Ice Dreams Part 3 (9 page)

She nodded. “Thank you.”

“How can I help you out?” he asked.

“Will you be around for awhile?”

He nodded. “Sure, did you want me to oversee everything?”

She nodded. “Yes please, just until we get back.”

He smiled. “Sure, have fun.”

Madison walked away, found all the girls and headed into town. Once they arrived at the salon, the girls headed towards the nail table first. Madison grabbed her purse and realized that she never turned her phone back on. As the lady worked on her left hand, she scrolled through all the messages that Mike left for her last night.

Madison - please call me - Mike

Please just tell me that you are ok - Mike

I know I acted like an asshole but I’m worried about you - Mike

God Maddy, I’m losing my mind that you never came home last night - Mike

There were about twenty more messages like that. She noticed the last one was left this morning.

I won’t be attending the wedding this afternoon unless I hear from you. I’m assuming that you are still processing everything - Mike

As the lady finished her nails, Madison walked over to Alicia who was already getting her hair done. “Hey, I just need to step outside for a second, ok?”

Alicia laughed. “Maddy, you don’t need to keep checking in with me, ok? I have all my girls around me today. I’m flying high!”

She laughed as she walked outside. She dialed Mike’s number and listened to it ring.

“Madison?”

“Hey.”

“I have been so worried about you. Why didn’t you just text me back and let me know you were alive. You never came home last night.”

“I’m sorry. I went to Alicia’s and crashed there. I turned off my phone so no one would bug me.”

He was silent momentarily. “Did you still want me to come today?”

“Yes.”

“Ok, I will be at their house around three.”

“I’m sorry, Mike. I’m sorry that I’m the cause of this.”

He sighed. “I’m the one who needs to apologize, Madison. I acted inappropriately last night. It wasn’t the time or place to confront him.”

She paused as she looked into the salon. Alicia was laughing and smiling with her friends. She wondered if she would ever be that carefree and loving her life.

“Madison, are you still there?”

“Yeah sorry, lost myself for a moment, I will see you later.”

They hung up and Madison walked back into salon. As everyone finished up, she stopped to look into the mirror one more time. She loved the way the stylist curled her hair, small strands outlined her face. The rest was clipped by a flower and allowed to curl over her shoulders.

Alicia walked up behind her. “You are beautiful, Maddy. When are you going to see that?”

She smiled and turned around. “I want to be more like you, Alicia. You always find your confidence and just love life. How do I do that?”

“It comes with time. You have to give it time, Madison. You need to find your way and then everything will fall into place.”

They walked out of the salon and headed back towards the house. As Madison walked towards the back deck, she noticed Hunter talking to the head chef. She walked over and made sure everything was moving along as it should.

“Hey, how’s it going?”

He turned around the smiled. “Everything is fine. The menu has been confirmed. All the set up is done and the florists are leaving. We just need a bride and groom.”

“Thank you for covering for me, Hunter. I really appreciate it.”

He nodded. “I’m going to find Carter and take him out for a little bit.”

“Just remember when you come back, the girls have set up camp upstairs. The guys are in the den.”

He nodded. “See you later.”

Madison heard her cell phone ring as she dug into her purse to retrieve it. She noticed the number. She looked again as she realized it was Alicia's cell phone.

"Alicia? Where are you?"

"Madison, come quick. Something is wrong. I'm upstairs."

She quickly dropped her phone and ran to the front door. "Hunter! Grab Carter and hurry!"

Hunter looked back at her as she ran up the stairs towards Alicia's cries. "Alicia, where are you?!"

"I'm in my bathroom."

Madison ran through their bedroom and into the bathroom. She gasped as she spotted Alicia on the floor with spots of blood underneath her. "Alicia, what happened?" She turned as Carter ran into the bathroom. "What's wrong?" he asked clearly panicked.

"Something is wrong with the baby." Alicia cried.

Madison turned towards Hunter. "Call 911."

Hunter left the room as Madison looked at the tears in her brother's eyes. She could see his love for Alicia as he tried to comfort her. "Carter, I think she's having a miscarriage."

Alicia cried as she covered her face. Maddy grabbed her some tissues. It felt like hours but the paramedics finally arrived. Madison left the room and let them do what they needed to do.

Hunter reached for her and she allowed herself to find comfort in his arms. "I pray she's ok, Hunter."

"Me too but I think you are right. I can't believe this is happening on their day."

Madison watched as they placed Alicia on the stretcher and started to take her downstairs. "Madison, please apologize to everyone for us."

"Don’t worry about a thing. Hunter and I will handle everything. I will meet you at the hospital. Carter, please keep us posted."

They disappeared into the ambulance and left. Madison started to cry again. Hunter pulled her back into his arms. "I'm not leaving your side today. Let's finish up here and get to the hospital."

She nodded as she wiped her tears. "Thank God it was a small wedding. If you can start telling the caterers, I will start calling the guests."

He nodded and headed towards the kitchen. She climbed the stairs and walked into their office. Luckily, Alicia was very organized and had all the information available. She knew her parents had to be the first call.

She waited for them to pick up their phone. "Hello?" her mother answered.

"Mother, it's Madison."

"Hello Madison, everything ok?"

