Mad Love: Madison (22 page)

Madison dropped all pretense of shopping and
joined Ethan at the counter. “Please, it’s vitally important that we speak to Yvette
and Alex.”

The older lady locked eyes with Madison for a
moment before smiling at Ethan. “Oh, is this your fiancée?”

Madison started to shake her head, but stopped
when Ethan wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Sweetheart,
this is Clara Howard. She was Yvette’s boss for a few weeks.”

“Oh, she’s just as beautiful as you said she was,”
Clara said to Ethan before turning to Madison. “You’ll make such a beautiful
bride.”

Madison glanced at Ethan with a wry smile.

Ethan’s embarrassed gaze flashed towards Madison
for a second before turning back to Clara. “Mrs. Howard, we don’t want to cause
you any trouble, but we really need to get in touch with Yvette.”

Clara looked underneath the counter. “If you
leave me your number, I’ll send her a message. I don’t know if it will do much
good but I’ll try. She never would respond when I’d call her.”

Ethan leaned over the counter with a smile. “I’d
much rather talk to her myself. You know how Yvette is. If she finds out why I
want to see her…”

Clara wrung her hands. “I’m sorry. I’m just
afraid I could get sued.” She gave them a wry look. “You know Yvette. If she
found out that I gave you her personal information, she’d go after me with guns
blazing.”

Madison’s gaze swept past Clara toward a
refrigerated glass display case filled with vases of colorful roses. She unconsciously
wrapped her fingers around Ethan’s bicep as Clara continued to speak.

“I didn’t know Yvette long,” Clara continued, “but
I knew her well enough to know that she can be kind of scary. I’m sorry. I wish
I could help you.”

Madison frowned as her gaze shifted past the
roses to the wall where a dozen or so gift boxes were displayed, each decorated
with holiday themed wrapping paper and ribbon. One box, wrapped in silver paper
with red and black reindeers and topped with a familiar looking black ribbon
edged with scarlet, caught her eye. “We don’t want to get you in any trouble
but I just have one question. Do you, by any chance, sell corsages here?”

“Not only corsages but wedding bouquets, floral
centerpieces…” Clara’s gaze flickered towards Ethan’s chest. “Boutonnieres for
the groom and the groomsmen.” She smiled knowingly as she reached for a three
ring binder next to the cash machine. “As the sign says we provide decorations
for all occasions. Let me show you some pictures.”

“Did Yvette make or have you make a black corsage
about a week before Christmas?” Madison interjected before Clara could begin
planning her wedding to Ethan.

 Clara blinked for a moment. “Yes, I helped her
make one.”

That at least explained who sent me the hideous
thing for my birthday
,
Madison thought as her fingers tightened on Ethan’s arm
. Now we just need to
figure out why Yvette gave it to me.

Ethan looked at Madison curiously.

“Did she say why she wanted to make a black
corsage?” Madison asked.

Clara made a face. “That whole thing was such a
hassle. We had some perfectly nice black silk roses left over from Halloween
but Yvette wasn’t happy with those. She was very put out when she couldn’t get the
exact shade of black that she wanted and silk flowers just wouldn’t do. She
wanted a real rose.”

“What corsage are you talking about, darling?”
Ethan asked in a puzzled tone as he glanced between Madison and Clara.

She leaned into Ethan and whispered, “Someone
gave me a black corsage for my birthday.”

“Was that for you?” Clara asked. “Yvette told me
that it was for an attorney who had just died or was dying. I wasn’t quite
sure. I got the feeling it was all a big joke.” Clara’s grimace matched Madison’s
own. “I never did understand Yvette’s sense of humor.” She looked at Madison in
confusion. “I thought you and your sister hadn’t seen each other for years?”

It was Madison’s turned to look confused. “I’m
sorry?”

