“Mom …”Maggie held up her hand, but her mother wasn’t finished.
“Then I get a call from some girl I’ve never met—telling me my daughter, who is traveling alone, is in Colorado, that she’s been harboring a runaway, and there was a man with a knife involved?Maggie, are youtryingto put me in an early grave?”
Maggie exhaled.“Let’s back up.First, I wasn’t kidnapped and didn’t have a wreck in the van, Mom.Second, Cindy’s not exactly a runaway.She’s with her parents now.And, third, the man with a knife has been arrested.”
Her mother gave her a horrified look.“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
She took a deep breath and folded her arms over her chest.“I left because I needed some space to think.I was never alone.Walker was with me every step of the way.”She glanced under the picnic table.Walker lifted his head at the sound of his name.When he realized he wasn’t being called, he went to sleep.
“You left because you needed to think?You blew off an important internship at a very prestigious law firm.This will affect your future, Maggie!”Her mom’s voice cracked when speaking her daughter’s name, her composure unraveling.“Do you even hear yourself?”
Maggie stood straighter.“I hear myself.For the first time in a long time.”
Julia stared at her.“So that’s it?You’re just going to throw away your future as an attorney?”
“No, I’m not throwing away my future.”Maggie said.“I’m choosing a different future.”
The words landed in the space between them like stones.Her mom looked stunned.She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.
Maggie cleared her throat.She felt stronger now.All the fear of disappointing her mom disappeared like mist.“I came out here to find out who I am without the pressure.Without law school.Without Dad’s expectations.Without yours.”
Her mom’s face slightly softened.Maggie noticed the chink in her armor.
“I’m not doing this to hurt you,” Maggie said more gently.“I just … I want to write.Really write.I know that sounds foolish to you, but it’s the first thing I’ve been sure of in years.”
There was solid silence between them.
Her mom looked away, blinking hard.“I always wanted you to do well in life, Maggie.A solid career where you can be independent and not rely on a man.I just didn’t want you to be in a situation where you are trapped in a relationship.I don’t want you to end up like me.”
Maggie’s eyes widened.“End up like you?You aren’t trapped.”
Her mother gave a sad, knowing smile.“You just didn’t see it.”
They stood there, mother and daughter, neither sure what came next.
Finally, Julia sighed and walked over to the bench.She sat, her movements slower now, as if the fight had left her.
Walker lifted his head and nudged her knee.Julia rubbed his head.“Walker looks good.”
Maggie smiled, the tension beginning to ease.“I think the fresh air has made him more energetic.He seems like a puppy again.”
Julia winced.“Maggie, I didn’t want to take Walker to the vet to have him put down.Your father was the one who insisted.”
Maggie froze.“What?”
Julia lifted her chin.“It seems we have a lot to talk about, and you’ve had quite the night already.Why don’t I go get us a hotel room?”
Maggie shook her head.“I want to stay here.You go ahead and get a room.”
Julia bit her lip.“Can I bring you some coffee?”
Maggie smiled.“I can make coffee here.”
Julia frowned.“Here?How?”
Maggie walked to the van and gathered the coffeepot and everything she needed to make coffee.She plugged it in and prepped the coffee pot and waited for the coffee to finish.
“You have electricity in the van?”Julia cocked her head.
