Chapter 120: Chapter 120

“I’ve been trying mother’s cell phone, but it hasn’t been going through, father. Where is she?”

“Hello to you too, Maddie.” Mr Connor greeted, and Madison sighed, rubbing her left hand on her forehead.

“Afternoon, father. How are you doing?” She politely asked, a smile flickering on her lips as he replied

“I am doing okay. Better than ever. Your mother went to the grocery store nearby to get some things for dinner tonight and….”

“Why is she still going out on her own father?” Madison abruptly asked, continuing, “Damien’s made sure she doesn’t have to worry about all these. You both… I mean, the household staff he hired should be able to….”

“You know how stubborn your mother can sometimes be, and I couldn’t object. She wanted to go out and get the things she needed specifically. Just leave her be.” Mr Connor said, and Madison could only jet out a worried exhale.

However, hearing her father’s cheery voice lifted her heart enthusiastically, and tears pooled at the back of her eyes.

Even though she still hadn’t gotten used to talking comfortably with him still, these past few days, their conversations seemed to be warm, and with the way Damien was treating them all, it felt like a dream.

It was a dream, to put it lightly.

She never for once imagined that her father would ever be on good terms with Damien, and vice versa, but well, the last few days proved otherwise.

With love leading amongst everyone, and no more obstacles on the way anymore, both families seemed to be warming up to each other, and it was so hearty to see.

Her father had accepted Damien into the family, calling him son already, and if that wasn’t enough, he accepted every single thing Damien had tried doing for him.

“So…” Her father started, drawing Madison out of her thoughts and snapping her out of her trance, “You called to tell your mother something or what? You can drop the message with me.”

“I…” Madison began sharply but cut off her speech halfway and cleared her throat.

She closed her eyes briefly, and as the lids flew open, she said with a stretched smile, “I was calling to invite you all to the family reunion I’m hosting. I talked about something of the sort with mother, and that’s why I wanted to talk to her first, but surely you can relay the invitation to her then.”

“A family reunion, you say?”

“Yes. A dinner party, actually, but it’s still a reunion. With all of you, Damien’s family and I present too. There’s a lot we still need to make up for, and being together in one room can specifically cater to that. What do you think, father?”

At first, her father said nothing, and for a second, Madison thought he must have hung up on her, or probably the cell’s landline network was acting up.

She brought the phone away from her ear, staring at it, but the call was still connected, and she raised her brows surprisingly.

“Father…”

“Oh, daughter…” He replied shortly after, and she could hear him sniffing like he was crying.

“Huh? Father, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” She asked, concerned, but as usual, he waved off her concerns.

“I’m okay, Madison, and sure we’ll love to come. I’ll talk to your mother and brothers. When is it?”

“Sometime next week. I’ll call and tell you both.”

“Okay, darling. I’ll be expecting your call.”

Feeling nostalgic all of a sudden when she heard the endearment he’d used to address her, Madison’s chest tightened painfully.

‘Darling.’ He sounded exactly like the father she remembered and adored as a child.

The man who tucked her into bed every night, and sang her sweet lullabies.

“Madison? Are you present?"

"I am. Bye, father.” She mumbled, a tear falling down her cheeks, before bidding her farewells. “We'll discuss it later."

“Bye, daughter.” He replied soon after, hanging up quickly, and Madison exhaled slightly, staring into space, her eyes wandering about the garden as the cool afternoon breeze whipped past.

“I knew I would find you here.”

Turning around, Madison stared back at Damien’s mother, Layla.

The beautiful older woman smiled as she walked towards Madison, holding a glass of juice.

“Hello, mother.” Madison greeted, facing the lady carefully, and bowing her head in greeting as she came to a standstill beside her.

“Hello, daughter. I’ve been looking for you since I returned from my short errand, and I just thought to come here and lo and behold….”

A chuckle escaping her lips, Madison could only nod as they talked briefly. As the woman told her everything about her day, Madison reciprocated in kind by telling her about the conversation she’d finished having a conversation with her father.

“Is he coming?” Mrs Daniel asked, and Madison nodded slowly.

She tried gauging the woman's reaction by her side, but Mrs Daniel still had a smile.

Even after everything Mr Connor did to her family, the lady still deemed it fit to forgive and let the past be, and Madison was more than grateful.

