16
MADDIE
I took a fortifying breath before releasing my white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel and stepping out of my car.
When I'd arrived home after drinks with Frankie last night, there'd been a message from my mom asking me to join them for Sunday lunch.
It didn't take a genius to know what it was about.
I'd worked my last shift at the hardware store on Friday, and I would put money on the fact that my parents were planning on getting me to change my mind. Honest to goodness, I didn't understand their strong aversions to dance or why they couldn't accept how much it meant to me.
Knots twisted and folded in my stomach as I walked up the steps that led to my childhood home. I had so many happy memories there, and the ones that weren't so happy were directly tied to one thing.
It saddened me to my core and not for the first time, I found myself wishing I was more like Jennah. The only time my parents ever went off on her was when they learned about her pregnancy. And even that hadn't lasted long before the excitement of having a baby in the house took over .
I smoothed my hands over my hair, checking that every strand of my ponytail was in place. My palms swept over the flower print of my summer dress before I quickly tapped my knuckles against the door.
A tiny bit of relief washed over me when it flew open to reveal my sister. Maybe if she was there, this was just a family lunch and not the intervention I thought. A sweet smile touched Jennah's lips when she said, "I was wondering when you'd get here."
Flicking my wrist, I checked the time and frowned. "I'm not late. Mom said to be here by one." My eyes met hers. "It's not even twelve-thirty yet."
My sister grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me inside. The delicious smell of rosemary and lemon permeated the air. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. "Mmm, Mom's roast chicken."
"Hey." At the sound of my sister's snapping fingers, I opened my eyes. Jennah looked a bit odd when she checked over her shoulder a few times. Leaning closer, she whisper-shouted, "I need all the details on this neighbor of yours my son can't seem to shut up about."
A groan rumbled its way through my chest. "There's nothing to tell." Didn't I just have this conversation with Frankie less than twenty-four-hours ago? I dropped my chin to my chest and pinched the bridge of my nose. "What's Tommy on about?"
"Well," my sister drawled. When I looked at her, she was grinning. "Oh, just that he has super cool scars and that Auntie Maddie had a big smile on her face after she spoke with him. "
I narrowed my eyes. "You're making that last part up."
"You're not denying it," Jennah accurately pointed out. "So, spill. I didn't even know someone had bought the old Nichols house."
Jennah and I might've been related by blood, but Frankie knew more about the goings on in my life than my sister did. And it was solely my fault. When my parents had started saying things like 'Why can't you be more like your sister?', I had distanced myself from her.
Of course, it wasn't fair to Jennah; she'd never said or done anything to make me feel like I was less than her. Unfortunately for us both, my bruised ego had needed someone to act out on.
"Uh, yeah." I pulled my ponytail over my shoulder and wrapped it around my finger. "He's been living there for a little over a month now. He generally keeps to himself; I think Tommy caught him on an odd day."
My sister's blonde head—a few shades lighter than mine—slowly moved up and down. "And the scars? Are they bad? Is that why you were looking at those horrible pictures the other day?"
"Jennah, I don't—"
"Madison!" My mom came rushing in, wrapping me up in a hug the moment she reached me.
For all our disagreements, it was moments like these that I cherished.
They might've had their faults, but they were still my parents.
And I loved them dearly. Winding my arms around my mom, I hugged her right back .
Jennah closed the door and together the three of us headed outside to where Mom had set the table on the patio.
Tommy and my dad were throwing a baseball back and forth, and I had the slightest bit of regret that I didn't bring Sheldon.
Much like Adam, my dad also referred to him as a rat.
So I often left him home when I came to my parents.
And thanks to Adam, he didn't even have fresh air blowing through the house since I'd kept the sliding door closed all week.
Before my mind had too much time to latch onto a certain broody man, I took the lemonade my mom held out and settled in one of the chairs. Choosing to focus on their current conversation on how to get Tommy to eat vegetables instead.
Unfortunately, all I could do was listen since I didn't have anything to offer on the topic. And hell, if watching them laugh and chatter didn't have me feeling even more like an outsider.
