Chapter 9

Maggie didn't know what to tell her mother about everything that happened yesterday. She couldn't tell her the truth because she knew Rebecca will be worried, and she couldn't lie to her either.

Earlier that morning, Maggie gave her resignation to the restaurant manager and said goodbye to her colleagues, and did the same with the club. On her way to the hospital she was trying to think of what to say to her mother, and not make her worry too much.

Maybe she should give a call to Jackson and ask him? But she didn't even have his number. He left last night after she agreed to his plan, saying just that he will send someone to pick her up from the airport. She was supposed to fly to Chicago tomorrow, and she had just enough time to pack a few things, quit her jobs, and talk to her mother.

Rebecca was surprised to see Maggie again today. She didn't expect a visit before the next week.

"Mom, I need to tell you something..." Maggie said slowly, avoiding her mother's eyes. "Well, the thing is... I've met someone, a guy. And I like him."

"Oh, dear, finally!" Rebecca squealed with happiness, "Tell me everything! Who is he? Where did you meet!" she was ecstatic.

"Well, we met in the restaurant where I work, but he's from Chicago... and he's very kind and considerate..." amongst the lies that Maggie said at least one thing was the truth. They did meet in the restaurant.

"When did that happen? And why have you never told me about him?" even though she was happy to hear something like this, Rebecca couldn't help but be a little suspicious.

"Well, it was nothing serious..." but her mother interrupted her again.

"You want to say that it is serious now?" Rebecca stopped smiling, noticing her daughter's discomfort. Were her questions too bothering? Why?

"It kinda is serious now... He asked me to move to Chicago, and he promised to find me a better paying job, and he wants to help with your recovery too..." Maggie stuttered. When Rebecca said nothing for what seemed like hours, Maggie raised her eyes to meet her mother's only to find her silently crying. "No, mom, please don't cry!" she reached out her hand to place it on her mother's cheek. "As soon as you are released from here, you will come to Chicago. There is a recovery facility there, it's like a hotel really, and you will have the best possible care there. And once you're all better, you can come to live with me, or you can come back here... whatever you want! Just, please don't cry." Maggie felt her eyes starting to water.

"No, honey, I am not sad," Rebecca muttered, "I just didn't expect this, you never talked about him. That's why I'm a little emotional," she managed to smile, "When are you leaving?"

Maggie gulped hard before she answered: "Tomorrow... I have a flight tomorrow..."

"What?" Rebecca was shocked, "And you tell me that now? I don't understand honey, you were here yesterday, and you said nothing..."

"Mom, Jack suggested it yesterday, that I move, I mean" Maggie had trouble finding the right words to collaborate her story since everything was one big lie "and we kinda registered yesterday too..."

"You did what?!" Rebecca half yelled, "Where is he?! I want to meet him right now!"

"He returned to Chicago last night. He is a busy man, mom. And I stayed behind just to settle everything before I join him. Mom, please understand I like him, and he likes me. And I want to give this a chance because I can see my future with him." She made a quick pause before she continued: "He wanted to meet you, he really did, but... but everything happened fast and... I promise you'll meet him soon! As soon as you are discharged from here, you are coming to me," Maggie threw herself in her mother's embrace and they both cried for a while, each lost in her thoughts. Maggie was sorry for all the lies she fed her mother with, and Rebecca was shedding happy tears, but the tug in her heart was telling her that something was wrong, that her daughter was lying to her for the first time in her life. Call it a mother's instinct or whatever, but Rebecca knew that something wasn't right.

"Enough. No more tears!" Maggie was the first to pull herself together.

"Promise me that you will take care of yourself, honey." Rebecca pleaded.

"Of course, mom! But, you'll see, everything will be just fine, trust me. You have a phone, we'll talk every day until you move to the recovery facility. And after you go there, I will visit so often that you'll be sick of me," she said through a smile, but Rebecca noticed that her smile never reached her eyes. She could only hope that it was because they won't be seeing each other for a while.

"I could never get sick of you!" she pulled Maggie in her embrace again. "Go, you have to pack. Will you have time to say goodbye tomorrow?"

"No. I have to leave early. That's why I came today." Maggie straightened and fixed her clothes, "Mom, you have to promise me you won't stress yourself with this, it won't be good for your health. Not now when your finally starting to get better. Please," she pleaded again "We'll be together again in no time." And with one more hug and firm promise from her mother that she is going to be ok, Maggie left the hospital with some heaviness in her heart.

She couldn't know what was waiting for her down the road she was heading. She didn't know what to expect because everything that was familiar and that she knew how to deal with, she will leave behind tomorrow morning. Even the thought of it made her shudder.

A new life waited for her, and even if that new life will be just temporary, it didn't make her feel any better.

Earlier today, she received last week's payment, and she used most of that money to buy some new clothes since everything that she owned was pretty old, and some were torn too. She didn't want to touch the card Jackson left her. No, it wouldn't feel right.

When Maggie returned home, it was already evening, she started packing right away, and it took her less than half an hour to gather everything that she wanted to take with her. New clothes that she bought, and a few pictures and memories just to remind her from time to time where she came from and where she will come back.

Bathroom necessities were almost empty anyway, so she decided to leave everything just as it is. Luckily, she cleaned the house yesterday very thoroughly, and now she had nothing of that sort to do.

 Remembering that she didn't eat anything since yesterday, Maggie went to the kitchen and made herself a sandwich that she devoured in no time. In the back of the fridge, she found a bottle of wine that she decided to open and drink to the bottom, which she never did before. But today was different from any other day. Today she wanted to celebrate her last day as a free woman since the arrangement she has agreed on was nothing more than a prison of sorts. And also, she was mourning the beginning of her new life.