18 months later

            "Hurry up we're running late"

"Why are you telling me to hurry up when you were the one who didn't get her ready?" Maggie snapped.

"I was busy with my make up"

"Do you think you're the only one who needs to put make up on?"

"If you stop complaining, you'll see how fast you will finish getting her ready" Amy flipped her hair over her shoulder and walked away. Maggie considered leaving the baby so she can pull that brat's hair but thought better of it. That would only make them more late than they already were.

"Okay baby, just one more and we'll be done" she murmured wrapping the little girl in shawls. Now she only needed to get dressed, put on her make up then she would be on her way out. But looking at the watch, Maggie realized she might have to forego the make up part.

Today was Thomas' wedding. She couldn't afford to be late or he'd think she wasn't really okay with it. After some time, she had come to the conclusion that it didn't matter who he married. The least she could do was support and be happy for him. What worried her was if they were there. The Barakas. Even after everything, they were still his parents. He couldn't just not invite them to his wedding because of what they did to her. At the end of the day, it wasn't as if she was their real daughter that they'd care about her feelings. But then again, Thomas would have told her if he had invited them. Wouldn't he?

"Maggie, if you don't get out of that room, I'll take the baby and leave you to follow us on your own" Amy yelled from the other side.

"Try me Amy. Just do it and see what I'll do to you" God, ever since she arrived a month ago, she had been nothing but a pain in the ass.

Maggie had decided to take less modeling jobs. While staying at the farmhouse, an idea had struck her and she'd called Sheila immediately. Fast forward to a few months later, they had opened a place where young women who had gone through all kinds of difficulties could find refuge. Most of them escaped forced marriages at a young age, FGM, abusive marriages for those who were already married and so many more. In short, their organization helped those young women start new lives. It was shocking how many of them showed up at their doorstep every month. If it weren't for her father's support, she wouldn't have been able to handle all of them.

That's how she'd ended up being a mother. One of the girls was pregnant when she arrived. She'd told them how she escaped her much older husband because she wanted a better life for herself and her baby but since she was too young, she had ended up having difficulties during childbirth and died. When her parents found out, they disowned their grandchild, claiming they'd already done their duty by raising their deceased daughter. The girl's husband was nowhere to be found because he'd gone into hiding. Maggie felt the case was too similar to hers and if that baby couldn't find a good home, she might end up worse than her mother. So she took the little girl in and decided to raise her as her own. She was also determined to do a better job than her adoptive parents.

"Jesus Christ Maggie, will you fucking hurry up?"

Ripping the door open, she asked "What is wrong with you? This is my brother's wedding. Not yours"

"Yeah well, Thomas invited me as his sister too but now that I think about it, maybe you should just take your time. We all know who you're dressing for. Right?" Amy wiggled her eyebrows.

"Let's go before I give in the urge to beat the shit out you"

"Language, the baby's listening"

"Who started cursing?"

"Me, but it's not a competition. You have to filter your words or you'll be labeled as worst mother of year when your baby's first word is Fuck. "

"Thank you for that bit of information. Let's go" Maggie grabbed the carrier, leaving Amy and her big mouth to bring the diaper bag. After they'd settled in the car and were on their way, she asked "How's Stephan"

"Good. More handsome than ever, getting hotter everyday, sexy....."

"Not what I wanted to know"

"Oh, well, he's fine now. The last time I was with him he managed to leave his office for a few hours to have coffee with me"

"Okay" she replied. Stephan was a topic she tried to avoid because it made Amy jealous. They both knew he'd buried himself in work to try and forget her. Since it was taking too long for him to move on, Amy always got angry every time she asked about him. It was a wonder she'd answered today without throwing a tantrum and blaming her for everything.

"How's Brian?"

"Still the same"

"You mean he's still proposing to you every time you guys see each other?"

"Yes" he hadn't lasted a month. After giving her six months, he'd showed up at the farmhouse three weeks later claiming he'd been insane to think he'd survive for six months. He'd told her how hard it was to live without her then produced a ring and proposed to her. Maggie had been so shocked she'd said no. But Brian had taken her answer in stride telling her that he'd propose every chance he got until she said yes. At first it had been cute, how kept getting on his knees and asking her to marry him. Now it was just annoying because she was tired of looking like the bad guy for turning him down every time.

"You gotta give the guy points for trying. Damn, if I was him I would have given up on you already"

"I wish he'd do that"

"Stop lying to yourself Maggie. The moment he stops proposing, you'll run after him. It's how we humans, especially us women, work. We want them when they've lost their interest in us"

"Is that why you keep chasing Stephan around? Because he's not interested in you?"

"Ouch" she pretended to flinch "That hurt even though it's the truth. God, I've never met a more stubborn man. Do you know I tried to seduce him?"

"I don't want to hear it. Spare us the details" Maggie told looking down at the baby but Amy kept going.

"I bought this sexy lingerie online, wore it under my dress, got drunk then called him. When he showed up I pretended to be drunk and took off my dress hoping my lingerie would do the rest. Do you know what the guy did?"

"Washed your face and tucked you into bed?"

"Yeah. How did you know? Gosh I was so angry, I got up forgetting I was supposed to be drunk. Please stop laughing because it wasn't funny. I was so embarrassed and ashamed"

"Serves you right. I've never been able to fool Stephan and he was in love with me. Imagine...." Maggie stopped realizing what she was about to say.

