Post by Admin on Sept 11, 2015 16:23:28 GMT -5
Monday
Maddie spent the entire night watching old movies on TV and crying into her pillow. And what little sleep she did manage to get was filled with dreams filled with images of twinkling green eyes and a crooked grin; and to Maddie’s utmost horror she had woken up twisted in the sheets, moaning his name in the throes of a very real orgasm. She was mortified to realize that her body craved his with a throbbing pulse that was unalleviated by her nocturnal climax. She knew that she would miss him but she never imagined that she would yearn for David with an ache that was almost physical. And due to her jumbled emotions and sexual frustration Maddie found that instead of being able to think clearly she was more confused than ever. Maybe she had made the wrong decision to run to Chicago but she had believed that the comfort of her childhood home would allow her thoughts to run free and clear but she never realized that missing and longing for David Addison would take up so much of her thoughts. Also, because of her spontaneous trip she no longer had only David to fret over but now she had her parents’ concern and questions to worry about too.
Forcing herself out of bed, Maddie felt as if her legs were made of lead as she pushed herself toward the bathroom hoping that a hot bath would help her contemplation. But as the warm water lapped around her, Maddie’s traitorous body began to ache for David. Images of them entwined in her huge tub and his small tub began to race through her mind. She laid her head back and moaned as she remembered how David’s strong hands had so gently sponged her heated body. Her hand wandered between her legs when she thought about just the other night and how David had made passionate love to her in the small tub at his place and how she had come again and again as the water ran over the sides. She could almost hear him chuckling as he brought her to orgasm over and over and the sound of that deep husky laugh in her head led her to another pulsating climax this time by her own hand. Instead of feeling relaxed after her climax, Maddie felt annoyed at herself for allowing her body to rule her head even 2000 miles away from David Addison! And childishly she felt her anger directed toward David for turning her into a shameless hussy ruled by the nub between her legs!
**********************
David Addison’s night hadn’t been any better than Maddie Hayes’. He had drank a few beers hoping that would help him fall asleep but his anger and bitterness wouldn’t allow his any rest. He had tossed and turned and when he had finally fallen asleep his dreams were filled with images of his runaway blonde. Not wanting to risk falling asleep again after one terrible nightmare of Maddie marrying Sam Crawford, David jumped in the shower to start his day.
What was one of the hardest things David had ever done in his life, David walked into Blue Moon as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Damn if he’d allow the wobblies to see how badly Maddie Hayes had hurt him. So donning his Addison attitude, David strode into the office with a crooked grin. “Morning Miss Dipesto!” He grinned at his quirky receptionist.
“Morning Mr. Addison!” Agnes greeted him with a huge smile. She nodded to Maddie’s office. “Miss Hayes isn’t in yet.” Agnes was wondering why David was in so early on a Monday morning. He usually didn’t come in before 9 unless he had an early meeting with a client.
David nodded then ran a hand through his just combed hair. “Miss Hayes won’t be in for a while.” He told Agnes hiding his sadness and hurt.
Agnes’ head snapped up. “Why? Where is she?” Her voice was shrill and panicky. She didn’t like this one bit. What was going on between her two pig headed bosses now?
David gestured for her to calm down. “It’s all good. She’s in Chicago visiting her folks.”
Agnes’ mother didn’t give birth to a dummy; she knew there was more to this story than Mr. Addison was divulging. “Why would she leave to visit her parents’ now? You guys are working on lots of cases together!” Her shrewd eyes bore into David.
David shrugged pretending nonchalance. “She’ll be back soon.” He winked. “She can’t stay away from me for long. We both know that.” He only wished he believed his own lies.
Agnes nodded forcing a smile to her face. She didn’t want to let on that she saw through David’s pretense. “Oh sure. Mr. Addison.” She nodded quickly. “She’ll be back real soon.”
David nodded and smiled as he strode into his office. He closed the door behind him then leaned against it and covered his face with his hands. This was going to be much harder than he imagined. Being at the office knowing that Maddie wasn’t going to be in anytime soon was like a dagger to his already destroyed heart. He moved slowly to his office chair where he plopped himself down with a heartfelt sigh of sadness. But instead of wallowing in his misery David picked up the files on his desk and began to look over the opened cases. If he was going to keep his sanity he had to keep busy. He got along almost 30 years without Maddie Hayes so he was sure he would be able to get through the day without her. And he did barely. He never believed that missing someone could hurt physically – even his skin ached. Holding his throbbing head in his hands David had to fight the urge to pick up the phone to call Maddie. Maybe hearing her voice would ease his pain? But she had told him not to call her so she could think so maybe calling her would actually lead her to stay longer because he disturbed her thinking? David almost laughed at the absurdity of his thoughts but then again this was Maddie Hayes he was thinking about. She had always been temperamental and hard to handle but since they started boinking she was even worse than usual. With a Herculean effort David pushed Maddie out of his mind then he rounded up Bert Viola to go into the field with him to do some leg work for a couple of cases.
Although he tried to keep Maddie out of his thoughts throughout the day he couldn’t help wishing that she was the one who was with him instead of the talkative Viola. Did the man ever shut up David wondered with annoyance?
Bert Viola knew from Agnes that Miss Hayes had left for Chicago and like his girlfriend, the short man could see through David Addison’s bulletproof mask. He thought that if the other man had a wise ear to talk into he’d feel better. “Mr. Addison sir.” Bert took a sip of his Coke. The two men had stopped off for a quick lunch at a fast food place. The cheeseburger David was eating tasted like cardboard and now he was just staring into space imagining what Maddie was doing in a city 2000 miles away.
Bert looked across the table at his boss; either the man hadn’t heard him or he was ignoring him so Bert cleared his throat nervously. “Mr. Addison.” He called louder making David’s head snap up.
“What is it?” David’s voice wasn’t friendly but Bert plowed on.
“I know you must be wishing that you were breaking bread at this moment with the beautiful Miss Hayes…”
David’s eyes threw a warning. “Talking about breaking…”
Bert continued unflustered. “I am positive sir that your ladylove will be back in your arms very soon.” Bert shuffled in his seat as David’s green eyes bore into him like a dagger. “May I ask what called Miss Hayes to the Windy City?”
“What?” David snapped at Viola. The last thing that David wanted was the office wobblies to pity him that Maddie had left. He had to pretend that her absence was just a blip on his radar screen.
“I just asked the circumstances that sent your love goddess across the country and away from your strong arms.” Bert idolized David and wanted to see him as happy with Miss Hayes as he was with his love muffin Agnes.
David forced a smile to his face but if Bert was watching closely he would have seen that the smile didn’t reach David’s eyes. “It’s all good my little short man.” David lied. “The blonde is just visiting her folks. We just had a long conversation this morning.” David winked jauntily, “she misses me bad. She’ll be back soon. Don’t you worry your curly head.”
A huge smile covered Viola’s scruffy face. “How wonderful sir.” He sat up straighter and picked up his half-eaten burger. “I just knew that it had to be something like that. I told Agnes that Miss Hayes loved you too much to just up and leave for no good reason.” Bert took a huge bite of his burger.
David’s smile fell a bit as he listened to Bert. In David’s eyes, Maddie had left him for no good reason so maybe she loved him but just not enough. The ache in David’s heart felt almost physical and the bite of burger he had just swallowed felt like a lump in his throat but not wanting to show Bert that anything was amiss he just nodded and tried to finish his lunch.
****
Halfway across the country Maddie was also trying to force down the breakfast her mother had prepared for her. Once again Maddie realized that she may have made a mistake in coming home to think about her situation with David. Her parents, although well-meaning and concerned about her, were not giving her much time for careful consideration and contemplation. Before she could squelch it, Maddie sighed deeply.
Virginia looked over at her daughter with eyes filled with concern and love. “Maddie please tell me what’s bothering you.” She put down her coffee mug on the table. “I’m your mother and I love you. Maybe I can be of some help or anyway just an ear to listen.”
Before Maddie could reply she was filled with an overwhelming nausea that had her running to the bathroom where she threw up the little bit of food she had just eaten. Feeling dizzy and weak, Maddie sat by the toilet with her eyes closed willing her stomach to stop recoiling with nausea. A second later she felt a cold rag placed on her forehead.
