The bedroom door was shut, but I could see light peeking from underneath so I knocked. “It’s me,” I said.
No answer.
“I just want to talk to you.”
No answer.
“Please. Your uncle left. It’s only me.”
I heard shuffling, then MJ cracked open the bedroom door. His eyes were bloodshot and watery as if he’d been crying, but I didn’t see any bruises. He returned to the bed and laid down on his side with his back to me. I sat down next to him and placed my hand on his knee.
“So good talk with your uncle then?” I asked.
MJ chuckled and I did too.
“I know he can be a jerk sometimes, but he really does love you and wants what’s best for you.”
No response.
“He’s sacrificing a lot for you.”
“No, he’s not! He’s not doing anything.”
“You’re wrong, MJ. There are things going on you don’t know about. Things he can’t tell you.”
MJ rolled over onto his back. “Like what?”
“I can’t tell you either.”
He turned and faced the wall again. “He ruined everything! I shouldn’t even be here. I should be in Santa Veneta with my friends.”
“Look at me, MJ.” But he refused to turn around, so I talked to his back instead. “You cannot blame any of this on your uncle. It was my idea for you and Sofia to spend the summer in LA, not his. Aunt Maddy can’t take care of you and Sofia right now. You know that.”
“So she sent us away again?”
“No! I swear to you she never said a word. This was all my idea. And it’s just for the summer. I promise. We’re all moving back to Santa Veneta when school starts again in the fall.”
MJ rolled onto his back and looked up at me. “Uncle Alex too?”
“No. Just you, me, and Sofia. But your uncle can come and visit if he wants.”
MJ stared at me. “What’s going on with you and him?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you guys, like, together now? Is that why we’re all here?”
I truly hated lying to him, but Alex and I had decided the less the kids knew about any of this, the better. “MJ, you can’t be serious. Do you honestly think I would date your uncle? C’mon, you’re smarter than that. The house has four bedrooms, one for each of us.”
MJ smiled. “So you’re not doing it?”
“Are you and Olivia doing it?” I shot back.
MJ blushed. “We’re hanging out.”
“Hanging out? Is that like dating?” MJ rolled his eyes and I laughed.
Then I recalled my conversation with Alex. “Just promise me if you are doing it with Olivia or anyone else, you will use protection. Because contrary to what you may have heard, it’s not just the girl’s responsibility. Girls don’t get pregnant on their own. They need a boy for that.”
MJ reached behind him for one of his pillows and held it over his face. “Please go.”
“Okay, I get it. You don’t want to talk to me about the sex stuff. I just wanted you to know I’m here for you, whatever you need, and that includes condoms.”
“Grace!”
I laughed. “Okay, okay, I’m leaving.”
I made it as far as the bedroom door when MJ lifted the pillow from his face. “Love you, Lawyer-Mom,” he mumbled.
“Love you too,” I said and shut the door behind me.
I called Agent Diaz the next morning and insisted we meet.