MADISON

Caden and I spent the last hour with Mom at a cafe, where she ordered a healthy breakfast for the three of us.

On our way to the cafe, Mom had stopped at a pharmacy to get Caden treated. However, the usual Caden, the inexorable and hard-headed man I fell in love with, refused to let the pharmacist touch him.

I understood; everything had been rough for him. I almost gave in and tried to help him, but Mom did sooner.

I was surprised he didn't protest when she offered to clean up the damage Dad left on Caden's heavenly face.

Impatient and curious, I waited for them to finish up in the restroom.

After some minutes, Mom emerges from the restroom with a smile on her face, and behind her was my tall handsome boyfriend, looking neat in a clean outfit and damp hair that was finally cleared of blood.

Seeing him trying to be casual breaks my heart. It's not like I didn't witness his biological father hitting him in my bedroom.

It's not like I didn't hear the man's horrible words against his son. Just like I've watched him kick his son out of his house.

Then it occurs to me, it had been this way all through Caden's life.

He had pretended to be fine even though nothing about his life was fine.

He had been abused by his parents, and it's not okay.

He had the right to be emotional about it. He shouldn't always feel the need to cover up and appear like everything was normal.

What he was doing to himself was detrimental to his health. When he will snap from his typical self and want to hurt those around him: that was the bullet to the darkness he buries with a celestial smile.

I've watched him for years, and throughout I've always wondered why he was wired differently.

Why he had no emotions, no feelings. Nothing interested him, not even food. Who doesn't want a portion of good food?

Caden didn't.

Most of the amusing things humans found interesting didn't bother Caden.

Yes, he used to fool around every night, but he never got attached. I mean he didn't even give the girls a chance because the moment he was pleased, he throws them out.

Back at the cafe, Mom and I barely touched our food. I'm sure she's also having a hard time remembering what she had witnessed in the past hour, that she lost appetite just like I did.

Every time my eyes found Caden's face, all I see was the memory of Dad fiercely hitting him. Throwing punch after punch. Every slitting word came with a brutal attack.

Who does that to their child because they fell in love?

Mostly when it's coming from a selfish man who denied his love for his child and seeks only for his own happiness.

I hated Jude.

"So you two?" Mom begins quietly. I didn't have to look at her to notice the contentment in her voice.

It got Caden to stop chewing his breakfast and look up to Mom.

"You okay with it?" I asked, curiously.

"I must say I didn't see this coming." She motions to Caden and me before she continues: "You two were always disagreeing with each other." She paused with a smile tugging on her lip. "Honestly, I'm glad it happened to you. You two needed it." She simply added.

"What part? Getting kicked out or disown?" Caden inquired, deliberately in a nice manner.

Mom ignores his attitude; rather, she leans in and takes a sip of coffee. "I knew, and the moment I saw you two switching rooms. I was confident of it."

What? She knew all this time?

I gaped, questioning, "You're not going to get mad?"

I mean, she should. She adopted Caden. She's practically his mother.

She has the right to call us out for what Dad thought was disgusting—for falling in love, for wanting each other, for possibly getting married soon.

"Why? Did you two kill someone in the process?" she challenged.

"Dad, probably," I retorted.

Her nose scrunched. "Don't let what he thinks affect your relationship and happiness. You two are so lucky to have found it right around you. Some travel thousands of miles and sail different oceans to find what you two have," she said, leaning towards Caden and grabbing his hand.

He stiffened in an instant, his breathing hitched.

"I am sorry for what you had to go through. I wish things were different."

"Is okay," he mumbled.

Mom shook her head at him. "No, it's not. No one should go through that. No one should be treated that way. Did you hear me? Look at me," she urged with pinched brows the instant his eyes dropped to the bacon on his plate.

When his eyes locked with hers, she squeezed his hand, a painful expression etched into her face. I swear I felt the motherly affection in it. "You are a wonderful young man. Don't let what both your parents said or did to you make you for a second doubt yourself."

Quietly, from my position, I watched Caden staring at mom with something I could only describe as emotion in his blazing eyes; his red lips were slightly parted as he breathed through his mouth.

"You are nothing your dad claimed; if anything, you're a warrior. You're strong, collected, and self-possessed. I am so proud of you."

When she smiled, he let out a shaky breath and swallowed, prompting his sharp Adam's apple to visibly slide up and down in his throat.

"I am here anytime you need me. Call me anytime you need to talk; I will listen. I am here for you, Caden," she promised.

I didn't know I was smiling until she grabbed my hand in her free hand.

"Please take care of yourselves for me," she muttered just as a tear escaped her eye. "I love you both," she sniffed and sat back, releasing our hands to wipe her eyes.

It was then I felt additional love for that woman.

Mom was unique, and Dad knew it. He knew he was lucky to have her as his wife.

That's why I am positive her decision must have messed him up.

The flight back home was a blur. In fact, the rest of the days that followed came and went in a blur.

We left Mom in New York, but she had told me she was thinking of renting a penthouse for a while.

Throughout the holiday, we both were still processing how our vacation to New York had gone. We did less talking and instead focused on rewatching the Harry Potter and Home Alone series. We ate takeouts and took naps while it rained heavily outside.

We had visitors come by, though. Asher came twice, and Paxton, Caden's friend, came almost every night before New Year's Eve.

Who I didn't hear from was Bryan. Ever since I asked for space, he had respected my demands and remained as I asked.

Sometimes, I found myself almost dialing his phone number to apologize for how I reacted that day when all I was thinking about was Caden's future and freedom.

After all, he had been nothing but nice to me.