Page 56 of Doc Rock
Mai
Mai put a shaking hand up to her chest as she stared at the front door that Ford just stormed through.
He kissed her.
Her hand rose to her lips, which were slightly swollen. She had kissed other men in the sixteen years since she walked away from him, but nothing had everfeltlike that.
Lifting her hand, she mopped at her tears trickling down her cheeks. She wouldn’t kid herself into thinking, not even for a second, thattherewas any love behind his kiss. The way he pushed her away after it. He still hated her.
A glint of metal by the baseboard caught her eye. Frowning, she bent down toseewhatit was.
Her heart stopped beating when her fingers closed around the silver ring. It had been half a lifetime since she’d last seen this ring, but she would recognise it anywhere.
It wasFord’s wedding ring.
Slumping to the floor, she pulled her knees into her chest and put her head down on them, gently rocking back and forth as she sobbed.
His visit was such a blur—him shouting, her shouting and swearing.It wasso long since she'd allowed her temper to flarethat badly, maybe the last time was when she had been with the band.
Since then, she’d cultivated a mild and meek personality.
Maisie Jones didn’t swear much.
Maisie Jones didn’t allow herself to become upset.
Maisie Jones always turned the other cheek.
Not Sie Harrington. Sie was a spitfire. She didn’t say a huge amount, but if she disagreed with you, youknewabout it.
Therehad been so many stand-up rows before shows, with her firmly and loudly stating her opinion about how things should be: the set list order, the staging. She didn’t let herself be walked all over just because she was a girl.
The only thing she hadn’t been forthcoming about was her stage fright, and in hindsight, maybe her temper around the shows was her performance to hide her own fears.
Why did she shout at Ford?
She knew better.
Ford needed to vent, to release the anger that hefelttoward her. And now things between them had degenerated so much that he threw his ring onto the floor of her hallway. She didn’t remember him throwing it down, but things were such a blur; he must have. He was telling her once and for all that he was done with her.
The rational part of her brain tried to tell her thatit wasfair. Heshouldbe done with her.
Pushing those thoughts away, she allowed herself to sob andfeelsorry for herself. She didn’tknowwhat she had wanted to happen.
Well, maybe she did. She wanted his forgiveness.
Now that he was back in her life, she didn’t want to let him go. She wanted, she wanted—. Mai’s head came up, and she stared at the ring in the palm of her hand. She wanted everything she’d lost.
Not lost, she didn’t lose anything; she threw it away.
She had been such a fool, a hot-headed young woman who thought she had all the solutions, and what had she solved? Absolutely nothing. She’d messed her life up so badly.
Her mind prodded her a little, saying that wasn’t true. She had done a lot of good things. Shecouldrecall so many of the babies that she’d worked hard to give their best chance at a normal life, and the families who gripped onto her hand as she gave them news about their tiny, vulnerable new family members.
She had a folder full of cards from these families. Some tragic—announcing funerals—but many, many more joyful, with photos of happy smiling toddlers who were alive because of her and her team’s hard work and dedication.
Mai allowed herself a few more minutes of self-pity before she wiped her eyes and got to her feet. Pulling out her necklace, which she always wore hidden under her shirt, she undid the clasp and slid Ford’s ring onto the chain next to hers. Then she tucked both of the silver bands back under her shirt. He might not want it anymore, but she would never take it off.It wasall she had left now of their time together.
Walking slowly to her living room, she grabbed her laptop, then flopped down onto the sofa, setting the computer in her lap and opening the lid.
