Chapter 10 #5
There.
I was forsworn.
I had done the exact same thing I had asked Matt not to do.
I had confirmed something that might not come to pass.
I turned my head to the side, unable to hold her gaze and scared she would see the fresh doubt filling my features.
Matt winked at me, totally inappropriate considering the current situation, yet a real smile glossed over my lips.
Even now he could drag a smile kicking and screaming from me.
The minutes ticked by, leaving us restless.
Jamal paced, Uncle David stared at the floor, Jenny sniffled against my shoulder, and Matt kept a hand on my thigh while I chewed my lower lip raw.
“Mr Meyers?” A middle-aged female nurse with a tired smile came up to our group.
Uncle David jumped to his feet, hands clenched tightly at his sides and wearing an expression of fear.
“You can come through and see your wife now.” she advised in a kind voice.
I glanced at Matt’s watch.
A twenty seven minutes wait.
Dr Yanic, like most people, wasn’t immune to Matt’s forceful character.
“I want to come,” Jenny pleaded, already pulling away from me.
“Please, Dad.”
“Me too.” I spoke up right after.
I didn’t know the exact amount of visitors allowed in ICU but I had a sinking feeling it numbered around two.
“I want to see my Ma.” Jamal said, trying to eyeball Jenny and me into submission.
Screw that shit.
Jenny and I stood up.
The nurse regarded us all sternly.
“I’m sorry but there can only be two visitors a time per ICU patient and visiting hours haven’t officially started for the day so you’ll have to be quick.” She glanced at Uncle David’s drawn face.
“Of course, you’ll be allowed to stay with your wife, Mr Meyers.”
“Daddy.” Jenny called in her little girl’s voice, the one she brought out whenever she wanted to wrap him around her finger.
It had an 85% success rate.
The odds were not in mine or Jamal’s favour.
“Jenny,” Jamal’s face was set.
“I’m going to see Ma.”
Uncle David stood indecisively between his children.
I didn’t want to add to his hassle but-
“I’m going in.” I informed my cousins, stalking over to stand in front my uncle.
“I. Am. Going. In.”
The nurse, sensing trouble brewing, rolled her eyes in exasperation before glaring at us.
“Two minutes. You can all come but only for two minutes.”
Jamal, Jenny and I shared a relieved look.
A showdown in the ICU waiting room would not endear us to the people working here.
“This way, Mr Meyers.” The nurse motioned Uncle David toward the brightly lit corridor, like a robot he moved forward.
Jamal and Jenny started after him and I looked over my shoulder to where Matt remained seated.
“Aren’t you coming?” I asked.
He tried to mask his obvious reluctance with a quick nod as he raised his tall frame from the chair.
“Of course, poppet.”
I watched as he made his way over to my side.
“Thanks, hon.” I meant it.
Matt gave me a brief kiss before we followed the members of my family.
When we entered the room where my aunt laid unconscious I couldn’t stop the soft gasp that fell from my trembling lips.
The vibrant, outspoken Cleo Meyers nee DuMont was not present; instead a shadow of her lay on that bed, hooked up to beeping and clicking machines.
That was the moment shit got real.
Uncle David moved slowly towards the bed.
His shoulders shook and I knew although his back was to us all that he was crying.
Something inside me broke in that moment as Jamal and Jenny joined Uncle David by the bed.
“Two minutes.” the nurse said in a hushed voice as she backed out the room, leaving us to face the enormity of the situation in private.
“We need to hold her hand.” Jenny whispered fiercely, taking her mother’s hand in hers.
She looked back at me for a second before turning her attention to her father and brother.
“So she knows we’re here.” Jenny looked at me again, her eyes pleaded for support.
In that gaze we shared I knew her deepest fear.
She was scared she would lose her mom as I had all those years ago.
The arguments from my last visit were long forgotten, it didn’t matter.
Our glue, the thing that held our family together was on the brink of being taken from us.
“We’ll take turns,” I said, walking towards the bed.
“Someone will always be here holding her hand until she wakes up.” I nodded once at Jamal.
“Uncle David is staying tonight-”
“I’m staying too. I’ll sleep in the waiting room.” Jamal hissed.
Jenny was nodding in agreement.
I sighed and finally let my gaze wander over the silent man staring at his unconscious wife.
Uncle David was coming apart.
I knew he wouldn’t us around.
