by Anna Black
“Wonderful, son. How is your father? I heard about the cancer,” Martha said, placing a hand over her heart.
“He’s not doing too well. The cancer is aggressive, but he’s strong and hanging in there.”
“I’m sorry,” she said and then turned to Madison. “Madison, come over here and say hello.” Madison looked on, scared to move in his direction.
“Madison?” Tony said. His eyes bulged, but he then smiled.
She knew what he was thinking, but she smiled and pretended she was her old self. “Hey, Tony,” she muttered and tried to avoid eye contact.
“Come here, Madison.” He pulled her into his arms and gave her a tight hug. “It’s good to see you. I didn’t recognize you.”
“I’m sure you didn’t. I’m like two of me now,” she said with sarcasm.
“Madison,” Martha said and swatted her arm.
“But you’re still gorgeous,” Tony said. Madison gave him a look.
“I heard you were married now,” her mom said.
“Yes, ma’am. And I have two boys, twelve and ten. They’re home in Austin. I’m here working for my dad until I sell the ranch or get someone I can trust to take over when I go back.”
“Well, I’m sorry to hear your dad isn’t getting better. Why don’t you have dinner with us? You know every Sunday I whip up a feast.”
“I’m there,” he smiled.
His smile was even more gorgeous than Madison had remembered. Anthony Reed had been a good-looking guy back in high school, but now, he was a grown-ass man who was even more delicious. She looked at Tony lustfully, wondering if he looked as good as she imagined under those clothes of his.
She jumped when she felt her mother touch her. “Yes? I’m sorry, Mother, what did you say?”
“I said it would be nice to catch up over dinner.”
“Yes, yes, ma’am. It would be.”
Tony smile at them both. “Well, it was nice to see you two. Tell Mr. Atkins I said hello, and I’ll be there on Sunday.”
“Okay, son,” her mother said.
Tony gave her and her mom a final hug, and Madison could have sworn he squeezed her even tighter that time. The two women watched him walk away.
“That Tony is even sexier at thirty-something than he was at seventeen,” Martha said.
“Mom, please, you know nothing about sexy.”
“Humph, your tongue tell lies, chile. Hell, your daddy was, and is still, sexy in my book. That man used to come over my house with them tight-fitted jeans and that hat. . . . Humph, girl, makes my temperature rise just thinking about it.” Martha playfully fanned herself, smiling.
“Mom, please, Daddy is not sexy.”
“Chile, please. Every woman in East Texas wanted your father back then, but I had that man on lock. I don’t know about these New-Age men, but back then, voluptuous women like myself had to beat these Texas fellas off with a stick. But with your daddy, that wasn’t the case. When I first laid eyes on him, I put these hips in motion and got that man.” She strutted a little and did a little dip. Madison looked around in embarrassment, hoping no one was watching them.
Martha Atkins was the opposite of her now timid daughter. She was pleasantly plump, and she was sophisticated. No one ever caught her on a bad day, and even though there was barely a black strand of hair left on her silver-colored head, she rocked a nice, tapered haircut. In her 60s, she was in great health, and although retired from the hair salon she owned and ran for forty years, she still made an occasional appointment for her church sisters.
“Mom, please don’t do that in public.”
“Well, if you would loosen the hell up and put some makeup on your face and stop wearing that tired ponytail on the top of yo’ head, you might find another husband.”
“I don’t want another husband, Momma. Dre was the only man for me.”
“Baby . . .” Martha moved in close to her daughter and then lowered her voice. “It’s been over four years now. It’s time to get your life back, Madi. I’m sorry you lost them, baby, but you’re only thirty-three years old. You have a full life ahead. There is someone else out there for you, but you have to get back into the swing of life.”
“Mother, please drop it, okay?”
