Princess & the Player

twenty-three: the end of the fling

Maggie's POV: 

She slapped me hard but didn't draw blood. 

"Don't think you're doing me any favors," Mom shouted the moment I stepped into the house. "You're just a little girl who spread her legs for a college boy and then came crawling back!"

"Mom," I shook my head. "It wasn't like that."

"Of course it was! You want to come running home, well it won't be that easy. You did wrong the day you took the kids out of this house and I ain't never gonna forgive you. I'll be waiting for you to put one step wrong and when you do, that'll be the end of you. I even see a guy near you and I'll have your slut ass out the door and no social worker will say boo about it. Not after what Jacob's done."

"Okay, Mom."

"And you gotta pay your way. So get out there and get a job, you hear me?"

"Yes, Mom."

I pulled my backpack over my shoulder but she stopped me. "What you got?"

I dropped it on the table and she rifled through it, pulling a couple of the new shirts and one of the dresses and a $20 I'd left in the front pocket just in case she searched. I gathered up what was left and quietly climbed to the bedroom I shared with Laurie.

Jeb was waiting with a cold washcloth. I pressed it to my cheek gratefully. 

"Welcome home," he said, softly. Laurie jumped up on me and I hugged them both close. 

"I'm so sorry," I whispered. "I never thought she'd do that with the police and all. You both ok?"

"We're fine," Jeb answered.

"Mom swatted Jeb for sassing her," Laurie tattled.

"Hand or belt?" I asked, trying to peak under the back of his shirt. 

"Hand, it's fine. It was nothing."

"Jeb made the macaroni and cheese too slimy," she made a face.

He rolled his eyes. "What now, Maggie? Are we staying with mom? I mean, can't we got back to Dad's?"

"Not yet. He was stupid with Britty and that isn't gonna just go away, especially as long as mom is pissed. But as long as we keep to the state's plan and act right when they visit, we should be fine," I promised, pulling Laurie on my lap. 

"School's over next week," she whined. I never met a kid that loved school as much as Laurie. 

"I applied for summer school for both of you back in April," I told her. 

"Ah, shit, Maggie. Not that again," Jeb groaned.

"It's basically free camp and they give you lunch."

"It's school!"

I grabbed a brush and began smoothing out Laurie's hair. I swear it was spun gold. She held up her hand from habit to hold the sections as I began braiding it. 

Jeb was pacing. 

"Give me alternatives."

"Dad said..."

"No, Jeb. Not your dad. I told you."

"No one would know."

"Jeb...we can't take that chance."

His eyes were shiny with grief. Jeb had always been desperate for Jacob's attention. To be accepted. "But no one would know!"

I caught his eye and shook my head. "I tell you what. I'll call Nana Scott and see if we can go out there next weekend. We'll work on the cabin together. You and me."