Page 43 of The Journey of a Lifetime (Tiny Homes and Happy Tails #2)

T he Stanley Hotel was crowded with guests and visitors. Lucky for them, there was hardly anyone outside in the garden maze, so Maggie and her mom decided to look around the grounds before picking up their food.

Walker sniffed out a rabbit from one of the bushes. Maggie tightened her grip on the leash, but the bunny didn’t move. They stayed for twenty seconds looking at each other before the bunny decided to hop back in the bushes.

After picking up their food, they drove back to the campsite. Maggie had already put a tablecloth on the picnic table with some short candles she’d found under the cabinet. Her mother lit the candles while she gathered some plates and bowls.

“I think you ordered too much food.” Maggie plated the eight ounce Colorado Angus Filet and topped it with the black truffle herb butter sauce. While she plated the second filet, her mom added sides which consisted of roasted garlic whipped potatoes and grilled asparagus.

“Whatever we don’t eat tonight we’ll eat for leftovers.” Julia scooped up the Caesar salad into two separate bowls. “I’m going to leave the charcuterie board in the box. We can pick from there.”

Maggie nodded. “I’ll grab some waters.”

Julia shook her head. “I picked up something special while we were at the Stanley.” She pulled out a bottle of Emblem Cabernet Sauvignon and smiled “Figured we could use it.”

Maggie held up two red Solo cups. “It’s not crystal. But it will do.”

Her mom laughed and worked on the bottle with a corkscrew that she’d bought in the souvenir shop.

Walker looked up at Maggie and whined. She rubbed his head. “I’ll give you some of mine, boy.”

Julia shook her head. “No need. I picked up a steak for Walker too.”

Maggie’s mouth fell open. She collected herself and placed a hand to her throat. “You picked up a steak for Walker?”

Julia nodded and held up a third box containing another steak. “I’ll just cut it up for him.”

She cut the steak into bite size pieces and placed it in his dog bowl. “Can I give it to him?”

Maggie blinked back the stinging tears. “Yes. He would love that.”

Julia smiled and looked at Walker. “This is for being such a good boy.” She scratched him behind the ear. Walker looked like he was smiling. She set the bowl down in front of him.

He quickly dug into his tasty dinner.

“He has the right idea. Let’s eat.” Julia sat down and picked up her knife and fork.

Maggie hadn’t seen her mom this relaxed in a while, if ever.

She had so many questions to ask her but didn’t want to ruin the moment.

Instead, she began to cut her steak. Popping a piece of the tender meat into her mouth, her senses exploded in delight.

She let out a moan. Her mom laughed. “I’m glad you like it.

The sides are amazing too. Might have to eat there again while I’m here.

” Julia took a sip of her wine and smiled.

“So how long do you plan on staying?” Maggie asked, careful to keep any emotion out of her voice. She didn’t want her mom to think she wanted her to leave.

Julia chewed thoughtfully and sighed. “I’m not sure yet. This was all spur of the moment.”

Maggie snorted. “I know what you mean.”

Julia picked up her cup of wine. “Want to tell me what’s going on? You didn’t even tell Mason you were leaving. I would have thought you would have at least confided in Lauren since she’s your best friend.”

Maggie set her fork down. “I guess you talked to Mason.”

Julia nodded. “He came by the house looking for you.”

Maggie arched her brow. “Did Lauren come with him?”

Julia frowned and slowly nodded. “Yes, she did.”

Maggie took a sip of wine. “I have broken up with Mason and will not be getting back together with him.”

Her mom looked shocked. “But you two were so perfect together. I would have thought …”

Maggie held up her hand. “I caught Mason and Lauren in bed together. There is no coming back from this.”

Julia’s eyes went wide and her face went white. She reached over and squeezed Maggie’s hand. “Oh, Maggie. I’m so sorry. I know it must be devastating.”

Maggie braced herself for the rush of sadness and grief that usually washed over her when she thought of Mason and what they had. This time the pain was small. She knew she was quickly getting over Mason. “You have no idea how hard it was when I found out. But I won’t let this define me.”

Julia slowly pulled her hand back and reached for her wine. “I know more about betrayal than even you know.”

Maggie stilled at her mom’s words. She wasn’t sure what she meant, but she had to have clarity. “What do you mean?”

Julia took a generous drink of the red wine and met Maggie’s gaze. “Your father isn’t a faithful husband, Maggie. The first time I caught him with another woman you were around five years old.”

Maggie’s mouth went dry. Her father was always distant with her, but she never thought he was a cheater. “Dad cheated on you?”

Julia nodded. “Yes. That was the first of many. The latest is Kathy Smith.”

Maggie’s eyes bulged. “The wife of Roy Smith? The couple you had over for dinner the other night? The couple whose house you stayed in overnight?”

Julia’s shoulders slumped and she clasped her hands in her lap. “Yes.”

Maggie stared. “Why did you stay?”

Julia sighed heavily. “I was scared. I didn’t know how I would be able to raise you on my own.

Your father has always been the breadwinner and controlled all the money.

He’s a powerful man who has influence. He even told me the judge wouldn’t give me a dime if I divorced him.

He knew all the judges, so I believed him.

I felt like it was my duty not to leave him so you would have a home with both your father and mother. ”

Maggie snorted. “But you were always pushing me to be perfect. I always felt like I couldn’t live up to the high standard you and dad set for me. Like I was never enough.”

Julia’s chin quivered and she seemed to crumple inward.

“Maggie, I’m so sorry I made you feel like that.

That was never my intention. I just wanted you to have a good career where you don’t have to depend on a man for money.

” She looked up at her. “I stayed because I thought duty mattered more than dignity. I thought it was the loving thing to do. But I was wrong.”

Maggie stared at the woman before her. Her heart ached with what her mom had been through, how she suffered in silence all these years while putting on a brave facade.

“Dad’s going to be pretty mad about me not going back to law school,” she stated.

Julia snickered. “Too bad. It’s your life. Not his choice. He’ll get over it.”

Maggie bit back a smile. She’d never seen her mom so … open.

“And he’s really going to be mad about me breaking up with Mason,” Maggie added.

Julia grew serious. “Don’t ever light yourself on fire to keep someone else warm. You are so much braver than I ever could be.” Julia shrugged. “Besides, I never really liked Mason that much anyway.”

Maggie gasped. “You didn’t? I thought you loved Mason.”

Julia narrowed her eyes. “I thought he was a bit too arrogant the first time I met him. Like your father.”

Maggie took another sip of wine. “So what are you going to do now? Will you go back home and act like everything is okay between you and Dad?”

Julia set her cup down. “I’m going to talk to an attorney.”

Maggie’s heart dropped. “You don’t think Dad will go to couples therapy?”

Julia snorted. “I’ve asked him a hundred times to go to therapy. He says he doesn’t need therapy.” She shook her head. “No, sweetheart. I may end up penniless and living in a small apartment, but at least I’ll be at peace.”

Maggie swallowed the lump in her throat. “Whatever you decide, I’m here to support you.”

Tears spilled onto Julia’s cheeks as she squeezed Maggie’s hand. Maggie stood and walked around to hug her mom tight.

“This isn’t the end, Mom. It’s just the beginning,” Maggie whispered against her mom’s hair.

Now Maggie had some planning of her own.