CHAPTER 17

 

 

Without a wink of sleep Jack drove to Greenwich early the next morning. He had spent all night tossing and turning and leaving messages for Maddy until he finally gave up around three am. Her phone was switched off and she obviously needed time to cool off. Driving to Greenwich gave him time to clear his head, to arrange his thoughts. He had realized the night of the ball that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Maddy. He wanted her to be his equal partner in life. He wanted to see her swell with his children and looked forward to bouncing their grandchildren on his knee while Maddy looked on smiling with her bright green eyes.

He had never thought of hoping for a life that included a wife and children, never. But Maddy had given him a glimpse of what it could be like. The way she was with Josh and Lisa made him want to see her with their children. He hoped their little girl would have dark brown locks like her mother with the same green eyes. His son would be like him, but having Maddy as a mother would help him learn that fun was as important as hard work. As the thoughts tumbled through his mind of what he had in mind for his future, he felt fear chill him to the bone. It had nothing to do with the blanket of snow on the side of the road, or the chill in the air or the fact that temperatures were said to drop even further today. It was the thought that Maddy had left him and he would never get her back. Anger, red hot fury raced through him. If only she listened. If only she gave him time to explain. If only he had seen Cecile’s intentions earlier, he would’ve never brought her to the home he shared with Maddy. But that was the thing, wasn’t it? Regret and clarity almost always came too late after the fact.

“This is a surprise,” Mitchell said as Jack walked into the study. “You and Maddy come for a visit?” Mitchell appraised his grandson. The final steps were being taken to get rid of Dalton after finding out he had embezzled money from Landon Enterprises which meant only one thing, a woman had put that bleak look in his eyes and was the reason he had shadows under them. That woman was Maddy.

“No. It’s just me.” Jack said as sat down in a wingback chair at the window watching the snowflakes drift to the ground.

“Something the matter?” Mitchell asked simply.

“Yes, you forced me to get married. That’s what’s the matter.”

“Excuse me?” Mitchell asked with a temper of his own rearing its ugly head. “I forced you to get married?”

“Yes, you told me if I didn’t you’d cut me out of your will. So I went and did it and now everything is screwed up.”

“Jackson, let me make one thing clear. If you’d like to vent I’d be happy to listen, but I didn’t force you to get married and you know as well as I do it was an empty threat. I wouldn’t let all my hard work go to waste. I just wanted to give you something to think about. Next thing I know you’re waltzing in here with stars in your eyes and telling me you’re getting married. No engagement, no nothing. I had absolutely nothing to do with that.”

Jack let out a deep sigh. “Fine, you’re right, you did get me thinking. And maybe I didn’t just ask her because you told me to, but now I’m in love with her and she’s left.”

“What do you mean she’s left?” Mitchell sat up.

“She came home last night and Cecile was there. We were going over the legalities to get rid of Dalton. Maddy walked in, read the situation wrong, next thing I know she’s packing her bags and she’s out the door.”

Mitchell shook his head. “I’m sorry Jackson, maybe I’m old but I’m not following you. This marriage you and Madison have, it wasn’t for love? You weren’t in love?”

“No, that’s the problem. It was convenience for both of us. I give her the premises she wants to rent free and she marries me. It’s a long story but that’s the bottom line.”

“Aaah, I see and then you went and fell in love with your wife.” Mitchell let out a deep laugh rumbling through the room. Now wasn’t the time to chasten his grandson for letting out property for free. The way he knew Jackson he would’ve paid the rent himself. “You young ‘uns always think you can control everything. You can’t control the heart, Jackson.”

“Great! I’m glad you find my situation so entertaining. I actually thought you’d have some advice.”

“We’ll get to that. Did you explain to Maddy that Cecile was there for work?”

“I didn’t get a chance to.”

“So Maddy walks into your home where you are having a late night dinner with another woman who is definitely interested in more than just Dalton’s embezzling. Have you thought of it from her point of view Jackson? If I was a woman I would’ve left you.”

“Did you know Cecile was interested in me?”

Another laugh. “Jackson everyone at the office knows that woman likes you.”

“I didn’t notice.”

Mitchell stood up and slowly made his way over to Jackson and sat down in the chair beside him. “You didn’t notice because you’re in love.”