I took a calming breath and gingerly touched my aunt’s covered foot before narrowing my eyes at the siblings.
“You’re all exhausted, you need to rest. You can’t stay in here, only Uncle David can tonight, I mean, this morning,” I shook my head to clear the jumbled thoughts.
“We take it in shifts. Ok?” I glared at them both, glared at them until Uncle David spoke.
“Madi’s right, kids. Go home get some rest. Jenny you have classes later, you should go home.”
The sadness in his voice caused another part inside me to crack.
I took another deep breath and continued.
“Then we’ll come back in a few hours so you can go home and rest. Someone will always be here. Agreed?”
I shared a look with my cousins and they both nodded in agreement.
The door opened and the nurse stuck her head in.
Two minutes were up already?
I noticed Matt stood near the door, expressionless and patiently waiting.
“Go on, kids.” Uncle David said, pulling up a chair and taking Auntie Cleo’s other hand.
I swallowed at the sight of the tubes attached to her.
Jenny kissed her cheek and fled out the room with a hand pressed against her mouth to stop her cries.
Jamal also kissed his mother and walked away.
I walked up to the top of the bed and kissed her clammy forehead.
“Wake up. I need you. We need you.” I whispered hoarsely against her skin.
“Don’t make me go through this again. Wake up or I’ll never forgive you. Never. You better start acting right.”
The tears finally came, rolling down my cheeks like a dam had breached its bank.
My frigging eyes were broken.
I turned and walked away as fast as possible.
Shit just got real and I felt a freak out coming at me.
Please, God.
Please.
I couldn’t go through this again…
Matt watched her stifle another yawn.
Why in the bloody hell she felt it necessary to clean for the tenth time he had no idea, but he said nothing as she dusted the bookshelf.
The same spot the feathers had gone over five minutes ago.
The past few days had revealed an inner strength in her that left him speechless, and poignantly touched.
His endearingly ditzy poppet had swept in like a drill sergeant, organizing everything and everyone in her aunt’s absence.
Her family willingly letting her rule their lives without a murmur of complaint.
The rift between them long-forgotten in the face of this family crisis.
“Jamal,” she suddenly yelled towards the open living room door.
“Have you shown Matt this business plan of yours as yet? I told you he’ll spot any issues you might have missed. He’s a gazillionaire, you don’t get to that stage without knowing things.”
A smile graced his lips as she spun on her heels, feather duster in hand, and stalked towards the door; muttering under her breath about hard-headed people who let their pride get in the way.
“Jamal!”
“Damn, Madi. Stop riding my back. I told you, I got this.” Jamal shouted from somewhere further in the house.
Matt stayed silent.
It was best whenever Madi and her family went at it.
There was only one occurrence of real discontent.
David’s sister had shown up the afternoon of the day they’d flown in.
She was under the mistaken impression that it was her responsibility to take charge of her brother and his family.
Madi was having none of it.
At first Matt was alarmed it would descend into a horrible family argument.
Memories of Thanksgiving had been at the forefront of his mind.
But Madi had calmly looked the woman up and down before saying: ‘ Thanks for the offer but I’m home now.
’
Gemma had spluttered for a moment then launched into a tirade about Madi deserting her family while shooting nasty glances his way.
Madi allowed her the rant, regarding her uncle’s younger sister with impassivity.
When Gemma paused for breath, Madi had smiled, politely stated she was welcomed to stay for dinner but would be leaving right after.
Her tone held no room for discussion and David had simply patted her shoulder before escaping upstairs.
The poor chap was out of sorts without his wife at his side.
Gemma refused the dinner invite and left in a huff.
Matt grinned at the image.
His poppet would do well in a boardroom.
Again she stifled a yawn as she stood in the doorway.
His attempt this morning to forcibly keep her in bed after their return from the hospital had ended with him getting a light punch in the eye.
He would need to have a serious word with her about these violent tendencies she sometimes displayed.
His eyes wandered down her body, lingering over the curve of her arse in those jeans.
It was becoming unbearable, putting aside his need for her while she dealt with keeping her family together.
And she was doing just that.
Her uncle and cousins were completely lost without the woman Matt still held reservations about.
He frowned to himself.
They had, of course, learnt about his marriage to Madi through the media channels.
At least it hadn’t been a circus when it was revealed, for that he was thankful.
