Page 56 of The Me I Left Behind

“Am I screwed?”

“Not if I can help it.”

She knockedon Carol’s bedroom door and eased it open. Carol sat on her bed, propped up with pillows, looking at her tablet.

“Let’s go chat,” Maggie said. “With Jason and Chloe.”

Carol set the tablet aside. “How much are you going to say?”

With a shrug, Maggie whispered, “I have no clue. I guess I’m winging it.”

Meeting her at the door, Carol slipped a hand in hers. “Mom… I’ll help if you need me.”

Oh, this girl.She could be a pain in the ass, or the sweetest child ever, but she loved her to pieces either way.

Maggie tugged Carol into her arms and held her tight. “I’m sorry you’ve had to shoulder some of this with me. But I’m also very grateful to have you to lean on, occasionally. And you know you have me. Right?”

Pulling back, Carol searched her eyes. “Mom. I love you. I know we fight sometimes, but I love you.”

“I know that.” Maggie smiled and touched her cheek. “I love you too, sweetie. Now, let’s go do this.”

“I’ll get Chloe.”

“Thank you.”

Maggie rapped on Jason’s door. She knew better than to go in without him saying it was okay. He didn’t respond immediately, so she knocked again. “Jason?”

“Yeah.”

“Can you come out, please?”

She waited a few long seconds. Carol and Chloe headed downstairs. Finally, Jason came to the door.

“We’re all heading downstairs. Let’s have that talk.”

The look in his eyes told her he was curious, frightened, and maybe heartbroken already. She knew exactly how that felt. She wanted to hug him, hold him like he was her little baby boy, and stroke his cheek with feathery touches—but that would not happen.

Jason brushed her arm as he passed.

She followed him down the stairs.

All three sat togetheron the sofa, Chloe in the middle, Carol and Jason like bookends.

Jason put his arm around his little sister, creating a protective cocoon for Chloe. Maggie’s heart warmed as Chloe looked up and searched her big brother’s eyes. Carol leaned closer to them, too, but stared at the floor, her hands clasped in front of her.

Maggie couldn’t say who she was worried about more—she was concerned about all three equally, but in different ways. Pulling up a side chair, she parked herself in front of them so she could see all three faces at once.

“Just get it over with, Mom,” Jason said.

Maggie inhaled deeply, then let the breath go, easing out some of her anxiety with it. She hoped, anyway. “Alright. Let me just say some things and then you can ask questions.”

“Sure, Mom,” Carol said.

Chloe stared ahead, biting her lip.

“I spoke with Julia, who talked with your dad’s attorney earlier this evening.”

“Wait,” Jason interrupted. “Dad has an attorney, too?”

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