Warning: this chapter is heavy on Maggie's parents and their interactions are not good ones.
Maggie pulled into the library parking lot, "the library?" Alex asked.
"Yup I use to work here during high school. I was a great job because it was quiet and I didn't have to interact with anyone. It was also the only one I could get after my aunt gave me a good recommendation." They strolled into the library.
"Hi Miss Emerson." Maggie said as she waved to the women behind the desk. The old lady lit up, "Maggie dear come give me a hug."
Alex stood by as she watched the two. She looked around to find the lobby empty. Ms. Emerson looked to Alex the back at Maggie, "who is this pretty lady you brought with you." She said causing Alex to blush. Maggie grabbled Alex's hand and pulled her closer.
"This is my wife Alex Danvers."
"It is a pleasure to meet you ma'am," Alex said as she held out her hand.
"nonsense call me Trudy. God knows I've been trying to get Maggie here to call me that but she won't budge." Ms. Emerson said as she swatted Alex's hand away and pulled her in for a hug.
"Ms. Emerson is one of the good ones Alex." Maggie said.
"You're right I am. Nobody should be treating you bad Maggie. You are one of the nicest people I know and I'm so happy that you are happy. Now tell me do you have any children?"
Maggie looked to Alex and smiled then back to Ms. Emerson and nodded.
"Well what are you waiting for I need pictures." Alex took out her phone and showed Ms. Emerson.
"Awe he is such a handsome fellow. I am so proud of you Maggie. You have turned into the beautiful young women I always knew you would." Maggie's eyes teared up a little and Ms. Emerson brought her in for another hug as Alex took out another tissue and gave it to Maggie. Maggie laughed and took it thanking Alex. Alex noticed Ms. Emerson's face changed from happy to sad then scared. She whispered something in Maggie's ear causing Maggie to tense up. Alex noticed Ms. Emerson was looking at something or someone behind her. Alex turned to the entrance of the library and froze herself. Just one look and she immediately knew who they were; they were Maggie's parents.
"Shit." Alex said under her breath. She had a feeling they were going to pop up somewhere because of how small the town was but they picked the worst moment possible. Alex turned back to Maggie who was holding Ms. Emerson's hands as they had a quiet conversation between the two of them.
"Maggie dear please breath when I say this, your parents have just walked into the library." Ms. Emerson whispered to Maggie. Maggie released the hug and held onto Ms. Emerson's hands as if they were the only things grounding her at the moment.
"I know this will be tough but remember that you have Alex and I to support you. Your father is a cruel man do not let him get to you." Ms. Emerson looked into Maggie's terrified eyes, "show your parents how badass of a cop you are." This got Maggie to smile and straighten up.
"I can do this," Maggie whispered back.
"There's my girl. Now stand strong and proud." This was the last thing Ms. Emerson said before letting go of Maggie's hands and returning to behind the desk. Alex filled Ms. Emerson's place.
"Margaret?" A sweet voice said as a stillness filled the air. Maggie looked into Alex's eyes first with a scared vulnerable look with morphed into her hard cop look. Maggie gave Alex a slight nod before turning around to face the two people who had caused the most hurt in her life.
Maggie's mother looked at Maggie with such love and happiness on her face you wouldn't have known she kicked out her own daughter. The look through Alex off because why would this own look at someone she thought was an abomination.
When Maggie's father heard her mother say her name, he stiffened and his face went cold and emotionless. He placed the books down he was returning and then turned towards Maggie with his hands balled into fists.
"You have some nerve coming back here." He said with such malice. Maggie's mother's face changed from it's happy look to a now petrified look.
"Dad it's a pleasure to see you too." Maggie said hoping her father didn't pick up on the hilt of insecurity in her voice.
"You are a disgusting piece of filth and you have no right to call me your father. You are nothing to me you hear me nothing!" He yells at her.
"Dear please," Maggie's mother says horrified by what her husband had just said.
He turns to her with rage in his eyes, towering over her, "do you see this abomination as your daughter? Do you?" She was terrified to answer truthfully, "no."
Maggie's heart broke, "there is nothing wrong with me why can't you see that. I'm the same girl you raised who likes hunting and fishing with you. I'm the same girl you drove to softball practice and who you would get ice cream with after I would hit a home run."
Maggie's dad shook his head and stepped forward, "you are living in sin and until you see that you will never be my daughter. You will burn in hell!"
Alex had had enough of his torment and stepped in between what little space was left Maggie and her father, "you need to take a step back now sir." Alex said in her special agent commanding voice.
"And who do you think you are to be talking to me like that woman?" Maggie's father said as he stood tall asserting his failed attempt at asserting his dominance.
"I am Maggie's wife and I will say again you need to talk a step back." Alex was fuming at the man. She quickly looked over to Maggie's mother and saw hurt in her eyes. This woman was not acting like someone who would throw their daughter to the curb. Maggie saw the hurt in her mother's eyes too before focusing back on her father.
"How dare you bring another sinful dyke into my neighborhood." He said as he pulled his fight back to hit Alex. Her instincts kicked in and before he could make any contact, Alex had him pinned against the counter.
