Chapter 23 Madelina
My father chose an upscale restaurant for our brunch, nestled just a stone’s throw from Carnegie Hall.
As I hurriedly left Cinnamon Springs yesterday, my mind was a whirlwind, and in my haste, I only managed to grab my clubbing attire along with a spare outfit for today. I quickly realize that my bohemian skirt and tank top won’t cut it for such a refined occasion.
I raid Eva’s closet, desperate to find something that will be acceptable for brunch.
Her style is more conservative than mine, which makes it easier to choose something.
I finally settle on a taupe turtleneck blouse with matching tailored dress shorts.
For shoes, I slip into her chic leather wedges, then style my hair into a sleek bun so I don’t look like a hot mess from last night’s shots.
As soon as I enter the restaurant, the concierge greets me. I tell him my name and follow him toward the table where my father is already seated. I quickly glance at the time to see I’m five minutes early. Thank God, he can’t lecture me on punctuality.
Immediately, he stands to pull back my chair politely. Despite what happened between us the last time we saw each other, I kiss his cheek hello, then take a seat at the table.
“You look well,” Dad says in a cordial tone.
Given the history between us, all I can manage is a polite smile as I arrange the pristine white napkin across my lap.
“Thank you,” I reply, my voice laced with uncertainty as I search for a way to steer the conversation. “Are you in the city on business?”
He nods, settling back into his chair with an air of calculated relaxation that suggests he has something more significant on his mind. I brace myself, sensing that a storm is brewing beneath the surface. “Yes, I’ve actually been spending quite a bit of time in Virginia lately.”
“Nice. Well, the weather has been unseasonably warm of late. Cinnamon Springs feels hotter than usual.”
Yeah, that could have something to do with your best friend’s older brother.
“And are you back at the theater?” he questions.
I shake my head. “No, I’ve been helping out Eva. They have a baby on the way, so…”
The moment it slips out, my father’s brows rise with curiosity.
Fuck, I’m an idiot for spilling the beans.
I don’t understand why I feel so nervous around him.
I’m a grown woman, for Christ’s sake, and don’t rely on him for anything anymore.
I stew in regret, wishing he didn’t make me feel so uncomfortable to the point that I blurt out things I should be keeping to myself.
“I suppose congratulations to your brother are warranted,” he states, his voice wooden and devoid of the enthusiasm one would expect upon hearing news of a new life on the way. The flatness in his words hangs in the air, like a gray fog that suffocates any sense of joy.
“I’ll pass the message on,” I say, but I know I won’t. Aston will probably lose his shit. “Anyway, you said you’ve been spending time in Virginia. What are you doing with Beaumont Manor?”
“There are plans,” he says simply.
“Plans? You’re selling?” I ask, surprised he’d even think about it.
“It isn’t exactly being used, Madelina. A wasted commodity.”
There are so many options rather than sell it off to someone who, if ruthless like my father, will knock it down and probably build a highway through the land or something like that.
What the hell is he thinking? Just because he’s divorcing Mom, doesn’t mean he should take away a place I once called home.
“But why don’t you—”
The waiter arrives at our table, interrupting our conversation to read out the specials. My father appears distracted, and when I open my mouth to order the lobster Benedict and truffle scrambled eggs, my father rises from his seat, instantly ending our talk about Beaumont Manor.
“Here he is.”
I turn around to see a familiar face staring back at me. A sudden wave of anger surges through me as I snap my attention back onto my father.
“What is Myles doing here?” I grit, barely able to contain myself.
“I thought it would be beneficial for us to have a meal together, to clarify things,” my father states, his tone matter-of-fact, like Myles and I are some business deal he’s trying to close.
Myles’s expression slowly transforms, a flicker of softness breaking through the tension that crackles in the air between us.
Meanwhile, my father sits nonchalantly, as if the palpable awkwardness surrounding us is nothing more than a passing breeze.
I force myself to take a deep breath, grounding myself in the present moment and striving for calm amid the brewing storm of emotions.
Aside from running into Myles at the bar, then the wedding, we haven’t had closure.
There are a few things that still tie us together.
Like the studio apartment we bought in Brooklyn and leased out to a mutual friend of ours, plus some investments that I stupidly allowed everyone else to control for me.
So I assume this is what my father wants to tie up.
“Maddy,” Myles greets with a velvet tone in his voice. “I’m glad you were able to come.”
“Well, you get invited to brunch, and say yes without knowing the true extent of it,” I mutter beneath my breath.
My father and Myles briefly engage in small talk while I sit here, confused. The restaurant is quite busy for brunch, with many patrons wearing suits, so I assume it’s all business. Of course, my father would choose such a place.
“Now, I understand that the situation with the two of you has been left quite ambiguous,” my father remarks, his tone sharp and commanding.
It comes as no surprise that his choice of words is carefully crafted to convey an underlying message.
God forbid he care what anyone else is going through.
“However, I believe in the possibility of redemption. None of us is infallible. Marriage, as we know it, is a lifelong commitment steeped in complexity. Occasionally, we must take the time to ensure it is the right choice in the situation.”
I sit quietly, trying to understand where my father is going with this. Steeped in complexity? That is rich, coming from him. Maybe, just maybe, if he didn’t treat Mom like she was a doormat, their marriage would have been loving and enjoyable. The complexity is him.
Myles reaches over to place his hand on mine, a friendly gesture to reassure me that this won’t get out of control.
I remember the exact moment when our parents got into a heated discussion over land back in Cinnamon Springs.
That was when things started to get to me, when I realized just how much our lives were controlled by our intrusive parents, believing they had our best interests at heart.
What happened to falling in love and seeing where the tide goes?
In many ways, I envy Aston and Eva for standing their ground and shutting out all the noise.
Granted, Eva’s parents are as chill as you can get.
