He tried to take her in his arms. "Don't be stupid, Laura, I don't want a divorce."
She decided not to fight him and relaxed. "Mathew, do you not understand where Teresa got the birth certificate? She got it out of your safe. You are probably…oh, I see. You do understand. Teresa has taken all your money, so you still need me for mine."
Mathew scoffed. "She can't touch my money."
"Can't she?" Laura broke free of his grasp, walked away and left her husband standing alone at the edge of the dance floor.
*
"Ah, there they are, at last," Austin said to Maggie. "Come inside, there is someone I need to talk to." When she nodded, he took her hand and led the way back inside. He smiled and then waved the Harlan detectives over, but he failed to notice the look of astonishment on their faces.
"Maggie, this is Jackie Harlan, Carl Kingsley, and Michael Sorenson."
"Maggie?" Jackie asked.
"Forgive me," said Austin, "Maggie Jackson."
"Maggie Jackson," Jackie repeated, slowly extending her hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Maggie casually shook her hand and distractedly turned to watch the crowd. "I am pleased as well."
"Austin, where did you manage to find her?" Jackie asked.
"We have been talking online for months. This is the first time she agreed to meet me."
"I see," Jackie said.
When the orchestra began to play a waltz, Austin said, "Will you excuse us?"
Jackie nodded. "Of course."
*
Finally, Maggie was in Austin's arms and it felt glorious to be there. He was holding her firmly, as if he would never let her go, and when he put his cheek next to hers, it was the grandest feeling in the world. She wanted to stay in his arms forever. Unfortunately, that wasn't going to be possible. She closed her eyes, desperately clung to him, and committed every moment to memory. Then she resumed her search of the room.
*
Michael watched Austin dance with Maggie and leaned closer to Jackie. "Have I lost my mind, or is that the Maggie Jackson?"
"The Maggie Jackson?" Carl asked. "The one with a British accent…the one who looks just like the picture in Emma Walker's yearbook?"
Jackie slowly shook her head. "I don't believe it."
Michael glanced over the top of his glasses. "Austin has no idea who she is, does he."
"It doesn't look like it." Carl agreed.
Michael nodded toward a woman on the sidelines. "Laura Connelly is over there by the orchestra."
"So she is," said Jackie.
"And," Michael added, "Maggie can't take her eyes off Laura. Looks like she's not very happy to see her mother."