Page 97 of Her Summer Hope

Madison's world seemed to stand still as she sat in the little café, her fingers tracing the edge of her coffee cup, lost in thought.

The soft murmur of conversation around her barely registered, her mind preoccupied with the hastily planned upcoming meeting with Rob's parents.

She was hoping they’d want to backtrack on their plans.

The weight of the custody battle and the anxiety of the past few weeks seemed to converge at that moment, leaving her feeling both weary and vulnerable.

Outside on the street, the world moved on, oblivious to her anxiety. It was a place that once held fond memories for Madison, but now it felt foreign.

Her reverie was interrupted as Murdock stepped in, drawing the eyes of everyone inside. He didn’t exactly blend in.

He glanced around, his gaze sharp as he scanned the place for threats and a place to sit.

She offered him a small, grateful smile, appreciating his support.

"Thank you for coming, Cal," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the café's ambient noise. "And for arranging for John to watch the kids."

Murdock gave a slight nod, his face stern as he took a seat at a nearby table and nearly scared off the waitress.

Later, as Rob's parents arrived, the air in the room shifted. They seemed to suck out the little bit of comfort Murdock gave her.

They carried an air of smug self-assurance, their demeanors cold and calculating. They were the same as ever, and she had the worst feeling that she had made a mistake in coming.

She didn’t think they were about to drop the custody suit.

Murdock tensed subtly, then sipped his coffee.

"Madison, so good of you to meet us," Pam said, her voice dripping with insincerity as they sat down, enveloping the table in a cloud of White Diamonds.

Madison took a deep, choking breath, steadying herself. "I'm here for my children's sake. What is it that you want?"

Don leaned forward, his eyes cold. "We want to be part of our grandchildren's lives. You've been keeping them from us."

"It's not about you," Madison replied evenly. "It's about what's best for the children."

Pam scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "We would have been a part of their lives if Rob had his way. He was going to file for full custody after the divorce."

The words hit Madison like a physical blow, her heart racing with shock and betrayal.

"Divorce? Rob was planning to..."

"Yes, divorce you," Don interjected, a smug look on his face. "He was going to ensure we had access to our grandchildren, away from your influence."

Madison's hands trembled, her coffee cup clattering slightly on the saucer. "I had no idea... Rob never said..."

"That's because he knew you'd fight it," Pam said sharply. "But we're his parents. We have rights."

Murdock's gaze was fixed on the exchange, his jaw clenched in barely contained rage.

Madison stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. "This meeting is over. I won't let you tarnish Rob's memory with your lies."

As she left the café, her emotions a tumultuous mix of shock, betrayal, and devastation, Murdock rose to follow her.

Once they were a safe distance from the café, Murdock finally spoke, his voice low and controlled, but beneath it lay a seething rage.

"I'll have to tell Kyle about this," he insisted.

Madison nodded, her mind still reeling from the revelation.

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