Page 55 of The Me I Left Behind

Again, she scanned the room—from Jason to Carol, then to Chloe, who was still happily eating, or perhaps ignoring.

She couldn’t avoid this any longer. Could she? She’d not said much because she feared her family would fall apart. Well, it was happening anyway, wasn’t it? Carol was tinkering with boys, Jason was moody and apparently having trouble with friends, and little Chloe was eating herself silly.

Her phone rang again. Once more, she ignored it.

“Alright, Jason. We will talk. All of us. Just let me get my head wrapped around a few things and answer that damn phone. It’s probably Julia. Eat your pizza and go play some video games or watch TV for a while.” She glanced at Carol. “I suppose it is time to get this out in the open.”

Turning, she picked up her phone and checked the call list. “I’m going to my room to call Julia back. Hopefully she has some…news.”

She started to say “good news” then realized that was highly unlikely.

It was Max they were dealing with here. Right?

Ten

Julia answered on the first ring. “Mags. Hey. Got your message.”

“Do you have a clue what that was today? I mean, I have my suspicions, but I’m hoping you have facts.” Maggie shut the bedroom door behind her and wandered toward the window.

“I’m getting a handle on it. How are you doing?”

“I’ve had better days—and worse, obviously—but I’m good. Did you find out anything?”

“Are you home?”

Now she was worried. “I am. What’s going on, Julia?”

There was a slight pause from the other end. “Mags, I spoke with Max’s attorney earlier in the day, before you called. I got back in touch with him after I received your message. He came clean with some information—apparently Max is hot on selling the house, for some unknown reason—but admittedly, the lawyer was clueless about the inspector. He’s going to get back to me after he talks with Max.”

“It’s the middle of the night there, so that means we’re waiting.”

“Approaching morning, I think. Might hear nothing for a few hours.”

Maggie stared out at the street. “Maybe it’s a good thing Max acted without consulting his attorney. He thinks he’s invincible, so perhaps we have that going for us.”

Julia laughed. “He’s not goddamned invincible. I can assure you of that.”

Maggie sighed, watching some kids playing in the yard across the street. Suddenly, she wished her kids were young again like that, and their days were carefree and easy.

Those days are gone. Their innocence is about to be undone.

“We have several things to talk about, Mags, and I don’t want to discuss any of it over the phone. I don’t trust that son-of-a-bitch. Can we meet halfway in the morning? Say ten o’clock? Where would be a good place?”

“Yes. I can leave after I drop the kids at school. Julia, is it bad news?”

Another pause. “Not necessarily. I officially told the attorney that we are filing for divorce, so to be ready. I’ve flung the possibility around before now, but it’s time. We’re just getting started, of course, but I want you to consider all the angles. Too much for a phone call.”

“Well, okay. Let me think. There’s really not much midway between Tuckaway Bay and here—just a bunch of small towns.”

“Maybe that’s better, to be honest. Surely, we can find one with a restaurant or at least a gas station. I’ll look and text you later.”

“Sure.”

“Talk soon.”

“Julia?

“Yes?”