“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.
