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"I didn't have anywhere to go!" cried Maggie. "I couldn't
go to Jeff's house, because we're not married, yet!"
"You did the right thing, coming here," assured Charlie, patting Maggie's
hand, consolingly. "Does your mother know where you're at?" she asked,
remembering that Mrs. Downen had always been more sympathetic towards Jeff than her
husband.
"No, she doesn't," sniffed Maggie.
"Do you want me to call your house, and see if I can talk to her?" offered
Charlie.
"Would you?" asked Maggie, a little hopeful that her Mom could change her
father's mind. "Maybe, I could come home!"
Charlie went to the telephone and called the Downen house.
"Hello?" answered a woman's voice. "Maggie, is that you?"
"No, Mrs. Downen," replied Charlie, "it's Charlotte Overholt. I wanted
to let you know that Maggie is staying with me, until her wedding."
"Thank God!" gasped Mrs. Downen in relief. "Except for when Wayne
went missing, I've never seen Doug [Mr. Downen] so angry, in my life! Is my girl
all right?"
"Maggie is fine," answered Charlie. "Do you want to talk to her?"
Charlie handed the phone to Maggie, and the two women talked for nearly half an hour,
before Mrs. Downen had to hang up.
"I love you, too, Mom," said Maggie, before hanging up the receiver. "Charlie,
I can't go back," she informed the teenager.
Unsurprised, Charlie tossed her friend one of Vera's nightgowns, and instructed her
to take her place in bed next to the grandmother, for Charlie's bed could barley
hold two people-- let alone three.
"But, where are you going to sleep?" asked Maggie, feeling badly for kicking
her friend out of her own bed.
"I'll sleep on the couch," answered Charlie, laying out a sheet and blanket
on the stiff upholstery.
"I can sleep here," insisted Maggie.
"No, you're the guest," laughed Charlie, giving her a playful push toward
the bedroom.
Seeing that her host was not going to budge, Maggie thanked Charlie gratefully and
told her that Mrs. Downen might come by next evening to drop off some of her belongings,
if she could do it without Mr. Downen finding out about it. Then, Charlie gave her
one more hug, before sending Maggie off to bed.
Maggie was about to break down in tears again, but she pulled herself together, and
managed a weak,
"Good night."
The next morning, as everyone assembled in the kitchen for breakfast, Vera explained
to Kevin that Maggie was going to be a guest for a few days.
Maggie had seen Chuck eat breakfast before, but Alzheimer's was new to Kevin. He
curiously watched as Chuck gingerly guided the spoon to his mouth. Once in a while,
Chuck would lose track of what he was doing, so either Vera or Charlie had to get
him started again.
"Maggie, I want to take you shopping, today," announced Charlie, over a
slice of toast. "It'll be my treat."
"You don't have to do that," replied Maggie, though the mere idea of it
made her giddy with excitement.
"Think of it as my wedding gift!" coaxed Charlie.
"I hate to put a damper on things," warned Kevin, "but, someone might
recognize you, Miss Overholt, and I can't guard you as well in a public place."
"Maybe, you had better listen to him," advised Vera. "You were
on television, just yesterday."
"I'll wear sunglasses and a baseball cap," reasoned Charlie. "Besides,
if we only shop in Palm City, there's so many people that we won't stand out." |
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