Shadows on a Maine Christmas (Antique Print Mystery Series Book 7) (22 page)

Santa Claus Knows His Business.
1902 lithographed full-page illustration from
Harper’s Weekly
by Clarence F. Underwood (1871–1929). Handsome young couple in evening attire (a flowing off-the-shoulder blue gown for her; a tuxedo and top hat for him) looking down at the red rose (a symbol of passion) he has just given her. In the background, a green-hatted Santa is pushing Cupid, complete with wings and arrow, into the room. 8.5 x 12 inches. Price: $50.

Later that night
, after Aunt Nettie had gone to bed, Will and Maggie sat quietly together on the couch, sipping cognac. For a while, neither of them said anything. Then Will spoke.

“After all that’s happened today, and that big dinner, I’d really like to get some fresh air. How about taking a walk?”

A few minutes later they were outside. Light snow was falling as they headed down the street toward the town wharf.

“While you were solving crimes this afternoon, I was busy, too,” Will said, reaching for Maggie’s hand.

“I know. Getting all the ingredients for those banana splits.” Maggie put her other hand on her stomach. “It was fun, and we needed a little fun tonight. I can’t believe we ate so much. Thank you for doing that. And for understanding why I had to stay with Owen.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed the dessert. And I do understand what you had to do. If there’s someone in trouble, especially a young person, you want to help. That’s part of what makes you Maggie. But that’s not what I meant. Something else happened this afternoon.”

“What?”

Will looked down at her. “I bought the house. It’s all done but the closing, and that’s set for next week.”

“That’s fantastic! Congratulations. Now I know what you’ll be doing this spring,” Maggie reached up and kissed him lightly. “I know you really wanted that house.”

“I did. For a lot of reasons.”

They kept walking, snow crunching under their feet and snowflakes dancing in the glow of the small lights on storefronts and streetlights.

“A lot of reasons? You mean so you’d have a project to work on this spring, and then open the mall you’ve planned,” Maggie answered.

Will headed them toward the river. As they passed the snow-covered hidden garden, he squeezed her hand, but neither of them said anything.

A block or so farther, Will paused. “With all that’s been happening in the past week, I don’t want you to think I’ve forgotten the reason you came to Maine for Christmas was so we could talk.” He swallowed hard. “In fact, I think about that every hour of the day and night.”

“I do, too,” said Maggie. “I suspect we’ve both been delaying the inevitable.”

“I know I have. But for good reasons. Maggie, Christmas morning, when Aunt Nettie gave you those children’s books, I almost opened my mouth. But it wasn’t the right time. And then we heard about Carrie’s murder, and all my plans seemed unimportant. You haven’t said anything specific, but I assume you’re going through with your plans to adopt.”

Somehow it was easier to talk while they were walking. “It’s very important to me, Will. I’d always regret it if I didn’t. My home study was finished in December.”

He didn’t seem surprised. But then, he knew her well. “When do you think you’ll have a placement?”

Maggie noticed Will was using the correct adoption terminology. He’d never done that before. “I don’t know for sure. But I applied for one or two older children. Older children are waiting in both this country and overseas. I have an appointment to talk with my social worker in January. I’ll know more then.”

“I’m guessing you’re planning to take a sabbatical from teaching after your child, or children, are placed with you.”

“If I can afford to. And it will depend on when my daughter arrives.” Maggie swallowed.
My daughter
. It felt so good, and yet so scary, to say that out loud. Especially to say it to Will.

“I checked with an adoption agency here in Maine. They said it would depend on the circumstances, but that if someone had a placement from a New Jersey agency, in many cases they could continue the post-placement supervision if the person adopting moved to Maine.”

Maggie stopped. “You called an adoption agency?”

“Maggie, I love you. I want to be with you. And I’ve realized one of the parts of you that I love is the part that wants to adopt. Remember in October, when I asked you to marry me?”

“Of course. How could I forget?”

“That’s what I want. More than anything. For us to be together. But I’m torn between caring for Aunt Nettie and loving you. And you’re torn between adopting, and I hope, loving me.”

“Yes.” He’d said it perfectly.

“So instead of a full proposal, this time I have a proposition for you.” Will turned and looked into her eyes. “I just bought a wonderful house. You’ve already agreed to display your antique prints in it.”

“Yes?”

“How would you like to be my partner? My partner in business as well as in life.” Will’s words raced. “I’d hoped it would be settled before Christmas, so I could tell you, or ask you, then. But I’ve thought it all out. I can make the third floor of that house into an apartment, with space for you and even two children. After you have your placement you could move to Maine. Live here. You could be with your child, and manage the day-to-day operations at the mall. I’d be there, too, when I could, and we could hire someone else to help out. You wouldn’t be tied down. But you’d have a place to live, close to me and Aunt Nettie. And Maine’s a wonderful place to raise children.”

Maggie was speechless as Will continued.

“If you’re willing, I’ll fix the apartment however you want it. It could be ready for you when your spring semester is over, if you have a placement. Or if you haven’t had a placement by then you could have your home study transferred to the agency in Maine. But you could move here as soon as May, when school’s over.”

