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Maggie fills her husband and daughter in on her conversation with Dani and her subsequent altercation with Nick.
“Dr. Wilson has been beating his wife?!” Erin exclaims.
“I know. It’s hard to believe.”
“It is,” Erin states. “But, at the same time, it kinda isn’t.”
“What do you mean?” Maggie asks. “Did you see something?”
“No, but…I don’t know. I mean, Dr. Wilson was always super nice to me and everything. But there was just something a little…I don’t know…off. Are you really going to tell everyone?”
Maggie shrugs. What mess has she gotten them into now?
“Erin, sweetheart,” Craig says, “why don’t you give your mother and me a few minutes.”
Erin groans her displeasure as she gets up from her chair and walks toward the hall. “You don’t think he’d do anything crazy, do you? I mean, he has all those guns and he was pretty pissed….”
“He won’t do anything,” Craig says. “Men like him are essentially cowards. But, if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll stay the night.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“That’s really not necessary,” Maggie says. “I can handle this.”
“I know you can,” he tells her. “I’d like to stay. It would makemefeel better.”
Maggie says nothing, deciding to wait until Erin is out of the room.
“Thanks for the tea,” Craig tells his daughter.
“Thanks for the car,” Erin counters. She returns to the table to give first her father, then mother, a lingering hug. “Love you guys.”
“Love you, too,” Maggie and Craig say together.
“Do you really think that staying the night is a good idea?” Maggie asks as Erin’s footsteps retreat down the hall.
“Best idea I’ve had in months.”
What does that mean?Maggie thinks, but is too tired to ask.
There are several seconds of awkward silence.
“So, what’s happened to our quiet little cul-de-sac?” Craig asks. “The kids told me all about Aiden attacking Julia’s grandson on Saturday night, and now it turns out that the well-respected oncologist next door is a wife beater with an arsenal of guns. Anything else I should know about?”
“I think that’s probably enough information to absorb for one night,” Maggie says, deciding to spare him her suspicions regarding Sean Grant. “How are things in your neck of the woods?”
“Uneventful. A little boring.”
“Shedidn’t look boring,” Maggie remarks.
Craig smiles. “If you’re referring to Selena…”
“I was.”
“That was never anything serious. And nothing ever happened. I swear. Selena is a lovely woman, an excellent sales rep, and yes, since you asked, a little on the boring side. Especially compared to you.”
“You didn’t want me,” Maggie reminds him.
“I’ve never wanted anyone else.”
