Right in Time (2 page)

“Ooh, but you want to know what?
” Callie interjected, cutting off her thoughts. “I’m getting the bass player tonight!” Callie announced in a singsong tone.  Alexis burst out in a knowing laughter, while Paul just shook his head and chuckled quietly.  It was in that moment when Maggie just rolled her eyes at her friend and looked at the people around her that a huge smile formed across her face.  Sure there were things she felt she was missing in her life, but right now her world was pretty damn good.

Chapter Three

Taylor had met the others at
The Creperie
since she had hung out with the band during their soundcheck.  She had always loved the behind the scenes stuff.  Hearing her talk about Jake and his music made Maggie so happy for her friend.  Out of the four of them, she and Taylor had known each other the longest and she knew well of Taylor’s pickiness, so the minute she got the initial text (and phone call the following morning), she knew her friend had found one that would be sticking around longer than the first date for sure. 

Despite all this, there was still a pang in the back on Maggie’s heart.  She didn’t yearn for what many wanted; young love, new love.  No, she wanted the relationship, the comfort, the man who knew everything about her and knew her little quirks and ticks.  Ultimately, she wanted a future.  She wished she could be like Callie and just date casually, but they both wanted different things and knew it.  Callie didn’t see herself married with kids running around, but Maggie did.  Nothing was wrong with either one of these pictures.  The only thing wrong was that one of them had what they wanted, while the other did not.

Dinner went by quite quickly, partially because the company was so great and the time flew, but also because it had to in order to make it to the show on time.  After throwing in a few drinks to start the night, the four ladies headed down the Vancouver streets towards the venue all following behind Paul’s lead.  When he announced for them to follow him, it was due in part to wanting to take control; be the guy, but probably more the latter.  He did just endure almost two hours of girl talk, but after dating Alexis for three years, he should have been used to it.

No more than 10 minutes later, the group arrived at The Blue Room and stood to the side as Taylor spoke with Will Call and got her friends their VIP passes that allowed them access to not only the club, but to the backstage areas as well.  Following her lead, the all entered and found a great spot right in the front of the balcony that allowed for a fantastic view of the entire stage. 

Jake’s band, Alder, was terrific.  They sang rock infused pop songs that had the whole crowd dancing, jumping, and singing along.  Maggie wasn’t much of a dancer and that was something she admitted to herself, but after listening to a few of Alder’s songs on their website, she couldn’t help but tap her foot along to the tunes that were familiar to her. 

After the encore and ovations
, Maggie, Alexis, Paul, and Callie all followed Taylor backstage.  The minute they saw the guys, Taylor ran to congratulate them all on an amazing show and then proceeded with introductions, paying special notice to Callie and Scott; the aforementioned bassist.  After everyone was casually chatting, Maggie pulled Taylor aside and all she said was “Nice work!”  Taylor couldn’t help but laugh out loud, knowing what it was her friend was referring to.  Jake was 6’2”, slender, light brown hair, amazing blue eyes, and a smile that lit up his whole face and one you couldn’t help but smile in response to. 

After eventually moving to a quiet pub down the street, Maggie joined in the conversations of those around her, but mainly found herself an outside observer.  Taylor and Jake sat close, sharing little inside jokes and comments, but never separating themselves from the group and Maggie could see that her friend was smitten.  She remembered when Taylor had expressed how hard it was to constantly be apart from someone you were falling for, but all Maggie could think was “at least you get the reunion.”  Shaking that thought from her head, she smiled softly at the image of one of her closest friends and then moved onward when Callie’s laughter caught her ear and she saw her speaking animatedly with Scott and the lead singer James about one of her biggest loves; music.  Callie had never dated a musician and this was something that all of them had questioned.  She could name you the artist and song name of practically anything out there, as well as what school grade you were in when it was released.  It was kind of her superpower.

As Maggie saw Scott, a shaggy haired blond, keep his deep brown eyes on Callie as she talked, she got the feeling that this one might be a different one for her friend.  Excusing herself to use the washroom, Maggie took the time alone to ponder the situation.  Here she was, out with her friends, two taken by amazing men, one probably moving in that direction, and then there she was all alone.  Sure, she wasn’t
alone
alone since her friends were there, but it wasn’t the same.

When Maggie finally kicked
off her red heels that she swore she’d never wear again, she quickly went to the couch and put up her swollen feet.  It was just about two in the morning and she was exhausted.  After saying goodbye to the band and Taylor, the other three dropped her off at home and she felt like she was ready to crash.  Those plans of sleep were put on hold, however, as her cell phone rang and Taylor’s name and picture popped up on the screen.

“Didn’t I just leave you?” she said jokingly in to the phone, not feeling the need for the customary hello.

“Um...duh?” Taylor laughed.  “I just wanted to call and make sure you made it home safe and sound...”

“...and to get more dirt on what I really thought of your little drummer boy?”
Maggie said, finishing her sentence.

“Am I that obvious?  Ah well.  So, what did you think?”

“He’s cute, you already knew that.”

“And you liked the band?”

“Yeah, they were great!”

“I didn’t see you dancing along though.”

“Hey! I was tapping my foot!” Maggie retorted as both girls broke out in laughter.

“Ah,
Mag.  We’ve got to get you in to some dance lessons or something so you can shake your money maker!”

“Um no.  But honestly, the band was great and Jake seems amazing.  You guys are adorable together!”

“Yay, I’m glad you liked him!  Thanks for coming out tonight by the way.”

