Chapter 33

October 1993 - Neverland Ranch

Jared's POV

While standing outside in the cool evening's breeze I watched Maeve and her children having dinner, like always they had one plate set for Michael.

'Just in case' she once told me.

Whereas I understood that she had to keep her shit together for the sake of the children, I couldn't really understand why she still defended him.

Not once did a bad word slip out of her mouth about her husband. He wasn't there when she needed him the most, but I was there and watching her break down made me hate him.

I hate Michael!

For what he made Maeve go through. She was home when the police searched Neverland, where fear was written all over her face and both children were crying because they didn't know what was going on.

She was broken but needed to be strong for the children who keep asking and asking about their father. Maeve, the good soul she is, tells them all about how Michael travels the world, performs in front of millions of people and how happy he makes sick children in hospitals wherever he goes.

Her way of telling the children about their father's whereabouts makes him sound like a superhero. Obviously the children are too young to understand what's really going on but in my opinion there's no need to make him sound better than he is.

*****

When I walked the grounds of Neverland the next time it was already dark, but to my surprise there was still light on in the main house. I started walking towards the house and a smile appeared on my lips when I noticed Maeve sitting outside.

She had a blanket wrapped around her body with her right hand hanging out, a lit cigarette in her hand as smoke was coming out of her mouth.

A mug of what I assumed was tea was standing in front of her on the table. With my flashlight I signaled her that I was approaching. I started doing this after countless times I scared her by simply appearing out of the dark.

"It's just me..." I warned her and walked up to where she was sitting.

"I was already wondering when you'd show up" she laughed.

"Oh yeah? Why's that?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I know your schedule... aand it's nice to talk to an adult for a change..."

Her hand moved the cigarette to her mouth and I carefully watched her lips close around the stick, sucking before inhaling deeply. After the cigarette left her lips, she blew the smoke into the night's sky.

"Smoking doesn't look good on you" I told her and grabbed the cig out of her hands. She didn't protest.

Instead of putting the cigarette out, I put it between my own lips before sitting down on the chair opposite of hers.

Her hands moved around the mug, probably warming herself while her eyes stared at the night's sky.

"In moments like this I really wish my sister was still alive." She admitted before I recalled every piece of information in my head, that I had about her sister.

Nicole, Maeve's older sister, took her own life on this property when she was just 17 years old. I've heard the story, the staff here at Neverland does a lot of talking.

"Maybe she'd know what to do..."

I stared at her, the dim light made it hard for me to see her eyes.

"Do you want to talk to me?" I offered. Her head slowly turned to me as I sensed her thinking about it.

"Do you fancy a drink?" She then asked while getting up, I simply nodded and she disappeared in the house.

Minutes later she returned with a bottle and two glasses.

"You know I'm working" I laughed at her at the sight of expensive looking liquor trapped between her elbow and stomach.

"Don't worry" she placed the bottle on the table, followed by two glasses. She then opened the bottle and poured some of the golden liquid into each glass.

"I'm not going to tell your boss" she added and I laughed awkwardly at her joke.

"He's not talking to me anyway" she held her glass up, saluting, before downing all it's contents at once.

Before taking a sip, I smelled it. "What's that?" I asked before grabbing the bottle, reading the label.

"It's a whisky" Maeve said.

"Yours?" Maeve shook her head. There was no need to answer, I knew it was Michael's. Maeve prefers wine and if she requires something strong, Tequila it is.

The liquor burnt down my throat as I took a sip.

Maeve smirked at me and reached over for her cigarettes, lighting one.

Smoke escaped her mouth, she offered me the lit stick and I accepted. She was quick to light another one for herself before she leaned back into her seat.

Her lit cigarette rested on the ashtray as she reached for her glass and took a huge sip.

"Michael hasn't spoken to you yet? Like at all?"

She shook her head no. The cigarette finding it's way back into her mouth.

"Tell me, what's the plan?"

"There's no plan..." she looked up at me, refilling both our glasses.

"So you're waiting here for him to come back? And then what? Play happy family like nothing happened?"

Her gaze stayed at mine. I could feel her blood boiling from the other side of the table. In my mind I debated wether I had the right to keep on going or not but I felt as her friend, I needed to make her see that this marriage is going no where.

"He hurt you... how can you still stuck with him? You don't deserve any of this, he doesn't deserve YOU!"

She listened closely to everything I had to say while the cigarette tangled between her lips.

"Do you really think he's coming back? Maeve, I think it's time for you to face reality, you lost him. He won't come back and if I were you I'd take actions before he does."

"What do you mean by that?"

"File for divorce before he does. Leave the sinking ship before it's too late!"