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

29. Masterpiece Theater

"I've been here so very long
And every word is calculated
Never questioned or debated
All these practiced poses
I could wreck it if I had to
But I'm the wreck so what would that do?
My masterpiece will fall apart
It was over before the start"

-Marianas Trench

Henry

"I think Maggie is looking a lot better, don't you, mom?" Eden said quietly, watching Maggie from her seat at the kitchen counter. Her cousin was sitting in the living room, curled up with Sholto on the couch, reading a book.

Her mother nodded. "Of course, now that we are back in Boston."

Eden smiled, glad that everything was getting back to normal. "I'm just so thrilled that she's decided to stay with us here, even though she could easily get her own place now." She turned towards the sound of footsteps in the hall. Henry's head appeared around the corner. "What do you think, Henry? Doesn't she look better?"

Stopping to pour himself a glass of lemonade, Henry glanced over at Maggie, the perfect picture of domestic bliss. It was a struggle to hold back this time and not rush in as he did before. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her away again. "I think she looks as lovely as always," he said.

"She's going to be a hot commodity now," Eden said, raising her eyebrows at her brother-in-law. "You should talk to her soon, or else someone else will come along and snatch her up." Getting them back together was Eden's number one priority; it wasn't as if she had much else going on in her life.

Henry was tired of all the hints and pushing from Eden and Max. The two of them were constantly making comments about when he planned to get back together with Maggie. Neither of them quite understood why they had broken up in the first place. "I will talk to her when I'm good and ready," he said tersely. "It's really none of your business, anyway. As it stands, I'm here to help her with some business matters. She's decided to use some of her money to try and help Finn." Be there for her as a friend, let things progress naturally on their own. That was his plan.

This news made Eden's smile widen. "Oh, I hope it works out! If you can do that, she will definitely love you forever." He just rolled his eyes at her antics, secretly hoping she was right.

Movement from the living room grabbed their attention and they all turned towards the doorway, noticing that Maggie was coming into the kitchen to join them. "Oh, Maggie, we are going to the Piper's on Saturday for dinner," her aunt said as she sat down on a barstool.

There was a silence as Maggie made a face at her aunt's words. "Oh, no," Eden said dramatically, frowning. "I know that look. You're about to tell us something and none of us can argue with you about it." She shook her head and smiled fondly at her cousin. "It's the same look you had when we were nine and you decided you wanted to give up ballet lessons." The two grinned at each other, remembering.

"Maggie, what's wrong?" Aunt Shaw asked.

Maggie turned to her aunt and smiled at her reassuringly. "Oh no, nothing's wrong. But Eden's right. I really appreciate everything y'all have done for me. But I've been back in Boston for a while now, I'm settled in. I'm a grown woman, and now I have my own money." She took a deep breath, looking over at Henry for support. He'd been there for her like no one else; she couldn't help but be grateful for that. "Henry is helping me understand the money aspect and all the responsibilities that come along with it. We're trying to help Finn. It probably won't work, but it makes me feel better knowing that we are trying. It's what mom and dad would have wanted." She stopped again, gathering her thoughts. Henry's smile of encouragement helped her continue. "It's time for me to take control of my own life," she finished.