Seasons of Change

31

It felt like it had been far too long since Atira had gotten outside to enjoy nature. Sure she was only going to Lacamas Lake but the sun was shining and the dark blue lake was as beautiful as ever. It was going to be a good day even if someone had
invited Madison along, she wasn't going to let her mean-spirited personality get her down.

Linda had picked up Madi, the baby, and Kali along the way meeting Atira, Brooke, and Holly and their girls down at the lake. Though Atira left Gabriel at home with his father and Rocco, she'd brought Audrey along, knowing the little girl would be content in her wrap on Atira's chest.

"Girls day out!" Holly beamed, helping Brooke strap smiley little Ellie on her back. Ellie was seriously a doll with her black hair, blue eyes, and rosy cheeks.

"I'm so glad to be out of the house," Atira gushed, strapping Audrey to her chest.

"Going stir crazy?" Holly asked, a smile on her bright red lips.

"Yes, that's putting it mildly. I know we don't live that far out but, boy, is it getting to me. I miss living in the city," Atira told her.

Holly nodded, "I know what you mean, I went from a little apartment downtown to a house in the suburbs, and even that...I just miss walking down to the corner cafe and the convenience of having things within walking distance."

"That's exactly how I feel! I was living in Seattle before Krist and I got together, it wasn't downtown but it was walkable, and I very much miss that. Being in a rural place is nice and I love that we have privacy but dang it! I miss my convenience!"

Holly laughed, "Yes, girl, yes!"

Linda and Kali met them in front of Atira's Subaru, Madison trailing behind with Gwendolyn in her arms, a sour expression on her face.

"Hey, girl!" Holly waved to her.

Madison gave her a small smile, "Hi," she replied meekly.

Brooke greeted her with a hug, "I'm glad you came, you needed out of the house," she told her gently, "That reminds me, I have some clothes for Gwen that the girls outgrew and we brought you one of the Baby Tula carriers that we don't use so you can put her on your back," she side-eyed her partner, "Someone has a hoarding problem with the Tulas."

Holly laughed, "Well maybe they should stop coming out with new prints and I wouldn't keep buying them."

Sighing Brooke said, "We could seriously open our own Tula consignment store at this point, there's at least ten alone in the garage."

"Those are just the ones you know about," Holly grinned.

Atira had to admit that she liked Brooke and Holly together. Holly's bubbly and outgoing personality brought Brooke out of her shell. She never recalled seeing Brooke and Brad share any kind of playful banter and had always assumed that Brooke was simply a serious person. Knowing that she was capable of also being bubbly but hadn't been able to be around Brad was a bit disheartening.

Madison gave another shy smile, looking at the pavement, "Thank you guys. I really appreciate it,  and thank you for inviting me."

Holly pulled a khaki-colored baby carrier covered in crocodile print from the trunk, "I can help you put Gwen inside; they're kind of weird at first."

Once all the children were properly strapped in their carriers, Kali grinned, "I feel kind of left out without a baby."

Linda gave her a sly smile, "Well...it's never too late to start trying."

Kali wrinkled her nose, "I'm happy being the fun auntie, next time I'll borrow one of Krist's kids."

"I did think of bringing Gabe but he's just so dang wild," Atira said, "He hates being contained."

"Sounds like his daddy," Linda smiled, "Krist was constantly on the go. If you think Rocco is busy, Krist made him look tame."

Atira grimaced, "That is how I think Gabe will be."

"He's already a busy little boy!"

As they walked the lake, Atira stopped to take the occasional picture for Krist, making sure Gabriel was behaving himself. She wasn't concerned about Krist's ability to care for the kids, he had the whole parenting thing down, but she knew he liked the little check-ins and she didn't mind updating him.

They were about halfway around the lake when Madison's phone began to ping with text message after text message. From the look on her face, it wasn't a good thing.

"Everything alright?" Brooke asked carefully.

Madison heaved a sigh, "Brad is freaking out that I'm at the lake with y'all," she said, hesitating, "Well, Brooke and Holly."

Linda cocked her head, "I thought he was wanting you all wanting to have a relationship for the sake of the kids, right?"

Madison nodded slowly, "That's what he said in prison, now he's being...everything is always such a freaking fight. I just feel like he gets mad at me regardless of what I do."

Brooke gave her a sympathetic smile, "That's just how he is," she looked at Linda apologetically, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be badmouthing your son in front of you."

Linda shook her head, "No, don't be. He's changed a lot these last few years."

When the phone continued to go off, Linda insisted she turn it off and stop engaging but the look on Madison's face said more than enough. She didn't want to meddle but she was concerned for Madison and the baby, the fact that Madi seemed hesitant to do anything extra to upset him more was a giant red flag.

Linda was uncertain if she should speak up to her son or leave it be, not because was afraid of what he would do to her but because she was worried about the way he would treat Madison. It was all so reminiscent of the way Marcus had behaved in their marriage and if anyone confronted him about it, Linda got the brunt of it.

The remainder of their walk was semi-uncomfortable. Madison apologized several times even though she had nothing to be sorry about while Kali, Holly, and Atira did their best to lighten the mood with jokes and cheery personalities.

****

After the walk, Linda couldn't hold back, she at least needed to hear from Madison what Brad was doing to her.

"Eh...he just...puts me down a lot, talks to me like a kid or like I'm stupid. I mean, yeah compared to him, I'm not smart but it doesn't mean I don't understand stuff," Madison told her but it felt like she may have minimized his behavior.

"Madison, honey, you don't deserve to be talked to like that or demeaned. You're his wife, his equal," Linda told her firmly.

Madi shrugged, "Yeah but..it's Brad, he doesn't see things like that."

"Do you want me to talk to him?"

Madison looked horrified at the suggestion, "Oh god no, he will just get on me about how our problems stay between us and it's nobody else's business but our own."

Linda frowned, "His dad used to tell me that and to an extent, like in a healthy relationship, I agree but it feels like the people who constantly stress that you don't tell what happens in the relationship tend to be the people who are doing something wrong."