Chapter Eight
“Did you girls have a good time?” I ask them as they get in the car. I’m parked outside Judy’s house. It’s ten o’clock on the dot. When I texted her this morning, the wicked witch instructed me to be here at this time.
Maisie shrugs as she climbs into the back seat with Kara. She usually wants to sit up front with me, so I’m a little confused.
I drive off once both girls are buckled in. When I look through the rearview mirror, they’re both looking out the window on their side. “What did you do last night?” I ask. No response. “Did you play games?”
“We watched television,” Kara finally says. It’s clear now that something’s wrong.
“Sam and her brother came over for dinner last night with me and Steven. We missed you two.” I glance back at them, trying to catch a reaction.
“Was Olivia there?” Kara asks, her eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. She misses her best friend. I wish that I could let them hang out, but I have to stand my ground on this punishment. Annie would do the same.
“No. She was with her dad. Sam brought her brother, Luke. Steven sends his love to you both, though.” Maisie keeps her eyes on the window. My stomach sinks at her lack of response. I know how much she loves Steven. Something must have happened at Judy’s.
Silence fills the car all the way home. After parking in the garage, the girls get out and go inside without waiting for me. I sit alone, my head resting against the steering wheel. I don’t know what to do. I feel like a lost bird swept up in a gust of wind, unsure of which direction to go.
When I finally go inside, the girls are nowhere in sight.
I head to the kitchen to preheat the oven for pizza because I know they love it.
It’s not easy knowing what to do. I’m fumbling my way through this parenting thing, hoping it gets easier with time.
I never thought I’d carry this kind of responsibility.
Parenting feels like constant worry. At least, it does for me.
My sister was the best mom. I’ll do whatever it takes to fill those shoes.
The oven beeps, signaling it’s preheated.
I wait before putting in the pizza. I rinse the green leaf lettuce, tear it apart, and drop it into a bowl.
“Google, play Muddy Waters,” I tell my Hub.
Smooth, somber tones fill the kitchen. I love the blues.
My head sways to the beat as I divide the lettuce into three bowls.
Surprisingly, the girls love salad. That’s a win in my book.
I hated it as a kid, but Annie always made me eat mine.
Over the years, with more toppings and veggies, I started to enjoy it.
I wipe a tear from my cheek. What in the world?
A quiet laugh slips out at the realization.
I’ve definitely become more sentimental.
It doesn’t take much for me to cry lately.
I move to the refrigerator to grab a cucumber for Maisie.
I hate them, and so does Kara, but I can’t deprive that special girl even if the smell bothers me.
I add the slices to her salad and slide the pizza into the oven.
It’s eleven o’clock. I have no clue when the girls last ate or if they’re even hungry, but this is the only thing I know to do right now to bring us together.
I slice up a tomato for me and Kara. Honestly, she eats just like I do.
She’d probably hate that I’ve noticed, so I keep that to myself.
In these fragile times, I make sure they have what they like.
I carry everything to the table for the salad—shredded cheese, a bag of toppings with pecans and dried cranberries, along with ranch and Thousand Island dressing.
When the pizza’s ready, I slice it and set it on the table before heading upstairs to get the girls.
I knock on Kara’s door first. “Wash up and come down for lunch.” Maisie’s door is cracked.
I knock, but she doesn’t answer. I ease it open.
She’s sitting on the floor with her back against the bed. “Honey, what’s wrong?”
Maisie shrugs without looking up. I move closer to sit beside her. She keeps her head down, picking at her fingers.
“I’ve got lunch ready.” I drape an arm over her small shoulders and lean into her, hoping to ease whatever hurt she’s carrying.
“What are we having?” she finally says.
“Cheese pizza and salad,” I say. “Will you come eat with me?” Maisie nods, a flicker of hope rises in my chest. I stand and take her hands, guiding her to her feet, then scoop her up in my arms and spin her in a few circles until she giggles.
I laugh with her. “Are you dizzy?” She nods, that sweet smile lighting her face—so much like my sister’s.
I turn and squat in front of her. “Jump on, munchkin.” Maisie wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist. I take off down the hall, giving her a piggyback ride.
At the bottom of the stairs, I notice Kara fixing her plate. I’m relieved not to have to fight that battle today. A small win here and there gives me hope that I’m doing something right.
I back up next to the bench at the table so Maisie can hop down. She settles on her knees to sit a little higher. I place a slice of pizza on a plate and set it in front of her, then pick up the salad bowl. “What else do you want on this, kiddo?”
“I can do it.” Maisie reaches for the bowl.
“Yes, ma’am.” I smile, handing it over. She begins adding toppings to her lettuce. I watch, feeling better than when I picked them up. Maisie’s always been an easygoing and happy kid. She’s more like Bill in that sense with a laid-back personality.
