Post by Addisonsgirl on Oct 18, 2013 16:11:51 GMT -5
“Maddie, David – I can assure you that there's really no reason to worry.” Dr. Hill's soothing voice was balm on their worried minds.
“Are you sure?” Maddie needed to hear it again; she squeezed David's hand.
“Absolutely sure,” the gynecologist confirmed. “I checked and double-checked. Your little girl is still as fit and healthy as she was this morning when we did the sonogram.”
David put his arm around Maddie's shoulders and pulled her near, kissing her on the temple. No words could describe the relief he felt. When Maddie had told him in panic that she had found a few smears of blood in her panties, a cold hand had grasped his heart, and immediately his mind went back to the day when his first wife Tess had lost the baby, the reason they had gotten married in the first place. There had been blood too, but it had been far more of it, and Tess had been in a lot of pain. Maddie didn't look that bad at all, but he was still terrified; maybe even more terrified than she was herself, because he had gone already through a similar experience.
Maddie put her hand on his hand resting on her shoulder and said: “But the blood...”
Dr. Hill raised both hands soothingly. “Light spotting is something that happens quite often and it doesn't mean any harm for your baby,” he explained. “Some women are even spotting regularly, so that they think they are still having their period and don't even notice their pregnancy.”
“Okay,” Maddie said, letting out her breath slowly. “Well, I guess I've worried a bit too much then, but when I saw the blood...”
“No, no, Maddie,” Dr. Hill interrupted, “please don't ever hesitate to call or come here when you are worried. This is definitely a case of better worry one time too often than too less.”
“Okay,” she nodded and then, when the doctor was about to head for the door, quickly added: “Speaking of which... in fact, I am wondering about one thing...”
David frowned and threw her a sideways glance, almost starting to worry again. What was it she was worried about? She hadn't told him anything that was troubling her.
“Yes?” Dr. Hill waited patiently.
It seemed as if Maddie was a little hesitant about her question, but then she drew a deep breath and asked: “I was wondering if it was still safe for us to... to...” she stumbled over her own words, blushed and fell silent, and absurdly enough, David had no idea what she was talking about; he had been so wrapped up in his whirling thoughts mixing up this pregnancy and the one from the past, that the fog in his head cleared only very slowly.
But Dr. Hill had understood her right away and smiled encouragingly. “Oh, you mean if you continue to have sexual intercourse?”
“Ah... yes,” Maddie answered in a barely audible voice. Finally, it dawned on David what she meant, and he smiled to himself.
“Again, there's absolutely no need to worry, Maddie,” Dr. Hill told her, “and it's a good thing to ask. Here, there are no rules: you should just go with your instincts. Usually, everything that makes the mom happy and feels good is also good for the baby.”
“Okay...” Maddie nodded and avoided David's look. She knew he’d probably tease her about asking later but she just needed to know.
“There may come the time,” the gynecologist went on, “that certain positions are not as comfortable anymore as they used to be, and then you'll just have to be a little... inventive.” He smiled again at them. “And if you have any questions, feel free to ask any time. That same goes for you, David.”
“Okay,” David replied firmly, speaking for the first time in ten minutes, “thanks, Doc.” He shook Dr. Hill's hand, and when they had said their goodbyes and the doctor had left them alone so Maddie could get dressed again, David pulled Maddie in his arms again and hugged her very tightly. She wrapped her arms around his waist and sighed deeply.
“I was so scared,” she whispered, “stupid me.”
“Not stupid,” he murmured into her hair, “I was scared too.” He didn't mention anything about the thoughts about Tess and her pregnancy; she didn't need to be burdened with that. Everything was okay, and that was all that mattered.
“Yeah well...” she shrugged. “How could we know that spotting is such a common thing?”
“I didn't for sure,” he replied.
“Well, next time we know,” Maddie said without thinking.
David wasn't sure what she had meant, and maybe she wasn't sure about it either, but suddenly they were looking at each other, their faces assuming a conspiratorial expression, smiles spreading slowly.
“Next time, huh?” David finally said in a husky voice.
Maddie smiled almost shyly. “Yeah, next time...”
David smiled back and shook his head, again he couldn't believe that this happiness and luck was all his.
