Chapter 21

"I missed you so much, mom," Maggie sobbed in her mother's embrace. She was finally here, in Chicago.

"I missed you too. You have no idea," Rebecca whispered, tears were streaming down her face.

Maggie moved back a bit, scanning Rebecca up and down. She was sitting on the hospital bed, looking better than she did in so long. Her skin was not as ashy as Maggie remembered it to be, at least she thought so. And her eyes shone brightly.

"You look good, mom, really good." Maggie's voice was beaming with happiness.

"I feel good, better than I have in a long time. Especially now, when I have you near." Rebecca sniffled. "Let me look at you!" and after she took a good look at Maggie, she added: "You look rested, and you are shining! Oh, I was so worried for you…" she sniffled again.

"I told you, mom, there was no need to worry," she said, and before she could say anything else, a discreet cough stopped her. She turned around and saw Jack standing in the corner of the room, next to the door. When did he come in? He made eye contact with her and strolled across the room to stand behind her back.

"Hello, ma'am. My name is Jackson Peters. I am your daughter's…" Rebecca's unusually stern voice interrupted him:

"Maggie, can you please step outside for a minute. I have some things to discuss with this young man." Maggie tried to protest, but a single look at her mother's serious face made her shut up and get out.

For some reason, Jack felt nervous. He was afraid of Rebecca's reaction, afraid of her judgment and possible effects on her daughter.

"So, you are the guy that swept my daughter off her feet? Aren't you a bit old for her?" Jack could get nothing from her facial expression. Nothing!

"Ma'am, with all due respect, I am older than Maggie, but I would rather say that I am old enough to know how to respect her and take care of her properly."

"What do you do in life? If you're into some shady business…"

"No, ma'am, I am the sole owner of the company that produces and sells aircraft parts. And I pay all the taxes, nothing shady in my business."

"Are you married? I swear to God I will kill you if you say that my daughter is an affair to you!" Rebecca continued her inquisition.

"No, Maggie is not an affair for me, and I was not married before her. She is the first woman that I have ever wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and I intend to do so." Jack made a quick pause but continued before Rebecca had a chance to interrupt him again; "Mrs. Colt, I love your daughter more than I've ever thought was possible, and I will make sure she is happy and that she has everything she could ever need and want in her life." Rebecca was staring directly in his eyes, not blinking. She was assessing what he said, thinking about what she just heard. Deciding that his eyes weren't lying, that he was telling the truth, she said:

"All right. I believe you. But hurt her, and you will have to deal with me!" Jack sighed and visibly relaxed, "She suffered a lot since I got sick, and she was carrying a lot of weight on her shoulders… she didn't deserve that." Rebecca's voice was much softer now.

"I now. That's why I decided to step in and help. Don't worry; everything will be fine from now on." Jack said and made Rebecca smile with a smile that was happy and sad at the same time.

"My Maggie is…" But Jack sat at the edge of the bed and held her hands.

"Your daughter is the most amazing person that I have ever met. She's caring and compassionate, and she has a wonderful heart. I promise to…" before he had the chance to finish his sentence, the door opened widely, and Maggie stepped in. She was taken aback by the sight of her mother and Jack holding hands and her mother smiling at him.

"What happened here while I was gone?" she was eyeing them suspiciously.

Jack got up from the bed and went to give Maggie one quick hug, which she returned the same second. He planted a kiss on her forehead before he let her go.

"I'll go talk to the doctor before we leave. You stay here with your mother, and I'll come back for you later." Jack said and went out of the room, closing the door behind him.

"Mom, what did you tell him?" Maggie eyed Rebecca suspiciously.

"Nothing, dear. We just talked." Maggie came to sit on the bed again, and Rebecca pulled her into another hug. "I like him, he's a good man." Maggie didn't answer, and they stayed laying on the bed hugged until half an hour later, Jack came back into the room.

They said their goodbyes, and Maggie promised to come to visit first thing on Monday.

As soon as they got in the car, Maggie asked him what the doctor said and what his recommendations were.

"There are some tests to be done these days, but based on what the documentation she brought, he is almost certain that she's cancer-free." Maggie let out a yelp, tears streamed down her face, but the relief painted her face, and she smiled.

"It's all you, you know? You fought for her, you gave everything you had to pull her through. Your strength is amazing, Maggie." He almost whispered, but she heard him. "As soon as the doctor gives us a go, we will take her to the recovery resort I told you about." Maggie nodded; the ball of emotions was constricting her throat.

The rest of the day, Maggie spent cooking dinner for the two of them, and she spent some time with Eric too. The eagerness which the baby greeted her with every time he saw her, was amazing. He loved her from the first moment he saw her, and an innocent soul would never hide love from the world, he showed it in every smile and every giggle, in every move. Maggie loved him too, she loved him very much.

That night, Maggie and Jack had dinner together again. It was becoming a sort of tradition for them. She was feeling very relaxed in his presence, and there was no sign of a jerk Jack she met two weeks ago. Now, spending time with him was a pleasure. She enjoyed talking to him, listening to him, overall she was enjoying his company. That's a good thing, right? That there was no more awkwardness between them since they will have to live together for some time more.

But when all the negative feelings and thoughts she had about him disappeared completely, she started seeing him in a different light, with different eyes. There was a good side to him, no doubt there. But should she let herself fall for him? Because she was on a very good way to fall hard.

Maggie didn't date anyone for the last two years, she didn't even look at men in that way… she never had the time, and she was always too tired, and when she had time, she preferred to use it to rest and relax. Now that there was nothing to 'cloud' her mind, she started watching Jack like a man. And honestly, she liked what she saw. He was a fine specimen, tall, well-built, with masculine facial features, dark brown hair, and dark brown eyes. He always looked serious and strict, but there was also a veil of mystery around him. Something inviting that lured her towards him. Two years ago, she would never give a second thought to a guy like Jack. But today, she was a different person, she grew up and knew how to appreciate the important things.

 "Hey, Maggie, you ok?" Jack's question snapped her out of her thought, and she focused her eyes on him, "You looked kinda lost for a minute there? What were you thinking about so deeply?"

"…" but the phone in her pocket vibrated before she could answer him, and she reached for it.

It was the unknown number calling again. Ok, this is becoming disturbing. She will report it to the provider the first thing tomorrow.

Jack noticed a change in her demeanor, so he asked: "What is it? Who's calling you?"

"It's an unknown number again. Someone's been calling me every single day since I came here, but never said a word…" Maggie frowned.

Jack grabbed the phone and answered it: "Hey, whoever you are, stop calling my wife! I will report you to the police." He growled and cut the call. "Don't worry, we will report it tomorrow. This shouldn't happen again."

They shared a whole bottle of some expensive vine in the living room, sitting close to each other, talking about everything and anything, and soon the strange phone call was forgotten. Jack was so easy to talk to, so easy to get lost into, to forget everything else but him.

Later that night, when she was getting ready for bed, she heard her phone ping for a message.

"You shouldn't have told him. Now you both will pay!"