Where Tomorrow Leads (2 page)

He may not realize it now, but he would. She was glad he was sitting. She batted her eyes. On purpose. “Are you ready for my surprise?”

Jake drew air deep in his lungs. His chest swelled and then he let it out. He hesitated at first. He hated to accept anything from her but perhaps it was time for him to learn how. “You’ve been working long and hard on the newest project but it’s time we took a little breather and enjoyed each other a bit more.”

“I enjoy you every day,” he said, nibbling on her neck, his face nuzzled against her skin. She took him by the shoulders and pushed him back.

“Pay attention, love. I have to leave here.”

He stiffened, serious dark eyes more intense than ever.

When she grinned there was a flicker of relief in his eyes. At that very moment she realized his fear of losing his Mother when he was eleven made him afraid of losing others he cared for. She would make it a point to never mention the word leave again.

She placed a finger over his mouth. “I don’t mean leave, what I mean is I have to take a trip up North. We talked about having my things moved here but I kept putting if off while I wrote my last book. It is finished and now I want to go see my grandparents and pack some things to move here.”

He cupped her face in his hands. “Baby, whatever you want. How long? I’ll miss you.”

“You won’t have to miss me. I want you to come with me.”

He shook his head. “I wish. There’s a big project coming up next week. I can’t miss the meetings.”

Maggie shifted on his lap. “Well, I, uh, kind of cancelled you from attending those meetings next week.”

He stared, hard. Crap, was he going to be mad? Was she behaving like her Mother, interfering where she should not be, but Maggie knew he would never leave his work without being forced to.

“You cancelled me out of my own boardroom?” He sounded incredulous.

“Don’t be upset. I love you.”

A few seconds passed and then he flung his head back and roared with laughter. Jake picked up her hands and drew them to his mouth as he placed soft kisses on each hand. He drew her face to his and kissed her so hard it took her breath away. “Baby, I think you’re exactly what I need.”

She held him tight. “Good. We’ll be gone for a few weeks and-”

“A week is all I can afford to take off.”

Maggie pouted, her bottom lip sticking out as she batted big brown eyes. “Please, give me ten days of your life and no cell phone nonsense.”

He grinned and nodded in agreement. “Ten days Maggie. It’s all I can afford.”

She jumped up from his lap. “I promise it will be the best ten days of your life.” Now all she had to do was keep her grandmother’s surprise for last. Or at least until they got off the plane at the Philadelphia airport.

Chapter 2

Maggie was so happy Jake relaxed at last. The past few days were chaos until he finished up with last minute meetings and a list of orders for his office
secretary to follow. At first she thought he changed his mind but he did make it to the airport on time. When he first boarded the plane, he couldn’t let his cell phone alone. Now it looked as if he forgot all about the phone. She looked down to at the light layer of evening fog over Philadelphia as the plane began to descend towards their destination.

“Are you awake?” she asked in a quiet voice, not wanting to disturb his rest.

“No. I’m sleeping,” he teased.

When she looked over, she noticed the usual lines that creased his forehead disappeared. He looked relaxed. She liked this side of him much better than the real estate developer who never let up on his work. She’d have to show him there was more to life than working from sun up until sundown.

“My grandparents said they’ll meet us at the airport. They’re going on a cruise tomorrow. They like to get a hotel here a day ahead of time, so we’ll get to visit with them before we head to Wilkes-Barre.”

Jake’s eyes remained closed. “Sounds nice. I’d like to meet the rest of your family.”

“There’s something else.”

Jake’s eyes popped open and he turned to stare. “Another surprise?” he questioned.

She nodded.

“What kind of surprise?”

She clasped her hands together on her lap and took a deep breath. “We were going to get a rental car at the airport and drive back to the Keys, remember?” After his nod, she continued on. “I cancelled the rental.”

His brow shot up. “Why did you cancel? Or shouldn’t I ask?”

She twisted her hands again then entangled her fingers with Jakes. “My grandmother had a dream years ago and so my Pappy made her wish come true. He gave her a car. She’s bringing it here to the airport so we can drive it back to the Keys. She wants me to have the car since she’s getting too old to take it on road trips.”

Jake frowned. “How old is this car? Is it able to go such a long distance? I have to get back in a few days, not spend time worrying if a car will break down?”

Maggie placed a finger over his mouth. “Jake, please. You promised me ten days, not a few. We’ll have fun and you’ll love the car. It’s all restored and looks amazing.”

Jake sighed. “Tell me about the car.”

“It’s a 1966 Chevy Impala.”

“Oh?”

She nodded. “Yes, three thousand miles with a rebuilt engine and four speed tranny and a twelve bolt rear. Now what do you think?” she asked as he seemed a bit more impressed.

“I thought we were going to drive in some old rattletrap from the thirties. What a relief.”

Maggie giggled. He had no idea, but she’d wait to surprise him.

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Maggie’s grandparent’s stood at the rail with a big sign that said, Maggie McCoy, we love you, in big, bold pink letters. “Oh cringe, my nanny is still going wild with her crazy, bright outlandish colors and such.”

Jake laughed out loud. “You can’t slip past them now,” he said, a big smile on his face.

Maggie ran forward, glad to see them both. Her Nanny wore a bright pink top with matching shorts, blonde hair tied back with a multi-colored ribbon flowing down her back. She liked to be seen and her bold colors matched her personality. Most grannies let their hair go gray but not hers. Nope, she changed her hair color whenever she pleased. She thought she was still young and hip and that was okay with Maggie. She squeezed her Nan harder, she was so happy to see her. “I missed you so!” Maggie cried out.

