Madison's Journey

Chapter 17

“Madison?”

Madison’s eyes flew open at the sound of his voice. “Derrick?” He was standing in the doorway with a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a giant teddy bear in the other.

“May I come in?” She nodded her head and watched him walk in slowly. She could tell that he was a bit uncomfortable, which brought her a tiny bit of joy. He held the flowers and teddy bear out to her. “These are for you.”

“Thank you.”

He put them down beside her and stood awkwardly beside the bed. “How are you?” Before she could answer, he slapped himself on the forehead. “Oh geez, what a stupid question, obviously you aren’t very good.” 

“Actually, I’m not too bad, considering.” She stifled a giggle from how flustered he was.

“That’s great.” He looked down at his feet for a moment and then back up at her. “Madison, I…um...I wanted to tell you that I’m really sorry I was such a jerk. I assumed that…well, you know what I assumed. I should have listened to you.”

“I know. It’s okay, Derrick.”

He shook his head. “No, it’s not okay.”

“Yes, it is. I can see why you thought what you did, and I don’t blame you.”

He shook his head again, amazed at her ability to forgive. “I’m not sure why you don’t, I would if I were you.”

She grinned. “Well, you aren’t me, so you don’t get a choice.”

He laughed and moved closer so he could grab her hand. “Thank you for being so kind. I really am sorry. Friends?”

She squeezed his hand, happiness flooding through her. “Definitely.”

He smiled, nodded and then turned around to leave. When he reached the door, he turned back towards her. “I’m really glad that you’re okay.”

“Me too.” She returned his smile and watched the door close behind him. She stared out the window, thinking about Derrick for a while until her eye lids got heavy and she fell asleep. She woke up a little while later to find Colin sitting beside her bed. He was reading a magazine and didn’t notice when her eyes opened. “Hey you.”

He looked up, and his eyes shone brightly as he smiled widely at her. “Hey back. How yea feeling?”

“Sore, tired, relieved.”

His lips curved downwards and his expression grew serious. “I’m sorry, Mad. I kept burdening you with my problems and here you were dealing with your own.”

Madison lifted up her good hand and he grabbed it. “Colin, you have nothing to be sorry about. You’re my friend, and I care about you and your problems. My stuff, well, let’s just say that I had a handle on it, and you were the one that needed help.”

“Okay, I guess. I’m just sorry that you didn’t feel like you could tell me.”

“Colin, please, it wasn’t that. I didn’t feel like I could tell anyone. It wasn’t you, in fact, if I was going to tell anyone, it would have been you.”

He nodded and the smile returned to his face. “Mad,” his voice was filled with love. “You’ve become one of my best friends these past few months, in fact, you might be my best friend, and I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

She had tears in her eyes as she responded, “I know, Colin. I feel the same way. You’re one of my best friends, and you’ve been here these past few months when I really needed someone even if you didn’t know it.” Their eyes stayed connected for several moments as they silently thanked each other for their love and friendship.

“Do you want to talk about it now?” He spoke quietly, not wanting to pressure her.

She thought about it for a moment, not sure where to start. “I guess you’ve heard the story. And I guess there really isn’t much more than that.” But as she spoke, she realized that she hadn’t been completely honest with her version of the story. “Actually, there is one thing. I wasn’t completely honest when I told the police and the social worker the story.” She looked into Colin’s eyes and tears began to slide down her cheeks. 

“It’s okay, Mad, you can tell me,” he reassured her with a squeeze of her hand.

“Well, I told them that my mom and I had a fight, but I didn’t tell them what caused the fight.” She sniffed back tears and took a deep breath. She had not wanted to tell anyone this part, partly because she was embarrassed and partly because she was afraid that they would think it was her fault. But she knew she could tell Colin. She knew he wouldn’t judge her. “My mom was angry because she thought I was trying to steal her boyfriend, Mark.”

“What? Why would she think that?”

