Fantasy Life made Normal

Chapter 107

Madelyn was up first the next morning. The kids weren't even awake yet. She lay next to her husband as he slept peacefully. She was feeling unsettled at the moment and couldn't explain why. She should have been extremely content with everything. Marshall was writing new music on a regular basis. The kids were doing extremely well considering everything they had been through recently and in their short little lives. She sighed. 

"What's wrong baby?" Marshall asked, his eyes still closed. 

"What?" she jumped slightly. 

"I can feel the tension radiating off you from over here. So what's wrong?"

"I don't know. I just feel unsettled."

Marshall's eyes opened and he watched her for a moment. She had a weird look on her face and that concerned him. He sat up and pulled her against his chest. 

"Something is very wrong somewhere," she said. 

"What?" he asked. 

"I just feel like something is wrong."

She pulled away from him to go check on their kids. All five of them were sleeping soundly still in their beds. Marshall appeased her with checking in on the other girls. They were all fine and a bit grouchy that he woke them up. She sat down on the edge of the bed and sighed. Her phone rang at that moment and she grabbed it. Her brother's name flashed across the screen. Her eyes widened and she looked at Marshall. He took the phone and answered it for her. 

"Hello," he said. 

"Marshall?" it was Staci. 

"What's going on?"

"Christopher died this morning."

Marshall remained silent. Madelyn was staring at him waiting on him to tell her what was going on. She was shaking already. 

"How is James taking it?" Marshall asked. 

"Not very well. He is currently dealing with the coroner." she said. 

"Damn, I will have to tell Mads. I need to know all the details of everything going on."

"Definitely. Tell Madelyn that we are so sorry."

"I will."

He got off the phone and turned to his now pacing wife. 

"Baby," he said. 

"What happened?" Madelyn asked, sounding empty. 

"Christopher died this morning."

Madelyn nodded. She didn't break down like Marshall had assumed she would do with all the nervous energy and pacing she was doing. She leaned down to press a kiss to his lips and then went about her normal morning routine. Matthew had begun to fuss so she went to get him. She continued taking care of the babies. 

"Madelyn," he said from the doorway. 

"What?" she asked. 

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I mean he hasn't wanted anything to do with me so why does it matter?"

"Mads."

"Marshall, did it hurt you when your father died?"

"He wasn't my father. We just shared DNA."

"Exactly so why would I be concerned that he's gone."

"You tried to make amends though babe."

She shrugged. He was concerned that she was going to try to shut this off and bury it. He knew how his wife would get. She shook her head. He pulled her into his arms, nearly squishing his son in the process. Matthew let out a shriek that pulled her from her own head and tears began rolling down her face. Marshall lifted the baby from her arms and placed him in the crib again to pull his wife to him. Madelyn sobbed in his arms. Marshall had been able to bury his own hatred for his father by putting it in his music. Madelyn didn't really have that. She broke right there in his arms.