Page 165

“I was talking to my daughter, Ridley, and this has nothing to do with you,” Jenna says, drinking her wine and watching Nathalie leave the room.
“Mom, come on. Don’t act like this today,” Madison begs, shoulders hunching and looking like she’s about ready to burst into tears.
I can’t imagine how Madison has dealt with this woman for as long as she has and I swore when we got married, I’d never standby and let her treat Madison badly.
I step toward Madison, though that might be a bad idea because I’m within distance of her smacking me now. “I won’t stay out of it. This is my goddamn house, that wine you’re drinking, I bought and Madison is…” I pause, my hesitation noticed by Madison. “Mywife.”
Do you notice the emphasis I put on wife?
Madison does.
“Yeah, and we’ll see how much longer that lasts,” Jenna has the nerve to say.
What happens when oxygen combines with a flammable vapor?
Well, nothing at first. But add a source of spark and you’ve got yourself a fire.
I feel like a fire right now. A raging fucking inferno.
“Get out.” I slam my fist down on the counter. “Get the fuck out now before I throw you out.” She doesn’t move. “I mean it, get the fuck out!” I point toward the door in an aggravated jab.
“Ridley….” Madison sighs, she’s not telling me to stop, but she’s also not defending her mother.
Jenna looks offended. “Is that how you feel, Madison?”
Madison nods, swallowing hard. “I think you should leave. This is my son’s birthday party and I won’t have you treating me or Ridley like this.”
Jenna sets down her glass of wine and walks away without another word, leaving behind a stench in the air.
That’s when Madison starts crying.
I reach for her, kissing her forehead and she lets me, her head on my chest. “I’m sorry,” I say, drawing her eyes to mine.
She sniffs, brushing away tears. “You don’t have anything to be sorry about.”
I nod, though I’m not convinced. I’m sure I have a lot to be sorry about.
My gaze moves from her mouth to her eyes. “I’m sorry because you don’t deserve that. I know it was embarrassing for you.”
She cries a little harder, the emotion of what just happened, and maybe what’s happening between us, taking over.
I wrap both my arms around her. “Madison….” I let out a heavy sigh, wishing the worry would go with it, my lips pressing to her temple. I can be fifty feet tall and will still be brought to my knees anytime Madison needs me. “Don’t let her win. Be stronger than her.”
I can honestly say despite what’s happening around us, Madison wants me holding her as she sinks into my arms. “Thank you.”
“DIDYOU TELL your mom you filed for divorce?”
“No. I didn’t,” Madison says, moving around our bedroom in her nightgown. “I haven’t really told anyone.”
“Except for Nathalie,” I point out, opening my laptop as I sit on the bed. Both Callan and Noah are asleep, leaving us alone for the first time tonight since Madison’s mother left. We intended on making Callan’s birthday special for him and I think we did that. He fell asleep at six thirty right after eating two pieces of his cake.
Sugar affects him differently than Noah, who basically acts like a spider monkey on crack when sugar hit his lips.
Madison sighs beside me. “Ridley, I don’t want to fight with you tonight.”
“Fine, I’m sleeping in the bed. The fucking couch is making me sore.”
Madison doesn’t say anything but moves to the bathroom to put on her anti-wrinkle cream she claims she needs. I don’t see it. Madison can basically wear no make-up and not wash her hair for a week and I still see her natural beauty.