"Prolonged?" Joey asked.

Maggie looked down at Joey. "Yes, prolonged...it means I hope he has pain for a long time before he dies."

Joey squinted. "Just like we had a lot of pain when they had sex with us when we were kids, right?"

"Yes. Nothing could be as painful as what we went through. Oh, and by the way, you're still a kid," Maggie reminded her.

"Yeah, I know," Joey said. "I remember when I first came to Kensington, and the kids at school used to tell Seth he was damaged goods. You know, I think we're all a little damaged. What do you think?"

Maggie put her arm over Joey's shoulder. "I don't think we're damaged, Joey. I think our experiences make us who we are, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with us."

Joey pondered what she'd been told. "I don't get it."

Maggie leaned closer. "There are lots of people who go through bad things, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with those people. Look at us, for example. We went through bad things, but it doesn't mean we aren't really cool chicks."

Joey smiled. "Yeah, you're right."

The two fell silent, and then Joey spoke again. "Maggie? I'm glad you picked me that day...from that place where they were keeping me, I mean."

"Me too, Joey, but I wish I could've taken all the other little girls away from that place too," Maggie admitted.

Joey nodded. She had been frightened by seeing John William in the flesh at the diner. She was scared that the man who'd stolen Maggie would take both of them back to the dreary place where men touched her in places that made her skin crawl and made her guts twist into tight little knots. But nothing bad had happened, she told herself over and over again as she rested her head in the crook of Maggie's arm and let the sound of the bus tires lull her into a sense of numbness.

Maggie gave thanks as the bus left the city limits, and she wondered what, exactly, Tony and Vincent were going to do about John William. Their reaction had startled her. Even though she was initially scared when she saw John William, the look on Tony and Vincent's faces made her feel exhilarated, even powerful. She imagined them telling John William what a piece of shit he was and scaring the hell out him with their sheer size and malicious demeanor. She basked in the thought of John William being scared and looking over his shoulder the whole way home.

Chapter One Hundred Forty-Five.

Over the next six months, Maggie began taking college courses to become a social worker. She had an undeniable urge to help people in need. At first, she joined her parents with the work they did with Rae Harker. But as time went on, Maggie felt she had an opportunity to help the children who were still on the streets and prostituting to stay alive.

Maggie began by spending more time on the streets of Kensington. Of course, there was still organized prostitution and drug dealing. Once Rock and his gang were arrested, it wasn't long before others took over the various territories. Maggie sought out some of the underage prostitutes first and tried to convince them to return to their families, to get off the streets. Some actually listened, and with Colby's help, they were placed back with their families. But others, who had no one in the world who cared about them, drew Maggie to Kensington day after day.

Maggie's most satisfying moments were when she met with Max and Cali's parents. She had made a pact with Max and Cali that one day, their parents would know everything, and she intended to fulfill her promise to them. Maggie took Ron and Juliet Frey with her to meet the two sets of parents. The only gift Maggie had to give them was information. It was a sad meeting, but at the parents' request, she described the lives and deaths of Max, Cali, and later, Seth. Max and Cali's parents had finally found closure, even though it was painful. Both couples were grateful to Maggie and the Freys for contacting them, and they vowed to stay in touch with Maggie.

Lorraine and Rob had bought Maggie a used car, and Colby had taught her how to drive so she could get back and forth to Kensington. Colby tagged along with Maggie two or three days a week "to help," but it was really because he was concerned for her safety. It was no secret that Maggie had helped to bring Rock to his knees, and Colby feared that Rock would have someone on the outside harm her.

After almost nine months of school, working a part-time job, and talking to the people of Kensington, Maggie felt exhausted. She and Colby were sitting in the living room after Joey had fallen asleep one evening. Colby rubbed his hand down her leg. "You're looking very beautiful tonight," he said.

"Oh, I'm sure my T-shirt and baggy sweat pants are a real turn-on," Maggie teased.

"I like my women dirty," Colby said, brushing her ear with his tongue.

Maggie giggled. "I'm really tired. How about if we call it a night?"

Colby stood, gently grabbed Maggie's hand, and led her into their bedroom. Maggie went into the adjoining bathroom to brush her teeth. She came back into the room, stretched her long arms, and growled out a loud yawn. Colby looked up from the bed, where he was sitting.

He stood and walked over to her. He put his muscular arms around her waist and pushed his groin toward her groin.

"I love you, Maggie," he whispered in her ear.

Maggie guided him over to the bed and removed his boxers. She kissed his chest and slowly moved down his body until her plump lips caressed his penis, ever so softly and gently.