Jackson let out a deep sigh. “I don’t know where she is, grandpa. I need to talk to her.”

“So you find her.”

“How? I’ve tried calling she’s not answering my calls.”

“Try harder.” Mitchell winked before smiling at Jackson with a wicked gleam in his eye. “I’m looking forward to having grandchildren Jackson and Maddy would be the perfect mother, besides I need her to come visit an old man in hospital after my operation.”

“I know- wait you’re having the operation?” Staggering Jack watched Mitchell.

“Yes, I’ve decided at least if I die on the table I’ll have some dignity left. Besides, Maddy convinced me to. She’s a wonderful woman.”

Amazed and even more in love with Maddy than ever Jack smiled. “I know, I’m going to get her back. Even if it’s the last thing I do.”

As Jack stood and turned to leave Mitchell called after him. “Go get ‘em Tiger.”

 

The scent of spices drifted in the air. Pewter, copper plates and lanterns hung from the ceilings of the small stalls. Colorful shoes and the most beautiful assortment of crafts lined the alley of the market where Maddy browsed. She didn’t need her sunglasses but after crying through most of her first flight and sleeping through the next, Maddy knew her eyes were swollen and puffy. She had arrived in Marrakech late morning and had headed straight to her mother’s apartment. According the neighbor who was kind enough let her in since meeting Maddy on a previous visit her mother would only be back from work late afternoon. Instead of wallowing further, Maddy had donned flat sandals and a loose skirt and headed for the spice souks. She wandered mindlessly, losing herself in touching and investigating the different items. Although she had been here a few times before, the organized chaos of the souks always calmed her. She wanted to stop for lunch at the little spot where she and her mother always enjoyed local cuisine but she couldn’t stomach food. She was still too upset.

How could she have gone and fallen in love with Jack? She knew from the start she needed to keep her heart out of it, but no it had gone and wedged itself into the relationship. It was all Jack’s fault; his kindness, the sweet little gestures, the way he looked at her that had swept her heart along. Now he was there snuggled firmly into her heart and he had already moved on. She had listened to his messages when she landed, they all were the same. Let’s talk. Come home. It wasn’t what it looked it like. Maddy knew any man in his position would’ve left the same messages, so how was she supposed to believe him?

On impulse she bought a red and blue stained glass lantern, thinking how wonderful it would look in the kitchen. It was only after she had paid for it that she realized she wouldn’t be living there anymore. As soon as she got back to New York she would move her things out. If she couldn’t move into her apartment yet, she would move in with Jules until she could. But she couldn’t stay with Jack now that she knew he had already started seeking greener pastures.

Making her way back to her mother’s apartment Maddy allowed her mind to drift back to Cecile once again. She seemed slightly older than Maddy, but she was probably more experienced. A man like Jack who had a healthy sexual appetite would appreciate than in a woman. Maddy wondered what more she could’ve done to make Jack fall in love with her. Had she paid enough attention? Had she showed him enough how she felt after their night at the ball? The doubts rambled through her mind and she didn’t even notice her mother walking towards her.

“Madison! I was just coming to find you. Sameenah told me you were here. I guessed you were at the spice souks.”

Maddy didn’t say a word. Instead she rushed into her mother’s arms like a little girl after a bad fall and let the tears she had been pushing down for so long stream down her face. As her mother’s arms enfolded her, Maddy’s body racked with them.

“Oh Maddy, honey what’s wrong?” Sandra asked as she stroked Maddy’s hair. Another wave of sobs drenched Sandra’s shirt. “Come on baby, let’s go up and then you tell me who I need to hurt.” With her arm around Maddy they walked up the stairs together.

After settling Maddy with freshly brewed coffee on the small terrace Sandra took her daughter’s hand and asked gently. “What happened baby?”

“Oh, mom it’s all a big mess.” Maddy sighed, feeling drained.

“What’s a mess?” Sandra asked softly.

“My life. My marriage. All of it!”

“Oh honey it can’t be that bad.” Sandra soothed. “What happened?”

Maddy told Sandra the entire story from how the marriage was one of convenience and not love, and how she had proceeded to fall in love with Jack and then walked in on him and another woman.

