Page 59 of Risk It All
“Oh my,” the woman says.
“Sorry I'm late,” another woman's voice comes from behind me. “Oh, we have company.”
“Mom, this is Max. He came to tell Madeleine he loves her,” the young woman, who I realize is Madeleine’s sister, explains.
“Really?” The woman steps around me.
“I'm Madeleine's mother, Catherine Hainsworth.” She extends her hand.
I shake it, but I don't take my eyes off Madeleine. “Nice to meet you.”
“He's on a mission,” the Madeleine’s sister says.
I take a step forward, but don't dare move any further into the room. I can feel the uncertainty of everyone around me, except Madeleine's younger sister.
“I love you,” I say again. “I have probably since the moment you called me a scoundrel at Eleanor's charity benefit. But I knew it for sure in London. That's why I reacted badly. That, and . . . well, that doesn't matter.” She doesn’t need to know that I still carry a few emotional scars from childhood. “The point is, I understand your passion for travel and writing, and I don't want to get in the way of that.”
“You say that now,” Madeleine finally speaks. “But what about next time?”
“I don't doubt that I'll mess up again but missing you and knowing you're returning to me has got to be a whole hell of a lot better than missing you and knowing I've lost you forever.”
“Oh God, Madeleine. If you don't forgive this guy and take him back, you're going to be a spinster forever.”
“Emma!” her mother chastises.
“What? Are you hearing what I'm hearing?”
“I told you once that I'd do anything to make a relationship work if I met the right woman. You're her, Madeleine. I've been waiting for you. And to make it work, I'm ready to move to New York, because it will be easier to see you when you're in the country since that's your home base.” I wait, but Madeleine doesn't say anything. I think I can see a tug-of-war going on in her eyes and I desperately hope my side wins.
“Come on, Madeleine,” Emma says.
And then I see it; the moment her eyes turn sad, apologetic. She's going to say no.
“I'm sorry. I can't.”
“No, Madeleine.” Disappointment laces Emma's tone.
I close my eyes, trying to bring the torrent of sadness, despair, and anger under control. When I open them, I hope I look as calm as she does, even though inside I'm breaking into a million pieces and want to lash out at her for being the cause.
“You're a coward. You traipse around the world risking your life, but you won't risk your heart. Your heart is safer with me than in the jungles of Africa, but you're too afraid.”
“That's enough,” says another man I hadn’t realized was there. He’s older and I decide he must be her father. “You said what you had to say. Now you can leave.”
“Don't let him go.” Emma shakes Madeleine's arm. “You know you don't want to—”
“Stop, Emma!” her mother says.
“I've had a lot of rejection in my life, Madeleine. But no one has ever broken my heart. Until now.” I hate that I reveal how much she's hurt me, but it's too late. I whirl around and stride out of the room. I can't breathe and am desperate to get air.
“Hey,” a woman calls after me. I turn to see Emma approaching me in the foyer. “You can't give up.”
I laugh bitterly. “I gave up in London. This time, it's on her.”
“She's being stubborn; that's partly why you love her, right?”
I would have been pleased that Madeleine has such loyalty from her sister, but the conversation is only driving the knife deeper into my heart.
Wanting to change the subject and get the hell out, I ask, “I drove down here from D.C., but isn't there an airport near here where I can leave my rental and get a flight out?” It's several hours back to Dulles and I just want get as far away from Virginia as fast as I can.
