Cornucopia// d. sprayberry

fiftytwo|| irl

irl

Maggie sipped on her coffee carefully as she drove down the busy highway. It was almost 2 in the morning so everyone in the car was asleep except for her and Dylan, who was sitting in the passenger seat. He was slumped in his seat, feet up on the deck, and his hoodie strings pulled tight to only show his nose and mouth. Maggie only knew he awake because he would speak up randomly with whatever thought was in his head.

"Why are you driving? You don't like driving."

"Alex was tired when she came to the house so Cameron and I flipped a coin to see who had to drive and I lost."

"Aw." He sighs, stretching out the strings on his hoodie to release his face from inside it. "Wait, why was it just between you and Cameron?"

"Because we're the only ones who know the way back home- by memory, that is."

"Wow, you know the roads by memory." He asks astonished. She nods, a small smile on her face. "Very impressive, babe."

Riley shuffles in her sleep and the couple quiets down for a few minutes.

"David and Maddison are very excited for all of us to be with them for thanksgiving." Maggie says quietly. "Usually it's just Cameron, Alex, and I."

"Why do you call them David and Maddison?"

She quickly glances at him before returning her eyes to the road. "Because those are their names, D."

"Yeah, I know that but- why don't you call them mom and dad?"

"My mother and father are Teresa and Adam Gomez. They died when I was nine. David and Maddison aren't my parents."

"Oh." Dylan muttered, turning to look out the window.

"What?"

"It's just that I thought you saw them as your parents because- well the way you look when you talk about them. I know their DNA didn't make your DNA but" Dylan turned to look at Maggie with soft eyes. "they took you in and cared for you, continue to care for you to this day."

Maggie blew air out of her mouth, willing back tears. "Can I tell you something? Something I haven't been able to admit to anyone, even myself?"

"You know you can, Maggie."

Maggie sighed, "Deep down, I do. I do think of them as.. you know but I can't call them that, not out loud. Not even in my head. "

"Why?" Maggie whimpers in response.

"Listen, David and Maddison are great. They love me and I love them but I can't call them Mom and Dad. I can't. I won't."

"Why?" Dylan asks again. "Do you think Teresa and Adam will be hurt if you call other people Mom and Dad? Do you think they'll feel like your replacing them? " Maggie stays silent. "Maggie, baby, Adam and Teresa know that things changed for you when they died. They know it's not your intention to replace them. You just aren't in the same head space as you were when they were alive." Seeing the tears in Maggie's eyes, Dylan reached over and placed his hand on her thigh. "They are grateful to David and Maddison for talking care of you and they'll understand."

"They were always really understanding." Maggie's voice shakes, tears continuing to well up in her eyes.

She pulls the car over onto the side of the road, knowing that she can't drive if she's crying. Maggie stares forward, arms tensed around the steering wheel as tears continue filling in her eyes. She begins taking in breaths. They begin slow and deep but quickly speed up.

One second, she breathing hard and the next, she's sobbing. Sobbing so hard it shakes her body. Sobbing so hard everyone in the car wakes up. Sobbing so hard she can feel her heart sowing itself back together. Sobbing for her dead parents. Sobbing for her lost innocence. Sobbing for Maddison and David, who have in fact earned the right to be called mom and dad by their adoptive daughter- their daughter. She may not be their blood but Maggie was their daughter and they were her mother and father.

Everyone in the car wakes up to the sound of Maggie's sobs. The sound breaking their hearts. Alex and Cameron switch seats with Dylan and Maggie, per Alex's request, so that Dylan could hold the crying Maggie.

author's note;
a little insecure about this chapter but i hope you like it!!