Page 56 of Real Forever
“Fucking light bulb’s out in the garage. Why haven’t you changed it?” He set the beer down on the counter, opened the fridge, and began shuffling food around to make room for the case. “Why’s there so much shit in here?” Dave began throwing random cartons and jars from inside the fridge into the garbage.
Lauren stood up and went over to him, touching his shoulder. “Here, babe, let me do that for you.” Dave took a beer from the box and cracked it, while Lauren rearranged the fridge contents and loaded in the remaining beers. He leaned back against the counter and took a large swig before casting a glance over at the table.
“Who the fuck are you?” He jutted his chin toward Jake.
Madison interjected. “Don’t be an asshole, Dave. This is Jake. Jake, Dave. Dave, Jake.” Jake gave Dave a friendly nod, but nothing more.
“You having a little dinner party? Thanks for setting me a plate.”
Lauren took a plate from the cupboard while Dave watched. “I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t think you were going to be home. You said you were going sledding with Cory, so I thought you’d be gone all night.”
He snatched the plate from her hands and pulled out a chair at the table.
“Do I get a hug from my little girl, at least?”
Maisie’s entire demeanor had changed when her father walked in the room. Her eyes were in her lap and she sat still on her bum instead of bouncing around on her knees in her chair. She hadn’t said a word. Of all the shitty things Dave had done to her sister, the way he treated Maisie made Madison seethe.
Maisie stood up and walked over to Dave, who didn’t take a single step to meet her, and reached up to hug his waist.
“Hi Daddy,” she squeaked out.
“See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Madison bit her tongue. Maisie returned to her seat and finished eating as quickly and quietly as she could. Lauren had also returned to the table and was eating her meal with her head down. The clinking and scraping of silverware against porcelain was deafening in the otherwise silent room.
Madison couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Well, this was so good, but I’m stuffed.” She glanced at Jake.
“Yeah, me too. Delicious, Lauren. Thanks again.”
Madison stood up. “We’re going to head downstairs to watch a movie but leave the dishes. I’ll do them up later.”
Dave scoffed. “Yeah, ‘watch a movie.’ Sure.”
Maisie stared helplessly at Madison, begging her not to leave her alone with her parents.
“Crazy Maisie, do you want to come with us? Give your parents a bit of peace and quiet to finish their delicious dinner?”
She seemed on the verge of tears as she leapt out of her chair. “Sure.”
Madison gave Lauren’s shoulder a squeeze as she, Jake, and Maisie headed downstairs, closing the door behind them.
“Sweets, you go get your favorite pillow and blanket from Auntie’s room and get snuggled up on the couch, okay?”
“Okay.” Maisie scampered off to Madison’s bedroom.
Jake turned to Madison. “Wow. You weren’t kidding when you said Dave was an asshole.”
She clenched her fists at her side. “Argh. He makes me so mad. Like, there is no need to be a dick to anyone, but especially not to your own damn wife and child, right?”
“Absolutely.”
She looked up at Jake apologetically. “I hope you’re not mad I invited Maisie down here. I just couldn’t leave her up there with him.”
“No. Not at all. I’m glad you did.”
Madison let out a big sigh and took Jake’s hand. “Thank you.”
