Marcus: The M Series, Book Three (37 page)

I walk over to her and squat. “Madison...” I start, guilt filling me, forcing me to stop. I take a deep breath. “We love you and your family very much. I didn't mean to forget you, but everything has been... hectic, to say the least. Someday I hope to fill you in, but right now... I just can't. I pray something like this never, ever happens again, but if it does... if
anything
happens, I promise you are the first one I call. You, and your family, are always welcome here.”

She gives me a tiny smile. “Thank you, Marcus. I can understand the chaos that must have been going on.” She squeezes my hand. “I'm all right. Let's just focus on Mariah now.”

I give her a hug then take my seat.

A cell goes off and Vera jumps. She answers it breathlessly. “Sidra? Where are you?”

I look around at the men. Vera has their undivided attention.

“What,” Vera shrieks. “Why? ... Oh, Sidra, Sidra, Sidra! ... Are you sure? ... What girl? ... Jesus ...” her eyes slyly cut to Madison. “Yeah, I've heard about, um, that. Will you be all right? ... I'm sorry you did, too ... It was the right to do, Sidra ... I know, baby. I know ... Yes, I'll meet you there ... I'll ask him. We'll leave now.” She ends the call and looks at Stacy.

“We have to go. Sidra needs us,” Vera says quietly.

“What's wrong, Vera? Is she all right,” Dannie asks, standing.

“Yes and no.” Vera walks to me and I stand. “Marcus, no doubt you know what's happened and I thank you for your discretion. Please allow me to visit Mariah and your family again, soon.”

“Of course, Vera. Anytime.”

“Is it all right if Sidra comes by to say goodbye to the kids?”

“Is that what she wants to do?”

She nods and whispers, “It would be uncouth for her to remain in your employ or even friendly with your family after this, don't you think?”

I nod. “I'm sorry it worked out like this, Vera. Mariah will be devastated.”

“I know. Sidra is too but she's not... she's going to talk to
him
.” She looks at Madison. “Maybe it’ll end well for everyone.”

I nod again and she hugs me.

“Goodbye, everyone. I hope to see you all soon,” Vera says, moving to the door.

Marsha hugs me and gives me a couple of business cards. “Please keep me posted on my cousin and give one to Matthew, in case he finds something.”

“As soon as possible. Thanks for coming.”

“No, Marcus. Thank you.” She grins as she walks to Rachel and hugs her.

After the Daniels family leave, my mother cuts her eyes to me.

I smirk. “Hey, guys. I think there's something we know that Mother doesn't.”

“Wow. How does that feel, Mother,” Joshua grins.

“About as good as me sending Mandy to Japan for a month.”

The grin vanishes. The room is flooded with laughter.

“Marcus, I demand to know what's going on,” Mother says in a voice that hasn't frightened me in twenty-five years.

“Sorry, Mother. I don't think it's my place to confirm or deny anything,” I grin.

“God,” Mother groans. “You really
are
the biggest cramp there is!”

The room erupts into raucous laughter at my expense and I join in. It feels great.

Chapter SIXTEEN

Congratulations, Matthew and Madison!

The minutes slowly tick by and I get antsy waiting for Mariah to awaken again and for word from Matthew. Silence in a room full of people speaks volumes.

Suddenly Matthew bursts through the conference room doors and shuts them firmly behind him. He looks around the room and walks over to Mother.

I put my finger over my mouth at Madison. She frowns as I stand in front of her. I have a feeling Matthew is about to let it all out. Sidra's a nice girl, and may have been okay with Matthew, but it's about time these two got together and stayed that way.

“Nice view,” Madison whispers and the others giggle. I shake my head and chuckle. Madison will never change. Good.

Joshua grins and stands next to me. “You could still see a corner of her. Let's hope he doesn't fuck this up,” he whispers.

“
That's
even better,” Mandy murmurs.

“You're biased,” Lisa murmurs.

“All fucking day.”

“Biased or not,” Madison sighs. “It
is
a nice ass.”

Joshua reddens then turns and smiles at them. I hear the women continue their chatting but I focus on Matthew's words.

“I never want to see this again. I put it on the wrong woman's hand and I won't use it again. Maybe one of the grandchildren will.”

Mother looks in her hand, staring disbelievingly at the ring.

“Son, what happened,” Dad asks, looking stunned and relieved at the same time.

“It's not my baby, Dad. She loves the real father.” Matthew turns to me, laughing. “Can you believe it's Dawson? They've been off and on for years!”

“And why are you so happy,” Joshua asks.

A wide grin spreads across his face and his eyes dance. “Cause I'm free, Twerp! I'm
finally
free!” He turns back to Mother. “I need the jet again.”

