Chapter Eighteen
As they were waiting for Madi's last bag, she heard an unfamiliar female voice. She rolled her eyes, expecting another flower shop scene.
"Taylor!" He spun around and quickly walked to the voice. Madi turned, and saw a beautiful older woman with long blond hair making a bee line for Taylor. His mom. Madi watched Diana fold her son into a crushing hug. Madi turned to the luggage on the belt, and saw hers on the far side of the circle. She waited until her bag was close, then reached for it. Struggling to get if off, a pair of hands reached in to help.
"Is that it?" Taylor asked, setting her bag next to the others.
"Yes."
"Cool. Madi, this is my mom Diana, mom, Madilynn." Madi and Diana began to shake hands before Madi was pulled in for a hug.
"It's so nice to meet you. Let me look." She held Madi out at arms length, then turned her in a circle, checking her out. "Very nice Tay." She hugged Madi again. With each of them pulling a suitcase, they navigated their way to Diana's minivan.
Driving from the airport, Diana asked, "Madi, do you enjoy my son's work?" She looked over at Madi in the passenger seat.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't." Diana nodded thoughtfully.
"You live in Phoenix?"
"Yeah, but I'm from Minnesota."
"Oh really. Is that where you met? I know their last concert was there."
"We re-met there. I met him at the show in Las Vegas."
"She had a m-n-g." Taylor added from the middle of the back seat. "Then I emailed her through the club."
"That's nice. I bet you were suprised to get that email." Diana looked at Madi, smiling.
"Of course. But at first I didn't know it was him. I thought it was just another member wanting to talk about the show." Diana laughed.
"Tay, how was your time in Phoenix?"
"Great. It was a lot of fun. We watched movies, went to a basketball game, and then an after party where most of the two teams that had played were hanging out."
"Is that what Mackie was all excited about?"
"Probably." Taylor smiled at his mom through the rearview mirror.
"So I'm assuming that you'll wanna be dropped off at your place."
"If you don't mind. We'll come by and visit everyone tomorrow when we're rested."
"Alright. I figured that's what you'd say. Don't be suprised if Zac's trashed the place since you've been gone." She laughed lovingly.
"I know. But I hope he has enough common sense to clean a little before I get back."
"This is the house in the podcasts," Madi said, breathless, amazed to see it in real life.
"Yes it is." He turned the knob to the front door, and was greeted by loud drums and a wailing guitar. Taylor looked over his shoulder and smiled at Madi's shocked expression. He took her hand and led her inside. Closing the door behind her, he gave her a minute to take in the surroundings. Taylor took her bags from her and led her down a short hall to a bedroom. It was pretty much bare, a large area rug under the queen size four poster bed, covering the noney colored hardwood floor. A matching dresser to the bed sat against the wall immediately to the left of the door. On the nixt wall were closed closet doors. Across from the door was a small night stand with an alarm clock and a lamp, under a huge window with the cream blinds pulled half way up. The window continued behind the headboard of the bed, and behind another end table, with only a third full bottle of water. On the wall immediately to the right of the door, it was decorated with light wood shelves holding various awards and records.
"This is where we'll be." Taylor told her. She could only nod. he dropped the bags and siutcases on the bed and set them up on the floor. "Come on. I'll give you the tour." He took her hand and started by the bathroom across the hall. They ended in the living room, where the music was coming from. Madi and Taylor stood, listening to Zac and Isaac jam, quiet in case they were recording. When they were done, they smiled and waved.
"How long have you guys been here?" Zac asked.
"About half an hour," Taylor said.
"You should have joined in. We could have used you on that last part."
"Next time." Taylor said, waiving a hand. "I'm starving. You guys wanna get something to eat?"
"We barely ordered pizza. In the fridge." Isaac told Taylor.
"Awesome." He turned to Madi. "Want some?"
"No thanks." Taylor shrugged and went off to the kitchen.
"So Madilynn. How was your flight?" Isaac asked, tuning his guitar.
"Good. Short, uneventful."
"That's cool. Have you ever been to Tulsa before?"
"No, I've just passed by on my way to Dallas. I've always wanted to detour, though." Isaac smiled at her, plucking a couple strings.
"We'll have to go out one night. What are your guys's plans for tomorrow?"
"I think we'll be visiting your family." Madi smiled when Zac rolled his eyes.
"So soon? They're crazy!"
Madilynn laughed. "Tay promised your mom." Zac nodded, understanding.
"Alright. Well, I suppose I'll go with, since Tay'll probably abandon you and make you fend for yourself- and I'll help you out."
Madi smiled, gratefully. "Thank you. I'd appreciate that."
"Appreciate what?" Taylor asked, stopping next to Madi, stuffing hot pizza into his mouth.
"Oh, nothing." Zac said, then began to pound on the kick drum, preventing any further questions. Taylor glaired at Zac, and Zac looked away, knowing Taylor was giving him an evil look. Madilynn had to smile. This first hand look into their interaction with eachother off stage and off camera was priceless.
The next day, everything went smoothly. Zac was right for the most part, but only for the first couple of hours while Taylor cought up with his parents. Then he joined Madi, Zac and the rest of the kids in the den, engrossed in a game of Pictionary.
"Zac, everyone knows you draw the best, you stay on our team." Taylor said, wedging himself between his younger brother and Madilynn. The rest of the group groaned.
"That's cheating!" Mackie said.
"I won't draw," Madi volunteered, trying to soothe. "And I'll rotate guessing on teams." She continued. She waited while they contemplated her offer.
"Alright." Mackie said, nodding. "But it's our turn." He told Taylor.
"Fine." The game continued through the afternoon, and up until dinner, when Diana called. By the time dessert was being served, Madi was beginning to feel like she was fitting in pretty well, especially for so soon and for so many people. Madi let Taylor know when they were in bed back at his place.
"You have a great family, Tay." She layed on her side, head resting on his shoulder and a hand on his bare chest.
"I know. They really like you."
"Do they?" He rean a hand down her arm.
"Yeah. Especially after the whole Pictionary thing when you won it for Jess and Zoe." Madi laughed, remembering their thank you hugs afterward.
"That was pretty cool."
"Thanks for sacrificing yourself for the good of the game," he said smiling. She could hear it in his voice.
"Whatever keeps the peace and lets us all play."
"That's a good mentality." Taylor rolled over on top of her. "I like keeping our peace like this." He kissed her slow and gentle, making her head go light.
Chapter Nineteen