Slow Dance in Purgatory(55)

“Fine, Mags. But tell me this. Do I need to kick somebody’s ass? Because you know I will. If somebody hurt you or did you wrong in any way, I’m kickin’ some ass.”

Maggie felt a surge of love for her fierce little friend. He would probably end up getting the crap beat out of him in the process, but she had no doubt he would pick a fight with Zeus if it meant defending her.

“Thank you, Shad. You really are a super hero.” Maggie smiled at him affectionately. “But no. No butt kickings necessary.”

Maggie was saved from further testosterone displays by a light tapping on the door. Irene slipped her head around the door and, seeing Shad, frowned at him and pursed her lips. She didn’t comment on his trespass.

“Oops. Busted.” Shad grimaced.

“May we come in, dear?”

Irene and Gus entered Maggie’s suddenly crowded room. Shad tried to make a hasty escape, but Gus cuffed him lightly on the back of the head and said, “You’re already here, you may as well stay.”

“I may as well,” Shad agreed, rubbing his head.

Irene sat on Maggie’s other side, and Gus perched stiffly on her window seat, clearly uncomfortable in her feminine little room. He shot the proverbial hairy eyeball at his grandson, and Shad quickly removed himself from Maggie’s bed and sat meekly on the chair next to her closet.

“I’m glad you’re awake, Maggie. Gus and I would like to ask you a few questions,” Irene said kindly.

Maggie stiffened and closed her eyes for a moment, as if waiting for the hammer to drop from somewhere over her head and crush her. She had been in this position before. Her well-meaning, and sometimes not so well-meaning, foster parents telling her it was time to move on, or telling her it just wasn’t working out, or telling her it wasn’t her, it was them. All of it, crap. She had never argued or pled her case. She had always packed and did as she was told. But this time she had let her guard down. She had thought she was home…with family.

Maggie opened her eyes and looked at her aunt. Irene reached for her hand. Maggie tensed but didn’t pull away. She recognized this part, too, but couldn’t bring herself to do anything that might hurt her aunt, even at her own expense. She loved Irene.

“What happened at the school, Maggie?” Irene prodded, holding her gaze.

Maggie was prepared with her response. She would stick to the truth, but she would edit. A lot.

“It was a date dance last night. I shouldn’t have had to go, but the dance captain seems to like torturing me. I just felt really bad. When the dance was over, I started crying. I ended up sitting in the hallway. I was exhausted; it had been a really long day.” Maggie looked at her aunt and Gus, knowing they could confirm at least that. They both nodded encouragingly.

“There are vents right there, and it was warm. I fell asleep. I’m sorry you had to come looking for me. Way to ruin a perfectly good Saturday morning, huh?”

Irene tossed a loaded look towards Gus. He straightened and approached Maggie’s bed. She twisted her yellow polka dotted comforter nervously between her fingers. Irene squeezed her hand, and Maggie felt her eyes prick with tears. Would Irene really send her away?

“I didn’t mean to cause trouble, Aunt Irene,” Maggie blurted out before Gus could even say anything. “I have really tried to be good. I know I screwed up, but if you’ll give me one more chance, I would really like to stay here with you.” Maggie silently cursed the weak tears that spilled over, wondering how it was possible that she had any more tears left to cry. After last night, she thought she would never cry again.

“Maggie! My sweet girl!” Irene held a hand to her heart as if to steady its beat. “Of course you’re staying with me. I waited this long for you. I’m never going to let you go.”

“Miss Margaret, nobody is angry with you,” Gus chimed in. “We love you. We’re just worried, is all. We thought something terrible had happened to you.”

“Nope,” Maggie smiled wanly. “I’m just fine –“ Her lips trembled a little, and she tucked them between her teeth, nodding. Her right hand resumed twisting yellow polka dots.

“Miss Margaret,” Gus entreated her gently. “You said Johnny’s name this morning. Can you tell me about that?”

Maggie’s heart turned to ice, and her belly was filled with snakes. “I must have dreamed about him,” She offered softly. It was the truth. She hadn’t lied yet.

“I saw him, Margaret.”

Maggie’s eyes flew to his, and her right hand ceased its incessant twisting.

“He watched us as we left. I think he was worried about you.”

Maggie’s heart melted a few degrees, but the snakes still hissed.

“Did you see him, too?” Gus persisted.

“No,” Maggie choked out. Again, the truth.

“But you have seen him, haven’t you?” Gus was relentless.

“Yes.”

There was an audible gasp from both Irene and Shad, and Gus shook his head like he almost didn’t believe it himself.

“How often?” Gus asked gently.

“All the time,” Maggie whispered. She searched their faces desperately, beseeching them with her eyes. She never would have admitted even that much if Gus hadn’t confessed to seeing him, too.

“Have you talked to him? Has he….talked to you?” Gus sank down next to Irene on the bed. Maggie hugged her knees to her chest to clear some space. Her knees provided a barrier between her and the hovering adults. She leaned her forehead against her steepled legs and wondered how much she was willing to reveal.