“I won’t. I’d be a horrible mother if I let you wither away. You have a great education, and it’s time you got back to work. Your father and I love having you, but you are grown, Madi. Now, your father has told me to leave you alone. He’s okay with taking care of you, but you’re not a child, and I want my house back. Your father and I want our lives back, Madison. I brought you out today to tell you the things your daddy just won’t say because you’re his baby girl, and he coddles you like you’re a child, but I’m here to tell you that it’s time to rejoin the world. It’s time to get back to living and get some love and happiness back into your life.”
Madison sighed at her mother’s words. She was living with her parents, but not living off them. She had received a substantial amount of money from the policies that were on her husband, and the company that hit them paid out a huge settlement, so all she had to do was go. She didn’t burden her parents financially, because, although her mother usually tried to refuse it, she paid them rent. She’d pay a utility or two when she caught the mail before her mom did, and she bought groceries because she loved to cook.
She hesitated and then said, “Fine, Mother. I’ll find another place and get out of your and Daddy’s hair.” She tossed the blouse that she had taken off the rack before seeing Tony onto a nearby table and then headed out of the store. She went straight to her mother’s Mercedes.
Martha followed behind trying to talk to her, but she kept moving. “I didn’t mean it like that, Madi. I just meant you have to start living again. Your father and I adore you, but if we continue to allow you to stay, we’ll be enabling you. The person you have now become is not the person we raised.”
They got into the car, and Martha started the engine and turned the AC on blast. Madison didn’t say a word; she just stared out the window.
“You are stronger than what you think,” Martha added. “It’s tragic what happened to Dre and my grandbabies, Madi, but you have to find a new life.”
Tears rolled down Madison’s face.
“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, baby.” Martha grabbed Madison’s hand and squeezed it.
“It’s okay, Mom. You’re right, and I know you mean well.”
“Yes, I do. I want what’s best for you, sweetheart,” Martha said.
They rode home in silence after that.
The next day, Madison met with her friend, Deena Storm. She was a real estate agent, and her husband and his family were builders.
“As you can see, this community is going to be gorgeous when all the houses are completed.” Deena was showing her a house in one of her family’s newer developments.
“I like this one, but I really liked the one with the back of the house facing the lake. Can we look at that one again?” Madison asked.
“Of course.” Deena walked across the room and turned off the light switch. “Now, that one is twenty grand more than this one. The view, the upgrades, the fifth bedroom, and fourth bathroom are why the price tag is a lot more. This one has four bedrooms, three baths, and only one fireplace. There, you’ll have the two-sided fireplace on the main floor and the one in the master,” she explained as they walked toward the door.
“I understand. That is exactly why I want to see that one again. I know it’s a lot of house just for me alone, but who knows.”
“I know losing Dre and the boys was hard on you. I mean, you stayed off the scene so long, I was worried about you.”
“I’m better now, Deena, and I’m sorry for shutting you out like I did. I didn’t mean to treat you that way when you were trying to help me.”
“It’s okay, Madi. At the time, I had recently married Travis, and we were in honeymoon mode, so I know it was an undesirable situation for you to be around us back then.�
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“Yeah, it was, but I’m better now.”
“Good,” Deena smiled, and the two women walked to her Jag.
They drove a short distance to the house that Madison loved. It didn’t take much convincing for her to put in an offer.
“Okay, of course, we are the sellers, so I’m going to get you that family-best-friend rate. I know this one is twenty more than that other one, but after I work my magic, your price will be the same or as close to the other home as I can get it,” she winked.
Madison hugged Deena. “Thanks so much.”
“Thank me after I run the numbers by my brother-in-law, Lance. He drives a hard bargain.”
“Well, I’ll be waiting for your call,” Madison said.
Chapter Two
Chase tapped the steering wheel of his Audi, bobbed his head to the music, and sang along with Blake Shelton while he drove, on hold to speak to his big brother, Lance. He was going to suggest that he get another station for the hold music. Even though he liked country music, it didn’t seem to be the best hold music.
“This is Lance Storm,” Lance answered.
“Hey, L, what’s going on? I called your cell phone a few times. Too busy for your baby bro?” he kidded.
