Autumn Dreams by Sharon McGregor

Author:Sharon McGregor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Prism Book Group

CHAPTER TEN

Marshall drove his sister, her family, and Maggie to the Box Social. Ray had wanted to stay home, but the rest of the family ganged up on him and assured him they would sit at a corner table where his casted leg would be out of the way and wouldn’t trip anyone.

The community hall was decorated with fresh flowers and dried shoots of grain from the harvest. Ribbons and crepe paper made the room look quite festive. Maggie took note of everything, as this was where she would stage the school’s Christmas concert later in the year.

Ray shooed them to a table out of the way. Everyone knew everyone else, of course, and no one isolated themselves at their table. The piano on the stage already had a volunteer player at the keys, pounding out some war tunes.

By the time the box auction started, Maggie began to unwind. It was the first time she had met Gary and Gerry’s parents, as well as some of the others, and she was enjoying the friendly greetings they all had for “Teacher”. Marshall had disappeared from sight, no doubt talking to old friends. She was annoyed with herself for the stray glances she gave the crowd, looking for his tall figure.

Marshall appeared at their table, lily box in hand.

“That’s your box, Teacher,” Emma said.

“No, that’s your mother’s. See, it has the lily on the top.”

“Uh, uh.” Emma giggled and covered her mouth, squirming in her seat.

He opened the cover, flashed Maggie a look, and said, “Miss Lawrence, I think you owe me the first dance.”

“But—”

“No buts. See?” He showed the tag with her name on the underside of the cover. Emma giggled even louder.

The pianist was joined by a violin and a guitar. They had just finished a lively reel and were now playing the first notes of We’ll Meet Again.

With a sudden sense of belonging, Maggie slipped into Marshall’s arms. She basked in the feeling, wordless for a time, then lifted her face to his. She was surprised to see him smiling.

“The box with the lily on top was supposed to be Ellen’s,” she began.

“I know, but my enterprising niece thought it would be fun to switch things around.”

“I’m sorry things didn’t go the way you planned.”

“Who says they didn’t? I knew about the switch all along.”

“How?”

“Emma is a bit of a schemer, but she isn’t old enough to know the art of subtlety. I could tell by all the giggles and little digs she was making on the way to the social.”

Maggie had missed those, sitting in the back seat with Ray. She was glad she had, because if she had known Emma sabotaged the boxes, she would have died of embarrassment the whole time.

Now she just gave herself up to the feeling of being in Marshall’s arms—the new Marshall. Where had the disapproving, silent one gone? She opened her mouth to ask why he had changed from the first day they’d met, but in an unusual display of reticence, she closed it quickly.

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