Maddie squeezed her mother’s hand and gave her a weak smile. “Thanks mom.”
Virginia didn’t reply she just sat on the toilet and wiped the sweat and tears off of Maddie’s face.
“Well it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to guess that I’m having a baby.” Maddie blurted out without looking at her mother. Even though, she was a grown woman with her own home and business, Maddie felt like a wayward teenage girl telling her mother she was pregnant.
In the back of her mind, Virginia had tossed around the idea that Maddie may be pregnant when she noticed that tired faraway look in her daughter’s eyes still there this morning. “It’s a wonderful thing Maddie!” She exclaimed happily. “A baby!”
Maddie shook her head and placed it on her mother’s lap. “A baby with no father.”
Virginia put her hand under Maddie’s chin and tilted her daughter’s head up so she could look into her eyes. “I’m sure your baby has a father who will love it very much.”
Maddie’s eyes filled with tears. “Yes. I suppose so.” But she didn’t sound very sure of her words.
“I suppose the father is David?” Virginia prodded gently.
“You know it’s David!” Maddie snapped then was instantly sorry. “I’m sorry mom. I didn’t mean to snap.” Then she put her head back in Virginia’s lap as another fear overwhelmed her. She began to sob brokenly.
“What is it darling?” Virginia asked concern coating her voice. “Doesn’t David want the baby?”
Maddie shook her head as her mind raced. Since the first minute Maddie had thought she might be pregnant she had pushed the thought out of her mind that the baby could be anyone’s but David’s but now far away from David her brain was a little clearer and she realized that there was a very slight but still a possibility that the baby might be Sam Crawford’s. And until a doctor could pinpoint exactly how far along that she was Maddie wouldn’t know for sure. Brokenly, she related to her mother all her worries over the baby and David.
Virginia took in all that her daughter had to say. She could understand Maddie’s worries over the paternity of the baby but in her heart she was sure that the baby belonged to David. When she had first laid eyes on him last year, Virginia could see how the young man adored her daughter. And when they had dinner together a few weeks ago she knew that he was crazy about Maddie. No man looks at a woman the way David looked at Maddie unless he was madly in love with her. Virginia relayed her thoughts to Maddie as they sat at the kitchen table with hot cups of tea.
Maddie was feeling a little better. Just letting her mother know of her troubles felt as if a huge boulder had been lifted off her chest. And the tea seemed to have settled her stomach. “Why didn’t you ever tell me this about David?” She sighed. “At times I’m not sure he even likes me very much.”
Her mother let out a laugh. “Oh Maddie you know that’s not true at all.” Then Virginia smiled with a womanly smile of wisdom. “And that’s not something someone can tell you. You had to find it out for yourself.”
“But dad thinks…”
A quick shake of her head. “Maddie your father is wrong about David.”
“I don’t know mom. Sometimes I feel exactly the same things about him.”
Virginia looked closely into her daughter’s eyes. “Then if you really believe that David is not in it for the long haul your decision should be much easier.”
Maddie put her head in her hands. “But that’s the problem! I’m really not sure that he won’t stay with me. I mean he’s always been there for me since we started working together. And although he enjoys a good party and loves to joke around I think that David would be a wonderful father.”
“And husband?” Virginia probed delicately.
Maddie shrugged. “I don’t think he’d be a bad husband.” A soft smile covered her lips. “OK I think he’d be a good husband.”
“You love him very much don’t you?”
Maddie shrugged and nodded. “I suppose so.”
Virginia kissed Maddie on her forehead then stood up to leave. “I’m going to make you some toast with jam just the way I used to do when you were a little girl.” She smiled down at her daughter with affection. “And no matter what happens with David you have been given a great gift. A baby is a joy Maddie.”
When Virginia got up to make the toast with jam, Maddie sat at the table alone deep in thought. She put her hand over her still flat belly and whispered softly, “I love you little one. And I am going to make sure that I do the right thing for you – for us.” But what was the right thing? That is what she needed time to discover. But suddenly another dreadful thought poured into her tired brain. Her face paled with anxiety.
When Virginia came back to the table she saw that Maddie’s face looked almost as white as snow. Concern etched her face as she placed the food in front of Maddie then looked closely at her daughter’s face. “What is it dear? Are you feeling ill again?”
Maddie shook her head then looked up at her mother with eyes filled with dread. “What are we going to tell dad?” Maddie’s voice was shaky. “He may not think that my having a baby out of wedlock is such a wonderful idea.”
Virginia patted Maddie’s hand. “Leave your father to me.” She promised as she started brought the tea pot over to the table and poured the steaming liquid into their mugs. “Just eat your toast and drink some more tea. It will be fine.” She hoped as she thought about her old-fashioned stubborn husband.
*******
“WHAT?” Alex roared. “He knocked her up! I have a mind to go out there and pound some sense into that young man!”
Virginia and Alex were in their bedroom where she had just broken the news to her husband that Maddie was having a baby. She knew that her husband would not be as filled with joy as she was over this news. Alex was a good man but he was still very old fashioned especially when it came to his daughter. She looked at her husband purposefully. “Keep your voice down Alex.” She ordered. “You don’t want Maddie to hear that you’re upset!”
“I am upset!” He was pacing back and forth across their spacious bedroom. “And you know my feelings about that Addison character. How could she have been so foolish?” In his eyes David had seduced Maddie and abandoned her.
“Stop that now!” Virginia demanded. “First of all David doesn’t even know about the baby. Our daughter left town without a word.” She shook her head. “So maybe it’s Maddie who isn’t the one to stick around Alex!”
Alex looked at his wife in silence. “But why would she do that?”
Virginia shrugged. “I don’t know maybe because she is as stubborn and pig headed as you are. And she says she needed time away from David to think.” Virginia knew she had to tell her husband the whole story. “And she isn’t certain that the baby is David’s.”
Alex stopped pacing. “What? Are you saying our daughter doesn’t know who fathered her child? Is she sleeping around in that den of inequity where she resides!?”
Virginia went to her husband and took his hand. She pulled him to the bed where they sat down side by side. She put her hand behind Alex’s neck. “Stop that. You know Maddie is a good decent woman.”
“But sleeping with two men at the same time?” Alex was confused.
Virginia shared with Alex Maddie’s story of what had happened with Sam Crawford; when she was done Alex stood up. “Sam!?” Alex shook his head. “So maybe she should call Crawford up immediately; he will do the right thing.”
“Maddie would rather raise this child alone then bring Sam into the picture.” She looked at her husband with disdain. “And I never liked Sam very much. He always seemed like a snake in the grass to me.” She shrugged. “Anyway, hopefully the baby is David’s.”
Alex wasn’t so sure. He liked Maddie’s partner but wasn’t sure if he was the right man for his little girl. Like he had told Maddie on two different occasions – David Addison seemed like a real fun guy, the life of the party and a good detective but was he ready and willing to settle down with a wife and now a baby. “What are Maddie’s plans?” Alex wanted to know.
Another shrug. “Right now she just wants to be alone to think and see what will be best for her and the baby.”
Alex harrumphed loudly. “What’s best for her and the baby is a husband and father!” He shook his head with scorn. “How can she even consider raising a child alone?”
Virginia went over to her husband and put her arms around his ample waist. “She wouldn’t be alone dear. She’ll always have us to help and support her.”
Alex nodded but he wouldn’t be satisfied until he saw her wedding band on Maddie’s finger.
Later that night Maddie was sitting in bed trying to read when she saw her dad walk passed her room. She knew her mother had related the news of her pregnancy to her father and she’d been surprised that he hadn’t immediately come to her to discuss it. She didn’t know if that was a good sign or a bad one. But she did know that she wanted to know how her dad was taking this surprising news. “Dad!” She called to him putting the book down and sitting up straight in her bed.
Alex stopped short when he heard Maddie’s voice. After his wife had told him about the baby, his first instinct was to run to Maddie to talk some sense into her but after Virginia convinced him to give their daughter the time she needed to make her own decision he had reluctantly agreed not to talk to Maddie until he had calmed down. But now she was the one who was reaching out to him but he would try his best to be diplomatic about Maddie’s situation. He entered his daughter’s childhood room with a smile and sat on the bed next to Maddie. Patting her hand he looked around the room nostalgically. “Seems it was only yesterday that you were in this room giggling with your friends and talking about boys.” He sighed. “I miss those days.”
