Page 108 of Mace

Maggie smiles, but after a moment, that smile fades and the vacant look I’ve come to recognise as the disease ravaging her mind slides onto her face.

“Are you here to fix the cupboard?”

Maylie glances at me, confusion marring her beautiful face at the sudden change in direction. “That’s still not fixed?” I clear my throat, choking down the emotions that threaten to swallow me.

In some respects, it would be easier if she never had these fleeting moments of clarity. It makes it so much harder when she switches like this.

Maylie takes her hand, and I draw on her strength as she says, “We’ll get it fixed, Maggie. Do you like singing?”

Maggie’s eyes light up. “I love singing.”

To my absolute astonishment, Maylie starts singingsome old fucking song, and Maggie joins in. I stare at them both, completely and utterly overwhelmed by Maylie showing so much care and attention to a woman she only just met. I’m transfixed by her, overwhelmed too, and the dead lump in my chest thumps to life the longer they sing.

It’s hard to leave, but I can see Maggie’s getting tired. Maylie leans down and gives Maggie a kiss on the cheek before telling her we’ll be back another time—and she means it. They’re not empty words.

I say my goodbyes, kissing my foster mother on the head before I wrap a blanket around her knees. Fuck, I hate her being here. Nate and I are gonna have to push Julie to fix this shit.

As we step out the room and I close the door behind us, I place a hand on my forehead, which is starting to ache. Maylie steps into my space, her hands seeking my skin under my shirt. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I lie. “I wish you’d known Maggie before. She was the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”

“I can tell that just from talking to her.” She leans her head against my chest, her arms wrapping tight around my back. I hug her to me, soaking in all her warmth and love.

“Come on, let’s get you home before my sister turns up and starts screaming.”

TWENTY-SIX

MAYLIE

For two weeks,I exist in a state of bliss. Mace stays over almost every night, and we have pretty much nonstop sex. I don’t know how I went so many years without it, because now, I can’t even last a full six hours.

My brother and sister are flourishing too. Mace has taken Toby under his wing, and the influence of a man in his life is transformative. He seems more confident and somehow taller. Riot also has been a good influence on him, and my brother is pushing harder at school, though he has developed an unhealthy obsession with motorcycles.

Ivy’s pregnancy is progressing. Her bump seems to have popped since she hit the twenty-week mark, and despite all my fears and concerns about money, I can’t wait to meet my niece or nephew.

This morning, I wake alone. Mace is on a club run to one of their other chapters, and I miss him with a fierce ache. He’s due back later today, and I’m counting down the hours until he arrives.

I reach over the bed to the cold sheets where he usually lies and huff out a breath. I can’t wait to see him.

Forcing myself out of bed, I get ready for the day before starting breakfast. Toby has school today, and Ivy’s home studying for her final exams. Although there’s only a few weeks before the summer break, I’m so ready that I’m dragging. These early mornings after late nights at work are killing me.

I shove bread into the toaster, and while it’s doing its thing, I flick on the kettle. I would love to crawl back into bed. I never slept next to anyone until now, and it’s ruined me. I couldn’t stay asleep for more than a few hours without him next to me.

I’m like a lovesick puppy. It’s pathetic.

“The toast is burning.” I startle at Ivy’s voice as the smell hits my nose.

“Shit!” I rush to the toaster, popping it and grimacing at the charcoaled bread. “I’m sorry,” I mumble as Toby steps into the room and sits at the table with Ivy.

“That stinks,” he complains.

Ivy grabs for the milk on the table before he can. “You know, you could learn how to make your own breakfast so Maylie doesn’t have to wait on you like some kind of servant.”

He scoffs. “You’re not exactly stepping up to the plate.”

Her hand slides down to her stomach, her baby bump hidden beneath her sweater. “I’m growing a person.”

“You can’t use that as an excuse to get out of everything, Ivy.”

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