48. Margo
Chapter 48
Margo
I felt like I couldn’t breathe, my fingers trembled slightly as I turned the key in the lock of Liam’s house.
I had offered to drop off the box of things he’d left at the hospital, insisting it was no big deal. But now, standing in the quiet hallway, I couldn’t ignore the pang of unease in my chest.
My relationship had shifted lately warm, meaningful moments interrupted by uncertainty. I wasn’t sure where we stood anymore.
I knew I still loved him; the only thing that was in the way was now gone and I offered him my whole heart.
It was up to him to figure out what he wanted to do with it.
The door creaked open, and I stepped inside. The familiar scent of Liam’s cologne mixed with something new, something... distinctly feline?
I froze, staring at the living room. There, perched regally on the couch like it owned the place, was a small brown cat. It blinked at me lazily, tail flicking over Liam’s favorite throw pillow.
“Oh my god,” I whispered, my hand flying to my mouth. I felt my heart do a somersault.
One of Liam’s helpers came from the kitchen, a dish towel slung over his shoulder. “Hello, Miss Hamilton.”
I didn’t respond. My eyes were glued to the cat, who was now stretching luxuriously before hopping down to investigate my shoes.
“Liam,” I said slowly, my voice catching. “Is this... is this what I think it is?”
“Mr. Brookshire took this cat in weeks ago, but I think he’s grown quite accustomed towards it.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “Uh, yeah. Meet Coco.”
“Coco?” My voice cracked on the word. I bent down, letting the cat sniff my fingers before it nuzzled into my hand.
“He remembered?” I whispered.
I straightened, my eyes shimmering as I looked at the cat, “That was so long ago. I didn’t think that Liam would even––”
“I’m sorry ma’am?” The man asked as I laughed, tears filled my eyes.
“Our first date,” I interrupted gently, stepping closer.
“I told him about how I would wish for a cat.” I laughed, a tear slipping down my cheek. “I didn’t think he was paying attention.”
“Mr. Brookshire, pays quite great attention to everything you say,” He said, his voice full of warmth. “Although he was about to bring Coco to the shelter last week, but something stopped him.”
I glanced down at Coco, who was now purring contentedly against my leg, and then back up at the man.
“He adopted a cat because of something I said months ago?”
Coco meowed loudly, as if to seal the moment.
I missed Liam, the only reason he was injured was because of me.
I still wasn’t convinced that he would never hurt me again but seeing Coco, now I knew that Liam was in it for the long game. I just wish he would come home.
LIAM
I t had been a few weeks since Margo had confessed that she loved me.
Those words remained imprinted in my mind, a beacon of hope during the dark days that followed. Margo visited me every day, bringing a sense of normalcy and warmth to my hospital room.
But I was finally ready to play and this time I had one hundred percent promised myself that I wouldn’t end up in the hospital again.
As my recovery progressed, I remembered how much Margo’s laughter helped ease my annoyance and distaste for the world.
She had started to work at the trainer’s office again, she took care of me, offered me water when I didn’t ask, she made sure to root for me when I played.
As the days turned into weeks, I found myself eagerly awaiting each visit from Margo. Her presence was like a balm to my weary soul, and her unwavering support gave me the strength to push through the final stages of my recovery.
Margo arrived with a surprise before my game. She handed me a hockey stick, neatly wrapped. I smiled at her as she beamed.
“These are for your comeback,” She said with a soft smile. “And a bit of a flashy gift to show off, Coach Livingston is kind of sick of seeing you injured.”
Her words filled me with a renewed sense of determination and a bit of laughter. I knew that with Margo by my side, I could conquer any obstacle.
My heart swelled with gratitude and love as I stepped on to the hockey arena.
I knew that Margo was trying to be patient. I was happy that she was taking her time, and it was really what I needed from her at the moment.
I needed to make sure she was okay before we could go through with being together. I was happy to be a part of her journey as well.
I couldn’t tell her that I had something planned for us. That I was all in for her, that I’m quite sure that nothing ever will pull us apart.
MARGO
I sat across from my parents, I trembled as they watched over me. I forgot about how close I was with them.
I didn’t understand why I still felt like something was missing. Why it was still abundantly clear that I was depressed and unhappy.
I hadn’t spoken to them since I got engaged to Ben. They left me all alone and I was so angry with them that I had no support system through my whole engagement.
My hands shook as I held on to the end of my skirt, I fiddled with it to ease my nerves. It had been months since I’ve heard their voices– my parents, the two people who had loved me the longest… they were supposed to be my best friends.
But they didn’t know what I had been going through.
I had realized since my conversation with Liam, I needed to figure my shit out before I could even be capable of being with him, and he was right.
I had finally given into the desperate, gnawing urge to hear their voices. Maybe it was because I had reached my breaking point. Maybe because I could still feel the bruises beneath the long sleeves of my sweater.
Maybe because I couldn’t do this alone anymore.
I missed my mom and dad.
“Margo,” My mother’s voice, gentle and warm, filled the silence.
My throat tightened. “Mom.”
A pause. Then a sharp inhale. “Margo, sweetheart, I’m so sorry.” She got up from her chair and ran over to me, enveloping me within her arms.
“Mommy.” The words barely made it past my lips before the lump in my throat swelled.
“We should’ve never made you think that we needed you to be married to save us.”
My father’s voice joined in the background. “I’m going to sue the Grimaldi family for all they’ve got.”
“I don’t need revenge dad, I just need you to hug me please.” I sobbed.
I squeezed my eyes shut. I hadn’t prepared for this, hadn’t rehearsed the words, but there was no more time to hide behind silence.
“I— felt so alone.” My voice cracked, and then the dam broke. Tears spilled down my cheeks as the words rushed out. “Mom, Dad… he hurt me. Ben hurt me so much. ”
Silence. A suffocating, horrified silence.
My mother’s grip tightened around the my body like she needed to take my pain away. “He controlled everything for months. What I wear, where I go, who I talk to. And when I don’t listen, he…” I sucked in a shaky breath. “He punished me in inhumane ways.”
My father’s voice was low, dangerous. “Maggie, you are safe now.” He reached out for my hand and held on to it.
“I just wanted to help you out so much, especially when I disappointed you because I fell in love with Liam. I didn’t want to disappoint you again, so I went through with it.” I cried as my father walked towards me.
“We’ve got you Maggie,” My father said firmly. “We are so sorry for making you think you had to do that.”
Relief coiled in my stomach.
“Margo, honey, listen to me,” My mother cut in softly, as if reading her thoughts. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. We love you. We are going to help you.”
I covered her mouth, stifling a sob. I had spent so long thinking that they wouldn’t know about the abuse that I had endured. I had been prepared to be suffering in pain for the rest of my life and one would know , thinking I had no way out.
But now, for the first time in months, I felt something other than fear.
Relief.