Fantasy Life made Normal

Chapter 119

Madelyn stared at Marshall as they sat in the living room of his rental in North Carolina. He sighed heavily. The babies were down for a nap and the older boys were out with their sisters.

"How's your cheek?" he asked.

"Sore," she said.

"If I find out who did it, they are a dead man,"

"Marshall."

"Tell me what you remember."

"He was trying to get me to leave with him and two other guys. I told him no and tried to pull away. He slapped me and then Kim showed up. Marshall, what if she wouldn't have been there?"

"Don't think about that. She was there and everything is ok. You are safe and back with us."

She nodded. She couldn't lie and say the previous night hadn't scared the hell out of her. She could only imagine what would have happened if she had been alone last night. Even flirting with the guy had felt wrong. It was Marshall's face in her head. She only wanted her husband. She had begged them to bring her to Marshall when they left the club.

"Thank you for being there last night for me," she said.

"I love you Madelyn," he replied.

"I know the idea of last night was really hard for you."

"Mads, look at me. I have no right to get mad at you over anything because if it wasn't for my shit we wouldn't be in this position right now. So if anything I should be apologizing to you. If I wouldn't have messed up, you wouldn't have been out there last night cuz we would be at home."

She nodded slightly. He moved toward her, not shocked when she jumped. He held his hands up. She shook her head.

"I'm sorry. I can still feel his hand on me. I should have known better. He had been groping me on the dance floor before he tried to get me to leave with him," she said.

"It's all right," he replied.

"It's not though. I don't want to feel scared all the time."

"Do you think going home will help?"

"I don't know."

He nodded. He moved slower and put his arms around her. She felt safe in his hold. He kissed her head. She closed her eyes for a moment. He sighed.

"I love you Madelyn," he said.

"I know you do. I want to get past all this. I don't want our kids to grow up in two houses. I just don't know if I can handle coming home now," she said.

"What's holding you back?"

"You cheated on me. All because you assumed I cheated on you in our house with our children home. That shows me that you don't trust me and you are vengeful when you think I have done you wrong."

"I know and it was messed up. I can't take it back though. I need to know if we can move forward from this. And if you will put these back on?"

He pulled her wedding set from a chain that was around his neck. She stared at him unable to believe that he was carrying them on him. He watched her face for any indication that she would take them back.

"Marshall, are you sure you want this?" she asked.

"More than anything in my life," he said.

She nodded and took the rings from him. They spent the rest of nap time talking about their next steps. They would continue counseling and come clean about everything from their past so they could have a better future.

The family returned home at the end of the week. Madelyn and the kids returned to Marshall's place. She was having nightmares about the club incident unless he was right there next to her. He wished he could fix it all. The therapist they saw had suggested that she try going to a club again. This time it would be her husband to hit on her. She was skeptical but they got Nate and Ashley to keep their kids.

"Marshall this is stupid," she said.

"Babe, just give it a shot," he sighed.

She nodded and continued getting ready. He smiled at her. He was leaving the house first so he could go drop the kids at his brother's house and then he was meeting his wife at the club. This wasn't normal for them at all but he was willing to do whatever it took to keep her from having more nightmares.

He had been at the club for about a half hour before he saw her walk in. It was obvious she was nervous about being there. Alaina was with her as she had driven them there. He smiled when they locked eyes. The visible relief in her eyes when she saw him almost broke him. He sauntered over and grinned at her.

"Hey gorgeous, you come here a lot?" he asked.

"Actually no," she said.

"Can I buy you a drink?"

She nodded even though her hands were sweating at the thought. He headed off to the bar without asking her what she wanted. He knew his wife and ordered her a vodka lemonade. He walked back over to where he left the girls. Alaina looked at him and gave him a funny look.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said.

"Here," he handed the drink to Madelyn.

She was shaking. He stared at her.

"Mads, relax," he said.

She nodded. He led them to the VIP section where Royce and Denaun were already. Madelyn smiled as Marshall's arm went around her. She was trying to relax.