“And I can’t stand by and watch someone use you. I can’t do it, Maggie. I just can’t.”
She frowned, as if she had trouble understanding what he was saying. “What does that mean?”
“It means if you decide to move back in with your father, we’re through.”
Joan wanted to groan, knowing Nick spoke impulsively and would soon regret those words.
Maggie blinked several times, squared her shoulders, and slowly nodded. “You have to do what you feel is best, Nick. I…understand. I guess this is good-bye, then.”
“It is. Good-bye, Maggie,” he muttered, and left the room as if escaping a burning building.
Joan followed her son down the stairs. “Nick, stop…”
“Not now, Mom,” he called over his shoulder as he barreled out the front door.
Before Joan could stop him, her son was gone. She heard the truck’s engine rev loudly as he drove away.
No more than ten minutes later, Maggie started loading up her car. When she finished, she returned to the house where Joan stood waiting.
“I don’t have the words to thank you for all you’ve done for me,” Maggie whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.
Joan hugged her close. “I wanted to say the same thing. You’re welcome back anytime; just say the word and I’ll come get you if needed.”
Before she drove off, Maggie picked up Edison. “Gonna miss you, little one.”
“Please say you’ll stop by and visit often,” Joan urged. It was important that Maggie understand how deeply Joan had come to care for her.
Tears brimmed in Maggie’s eyes as she nodded and hugged Joan once more. “I will; I promise.”
After Maggie left, the house felt empty and silent.
The pie she’d baked that afternoon sat forlornly on top of the stove. Joan had no desire to try a slice. Freezing it seemed the best option.
Her hands trembled as she struggled to wrap the pie in foil. Losing her temper, she tossed the box onto the countertop and covered her face with both hands.
She’d only started to compose herself when her phone rang. Caller ID told her it was Mary Lou.
“Hello,” she said, doing her best to keep her voice even.
“Joan? You okay?”
“Mostly yes, why do you ask?” As frustrated, empty, and miserable as she felt, she didn’t want to go into details. The sooner she got off the phone, the better it would be. She didn’t want to drag Mary Lou into her troubles.
“You weren’t at group this evening.”
Looking toward the clock, Joan noticed the time and was shocked. With daylight savings time, it didn’t get dark until nearly nine. “It…slipped my mind.” She pressed her hand to her forehead. She’d been looking forward to this week’s session. Every group discussion had helped her see some aspect of her life in a new light. She’d come to appreciate each member. That she had forgotten the meeting entirely was evidence that she was more upset than she realized.
“It is Wednesday, isn’t it?”
Mary Lou chuckled. “Last time I looked.”
“I’m sorry I missed…I’ll be there next week for sure.”
“Everyone asked about you.”
Hearing that should have warmed her heart. Instead, it upset her even more. She could really have used this meeting and the friends she’d made there to help her deal with Maggie moving away.
“It’s nice to be missed.” Somehow she managed to get out the words.
A short silence followed, as if Mary Lou wasn’t sure whether she should speak or not. “You said the meeting slipped your mind?”
“It did…” She wasn’t able to say anything more for the lump in her throat.
Again, a short hesitation. “Okay, girlfriend, what’s going on?”
When Joan talked to her sister, she’d been able to keep her feelings under control. With her friend, it was the exact opposite. She felt the emotion building up inside her until it was all she could do to keep from sobbing.
“I’m sorry,” she blurted out, the words crowding into each other. “It’s Maggie…She’s moved back home to help her father. I’m sorry, Mary Lou, I really can’t talk…about it right now.” She disconnected. She hadn’t meant to hang up on her. Continuing the conversation, however, was more than she could handle.
Slumping into the kitchen chair, Joan tried to tell herself she was being selfish, wanting Maggie all to herself. She reached for a tissue, reminding herself she was a strong woman. This was only a small blip in the course of her life. It wasn’t like she wouldn’t ever see Maggie again. As for Maggie and Nick, eventually they’d work things out.
The doorbell rang, and inwardly Joan groaned. She wasn’t up to having the neighborhood kids visit Edison.
If she’d been thinking clearly, Joan would have realized it was too late on a school night for any of the children to stop by.
Instead, when she opened the door, Phil stood on the other side. Joan’s eyes widened with surprise.
“You weren’t at group tonight. Is everything okay?”
Unable to speak, tears filled her eyes and she slowly shook her head.
Phil gave her a knowing look. “That’s what I thought. Come on, I’ll make you a cup of tea and you can tell me what’s upset you.”
Chapter 29
It took Maggie a full week to find space in a rehab center for her father. It was hellish as her father had stopped drinking, which was exactly what she wanted. However, he was terribly sick and suffered from withdrawals. She’d begged and pleaded, claiming how desperately her father needed help, but there was no space available for those first torturous days.
She missed Nick and Joan something terrible. She’d hoped once Nick got over his anger, he’d regret breaking up with her. Apparently not, as she hadn’t heard a word from him. A dozen times a day she had to stop herself from texting him. She might have given in if her father hadn’t required nearly constant attention.
Once Roy Herbert decided to get sober, he gave it his best, weaning himself off all alcohol. She spent countless hours on the phone searching for a rehab center. When she was able to locate one, she learned they charged astronomical fees, far more than what either Roy or Maggie could possibly pay.
“I don’t know what to do.” Completely overwhelmed, Maggie wept over the phone to Joan. She stood on the lawn, or what was left of it, in front of the house as she replayed the information she’d been given.
Joan had been the lifeline Maggie had desperately needed. They spoke every day, often more than once, and Joan had stopped by the house to relieve Maggie when she was scheduled to work.
“What did the bank say about getting a loan?” Joan asked.
With the cost of the rehab facility, the only way Maggie could make it happen was to mortgage the house. Joan had been the one to make the suggestion. With the value of homes in the Seattle area escalating, it was the only viable option. Maggie had sat with a loan officer earlier that day.
“As I’d hoped, the title to the house is free and clear. That’s a blessing, but I’m afraid that once the bank sees the condition of the house, they won’t even consider the possibility.”