Page 19 of Madison
I’m smart enough not to get in between her anger and her siblings ’cause that’s shit they need to work through but fuck if I don’t want to help to mend things between her and her parents. I know how much they mean to her and how much she goes to them for advice. I think they could help her figure out what she wants to do, ’cause I don’t think I’m much help in that department. Maybe Grant will have some ideas. He’s a parent, after all. I know he’s got an appointment today so he should be in soon.
I’m in the middle of working up a design for a client I have later this week when the back door opens, and Grant walks in with a large cup of coffee in his hand. “Long night?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, just haven’t slept much the last couple of nights.”
I get a better look at him and I could swear he’s got a half-grin going. “Do I wanna know why you haven’t slept?”
He gives me a full-on grin. “Probably not.”
I can’t help but shake my head. “As long as it ain’t that guy who wanted to call you Daddy and would offer me a blow job every time he saw me.” Grant full-on laughs in my face at that. “It’s definitely not him, though if you’re hard up, I can give you his number.”
I can’t help my response. “First off, fuck you. Secondly, I’m a very satisfied man these days and I don’t see that changing ever. You can keep that number for your fucking self, asshole.” Fucker. It’s his turn to make a face. “I’ve known both of you since you were born and I don’t wanna think about any of that.” I must raise my eyebrow at him. “Alright, no more teasin’ you with my exes. No, this ain’t him. It’s… it’s more, but I ain’t quite ready to talk about it yet.” I know he won’t say anything until he’s good and ready to.
“You don’t have to share nothin’ you don’t want to. I can tell by your face that it’s good whatever it is. That’s all that fucking really matters. I was actually hoping to pick your brain before your appointment gets here. Got a couple of minutes?”
He goes over to his station to start prepping it. “Yeah, but even if he arrives, it’s cool to talk. It’s Chewie coming in to finish his back piece and I’m sure Oz will be with him.” Hmmm.
“I think Mads-er Madison is ready to talk to Ma and Pa but needs a nudge to get out of her head. I don’t know how to do that without pissing her off. I feel like she’s teetering and just needs a gentle push to go talk to them.”
The bell above the door dings, letting us know someone just walked in. Grant looks up and tells me, “I think the answer to your problem just walked in the door.”
I can tell both of them heard Grant and their faces are full of confusion. Oz looks at both of us. “I don’t think I’ve ever been an answer to a problem. I’m usually more likely the cause of one.”
Chewie busts out laughing. “You and me both.”
Grant rolls his eyes at them and waves Chewie over to his table. “Listen, fuckers. I’ve got plans later so get your shirt off and let’s get this done. Oz, my boy over there has a problem that you’re more likely able to help him with than just about anyone else in this town. Hell, maybe the state.”
He grabs one of the chairs in the waiting area and turns it around, sitting down and leaning his arms on the back of it. “Color me intrigued. How can I possibly help ya?”
I set my pen down and turn the stool to face him. “It’s Mads-er Madison.” I can tell he’s surprised.
“Is she okay? She ain’t hurt or nothing, is she? Wait, how can I help? She break the law and need to run or—”
I stop his questioning by holding up my hand. “Nah, she ain’t hurt. As far as anyone in law enforcement knows, she ain’t broken any laws.” I rehash the whole story of her being taken, us finding her, and I give him the Cliffs Notes version of what she found out, what’s happened since, and how she along with Anna and the two girls from the compound took care of theproblem. He takes a breath and strokes his beard, trying to digest everything I just told him. “Well, shit. Y’all have had a busy week. Now which part are you needing help with? I ain’t gonna help with anything between her and Kierstie. I like my body as it is, thank you very fucking much.”
Both Grant and I laugh at that. No man would want to wade in between them when they’re arguing. No sir. “Nah, I wouldn’t do that to anyone, not even an enemy.” He looks honestly relieved at that.
“Need help with… dispatching them? ’Cause I thought after the last bonfire that we all learned that—”
I stop him again. “Nah, that’s all been taken care of. I was wonderin’ if you could talk to her. I think inside she’s ready to talk to Ma and Pa but is stuck and doesn’t quite know how to admit to herself that she is and take that step. She ain’t talking to any of her brothers either, right now, and I don’t know what to say to her. We finally just got to an actual relationship between us and I–”
It’s his turn to interrupt me. “I got ya. This, I think I can handle.” He looks over at Chewie and Grant. “You guys gonna be a couple hours again?” Grant nods. “Yep, you go get our girl straightened out. We’ll be here a while.” I give him her address and he heads out the door. Fuck if it’s the right thing, but my gut says it is.
Grant must know I’m thinking about it ’cause he pipes up. “Oz is the right one for that. When he stayed at Jonah and Linnea’s, he and Mads always had a special relationship. He was the one to make sure she was included in shit and all. He’s the right guy. Remember, young one, Rabbit is good, Rabbit is wise.” Fuck me.
Madison
Sitting at my dining table, I look at the spread of books and magazines in front of me. Every one of them has great ideas for careers or businesses, but not one of them is something that I can do or interests me. Why the hell can’t I figure out what I wanna do with my life? I wanna find my passion, the thing that makes it go from a job to something I love doing. I’ve gone through all of these and not one job stands out to me. Could I do some of them? Sure, but if it’s not gonna be something I could do for a long time, I might as well go back to cleaning till I figure that out.
A knock at the door gets me out of my head. I don’t know who could be here since just about everyone I know should be at work at this time of the morning. I go to the door and look out the window. “Lyndon?” What the hell is he doing here? I unlock the door and open it. I can’t help the smile when I’m engulfed in a hug.
“It’s me, little one.” How’d the hell he know where I live?
“How? I mean, I’m happy to see ya, but how’d you find out where I live and that I’d be home?” He lets me go and I let him into the house.
“I was over at the tattoo shop and Mick mentioned you were home.” I have a seat on the sofa next to the chair he just sat down in. I must give him a look ’cause he continues. “He told me about everything that’s happened in the last week. You’ve been busy, little one.”
My sass must need to come out because I roll my eyes and open my mouth without even thinking. “No shit, Sherlock.” Oh fuck. I didn’t mean to sass him.
