Chapter 15
Madi
Tuesday was a flurry of activity. Dad picked me up early so we could stop at Grannie’s before heading to the clinic.
Doug was talking to Beth at the counter, so I took advantage and snagged a minute with my mom.
“Hey Mom, you busy tonight?”
“Never too busy for you. What’s up?”
“Can I stop by later so we can talk?”
“Of course.”
Then I remembered I’d have a shadow and didn’t want to risk being overheard. “Actually, can you stop by Jack’s after work?”
I wanted to talk to her before my fake date with Matt. A date I should have declined; but I wanted a night out. Since he needed to tag along, there was no point in trying to make plans with anyone else.
Plus, he’s easy on the eyes. Sinfully so. And we had a relationship to sell.
“What time will you be home?”
“I should be there by six-thirty.”
“Okay, I’ll ask Jack if I can come over early and get my Natalie fix before then.”
“They’d love that.” It occurred to me that I might be interrupting her dinner plans. “We could meet after dinner if that’s easier.”
“Your father can fend for himself.” Her smile was filled with love when she looked at him. “He’s a big boy.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but we should go,” Dad said.
The meeting went well and, shockingly, Carol needed no convincing to install the cameras once Doug explained the closed circuit system. She even asked them to include a proposal for a full security system upgrade.
That made me happy; our security system consisted of deadbolt locks on the front and back doors. They served as a deterrent, but a determined person could easily break in.
“All I ask is for a guarantee my, our, patient’s privacy will be protected.”
Doug promised and said he’d be available after the installation to teach us how to use it.
“There won’t be any cameras inside. We’ll add a second one to the back, covering the entire backyard.
” The clinic had one covering the door because a terrorist had used the back entrance to kidnap Ashley in his deranged attempt to get revenge against Nathan.
“In the front, one will cover the porch, one the parking lot, and the last will film the front yard with a wide angle to include the sidewalk and street.”
Carol nodded.
“Will they be discrete?” I asked. I knew the answer, but wanted them to answer for Carol’s peace of mind.
“Yes, we’ll hide them in plain sight.”
“And the video?” Carol asked.
“The footage will be saved for ninety days, then it’ll auto-erase. No one can view it without your permission,” Dad reminded her.
“What do you think, Madi?”
“I trust my father’s judgment.”
Carol and I signed the work order, and just like that I’d made my first business decision and my first financial investment in the clinic.
“Would it be an imposition to ask you to install everything on a Sunday?” Carol asked. “I don’t want to disrupt our patients.”
Dad looked at Doug, who answered, “That’s not a problem. I should have everything I need by the end of the week.”
This was the type of protection service I didn’t mind my father and brothers providing. Maybe once it’s installed, they’ll all relax.
Matt followed me home after taking me to the mechanic’s to pick up O.P. Jack was outside, so I texted Matt.
Thanks. No need to escort me to the door.
I see that.
What time do you leave in the morning?
Eight. Want to stop for coffee?
Just because I didn’t love needing a bodyguard didn’t mean I couldn’t be polite.
Does anyone ever say no?
I laughed.
Then seven-forty-five.
See you then.
Jack did that thing guys do, saluting with the peace sign, to dismiss Matt.
“Before you yell, I came to see O.P.’s damage, not escort you in.”
I nodded as I got out, and we walked around together.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yes, why?”
He raised an eyebrow. God, he looks more like Dad every day. Acted like him, too.
“I’m coping, that better?”
“It’s more honest.”
Changing the subject, I told him what the mechanic said about the damage being mostly cosmetic.
“That’s good.” He looked toward the door. “Mom’s here. She said you wanted to talk. Should Meg and I give you some space?”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.” The weather was gorgeous, so I figured we could sit on the back patio. “Do you mind if I use the fire pit?” I asked as we walked in.
“Of course not.”
“Thanks.”
Natalie’s too-cute-for-words giggles filled my heart with joy as we entered the living room.
“Your Aunt Madi is here,” my mom told Nat. “Say hello.” Mom turned Natalie, so she faced me and made her wave. When she blew a raspberry on Natalie’s neck, Nat broke into another giggle fit.
“Hi Natalie. I see Grandma is spoiling you.”
“It’s a grandmother’s prerogative.”
Jack whispered, “Just tell me when. I’ll spark up the fire pit.”
“Thanks.”
We played with Natalie until Meg woke up from her nap. After saying hello, she took Natalie and disappeared again to feed her daughter.
“Want some wine?” I asked.
“Sure,” Mom answered.
“Red or white?”
“I’m not picky.”
I had an open red in the fridge so I poured us both a glass.
After we settled in, me with my feet tucked under me, my mom asked, “How are you holding up?”
“Not as well as I’d like.” I admitted.
“Go on.” That was Mom; she wouldn’t guess which of the clusterfucks surrounding my life was bothering me the most.
“It’s… all of it. But mostly it’s Dad and his sons acting like I’m fragile and can’t take care of myself.”
“His sons? I take it they’ve pissed you off.”
“Yes. No. Sort of. They’re overbearing and I don’t like it. I’m a grown woman for fuck’s sake.”
“Language.”
“Sorry.”