“Some of us do actually work,” Lance said, and Chase could hear papers shuffling. His brother was always in work mode, and he wished he’d relax and kick back but work always trumped everything.
“I work, but I’m out of my office by three. I don’t have to work ten hours a day to do what I do.”
“What is it you do again?” Lance joked.
“Ha, ha, ha, big bro, you’re so funny. You know what I do. I make sure those numbers look right on those supply orders, baby. You know I’m the one that keeps us on budget for each job and underbudget if I stay late,” Chase laughed.
He was the head accountant. He oversaw a staff of twelve, and their numbers were always on point to the penny. And whenever they finished under, his department got a bonus, and Chase was all about making bonuses, so he did a stellar job. He wasn’t just good at what he did, he was superb, and he knew his brothers knew it.
“Yeah, yeah, you handle your end like a pro, so, to what do I owe this call? I have mortgage applications to comb through.”
The continued sounds of paper shuffles were a hint to let Chase know he had to get to the point of his phone call before he’d be greeted by a dial tone. Lance worked just as hard as he did. It was why their business was so lucrative.
“Okay, I’ll hurry so you can get back to work. I don’t need the ‘Time is money’ speech today, big bro.”
“Then out with it, Chase. You’ve already wasted two valuable minutes of my time that I can’t get back,” Lance said.
Chase laughed lightly. “I need a model home for the weekend. I tried to hit up Deena, but you know she never answers my calls close to the weekend.”
“Why can’t you take your dates to your real home, Chase?”
“Dude, are you crazy? I would never reveal the location of my home. That is play rule number one. These chicks are crazy as hell. The one and only woman who may get lucky enough to be called Mrs. Storm won’t know my true location until after the honeymoon.”
Lance laughed. “You are truly a piece of work, little brother. But, unfortunately, if you want to know what’s still empty and staged, you will have to get with Deena. I don’t keep track of that anymore.”
“Damn, Deena hates my guts, and she said that last time would be the last time.”
“And she said that before that time and the time before. Go by her office, dude. Ask her for the list.”
“Damn damn damn. I don’t want to do that.”
“If you want a place to lay up with one of your fans, you have no choice, because I can’t help you, and I gotta go. I have work to do, Chase.”
“I guess I’ll have to,” Chase sighed. He pulled off the highway to head back in the other direction.
“You know you are going to have to settle down one day, Chase, and stop chasing skirts. Momma and Pop must have known what you’d grow up to be when they named you that.”
“Listen, marriage and settling are not on my to-do list. Maybe when I’m fifty, I’ll consider it.”
“Whatever, Chase. Don’t break another headboard, and make sure you have the service clean up this time. Deena said if she ever walks into another model home that you left a mess, she was going to roast you like a pig.”
They laughed.
“Okay, man,” Chase said. “I’ll have it cleaned. The last time, it just slipped my mind.”
“Well, your dates are not too bright if they can’t figure out these are staged properties. I mean, not one personal picture and only a couple of items in the fridge and closet.”
“Well, we spend time in the bedroom, bro, not in the kitchen and closets.”
“Okay, on that note, I’m hanging up. Get yo’ life right.” Then he hung up.
Chase chuckled at his brother’s last comment.
He headed to Deena’s, mentally preparing himself for the tongue-lashing she was going to unleash on him. She was a cool sister-in-law at times . . . until the subject of his love life was up for discussion. She frowned on him and acted as if he didn’t have a right to mingle. Hell, he was still single.
Chase arrived and parked in the closest empty spot near the door he could find. He put on his designer sunglasses and got out. He spoke to the women that passed him by on his way to the entrance. One sister deserved a second look, so over the rim of his shades, Chase eyed the sway of her hips and ass. “Damn, baby, fine,” he said and continued to the door. He walked in and was greeted by other staff as he made it to Deena’s door. It was open, so he tapped the frame to get her attention. “Deena, Deena, Deena, my favorite sister-in-law, you’re looking lovely today,” he sang when he walked into her office.
