Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

"A man in a suit?" Maggie looked staggered.

"Oh, I remember now! No wonder he looks familiar. He's that fellow who dropped by for a visit with the young couple last time. I gave him a good beating then. Yes, it's him! He is acting very suspiciously;

certainly up to no good."

Before Miriam was done speaking, Maggie darted out of her place with a pounding heart without even bothering to put on shoes.

In the end, Xavier couldn't muster up the courage to call Maggie. He felt that he was destined to go home disappointed, a victim of his own cowardice.

Just as he was about to turn and leave dejectedly, he heard a bright, sweet voice calling out to him. "X- Xavier!"

Feeling surprised, he spun around and saw Maggie hurtling toward him, dressed in bunny pajamas and tying her hair into a bun.

and

with a foolish look on his

the flowers and the gift box into her arms. "Happy

but declined the gift because she

thank you for the flowers, but I can't possibly accept your

know you prepared the flowers and gifts because I helped... No, because I repaid Ms. Alyssa's favor. It was no trouble at all—just a minor gesture compared to what she had done for

pressed her lips, failing to hold back her tears. Similarly, Xavier, teary-eyed and overtaken by passion, hugged Maggie. His empty heart was

in sync, nearly shaking the petals off the purple hyacinths

blushed, melting

drop by with flowers and gift on Mr. Beckett or Madam Alyssa's behalf." Xavier's warm breath tickled her ear. Embracing her, he could not let go. "Everything I did

miss you, Ms.

looked as merry as Christmas. Alyssa, draping an arm around