WEST
Maggie was waiting outside on the porch swing when I pulled up. She’d called me just as I was getting out of the shower. Somehow I’d made it here in ten minutes. My hair had still been wet and I hadn’t been able to find any underwear, but I’d made it.
She stood up from the swing and walked over to the top of the steps. “Hey,” I said, pressing a kiss to her lips. “You ready to do this?”
I could see the anxiety in her eyes when she nodded. I slipped my hand over hers. This time I would be the one holding her up. She’d make it through this. I wouldn’t let go.
“They’re waiting. Brady heard me call you, so he explained that I was waiting on you and I wanted you in on this conversation. But I think I’ve worried them. Brady knows, but Aunt Coralee and Uncle Boone look really concerned.”
I tilted my head toward the door. “Let’s go do this, then. I’ll be right there the whole time.”
She gave me a relieved smile, and my heart thudded against my chest. She made me feel things I’d never felt before. Things I wanted more of. Things I didn’t want to live without.
I followed her inside and, sure enough, all three Higgenses were sitting in the living room, waiting. Brady was the only one who was relaxed and looked bored. His parents were on the edges of their seats. There was a note pad and a pencil on the table in front of Coralee. I wondered if she’d brought that for this discussion.
Maggie walked to stand in front of them all, and I squeezed her hand. She could do this. I’d make sure she could.
“I want to talk again,” she said in a soft voice that startled both her aunt and uncle. I’d never seen Boone’s eyes get so wide.
“I want to be a part of this family. I’m ready for that. But I need you to understand something,” she said to them, then glanced at me. Her hand was still tucked inside mine, and I nodded to reassure her. “I don’t want to talk about . . . that day. I don’t want to talk about him. I don’t want to talk to a therapist. I do want to talk about my mom. Good memories. I like thinking about her, and I’ve talked about her with West a lot. He listens, but I’d like to share memories with other people who knew her and loved her. But the rest . . . I can’t. I stopped talking to protect myself. From me and from everyone else. It’s how I survived.” She stopped and waited.
Coralee stood and tears welled up in her eyes. “We won’t make you talk about anything you don’t want to, Maggie. I promise you that. I’m just—” She let out a small sob. “It’s good to hear your voice again,” she finally said before covering her mouth and letting out another sob.
Maggie’s shoulders eased some. That was what she’d needed to hear.
Boone looked at me then back at Maggie. “I reckon he’s who got you to talk. He needed you, and you knew you could help him, so you talked. Sounds like something your momma would have done.” He moved his attention back to me. “She’s just like her momma. Special, kind, sweet. But strong, too. She’s survived a lot. And if this,” he said, pointing at the two of us, “is more than friendship now, then you be sure you’re ready to cherish her. You hurt her, and I’ll hurt you. Don’t care who you are.”
He was protecting her. Like a father. Like her father should be doing. I’d always liked Boone Higgens, but he’d just climbed a notch in my eyes. He was being the father Maggie needed. The one she’d been given had destroyed her life. Now Boone was going to protect it.
I nodded. “Yes, sir. I know how special she is. I would never hurt her. I swear.”
He didn’t seem convinced, but he looked back at Maggie. “I love you, little girl. I loved your momma. Losing her changed all our lives, but it especially changed yours. We want to help you heal. If you’ll let us.”
A tear rolled down Maggie’s face, and I had to fight my instinct to grab her and comfort her. She needed this with them. I couldn’t step in now.
“Thank you. I . . . like it here. I like this house and all of you. I feel safe, and it’s been a long time since I’ve felt safe. Thank you for giving me a home.”
Brady stood up. “I’m just glad you came so I could finally get my attic bedroom,” he said, then winked at her.
Maggie laughed, and I fought the little bit of jealousy that tugged at me over someone else making her laugh. I loved her laugh, but it seemed I was getting possessive of it.
She had a family now. One she would allow into her world.
Maggie wouldn’t be silent anymore.
I left Maggie with her aunt Coralee to go grocery shopping after lunch. I needed to get home, because my momma wanted me there to tell my grandmother good-bye today. I had managed to dodge the woman most of the time she’d been there. The only time Momma hadn’t been with her was at my game last night.
Walking inside I stopped when I saw several suitcases by the front door. One of those being my mother’s. My grandmother was sitting on the sofa, her back straight and her hands in her lap as if she were posing for a photo. It was creepy as hell.
“Momma?” I called out instead of speaking to that woman.
My mother came around the corner, another duffel bag on her arm. She looked nervous and uncertain. My stomach knotted up. I wasn’t moving. We hadn’t talked about this yet, but I sure as hell wasn’t leaving Lawton.
“What’s going on?” I asked, afraid to step any farther into the room.
Momma gave me a sad look, then put the bag down on top of her suitcase. “I wanted to talk to you about this before you left this morning, but you just took off. Which is okay. You have a life. I don’t want your life to change. I just . . .” She glanced at her mother then back at me. “I need a break from here. Being in this house is hard on me. I keep thinking your dad is going to walk in the door any minute. I miss him, and being here makes that so much worse. I just need a break. I would love for you to go with me, but I know with football and Maggie . . . I don’t expect you to. I won’t be gone but a couple of weeks. Please understand. I can’t be here all day alone with his memory.” Her eyes filled with tears and began to roll down her face.
“You want to go to Louisiana?” I’d been there, and I couldn’t understand why anyone would choose to visit my grandmother’s house. It wouldn’t be an uplifting trip. She’d be in hell with that woman and in that house.
She nodded and wiped at her face. “It was my home once. I know you don’t have fond memories of it, but I do. I need something to take my mind off the pain. The sadness.”
This was her choice to make, and I wanted her to be happy again. I hated thinking of her in pain and suffering here alone while I went to school and practice and spent time with Maggie. And I would miss her, but I wasn’t leaving Lawton.
“You’re eighteen. You’re a man now. You’ll be fine here while I’m gone. You have your friends and Maggie. The moment you need me, call me and I’ll be here. But I have to get away, West. I have to.”
I did the only thing I could do. I walked over and hugged her. We had both lost Dad. I’d had Maggie to help me deal with the pain. She had no one. “I love you, Momma. I understand.”
She sniffed and squeezed me tightly around the waist. “I love you too, and I’m so proud of you.”
But she was leaving me. Dad had just left us, and she was leaving me too.
