“Would you get ahold of yourself? That ring was never yours; it was never meant for you.”
“Yes, it was; I was there when your grandmother gave it to you. Why else would she have given it to you then, huh? It’s mine.” She moved forward again, and I had to wonder if she was having some sort of episode.
This was nothing like the bright well-learned attorney I knew. She was acting erratic and almost manic. “Rene, that ring belongs to my wife. My grandmother gave it to me to give to the woman I love.”
“The woman you love. Are you saying you never had feelings for me? But I loved you.” I scoffed at her assertion, and that seemed to set her off again.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t my feelings matter? Was I just another plaything to you?”
“I’m saying only two people in this room love me, and you are not one of them.” She looked from me to Madeline, still trying to figure out how to get to her. “Only through me!”
“This is not happening; this cannot be happening. I know, I’ll call your family, your grandmother, I’ll tell her what you’ve done, she likes me, no one likes her.” She pointed a finger viciously in Madeline’s direction. “That ring rightfully belongs to me. That day when your grandmother gave it to you with me there, it was like a kind of blessing. That’s when I knew you were going to pop the question.” Completely gone off the rails.
“There was never any danger of me marrying you. Even had you not done the things you did to Maddie, I would’ve come to my senses sooner or later and seen you for what you really are. A vindictive, insecure viper who almost cost me the woman I love.”
I kept reminding her that Maddie was my wife in the hope that it would sink into her head and also, yes, because I was feeling spiteful for what she’d done. Even if Maddie and I weren't in love with each other, what she’d done was inexcusable.
“Go on upstairs, Maddie.”
“Maddie, Maddie, stop calling her that.” She actually put her hands over her ears. I expected the taunting nursery rhyme next.
“It’s her name.”
“No, you always call her Madeline. Maddie’s too soft, too sweet, too intimate. You’re not allowed to call her that.” This is what happens when you stick your dick in crazy. Lesson learned.
“What does it matter to you what I call my wife?” There was another knock at the door just then, interrupting us.
“Our dinner is here, sweetheart.” I tapped Maddie’s hip and kissed her temple before turning back to Rene.
“I think you should leave now; it’s time for dinner. If there’s anything left to say to each other, we’ll do it another time, but not here, and not now. And don’t ever come back here again; you’re not welcome.”
“I helped you pick this place out.”
“You looked over my shoulder while I was searching for a place. Is that another one of your lies? You know what, it doesn’t matter. Just go.”
She didn’t budge, so Madeline went to answer the door because I wasn’t about to leave her alone with this idiot. I’d never treat a woman this way, with such lack of regard, but I can’t even stand to look at her without wanting to wring her neck, so she’s getting off easy. It took me threatening her again to get her to leave, and all in all, I think it went well.
I’d expected a whole lot more screaming and maybe losing a few priceless vases or other valuable objects in the room. Maddie hadn’t said anything since she came downstairs, not even when she slapped Rene, and now she was being quiet and withdrawn.
“Don’t pay any attention to what she said, baby; she’s out of her mind.” Her mother is a sore spot for Maddie, so I know she was stressing over what Rene had said. She’s always been worried about what people thought of her mom and had sometimes felt as if she’d destroyed the other woman’s life which couldn’t be further from the truth.
As for her real dad, I’d offered to have him found, but she refused. She thinks that what he did reflects poorly on him and doesn’t want someone like him in her life. I agree with her but would still like to find out which one of the assholes he is just in case of medical emergencies that can be avoided if we know beforehand.
Still, it’s her decision, and I respect it. That means I’m the only family she has. No one from her mother’s side has ever acknowledged her, and I had to cut mine off for behaving the same. It’s only my grandmother who never found fault with me for taking her in and loving her.