***
On their way home from Dr. Hill's office they stopped for a moment to register for Lamaze class; something they had planned to do that week anyway. It was about time now, and the lessons would start in a couple of months. The instructor was a short middle-aged woman named Ella, and she welcomed them very cordially. Another step ahead, Maddie thought happily and for about the millionth time marveled at how her life had changed over the last few months. She had finally gotten together with the man she was madly in love with, never having thought this possible, and every single one of her fears about him, about them had turned out to be pointless; they were getting married, and they were about to have a healthy little baby girl. Life was wonderful.
They picked up some Chinese dinner and made themselves comfortable on the couch in the living room, eating directly from the cartons. Maddie still wasn't entirely comfortable with that, but it was okay to do it from time to time. After the dinner, finally the long and exciting day took its toll, and Maddie suddenly felt so tired she could have fallen asleep on the couch. They took the empty food cartons into the kitchen and then headed upstairs.
Maddie felt the need for a shower, and when she came out of the bathroom, David was just pulling the comforter on the bed back and waved invitingly. Then he went to the bathroom; when he passed her by, he gave her butt a little slap.
“I'll be right by your side in a minute,” he said, and she smiled, slipped off her silk robe and crawled between the sheets, not laying down yet.
Only a few minutes later, David was back and slipped between the sheets beside her. He saw she was still sitting up and figured she needed a bit of distraction to get her mind off that whirlwind of emotions she had gone through the last few hours. They both did. He raised his left hand and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Then he gave her a mocking grin.
“Hey, you really didn't have to make it look like we're a pair of sex maniacs,” he teased. “You embarrassed me in there.”
Maddie rolled her eyes, but in an amused way, relaxing a little from the tension that had kept her whole body rigid throughout the last few hours. “Yeah, yeah – how do you even put up with me?”
He shrugged and smirked at her. “Oh, you do have your qualities, so I think I'm gonna keep you.”
She snorted playfully. “Addison, you're such a smug bastard, sometimes I wonder how I put up with you.” Then she mirrored his gesture and shrugged too. “But then, I guess... apart from the obvious benefits you must have some hidden qualities beneath all those warts too...”
“Well,” he replied smoothly, “I'm lucky to have found my shrewd princess, who was willing to take a second look.”
“Willing might not be the right word...” she teased and thought back of that crazy month they had spent together, both anxious not to show too much of their respective feelings, both in doubt of the other one's commitment to their love. She had been trying to fight her feelings off, but she hadn't been able to control them.
“Oh, willing is exactly the right word, Blondie!” David contradicted and smirked again and thought back of that crazy month they had spent together, that insane dance around each other they had performed, her always trying to run away from him, and him not letting her. She had never been able to resist his charms.
"Well, it's a fact that you can be very convincing..." she admitted reluctantly.
"Is that a hidden quality or one of the obvious benefits?" he asked in a teasing voice.
She sighed. "David?"
"Maddie." His eyes were glittering with humor and shining with love.
"I'm not really in the mood for advanced verbal sparring today...” she said and tilted her head slightly. “Could you just shut up and kiss me? And then hold me really close?"
Like always, when she showed her vulnerable side, he melted on the spot with his love for her. He knew what a precious gift it was when she revealed to him, and only him this side; what big sign of her trust it was that she let herself fall, whether be it while getting lost in her passion, her feelings for him or her insecurities – she had learned to let herself fall right into his arms, trusting him to be there and catch her.
"Sure, babe,” he replied in a husky voice and reached out for her. “C'mere. You must be drop dead tired." He put his left hand at the back of her head and pulled her in for a slow and tender kiss, gently making love to her mouth with his lips and tongue until she sighed and he felt that she was really relaxing.
Then he lay down on his pillow, pulling her with him, and she snuggled closely into his embrace. Not for the first time she thought to herself that to her his arms were the safest place in the world. One day she would tell him.
"Agnes told me today that she and Bert are getting married too! Did you know about that?" she asked when she had found her most comfortable position. Her arm was draped over David's chest and her leg over his. Her head was resting on his shoulder.
"Oh yes,” he replied, “Bertie-boy told me today, and of course he didn't spare me the dirty details..."
"What?!" she gasped.
David laughed. "I meant, he was rambling on and on about how romantically he set the scenario for his proposal!" he explained.
"Oh." She asked dryly: "Did he set the kitchen on fire, too?"
"Low shot, Miss Hayes,” David chastised playfully, “I thought you were not in the mood for verbal sparring?"
Maddie chuckled. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. I told you already that your proposal was perfect.” She tilted her head and placed a soft kiss on the side of his throat, then she snuggled close again. “Anyway, I asked Agnes to be my maid of honor."
