once upon a romance 07 - finding mr right

by leclair, laurie

  Dread filled Dex.

  What would Madison say?

  ***

  In a makeshift circle of metal chairs, Dex took his seat beside Madison’s. Panic at being caught thumped in her chest.

  “Why?” he whispered.

  With all eyes on her, Madison tried to explain. “I’m looking for something.”

  “Obviously,” Griff chimed in.

  “I thought it was here at King’s.” She swallowed hard. Maybe her mother’s ramblings were just that.

  “What exactly are you looking for?” This came from Eddie, the driver and ex-cop.

  A family. Instead, she said, “This sounds silly. The owner of a baby blanket made exclusively at King’s years ago. Lavender. Satin.”

  “A what?” Charlie asked, shaking her head.

  Her breath came in short, quick pants.

  “A blanket. More specifically, a baby blanket,” Eddie emphasized the last. “And why is that?”

  Giggles erupted. Madison clutched her hands together in her lap. “You sound like that cop you used to be.”

  “Old habits die hard.” He waited a beat. “On your King’s application, you listed your address as an abandoned church in Dallas. Yet, your website is based out of Austin. Lie number one.”

  She shrank. How could she tell them her mother used to work there? How could she confess she’d been left on those church steps? “I did lie.” About that and so much more.

  Dex drew away. “What else are you lying about?”

  Looking over at him, she watched as his suspicions grew. “My name is Madison Avenue. I do live in Austin.” She bit her lip.

  “Your mother, Deidre Avenue, is in the same nursing care facility as Issac and Martha,” Eddie said gently.

  Madison jerked her head up. “You followed me?”

  “Yep. They happened to mention they saw you there, so I watched and waited. And then I went in and talked to the administrator after you left.” He tapped the rolled-up document he held against his leg. “It’s in my latest report to be delivered this morning.” He handed it to Charlie, who unfurled it and read the contents. Next, she passed it along to Griff.

  “What does it say?” Priscilla leaned in. “Advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. How sad?”

  “The funds paid through a private trust,” Griff added.

  “A small one. Mother’s.” She gulped, thinking there had been a hefty donation to that fund recently. Jacob, through a private attorney’s account, had topped it off soon after they were engaged. Guilt throbbed to life.

  “And this blanket—why does it matter?” Dex frowned.

  “It was a…gift.” She couldn’t suppress the newest round of giggles. “I want to thank the person who gave it to her.” Thanking may be a stretch.

  “Why not just ask us?” Priscilla chimed in.

  Glancing at Charlie, Madison asked her, “Would you have given me the name?”

  “No. It’s confidential. All our records are. Past, present, and future. You breached that wall.”

  Her breath whooshed out of her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any harm.”

  “Is that how you get away with it? By simply apologizing? That doesn’t cut it with me.” Griff stood and paced the area behind his wife’s chair. He stilled, taking in his surroundings.

  “Griff, you came to King’s under false pretenses, too,” Charlie pointed out. “We were able to separate the man from the mission. You didn’t want to hurt the King sisters. That went a long, long way.”

  “You did this?” he asked Madison, waving a hand at the wedding dresses.

  “It was fun.” She shrugged, having lost track of time sometime after she started setting up. It had taken three times as long to set up when she couldn’t find the right dress or right spot. Too bright. Too light. Oh, this is just right. “I wanted to do something, anything to make up for it all.”

  “Francie will be thrilled when she sees it,” Priscilla said, admiring the displays. “Rico, too. I’ll text them to come right over.”

  Charlie let out a breath. “Madison, it looks great. However, it doesn’t dismiss the rest of your actions.”

  “I’m fired,” she said in a squeaky voice. “I know.” Why make this any harder than it had to be?

  Quiet descended.

  Dex said gently, “I’ll walk you out.”

  It took all of five minutes to get her purse and turn in her King’s badge and the key. The goodbyes were stilted and awkward. Only Dolly gave her a brief hug. “You’ll be all right, honey.”

  Her chin quivered. “Thanks,” she whispered, and then looked back once. A piece of her heart chipped away.