Nathan’s father had exerted an immeasurable amount of clout back home in England to keep it that way.
His gaze slid upwards, hungrily noting the swell of her breasts under the t-shirt she wore.
Matt shifted in discomfort on the sofa, cursing the throbbing hardness in his groin.
Well, no one had ever died from sexual frustration to date, he would just have to bide his time until he could enjoy her delectable body.
She arched her back, groaning softly as she rubbed her nape, then her left shoulder.
So long, too long it seemed.
Hours felt akin to years, days were centuries.
The ache thundering through him clamoured for relief, to be sated.
His desire for her was a constant state of being.
Always present, usually pushed behind the requirements of daily activities; but always simmering in the background of his mind.
She was his eternal feast and he hungered.
Matt hissed under his breath.
This was torture.
A man should be able to make love to his wife when the urge arose!
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked sharply with a sidelong glance.
“Like what, poppet?” he asked smoothly, feigning ignorance.
“I don’t know,” she muttered.
“Like I’m a piece of meat.”
Matt raised an eyebrow.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Why don’t you go rest for a few hours? You’ve barely slept these past few days.”
She shook her head, finally putting the duster down.
Matt’s relief was short-lived as she said, “I need to start cooking so there’s food for Uncle David and Jenny when they get home. If you’re tired you should go and rest. You don’t have to come to the hospital with me later. I won’t mind.”
“I’m accompanying you,” he replied staunchly and beckoned her over.
“And I’m not the one who needs sleep, you are.”
Her mouth curled down as her dark brown eyes filled with sadness.
“I have to take care of them, Matt.”
“And I have to take care of you.” he shot back.
“Come. Here.”
Her eyes flashed fire but she did make her way slowly towards him.
“When are you going to stop bossing me around?” she grumbled as he pulled her into his lap.
The surprised look she levelled at him caused him to shrug.
He was aroused, there was no hiding it with her sitting on him.
“When you’re older and wiser.” Matt began to rub her back and she made a sound that increased the pressure building in his lower anatomy.
“You need to rest and I’m going to ensure you get it.”
Madi leaned across to kiss him.
She had intended it to be fleeting, the pressure of her sensuous lips light against his.
Matt quickly moved his hand up her back and gripped her head; keeping her in place and forcing her mouth open with unbridled passion.
Once she relaxed under his onslaught he gentled the kiss, revelling in the softness of her mouth, the rapidly demanding strokes of her tongue against his.
She’d always been a natural at this, she had never kissed him like a virgin.
Matt pulled away, peering at her while breathing heavily.
“I’ve always wondered who taught you to kiss.” She laughed at his comment then stopped abruptly, eyes widening in shock before filling with guilt.
Matt kissed the tip of her nose.
“It’s ok to laugh, poppet. I miss the sound of your laughter.”
“I should start cooking, Matt.” she murmured, getting off his lap.
He exhaled softly and let her move away, eyeing her with unashamed lust.
“Fine, I’m going to get a shower,” He stood up.
“A bloody cold one.”
“Oh stop. It’s not been that long.” She shook her head in amusement.
Matt continued, simply because his obvious frustration was a source of hilarity to her.
He wanted to see her smile.
“Am I grumpy, poppet?”
Madi bit her lower lip, fighting a chuckle.
He brushed past her, tossing over his shoulder, “And you know exactly why I get grumpy.”
The sound of her laughter as he walked out the living room was music to his ears…
“Jamal, we’re leaving now.” Madi warned her cousin as she stuck her head around the door of the snug.
“I’ll send Uncle David home from the hospital, make sure he eats. Jenny should get back from classes an hour after he arrives. Remind her to put the washing – in fact, you put the washing in.”
“Will do.” Jamal replied.
“I’ll be there in about five, maybe six hours. Did you eat, Madi? I didn’t see you eat and you know your ass is scrawny.”
Matt, standing out of Jamal’s view, gave his wife an eloquent look.
He’d been on her case about it too.
“I’ll get something later. Bye.” She grabbed Matt’s hand and tugged him forward, eager to return to her aunt’s sick bed.
Ryan was already parked out front waiting to ferry them to the hospital.
“You do know I have no qualms about force-feeding you,” Matt advised as they left the house.
“I’m much bigger and stronger, poppet. You wouldn’t stand a chance.”
She snorted in derision and quickened her pace down the drive.