She closed her eyes and held them shut as the memory came back to her. “Mark had come up behind me while I was cleaning, and he grabbed me and pushed me against the wall. He had me pinned against it, and then he slapped me. He slapped me so hard that I hit my head, and I got really dizzy.” She opened her eyes and looked at Colin, whose eyes were opened wide, staring at her in disbelief. “I was trying to get away from him, but he had me completely pinned and I couldn’t move. He had his hand around my throat, and I couldn’t scream. Then he started kissing me, and I tried to stop him, Colin, I did, but I couldn’t and that’s when my mom woke up and found us. She took his side and thought I was the one kissing him. But I wasn’t, Colin, I would never…” She cried, pleading her case to him.

Colin’s eyes turned dark and a deep shade of red had crept onto his face. He shut his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, the darkness was still there but he was looking at her with gentleness. He stood up and leaned down, wrapping his arms around her. “Maddie, I know you wouldn’t. That wasn’t your fault. Mark assaulted you, not the other way around. I can’t believe…” He pulled away from her and had tears in his eyes too. “Don’t you dare think that any of that was your fault.” She nodded. She was relieved to hear him say that. Colin sat back down in his chair. “But Mad, I think you need to tell the police this part of the story.”

She looked at him, panic in her eyes. “Colin, I can’t. What if they think it was my fault?”

“Mad, they would never think that. Mark is the one that did wrong here, Mark and your mom, not you,” he pushed, his eyes locked on hers to ensure she understood.

She was silent for a while, thinking about it and knowing he was right. “Will you be here with me when I tell them?”

“Of course. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here.”

She smiled at him, thankful for his friendship. “Oh, on another note, you’ll never guess who came to see me earlier this morning.”

“Who?”

“Derrick.”

“What? You’re kidding me. What did he want? He’s got some nerve after the way he acted.” Colin’s face started to turn a deep shade of red.

“It’s okay, Col. He just came to apologize.” She pointed to the flowers and teddy bear on the windowsill. “And he brought me presents.”

Colin looked at them and then back at Madison. “Are you sure you’re okay with that? I can call him and tell him to leave you alone.”

She shook her head. “Thanks, Col. But it’s okay. I doubt he’ll be back. And I forgave him.”

Colin didn’t look happy, but he nodded, accepting her stance on the matter.

“Oh, Col, I forgot about the doctor’s appointment. How did it go?”

He smiled at her. “I can’t believe you remembered that. It went well. Baby’s doing good, and everything seems normal.”

She smiled back at him. “I’m glad every thing’s good.”

“Me too.”

“How’s Carissa?”

“She’s good. A little bit of morning sickness, but nothing major.” Colin was about to say more when the door flung open, startling them both.

“Hey, Mads!” Amy stood in the doorway with a bag of licorice and a mischievous smile on her face. “I don’t know if you can eat these, but I brought them anyway.” Both Madison and Colin laughed as she came bouncing in. 

“How are you feeling today?”

“Not too bad. You know, just sore and tired.”

Amy looked at Colin, who stood up. “Why don’t I go find you a magazine to read?” Madison smiled, nodded, and Colin kissed her forehead. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

Amy smiled at her brother and took his seat when he left the room. She stared down at her lap for a moment, and when she looked back up at Madison, she had tears in her eyes. “Mads, I’m just…I can’t believe that I…” she struggled to form the words, and Madison reached over to grab her hand.

“It’s okay, Amy, I know.”

Amy shook her head and looked miserably at her friend. “No, Mads, it’s not okay. I was awful to you, and the whole time you were going through your own issues. I don’t even know why I got so mad, I guess just hearing that Colin talked to you when he wouldn’t talked to me made me jealous and I took it out on you. And then after that whole night and the scene at school, I was embarrassed. I had taken it so far and I wasn’t sure how to take it all back. So, I just kept being angry at you and that was wrong. I hope you can forgive me.”

“I already have. I love you, Amy,” she said, happy to have her friend back.

Amy sniffed loudly and wiped her nose with a tissue. “I love you too, Mads!”

