Marcus: The M Series, Book Three (38 page)

“Madison Yvonne Copeland, will you marry me?”

She grins. “There's no waiting period here right? Wanna do it today?”

Matthew slides the ring on her finger then pulls Madison in for a deep kiss. We applaud, cheering them on. When they break away, they happily accept our congratulations.

“Are you really getting married today,” Mandy gushes.

“I wouldn't mind,” Madison smiles. “But I'll wait for Mariah to fully recover. Plus, my parents would kill me if I eloped again.”

“Whatever you want,” Matthew chuckles.

Madison pauses then pulls him to her and whispers in his ear. He reddens then runs from the room without another word.

“Boy, have we missed you,” Mandy giggles.

Madison laughs as she backs away to the door. “I've missed all of you, too. Now, if you will excuse me...us...three years.” She quickly exits the room and we chuckle.

“She's so uninhibited. I really like her,” Monica giggles.

“She's going to be an excellent addition to the family. Good form,” Dad says.

I smile. Mariah's going to love all the changes, except perhaps the loss of Sidra. But the gain of Madison as her sister-in-law should outweigh that.

I walk over to the window and stare outside. I know I will have to tell Mariah everything that happened this past week, but after that, I want to forget the whole fucking thing. I'll probably go to my grave with her kidnapping on my mind.

* * *

Everyone stands and greets Madison's family:
Kristen, Tony, Eric and Jason. Aaron is with them, as well. I filled them in on Mariah after they inquire about her.

“Glad to hear to hear she’s improving,” Aaron says. “Well, I guess congratulations are in order, Marcus.”

“Congratulations?”

“Sure,” Aaron slaps my back. “I ran into Matthew and Madison before I went back to the airport.”

I grin. “Thanks, Aaron. Long time coming for them.”

“What happened with Matthew and Sugar,” Tony asks.

“They're engaged,” Mother says, smiling.

“
No,
” Kristen excitedly gasps. “You're kidding!”

“Bout time! Where are they,” Jason grins.

Lisa giggles. “Quote:
'three long and lonely years.'
”

“Oh, God,” Tony groans. “I did
not
need to hear that.”

“Tony, please. It's not like you don't do it,” Kirsten smirks.

“I don't need to hear about when my sister does it! Do you, Tom?”

“Fuck no! My sister's a good girl; she's only had sex four times in her life.”

“Four times last night, at least,” Nathan murmurs, yawning.

Lisa reddens and covers her face. The whole room explodes into laughter.

“You guys should see this,” Monica says when she recovers. I hear the video of Madison's interview of Matthew and chuckle.

“She's good. Always has been,” Jason murmurs when it stopped.

“She's the best,” Eric nods.

Kristen scowls. “Hey, fucker!”

“Present company excluded, sister-in-law,” Eric grins at her.

Kristen laughs. “No, you're right. She
is
the best. I hate her.”

We laugh again as my cell rings. Kristen asks Monica to replay the video as I check the ID. I’m surprised to see Madison calling.

“Madison! We were just talking about you!”

“Marcus, i-is --” she sobs in my ear.

“Madison? Are you crying,” I ask her, holding up my hand. They quiet. Her sobs sound muffled and frantic.

“You have to calm down, sweetheart, and tell me what's wrong. Where's Matthew?”

A wail comes from her. “I need Kristen! Please!”

I look up at Kristen. “Kristen! It's Madison. She's crying.”

“Crying?” She scowls, rushing to the phone. “What did your brother do to her? Sugar? ...Why? What happened? Everyone was just telling us about Matthew proposing to you ... Yes, he does, Sugar. We saw the videos. It's okay ... Oh no, honey, please calm down, stop crying,” Kristen murmurs soothingly, taking a seat and pinching her free ear. “Come on, Sugar, tell me what happened. Let's work through this before you do something stupid.”

“Give me the phone, babe. I'll get to the bottom of this.”

“No, Tony. Let me handle this. Sugar? Come on. What happened? ... Okay, and? ... What, Sugar? What did he say?” Kristen pales and shakes her head, her hand covers her eyes. “Fuck! Didn't you tell him about that phrase?”

