Page 78 of I Got You

Huh. That was similar to what Sean said. Maybe it wasn’t such bad advice. I just have to figure out how to do it. The silence lingers while I ponder this bit of young wisdom.

“So…” Coles says. “When are Mark and Sean coming?”

“Shit.” I rub my face. “I haven’t told Maggie they're coming in a couple weeks.”

Cole laughs. “This just keeps getting better.”

I tip my head back, looking up at the blue sky, wanting to punch something, and then I hear the door click shut again. This time it’s Maggie.

“Here’s your chance,” Cole chuckles.

“Chance for what?” Maggie asks him, evidently still pretending I don’t exist.

I clear my throat. “I forgot to mention Mark and Sean are coming to visit in a couple weeks.”

She sits down in a chair across from me. It would’ve made me feel better if she’d sat next to me, but no, we’re still keeping our distance, and I hate it. Every single inch of it.

“Ok. Hank can bunk with Garrett and Teddy, and they can have the basement.”

I frown. “They can stay at a hotel. Mark’s kind of a big girl about things.”

“Uh. No. They’re like your brothers. They’re staying here.” She says it like it’s final, and today, I’m not arguing. “I need to talk to you guys about something.” She takes a breath and tugs at her shirt, which makes my already standing-at-attention nerves tremble. “I had a voicemail from my lawyer. Cliff and Joan are suing for custody.”

Cole scoffs. “Those sons of a….”

“When?” I ask, really hoping the answer to this question isn’t what I think it is.

“When what?” Maggie’s forehead creases, and her eyebrows tip inward.

“When did they leave the voicemail?”

She pinches the hem of her shirt between her fingers, and I know. FUCK!!!!! “Yesterday.”

“Maggie….” I breathe, and she holds up her hand.

“It’s worse.” She says quietly but looks at Cole, whose jaw is clenched tight. “They only want Liv.”

Cole jumps up. “I’ll kill them. Maggie, there’s no way. You’ve got to….”

“Cole.” Maggie stands. “Calm down.”

The door opens, and Hank steps out, looking at the three of us and then frowning. “Everything alright?”

“Yep,” Maggie answers quickly, sounding completely normal.

Hank just stands there like he knows a load of crap when he sees one. “I’m going for a run. The boys are playing games in the basement, and Liv is watching Moana.”

Maggie nods, and he leaves, but not without giving us all another look.

“Maggie there’s no way this can happen. You know this,” Cole hisses.

“I know.” Her calmness has me concerned.

“I don’t understand.” I’m missing something, but they both just look at me. “Why only Liv?”

“Because they’re demented scum of the earth. They want Liv because she’s young and a girl, and they think they can turn her into some freaking southern debutante thing, passing her around like she’s some prize to be won.” He takes a breath. “Maggie, you’ve got to stop this.”

“I know,” Maggie says again. “I need to talk with Ben and see what our options are.”

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