Kara sits at the end of the table, quietly eating her pizza. Surprisingly, she has a salad in front of her too. I fix my plate and join them.
“Could you please pass the ranch?” Kara asks.
I’m almost floored that she’s being polite to me. “Whoa.” I blink at her, smiling as I hand her the dressing, though something is most definitely off.
Kara takes the bottle and glances toward Maisie. I follow her eyes to see Maisie looking solemn again.
“Okay, girls.” I set my silverware down and lean back in my chair.
“What happened at your Gigi’s?” I look from Maisie to Kara.
Neither of them answers. My insides twist with apprehension.
“Kara?” I try, hoping with her being older that she’ll explain.
Instead, she pushes the lettuce around in her bowl, refusing to look at me.
“Maisie?” I turn to her, hoping she’ll open up to me like she normally does.
Maisie covers her eyes with her hands and starts crying.
I move to her side, wrapping her in my arms. “Sweetheart, it’s okay.
Just tell me what happened so I can help. ”
Maisie’s tears keep flowing, hurting me more than if it were my own pain. I look at Kara, silently pleading for answers. She drops her gaze to her plate.
“Okay.” I stand, frustration rising. “I’m calling Judy.”
“Wait!” Kara sighs. “Maisie, just tell her.”
I’m not sure what the hell is going on, but I’m seconds away from driving over to Judy’s, dragging her pampered ass outside, and making her explain why my already vulnerable nieces are on edge.
Maisie finally looks at me, tears streaming down her face and shattering my heart. “I wet the bed again.”
I look at Kara, my expression leaving no room for anything but the truth. “What did Judy do?”
“She made Maisie sleep in the bed anyway. Gigi said she needed to learn a lesson. I grabbed a towel and covered it, but she wouldn’t let us change the sheets.
” Kara looks down at her hands. I know how much she loves her sister, no matter how hard she’s been with me.
Kara practically walks on water when it comes to Judy, but Maisie’s a different story.
Kara has Annie’s protective trait. That’s the kid I’ve always known and adored.
This woman messed with the wrong kids. I push to my feet and start pacing the kitchen, scrolling to find Judy’s number. Kara rushes over and places her hand on top of my phone.
“Please don’t,” she pleads. I glance at Maisie, who seems just as scared. I wonder if she threatened the girls not to tell me.
“Gigi is wrong and needs to be told.”
“Please, Aunt Allie.” Maisie wipes her eyes as she looks at me. The fury inside me crumbles as I realize that it’s not just about me wanting to set Judy straight. I have to consider how this affects the girls. Especially because this is embarrassing for Maisie.
“Please,” Kara repeats when I don’t answer right away.
I look between them, it’s clear they’re afraid of Judy.
As much as I want to tear into her, I read the moment and know that I have to put this on hold.
For now. I’m not sure what she’s said or done to make them cautious, but it’s concerning.
I place my phone on the table as I sit down across from Maisie.
Kara returns to her side of the table. The silence is prominent as the girls wait for me to speak.
“Is your pizza still warm?” I glance between them.
They nod in unison, eyes lowered. My heart aches with everything they’ve been through.
Annie never wanted them to have a tough life.
“Kara?” She looks at me questioning my next words.
“Why don’t you call Olivia and see if she and Sam want to come over around six o’clock for s’mores by the fire. ”
Kara’s eyes light up as she straightens. “Really?”
“Absolutely.” I nod. “Maisie, do you want to invite a friend over too?” She shakes her head, then looks at Kara.
“You can hang out with me and Olivia,” Kara says with a small smile. “We’ll have fun. And maybe Sam can french braid your hair tonight the way you like.”
“Yeah!” Maisie says, seeming more excited now. “I’ve been wanting to have that done.”
“Good deal,” I say. “Let’s finish lunch, then we need to go get the stuff to make s’mores.”
“Can we have hot dogs too? It’s fun cooking them with the stick,” Maisie says. Her smile spreads wide, showing all those missing teeth. I melt with it.
“Mmhmm.” I wiggle my body side to side as I lift my shoulders. “I love a good grilled hot dog. Will you cook mine for me?”
“Yes!” Maisie giggles. It’s the best sound I’ve heard all day.
“Can Olivia and Sam eat dinner with us too?” Kara sits a little more upright in her chair, hopefulness radiating from her.
“Why not!” I wink at Maisie. She giggles again. Kara claps.
It’s hard to pretend I’m okay with what I just discovered.
I’m devastated that someone who is supposed to love their grandchildren would do such a horrible thing.
What lesson did Judy think Maisie would learn by making her sleep in her own urine?
What kind of person would do this to a child?
Especially one who has lost so much at such a young age.
This isn’t over for me and Judy. But right now, it’s not about me.