Madison Awakening

“I wanted to see my big brother in my favorite city. But clearly, I caught you at a bad time.” She replies, while looking directly at me.

She’s his sister…I immediately feel relief wash over me. They release the embrace and make their way to the island where I’m laying out the food like I haven’t just been contemplating murder. I wipe my hands on my robe and greet the duo with a smile.  

“Ariana, this is my girlfriend Madison. Madison, this is my baby sister, Ariana.  Visiting from London…unannounced.” He says with a hint of teasing.

I reach over and shake her hand. “Nice to meet you Ariana. Are you hungry? I made a ton of food.”

Ariana eyes widen in recognition. “You’re the girl from the paper! Nice to meet you. Yes! I’m starving. The first class meals have really gone to shit.” She says and takes a seat on one of the stools. 

I blush a bit at the fact her initial impression of me is from Page Six, so I focus on feeding her. I grab another plate and flatware as Jonathan pours her a mimosa. I take the eggs out of the pan onto a tray and place it with the rest of the food on the island. I’m putting the finishing touches when the ping of the elevator goes off again. Thankfully, it’s Micheal with my syrup. When he walks in the room he is taken back at the sight of Ariana, but then the shock turns into elation. 

“Michael! I’m so happy to see you!” Ariana yells, as she sprints across the room and embraces him warmly.  

Jonathan looks at me and rolls his eyes. I stifle a laugh and motion for him to refill my glass. I could use it after all this excitement.

Ariana and Micheal exchange some words then they walk over to us. Michael places my coveted syrup on the island.

“Thank you Michael. Was it difficult to find?”

“No Miss. You just need to know the right people.”

“You’re awesome. Would you like to join us?” I ask as I pop open the top.

“No thank you, Miss. I have some errands to attend to. Which I expect now that Miss Ariana is here, the list may have grown.” He says with a hint of humor.

They all chuckle but I don’t get it. Must be a family joke, because it’s clear how connected these people are.

Michael turns to Jonathan. “Will you be needing anything else at the moment?”

“No, we are good, but I’ll be in touch.” Jonathan says with a business-like tone.  

Michael tips his hat. “Ladies, have a good day.” 

He turns on his heels and heads out the double doors. Once he is gone we are all left together at the island. The air is a bit awkward considering I’m meeting his sister in a robe. So I focus on the original plan.

“Well everyone. Let’s eat!” I say and raise my glass to the Cains.

Over the course of breakfast, I sat and observed a new dynamic of Jonathan as he interacted with his sister. He would tease her like an older brother but I could see the pride in his eyes.

Ariana is quite the little firecracker. She talks a mile a minute and her energy is very high. Although she has a sweet unassuming exterior with her long dark hair, soft doe eyes, full lips and petite frame, she is passionately focused on human rights for her future career.

She graduated Cambridge with a degree in International Studies and in the fall is moving on to law school at Stanford. Seems like she too wants to move away from the privileged life that she and her brother grew up in, but she gets less push back than Jonathan about her choices. She is clearly the princess in the Cain kingdom and she uses it to her advantage. 

“So that’s why I told Daddy I’m not going to Harvard. Pompous elitist assholes go there. But anyway, what about you Madison? What’s your story? Jonathan clearly has been keeping you underwraps.” She asks with an eye roll towards her brother.

I take a swig of my mimosa before I answer. “Well, I’m born and bred in Brooklyn, where I teach high school English at a prep school. I met your brother on summer vacation in the Hamptons with my best friend.”

“You’re a teacher, that is amazing. Teachers don’t get enough praise. So how long have you two been a thing?” She asks, directing the question to Jonathan, then pops a fork full of eggs in her mouth.

Jonathan looks at me and I shrug. He reaches across the island, takes my hand. “We reconnected recently and after some persuading, I got her to agree to stay.” He says and gives a me wink.  

Ariana nods in approval. “It’s nice to see my brother with someone that has a brain. And can cook! Breakfast was delicious! And I’m sorry for just showing up guys, but Mom and Dad were getting on my back about Tristan.” She whines and takes a gulp of her mimosa.

“Who’s Tristan?” I ask, not minding my business.

Ariana rolls her eyes and takes a deep breath. “Tristan is my ex. He proposed and I broke up with him because…”

“He’s an asshole and he doesn’t deserve you.” Jonathan interjects and then begins clearing the plates from the island. He finally has some pants on, but the agitation in his shoulders is clearly visible. 

“Jonathan! Whatever, we just grew apart. He just wasn’t right for me based on the direction I want my life to go. But unfortunately, my parents are not pleased. They have been planning our wedding for years. I was going to meet Jonathan in Miami next week just for a little getway, but I couldn’t take their noise anymore. So I fled. But if I knew about you, I would’ve at least called.” She says apologetically.

I shake my head. “No worries. Family always comes first.”

Ariana laughs. “Do you have to deal with crazy parents and siblings too?”

I fake a smile. “No, my family life is pretty calm.” I respond and then get up from the island to put the OJ away.

Maybe because I just had the dream about my dad or seeing Jonathan with his sister, I feel overwhelmed by this whole scene.

Jonathan is putting the last of the pans away and I hope he’s not paying attention. Then the sound of his phone catches his attention. He turns to us with a frown on his face.

“I have to get that. I’ll be back down in a bit.” He says apologetically, grabs his phone then races upstairs to take the call. Ariana and I are left in the kitchen. I keep myself moving by finishing the clean up.  

“What time is it?” She asks.

“It’s about to be noon.”

“Okay, that makes sense. He’s probably on the phone with Paris. He has the center call him three times a day about Delphine.” She says nonchalantly and hops off the stool and starts walking to the living room.  

Delphine…

I overheard James say it to Jonathan at the party and now I know it’s a who, not a what. And again the name is said with no real frame of reference. So, I try to pry without alerting her to my ignorance. 

“Oh yeah that’s right. I’m sure the business has him busy.”

“Not business, just basic updates on her status.” Then she yawns. “Either I ate too much or the jet lag is kicking in. I’m going to head up to the guest room for a nap. Will I see you later?” She asks with hope in her eyes.

I shrug. “Maybe. I have some errands to run for the ball later.”

“What ball?”

“Oh, I’m organizing my school’s major fundraiser next week.” I say, as I close the dishwasher and walk around the island.

“How wonderful! Make sure DFF donates to your cause.”

“DFF?” I ask, confused.

“The Delphine Francois Foundation. It’s Jonathan’s non for profit. Well I hope to see you later and thanks again for breskafast.”  She says, then gives me a warm hug.

As she heads up the glass stairs, my entire body is vibrating. She has no idea that she just dropped a nuke into my relationship.

My mind is trying to process the new information from Ariana and all the little pieces about Jonathan that I’ve learned over the past few weeks.

DFF is the donor I didn’t recognize on the spreadsheet and it’s based on someone named Delphine. I have no idea what is her true connection to Jonathan. But I’m going to damn for sure find out…