Barbara McMahon - Truth Be Told

Taking a deep breath, she nodded and changed the subject.

“I’ve done all right for myself, Maddie,” she began. “I wanted to make something of my life, not end up like my mother. So I went for an education. It took me a little longer than most to realize the value. I didn’t graduate from high school until I was almost twenty, but made up for it in college. I have a degree in criminology. I’m good at my job. Did Eliza or April tell you I work for the Los Angeles Police Department? Once I made detective, I opted for Vice, to curtail as much drug traffic as I can. My team and I are good at what we do and have caught a bunch of dealers.”

Maddie nodded, her gaze never wavering. She reclaimed Jo’s hand with her left one, as if anchoring Jo in the room. She said something, but Jo couldn’t understand it.

“Say again?”

Maddie struggled, but the sounds didn’t make sense.

“I’m not too good at this,” Jo said.

Maddie squeezed her hand and shook her head.

Jo studied their linked hands. Her own hand was tanned and strong, Maddie’s frail and birdlike. Would she recover completely as Eliza swore? Or was this the beginning of a gradual decline ending in death?

Jo looked up at her face again. “While I’m here, I’m going to do my best to set the record straight for everyone.”

Maddie took a deep breath, then nodded.

“I’m sorry things ended the way they did,” Jo said, tears gathering. Her heart was sore and the regrets spilled out.

Jo spent an hour with Maddie, telling her about her job in Los Angeles, how she’d ended up there, glossing over some of the experiences she’d had that would shock the gentle Maddie.

She longed to ask her about April being her granddaughter, and about Maddie’s own daughter. Jo knew from April that both she and Maddie were happy to have the truth known. Not many people outside the family knew—Cade and Jack and Sam only—but April wanted the world to know. Maddie had not objected. The question now was how to release the information to cause the least amount of gossip.

Jo rather thought it should be handled while Maddie was semi-isolated in the hospital, so it would be old news by the time she was out and about again. But that call was April’s and Maddie’s.

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