The Secret (Boston's Best 1)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Matt

"I got it!" Maddie shouts as she runs towards me where I stand leaning against my jeep.

She is grinning from ear to ear waving a piece of paper in the air and she looks stunning. I pull my camera out and snap a picture of the moment she got her driver's licence.

She used that last lesson I bought her last week and instantly applied for a test and miraculously she got a spot.

I won't lie she isn't an amazing driver but that could just be because she's used to everything being flipped –I don't understand how she could've gotten it to be honest but I'm just happy for her.

She jumps into my arms and screams, "I can drive now!"

I put her down and smile, "Only with someone who has had their licence for at least two years. It's a permit, not a full licence."

She smiles at me coyly, "And how long have you had your licence Mr Brown?"

"Only four months. I might've gotten my permit at sixteen but you can still only get your licence at eighteen in Massachusetts."

Her smile drops and she fishes the car key out of her pocket and hands it to me. "Fine then. Burst my happy bubble of joy, why don't you."

"Oh c'mon don't pout." She over exaggerates and guts out her bottom lip and I chuckle at her, "It's not my fault, blame the government."

Maddie raises her fist in the air and shakes it like she's scolding the sky, "Fuck the goverment."

We both open the doors to the jeep and I'm glad for the heat the car brings. It's about fifty-four degrees right now which is quite cold for May even if it is less than a week into the month.

I adjust the heater and Maddie turns on the radio. I say to her, "Yes the patriarchy is fucked, and they should move every rule around to accommodate you better."

She looks at me eyes wide like I couldn't be more correct. "Exactly! I am the most important human being to walk the planet, don't you know? So the rules should suit me and that nonsense president of yours will be hearing from me."

"He's your nonsense president now too. You have been an official US citizen for over a month now."

She groans and her head falls back on her seat, "Don't remind me. I hate having a passport for here, I don't like being associated with this stupid country." She pauses for a moment and laughs, "This is actually ridiculous."

"What is?" I ask.

"I have citizenship in three countries, which means I now have three passports. Three! That's fucking insane. Is it too late to relinquish my US one and just keep the Irish and French ones?"

"I'm afraid so. You're stuck with us for now, Ginger."

"I don't want to have to deal with any of this fucking countries stupid politicians and their stupid laws. Did you hear that they're thinking of overturning Roe v. Wade?"

"What's Roe v. Wade?"

I feel like I just saw all brain function stop in her head as she turns to me, "Are you joking?"

I tilt my head confused, "No. I've never heard of it before."

"Matt." She sighs like she's disappointed in me, "Roe v. Wade is the law that allows women the right to have a safe abortion if they choose to want one." She rubs a hand across her face, "It gives women the choice to choose what they want to do with their bodies safely and legally."

She turns the radio off and looks at me like this is the most important conversation we're ever going to have –and it might be based on how important this seems to her.