Maddie smiled at her father with love. “Sometimes I do too dad.” She laughed. “And even though I used to think that my life was so hard back then I realize now how easy it really was.”
“I hate to think that your life is hard now Maddie.” Alex told his daughter with a frown.
Maddie sighed and pushed back a lock of hair off of her forehead. “Being a responsible adult is hard dad.” She shrugged. “Making decisions that could influence the rest of my life is not easy.”
“No it sure isn’t.” Alex agreed then ran his hand through Maddie’s hair with love.
Maddie blinked back tears. “I’m sorry daddy.”
Alex was confused. “Sorry? Sorry about what?”
“I think that you’re ashamed of me.” She tried to hold back her tears.
“For what?”
“I’m having a baby and I’m not married!” She looked into her dad’s eyes and all she could see was love and confusion in their blue depths. “I must be an embarrassment to you now.”
“Stop that now young lady.” Her father demanded loudly. “I could never be ashamed of you Maddie. You are the best daughter a father could hope for.” Alex nodded to Maddie’s flat belly. “And that’s my grandchild you’re carrying. And there is nothing embarrassing about that!” And he realized that he meant every word he was saying.
“Ok.”
Alex looked into his daughter’s eyes which were filled with anxiety. “I love you Maddie and I’m going to love that baby you’re carrying.” He placed a tendril of her hair behind her ear. “And I’m not saying that your mother and I won’t be around to help and support you but I think that it may be better for you and this child if you marry the father.”
Maddie recoiled slightly from her father. “I’m not so sure that will happen.”
“And why not? If its David’s baby you don’t think he’ll do the right thing and marry you?”
Maddie shrugged. “Oh I’m sure he’ll do the right thing but will it be for the right reasons?” She took her father’s hand in hers. “When David was 18 years old he made a girl pregnant…” Slowly Maddie told her father the story of David and Tess. “So do I really want to trap him into another shotgun wedding?”
“Of course not but this is different.” Alex insisted. “Do you love him?”
Maddie nodded.
“Does he love you?”
“He says he does.”
“So what’s the problem? Couples get caught short all the time.”
“We’re not like other couples dad.” Maddie snapped. “Please this is my decision. This is my life. I need to consider all my options.”
Alex stood up with a scowl covering his rugged features. “You need to do what’s best for that child growing in your belly. When you have a child it isn’t about you and your feelings anymore Maddie.” Alex told her gruffly. “That child’s feelings come first all the time. And you need to think of what’s best for your baby.” And with that he left her room closing the door softly behind him.
When her father left her room, Maddie laid back on her bed and put the covers over her head. Why didn’t her parents understand that she was thinking of what was best for the baby? If she wasn’t pregnant she probably would have stayed with David and seen how things worked out but knowing she was having a baby she had to leave to sort out her feelings, her life and her decisions about that life. She also had to be positive that this baby inside of her was David’s and not Sam’s before she even considered being with David. Maddie pulled the covers tightly around her body and tried to ward off the tears that threatened. Since she got to Chicago she seemed to always be on the verge of tears and now wasn’t the time to lose control and focus. There was a problem that needed to be worked out. She only wished the problem she was focusing on was whether to go to the prom with Pete or Mike and not who was the father of the baby that she was carrying.
Three Weeks Later
Virginia had on an ear to ear smile as she walked out of the doctor’s office with Maddie. Maddie was also happy to discover that she was a little more than 6 weeks pregnant – so that meant it had to be David’s baby since Sam was long gone by then. She wanted to jump up and down and fall to her knees in thanks at the same time. Maddie turned to her mother and grabbed her in for a huge hug. “Thanks Mom!”
“Thanks for what dear?”
“For putting up with me for the last three weeks.”
When Maddie had gone to the doctor the week that she had first come to Chicago the doctor had informed her that it was still too soon to pinpoint how far along she was in her pregnancy. She was told she needed to return in three weeks and then hopefully they could zoom in on the time of conception. Today had been the appointment she had both dreaded and anticipated. Maddie knew she had not been easy to live with for the last few weeks.
She missed David desperately and was both hurt and angry that he hadn’t made any attempt to contact her. Oh he had written her one letter telling her how miserable he was without her but when she had rushed to the phone to call him she had gotten his answering machine. Since it was a Saturday night Maddie doubted he was working so of course her mind immediately thought the worst; that he was out carousing and had no plans to sit at home to wait for her. Of course she didn’t expect David to stay home every night waiting for her return but then again maybe she did want that! If he truly loved her he would at least call her up to see what was going on! But he hadn’t. Maddie had spoken to Agnes a few times so she knew that the agency was running along fine and that David was still alive – for now!
“Maddie?” Her mother’s voice penetrated her reverie. They were seated at her mother’s favorite restaurant. “Have you heard one word that I’ve said since we sat down?” Virginia knew that Maddie’s mind had been far away and she thought she knew who and what she was thinking of.
“Oh sorry mom.” Maddie poured two glasses of iced water then took a long sip of hers. “I was just thinking about the baby.”
“And of David?” She could see through her daughter every time. She was wondering if her daughter had spoken to him since she’d been there but she hadn’t wanted to pry.
Maddie shrugged pretending a nonchalance she didn’t feel. “Oh sure. Maybe.”
“Now you can tell him!”
“Tell him? Tell him what?”
“About the baby?”
A frown marred Maddie’s brow. “And why would I do that?” She still wasn’t sure what she was planning to do and now that she hadn’t heard a word from David Addison for over three weeks she wasn’t sure if he even cared about her at all.
Virginia frowned at her daughter. “Because he is the father Maddie. And it’s the right thing to do.” She looked at her daughter squarely. “Even if you decide that you don’t want David in your life he is still the father of that baby and he has the right to be in that baby’s life if he wants.”
Maddie nodded slowly. “I know.”
“So what’s holding you back darling? Don’t you think he’d be happy about the baby?”
Maddie had no clue. “I guess so.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
Virginia sighed sometimes her daughter acted more like a teenager than a 36 year old woman. “Well maybe it’s time you found out.”
“Yeah maybe.” Maddie mumbled; she was happy when the waiter approached and interrupted the conversation. By the time they had ordered and their food had come, Maddie had turned the conversation away from David.
****
David Addison felt a pair of brown eyes boring into his back but ignored them; instead he put his arm around the shapely brunette and pulled her in for a deep kiss. The woman giggled as she wrapped her slender arms around David’s waist and pressed her body against his. David chuckled as his hands landed on her round butt. His bleary eyes moved around the club looking for a waiter. He badly needed another drink. But instead of his eyes falling on a passing waiter they locked on to the reproachful eyes of Bert Viola. Inwardly David sighed. “Viola my man can you totter down to the bar and get me a shot of tequila.” He looked down at the woman whose name he had already forgotten, but David had no interest in the woman’s name. “And get this sexy thing here whatever her heart desires.” He squeezed her ass. The woman giggled again. “I desire you baby.” Her tongue flicked out and ran over his ear. “But your friend can get me a screwdriver.”
“I do like that word screw.” David laughed but Viola didn’t find anything funny. He also refused to do David’s bidding when he was so shamelessly wrapped around a brazen floozy when he was supposed to be waiting for Miss Hayes to return. Although Bert knew that Maddie had been gone for a very long time he had no clue that David hadn’t spoken to her since the day she had left. And David’s ego and pride wouldn’t admit to his short sidekick that he was dying a little each day that Maddie was gone. But tonight he had made the decision to turn back the clock to the old runaround David Addison. He didn’t need any complicated blonde to ruin the rest of his life. Tonight he was getting drunk and getting laid. David was already three sheets to the wind and since the woman he was holding had her hand halfway down his pants he was sure that his plan was going to be a success.
David pried the woman’s hands off him so he could use the men’s room. After half a dozen beers and who knows how many shots of tequila his bladder was set to explode. As soon as he entered the men’s room and before he could even get his zipper down he heard Bert slam into the bathroom.
“Mr. Addison. Sir!” Bert moved closer to his idol. “I feel I must say something to stop this madness!”
David ignored Bert as he relieved himself with a long sigh into the urinal.
“Mr. Addison I am speaking to you sir.” Bert spoke louder.
