Stolen Angel

Chapter 39: The Charade is Up

"Frank..."

"Don't Madison I don't even have anything to say to you right now," Frank said angrily keeping his eyes on the road, "How could you do something like that, expose your body for men to stare at? You're better than that."

"Excuse me but weren't you going there for exactly that reason to give some girl money for taking her clothes off for you?"

"That's different..."

"How?"

"Yeah how, Frank?"

"Shut the fuck up Gerard I'll deal with you later. It's different Maddy because those girls are..."

"Are what?" Maddy could feel her anger flaring up.

"They're drug addicts and prostitutes. They're no good and they don't deserve any better," Frank blurted out. He surprised even himself. He had no idea that's what was really in his head.

"That's not true. I was one of those girls are you saying I'm no good. Those women are amazing and very hard workers. All they're doing is trying to make a better life for themselves just like I was. There paying their own way through school, they come to work tired because they've been in school all day, they study at work, they work all night and then they start all over again the next day. Some of them want to be able to feed their children whose dead-beat dads don't help any. Are you saying none of them deserve better?"

Frank sighed. There was no use he wasn't going to win this fight. "Just promise me you won't go back there."

"I can't do that."

"WHY THE HELL NOT!"

"BECAUSE I'M SO CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO AFFORD A DECENT APARTMENT! BECAUSE THEN I WON'T BE ASHAMED TO SHOW THE GUYS WHERE I LIVE," Madison took a deep breath to calm herself, "I've been taking care of myself for the past 6 weeks do you know how nice it's been? It's been so nice not be looked at as everyone's charity case. I was proud of myself. For the first time, since I can remember I felt independent. I felt like I was an adult and not some baby that needs to be constantly looked after."

"Maddy you know that's not how I feel about you. I take care of you because I want to. Because I've been looking for you for so long it only feels right. And you know you could move in with me at any time. You don't have to stay in that apartment."

"See Frank this is just what I'm talking about. I don't want to be the little orphan girl you let come stay with you because she can't take care of herself."

Frank slowed the car down and pulled onto the shoulder. He placed the vehicle in park and turned to face Maddy. "I'm sorry if that's the way I make you feel. Honestly I never meant to. I only want what's best for you. Truthfully, we don't know what you've been through Maddy, your time away could have been hell and your time that you do remember has been rough. I just don't feel like you should have to take care of yourself. I want to do it for you. Listen you're right you're a grown woman and you can do what you want I'd just really like it if you moved in with me. I'm sure we can find you another job as well."

"I'll think about it," She replied indignantly.

"Well in that case do you mind if we keep it moving," Gerard asked.

"You buddy have no right to be annoyed and don't think for a second that I'm done chewing your ass out."

"Yeah whatever but can you chew my ass out and drive at the same time please."