Chapter 10

Maya's POV

There were a lot of people doing a lot of congratulating in a small space. Cammie promised to keep an eye on Cory while I stepped outside.

"Hey," Riley said as I stepped out.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah, just wanted some air."

"I understand that. What did the doctor say?"

"Everything is fine. Thankfully nothing's wrong with the baby. I was so nervous when Alexis lost hers," Riley admitted.

"I know, I'm happy nothing's wrong."

"What about you?"

"My doctor's appointment is tomorrow." Ever since my mom died of cancer and my previous lifestyle, my doctor wants me to visit one to check every year.

"What time? Want me to come?"

"You can if you want, it's before breakfast."

I see Riley go pale.

"Riley, are you okay?" I asked a little nervous at the sudden change.

"Well what do we have here?" my blood started to boil.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" I asked.

"I want to see my son."

"Over my dead body you'll see your son. You shouldn't even be this close to Riley. How are you walking around so freely?" I demand.

I heard the door open.

"Hey mom, Cory…" I turn around, Emma is frozen.

"Emma, go back inside. I have everything under control."

Cammie's POV

I was sitting at the little table with Alex and Cory, who were drawing with crayons and paper Joy had brought out.

"Aunt Cammie, can I have more ice cream?" Cory asked, chocolate surrounding his mouth. I try to hold a straight face while responding.

"I don't know. That's up to your mom."

"Please," he begged.

"Hold on," I turned in my seat and saw Emma close by. I motioned for her and she came over.

"What's up?"

"Cory here wants to know if he can have more ice cream. I told Maya I would keep an eye on him while she stepped outside." She looked at her brother and chuckled. "Will you ask her?"

"It'll probably be a no, but give me a sec."

I turned back around to the two five year olds in front of me who had returned to drawing.

"Emma get back inside. I have everything under control," I heard Maya say. That didn't sound good.

I saw Eric walking toward the door. I looked outside and saw Maya and Riley next to each other. Riley was pale, Emma was frozen and Maya and Eric were pissed.

"Leave now, Gardner." That last name caused Lucas to start moving with Farkle and Grant trying to contain him. Zay went outside to Riley.

"I will see my son. You can't keep him from me. Oh and Hart tell my brother I said hi." Only then did I see who they were talking to walking away.

Everyone reentered the pharmacy.

"What did he mean by see his son?" Lucas looked like he was seeing red.

"Lucas calm down," Maya said walking toward him almost in a hurry, like she's seen this before. He reacts almost instantly. "Look everyone is fine, okay?" she says standing in front of him. Huh.

"Well, mom just called. She said Cammie turn up your phone and that everyone needs to come back now," Maddie said smirking my direction. I checked my phone and sure enough Joe, my mom and Aunt Abby have all tried calling.

Josh Abram's POV

Why did he have to show up? When did he show up? And now of all times. I'm happy and he has to show up and ruin things.

"Hey, you okay?" Maya asks, a slightly worried expression on her face. I look around and see everyone is up the street already.

"Yeah, sorry. Just zoned out."

"You sure?"

"Yeah," I gave her a quick kiss on the lips." Come on," I say taking her hand, she smiles.

"Wait," Joy says, "Mom and Dad just showed up and want to meet Maya."

"What?" Maya and I ask simultaneously.

"Awe, look at you two. Both equally nervous, it's too cute," Joy mocks, jokingly.

"Josh!" my aunt calls entering, "Oh, I thought we were going to miss you." She gives me a quick hug. "And you must be Maya. It's nice to finally meet you." She releases me and hugs Maya.

"It's nice to finally put a face to the name Josh has been nonstop gushing about for 6 years," my uncle says.

My aunt, Maya and Joy start talking about something, so my uncle pulls me to the back room.

"Hey, what's up?"

"I don't like the idea of you dating Maya." What?!

"Well then you're going to hate this because we aren't dating, we're engaged."

"What?!"

"Yeah, she makes me so happy. I love her. What have you go against her anyway? You just met her."

"I've heard enough about her. I just don't want to see you throw your life away over some girl. Especially one like her." My blood was boiling. Was he seriously saying this?!

"Hold on," I said cutting him off. "What do you mean especially a girl like her? I'm extremely lucky to have Maya in my life."

"Lucky?" he scoffs. My eyes widen. I cannot believe him right now.

"Yeah, lucky."

"Trouble follows her around. I've seen all the news surrounding her. And she has two kids, one that would've put her pregnant at 16, 17 and this whole thing with your brother." Now I really need to interrupt. No way was I letting him blame Maya for him.