This wasn’t what she’d expected. She’d been prepared to say good-bye to Will. To drive back to New Jersey alone, never seeing him again. “But if I move to Maine…my job…”

“If you take a sabbatical you’ll have time to think about where you want to live, and look for a teaching job here, if you want to. You’d keep your options open. And we could see each other all the time, and I could get to know and love your child, too.”

“Being in Maine, and near you, sounds wonderful. But what if… if it doesn’t work out?”

“Then at least we’ll know we tried. A year from now I don’t know what my situation with Aunt Nettie will be. You don’t know whether you’ll have one child or two.”

“But we’d be together. While all those issues are working themselves out.”

“Exactly. That’s why I wanted to make sure you loved that house as much as I did. I wanted to know if you’d want to live there. To look out over Waymouth from the tower. To bring your children home there. For now. Because I don’t want to spend any more time away from you.”

Maggie’s mind flashed with images. Leaving New Jersey. Moving to Maine. Living in an apartment with a tower overlooking the harbor, in a house full of antiques. Space for one, or two, children. And the man she loved, close, if not present every hour.

“I thought you might be falling for Jo Heartwood,” she admitted. “You were spending so much time with her, and she’s so young and pretty.”

“Jo? She’s great. I hope you get to know her better. But she was helping me with the house. She even had a friend who connected me to the adoption agency. She’s been helping me get all this taken care of before you left, Maggie. I love you. Only you.”

“And I love you. And …” Maggie took a deep breath. “And I’ve always wanted to live in a tower.”

“Then your answer is ‘yes’?”

“Yes. You have a partner and a tenant for your antiques mall.” Maggie put out her hand to shake Will’s, but the shake quickly turned into an embrace, which turned into a lingering kiss.

Will reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small box. A ring box.

Inside was a simple gold ring, set with a green tourmaline. The stone Will always said matched her eyes.

“Will you, my dear Maggie, wear this ring? For now let’s call it a promise ring. A ring that says I promise to love you, and be there for you, no matter what life brings to either of us. For now, and forever.”

Maggie’s eyes filled with tears of happiness as she nodded. Will slipped off her left glove and put the ring on her engagement finger.

In front of them, the Madoc River was filled with tiny lights. “What are they?” whispered Maggie. “It’s as though there were fireflies on the river.”

“I hoped we could see them,” said Will. He put his arm around her as they looked at the river. “When I was out this afternoon on my quest for local ice cream in December, I heard about a farmer upriver. Every morning this time of year when he goes to his barn he finds the water in each cow’s bucket frozen solid, except for the center. He empties them and saves the ice buckets, which look like enormous votive candle holders. Then, one night after Christmas, he invites his friends over for a party and they put a candle in the center of each ice bucket, and set them all afloat. That’s what we’re seeing. A river of lights, drifting downriver to the sea.”

Maggie leaned against Will, and looked in wonder, her eyes shining like the lights. “They’re beautiful. Unexpected. And magical. Just the way I hope our life together will be.”

As always
, writing a book takes the support and assistance of many people. I’d especially like to thank John and Susan Daniel and Meredith Phillips of Perseverance Press for bringing Maggie and her friends back, and Eric Larson for his inspired interior and cover designs. You’ve all been wonderful!

Among many sources of information I consulted about Alzheimer’s, a special nod to Lisa Genova’s book
Still Alice
. I recommend it to anyone interested in more information about this devastating disease.

For updates on Maine’s services for the intellectually disabled, thanks to fellow Chatham College graduate Sabra Burdick for prompt and insightful responses. And thanks to Kathy Lynn and Sandy Emerson for their clarifications about law enforcement in Maine.

As always, this book is fiction, and any errors are mine.

And as always, thank you to my husband, Bob Thomas, who listened, advised, commiserated, cooked meals and mixed drinks, and in all ways made it easier for me to write this book. Every writer deserves a spouse as wonderful. But, sorry. I’m not sharing.

Most of all, thank you to all of Maggie’s fans, who’ve encouraged me to continue her story, and to all the bookstores and libraries across the country that have opened their doors to me and to my books. I love you all.

Mystery writer Lea Wait lives on the coast of Maine with her artist husband, where she also writes historical novels for young readers. She is a fourth-generation antiques dealer, and adopted four older children as a single parent.
Shadows on a Maine Christmas
is the seventh in Wait’s Agatha-finalist Shadows mystery series. She participates in two authors’ group blogs, and she may be visited at
www.leawait.com
, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Books by Lea Wait

In the Maggie Summer “Shadows” Antique Print Mystery Series

Shadows at the Fair

Shadows on the Coast of Maine

Shadows on the Ivy

Shadows at the Spring Show

Shadows of a Down East Summer

Shadows on a Cape Cod Wedding

Shadows on a Maine Christmas

Novels for children and young adults

Stopping to Home

Seaward Born

Wintering Well

Finest Kind