The odd thing was, I didn't exactly want to be different. I liked who I was, and I was okay with my dreams not fitting theirs. I just wanted their acceptance.
Just as the sadness settled in my bones, my dad and nephew joined us at the table. Tommy's smile was big and beautiful when he launched his little body at me and gave me the biggest hug.
"Auntie Maddie! Have you asked Mr. Adam about the marks on his neck yet?" Excitement burned bright in his eyes when he pulled out of the hug and perched his hands on my shoulders .
Next to me, Jennah stopped talking, and I felt her stare bore into the side of my head. "No, buddy, I haven't. Some people don't like talking about stuff like that so it's better to wait until they decide to tell you themselves."
Tommy scrunched up his face and pushed his lips out in a pout. "I know, but they look so cool. I bet the story of how he got them would be even cooler."
I didn't think the story would be cool at all. Deep down, I had a feeling it would be absolutely heartbreaking. Obviously, I couldn't say that to the little boy in front of me. Smiling, I simply said, "I bet."
In typical kid fashion he let it go and the conversation quickly moved to the awesome airplane model he'd seen at the toy store and how desperately he needed it. The more he spoke about it, the more dramatic he became. Which, in turn, had all of us laughing.
It felt so incredible to be able to share a laugh with my family. Our differences momentarily forgotten.
But I should have known better. Should've known that the peace wouldn't last.
We'd just devoured Mom's roast chicken and delicious sides when my dad leaned back in his seat and spoke to my sister. "We might have to open an hour later tomorrow. I want you and Madison to get the new stock that arrived on Friday on the shelves first."
A bucket of ice over the head wouldn't have the same bone-chilling effect his words had. Bowing my head, I took a deep breath through my nose. Held it. And then slowly released it. Lifting my gaze to my dad, I kept my voice steady. "Dad, did you forget? I start at the studio tomorrow."
He waved a dismissive hand through the air. "You were serious about that?'
Even though I wanted to shrink back and look away, I held his stare. "You know I was."
His face morphed; anger making the veins in his neck pop out. "Dammit, Madison. When are you going to get over this? I would think that year in New York showed you how stupid this dancing business is." His voice boomed with each hurtful word he spat at me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Jennah jumping to her feet and grabbing Tommy. "Really, Dad?" Wrapping a protective arm around him, she gave me an apologetic look before ushering her boy inside.
My gaze flicked to my mom; she looked upset but weirdly it wasn't aimed at me.
No, her what-the-hell-do-you-think-you're-doing glare was directed at her husband.
Insides shaking, I pushed to my feet and turned my attention back to my dad.
"And I had hoped by now you would have seen dancing makes me happy. "
My dad jumped to his feet too, pointing an angry finger at me. "You are wasting your life on something that has no future. You're—"
"Fraser," my mom said, her voice low and stern. "That's enough."
Dad's eyes looked almost wild as he turned them to my mom. Nostrils flaring, he ground out, "You, more than anyone, should know better, Carolynn." When my mom didn't say anything else, my dad threw his hands in the air and stomped off.
The back of my eyes began to sting, and I cursed my stupid heart for getting bruised so easily. Without looking at my mom, I let out a shaky breath. "I think I'm going to go."
"Madison—"
"Thanks for lunch, Mom. It was delicious, as always." Not sparing her another glance, I headed back to my car, choosing to go around the house in case I ran into my dad or sister inside.
Those tears that'd threatened earlier finally fell when my parents' house disappeared from the rearview mirror. Thick and hot, they rolled down my cheeks, showing no sign of stopping. Not even when I pulled into the safety of my own driveway.
Angrily, I swiped at them as I got out—slamming the door for good measure—and shuffled around the side of my house to get to the backyard. If anything could bring peace to my jumbled-up insides, it was the ocean.
That was until I saw Adam standing at the edge of his property. There was no way I wanted to face him in the state I was. Stopping in my tracks, I quickly spun around and attempted to retrace my steps.
I didn't get very far before his gravelly voice sounded. "Maddie."
Why did he have to say my name like that? Why did my entire being yell at me to turn around and go to him ?
It was because of those questions and the intensity of what I was feeling that I muttered, "I can't deal with you right now."