"Now hold on a minute. If you really paid attention to that then you'd know that the thing with Charlie is not her fault. It was his. Secondly, those two kids, neither one are biological. The daughter is a complicated story, her mother left her after she was born. Maya was around a lot so she thought Maya was her mother. Coming from a similar situation Maya didn't have the heart to correct her when she started calling Maya mom. So Maya took her in. the little boy was because her best friend wasn't ready to be a mom. But because my sick and twisted brother raped her and she became pregnant. Understanding that her friend wasn't ready Maya volunteered to adopt him. and it hurts because I know she wants a kid of her own so bad, but can't. and it sucks because I can't fix that. But those kids are so lucky to have someone who loves them as much as Maya has. She would literally put her life in danger to protect those two. In fact she has. She was shot trying to protect Emma. I almost lost my chance with the person I care about most in this world," I was almost in tears I was so mad. "So yeah, I am lucky. Lucky that someone like Maya would even talk to me let alone agree to marry me. The fact that I can share even a fraction of a day for the rest of my life with someone as amazing as Maya makes me the luckiest and happiest man alive. I will do anything to make sure that Maya and those kids are safe and happy for the rest of my life." My uncle just stands there.

I turn around and see my aunt glaring at my uncle, Joy with her phone out and mouth and eyes wide and Maya shocked tears threatening.

"Oh my god. How much of that did you hear?" I say rushing to Maya.

"Do you mean that?" she questioned looking at me.

"Every word. I love you so, so much."

"I love you, too."

Macey's POV

We all made it back in almost record time.

"Where's Maya and Josh?" Joe asked when we entered. Well almost all of us.

"Don't know," Grant muttered.

"I could've sworn they were right behind us," Bex continued.

"Well there's no point in meeting yet anyway because their plane has been delayed slightly," Abby says.

"Who's plane?" I question.

"We will fill everyone in when we get the whole group here. We will reconvene in 30 minutes," Joe says.

I roamed the halls for a little bit thinking back to the conversation Eric, Emma and I had in town before making it to the pharmacy.

"Today has been so much fun," Emma said.

"Yeah it has," I replied looking toward Eric, who was sitting across from us. He's seemed so distracted all day.

"Eric?"

"Hm?"

"You okay?" he just nods. "You sure? You've just seemed so distracted today."

"There is actually something I've needed to tell you both." Emma leans back, crosses her arms and rolls her eyes. What am I missing?

"How long this time?" she asks.

"What am I missing?"

"He's being deployed again. How long this time?"

"Emma, it's my job."

"How long?"

"A year," he replies. She scoffs and starts to leave.

"Emma…" he starts.

"What? I told Maddie, Brie and Kaylee I'd meet them at the Pharmacy." And she left.

"Oh you've got to be kidding me?" I hear Emma exclaim. I didn't realize I was this close to her room.

"Everything okay?" I asked peeking my head in.

"Is this seriously the uniform?" she asks gesturing to it.

"Yeah, but it's not that bad though. I mean it's not great, but it could be worse."

"You haven't actually seen the results of what I went through, have you?" she asks looking at me while walking toward the door and closing it.

I shook my head no. She walked into the bathroom.

"There's a reason I wear long sleeves or a sweatshirts and pants whenever I go anywhere. I used to not, but too many questions I didn't want to answer were asked." I was confused. She walked out wearing shorts and a tank top.

When I saw the scars, I was shocked by how many there were. How could someone put a five year old through that much. And Lucas said Josh was worse. I wonder if he knows about this.

"Just so you know only you, Maya, Riley and Zay have seen these. Not even my dad or Uncle Luke have." I gave her a questioning look. "Your face gives away a lot."

"Speaking of your dad, I was thinking about the conversation at the diner. You didn't seem surprised."

"That's cause I wasn't. He always does this. He's always looking for a way to get away. To leave," she said with certainty and anger lacing her voice.

"I'm sure that's not true."

"What else could it be? I hardly ever see him anymore. I know he doesn't have to take all of these, especially the longer ones. And I know that because of Maybeck and Will. He chooses these. The only person who has chosen me over anything has been Maya." There was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Emma called.

"It's Maya." Emma opened the door.

"You okay? I heard about your dad and the uniforms." Emma walked over to her closet and started putting on a hoodie.

"Yeah I'm fine," she responded while sliding sweatpants over her shorts.

Maya turned toward me. "Everyone's here, we're meeting now."

Emma started to leave, too.

"Sorry, baby girl. But adults only for this one."

"Okay. I'm going to join Maddie, Brie and Kaylee in the library until the welcome back dinner." Emma went one way, while Maya and I went the other.

"Welcome to the club by the way," Maya said to me after we walked in silence for a bit.

"What?"

"Emma doesn't trust just anyone with what she showed you. Not even her dad or uncle know the extent of it. She's really opening up to you."

"Did Charlie really do all that to her?" Maya tensed.

"Yeah. And more and now he's walking free as if he didn't do anything," she seethed. "And somehow he got the restraining order Riley had on him lifted. And she's freaking out because now he wants to see their kid and claiming that he will one way or another." Their kid? Him and Riley had a kid?

"Maybe this meeting will get us some answers."

We walked into the classroom that was in the secure hallway that also had Riley and Zay's, and Lucas's rooms attached.

"Hey Macey." No way.

"Tina?"

That's it. What did yall think. A little bit of drama in this one. So are you all confused by Josh? If you are good. if you aren't are you sure? Anyway like I said let me know what yall thought.