Be Alright: Somebody To Love #6

14

Justin’s POV

            I couldn’t believe I had forgotten about our anniversary, though I was sure I wasn’t the only one. Madelyn hadn’t said a word, so I was sure she wasn’t thinking about it either.

            As I thought about it, I knew I had a couple of options. I could cancel the trip all together and forget about celebrating, since we were barely speaking anyways. Or, I could try to convince her to come, and take the kids with us, since they wouldn’t leave her side.

            But most of all, I wanted to take Madelyn away. I didn’t want to take the kids with us. I wanted to go and do just what I had planned. I was certain it would bring her back to me. It would remind her of the great times between us. But I didn’t even know if she would leave the house, let alone fly to New York.

            I had a plan. It was going to be messy, and very easy to mess up. It wasn’t going to be pretty, but it was my only chance at getting Madelyn to talk to me.

Madelyn’s POV

            I was still reeling with anger when Justin got home. He walked into the house and slammed the door, telling me he was still upset as well.

            “Can we just stop this?” He asked, his voice slightly raised.

            “We aren’t going to fight in front of the kids.” I said quietly, eyeing Kingston playing some video game in the living room.

            “Well I need to talk to you and I want to do it now!” He was yelling now.

            “King, we’ll be in the guest house if you need us.” I kissed his head as I walked out the door and to the guest house, where we could yell as loud as we needed to.

            “Alright, Justin, say it. Say what you want to say to me.” I sat down on the bed, waiting for him to start yelling.

Justin’s POV

            “Stop avoiding me!” I started out. My plan was to get everything off of my chest, so that hopefully, in the midst of things, she would just start letting things out. I wanted her to open up to me and this seemed like the best way to do so.

            “I’m not avoiding you, Justin! I’m trying to take care of four kids and two dogs! It’s not easy! I can’t just sit around on the couch all day and let you take care of me, even though that’s what you want. I can’t just sleep in our bed all night, knowing Stella is screaming in the next room!”

            “I know why you’re being so cold to me, Madelyn. It’s not fair. It’s not my fault! That night is not my fault! Do you think I would’ve let you go if I could’ve stopped you?”

            “Why would I blame you?” She scoffed, as if the idea hadn’t even occurred to her.

            “You told me that night I could blame myself for making you run in the dark!”

            “You and I both know I didn’t mean it like that. Do you think I would’ve gone had I known what was going to happen? How would you have known?”

            “It’s my job to protect you and I failed. So be mad at me! I deserve it!” I yelled so loudly I thought I could feel the house shaking.

            “I’m not mad at you for letting me go! You know I hate it when you try to protect me. I would’ve been pissed had you not let me go!” Now Madelyn was yelling just as loudly.