The Chosen One (27 page)

I plucked the printout from Tess’s hand. It was of Maya standing outside Nadine’s the night of the dinner. Her face was lit up, and she was waving‌—‌to me, if I remembered correctly. Would she ever again light up like that in my presence?

Rita stepped out of the room, and I overheard her barking commands into her cell.

“Eckley’s involvement in the Twitter bomb makes sense, but how does Maya fit in? Why would he take the chance of exposing his daughter? Or, more to the point, of exposing his relationship with Maya’s mom?” Tess scribbled something in a leather journal. I wondered how many high-powered secrets it held.

“Maybe he didn’t realize,” Mei said. “Maya was just a kid when her mother was killed.”

“I was seven.”

Everyone in the room circled around to stare at the gray-eyed girl standing with one foot in the doorway.

“I only met him once that I remember, but at the time I didn’t know who he was. He was never interested in being a father.”

Rita stood behind Maya, absorbing every word.

“She always said I had his eyes.” Maya approached the picture on the wall. “But I never cared. For me, my father was a fairy tale.” She crossed her arms, cocked her head, and studied his photo as if she were in a museum or art gallery.

“He never contacted you‌—‌?”

“No. And I never tried to get in touch.”

“After‌—‌so you knew who he was?” Rita’s kind voice softened the blow.

“Years ago. Mo‌—‌Agnes confessed all.”

“And you never reached out? Not even for money?” Rita’s smile was dubious and difficult to read. “You’re a billionaire’s daughter living in Mattapan, and you never thought to ask for money?”

Rita and Tess had done their homework. I’d never mentioned Mattapan to them. It was amazing how much info people of this caliber could turn up in a few short hours. Or terrifying.

“No.” Maya stiffened. “Agnes is my only parent‌—‌the only parent I need. And the only one I want. Ever.”

Rita turned to Ham. “We can use this.”

“Use what? Maya?” I flipped to Eckley’s photo again. “I’m not comfortable with that. What if…?”

“How can you use it?” Maya asked. “Is he the one responsible for this?” She motioned to the wall of Twitter photos.

“We suspect his wife is. Not sure about his involvement.” Rita spoke to Maya as an equal, unlike Grandmother, which was a refreshing change. However, the implication that Eckley’s wife was involved in the attacks on my family wasn’t comforting at all. “She’s planning a run for the presidency, and she’s not shy about taking out potential opponents, including your mother.”

“Mom’s never hinted about a run,” I said.

“But she’s a Carmichael, and there are always murmurings.” Rita shrugged. “Governor Eckley plans for everything.”

“President? This is all about politics?” Maya spoke to no one in particular. Her face crumbled. “What would I have to do?”

“Sign a contract saying you’ll never acknowledge him and never ask for money,” Rita said.

“In exchange for what?” I asked.

“Silence and safety. Eckley won’t want his wife to know.” Tess dug out some legal papers, spread them on the table, and tapped a section. “According to the prenup‌—‌”

“So there
is
a prenup! And you have a copy.” Fee peered over Tess’s shoulder.

“The contract would have to insist that neither of you would ever acknowledge your connection to the other. Make a permanent break.”

Maya sat in a chair next to the window that overlooked the ocean. She stared at the water, lost in thought.

“Wait a minute,” Ham interjected. “She should get something out of him, a one-time payment, at least, after everything.”

Mei and Fiona both nodded.

Maya shook her head, but she didn’t turn from the window. “Even if he offered me a dime, I’d tell him where to shove it.”

“Think, Maya,” Fiona said. “I know you hate him. Hell, we all hate him, and none of us has your reason, but this could change‌—‌”

“Change what? Bring my mom back?” She whipped her head around.

Everyone looked away, except me. I moved closer. Kneeling down, I took her hands in mine.

She didn’t pull away.

“What about a fund to help people like Florence? You wouldn’t even have to take the credit. It could be anonymous, but you could make a difference with money like that, help women like your mom, or like Flo.” I watched her shoulders sag, and she turned her face to wipe away a tear.

“Who’s Florence?” Rita studied the Twitter photos.

“She’s not up there,” I said. “Maya wants to be a community organizer.”

Rita pounced on the idea. “We could arrange that, I’m sure. From what I understand, Eckley would lose everything, even his dog, which he loves more than anything, if his wife finds out about any indiscretion.”

