Be Alright: Somebody To Love #6

24

Justin’s POV

         I felt bad about leaving Madelyn like that, but I knew it wouldn’t have been any easier over the phone. She probably would’ve been even more upset. I didn’t know if I would come back to a marriage at all, but I hoped that six weeks apart would give us some clarity; that by the time I got back we would be able to fix our marriage.

         But, I knew it could go the other way. We could both decide that we didn’t want to continue fighting for each other.  I knew I wanted to fight for her, but she needed to evaluate what she wanted. She said she wanted me, but I didn’t know if that was just because she had to say that. I needed her to have time without me to make sure she really wanted me in her life. I needed time without her to make sure I wanted her in my life.

         In the next six weeks, I knew there would be a lot I had to decide. But I just hoped that by the time I went home, Madelyn would be ready to take me back. Right now she was raw. She was emotional. She wasn’t herself. But by giving her six weeks to heal privately, I prayed she would be back to the Madelyn I fell in love with by the time I got home.

         “We’re here, Justin.” James, the security guard I was taking with me, alerted me. I stared at the airport. I got out and headed inside, admits the flurry of paparazzi.

Madelyn’s POV

         My first instinct was to be mad. Or to cry. It all hit me at once. But I had all four kids with me. I couldn’t let them see me like that.

         “Are you okay, Mom?” Aniston asked me as I got back into the car and headed to the dance studio.

         “Yeah. I’m fine.” I smiled. I didn’t know how to tell them that Justin was leaving, but I decided to wait. I didn’t want to upset the girls before dance. I didn’t want to upset Kingston yet.

         “Aren’t you going to come in?” Stella asked when I dropped them off.

         “I’m going to run to Sel’s really quick and then I’ll come back.” She just nodded and shut the door. I had decided on my way that I needed to talk to someone about it. Selena seemed like the safest bet. I didn’t want to stress Paige and I certainly didn’t want to upset Pattie.

         “Hey guys!” Selena greeted us as we walked in. “Asher and Em are downstairs in the playroom.” Kingston and Aria ran to the stairs as I sat down next to Selena.

         “Justin left.”

         “What do you mean he left? For good?”

         “Six weeks in London for a movie role.”

         “Six weeks?! That little scumbag! He expects you to stay here and take care of all four of his kids by yourself?! How are you going to fix your marriage when he’s living halfway around the world?!” She was upset. I was upset. But I wasn’t letting myself show it.

         “I don’t know.” I sighed. “The worst part is that he wasn’t even going to tell me. I walked in on him packing. He didn’t even say goodbye to the kids.”

         “I would kill Nick if he ever pulled a stunt like that.”

         “Strangely, I’m not as upset as I thought I would be. Maybe it’ll be fun. It’s been so tense in our house lately. It’l be a relief to have him gone.”

         “Let’s see if you still feel that way next week when reality sinks in that you have four kids to take care of by yourself.” She challenged me. I just sighed. “If you need anything, call me. You know the kids can come here anytime.”