She frowns at him. “Okay, but where are you going, honey?”

“Chicago! You were right, Mother. I love Madison. I have since the day I met her and I have to see if she's still free.”

I hear a gasp behind me.

“Do you now think she feels the same, son,” Dad asks, smiling.

“God, I hope so, Dad. The timing's always been off but... I gotta get out of here. I can't wait to get to her. She's not answering her cell and she's been off the air for hours. Fuck, I hope she's not on a date again!” He turns to me again. “Call me if there's any change with Cookie.”

“Matthew.”

“
What
, Cramp,” he whines and frowns his face at me. “Oh, come on! Don't throw a wrench in this, now! I love her, with everything in me. It is
not
going away!”

“Are you sure this is what you want to do? You want to be with Madison and no one else, right?”

“More than anything, ever,” Matthew insists. “It's like you guys and your wives. I guess I loved Sidra but not like this, not like Madison.  Do you know how I ache for her? I have to get out of here, Cramp. I have to explain about the baby and the ring and pray she marries me anyway.”

I feel a hand push me aside then Madison stands between Joshua and me.

“Tell me what about a baby and ring,” Madison asks.

“Maybe we should go. Give them some privacy,” I say to the room.

“No fucking way,” Tom snorts. “I want to hear this.”

Matthew looks totally shocked. “Guess I won't be needing that jet after all.”

“What baby, Matthew,” Madison asks, staring at Matthew.

“Sidra’s pregnant. Thanks to the best brother in the world, I found out it's not mine.”

“Always when I'm in the room,” Joshua mutters.

“
Shh
!” Madison frowns and hits his arm. “If this goes right, the cobwebs are history. So shut up and let that happen as soon as possible.”

“A little desperate, Madison,” Joshua asks, grinning.

“Little bit. Three
long
and lonely years, Twerp. Now shut it,” she growls back.

A laugh goes around the room. Matthew shoves his hands in his pockets. Bad move, Toad. Easily recognized nervous response.

“Go on, Matthew,” Madison says softly. “You were saying?”

“I asked her to marry me and she accepted. I told Marcus her due date and he reminded me that I was in England with Dad at the time the baby was conceived. I'm sorry to say I gave her my grandmother's ring.”

Madison takes a step forward. “And she's okay? Sidra, I mean.”

“She's wonderful. She's in love with her baby's father,” he murmurs as he takes a step toward her.

Madison walks toward Matthew and stops at his side. He turns his body to face her. She tilts her head and gives him a long look. Nodding, she grabs a chair and places it behind him.

“Have a seat, Mr. Cannon,” Madison commands.

Matthew frowns but sits. He opens his mouth to say something but Madison shakes her head and grabs another chair. She places that one directly in front of Matthew and sits. She takes a deep breath and her hand goes up and down in front of her face. I saw her do that exercise before her show in Chicago, right before she annihilated a senator, live on-air.

“Ut-oh,” Nathan murmurs. “I remember this from when we saw her anchor in Chicago. Outside of Marcus, anyone else remember that live interview she did?”

Matthew turns to us with a frown. “What?”

“You're in trouble,” Joshua whispers, shaking his head. “She's going journalist on you. Rapid-fire.”

This is going to be great. The others look like they agree. Some of them have their cells out, recording. Monica moves to the side of me; her view captures the both of them, sideways.

Madison's eyes pop open and her expression has changed. She crosses her legs, her hands fold together and she rests them on her lap. 

“Mr. Cannon… so you think you love me,” she asks in a commanding tone.

Matthew smiles at her. “I know I do. You're all I've ever wanted; everything I've always wanted in a woman.”

Her eyes narrow and her lips thin. Matthew drops the smile quick.

“When did that proposal happen?”

“This morning. She told me about the baby and I proposed.”

“Short, clipped answers, Mr. Cannon,” Ethan murmurs behind Madison. She turns and gives him a glare that chills
me.

“Just making sure my client doesn't fuck up, Ms. Copeland.”

Still staring at Ethan, she asks, “You think you need counsel, Mr. Cannon?”

“Yep,” he smiles but drops it when she turns back to him. She shakes her head and continues.

“Whatever. With your grandmother's ring?”

He twitches his mouth. “Yes.”

“Was the ring intended for you? To give to the woman you wanted to spend your life with?”

He nods. “It was.”

“Your active social life, that's over?”

“Completely.”

“The flirting? Innuendos and such?”

“Only with you.”

“I don't want my husband gallivanting across the world at any given moment. That means your FBI career is finished. That is not a request.”

Matthew frowns. “How did you know about that?”

