Chapter Twenty
I woke to mid-morning sunlight as it fell across my eyes. Grumbling, I opened one to adjust to the light as I rolled on my side away from it. I blinked at my surroundings, my brain confused until I woke more and remembered where I was.
I closed my eyes again with a happy sigh, thinking of the evening before. Getting to know Logan had been amazing. And the sex had been mind-blowing. He’d gently roused me, in a very pleasant way, in the early morning hours to enjoy each other a second time.
I smiled as I turned back toward the sunlight.
“Logan, are you awake?” I murmured.
When I blinked again, I saw I was alone in bed.
I raised my head and glanced around. The room was also void of his presence, so I sat up and called for him. I didn’t receive a response so climbed out from under the covers. I went to the bathroom door and knocked before opening it. It was empty so I went in to use it myself.
When I returned to the bedroom, I headed for my dress on the chaise and saw Logan had set my underwear beside it along with a note.
He went out to run errands early, didn’t want to wake me, and would meet me in front of the building at 1:30.
I got dressed then went back to the bed and made it up. When everything looked in order, I slid on my shoes and went over to the little oval mirror to make sure my hair wasn’t horrible. I grinned at my reflection because it most definitely was.
Glancing around the beautiful home, able to see it clearly in the bright sunlight, I went to my bag still on the sofa. I dug my hairclip out and twisted the mess into a bun on my head.
I studied one wall that had been cast in darkness the night before. It was covered in photos glassed in heavy frames. Most of them were of Logan, Natalie, and Riley over their years together. Many of Logan and Riley were candid and beautiful and I had a feeling Natalie had taken them herself. There were also images of an older man and woman, plainly Logan’s parents. He had the same build and coloring as his father, but he’d gotten his beautiful eyes from his blonde mother.
I finished studying the pictures and headed down the hallway to the elevator. That was enough exploring for now. I would feel better if Logan offered to give me a tour.
I pulled my phone out to check the time: 8:47. I needed to work for a few hours before getting ready for Logan to come back for me in the afternoon .
When the elevator opened on my floor, I peeked out and saw Ina and Fred as usual. I reached in my bag for my sunglasses and stuck them on as I started down the breezeway.
Ina looked up as I got closer. “Madison, how’s your motha?”
I stopped to chat with her for a few minutes.
Ina narrowed her eyes as she glanced down at her watch. “We been out here ova an hour. When’d you leave? We didn’t see you leave, huh, Fred?”
He had his paper up and was moving a mug to his lips. “What she said.”
I continued down the breezeway, walking backward. “I went out super early.” My voice was high. “I ran out of cream and coffee just isn’t something I can do without cream; I have to have my coffee with cream and sugar. I had sugar but not the cream, so I went to the cafe. They have really good cream and sugar by the way. It is really creamy… and sugary. I might have overdone it a little though. Uh, excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom.” I turned and practically ran around the corner, out of their sight and out of breath.
I was closing the door behind me when I heard Ina’s voice again. “She definitely ova done it.”
I went into the kitchen to start some real-life coffee and then to brush my teeth while it brewed.
Once I was truly caffeinated, I glanced between my computer and the hallway, trying to decide if I should shower first. I raised my arm and breathed in deeply.
There were still faint traces of my soap and the fragrance I’d applied before dressing the evening before; mixed in was Logan’s cologne. I smiled as I went to the desk; deciding I wasn’t ready to wash his scent away yet.
A few hours later, I was heading to my room when my cell phone rang in my hand.
I clenched my teeth when I saw the name and forced myself to answer. “I only have a minute, Alexis, what can I do for you?”
“Hello, Madison, I hope you are having a fabulous, sunny day. How are you?” She was a kindergarten teacher and always spoke to me as if I were one of her students.
“Fine,” I said curtly.
She didn’t say anything for several seconds and I opened my mouth to tell her I had to go.
“I assume you heard Drew is leaving prison next week. Isn’t it wonderful?” Alexis gushed.
I closed my mouth, letting silence be my response.
“Umm, I was wondering if you would consider taking Sadie to Georgia to visit him when he is out since it would be less scary for her now. Or I would be happy to take her if—”
“Sadie doesn’t even know who he is. That’s a hard no.”
Alexis fell quiet again and I could practically hear her pouting on the other end.
“Well, she can’t get to know him if you won’t let her, can she? That isn’t very fair, Madison. Are you truly thinking about what is best for your daughter or what is easy for you? It’s not like he is some violent criminal she should be afraid of or—”
I stopped listening as my blood began to boil.
Alexis had come to my apartment seven years ago when she found out about Drew’s arrest and that I was leaving him. When I’d opened the door, she stood there staring at the bruise on my cheek. I could still remember what she said to me.
‘I’m sure that was an accident. You know, before our dad died, he used to hit Drew sometimes.’
I’d felt shocked as she’d told a dark family secret that day. Their father had been an abusive alcoholic. The story their mother always told was that he died in a car accident because he’d had a heart attack. Alexis told me the truth; he’d been drunk and wrapped his car around a telephone pole coming home from a bar one night when they were teenagers. I’d listened to her expose the past and felt sadness for all of them.
Listening to Alexis now, bemoaning for her ‘ poor brother, who misses his kids that he hasn’t gotten to see in so long’ wasn’t pulling on any of my heartstrings. She knew the truth about Drew as well. She’d seen the proof of it on my face and still wanted to act like he was just an innocent, misunderstood person.
She also knew the choices he’d made through life that eventually landed him in prison. I had little doubt she still thought he never belonged there for the crimes he committed and what happened to that woman. And like her mother, she hadn’t wanted me to divorce him, even told me ‘It isn’t fair to him’ that day at my apartment .
I interrupted her whining now. “I said no, Alexis, and that is final. Drew will have to take me to court to see Sadie. Grace told me you have been trying to call her. I would remember your promise to her or she’ll likely cut you off again. I have to go.”
Before she could say anything else I hung up on her.
I squeezed the phone in my hand until my fingers hurt. My blissful mood felt stolen. I released my grip and looked at the screen. There was less than an hour until I was supposed to meet Logan downstairs.
I pushed the Cage siblings from my mind as I went to shower; determined to wash away the dark presence that had been forced into my previously ‘fabulous, sunny day.’