The Dragon’s E-Mail Order Menage

“Of course I heard it,” she said impatiently, risking an angry reproach from her mother but, for the moment, not giving a damn, “but why is he going to be here in the first place? I had no idea he was coming to dinner tonight.”

“The two of you have been together since half way through high school, since you were practically babies. You used to be head over heels and halfway to a full on fit of glee every time you figured out you had even a chance of being around him. Are you telling me that now he needs an invitation? Don’t mistake me, I’m not trying to tell you what to do. I’m not trying to tell you your business in any kind of way. It’s just interesting, that’s all.”

“Interesting?”

“Different. It’s different on how things used to be between the two of you. But just say the word and I’ll call Damon right up and let him know tonight isn’t going to work. It’s the least I can do, I suppose. It was me who told him to come on over, after all.”

“No!” Maggie said quickly, too quickly, judging by the veiled expression on her mother’s face. “Thank you, but no. Of course I want him here. I was just surprised, distracted a little bit, maybe. I’m just kind of out of sorts today I guess. It’s got nothing to do with him.”

“Is that why you were out there in the wilderness all day instead of doing your chores and such?”

There it was. It was much, much tamer of a reproach than she expected to get and she supposed she should be grateful for it, but it was there none the less and now it was coupled with this inquisition into her mindset on Damon. That was something she couldn’t even begin to get into. She had no idea how she would talk about it with her mother when she hadn’t even talked about it with herself.

And so she said nothing. She only nodded, hoping that her mom would see her distress and not push her any further (something that was never a given with Rose Wallace). Thank god for small favors. She looked at her for only a moment longer and then nodded, whether to herself or to her daughter was difficult to say. It didn’t really matter to Maggie. She was just glad for the silence.

“Hey Mom?”

“Yes baby, I’m right here.”

“Would it be okay if I went and took a shower? Before Damon gets here and everything?”

“Of course, I don’t see why not, although from the sound of it you’re still going to have to fight Eddie for the bathroom. I have a feeling you can take him, though.”

“Thanks Mom. I love you.”

“I love you, too. Very much.”

To her shock and dismay, Maggie could feel her eyes beginning to well up with tears and so she sprinted towards the stairs, desperate to be on her own before her mother could see her odd reaction. The thing was, she knew her mother loved her. She knew they all did, her whole family and Damon, too. The thing that very nearly broke her heart was the aching certainty that none of it was quite enough. None of it was enough to make her really, truly happy.