Falling in Love : I love you, Today and Forever

0By the time Maggie returned to the ward, Preston had woken up and was sitting on the bed blankly, his bed hair giving him a roguishly yet boyish look. If not for her suspicions of his joining hands with the enemy, Maggie was sure she would have burst out laughing looking at his innocent face.     1

'I hope I am wrong about you, Preston.' She narrowed her eyes and stared at him, who was yet to realize her presence. 'Please do not prove that your friendship with us for all these years was fake. Please let my suspicions be a lie.'     

With a sigh, she pushed the door open and entered the ward, gaining everyone's attention to her.     

"Where's Joshua?" Ryder looked behind her, surprised not to see him return.     

"He left. He has not matters to attend to." Maggie glanced at Preston from the corner of her eyes and noticed Preston looking at her with a frown.     

"I see." Ryder nodded. "He is a fine man."     

"He sure is." Maggie acknowledge.     

Valerie observed her friend from where she was and sensed that she seemed more relieved. Something about her had changed and she looked less tense.      

"Is everything alright, Maggie?" She raised her brows questioningly and Maggie nodded at her in return.     

"Yes, Val. Don't worry. Everything's fine." She assured and Valerie smiled, understanding that Maggie had sought Joshua's help and for what she already had an inkling.     

Valerie peeked at Preston who still had his eyes fixed on Maggie and was staring at her intensely. Gears were turning in his head, she could see it and her expression fell for a moment. But she composed herself immediately.     

"Joshua Martin was here," Valerie answered one of his questions and Preston's gaze moved to hers. "When you were resting."     

"Ohh, I see." He nodded, not probing further into the matter, surprising both Maggie and Valerie.      

"Val, Noah and his friends will visit us once they settle their matters," Maggie informed and everyone's attention turned to her again.     

"There's no hurry. Let them take their time." Valerie smiled in understanding. "Anyway, we won't be able to do anything until we find where Jared is hiding or lure him from his hideout." She shrugged.     

"To be honest," Ryder started.     

Maggie completely ignored Preston and focused on her other friends.     

"I am glad that Jared is lying low for the time being."     

"Why do you say so?" Preston enquired, his forehead creasing into a frown.     

"I mean look at it this way. Val has broken ribs and a hip, I have a fractured ankle, and Noah's Grandpa is sick. Most of us are in our vulnerable state. If he attacks us now, there is no way in hell we will be able to escape." Ryder analyzed, his gaze turning deadly at the end.     

"One of us is bound to be hurt in the end, considering how we are incapable of defending ourselves or our loved ones right now."     

"I agree. It's the best time for Jared to attack." Maggie too chipped in and glanced at Preston again who held a poker face. There was no change in his expression whatsoever, not even a flicker and her worry deepened.     

"Forget about those things aside for now. Let's focus on other matters." Valerie sighed and leaned towards her right, putting all her weight on her elbow.     

Maggie took her seat and picked up her laptop. She consolidated all the data she had found about the hospital Preston claimed to be admitted and forwarded it to Joshua.     

"Yeah, before I forget, Val." Maggie looked up from her laptop, the light from the screen illuminating her face. "Joshua asked me to relay a message to you."     

Valerie cocked her brow questioningly.     

"He just told me that you should get well soon as there is something awaiting us, you especially that would aghast you."     

"What does he mean by that? Do you know what he was referring to?"     

None of them could make a head or a tail out of his words except Maggie, who smiled mysteriously.     

"I don't know. That's what he told me to relay to you. Looks like you need to prepare yourself. Something huge might happen soon."     

"Why do I have an ominous feeling all of a sudden?" Valerie mused and her frown deepened in worry. "I just hope whatever it is is not too bad."     

Maggie remained silent, not wishing to reveal more than necessary. "Preston, why do you look so lost? Is something the matter?"     

Since the time she had entered the ward, he hadn't spoken a word. He was listening to them converse silently.     

"I am just trying to find out what Val might find out once she recovers completely," Preston replied quickly. "I am just concerned."     

"I don't think it's something too bad."     

"Oh, why do you say so?" His interest for piqued and he leaned forward curiously.     

"I mean, considering how Joshua is, if it was something bad, he would not have dragged it for some more days. He would have told us soon." Maggie stated her reasons and this got Valerie thinking.  "Whatever it is must be something mediocre or something good. I hope it's the latter."      

"I hope so too." Preston sighed and ran a hand through his hair, trying to settle the unruly strands.     

'Why is there no apparent reaction from him?' Maggie wondered. 'How is he so calm and in control? Is he pretending before us or is actually innocent?'     

Maggie was about to go crazy with all her thoughts and suspicions and hoped that Joshua would send his men to find out the truth soon. 'I don't know how long I will last before I start interrogating Preston myself. Please save me, Joshua.' She cried.     

"Maggie, one of the other Deputies requested your help in one of their cases. They want to find information about a drug dealer." Valerie sat up straight when she remembered the message one of her colleagues had sent.     

"Give him a call. He is awaiting your response."     

"Surely." Maggie nodded and looked down when her phone vibrated.     

Joshua: You will get the results soon. Until then, chill.     

Chill - That was the last thing she could do when she was in so much stress and anguish.