“I’ll eat later, Matt. Come on.”
Ryan stood outside the vehicle, immediately opening up the door on their approach.
Matt gave him a curt nod in greeting then followed Madi into the back of the Range Rover.
The short trip to the hospital was silent, as every other trip they’d made.
He covered her hands with his, stopping her in the act of fiercely scratching her pinkie finger.
The peel from his coat pocket barely tore her attention from the scenery outside the window.
Matt doubted she was actually focusing on anything other than her thoughts.
That worried, faraway expression seemed to have taken up permanent residence on her face.
He fished his mobile out.
“Hello,”
“Matt, it’s Nathan. How are you? Is Madi’s aunt any better?”
Matt glanced at his wife.
“No improvement unfortunately. How’s everything? Is Adam handling the busin-”
“Yes, yes,” Nathan cut him off tersely.
“Everything’s fine on the business front. Look, that’s not why I called, mate. There’s been a development.”
Matt stiffened, not liking the tone of his friend’s voice.
“What is it?”
Madi turned to look at him, picking up on the tension.
He smiled at her and she resumed looking out the window.
“I just wanted to give you a heads up, but it seems some rag has caught wind of your trip to the States and the reason behind it. The story is due out tomorrow. Fingers crossed the American media doesn’t take much of an interest in it.”
“How?” Matt couldn’t keep the anger out his voice and again Madi turned to him.
He sent her another quick smile while smoothing his features into a relaxed one.
“I honestly have no idea, and it’s winding me right up! Look, don’t take this the wrong way but I’m beginning to think the source is coming from someone on Madi’s end. I mean, let’s approach this logically. Prior to your relationship with her, the media could only speculate about your personal life. And they bloody well knew not to print anything or run the risk of litigation. After the incident with the Norwegian model you made sure they got nothing. Now they seem to know everything, and in a short space of time too.”
Matt digested that bit of unsavoury news with a bitter twist creasing his lips.
“It would appear you might be right,” He released her hand and pressed it over her jiggling leg.
She was a bundle of nerves and she needed sleep.
Matt returned to his conversation.
“I’ll have someone look into it once things calm down on this end.”
“Good,” Nathan’s relief was audible.
“The wife’s been on my case, Matt. She wants to know how Madi’s holding up and my brief responses aren’t satisfactory. Bella will probably be calling you herself sometime.”
Matt chuckled.
“I’ll let Madi know about her concern and we’ll talk once we know where things stand on this end. How is Bella?”
“Pregnant,” Nathan grumbled.
“And driving me around the bend. Look, I must dash, your father’s in the office today and I’m due in a meeting- bollocks! I’m late.”
Matt shook his head at the immediate dial tone ringing in his ear before putting the mobile away.
Surreptitiously he observed his wife, wondering which bastard within the circle of her associates could be feeding the media details of their private life.
It had to be someone close to her.
On recollection, it had been a two day timespan when the story about their engagement broke.
The notification of their wedding happened while they were still on honeymoon.
Again he silently thanked Nathan’s father for the role he played in keeping the furore to a minimum.
Matt did a quick elimination of the most obvious suspect.
Dante Palmer.
As much as he disliked the man, he knew he would never deliberately do anything to hurt Madi.
In fact, Palmer had previously made it known he despised the media attention Madi was on the receiving end of.
Maybe someone working for her, which was feasible.
Someone in a position to perhaps garnish personal details about their life in her everyday interaction with the staff.
A low grunt fell from him.
This was exactly why he chastised her about not maintaining a strict professional line when dealing with her employees.
She ran her dance company as if it was one big happy family; had proudly stated the fact to him on numerous occasions.
He would get to the bottom of this then make her implement ironclad non-disclosure contracts for every member of her staff.
This lackadaisical, allegedly close-knit nonsense had to stop.
Madi needed to realize one shouldn’t blur the lines set between employer and employees.
“You’re frowning.” she said, face still turned towards the window.
Matt forced a smile to his lips, belatedly noting his reflection in the tinted window.
“I’m just conscious of the fact you haven’t eaten much toady, poppet.”
It wasn’t an outright lie, he was concerned about her health.
Madi was a petite woman and her career choice meant she had to maintain a certain weight at all times.
He fought the instantaneous grimace trying to form on his lips at that thought.
Humph.
She didn’t want children.