“What's happening, Kristen?”

“What did she say, Kay?”

“What did Toad say now?”

Kristen holds up her hand to silence the rampant questions most are asking. I remain quiet, waiting. I want to know, too, but she needs to calm Madison first.

“Where are you, Sugar? Where is he? ... Okay, but what bathroom? ... Shit! Joshua, call your brother.”

“What's happened, Kristen,” Tony asks.

Kristen wipes her eye. “He used that damn n-word.”

“
What
,” Mother pales, gripping Dad’s arm. “My son said what? I will kill him!”

“What the fuck,” Joshua whispers next to me, paling.

“No way,” I say to him. “Something else is going on.”

It had better be or I was going to kill him with my bare hands.

Kristen holds Mother's free hand. “No, no, Katherine, not that awful word.  Madison, I have to tell them. I cannot let Katherine and the others think he used that other disgusting word ... I have to. It's unfortunate he used the same phrase that asshole did, but Madison, if he had known, he wouldn't have ... Oh, Sugar,” Kristen sighs. “Should I mute the phone? ... All right. I promise I won't leave you and I won't say it.”

Joshua moves to Kristen. “Matthew's on the phone, Kristen. He says she's locked herself in the bathroom and won't answer him.”

“Yeah, and I'm sure she's on the floor, far away from the door, shaking,” Kristen says, tearfully.

“Why,” I ask her, not liking the way this is going. It feels like Mariah and Vince all over again. Aaron, I notice, is seething in the corner and Tony is pacing the floor. Eric and Jason sit quietly, with their nostrils flaring and trying to hold on to their tempers.

Kristen takes a deep, cleansing breath. “When we were in our senior year of college, Sugar dated a law student. He was charming, handsome, rich. He wooed her and she convinced herself she was in love with him. Can I have a pen and paper?”

Monica gives it to her. She thanks her, taps her forehead then continues.

“This asshole slept with her and she got pregnant. She went to him, to tell him about the baby but before she did, she told him she loved him. He had us all fooled because we all thought he felt the same. He didn't. She's beautiful, rich, smart and funny. He thought she was nothing but trash.”

“I don't want to hear this shit again,” Tony shouts.

Kristen rubs his back. “I know, honey. Go take a walk.”

“I cannot believe my sister can't enjoy her fucking engagement night! Still this motherfucker invades her life,” Tony mumbles leaving the room. Eric and Jason follow closely behind him. Kristen sighs and continues.

“He hit her, told her all she was ever good for was to be hidden; a piece of side ass. She asked him how he could treat her that way. He slammed her into a wall and grabbed her throat and he… was rough. She lost the baby during the attack.”

“Oh, my God,” Lisa murmurs as Kristen sits at the table and writes on the paper Monica gave her.

“What the hell is wrong with these assholes? First Cookie, now Madison,” Tom yells. “Damn it!”

Lil walks to Kristen and sits next to her. “What was it Matthew said to trigger her?”

“As that asshole threw Madison down by her neck, he said this to her.”

Kristen passes Lil the paper she's written on. Lil reads it, pales, shakes her head and hands me the note.

‘You mean shit to me! All you ever were was a lay! I only kept you so long because you drive me fucking nuts in bed!’

“I can't believe this,” I say quietly. Thoroughly disgusted, I shove the note to Joshua. Who says that to a woman then rapes her? Even thinking about it now...

“What the
fuck,
” Joshua shouts.

“Oh, that poor girl,” Evelyn sobs as Russell holds her.

Kristen sighs. “Those last seven words, Matthew repeated them, verbatim. She's questioning his feelings for her and doubting herself.”

“And probably scared he’s going to strike her, too,” Lil murmurs. “I know he won’t but in her state…”

“Matthew,” Joshua shouts again. “Damn it, he hung up, Kristen!”

‘I can hear him,’ Kristen mouths. “Open the door for him, Sugar ... I won't I promise. Joshua, call him back; get him to calm down before he approaches that door again!”

