Maggie and Luke spoke at the same time.
“Three?”
“Um, Mom. About that—”
Maggie looked back at Luke, then at Deb.
“Yes, I made you up a basket, dear. If there’s anything in there you don’t like, let me know and I’ll swap it out with something else.” She patted Maggie on the arm.
Maggie bit her lip to keep herself from crying. She hadn’t had an Easter basket without being guilted about her weight since she was a child. Would Deb adopt her after Luke returned to work? She could only hope. But his news was more important.
“Mom, we need to talk.”
“Okay. Let’s go to the living room.” Deb shooed them out of the kitchen. Maggie sat next to Luke to offer him what support she could.
Deb sat in the recliner and put the foot rest up. “What’s going on, Luke?”
“I’m … I’m so sorry. I tried to get him to quit and he wouldn’t. I didn’t feel like I had a choice.”
“Who? Quit what?” The clock chimed, and she shook her head. “I need to wake Aaron up. That boy sleeps too much.” Deb started to get up from the chair.
“He’s not upstairs.”
Luke’s mom settled back in the recliner, her attention solely on her eldest. Her voice went deathly quiet. “How do you know that?”
“He’s in county lockup. The sheriff performed a raid on a drug smuggling ring and Aaron was arrested.”
Deb’s shocked gasp would haunt Maggie. Her boss’s eyes watered and her hands covered her face.
Her boyfriend’s — should she call him that? — voice trembled. Maggie reached for his hand, and he gripped hers until his knuckles turned white. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’m so sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? You weren’t dealing drugs.” Deb rubbed a hand over her face, shaking her head. “I wondered, but I hoped… H-How did you find out?”
“He wouldn’t tell me how he made that money either. So, one night, I followed him. And I found the drugs in the crate on his bike.” Luke could barely look at his mom. He kept dropping his gaze to the floor. Maggie’s mouth dropped open. She’d had no idea he was carrying this so long.
“I—” He gestured at Maggie. “Tell her. About that day.”
“With the ambulance?”
He nodded. Maggie swallowed, and looked over at Deb. “A young man overdosed in the diner when we were both working. Luke found him and had me call the ambulance.”
“Mikey. It was Mikey, Mom. And I already knew Aaron was dealing.” He gripped the back of his neck. “I caught Aaron sneaking back into the house. I confronted him. Told him what happened. He didn’t care.”
“He didn’tcare?” Her voice warbled. “They were best friends when they were little!”
“I know.I know. But it’s all about the money with him, now.”
Maggie’s heart broke for this family, especially when she felt so close to Luke and Deb. On a day that heralded new life, to learn her youngest had thrown his away? Maggie would be devastated.
“I couldn’t let him continue, Mom. Ihadto do something.”
Deb closed her eyes, her face a mask of pain. “I understand. He’s been telling me he’s a man because he’s eighteen now. He has to face the consequences.”
“I’m hoping…” Luke patted Maggie’s arm and squeezed it, for reassurance, she guessed. “I talked to Gabe. He’s a deputy now. If the D.A. is willing, if Aaron gives them the name of the ringleader, he may get a lighter sentence. The ringleader got away, and Gabe suspects it’s the Chief of Police’s nephew, which is why the Hawthorn Hills PD wouldn’t help me.”
Deb massaged her temples. “What are we going to do about an attorney?”
“Leave it to me.” He held up a hand when she tried to protest. “I turned him in. I’ll take care of the attorney fees.”