“Get out, Chase. Lance called me already, and I told you no more hookups in our model homes. You bring too much drama to this company. Got chicks showing up in trench coats looking for you and ready to fight me when I say that you don’t live there. I’m not for it.”
“Deena, Deena, Deena. Come on, sis. I won’t forget to clean it this time, and I’ll make it clear that it’s a rental while some construction is being done on my house. That usually keeps them from coming back.”
“Chase, why are you so damn foolish?” She shook her head at him but went for the list.
All of his sisters-in-law were plus-sized. Beautiful, but too big for his taste. His brothers had a thing for hips, butt, and gut, he guessed. He thought back to when Travis married her. Deena used to be thick, but a decent size. But after three kids, she was no longer thick. She was fat, in his opinion. Even though he didn’t care for her physical appearance, he loved her for being the right woman for his brother.
“Here.” She slapped the list into his chest. “Make your decision now so that I can take it off my show list. Lord knows I don’t want to come in on you and God-knows-who, doing God-knows-what.”
“Thanks, sis.” He gave her a wet kiss on the cheek. On purpose, because he knew that always irritated her.
She gave him a playful shove. “Boy, go on now. Your lips done been in too many places.”
“Well, Travis wasn’t a saint before you.”
“Maybe not, but I know he wasn’t as bad as you.”
“True,” he agreed and scanned the list. “Damn, the lake view one sold?”
“Yep, two days ago. To my girl Madison.”
“Madison . . . Madison . . . Madison . . .” It sounded familiar.
“Quit playing. You know Madison.”
“I heard of her, but I don’t think we’ve ever met.”
“Well, you have, I’m sure. She’s my friend from high school that lost her family a few years back, and she was in a deep funk, so she didn’t move around much. She’s Martha Atkins’s daughter. I’m sure you remember her.”
Still looking over the list and only half-listening, he nodded.
“No, I don’t, but okay. I’ll get this one on Lancaster. I’ll only need it one night—tomorrow night.”
“Who is this chick, Chase? Do I know her?”
“Nope. She lives in Dallas. Coming to visit some family here, so she and I are hooking up tomorrow night.”
“Dallas, huh?”
“Yes, Dallas, why?”
“I see you’re expanding your horizons.”
“Well, I’ve had all of the beauties in Tyler, so why not?”
Deena frowned. “Eeeewwww, Chase. Get your ass out of my office.”
“As you wish,” he said and made his exit, stopping to grab the house key from the keyboard.
He bumped into a plump sister on his way out.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said.
“Don’t mention it.” He didn’t look back. She was pretty but didn’t hit the double take list.
He got in his car, planning to head to the grocery store for wine, fruit, and finger foods. He’d order takeout for his Dallas Delight, take her to breakfast after he serviced her right, and drop her back off where he scooped her up.
“Damn, I love being single.” He slid his sunglasses on and pulled off.
Chapter Three
“So, when can I close?” Madison asked Deena, anxious and excited.
“In less than two weeks. Lance didn’t remember meeting you at the wedding, but when I reminded him of what you have gone through, he quickly agreed on this price.”
Madison smiled.
“You chose to pay everything outright, which is saving you a ton of interest. Even though you have excellent credit, no interest sounds a helluva lot better to me,” Deena giggled. “Damon is going to break out in a happy dance when he hears this.”
“Well, thanks to the huge settlement from the accident and my husband’s insurance policy, I’m pretty much set for life. I don’t have to, but I am going back to work so I can get back to what some would call a normal life. Something I never imagined I’d have again since that day, but it’s time to live again. I’ve decided to manage my mother’s salon. It’s outdated and old and in need of quite a few upgrades. I’m going to turn it into a more upscale, modern salon. I want to talk to someone at Storms about remodeling or even building from the ground up. I want Martha’s to step into this modern world and cater to more than just church folks,” Madison laughed.