“And why should they be after what she did to them?”
“I know,” he said, taking a breath. “But it is what it is.”
“So what did she want anyway? Or shouldn’t I ask?”
“She wants us to get back together,” Stuart replied.
“She what?” Holly rolled her eyes.
“That was the clear impression she gave before I told her not to even think about that happening in this lifetime and kicked her out of the house.”
Holly smiled. “Good for you. The last thing you need is to waste your time on someone who isn’t worth it on any level.”
“You’re preaching to the choir,” Stuart said.
Holly paused. “How did Madison react to Fawn’s presence?”
His brow creased. “How do you think?”
“I hope you assured her that Fawn was strictly in your past and that Madison was your present and future?”
“I tried to....”
“But she still got bent out of shape by it?” Holly surmised.
“Something like that.” Stuart sighed. “I asked Madison to marry me....”
“Really?” Holly’s eyes grew. “Did she say yes?”
He frowned. “No, she didn’t. This situation with Fawn threw her—us—off track.”
“Then find a way to get back on track,” she said.
“I told her that I have no feelings left for Fawn and want us to be a family with the kids, but Madison didn’t buy it,” he said. “I don’t know, I guess she thinks that somehow Fawn and I will end up back together, as silly as that sounds.”
“It doesn’t sound so silly to me,” Holly said. “She’s scared, Stuart. After already losing someone she was engaged to, the last thing she wants is to become engaged again with an ex-wife hanging around, eager to get you back.”
“So what can I do?” he asked. “I can’t force Fawn to get out of town, even if I wish to hell she would. And I can’t alter Madison’s history with Anderson any more than I can my own with Fawn. I asked Madison to trust me and allow our lives to move forward. She doesn’t seem willing to do that. At this point, the ball’s in her court—”
“This isn’t a tennis match, for heaven’s sake!” Holly said. “You can’t just give up on someone you’re obviously in love with. As to what you can do, you can keep working on Madison, for starters. Convince her that your love is real and you truly want her to become your wife and a mother to your children. Yes, I know she’s not their real mother, but Fawn doesn’t care about those kids. She’s just using them as a tool to try and get what she wants.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” Stuart grumbled.
“You and Madison belong together. Don’t even think about turning your back on that!”
A grin formed on his lips. He always got just the advice he needed from his sister. “I won’t turn my back on us,” he promised. “Still, I think I need to take a step back and fix my problems with Fawn before I can fix my relationship with Madison.”
Holly nodded. “You’re probably right about that. Take some time to settle things once and for all with Fawn. But don’t take too long. Madison, in spite of playing hardball, does not want to lose you, but she won’t wait around forever for you to step up to the plate.”
“I understand,” he told her. “Thanks.”
She forced a smile. “You’ve helped me more than once with my relationship dramas. The least I could do was return the favor. Even then, I won’t let up on you till you and Madison are back together and making plans for another wedding in the family.”
Stuart chuckled. “Got it.”
When he ended the chat, Stuart felt better about things, but he knew he still had his work cut out for him if things were ever to get back to the way they were between him and Madison.
* * *
On Monday, Madison sat at her desk reading the next book she would review. She was thankful she had something to preoccupy her mind after the unexpected scenario of Stuart’s ex-wife surprising them. Now Madison wasn’t sure which direction to turn. Yes, she still loved Stuart and that wouldn’t change anytime soon. And she would certainly marry him in a minute were the circumstances ideal, which they certainly weren’t right now.
Madison heard her cell phone buzz. She picked it up and saw that it was Stuart, yet again. She declined to pick up again, not sure what to say that wouldn’t make matters worse between them. She figured that if he had something to talk about that was important, he would tell her in person. Anything else, she really wasn’t in the mood for.
I can’t bear to hear one more thing about Fawn and what she did or didn’t want, Madison thought.
She would never have done what Fawn did to her kids and ever expect she had the right to look them in the face again.
But that was something Stuart would have to reconcile. Madison could only hope he didn’t allow Fawn to worm her way back into his life.
If he did, what possible future could we expect to have? she thought.
“That must be some book you’re reading there,” Madison heard an amused voice say.
She looked up from her desk and saw Jacinta standing there with a big smile on her face. “It’s not that good,” Madison said truthfully, closing the paperback. “What are you doing here?”
“I was in the area and decided it was a good time to see where my gal pal works when she’s telling it like it is to all those writers.”
Madison couldn’t help but grin. “Well, this is it. As for the writers, yes, I tell it like it is, for better or worse.”
“Like marriage,” Jacinta said with a laugh. “Sometimes you don’t know what hit you till it’s too late.”
Madison frowned pensively. “I suppose....”
“Oops. Did I say something wrong?”
“Marriage is just a sore subject for me right now,” she admitted.
Jacinta batted her lashes. “Do tell....”
Madison sighed. “It’s a long story.”