Colby reached down and pulled Maggie up until they were eye to eye. He put his lips on hers. Instinctively, they opened their mouths, and their tongues tangoed. Colby lay Maggie back on the bed and put his mouth over her right breast, and then he slowly bathed her body with his lips and tongue until they were both unable to hold out any longer. As Colby entered her, they were filled with a yearning and love for each other that was so intense it felt like the world had ended, and they were the only two people left.

When they finished making love, Colby went out into the kitchen and brought back a bottle of champagne and two glasses.

"Well, this is a little fancy. Don't you think?" Maggie questioned, wondering why he'd decided on the expensive bottle of champagne that his parents had sent them when they moved in together.

Pretending to talk like a caveman, Colby grunted, "Nothing is too fancy for my woman."

Before Maggie could come back with a funny comment of her own, Colby dropped to one knee and held a diamond ring out in one hand. He took her hand in his. "Maggie, will you marry me?"

Stunned into silence, Maggie sat and stared at Colby. She hadn't thought about them getting married. He couldn't want to make a wife out of a whore, she thought. Almost a minute had passed as Maggie sat silently, staring at Colby in disbelief.

"Um, you want to cut a brother a break, here? You're making me really nervous," Colby said.

Maggie's eyes met his. "I love you, Colby..."

"But?" Colby pressed.

"But you come from a good family. A nice background, and I, well, you know where I come from, and believe me, you don't know half the things I did with other men over the years. I'm just confused, and I want you to really think about this before you get into something you'll regret," Maggie explained.

"I will never regret loving you. Your past is something that was dealt to you, not something you did by choice. There's a difference. You did what was required to stay alive so I could find you," he said. "I'm not an idiot, Maggie. I know what I'm doing."

Maggie smiled sweetly, and her eyes looked intensely blue in the warm lighting of the bedroom. "Are you really sure you know what you're doing? Have you talked to your parents?"

"I'm a grown man, and I don't need my parents' permission. However, I did tell them I was going to ask you tonight," Colby replied.

"And?"

"And they know all about you, even some of your past," he said to put her at ease. "All they care about is that I'm happy. They trust me to make good decisions. They're great people, and you're going to love them."

Maggie relaxed a little knowing that Colby's parents were OK with him getting married. Then Colby gave her the rest of the information.

"I've already asked your father if I could marry you...he said yes. Your mom was pretty happy about it too, I might add. I mean, I am the most handsome, charming, remarkable man ever," Colby sang.

"Yeah, and humble. You forgot to mention how humble you are," Maggie teased.

"OK, let's try this again," Colby said.

He stood up, grabbed the glasses and champagne bottle, and walked out of the bedroom to the hallway. He turned on his heel and came back into the room. He dropped to one knee, holding out the diamond ring, and took her hand in his.

"Maggie, I love you. I don't care what happened in your past because I'm marrying you to go with me into the future. Nothing you can say would change the love and admiration that I have for you. So...please, stop being a nudge and tell me, will you marry me?"

Maggie intentionally delayed answering. Then she ran her fingers through his thick hair. "Yes, I'll marry you, but don't say I didn't warn you."

They shared a prolonged kiss, and then Colby slid the diamond ring onto her finger. Maggie looked down at the ring. "This is beautiful. It's so big. Does Joey know?" she asked.

"Who do you think helped me pick out the ring?" Colby said with a grin.

"That sneaky little rat," Maggie sang.

Maggie cast her gaze down to the brilliant stone on her finger. Her life had changed so much over the last couple of years. So much happiness and an equal amount of sorrow, she thought. Then, like someone had slapped her across the face, she looked at Colby with urgency.

"What's wrong?" Colby asked.

"Nothing...I've got to call Juju. She's going to freak the hell out when I tell her this one," Maggie sang as she skipped toward the phone.

Chapter One Hundred Forty-Six.

The two months that followed were the most invigorating of Maggie's life. She and Colby made wedding plans. Lorraine and Rob insisted on paying for the wedding, despite Colby's insistence that he had it covered. Juju was to be Maggie's maid of honor, and Joey and Mara were to be her bridesmaids. Keith, Maggie's brother, would stand as Colby's best man.

Two days before Maggie and Colby were to get married, Edward and Penny Derby, Colby's parents, arrived. It was the first time they'd met Maggie in person. The morning of the day they were to arrive, Maggie's nerves got the better of her. She had tried on and tossed aside every dress in her closet. Finally, she called Lorraine.

"Mom?" Maggie said in a desperate voice when Lorraine answered the phone.

