Page 3 of Maggie’s Match

Rick stepped up onto the porch of the building, which he could probably navigate with his eyes closed. He had spent more time in the clinic than he had his own home. When he and his grandfather stepped into the clinic, waves and waves of memories hit him, like they always did.

“Welcome back,” his grandfather said, slapping him on the shoulder again. “Now get to work.” He chuckled as he shoved him towards the back of the clinic, then he turned and left.

Since it was early morning, the lobby was void of humans and would-be patients. Only his cousin Laura was standing behind the counter, smiling at him.

“Welcome back,” she said, holding out a file towards him. “Clay’s checking on our overnight guests, which means you get to head out on the first call of the day.”

“That’s it?” he asked, his eyes narrowing at his cousin. “No donuts? No celebration that I’m back?”

Laura laughed. “You were only gone for a few months,” she pointed out.

“Yes, but…” He frowned down at the folder, then shrugged and opened it. A huge paper donkey popped out at him. The card made him smile. Under the laughing mule were the words, “Welcome back, jackass.”

He smiled up at his cousin as she laughed and motioned. “Donuts are in the break room.”

He made his way down the hallway and stepped inside. Not only were there donuts, but the room was filled with balloons.

“Welcome home, cuz,” Laura said, walking up and hugging him. “It’s about damn time,” she whispered.

His first official day back at the clinic was so busy that he skipped lunch, and by the time they closed, he had a layer of dust and dirt on his clothes and his skin.

After work, he headed to the ranch house on Saddleback Ranch that he had moved into so he could shower off and change. Then he headed back into town to enjoy dinner at Mama’s Diner. He knew that Jamella would skin him alive if he didn’t come see her right away.

Jamella, aka Mama, was the one person besides his own mother that he never wanted to let down. The older black woman ran the town like she ran her restaurant, with love and a very commanding tone.

Jamella was Mama to everyone. Everyone. Even the ones who wanted to be haters. Everyone loved her. Respected her. Adored her.

Jamella was married to Stephen Miller, the town’s ex-sheriff. The couple had been married later in life, not long after Rick had been born. According to his parents, it had shaken up some of the people in town.

Their grumblings about the marriage hadn’t been due to the difference in race. The pushback came because everyone wanted to protect Jamella. Most knew her past and wanted nothing but the best for her.

Not that everyone in town didn’t love Sheriff Miller. According to Rick’s parents, it had just taken a while for the secret relationship to sink in. Now, twenty-some years later, the couple was a staple in Fairplay. They had one of the strongest relationships in town outside of his own family.

“There he is,” Mama said the moment he stepped inside the diner.

He was immediately engulfed in a warm embrace that went on longer than even the hugs he’d given his own family. This was Mama, the woman he’d thought of as his grandmother his entire life.

“You’re home, child. Finally. Lord, thank the stars.” Mama laughed and patted his back. “Back to stay?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered with a laugh. “I am.”

“’Bout time.” Mama motioned towards a table. “Sit, I’ll get you your favorite.”

Rick took a seat at the counter and glanced around. He knew everyone inside the diner and even noticed two of his ex-girlfriends. Both of them were now happily married. One had three kids and the other was very pregnant with her first.

He was also friends with their husbands. Hell, he’d gone to school with all of them and had probably partied with everyone in town that was around his age.

That was one of the reasons he’d left Fairplay the year before. He’d felt like he’d let all of them down by not immediately settling down and having a handful of kids.

As he waited, he glanced around for the one person he hoped to see while still wishing to avoid her. When Mama set a plate heaped with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans in front of him, she made a deep noise in her chest and shook her head.

“She ain’t here,” she said with a disapproving tone.

“Who?” he asked, trying to sound innocent.

The look Mama gave him told him clearly that he hadn’t fooled her.

“Child, you know who.”