Significance Series - Significance Part 50

"That she is. This is a great house you have here."

"Oh, we don't live here." She wrung her ap.r.o.n in her hands. "This is my cousin's house. We live about thirty minutes from here. Just about everyone here does. We only come here to...well, for Maggie."

I blushed, embarra.s.sed and saw dad's eyes take in the room full of people. All here for Caleb and me. He was thinking that he'd see even less of me than he originally thought because he thought Caleb lived right here near him and now learned he doesn't. And he couldn't believe all these people drove all this way just for me.

He was also in awe of all the couples, all different ages who had been married for years and were still so happily married. He felt a twinge of longing for my mom but pushed it away.

"Well. I'm famished," Peter said and then clapped his hands loudly, drawing everyone's attention. "Everyone, we all know why we're here. Our Maggie has come back to us." There were claps and cheers and Caleb put his arm around my shoulder to shield me, knowing I hate the attention. "Let us not forget the struggles of the past few days for Caleb and Maggie and give them our respect and s.p.a.ce. Also there are new developments that need to be handled... delicately. We are very glad to have Maggie's father and brother here with us as well and I smell something heavenly from the kitchen. I'm sure Rachel has outdone herself once again." He looked over at her affectionately and she beamed under his praise. "Let's eat folks."

We all went through the line of chicken pot pie dishes and ca.s.seroles and then made our way to the patio. Caleb and I sat and I just looked at everyone. I got smiles and glances. They were happy. They were proud to have me in their family. It was surreal.

I saw Bish coming out the sliding gla.s.s door with a plate piled high, along with dad and Peter. I waved to him to come sit with us.

"Maggie!" I heard and saw Maria bounding past him towards us. I stood and received a very enthusiastic hug from her. "Maggie. My goodness, you sure know how to scare people."

I laughed and so did Caleb.

"Did your mom teach you to say that?" he asked.

"Yep. She's been worried like a crazy person."

Then I saw her coming. Bish, Peter and dad had taken a seat around out table and I saw Bish do a subtle double take of Jen as she came to hug me and Caleb.

Who is that creature?

I had to press my lips together at his thought and also give her props for looking pretty great. Her dress was flowy and blue, her hair was down, she looked awesome.

"Maggie," she crooned. "Oh, it's so good to see you."

"You too. Jen, this is my brother, Bish. And my dad, Jim. This is Jen, Caleb's sister."

She smiled at dad and shook his hand and then turned to Bish. He stood and they just kind of stared at each other for a few seconds.

"Hi," she finally said and cleared her throat and sat down beside Caleb without shaking Bish's hand. "Nice to meet you," she said softly and was thinking that he had the kindest, most focused eyes she'd ever seen.

I though it was comical that she didn't even think once how hot he looked or about how muscley he was.

"It's nice to meet you, too," he said, not having taken his eyes off her yet.

I looked at Caleb to see if he saw. And oh yeah, he saw. He scowled at his sister and glanced down at his dad. His dad frowned but shrugged at him.

I understood the no dating rule. It had a purpose but my brother didn't date. Ever. Even in high school, he'd been very focused on his work and withdrawn. He'd even been shy and had no idea the reactions girls had to him. He thought he was a burden to our family though grateful we'd taken him in. He wanted to work hard and earn his keep and get a good job. He'd never been on a date since I'd known him.

The way he was looking at Jen was something I'd never seen on him before. He thought she was sweet looking and pretty. He had to physically keep his eyes from drifting down to her bare shoulders, which he liked, a lot.

I was blushing just listening to his thoughts. She eventually smiled shyly and pulled her hair to one side of her neck, looking over at Caleb.

"So, you're leaving tonight?"

"Yep. Our flight's in three hours," Caleb answered as he leaned back in his chair. "In fact, we need to get going pretty soon and pack."

His hand found my leg under the table and he squeezed my knee.

"Where are you going?" Bish asked and glanced between me and Caleb. "You're going somewhere the day after you were kidnapped? Alone with him?" he said and I didn't have to be a mind reader to see that he disapproved.

"Not alone," I threw in.

"Bish," Peter explained. "The ones who took Maggie aren't in police custody. We want to send them away for a while, for their safety, to make sure that these men don't try again. Someone will go with them."

It took about ten minutes of back and forth with Peter and dad to get Bish to settle down about the 'men' who took me not being under arrest are still out there after what they did. He was furious. Finally he calmed down enough but kept looking over at me and biting his thumb nail. In his mind he wanted to s.n.a.t.c.h me and run with me. He thought something fishy was going on. Everybody was a little too calm and collected about it all.

First, no one cared when I almost fainted, now this? He couldn't figure it out but he didn't like it. He went to put his arm around me and his hand ran into Caleb's arm, already around my shoulder. He glared at him. Saved me or not, he was liking Caleb less by the minute.

Then I could hear Peter's thoughts. He was thinking about Jen, worrying really. He hoped he wouldn't have a problem with her and Bish but wanted her to be happy at the same time which was conflicted.