  Dex guided her to the door. “I’ll drive you where—? To see your mother? Back to the hotel?”

  All she wanted to do was go back and finish the job she’d started. But she wasn’t welcome there anymore.

  Now, she was back on her own, trying to track down the woman who had given her up at birth.

  “Thanks, Dex. I’m not sure…”

  He touched her upper arms, holding her gently. “Madison,” he began. Dropping his hands, he brushed his jacket. “Oh, I almost forgot. The perfume. I found the right formula for Priscilla’s perfume.”

  “You did? That’s great, Dex.” Her sadness faded. “I’m so happy for you.” A twinge of longing pierced her. She should have been there when he discovered it. She’d never get the chance again to be with him.

  He looked toward the back of the store. “I have to catch her and get her approval. Wait here, all right?”

  Before she could answer, he took a few steps away.

  “Madison?” Bodie called out, entering the store. “I thought that was you I saw in the window.” He came up and gave her a bear hug.

  “Aw…Bodie…you’re crushing me.” She barely sucked in a breath.

  “Can I help you?” Dex asked, returning to her side.

  “No, I’m good. Thanks, man. Look, Madison, let’s try to work things out.” He brushed back his bleached blond dreadlocks and shot her a megawatt smile.

  It did nothing for her. In fact, it left her slightly embarrassed for him. His age-old charm was lame and seemed fake now that she saw it with fresh eyes.

  A man, entering near the front of the store, cleared his throat. “Am I interrupting?”

  “Jacob?” Madison shoved away from Bodie to stare straight into her fiancé’s questioning brown eyes. “Wh…what are you doing here?”

  He straightened his tie as he walked toward her. There was a cool, calm, collected look about him. At this moment, it only irritated her. “I thought I could spend some time with you. Help you with those fittings you mentioned. You said King’s was the best.”

  “Who is this?” Dex glared from him and then to Madison.

  “The groom,” he said, holding out his hand. Confidence oozed out of him. The politician look. “We’re getting married in just over four weeks.”

  “We’re?” Dex paled. “You. And her?”

  Jacob chuckled. “Of course. Was there any doubt?” He raised an eyebrow at her and then turned to Bodie and back to Dex, as if he were comparing himself to them and they came up wanting.

  “Madison, you never said a word!” Dex turned on her. Shock, written all over his face, pelted her.

  In the back of her mind, she noted how the King family filed in the front reception area, watching this play out.

  His crestfallen face ripped through her. “Did you pretend to like me?”

  “Call Shane,” Griff ordered.

  “I got it,” Eddie said. “SOS to his cousin.”

  “I did. I mean, I do like you, Dex,” she pleaded, her heart aching for the battered and wounded look in his eyes. She’d done that to him. Tears stung and hovered on the edge of her lashes.

  “And what about my work? Were you just using me to get at King’s?”

  “No. Not after I knew you.” She choked past the lump clogging her throat.

  “So you admit it.”

  “Madiso
n, you’re drawing too much attention. Why don’t we take this somewhere else, more private?” Jacob asked, carefully saying each word with precision as he smiled at the small crowd.

  “You’re smart and funny and I’m—” Madison bit back on her words. I’m so in love with you. She blinked in bewilderment, the hot trail of tears rolling down her cheek.

  “When you kissed me, was that a lie, too?” Dex’s jaw clenched. “Never mind. I’d rather not hear that part.” His voice broke. Turning on his heel, he stormed out.

  “Dex, wait!”

  “You kissed him, Madison?” Jacob’s question came out strangled. Now he reacted! Storm clouds loomed in his tense features.

  “Him?” Bodie asked, frowning as he pointed a thumb over his shoulder and then to Jacob. “Him, too?”

  Madison stared at Bodie and then at Jacob. Hot. Cold. And Mr. Just Right had just walked out the door. Her heart shattered into little pieces.

  “No. Dex!” She rushed out after him only to find him behind the wheel of his Mustang peeling away from the curb. “Come back!”

  He’s gone! Forever!