“I am. Shit! He's not answering! Voicemail, again!”

I ask Kristen, “Where are they?” 

“She doesn't know.”

“Ask her what the place looks like,” Nathan suggests.

“What does the building look like where you are, Sugar? ... White with big windows.”

“Matthew,” Joshua shouts in the phone. “Listen, you have to calm down. Don't approach that door angry again ... I know, Toad! So was he when he attacked her ... Exactly. And yes, you are. Big time ... Just pace the floor or something. Where are you? ... The one where no one's been? ... Christ. Fine. They're at his private house. No idea where it is.”

“Give me the phone, Kristen. Madison? Honey, it's Lil... Do you know why you're reacting like this to Matthew? ... He does and inside somewhere, you know it. You've been traumatized and it's affecting you tremendously. Do you know what PTSD is? ... Honey, I believe that's what you have. Matthew's blunder triggered it. He's not that guy Phil. He's your fiancé who didn't know he was triggering this reaction ... Why would you do that?” ‘Gave the ring back,’ Lil mouths. “He does, Madison. Stop pushing him away. Let him in so he can talk to you.”

Lil continues to talk to Madison down while Joshua talks to Matthew. I snatch his phone.

“Listen, Toad. Sit your ass down quietly near that bathroom and wait for her to open the door. Don't say anything until she speaks to you, first. Make this up to her and when we see the two of you tomorrow, you had better still be engaged. Got it?”

“Of course, Cramp. That's what I want. I don't want to let her go. I didn't know what I was saying. Well, I knew but I didn't want to hurt her.”

“Well, you did. And now Lil is sitting at this table trying to convince her you aren't some shit named Phil and that you return each other's love.”

“Shit! Fine. I'm getting off the phone and will sit here quietly until she's ready to come out.”

“Good!” I end the call. Shaking my head, I give Joshua his phone.

I turn to see Lil shake her head, a tear falling down her face. “Matthew loves
you
,” she says quietly. “I'm sure Matthew loves that, too, but there's more to you than that, Madison. Right?”

“This guy fucked up her head,” I murmur. “It's like Mariah all over again.”

“I wish I could get my hands on him,” Tom says behind me.

“I'd be right behind you,” Joshua mutters.

“So would I,” Nathan says through gritted teeth.

“I can't tell you that, honey. We can discuss your options … Okay. Well, you could open the door and talk to Matthew. He knows what he said hurt you and I guarantee Matthew won't say it again. Matthew's your fiancé and he
loves
you ... And you
love
him. Another option is you could walk away and spend the rest of your life without Matthew.”

We stand near Lil, holding our breath. She gives a look of relief and says, “If that's the case, then open the door. Find Matthew and talk to him.”

Several more agonizing seconds go by as Lil sits with her head down, drumming her fingers across the table. Finally, she sighs and gives a thumbs up. “I will as long as you need me to ... You're welcome. And Madison? ... He's Matthew. He's your fiancé ... Absolutely ... I'm sure he'll give it back to you. Go on, honey, open the door.”

Tony, Eric and Jason come back in the room and Kristen whispers to them, a look of relief crosses their faces.

“That's right, Madison. He's not Phil. He's Matthew, your fiancé ... Matthew loves you.”

Lil holds up one finger, mutes the phone then paces. Her hand balls into a fist and she lightly hits the table. “
YES!
She opened the door!”

Nathan slaps Ethan's back and my mother hugs my father.

“They're talking. Oh, he apologized, rather sweetly, too.”

“That's my boy!” Dad grins. “Finally got rid of the lot of them, Katherine.”

“Only took forty-three years,” Mother sighs.

Joshua and I smirk and roll our eyes at them. Lil unmutes, smiling big.

“Good. Get your ring back, Madison ...You're welcome. If you ever need me, call me. I'll be happy to help.” Lil smiles and ends the call. I watch as she plops down in the chair and puts her head in her arms on the table. “Sometimes, I think I picked the wrong fucking specialty.”