Diamonds in the Rough

by Michelle Madow

  “But Madison hates us.” Heat rose in Peyton’s chest—Courtney was making her feel like an idiot. She’d been so sure it had been Madison. She still thought it was Madison. “I guess that all could have happened, but everything points to her being the one who posted it. And even if she didn’t, Madison and Oliver aren’t exactly saints. Or did you forget how Madison humiliated Savannah over the summer by making out with Damien at Luxe, and how Oliver made that bet to try sleeping with all of us?”

  “I never said I liked either of them,” Courtney said. “But what you’re doing is worse than anything they’ve done to us. Even if Madison wrote that post—and I agree that, from what you told me, she looks guilty—no one deserves to lose their virginity because of a bet. That’s something that will stay with her forever. Just, please, tell me she hasn’t given in to sleeping with him yet.”

  Peyton felt like the room was closing in around her, every muscle in her body numb. All her doubts had been summed up by Courtney in a few sentences. Which, Peyton supposed, was why she’d kept this from her sister to begin with. She knew Courtney would force her to face how horrible this thing was she’d asked—well, more like blackmailed—Oliver to do to Madison. Tears rose in her throat, and she had to swallow a few times to make them go away. This combined with how awful she felt about getting Jackson fired was too much at once.

  But at least she might still be able to make this right.

  “Last Oliver told me, he was close, but I don’t think it’s happened yet,” she said, picking one last huge flake of polish from her thumbnail, so it was now completely bare. “He would have gloated to me if it had.”

  “Then you need to text him right now that the bet is off.”

  “Just like that?” Peyton asked. “Maybe there’s something else we can get him to do. Something that would help Jackson.” Her heart leaped at the possibility. Adrian seemed set on his decision, but maybe….We could see if Oliver could convince his dad to hire Jackson, so he wouldn’t be blacklisted and left without a job. It wouldn’t be the best solution—­obviously I would rather Jackson be my guard again—but at least I’ll have done something to fix this mess.”

  “Come on, Peyton,” Courtney said. “I know you want to help Jackson, and I agree that Jackson’s a good guy who doesn’t deserve to have his career ruined because of what happened, but this isn’t the way. Blackmailing Oliver into helping you do anything is just going to lead to trouble. You need to put an end to this. Now.”

  Peyton hated thinking about how pleased Oliver would be when she called off the bet with no explanation why. But she felt guilty enough about asking Oliver to take Madison’s virginity…. How awful would she feel if he went through with it? She would have to live with that forever. And if she wanted Courtney to forgive her for making a bet about her instead of telling her the truth, Peyton had to do this.

  She picked her iPhone up off her nightstand, and her chest panged when she saw no reply from Jackson to her earlier text. Maybe he hadn’t seen it yet. That had to be it. Because she was driving herself crazy wondering if he was okay, and the thought that he’d seen the text and ignored it crushed her. She wanted to reread the message she’d sent and figure out if she’d said something wrong. See if there was something more she could say to get through to him.

  But Courtney was waiting, so she opened her conversation with Oliver and started typing.

  Change of plans—the bet’s off.

  Her phone buzzed seconds later. She hoped the text was from Jackson, but of course it was Oliver.

  Are u talking about what me, u and Savannah discussed at the pool last month?

  What other bet would I be talking about? It’s off. You don’t have to sleep with Madison, and I’m not going to ask you to do something else instead.

  And the pictures Savannah has of me from that party?

  Won’t be posted.

  Should I ask why…?

  She tossed the phone behind her, not bothering to respond. “Done.” She looked at Courtney, wanting her sister to forgive her and forget about this mess. “Are we okay now?”

  “No.” Courtney crossed her arms. “I still can’t believe you made a bet about me. Hearing about that, combined with all that’s happened in the past week….t’s too much. I need some space.”

  Then she got out of the chair and left Peyton’s room.

  The door to Courtney’s room slammed shut, and Peyton turned to Savannah. “I can’t believe you brought that up,” she said. “Everything would have been fine if you hadn’t.”

  Savannah played with the ends of her hair. “We said no more secrets. And that was a big secret. I didn’t think Courtney would get that upset—I thought Madison was behind that post as much as you did—but it seemed like something she should know. I’m sorry. But none of us ever stay mad at each other for long. She’ll get over it in a few days.”

  “Maybe,” Peyton said, although she wasn’t sure. So many secrets had been thrown at Courtney recently, and she was worried about how her sister was handling it. But she did feel relieved that Courtney and Savannah knew about Jackson.

  Now she just needed him to text her back so she could hear from him that she hadn’t messed up his life.

  Chapter 28: Madison

  It had been one week since Madison was supposed to have confronted her parents about Adrian, and she still hadn’t worked up the courage to do it. She’d tried last weekend, but right after she’d sat down with them, her mom had started talking about how she was concerned about Madison’s diet and had scheduled her a weekly appointment with a nutritionist who would come to their condo. Which was annoying, but it was better than a psychiatrist, so she’d agreed to it. After that conversation, Madison had chickened out about what she really wanted to talk with them about.

