Mathers Family Values

Chapter 18

Analise was trying desperately to contact Maverick for information on Mason. It was always met with the same response. She was blocked on all social media as soon as she popped up. He was avoiding her completely. He was busy with school and taking care of Mason. Football was over so he was busy with his boy. Ella met him in the hallway at school. 

"Hey," he grinned and lightly kissed her. 

"Hey handsome," she smiled. 

"You coming by tonight?"

"Gonna try, I have dance."

He nodded. He had heard the rumor that Analise was back in school and he had managed to avoid seeing her. 

"I saw her this morning," Ella told him. 

"She try to talk to you?" he asked, concerned. 

"Yeah she did. I just walked away. Holly called me a bitch for it."

He shook his head. 

"I'm sorry that you have to deal with this," he said. 

"Mave, I chose to stay with you. We are fine." she replied, running her fingers through his hair. 

"Let's get to class."

She nodded. They headed down the hall. He saw Analise walking toward them. She glared at him as she got closer. 

"How's my son?" she asked. 

"Talk to my attorney," Maverick replied. 

"Maverick, you are such a dick," Holly said. 

"If you say so."

He really didn't care what was said about him. He just didn't like that they were talking trash about his girlfriend. Ella didn't ask for any of this. She was innocent in the whole thing. She looked at Maverick as they stood in the hallway. Maverick rolled his eyes. He pulled out his phone and text Paul that she had approached him. They were working on filing their own lawsuit for harassment. 

Maverick took Ella by the hand and they walked down the hall to go to class. He shook his head as she took the seat next to him in the classroom. 

"You ok?" he asked her.

"Yeah I'll be fine. They're just words," she replied. 

"She's just jealous because you have me and you are spending time with Mason."

"I don't care why she is jealous, Mave. She chose to sign her rights away to her son. She made her choices and is now lying to everyone about it," 

He nodded. He really didn't want to have to switch schools again. He was sick of the drama that Analise had caused in his life over the last few years. He wasn't about to let her do the same to Ella or to Mason. He was going to do what he could to protect them both from her evil ways. 

That afternoon, he headed to the house to take care of his son. He walked in the door of the house, ready to see his boy. Marshall was laying on the couch with the baby boy against his chest. 

"Hey, where's mom?" he asked. 

"She went to lunch with Aunt Ashley and Hailie," Marshall replied. 

"Oh lord."

"That was my thought on it. I didn't think this poor guy needed subjected to all that man bashing so I came home early to watch him."

"Well thanks for that."

Marshall laughed. Maverick picked up his son and kissed his little cheek. He sat down in the recliner with the baby in his arms. 

"How was school?" Marshall asked. 

"Analise is back," Maverick scowled. 

"How did that go?"

"She's getting people to run their mouth about Ella."

"How's Ella handling that?"

"Honestly I don't know. I was hoping to talk to mom about it. Ella tells me that they're just words and they don't bother her but I know that is not true."

"Well you can text your mom. I don't know when she'll be home."

Maverick nodded. Marshall watched his other four children come through the door. They were being loud and acting crazy as usual. He shook his head. 

"Who has homework?" he asked. 

"None of us, our school doesn't give out homework," Malakai said. 

"They don't?"

Maverick laughed. 

"Dad, where have you been? That was part of the appeal to the school," he said. 

Marshall shrugged. Mckynna sat down on the couch next to him. He hugged her. She grinned and ran upstairs to her bedroom. She had convinced her parents to get her a rabbit and she had to check on it. 

"What do you guys want for supper?" he asked. 

"Spaghetti," Myles spoke up. 

"Sounds good."

Marshall got up from the couch to start on supper. 

"Wait you're cooking?" Maverick asked. 

"Do you see your mother?" Marshall asked him. 

"No."

"Well someone has to cook. You don't think I can cook?"

"I don't think I've ever see you cook in this house."

Marshall rolled his eyes at his son. He thought back about it and he couldn't remember the last time that he had cooked since being with Madelyn. He would grill but he couldn't remember making anything in the kitchen. 

Madelyn walked in the door ten minutes after he started cooking. She walked into the kitchen and smiled. 

"Hey handsome, what are you doing?" she asked. 

"Making dinner," he said. 

"Dinner?"

"Yeah, Myles asked for spaghetti."

"And you're cooking it?"

"Is that a problem?"

"Nope, just never seen you cook on the stove. I'm used to you cooking on the grill."

He laughed. 

"That's what Mave said," he said. 

"Where is that brat?" she asked. 

"I think he went up to his room to change Mason's diaper."

She nodded. Marshall glanced at his wife. 

"Analise was giving him and Ella shit today in school," he said. 

"I wish they would have just stayed gone," she sighed. 

"Yeah me too, but they didn't."

"We'll make it through this and hopefully come out with some stronger kids."

"Babe, no kid is stronger than a Mathers kid."

Madelyn nodded. She knew that Marshall was right. Their kids were stronger than anyone could ever give them credit for. She looked at him. He was busy cooking away so she sat at the bar to watch him. 

"How was your lunch that lasted for five hours?" he asked. 

She laughed. 

"It was good," she said. 

"Do enough man bashing for a while?" he asked. 

"We don't man bash, you weirdo. It was just a fun lunch with all of us."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, even Alaina made it."

"Good, she needs a break from those kiddos for a bit."

Madelyn nodded. She was glad that they all got along and could come together for a meal once a month. It was a way to get them out of the house. She smiled. Marshall finished up their meal and called the kids down to eat.