Purgatory Masters(69)

Coming here had been a mistake. She didn’t want to make small talk with Tucker’s sister and pretend that everything was fine. Or worse suffer Nina’s wrath for her perceived betrayal. Maggie sighed. Either way, she’d be tempted to ask about him and finding out he’d already moved on after a mere two days would likely kill her. Not that she had much room to talk. Twenty minutes after her interview at University of Boston, she’d made the decision to move north.

If only to escape.

The idea of running into Tucker, or driving past the turn off to his estate every day knowing she no longer belonged there made her stomach twist into knots and acid churn within. So Boston it would be. Although she’d had no luck finding an apartment for rent on such short notice. She figured a little time in front of her computer would solve that problem. That’s what realtors and Craigslist were for.

The too familiar burn of oncoming tears made the decision to leave without dinner an easy one. No way in hell did she want to face Nina yet. Maggie turned around and headed back out the door.

“Excuse me. Where do you think you’re going young lady?”

Maggie froze at the strong sound of Nina’s voice. Slowly she turned and faced the woman. “I—uh—”

“Yeah, you uh-uh, whatever. Get your ass back in here and grab a table. You look like you could use a strong cup of coffee and some food.”

Maggie had no idea what to say to that so she obediently followed Nina back into the café. Somehow she’d get through this without asking about Tucker. She had to. She was better off not knowing.

“Take the booth in the corner and I’ll be right back with your coffee. I’ve got two customers to take care of and then it’s just you and me.” Nina rushed off before Maggie could respond.

She slid into the booth and pushed her purse to her side. She inhaled deeply. Something in the diner smelled so damned good it made her mouth water. Maggie pressed a hand to her stomach to halt the rumbling. Had she stopped to eat anything since she’d left her hotel room that morning? She couldn’t remember. Some of the fatigue from her whirlwind two days began to catch up with her as she sank bonelessly into the supple leather seat of the booth. She rested her head on the cushion behind her and closed her eyes.

A busy couple of days wasn’t her problem at all. She missed Tucker. For the first time in her life, she’d really felt like she belonged. Not as a doted on child, or an ornament on someone’s arm, but a real participant. That sensation had left her thoughts about research scattered as she tried to transition from observer to participant to researcher again.

Her body began to release some of its tension as warmth seeped into her bones. Boston in the wintertime had proven harsh and she wasn’t used to that. When the plane landed back in North Carolina, she’d breathed a momentary sigh of relief to see the gorgeous Carolina blue sky.

“Wake up sleeping beauty. You need some nourishment before you pass out.”

Maggie cracked an eye open to discover Nina hovering at the edge of the table with a mug of coffee and a bowl of some delicious-smelling soup. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” Nina slid into the booth across from her. “I plan to grill you about my brother.”

Maggie groaned. “Do you have to?”

“Of course I do. What are sisters for if not to butt into her brother’s life? Besides, I care about what happens to you to. And from my vantage point I’m guessing you’re both acting like a couple of asses.”

Maggie took a bite of the smoky corn chowder and gave herself a second to regroup. “Anyone ever tell you that you have a succinct way of putting things?”

Nina shrugged. “Just because you uptight types aren’t used to someone telling it like it is, doesn’t mean I’m letting you or Tucker off the hook. Now spill. Tell me why my brother is not answering my calls or his front door.”

Maggie winced and averted her eyes. Had their break up had that much of an effect on him? Surely not. “You’re probably overreacting. We both know he’s prone to fall off the grid when he’s in his studio.”

“Don’t even try to bullshit a bullshitter. Tucker came by here on Sunday morning before he went to Mayfield and wouldn’t shut up about you. Now he’s gone silent? No one turns around that quickly over some art. Not even my brother. Besides, it’s too damned cold for him to work the glass. He won’t be back at it full time until Spring comes round. Oops. There went your final excuse.”

What the hell, Nina was going to find out sooner or later. If Tucker wouldn’t listen to her, maybe getting the truth off her chest to Nina would make it easier to leave.