"Why don't you continue bragging about it" she snapped

"I didn't mean it that way Amy"

"I know but I can't help being angry. He loves you but you don't love him. I love him but he doesn't want me. And I can't even call it a love triangle because you guys aren't involved anymore"

"Just give him time. He'll come around"

"By the time he comes around I'll be married with two kids. Speaking of marriage, have you told Brian yet?"

"Told him what?"

"About Trevor"

"Why should I tell him anything?"

"Oh my God, and you invited him to the wedding? Are you insane?"

"Stop yelling you're scaring the baby" Maggie cooed to the agitated baby until she settled down. Luckily she didn't have to continue her conversation with Amy because they'd arrived at the wedding venue. They got out of the uber and went inside. The ceremony was about to start so they didn't have time to talk to anyone.

Brian was sitting on the bride's side with his parents and a woman she didn't recognize. They sat on the groom's side and Maggie was surprised to realize Thomas hadn't invited his parents. Claire, whom she hadn't seen earlier ran towards them lifting her tiny hands up. Maggie handed the baby to Amy and picked up Claire. The ceremony was short and precise. In an hour, Thomas and Abby had already said their vows. As they stepped outside for photos, Maggie asked Thomas,

"They didn't come?" there was no need for her to explain who They were.

"I didn't invite them. You're here and that's enough for me"

"Thank you"

"No, thank you for coming. I'm really glad you're here"

"Maggie, am I supposed to carry everything now? How many hands down you think I have?" Amy complained coming out of the church with the baby and diaper bag. Before Maggie could retort, Brian came out of nowhere and took the baby saying

"Let me take this little angel"

"Thank you so much. My arms were about to come off"

"Don't mention it. Since Claire found out she has an aunt, she doesn't want to see me. All she talks about is aunt Aggie"

"Yeah well, you can't blame her. Maggie spoils her rotten"

Ignoring them, Maggie told Thomas "Let's go. I wanna have a picture with my niece"

"Will you mind having Abby in it? Just one. I won't ask for more"

"Fine. It's your wedding day so you get one wish fulfilled"

"People normally get three wishes. Right baby?" he asked Claire who screamed "oclate daddy. Want oclate"

"I have one in my purse but Amy has it. Let me just go...."

"Stop it Maggie. Is this how you're going to raise Lily? Give her anything she asks for?"

"No. But since I'm Claire's aunt, she gets whatever she wants from me. That's how it works"

"I want my daughter to at least have good teeth when she grows up. Come here baby, let's go see mommy" he tried to take her away but she wound her hands around Maggie's neck, refusing to let go "See? Now she doesn't even want to come to her own father"

"Get over it" Maggie told him walking away.

It wasn't surprising that during the reception Brian had pulled a chair to their table. He fed the baby and even volunteered to change her diapers. Maggie knew what he was doing. Trying to show her he didn't mind the fact that she had a baby, he was still willing to be with her. She wondered what his next campaign would be. These days he just came off looking like a clown with all the antics he pulled. Then there was that woman who kept following him around. The pair of them were funny if not pathetic. When he came back to sit down, he said

"I'm sorry I forgot to introduce you guys. Maggie this is Rehema, my...."

"Fiancé" the woman answered quickly.

"Childhood friend. She's been living abroad for the last eight years" that explained why she didn't know her "Rehema, this is Maggie. I assume you know her"

"Not really but it's nice to meet you"

"What do you mean not really when you told me just the other day that she was your idol?"

"Well the other day I hadn't known she was the woman you're hung up on. I can't believe Abby invited her"

"Same here" Maggie replied wiping chocolate off Claire's face and interrupted them "And Abby didn't invite me, Thomas is my brother" She wasn't angry but that woman was just too clingy and annoying. How did he even breathe with her following him everywhere? And fiancé? Really? Was she that desperate to marry him? Gee, why did he keep following her then if he already had a fiancé?

"Jealous?" Brian whispered in her ear startling her. When had he gotten up and why was he standing behind her?

"What?"

"I asked if you were jealous?"

"Why should I be?" she scoffed.

"Abby is throwing the bouquet. Don't you want to try your luck? Who knows, you might be the one who gets married next"

"No thanks. You go catch it if you want it"

"Okay, I'll catch it for you then"

"That's not what I meant" Maggie tried to say but he was already gone. Why was he acting like a child? How much longer was she going to put up with him? The MC asked why he was there and he pointed to her saying he wanted to catch it for her. He had the advantage because he was taller than everyone but when they tried to tell him that, he only ignored them. Most of the ladies who were standing around him left, complaining how it was unfair. Not that Brian cared. He stood there until Abby threw her bouquet, caught it easily and took it to her. She thought he would just hand it to her and leave. He didn't. He got on his knees, gave her the flowers and produced a ring.

"You'll have to marry me in the next six months or I'll be single for six years. Have mercy on me Maggie"

"I....."

She didn't get to answer because someone called out her name "Maggie?"

"Trevor? You're here" she breathed out.

Irritated, Brian said "Excuse me, I'm trying to propose here. If you don't mind can you wait until I'm done?"

"No actually, I can't do that"

"Who the hell is this guy anyway?" Brian asked turning to face her. He was still on his knees. Trevor moved to stand on the other side of her chair. She looked from one to the other then said

"Trevor, this is Brian. Brian, this is Trevor, my boyfriend"

**********************************************

Yes, I'm going to leave you on that cliffhanger.