Page 18 of Ransom

She gives me a wan smile. "Yeah, well, this one's gonna cost me. I was funding the project; now I'm stuck with a mess."

I open my mouth to respond, but I'm cut off by Max's excited shout. He's running towards us, plastic pumpkin overflowing with candy.

"Aunt Blair! I won a goldfish!"

He proudly holds up a clear plastic bag with a tiny orange fish inside. Maggie trails behind him, looking exhausted but happy.

"That's great, buddy," I say, ruffling his hair. "Let's get you and your mom home, okay? It's getting late."

As we say our goodbyes and head out of the square, I glance back at Angie. She's smiling and chatting with the next customer, but I can see the worry in her eyes. It seems like everyone in Badger Falls is carrying their own burdens these days.

It’s not life or death, but it still a burden.

Though I don’t think anyone would choose what Maggie’s going through over carrying their own load.

I can’t blame them.

I helpMaggie tuck an over-excited Max into bed, the fish circling in a hastily made fish bowl on his nightstand. The sugar rush from all the Halloween candy has him bouncing off the walls, but halfway through a story, his eyes start to droop.

Maggie reads right to the end, her voice low and hypnotic to the point that my own eyes close. When she's finished, I open my eyes in time to see her brush Max's wild hair off his forehead and press a kiss to the top of his head. Then she just lays her head on the pillow beside him and watches him.

My chest tightens so much that I feel like I can't draw a full breath. Leaving them in their peaceful little bubble, I head to the back porch and grip the railing. This time feels different. Maggie feels different. I'm trying to chalk that up to this being her third time fighting cancer, but it's not just that.

The first time, she was a teenager. We both thought she was invincible, and she flew through treatments. The second time, she was in her early thirties, and while it was a blow to get the diagnosis, she was so confident she would beat it again that she made me believe it.

This time, everything's heavier.

There's so much more for her to lose. There's Max.

When she came home pregnant after her "I beat Cancer" trip, I was terrified for her. Her body had just been through so much, I didn't see how carrying a baby would be in her best interest. But she was so calm, so certain that she was supposed to have that baby, that I did what I always end up doing with her and went along for the ride.

It turns out we were both right. It was hard on her body. Moving in here to help when things got tougher for her onlymade sense. The plan was to help her get through the pregnancy and the first few weeks, then head back home to Dad. Or, more likely, take all the money I'd been saving up for years and buy my own little place. Properties around here are cheap.

But somehow, it was never the right time to leave.

Then, Dad got sick and passed in what felt like days.

Then I was the one that didn't want to leave.

Yeah, I might seem like a loner. I've always had trouble figuring out how I'm supposed to act with people. That stuff, social stuff, never came easily to me.

Except with Maggie.

And Ransom.

Not fucking going there.

The door squeaks. "Blair, you okay?" Maggie asks softly.

I nod and follow her inside.

In the living room, Maggie sinks into the corner of the sofa with a weary sigh. I settle into the armchair across from her, kicking off my shoes.

Maggie looks at me, her eyes shining. "Thank you," she says softly.

"For what?" I ask, puzzled.

"Everything," she replies. "For always being here. For putting your own life aside."