Page 78 of Things We Left Behind
I thought about what Allen had told me the day of Dad’s funeral.“My dumb stuff had consequences. Consequences my mom paid for.”
“Oh, Allen,” I sighed. “Why didn’t she appeal?”
“She has. Or at least she’s tried. She’s been through four public defenders since her arrest. I have the contact info for her current representation,” Maeve said.
I knew from my sister and my father that public defenders were notoriously overworked and the turnover was brisk.
“I’m sorry it’s not a deeper dive. I’ve been in court, and there were some other things demanding my attention, so I didn’t have as much time to dig into the case as I would have liked.”
I flipped through the paperwork. “I appreciate you doing this. I know you’ve got a lot going on.”
“Never too much for family,” she said.
There was that flare of guilt again. I had been too busy for family. Too busy to start one.
“Hey. How are you doing with everything?” I asked, reaching across the table and squeezing her hand.
She squeezed back. “I’m doing okay. Chloe is a good distraction. That girl can suck all the attention out of a room and leave its occupants too exhausted to think after she leaves. But I really miss him.”
“Me too,” I said.
I felt like there was more to the sad shrug, the forced smile. Something she wasn’t telling me.
“What else is going on?” I pressed.
An uninitiated observer would have missed the flicker in her eyes, but I was a nosy little sister. I saw it all.
“Nothing,” she said innocently.
“Liar. You’ve been off since before Dad died. What’s going on? You might as well spill it because you know I won’t leave you alone.”
She rolled her eyes. “Ugh. Fine. I was seeing this guy, and it didn’t work out. It was nothing. No dramatic breakup. No tearful confrontation.”
My eyebrows winged up. “You were seeing someone and managed to keep it a secret in this town?”
“It wasn’t exactly a relationship I wanted broadcast to the world.”
“You had a secret, taboo affair and managed to keep it quiet? I’m impressed. Why did you dump him?”
“How did you—never mind. I’m too busy for a relationship. He wanted serious, and I didn’t—don’t—have the time for serious.”
My sister was the calm, collected person you’d want on your side in the middle of an emergency. She never let emotions get the best of her. The fact that she was pretending not to be upset about the breakup told me it was more than “nothing.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out,” I said, treading lightly.
“It’s fine. Thanks again for play rehearsal pickup. That’s been helpful,” Maeve said, reeling in her emotions.
I studied her for a moment, then decided to let it go…for now.
“Hey, do you and Chloe want to come over Sunday? We’ll make Dad’s chili and Mom’s cornbread and watchErin Brockovich.” And I could sneakily work more information out of her about this mystery man.
“The Simon Walton Memorial Trifecta,” Maeve said with a smile. “Count us in.”
“Great.”
My sister packed up her tidy briefcase and got to her feet. “Listen. If you decide to dig into this Mary Louise case, let me know. I’m interested.”
“Thanks, Maevey Gravy,” I said wrapping her in a hug.
