Page 22 of Seduced in Ink
Her mother lifted her chin and followed Madison towards the back area, which was a little more private and empty. A larger party had left about ten minutes ago, and others were already comfortably seated so they hadn’t ventured to the back yet. The sound of her mother’s high heels against the wood floor echoed in Madison’s head, and she hated what she heard. Disappointment in each step.
Or maybe she was overthinking. That had always been her problem. Or one of them, at least according to her mother.
And that was a known fact.
“So, where’s your ring? Doesn’t an engaged woman need a ring?”
Apparently, they were going to start right away—no dancing around the subject.
“I’m baking. You know I don’t wear jewelry when I bake.”
Not a lie, but Aaron hadn’t gotten her a ring. And they hadn’t talked about it.Crap. Engaged people needed rings to show others that they were engaged.
It was something she would have to mention to Aaron. Something that she’d probably have to worry about herself because she wasn’t going to force him to buy her something. She could find something fake that looked real. She had jewelry, countless rings and earrings and things that her family had given her over the years. Stuff she treasured but didn’t wear that much because it didn’t make sense at her place of employment.
Her mother might recognize it if she chose one of those pieces, or she wouldn’t care either way because she didn’t believe any of this. Even if she wanted Madison to quote, unquote bag a Montgomery.
“That’s a nice excuse. You’re baking.” She sneered the wordbaking, but again, Madison was used to that. Her mother had never understood the things that Madison loved.
Madison wasn’t even sure her mother really loved her.
“Is there something specific you wanted?”
“You’re not going to talk about it?”
“I don’t know if there’s much to talk about, Mother.”
Her mother snarled, just a slight one before she put her face back to its resting position. “Well, you’ll be happy to know that Guy should be here at any moment.”
“Guy?” Madison asked, confused.
“Guy. The man you’re going to marry. Not Aaron Montgomery.”
“What? No. You’re not going to set me up, Mother. I appreciate that you want to find me someone that will make me happy,” she lied. “But I’ve already found someone.”
That was also a lie. But what was she supposed to say?
“Guy is handsome, comes from a good family, and has money. You won’t want for anything. It’s about time you step up, take care of your responsibilities, and stop acting like a spoiled child.”
“I have a job. A business that I own. I don’t take anything from you. How on earth is that me acting spoiled?”
“I put a roof over your head, young lady. You need to listen to me.”
“I’m grateful that you did the bare minimum to raise me, but I’m sorry. I’m not going to marry someone I don’t know.”
“So you’re going to keep up the charade about Aaron Montgomery? He might be a catch, but you’ll never be good enough for him.”
Madison ignored the verbal slap and the pain that slid through her. “And yet you think I’m good enough for Guy?”
“Oh, you’re not. But he understands his place, just like you will.”
“I just...you need to go.” Madison ignored the hurt filling her, the rage that mixed with it. She was just so tired. But her mother never let up. And her dad didn’t care. Why did she keep putting herself in this situation? Oh, yes, because somehow, she still loved them despite everything.
Why couldn’t she just make it stop or let go?
“Please go. My shop is not the place for this. There isnoplace for this, honestly. Just go.”
“Why don’t you understand that I’m just trying to help?”