“But if he’s not involved in this”‌—‌Mei motioned to the folders on the table‌—‌“how will he get his wife to stop?”

“This.” Rita unearthed a file from her bag and spread photos on the table. “Governor Eckley has been canoodling with this man for years.”

Mei leaned over to study the photo. “Is that‌—‌?”

“Yep. The Texan running for senator.” Rita tapped the photo. “This is how Eckley convinces his wife to back down. And this”‌—‌she pointed to Maya‌—‌“is how we protect Maya. Mutually assured destruction for husband and wife, but they won’t know it. Eckley won’t want his wife to find out about Maya, so he’ll force the governor, who wants to run for president on family values, to back down lest he expose her own affair. We’ll deal with them separately, of course, but they’ll shut up. Both have too much to lose.”

“How’d you know about the affair?” Ham asked.

Rita’s shrug made one thing clear: it was best not to ask questions. How many of our secrets did she have in her back pocket?

Fee let out a deep breath. “That’s brilliant. Sick, but brilliant.”

I glanced at Maya, who nodded. She then stood and left the room, without uttering a word.

“This is an ugly world,” I said.

“And it’ll only get uglier,” Mei responded as Ham rested a hand on her shoulder.

***

I found Maya in the library, gazing out the window. Lights from the TV crews over the ridge could be seen off to the far right. She faced left, watching the ocean.

“Hi,” I said, approaching her shyly.

She didn’t turn around. “Do you know what I hated the most growing up?” she said.

I perched on the window ledge next to her. “What?”

Maya crossed her arms. “Feeling like everything was my fault. If I hadn’t been born, my mom would probably be alive.”

I blinked away tears.

“You have your own burden,” she went on, finally facing me. “Pat wasn’t kidding when he said your parents had you after Craig’s death and Ham’s injury, was he?”

“No. He wasn’t kidding.” I looked away, ashamed.

“Ham’s eye isn’t that bad. I was expecting much worse.”

“For years, he’s been told the opposite.”

“So much baggage, even before we were born.” Maya sighed. “Earlier, when I was talking to Mom, I realized you’ve only introduced me to Fiona and Pat. In class, you don’t talk to anyone but me.” She stared out the window again. “You’re just as alone as I am, if not more. You’ve lived your life in front of the world, yet you have so few connections. What was it like?”

I wasn’t expecting her to ask me a question, and my voice came out thick with emotion when I answered. “It’s all I’ve ever known.”

“Is it all you want?”

I followed her eyes, her focus on the moonlight shimmering over the rolling water. At night, from the safety of the library, it looked beautiful, peaceful. But the thought of being out there alone was terrifying.

I shook my head.

Maybe she sensed my fear, because she added, “Sometimes you have to be alone to learn how strong you can be.”

I tapped a finger against the glass. “I feel like I’m adrift in the dark out there, and I can’t find the lighthouse to bring me home.”

Maya mulled over my words. “I’m really sorry about… the video. I had no idea.” She massaged her eyelids.

I snorted. “That was the idea. I didn’t want you to know how much of a loser I am.”

She smiled sadly, and I thought she was going to reply that she knew. Instead, she said, “I never thought of you that way. I still don’t.”

“How do you feel about me, then? About us?”

Maya took my hand in hers. “I’m still working that out in my head.”

I stared down at my Nikes.

Turning, Maya craned her neck and lifted my chin with one finger. “The way I see it, it’s good that I’m still thinking about it. Usually, I make snap judgments, but you have this way about you.”

Perhaps I knew what she meant, because I felt the same about her. Everything had been against us from the beginning, and on some level I think I sensed that. But I couldn’t walk away. The day I met Maya, my life changed.

“Do you see that?” Maya pointed out the window.

“What?” I squinted, half expecting to see Susie Q belly crawling up the beach.

“That.” Maya tapped the glass.

“The spiderweb?” Grandmother must really be losing her marbles to not have noticed that.

“No. A handkerchief left by a fairy.”

“Wh‌—‌?” I started to argue. Then I remembered our conversation at Walden Pond. “Well, look at that.” I leaned my forehead against the cool glass. “It’s beautiful.”

“It is.” The two words were filled with emotion.

I turned my face to Maya, my forehead against the pane creating a muted screeching sound. But Maya wasn’t staring at the web; she was gazing at me.

