Chapter 75

Maggie slept well, and the doctor told her that she could get up and take a shower with the help of a nurse and start eating light meals. If she continued to improve, she could go home on Friday.

After Maggie ate a few bites of toast and scrambled eggs, the nurse took out the catheter and helped her into the shower. Maggie shed a tear as she looked at herself in the mirror.

The bruising was extensive, and the cuts and scrapes seemed to be all over. The incision from the surgery on her left side was several inches long.

The nurse said that the doctor who did it was a wizard at making scars almost invisible. Maggie desperately hoped so.

After a shower and washing her hair carefully, Maggie slipped on a clean hospital gown and sank back into the bed, exhausted.

Her head was starting to pound from the concussion and the fluorescent lights in the bathroom.

Liam closed the blinds and let her sleep while he cleaned up and answered the texts from their family and friends.

Maggie woke up after midday, wanting to try some lunch. The cafeteria brought up a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and some chicken soup. She ate about half of each before feeling full.

They turned on the TV, found an old romance that Maggie loved, and watched it hand in hand. Elizabeth and Charlie came to visit, holding a squirming Patrick. Maggie saw her son and burst into tears as Liam took him and settled him on Maggie’s good side so she could sort of hold him.

Maggie covered him in kisses and played with his hair like she always did. Feeling content for the first time in days, Patrick popped his thumb in his mouth and snuggled into his mom, falling asleep.

They stayed for a little while before taking the baby home for a better nap. Liam was just getting Maggie settled into one of the chairs when the door opened, and Brett stuck his head in the room.

“Hey, Bear. Would you like to come in?” Maggie asked.

“Is it okay?” he asked.

Liam looked at Maggie, and she nodded her head. Liam was still hurt but trusted Maggie to handle the situation.

Brett came in, closed the door behind him, and sat in one of the chairs in the room. Maggie looked at him and then at Liam.

“Babe, can you give us a minute? I would like to have a discussion with my big brother here.”

Liam got up and kissed her lips. “I’m going to run home to change and get you some clothes to come home in. Call me if you need anything, okay? I’ll be back in about an hour and a half.”

She smiled and kissed him back, whispering, “I love you” as he pulled back and stood up. He looked hard at Brett, who lowered his eyes as Liam left the room.

“So how are you feeling, Mags?”

“Let’s just cut to the chase, Brett. How could you do that to me? To Liam? He is your best friend and business partner!”

“I know, Maggie... I don’t know what I was thinking. I wanted him to hurt and feel as scared as I did seeing you in that bed, not moving and unconscious.”

“And you don’t honestly think that he wasn’t scared out of his mind and hurting too? Blaming himself for the accident?”

Brett didn’t say anything for several seconds, not sure how to say what he was feeling.

“Bear, how would you feel if the situation was reversed, and it was Sheila and your baby in this bed?” she asked gently.

“I’d be a total wreck... and if I found someone I loved doing what I did to Liam, I would have beaten the shit out of the son of a bitch! I’m sorry, I fucked up, and I don’t know how to make it right!”

He broke down, sobbing. Maggie put her hand on his leg as she brushed back her own tears.

“You have to apologize to him. He is hurting so much. You have to make this right, Brett! I can’t have you in our life if not, and it would kill me not to have you in our lives…”

Brett nodded and took a few deep breaths to steady himself before he stood up and looked at her. “I promise I will make this right! Your husband might be a little late getting back to you, okay?”

Maggie nodded and accepted his gentle hug. He blew his nose, waved, and rushed out the door. Maggie smiled and closed her eyes as she listened to the movie on TV.

Maggie opened her eyes when she heard the door open. Makayla and Hannah walked in, carrying a paper bag and flowers. Her two friends hugged her and set the flowers down. Hannah took out the milkshake from the paper bag and handed it to her.

Maggie took a sip and groaned with joy. “Chocolate and banana! I love you both!”

They giggled and talked for a while before Maggie was starting to drift off. The ladies kissed her cheek and left her to close her eyes and rest.

That was how Liam found her two hours later, feeling a rush of love for the woman before him.

He sat down, saw the milkshake cup, and knew who had been there to visit. He shook his head, chuckling to himself as he threw the melted mess away.