“So let me buy you lunch, and you can tell me all about it.”
Madison looked at the pile of books on her desk. “I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
“Don’t we all,” Jacinta said. “You’ve got to eat, too.”
“You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?” Madison asked.
“It’s not my style,” Jacinta said with a friendly smile. “I know a great soul-food restaurant not too far from here. I’ll have you back in no time, but not before I hear what’s got you down in the dumps.”
Madison gave in, glad to have someone to share her feelings with on a tender subject.
The Rib Shack was on Delmar Street. As would be expected at this time of day, it was packed. They had to wait a few minutes before a table became available. That gave Madison some extra time to gather her thoughts as she considered her past, present and future. The greater emphasis was on her future and whether or not it was one she would share with Stuart. Or one in which she would once again have to find her own way in life.
Madison followed Jacinta’s lead and ordered barbecued chicken, turnip greens, corn bread and coffee.
“So let’s have it,” Jacinta prodded. “What is it about marriage that has you huffing and puffing?”
“Stuart asked me to marry him,” Madison said.
“Interesting, but obviously that isn’t the whole story.”
“I wish.” Madison took a breath. “His ex-wife showed up at his house after we got back from the parade Saturday.”
Jacinta’s eyes bulged. “You don’t mean the same wife who ran off with another guy without looking back?”
“That would be the one.”
“Oh, boy, that couldn’t have gone very well.”
“It didn’t,” Madison said. “You should have seen
the girls. They weren’t quite sure who to turn to. But it definitely wasn’t their mother.”
“Could you blame them?”
“Not at all. But she shook everyone up, and we’re all still feeling the effects,” Madison said.
“I’ll bet.” Jacinta gazed at her. “So did she come for a little visit or—”
“To reclaim the family she gave up.”
Jacinta’s brows furrowed. “Just like that, with no warning or consideration that Stuart may be involved with someone else?”
“Fawn certainly didn’t give a damn about that,” Madison said irritably. “It was almost like I wasn’t even in the room while she stated her plans for reestablishing her role in their lives.”
Jacinta digested that. “Clearly, Stuart left no doubt as to where his head was if he proposed to you.”
“Well, that’s kind of a sticking point in and of itself....” Madison paused when the food arrived.
“Explain, please,” Jacinta said once the waiter had moved on.
Madison wasn’t sure she could in a way that didn’t make her sound like a complete idiot. But she had to try. “I told Stuart I couldn’t marry him while this issue with his ex-wife was still unresolved. Basically, I don’t want to be caught in the middle of his love-hate relationship with the mother of his children.”
Jacinta’s mouth hung open. “You think he still loves the woman after what she put him through?”
“Not exactly,” Madison said. “But there had to have been something there when they were married and brought two beautiful daughters into this world. Can that type of bond really just go away?”
“Will you listen to yourself, girl?” Jacinta said while buttering a piece of corn bread. “Having a bond with someone because of children is not the same as carrying any lingering feelings for the person. Do you realize how many divorces there are in this country where kids are involved?”
Madison stuck a fork in her greens. “I think I have an idea.”
“Then you must know that people move on all the time, even if the ex chooses to show up for whatever reason. The point is that you’re the one Stuart loves. I know it, and you know it. So why not forget about that bitch and marry the man?”
Yes, why not? Madison asked herself. She didn’t doubt that they could have a great life together. And she adored the girls. But did she really want a constant reminder of his past life and love, assuming Fawn chose to stick around in Portland?
“I just think Stuart rushed into this proposal more to stave off Fawn’s obvious advances than because he believed it was the right thing to do at this time.”
“So what if he did?” questioned Jacinta. “The result is still the same. He wants you as his bride. Besides, Stuart doesn’t strike me as the type of man to do things on impulse, even if he wants to stick it to his ex.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Madison said. Or maybe not and Stuart had acted impulsively when he’d asked her to marry him. Perhaps once Fawn was out of the picture again, he might feel differently.
I need to know for sure that he really wants me as his wife and not just so he can escape the specter of his first wife.
Chapter 20
On Wednesday, Stuart called Grace over to watch the girls while he went out. It pained him that Madison wasn’t there, as he had begun to get used to her presence in his house. He could only hope that she would realize deep down inside what he knew—that they were perfect together and could overcome any bumps in the road.
“I’m going to head out now,” he told them.
“When is Madison coming over?” Carrie asked.
Stuart mused. “I’m not sure,” he said truthfully. “She’s been pretty busy lately—”
“She’s staying away because of Mommy, isn’t she?” asked Dottie.
“Your mother has nothing to do with it,” Stuart lied. “Believe it or not, Madison does have a busy life outside of spending time with us. Maybe it’s best that we don’t get too used to having her around.”
“Is she breaking up with you?” Carrie asked with a worried look on her face.