  Chapter 20

  Chilled to the bone, Madison sat in the lounge area, hugging the tattered lavender baby blanket to herself as she waited for her mother to finish her dance therapy class. Her laptop flashed and she reached out to touch the pad to bring it back to life.

  The blank page stared back at her.

  Her article didn’t even have a title.

  Words tumbled in her head. Conversations with Dex brought a tiny smile and then a deep slash of anguish to her heart.

  “I love him,” she whispered, knowing he was the one for her. But, she’d ruined her chances of ever having anything beautiful between them.

  Her fear ruled her. Fear of losing her mother—both mothers.

  Family was more than about blood, she realized. Look at what King’s Department Store had created down through the years. Yes, family was the nucleus, but they added on with friends and employees, building this incredible loving, loyal bond.

  Love was at the heart of it all.

  Bonded by hearts, not always by blood.

  Honor. Loyalty. That was Dex.

  She scrubbed the back of her hand over her eyes. Sucking in a deep, painful breath, Madison began to type.

  The words came slowly at first and then gained momentum. She poured everything she had into the article, everything she longed to say and had never been able to.

  Her heart ached with her duplicity with Dex.

  Even a pang of regret for Jacob shot through her. He’d listened quietly while she explained. He pocketed the ring and wished her well, but not before adding his attorney would be in touch. A copy of a gag order would arrive shortly. Thankfully, he’d said, no one knew the extent of their relationship.

  Hush-hush.

  And the money he’d given to her mother’s trust, no one would know the wiser since his attorney had transferred the funds as a gift to the care facility in lieu of outright payment. A donation, no less.

  And Bodie, dumbfounded over it, threw up his hands and sauntered out, declaring chicks were strange. He’d rather stayed married to his surfing than a woman.

  Finally, spent, she sat back with a sigh. Her hand hovered over the Post key in her blog.

  Uncensored. Unfiltered.

  It was there in black and white.

  This is who I am.

  Now, could she be brave enough to share the truth, her unvarnished truth with the world?

  Could she take that risk of being exposed to the world?

  ***

  “I can’t believe I fell for it, Shane,” Dex said, pacing back and forth in his cousin’s hallway. A fist clamped down on his heart. It hurt to even breathe.

  “She seemed so real,” Evelyn chimed in, plopping down on a stair.

  “Aw, babe. Not there. Mom and Dad.” Shane reached out for her hand.

  “Eww.” She jumped up and dusted off her behind. “That’s it. This whole house needs to be cleaned from top to bottom.” She stormed up the stairs. “I’m changing.” A few steps up, she stopped and turned to Dex. “If you ask me, she wasn’t faking it. Not with you.” She hopped up the next few stairs.

  “Honey, be careful,” Shane called.

  “Oops,” she cried. “Tripped. I’m all right.”

  “That woman.” Shane shook his head. “Ages me every day.”

  Dex saw the humor in it. “She’s not perfect, but you love her, right?”

  “She’s perfect to me. Clumsy and all. I wouldn’t want anyone else.”

  That was Dex’s problem. He didn’t want anyone but Madison. But there was an ex and a fiancé in the way. And her lies.

  A phone rang nearby. “That’s not me.” Shane checked his pocket. “Evelyn’s tote. Hey, Ev, your phone. Do you want me to get it?”

  Her mumbled one-word shout reached them.

  He fumbled for it, handing Dex the stuffed bunny she kept there, a wad of pictures of the kids she babysat, a file folder, her wallet, and a noisy set of keys that jangled as he tossed them, too. “At the bottom, of course.”

  It stopped ringing.

  “Figures,” Dex muttered, passing the items back to his cousin.

  The phone blared again. “Here, take them.” Again, Dex juggled the mass of items. Pressing the button, he held it to his ear.

  The excited voice on the other end spoke nonstop.

  “Whoa! Slow down, Rico.”

  “You?! I thought you were Ev.”

  “Busy. If you want to call back—”

  Again, Rico went a mile a minute. Shane held it away from his ear, shaking his head. “Dex is in it, too.”

  “Me?” Dex asked, lunging for the phone. Shane handed it over. “Rico, what did you say about me?”