Mom, on the other hand, would often voice her opinion, yet respected Aston’s decisions and didn’t make a fuss over him.
After all, he is an adult and has been for a while.
“Harvey,” Myles interjects softly, his calm tone inviting an amicable conversation.
“With all due respect, I believe your involvement, alongside my parents’, might have inadvertently contributed to Maddy’s feelings.
” His gaze meets mine with a blend of sympathy and encouragement.
“We’ve yet to properly address any of these issues, since our encounters have been in passing.
While I appreciate your perspective, perhaps Madelina and I should take a moment to discuss this amongst ourselves… in private?”
The tension in the room is palpable, underscored by the gravity of Myles’s suggestion. Last night, I was battling my emotions over Elliot and Nicole, and a few hours later, my past comes back to haunt me.
All I want to do is escape to Cinnamon Springs and see Elliot.
And perhaps, that’s the admission I needed to finally make to myself.
My father lifts his espresso to his lips and drinks the bitter hit of caffeine in one go. With a stiff composure, he removes the napkin from his lap and places it on the table.
“I respect your honesty,” he answers curtly. “I have a meeting in an hour, so I’ll begin making my way downtown.”
My head angles in confusion. If he had a meeting so soon, why would he organize brunch? The light bulb finally goes off, and my eyes narrow with a newfound resentment.
“The ma?tre d’ will take care of you.” He stands tall, straightening his suit jacket. “Goodbye, Myles.”
“Harvey,” Myles acknowledges simply.
Then my father turns his attention to me, his gaze radiating superiority. He’s warning me not to fuck things up again. My head falls as I clench my jaw, trying to hold back my thoughts.
“Madelina, I’ll be in touch.”
His words sound like I’m a business associate and he’s trying to close a deal.
As soon as he steps out of the restaurant, I bang my hand on the table, anger rippling through me.
“Maddy.” Myles keeps his voice low in an effort to keep our conversation private and to calm me down. “Harvey insisted I join you. Trust me, this wasn’t my idea.”
“I know, but do you see what I mean about the meddling? They just won’t back off,” I reply, rolling my eyes in frustration.
“I get it. I understand why you got scared.”
A glimmer of hope reaches my eyes. “You do?”
“Yes, I do.” Myles’s expression softens. “At one point, according to my mother, the wedding was doomed because one of the swans fell ill. Can you imagine? A wedding without swans? It got so big that we lost sight of everything we wanted.”
My shoulders move up and down, laughter reaching my lips at the ridiculousness of it all. “No one mentioned that to me, but then again, I was kinda busy spiraling.”
“You know, my mother is still trying to marry me off. Apparently, those grandchildren won’t arrive on their own,” he adds, a wry grin on his face.
“And what does Lara think about all that?” I ask, my curiosity piqued even as apprehension swells. “She’s nice, by the way.”
He shrugs, a shift in his expression suddenly becoming more serious. “I haven’t brought it up. It’s hard to discuss the future when your head is filled with someone else,” he admits, his gaze locking onto mine, the weight of his words lingering heavily between us.
I lower my head, desperate to tell him things have changed, but as I open my mouth to whisper his name, he reaches out, fingers brushing against mine to remind me of the connection we once had. The warmth of nostalgia spreads through me, like glancing at an old photograph that evokes fond memories.
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” he declares, his voice low and encouraging. “I know you were scared. Trust me, I was terrified, too. But it can just be the two of us. If you want to elope right now, I will run to city hall or even get on a plane to Vegas. Forget our parents.”
His bold proposal hangs in the air, fraught with possibility and layered feelings, making my heart race in a way I never could have anticipated. I raise my eyes to meet his. His sincerity leaves me utterly speechless.
“I… but… we’re over,” I stammer, unable to convey my feelings. “We were over when I ran away.”
“We all make mistakes, Maddy,” he is quick to assure me. “Just because you walked away doesn’t mean it was over for me. I still love you, and I know you’re in a relationship with that guy—”
“I’m not in a relationship,” I blurt out.
“You’re not?” Myles questions with hopeful eyes.
“Well, we’re not dating…” I pause to gather my thoughts. “You know what? I don’t want to get into semantics right now.”
The truth is, I don’t know how to explain what Elliot and I have. So far, it’s been a wild ride of sexual encounters and a whole lot of jealousy, but nothing about our future has been discussed.
“So, does that mean…”
I shake my head, fog clouding my mind as I try to grasp what is happening right now. “I need to go back to Cinnamon Springs,” I rush as I stand up, my napkin abruptly falling to the floor.
“Okay,” Myles says, sounding unsure. “Can we talk later? I know this is a lot.”
I start to nod, but then stop, instead forcing a smile. “Like I said, I need to go back home. I just… just… need…” I trail off, my words caught in my throat.
“Time,” Myles finishes with raised brows. He rises from his seat, and before I can gather my thoughts to make my exit, he leans closer, warmth radiating from him. With a gentle tilt of his head, he leans in, and a rush of anticipation surges through me.
Myles brushes his lips against my cheek, tender and lingering, leaving behind the delicate imprint of a kiss just like the many he’s given me before.
But this time, it feels different.
“I’m here. No matter what’s happened, I’m still here.”
And in just one brunch, the fate of my future has taken another wild turn.
There he is, the man I had envisioned sharing my life with, offering me a second chance.
Yet back home, another man awaits, one whose fear of commitment flew him all the way from Paris to Cinnamon Springs.
We’ve been fooling around, and despite his possessive stance last night, this could still go either way. I grapple with telling Elliot about this brunch with Myles, but the last thing I want is for Elliot to think I’m using it as a way to make him jealous.
This isn’t about anyone’s pride.
It’s about what I want.
And my heart, well, it wants what it wants.
I just need to listen to it, once and for all.