Page 29 of The Me I Left Behind

Carol glared.

“Look,” Maggie started again. “Let’s just make this a little adventure. We’ll go out to eat tonight with Julia—how about Chinese?—and come back and watch movies and eat popcorn and all that stuff.”

“I saw a sign downstairs that said there would be free ice cream tonight in the breakfast area.”

Julia’s face lit up. She looked from one kid to another. “Oh, that will be fun. Right? I love ice cream.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “Sure.” Then turning to Chloe, he said, “Let’s go see if there are video games on the TV.”

They headed into their bedroom.

Carol turned to mother. “Bugs? Really?”

Maggie threw up her hands. “It was just what came to mind.”

“But we’re not telling them the truth?”

Maggie frowned at Carol. “What do you mean? What truth? The one about your dad? Or the one about me breaking into his office? The one about our poor excuse of a marriage? Carol, look, don’t start giving me grief about this. Okay?”

This time, Carol rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I’m taking a shower. I’m going out tonight.”

Panic tightened Maggie’s throat. “What? Where?”

“I have a date,” Carol tossed over her shoulder. “And so much fun to have him pick me up at a hotel. Lovely.”

Is my bitchy daughter back?“Carol, are you sure you are feeling up to it? I’m not sure that is a good idea—”

Twisting back at the door, Carol met her gaze. “I’m fine. The headache is gone. I slept all afternoon, and I want to go out. Tyler wants to take me to a movie.”

Tyler?Had she mentioned him before? Maggie wracked her brain. “I don’t think I know him.”

“He’s in my AP English class. You don’t.”

“Well, you’ll need to introduce me, then.”

Carol huffed. “Mom. This is all awkward anyway. What are you going to do, wait in the lobby with me until my date comes? Or have him come up to our hotel room door? It’s all weird. Can’t I just meet him out front?”

Maggie thought a minute. “How about if he joins us for Chinese? My treat.” She had some cash so she could pay their share tonight. “That way we can all meet him.”

“Mom. No. God.”

Stepping closer to her daughter, Maggie clasped her hands. “But I’ll feel more comfortable.”

“We can’t, Mom. The movie starts at seven and my curfew… There’s no time for dinner with the family before that.”

Maggie exhaled and glanced at Julia.Let her go,Julia mouthed, nodding.

“Okay. You’re right. Awkward.”

“Great.” Carol headed into the bedroom.

Maggie stared at the door. “Shit.”

Moving up behind her, Julia said, “She’ll be fine. When is her curfew?”

“It’s a school night, so ten.”

“Good.”

---