Was it the night Julia thought she saw someone through the window or the morning I went there alone?
Nodding, I tried to stay calm. “Think about Brooklyn.”
Madison blinked once and again. “I am, Van. Phillip took her from me. She isn’t even his daughter. He said I wasn’t fit.” Her volume rose. “He had me committed. I’m not crazy.” New tears cascaded down her cheeks. “I’m just tired.” She fell to her knees. “Please, Van, I need your help. Lip can’t stop you from having your daughter if we’re married.”
“Madison, stand up.”
She scooted closer, still on her knees. Something in her gaze changed. “I promise, I am worth it.” Her voice became husky. Through veiled lashes, she looked up from the floor, the hood falling from her head revealing a tangled knot of pale hair piled upon her head. Within the messily arranged updo was a headpiece fit for a bride. “Let me show you like I did before.” She reached toward me.
I took a step back. “Get up, Madison. Stop degrading yourself.”
Her cadence changed again, and her features hardened. “What’s the matter, Van? Is degrading me only for you and Lip?”
My stomach twisted.
While I didn’t know or want to know the specifics of what Phillip had done, Madison was right about me. Before her wedding and again when she came to me for help to conceive Brooklyn, I’d said and done terrible things. “Madison, if I could take that back…”
Inhaling, she stood. “I don’t want you to take it back. I want you to help me get Brooklyn. I want us to be a family.” Her pleas were now demands.
It was at that moment that I saw the diamond necklace around her neck. It was the one I’d given her on her wedding day.
Madison tilted her head one way and the other as a smile returned to her face. “You’re the handsome one.” Again, her words were like a melody in a singsong way. “You know that though. You always knew it was you. You’ve always been more. You captured my heart first.” Her smile grew, too wide—too big. “Remember the coffee shop where we met.” She shook her head. “No matter how I tried, it was you. That’s why Lip hated you so much.”
Madison wasn’t rational.
My hand touched hers. “It can be us.”
She let out a long breath as her eyes opened wider. “Yes, just us and Brooklyn.”
The papers I’d received via messenger came to mind.
“Lip didn’t sign the divorce papers,” I said. “We need Phillip to sign first.”
“Good, you got them. I had them delivered.”
“I did get them. That’s why I came looking for you.”
The sound of wailing sirens came from a distance.
Smoke.
I looked around, wondering if the scent was in my imagination.
“What do I hear?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.
“Madison, come with me. We’ll have Lip sign the divorce papers, and then we can wed.”
“Phillip can’t sign, but you can. Pretend to be him just one more time.”
“Why can’t he sign?”
“What?” She turned, looking out at the driveway and the forest beyond. “No. No fire trucks. Not yet.” She shook her head. “It needs more time.”
“No, they’re not fire…” Wait. “What needs more time?”
“If they’re not fire…” She turned back. “Did you call the police? They can’t take me. I’m not—”
“No,” I interrupted, shaking my head. “Not the police. It’s an ambulance. It’s for Margaret. You remember Margaret, don’t you?”