Falling For The Man I Married

"A friend and a suitor?"

"Yes. What's that boy's name again?"

She said thinking the name of whoever it was. I felt my heart stop beating as I waited for her to speak again. 

"Oh, it's Garry!" she squealed excitedly. 

"Garry?"

"No.No, wait! It's not Garry." then she tried thinking again. "Ahh... it's Greg! Yeah, it's Greg I'm sure of it. Thank God, I finally remember the name of that sweet boy."

Then I was left thinking. Greg. I wasn't sure if the person she was talking about was the same person I know. Greg also studied in Florida and Florida is Madi's homeland. But as they say, there's no harm in trying... trying to ask. 

"What's the name again of her friend?"

"His name is Greg. Come here, she has a picture of him. They were so close back in their school days. They took the same course and this sweet boy was always taking care of my daughter."

She took my hand and we sat on the three-seater sofa near the last cabinet. She took something from the drawer. An album. A photo album. 

"Here. You can see their pictures and their circle of friends in college."

She gave me the green album and started scanning the pages, but my hand was stuck in one of the photos. It's Madi with three girls and 'Greg' my cousin and my best friend, wearing a cooking school uniform. 

"Greg Anderson," I muttered just to myself but she heard it. 

"Yes, Greg Anderson. How did you know him and his last name?" she asked looking directly into my eyes. 

"Uhm..."

"I usually call him Anderson boy. He's the one who never stopped being friends with my daughter and you know what, I remember once he asked me if he can go out and court my daughter. And then I told him, it's not my decision to make, but he never stopped. Until now he keeps coming back just to know if she's okay and ask about her situation. He's very persistent and has great patience because it's been eight years since his feelings for Madi started.

I frowned with the newest information I heard. Madi's identity was a lot to take, but knowing she and Greg were best friends in college and he's still insistent on going out with her until now, it makes me want to punch something. I put my fist under the photo album and formed it in a hardball. 

"Wait, I'm not telling you this to make you jealous. I'm just sharing a little bit of my daughter's life and school days story."

Mom, it's okay

deep inside, I really wanted to see my dearest cousin and punch him over and over in his face. Now, understand why he told me to take care of Madi for him. Why he was so affected when he met my assistant and when we got married. Now

don't worry, it's in the past and my daughter

I have something to confess, Mom." I said closing the cover of the album.

"Yes, what is it."

Anderson is my best friend. He's actually my cousin. First cousin on my

see you with him in the last few

originally from Chicago, but after our high school graduation, they moved here to Florida and he finished his studies here while our family also migrated to Belleville, but our business

see, but does my daughter know about this

actually introduced her to my

she said

"We're actually engaged, Mom."

widened with what I blurted out. She also straightened her seat. Actually, I don't really know why I did that, but I just felt a little possessive now with Madi, especially when I heard that Greg wasn't just

my God! Is that true? Were

finish my sentence when she lunged at me and hugged

you good heavens. Praise the Almighty God! My daughter is finally

fell open with

thank you, Gabriel," she said when she calm down already.

"For what, Mom?"

there for her. I know sometimes she's really stubborn, but she's a fine woman, son. I hope you can extend your patience even further with it comes in

that's exactly my first impression

your favorite food, dishes or cake flavor? I'll cook for you personally!"

need to do that, Mom, it's

on, tell your mother-in-law, don't be shy, you're part of this family from

of my neck. Madi is going to kill me if she knows about

just help Madi in the kitchen." I tried to suggest but

said with a chuckle and I frowned. "Remember, she comes from a cooking school and she's a professional cook. All of her restaurants have been started by her own hands, her dishes and

deeper after the conversation with her mother and at the same time, my eagerness to become a better man for her has doubled. She deserves someone who can love her and protect her against this cruel world. But right now, I'm not that person who can do it because it was I who personally dragged

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Madi's POV:

stares while we're eating dinner earlier. It's creepy and I don't know what to feel. It started when he got back from I don't know where, with my Mom. But now we were in the swimming pool, both of us sitting on the edge, while both of our feet were submerged in the water and still, I can feel his intense gaze on my face. I sighed and looked

you wanted to ask? Something