“I don’t know at this point. You’re flighty and unpredictable.”
Because of you. “I’m strong-willed. There’s a difference.”
“Yeah, Okay.” Maeve folds her arms over her chest and paces toward the front window. “You have a new neighbor moving in across the street. Are you going to run a background check on them, too?” The salt in her words is bitter.
“Are you seriously mad that I looked into Aria? Can you blame me? With her record, I have every right.”
Her shoulders slouch over, and she seems so weak and vulnerable.
“I’m sure Aria is a great person, Maeve. Just be careful. That’s all.”
She spins, tears welling in her eyes. “All my real family is fucked up. How much longer until I crack and become just like them?”
Ah, the root of all of this. “You are nothing like them.”
“You don’t know that. How can you say such a thing? It might be a matter of days, months, years, before I become what my blood dictates what I’m supposed to be. Better hide the sharp knives.” Maeve begins to sob, and Chonk enters the room, sensing her distress. He’s so attuned to her, it’s scary sometimes.
“You know that’s not true, so why are you comparing yourself to them?”
“First, it was my derelict twin. I almost can’t blame her for turning to drugs. Given the option of homicidal maniac serial killer, or drug addict who kills every once in a while, I’d pick the second option as well. Now Aria, too?”
How best to filter the details I know? “She’s not in prison now, so that means she’s not a threat.” The lie tastes like curdled milk. Everyone knows felons are almost always repeat offenders. Especially violent ones. “It’s a one-off, Maeve. I’m sure there has to be someone in the family tree that is a normal, law-abiding citizen such as yourself.”
“And if there isn’t?” Her gaze goes feral as she looks at me and then the door. “You’ll trust me? With your son? Knowing what it is I could become?”
“You make yourself, Maeve. There is no manual saying this leads to this, and this leads to that. You have full control over your decisions, and yes, I trust you implicitly with Turner. Now, I’m not sure I trust you so much with all of this… family stuff.”
Maeve sits down in Turner’s child-size recliner and buries her face in her hands. Chonk licks her cheek and her tears until she pushes him away. “I won’t lie about it again,” Maeve says weakly.
“Let me be there for you.”
She glances up. “I’m here. This is me letting my walls down. I’ve given you everything already. You hold the power.”
Something about that statement doesn’t sit well with me. “No, you hold just as much power. We’re equals in all ways. Tell me what you need from me, Maeve. How can I help you help yourself?”
Maeve looks confused, like this is a foreign concept. Granted, I don’t have much experience in relationships, but I’m well-versed in what one should look like. I’m surrounded by successful marriages. “My initial reaction is to tell you to trust me and leave me to my own devices, but I recognize that’s not the healthy answer and that I should actually give you something to help me with. To make us equals.”
I nod. “What, tell me. Anything.”
She turns away, then meekly meets my eyes. “I need to go on a girl’s trip.”
I frown and lift up one arm. “Okay, done. You don’t need my help with that.”
“In Sonoma. A girl’s trip.”
I raise one brow. “Okay. Sure. Sounds fun?”
“While I’m there, I need you to get me into the prison to talk to Autumn Glass.”
Ah, now the reason comes to light.
“Just once, to answer a few questions, and for closure. Aria said she had a lead on getting us in there to meet her, but it fell through. I’m not sure who else to ask.”
This is an awful idea. Horrible. I researched her while I was confined to my bed and discovered the manipulative, callous bitch might be the devil incarnate. There is nothing redeemable about Autumn Glass and it’s going to break Maeve’s heart, but that’s her decision to make.
“I’ll see what I can do. Can I at least be there?”
She shudders, and I know the answer. “I’d rather be by myself. Ramona will drive me there and wait in the car. Facing this alone is what I have to do.”