Page 116 of The Me I Left Behind

Max ignored Jason and lowered his gaze to look at Chloe. “There’s my baby girl. Come see Daddy, won’t you?”

Chloe clutched Maggie’s hips tighter. Maggie rubbed her shoulders.

“You changed the locks,” Max added.

“On the advice of my attorney. Yes, I did.”

Max huffed and cocked his head. “Julia? Huh. I suppose she’s doing this pro bono? You women, always sticking together….”

Carol interrupted. “She’s good to Mom, Dad.”

He eyed his oldest child. “And you! I didn’t even get a hug.” He spread his arms, urging her to come closer.

Carol moved in the opposite direction, sidling up to Maggie. “I don’t want to hug you, Dad. The last time you hurt me, jerked my arm and called me names. Why are you even here?”

“Do you think I would miss my oldest child’s high school graduation? I’m so proud of you.”

She narrowed her gaze. “I don’t want you to come. I don’t even want you here right now. I don’t trust you.”

“Sweetheart, that was a terrible night. So many things were happening. I was out of line.”

Maggie snorted. “Out of line? Max, you were out of control. And I want you to leave now, before that happens again.”

“Not happening.” He locked his gaze with hers for several heartbeats, then jerked away and smiled again at Carol. “I brought you a present, sweetheart. For all your hard work.”

Maggie could sense Carol’s hesitation. Glancing sideways, she caught the uncertain expression on her face.

“I don’t need anything,” Carol said. “Mom takes care of me just fine.”

Max reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. “Here. These are yours. If those dates don’t work, just call the airline and change them. Let me know if I need to pay the difference. Come see me in Australia when you’re ready. Bring a friend. We’ll have fun exploring the Outback.”

Maggie noted the name of the airline on the outside of the envelope.Like hell she would let her go to Australia!

“Cool!” Jason exclaimed. “Take me with you!”

Max gave him a quick glance, then settled again on Carol.

Her lips thinned out and Maggie was sure she was clenching her jaw to keep from reacting. Carol grappled for Maggie’s hand and squeezed it.

Suddenly, Chloe screamed and pointed. “Pancakes!”

Maggie turned to the smoking griddle. “Shit!” She turned it off and quickly scraped up the burned pancakes with a spatula. Flustered, she tossed it all in the sink, then turned back to Max.

“Go, please. The kids need to eat breakfast and get to school.”

“They can wait.”

“Max, look,” Maggie said. “Let’s find another time to talk, just you and me. You are upsetting the kids.”

“I’m not upset,” Jason said. “I think he should stay.” He turned a smiling face toward his dad.

Max held eye contact with Maggie, dismissing Jason, once again. “You don’t want to talk about things in front of the kids? Why is that, Maggie? You have things to hide?”

“I have nothing to hide, Max. You, on the other hand….”

She stood firm, staring him down. Her brain rolled through any number of things he could accuse her of… But what the hell? She had more on him.

Max frowned. “I’m trying to figure you out. Something’s different about you.”