"What is it, honey? What's wrong?" Lorraine asked, instantly panicked.

"I don't know what to wear, and what if Colby's parents hate me?" Maggie cried.

"Oh for goodness sake, Maggie. First of all, no one could ever hate you...you're a very unique and special woman. Second, you have plenty of dresses you can wear. Why don't you wear the black dress with the light purple stripes we just bought?" Lorraine suggested.

"Do you really think so?" Maggie asked.

"Yes, I think it's perfect," Lorraine stated in a comforting tone. There was a long, awkward pause, and Lorraine knew there was more that Maggie was worried about. "What is it, Maggie? What's bothering you?"

"What if...what if they think I'm not good enough for Colby? Oh, Mom, you know some of what I've done. Would you want Keith to marry a girl who was a hooker?" Maggie whined.

"Maggie Clarke, that's all behind you now. If Colby's parents are anything like him, they won't give a rat's ass about any of that stuff. Stop putting yourself down and quit judging yourself. Everyone loves you and admires you for all that you've coped with in life," Lorraine lectured, annoyed at the thought that someone would ever judge her daughter.

As it turned out, Lorraine was right. Edward and Penny were warm and charming. Their love for their son was palpable. Colby had filled his parents in on some of Maggie's past, and to their credit, they viewed her as a strong and powerful force to have survived such a horrid childhood. Besides, Maggie and Joey were irresistible with their fun-loving ways and quick wit.

On the morning of the wedding, Maggie woke up and turned on her side. She looked at Joey and Juju, who had slept with her the night before.

"Morning, girls. Time to wake up," Maggie said gleefully.

Both girls opened their eyes and smiled. Then they slowly climbed out of bed and began the process of getting ready. Maggie had selected a simple, off-white satin gown with tiny pearls sewn around the bust. She had insisted on something a bit more demure than Lorraine had wanted her to wear.

Maggie and Colby were married in the church where Maggie had been baptized. The reception for sixty close friends and family members took place in a restored barn at the Terrain at Styer's in Glen Mills. The day was perfect, right down to the toast that Juju gave as the maid of honor.

Juju stood from her seat next to Maggie. "Tonight, we're here to celebrate two people who got hitched. I always knew Maggie would get married someday, and I always knew she'd marry somebody great." Juju turned to face Colby. "Colby is a really cool guy and has been great for all of us." Then she took Maggie's hand in her own. "I know Seth is looking down from heaven and is really pissed off he ain't here, but he'd be really happy that ya picked Colby to marry."

Finally, Juju looked out over the wedding attendees. "Maggie is the first person in my life who really understood me. She's always loved me for who I am. That's just how she loves. So here's to a hundred years of happiness." Juju lifted her glass and turned back to the newlyweds. "Now, Colby and Maggie, go on your honeymoon and make me an aunt. I love ya both."

The wedding had been simple and perfect, as far as Maggie and Colby were concerned. It wasn't until after they returned from their honeymoon that Colby gave her the news he'd been keeping from her.

"Maggie, I know you're still in school. But I was thinking that instead of walking the streets of Kensington a couple of times a week, we should open a place where kids and teenagers can go," Colby said.

"What does that mean? Like a shelter?" Maggie asked, intrigued.

"Well, it means we can open a place where kids can get help. I don't know. A hot meal, counseling, clothes...we can figure it out," Colby explained.

"That sounds great, but where are we going to get the money to do all of this?" Maggie asked.

"You know, for a girl who always has her nose buried in a book, you're not all that resourceful, are you?" Colby mocked.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"What's your last name?" Colby asked.

"Clarke. I mean Derby," Maggie said, playing along.

"Right." Colby exhaled in an exaggerated fashion. "I'm a descendant of Elias Hasket Derby," Colby said.

Maggie cocked her head to one side and gave him a confused look.

"My father is the only surviving heir of Elias Hasket Derby. He was a very wealthy merchant who died in the late seventeen hundreds and left a large fortune. The generations after Elias continued to grow that fortune. My father is a very rich man." Colby sat quietly and let the information sink in.

"Does that mean you're rich?" Maggie finally asked, catching on.

"Well, yes, it does, Mrs. Derby," Colby said.

Silence followed.

"So, that means I have money we can work with to open a place in the city. The kind of place you dreamed about having, Maggie," Colby explained.

Maggie studied him. "Why didn't you tell me before now?"

"Well, you never asked," Colby countered.

"Oh, right. Like it's perfectly normal to ask a man living in Kensington who is helping break up a prostitution ring if he is filthy rich," she chided.

"I think it's a perfectly reasonable question to ask," he said.