The Gift Read Online Free PDF Page B

mouth that was
probably very erotic when she wasn’t angry. Right now she was very angry.
Maggie told her to wait a minute while she got the box of Jacqueline’s clothes.
She came back with it, but Jacqueline didn’t look too grateful.
     “Let me give you some advice,” Jacqueline said. “You
might think that Zak is the greatest right now, but you’re going to get sick of
the drugs, drinking and women like I did. You should do yourself a favor and go
find yourself some boring accountant to marry.”
    She then left, slamming the screen door behind her.
    Maggie was shaken by their brief encounter. She could
tell that Jacqueline would have liked to hurt her, and if she couldn’t do it
physically then she would do it emotionally. Maggie was no innocent when it
came to the lifestyles of musicians. She had seen the ups and downs with her
own band. She knew that it was a life that probably didn’t appeal to most
women, but it was the kind of life that she led too. She didn’t think that she
would have any problems with Zak that she couldn’t handle, but then again, she
really didn’t know him that well yet.
    Maggie heard the tires of the Lincoln squeal to a stop
in the driveway. Zak and Justin came in the back door, their arms loaded with
provisions. Zak looked carefully at Maggie’s face.
    “Was that Jackie’s car I saw racing out of here? She
looked pissed.”
    Maggie nodded, she didn’t want to say anything because
she was upset and her voice might give it away. Zak knew something was up
though.
    “Are you o.k., sha? What did she say to you?”
    Tears spilled over Maggie’s lower eyelids and ran down
her face.
    “Well, basically she told me you are no good.”
    Zak put his arms around Maggie and held her tightly and
said “Yeah, well I’ve reformed so don’t worry.”
    Justin laughed and said “No one is good enough for
Jackie. She’s quite the princess.” He put the beer away in the fridge and
retreated with one of them to the living room to watch the football game.
    Zak took Maggie to his bedroom sensing that she needed
some reassurance. They sat on the bed and Zak held Maggie’s hand. She seemed
very quiet.
    “What’s the matter, darlin’?”
    She looked a little embarrassed and then said “Are all
your girlfriends so beautiful?”
    He looked a little taken aback.
    “Well, some of them I guess. But I was always more
interested in being with a woman who was kind. Jackie was definitely NOT kind.
I let that relationship go on way too long. She did me a favor by ending it.”
    Maggie sniffled a little and looked downhearted. Zak
took her face in his hands and kissed her lovingly.
    “Maggie, don’t worry. Now that you’re here, I can’t
think about anyone else. I love you.”
    Her heart skipped a beat and she felt sort of shocked.
She hadn’t expected him to say that so soon, but as soon as he said it, she
knew that she felt the same way.
    “Zak,” she said tenderly, “I love you too. I’m so glad
we found each other.”
    Zak felt like he had waited his whole life for this
moment. He felt so much love for Maggie and he pulled her to him so that he
could show her
     
    By the time they got up, it was dark and the football
game was over. Justin had left the house in the Lincoln, probably to give them
some privacy. Zak decided to make a romantic dinner for Maggie. He wanted to
make a special shrimp creole that was his grandmother’s recipe. He started by
sautéing some shrimp in butter and garlic in a large frying pan and then he
added some flour and let it brown. Maggie asked what she could do to help. Zak
asked her to chop some onion, bell pepper and celery. While she did that, Zak
started making the rice. When she was done cutting up the vegetables, Zak added
them to the skillet along with some tomato sauce, water, sugar, thyme, and bay
leaf. He put it on simmer, occasionally stirring the mixture.
    While Zak was cooking, Maggie grabbed his Martin and sat
at the table working out some chords