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Chapter 27
April 21, 2010 | Filed Under Meeghan | 2 Comments
By the time Meeghan arrived back at her mother’s house from the courthouse it was almost 7pm. Memories of icy stares when she dared arrive to dinner seconds past 6:30 as a teen were still fresh in her memory as she scrambled out of the car and up the porch stairs.
The living room was empty and Meeghan cautiously peeled off her jacket and placed her bag on the couch before creeping into the kitchen. Peter, Melanie and her mother were already seated around the small round table.
“Mom mom mom!” Melanie waved happily.
Peter, engrossed in texting, glanced up to acknowledge his mother.
Meeghan pulled out a chair next to her mom. “So sorry I’m late, after court I did a bit of shopping….”.
She froze mid-sentence when she heard the toilet flush in the hall bathroom.
“Is someone here?”
Peter and Melanie looked up- sensing drama.
Grandma spoke, “Well-”
Max sauntered in the room, unrolling his sleeves.
“Meeghan, how nice of you to finally join us.”
Meeghan shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “Hi”.
“I thought I’d catch you after court but you slipped away pretty quickly.”
“I just did some-”.
Max pulled out his chair and had a seat.
“Shopping. I know. Your credit card charges show up on my Blackberry.”
Max took a calm sip of water.
Meeghan eyed her mother who averted her eyes. The children pretended not to be listening.
“Charming. All business as usual.”
Meeghan’s mother rose. “Thank you so much for coming by, Max. Kids definitely need to spend time with their father.”
Max stood and smoothed his shirt. He kissed both his children on their heads.
“Thank you, Sylvia, for the scrumptious meal.”
Meeghan’s mother, a woman pushing sixty, swooned like a teen.
Meeghan rolled her eyes upon seeing how smitten her mother was with the compliment. She was always so impressed with Max the Great.
“I’ll walk you out.”
Melanie jumped up and gave her dad a bear hug. For a few moments while they embraced, Meeghan felt her heart soften for her almost-ex. The thought of him receiving reports of which brand of tampons she purchased at Walgreens on his PDA brought her back to reality.
Controlling, manipulative, demanding…she repeated the words in her head over and over in an effort not to crack.
“Say bye to dad, Peter”.
Peter nodded.
When Max and Meeghan were in the living room alone the gloves came off.
Meeghan tossed his coat roughly at him.
“What are you doing here? You hate my mother’s cooking- if you want to see the kids just take them out. Must you constantly invade my space?”
Max said nothing for a moment. “You’re right, Meeghan. Next time I’ll call and run my plans by you.”
The world stood still as Meeghan tried to contemplate the fact that her husband had just agreed with her.
“Um. Ok. Thank you. Thank you. Well…I’ll see you in court next week.”
“Would it be alright if I saw you before then?” Max opened the front door.
“What do you mean?”
“I’d like to take you to dinner tomorrow.”
Meeghan shifted her weight from one foot to another.
Max continued, “to discuss the children. Peter, specifically. He seems depressed.”
“Oh sure. Yes. Fine. 8 o’clock is good for me.””
“See you then.”
He closed the door behind him. Meeghan didn’t realize how deprived she’d feel of the standard “goodbye wife” peck on the cheek until it wasn’t so standard anymore.
