Chapter 53

One week after Maeve's disappearance

Michael's POV

The car drove through the gates of Neverland up to the main house where Carmen was already waiting for me. While I was gone, she took care of Nicolas and Charlotte for me, and whenever she needed to solve a business related problem that only she could solve, my mother would take over.

As soon as I got out of the car, she embraced me into a warm hug and for a second it felt like Maeve's arms were wrapped around me.

This past week, I was trying to be strong, trying to hold myself together while expecting a call any minute, telling me that they found her body, but it never came.

The police searched but couldn't find her and eventually they had to get back to their normal routines. They had the suspicion she probably moved on and is already somewhere else.

For me, this meant it was time to go home but it felt like abandoning my wife.

In her mother's arms, I broke down and all the feelings, I've been holding back are finally released from the cage I had built while she softly caressed my back, patiently waiting for me to calm down.

When I finally did, I noticed she also had some tears streaming down her face.

"She'll be back" Carmen told me with a weak smile that made me question if she believes in her words or if she only tries to make me feel better.

We were still in front of my house as I tried to get myself back together before facing my kids.

"What did you tell the kids about where their mother is?" I asked her.

"Business trip" she simply said and I nodded. They're still small, I don't want them to worry.

"She'll be back" Carmen repeated as I stared off into the distance, sliding my sunglasses back on, trying to hold my head up high to stop the tears.

"If she really wanted to die, she would've stayed in that car!"

It was hard for me to believe, that my Maeve, the one that always tried to see the bright side of life, that always put on a smile, the one that made sure everybody was doing okay, that the girl I met in summer of '87, the one that showed me how fun touring can be and the one that showed me what it meant to experience true love, that this person lost all hope and her only solution is to take her own life.

Surely this wasn't all Jared's fault, although I want to make myself believe that to make me feel better about myself but the truth is, she has been depressed before like after the accident, when she had a hard time accepting the circumstances or the uncertainty after her father's death.

More and more depressive episodes of Maeve came to my mind and I started to question if her life went south the moment she met me.

Was I the reason for her misery?

If I wouldn't have knocked her up, that night in Australia, she wouldn't have been in the accident, she wouldn't have turned back to drugs. If we never married, she wouldn't have to deal with the press and the attention that comes with being involved with me. She wouldn't have to pretend nothing happened while grieving the loss of a child with the whole world watching her. She wouldn't need security and she'd have never met Jared. He would've never had the chance to hurt her.

And lastly, she wouldn't have tried to end her life, she'd still be here, as my friend. I'd be miserable not having all of her but she'd be safe and healthy.

"Maeve is strong, she'll be back." By now I realized Carmen wasn't trying to convince me, she was trying to convince herself.

"She's strong, but there's only so much one can take. She's been walking straight through hell with a smile covered on her face for a long time now and neither of us noticed her suffering." I said coldly, knowing Carmen is just as much at fault as I am.

Without any further exchange in words, I walked inside, wanting to see my kids, hopefully they can make my mind shut off for just a second.

*****

Maeve's POV

"I'm sorry, Mae. Today'll be busy, I can't keep you entertained." Sean told me as soon as we entered the diner. "Chester called in sick, I'm alone in the kitchen..." he whined.

Ava rolled her eyes at him before putting her apron over her uniform. "You'll be fine! Mark'll be here in the evening, it's payday! Yay!" She threw her hands up in the air as I smiled lightly at them.

These past days were all the same. I got up early in the morning to deliver newspapers with Ava, we'd come home to Sean cooking breakfast and then we leave for their shifts at the diner where I'd sit in the corner with Sean checking on me every now and then.

Due to my new hair color and Ava's talent in cutting hair, I felt like a human again. My blond hair that I cut off in a moment of rage, weren't cut straight, far from it. Apparently I looked like my hair got cut by a toddler but Ava fixed it.

