Page 83 of Must Love Flowers
“Has your father agreed to go into a rehab center?” Joan asked.
“Either he goes or I move back here. That is, if you’d take me.” She paused, as if she hadn’t considered that she might not be welcome.
“You’re welcome to come back anytime,” Joan assured her. Like Nick, the last thing Joan wanted was for Maggie to return to her father’s house. The atmosphere and the building itself were toxic.
“The decision is up to my father. He understands the consequences if he starts up again. I made it clear, either he gets the help he needs and stops drinking or I’m gone.”
“Manipulation doesn’t work, Maggie,” Joan gently reminded her.
“I don’t believe I’m doing that. As far as I’m concerned, this is his one and only chance.”
As if to emphasize her point, Edison barked.
“I still don’t like it.” Nick made sure his feelings were known.
“Luckily, it isn’t up to you,” Maggie reminded him.
Nick looked pleadingly toward Joan. “Mom, say something.”
As hard as it was to let Maggie go, Joan felt she had no choice. With emotion tightening her throat, she offered her son a watery smile and addressed Maggie. “Let me help you carry what you’ve packed to your car.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Maggie said.
“No, she doesn’t,” Nick said flatly. His fists were clenched at his sides. “You’re making a huge mistake, Maggie, a huge mistake.”
“Maybe so, but it’s mine to make.”
Nick remained dissatisfied. “We both know your father hasn’t got it in him to stop drinking. He’s weak.”
Hands akimbo, Maggie glared at Nick. “You’ve never met my father.”
“I…”
“How quick you are to judge him. He might be everything you claim, but you know what, he’s my father, and I refuse to abandon him.”
Nick stuffed his hands into his pockets, and took a step back, as if emotionally distancing himself from Maggie. “I can’t stand by and watch you do this. I…I won’t be able to see you give your life to someone who has done nothing to deserve it. Your father is an alcoholic. He’ll drink because he won’t be able to stop himself, despite all your efforts. I care too much about you to see that happen and remain silent.”
For a long moment Maggie froze, as if she needed time to assimilate Nick’s words. She swallowed hard, and with tears shining in her eyes, she slowly nodded. “I care for you, too, and I think we had something good happening between us, but I can’tturn my back on my only family, no matter what you think or say.”
“And I can’t stand by and watch someone use you. I can’t do it, Maggie. I just can’t.”
She frowned, as if she had trouble understanding what he was saying. “What does that mean?”
“It means if you decide to move back in with your father, we’re through.”
Joan wanted to groan, knowing Nick spoke impulsively and would soon regret those words.
Maggie blinked several times, squared her shoulders, and slowly nodded. “You have to do what you feel is best, Nick. I…understand. I guess this is good-bye, then.”
“It is. Good-bye, Maggie,” he muttered, and left the room as if escaping a burning building.
Joan followed her son down the stairs. “Nick, stop…”
“Not now, Mom,” he called over his shoulder as he barreled out the front door.
Before Joan could stop him, her son was gone. She heard the truck’s engine rev loudly as he drove away.
No more than ten minutes later, Maggie started loading up her car. When she finished, she returned to the house where Joan stood waiting.
