I Should've Known: Book Two

Madeline

I can't wait to see my parents. My happiness just overflows as I drive to the airport with my brother. It's about an hour and a half away from town. So we have plenty of time to talk.

But he's been real quiet. Not the good kind of quiet. His shoulders fall more than ever and it seems like he has not been sleeping much. Worry slowly interrupts my happiness as I say, "Adam. How was Hazel's birthday? I tried calling her but—"

"I did a big mistake, Madeline. This is all my fault."

I'm caught by surprise from his sudden panic in his blue eyes. "What happened?"

"I said some things. I shouldn't have said those things, Madeline. I don't really mean them. I mean, they are true but I didn't say it the right way and now—"

"Okay. Slow down. First tell me what you said."

He tells me every single bit of the scenario and it leaves me awestruck. He starts to say all those hurtful words and I can only imagine poor Hazel. They even stab me and I wish I could park the car so I can slap my brother in the face.

"I-I don't know what got into me, Madeline! I'm not usually like this!"

"Did you at least apologize?"

"I tried but I couldn't!" This makes me roll my eyes at the road as I hear him frantically say, "Every time I tried, I would stutter so I let her cry on her own."

"She was crying?"

"Yes. All the way home and when we got home. She calmed down when we got in bed."

At a stoplight, I turn to give him a glare. "And you did nothing to comfort her at least?!"

He realizes his mistake and lets his eyes fall. "No. I didn't know how. I was embarrassed."

"Embarrassed?! You idiot! Not even I would want to marry you if you are that stupid and cold."

"I really didn't mean to, Madeline. And I accidentally told her that it was your idea about the breakfast, but she seemed fine."

I can't believe how stupid my brother can be. Gosh. I can only imagine how hurt Hazel must be. First it was me and now it's my brother. My heart shrinks for my best friend and I have an urge to drive back just to give her a hug. But my love for my parents beats it all and I continue to drive through the airport in search of my parents on one of the curbs.

My brother is silent and his eyes sadder than ever. He lets out a small sigh as I say, "Well. I think you know what you have to do. It's Christmas Eve tomorrow and we're doing a dinner with our parents. You better clear things up before it becomes awkward at dinner."

"I know..." he sadly says and stays quiet for the rest of the time.

I wish I was there. This time, I'm not on my brother's side. I wish I was there to comfort Hazel. She must be so tired from crying so much. I wonder if she still cried the days after. The fact that my brother is telling me this now means that he has not yet tried to comfort her or even talk to her.

But my thoughts fade away and are replaced by new sad ones when I see my mother's weak figure. She's thinner than ever and she has lost all her hair again. I don't care. I hug her tight and kiss her cheeks. I tell her how much I missed her and how much I love her. It could be the last time...

Then I whisper a thank you in my father's ear when I give him a hug. He only hugs me back with a warm embrace and kisses the top of my head. "I love you, my dear..."

"Where's Matthew?!" All glimpse of exhaustion is pushed away from my mother's eyes when she smiles at the memory of my son.

"He's with Mateo back home," I say. "Lets go see them! You'll be seeing a lot of Matthew since you're staying at my place, Mom."