Chapter Seventy Two

Inside the house I saw Rich, "you ok bro your shaking?"
"Yeah, I'm good, just sick of all the crap..."
"D?"
"yeah, and other stuff..."
Romeo came running up, "Hey pop, Madison is great at air hockey.."
I looked surprised, "is she, better than me?"
he laughed walking back out to the den, "Hell yeah, she could whip your tush.."
I called out after him, "well tell her to get ready I wanna see for myself""
he threw a look back, smiled and gave the thumbs up sign.
Rich was still at my side, "sounded strained out there?"
"you heard?"
"Yeah man, hard not too..."
"who heard?"
"well me, Madison, the guys..."
"The kids did they hear?"
"don't think so, they were out back playing air hockey, when Madison heard she went out back to be with the kids"
"you sure?"
"as I can be yeah...you know all parents have arguments?"
I gave rich a look, "but that was no ordinary argument, that was the end of our marriage right there..."
"look, the kids are good, if they heard I'm sure they would ask you about it?"
I shrugged, "I guess, its just, I don't want them dragged into a nightmare between the two of us you know?"
"Jon, it will be what's its gonna be, you cant soft soap everything and wrap them in cotton candy forever?"
I knew Rich was right, but so far we had managed to bring up four well grounded kids, the last thing I wanted was for them to have to start going to see some shrink cause me and their mom fucked up their heads. I stood thinking,
"Stop already,"
"Stop what?"
"beating yourself up, its no biggie..so stop stressing already, just go see the kids and Madison.." he slapped me on my back just as the paramedics walked through with D slowly, each of them assisting her to walk.
I asked, "you taking her to the hospital?"
"Yes sir, just to be checked over, we think she has a ruptured spleen."
I watched as they led her though the house and out to the waiting ambulance,  Rich asked "should she be walking?"
"nope but D is a stubborn son of a bitch, she cowers to no one, that's what drew me too her when we were young."
"what happened?"
"god knows."
Madison came through to the kitchen and got herself a glass of water, Rich made himself scarce so we could talk.
"what happened out there?"
Madison turned to look at me, "I'm sorry, I should not have taken it as far as I did."
I walked over to her and rubbed her arms,
"hey, she started it, what I mean is where did the karate come from?"
"oh that, well I was a junior world Olympic champion..."
"Olympic Champion?, you never said..."
"there was no need, It was in my past?"
"Are you ashamed of it?, you should be proud.."
"I was.. I am... but well, I just... lets just say I've moved on..." It was clear she had something in the past that was throwing a shadow over her glory, I didn't push, it was not my place, but  I was still curious...
"well your good make no mistake..."
she smiled, I still work out and keep my hand in so to speak, but not for competitions anymore.."
"so you win many times?"
"Once or twice"
"Any gold medals..."
"a few"
I repeated, "a few, how many is a few, I have gold and platinum records, there's only a few too, but in reality its more like a hundred..."
she laughed, "ok, eight"
"shit eight gold medals?, wow you must be good..."
she laughed" I can hold my own"
"You got that right"
She lowered her head again, then looked up as she spoke, I was still stood in front of her,
"Jon, I'm sorry, really, I snapped, if your wife had not of punched me that would never of happened... its just I took the stance in defence.."
"It's ok, as I said she started it, and for what its worth I'm really sorry she hit you." I lent forward and kissed her cheek.
"Is she ok?"
"I think so, they have taken her to ER to be checked, but I'm sure she will be good, she's one tough cookie...it will take more than a few slaps to keep her down."
"Jon, we all heard you both?"
my heart sank, what I'd wanted to avoid I hadn't,  nervously I asked
"really?"
"Yeah, I kept the younger two busy, but Jessie and Steph they heard it all"
"how they look?"
"sad, they held each other as they stood by the window... I tired telling them it was just a spat, but they kind of blanked me and carried on listening anyway, I'm sorry."
There was nothing for it, I had to face the fallout,
"hey its ok, I'll speak with them, I'll make it good.."
the only thing was, I wished I could convince myself as well as others. This was gonna be one of the hardest things I'd faced yet.