“I said that's done, Mr. Cannon,” Madison says, like a reprimanding third grade teacher. I'm almost feeling sorry for Matthew, now.
Almost
.

Matthew holds up his hands as if he's being robbed. “It's done. I just quit.”

“What happened in court today?”

Damn, she's good.

“Charges were dropped,” Matthew murmurs, clearly confused and/or impressed.

Madison nods then walks around him. I feel like we're watching a D/s episode.

“I do not believe in divorce,” she states.

“I don't believe I know the meaning of that word,” Matthew chuckles.

“You have to ask my father's permission; and my boys.”

“I had Hank's permission two years ago. As for your father, I’ve already spoken with him,” Matthew pulls out his cell and locates something and shows it to her.

She nods. “You want kids?”

“Yes. If it doesn't happen it'll be fun trying.”

She smirks then arches an eyebrow. “It better be. How many?”

“At least four more.”

Madison sits back down and narrows her eyes. “More? You have a kid out there I don't know about, Mr. Cannon?”

“No, Sugar. I meant other than AJ and Henry.”

Madison cracks but quickly recovers. “Two.”

“Three,” Matthew counters.

Madison yells, “Deal!”

Matthew smirks and pats himself on the back.

“Adam's parents are a part of AJ's life. Forever. Non-negotiable.”

“I wouldn't have it any other way. He'll have Adam's parents, your parents, my parents and Cookie's parents. The Reeds. The Plummers.”

She turns and looks at Rachel, who smilingly nods, then to Mother.

“The more the merrier,” Mother grins.

Madison smiles and looks back to Matthew. Her smile vanishes.

“I am possessive and I eat in bed.”

“I'm all yours and I love
eating
in bed, too.”

We groan. Matthew looks around.  “I meant popcorn,” he smirks.

“I seem to remember you ate something else, Mr. Cannon,” Madison murmurs.

“So do I,” he grins. He leans over and whispers something in her ear.

Madison sighs. “Yadda, yadda. Cage the birdies, Mr. Cannon. I don't have time for your cheap talk.”

Matthew's grin falls quick. He looks like he's ready to bolt. A silent cheer goes up around the room as my mother blushes fire.

“Sometimes AJ crawls in bed with me and he won't leave until the morning. Henry enjoys family movie night. He and AJ pick the same damn movie every time. I have seen
Cars
a million times.”

“We'll get a California king-sized bed. And I hear there's a sequel or two to that movie.”

“AJ keeps a picture of his father in his room.”

“Five by seven, eight by ten or poster sized?”

“I continue my career.”

“The boys and I will drive you to work every day there's no school.”

Madison turns to me.

“I'll want to see your wife as often as possible. Maybe go out every time. All day. Half the night, possibly.”

I narrow my eyes as I cross my arms. “She has her cell on her at all times.”

Madison sighs. “As well as yours, and yours and yours and yours,” she points around the room to every male in the room. We laugh and everyone nods in agreement.

Madison turns back to Matthew. “Another thing,” she says in a warning tone. “You ever,
ever
revert to your old activities, even once, I'll execute the words from my favorite movie line.”

Matthew’s eyes widen. Shit. I'm terrified, too.

“What line is that?”

“
'I'm gonna get that gun of mine, and I'm gonna change you from a rooster to a hen with one shot. And don't think I can't do it!'
”

Everyone howls with laughter, including Matthew. These two are going to be quite the couple.

“I believe you, Sugar,” Matthew chuckles, wiping his eyes. “I'll even tell you where to find a gun if you can't find yours. I won't, ever.”

Madison puts her head down and the room is silent. Matthew leans forward and stares at her, pleading with his eyes. We all hold our breath.

Finally, she looks up. “Give me the ring,” she whispers.

Mother cries and for the first time in my life, I witness Matthew blush harder than any woman.

“Madison, that ring was on another woman's hand. I'll get you another. Today.”

“It was on your grandmother's first. How long was she married to your grandfather?”

Matthew frowns. “Cramp?”

“Fifty-four years.”

“Fifty-four years
and
seven months.”

I laugh. “Fifty-four years
and
seven months. I stand corrected. Thank you, Mother.”

“That's what I'll think of when I look at it. If you love me as much as I have
always
loved you, then it won't matter what finger it was on before mine. That ring was intended for me and I want it.”

Matthew frowns. “But, Sugar –”

Madison jumps out of her seat. “Get on your knee and give it to me, damn it!”

The room chuckles. Matthew startles and rushes over to Mother. With tears in her eyes, she gives Matthew the ring back. He kisses Mother’s cheek then goes back to Madison and lowers to his knee. I cannot believe he's doing this twice in one day. Then again, it is Matthew.