"Don't you dare try to lay another finger on me or my wife or I swear to god you will be begging me to kill you. Do you understand me?"
Maggie's father turned his face towards Alex's only to spit in it. Alex was so disgusted she threw him across the room.
Maggie immediately went to Alex's side, "babe it's not worth it." Maggie said wiping Alex's face. Alex glared at Maggie's father, "you should be ashamed of yourself."
"Margaret I-." Maggie's mother tried to speak before her father yelled, "don't you dare speak to her." Her mother flinched at her husbands voice and looked her husband then to her daughter. She was torn but ultimately stepped aside and let Maggie and Alex leave. She rushed to her husband's side to help him up.
Alex and Maggie left immediately after Maggie's mother moved.
"Maggie I think it would be best if I drove." Alex said as she saw how dazed and out of it Maggie looked. Maggie fumbled with the keys trying to get them out of her pocket. She gladly gave them to Alex and got into the passenger seat. Her hands were shaking her mind was blank and body felt numb. Alex slowly drove out of the parking lot, she expected to drive back to Erin's house until she heard Maggie spew directions to her. Eventually they ended up at what looked like a beach. When they got out of the car, Maggie held onto Alex for dear life. Alex let Maggie dictate where they walked. After staying by the edge of the shore for a few minutes Maggie directed Alex onto the dock. She walked them to the edge before sitting down dangling her feet over the edge.
Alex sat down next to Maggie and pulled Maggie in wrapping her arm around Maggie tightly. Maggie sunk into Alex's chest. The shock of the previous events had begun to wear off and emotions began flooding in. Alex sat there as Maggie processed everything internally. There was something odd about the situation that struck Alex and that was Maggie's mother. Throughout the entire fiasco not once did anger or disappointment cross the woman's face. One moment stood out to Alex the most and that was when Maggie's mother flinched curling herself inward at her husband's voice. Alex knew something more was going on and hoped by the time the trip was over she could figure it out.
"Thank you," was the first words Maggie said.
Alex kissed Maggie's head, "there is no need for that I will always be by your side and protect you when you need it."
"No one has ever stood up to him like that, nobody including people in Blue Springs. He has always had a temper and when get would get mad no one would stand in his way."
Alex shyly asked, "did he every… did he ever hit you before he kicked you out."
Maggie was taken back by that question, "no never. To him I was daddy's perfect little angel and could never make him angry. Maybe that's why he blew up so much. That night though I couldn't recognize him. I will never forget the look in his eyes as he yelled at me, I thought he was going to murder me. I was lucky to come away with only a few cuts and bruises."
Alex was deep in thought, "what is it Alex?" Maggie asked.
Alex shook her head, "it's nothing."
"Come on babe I know it's something you have your thinking face on."
"Your dad, he was so dominant and aggressive but your mom, she looked terrified and…." Looking for the right word, "submissive maybe. I don't know if it's just me but when he yelled at her she flinched."
"You think he's hitting her." It dawned on Maggie.
"From what we saw today it wouldn't surprise me. I've seen a few cases before but don't know enough to fully evaluate the situation."
"We should go back and ask Aunt Erin, maybe she would know."
"Are you ready or do you want to stay here a little longer."
"I want to go back. I need to see Zack. Maybe we can come here tomorrow with Aunt Erin and Zack. Maybe have a picnic or something."
When Alex and Maggie walked in the house, they saw Aunt Erin sitting on the couch covered in a sleepy Zack. Erin turned her head and smiled until she saw the red eyes and tear stains on their faces. Maggie quickly picked Zack up and walked into the bedroom.
Erin got up and stood next to Alex, "by the looks of it you met her parents." Erin said in defeat.
Alex nodded, "we were at the library visiting Ms. Emerson when they walked in. Her dad is… well he's something."
"Zack he is a wonderful young boy. We had such a good time and if he didn't tire out first I would have been right behind him."
Alex laughed, "yea he is an adventurous and energetic little one that's for sure."
"Come lets make some coffee. I have a feeling we're in for a conversation."
By the time the coffee was ready and poured, Maggie joined them.
"I'm guessing Alex told you." Maggie said sipping her coffee.
Erin nodded, "some but not all."
"We also ran into Frankie, what happened to him?"
"It a shame really, his first year playing for Nebraska his leg got shattered in a tackle and hasn't been the same since. He dropped out of college, then his mother died and his father left him to pay the hospital bills. Now he spends his time digging graves and drinking alcohol. Needless to say he is digging his own grave."
Even though he was a total ass she did feel compassion for him and what happened.
"Do you think dad could be hitting mom?" Maggie blurted out.
Erin was taken back by the question, "that is a very blunt question and to answer it definitely not. Your father may be a bad man but he loves his wife. The are always together and seem happy."
"But have you ever just hang out with mom without dad."
"A few times but you know her, she is very shy and we would be shopping typically for flowers or something. At family reunions she would tell stories of things they've done together. I can't seem him doing such a thing."
After Erin's answer the topic changed but Alex wasn't convinced yet. For dinner they decided to order dinner since everyone was strung out from the days events. Right as they were about to go to bed there was a knock on the door.
Maggie opened the door and gasped, "mom?"
What do you think happened?
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