The two girls talked about school and caught up on their last few months apart. By the time Colin came back with a magazine, Madison’s eyes were closed and Amy thought she was asleep. She was sitting beside her, watching her, thankful that her best friend was alive and had forgiven her. Colin put the magazine down on the table beside Madison’s bed and sat opposite to Amy. Amy turned her attention to Colin.

“Are you in love with her, Colin?”

He looked up at his sister, startled and slightly confused. “In love with who? Carissa? No, I’m not. It’s why we’re not getting married.”

Amy shook her head. “No, not Carissa. Madison, are you in love with Madison?”

“What? Why would you think that?” He glanced at his sister like she was crazy, but she was very serious as she questioned him.

“I see the way you’re looking at her, and you guys seem awfully close. I just figured.”

He sat back in his chair and thought about it. “No, Aim. I’m not in love with Mad. I love her, yes, but like a friend, a sister almost. She’s an incredible person, and she’s become one of my best friends, but too much is going on in my life, and in her life, for us to even think about that kind of thing.” Amy was staring at him, trying to determine if he was lying or not. “It would be like dating my cousin.”

Amy laughed lightly, but she wasn’t entirely convinced. “Are you sure? You don’t think that maybe?”

He shook his head. “Honestly, Aim, at this point, I have no interest in dating anyone. With the baby coming and my weird relationship with Carissa, it would be too hard. And Mad doesn’t see me like that either. We both just needed someone to talk to, and well, you weren’t exactly…”

“I know. And I’m sorry about that. I should have been better to you both.”

Colin smiled at his sister. “It’s okay, Aim.”

Madison opened her eyes at this point, she had heard their conversation and wanted to put her two cents in. “Yes, it is.” They were both startled by the sound of Madison’s voice.

“Mads, we didn’t know you were awake.”

“Who can sleep with all this chatter going on?” She teased. Colin laughed and Amy grinned. “And in case anyone cares, I feel the same as Colin.” She smiled at her two best friends and laughter filled the room. They spent the next hour talking and laughing and enjoying each other’s company.

The next day, Colin and his parents were with Madison when she told the rest of her story to the police. Colin was right, they didn’t blame her at all. Before the Fernie’s left, Mr. and Mrs. Fernie hugged her with all the love and pride they felt for her. They offered to be with her when she told Bill and Lisa, but she declined. She was more confident now, after all the support she received from the police and Mr. and Mrs. Fernie, she knew could do it on her own.

It wasn’t long after the police and Fernie’s left that Bill and Lisa came walking into her hospital room, followed by Ms. Spring.

Lisa had a grin on her face that looked like she was up to something. “Hi, Maddie.”

Madison eyed Lisa suspiciously. “Hey, Lise. What’s going on?” She turned to Bill who shrugged.

Lisa shook her head. “Why would you think somethings going on?” She asked innocently.

Madison laughed. “Well, that look on your face for starters.” She turned so that her eyes were resting on Kaitlyn. “Hi, Ms. Spring. Is everything okay?”

Kaitlyn nodded but it was Bill who spoke. “Yup, but we wanted to talk to you about something.”

Madison’s smile faded, and she looked from Bill to Lisa and then her eyes rested on Kaitlyn again. “Is it my mom?”

Kaitlyn shook her head. “Nothing yet, unfortunately.”

“But we do have good news,” Lisa interjected, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Well,” she glanced at Bill and then turned back to Madison. “We think it’s good news and we hope you agree.”

Madison, who still wasn’t sure what was going on, kept her face stoic. “Okay?”

Lisa turned to Bill. He nodded. “You go ahead.”

“We want you to come live with us. We’ve already talked to Ms. Spring, and if you are okay with that than….”

Madison’s eyes grew wide. “Wait, what? You want me to live with you. But look at me. Are you sure you want to take me in? I can’t even move,” she was blown away by their offer.

Lisa sat down on the bed beside Madison and grabbed her hand. “That’s only temporary, Maddie, and of course we want you. You’re a part of our family, whether you want to be or not.”

