Page 94 of Forever Home

It doesn’t take long for her to come out from the back with two cups of tea on a tray and two chocolate croissants. My eyes narrow slightly at the croissants before glancing to my mother, who acts like she doesn’t notice a thing.

“Didn’t you just tell Knox an hour ago that we sold out of those this morning?”

She feigns innocence as she shrugs her shoulders, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Seriously?”

“We’re not here to talk about what I may or may not have told Knox,” she replies sternly as she hands me my tea and takes a seat across from me. “We’re here to talk about you. So start talking.”

“Mom,” I sigh, shaking my head. “Nothing’s wrong.”

“Madison,” she snaps. “Start talking. What really happened in New York?”

I was a fool, for starters.

Glancing down at the teacup in my hand, I try to bite back the emotion in the back of my throat as I recall the events from New Year's Eve. “Jaxson and I just weren’t working. He found someone else he’d rather be with… that’s it.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes,” I reply with a dramatic sigh, raising my gaze to hers once more. “I’m not trying to be second fiddle.”

“Second fiddle?” She laughs. “I’ve seen the way that man looks at you. You’re not second fiddle. He’s in love with you, Madison.”

Part of me wants to believe that, but I suppose I’m just so fucking hurt by everything that I can’t. And even though I’d seen the news lately, the confession of Caitlin admitting to the lie… the press release with lawyers and his PR team. I just can’t help but wonder why he hasn’t fucking called me then. It’s been months.

“Mom—”

“No,” she replies flatly. “I have put together the many pieces I’ve heard from you and seen on TV. I’ve even heard from his sister Avery about the conversation he had with his parents.”

My attention piques at her admission as I stare at her. “What are you talking about?”

“Well,” she shrugs absently. “I guess a few months ago, he had a falling out with them. He told them about how that girl made things up… what was her name—”

“Caitlin.”

“That’s it,” she nods. “Her. Now, she said that he put them in their place. And Avery admitted that it was the first time in a long time she was really proud of her brother for finally standing up for himself. You know she tries to stay out of most things, especially since her mom helps with the kids.”

I was aware of that. Avery and Jaxson were never close, and growing up they fought all the time.

“I’m glad he was finally able to admit things to them,” I say after a few moments. “Maybe he can now have the closure he needs.”

The gaze my mother gives me is alarming. A smirk litters the corner of her mouth as she slowly brings her teacup to her lips before setting it back down. “And that’s what we’re going to discuss with you, Madison.”

“What?” I’m not sure what she’s talking about. Because if she means closure with Jaxson, that’s just silly. “I don’t need closure with Jaxson.”

“Yes, you do," she says quickly. “So, again. Do you want to tell me what’s going on? Or possibly why when I was watering the plants in your apartment a few weeks back—which, by the way, they would die withoutme… I saw the paperwork on your end table from where you saw the doctor for pregnancy-related issues?”

Oh, shit.

My eyes widen at her words as my heart sinks into my stomach. “Mom, I can explain.”

“You know, Madison," she says, shaking her head. “I thought we didn’t keep secrets from each other?”

Tears quickly fill my eyes before running down my cheeks. It’s as if every emotion I’ve kept bottled up for months is rushing forward at one time, and I can’t stop them. My mother quickly stands to her feet and comes round to take a seat next to me, wrapping her arms around me into a tight hug that only makes me cry harder.

“I wanted to tell you,” I sob. “I just didn’t want you disappointed in me.”

“Disappointed?” She laughs, rubbing my back. “Sweetie, I’m not disappointed in you. Though I am glad you aren’t pregnant… at least not right now. You still have so much life to live ahead of you before you start worrying about children.”

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