But after that first season, her dad began to seek out rougher waters and more turbulent weather conditions. Maggie was ashamed to admit it, but she was too afraid to go with him after that. Her mother stopped going, too, and more than once, she tried to explain to Maggie why her father needed to seek bigger, more challenging adventures. White-water rapids, rock climbing, hiking the tallest mountains, parasailing. Her father tried it all and kept searching for wilder and more dangerous tests of will.
Maggie never did understand why being with her and her mother hadn’t been enough for him.
Shaking off the melancholy, Maggie turned away from the marina view and glanced around the bustling lobby. The hotel was beginning to fill up with festival visitors and she wondered if she might recognize a friendly face or two. But she didn’t see anyone she knew. Not yet, anyway. One of her goals for the week was to talk to and get to know as many people as she could manage.
Of course, she was also hoping to avoid any locals who might be less than happy to see her.
“Because I need something else to worry about,” she muttered, shaking her head at the different directions her thoughts were taking her.
Since she wouldn’t have much spare time later, Maggie pulled her schedule out of her purse and studied it one more time. Then she checked her judging number cards to make sure she hadn’t lost them. They were still tucked inside her purse and she smiled as she pictured Johnny’s stern look as he pretended to threaten her if she showed them to anyone. He might’ve been big and intimidating, but she knew he wouldn’t hurt a flea. Johnny was the classic tough guy with a heart of gold.
She frowned as she recalled her own reaction to his offhanded remark about her being pretty. It annoyed her to know that she could still cringe at comments like that, a holdover from her years with Alan. Back then, if a man had complimented her, Alan would accuse her of having an affair with the guy. Once at a party, she and two other women had been joking about something. Later that night, Alan had wondered if the three of them might be forming a prostitution ring. She was so shocked she laughed at him. That had been a mistake. She learned quickly to avoid being friendly with other women and became an expert at discouraging attention from other men.
“Pitiful,” she said, shaking her head. Even after three years back home, she was still living her life in the shadows, still trying so hard to be invisible that it came as a complete shock when a man noticed her, let alone complimented her.
But she refused to be depressed about it. She was so different from the woman she’d been even a year ago. She was happy to be at the festival and she was staying there with a gorgeous man, even though he had sort of blackmailed her into it. She had no intention of doing anything with him except sleep, preferably in a separate bed or on the couch. Still, it was exciting to be here.
Her phone beeped and she knew what that meant. Connor had sent her a text. Taking a deep breath, she read the message. Room 1292. Luggage is here and so am I. See you soon.
Suddenly she felt light-headed and wondered if it was caused by the caffeine or by Connor’s message.
Did she really have to ask? It was Connor. Definitely.
Grabbing her tote bag and purse, she stood and tossed her empty coffee cup in the trash and headed for the elevator banks. Once in the elevator, she checked her purse again to make sure the number cards were still inside the zippered pocket.
Johnny would be happy to know how paranoid he’d made her.
Still, she was grateful for all the protective measures the festival had taken to ensure complete anonymity in the judging. Connor would never be able to figure out which entries were hers.