“Dad’s going to need an expensive medication, and I’ll need to be the one to make sure he takes it properly.”
“Is it rent money you’re worried about?” Joan asked. She would happily let Maggie live with her for free.
“Not at all,” Maggie assured her, as she continued collecting her things.
“What about Medicaid? You mentioned once that your father’s on disability. He should qualify.”
“I’ll apply, but knowing the government, it will take a couple months for any financial help to kick in, perhaps even longer.” With her head down, Maggie stepped toward her closet.
“You can’t live in that house, Maggie. I saw the condition it was in.”
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “I admit, it’s awful, but what other choice do I have?”
“Surely there’s some other way?”
“I wish there was.”
She turned to face Joan, a handful of shirts and dresses draped over her forearm. “I called Nick on the way here and…he doesn’t understand; he said I was being foolish.”
“Are you?” Joan’s thoughts mirrored her son’s.
“He’s my father,” Maggie reiterated. “I’m the only person he’s got.”
“He doesn’t deserve you.” Joan probably shouldn’t have said that. The words escaped before she could censor them.
“Maybe…a couple of months ago I would have agreed with you. But like I said before, things have started to change between Dad and me. I don’t want to lose that. For the first time since my mother passed, I feel like I’m seeing a glimpse of his heart. For the first time I have hope for a real father-daughter relationship.”
“Oh Maggie.” The lump in Joan’s throat was growing thicker by the moment. The young woman didn’t seem to realize that Joan needed her, too.
The front door opened. “Maggie?”
It was Nick.
“Up here,” Joan told him.
He climbed the stairs in record time. “You can’t go through with this,” he declared, barging into the bedroom.
“Nick, please,” Maggie said with a groan, “leaving your mom is hard enough; don’t make it even more difficult.”
They stood facing each other, as if neither one knew what to say next. Fresh tears clouded Maggie’s eyes before she tossed the clothes onto the bed. With abandon, the young woman flew into Nick’s arms, hugging him close, her soft cries muffled as she buried her face in his chest.
Nick held her close, knotting his fists at the small of her back. “I can’t let you do this.”
“You think I want to leave?”
“Your dad doesn’t care what this move will cost you. You belong here. Can’t you see what he’s doing? He brought this on himself; he should be the one paying the consequences, not you.”
Joan knew the two of them had been seeing each other, and it had seemed they were getting along well. The emotion they shared now told her their relationship had grown much closer than she’d realized.
“You don’t need to leave here to help your dad,” Nick insisted. “You know the kind of man he is. He’ll take advantage of you every chance he gets. You need to give yourself space. Don’t make a rash decision you’ll later regret.”
“No.” Maggie shook her head. “I know what I’m doing. My mind is already made up. I need to do this, Nick. Please try to understand.”
Nick raised his head and put space between them. “You’re not thinking straight. You’re reacting emotionally. I’m not going to let your father use you like this.”
“Use me like—”
Nick immediately cut her off. “You know he’s using you, and I can’t let this happen.”
“You can’t let this happen?” Maggie flared, her eyes widening. “You have no say in my life, Nick Sample. I don’t know what makes you think—”
“I care about you,” he shot back. Anger flashed in his eyes and then softened as he added, “A lot.”
Maggie opened and closed her mouth as if she had more to say and then changed her mind. “I care for you, too. I’m sorry.” She glanced toward Joan then. “I have to do this, to give Dad a chance to change his life. He needs me. I know my father, and he’s going to require a lot of emotional help if he’s going to kick this addiction.”
“What about Alcoholics Anonymous?” Joan asked, disliking the fact that Maggie was tackling this task on her own.
“I’ve already looked up meetings in the area. He’ll definitely need those once he’s released from rehab.”
“Has your father agreed to go into a rehab center?” Joan asked.
“Either he goes or I move back here. That is, if you’d take me.” She paused, as if she hadn’t considered that she might not be welcome.
“You’re welcome to come back anytime,” Joan assured her. Like Nick, the last thing Joan wanted was for Maggie to return to her father’s house. The atmosphere and the building itself were toxic.
“The decision is up to my father. He understands the consequences if he starts up again. I made it clear, either he gets the help he needs and stops drinking or I’m gone.”
“Manipulation doesn’t work, Maggie,” Joan gently reminded her.
“I don’t believe I’m doing that. As far as I’m concerned, this is his one and only chance.”
As if to emphasize her point, Edison barked.
“I still don’t like it.” Nick made sure his feelings were known.
“Luckily, it isn’t up to you,” Maggie reminded him.
Nick looked pleadingly toward Joan. “Mom, say something.”
As hard as it was to let Maggie go, Joan felt she had no choice. With emotion tightening her throat, she offered her son a watery smile and addressed Maggie. “Let me help you carry what you’ve packed to your car.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Maggie said.
“No, she doesn’t,” Nick said flatly. His fists were clenched at his sides. “You’re making a huge mistake, Maggie, a huge mistake.”
“Maybe so, but it’s mine to make.”
Nick remained dissatisfied. “We both know your father hasn’t got it in him to stop drinking. He’s weak.”
Hands akimbo, Maggie glared at Nick. “You’ve never met my father.”
“I…”
“How quick you are to judge him. He might be everything you claim, but you know what, he’s my father, and I refuse to abandon him.”
Nick stuffed his hands into his pockets, and took a step back, as if emotionally distancing himself from Maggie. “I can’t stand by and watch you do this. I…I won’t be able to see you give your life to someone who has done nothing to deserve it. Your father is an alcoholic. He’ll drink because he won’t be able to stop himself, despite all your efforts. I care too much about you to see that happen and remain silent.”
For a long moment Maggie froze, as if she needed time to assimilate Nick’s words. She swallowed hard, and with tears shining in her eyes, she slowly nodded. “I care for you, too, and I think we had something good happening between us, but I can’t turn my back on my only family, no matter what you think or say.”