“I’m not deaf Bertie boy.” David laughed as he zippered up his jeans and turned to the shorter man. “I’m just ignoring you.”
“I don’t understand.” Bert shook his curly head. “You are so in love with Miss Hayes. And she is only away for a short time.” He nodded toward the bar. “Do you really feel the need to be with a woman who can’t shine the shoes of your lady love?”
David gave a bitter laugh. “Yeah sure the lady love who I haven’t heard a word from for how long is it? Three weeks now?” David ran his hands through his hair leaving it sticking up in angry spikes. He saw the surprise and confusion on Bert’s face. “Yeah short man I fucking lied. I haven’t spoken to that nutty blonde since the day she took off.”
Bert was flabbergasted. “But Mr. Addison. I don’t know what to say?” Knowing David Addison, Bert understood why his idol hadn’t admitted that he hadn’t heard a word from his runaway love but doing what he planned to do tonight wasn’t going to make things any better. “But having relations with a stranger won’t help your relationship with Miss Hayes.”
David squeezed the bulge in his pants crudely. “Maybe not but it will sure relieve the ache in my pants.” He shook his head. “Been a good little boy waiting with my zipper zipped.” He started toward the door. “But hey going steady with my left hand is growing old. And anyway I doubt Maddie would give a damn what I do.”
“You know that is not true Mr. Addison.” Bert pointed his stubby finger David’s way. “That woman loves you.”
David shrugged. “Yeah well she sure has a great way of showing it.” And with those words he left the bathroom and headed back to the shapely brunette whose name he didn’t remember.
David felt like a hammer was pounding on his head as he tried to sit up in the strange bed he had awoken in. Where the hell was he? He looked over to the other side of the bed where a naked brunette was dead to the world. The events of the previous night started slowly moving their way into his hungover brain. Damn. He didn’t even remember boinking the chick but now he was eager to get as far away from her as soon as possible. As he creeped off the bed and began to quietly gather up his discarded clothes he heard the woman rustling in the bed. “David right?”
He turned to the woman as he quickly threw on his clothes. “Yep. That’s my name.” He couldn’t for the life of him recall her name. “Listen honey. I have to get to work but I’ll give you a call sometime.” Yeah sure. David had used that line too many times to remember in his days before he got sexually involved with Maddie Hayes. He had thought that he wouldn’t ever have to utter those words again. He inwardly sighed as he finished dressing.
The woman lit a cigarette as she silently watched him dress. He was one hell of a man. “Yeah sure baby.” She grinned showing sharp teeth. “Call me sometime.” She knew that he wouldn’t call her anytime soon especially since he had called out another woman’s name when he came into her last night. Men.
David stumbled out of the woman’s apartment and at first didn’t know where he was but as his eyes took on the surroundings he realized he was in Venice Beach. He looked at his watch and saw it was nearly 6 am. David began to walk.
****
When Maddie woke up that cold rainy morning she knew she had a big decision to make. Now that she knew that the baby she was carrying was David’s she realized that she needed to call him as soon as possible but his silence kept her from picking up the phone. The thought that he had gone on with his life and didn’t miss her at all was like a sharp blade cutting through her battered heart.
For three long weeks she had thought of him every single waking minute and his face filled her dreams every night. Instead of thinking clearly about their relationship, Maddie felt more confused than ever. Maybe she should never have left LA. So many thoughts were running through her frazzled brain. Thankfully, her parents were having lunch at their club with a couple they were friendly with. Of course they had asked Maddie to accompany them but the last thing that she wanted to do was to spend the afternoon being grilled by her parents’ friends on why she was so beautiful but still without a husband. Sometimes she wondered the same thing about herself. Most women her age were already married with a couple of kids. Even though her life had been different since she was a teenager Maddie knew that there was no reason she hadn’t had a lasting love relationship in her life. So far the longest relationship she had was with Sam Crawford. And although she could have accepted his proposal she didn’t love him enough to be his wife. But the thought of David as her husband filled her with anxiety. She truly believed she was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Sighing again even more deeply Maddie decided to take a hot bubble bath. She had always done her best thinking submerged in fragrant bubbles.
****
Agnes and Bert were the only ones in the office that cold grey morning. David was late and the others were in training classes until later in the day.
“Herbert Quinton Viola you surely must have hit your head this morning!” Agnes cried shrilly at Bert who was holding the phone in his hand.
“Agnes leave me be. Miss Hayes has to come home. I won’t tell her the truth I will make up an emergency!”
After leaving David Addison with that woman the previous night, Bert had been filled with anxiety and guilt. He had spent the rest of that night tossing and turning. Not being one to withhold secrets from his lady love, Bert had told Agnes of Mr. Addison’s indiscretion. Agnes was shocked and disappointed in her beloved boss. She couldn’t wait for him to show up so that she could give him a piece of her mind! But the idea of Bert calling Miss Hayes and making up an excuse for her to come back to LA didn’t sit right with Agnes. Plus the fact that Bert couldn’t keep a secret if it killed him so she feared he might slip out with the real reason for the phone call – and that would be a disaster. So now she was trying to pry the phone out of Bert’s hand as he was dialing the number for Maddie’s parents. “Bert put that phone down or I swear I will kick you hard!”
“Kick me all you want my love bunny but a man has to do what a man has to do!”
“This is not your business!” Agnes insisted as she lashed out with her foot hitting Bert squarely in his kneecap.
“Ow!” Bert cried as he dropped the phone so he could rub the fast forming bruise on his right knee. “You kicked me!”
“I said I was going to Herbert!” Agnes glared at him in disgust. “No way are you going to interfere in Miss Hayes and Mr. Addison’s relationship!”
Neither realized that the phone had been dialed and after no one picked up the answering machine was now recording everything that they were saying.
“I can’t allow Mr. Addison to bed another woman while Miss Hayes is away.” Bert cried in exasperation. “His wild ways may ruin the best thing he ever had.”
“You said that he was drunk!” Agnes knew that if Bert got a hold of Miss Hayes’ ear he would blurt out the story of Mr. Addison and that woman. Agnes couldn’t let that happen. She would think of a way to bring Miss Hayes home.
“Yes he was drunk but he knew what he was doing! They couldn’t keep their hands off each other at the bar!” Bert made a disgusted face.
“Did you try to stop him?”
“Of course I did but he told me he was going to get laid and then he left with that brazen tramp!” Bert made a gagging sound. “Miss Hayes has to come back before Mr. Addison screws his way across Los Angeles!”
“That is not our business Herbert!” Agnes told him with her brown eyes filled with determination. “You hang up that phone right now. If Mr. Addison can’t keep his pants zipped then maybe its best that Miss Hayes stays in Chicago!”
Bert’s mouth dropped open. “You can’t mean that!”
Agnes threw his a nasty look. “Hang up the phone Bert or I will kick you again.”
This time Bert listened but not before their entire conversation was recorded by the Hayes’ answering machine.
*****
Maddie had enjoyed her hot bubble bath but she still felt confused and at odds with her life. Maybe she should just get on a plane and go back to LA and sort out what was really going on with David. With this thought in her mind, Maddie walked out of the bathroom and noticed that the light on the answering machine was blinking. Thinking that it might be her parents checking up on her (they always seemed to be worried) she pushed the button to hear the message.
Maddie felt as if she couldn’t breathe as she replayed the recording from Bert and Agnes. She was such an ass! Here she was crying over a man who had forgotten her so easily. Well at least now her decision was much easier. She would remain in Chicago and forget that lying cheating green-eyed snake ever existed. Maddie willed herself to be strong as she heard her parents’ key in the lock. She erased the message quickly then raced to her bedroom where she pretended to be asleep. Overcome with misery Maddie tried to concentrate on the new life growing inside of her and not on the man who had destroyed her heart and soul.
****
David never made it to Blue Moon that morning. He went home packed a bag and took the next flight to Chicago. Last night was a real wake up call for him. Having sex with random women had clearly lost its appeal. There was only one woman he wanted and that woman was 2000 miles away. So instead of worrying about pride and ego, David threw caution to the wind and decided to get the hell on a plane and confront his complex blonde. Dragging her home by her hair didn’t seem a bad idea to David as he waited to board the plane but one way or the other Maddie was coming back home with him.
