Page 48 of The Summer We Kept Secrets (The Destin Diaries #4)

M aggie had never been one to command a room—at least not with storytelling. But here she was, shattering her own personal rule against airing dirty family laundry.

A late, casual dinner on the deck ended with Maggie regaling two virtual strangers with the history of this property.

She told the story of how she was able to secretly keep it as part of a plea deal for her husband, and how Artie Wylie and Roger Lawson worked hand in hand with the FBI to take down a crime ring.

Gary and Sally Danes sat rapt, listening intently and fascinated by it all.

These were the same two people Maggie had intended to intimidate right out the door.

But something in her heart didn’t feel intimidating today, which was probably a sign of the End Times.

Or perhaps it was proof that ten days on the road and a renewed friendship with Jo Ellen really had changed Magnolia Lawson.

Meredith’s brush with death didn’t help, either, and like everyone else, Maggie was keeping one eye on the door, anxious for her granddaughter to be brought home from her terrible ordeal at the hospital.

During the many hours since they’d left, the couple had become quite comfortable. Tessa, Vivien, and Jo came back from the boat ride, all concerned for Meredith. And even baby Atlas had been alert and adorable all day, clearly well cared for by his doting father.

They’d had an informal dinner on the deck, and the sun had set as Maggie wrapped up her story.

“Sadly, Roger passed away from a heart attack in prison, just weeks before he would have been set free to live a safe and normal life,” she concluded, getting the expected reaction of shock and sadness.

There were stunned expressions all around—Jonah, Tessa, Jo Ellen, and Vivien—but not because the story surprised them. They’d all lived through it. Surely, they were astonished that she, the great lover of secrets, had shared a big one.

“My husband made mistakes,” Maggie added softly. “But in the end, he did the right thing and so did your former professor, Artie.”

Sally smiled. “I’m not surprised.”

“Well, I am,” Jonah said on a laugh, pointing to Maggie. “Not like you to, uh, overshare, Grandma.”

She shrugged and shared a look with Jo Ellen. “People change, Jonah.”

“Not that much,” Tessa muttered, also eyeing her suspiciously.

Wanting the subject changed, Maggie stood and picked up the dessert tray. “We should be ready for Meredith to come home.”

“And we should be leaving,” Sally Danes said, but even as she spoke, she clutched little sleeping Atlas closer.

“I’d like to speak with Jonah’s father before we take off,” Gary said, the words sounding a little ominous.

Jonah let out a long sigh and checked his phone. “They’re five minutes away.”

As Maggie walked back into the house and toward the kitchen, Vivien was next to her in a heartbeat.

“Okay, who stole my mother and replaced her with a truth-spilling raconteur?” Vivien asked in a hushed tone.

“What are you talking about?” Maggie put the tray down and bit back a smile, enjoying the fact that she could still keep her grown children guessing. “You all act like I’ve never held a conversation in my life.”

“The Queen of the Nondisclosure just told complete strangers about Dad’s life. You never talk about that to anyone—not even to us!”

She lifted a shoulder, which felt lighter lately. “It’s a happy ending now,” she said. “And they aren’t strangers—they’re family through blood.”

Vivien eyed her suspiciously. “You’re like a different person since you got back from that stay with the Cavallaris. What did you do for the last ten days? Go into therapy?”

Maggie let out a soft laugh. If therapy was a road trip, a stick shift, and a biker named Brick? Then, yes, she had. But some secrets had to stay buried.

“It must be Jo Ellen,” she said. “She brings out a different side of me.”

Vivien smiled wistfully. “She always has, Mom. I like it.”

Maggie liked it, too. “Oh!” She put her hand on Vivien’s arm. “Is that the garage? They’re home. Let’s slip her upstairs without having to talk to anyone.” At Vivien’s look, she added, “Not to keep secrets—they know. Just to help Meredith.”

“I’ll take her upstairs with Tessa and Kate, and we’ll get her in bed. You run interference with the guests.”

Maggie nodded and turned to the door to the garage just as it opened. Kate led the way, with a pale and sickly-looking Meredith behind her, leaning into Eli.

“Meredith,” Vivien cooed, rushing to her.

“I’m fine,” Meredith murmured. “Just need sleep.”

“Let’s get you upstairs.” As Vivien guided her away, Kate followed, and Tessa came in. The three of them gathered around Meredith, gently urging her toward the stairs.

As they walked away, Meredith glanced back once—her eyes locking on Maggie for a brief moment. In that instance, Maggie saw a little fear and a lot of regret.

She had to let sweet Meredith know how much she loved her. But first, she had to deal with her son, who looked like he’d been run over by a truck.

