At Doubles a few days later, Maggie gave Emma an update on Seth’s condition.
“Well, it’s good you’re getting his blood checked. How has he been feeling for the last few days?” Emma asked.
Emma knew what it was like to be a teenager with way too much responsibility; she quickly remembered how difficult life could be.
“He’s been good, seems to be getting back to normal,” Maggie said with relief.
“You know, girl, you’re nineteen years old, and you’re gonna need to decide what you wanna do with your life. Look, you’re one smart cookie. None of these other nitwits know the kind of shit you know. You kept yourself educated…that’s cool shit,” Emma offered.
“Well, I read a lot, that’s for sure, but it doesn’t mean I’m educated. It just means I’m informed,” Maggie said.
“Bullshit! Go get your damn GED and go to college, just like you told Seth to do,” Emma said.
“It’s not that simple, Em. Sure, I could get my GED, but Rock would never let me go to college. It’s not like I have any money to pay for it, anyway,” Maggie argued, her voice trailing off.
“Rock’s a brainless dildo! I want you to listen real good to what I’m about to tell you. If there ever comes a day when you can’t handle Rock, then you need to talk to Tony and Vincent. I don’t know if they could help you, but if there was ever a chance for someone to go up against that piece of stank dog shit, it’s the two of them. You hear me?” Emma said.
Maggie considered Emma’s advice. She couldn’t see herself asking others to get involved with Rock because it wasn’t just him they’d have to contend with; there were all of the people who worked for Rock, too—dangerous people who wouldn’t hesitate to kill someone.
“Yeah, sure. If it I ever get desperate enough, I’ll talk to them,” Maggie said, just to appease her friend.
When Maggie ran into Tony and Vincent at the bar later that night, she gave each of them a big hug.
“What’s up, guys?” Maggie sang.
“Same ol’ shit, little Maggie,” Tony said, toying with her.
Vincent’s eyes grew serious. “Emma told us your kid ain’t been feelin’ too good. How’s he doing?”
Maggie lit up. “He’s doing much better now. It seems like whatever he had is finally working its way out of his system. The school nurse thinks it might be mononucleosis.”
“Hey, ain’t dat the kissin’ disease? What? Ya got a little Casanova goin’ ’round kissin’ all the girls?” Vincent joked.
Maggie laughed along with him. Then, curiosity peeked by her earlier conversation with Emma, she asked, “So what do you guys do for a living, anyway? We never talk about you. It’s always about me.”
Tony studied her body language and offered, “We’re businessmen. We run a lot of businesses in Philly. Why, ya lookin’ for a new job?”
“Ha! I’d love a new job. But for now, this will have to do. So what kind of businesses do you run?” Maggie probed.
“All different kinds. Ya writin’ a book or somethin’?” Vincent poked.
“No, not yet. I’ll tell you what, though. I could write a crazy book with all the things I’ve been through and have seen in my life.”
Maggie pondered the idea of writing a book. She certainly read enough of them, but to write one would be much, much different. She put it on the bucket list that she kept deep in the recesses of her brain.
Tony’s tone grew serious. “Is everything all right wit’ cha?”
He sensed that Maggie had something she wanted to say. Maggie sat on the barstool between them. She thought about how difficult it had been working both jobs and trying to care for Seth. She didn’t mind her job at Doubles so much, but she hated selling herself for sex. Even though she’d done it since she was a young girl, the anger and resentment never dulled. Some days, she’d sit and fester about John William. Maggie would always blame him the most for all that had happened to Seth and her. There were others, too, like Myles. She hated him with a deep passion. When she was alone in the quiet of the night, she’d pray for superpowers that she could use to obliterate both of those scum-sucking pigs from the face of the earth.
“Hey, ya all right?” Tony asked again.
Maggie came out of her stupor. “Oh, sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked ya if everything is all right,” Tony repeated.
“Yeah, sure, everything’s fine. I’m tired, that’s all,” Maggie said, trying to downplay her feelings.
“Well, dat look on your face a minute ago made me think ya wanted to rip someone’s nose off,” Tony said, studying her expression more closely.
“Nah, I wouldn’t mind neutering a couple of people, but they can keep their noses,” Maggie teased.
“Ouch!” Tony responded and grabbed his crotch.
Maggie giggled. “I wish I had enough power to get even with some people.”
Vincent asked, “Don’t cha wanna ever call your mom and dad? They gotta still be lookin’ for ya.”
Maggie shook her head. “That’s not really an option. Like I told you, Rock is a dangerous man. It would be too big a risk. He would like nothing more than to have a reason to cause me more pain. I keep a low profile with Rock and his guys…I’ve learned the hard way how cold-blooded they can be.”
Before Tony or Vincent could speak again, the bartender gave Maggie a nod, indicating that her set was about to start.
Maggie jumped off the barstool and said, “See you later,” as she walked to the other side of the room.
Vincent turned to Tony. “Ya think it’s time we talk to Salvatore about this Rockhead motherfucker?”
“Not yet, Vin. Emma was gonna tell Maggie to ask us if she ever needs our help. For now, we sit tight. We can’t get involved until it’s impossible for us not to get involved,” Tony said.
“Yeah, you’re right. But she’s such a nice kid,” Vincent commented.
The two of them sat silently, watching Maggie and Emma put on their show for the men who sat around the bar. Tony and Vincent wondered what would become of Maggie and whether there was any future for her to become something more than what she was.