Chapter 2: Fifteen Minutes
Natalie closed the bedroom door.
“You’re throwing everyone out?””
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“I’m ending my reservation.””
“Dad’s birthday weekend isn’t over until Sunday.””
“Then Bradley can rent another house.””
She stared at me.
“You can’t be serious.””
I picked up my suitcase.
Natalie stepped in front of the door.
“Maddie, there are kids here.””
“And their parents can take them to a hotel.””
“My parents drove four hours.””
“That was their decision.””
Her expression hardened.
“This is because Bradley pushed you into the pool?””
I stared at her.
“You say that like he spilled a drink on me.””
“It was stupid,” she admitted.
“But everybody had been drinking.””
“I hadn’t.””
Natalie looked away.
That told me everything.
She knew it was wrong.
She simply wanted me to absorb the humiliation because confronting her family was inconvenient.
“Move, Natalie.””
“Please.””
“No.””
Her voice changed.
“You’re going to destroy this family over one joke?””
I almost laughed.
Instead, I opened the bedroom door.
“Your family just taught me exactly what they think of me.””
I carried my suitcase downstairs.
The laughter outside continued until Bradley noticed me crossing the living room.
He entered through the sliding doors.
“Where are you going?””
“Home.””
His grin disappeared.
“Seriously?””
“Yes.””
“Oh my God.””
He turned toward the patio.
“Everybody! Apparently Maddie’s leaving because she can’t take a joke.””
Barbara came inside immediately.
“You’re leaving?””
“Yes.””
“Fine.””
She folded her arms.
“Maybe everyone can actually relax now.””
I looked directly at her.
“That’s possible.””
Bradley narrowed his eyes.
Something in my expression finally bothered him.
“What did you do?””
“Nothing yet.””
“What does that mean?””
A knock sounded at the front door.
Nobody moved.
Another knock.
Firm this time.
Bradley looked at me.
“Maddie?””
I walked to the door.
Two people stood outside. One was Rachel, the property manager. The other was a broad-shouldered man wearing a jacket with the rental company’s logo.
“Ms. Carter?””
“That’s me.””
Rachel glanced toward the crowded patio.
“You requested immediate termination of guest authorization?””
“I did.””
Bradley stepped beside me.
“What the hell is this?””
Rachel remained professional.
“Sir, Ms. Carter is the contracted renter.””
“So?””
“She has informed us that she is leaving and no longer authorizes the remaining guests to occupy the property.””
Bradley blinked.
Barbara pushed forward.
“What is she saying?””
Rachel turned toward her.
“The reservation holder is ending her stay. Everyone else will need to vacate.””
The silence was glorious.
Then Barbara laughed.
“No.””
Rachel looked at her.
“Excuse me?””
“This house is rented through Monday.””
“The contract is with Ms. Carter.””
Barbara pointed at Bradley.
“My son booked this place.””
“No,” I said.
Everyone looked at me.
“I booked it.””
Bradley’s jaw tightened.
“You paid for it. I arranged it.””
“You sent me a link.””
“That’s the same thing.””
“No, Bradley. It isn’t.””
Barbara stepped closer.
“You would throw your husband’s parents into the street?””
“There are six hotels within twenty minutes.””
“This is Harold’s birthday!””
Harold had finally come inside.
He looked more embarrassed than angry.
“Maddie,” he said quietly, “maybe we can talk about this.””
I looked at him.
Earlier, when Bradley pushed me into that pool, Harold had been clapping.
“No.””
Bradley grabbed my suitcase.
“You’re not doing this.””
I pulled it back.
“Give me my bag.””
“You’re my wife.””
“And?””
His face changed.
I had never asked him that before.
Barbara jumped between us.
“Bradley, don’t let her manipulate you.””
I looked at Rachel.
“How long do they have?””
Rachel glanced at her colleague.
“Normally, we provide reasonable time to collect personal belongings. Given the number of guests, we can allow forty-five minutes.””
Barbara's mouth dropped open.
“Forty-five minutes?””
Rachel nodded.
“After that, anyone remaining will be treated as an unauthorized occupant.””
Chaos erupted.
People rushed in from the patio.
“What happened?””
“Are we leaving?””
“Who canceled the house?””
Barbara pointed directly at me.
“She did!””
Every face turned toward me.
Bradley’s cousin Mason laughed nervously.
“Come on, Maddie. You’re kidding, right?””
I recognized him.
He had held my left arm.
“No.””
His smile vanished.
Eric appeared behind him.
“Where are twenty people supposed to go?””
I picked up my suitcase.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.””
Bradley followed me outside.
“Maddie!””
I kept walking.
“Maddie, stop!””
I reached my SUV.
He stepped between me and the driver’s door.
“You’re humiliating me.””
For one second, I couldn't believe he had actually said it.
Then I smiled.
Not because anything was funny.
Because I finally understood my marriage.
“You shoved your wife into freezing water so your cousins would laugh,” I said.
“And somehow you're still the victim.””
His face went pale.
“That’s not what I meant.””
“Move.””
“We need to talk.””
“No. You need to pack.””
“Maddie.””
“Forty-four minutes.””
He stepped aside.
I opened my door.
Then Bradley said something that stopped me.
“You can’t leave.””
I turned.
He looked genuinely frightened now.
Not angry.
Frightened.
“Why not?””
His eyes flicked toward the house.
May you like
Then back to me.
“Because there’s something about this weekend you don’t know.””