Without speaking, Eli let Maggie wrap him in what she knew was a far-too-rare hug, holding tight to this consistently strong man. They stood silent like that for a good thirty seconds until he drew back.

“They’re still here?”

She nodded. “Lovely people, Eli. We talked and talked, they walked the beach, had dinner, and got very comfortable. They are ready to leave but Gary said he wanted to chat with you if he could.”

Eli grimaced. “Not sure I have much of a fight left in me.”

“There won’t be a fight.”

They both turned at Gary’s voice, seeing him with Sally standing on the other side of the island. Jonah stood behind them, holding Atlas with Jo Ellen next to him.

“We were so glad to hear your daughter is doing well,” Sally said. “That must have been terrifying and sad.”

Eli nodded and took a step closer. “I’m sorry to interrupt our day with you.”

“No apologies necessary,” Gary said, giving a tight smile. “In fact”—he turned to look at Jonah—“if anyone should be doling them out, it’s us.”

Jonah’s eyes flickered with surprise. “You?”

“We reacted in grief and shock after Carly died,” he said, putting a hand on Jonah’s shoulder. “We’re still grieving and will be for a long time. But, as we just told you outside, it’s clear that Atlas is in a good home, well-loved and cared for.”

“You’re a good father,” Sally said to Jonah, voice catching.

“And you must let go of any thought of being cursed. You couldn’t control Carly.

No one could. That was why we all loved her.

” She gave a sad smile and looked around at each face.

“This family—what we’ve seen here, love in the midst of trauma, support and strength…

it’s everything we could hope for Atlas.

We won’t contest anything. We don’t want to fight. ”

Maggie felt a sigh of relief escape as she watched the exchange.

“We give you a lot of credit, Eli,” Gary added. “You’re clearly the leader of this unusual household, and one who’ll be a wonderful influence and a terrific grandfather.”

“You’ll share the honor,” Eli said, coming around the island with arms outstretched.

Maggie watched the two men hug, aware of her eyes filling with tears. Before she got caught getting mushy, she stepped away while the hugfest unfolded.

Vivien, Tessa, and Kate were coming down the stairs just as she reached the bottom.

“Everything okay down here?” Vivien asked.

“Yes. They’re not fighting. Apparently, they love a good dysfunctional family.”

Tessa snorted softly.

“Can I see Meredith?” Maggie asked Vivien.

“Yes, but Mom…” Vivien hesitated, then lowered her voice. “She’s been through a lot. Emotionally and physically. Go easy. She can’t be judged for what happened.”

“Would you all please stop muzzling me?” Maggie asked. “I’ve changed. Did you not just witness me baring the soft underbelly of this family like a Lifetime movie?”

Vivien laughed. “Okay. It’s just that she loves you and is, you know, afraid of you.”

“She has nothing to be afraid of,” Maggie said, stepping by her. “I promise you.”

She made her way upstairs to Meredith’s bedroom, easing the door open. Meredith lay on the bed, eyes half-closed, a bottle of water on the nightstand.

“Hello, my favorite grandchild.”

Meredith moaned but it sounded like a laugh. “Don’t tell Nolie.”

Relieved to hear she still had her sense of humor, Maggie walked to the bed and sat on the edge. “Can I visit with you for a moment?”

“If you can stand me.”

“Stop it.” Maggie took her hand and folded her lovely fingers in her own wrinkled and spotted ones. “You scared me,” she whispered.

It took a second, but Meredith sat up a little, wincing in pain but settling against a stack of pillows that her caretakers must have set up for her.

“I thought you’d be so disappointed in me,” she said. “I hate to disappoint you.”

“You hate to disappoint anyone,” Maggie said. “That’s what drives you.”

Meredith narrowed her green eyes, her expression so like her mother—a woman Maggie had truly liked and mourned. “Well, I managed to disappoint everyone this time, including myself.”

Maggie brushed her hand gently down Meredith’s arm. “You set the bar too high.”

“I don’t think there was a bar,” Meredith said. “Just a low point in my life and I tripped over it.”

“Are you sad?” Maggie asked.

“I started to get excited about a baby,” Meredith admitted after a moment. “But the situation wasn’t ideal, and I guess someone—or my body—knew that. I’d really rather, you know, meet Mr. Right, fall in love, do things the proper way.”

“You will,” Maggie assured her, her voice rich with conviction. “If you stop working so hard.”

Meredith looked up, a question in her eyes.

“I mean it,” Maggie said. “Take some time for you, dear one. Stay here and have a little fun. Recover, rest, and have a good long look at your life.”

She blinked, obviously not expecting that advice. “But who am I if I am not…Miss Perfect, the overachiever?”

Maggie just smiled. “Maybe it’s time to find out.”