Maddie spent the entire night watching old movies on TV and crying into her pillow. And what little sleep she did manage to get was filled with dreams filled with images of twinkling green eyes and a crooked grin; and to Maddie’s utmost horror she had woken up twisted in the sheets, moaning his name in the throes of a very real orgasm. She was mortified to realize that her body craved his with a throbbing pulse that was unalleviated by her nocturnal climax. She knew that she would miss him but she never imagined that she would yearn for David with an ache that was almost physical. And due to her jumbled emotions and sexual frustration Maddie found that instead of being able to think clearly she was more confused than ever. Maybe she had made the wrong decision to run to Chicago but she had believed that the comfort of her childhood home would allow her thoughts to run free and clear but she never realized that missing and longing for David Addison would take up so much of her thoughts. Also, because of her spontaneous trip she no longer had only David to fret over but now she had her parents’ concern and questions to worry about too.
Forcing herself out of bed, Maddie felt as if her legs were made of lead as she pushed herself toward the bathroom hoping that a hot bath would help her contemplation. But as the warm water lapped around her, Maddie’s traitorous body began to ache for David. Images of them entwined in her huge tub and his small tub began to race through her mind. She laid her head back and moaned as she remembered how David’s strong hands had so gently sponged her heated body. Her hand wandered between her legs when she thought about just the other night and how David had made passionate love to her in the small tub at his place and how she had come again and again as the water ran over the sides. She could almost hear him chuckling as he brought her to orgasm over and over and the sound of that deep husky laugh in her head led her to another pulsating climax this time by her own hand. Instead of feeling relaxed after her climax, Maddie felt annoyed at herself for allowing her body to rule her head even 2000 miles away from David Addison! And childishly she felt her anger directed toward David for turning her into a shameless hussy ruled by the nub between her legs!
**********************
David Addison’s night hadn’t been any better than Maddie Hayes’. He had drank a few beers hoping that would help him fall asleep but his anger and bitterness wouldn’t allow his any rest. He had tossed and turned and when he had finally fallen asleep his dreams were filled with images of his runaway blonde. Not wanting to risk falling asleep again after one terrible nightmare of Maddie marrying Sam Crawford, David jumped in the shower to start his day.
What was one of the hardest things David had ever done in his life, David walked into Blue Moon as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Damn if he’d allow the wobblies to see how badly Maddie Hayes had hurt him. So donning his Addison attitude, David strode into the office with a crooked grin. “Morning Miss Dipesto!” He grinned at his quirky receptionist.
“Morning Mr. Addison!” Agnes greeted him with a huge smile. She nodded to Maddie’s office. “Miss Hayes isn’t in yet.” Agnes was wondering why David was in so early on a Monday morning. He usually didn’t come in before 9 unless he had an early meeting with a client.
David nodded then ran a hand through his just combed hair. “Miss Hayes won’t be in for a while.” He told Agnes hiding his sadness and hurt.
Agnes’ head snapped up. “Why? Where is she?” Her voice was shrill and panicky. She didn’t like this one bit. What was going on between her two pig headed bosses now?
David gestured for her to calm down. “It’s all good. She’s in Chicago visiting her folks.”
Agnes’ mother didn’t give birth to a dummy; she knew there was more to this story than Mr. Addison was divulging. “Why would she leave to visit her parents’ now? You guys are working on lots of cases together!” Her shrewd eyes bore into David.
David shrugged pretending nonchalance. “She’ll be back soon.” He winked. “She can’t stay away from me for long. We both know that.” He only wished he believed his own lies.
Agnes nodded forcing a smile to her face. She didn’t want to let on that she saw through David’s pretense. “Oh sure. Mr. Addison.” She nodded quickly. “She’ll be back real soon.”
David nodded and smiled as he strode into his office. He closed the door behind him then leaned against it and covered his face with his hands. This was going to be much harder than he imagined. Being at the office knowing that Maddie wasn’t going to be in anytime soon was like a dagger to his already destroyed heart. He moved slowly to his office chair where he plopped himself down with a heartfelt sigh of sadness. But instead of wallowing in his misery David picked up the files on his desk and began to look over the opened cases. If he was going to keep his sanity he had to keep busy. He got along almost 30 years without Maddie Hayes so he was sure he would be able to get through the day without her. And he did barely. He never believed that missing someone could hurt physically – even his skin ached. Holding his throbbing head in his hands David had to fight the urge to pick up the phone to call Maddie. Maybe hearing her voice would ease his pain? But she had told him not to call her so she could think so maybe calling her would actually lead her to stay longer because he disturbed her thinking? David almost laughed at the absurdity of his thoughts but then again this was Maddie Hayes he was thinking about. She had always been temperamental and hard to handle but since they started boinking she was even worse than usual. With a Herculean effort David pushed Maddie out of his mind then he rounded up Bert Viola to go into the field with him to do some leg work for a couple of cases.
Although he tried to keep Maddie out of his thoughts throughout the day he couldn’t help wishing that she was the one who was with him instead of the talkative Viola. Did the man ever shut up David wondered with annoyance?
Bert Viola knew from Agnes that Miss Hayes had left for Chicago and like his girlfriend, the short man could see through David Addison’s bulletproof mask. He thought that if the other man had a wise ear to talk into he’d feel better. “Mr. Addison sir.” Bert took a sip of his Coke. The two men had stopped off for a quick lunch at a fast food place. The cheeseburger David was eating tasted like cardboard and now he was just staring into space imagining what Maddie was doing in a city 2000 miles away.
Bert looked across the table at his boss; either the man hadn’t heard him or he was ignoring him so Bert cleared his throat nervously. “Mr. Addison.” He called louder making David’s head snap up.
“What is it?” David’s voice wasn’t friendly but Bert plowed on.
“I know you must be wishing that you were breaking bread at this moment with the beautiful Miss Hayes…”
David’s eyes threw a warning. “Talking about breaking…”
Bert continued unflustered. “I am positive sir that your ladylove will be back in your arms very soon.” Bert shuffled in his seat as David’s green eyes bore into him like a dagger. “May I ask what called Miss Hayes to the Windy City?”
“What?” David snapped at Viola. The last thing that David wanted was the office wobblies to pity him that Maddie had left. He had to pretend that her absence was just a blip on his radar screen.
“I just asked the circumstances that sent your love goddess across the country and away from your strong arms.” Bert idolized David and wanted to see him as happy with Miss Hayes as he was with his love muffin Agnes.
David forced a smile to his face but if Bert was watching closely he would have seen that the smile didn’t reach David’s eyes. “It’s all good my little short man.” David lied. “The blonde is just visiting her folks. We just had a long conversation this morning.” David winked jauntily, “she misses me bad. She’ll be back soon. Don’t you worry your curly head.”
A huge smile covered Viola’s scruffy face. “How wonderful sir.” He sat up straighter and picked up his half-eaten burger. “I just knew that it had to be something like that. I told Agnes that Miss Hayes loved you too much to just up and leave for no good reason.” Bert took a huge bite of his burger.
David’s smile fell a bit as he listened to Bert. In David’s eyes, Maddie had left him for no good reason so maybe she loved him but just not enough. The ache in David’s heart felt almost physical and the bite of burger he had just swallowed felt like a lump in his throat but not wanting to show Bert that anything was amiss he just nodded and tried to finish his lunch.
****
Halfway across the country Maddie was also trying to force down the breakfast her mother had prepared for her. Once again Maddie realized that she may have made a mistake in coming home to think about her situation with David. Her parents, although well-meaning and concerned about her, were not giving her much time for careful consideration and contemplation. Before she could squelch it, Maddie sighed deeply.
Virginia looked over at her daughter with eyes filled with concern and love. “Maddie please tell me what’s bothering you.” She put down her coffee mug on the table. “I’m your mother and I love you. Maybe I can be of some help or anyway just an ear to listen.”
Before Maddie could reply she was filled with an overwhelming nausea that had her running to the bathroom where she threw up the little bit of food she had just eaten. Feeling dizzy and weak, Maddie sat by the toilet with her eyes closed willing her stomach to stop recoiling with nausea. A second later she felt a cold rag placed on her forehead.
Maddie squeezed her mother’s hand and gave her a weak smile. “Thanks mom.”
