The Secret (Boston's Best 1)

Chapter Fifty-Five

Maddie

"So, Maddie," Matt's grandmother Charlotte says, taking a sip of her tea. "Tell us about yourself. Matt's been pretty reserved about giving us details, he just calls us the nosey parkers."

I think for a second and look at both of the women, "Okay, but firstly I'd just like to offer my condolences for your losses, Mrs Parker and Mrs Brown."

Both women scoff, "Please, call me Erica."

"And, me Charlotte. I've lived enough life to be tired of hearing Mrs that, or ma'am this. But that you dear, that's kind of you to say."

I smile at them both, "Okay, well, I lived in Ireland, in Louth, from when I was three and before that I lived in Versailles in France. My mam's the Irish parent and my dad was the French one, he died three years ago from a heart attack. I played GAA and soccer back home. I like to read and listen to podcasts and music but don't ask me to sing because I'll sound like a dying cat."

They both laugh at that last part but I don't miss how their heads dipped when I mentioned my dad. "My mam is a neurosurgeon at Mass General Hospital and before that she worked at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin. I have a younger sibling, Riley, and I had a baby brother, Eoghan, but he died at nine months of Krabbe's Disease. That disease and him dying is what really pushed me into science and why I want to become a scientist, so I'll also be attending MIT."

I take a sip of my tea, "That's it I guess."

Charlotte reaches across my lap and takes my hand in hers, "I'm very sorry for your loss, both your brother and your father. It's a terrible things when children lose so much at such a young age."

"Thank you." I smile at her.

We all talk for a few minutes about me and Matt and what we've been doing and how I like it here and all that stuff.

I get up to go back into the kitchen to make us all a new cup of tea, Erica and Eamon smuggled some Barry's and Lyons tea in so this is the nicest cuppa I've had since I moved here.

I see that Eamon and Jack have moved onto the balcony just outside of the kitchen talking quietly to each other and Matt's leaning on the island countertop, intensely watching me walk in.

"What?" I ask him, "Do I have something on my face?"

"No."

I walk closer to him and set the mugs on the table. "Is something wrong?"

"No." He stands up and wraps his arms around my waist, "I'm just really lucky to have you."

I nod, "That you are. I'm quite the catch."

Matt grins, "Yes you are." He gives me a quick kiss on the lips and pulls away. "I'm gonna head out to those two. You sure you're okay to be left with them?"

"Of course I am. They're really nice and Charlotte was about to show me some great pictures of you as a kid."

He groans, "If she starts to tell the story about the water gun, just don't listen to her and know it was all Alex's fault!"

He then practically runs out onto the balcony to accompany his grandads.

I laugh and fill up the kettle with water to boil for the tea.

Two minutes later when the kettle clicks and I start to pour the hot water into the mugs, Erica walks into the kitchen. I smile at her, "Hey, it'll be another few minutes and I'll bring it in for you. Two sugars and a splash of milk, yeah?"

Erica nods and smiles tightly, "Yes, that's right."

I watch her sit on the tall stool beside the island and fold her hands over each other.

"Is everything okay?" I ask her.

Her lips purse and she looks up at me, "I have stage four glioblastoma."

I drop the tea bag that I was holding. Crap. I pick it up and look at her again, "Oh, Erica, I'm so sorry. Does Matt know?"

"Yes, I told him before I even told Eamon. He refuses to talk about it, pretends like I don't even have it. That I'm not sick." She inhales strongly, "That poor boy has lost so much already, and now I'm doing this to him and–"

She cuts herself off and shakes her head, "I'm just glad he'll have you when I go."

Oh shit. "How long do your doctors say you have?"

"Around five more months."

"I'm so sorry."

She waves her hand, "It's fine, I've lived an amazing life. And I will get to see my son again, I just wish I had more time with Matty." Erica looks at me now with such an intensely strong gaze I nearly look away. "But I feel compelled to tell you something."

Huh? "Okay?" I say slowly, "What is it?"

"The hospital where I get my chemo and all of that lovely stuff is MMUH." I go still and stare at her for a second. "Your mother was my doctor before you all moved here."

I don't move, waiting for her to continue and say what I think she's going to say.

"I assume you've obviously heard of all the talk going around about the Johnson family of Johnson Studios?"

I think I nod, but I'm not sure. Regardless of if I did or didn't, she continues, "I think that whatever the true story is, not what the media or the gossips of our little island are saying, I think that anyone person brave enough to go up against a family as well-known as the Johnson's, is a very brave person."

I swallow and feel my jaw tremble a little bit. "Maddie, what that boy did to you, I can only imagine, and I'm so sorry you had to go through something like that. No one ever should have to put up with that." She stands up and takes my hand once she reaches me, "Now, Matty hasn't mentioned any of this to me so I don't know if he knows, and that is your decision who you tell. But all I know is that I think you are a beautiful, intelligent, incredibly strong young woman who makes my only grandbaby smile like I have never seen before. And I only wish and pray for happy things for you for the rest of your life."

That does it. My knees buckle and I start to cry.

Erica pulls me into a hug. A warm hug like I've never had before. She starts to stroke my hair and she whispers into my ear, "I'll be sure to have my rosary beads out every night to pray for you and the downfall of that disgusting family."

I chuckle and sniff and pull away from her, "I'm sorry, that was embarrassing. But yeah, Matt knows, I told him a few weeks ago."

She nods, "Well then, we better finish making this tea before Lottie thinks we left her all alone."