“No, we’re still seeing each other,” Stuart said, even if they were in the middle of a cooling-off period. “You can’t get rid of her that easily. She loves you guys.”
Dottie eyed him. “Does she still love you?”
“Yes,” he said. It was the one thing he was certain of. Getting the other things to fall back in place was a different story altogether. “And I love her. Anyway, right now Grace is here to keep you company.”
Grace smiled. “That’s right. Hope we’re still friends?”
Dottie grinned. “Yeah, we’re still friends.”
“How about you?” Grace asked Carrie. “Still friends?”
She giggled. “Yeah.”
“In that case, why don’t we go in the backyard and play,” Grace suggested. “And your dad can be on his way.”
Stuart smiled at the twins lovingly. “Give me a hug.”
They did and he gave Grace a silent look of thanks for filling in for him.
In his car, Stuart got a call from his father. He put it on speaker.
“This is a surprise,” Stuart said.
“I was hoping to catch you before you got too busy today,” he said.
“I always have time to speak to you, Dad.” Stuart paused. “So what’s up?” He assumed there was something, and he had a pretty good idea what it was.
“Your sister told me that Fawn paid you a visit,” Robert said.
“Yeah, she’s here,” Stuart muttered.
“That must have gone well,” he said.
Stuart snickered. “Yeah, we had a ball.” He still couldn’t believe she’d had the audacity to show up as if it was nothing. On the other hand, if nothing else, she had shown herself to be as unpredictable as ever, which caused him even more concern. For all he knew, she would actually try something brainless like seek custody of his kids. The mere thought raised his blood pressure several notches. He would never allow Carrie and Dottie to be raised by someone who had walked out of their lives at the worst possible time.
“Are you there?” Robert asked.
Stuart refocused. “Yeah, sorry.”
“I was saying that I’m not surprised Fawn returned. I said all along that it was foolhardy for her to walk away from the best thing that could ever happen to her, which was you and the girls. I knew it was only a matter of time before the fun and games would run out and she’d come crawling back.”
“Well, she can crawl from here to eternity and it won’t get her anywhere,” Stuart said firmly. “I’d have to be crazier than her if I even thought about letting her into my life again.”
“She is in your life whether you want to hear that or not,” his father stressed. “Those are still her kids, and she’s not about to let you forget that.”
Stuart’s brow creased. “So what are you saying—that I give in to her manipulation and betrayal?”
“Not at all, son. All I’m saying is that pretending she doesn’t exist won’t solve anything. Let her get off her chest whatever she has to say and then be mature about telling her how much she hurt you and the girls, and that that’s a bridge you’re never willing to cross again.”
“And what if she ignores all that and still tries to get her hooks into me?” Stuart asked.
“It will be hard for her to ignore what’s staring her right in the face,” he said. “You’ve moved on and she has to do the same, for her own sake as well as for the girls.”
“Hope she listens to reason,” Stuart said. “Somehow I don’t think she sees things as rationally as you or I do.”
“Why don’t you just wait and see how it goes before jumping to conclusions.”
“All right.” Stuart turned onto Dexter Boulevard. �
��Anything you say, Dad.”
“I’m only saying what any father would when looking out for his child, much like you do with your own kids,” Robert said.
“I know, and I appreciate it.” He liked having his father being more involved in his life.
“So how’s Madison holding up through all this?” Robert asked.
Stuart thought about it. “Not as well as I would have hoped,” he said candidly, assuming Holly had already told him about the failed marriage proposal. “She wasn’t very happy about Fawn showing up.”
“That’s understandable, but unavoidable. Life can be messy sometimes. I’m sure Madison realizes that as well as anyone.”
“Yeah, I suppose,” Stuart said musingly. “We’ve both been through the wringer.”
“And you’re still in the game,” Robert said. “Whatever hiccup Fawn caused can be overcome if both of your hearts are in it.”
“You’re right.” He wondered if both their hearts were really in it. Or was it just his?
“Did I ever tell you that your mother turned me down the first time I asked her to marry me?” Robert asked.
Stuart’s eyes widened. “No, you never mentioned that.”
“Well, she did.”
“Why?”
“Said I caught her off guard and she said the first thing that came to her mind.” He chuckled hoarsely. “Anyway, when I asked her again a week or so later, she said yes. The rest is history.”
Stuart smiled, touched to hear about the beginning of his parents’ journey. “I’m glad she said yes the second time around.”
“So am I, believe me,” he said with a laugh. “I think it’ll be the same for you. Don’t give up on Madison.”
“I don’t intend to, Dad,” Stuart said.
When he hung up, Stuart dialed Madison’s number. Again, she failed to pick up, leaving him confused.
Why aren’t you answering? he thought. Don’t you know it’s driving me crazy being apart from you? Or has everything changed now that Fawn’s back in town?
Oddly, Stuart noted that Fawn had also left him several messages that he’d chosen not to respond to.
Say It with Roses Page 13