Virginia didn’t reply she just sat on the toilet and wiped the sweat and tears off of Maddie’s face.
“Well it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to guess that I’m having a baby.” Maddie blurted out without looking at her mother. Even though, she was a grown woman with her own home and business, Maddie felt like a wayward teenage girl telling her mother she was pregnant.
In the back of her mind, Virginia had tossed around the idea that Maddie may be pregnant when she noticed that tired faraway look in her daughter’s eyes still there this morning. “It’s a wonderful thing Maddie!” She exclaimed happily. “A baby!”
Maddie shook her head and placed it on her mother’s lap. “A baby with no father.”
Virginia put her hand under Maddie’s chin and tilted her daughter’s head up so she could look into her eyes. “I’m sure your baby has a father who will love it very much.”
Maddie’s eyes filled with tears. “Yes. I suppose so.” But she didn’t sound very sure of her words.
“I suppose the father is David?” Virginia prodded gently.
“You know it’s David!” Maddie snapped then was instantly sorry. “I’m sorry mom. I didn’t mean to snap.” Then she put her head back in Virginia’s lap as another fear overwhelmed her. She began to sob brokenly.
“What is it darling?” Virginia asked concern coating her voice. “Doesn’t David want the baby?”
Maddie shook her head as her mind raced. Since the first minute Maddie had thought she might be pregnant she had pushed the thought out of her mind that the baby could be anyone’s but David’s but now far away from David her brain was a little clearer and she realized that there was a very slight but still a possibility that the baby might be Sam Crawford’s. And until a doctor could pinpoint exactly how far along that she was Maddie wouldn’t know for sure. Brokenly, she related to her mother all her worries over the baby and David.
Virginia took in all that her daughter had to say. She could understand Maddie’s worries over the paternity of the baby but in her heart she was sure that the baby belonged to David. When she had first laid eyes on him last year, Virginia could see how the young man adored her daughter. And when they had dinner together a few weeks ago she knew that he was crazy about Maddie. No man looks at a woman the way David looked at Maddie unless he was madly in love with her. Virginia relayed her thoughts to Maddie as they sat at the kitchen table with hot cups of tea.
Maddie was feeling a little better. Just letting her mother know of her troubles felt as if a huge boulder had been lifted off her chest. And the tea seemed to have settled her stomach. “Why didn’t you ever tell me this about David?” She sighed. “At times I’m not sure he even likes me very much.”
Her mother let out a laugh. “Oh Maddie you know that’s not true at all.” Then Virginia smiled with a womanly smile of wisdom. “And that’s not something someone can tell you. You had to find it out for yourself.”
“But dad thinks…”
A quick shake of her head. “Maddie your father is wrong about David.”
“I don’t know mom. Sometimes I feel exactly the same things about him.”
Virginia looked closely into her daughter’s eyes. “Then if you really believe that David is not in it for the long haul your decision should be much easier.”
Maddie put her head in her hands. “But that’s the problem! I’m really not sure that he won’t stay with me. I mean he’s always been there for me since we started working together. And although he enjoys a good party and loves to joke around I think that David would be a wonderful father.”
“And husband?” Virginia probed delicately.
Maddie shrugged. “I don’t think he’d be a bad husband.” A soft smile covered her lips. “OK I think he’d be a good husband.”
“You love him very much don’t you?”
Maddie shrugged and nodded. “I suppose so.”
Virginia kissed Maddie on her forehead then stood up to leave. “I’m going to make you some toast with jam just the way I used to do when you were a little girl.” She smiled down at her daughter with affection. “And no matter what happens with David you have been given a great gift. A baby is a joy Maddie.”
When Virginia got up to make the toast with jam, Maddie sat at the table alone deep in thought. She put her hand over her still flat belly and whispered softly, “I love you little one. And I am going to make sure that I do the right thing for you – for us.” But what was the right thing? That is what she needed time to discover. But suddenly another dreadful thought poured into her tired brain. Her face paled with anxiety.
When Virginia came back to the table she saw that Maddie’s face looked almost as white as snow. Concern etched her face as she placed the food in front of Maddie then looked closely at her daughter’s face. “What is it dear? Are you feeling ill again?”
Maddie shook her head then looked up at her mother with eyes filled with dread. “What are we going to tell dad?” Maddie’s voice was shaky. “He may not think that my having a baby out of wedlock is such a wonderful idea.”
Virginia patted Maddie’s hand. “Leave your father to me.” She promised as she started brought the tea pot over to the table and poured the steaming liquid into their mugs. “Just eat your toast and drink some more tea. It will be fine.” She hoped as she thought about her old-fashioned stubborn husband.
*******
“WHAT?” Alex roared. “He knocked her up! I have a mind to go out there and pound some sense into that young man!”
Virginia and Alex were in their bedroom where she had just broken the news to her husband that Maddie was having a baby. She knew that her husband would not be as filled with joy as she was over this news. Alex was a good man but he was still very old fashioned especially when it came to his daughter. She looked at her husband purposefully. “Keep your voice down Alex.” She ordered. “You don’t want Maddie to hear that you’re upset!”
“I am upset!” He was pacing back and forth across their spacious bedroom. “And you know my feelings about that Addison character. How could she have been so foolish?” In his eyes David had seduced Maddie and abandoned her.
“Stop that now!” Virginia demanded. “First of all David doesn’t even know about the baby. Our daughter left town without a word.” She shook her head. “So maybe it’s Maddie who isn’t the one to stick around Alex!”
Alex looked at his wife in silence. “But why would she do that?”
Virginia shrugged. “I don’t know maybe because she is as stubborn and pig headed as you are. And she says she needed time away from David to think.” Virginia knew she had to tell her husband the whole story. “And she isn’t certain that the baby is David’s.”
Alex stopped pacing. “What? Are you saying our daughter doesn’t know who fathered her child? Is she sleeping around in that den of inequity where she resides!?”
Virginia went to her husband and took his hand. She pulled him to the bed where they sat down side by side. She put her hand behind Alex’s neck. “Stop that. You know Maddie is a good decent woman.”
“But sleeping with two men at the same time?” Alex was confused.
Virginia shared with Alex Maddie’s story of what had happened with Sam Crawford; when she was done Alex stood up. “Sam!?” Alex shook his head. “So maybe she should call Crawford up immediately; he will do the right thing.”
“Maddie would rather raise this child alone then bring Sam into the picture.” She looked at her husband with disdain. “And I never liked Sam very much. He always seemed like a snake in the grass to me.” She shrugged. “Anyway, hopefully the baby is David’s.”
Alex wasn’t so sure. He liked Maddie’s partner but wasn’t sure if he was the right man for his little girl. Like he had told Maddie on two different occasions – David Addison seemed like a real fun guy, the life of the party and a good detective but was he ready and willing to settle down with a wife and now a baby. “What are Maddie’s plans?” Alex wanted to know.
Another shrug. “Right now she just wants to be alone to think and see what will be best for her and the baby.”
Alex harrumphed loudly. “What’s best for her and the baby is a husband and father!” He shook his head with scorn. “How can she even consider raising a child alone?”
Virginia went over to her husband and put her arms around his ample waist. “She wouldn’t be alone dear. She’ll always have us to help and support her.”
Alex nodded but he wouldn’t be satisfied until he saw her wedding band on Maddie’s finger.
Later that night Maddie was sitting in bed trying to read when she saw her dad walk passed her room. She knew her mother had related the news of her pregnancy to her father and she’d been surprised that he hadn’t immediately come to her to discuss it. She didn’t know if that was a good sign or a bad one. But she did know that she wanted to know how her dad was taking this surprising news. “Dad!” She called to him putting the book down and sitting up straight in her bed.
Alex stopped short when he heard Maddie’s voice. After his wife had told him about the baby, his first instinct was to run to Maddie to talk some sense into her but after Virginia convinced him to give their daughter the time she needed to make her own decision he had reluctantly agreed not to talk to Maddie until he had calmed down. But now she was the one who was reaching out to him but he would try his best to be diplomatic about Maddie’s situation. He entered his daughter’s childhood room with a smile and sat on the bed next to Maddie. Patting her hand he looked around the room nostalgically. “Seems it was only yesterday that you were in this room giggling with your friends and talking about boys.” He sighed. “I miss those days.”
