Shenanigans (Complete)

Adjustments

Holly's POV

My mind was going insane, how could my mother leave and then start another family? I felt another stab in the chest just thinking about it. I had so many questions about what had gone on in her head. Marc let me stay curled up in his lap until Marion came in and yanked me out with a king-sized candy bar of chocolate. "Eat this," she huffed as she eyed Marc.

I curled up in the chair eating it quietly as Marion went to look Marc's injury over. "Tilt your head down so I can see," her tone motherly and sure.

Marc tipped his head down, letting her inspect his wound. "They did a good job." I felt her gaze shift to me. "Now are you upset because you have a brother?" Her tone is soft yet motherly in its crispness.

"I want to know why she left me to have another family." My words are full of the hurt I felt as I ate the chocolate bar.

"I see," she sighed. Sitting down in the other chair, her voice changed. "I have a story to tell." She eyed us.

"What story?" I asked her raising a curious brow.

Marion's face fell, there was a touch of sadness that radiated from her. "I had a child before I met Cooter, my high school sweetheart. He was a nice guy in many aspects but also a bad boy," she through her head in Marc's direction. "Anyway, living with my mom I had a child with him. He left, not a word. I had to leave her with my mom and her new husband. My mom and he spent a lot of time as I was working two jobs to pay for the things I needed for us. We ended up moving into their house. It went on for several years.," Marion paused tears hitting the corner of her eyes. "I met Cooter. My mother hated him, my stepfather, the same. They infused that hate into my daughter. She came to live with us for a while. I had my son, she was 12 by then. A home invasion happened one night near Christmas. All hell broke loose, Cooter ended up fighting them and getting shot. The bad guys were caught. My daughter decided it was Cooter's fault they came to the house. She filed a child abuse case with the help of my mother. After that chaos ensued. We were lucky the police reports Nd the locked gun cabinet validated our side." Marion pulled out a second chocolate bar.

Ripping it open she ate some a moment. "Once the dust settled, my daughter asked to live with my mom. My mom in turn told me I was never welcome at their place again. I have lived these last 13 years doing my best to be a better person. I have not spoken once to either of them nor have they me. We have each other's phone numbers so it's not like we lost contact info." Marion more of the chocolate. "Sometimes silence is a good thing. In your case Holly, I think once we get this other damage control done, taking a visit to your mom will be in order. I am curious about her side as well." She stood shaking the upset from her. Eating more chocolate she smiled, "I don't mention my past much but here I think was a good time."

Marion walked forward hugging me and nodding to Marc. Then she walked out of the room. I looked at his face, "I guess everyone has hidden pain." I was taken aback by what I had heard.

"Indeed they do," He smiled, waving me back to his lap. "Come here firecracker I was enjoying your cuddles." He opened his arms wide.

I got up and went to his waiting arms, snuggling in I nibbled my candy. I let thoughts of what Marion said race around my head. Ideas formed of what the answers could be instead of her just not loving me. Perhaps she too thought silence was better. I would have a lot of questions once things with Marc's past were sorted.

The door to the room opened, in walked the Doctor, Eric in his Sheriff uniform, and Ben. "We are releasing you to the custody of your parole agent. Eric has mentioned it was something that came, out of the blue." The Doctor walked forward, clipboard in hand, "just sign here." He tapped the board.

Marc took the pen not moving me out of his arms. He signed his scribble, (literally looked like chicken scratch.) "Thank you now stay out of trouble," the Doctor chided and left.

I have untangled myself from his lap, as we got ready to go. "Where is Alex?" I asked once we were in the hallway heading toward the exit.

"I sent Alex with Cooter back to their ranch for a bit," Ben announced with a touch of sadness.

"Ah," I turned to look at Ben, "thank you," I smiled at him.

"Though maybe some distance will help clear things up." A soft look played across his eyes as he smiled back at me.

"We will go over plans tomorrow at your ranch," Eric mentioned mixing up the soft emotions. Bringing us back to the present.

"That works," I agreed as we got in Ben's truck. "Gives me time to sort it out a bit better too." I slipped into his truck settling in for the next hour back home.

Marc sat next to me, lacing his fingers in mine he kissed my temple. "I don't think I could have picked a better person to steal my heart." He kissed my temple again.

My eyes snapped to him wide with disbelief. Did he feel that thing between us too. It wasn't one-sided. He placed his index finger on my mouth and shook his head. Leaning down to my ear his breath sent shivers as he added, "before you say anything check in with yourself and be sure." He tenderly kissed my cheek as he sat back up and looked out at the storm clouds moving back in.