Suddenly Mrs Daniel said, pulling Madison into an unawares hug, “Thank you so much, Maddie. Thank you for everything.”

At first, Madison’s eyes widened, her hands flailing about as she wondered what was happening, but as Mrs Daniel continued talking, she soon came to understand.

Wrapping her arms around that of the frail but agile woman, Madison closed her eyes and accepted the warm embrace, basking in it at the same time.

“You are so resilient, and I admire you for everything you did for my son. For taking him back, for forgiving everyone and just being you. If anyone deserves happiness and anything in this world, it’s you, and you’ll duly get that. You’re already getting it, and I’m more than happy for you, my daughter.”

“Oh, mother…” Madison croaked as the comment from the kind woman caused tears to roll down her cheeks, and for some unknown reason, she held her tightly.

She stayed still, not pulling away from the embrace, until finally she heard a lone noise from afar, and looking up, she saw none other than Damien, clearing his throat and walking towards them.

The sad expression on her face cleared the instant she saw him, butterflies pooling in her tummy, and letting go of his mother, Madison’s lips stretched into a smile yet again.

“You were eavesdropping on our conversation. How long have you been here?” She asked sarcastically, but the playful glint shining in her dark brown eyes was unmistakable.

He chuckled, and as he got close, he dragged her away from his mother’s hold and into his embrace before dropping a soft kiss on her lips.

…….

“Hmmm, Damien. Your mother is….” Madison said between their locked lips, but Damien didn’t stop kissing her.

Her lips soft and plaint against his, he moulded her soft body in his and caressed her hair with his right hand.

“Hello, lovebirds; I’m here in case y’all forgot.” He could hear his mother talking, waving her hands in front of their face, but Damien still didn’t stop until he’d kissed her to his fill.

Their lips falling apart, he stared intently at Madison and seeing the cute blush patches rising on her cheeks, Damien smiled proudly.

“What were you both talking about, huh? Madison? Mother?” He queried with a raised brow, his eyes darting back and forth between the two women present, but neither of them was saying anything.

“Mother?” He called out again, and this time the old woman replied, saying, “None of your business, okay? Whatever we just discussed stays between us. Right, Maddie?”

“Yes, she’s right. However, I called to inform my parents about the reunion party we’ll be hosting. They agreed to come.”

His eyes dimmed a little when Madison diverted the conversation, but well, he would let it slide for now.

“That’s good news, then. It would be nice for everyone to come together and have a good time, don’t you think?”

“Yes, and after everything you both have gone through, a reunion is super beneficial. Clearing up old spats and setting records straight.” His mother interrupted with a wink, and he laughed huskily.

“Where’s your bandage?” Madison suddenly asked in between talks, and rolling his eyes, he smirked.

“Damien, talk to me. When we hugged, I didn’t feel the plaster. Do you want to take your bath? Did you take it off?” She pestered still, her eyes narrowed, and he could see she was getting angry already.

Her cheeks were flushed, and she was already putting up a stance.

“Calm down, bunny.” He joked, pinching her cheeks as he added, “Doctor Abram came to check up on me a while ago. He checked me and undressed the bandage. The wound healed pretty fast, according to him, so I have nothing to worry about. He gave me some liquid balms to apply every day.”

“Really, where is he?”

“He left already. He sent his greetings.“

“I think I’ll leave you two lovebirds already. I’m feeling quite hungry.”

“Alright, mother.” Damien replied, and he and Madison watched her leave the garden until, finally, it was just the two of them in the vast, spread-out land.

“Now that I’m very fit and no more bandaged, can we…”

“No!” Madison blurted out abruptly, bursting into laughter, and Damien joined in.

“Do you even know what I was talking about?”

“Of course I do.” She replied with a giggle as she tried removing her hands from his tight grip, but he wasn’t letting go.

Instead, he maneuvered her until she was standing in front of him, and leaning in closer, he placed his lips on her neck and began to drop soft kisses on the warm skin.

“Maddie, please… I miss you so much. I’ve missed you rather.” He begged, but she waved him off, still laughing and shying away from him.

“Just leave me be, Damien.” She insisted defiantly, even as he continued nuzzling her shoulders and hair.

“Okay, I will, but not for long.” He warned, and as she disentangled herself from his embrace, he didn’t stop her.

“Let’s go in.” She called out, her hands waving as she walked away, and as he stared at her, Damien broke into a grin and sauntered closely behind.