Skipped Thanksgiving Because of My Family's Favoritism novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: What Maxine Saw

Maxine called the front desk at midnight, and the guard woke me by knocking on my door.

I took it in the director's empty office.

I picked up the receiver, and before I could say anything she was shouting.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Maxine..."

"Why didn't you tell any of us? You knew he was lying! You stood there in that lobby and let me yell at you, and you knew!"

"I told you in the lobby. I told you on the phone."

"You should have shoved it in my face! You should have made me listen!"

"I offered to play it for you three days ago."

"I know you did!"

Her voice cracked right down the middle.

I heard something hit a wall on her end, and then a long, rattling breath.

I waited.

"I watched it four times," she said, much smaller. "The first time I thought it was fake, like Bridget said. The second time I looked for the cut. There's no cut."

"No."

"The third time I just listened to his voice. He sounds so happy, Elliot. Listen to him laugh. He's telling you how it was easy, and he's laughing."

"I know."

"He said I'd fight a bus for him."

"He did."

"I would have." She started to cry. "I'd have thrown myself in front of one. I told him that in April, when he said his heart might stop. I told him I'd run into the road for him. He wrote it down in his notes app and said he'd remember."

I held the receiver away from my ear for a moment, because I could not stand it.

Then I put it back.

"Max."

"I stood on those stairs and watched them pour dirty water on you."

I said nothing.

"I want to tell you what I saw," she said. "I've been trying to say it for an hour. Can I?"

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