Maddie smiled at her father with love. “Sometimes I do too dad.” She laughed. “And even though I used to think that my life was so hard back then I realize now how easy it really was.”
“I hate to think that your life is hard now Maddie.” Alex told his daughter with a frown.
Maddie sighed and pushed back a lock of hair off of her forehead. “Being a responsible adult is hard dad.” She shrugged. “Making decisions that could influence the rest of my life is not easy.”
“No it sure isn’t.” Alex agreed then ran his hand through Maddie’s hair with love.
Maddie blinked back tears. “I’m sorry daddy.”
Alex was confused. “Sorry? Sorry about what?”
“I think that you’re ashamed of me.” She tried to hold back her tears.
“For what?”
“I’m having a baby and I’m not married!” She looked into her dad’s eyes and all she could see was love and confusion in their blue depths. “I must be an embarrassment to you now.”
“Stop that now young lady.” Her father demanded loudly. “I could never be ashamed of you Maddie. You are the best daughter a father could hope for.” Alex nodded to Maddie’s flat belly. “And that’s my grandchild you’re carrying. And there is nothing embarrassing about that!” And he realized that he meant every word he was saying.
“Ok.”
Alex looked into his daughter’s eyes which were filled with anxiety. “I love you Maddie and I’m going to love that baby you’re carrying.” He placed a tendril of her hair behind her ear. “And I’m not saying that your mother and I won’t be around to help and support you but I think that it may be better for you and this child if you marry the father.”
Maddie recoiled slightly from her father. “I’m not so sure that will happen.”
“And why not? If its David’s baby you don’t think he’ll do the right thing and marry you?”
Maddie shrugged. “Oh I’m sure he’ll do the right thing but will it be for the right reasons?” She took her father’s hand in hers. “When David was 18 years old he made a girl pregnant…” Slowly Maddie told her father the story of David and Tess. “So do I really want to trap him into another shotgun wedding?”
“Of course not but this is different.” Alex insisted. “Do you love him?”
Maddie nodded.
“Does he love you?”
“He says he does.”
“So what’s the problem? Couples get caught short all the time.”
“We’re not like other couples dad.” Maddie snapped. “Please this is my decision. This is my life. I need to consider all my options.”
Alex stood up with a scowl covering his rugged features. “You need to do what’s best for that child growing in your belly. When you have a child it isn’t about you and your feelings anymore Maddie.” Alex told her gruffly. “That child’s feelings come first all the time. And you need to think of what’s best for your baby.” And with that he left her room closing the door softly behind him.
When her father left her room, Maddie laid back on her bed and put the covers over her head. Why didn’t her parents understand that she was thinking of what was best for the baby? If she wasn’t pregnant she probably would have stayed with David and seen how things worked out but knowing she was having a baby she had to leave to sort out her feelings, her life and her decisions about that life. She also had to be positive that this baby inside of her was David’s and not Sam’s before she even considered being with David. Maddie pulled the covers tightly around her body and tried to ward off the tears that threatened. Since she got to Chicago she seemed to always be on the verge of tears and now wasn’t the time to lose control and focus. There was a problem that needed to be worked out. She only wished the problem she was focusing on was whether to go to the prom with Pete or Mike and not who was the father of the baby that she was carrying.
Three Weeks Later
Virginia had on an ear to ear smile as she walked out of the doctor’s office with Maddie. Maddie was also happy to discover that she was a little more than 6 weeks pregnant – so that meant it had to be David’s baby since Sam was long gone by then. She wanted to jump up and down and fall to her knees in thanks at the same time. Maddie turned to her mother and grabbed her in for a huge hug. “Thanks Mom!”
“Thanks for what dear?”
“For putting up with me for the last three weeks.”
When Maddie had gone to the doctor the week that she had first come to Chicago the doctor had informed her that it was still too soon to pinpoint how far along she was in her pregnancy. She was told she needed to return in three weeks and then hopefully they could zoom in on the time of conception. Today had been the appointment she had both dreaded and anticipated. Maddie knew she had not been easy to live with for the last few weeks.
She missed David desperately and was both hurt and angry that he hadn’t made any attempt to contact her. Oh he had written her one letter telling her how miserable he was without her but when she had rushed to the phone to call him she had gotten his answering machine. Since it was a Saturday night Maddie doubted he was working so of course her mind immediately thought the worst; that he was out carousing and had no plans to sit at home to wait for her. Of course she didn’t expect David to stay home every night waiting for her return but then again maybe she did want that! If he truly loved her he would at least call her up to see what was going on! But he hadn’t. Maddie had spoken to Agnes a few times so she knew that the agency was running along fine and that David was still alive – for now!
“Maddie?” Her mother’s voice penetrated her reverie. They were seated at her mother’s favorite restaurant. “Have you heard one word that I’ve said since we sat down?” Virginia knew that Maddie’s mind had been far away and she thought she knew who and what she was thinking of.
“Oh sorry mom.” Maddie poured two glasses of iced water then took a long sip of hers. “I was just thinking about the baby.”
“And of David?” She could see through her daughter every time. She was wondering if her daughter had spoken to him since she’d been there but she hadn’t wanted to pry.
Maddie shrugged pretending a nonchalance she didn’t feel. “Oh sure. Maybe.”
“Now you can tell him!”
“Tell him? Tell him what?”
“About the baby?”
A frown marred Maddie’s brow. “And why would I do that?” She still wasn’t sure what she was planning to do and now that she hadn’t heard a word from David Addison for over three weeks she wasn’t sure if he even cared about her at all.
Virginia frowned at her daughter. “Because he is the father Maddie. And it’s the right thing to do.” She looked at her daughter squarely. “Even if you decide that you don’t want David in your life he is still the father of that baby and he has the right to be in that baby’s life if he wants.”
Maddie nodded slowly. “I know.”
“So what’s holding you back darling? Don’t you think he’d be happy about the baby?”
Maddie had no clue. “I guess so.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
Virginia sighed sometimes her daughter acted more like a teenager than a 36 year old woman. “Well maybe it’s time you found out.”
“Yeah maybe.” Maddie mumbled; she was happy when the waiter approached and interrupted the conversation. By the time they had ordered and their food had come, Maddie had turned the conversation away from David.
****
David Addison felt a pair of brown eyes boring into his back but ignored them; instead he put his arm around the shapely brunette and pulled her in for a deep kiss. The woman giggled as she wrapped her slender arms around David’s waist and pressed her body against his. David chuckled as his hands landed on her round butt. His bleary eyes moved around the club looking for a waiter. He badly needed another drink. But instead of his eyes falling on a passing waiter they locked on to the reproachful eyes of Bert Viola. Inwardly David sighed. “Viola my man can you totter down to the bar and get me a shot of tequila.” He looked down at the woman whose name he had already forgotten, but David had no interest in the woman’s name. “And get this sexy thing here whatever her heart desires.” He squeezed her ass. The woman giggled again. “I desire you baby.” Her tongue flicked out and ran over his ear. “But your friend can get me a screwdriver.”
“I do like that word screw.” David laughed but Viola didn’t find anything funny. He also refused to do David’s bidding when he was so shamelessly wrapped around a brazen floozy when he was supposed to be waiting for Miss Hayes to return. Although Bert knew that Maddie had been gone for a very long time he had no clue that David hadn’t spoken to her since the day she had left. And David’s ego and pride wouldn’t admit to his short sidekick that he was dying a little each day that Maddie was gone. But tonight he had made the decision to turn back the clock to the old runaround David Addison. He didn’t need any complicated blonde to ruin the rest of his life. Tonight he was getting drunk and getting laid. David was already three sheets to the wind and since the woman he was holding had her hand halfway down his pants he was sure that his plan was going to be a success.
David pried the woman’s hands off him so he could use the men’s room. After half a dozen beers and who knows how many shots of tequila his bladder was set to explode. As soon as he entered the men’s room and before he could even get his zipper down he heard Bert slam into the bathroom.
“Mr. Addison. Sir!” Bert moved closer to his idol. “I feel I must say something to stop this madness!”
David ignored Bert as he relieved himself with a long sigh into the urinal.
“Mr. Addison I am speaking to you sir.” Bert spoke louder.
“I’m not deaf Bertie boy.” David laughed as he zippered up his jeans and turned to the shorter man. “I’m just ignoring you.”