When Mom nodded her acceptance, the firelight tinted her gray hair orange. She has more gray hair every time I see her. Not literally every time, but her kids had a habit of getting into dangerous situations, and the stress of constantly fearing for their lives was taking its toll.
“I know they’re worried, but it’s too much. I’m not helpless and I served in the military longer than Jack or Jay, and for longer than Jamie was a cop.”
“Madi, you were a nurse, not infantry.”
Her words were a sucker punch to the gut. “You think I need them?”
“I didn’t say that; I just think you’re overstating what your military experience brings to the table in this context.”
She was right, but I didn't like admitting it.
“Maybe. But I’m not some delicate flower that needs to be coddled.”
“Did I ever tell you how your father acted after you and Jamie were born?”
“No.” I couldn’t imagine how it was relevant, but I wanted to hear the story.
“He was so overprotective, your brothers,”—she shook her head and laughed—“his sons, would seem downright uncaring in comparison. He wanted to wrap you both in bubble wrap and build a fortress around you.”
I laughed. Dad had a protective streak, but I didn’t remember him being insane about it.
“Seriously?”
“Seriously, and I didn’t escape his protective blanket. He asked friends at Weatherford PD to do extra drive-bys of the house. He didn’t want me leaving without him.” She sipped her wine. “God, the fights we had.”
I couldn’t picture Dad acting like that.
“He’s mellowed,” I said.
“He had to; he was driving me crazy. I felt like you do now, but his actions weren’t about me. He was afraid of losing us.”
She let that sink in.
I sipped my wine and thought about what she’d said. It sounded similar to what Meg said before we left for craft and booze night.
“What happened?” I finally asked.
“He realized he’d push me away if he didn’t stop, so he did. Your father is a quick study.” Mom laughed.
I didn’t want to imagine how different my life would’ve been if my parents had separated.
First off, I’d only have one brother. Well, one brother with the same parents.
Secondly, our childhood was great because of the balance between our parent’s strengths and their parenting styles. She was the yin to his yang.
They both provided tough love, but in drastically different ways.
“Your brothers have suffered through a lot recently, and despite what they say, they aren’t handling it as well as they claim. The fear of losing a loved one makes them act like cavemen.”
Each almost lost the woman he loved.
This was why I needed my mom. Her experience made her the perfect life mentor.
She’d lived through so much and was stronger than ever.
She was the Mama Bear you didn’t mess with. Mary Sheppard would rip you a new asshole while tending your wounds, and when she was done, you’d thank her for it.
“How do I get them to listen to me?”
“You talk to them. Don’t yell or accuse or play defense. Stomping your feet, or crossing your arms and demanding they stop treating you like a child won’t work because that’s not what they’re doing.”
She gave me a chance to respond, but I had no defense. I’d acted like a child on more than one occasion.
“Sit down and talk to them. Explain how you feel.”
Had she met my brothers? Stupid question. But come on. The only time they weren’t interfering in my life was when I served. Because they couldn’t.
She sighed. “And then you have to accept that they won’t back down completely.”
“I’ll try.”
Mom set her empty wine glass on the stone patio. “Dad said Matt is pretending to be your boyfriend. Want to talk about it?”
I told her what happened at the bar, and how Dad had somehow caught wind of it.
“He assigned Matt as my bodyguard.” Don’t roll your eyes. “And suggested we continue fake dating to keep Paul from bothering me.”
“You haven’t told me how you feel.”
I finished my wine, put the glass down, and picked at my cuticles in the firelight.
“I’m confused. I’m attracted to him.” Who wouldn’t be? “But I’m not interested in dating. I want to focus on my career.”
She raised an eyebrow in her signature, ‘I don’t believe you but I’m going to give you a chance to tell me the truth before I call you out on your lie’, look.
I hated that look. Mostly because it always worked.
“He’s a nice guy, but he’s a player. When I’m ready to date again, I want someone who can be in a healthy monogamous relationship.”
“You don’t think Matt could be monogamous.”
Matt told me he wasn’t that guy. “No.”
“Well, your father’s sons will be happy to hear that.”
I laughed with her.
“How long have you been disowning your brothers when they irritate you?” she asked.
“Since high school. I never said it at home because I didn’t want you and Dad getting mad.”
“Your father would’ve loved it.”
“Not you?”
“I’m amused now, but I wouldn’t have been back then.”
She changed the subject to my growing role at the clinic.
“I love that Carol didn’t hesitate to ask me to sit in on the meeting with Dad and Doug. I’ll miss her when she retires and have to hire a new doctor before she does, but that won’t be a problem.”
Carol supported the direction I wanted to take the clinic; specializing in holistic medicine and having a hormone specialist on staff for women of all ages.
“I’m glad. Carol’s always been forward-thinking, and I’m sure she’ll help you find the right fit.”
Assuming ownership of the clinic as an NP wouldn’t make since to most people, since Texas law prohibited NPs from prescribing medications without a supervising doctor.
Something I hoped to change, but that was a future problem. For now, I’d hire a doctor who’d be a good fit for my vision.
Before long, we were both yawning.
“I should go,” Mom said, standing up. “Need help putting out the fire?”
It had burned down to embers. “Nah, I got it.”
She hugged me. “I’ll head in to say goodbye.”
At the patio door, she turned. “Remember what I said.”
“I will.” She’d given me a lot to think about.