  But she couldn’t put it off forever. She paced around her room, a cup of ice water in her hand, running through what she planned on saying. She had to do this now. It was Saturday afternoon, and her parents were both in the library. It was the perfect timing.

  So why was she hesitating? She reminded herself of one of her mantras: once you find the right thing to say—and there’s always a right thing to say—you can get whatever you want. But what was she going to accomplish? She couldn’t force Adrian to want to be in her life.

  Still, as much as Madison had disliked the Diamond girls when they moved into town, they deserved to know that they had another sister. And she deserved a chance to get to know them.

  If she was going to have this conversation with her parents, she needed to look presentable. She studied her reflection in her full-length mirror. Her skinny jeans and black knit sweater looked fine, and she ran her straightener through her hair and put on enough makeup to look natural but not overdone. She took a deep breath and stared straight into her eyes, trying to look mature, capable and confident. She could do this.

  It didn’t stop the beginning of what would escalate into a throbbing headache from creeping up the back of her neck. She opened a drawer, took out two Excedrin migraine tablets and swallowed them with her water. Now she was ready.

  She marched into the library, and her parents were exactly where they’d been half an hour ago—her mom reclining on the sofa reading a novel, her dad in the big armchair with a science journal. They looked so relaxed and unprepared for what Madison was about to throw at them. But no more excuses. She was doing this.

  “Do you guys have a few minutes?” she asked.

  “Of course.” Her dad laid the science journal on his lap. “Do you need help with your homework?” That was one of the things she and her dad bonded over—him helping her with her science and math homework. His being the lead neurosurgeon at the top hospital in the state was advantageous that way.

  “Actually, I need to talk to both of you about something important,” she said, sitting in the only open chair
in the room—the one behind the wooden desk.

  Her mom sat up on the couch and marked the place in her novel. “Is something wrong?”

  Madison’s throat dried, and she sipped her water. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what happened,” she started. “And I’m going to tell Adrian that I know.”

  “What?” Her dad sat straight up in his chair, the science journal sliding onto the floor. “You can’t be serious.”

  “We agreed when we told you the truth that it would stay between us,” her mom added.

  “I know.” Madison looked at both of them, begging them to understand. “And I’m glad you were honest with me. But by doing so, you made me a part of keeping this secret, and I can’t live with that anymore. It’s been tearing me apart.”

  “But Adrian already knows everything,” her mom said softly. “This is the way he wants things to be. You know that.”

  “True.” Madison nodded. “And after all these years of him not wanting to be in my life, he’ll never be anything more than a sperm donor to me.” She looked at her dad, her throat constricting. “I’m not over how you lied to me—I don’t think I’ll ever be over it—but you’re my dad and I love you. Nothing will change that.”

  “I love you, too, sweetheart.” He smiled. “But if you mean what you said, why do you want to confront Adrian?”

  “Because this is bigger than just us,” she said. “It also involves Peyton, Courtney and Savannah. They’re my sisters, and they’ve been lied to, as well. They should know the truth. I don’t know how happy they’ll be about it, since I’m not exactly friends with them, but we deserve a chance to get to know each other. As sisters.”

  “I understand why you feel that way,” her mom said, playing with the cover of her paperback. “But shouldn’t we sit down with a professional to talk about it first? Look at all the options and consider what’s best for us as a family?”

  Madison crossed her legs and leaned back in the chair. “What are you afraid of happening if I tell him?”

  “You don’t get it.” Her mom sighed. “Don’t you value your dad and I—your real family—who’ve raised you and given you everything? I know we work a lot, and it keeps us away more than some of your friends’ parents, but we love you and we’ll do anything to help you succeed and get what you want in life. We’re so proud of you, and your future is so bright. Your dad and I have worked hard for the three of us to be happy. If you go through with this, and if it goes public, all of that will change. Is that really what you want? Aren’t you grateful for what you have…for what we have?”

  “That’s why it’s taken me so long to say anything. I don’t know how this will change things, and that scares me,” Madison admitted. “You know I’ve always been happy. Yes, sometimes I complain about you guys constantly working, but you’re doing what you love, and you always make up the time on our family vacations. I may not always show it, but I know how lucky I am. It’s why I want to intern with Doctors Without Borders someday—so I can give back after everything that’s been given to me.

  “I know that telling the truth to the Diamonds will change our family. And I have no idea if that change will be better or worse. But I can’t—I won’t—keep this secret anymore. I’m going to tell Adrian, and I came in here to tell you because I love both of you and don’t want to go behind your backs. You trusted me, and I appreciate that, but this secret is bigger than just us. I’m not asking for your permission to tell Adrian. I’m asking for you to stand by my side when I do.”

  Her parents stared at her and then at each other, as if they were communicating without talking. Madison fidgeted, swinging the chair from side to side. This could either go really well, or really badly.

  “You’re serious about going to Adrian with or without us?” her mom finally asked.

