AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I can’t stand sitting here for another second. I push away from the table and head over to where Samuel stashed the beer in a cooler by the grill. I still have half a bottle, but I down it in one long swig and reach down for a fresh one.
When I return to the table, I hear faint murmurings about Olivia.
“I never did like that woman,” Samuel says unabashedly.
If there’s one topic I want to discuss even less than having children with Madeleine, it’s my past relationship with Olivia.
“She was always a little cold in my opinion,” Kathy says.
“Enough,” I boom.
The table goes silent.
“She’s not here to defend herself. Talk about something else.”
Madeleine pushes to stand. “I think I better go.”
Yes, I think you should.
“No!” Payton shouts, reaching for her hand. “We haven’t even had dessert yet.”
“And you still have half your food,” Allie points out.
“I forgot Madeleine and I have other plans,” I say, scrambling for some kind of excuse to get out of this situation. “We were only going to stop by for a second.”
No one buys my excuse, but they’re too polite to insist we stay. Kathy rushes inside to pack us some leftovers while Madeleine retrieves her shoes from Allie. The girls pout as they hug her goodbye, and so does my mother. Samuel is oblivious, eating his chicken and sipping his beer in silence. He’s the only one I’m not angry with.
Once Mouse is back on his leash, we head for the front door. Madeleine trails behind me, and I don’t have to look to know she’s upset. I don’t care. She made her bed and now she has to lie in it.
“Here. Here!” Kathy says.
I turn back in time to see my sister-in-law foist three large Tupperware containers into Madeleine’s hands.
“The top one has two slices of apple cobbler in it. It’s Adam’s favorite.”
Madeleine’s bottom lip quakes when Kathy wraps her in a hug. “Thank you. That was sweet.”
“It was really good to meet you. Next time you come, you’ll have to stay longer, okay?”
Madeleine nods and turns away quickly, probably so Kathy won’t see her expression start to crumble. I glance away, angry at the semblance of pity I’m starting to feel for her.
Kathy opens the door for us and we head for Madeleine’s car in silence. I load Mouse in back, and Madeleine takes the driver’s seat then passes me the Tupperware containers in silence. She starts the car and pulls away from the curb. We don’t talk, don’t even acknowledge one another’s existence. I’m minutes away from freedom, minutes away from putting this shitty afternoon behind me, but then, of course, it gets worse.
We’re out on a country road, halfway back to my house when smoke starts to rise from beneath the hood of Madeleine’s car.
“No, no, no!” she says, slowing down and pulling to the side of the road.
“It’s overheating.”
“No shit!” she snaps, quickly turning off the ignition and stepping out of the car. I follow after her, popping the hood before she gets the chance. Steam rises in plumes and I push her back instinctively, knowing how easily she could get burned.
“It’s my car,” she points out, annoyed.
“Yeah, and yet you refuse to take care of it,” I say under my breath.
I inspect her coolant reservoir, and as expected, there isn’t any near the fill line.
“When’s the last time you checked your fluid levels?”
She crosses her arms. “I assure you my fluid levels are just fine.”
“You’re out of antifreeze. Are there any gas stations nearby where we can get some?”
“Uhm, no, but I have some water bottles in the trunk.”
“That’ll work, but I can’t unscrew your radiator cap until the car has cooled down, and that will take forever. Here, give me your phone.”
“Why?” she asks, stepping away from me.
“Let’s just call a tow.”
She shakes her head vehemently. “No! That’s expensive. You said it yourself, it just needs some water.”
“That’s probably just one of the many things wrong with this bucket. You need a mechanic,” I say, walking back around the car to get my phone.
“Adam! We are NOT calling a tow truck!”
I turn back to see her glaring at me with murder in her gaze. “We’re stuck in the middle of nowhere!”
“Downtown is that way,” she says, pointing to the left. “Start walking if you want to get home so badly.”
“I don’t want to get home! I want to get away from you!”
“Well that makes two of us!” she snaps, throwing her hands in the air and turning to walk off down the road.
Mouse starts barking from the back seat, excited by the turn of events.
I watch Madeleine walk another few feet before sinking down on the edge of the road and resting her head on her knees. She looks so tiny, vulnerable.
“Will you get up?” I ask, my tone sounding barely a notch above bored. “A car is coming and they’re going to hit you.”