Wanting to give Maddy time to compose herself and to gather her own thoughts at the revelation, Sandra went and poured them each a glass of wine.

“All right, let me get this straight. You married him because you wouldn’t sleep with your landlord, but you wanted to and in exchange you got your offices rent free.”

“Mom! Don’t say it like that you make me sound shallow and lustful.”

Sandra laughed. “No dear I make you sound like someone that was already half in love when she agreed to the marriage and thought she wouldn’t fall in love any further and as for the offices, he wouldn’t have put that on the table if he didn’t want it as well.”

“What do you mean?” Maddy asked, confused.

“I mean, Madison, either he had a hidden agenda himself or he was half in love with you as well.”

Maddy felt a glimmer of hope blossom in her chest. “You think he was in love with me?”

“Honey I was at your wedding, I saw the way he looked at you, touched you. If a man only wants you in his bed, that’s the only place he touches you. Jack had you in his sight the whole night. He kept telling me how Turner Events was going to be a huge success, how you had all your plans detailed to the last number. He’s proud of you Maddy. Do you really think a man would be proud of a woman he only wants to sleep with?”

Not wanting to hope too much and be disappointed Maddy shrugged. “I guess, but what was the other woman doing there?”

“Oh Madison, Jack is a handsome man, women will be throwing themselves at him for the rest of his life. If you plan on staying with him you’ll have to get use to that. If Jack told you it wasn’t what it looked like, and he had an explanation, I think you should at least give him the benefit of the doubt and hear him out. Besides he’s already got your heart, I’d say the benefit of the doubt isn’t a lot to ask.” Sandra cocked her brows as she squeezed Maddy’s hand.

“But I saw the way she looked at him mom.”

“Yes Madison, did you see the way he looked at her? I doubt it. Jack is completely in love with you. Even Mitchell agrees.”

“Mitchell?”

“Yes, we video call a few times a week and of course we discuss our children.”

“Mom, am I getting a stepfather?” Maddy asked thrown off course of her own troubles for a moment.

“Oh don’t be ridiculous Madison. We enjoy each other’s company. I haven’t enjoyed talking, just talking to a man ever since your father passed. Besides he’s much older than I am.”

“I know.” Maddy said pushing the thought of her mother and Mitchell naked together into the very deep recesses of his mind.

Sandra lifted her chin and huffed. “Besides, at our age, age doesn’t matter.”

“I know mom, I’m sorry I just want you to be happy.”

“Well I’ve promised Mitchell I’ll take some leave and come take care of him after the operation. If there is something more than friendship we’ll find out then.”

“He’s having the operation?”

“Yes.” Sandra’s brows furrowed confused. “He said you convinced him.”

Maddy smiled at the thought that Mitchell would’ve taken her word to heart. “I’m glad. And I’m happy for you mom, even if it’s just friendship maybe it’ll get you back on the same continent as me.”

Sandra smiled at Maddy with a naughty glint in her eye. “Right, now that we’ve done the talking, I think we should focus on this bottle of wine. Besides, tomorrow is my day off.”

 

 

“Madison Turner-Landon.” Jack wanted to hate himself for doing what he was about to, but he knew no other way of finding Maddy. Neither Jules nor Milly knew where she was. Knowing he wouldn’t rest before he found her, he had eventually decided on hiring a private investigator. He had always felt that only suspicious partners and criminals used them, but at this moment he didn’t care. He needed to talk to her, soon.

“Right, and when was the last time you saw her?” The thin bald man on the couch asked him as he scribbled into a notebook. He had a coffee stain on his coat and smelled of stale cigarettes.

“Last night.”

“It’s barely been twenty four hours.”

“I know and I don’t care, I don’t pay you to ask questions, I’m paying you to find her.”

“Fair enough. I should have some answers for you tomorrow morning, latest tomorrow afternoon.”

“Thanks.” After letting the thin man out that reeked of dingy deals and back alleys, Jack found himself wandering through the apartment restless.

He missed her scent, her laugh, plain and simple he missed her presence. His apartment which had always been a place to rest after a long day had become a home with Maddy. He missed her talking as she cooked. Her scent still hung in the bathroom but he knew it would fade within days. He saw her in the bright colors she had brought into his apartment that had never made sense to him until she had left. He picked up his phone and dialed her number again.