Madison laughed, tears trickling down her cheeks. “But it’ll be so much work for you, I don’t want to impose.”

“Maddie. You could never impose on us,” Bill’s voice was gentle. “You’ve been through so much, let us help you.”

She shut her eyes, took a deep breath and then opened them slowly. “Okay, before I answer, I need to tell you something. I wasn’t completely honest about why my mom left.”

“Oh?” Lisa looked at Bill and Kaitlyn, and then turned her attention back to Madison. She squeezed her hand. “You can tell us, Maddie.”

“Well, she was mad at me because of her boyfriend, Mark.” The three adults listened as Madison told her the full story for the third time. They all were upset and outraged, as the Fernie’s had been.

“Madison, have you told the police this yet?” Ms. Spring was writing everything down in her notebook.

She nodded her head. “They left not too long ago.” She looked at Bill and Lisa. “The Fernie’s were here when I talked to the police. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you first.”

Lisa got up and hugged Madison with every ounce of love she had. “Don’t you dare apologize for anything.”

“Are you guys still sure you want to take me in?”

“Of course. Maddie, this doesn’t change anything.” Bill’s voice was calm, despite the anger boiling up within him. “If anything, Maddie, this just solidifies it for us. We want to keep you safe and healthy and happy.” Lisa shifted towards Bill and she smiled lovingly at him.

Madison let out a sigh of relief. “Well, then, yes. And thank you.” She smiled and everyone cheered.

“Knock, knock. Sounds like a party in here. Can I join?”

Maddie’s already glowing face lit up even more. “Colin, hey!” He walked into the room while Kaitlyn stepped towards the door.

“On that note, I’ll head to the office to get things started. Bill, Lisa, do you have time to join me?”

“Yes, of course. Maddie, you’ll be okay for a bit?” Lisa asked as she stood up to leave.

Maddie nodded. “Yup, I have company, so I’m all good.”

“Okay,” Bill nodded at Madison, then he grabbed Lisa’s hand and they followed Kaitlyn out of the room. “Have fun you two. But Maddie, get some rest.”

“Yes, sir.”

They left, and Colin turned to Madison, eyebrows raised. “What was that about?”

“Well, Bill and Lisa asked me to move in with them after I get out of the hospital.”

“Wow, Mad! That’s amazing.”

“Yeah, it is,” she said quietly.

Colin sat down gently on the bed beside her. “Yeah, it is. But?”

“But what? I’m happy about it, I am.”

“But?”

She closed her eyes, sighed, and opened them to look at him. “How did you know there’s a but?”

“I just did,” he smirked.

“Well, I’m really happy that I have the Shipyard’s, I am. It’s just that, well…what if my mom comes back? I mean, that’s the whole reason I did this in the first place, to keep everything the same way that she left it.”

He grabbed her hand. “I know, Mad. But now that the police know, you can’t go back to living on your own, so you might as well stay with the Shipyard’s. They seem like really nice people, and they seem to genuinely care about you.”

She nodded. “I know.”

“And if—I mean—when your mom comes back, we’ll deal with that together.”

She squeezed his hand gratefully. “Thanks, Colin. You know, you’re the best friend a girl could ask for. And I can’t wait to visit our tunnel again.”

His eyes shone down on her. “Our tunnel? I like that, and neither can I.” She grinned at him. Neither of them heard Amy come into the room.

“Um, excuse me? Who’s your best friend?”

They both turned around, startled. “Oh, Aim, hey.”

“Don’t hey Aim me, missy. Just because we had a fight doesn’t mean you get to replace me,” she chirped.

“Okay, Aim. You’re right. Col is the second-best friend a girl could ask for.”

“That’s better.”

They all laughed, and Colin shook his head. “It’s always a competition with you isn’t it, sis?”

“Uh huh, and I don’t like to lose.” Laughter filled the room again. Madison felt a sense of calm wash over her. She had her best friend back, and now that she had the Shipyard’s, she felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.