Maggy's Child Read Online Free PDF Page A

his father, was there in his voice.
    “Yes,” Maggy admitted, taking a deep breath. “I dated him.”
    “I bet Dad thinks you still do.”
    “I’m sure he doesn’t.”
    “I bet he does. I bet he thinks that’s where you run off to at night.”
    “David, I don’t run off anywhere at night. I’m almost always home, and you know it.”
    “Dad says you sneak out after I’m in bed. He doesn’t like you going out at night. He says it’s trashy, the way you’re always running off to bars and parties and things and leaving me here alone.”
    “David, none of that is true!” Maggy had to force herself to take a deep, calming breath before she said anything more. For all his life she had sheltered David, doing her best to insure that he would not be injured in the crossfire of her and Lyle’s private war. Lyle, on the other hand, used David shamelessly as a weapon against her. He always had, because David was both the chain that bound her to Lyle and the one thing that could pierce her to the heart.
    “You went out tonight!” There was accusation in his voice.
    “You were hardly alone, sweetheart. Dad was here, and Gran, and Louella, and Herd.”
    “But you did go to a bar.” His tone wouldn’t have been out of place in a prosecutor.
    Maggy strove for patience. “David, I went out with Sarah and one of her friends to try to cheer her up. You know how sad she’s been since she and Tony split up.”
    “Are you and Dad going to get a divorce, too? He says you might, if you keep running around at night. He says he doesn’t know how much more of your shenanigans he can take.”
    At the fear in his voice that his truculence could not quite hide, Maggy felt a slow anger start to burn in her belly. If there was any justice in the universe, Lyle Forrest would one day suffer the tortures of the damned for what he was doing to David.
    “Dad didn’t mean it, David. We won’t get a divorce. I promise you. Now, you need to go back to bed, darling. You have to get up early in the morning.”
    “Why? It’s Saturday.”
    “You have a golf tournament tomorrow. Did you forget?”
    David groaned. “I wish I could. I hate golf! I don’t see why I have to play in that stupid tournament. Anyway, I’m no damn good.”
    “You watch your language, young man.” Maggy frowned, and pointed an admonishing forefinger at him to underscore her words. David shrugged in silent, sulky apology. “And you are too good.”
    David shook his head gloomily. “Dad says that if I just keep at it I’ll improve. He says that every Forrest is just about pro material on a golf course. But I’m not. He should say every Forrest but me.”
    The hurt in his eyes banished her annoyance. Maggy sighed, crossing her arms over her chest to keep from reaching out and drawing him to her, which she knew he’d resist.
    “You don’t have to be like Dad, or any other Forrest, David. You’re you. A unique individual. Who doesn’t have to be almost pro material at golf. Maybe you can be just kind of good, and play because you enjoy the game.”
    “Yeah, right. Tell that to Dad.” Looking dejected, David reached around her for the knob.
    “I will, if you want me to. Talk to Dad, I mean. About how you feel about golf.” At Maggy’s quiet offer as she stepped out of his path, David glanced sideways at her.
    “No, don’t. I don’t want you and Dad to fight anymore. You’re always fighting.”
    Anger was there in his glance and his voice. Maggy felt a stab of pain.
    “Does it seem that way to you? I’m sorry.”
    “No, you’re not. It’s your fault.”
    More pain. Maggy tried not to let her son’s words pierce her so, but she couldn’t help it. As the person she loved most in the world, David possessed the power to wound her as no one else could.
    For an instant they were both silent as the aftermath of David’s accusation reverberated in the air between them.
    “Mom.” Without looking around, one hand still on the knob, David spoke to