"Oh, that's a good idea!” David was obviously pleased to hear that. “I mean, sometimes I think she wanted you to marry me even more than I did..." He yelped when Maddie punched him hard on the shoulder. "Ouch! It was a joke! Bad joke!” he exclaimed and then told her: “I think that's a great idea." He fell silent for a moment and then added fondly: "Little curlyhead will be a wonderful maid of honor."
Maddie smiled to herself. David didn't know it, but his obvious genuine fondness for Agnes who was a loner just like him had always been very appealing to her. "You always had a soft spot for her, right?" she asked.
David shrugged. "Kind of,” he replied lightly. “Well, she's La Dolce DiPesto, sweet as candy. How can you not?"
"True." Suddenly, Maddie had a thought. She was convinced that Agnes had never had a crush on David, and he had never shown any other interest in her than a very brotherly one. But she didn't know about the other women who worked in the office – she thought she had seen the odd appreciative glance from the female wobblies following him over the last three years, but maybe she had only imagined this, her perception already fogged by jealousy. And sure enough, David had never made any inappropriate move towards any of her female employees. But she had no idea how things had been before she had shown up at the City Of Angels agency... and now she wanted to know. "What about the other girls?" she asked.
David frowned, completely at a loss. "What do you mean?"
Maddie cleared her throat. "Did you ever have a soft spot for one of the other girls in the office? Did you ever have sex with a girl in the office?"
David was always happy when he noticed Maddie's jealousy. He could be completely honest about that, since – despite his very active sex life – he had never messed around with any of the employees. "Could you specify the question – did I ever have sex in the office with any girl except you, or did I ever sleep with one of the wobblies?" he teased.
Maddie's face fell; the way he had put that implied that at least one thing of the two had actually happened. Suddenly, she wasn't sure anymore she wanted to know the answer; "Both I guess?" she offered uneasily.
David took pity on her. "No and no," he replied. “Never rocked the desk with anyone but you, never laid a finger on any of the girls.”
Maddie drew a deep breath of relief. "Oh,” she managed and couldn't resist adding: “I'm surprised they never had the hots for you..."
He smirked. "Who says they didn't?” he replied smoothly and shrugged. “I always thought it would only cause trouble to screw a co-worker."
Maddie propped herself up on one elbow and looked into his face, frowning. "Oh really?” she asked with irony in her voice. “Then how come you never had those scruples when it came to us? I mean, if that didn't cause trouble, I don't know what trouble is..."
"Yeah, trouble's my middle name, I know.” He raised his left hand and traced the line of her lower lip with his index finger, causing pleasurable sensations in her belly. “But I thought you were worth that trouble." His tone was light and casual which made his words all the more meaningful.
Maddie couldn't help but sigh: "Awww. Really?"
"Really,” he nodded. “I always knew I wanted to spend the rest of my sex life with you."
She pursed her lips in annoyance, but was secretly touched. Her voice sounded sarcastic when she spoke, but without a sharp edge. "As usual, you keep impressing me with your ability to always find the right words in a romantic situation..."
David shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, sorry to disappoint, but not everybody can be a Herbert Quentin Viola."
Maddie blurted out in laughter. "Yeah, yeah. Anyway, back to Agnes... she also asked me to be her maid of honor," she broke the news.
David sighed. "And Bertie-boy wants me to be his best man..."
"Well, what did you tell him?" she wanted to know.
"Not sure yet,” David shrugged, making it sound deliberately casual. “I wouldn't want him to think we're best buddies for life from now on."
Maddie smiled. "You told him yes, didn't you?"
David grinned sheepishly. "Of course. Can't leave him in the lurch, can I?"
"He's growing on you," Maddie declared.
David waved his hands casually. "Nah, I just don't want him to whine in my ears until he finds another one to do it, that's all."
Her smile widened when she told him: "Liar. We both know that you're not half as cynical as you pretend to be."
He raised an ironic eyebrow. "Do we?" he asked.
"We do,” she replied. “Anyway, then a celebration is absolutely needed."
David frowned suspiciously. "What kind of celebration?"
"I told Agnes the four of us should go out for dinner next week," Maddie announced.
"What?” David gasped. “Why did you do that?"
"Because it would be nice,” she replied firmly. “And fun."
