Chapter 9
Dave fumbled with his second cuff link while standing in front of the master bathroom mirror. A new chapter had begun with him proposing to Sherry last night at their favorite restaurant. Her faithful companionship over the past year had gotten him through a rough patch following the divorce. Living without his family had proved to be much more difficult than he’d dreamed.
Speaking of family, he had to break the news of his upcoming nuptials to Madeline, a deed Dave was not eager to do. He adjusted his tie and gave thought on how best to approach her, releasing a slight chuckle. He reflected on how far his perspective had evolved. There was a time when he sought God for direction on every decision. Once he’d created the tense situation between Madeline and Sherry, some prayers just didn’t feel right. For a man who yearned for the active presence of God daily, Dave had admittedly been out of sorts on several occasions in the past couple of years. He prayed that would change, because he was keenly aware of the miracle that was going to be required for Madeline to embrace his decision. He wasn’t delusional in thinking the women would become friends. His only concern was maintaining contact with his kids. Madeline had the control, and he prayed she wouldn’t abuse it.
Dave finished dressing and made his way to DMI. The drive prepared him only slightly for the inevitable. Tossing procrastination aside, Dave picked up the phone receiver and made his call. Madeline was on the phone fairly quickly.
“How are the children?” he asked, checking her attitude before diving in.
“Okay, I guess, except for Andre. The separation has taken its toll on him, and now it’s been another year since we’ve been in this house without you. The poor child . . . I feel for him. We were together only one year out of the three that Andre has been with us. The first year you worked all the time and got tangled up with Sherry. The second year we were separated, and this past year we’ve been divorced.”
Dave hadn’t considered the full impact on Andre. Memories of his beloved friend Jonathan rushed in. Andre’s father had trusted Dave with his son. He had to honor Jonathan’s memory by helping Andre navigate along this bumpy road. Dave would see to it, but one step at a time. He had to break the news to Madeline about his plans to remarry and then fight for continued visitation. No sense stalling. He leaned against his desk and prayed silently for the right words. Grace was his new favorite plea.
“Madeline, I’m getting married.” Silence choked the line, causing him to wonder if she was still on the other end. “Are you there?”
“I’m here.”
“Did you hear me? I’m getting married.”
“Sure, and I’m the queen of England,” she said, punctuating her statement with mockery.
“Seriously, I’m getting married.”
“Dave Mitchell, you better not tell me that you’re marrying that woman,” she said, raising her voice.
“Sherry and I are getting married next week in Cancun.”
“Humph, you can’t possibly be serious.”
“We’re having a very small private ceremony, and I’d love it if the kids could come with me.”
Madeline began cackling uncontrollably on the phone, and in a blink, she was yelling obscenities. “You have lost your mind if you think any of my children are going to Cancun, macaroon, or any other ‘roon’ with that floozy.”
“I was hoping we could discuss this in a civil manner.”
“Looks like you guessed wrong. You have some nerve telling me that you’re marrying the woman who broke up our marriage. You have to be kidding me. The ink is barely dry on the divorce papers, and you’re already rushing to the altar with your home wrecker! Are you expecting some kind of gift from me?” Dave didn’t know if she wanted him to answer. Just when he was about to, Madeline went on. “Ha, I have a gift for you, all right . . . for you and her.”
Dave took a seat at his desk. He recognized the call might take a while. He’d experienced Madeline’s tirades before. If left alone, she’d fizzle out in another minute or two. He was patient. After all, he’d created the situation. Waiting for the storm to pass wasn’t too bad.
“You can’t stop me from wanting my kids to be with me,” he finally said.
“You’re right. I can’t stop you from wanting anything,” she said, barking louder. “For that matter, people in hell want ice water, which they aren’t getting, either. So what’s your point?”
“Come on, Madeline. Let’s not start.”
“You started this mess when you decided to marry that thing.”
He had messed up, but had she forgotten the rest? “Madeline, you put me out. I pleaded with you to consider reconciling, and you wanted no parts of it. You told me, in no uncertain terms, that we’d never get back together.”
“And you believed me?”
Dave paused, unsure of where she was headed with the conversation. He’d follow for as long as he could. He meandered to the windows and peered into the distant sky as the long phone cord stretched with him. “Yes, I believed you. What else was I supposed to do?”
“You were supposed to love me!” she shouted. He wasn’t prepared to hear her voice cracking. “And cherish me. And respect me. You were supposed to be here with our family. That’s what you were supposed to do.”
He let the words simmer. Nothing he could add or subtract would mend her soul. Only God had that ability, and Dave was pretty sure she wasn’t speaking to Him. Finally, when it seemed that it was safe to speak, he did. “You’re mad at me. I get it. And most of the time you want nothing to do with me. I get it.”
“So what! I didn’t mean for you to marry your mistress.” For Dave to clarify that Sherry wasn’t his mistress, that they’d had a one-night stand during his marriage to Madeline several years ago, was a total waste of breath. Madeline would forever see Sherry as the DMI temptress. He wasn’t going to change her opinion in this call or any other. “Where are you going to live after you get married? And it better not be the estate.”
“Madeline, where else am I going to live?”
“Anywhere else, but not in my house.”
“But you didn’t want to stay in the house. I begged you to let the kids stay in the only home they’ve known. You turned me down cold.”
“So what! I don’t want her to live there.”
There was no winning this battle, which was why Dave pleaded the fifth and shut up. There was more stormy weather to endure.
“Do you love her?”
“Yes, I do.”
“There was a time when you loved me too. How can you all of a sudden love her now?”
Dave didn’t owe Madeline an explanation about Sherry, not after the divorce. Besides, he’d never be able to give one that sufficiently covered her loss. Dave couldn’t tell her how much he’d missed his family after they moved out last year. Loneliness had plagued his evenings before Sherry came back into his life. It was true. They had a history, but there was a mutual love between them. It might not be the intense sense of purpose he’d shared with Madeline for fourteen years, but their feelings were real, and the relationship was sustainable.
“I’d like for you to consider letting the kids come to the wedding,’” he said. “I think they’ll have fun. If you want, I can let them stay at a hotel during the wedding. They don’t have to attend the actual ceremony, if it makes you feel better.”
Sherry eased into his office. He acknowledged her presence, motioning for her to take a seat.
“Let me be very clear so there’s no confusion. My kids aren’t coming to your wedding with her.”
”They’re my kids too.”
“And is that supposed to justify your wanting to take them down to Cancun to watch you pledge some twisted love to the woman who stole their dad? As far as I’m concerned, she’s a common thief. Come on, Dave, you’re a highly intelligent man. Exactly what part of this scenario seems crazy to you? You marrying that tramp, you asking my kids to witness that farce, or you even thinking that I’d consider such foolishness? Well, which is it, Dave?”
“So I guess that’s a no, they can’t come.”
“I guess that would be a no.”
“Madeline, you know I could push for this in family court and get my kids on the plane.”
“Yes, you probably could, and go ahead if you want your children to hate you and Sherry more than they already do.”
“My children don’t hate me.”
“Really? Now, that is news to me.”