Fantasy Life made Normal

Chapter 35

Thanksgiving was back around. They were having it at Nate's house this year which cut down on the stress of it for Madelyn. They were all trying to force her to take it a little easier since no one really had answers for why she had been so exhausted. Marshall was stepping up his game when it came to taking care of them all. He had turned 45 this year. Madelyn was only 31, same as his younger brother. She knew it was the new thing the media had latched onto. But she didn't care. She was happier than she had ever been.

Flashback

"Mads, I want you to come meet Nate, please," Ashley begged her.

Madelyn rolled her eyes. She knew that Ashley was dating Nate Mathers. She also knew he was the younger brother of Eminem. She didn't care. She didn't want involved in something so messy as someone constantly in your business. She was dealing with a lot anyway.

"Mads," Ashley said again as Madelyn's phone went off.
"I gotta go," Madelyn said.
"Corey?"

Madelyn nodded. Her boyfriend was a demanding asshole. She knew better than to piss him off as she didn't want to be on the receiving end of his anger. She had made that mistake before. Ashley sighed heavily.

"I love you, girl. Please be careful," Ashley begged.
"I got this," Madelyn smiled.

She silently prepared herself for the verbal abuse she was about to endure the moment she stepped into the house. He was already pissed.

"Where the fuck have you been?" he demanded as soon as the door closed behind her.
"I was with Ashley," she said.
"You were out being a whore then. Just like her."
"No, baby we were out shopping for her new baby on the way."
"You are always being a whore. Dirty hoe. Did he get you off?"
"Corey, I wasn't out doing anything."
"You lying slut."

His hand caught her across the face and she hit the door. It was an instant lights out. When she came to, he was gone. She had to get out or she wouldn't survive. She grabbed a bag and packed as much as she could. She left the house. She blocked his number from her phone and dialed Ashley.

"Hey chick," Ashley's cheerful voice entered her ears.
"Ash," she choked on her tears.
"Get over here. What happened?"
"He accused me of cheating and hit me. Ash, I blacked out."
"Come here. I will make sure he doesn't hurt you again."

She met Nate with a black eye and huge handprint bruise on her face. He didn't judge her but Madelyn could see the anger in his eyes.

End

It was all that crossed her mind as Marshall drove them to his brothers house. He looked over at her.

"Baby, what's wrong?" he asked.

Something had been going on lately and he didn't know what it was. He was hoping Ashley could get her to talk. She had become extra secretive about her phone lately. She was always on edge and he was worried. He had already talked to Ashley about his concerns. She was waiting for them by the door. She handed Malakai's seat off to Nate and dragged Madelyn upstairs to the master bedroom.

"Spill it," she said.
"Spill what?" Madelyn asked.
"We have all seen you acting weird. So tell me what the hell is going on."
"I can't."

Madelyn began to break down. Ashley pulled her into a hug.

"Mads, you have to tell me. I haven't seen you this bad since you were in contact with Corey," Ashley said.

Madelyn froze. Ashley let go of her.

"Mads, no. Please tell me you aren't doing something stupid," Ashley said.
"I haven't responded to him. I swear I haven't," Madelyn sobbed.
"Let me see."

Madelyn handed off her phone. The messages from Corey went from sweet to disturbing to straight threatening. It was gut wrenching to know her friend had been hiding it all since the media found out about them.

"Why wouldn't you let your husband handle this?" Ashley asked.
"He has so much on his plate already and I added to that with the kids. He already had the Courtney shit storm. He doesn't need this mess as well." Madelyn said.
"You are his wife. His job is to protect you and those kids. Mads what if this idiot tries something when it's just you out with the babies?"
"I don't know."

Madelyn broke down even further. She collapsed on the floor against the wall feeling the panic set in. She was a horrible mother. She was putting her boys in danger by not telling Marshall about Corey. Ashley opened the bedroom door.

"Marshall, Nate, come here," she yelled.

They both descended on the bedroom and she closed it behind them. Marshall was next to his sobbing wife in an instant. He pulled her against his chest looking at Ashley.

"What the fuck happened?" he asked.
"It's fuckin Corey," Ashley said.
"Corey? Ain't that the dick she dated before me?"
"The one who called her everything except her name and put his hands on her. Yes.
"What about him?"
"He has been texting her since the media found out she was with you."
"What the fuck Madelyn?"

Madelyn just kept repeating "I'm so sorry" over and over again. Marshall turned his attention to his sister-in-law.

"What do they say?" he asked.
"She has never responded to him. They just get increasingly more violent as time goes on," Ashley said. "Marshall, she is an abuse victim. I know that one time wasn't the only time he hit her."

Marshall nodded. The messages must have been causing major flashbacks for her. He had noticed her cringe when he had yelled at the TV over the weekend. He wrapped her tighter in his arms.

"Baby, I got you," he said.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered.
"Stop Mads. We will change your number and up the security on you and the boys. We will turn this shit in and let the police handle him."

She numbly nodded. He stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. She clung to him with both hands.

"Our babies," she sobbed.
"Our boys are fine," he said.
"I can't let him hurt our babies."
"He won't get near our boys. He won't get near you."

Madelyn's sobs slowed down as she wore herself out. He wasn't surprised when she was sound asleep against him. He picked her up and carried her to a guest room. Ashley was already on the phone to report the threats. Nathan was upping security at the house and informing Paul for them. Marshall managed to wedge his way out from under her to go check on the kids.

"She probably wasn't sleeping due to being worried," Ashley said, as he stood in the doorway watching Madelyn sleep.
"Why wouldn't she tell me?" he asked.
"Fear. She was terrified he would do something if someone found out about the texts. She thought she was protecting you."
"Fuck, I haven't been able to protect her at all. Not since this shit all came out. She had been the victim of bullying online, in magazines, hell even in court."
"We got her, Marshall. She will be all right and so will you."
"I hope so."

Ashley sighed. She felt terrible for them both. Marshall looked helpless standing in the doorway. Madelyn looked peaceful for once as she slept.