Hey, y'all. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a super long time. I've had to make some major life changes in the past couple of years. I know this chapter is super short, but I needed to get it out. Hopefully I will be posting again soon. Also, Disclaimer, Disclaimer, Disclaimer.

Olivia didn't know what to think as she served her brother a cup of hot tea in her kitchen. Her mind still fuzzy from the alcohol. It had been 16 years since she last saw her brother. God, he looks like shit. Olivia noticed the way he scratched at his arms. Track marks. She sighed.

"How have you been?"

Martin took a deep breath. "Oh, I'm good. I've been seeing my boyfriend, Tim, for the last two years."

"Boyfriend? Huh, I never knew."

"I would have thought Dad would have told you."

"No. He just said that you had made your own bed and that as far as he was concerned you were dead."

"Oh. I'm sorry, Livvy. I sent postcards. I waited for you to respond, but you never did."

"I never knew about them."

"How's Mom?"

"She died about 5 years ago. It was either the pills, alcohol or dad's affairs that finally did her in."

"He was cheating on her?"

"Yeah, he had been even before you left. I thought you knew."

"No. I heard he died."

"Yeah, about a year after Mom. He couldn't handle the shame of her suicide. He was a pariah in his own church. His heart finally gave out."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. He kicked me out when he found out I was gay."

Olivia sighed and drank the last of her tea.

"I thought you were dead, too. I tried to find you for a while. I was so angry with you for the longest time. It didn't seem right that my big brother, my protector, could you leave me alone with them."

"I can't tell you how sorry I am. I fucked up. I really did." He took a deep breathe. "Hey, do you remember the time, we spiked Mrs. Jones punch at the church social?"

Olivia laughed and they reminisced the rest of the night about the happy times growing up.

Margaret drove down the dirt road and came to a stop in front of a lakeside cottage. The outside of the building was slightly dilapidated and showed its age. She bought it a couple of weeks after she'd moved to Charming. While she loved her little bungalow, it didn't have the light or the peace she needed for her art studio.

After spending most of the day cleaning and airing out the cottage, Maggie was ready for a beer before driving an hour back to town. She cracked open a beer and took in the scenery. It was peaceful with the sun shining down on the lake and the breeze swirling around her. she finished her beer and headed to the car. It cranked over and over but wouldn't start.

"Well shit fire and save some matches."

She exhaled heavily, picked up her cell phone and dialed Olivia.

"Hey, Margaret!"

"Hey girl. My car won't start and I'm at the lake. Do you know of anyone who can help me?"

"Sure! I'll make a call."

Gemma poked her head out of the office.

"Hey Opie, I just got a call about a car not starting at 1225 Lakeshore Dr."

"All right. I'll take the wrecker."

Margaret sat on the front stairs and looked at her watch. It had been a little over an hour. Taking a deep breath, she saw a wrecker pull up. She felt a flutter in the bottom of her stomach. Opie. She honestly didn't know what to think of him. Her first impression had been completely wrong. He wasn't the monster she'd thought he'd been. Taking a deep breathe, she got up from the stairs and walked over to him as he got out of the wrecker.

Opie got out of the wrecker and was pleasantly surprised by the sight of legs for days and a tight busted t-shirt. He lifted his eyes further and was even more surprised to find the body belonged to the uptight Ms. Devereaux. Opie exhaled the smoke from his lungs and flicked his cigarette.

"I hear your car won't start."

"Pretty much."

Opie walked over to the car and popped the hood. Margaret didn't know where to stand.

"I'm just go in for a bit while you take a look at my car."

Opie nodded.

Margaret stood at the kitchen sink. She turned on the sink and water started spewing everywhere.

Opie heard Margaret shriek. He ran into the house and found Margaret struggling with the water faucet. Her t-shirt was soaking wet. Opie couldn't help it. He just started laughing. Margaret stared daggers at him.

"Oh really? You think this is funny, Mr. Winston?"

Letting go of the faucet, water hit Opie in the face.

"Jesus Christ!"

"Not so funny is it now, sugar?"

Opie moved forward getting more wet and moved the faucet in Margaret's direction. She shrieked again. The fought one another for control over the faucet. Margaret started to slip. Opie caught her around the waist and pulled her close to him. The air seemed to cackle between them. Their heads moved closer. Their lips a breath away from touching. Margaret inhaled and turned sharply away, her heart beating fast.

"Were you able to get my car started?"

Opie stared at her. Hot, passionate one minute and rational the next. He cleared his throat.

"No. It's the alternator. I have to take it to the shop."

"Oh."

"Don't worry. I won't bite, Maggie. Unless you want me to."

Margaret colored immediately and coughed, freeing herself from him.

"My name is Margaret."

Margaret picked up her bags and the 5 other beers in her six pack. She followed Opie out to the wrecker. He opened the passenger side door for her and then hooked the car up to the wrecker.

Opie got into the truck just as Margaret popped open a beer.

"You're kidding me right?"

"Oh don't be such a stick in the mud, sugar. We're gonna be on this dirt road for a while."

Opie shook his head. Margaret reached over and turned on the radio. A hard rock song came on. She shook her head and proceeded to change the radio. She landed on a country radio station and squealed.

"Oh my God! This is my song!"

She turned up the radio, took off her flip flops and put her perfectly pedicured feet out the window. Margaret drank her beer and sang at the top of her lungs. At the end of the song, she belched loudly, threw her beer can out the window and popped open another beer.

Opie glanced over at her and laughed deeply. Maggie just shrugged her shoulders and continued singing along with the radio.

Opie had Maggie wait in the clubhouse while he took care of her car. She sipped another beer while she waited. There were several club members

Opie gave Margaret a ride home on his motorcycle. He parked in her driveway and cut off the engine. Margaret got off the bike.

"Ya know, sugah, you really can be a dear. Too bad you can't be one to your children, bless your heart."

"Jesus. A compliment and stab at the same time."

"Sugah, I'm a southern lady. We master the backhanded compliment by

the time we're barely out of diapers."

"I hadn't noticed."

"Now, now. There's no need to be rude with your Yankee condescension."

Opie stared at the red haired beauty in disbelief.

"Do all of your people do that?"

"My people. Whatever do you mean?"

She handed Opie the helmet she had been wearing.

"Thank you for the ride home."

"Aren't you going to invite me in for a drink?"

"Sir, Ah don't make it a habit of inviting questionable gentlemen into my home. Thank you and good night."

Opie laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"Whenever you speak, I think I'm on the set of Gone with the Wind."

"Ha. Ha. You are not funny. Goodnight."

She walked away from Opie, and as she opened her front door she heard, "Goodnight, Maggie."

She turned to face him.

"My name is Margaret, not Maggie."

Opie laughed again, started his bike and rode away.

Maggie closed the door. Ooh, the nerve of that man!