Ethan lightly patted Madison’s hip. “Darling, I
have to confess. I told Mrs. Howard about you and your sister, Yvette, and how
you too are no longer on speaking terms. You know, maybe, Yvette sent you the
corsage in order to open the lines of communication, like a peace offering. She
knows how much you love black roses. Your sister probably just forgot to leave
a birthday card.”

“Bless her heart,” Clara said with a touch of
annoyance, “but Yvette was a bit scatterbrained. She put the wrong card on the
wrong arrangement more than once.”

“That’s our Yvette,” Ethan said shifting his hand
to the small of Madison’s back. He lightly tugged against the belt of her coat.

“Yes, that sounds just like her,” Madison
confirmed quickly. “I’m just surprised that she sent me anything.”

Clara’s attention turned from them to a young man
in a University of Kentucky Wildcats sweatshirt and an apron who had just
walked out of the back room. She gestured to the white Christmas tree near the
picture window. “Be careful taking down those ornaments, Gary.”

“I will, Grandma,” the young man said as he
passed the counter.

“Your fiancé is probably right,” Clara said. “Yvette
obviously wanted to make amends.” She frowned as she tapped a finger against
her cheek. “Although I thought for sure she was giving the corsage to a man.”

Madison glanced behind her as Ethan pulled away.
She watched as he checked the price tag of a Santa figurine before moving over
to a nativity set. “Why is that?” she asked turning back to Clara.

“Well, she was so very afraid that…” Clara’s brow
furrowed. “You know, I could have sworn Yvette said
he
but maybe she
said
her
. My hearing isn’t what it used to be.”

Despite her interest in what Clara was saying, Madison
felt her attention being drawn towards Ethan who was at the back of the store examining
a vase. Her eyes narrowed as he picked it up and gestured to Gary.

What is he doing?
Madison thought returning
her attention to Clara. “I’m sorry,” she said with a shake of her head. “Did
you say she was afraid?”

“Oh yes! I saw her hands.” She lifted up her own.
“They were just shaking. I had to finish making the corsage myself because she
was so nervous.”

“Did she say why she was so nervous?”

“I asked her but she said she wasn’t. When I
showed her the rose I had dyed, I thought she was going to burst out into
tears.” Clara threw her hands up into the air. “I took the darkest red rose we
had and died it black but she kept saying that it wasn’t dark enough. She said
it had to be perfect.” She bit her lip as she tapped her finger against her
cheek again. After a moment she said, “No, I’m certain she was giving it to a
man. I distinctly remember her saying that it had to be perfect because she’d
just die if
he
was disappointed.”

Feeling like she was finally getting somewhere,
Madison leaned across the counter. “Could she have been referring to Alex?”

Clara patted her hair. “I have no idea. We were
so very busy what with Christmas coming up. The only reason I remember is
because she was a nervous wreck the whole time.”

A gust of cold air hit Madison’s back as the
front door opened and a couple of elderly women entered the shop.

Clara patted Madison’s hand. “I’m sorry, honey,
but I need to go back to work. I hope you work things out with your sister.”
She bit her lip as she glanced around the counter. Her face brightening, she
reached over to the end of the counter and grabbed a business card off the cardholder.
“Now, I know you two haven’t set a date yet, but when you do, please consider
us for your wedding flowers.” She winked as she pressed the business card into
Madison’s hand. “My prices are very reasonable.”

Ethan’s arm suddenly encircled her waist. “Oh, we
will,” he said as he began to lead Madison out the door.

Madison dug in her heels. “Clara, I just have one
more question. What kind of car does Yvette drive?”

“Oh, I don’t know cars,” Clara said with a laugh.

“Do you remember the color?” Madison asked.

Clara’s eyes turned upward. “Blue. Old car. Just
a junker, if you ask me.” She made a shooing motion with her hand. “Now you two
stop fighting and don’t you worry about Yvette. If she’s sending you presents, I’m
sure she’ll get in touch soon.”

Ethan’s arm tightened on Madison’s arm as he
pulled her toward the door. “Will do. Thank you for your help.”

