Gabriel

42. The Disappearance of Maeve Gray

OMG 30K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Short chapter, sorry!

Hope you all are doing well, especially the high schoolers who will soon be faced with the end of the summer :(((((

But I hope you all enjoy!

xoxo,

Caroline 

     ~    

      GABRIEL

     We pay for the tickets and shuffle through the entrance to the zoo with Maybel attached to my mate's hip­– literally and figuratively. The girl is in love. The long ride on the subway from my apartment to Central Park Zoo (made on a few occasion when I was laden with the task of babysitting some weekends) usually makes Maybel fidgety and loud, but with Mae's company, she really seemed to enjoy herself. They talked a lot about the Avengers, and even though I never knew Maeve is into that, she makes Maybel very excited with their conversation. As we walk through the exhibits, I trail quietly behind the two girls immersed in conversation, looking absentmindedly around at all the animals.

     "You know, as your mother, I was just worrying. I didn't mean to make you upset", my mother says coming up beside me, referring to our previous conversation. We fall back, watching everyone else looking at the lions.

     "I know. I didn't mean to lash out like that", I reply, slinging an arm over her shoulder and kissing her forehead. She stares up at me, surprised.

     "Wow, she really has changed you", she chuckles dryly, "but Gabriel, I know you love her... I just worry. She's only seventeen and in your legal situation, if anybody found out, it would be easy to have her taken away... or  put behind bars", she says sadly.

     "I would never let that happen, and her birthday is in three days, anyway", I justify.

     "Yes, but a judge may not see it that way. You've been living together for months now and they may not take your word– or even hers– on the justification of a consensual relationship", she argues, resigned. I growl at the implication.

     "I would neverfücking touch her without her permission. Not after all the shît she went through and not now", I state furiously, trying not to raise my voice and draw attention to myself.

     "I know, I know. I just stress– it's what mothers do. I'm sure it will be fine, I just worry because of – ahem– this morning and especially with all the publicity–."

     "Publicity?" I ask, confused.

     "Well, haven't you seen the magazines? Us Weekly, People, they're all running with it. Ever since the Christmas Fundraiser, you've been seen together often in public. You're lucky they haven't caught any shots yet outside her school. They still haven't got a name, either." My mind starts spinning at the news, having had no idea that this was going on. I don't read the gossip magazines and Mae isn't into that petty shît either, so I could have no way of knowing, especially since my PA always knows to hang up on writers calling for an interview if it's not business-related.

     "I need to go make a few calls", I say with a sigh, heading to a bench near by, but making sure Mae is still in my sight– my protective tendencies have really heightened since we completed the bond. Getting my PR Manager on the phone to do some damage control I start a heated discussion about why I wasn't informed of this sooner.

     Suddenly, Maybel comes running up to me, crying and screaming with a cut on her knee. I sigh and pick her up, putting her into my lap, which usually calms her down- even though she's nine- but she won't stop shouting incoherently through her tears. I sigh and look around for Maeve to help me out, but I think she's caught up with the rest of the family ahead of me. I would be mad that she left Maybel by herself, but she must've seen the girl running to me, so I don't worry.