“Much better, thank you. Last night was pretty rough.” That was putting it mildly.
“Josh was worried about you. Must’ve been the storm front. Barometric pressure and all that.”
“A good night’s sleep helped. Thank you for taking care of Zoey.”
She smiled. “Oh, it’s a pleasure, believe me. I hate that you have to leave tomorrow. It seems like we just got home from Europe.”
To Maggie yesterday seemed like a year ago. “Don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll be back to visit soon.”
All day Maggie felt as if she were walking around inside someone else’s body. The sort of sensation you experienced when you stayed up all night. But lack of sleep was not her issue.
Her problem was that she was considering a new reality, and no one around her was aware of it—or could be made aware of it. It was as if her body had somehow split into two halves. One was aware of the new possible reality—but this side she pushed into thebackground. The other half sleepwalked through the day, saying and doing all the normal things.
They took Zoey to the park where she scuttled between the equipment. Maggie pushed her on the swing and posed for Brad and Becky’s photos. They went to Burgers on the Beach for lunch. Maggie made conversation, laughed in all the right places, made sure her daughter went to the potty and was buckled into her car seat. They went shopping for new sandals for Zoey, who was outgrowing her favorite pair. Two stores later Zoey emerged, skipping between Brad and Becky, in a pair she declared her new favorites.
Then there were errands: the post office, the pharmacy, and a trip to the gas station. Back home they made supper, then sat on the deck while Zoey played with her Magna-Tiles. And then it was time to put her daughter to bed.
Josh had checked on her a few times via text. She was glad he hadn’t called. She couldn’t deal with the emotions with her in-laws so close by. He offered to come over tonight, but it was Big D’s birthday and Josh had promised to take him out to celebrate weeks ago.
Still, as she tucked Zoey into bed and listened as she “read” books aloud, Maggie allowed yesterday’s bombshell to surface. She envisioned telling Brad and Becky what Ethan might have done all those years ago. They’d be as adamant as she, insisting he couldn’t have been unfaithful to her. Not their golden child.
But they hadn’t yet seen Will’s incredible likeness to Ethan. Once they did, they’d waver too. And if it was true—please, God, don’t let it be true—they’d have the unexpected joy of another grandchild from their beloved son. That would sweeten the bitter pill.
Maggie would have no such comfort. Even the prospect of abrother for Zoey wouldn’t soothe her spirits. Will would be a constant reminder that nothing was as Maggie had once thought. Would she ever get over that feeling?
She had no idea how many books Zoey read, but when she reached the end ofThe Cat in the Hat, Maggie placed it on the bedside table. “All right. It’s time to go to sleep, sweetheart.”
“Just one more, Mommy?”
Alwaysjust one more. “Pick one out for Mamaw to read in the morning. You know how she loves to read to you.”
“Giraffes Can’t Dance! That’s her favorite.”
“Good choice.” Maggie grabbed it from the pile. She bent down and kissed her daughter’s forehead. “Sleep tight.”
“Do we have to go home tomorrow?”
“I’m afraid so, sweetie. I know you’ll miss Mamaw and Papaw—”
“And Uncle Josh and Mia and Owen and Aunt Erin and Uncle Patrick.”
“I know. But we’ll be back to visit soon, and when we get home you’ll get to play with Pokey. And soon you’ll start preschool again and get to play with your friends.”
“I like school.”
Her daughter was growing up so fast. Soon she would be reading words for real. “That’s because you’re so smart.” Maggie pressed another kiss to her forehead. “Good night, Chickadee.”
“Night, Mommy.”
Maggie turned off the light, then slipped through the door and pulled it almost closed. Once in the hallway she found her thoughts shifting gears.
Normally she would join Brad and Becky in the living room and watch a comedy. They would laugh at the funny parts and Brad’scommentary would make them laugh even harder. Becky would tell him to shush when he talked over the dialogue and Maggie’s lips would twitch at their comical bickering.
But not tonight.
Their routine would be disrupted. Because even though she’d put the situation from her thoughts, her unconscious mind had been chewing on it all day. And as she walked down the hall toward the living room, she knew what she had to do.
Chapter 41
