Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Madison

It was early morning, and she and Dylan had almost arrived at her hometown. Madison occasionally slept during their journey because she was so excited to see her family and wanted to have the energy to catch up with them. It had been a few months since she last saw them, so Madison felt happy and excited.

After seeing the familiar street, Madison yelled, "We're here, Mr. Carter!" and intended to step out of the car before Dylan could pull the vehicle into a sidewalk. However, it was not a good idea because it was already dawn, and she might unintentionally disturb their neighbors' sleep. Her neighbors would undoubtedly spread rumors about this until everyone knew it. When the car stopped, Madison quickly opened it, and she almost fell.

"Careful, darling," Dylan gently said and quickly supported her. "Don't be in such a hurry. We're already here," He said while observing her make sure she was alright. After confirming that nothing had happened to her, Dylan held Madison carefully and helped her walk to the front of the latter's house.

Dylan held Madison with care as she ensured nothing had occurred to her before guiding her to the front of the latter's home.

Madison knocked a few times, but no one opened it. She hit again and tried to call Ruth, but no one answered. She then decided to knock loudly. Minutes passed, and Madison heard the voice of Ruth and her sisters from inside, talking in hushed voices. Wanting to surprise them, she smiled, didn't say anything, and just continued knocking.

She couldn't wait to see how her family would react when they saw her. When no one opened the door, even though Madison knew they heard her knocks, she looked at the door in confusion. As she was about to knock again, Ruth suddenly spoke.

"Who is it?" Ruth asked from the inside, but Madison still didn't say a word. She knocked four times in a row while a smile was playing on her lips.

"If you don't say who you are, we won't open the door even if you continue to knock!" Penelope shouted from behind the door. Madison giggled. Still, she didn't speak and continued to knock again.

"You're not being funny! Who are you?! You're scaring my Mom!" Cassie angrily said, making Madison laugh even more.

"Maybe, you should tell them it's you, darling. Otherwise, they would not let us in," Dylan whispered in her ear, so she looked at him with a smile and nodded. When Madison was about to speak, Cassie started counting inside.

"One!" she counted. Madison laughed loudly before saying, "It's me," then knocked on the door.

When she heard them hurrying inside to open the door, Madison grinned. As they opened the door, she couldn't stop herself from laughing when what greeted her was their comical position and the weapons in their hands. Her sisters were in attack mode while Ruth was holding a pot behind them. Cassie had a broom in hand, Penelope was carrying a dustpan, and Lily was raising a spoon.

"Madds!" Her sisters exclaimed simultaneously when they saw that it was Madison and ran to hug her very tightly.

"We miss you so much, Madds!" Penelope exclaimed and let go of Madison. Cassie and Lily also released Madison, so she turned to Ruth behind them and tightly embraced her.

"I miss you all too," Madison cried as she hugged her Mom.

"We missed you too, Honey. It's good that you came home. Why didn't you tell me so that we could have prepared? It's embarrassing for Mr. Carter to witness this," Ruth gently said as she looked at the door where Dylan was standing. Madison also looked at him and smiled guiltily. For a moment, she forgot Dylan was with her. She immediately approached him, but before she could do so, she burst out laughing when she glanced at Ruth and her sisters again.

"Did you think those in your hands would be a great weapon? What can your spoon do, Lily?" Madison laughingly asked while pointing at the spoon Lily was currently holding.

"Madds, when we couldn't find any weapons, we just grabbed whatever we could pick up. You are to blame for this, Madds. When you knocked at the door, you didn't say anything, so we thought you were a thief," Lily said and scratched her head in embarrassment. Afterward, she took Ruth's hands and walked to the kitchen with her two sisters.

"Take a seat first, Mr. Carter," Madison said after she went to him. Then, she took his hand and pulled him to the living room before making him sit on the rattan chair.

When she raised her head, Madison accidentally met her sister's teasing looks, so she just raised an eyebrow at them.

"Don't look at me like that. Quickly arrange my room so that Mr. Carter could stay there temporarily. I'll boil the water so we can have some coffee," Madison instructed and stared at them. The three giggled to themselves and playfully shoved each other. Then, Ruth informed them that she would go to the kitchen first to cook something for breakfast. While saying this, there was a hint of a smile on Ruth's face, which Madison caught.

Madison glanced at Dylan as her three sisters departed and noticed how worn out he was, probably from the long trip, leaning on the chair with his eyes closed.

