What We Trade Our Hearing For (a North and South Story)

27. Simple Math

"I imply, to mitigate the guilt, we could align
A perfectly constructed alibi
To hush the violent guilt that eats and never dies
In actual blame, they call me once the dark divides"

-Manchester Orchestra

Maggie

Nothing could have prepared her for the whirlwind of activity that came next. Her Aunt Shaw caught the first flight to Atlanta when she heard the news; Maggie wasn't even sure who had called her. She was surprised that her aunt was able to drop everything and rush down, considering she didn't make it to her own sister's funeral, but she supposed circumstances were different this time around. Maggie was alone, this time. So, her aunt came, rolling into town like a hurricane.

"You poor dear!" Her aunt cried for what felt like the thousandth time as they packed up Maggie's parent's house. "The things you've been through since your father forced you both down here. The sorrows you've seen." She shook her head sadly, looking at her niece with a sigh. Dixie rolled her eyes, privately wishing the woman had the decency to stay away. Aunt Dixie had also come as soon as she heard the news. Maggie had called and told her personally. The two older women had never gotten along, always fighting for Maria Hale's friendship and affection.

Aunt Shaw shook her head again, something she seemed to do a lot. "No matter. We will leave as soon as possible. Dixon, you can stay and make arrangements for the house and furniture, can't you?" It wasn't really a question so much as a command. Dixie narrowed her eyes at the other woman but didn't respond. "We'll have to find something to do with all these books. There's certainly not enough room in the Boston house for them. Maybe we could donate them to a needy school?" She picked up a book, wrinkling her nose at the dustiness.

The one-sided conversation pulled Maggie from the daze she was in while packing up her father's things. "Not all the books," she said, looking up in alarm as if her aunt was going to cart them off right then and there. "And I need to say goodbye to our friends." It was a task she was dreading, but she didn't want to leave without a word.

Her aunt sniffed. "I can't imagine you could have many friends here," she said. "I'll help you say your goodbyes, then we are leaving this terrible city for good." Maggie was used to aunt Shaw's commanding manner and wasn't in the mood to fight against her aunt's iron will, so she just nodded. Fighting back tears, she started to sort through the music books, deciding what she wanted to keep, which ones she could part with, and ones to set aside for friends.

Even with aunt Shaw's urgency, it still took a few days to get things settled. Finally, the plane tickets to Boston were booked, the bags were packed, and Maggie and her aunt set out to say farewell. She stopped first at Nick's apartment, though there was no answer. Her heart dropped at the thought of leaving without a proper goodbye but knew she could always keep in touch, even if only to check in on the children. Still, she left a quick note, just in case they were back soon.

The next stop was the Thornton's house. Maggie felt dizzy as they walked up onto the porch, reliving everything that had happened there. She wondered why she was putting herself through the torture. But she had decided she didn't want to leave with unfinished business, and she had things she needed to say. Plus, she had something for John, something he deserved to have.

It was perhaps a misfortune that Faith happened to also be visiting her mother, though Maggie had a feeling she still spent a lot of time at her family's home. "It's a shame you're leaving," Faith said after they had been invited in and introductions were made. "I was hoping you would come to see my new house. I just had all the rooms repainted and professionally styled. Hm, maybe when you come back to visit." She made a small pout as she took a sip of her tea.