While cutting my hair, Ava noticed my necklace and she questioned if this was my husband's name. I simply nodded without any further explanation. To this day, I haven't told them, who I really was. It's been a while since I've had the chance to meet people that don't use me to get to my husband or money.

The marks Jared left on my body were completely gone by now which along with the dyed hair, made me feel better about myself in general. I was able to look at myself again without feeling pitty. Of course appearance couldn't heal me but it was a step in the right direction.

Around noon it became busy for Sean and I noticed his distress. Today, I felt good and I couldn't help but get up and ask if he needs my help. I've been watching him this past week and besides that, I worked as chef for the legendary Michael Jackson, I think I am qualified to help out in a diner.

"You want to help?" Sean asked unbelievingly while I eagerly nodded my head, suddenly getting excited about this new task. It has been a while since I've actively worked in a kitchen.

"Do you know anything about cooking?"

"A little" I told him and when Ava entered the kitchen with three new orders Sean sighed heavily before placing his white hat on top of my head.

*****

Ava was pleasantly surprised as she found me following Sean's orders in the kitchen and I think Sean was also surprised at my speed and techniques because when the lunch rush was over, he turned to me with his eyebrow slightly raised.

I was just cleaning up my working space when I felt his eyes on me and when I looked up, he asked "this is not your first time, working in a kitchen, is it?"

With an innocent look in my eyes, I shook my head. Ava just walked in, bringing the dirty dishes to the sink before observing the situation. She kept quiet while Sean spoke.

"What was your position? Let me guess! Pâtissier?" I shook my head.

"Entremetier?" Again I shook my head.

"You definitely worked in a better place than a diner if you know what I am talking about!" This time I nodded. Ava looked back and forth between Sean and I, she was visibly confused.

"I don't know what you're talking about" she raised her hand like in school when you wanted to say something.

Sean took a quick glance at her. "I'm trying to guess in what position Mae was working, she's too experienced to just cook for a hobby."

Ava's eyes looked at me, I was already looking at her. "Tell us! Now I'm curious!"

"I was the chef" I said with a little hint of pride in my voice.

"You were? Wow, that's amazing... but aren't you a little too..." Sean didn't finish the sentence, instead he stared awkwardly at me.

"Too young or too female?" I asked but he kept quiet as I walked up to him. I was in front of him when I said "I am just that good" before walking past him, making sure I'd brush his shoulder as I walked out the kitchen to help Ava clean the tables.

Ava's POV

My mouth hung wide open as I stared at what just happened. Sean's fingers snapped in front of my face, getting me out of my trance.

"Oh my god! I think, I really like that girl! She has fire!" I told Sean who just shook his head.

But he didn't get it. Here we just got to see the person she really is, behind all that dark clouds is a real person and she's confident, she's hard-working and she's sassy. I like her already and I am happy that she decided to show herself.

For the evening Mae helped Sean prepare everything and when there weren't any costumers, I was sitting by their side, telling them all about how many compliments we got for today's food.

"Even the major was pleased!"

Sean rolled his eyes at me. "The major? Really, Av?"

Mae looked up from her cutting board. "What's wrong with the mayor?"

"Sean, don't" I held my finger up at him in a warning but he didn't listen.

"The mayor asked Ava for a dance at last year's spring ball, we were working there..."

"So?" Mae looked at him confused.

"I later found them making out behind the dumpster."

Mae mouth opened just a little. "Okay, that's not so bad, I guess-"

"His daughter is around our age" Sean added making Mae's chin literally fall off. Her right hand immediately covered her mouth.

"Yeah, now you know it... I got daddy issues" I folded my hands in front of my chest as I rolled my eyes as I heard Sean laugh at me.

"You're not the only one with daddy issues" I heard Mae's voice.

"You don't have a father either?" I asked but she shook her head.

"I had a father, but I never had a dad. He was barely home and when he was, his mind was somewhere far away. To this day, I am not sure if he ever loved me because I for sure never felt his love." She spoke in a sad voice when we suddenly heard a different voice.

"Sad story, but who are you and what are you doing in my diner?"