Chapter 9
Madisyn sat in her car outside of the funeral parlor, wondering if she should go in or go back home, considering they didn't have anything planned for a few days. Scowling, she stepped out and closed the door harshly, wearing a pair of black dress pants with a lavender silk top that was buttoned up the front. This was her business too and if Mark couldn't take the fact that she was an actual woman then that was his problem. Women had periods; it was nature's cruel joke on them along with having pap smears and mammograms. Having things shoved up their vaginas and their boobs smashed was a few of the many things women had to suffer while men didn't have anything.
"Screw him." She growled, walking up the stairs and opened the door, walking inside.
If he said ONE thing to her about what happened between them, Madisyn would embalm him alive.
Women were disgusting creatures; Mark had worked out, busy downstairs sterilizing everything for the tenth time. Unless someone died today, he had nothing to really do; he had even skipped slacks in favor of faded blue jeans and another beater, this one white. He wasn't taking any chances; if some kind of fluid got on him, he was going to know about it and then sterilize himself. When he had woken up this morning, and realized, completely sober, what had happened the night before, he had almost gone right back to bed.
"Boss, you alright?" Randy asked curiously, having never seen Mark looking so...disturbed. Both men glanced upward when the bell sounded, signaling someone had come in. "Probably Madisyn." Did Mark just squirm?
Footsteps could be heard on the stairs as Madisyn descended them, needing to inform both gentlemen that they would be working longer than they thought today. "Good morning men, a new body is being delivered here because the other funeral home across town burned down. I don't know what kind of damage the body sustained, but I do know it's going to be a very long day." Her honey blonde hair was half up and half down with the usual makeup, nothing special. "Mr. Calaway, you're going to have a new guy to train. His name is Nick Clancy and he should be here momentarily. Also, I feel I should warn you, the body is a female." With that said, Madisyn turned and walked right back up the stairs, shutting the door quietly.
"Since when does she call you Mr. Calaway?"
"Since I discovered that she is an abnormal creature who can survive death." He replied blandly. So it was going to be like THAT, was it?
"You're training the new guy? I thought we weren't taking on anymore apprentices down here in the death shack?"
"We're not."
"So...what are you going to do?"
"Send the idiot packing if he even thinks about coming down here of course."
Madisyn greeted the EMT's at the door that delivered the body, which they would also have to toss a funeral together for it. They were the only well known funeral home left, which would be good for business, but bad because it meant a lot of overtime. Madisyn didn't even look at Mark, too busy answering questions for the sobbing mother, not believing her nineteen year old had hit a phone pole and hadn't been wearing a seatbelt. So the sight wasn't that great to witness, but the morgue at the hospital did what they could to stitch her up so she looked somewhat recognizable.
"Closed coffin?" Madisyn asked softly, placing a hand on the mother's shoulder.
"Y-Yes..."
"Um...am I too late?" Nick Clancy stepped inside; taking inventory of what was going on, having heard about the fire at the other funeral home.
"No, follow Mr. Calaway; he will instruct you on what to do, Mr. Clancy."
Mark allowed Mr. Clancy to follow him as far as the door downstairs, where they were out of sight from the distraught mother, and turned around. "I don't know what she told you, but I do not take on apprentices." He informed Clancy calmly.
"Except for me." Randy pointed out helpfully.
"Except for dipshit." Mark corrected resignedly.
"Hey!" Randy cut that short when he got a look, almost afraid he'd get backhanded.
"So...what do I do then?"
"You can go make coffee." Mark snorted, disappearing downstairs.
Randy gave the new guy a sympathetic look. "Sorry man, he's just...not a people person, not LIVE people anyway."
After Madisyn took all the information down for the nineteen year old girl named Jean and sending her home, Madisyn was already drained and knew it was only going to get worse. Her blood began boiling at the sight of Nick Clancy, who looked completely lost and that was about all she could take. Tossing her pen down on the table, Madisyn smiled at him as she passed by before it faded, heading down to the basement.
"Orton, out now." She ordered gravely, jabbing a thumb over her shoulder and watched as he hesitated. "NOW!" He flew past her up the stairs, leaving her and Mark completely alone and Madisyn fought the urge not to strangle him. "Being that we are now the ONLY funeral home in Houston that's well known for our services, we're going to need help around here, Calaway. Whether you like it or not, Mr. Clancy needs trained on EVERYTHING associated with our company because that's what this is. I don't care what happened last night and I don't care how you feel about this, you have no choice in this matter. We are partners, but I'm doing what's right for C & S. So get your head out of your ass or we're going to drown. You didn't even give him a fucking chance and he's willing to learn, his resume has shown he's worked in over four funeral homes and he even has experience when it comes to being an actual funeral director. So knock your shit off, get it together and HELP me run this damn place!"
That was the last straw, Mark snapped. Circling around the table that the body had been placed on, Mark stalked to Madisyn, grabbing the front of her blouse and jerked her to her tiptoes, bending down so their faces where nearly pressed together. "You little self-righteous bitch!" He spat, green eyes ablaze. "I have let you run this place since you came back without fucking saying a word; the only thing I asked you was NOT to send people to me. I do not WANT or NEED another goddamn apprentice. I don't care WHERE the fuck he's worked before; do you understand me, Madisyn? We will not drown; we're the best in Houston for a goddamn reason woman, do not fuck that reason up with your power trip!" He released her forcibly, watching her stumble backwards. "If you want someone else down here, my suggestion to you is to learn how to fucking deal with THIS-" He ripped the sheet off the dead woman's mangled corpse, briefly admiring the ER's patchwork. "And YOU can help with the bodies."
