Page 104 of The Me I Left Behind

“Well.” Julia interrupted, not missing a beat. “I can’t wait to officially meet him.”

“Ditto,” Maggie muttered. “Officially.” She was amazed, actually, at the information Julia had extracted in just a few seconds.

Carol glared. “Mom, I forgot. Did you know there is a For Sale sign in our yard? What the fuck?” Obviously, she felt the need to change the subject.

Maggie shot her a warning look. “Language. Little ears.”

“But what?”

“I don’t know. It happened last night.”

Julia set her laptop aside and stood. “I’m on it. I’ve already left a message with the agent, so I hope to get a call back later this morning. I’ve also left a message with Max’s attorney. I don’t think your dad can do this, but….”

Carol interrupted. “But dad is an asshole. Who knows what he’ll do?”

Jason piped up. “Dad is not an asshole.”

“He is, Jason. Stop defending him.”

“He’s just trying to make sure he gets what is legally his.”

Maggie’s heart literally jerked, and she gasped, locking eyes with her son.

Julia stepped into the kitchen, also looking straight at Jason. Maggie waved her off, though. She didn’t want Julia stepping into this.

A horn honked from the driveway, breaking her concentration. To say it was an unwelcome intrusion was an understatement. Suddenly, Maggie’s anger at Max and frustration with Jason turned elsewhere. “Goddamn it, Carol! Tell him not to do that. I have asked repeatedly.”

“Of. Course.” She headed for the door. “Abso-fucking-lutely, Mother.”

Shit.“Do I need to pick you up from graduation practice?” she called out after her. “Do I need to be there?”

Carol waved her off with a flick of her hand. “No to everything. See you later.”

Maggie watched her go, heard the front door slam, and then after a minute, the pickup truck roared out of the driveway.

“That girl is going to be the death of me,” she murmured. “My best friend one day and my nemesis the next.”

Julia touched her arm. “Let it go.” She nodded toward Jason, as if to say,we have more fish to fry here.

Maggie centered herself again, taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly. “Jason, talk to me.”

He stood up. “I gotta get ready for school.”

“Jason. Stop.” Maggie rounded the island. He halted, but didn’t look at her. Maggie crouched a little to look into his face. “Look at me.”

He slowly lifted his chin.

She peered into his eyes. “What do you mean he wants what is legally his?”

Jason let go of a sigh and blurted out, “He just wants what is his, Mom. His name is on the house, and he bought it with his own money. You didn’t help. He should be able to sell it if he wants to. You paid nothing. It’s his. We just live here. Besides, he’s going to buy something else.”

You never paid for anything. Wrong. I paid for it with my freedom, my life.

Maggie glanced at Julia, then back at her son. “Jason, I want you to think carefully before you answer me. How did you know that only your dad’s name is on the house? I’ve never told you that.”

He stood frozen before her, their gazes locked. Finally, he took a breath and said, “I talked to him. He told me.”

“When?” Maggie shouted. “When did you talk to him, Jason?”