Contract for Love, page 19
“Phil never wanted to bang me.”
God, how she hated Madison’s choice of words sometimes. But she probably wasn’t even aware how much pain she caused by being so rude. “It doesn’t matter. The approach is the same. Would you be there for Phil no matter what? And do you think he would be there for you just as much?”
Sherry had expected a superficial, evasive, or sarcastic reply, but Madison kept silent.
“Madison?”
“He was in a relationship. Not one of his flings. A real relationship. And he didn’t tell me about it until today.” She shook her head. “But he told Liam. And he spends almost all his time with Liam. I think…” With every word, her voice became quieter. “I think he’s his best friend now.”
Sherry had planned not to touch Madison so much anymore, but she couldn’t help herself. She moved closer and laid her hand on Madison’s forearm.
“He and Liam love their snow candy. I haven’t touched that crap since Danielle caught me with it when I was sixteen and told me off big time.”
Madison’s words should have shocked her, but she’d met so many people over the years who tried to drown out their problems with all kinds of drugs.
The good news was that Madison didn’t take any illegal substances, as far as she knew, so Jake wouldn’t be exposed to them. Now, Madison’s alcohol consumption was an entirely different matter.
Madison turned to stare at her. “Why am I telling you all this?”
Sherry pulled her hand back. “Why not?”
“You’re working for me, for one.”
That was the perfect opening to talk about earlier. “I am.” Sherry straightened. “And because of that I have lied to my son. I’ve lied to him about one of the most essential things in life.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Love, Madison. I’ve lied to Jake about who I love.” Sherry tried whenever possible to tell him the truth. She didn’t want to be like her own mother, who lied to her whenever she’d opened her mouth. But I’m lying to him about this. Bile rose in her throat.
“You haven’t told him that you love me.”
“Come on, what else would he think after what I told him?” Sherry asked, sounding harsher than she intended.
“He thinks we’re friends, nothing else.” Madison sounded as if she were trying to convince herself. She grabbed her glass from the table and stood. “I’m going to get myself some more. Want, um, a water or something?”
“No, thank you.”
When Madison came back, she sat down at the very end of the couch as if trying to get some distance between them. She drained half of the glass in one huge gulp. “It could take years until my grandmother bites the d…until she dies.”
Even though Madison spoke softly, her words felt like a slap in the face.
Granted, she had already thought the same, but having Madison voice it made it more real. Jake would bond with Madison over the years. Much more than he already had. But it couldn’t be helped. Should she thank Madison or condemn her?
“This situation isn’t easy for any of us,” Madison said when Sherry kept silent. “But kids are resistant. Whatever happens, Jake will get over it.”
“I don’t want him having to get over anything.”
Madison drained the glass and put it down. “It’s a little late for questioning your decision to do this, don’t you think?”
“Decision? You forced me into this,” Sherry spat. “Have you forgotten already?”
A flash of guilt washed over Madison’s face. Then she jumped up, and Sherry flinched.
But Madison didn’t come any closer. Instead she moved to the window. Almost able to touch the glass, she gazed outside.
Thinking she could talk with Madison about this in a normal manner had been stupid. She got up. “I’m going to bed.”
“I’m not good at this, okay?” Madison said without turning.
Sherry halted. Good at what? Emotions? She wanted to walk away but found herself standing beside Madison, looking up at her. “Don’t hurt my baby. That’s all I’m asking.”
Madison glanced down at Sherry. Her eyes were glistening, but Sherry couldn’t tell if it were from emotions or the alcohol she had consumed. “I don’t intend to.” After a few seconds of intense but not threatening eye contact, Madison added, “Believe me, I don’t want him to get hurt either.”
Her expression and her tone left no room for doubt; she really meant it.
Breaking eye contact, Sherry surprised herself by leaning her head on Madison’s shoulder. “Thank you.”
Later she couldn’t say how long they had stood there like that, just facing the lights of the city.
Chapter 21
“Why do I always have to wear tight, short dresses when we go somewhere?” Sherry asked quietly so that Jake, sitting in the back of the BMW, couldn’t hear. She stared at the convertible’s top, which Madison had thankfully put up today because the weather report had predicted rain later in the day.
Madison laughed.
“What did Mom say?”
“Nothing,” Sherry grumbled.
“Does it have anything to do with sex?”
Her head snapped to the backseat. When she realized Madison was looking back as well, she told her to focus on the traffic before asking, “Why would you ask something like that?”
“Tony said today that when adults are whispering, most of the time it’s about sex.”
When Madison giggled, Sherry glared at her.
“Mom, what’s sex?”
Madison fell silent.
So far, Sherry had always known how to answer Jake’s questions. More or less. But now she was at a loss for words.
“It’s a special kind of cuddling that only adults do,” Madison said.
Sherry blinked at Madison and nodded.
“Do the two of you do that too?”
Oh God. She met Madison’s helpless expression. There was no handbook for this kind of situation. Of course she wasn’t having sex with Madison. But part of her charade was to pretend they were. And if Jake were to speak to someone about this, he—
“Why are you asking, grasshopper?”
