The Surprise

"Maggie, I love you. I've waited years to tell you that," he said as she got dressed.

"Now you tell me. You're leaving for St. Louis in a few hours for that new job. Besides, office romances are awkward at best. It wouldn't have worked," she told him. She grabbed a cup of coffee. "I have to go." She kissed him. "That was a great going away party last night. I'm sure going to miss you." She walked out without a backward glance.

"It ended well anyhow, even if did have to get drunk to give in," he said to her retreating figure.

Owen strode into the front room of his former office. Trudy, the secretary, jumped up and started to cry out when she saw him put a finger to his lips. She hugged him instead.

"It is so good to see you," she whispered. "How do you like your new job?"

"It's not here, but it's good, and I did go from VP of Operations to President of Operations, so there is that," he answered. "You look fabulous. Is she in?"

Trudy nodded and motioned towards Maggie's opened door. "As usual," she said quietly. "Working with the door open. I think I'll go discuss something with somebody in another office."

Owen chuckled and nodded as Trudy left closing the door softly behind her. Owen walked to Maggie's door and watched her working. She had that look she always had when she thought no one was looking; serious, concentrating, a hand partially submerged in her hair as she read over documents, holding her pen in the same hand as the papers. He glanced around her office and noticed her usual full pot of coffee was replaced with just plain hot water and a box of herbal tea. Since when did she give up coffee? She practically lived on it. He stared at her again. Was it his imagination or had she put on a little weight? He tapped on the door frame.

Maggie looked up and dropped the pen she held in her hand. She almost stood and then just folded her arms in front of her on her desk and leaned forward. She smiled that smile she had always had just for him. Her eyes sparkled like bright stars on a clear night.

"Maggie, it is so good to see you," he said. "It feels like forever since I left.

"Seven months," she said. "I'm sure you've been busy with your new job." She stared at him fighting back tears. "I really have missed you."

"Tea?" he said indicating her cup. "What's up with that?"

"Caffeine is not for the… It's not good for me to have so much," she replied. "So what brings you to town?"

"We have a manufacturing plant not up to par. I came to see what the problem is," he said. "I thought I'd visit my old stomping grounds while I'm here."

"We're still plugging along. I'm still VP of Marketing. Not much has changed except Bill got your old job."

"Good choice. So, you seeing anybody?" he asked. Now that was subtle, he thought.

"No. I'm too busy for that," she answered. "You?"

"Same here." His watch beeped. He sighed as he checked the time. "Listen, I've got to go. If I get the chance, I'll stop back by before I leave."

"Okay, maybe we can catch some lunch and catch up," she said.

"That would be great," he said. He leaned over her desk and kissed her. She had tears in her eyes when he pulled away and he brushed one off her cheek. "Don't cry Maggie."

She sniffed. "It was really good seeing you. You'd better get to that meeting."

Owen opened the door to leave and almost ran into Trudy. "Oh good; I wanted to tell you good bye. What's up with her anyway?" he asked. "She's switched to tea instead of coffee. Now she's in there crying."

Trudy smiled broadly. "So it was you," she said.

"What was me?"

"She didn't tell you. Well, it's her place not mine," Trudy said.

Owen looked at her curiously. "If I had time to decipher that, I would stick around and chat, but I have to go." He handed her his card. "Call me sometime Trudy. I'll try to stop in tomorrow."

Trudy walked into Maggie's office. "That's one mystery solved. Why didn't you didn't tell him?"

"It wasn't the right time," was all Maggie said as she blew her nose and grabbed another tissue to wipe her eyes.

Roses arrived the next day with a message from Owen. 'Sorry I can't stop in. I got called back to the home office. Call me. Owen.' He had written his cell number on the card. Maggie shook her head sadly and set it aside.

Two months later…

Owen sat at his desk after the long board meeting where he had detailed the changes he had implemented at the failing manufacturing plant to get it back up to expected production goals. They were pleased and were celebrating at a local restaurant. He begged off stating he was just too tired. The truth was he hadn't been sleeping since his trip back to Chicago. He couldn't keep Maggie off his mind. He checked through the messages on his phone. He had a missed call.

"Owen, this is Trudy. Maggie is in the hospital. You need to come."

"What happened? Which hospital?" he screamed at the phone.

"Sir, are you all right?" his secretary asked, peeking around the door.

"A friend of mine in Chicago is in the hospital. I need to get there as soon as I can," he told her.

"Do you want me to call the pilot to get the jet ready?" she asked.

"No, I can't use the company jet for personal use. I can hitch a ride with someone else though. Call around and see if anyone is heading that way or get me on the soonest commuter flight, will you Joan? And, get me a rental car for when I get there. I'll want to go straight away for the hospital." He grabbed his jacket and started dialing the missed call number. "Thank you so much Joan."

"Sure," she said. "I'll text you the information."

It went straight to message. "Trudy," he said. "I'm on my way. Which hospital is she in?"

Owen ran into the University Medical Center. Trudy had texted him the facility and address. "Ma'am," he said to the volunteer behind the information desk. "I'm looking for a friend of mine. I understand she was admitted here today."

"The name?" the woman asked.

"Maggie, Margaret," he corrected. "Margaret Raye."

She consulted her computer. "She doesn't have a room listed yet." She pointed to the elevator. "Just tell the attendant you need the maternity ward."

"Thanks," he said, and then stopped in his tracks. Maternity ward? He squeezed his eyes shut. That's why she wouldn't stand up; I'd see she was pregnant.

Owen set down a vase of flowers on a side table and stared at the squirming infant wrapped in a blue blanket. He smiled as he read the card. Baby Boy Mayer. Parents: Margaret Raye- Mother, Owen Mayer- Father. He leaned over and kissed Maggie and she woke up.

"Owen?" she asked. "How did you know?"

"Trudy called. Will you marry me now?"

She just nodded yes as she took his hand in hers.