#maggie thread

"Here we go..." Maggie placed the handmade but very professional looking if she said so herself book in front of Beverly on the kitchen table. Warm cream printer paper bound by a shiny black plastic spine with rectangular punches along the edge. She opened the first page, past the "Tozier Family Recipes (collected by Margret Tozier 1989)" printed from Went's office on the new dot matrix printer, showing Bev the measurements guide. The 'book' crinkled with newness, the spine adjusting to lay flat.

"I even included helpful tips, units, measurements, substitutions, and all of that stuff we forget so easily when there's egg all over our hands, you know?" Maggie chuckled lightly, then pointed to the tabs she'd placed on the sides, her own handwriting in neat cursive. "Table of contents, quick references and categories. Not too bad, hmm?"

Maggie liked Beverly. And she liked that Beverly was Richie's friend. Even if they weren't dating, and even if Richie claimed she was 'just one of the guys', Maggie knew how much he cared about Beverly. Maggie had been disapproving at first, but Beverly was so respectful and soft spoken around her and Went, Maggie couldn't imagine that any rumors Sonia had told her could be true. If anything, Maggie worried over Beverly, knowing who her parents were. Elfrida had been lovely, though Maggie didn't know her well and she had died tragically before Richie began to pal around with Beverly. Alvin... Well, Went had never gotten along with him. Even back in school on the basketball team.

Maggie sat at the table. She knew she wouldn't have many more moments like this with Beverly again. If any. Alvin was in the hospital. Richie had asked if it was okay for Beverly to stay the night, maybe a few days. Something had happened, he said, at Beverly's house. Something bad. Went had seethed so badly he had scared Richie, "I knew it! He put hands on that little girl. His little girl!" And Richie had said she fought back. Maggie couldn't imagine. It was too awful to imagine.

…

Maggie couldn’t blame Sharon for not wanting to let her youngest leave the house again. It was terrible, and the whole town was on alert. But things were terrible everywhere. Not just in Derry, Went would remind her. Lately, Maggie would start drifting off, doing the dishes or having a smoke. It seemed worse lately. These kids disappearing…

So Zack was at work and Sharon had to take Bill to see Wentworth for an annual dentist appointment. Sharon had nearly canceled not being able to get their usual babysitter. But Sharon was a little hesitant to hire a teen at the moment. Maggie had volunteered. Sharon and Zack needed all the help they could get. Thank God little Georgie was found, even if not entirely well. He seemed the same little boy he’d always been, but Maggie knew he had to have nightmares. No one could come out of that unscathed.

“Georgie, what do you want to do today?” Maggie smiled to the sweet little boy, who she only ever remembered being happy and hanging on Bill whenever they were together. Her eyes behind contacts couldn’t help but glance at his missing arm. Poor dear. She promised Sharon he wouldn’t be out of her sight for a second.

💕 a kiss…out of sheer excitement

Alex has lived with an alien version of a golden retriever for nearly fourteen years, which means she’s used to getting exuberantly bowled over. Normally, though, that comes with the brief impression of golden hair before she’s practically knocked flat by a hug that feels like it’s squeezing her ribs in a vise. Said hug is almost always accompanied by her sister’s excited jabbering, not that Alex can understand it when she’s focused on trying to breathe and extricate herself from Kara before her ribs actually break.