“Yes, can I help you?” I step forward, shake his hand, and indicate for him to sit back down as I take my seat behind my desk.
I don’t have anything valuable in my office, so I keep it unlocked. It’s not unusual for some of the people I talk to to stop by and leave a note for me while I’m away from my desk. But seeing a Marine fully dressed in my office had the hair on the back of my neck standing up.
“I’m Sergeant Lions. I’ll cut to the chase, sir,” he says, pulling out a folder from the bag at his feet and laying it in front of me. “Major Drummond has gone missing.”
“What?” I nearly shoot out of my seat, thinking of running to Maggie. But I stop myself, knowing I need to hear him out first.
“The information is classified, but what we are able to tell you is that he was working on a project for the Pentagon. It’s similar to what your experience was while under his command.”
When I was active military I was over reconnaissance, and Major was the one to gather the intel. He was our lead commanding officer, but he did everything from behind a desk. Most of the time. Every once in a blue moon he would have to go out in the field. This was rare, especially since he was a single father, and he was never put in any dangerous situations. The worst-case scenarios play though my mind, and I realize this man wouldn’t be sitting here in front of me if everything was okay. This is worst-case scenario, and I need to get my head together.
“Tell me straight, is he dead?” I clench my fists under my desk and brace for the impact of his words.
“From our intel, we have every reason to believe he is still alive. He was captured sometime within the last forty-eight hours, but he was able to contact us and give positive details that I’m not at liberty to share.”
“What are you able to share exactly?” I grit my teeth as impatience claws at my neck.
“We don’t have any idea where he is or what’s happening to him right now. Unofficially, I’m telling you more than I’m allowed to, but I’m doing everything I can to give you the courtesy I would expect were the roles reversed. Officially, I’m here to give you his living will and inform you that you’re now the legal guardian of Maggie Lynn Drummond.”
Look down at the open folder and see the portion that’s highlighted. Everything is laid out in black and white with clear instructions that were witnessed and notarized. Major made me the guardian of his daughter were anything to happen to him. And, since Maggie is still legally a minor for another month, that means that I’m in charge or her.
I sit in the chair as my heartbeat pounds in my ears. Maggie belongs to me now.
Chapter 11
Maggie
“How are you feeling?” Ms. Petty asks, looking down at the notes I’m making.
I give her a fake smile, one that’s so common it almost feels real. It comes easy, too easy. It’s not that I don’t like Ms. Petty, it’s just that I don’t seem to have a reason to smile. But when you don’t smile, people will ask you what’s wrong, and I got sick of having to lie and say everything was fine when it’s not. I’m broken. He took a piece of me when he left, and he didn’t even look back. My pride won’t let my true emotions show, so I’m sticking with the fake it until you make it motto. But the problem is, nothing has changed since the day he left.
For a while I kept thinking he would come back, but he didn’t. He’s never going to, and as much as I’ve tried to move on, it’s not working. Over time, I’ve gotten better at the fake smile. Moving through the motions. Wanting to get through this last year of school. I’m trying to graduate early if I can, and so far, it looks like I can. I hope that starting the next chapter of my life will help me not feel so numb. If I move past this stage the lost feelings I’m having might go away and make me feel less aimless. I have no direction in my life, and I hate that I feel this way. Hate that he made me feel this way.
“I think I’m ready,” I tell her, closing my notebook and shutting my book. I have to be ready. I’ve been preparing for my SATs for what feels like forever. I only had to do this test and pass my finals and then I’d be done. No coming back after winter break.
“That’s great.” Ms. Petty beams down at me, always a little too happy for my taste. It can be so wearing. I glance over at Zack, who’s staring at her with giant puppy dog eyes, wanting her attention. All the guys do. It’s not hard to get why so many of them have signed up for the after-school program. It’s written on their faces. I have to admit it’s a little funny to watch them drool over the teacher.
I slide my stuff in my bag and pull out my phone to check the time. It’s almost five, and I’m disappointed I still haven’t heard from my dad. He hardly ever has to go on trips for work. Most of what he does is here. Not that I know a lot about what he does for work. What I do know is, whatever he does must be top secret. He told me he shouldn’t be gone too long, but it’s been five days and I’m starting to get worried. I haven’t heard so much as a peep from him. Maybe he feels more comfortable being away since I’m almost eighteen and Alice lives with us. Maybe he isn’t so worried that he has to check in as much as before.
I head out of the room and toward my Jeep in the parking lot. I pull up Alice’s number and hit call.
“Hey,” she answers, her voice sounding a little down.
“What’s wrong?”
Alice hasn’t been great lately, and to top it off she didn’t enroll in college. Something is off with her and Sam, and I can’t figure out what it is. When Sam and I ask her, she says nothing, but I’m not buying it.
“I’m at the doctor’s. Think I have a stomach bug or something,” she mumbles into the phone. I cringe. Alice is the worst sick person ever. You’d think the world is ending when she catches something.
“I’ll come and sit with you. Where is your doctor’s office?”
“No, it’s fine. I’m about to head home.”
“Okay. I’ll make you some chicken noodles and mashed potatoes.”
“That sounds divine.” She almost moans into the phone, and my lips twitch. Food is the one thing that can always perk her up, but Alice is a terrible cook. Luckily for our house, I know what I’m doing around the kitchen or we’d all starve to death. “You hear from your dad?”
I slide into my Jeep, and the nervous feeling about him returns. Alice knows I’ve been worried about it. “No.” The line goes quiet. “I’m sure it’s fine.” I try to reassure us both.
Alice is so soft hearted and is probably worrying more than I am. She’s gotten close to my dad since she came to stay with us. Having grown up with two shitty parents, I think she’s savoring having others really care about her.
“You know the Major. He’ll likely be back by the end of the week being a pain in our asses about something.”