Undaunted Hearts

11: More Anger

11. More Anger

Madison Shepherd

The time had come for me to tell my family. To tell the truth that it, no more hiding and no more lies, Angelo had said. Everyone had to know the truth. Kendrick was quickly alerted to the situation. Once again, we met in Jasper's apartment, this time with Angelo present.

"Oh my God," he muttered, running his hands through his hair. He took a seat on the couch, and exhaled. Jasper and I sat on the two- seater with Angelo on a stool next to me. "So," he began awkwardly, looked up at the three of us, "the baby isn't really yours Jasper?" he asked his son.

"No, not really," Jasper replied reluctantly.

Kendrick looked at Angelo now. "You're trying to tell me that you slept with Madison and got her pregnant?"

Angelo lifted a careless shoulder. "That's usually how it works Kendrick."

"This is not funny and I will not have you making light of the situation," Kendrick said firmly.

"Well, I guess we have to find some joy out of all this, don't we?" Angelo replied sarcastically. "I guess the ole rutting dog gene didn't exactly skip a generation."

I blushed with embarrassment at his careless, nonchalant attitude. Was he bi polar or something? Why was he acting this way when the last week he had just told me we needed to work together for the sake of the baby?

"That's enough out of you, Angelo!" Jasper shouted. "I'm not going to have you disrespect Madison like that. You're not the only one who's under pressure here. Don't make this harder than it already is."

Angelo raised an eyebrow and pretended to think. "I'm sorry for a second, but it seemed like just back there you were the father of the baby. Clear this up for me, Jasper, please, but are you having a baby?" Jasper glared back in response. "No?" Angelo's eyebrows flew up in mock surprise. "Then I suggest you'd better control that nasty little tongue of yours."

"I think it's you who needs to control his nasty tongue and learn some manners," retorted Jasper.

Tears slipped out of my eyes, and I held my head. "Both of you stop. Just please stop."

"You're upsetting her on purpose," Jasper hissed at Angelo. "For goodness sakes, what the hell is wrong with you, Angelo Tallerico?"

"Nothing that isn't wrong with me every other day of my life," Angelo returned smartly.

"That's enough both of you!" their father ruled, coming to his feet. "For Christ sakes will you hear yourselves? You both disgust me with this selfish behavior. We ought to be focusing on what is best for Madison and the baby and all you seem to care about right now is your own insignificant rivalry. Did it ever occur to you that that may not be on the top of our to-do list?" Kendrick glared at his sons; each looked away, guilty and stubborn. They were more alike than they agreed to admit.

Kendrick sighed sadly. "It seems like my wishes for a peaceful family didn't exactly sit well with you two. You are brothers for God sakes."

Angelo glared at his father and replied icily, "By no fault of mine, Pappa!"

"Very well!" Kendrick said sharply. "All that is not important now, although you should both find a way to straighten yourselves out. Now is all about Madison and the baby." Finally, someone noticed me, I thought darkly. Kendrick came to sit opposite me on the arm chair. He took my hand and rubbed it slowly, "Madison, honey, how are you feeling?"

"I don't know," I admitted and sat up a little straighter. "I mean, I'm tired all the time, and sleeping and eating so much and crying and..." unwittingly, two drops snaked out from my eyes and I angrily wiped them away. "God I hate this! I hate crying all the time! It's like I have no control over my emotions or my over body."