“I don’t understand.” Bert shook his curly head. “You are so in love with Miss Hayes. And she is only away for a short time.” He nodded toward the bar. “Do you really feel the need to be with a woman who can’t shine the shoes of your lady love?”
David gave a bitter laugh. “Yeah sure the lady love who I haven’t heard a word from for how long is it? Three weeks now?” David ran his hands through his hair leaving it sticking up in angry spikes. He saw the surprise and confusion on Bert’s face. “Yeah short man I fucking lied. I haven’t spoken to that nutty blonde since the day she took off.”
Bert was flabbergasted. “But Mr. Addison. I don’t know what to say?” Knowing David Addison, Bert understood why his idol hadn’t admitted that he hadn’t heard a word from his runaway love but doing what he planned to do tonight wasn’t going to make things any better. “But having relations with a stranger won’t help your relationship with Miss Hayes.”
David squeezed the bulge in his pants crudely. “Maybe not but it will sure relieve the ache in my pants.” He shook his head. “Been a good little boy waiting with my zipper zipped.” He started toward the door. “But hey going steady with my left hand is growing old. And anyway I doubt Maddie would give a damn what I do.”
“You know that is not true Mr. Addison.” Bert pointed his stubby finger David’s way. “That woman loves you.”
David shrugged. “Yeah well she sure has a great way of showing it.” And with those words he left the bathroom and headed back to the shapely brunette whose name he didn’t remember.
David felt like a hammer was pounding on his head as he tried to sit up in the strange bed he had awoken in. Where the hell was he? He looked over to the other side of the bed where a naked brunette was dead to the world. The events of the previous night started slowly moving their way into his hungover brain. Damn. He didn’t even remember boinking the chick but now he was eager to get as far away from her as soon as possible. As he creeped off the bed and began to quietly gather up his discarded clothes he heard the woman rustling in the bed. “David right?”
He turned to the woman as he quickly threw on his clothes. “Yep. That’s my name.” He couldn’t for the life of him recall her name. “Listen honey. I have to get to work but I’ll give you a call sometime.” Yeah sure. David had used that line too many times to remember in his days before he got sexually involved with Maddie Hayes. He had thought that he wouldn’t ever have to utter those words again. He inwardly sighed as he finished dressing.
The woman lit a cigarette as she silently watched him dress. He was one hell of a man. “Yeah sure baby.” She grinned showing sharp teeth. “Call me sometime.” She knew that he wouldn’t call her anytime soon especially since he had called out another woman’s name when he came into her last night. Men.
David stumbled out of the woman’s apartment and at first didn’t know where he was but as his eyes took on the surroundings he realized he was in Venice Beach. He looked at his watch and saw it was nearly 6 am. David began to walk.
****
When Maddie woke up that cold rainy morning she knew she had a big decision to make. Now that she knew that the baby she was carrying was David’s she realized that she needed to call him as soon as possible but his silence kept her from picking up the phone. The thought that he had gone on with his life and didn’t miss her at all was like a sharp blade cutting through her battered heart.
For three long weeks she had thought of him every single waking minute and his face filled her dreams every night. Instead of thinking clearly about their relationship, Maddie felt more confused than ever. Maybe she should never have left LA. So many thoughts were running through her frazzled brain. Thankfully, her parents were having lunch at their club with a couple they were friendly with. Of course they had asked Maddie to accompany them but the last thing that she wanted to do was to spend the afternoon being grilled by her parents’ friends on why she was so beautiful but still without a husband. Sometimes she wondered the same thing about herself. Most women her age were already married with a couple of kids. Even though her life had been different since she was a teenager Maddie knew that there was no reason she hadn’t had a lasting love relationship in her life. So far the longest relationship she had was with Sam Crawford. And although she could have accepted his proposal she didn’t love him enough to be his wife. But the thought of David as her husband filled her with anxiety. She truly believed she was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Sighing again even more deeply Maddie decided to take a hot bubble bath. She had always done her best thinking submerged in fragrant bubbles.
****
Agnes and Bert were the only ones in the office that cold grey morning. David was late and the others were in training classes until later in the day.
“Herbert Quinton Viola you surely must have hit your head this morning!” Agnes cried shrilly at Bert who was holding the phone in his hand.
“Agnes leave me be. Miss Hayes has to come home. I won’t tell her the truth I will make up an emergency!”
After leaving David Addison with that woman the previous night, Bert had been filled with anxiety and guilt. He had spent the rest of that night tossing and turning. Not being one to withhold secrets from his lady love, Bert had told Agnes of Mr. Addison’s indiscretion. Agnes was shocked and disappointed in her beloved boss. She couldn’t wait for him to show up so that she could give him a piece of her mind! But the idea of Bert calling Miss Hayes and making up an excuse for her to come back to LA didn’t sit right with Agnes. Plus the fact that Bert couldn’t keep a secret if it killed him so she feared he might slip out with the real reason for the phone call – and that would be a disaster. So now she was trying to pry the phone out of Bert’s hand as he was dialing the number for Maddie’s parents. “Bert put that phone down or I swear I will kick you hard!”
“Kick me all you want my love bunny but a man has to do what a man has to do!”
“This is not your business!” Agnes insisted as she lashed out with her foot hitting Bert squarely in his kneecap.
“Ow!” Bert cried as he dropped the phone so he could rub the fast forming bruise on his right knee. “You kicked me!”
“I said I was going to Herbert!” Agnes glared at him in disgust. “No way are you going to interfere in Miss Hayes and Mr. Addison’s relationship!”
Neither realized that the phone had been dialed and after no one picked up the answering machine was now recording everything that they were saying.
“I can’t allow Mr. Addison to bed another woman while Miss Hayes is away.” Bert cried in exasperation. “His wild ways may ruin the best thing he ever had.”
“You said that he was drunk!” Agnes knew that if Bert got a hold of Miss Hayes’ ear he would blurt out the story of Mr. Addison and that woman. Agnes couldn’t let that happen. She would think of a way to bring Miss Hayes home.
“Yes he was drunk but he knew what he was doing! They couldn’t keep their hands off each other at the bar!” Bert made a disgusted face.
“Did you try to stop him?”
“Of course I did but he told me he was going to get laid and then he left with that brazen tramp!” Bert made a gagging sound. “Miss Hayes has to come back before Mr. Addison screws his way across Los Angeles!”
“That is not our business Herbert!” Agnes told him with her brown eyes filled with determination. “You hang up that phone right now. If Mr. Addison can’t keep his pants zipped then maybe its best that Miss Hayes stays in Chicago!”
Bert’s mouth dropped open. “You can’t mean that!”
Agnes threw his a nasty look. “Hang up the phone Bert or I will kick you again.”
This time Bert listened but not before their entire conversation was recorded by the Hayes’ answering machine.
*****
Maddie had enjoyed her hot bubble bath but she still felt confused and at odds with her life. Maybe she should just get on a plane and go back to LA and sort out what was really going on with David. With this thought in her mind, Maddie walked out of the bathroom and noticed that the light on the answering machine was blinking. Thinking that it might be her parents checking up on her (they always seemed to be worried) she pushed the button to hear the message.
Maddie felt as if she couldn’t breathe as she replayed the recording from Bert and Agnes. She was such an ass! Here she was crying over a man who had forgotten her so easily. Well at least now her decision was much easier. She would remain in Chicago and forget that lying cheating green-eyed snake ever existed. Maddie willed herself to be strong as she heard her parents’ key in the lock. She erased the message quickly then raced to her bedroom where she pretended to be asleep. Overcome with misery Maddie tried to concentrate on the new life growing inside of her and not on the man who had destroyed her heart and soul.
****
David never made it to Blue Moon that morning. He went home packed a bag and took the next flight to Chicago. Last night was a real wake up call for him. Having sex with random women had clearly lost its appeal. There was only one woman he wanted and that woman was 2000 miles away. So instead of worrying about pride and ego, David threw caution to the wind and decided to get the hell on a plane and confront his complex blonde. Dragging her home by her hair didn’t seem a bad idea to David as he waited to board the plane but one way or the other Maddie was coming back home with him.
and the part with maddies dad standing up to his daughter with such pride was a highlight. Every chapter over achieves it's brilliance congratulations. 