  “Yes.” She kept her voice firm and held eye contact. She needed to make it clear that she wasn’t backing down.

  “Your dad and I need to discuss this in private,” her mom said. “We’ll go to the bedroom to talk. It shouldn’t take long. Wait here.”

  Her dad stood up, picked the science journal up from the floor and placed it on his chair. “That was well said,” he told her. “Have you considered going into law?”

  “Ugh.” Madison scrunched her nose. She liked science and facts. Reading long legal textbooks would be the worst kind of torture.

  “Just kidding.” He laughed. “We’ll be back in a few minutes. Sit tight, okay?”

  She played around on her phone, trying to distract herself from thinking about what her mom and dad were saying in their room. Larissa and Kaitlin had posted a picture of themselves at the pool, and Madison commented, saying how it looked like they were having a blast and she wished she could be there. Then her phone buzzed with a text from Larissa.

  saw ur photo comment—come join us!! we’re at my club

  Can’t…too much homework. Tomorrow?

  definitely! :)

  Finally her dad walked back into the library. Madison placed her phone down, anxious to hear the outcome of the conversation.

  “Mom called Adrian to give him a heads-up,” he said. “She’s on the phone with him now.”

  “Adrian’s going to be angry that the two of you told me, isn’t he?”

  He settled back into his chair and kicked his legs up onto the ottoman. “To tell you the truth, I have no idea what Adrian’s reaction will be. Back when he decided not to be in your life, he had very personal reasons for doing so. He didn’t feel fit to be a parent, and at the time, he probably wasn’t. Now that Peyton, Courtney and Savannah have moved in with him, that may have changed. But, Madison, I hope you know that no matter what genetics say, I’m your father, and I love you, and no biology is going to change that. Okay?”

  “I know that, Dad.” Madison’s throat thickened, and she blinked away tears. “I love you, too. I would never want Adrian Diamond to try and take your place—he never could take your place. I meant what I said about this not being about Adrian. It’s about Peyton, Courtney and Savannah. My sisters.” The word felt strange and foreign, but it’s what they were. It needed to be acknowledged. “Adrian chose not to be in my life. But they were never given a say.”

  “I know,” he said. “Your mom and I respect that you feel that way, which is why we’re standing by you now.”

  “Thank you,” Madison said, meaning it. She didn’t want to be angry at her parents forever.

  Finally her mom came back into the library. Her face was pale, and she sat back down on the sofa, staring at the phone in her hand like it was a ghost.

  “What happened?” Madison asked, her heart racing.

  She swallowed and finally met Madison’s eyes. “Can I have some of that water?”

  “Sure.” Madison brought the water to her mom and joined her on the couch. “Dad told me you talked to Adrian.”

  “Yes.” She sipped the water, which put some color back into her face. Once composed, she continued. “I told him everything, and asked him to come over to talk to you.”

  “And?” Madison leaned forward and held her breath. After all these weeks of knowing Adrian was her biological father but not being able to say anything, he finally knew that she knew. She wouldn’t have to keep the secret anymore. It was exciting and terrifying at the same time.

  “He said that now wasn’t a good time.”

  Madison’s chest sunk. “So, when is a good time? Tonight? Tomorrow? Next week?”

  “Longer than that.” Her mom sighed, and Madison could tell that whatever was coming next wouldn’t be something she wanted to hear. “Peyton, Courtney and Savannah are going through a lot right now. They just had something big thrown at them, and they’re having a rough time dealing with it. Adrian wants to give them time to adjust.”

  “How long do they need?” Madison narrowed her eyes
. “Days? Weeks? Months?”

  “He didn’t give a time frame,” she said. “Just that he would let me know when.”

  “And what about me?” she asked, her voice cracking. “Does he care that I know he’s my father?”

  “I thought you considered him to be only a ‘sperm donor’?” Her mom held her fingers up in quote signs as she repeated Madison’s words.

  “I know.” She swallowed. “But I guess I thought that once he knew I knew, he would at least want to talk to me.”

  “He will talk to you,” her mom insisted. “This came as a shock to him, that’s all. Give him time to figure out how to handle it.”

  “How to handle it?” Madison was practically yelling now. “I’m a person, not an ‘it.’ And I can’t keep this secret anymore. I know moving here is a big adjustment, but I’ve seen Peyton, Courtney and Savannah around school. They’re adjusting fine. I think they’re ready to find out the truth.”

  “They might have been fine the last time you saw them at school,” her mom said. “But the incident Adrian’s referring to happened recently—over Thanksgiving break.”

  “What happened?” Madison asked. “What’s so big that it left all three of them such a mess?”

  “It’s not my secret to tell….”

  “Enough of this,” her dad said. “Madison deserves to know as much as those three girls. So, if you don’t tell her, then I will.”

  “Fine,” her mom said. “I would have preferred for Adrian to tell you this himself, but he’s insistent that we wait, and I’m done keeping secrets.”

  “Okay…” Madison pressed the pads of her fingers together, ready for whatever was going to be thrown at her next.