"Don't you ever put your hands on me again, Calaway." Madisyn ordered, trying to sound strong, but her voice was trembling and hated it. That showed him weakness and she couldn't allow it, keeping her distance from him. "I never asked for this, my father begged and pleaded with me to take over his share of C & S and I did it for him. You think I enjoy working around the dead all the time? No I don't, but I'm doing it for him because I am his only child, I'm the only one left. You know what I do miss? I miss being in LA and far away from you and this hellhole, but I'm DEALING with it! I miss my photography and LA, I hate this place and I fucking hate YOU! So fine, do run this place however you see fit because I'm leaving. Enjoy."
Madisyn stormed up the stairs and didn't get very far before Mark's hand wrapped around her arm. Out of instinct, Madisyn swung and punched him as hard as she could right in the nose, tears spilling down her cheeks. He stumbled back, releasing her with a howl of pain and that gave her the opening she needed as she made it upstairs, slamming the door shut.
"I'm leaving, kindly tell Mr. Calaway." She ordered Randy and told Mr. Clancy he would have to start tomorrow, grabbing her purse and keys before jetting out, her hand throbbing.
Randy and Nick could only stand there and gape at the door she had just walked out of, both of them burning to know what had happened down there. They had heard the raised voices, but that was about it. And Mark making a sound that he would not appreciate being reminded of. Now Mark was down there bellowing in rage and, from the sounds of it, had just hurled something at the wall.
"You know what, buddy?" Randy turned to Nick, seeing the expression on his face. "Why don't we do the paperwork today? You need hours probably and so do I." Considering Mark had trained him on paperwork, he knew what he was doing and, out of respect for Madisyn, he'd even do it all properly along with answering the phones politely and professionally.
Nick nodded gratefully, though he did give the basement door one last hesitant look.
Randy turned his attention to the window, watching as Madisyn fumbled with her car door, his blue eyes thoughtful.
~!~
"It's sprained, possibly fractured, but you'll be fine Madi." Evan said, seeing how black and blue her fist was and wondered who had endured the punch. "Hold your fingers out for me as straight as you can."
Grimacing, Madisyn closed her eyes tightly shut while the doctor set it correctly, wrapping it in a tan medical tape so the sprain or fracture would heal properly. "Thanks for doing this, Evan." She sighed heavily, not believing she actually punched Mark in the face, trying not to smile because it felt good to get some of her aggression out.
"No problem honey, but I have to ask: Who the hell pissed you off?"
"Nobody of importance."
Evan studied her intently, nodding at her not so answering answer. "Try not to hit anyone else, at least with that arm." He advised with a slight smile, finishing off the tape with practiced ease. He knew her father's funeral had been yesterday, who didn't? C & S's Jack Simon had been a well known man, so he knew her hitting someone was probably somehow related to the emotional upheaval going on in her life. "How are you holding up, Madi?" He asked softly, eyes sympathetic. "Other than unimportant nobodies?"
"I'm fine; I'm going to visit a friend today to help me cope with everything." She said quietly, knowing she had to deal with her pain and grievance some other way besides decking her partner. He was going to be very angry with her and possibly quit, but honestly Madisyn felt he deserved it for putting his hands on her. Granted, she would've normally enjoyed it, but he literally shook her to the point where her teeth jostled and then grabbed her arm, which had a purple bruise forming on it. "Thank you for the flowers by the way, Evan, they were beautiful."
"Not a problem, Madi." Evan said with a nonchalant shrug, still smiling gently. "I only wish I could have done more, he was a good man, your father." He didn't want to talk about Jack too much, not wanting to upset her, but he had to let her know how he had felt about the man. "So...you go visit your friend, do some talking, take some OTC pain relievers for the wrist, unless you'd like a prescription for something stronger?" He had a feeling she would say no but offered it anyway, not surprised when she shook her head. "And try to keep it as still as possible."
"Will do, thanks for everything doc." She winked and slid off of the bedding, hugging him around the neck. He'd known the family for years, ever since he did his internship at the funeral home, only to change his major when he met Mark to pursue the medical field. "I'll see you later, tell Clara I said hi." Walking out, Madisyn slid her sunglasses over her red-rimmed eyes and headed to her Mazda, hoping the person she went to would understand every single one of her problems, especially what was happening between her and Mark.
Trina Brewer had always wanted to be a psychologist because she enjoyed helping people through their problems. She had always been good with the girl talk in high school, smoothing out hurt feelings and helping her friends to deal with situations. So she had naturally pursued what she felt to be her calling. It was a good business; she had just established her own private practice. Though, when Madisyn Simon had called her asking to chat, Trina had canceled all her appointments and extended an invitation to have lunch at her loft.
"Madi, I am so sorry about Jack!" She said when she opened the door for her friend, reaching out to gently but briefly hug the other woman. It was a sincere gesture but brief because chances were, Madisyn did not really wish to hear anymore well wishes or condolences.
"Thanks Trina." She stepped inside the well furnished and comfortable loft, following her old friend into the living room, knowing lunch would be ready soon. "Thanks for making time for me; I just don't know what to do anymore."
Sitting down on the couch, Madisyn clasped her hands in her lap, being careful of her injured one, wishing she hadn't used her hand to get her point across to Mark. Mark...Madisyn felt tears burn her eyes at the thought of him and took the tissue Trina handed her, wishing she could go a day without crying. Why did life have to be so damn difficult, cruel and unfair?
"How've you been?" Madisyn asked, trying to get her mind off of her problems.