I could also hear Rachel somewhere upset because she had broken a gla.s.s in the kitchen and Maria was looking at a b.u.t.terfly and dad was worrying about me leaving and Jen was back to thinking about Bish, how sweet he was to be so worried about me.

Then an uncle was wanting seconds but his wife was reminding him of his cholesterol. A cousin was shooing an annoying fly and flitting thoughts of dinner through her mind. Another uncle was looking at Caleb and hoping his son would be just as lucky.

Caleb was worried about me, feeling the wave of overwhelm coming, but couldn't fully stop the onslaught in my head even when he touched my hand with his. It lessened but the voices all around me seemed to compile and compress in my head in an annoying haze of fog and thickness that was almost painful in it's uncomfortable-ness.

I covered my face with my hands and took a deep breath as Caleb rubbed my back.

"You ok?" Bish asked. "You feel faint again?"

"No," I muttered.

"No, you're not ok, or no you don't feel faint?

"Either one."

"Maggie," Peter called from across the table. I peeked up at him. "Calm down, ok? Don't let it upset you. It's worse when you're upset. Just block it all out. It'll get easier, I promise."

"What? What's going on?" Bish said angrily.

"Stop being so paranoid, Bish," I muttered tersely. I felt someone raking their hand through my hair and looked up to Caleb. I blew a breath and tried to clear my head. It was hazy and full but when I stopped and breathed through it, it helped. Caleb's fingers grazed my cheek and the rim of my ear, pulling the too-tight feeling from me with his touch. "Thanks."

"I'm sorry," he whispered to me. "I know it sucks."

"It's ok," I whispered back and smiled at him. "I'll be fine."

"Alright, kids, you need to get going. Gotta pack and all before you go," dad said, thinking he could divert Bish. "We've got to get to the cell phone store too, Maggie so let's go."

"Ok," I answered and turned back to Caleb.

"We'll come pick you up in an hour," he stated. "That'll give us plenty of time to get to the airport. Just bring one bag and we'll buy anything else we need when we're there, ok? I have no idea how long we'll be in California."

"I don't need you to buy-"

"Maggie," he scolded. "It's fine, let me do this. I'm not worried about the money, I'm worried about you."

He kissed me softly and I ignored the grunt behind us. Then he stood and pulled me up from my seat.

"You guys get going and we'll pick you in an hour or so. Jim, you're coming with us to the airport right?"

Dad nodded.

"Ok, let's go," dad said and stood, along with Bish.

Our movement was noticed and everyone wanted to say goodbye. Maria ran to Caleb and me, hugging us both.

"Who are you?" she asked Bish sweetly.

"This is my brother, Bish. Bish, this is Maria, Jen's daughter."

"She has a daughter," he asked softly and looked at Maria in awe as she took his hand and shook it. He laughed and smiled. "Nice to meet you, Maria."

"Thanks," Maria said and skipped off.

Jen was behind us and laughed, rolling her eyes.

"She's something else," she said and hugged me. "Maria will miss you for sure. I'm glad you're alright. Be careful, ok?" She pulled back to look at me sternly and I read in her mind what she meant. "Careful," she reiterated.

"I understand," I said and gave her a wry smile that said what my mouth couldn't in front of everyone else- no s.e.x. "We'll be careful."

"I've gotta go too," she turned to Caleb "so I won't see you before you go. You be careful too." She grabbed Caleb in a big hug around his neck and whispered in his ear but I could hear in her mind. "I'm glad you finally got everything right again. I've been so worried about you two."

He looked sadly at her, knowing she would never have this.

"Thanks, Jen. Keep mom from going nuts, huh?"

"Yep. Love ya."

"Love ya."

She turned to Bish.

"Maybe we'll see you around again."

Translation in her mind- I really wish things were different.

She glanced at me knowing I'd heard her thoughts and smiled a little bashfully.

"Maybe, I'm supposed to head back to New York, so..." Translation in his mind- Wow. I wish I could stay here and figure out what's going on around here. Especially with this one.

His eyes were locked on hers and I knew I needed to help him, by removing him. He finally gets all gooey eyed over a girl and it's the one he can't have.

"Come on, Bish. We gotta go," I hurried and felt like a peeping tom for eavesdropping on our families all night.

"Ok. Nice to meet you, Jen," he said as we turned, him shoving his hands in his pockets.

"You too, Bish," she gave a little wave.

I pulled his arm and we said goodbye to everyone else. When Gran came I swore I saw a smile on Bish's face.

"Bish, you come and see me anytime. You're family now," she crooned and hugged him.

He raised an eyebrow at me over her shoulder.

"Family?"

"Course!" She pulled back and hugged me next. "Bye, pretty girl. Keep my boy out of trouble, hear?"

"Yes, ma'am. Bye."

"Don't you worry about your father now. You two get everything settled with you, I've got my eye on Jim."

"Thank you," I said and meant it. We made our way out to Bish's car and he climbed in none to gently, slamming his door. I looked up at Caleb. "This ride will be fun. I've never seen him so paranoid before."

"He's just worried about you."