Chasing Daylight

Chapter Forty-Three

Everything will be alright if

You keep me next to you

-Taylor Swift

Max

When I took out my headphones, I could hear Maria talking to someone in the kitchen. I felt bad eavesdropping, but she had gotten home earlier than I expected and I knew both Sophie and Mason weren't coming by today.

"Mom, Dad, I'm having a hard time," I heard Maria mumble. "I know I had to tell them about Kailey and the things that Trent did and I know it's good that he's going to get in trouble, but I'm scared that Kailey hates me for breaking her promise and that my friends in Maine are going to hate me for what I'm doing to Trent. I hate that I'm putting Uncle Mark and Trent's mom through all this stuff and my friends are so busy worrying about me. I hope you know I'm doing my best. I know sometimes it's probably not good enough, but it's hard not having you guys here to help."

I could feel my heart breaking for Maria. It was times like these when it was just the two of us and she was at her most vulnerable that I realized how hard she really had it- how much she had gone through in life. On the outside, she always seemed so put together, but these conversations I overheard showed that she was struggling. I opened the bedroom door and moved out to the kitchen startling Maria.

"Hey," I said softly.

"Did you hear that?" She asked looking down at the countertop.

"Yeah," I nodded sitting down next to her. "I talked to them last night, so I guess we're keeping them busy."

"What did you talk to them about?" She asked me. I felt like I needed to tell her. I mean it wasn't fair of me to eavesdrop on her and then not tell her what I talked to them about.

"You," I said feeling slightly self-conscious. As much as I loved and trusted Maria, it still made me so uncomfortable to be so open and honest with people. "I wanted to thank them for raising you to be such a kind and thoughtful person. It's been a really long time since I've felt comfortable being open with another person. I'm pretty sure the only other people I trust like that are literally just Mason and his mom. Not only that but because of how they raised you and how patient you've been with me, I feel like I can actually help you through this shit. Like since I can accept my actual feelings with you, I can help you through your own. You know?"

Maria tapped her fingers on the countertop briefly before finally looking up at me. She had a sweetly sad smile on her face that made my heart clench. She gave my hand a small squeeze. "Why don't I ever hear you talking to Kailey?" I asked curiously.

"I think she's angry with me," Maria replied softly. "Angry because I let her die without even knowing something was wrong and angry because I spilled her secret she desperately wanted to keep."

"I don't think she ever thought he would come after you. If she knew that, I think she probably would have pressed charges herself. I never knew her, but I know that you two were close and that tells me everything I need to know. She didn't want you to know what was going on with her and when that happens, there is nothing you can do."