"Do you want to sleep first, Mr. Carter?" she asked in concern.

"I'm fine, darling. I'll sleep later," Dylan answered and groggily opened his eyes. Then, he smiled at her and gestured for Madison to sit next to him. Madison shook her head when she remembered she had to boil water and helped her Mom to the kitchen.

"I'll leave for a moment, Mr. Carter. I'll help Mom cook our breakfast. But I will boil the water first so that you can have some coffee and get rid of your tiredness, Mr. Carter," Madison said. Dylan only nodded in response.

"Be quick, darling," Dylan whispered and adjusted himself on the seat before leaning back and closing his eyes again. Madison stroked his hair and smiled.

After walking into the kitchen, Madison saw Ruth busy preparing their breakfast, so she came beside Ruth and took the kettle to boil some water.

"Go to sleep, Mom. I'll finish what you're cooking while I boil some water," Madison offered and looked towards Ruth. The latter just shook her head.

"You're not always here, so I want to cook for you and take care of you, Honey. You should rest first because you're still tired from the trip," Ruth softly said and took that rice to wash it.

"I'm fine, Mom. I fell asleep on our way here," Madison responded and opened the kettle. Afterward, she approached Ruth and hugged her from behind. Madison smiled as she tightened her arms around her Mom, "I miss you so much, Mom."

"I miss you too, Honey. Not a day goes by that you won't cross my mind, wondering if you are doing well. How're your studies?" Ruth asked and caressed her hand that was wrapped around her stomach.

"It's okay, Mom. I'm doing my best to pass the acceleration exam. I only have one month, Mom, to prepare and review. I'll assure you; I will pass this exam for you and my sisters," Madison whispered and hugged Ruth even tighter.

"Don't pressure yourself, Honey. If it's meant to be, then it would happen. Perhaps you've forgotten to take care of yourself there, huh? Why did you look so thin?" Ruth smilingly asked and gently reprimanded Madison before patting the latter's hand.

"Mom, see how beautiful and how sexy I am. Did I look thin? How could you say that, Mom? Are you still asleep? Go to sleep first, Mom, and I'll wake you up again," Madison protested and pouted at Ruth before letting go of Ruth. Ruth just laughed at her antics.

"I'm wide awake, Madison. You, sexy? Where Honey? Why can't I see it?" Ruth teased her. Madison looked at her and pretended to look as if she was offended.

"Mom! Just support me. You can't make fun of me like this, okay? I'm your daughter," she said, pretending to sulk.

"Okay, Mom will support you. Otherwise, you might cry. I remembered how hard it was to calm you down once you started crying," Ruth said with a smile and even patted Madison on the shoulder.

"Mom!" Madison stomped her feet a few times. Seeing this, Ruth laughed even more. "You don't know what's the true definition of sexy. I'm so sexy. Look," Madison said and tried to convince Ruth by posing in front of her. As if not satisfied, she modeled in front of Ruth, lifted her skirt, and looked ahead. When Madison saw Ruth shaking in laughter, she pouted.

"You look silly, Madison. Is that what you're taught at school? If so, I'll tell Cassie not to learn that subject. It's ridiculous, Honey," Ruth laughingly said.

"Mom, you! But honestly, I missed you, Mom. I'm grateful to Mr. Carter for letting me come here to visit you. He's nice," Madison said in a soft voice.

"Mom, next month I'm going to take the exam, and I'll do everything I can to pass the exam. It's a great idea for me to come here, Mom, because you and my sisters are my inspiration for achieving my dreams. I love you so much, Mom," She warmly said to Ruth and tightened her grip on the latter's arm.

Madison then felt Ruth take her hand and squeeze it before saying, "Think that we are always there for you, Honey. No matter what happens, whether you pass the exam or not, we are just here for you. Always." After saying this, Ruth smiled gently at her, making her heart feel warm.

"Thank you, Mom. I don't know what I would do without you," Madison murmured and burst into tears when she remembered the hardship they had gone through over the years.

"It's nothing, Honey. I know you can do it. You're a smart woman, Honey, and I know that you will be able to reach all your dreams so long as you can persevere and graduate from college. We love you so much, and we will always support you," As Ruth said this, she hugged Madison while the latter Madison hugged her tighter and leaned her head on Ruth's shoulder.

Madison was happy because she could be with her family even for a moment. While thinking so, she felt grateful to Mr. Carter for his efforts to make her happy. Hopefully, the day would come when she would have the courage to express her feelings to him.