Fantasy Life made Normal

Chapter 28

Today they were headed out to Myrtle Beach. The girls were all at the house already. They were loading up to head out. It was going to be interesting with two little ones this time. Marshall carried Maverick out to the car. Madelyn walked out with the infant seat. They all got in the car. It wasn't as long as the Florida trip but it was still long. They weren't sure how Malakai would handle it but they were prepared. Madelyn sighed. They began their journey.

"Ready for another adventure?" Marshall asked.
"Let's do it," she laughed.

He pulled out of their driveway. The girls had all settled in.

"You know we add one more to this bunch and we have to take two cars," he said.

She shrugged. He laughed. As they drove toward the highway, his mind drifted as it always did.

Flashback

He stopped dead when he saw her walk into the restaurant. She was gorgeous. No way in hell was she there for him. She looked nervous as she glanced around. She finally asked the hostess a question. The girl pointed in his direction. She walked toward him. His heart began to beat faster as she got closer. This was a blind date set up by his brother's girlfriend.

"Are you Marshall?" she asked.
"Are you kidding me?" he asked like he couldn't believe she had just asked.

She chuckled as she slid into the booth across from him. He stared at this girl not sure what to make of her. She grinned at him.

"Just thought I would try to make you feel normal," she said.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Madelyn Nicole Jaycobs."
"Nice, so normal huh?"
"Not everyone wants to be in the spotlight."
"And you?"
"No thanks. I mean I know who you are and all. But I met Ashley at school. I honestly never planned on meeting you or Nate. She insisted on me meeting Nate a while back. And then called with this craziness."

Marshall laughed. He actually felt at ease with this girl. She didn't make him feel like he had to keep up the Eminem personality. They traded numbers at the end of the dinner. He walked her to her car and kissed her cheek.

"I had a lot of fun talking to you," she said.
"Me too," he said honestly.
"I will have to thank Ash now huh?"
"Nah, let's tell them it was horrible."

She laughed. He waited until she was in her car and then walked to his car. He pulled out his phone and text her.

Marshall: i want to see you again
Madelyn: definitely can be done.
Marshall: dinner tomorrow?
Madelyn: sure

He pulled out of the lot with a smirk on his face. He sent Ashley a huge bouquet of flowers to thank her. He told Madelyn what he had done. She just chuckled. He was completely thankful.

End

"What you thinking about this time?" she asked.
"The day we met," he said, smirking.

She chuckled. She remembered that day well. She was glad that Ashley had set them up. She loved her husband. He reached over and took her hand. She squeezed his hand.

"That was a good day," she said.
"Yeah," he agreed.

He was hoping this trip went better than the year prior. It was already starting out better than the year before as he wasn't dwelling on the negative things they had gone through.

"At least you are focusing on the good things," she said.
"Trying to," he replied.

She nodded. He looked in the mirror at his five babies in the back. He loved it. He looked over at his wife. She smiled at him.

Flashback

"Hey are the girls home?" he asked Kim.
"Not yet, what's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing."
"Marshall, I can hear it in your voice."
"Madelyn left the tour. I am pretty sure we are done."
"Why?"
"She caught a groupie kissing me. I didn't push the girl away until Madelyn tapped me on the shoulder. Led to a screaming match. Kinda felt like being with you again."
"Why wouldn't you push her away?"
"Shock really."
"So you lose your girlfriend because you are dumb."
"I guess. Fuck, she was so hurt and I just made it all worse. She won't even answer any text messages from me."
"The girl wasn't the only thing you did is it?"
"I might have asked a few groupies to come back to the room and rubbed it in her face."
"Yeah you definitely fucked up."
"I know but I don't get why I care that she was hurt like that."
"Simple, you love her."
"Love?!
"Yeah love. It's obvious."

Marshall was silent for a few moments.

"You're right, I love her. Now how do I fix it," he asked.

Kim gave him some advice on how to win her back.

End

The realization that he loved Madelyn had hit him like a ton of bricks. He had tried his own way of winning her back before realizing Kim was right. He had to put forth the effort and really show her that he wanted to be with her. It was where a lot of the respect between Kim and Madelyn came into play. Kim respected that Madelyn didn't just throw herself at Marshall when he came running back. She made him work for it.

"One of these summers, we need a trip to Hawaii," Hailie said.
"Maybe next year, as long as Mads ain't knocked up," Marshall chuckled.
"Shut up. You act like I did it alone and you had no part in it," Madelyn replied.
"According to the internet, I didn't have a part in it."
"Take it back,"

He laughed. She rolled her eyes and playfully pinched his cheek.

"Umm I am driving woman, you trying to kill us all?" he joked.
"If that's all it takes then where did you get your license from?" she asked.
"Box of Lucky Charms."

They all cracked up.