“Oh honey, you look wonderful,” Nan told her. “I see you found yourself a hunk,” she whispered for Maggie’s ears.

Her cheeks turned red. “Nan, please behave. I like him a lot.”

“Well, he’ll have to pass our inspection. Isn’t that right, Mr. McCoy?”

Maggie ran in to her Pappy’s open arms. He was not a big man, but had one of the biggest hearts she knew. He doted on her Nan and gave the woman anything she asked for. His bald head, covered up with a baseball, wore his signature button down shirt with the front pocket. When Maggie was a child he would keep surprises for her there. She’d reach in the pocket to find some kind of goodies for her.

As if she went back in time, her hand went to his pocket. He grinned. “I think you already know what’s in there.”

Maggie pulled out the keys to her Nan’s car. “I can’t believe you decided to give this up, Nan.”

Jake stayed out of the picture while she reconciled with her grandparents and for a moment Maggie forgot he was there. When she looked back at him, her heart swelled with love for his patience. He had no clue how important he was to her and how much she loved him. “There’s someone I want you both to meet. Jake, come here and meet my angelic grandparents.”

Maggie’s Nan stood in front of Jake, all four feet five of her. Her blonde head had to look up at his face. She gazed at him from head to toe. Maggie coughed. “Nan, behave,” she whispered.

“So you’re Jake Hatfield?” she asked, although she knew who he was. “Nice to meet you.” Jake held out his hand towards her, but she shook her head. “We don’t act civilized here in this family. Give me a big old hug,” Nan ordered and put her arms out to embrace him.

Maggie looked at her Pap. He stared at Jake too, his head nodding at his wife’s acceptance. If she like him, then he was sure to accept Jake. Pap always agreed with everything she did. He held out his hand. “Welcome to the family,” Pap said, giving him a slap on his shoulder with his free hand. “I guess you heard we are gifting my grand daughter with the SS, but I better show you some things about the old girl before you drive off.”

The two men began to walk towards the parking lot and Maggie grabbed Nan’s hand. “I want to be there when he sees the color, Nan. Hurry.”

“You didn’t tell him it’s pink!” Nan cried out and began to giggle. “Oh dear! I need my Iphone for this!” She dug in her purse until she found her bright pink cell phone.

<><>

Jake walked beside the older man towards the terminal’s parking lot. He looked back once to see Maggie and her Nan walking fast towards them. He slowed his pace a bit to let them catch up. Her Nan had a bright pink phone in her hand. “I see your wife likes the color pink.”

Paps laughed out loud. “You haven’t seen anything yet! That woman wanted a pink Cadillac like Elvis had, but I convinced her to go with a Chevy. I found this one for a good price and had it modified for her. We had lots of good times with the old girl. Now I hope the two of you do as well.”

“I’m sure we will. We’re driving it back to the Keys.”

“My wife thinks I give her whatever she wants. She wanted a caddy, but I wanted a Chevy. She thinks she won the fight and I always let her think so. Son, if you want to keep peace, let the woman always think she won and then do it your way. Works every time.”

Jake shook his head. He realized the old man wasn’t a pushover after all. It made him chuckle.

“Son, there’s one other thing you should know and I’ll bet my boots Maggie didn’t tell you about Pinkie.”

“Pinkie?”

Pap stopped and pointed. Jake followed in the direction of his finger. In one corner of the parking lot, sat a bright pink 1966 Impala SS convertible. A rush of pink color zoomed by the two men standing there. Jake blinked at the bright flash. He realized too late Nan snapped a photo of his reaction to the bright pink car. Several more went of in his face.

He heard Maggie reprimand her Nan. “That’s enough photos. No downloading them on Instagram or facebook Nan, promise me!”

“Oh honey, I can’t promise what this old heart does. Some days my hands have a mind of their own.”

Jake ran a hand through his hair. He was in an airport garage staring at a bright, loud pink Chevy Impala named Pinkie. An old woman dressed in all pink is shooting photo’s of his reaction and he will have to drive this car to the Florida Keys, over fourteen hundred miles of bright pink in his face.

Paps chuckled. “She wanted a caddy. I gave her pink. At least it’s a Chevy.”

Jake shook his head.

“What do you think?” Nan asked, a secretive smile on her face.

Jake sighed. His hands dug deeper in his pockets and he rocked back on his heels. He grinned at Nan. “Mrs. McCoy, it will be an honor to drive your car on our road trip. It’s good I’m a man who couldn’t care less what type of reaction I get.”

“That’s my boy! I knew the moment I saw you we could leave our Maggie in your hands.”

“Nan, I can take care of myself, remember what we discussed?” Maggie piped up. She began to tap her toe on the cement ground of the parking garage. Jake reached over and took her hand.

His touch must have reassured her because Maggie didn’t argue any more with her Nan. The four of them decided to go back to the hotel and have a nice dinner together before heading out.

“I believe I’ll drive the car back to the hotel if it’s all right with you dear?” Nan asked Maggie. “I want one last ride.” The hotel was right across from the airport, a short walk from where they stood.

“I’ll ride along,” Maggie squealed and jumped in the front seat. The two men watched the ladies drive off in the pink Chevy.

“You’ll get used to the pink color after a while, Jake.”

“I doubt it. Think I can talk her in to changing the color to factory blue?”

“I doubt that. Maggie will want to keep it pink as a reminder of her Nan. Trust me, I tried too. You see the color.” Pap patted him on the shoulder as if he were passing a torch on to Jake.