're a small firm, and we like to think of ourselves as the friendly neighborhood lawyers. You know, whe
Chapter 129: HeartbrokenSean Michael Rannigan was buried on a cold morning in late March. The frozen ground was bare of snow, but flurries swirled through the air on a biting breeze. Maggie found the grey day fitting for a funeral. As she watched the assortment of mourners gathered around the grave, her thoughts went back four days earlier to the day Michael had died.There had been a blur of activity. Rosalie had made the necessary calls to the necessary parties. Attendants from the funeral home had come and discreetly ushered his body away. Maggie had been disconsolate. Bobby had held her until she'd run out of tears.By the time they'd left to pick up Savannah from school, the apartment had been restored to normal, the medical equipment packed up and hauled away. Maggie had sensed the emptiness of the place and insisted that they pack up their things and return to her apartment.She'd forced a smile when Savannah came running up to the two of them in front of the school. "
Chapter 128: Michael's JourneyMaggie clasped and unclasped her hands as she sat anxiously beside the hospital bed in Michael's bedroom. Michael lay propped up against a mountain of pillows, his grey t-shirt showing above the crisp white cotton blanket that covered the rest of him. He'd insisted that the bed be placed beside the window and the drapes be left open so he could look out over the city. He drifted off now and again, but he seemed determined to be awake.It had been a rough night. Maggie and Bobby, along with the overnight nurse, had tag-teamed sitting up with Michael, who had alternated between sleeping fitfully and waking to spells of deep coughing and ragged wheezing.Bobby went to shower and get Savannah ready for school while Maggie and Michael watched the sun come up over the city. The colors were extraordinary, washing the sky in shades of pink, orange, purple, and blue. Maggie couldn't recall the last time she'd watched the sunrise. Michael watched the scene a
Chapter 127: Michael's Family By ChoiceSavannah's clear blue eyes were huge as Bobby introduced her to Michael. "Savannah, you remember Mr. Michael. We met him at the airport that time. He's invited us to stay here with him for a while until we find our own house."When the doctor had released Michael from the hospital, he'd given him a timeline of a few weeks. Maggie had approached Michael, asking if she and Bobby could bring Savannah and stay with him for a while, and Michael had balked. "I don't want a bunch of people waiting around for me to die."She'd convinced him that he'd be doing them a favor, buying them time to find the right place. The truth was, she couldn't bear to think of being all the way in the East Village when he might need her.Now, the little girl regarded Michael solemnly, taking in his gaunt appearance, his grey sunken cheeks and his eyes with their dark circles. Her little brow wrinkled. "What's wrong with your face?" she asked."Savannah!" Bobby excl
Chapter 126: FamilymoonMaggie sat up on her beach blanket and hugged her knees, wriggling her toes and burying them in the cooler sand below the surface. Further down the beach, Bobby dutifully carried a small pink plastic pail as Savannah gathered shells. Maggie gazed past them to the sailboat anchored a few hundred yards offshore. It was their home for the week, and they'd sailed it to remote coves and empty beaches, relishing the quiet and the opportunity to bond as a family. Her gaze returned to Bobby and his daughter, and she smiled contentedly. It wasn't conventional, but it was just right.As if he felt her eyes on him, Bobby turned and smiled knowingly. He bent and said something to Savannah who looked to Maggie and waved. Maggie smiled and waved back as the pair returned to where she sat, Savannah scampering along while Bobby strolled purposefully, dropping his tall frame to the empty space beside her on the blanket."You've worn me out, June bug. Let me sit here by M
Chapter 125: Michael, Back in the SaddleMichael sat back in his chair at the large oak conference table and relished the feeling of being in control. It had been too long since he'd done real casework. He'd forgotten how it felt, the rush of knowing that he held all the right cards. His charcoal grey suit hung a little loose due to the weight he'd lost, but he still knew how to project a confident presence. Figuring it would negatively impact his intimidation factor, he'd left his oxygen in the rental car.Bobby sat quietly beside him, tension radiating from his body. Michael had thoroughly prepped him. "Don't say anything. If they speak to you, look at me. Above all, don't let them bait you."Across the table, Deanna, in her white blouse and navy-blue knee-length skirt with her honey blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, looked more the sad abandoned single mother than the scheming opportunistic gold-digger that she was. Her gaze flitted nervously between Michael and Bobb
Chapter 124: Custody IssuesThe deceptively bright sun and cloudless blue sky seemed at odds with the brisk cold day. But it made for a perfect afternoon spent skating at Wellman Rink in Central Park. Savannah squealed in delight as she struggled along on her ice skates. She was in no real danger of falling, safely tucked between her father and Maggie who each held a hand. She looked up, and Maggie could see the child's pink cheeks and sparkling eyes. "Are you having fun?" she asked the little girl."Yeah! This is awesome!"Bobby looked at Maggie over his daughter's head and winked, smiling. He was beyond grateful to Maggie for taking the unscheduled visit in stride. She'd even taken off work on Friday afternoon so that she could stay with Savannah when he'd had to leave for the studio. He'd arrived home late that night to find the little girl fast asleep in a makeshift tent constructed out of a blanket draped over a card table. "We decided to pretend we were camping," Mag
Chapter 123: EngagedBobby's eyes twinkled with mischief. "How's that?"Illuminated only by the handful of candles scattered about the room, Maggie pulled against the restraints that bound her wrists to the bars of her iron headboard and giggled softly. "It's fine.""No, you're fine," he murmured as his hand lightly traced along the side of her body. He continued down her leg to bind first one ankle then the other to the corners of the bed. He stood at the end gazing over her nude body spread out before him, candlelight bathing her skin in a soft glow. "Aiee, cher, how did I get so lucky?"Slowly, keeping his eyes on hers, he removed his shirt, jeans, and boxer briefs. His impressive erection stood at attention. "Where do I even start?" he whispered, and she giggled again.Bobby crawled onto the bed between her open legs, moving up over her body until he reached her face. Leaning down, he kissed her deeply. "Oh, Bobby," she whispered against his lips.He lightly nipped down t