"Not really. Alicia is heading to the hospital with Carter."

"Oh my, what happened?"

"I think she is having a miscarriage."

Her mother was silent for a moment. "Ok, I will grab your father and we will meet them there. Let's hope you are wrong."

"I really hope I am too." Madison said as she hung up the phone.

She quickly dialed the remaining guests as she walked into the bathroom. She decided to clean up the mess on the floor so they wouldn't have to be reminded when they returned home. After she was done wiping it up, she collapsed on the floor and leaned back against the counter. She took a deep breath but it didn't stop the tears.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Hunter leaning against the door frame. "She will be ok, Maddy. She's a tough cookie."

She nodded. "I know. How did it go downstairs?"

"Everything is taken care of. The caterers are leaving now. We will handle everything else in the morning. Come on, I will drive us to the hospital."

She nodded as he helped her up. "Let me change and I will meet you downstairs."

Madison walked into the guest room and grabbed a pair of jeans and a blouse. She quickly buttoned it when she realized that she hadn't called Mike yet.

She reached for the phone. "Hey Madison, I was just about to get ready."

She started to tear up again thinking about Alicia. "Alicia was taken to the hospital."

"What happened? Is she ok?"

"I’m not sure but I think she had a miscarriage."

"Madison, I'm so sorry. Let me come and pick you up. I will take you to the hospital and do whatever you need me to do."

"Thank you. I really appreciate the offer but Hunter is already here and we are running out of the door."

Mike was briefly silent before he responded. "I understand. Will you keep me posted?"

"Of course." She hung up and ran down the stairs. She spotted Hunter on the front porch talking on his cell phone.

"I'm happy to hear that she will be ok. Yeah, we are heading up there right now." He hung up and turned to face Madison. "She's ok."

Madison released the breath she was holding. "Thank God and the baby?" Hunter looked down and Maddy knew. "She lost it?"

He nodded. "Carter said the doctors claim she's healthy and conceiving again won't be a problem."

Madison nodded. "Come on, I want to see her."

They climbed into Hunter's truck and headed towards the hospital. Madison knew it was nothing that Alicia did to start the miscarriage but she was still worried about her sister.

Once they were at the hospital, Hunter and Madison got into the elevator and headed towards her room. Right before they walked in, Madison grabbed Hunter's arm. "I just wanted to thank you."

He looked down into her eyes. "For what, sweetheart?"

"Helping at their house and putting our differences aside."

He smiled. "You asked for a truce. I won't bring up my love for you or how much I want to hold you as we sleep tonight."

Madison smiled. "Well, thank you for not bringing it up then."

He winked at her as he opened the door. She walked inside and spotted Carter lying on the bed next to Alicia. He had her tucked into his side. She spotted her parents sitting next to the bed. "Madison, I'm glad you finally made it."

She looked at her mother and rolled her eyes. She rushed to Alicia's side and held her hand. "Please tell me that you are ok."

She nodded slowly. "The doctor's told me that there was something wrong with the baby and this was nature's way of correcting it."

Madison agreed. "That's true. You will have another chance in the future. I know you will have a big family."

Alicia started to cry. "Our wedding day." Carter pulled her closer. "Baby, we will get married but your health is more important."

Madison looked around the room. "Where did Hunter go? He was behind me."

Carter shrugged. "I have no idea." He turned his attention back to Alicia. "Do you need anything?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry Carter." He leaned down and kissed her lips. "There is nothing to be sorry about, Alicia. We will try again and don't worry. We will continue to try and try." He chuckled.

Madison groaned. "TMI."

Alicia smiled as Hunter returned. "Hunter, where were you?"

He smiled. "You ok, Alicia?"

She nodded. "I will be."

Hunter looked at Carter. "Can I borrow you for a second?"

He nodded and kissed Alicia. "Be right back." They disappeared out the door as Maddy looked at Alicia. "What's that about?"

She shrugged. "Hey, thank you for dealing with all the wedding stuff at home."

"No problem at all. Everyone send their love, even Mike."

She smiled and before she spoke, she realized that Madison's parents were still in the room.

"Who is Mike?" her mother asked.

Her father spoke up. "You mean Mike Henderson?"

Madison nodded. "Yes, we are still friends."

"Oh I do like him, Madison," her mother calmly stated.

Madison rolled her eyes so that Alicia could only see it. They were interrupted when the men returned. Carter walked over to Alicia and kissed her. "I have a surprise for you. You still feeling ok?"

She nodded. "What's going on?"

Hunter walked into the room with Alicia's parents. They hugged their daughter and made sure she was ok. Carter reached for her hand. "I want to become your husband today. Hunter called the pastor and he is here if you want to do this."

She nodded. "Yes please! Let's do this!"

Everyone smiled as Hunter led the pastor into the room. Madison looked at him and smiled. The wall around her heart melted slightly as she realized what he had done for her brother. She whispered to him. "Thank you."

He nodded and winked at her. They both watched as the pastor spoke to the happy couple. Madison watched as he pronounced them man and wife. Carter leaned down and kissed his wife's lips gently. She started to cry when she realized nothing was going to stop them from getting married today.

She felt Hunter lean down and whisper, "One day that will be us."