Yes. “No.”
Polly shot her a glance from behind the wheel. “Liar.”
“I was so confident last night. After Ethan put Jay in her place, I knew I needed to do the same thing with Lilith. For closure, you know? And so that she understands she can’t speak to me like I’m dirt under her shoe. But now that we’re almost there… I don’t know. I think I’m scared.” There was no thinking about it. Shewasscared.
“Why?”
“She’s always had this hold on me. Maybe because she took me in when I was so young and vulnerable. I needed someone to love me. That someone was supposed to be her. But she never did.”
“If you want, I’ll wait for you to finish telling her what a horrible bitch she is, then I’ll kick her in the shin.”
Maggie grinned. “As appealing as that sounds, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Okay. Then I’ll pin her down whileyoutake a few swings.”
“Again, super tempting, but I don’t want to resort to physical assault.”
“It always makesmefeel better.”
“And,” Maggie continued, ignoring her friend because Polly had never assaulted another human in her life, “I’d like you to wait in the car.”
“What? And miss out on your aunt being put in her place?”
“Please, Polly. I love you, and I know you love me. Exactly why you’ll jump in and save me the second she throws her first grenade. But I need to do this myself.”
Polly huffed. “Fine. I’ll impatiently wait for you to report back.”
“Good.”
They pulled up in front of Lilith’s house, and her chest immediately felt tight. The kind of tight that made breathing hurt.
It would be fine. This would be like therapy.
Polly squeezed her thigh. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.” She climbed out and crossed to the front door, every step feeling a bit harder.
You’ve got this, Maggie.
It took a few seconds to lift her hand to knock, but before her fist hit wood, the door yanked open.
“I saw you on the Ring camera,” Lilith said before Maggie could get a word in. “I was scared you’d break in again, so thought I’d just save you the hassle and come to the door.”
Well, hello to you too. “You said you had some things of mine?”
“Eleven years, Maggie. I’ve had your things for eleven years. I’m not a storage unit.” Lilith stepped back. “Well, come on.”
Maggie stepped inside but didn’t close the door and didn’t move past the hall.
Lilith frowned at her. “You’re staying there?”
“Yes.”
Her aunt huffed. “Guess I’ll go get it, like the servant you think I am.”
When Lilith left, Maggie glanced up at the photos above the staircase, her gaze catching on her mother’s picture, like it always did. She was young in the photo. Maybe sixteen. But the joy in her eyes—God, it was everything. She missed that smile.
Lilith returned with a closed box. “Here. Photos. Jewelry. A couple of stuffed toys.”