Sherry could have kissed her.
“I’m not sure Tony was right. He said that a man and a woman, um, so that when they have sex that he puts his willy into her—”
“We know how it’s done,” Madison interrupted.
“But you’re two women. If that is sex, then how can you do that if neither of you have a willy?” After a pause, he asked, “Or do you have one, Madison?”
Madison shook her head vigorously.
“Does that mean you don’t have sex?”
Madison gave Sherry a look. “Your turn.”
She hid her burning face with both hands and groaned. “When I was in elementary school, we didn’t speak about such things.” She let her hands fall to her lap. “I would have expected questions like that when you were attending your old school, not now. How did you come to be talking about this anyway?”
“Tony’s big sister told him about sex. Has she lied?”
“Baby, you and Tony are much too young for that.”
“For what?”
“To be talking about sex,” Madison supplied.
Jake frowned. “Is sex something bad?”
“No.” Madison turned into the street where the Archer was. “You just don’t talk about it in public. Especially not at school or at the dinner table.”
Her heart seemed to stop when she imagined Jake trying to talk about sex at the birthday party they were heading to. It definitely wouldn’t be the kind of surprise that Danielle’s mother would like for her birthday.
“Why not?”
“Some things you simply don’t do,” Madison said. “Like talking about your poop when eating.”
While Madison parked the car, nobody spoke. But when they had gotten out of the car and were walking toward the Archer, Jake asked, “So you both don’t have—”
“Jake,” Sherry groaned.
He lowered his gaze. “Sorry.”
Madison paused. “There are many ways to cuddle, right?”
Jake stopped and nodded.
“See. And your mom and I cuddle in a different way than what Tony has talked about.”
“But he hasn’t said anything about that. He said that’s the way it is.”
Sherry hunkered down to him and straightened his jacket. “Just because he knows a few things doesn’t mean he knows everything.”
Madison made sure nobody was paying them any attention before lowering herself to one knee in front of Jake too.
Jake bit his lower lip. Finally, he asked, “Is sex something icky? I mean, because you compared it with poop.”
Madison chuckled. “Maybe it wasn’t the best comparison. Sex… It’s just something for adults and something we don’t talk about in public.”
Jake looked at them both thoughtfully. “But why not?”
“Because it’s embarrassing for most people.” Sherry glanced longingly at the entrance.
“But why?”
She sighed. Her patience was running low, especially as the timing for this particular conversation was truly awful. “Jake, it’s good to ask questions. But sometimes you simply have to accept things how they are.”
“Like not talking about sex?”
“Exactly,” she and Madison said in unison.
It seemed to take forever, but eventually, Jake nodded.
She breathed out in relief. Hopefully, this embarrassing episode was now over.
Shortly after that, when Madison held open the door of the Archer, Sherry whispered, “Thank you. We’re a good team.”
Madison tipped an imaginary hat and bowed. “T’was a pleasure, ma’am. Always at your service.”
“Woah!” Jake’s eyes widened. “Is this all yours, Madison?”
“The Archer belongs to me and Danielle in equal parts,” Madison said. “Ah, there she is.” She took Sherry’s hand for everybody to see.
“Hey, guys!” Danielle skipped toward them with an almost empty cocktail glass in hand.
“Hi, Danielle,” Madison and Sherry said at the same time.
Danielle lowered herself to Jake’s height. “And you have to be sweet little Jake.”
Jake grinned. “I’m not sweet.”
“Oh, but you are. Your mother tells me every day what a sweet kid you are. Wanna tell me she’s lying?”
Jake giggled and shook his head.
Danielle held up her free hand. “I’m your…well, your aunt, I guess. Aunt Danielle.”
Jake frowned. “Aunt?”
Before Sherry could answer, Madison said, “Aunt sounds good to me.”
“She’s not really your aunt,” Sherry said. “But you can call her that if you like.”
Jake jumped up and down. “Cool! I always wanted to have an aunt.”
Danielle smiled at Madison and Sherry. “That’s what I call a greeting.” Focusing on Jake again, she asked, “Do you wanna see where your mom works?”
“Yeah!” He pointed to the bar where a few people were standing around, drinking and chatting. “Is that where Mom works?”
“Actually, I work there mostly,” Madison said. “But your mom does sometimes too.”
Danielle stood and leaned toward Madison to whisper, “Short warning; Aunt Eileen is here.”
“What?” Madison had obviously spoken louder than expected because some people turned to look at her.
Danielle shrugged as if she couldn’t help it and wasn’t all too worried about that fact. She took Jake’s hand. “I’m going to kidnap your cute Jake for now. See ya!”
“I’m not cute.” Jake grinned, and they both disappeared into the crowd.
Sherry moved closer to her. “What is it?”
“My grandmother is h—”
“Madison!”
Sherry flinched.
If Madison didn’t feel as bad as Sherry looked, she would have probably laughed about the shocked expression on Sherry’s beautiful face.