He sat next to her and rubbed her leg when she started stirring from her nap.

“Hey, darling, how was the milkshake?”

Maggie yawned a little. “It was like heaven in a cup! Did everything go okay at home?”

Liam sat back, thinking about the deep conversation that he and Brett had in his office.

Brett had poured his soul out to him about all the impending fears he had about fatherhood and apologized for taking it out on him.

He understood that Liam might never forgive him and would need time to process what he did. Liam had thanked him for that and said he did need some time after the intense last few days.

“It was a good start…”

Maggie left it at that and took Liam’s hand as he helped her into the bathroom and then back to the bed. The nurse checked her again. Her pain was at a good level and she only had a mild headache.

And as if on cue, Liam’s phone rang and he answered it, said a few words then hung up.

“If you promise not to get over-excited or stress yourself out, do you want a surprise?”

“Of course! Now give it to me!”

Liam punched a few buttons on his phone, and the next thing Maggie knew, Amanda answered her phone, and the girls on her team were yelling and calling to her on video.

Maggie’s heart swelled. The girls calmed down as Maggie assured them that she was okay, and that she would be back with them soon.

She was hoping to return next week. Liam knew there was no arguing with her, he would just take her where she needed to go.

Amanda’s husband, Jessi, took her phone from her and sat on the bleachers, holding the phone so that Maggie and Liam could watch the game.

“Jessi, remind Josie to keep her elbow up, she keeps dropping it when she is batting,” Maggie said, smiling as he relayed the message.

Josie gave a thumbs up and then proceeded to hit a triple and bring in two runs.

“How do you do that?” Jessi asked in awe.

“Never underestimate a redhead, Jessi!” Maggie simply replied.

“Trust me, Jessi, I did it once and it didn’t end well for me!” Liam answered.

Jessi laughed as Liam blushed and they finished watching the game, congratulating the girls on another decisive win. She thanked Brett and Amanda for helping and promised she would be back soon.

They knew there was no stalling her and she would be back when she was ready, even though they reminded her that she didn’t have to hurry.

Liam went to the little kitchenette in the hallway and made Maggie a cup of tea. When he returned, she was fast asleep. He smiled, kissed her forehead, and sat down to drink the tea himself.

The next day, after the ultrasound and final examination, Maggie was discharged to go home. The baby was looking good, and she had no spotting or cramping.

The heartbeat was strong too. Maggie had appointments with her OB and the doctor next week for a post-surgical check and to have her stitches removed.

She had a prescription for some pain meds if she needed any for her concussion. Liam helped Maggie get dressed and they were soon off home. He drove slowly, making Maggie roll her eyes.

Once they finally got home, Liam got her settled on the patio in the shade with some lemonade. Charlie and Beth brought Patrick home, and he immediately crawled around the sunroom to his toys.

Liam had arranged to work from home for the next several weeks. Maggie couldn’t lift anything over fifteen pounds, and Patrick was too heavy for her to handle one-handed.

“I find it very interesting that in the time we have known each other, this is the second time that I have been in a cast. Why do I keep breaking myself?”

Liam chuckled and kissed her hand. “You’re just lucky, I guess.”

“You have to admit, the first time was all your fault!”

“I will take full responsibility. This time, it’s also my—”

“Nope! Don’t say it, babe, this is not your fault! I love you and we talked about this. It’s the truck driver’s fault. Please, don’t do this okay?”

He nodded and swallowed the guilt he was feeling. She was too good for him, and he was going to make it up to her somehow.

He would make sure she knew how special she was and that he would do anything for her and their family.

They had a quiet meal with his parents, and Maggie was grateful that she had a waterproof cast as she took a nice relaxing shower and got into bed, lying down on the pile of pillows Liam had laid out.

She quickly fell asleep and enjoyed an uninterrupted night’s sleep. Liam let her sleep in on Saturday and her heart swelled as she saw him feeding Patrick in the kitchen, laughing with his son.

She kissed them both and sat down to eat some eggs that Liam put in front of her.

They had a nice, relaxing weekend, with everyone only calling her to check in, rather than coming over to overwhelm her. She was grateful and loved all of them for being so considerate.