Maybe I could believe in fairies. Hell, before I met Maya, I hadn’t even believed in love. Not for me, anyway. With Maya by my side, I realized I could believe in anything. I reached for her hand, and she laced her fingers through mine.

***

Fee popped her head around the library door. “You two ready for dinner?”

The three of us found Ham, Mei, Rory, Pat, and Agnes in the dining room, where ten empty chairs were positioned around the table.

“Where are Rita and Tess?” I asked.

“Heading to Texas,” Ham said.

“Does that mean‌—‌?” Agnes was unable to finish her question.

“It means you and Maya don’t have to worry about a thing.”

“We can stay?” Agnes probed.

“Absolutely. And if you ever have any problems, just give me a call.” Ham passed Agnes a business card.

She gasped. “You work in the White House?”

Ham winked, and then motioned for Maya and me to sit. “I’m famished, and I’m not sure my manners will hold out much longer. Agnes, Pat, this smells delicious.”

“I can’t take the credit. It was all Agnes.” Pat tucked a napkin into his shirt.

A smorgasbord of fried chicken, deviled eggs, cornbread, Jambalaya, creamed corn, baby back ribs, dinner rolls, and other side dishes I didn’t even know existed covered the table.

Fee pointed at a plate. “Are those fried green tomatoes?”

“They sure are.” Agnes grinned. “Ever had one?”

Everyone but Maya shook their heads.

Rory bit into one. “You’re hired.”

“Rory!” Fiona and I shouted.

Ham rolled his eyes. “You’ll have to forgive my cousin. He’s been living on cafeteria-style food.”

“Ham!” Mei said.

Rory laughed. “It’s true. In and out of rehab since I was sixteen. Unlike the rest of the clan, I’m rough around the edges.”

Fee stiffened in her seat, but then she glanced at her brother and her posture softened‌—‌a small miracle.

“I’m glad you approve.” Agnes smiled at him. “I love cooking for people. You’re always welcome at our house, all of you.” She gazed around the table.

“Does that mean the Sunday dinners will continue?” Pat asked.

“Of course. And now that I’ve discovered you know your way around the kitchen, Pat, you should come over early. I’ll show you all I know. Maya only enjoys making coffee.” Agnes winked at her.

“I’ll make sure he’s there bright and early.” Fiona bit into a drumstick.

“Would Mrs. Carmichael…?” Agnes blushed. “I mean would Lillian and Ainsley like to join us for dinner? There’s plenty for everyone.”

I sucked in my breath at hearing Agnes say those names.

“Mom, Ainsley is sitting next to you.” Maya patted her hand as if Agnes were a dementia patient.

“She means my grandmother,” I explained.

Maya’s jaw dropped. “You’re named after your grandmother?”

I nodded.

“So you really are the Chosen One,” she muttered.

“I was,” I replied in little more than a murmur. “Now, I’m just Ainsley.”

“Agnes, to answer your question, Mother and Grandmother have left the estate.” Ham reached for a rib.

“Where’d they go?” Fiona asked.

“Back to Boston.”

“Do they know?” I jerked my head in Maya’s direction.

“They’re aware that everything has been taken care of.”

“Golly, Ham, this is a first.” Fiona looked shell-shocked, but it was hard to determine whether she was happy or scared about the power shift. Ham had always craved power, but could he handle it? Only time would tell whether Ham would turn out like Grandmother.

“It’s best for all of us if we act as if everything is normal. That means you two”‌—‌he pointed to me and Maya‌—‌“go back to school on Monday.”

Maya’s shoulders slumped.

“I’ll be right by your side,” I whispered in her ear, taking her hand in mine.

She squeezed my hand. “You better stop me from punching Susie Q’s lights out, then.”

I giggled. “Oh, I wish.”

***

Around ten, everyone dispersed to their rooms to settle in for the night.

After saying goodnight to Agnes, Maya and I walked to my bedroom.

“I know you probably want to talk, but it’s been a long day. Do you mind if we go to bed?” Maya asked.

I nodded meekly.

In bed, I clutched Maya like it was the last time I would ever hold her in my arms.

“Is it weird?” she asked.

“Jesus!” I put a hand to my chest. “I thought you were asleep. Is
what
weird?”

“Having me in your bed, here?” She had her back to me, but I sensed she was grinning.

“Oddly, it’s not, even though I know it should be. Does that make sense?” I rolled onto my back.