Searching for Mr. Darcy

Scene Sixty-Seven

The next two days passed in a blur.  Maisie knew she went to work, sold a few houses, and ignored George, but the specific details of her days were fuzzy.  At home, she and Talia passed each other silently if they both happened to be in the kitchen at the same time, otherwise they kept to their separate bedrooms.  Maisie wondered why Talia wasn't staying with her boyfriend, but didn't ask.

Saturday, she watched the twins for Anabeth again.  Her sister had hired a nanny, but she wasn't starting until the following Monday.  Sean was supposed to pick them up on Sunday.

"I don't know how to explain to them what's going on," Anabeth confided when she got home that night.  The kids were already in bed and she still hadn't told them their father would be there in the morning.

"Do they miss him?" Maisie asked.

Anabeth nodded.  "They didn't say much when he first left - they figured he was on a business trip.  But the last several days, it's been every other sentence out of their mouths."

"I think I read that you're supposed to do it together - both parents - sit them down and explain Daddy loves them, but he doesn't live here anymore and will come pick them up on the weekends.  Or something like that.  You probably have psychologists at work who can give you better wording."

Her sister sighed.  "Yeah."  She glanced at her watch.  "I didn't realize how late it was - you must have a date or something to get to."

Maisie shook her head.  "Nope.  My love life is officially in the trash."

"What happened with Marcus?"

"He stopped responding to my texts."

"What? As hot and heavy as you two were?"

"Yep."

"Want some wine, then?"

"Love some."

They stayed up late talking and Maisie filled her in on everything from the Darcy page to Talia's betrayal.  It felt so good saying it all out loud and she realized she shouldn't have been so quick to assume the only friends she had were Maisie and George.

"Betrayal is a bit strong, don't you think?" Anabeth asked.

"She dated him for a month without telling me while thinking I was in love with him."

"But you weren't."

"That's not the point."

"Shouldn't it be - before you throw a decade of friendship away?"

Maisie didn't want to acknowledge this point, so she gulped down the remainder of her wine.  She certainly never thought Anabeth would defend Talia, but stranger things had happened in the last couple of weeks.

At two in the morning, Anabeth insisted Maisie sleep in the guest room.  They were going to be exhausted and cranky when meeting their mother for brunch, but at least Anabeth's house was closer to the restaurant.