The Secret (Boston's Best 1)

Chapter Forty-Four

Maddie

I answer the phone as I'm walking away, looking over my shoulder to make sure no one can hear me. "Hey Ameila. Is everything okay? You usually call my mam not me."

"Hello, Maddie. As you're eighteen now, I feel it's more appropriate for me to contact you directly more often now." My lawyer adds, "Happy belated birthday by the way."

"Thank you. But is everything okay?"

She pauses for a second, "Not necessarily. But nothing to stress over."

"Okay...? What is it then?"

"Seán has been doing even more interviews and the public is getting frustrated that you haven't made a statement yet –which is ridiculous I know, and I don't know how they managed it but Mr Johnson somehow got the courts to reply and we don't have a specific date yet, but it's officially going to trial, Maddie. We're getting a trial."

I feel my whole body shake and my hand flies to my mouth to hold back a sob. "Are you serious? Please don't joke with me right now, Ameila."

I can practically see her smile, "I'm deadly serious, Maddie. If I was to guess I'd say it's going to take place midsummer like July time. But try and keep your schedule as open as you can."

"Okay." I whisper.

"I'll call and check in soon, and don't you worry bout a thing I will tell you everything the second you need to know about it."

I think I just stand there with the phone against my ear for at least five minutes after Ameila hung up.

I don't know what to do with the information.

How do I act around my friends now?

Does mam know? Does Aebhín?

How much bullshit has Seán been saying?

"Maddie? Are you okay?"

I jump and turn around to find Matt standing behind me.

I try to control my face and nod, "Mmh. Fine."

He doesn't look like he believes me. "Who was on the phone?"

"My mam." I smile, "She was just reminding me to call Riley cause they wanted to show me something."

"Maddie."

"Yeah?"

"You're crying."

I reach up and touch my face to find it soaked. I wipe it with the sleeve of my jumper. "Is my face red?"

His eyebrows bunch together, "No, not really. But, Maddie–"

"Okay, great. Can you take me home?"

"Of course." He looks me over, "Mads, you're shaking."

"I'm fine. I just need to get out of here."

He looks concerned and like he's going to say something, but I just shake my head and hold it high as I walk back towards everyone else.

I hold up my phone and pout, "Really sorry guys, that was my mam. She wants me home so that I can babysit Riley because she has an emergency surgery."

"Oh no. We were just about to go to the theatres." Penelope says.

I laugh, "I've probably seen it anyway. You know me, have to see a movie the second it comes out."

She laughs, "Of course you do."

I nod my head back towards Matt, "Matt's offered to drive me back, so I'm sadly gonna be stealing him too."

I see Darius and Alex share a look before Darius discreetly tries to hand Alex a five dollar bill.