Page 82 of The Me I Left Behind

“He adored you, sweetheart,” Maggie whispered. “Still does.”

“Funny fucking way of showing it lately.” She scooped up the photos and crammed them into the box. “Here. I don’t want them. Just a stupid reminder of the person I thought he was.”

Maggie wondered if someday she would want them. She took the box and set it aside. “I’ll keep them for you. Just in case.”

Carol plopped back against her pillows. “You know, I can understand him being an asshole. Even when I liked him, he was still an asshole.”

“Sweetheart, you had him wrapped around your little finger. He doted on you.”

Carol stared ahead. “I loved him, Mom. I don’t think I can love him anymore. I’m not sure he ever loved me.”

That cracked Maggie’s heart a bit. “Your dad loves in a strange way, and to be honest, I’m not sure he’s capable of loving the same way that you and I do. Or most people, for that matter. His entire family is not a very loving family. You’ve seen that.”

“Not for a long time. We’ve not been to Grammy and Grandpa Oliver’s since I was little. I don’t think Chloe has ever seen them. Has she?”

“No. That’s because your dad and Grandpa had a falling out—something about a trust fund.”

“They have a lot of money, don’t they?”

Maggie exhaled. “Oh yes. And your dad learned at an early age how to manipulate people with their money. But let’s discuss that another time. You look tired.”

Carol yawned and stretched. “I am a little, but my brain is spinning, so I know I won’t sleep for a while.”

“Can I get you something warm? A cup of tea?”

“No.” She drew her knees up and hugged them. “Mom, what I don’t understand is how Dad could simply dismiss us. All of us. Shove us aside like we’re some bad decision he made and now he’s moving on.” She paused for a moment. “And then he tells you he wants us all? Isn’t that like, illegal or something?”

“I suppose not, unless he would marry the woman in Australia, and we did not get a divorce. But that will not happen.”

“So he throws us away.”

Maggie scooted closer. “Maybe he’s tired of playing the game. He was never cut out to be a husband, a family person, honey. When I got pregnant, that forced him into a situation he never wanted.”

Carol stared at the ceiling. “I don’t understand.”

She took a breath. “Max was a flirt, a player I think they say these days. He traveled and had women all over the world. I suppose I was one of them.” Hearing herself say those words, Maggie felt a little ashamed.

“You were a flight attendant then.”

“Yes.”

“Did you have to quit your job when you got pregnant?”

She shook her head. “Not at first. The company I worked for grounded flight attendants at the start of the second trimester. But after a couple of months, your dad told me we’d get married, so I quit.”

“That’s when dad made you the deal, huh?” She looked at Maggie. “Honestly, why did you take it, Mom? You could have gone off and had me on your own.”

“Yes. But I felt vulnerable and very pregnant. Plus, unemployed. Honestly, I was scared.”

“Women raise children alone all the time.”

Yes, they do. But she hadn’t wanted to. “I wasn’t sure where else to turn. Besides, I loved him and thought he’d change his mind about things. Eventually.”

Carol searched her eyes. “You loved him then?”

Maggie breathed easily and smiled. “I sometimes think I still do.” The last thing she wanted was for Carol to think she was not conceived out of love.

“Oh, Mom….”