“If that’s what you want.” He shrugged as if it was no big deal and left. Maggie swallowed hard and was fairly certain she was destined to meet Einstein again soon. When they did, she had a feeling it wouldn’t be pleasant for either of them.
Both Ashley and Leanne sent shocked looks her way when they heard Maggie turn down Nick’s invitation. Maggie thought it best not to explain when they riled her about the company policy she’d quoted.
* * *
—
Maggie’s mind wasn’t on her chemistry final when she headed to Seattle Central College on Friday. This was an important exam and the last one for the day. Then and only then could she relax. Getting a top grade on this exam could be the difference between receiving a scholarship and needing to apply for a student loan. She should be thinking about this test. Instead, her mind was on Joan’s son.
Thankfully, because Maggie had studied hard and was familiar with the material, she cruised through the final. It wasn’t until after she finished and left the classroom that doubts assaulted her. She found herself second-guessing her answers. She so badly wanted to make the grade, but decided to put it out of her mind. She’d given it her all and had to trust that that was enough.
Although it was well past lunchtime, Maggie treated herself to a Whopper, her favorite fast food. It also happened to be her father’s favorite as well. She hadn’t had any contact with him since she’d moved. He hadn’t reached out to her, either, although she didn’t expect he would.
Her father’s reaction to her moving weighed on her mind all afternoon. Her dad had relied on her heavily since she’d lost her mother. He would never openly admit that he needed her; that would show weakness. To Roy Herbert, weakness was unacceptable.
Although it didn’t fit into her food budget, she ordered a second Whopper for him.
When she arrived at the house, the sight of it brought up a slew of unhappy memories. For a good five minutes she sat in her car, wondering if this was a good idea after all. By now the electricity would have been cut off and he was sure to be in a foul mood. The last person he’d want to see was her. Almost against her better judgment, she opened her car door and climbed out. Although she’d spent most of her life in this house, she knocked softly before letting herself inside.
Her father looked up when she entered. He was exactly where she’d left him: in his recliner. To her surprise, the television was on. Somehow he’d managed to avoid having the power cut off.
“Well, look who’s here,” he said with a satisfied smirk, as if he fully expected her to move back.
“I brought you a Whopper.” She stepped farther into the room to hand him the brown bag.
“You think you can buy your way back into my good graces?” he asked, clearly pleased. “It’s going to take a lot more than a hamburger.”
“I’m sure it will,” she said. Arguing with him wouldn’t serve either of them well.
He tore open the bag and reached for the burger.
“You paid the electric bill?” Where he got the funds, she could only imagine.
He ignored the question as he wolfed down the Whopper. Without her there to see to his meals, she worried he’d survive solely on Bud Light.
It didn’t look like he was in the most communicative mood. She’d done what she’d come for. This was her good deed for the day, and it was time she left.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, his mouth full of food.
“I tutor this afternoon. I only stopped by to see how you’re doing.”
He laughed, as though he found her excuse amusing. “Sure you did. You left me to fend for myself and now you feel bad. Surprise, surprise, I’m doing perfectly fine without you.”
“I can see that,” she said, again refusing to get into an angry exchange with him.
“I figured it wouldn’t take you long to come to your senses.”
“Dad,” she said softly, so as not to arouse his anger. “I’m not coming back.”
He frowned, as if he found it hard to believe.
“Is there anything you need before I go?” she asked.
He stared at her and shook his head.
“I’m glad you have electricity.”
“Go, then,” he snapped, and pointed toward the door, as if she didn’t know where it was located. “Get out and don’t come back. I’ve got news for you. I can take care of myself.”
“So I see. I’m happy to know you can. It would have been miserable for you without power.”
He sat up a bit straighter in his recliner. “You think I was going to fall apart without you. Well, I’ve got news for you. I talked to those people at the city and found a program that will keep the lights on.”
Her father had tackled the problem on his own. Maggie wouldn’t have believed he could solve anything by himself. This meant he either had to make a phone call or stop by the city office on his own. This was progress.
“I’m proud of you, Dad.”
He snorted, as though he didn’t believe her. “Didn’t need you then, and I don’t need you now.”
“You’ll do great without me,” she said. “I’ll stop by again next week.”
“Don’t bother,” he called after her. “You aren’t welcome here.”
“Okay, I won’t,” she said, losing her cool.
She opened the door and was about to leave when she heard him speak again, almost under his breath.
“If you do come, bring another Whopper.”
Maggie smiled as she headed back to where she’d parked her car.
* * *
—
Once she finished with her tutoring, she drove to Joan’s, all the while silently debating if she should mention having met Nick. She noticed how nice the yard looked since Phil Harrison had taken over the maintenance.
Maggie found Joan sitting at the kitchen table with a sleeping puppy in her lap. She looked up when Maggie entered the room. “I think No Name has his days and nights mixed up. He sleeps most of the day and cries all night.”
“Poor baby,” Maggie cooed, as she gently patted his head. At her touch, No Name opened his sleepy eyes and lifted his head to look at her.
“If anyone deserves sympathy, it’s me,” Joan said, yawning as she spoke. “I had no idea a puppy could be this much trouble.”
Maggie pulled out a chair and sat. Her look must have been troubled, because Joan asked, “Is there something on your mind?”
She nodded. “I think I might have met Nick.”
“My Nick? Silly question,” she asked with a shake of her head, as if she realized what she’d said.
“I’ve seen him quite a bit in the last couple weeks, without knowing who he was. He comes by Starbucks before work with his friend Kurt. Kurt calls him Einstein, so I didn’t make the connection until Kurt mentioned Einstein had given his mother a puppy.”
“The work crew calls him Einstein?”
Maggie nodded. “From what Kurt said, it’s because they’re on a trivia team and Nick is their ace in the hole.”
Joan studied her and frowned slightly. “Nick does play trivia. From your frown I’d say you don’t have a good impression of my son.”