Page 33 of Slow Burn
"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 theawesomeairplane model he'd seen at the toy store and how desperately heneededit. 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 myvoice 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. "AndIhad 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 momdidn'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.
