For Mike's Sake by Janet Dailey

Author:Janet Dailey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 1978-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

AFTER LUNCH WAS OVER, Mike was designated cabin boy and ordered to clean the dishes. He grudgingly obeyed, after trying unsuccessfully to enlist help from either of them.

The boat remained anchored in the cove, with Maggie and Wade relaxing on the cushioned seats of the aft deck.

Her yellow Windbreaker was zipped to the throat, her hands stuffed in the front pocket. Thus protected, she leaned back to enjoy the brisk air, tangy with the scent of the sea.

All was quiet except for the lapping water against the boat's hull and the whispering breeze talking to the rustling leaves on the island's wooded interior. And, of course, there was the clatter of dishes in the cabin galley below.

"You've made a good job of raising Mike," Wade remarked quietly.

"I haven't done it alone. You've contributed, too." Maggie met his look, aware of its gentleness.

"The credit belongs to you. He's with you much more than he is with me. But thanks for making me feel I've had a hand in it."

Looking away from her, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly, like a sigh. "Today you said you would want me to talk to Mike before you got married. Are you planning to marry again?"

"Someday, when I find the right man." The prospect looked dismal. "Like you, I don't want to make another mistake. The next time I want to be very, very sure."

"You don't have anyone in mind, then?" His gaze returned to her, dark and impenetrable.

"Not any one person. There are a few prospects on the horizon, but—" Maggie shrugged "—I'm not going to rush into anything."

"You said something the other day that's been bothering me."

His expression was thoughtful, slightly distant.

"What was that?"

"You said that after you'd wiggled out from under my thumb, yon learned to value your freedom. What did you mean by that?"

Before she attempted an answer, Wade went on. "Granted, you said it in a moment of temper. But you rarely say things in the heat of anger that you don't mean.

"When we were married, you were always free to do as you pleased, within reason, of course."

"In theory, I was." At his gathering frown, Maggie tried to explain.

"All day long you gave orders to your employees. When you came home, you continued to give orders. You never seemed to ask me to do anything, you were always telling me.

"Instead of giving orders to the people who worked under you, you gave them to me—and I was much too independent to stand for that." A wry smile dimpled her checks.

"I never intended them to be orders."

"You probably didn't, but that's the way they came out."

"I'm…sorry." There was a certain grimness to his mouth.

"Don't be. It's in the past and forgotten." But Maggie guessed he was filing it away for future reference, something he didn't want to repeat in his new marriage to Belinda.

It hurt.

"I'm done!" Mike popped up the steps. "Can we fish now?"

The quiet interlude was over. Wade straightened from his comfortable position with obvious reluctance.

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