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Dee The Reptile and Rodent Lady
It’sthe morning of Callan’s birthday party when I notice Madison in the kitchen, making food and doing all the things she does as a mother without ever being asked to do them. I get this sharp pain in my chest when she sighs and stares at the plate of veggies. She’s attempting to make it perfect, because it’s in her nature to do so, but she’s unsettled with it, or me.
In the last few days since she agreed to let me try and prove to her that she still loves me, I’ve been sleeping in the bed again. It’s much more comfortable.
I can’t say we’re okay yet because if I’m being honest, I’m starting to see there’s some truth to everything she said in the kitchen.
“I was so in love with you. I was, but now, I just don’t know what’s happening anymore. I want to make it work, but I’m scared all this, you being here, trying, I’m scared it’s just a phase and a couple months go by and you’ll go back to what it was like before.”
Those words, the way her hurt ripped in me, I knew then this was serious. She had a reason for doing this. I may not agree, but she had her reason.
Madison notices me watching her, does a double take and sighs, like she’s remembering something she forgot. “Hey, listen…”
I don’t like conversations that start like that. My heart pounds in my chest waiting for her words.
“…my mother is coming today….” And then her voice trails off because she knows how I feel about her mother.
Jenna Adams is a fucking bitch, like if I could slap my mother-in-law in the face, I would.
“I’m sorry she’s coming. Nathalie invited her, and I wasn’t sure what else to do.”
I know what you’re thinking, do I like anyone? I do, sometimes but not Madison’s mother and trust me, you won’t either. She’s a drunk, uses Madison for money and basically tells Callan to his face, be less weird and people will like you.
“I don’t care if she’s here, but if she says anything to me or upsets Callan, I’m going to say something.”
Her brows draw together, rawness and pain evident in her features. She doesn’t want her mother here either. “Don’t make this more complicated today, please.”
“How would I complicate things?”
She raises on eyebrow.
“Define complicated.’”
“You.” Her voice shakes around the words. “You’re complicated.”
Of course she’d say that. I sigh heavily and reach for a carrot from her tray of vegetables. “I won’t say anything to her or be mean,butif she says something to you, or our kids, I’m not going to remain quiet like I did the last time.”
Guess what? Her mom hates me too. And I’ll be honest here, I think Jenna, her mother, only disapproves of me because I provide for Madison, something her own husband never did. He left town when Madison was two and nobody’s seen him since then.
Madison catches my eye and my thoughts. She’s wearing a royal blue dress that shows off just the tops of her breasts, her hair curled in soft waves. God, I hope she gives me a chance because I can’t stand to think of not having her for the rest of my life.
I know what you’re thinking. If you feel that way, why not tell her what you’re thinking?
Women?
Our brains don’t work like that. We may think something and never say it. And believe me on this one, you might not want to know everything we’re thinking. Mostly because I’d say 85 percent of the time it has to do with one of two things. Sex or getting you tohavesex with us.
I’m just being honest.
Watch. Here’s my attempt at telling her what I’m thinking.
“You look…” I breathe in, watching Madison move around the kitchen. “…pretty today.”
“Thanks,” she mumbles, keeping her distance from me.
“Do you need help?”
“No, I think I got this, but can you make sure Noah has pants on? He didn’t earlier, and I don’t want people showing up when his pants are off.”