As soon as the door closed behind them. Madison
gave him an amused glance. “Just engaged and already fighting. I don’t hold out
much hope for our future.”

Ethan glanced back through the window as he
lowered his voice. “When I called them this morning, I got hold of
Mister
Howard. As soon as I introduced myself as a private detective and said I needed
some information on one of his ex-employees, he hung up on me. I decided a
little subterfuge might be in order so when I arrived I went straight to
Mrs.
Howard and told her that I was getting married and the only thing my bride
wanted was to have her estranged sister, Yvette, stand up with her at the
wedding. It would mean ever so much. Especially since I was the reason you and
she were no longer speaking.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, turns out Yvette’s jealousy over our
relationship soured things between you two.”

“Oh, that’s a pity.”

“Isn’t it? Unfortunately, it’s now affecting our
relationship so much that we’ve been fighting and I just feel so guilty that I
have to do something to bring you two back together.”

“And that’s when Clara began to sing like a
canary?”

“She’s a bit of a romantic.”

“Thank God for romantics.”

“Well, either that or she really wants us to hire
her. She was much more talkative when I mentioned how we hadn’t picked out
flowers for the gigantic wedding you’re planning.”

Madison hid a smile. “Well, at least now we know we’re
on the right track.” She pulled out her phone and started searching the web for
Yvette Baxter’s name. “She has to have an agent. If we can get hold of whoever is
representing her, maybe we can arrange a meeting. Surely, he’ll have her
current address.”

He cleared his throat as he tugged on her arm,
bringing her to a stop.

“Unless,” she said with a smile, “you managed to
get Yvette’s address from Clara’s grandson.” She crossed her arms. “Or were you
really interested in that ugly vase?”

He dug his hands into his pockets. “What are you
doing here?”

“I’m trying to figure out who’s stalking me.”

“Wow, that’s such a coincidence. So am I.”

“Is this your subtle way of telling me I’m in the
way?”

“You’re not in my way.”

“Good,” she said as she began to walk to her car.

“Yet.” He pulled on her arm again. “Look, I would
love to spend all day with you, but I’m not exactly going to be sitting down to
afternoon tea with a bunch of people in suits. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Neither do I, and let’s face it, I’m safer with
you than with anyone else.” She bit her lip. “I am, aren’t I?” When he looked
at her questioningly, she lightly tugged on his tie. “Safe with you?”

Ethan smiled slightly as he drew her close. “Do
you even need to ask?” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Gary said that she
was planning on moving soon, but he thinks she still might be living at Brentwood
apartments.”

“How well did he know her?”

“He had one date with Yvette before she summarily
told him to get lost. She told him he wasn’t exciting enough for her. He thinks
she’s a psycho.”

“Mrs. Howard didn’t have a very high opinion of
her either. So, what do we do now?”

“Why don’t you go back to work? You probably have
some things to do.”

She took his hand and swung it between them.
“Actually, my calendar is free for the rest of the day. I’m all yours.”

He grinned. “I hope so.”

She linked her arm through his as they walked to
his new rental car. “I just need to question her. If we can find out who this
Alex is—”

“If she sees you, she’s liable to clam up.” He
pulled back and ran his hands down her arms. “Besides,” he said with a lopsided
grin, “who do you think she’s more likely to talk to? Me or you?”

She stared up at his beautiful face. “You,” she
grudgingly admitted. She touched the center of his chest. “How about this, I’ll
hide.” She wrapped her arms around his waist as he started to pull away. “That
car commercial was not the first time I ever saw that woman. If I see her again,
it might finally jog my memory.” She looked up at him hopefully. “I’ll stay out
of sight. I promise.”

He gazed off into the distance, considering.
“Okay,” he said finally, “but I want you to stay in the car. She might know
what your car looks like so we’ll take the rental.”

He held the door to his car open and helped her
inside. Twenty minutes later, they were sitting outside a rundown apartment
building in a bad part of town.