Page 93 of Forever Home

“Jaxson,” he chuckles. “How’s my future son-in-law doing?”

Son-in-law.Just hearing him call me, that makes my lip curl in disgust. “That’s actually what I want to talk to you about.”

“Oh?”

“It seems that your daughter has it in her head that we’re getting married, Daniel. But the problem is, I never agreed to that. She went on national television and concocted a story to gain attention and try and force me into marrying her. And though I’ve tried to talk reason into her, it hasn’t worked. So, you’re going too… and if you don’t, I’ll make sure to tell everyone how you used your company and status to sell a deal with World of Foods in order to get your daughter what she wants.”

“I don’t understand, Jaxson, I thought the show was what you wanted, and so was a marriage to my daughter.”

“Your daughter and I have been over for quite some time, Daniel, and it will stay that way. And as for World of Foods, well, there’s something I want more now, and nothing will stand in my way. Have I made myself clear?”

“Understood. Consider it handled.” The line going dead is all the satisfaction I needed. Now, I just needed to fix the PR mess itself, because I’ll be damned if I return to get Madison back only to drag her into the spotlight.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Madison

It feels strange being home. Though it’s literally been four months since I was in New York with Jaxson, and just over three months since I last saw him. Knox and Sam both told me that he was hard at work with something to do with his show, as well as handling other issues. To which I can only imagine it has something to do with his new life, maybe.

Our last interaction left me more broken than I was when I came back to Willowcreek. Though I try not to show it. Part of me was left back in New York—I know that much.

Knox says I forgot to pack my happiness, and Sam simply wants to skin Jaxson for hurting me. But that’s not it. It isn’t that I’m not happy, because I am in a way. I’m back home with my mom, and the bakery is doing better than ever after the show was released. Kylie and Sam come back to visit often, and even Knox, Callum, and I have been hanging out more.

It’s just that even though I see them more than I did this time last year, it doesn’t fill the empty place in my heart. A void that Jaxson once occupied. I honestly feel more lonely now than I did back then. And I hate it.

Having woken up early this morning, I made myself busy in the bakery long before my mom arrived to help open the store. I barely slept properly the last few months and I know she notices. But she never presses for more details.

Which I’m glad for.

Because honestly, I don’t want to keep talking about it. I hear enough of it from Sam. I mean, the damn woman was furious when she found out, and it took me and Asher to convince her to not go to New York to beat the daylights out of Jaxson.

Regardless of his and my issues… I didn’t want the others to treat him differently.

“I was thinking we could make those chocolate chip muffins you like to make tomorrow,” my mother says softly as she walks back from the front, staring at the inventory clipboard in her hand.

“Yeah, sounds good.”

Picking up the tray of cookie dough I’d just laid out, I pop it into the oven and turn back around, coming face to face with my mother. Her right brow raised slightly, and her arms crossed over her chest.

Shit. I know that look.

“Enough is enough,” she says flatly. “I’ve been more than patient with you, Madison, since you came back, but you can’t keep going on like this. You can’t keep moping around like someone killed your puppy and pretend that things between you and Jaxson didn’t happen.”

I’m a little taken back by her comment about a puppy. I mean, of all things you could use to describe my situation with Jaxson, I wouldn’t say that’s the best. But I get the point, and a heavy breath escapes me as I turn my gaze from her towards the front of the store.

“It’s not something I’m ready to talk about… I mean, we kinda already have.”

“Not ready to talk about it?” She laughs, shaking her head. “Madison, we’re closed and everyone's gone. I’m going to make us some hot tea and get us a snack, and we’re going to talk. So go out there and take a seat.”

I scoff with a smile, shaking my head. “Seriously? Do we have to… it’s not important.”

If looks could kill, I’d be dead right now. Because the taken aback, ‘who do you think you’re talking to’ look she’s giving me right now makes me reconsider my words rather quickly.

“It wasn’t a request, Madison. Now, go.”

Fuck.

Closing my eyes for a moment, I let out a heavy breath before taking off my apron and making my way towards the front of the bakery. My feet move slower than I’m sure my mother would like as I unwillingly take a seat at a small table near the counter.

All I want to do is finish this last batch of cookies and do the dishes so I can go upstairs, take a shower, and crawl into my bed. But it’s clear that's not going to happen anytime soon.

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