  “You? The mad scientist. She wrote about you.”

  “Who? And what are you talking about?”

  “Madison. She posted a blog on her Vintage Vibe site and forwarded it to the King brass, moi included. Wanna know what it says?”

  “Do I even have to answer that?” Dex turned to Shane, his pulse raced. What had she written about him? His college days flashed back. The brown eyed girl’s paper with names and details came crashing back. God, not Madison, too. “Your laptop. Madison’s website.” As Shane went to get it, Dex talked to Rico. “Just the bare bones.”

  “Wouldn’t you love to know?”

  He groaned. “Rico…” His voice held a warning.

  The other man seemed to understand. “You don’t have to twist my arm. Meet us at the party.”

  “What party?” Dex frowned at the phone.

  “You know, Whitfield’s Sports Bar. We’re on our way. No?” he asked someone else. “Scratch that. Pit stop at the nursing care facility. Got that? Okay, so here’s the thing. Madison did have ulterior motives. But—and this is a big, big but—she did it all out of love. Including you. You’re in the article.”

  “Here.” Shane thrust his open laptop at him.

  Dex passed the phone to him as he grabbed for the computer.

  “Not on the stairs, cuz. I’ll be so glad when they leave!”

  “I heard that, Shaney,” his mother yelled from upstairs. “Wait until Daddy and I get through…oh, honey…yes!”

  Shane clamped his hands over his ears. “God, make it stop!”

  Dex shifted away from the contaminated steps and dropped down on a small chair in the foyer. His gaze ran over the page, fixating on Madison’s picture. Her beautiful eyes and smile reached out to him.

  “Read it.”

  The blog was a tribute to family. The Kings. Hers. Even his. Dex cleared his suddenly clogged throat. But it went much deeper than that. Her confession burst out. She lied. Not for money or fame. But for love.

  “What?” he whispered as he reread the sentence. “She was left on the church steps…Shane, she was abandoned at three days old.” He choked up. “In a basket. Wrapped in a King’s blanket. The blanket,” he murmured. “That�
�s what she was doing. Tracing the owner of the blanket would lead her to her birth mother.”

  “You okay, buddy?” He placed a comforting hand on Dex’s shoulder and squeezed.

  “It explains so much.” He kept reading. “Her adoptive mother, older and single, gave up her life as the church secretary. Fleeing all who knew her in Dallas, the people who would surely demand answers to why she suddenly had a newborn child, to live hundreds of miles away to raise Madison.”

  He skimmed over the rest until he caught a mention of him. Not by name.

  “I found the one. No, it wasn’t the first man I was ever engaged to.” Bodie. “Nor was he the second.” Jacob. “I thought I knew what I wanted until I met him. Funny. Sweet. Loyal. People call him a genius. I would love to call him mine. But, I lost him because I lied. I was afraid he would think less of me. Afraid that when he knew I was abandoned and unwanted by my birth mother that he would see and feel the same way about me, too.

  “How wrong I was. It wasn’t about him. It was all about me. I didn’t feel like I belonged to anyone, least of all a family. I didn’t fit in. I was too this or too that. Never just right. Until he showed me I was. It’s just too bad I can’t tell him that myself.”

  It went on for another paragraph, tipping her hat to the King family and their employees for showing her what she’d been missing, instilling in her values she thought she’d lost or maybe never even had.

  Loyalty. Honor. Trust. Love.

  “She loves you, cuz,” Shane said quietly, reading over his shoulder.

  “Hey, what did I miss?” Evelyn asked, jogging down the stairs. Her heel caught. “Oh no!”

  Shane rushed to catch her. He did, but not before he bumped his knee. “Dangerous!”

  They chuckled.

  “I gotta go, guys.” Dex snapped the laptop closed and jumped to his feet.

  “We’re going with you.”

  “We are?” Evelyn asked.

  “Family,” Dex said, knowing he wanted them to tag along.

  ***

  Madison helped her mother find a seat in the sunroom. “This one?”

  “Who are you again?”

  Your daughter. “Madison. You used to know me.” Her heart tugged, hard and sharp. Loneliness crept in right behind.