“This is Madison from Turner Events. I’m unavailable at the moment, but leave your name and number and I’ll get back to you.”

“Dammit Madison, why aren’t you getting back to me?” Jack all but shouted into the phone before throwing it across the room to slam into the wall and fall in pieces on the ground.

“Fuck!” Berating himself he picked the phone up, now he wouldn’t even get her call if she tried to phone him back. He walked to a drawer where he kept old phones and rumbled until he found a found with a matching charger. He inserted the data card before switching it on. It wouldn’t receive emails or do much else than text or phone but that didn’t matter.

Trying to take his mind off Maddy he walked over to the pile of work he had picked up from the office when he popped in after his trip to Greenwich. He scanned through the pile, mail, contracts and wait…he picked up the manila envelope and nearly cried. The one thing he had done to prove to Maddy that he loved her, was now in his hands. Her Christmas gift. The deed to Turner Event’s offices. Now he didn’t even know if he’d find her before Christmas.

 

 

Maddy woke up from the pounding outside her window. Groggily she got up and realized with distaste that the pounding was inside her head. Groaning, she scolded herself. That’s what happened if you cried too much and tried to drown the tears with wine. She made her way to the kitchen where she found her mother already making her favorite pancakes for breakfast. The evidence of her headache teasing her from counter. Three empty bottles of wine.

“Good morning Madison, sleep well?”

When Maddy groaned, Sandra laughed. “I thought you’d feel it this morning. I stopped trying to keep up with you after my third glass. Did it work?”

“If you want to know if my head is aching more than my heart, then yes.” Maddy slopped down in a chair at the small kitchen table feeling too fragile to pour herself some coffee.

Without asking, Sandra placed a cup in front of her along with a healthy portion of pancakes. “Eat up.”

“Mom!” Maddy moaned.

“Don’t ‘mom’ me. You didn’t eat a stitch last night. I know you don’t touch the food on the plane, so you will finish your breakfast.”

Knowing her mother wouldn’t stop until she did, Maddy forced down the first bite.

When her plate was empty and her stomach felt a little more settled she poured some more coffee for both of them before joining her mom on the little terrace again.

“Thanks for last night mom.”

“It’s a pleasure, nothing like a good cry and some wine to shake a mad off.”

“I didn’t shake my mad off, I’m still mad.”

“No honey, you’re not mad, you’re sad. And now than you’ve had your night of feeling sorry for yourself it’s time for some straight talking.”

“Why do I feel like I’m seventeen again and I’m about to go on my first date?”

“Because you’re acting like you’re seventeen.” Sandra sad matter-of-factly. Their relationship had always been a good balance between friendship and parental guidance. Sandra knew this wasn’t the time to be her daughter’s friend, it was time to be her conscience. She took a sip of her coffee and turned to Maddy. “Do you want to spend the rest of your life wondering if Jack loved you? If you could’ve made it work? Do you want to measure every man you meet in the future against the one man you loved but believed let you down?”

“No mom but…”

“Don’t ‘but’ me, Madison, I’m still talking. If you leave Jack like this, that’s what will happen. You love him, I can see it in the way you talk about him and in the way you are now that you think it’s over. But it isn’t over. You haven’t even had an adult conversation about what happened or about your feelings.”

“But mom I didn’t just assume that they were having a date I saw it with my own eyes.”

“Nonsense, you saw what you thought was a date and ran out. So you did assume and what did I tell you about that?”

“Assume makes an ass of ‘u’ and me.” Maddy said resigned.

“Exactly, do you want to throw your life’s happiness away because you’re being an ass?”

“Mom!”

“No Madison, I love you and that’s why I am doing this. Even if things are like you think they are, and Jack has moved on. Wouldn’t you rather know?”

“I suppose.”

“Exactly. So go shower and pack your bags, your flight leaves at noon.”

“No my flight…”

“Has been changed, go pack.” Sandra stood up and swiftly kissed Maddy’s forehead before whispering in her ear. “I love you baby.”

“Love you too mom.” Maddy stood and briefly hugged her mom. Knowing her advice was the hardest thing to do but probably the best. Sometimes a girl just needed her mother to put things into perspective.