“Of course, you know I wanted to meet your boy.”

“I know, but don’t think I didn’t note what date it was on the calendar.” Taylor answered, her tone more serious. 

There was a long pause on the other end of the phone.
  No one had brought up Thomas so Maggie had just assumed they didn’t know, didn’t realize, but that apparently was not the case.

“Maggie, are you still there?  I’m sorry.  Cal, Lexi, and I knew today would suck for you, and when it turned out Jake’s band would be in town we thought it would be a perfect way to get you out and to maybe help you forget about him.”

“I know.  And thanks, it’s just...I’m not really over it yet.”
Maggie quietly got out.

“I know
Mag, but you will.  Remember how before him, you were all pessimistic and thought you’d never find a boyfriend?  And you did. You found love. You’ll find that again, I promise.”

It was times like these in which Maggie didn’t have a clue how she got to be the person she was.  With divorced parents, a set of divorced grandparents, and no image of that perfect happy ending in her mind, she chalked it up to how people always want what they don’t have… or is it
can’t
have?

“I found love and he broke my heart.  I know what I want and I know that involves finding someone new, but I just can’t get the images of him and what he did out of my mind.” 
Maggie said, not knowing whether she wanted to cry or punch something.

Chapter Four

Fresh out of pastry school, Maggie was thrilled to open up her own place, and especially when she got her first order.
 
When Maggie had finished setting the cake up at the reception site, the groom’s brother came in to the ballroom to give the final okay. 

This was Thomas. 

Maggie had said many times that she was lucky he didn’t come in while she was still in the process of setting things up because she was sure she would have dropped something.  She was taken aback by him.  He was Japanese; his heritage and the summer sun giving his skin a warm, deep glow.  He was maybe 5’7” at the tallest, but that worked for her petite frame.  His hair was almost jet black and he wore it in a shaggy style that both complimented and contradicted the tuxedo he was wearing.  There was a moment when not a word was said, but they just looked at each other.  In typical Maggie fashion, when she recounted this story to Taylor, Alexis, and Callie, she was adamant that he was just busy looking at the cake, while her three closest friends kept insisting that it was her that was the sweet treat he wanted.

After the wedding, it only took one day before her phone was ringing.  Thomas had gotten
Maggie’s number from his brother and called asking to set up an appointment for a consultation for a birthday cake for his mother.  The following day when he arrived, Thomas revealed that his mother’s birthday was actually months ago and that he just wanted to see her again.  From that moment on, the two were inseparable.  For almost two years it was “Maggie and Thomas” or “Thomas and Maggie.”  Everyone swore that they were going to be married, but one year ago to the day, that all went out the window. 

While Thomas and Maggie were on different pages career-wise, they complimented each other in all other aspects of their lives.  But when Thomas got a job offer that would make him move to Calgary just as Maggie was finally building up a strong clientele, arguments began.  They thought they could compromise, but both were driven and knew what they wanted.  Trying the long distance thing for a bit, Maggie had finally decided to bite the bullet and give Calgary a try. 

She had decided to surprise Thomas there and spend a few days in the city before coming back to Vancouver and start packing up her life.  When she knocked on his office door, the voice behind it replied “Come on in, Shelly.  I’ll be just a few more minutes, baby.”  When Maggie opened the door, Thomas’ face dropped and that was when it all came crumbling down.  Maggie couldn’t process how much time passed before she heard the woman’s voice behind her.  Thomas still hadn’t spoken a single word. 

Maggie had closed her eyes tight, breathed as deeply as she could before she turned around and came face to face with Shelly.  She was now wishing that she had kept her eyes shut for if she were to close them now, let alone blink, she knew tears would start streaming down her face and she refused to let them see her cry. 

Shelly had a good three inches on Maggie and was missing about ten pounds from her hips too.  The one thing Maggie could see she had on her was about five years.  Thomas was always a numbers guy.  In her head though, in that moment, Shelly was everything Maggie wasn’t.  And apparently, to the man she loved, she really was. 

“Move” was all she said before pushing her way passed Shelly and out of the office and out of Thomas’ life.  Maggie was willing to give up everything she knew for him, but ended up coming back to Vancouver to start over.

“Not all guys are assholes.” Taylor interjected, ending
Maggie’s thoughts of what had happened.

“Right.” was all
Maggie said.  There was another long pause in which neither woman knew what to say.  Maggie tried to lighten the tone by asking how much longer Jake was in town.  Taylor let her know that they left tomorrow, but she would be meeting up with them in Montana the day after Maggie’s birthday and then joining them on the road for the remainder of the tour.  Oh yeah, was it left out that all this with Thomas happened two days before her birthday?  Fate really had shitty timing sometimes.  With that, goodbyes were exchanged with promises to see each other for dinner the night of her 27
th
, a night she wished could just disappear off the calendar.

Chapter Five

“Happy Happy Birthday to You!” Callie, Alexis, and Taylor all sang out with the help of the wait staff at the Indian restaurant Maggie had chosen.  Smiling, Maggie closed her eyes in a moment of pause as she always did as tradition and made her wish before blowing out the candles.  As everyone cheered and clapped, Maggie was genuinely happy.  It was a simple dinner with her friends; a girls’ night out where they could just hang and catch up.  She wasn’t up for anything fancy at all, especially nothing that involved clubbing with drunk, grody men trying to dance up on her.  Simple.  That’s what she needed right now.