Page 49 of Keeping Score

“He wants to explain.” I pleaded.

“Fine.” Liam said, turning to face our father with full attention. “Explain. Tell me why you did it. No—tell me how you did it without remorse. Or guilt. Or giving a single damn about us until fifteen years passed by and you, what—woke up and remembered we existed in the world?”

“It was complicated, Liam.” Dad said firmly. “Your mother is a difficult woman. She was going to make the whole process impossible. I needed a clean break.”

“A clean break from your children?” Liam countered, furious.

“It doesn’t mean I didn’t love you. Relationships are complicated.”

“Life is complicated. You stick it out because that’s just life. You don’t get to quit halfway through.”

“I was still young. I had an opportunity to make something of myself. I wouldn’t have been able to do that if your mother dragged me to court, putting me through the ringer with custody battles. You two have no idea how ugly those can get.”

I froze. He knew that’s what I did for a living, didn’t he? I brought it up every time I saw him. Hadn’t he paid attention?

“Real nice guy, isn’t he, Mags?” Liam turned to me with a bitter shake of his head.

“What?” Dad said, completely lost. “Son, listen—you have no idea what it’s like until you get into the situation for yourself—”

“I will never get in that situation,” Liam said furiously.

“You’re young,” Dad continued as if Liam hadn’t spoken. “You have an amazing career. If your wife tried to tie you down with child support payments and the threat of facing years in courtrooms, you might start to understand a little more what I was trying to get away from.”

Liam shook his head, furious at the words pouring out of his mouth.

I had to agree with Liam. I knew the point Dad was trying to make, but he was going about it entirely the wrong way—especially where Liam was concerned.

“If you chose to just walk away from it all, it wouldn’t mean you didn’t love Lily—”

“How the hell do you know about Lily?” Liam’s voice thundered.

“Maggie’s mentioned her over the years,” Dad shifted in his seat, before Liam shot a glare in my direction.

Jesus Christ. If looks could kill, I’d be dead where I sat.

“Liam,” I said pleadingly, but he was already standing up from his seat. “Don’t make a scene.”

“I’m not making a scene.” Liam said. “I’m just done.”

“Liam,” I called, standing to my feet to chase after him.

Liam and his damned long legs were already out the door by the time I caught up with him. Rain drizzled down on us, sending a chill through me.

January nights in Boston were frigid, but Liam looked like he was burning from within. I was sure that if I got close enough I would feel it radiating off him in scorching waves.

“Liam,” I pleaded desperately. “Please, wait!”

“You don’t get to keep doing this, Maggie!” He spun to face me, radiating fury. “I’m a person.”

“I know that,” I said, scrambling for some defense, while the sinking realization crept in that I might be entirely in the wrong.

God, what had I done?

“People don’t just exist for your amusement, Maggie!” he yelled, loud enough to draw attention. “I’m not a puppet. I’m not here to revolve around your own soap opera plot line.”

I whirled back, feeling the sting of his words like a slap to the face. But he wasn’t done.

“I told you how I felt,” he said. “I told you a million times. And you just didn’t care, because it didn’t fit into the plan you wanted for yourself.”