What Were You Expecting? Read Free

hand, Nils. And be nice. No grouchy-bear Nils grudgingly offering to help. You make her feel like you want to help, okay?”
    “Anything else, Miss Bossy?”
    “I’ll get Paul and Lars to help, too.”
    “Like you could keep Paul from helping,” muttered Nils.
    “Poor Paul. He doesn’t like Maggie like that. He needs to find someone just as badly as you do. Come to think of it, Lars could use a good woman, too…”
    He needed to hang up before she started marrying them all off.
    “Hanging up, Jen…kiss Erin for Onkel Nils. Say hi to Sam…”
    Jenny was still going on about possibly eligible women in Gardiner when Nils softly tapped the red End button on his phone. Might be half an hour before she figured out she wasn’t talking to anyone anymore. He grinned, taking a sip of coffee and cringing at the watery bitterness.
    He didn’t mind helping to plan a party for his father, and he was relieved that Jenny actually had a plan on the table. But working with Maggie? He pursed his lips. That was another thing. His heart sort of did a little leap, thinking about the time he’d need to spend with her planning such a large event…but it took a nosedive a moment later as he reminded himself: You’re not good enough for her, Nils. You’re not good enough for anyone.
    ***
     
    Maggie was grateful for Paul’s arm around her shoulders as she stumbled through puddles and potholes, the cold rainwater splashing up on her jeans. She looked back at the Blue Moon, sort of surprised to still see it so close. It felt like they’d been walking for a long time.
    “Face forward, Mags. If you look back, you’re gonna trip.”
    Oh, what did Paul know anyway? He was drunk. She decided to tell him so.
    “Whaddaya know? You’re drunk.”
    “Not as drunk as you,” he answered under his breath, catching her around the waist as she stumbled and almost fell.
    “Don’ lemme fall,” she said. “Wouldna he jus’ love that? Big babysitter.”
    “No one wants you to fall, Maggie.”
    “I can fall over all the live long day, Paul. He can’t tell me what to do and neither can you.” Her words were so slurry, and so confusing. Live long day. What did that mean anyway? “Live long day. Live long day.”
    “Yeah. Live long day. Fine. I just want to get you home safe, Mags.” Paul tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her against him.
    “I shoulda fallen ’n love wit’ you,” she mumbled, her boot heels occasionally scraping the pavement as she lurched forward then compensated.
    “That wouldn’t have worked. We’re too good of friends.”
    “Friends! Ha! Yer not listenin’ to me!” She stopped walking, balancing herself before poking her finger into Paul’s chest. “I’m a lass, Paulie. Even though we’re friends, we need t’be clear on that point, boyo. An’ you know what else, too? He should bed me or wed me, an’make no mistake. I know what I’m about.”
    He shook his head, looking supremely annoyed with someone. Maggie lurched around to see who he was looking at, but they must have been one fast walker, because they’d moved on by the time she managed to look. She swiped a limp hand in front of his face as he came back into focus. “I mean it.”
    “Yeah, you mean something, but damned if I can follow.” He put his arm back around her waist and suddenly she was walking again. “It’s okay, Mags. Just keep walking. Almost there.”
    “An’ y’know wha’else?”
    “No. What else?”
    She realized they were on the bridge crossing the river. Ooo! The river! “I could jus’ jump in and swim home, Paul.”
    “I don’t think so, Mags. Little too cold for swimming.”
    “Yer no fun.”
    “That may be so.”
    “I’m fun.”
    “Yeah, you’re usually pretty fun.”
    She caught the emphasis on “usually” and furrowed her brow. She stopped walking, pushing his hand away from her waist and poking him in the chest again. “ Always fun.”
    Paul sighed loudly. “Sure, Mags. You’re always