“Hello, Grandmother.” Madison stepped up to her and blew her an air-kiss.
“Good day, Mrs. Fielding.”
Grandmother Eileen sent Sherry the ghost of a nod, then focused on Madison again.
“What a, um, surprise to see you here,” she said in a hopefully neutral tone.
“I was invited at the last minute to this”—she made a face as if smelling something foul—“party. So this is where you’ve invested your money. Or should I say your parents’ money?”
“Yeah,” Madison forced out between clenched teeth. “It’s great working at the Archer, and Sherry—”
“What?” Grandmother Eileen screeched. “You are the owner and work here like a common waitress?”
“Mrs. Fielding,” Sherry said, “I am a waitress.”
“And a really good one at that,” Madison added.
Grandmother Eileen huffed. “What is there to be good at? Taking orders, bringing orders. Anybody can do that.”
Sherry took a deep breath and let it slowly escape. Was she having the same difficulties trying to stay calm as Madison was? “Madison does so much more than simply taking orders. She oversees the staff and takes care of the management. You can be proud of your granddaughter.”
It took all of Madison’s self-control not to topple over. Not just because Sherry was defending her passionately, but she was also lying for her without battening an eye. She’s going to get a raise.
But then she became aware of another feeling, this one much less pleasant. Shame? No. There was no reason to feel ashamed, was there? After all, what Sherry had said was at least partly true.
Without turning away from Madison, Grandmother Eileen said, “Sheryl, I’m sure that you think adding up some prices is already a management job, but—”
“Grandmother, that’s enough!”
Sherry and her grandmother stared at her.
“Sherry is my partner. Sherry, not Sheryl. And you know that. And whatever you think about her, the Archer, or me, I won’t allow you to talk to the women I love in such a manner.” Wow, where had that come from?
Grandmother Eileen opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water.
“Mom,” Jake shouted while dragging Danielle after him. “Aunt Danielle has shown me how to do a hot chocolate with the big machine.”
“That’s great, honey.”
Grandmother Eileen looked down on him. “We’re having a conversation, young man.” Gazing into Sherry’s eyes, she said, “Obviously, your son needs to learn the most basic of manners.”
“Grandmother,” Madison growled. She wouldn’t allow her to keep insulting Sherry and Jake. This instinct to protect Sherry and Jake was new, but it felt absolutely right.
“What’s he doing here anyway? Don’t you have a nanny?”
“I need a drink,” Madison mumbled.
“Please don’t overdo it,” Sherry said quietly. “You have to drive home.”
What? Sherry wanted to tell her how much she could or couldn’t drink?
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Grandmother Eileen stared at Sherry as if she were an irritating insect, but she spoke to Madison. “Do you allow this woman to boss you around like this?”
“Mom doesn’t do that!” Jake shouted. He took Madison’s and Sherry’s hands.
Grandmother Eileen shook her head at him disapprovingly. “You don’t talk to adults like that, young man.”
Jake’s lower lip trembled, and he held on to Sherry and Madison as if scared by Grandmother Eileen.
I can’t blame him. As a child, she had been terrified of her too.
Startled, Madison realized that she wasn’t angry at Sherry anymore for telling her not to drink too much. Instead, all her anger was focused on Grandmother Eileen and her bullying, especially toward Jake.
Jake let go of Madison’s hand to put his thumb in his mouth, something that she had never seen him do before. Around the thumb in his mouth, he asked, “Why are you so nasty?”
Danielle’s hand flew to her mouth, barely covering a snort.
Grandmother Eileen looked down at Jake as if she’d just swallowed a fly.
Madison bit her lower lip trying not to laugh out loud at Jake’s wonderful question. He was truly precious.
“It seems quite obvious,” Grandmother Eileen finally said to Sherry, “that you haven’t taught the boy any manners at all, and God knows it hasn’t become easier with Madison close by. But I demand you call your son to order.”
Sherry’s expression hardened.
“Insult me as much as you want,” Madison growled. “Most of it is probably true. But Jake is a well-raised kid, and he’s right. You are a nasty woman.”
“You’re talking nonsense, Madison. Like always.” Pointing at Jake, Grandmother Eileen said, “A good nanny might be able to fix this. With Madison, the nanny did a decent job. The problems started only when she began having a mind of her own.”
“Which nanny do you mean, Grandmother?” Madison asked. “I lost track after a while.” She took a deep breath. “We have Sherry’s friend Rita Mae as our housekeeper. She also looks after Jake.”
“A friend?” Her forehead twitched but didn’t crinkle along with her frown, probably because of a recent Botox job. “And you have one person for both? Madison, is your money running that low already?”
Enough! She’d had enough of her and she would—
As if sensing that Madison was about to explode, Sherry nudged Jake to the side and touched her arm gently. “Honey, didn’t you want to introduce me to Danielle’s parents?”
Madison wanted to let this go. She really did. But something kept her rooted to the spot. The damn old witch thought she could say and do whatever she wanted. Not anymore. She would—
