All She Ever Wanted - Barbara Freethy [21]
"I've been busy."
"Too busy to talk to me?"
Madison refused to be taken in by the hurt note in her mother's voice. Her mother only wanted to talk to her when it was convenient or when she needed something. Madison had learned that before she was out of diapers.
"We have to talk about that book. And don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about."
Madison toyed with the idea of pretending just that, but ignorance would only elicit a long-winded explanation from her mother. "I know about it, but there's nothing to talk about."
"Of course there is. Someone is trying to create a scandal, and we can't have that. Edward's seat in the assembly is up this year. We can't have any rumors attached to the family."
"Edward is hardly family, Mother. He's been your fourth husband for a year, and quite frankly I've lost interest in acquiring any more stepfathers."
"Madison, that's very rude. Edward has been nothing but good to you. Don't tell me you've forgotten that he took care of everything when you ran out on your wedding last year. You should show some loyalty."
Madison sighed. She did not want to get into a discussion about her botched wedding plans or family loyalty. "Look, the book isn't about me. It's about Natalie."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. I've read every word."
"This could still spill over. I know your name isn't mentioned specifically in the book, and you certainly aren't accused of murder, but you could be connected to the story, and we can't have that. I thought this was over ten years ago when we sent you to Paris to get you away from those girls."
"Don't worry, I'm fine. I really have to go back to work. I'll talk to you soon." Madison ended the call on her mother's protest and closed her phone. She walked over to the window and stared out at the San Francisco skyline. Yes, it was all coming back. There was no escape. Not for any of them.
She wondered what the others were thinking, especially Laura and Natalie. Their private moments, conversations, and thoughts had been put into a book that millions could read.
They'd been stripped naked and exposed ... It wasn't fair, but then life wasn't fair. Natalie had told them all that a million times. Natalie, with her fiery hair and intense drive to succeed, was now being called to account for the murder of her best friend.
Had Natalie read the book? Did she have any idea who was after her?
* * *
Natalie couldn't sleep. She'd been tossing and turning since she'd returned home from the hospital just after midnight. It was now almost three a.m. and her eyes felt dry, incapable of closing. She supposed she could read. The book was on her nightstand just waiting for her to pick up where she'd left off. But she was afraid.
Turning those pages would take her back to a place she didn't want to go. A place where youthful dreams had flourished, where passion had run her life, where friendship and love had been more important than anything else. She'd loved those girls, Emily, Laura, and Madison—loved them as she'd never loved anyone in her life. For fifteen months, a blink of an eye, she realized now, she'd been a part of something special, wonderful, irreplaceable.
A knot of sweet emotion made it hard to swallow. She closed her eyes, willing sleep, blessed oblivion, to come, but instead the past came rushing back to greet her.
Emily sat up in the twin bed next to hers and turned on the light. She wore her brown hair in two long braids, which made her look about twelve, especially when combined with the pink T-shirt that said girls rule, baggy pajama bottoms, and thick socks that didn't match.
"What's wrong?" Natalie asked, blinking against the bright light. "It's two o'clock in the morning."
"And you can't sleep. I heard you tossing and turning."
"Sorry, I'll be quiet. I just have a lot on my mind."
"You always do," Emily said with a rueful smile. "What is it this time?"
"Money, bills, loans, classes,