"What?? Since when are you the expert for fun?” David drawled, sarcasm dripping from his voice. “Sitting through a root canal treatment at the dentist is more fun! An evening with Bertie-boy? You have no idea what that means – look, I barely manage to get through a stakeout with Viola without going insane, he literally talks all the time, and a lot of what he says doesn't make sense at all..."
Maddie laughed out loud and then asked dryly: "Seriously, Addison? You of all people, complaining about a guy that talks your ears off and drives you nuts? Welcome to my world."
"Hey, for someone who claims not to be in the mood for bantering you're pretty cheeky, missy!" he told her in a playfully severe tone.
Maddie laughed. "I guess that means I'm starting to feel my old self again." She suppressed a yawn.
"A very tired self," David remarked and turned off the light on the nightstand. "Time for dreamland, girls." He kissed the top of her head.
Maddie grinned like a fool in the dark. Girls. She and the Bean. The well-developed and totally healthy Bean. She snuggled closer into David's embrace and nestled her head up to the nook of his throat between his jaw and his collarbone where the skin was warm and velvety. She could feel his pulse beating against her cheek, his warmth enveloping her, creating a warm and fuzzy feeling in her body and her heart, and she thought if she were a cat, she would start to purr now. The smell of his skin filled her nostrils, and she stirred a little, tilting her head slightly towards him, brushing her lips against his neck. It felt good, of course it did, and she felt his fingers caress her back in response, even though he was already half asleep.
She was tired herself, but she couldn't help it; she continued to nuzzle his neck softly and slid her hand under his t-shirt, instinctively looking for more and closer skin contact. Maddie wanted to crawl under his skin; but of course, she was already there, and she knew it – same as he was under her skin and would stay there forever. She moved her palm in slow, circular motion over his chest, his shoulders, his whole upper body, and finally he stirred and sighed deeply, and indeed it sounded more like a purr.
"What are you doing, baby," he murmured sleepily, "you should be resting..."
"I know," she whispered against his skin, "but you smell so good..." She continued kissing him, and like drawn by an invisible magnet, her caressing hand wandered downwards across his flat stomach.
He put his hand on hers but didn't stop her; he ran his fingertips up her forearm and stroked the inside of her elbow with his thumb so that she shivered. "Are you sure, baby..."
"I'm sure," she breathed, and he turned his head and his whole body towards her so that her lips met his. With his left arm he held her in a tight embrace, pressing the whole length of his body against hers, and with his right hand he caressed her face while they kissed, very softly and tenderly at first, but then with increasing passion.
Maddie wrapped her arms around his waist and got lost in his kisses and in the touch of his hand, his fingertips slowly wandering down the side of her throat, over her shoulder and down her bare arm, waking up every tingling nerve end. The sensation was intensified by the darkness in the room. When his hand glided on her behind and pressed her hips to his, she could feel his hardness against her belly and almost sighed in relief; she craved, needed to feel the connection now.
David kissed his way down her throat, taking his time very slowly and sensually, and when his hand wandered up again and firmly cupped her breast, his thumb drawling lazy circles around her erect nipple, she moaned and tried to pull him even closer.
Maddie moved her loins against his boner and wrapped her leg around his hips to bring her aching center in contact with his hardness. She sighed when she felt the sweet pressure. Then David got impatient too and slid between her legs. She helped him pull down his boxers and lifted her hips a little, so he could push her panties aside. She pulled him close again, and gently, very slowly and carefully he entered her.
When he was completely buried inside her, he stopped moving and looked into her eyes, right into her soul. Her face was bathed in the blueish moonlight.
“Are you feeling okay?” he asked hoarsely and with concern, wanting to make sure she was really comfortable with making love only a few hours after the shock she had experienced.
She smiled up at him, her face shining with love and happiness, and tightened her embrace. “I'm feeling wonderful,” she whispered breathlessly, enjoying the feeling of him inside her, filling her completely. “Really. Please, David, work your magic...”
He smiled back and slowly started to rotate his hips, moving gently, tenderly in and out and around and around, making love to her with all of his body, heart and soul; and she moved with him, their bodies totally in sync, in their perfectly matched rhythm, until they both reached their peaks at the same time, gasping each other's name and then just crumbling between the sheets, almost immediately falling into an exhausted but happy sleep.
***
The following morning Maddie was taking her time getting ready for the day. David had left earlier to meet Viola to do some legwork on their latest case and they had planned to meet at 10 at the restaurant where they had scheduled a meeting with their new clients. Since buying into LaSalle’s Los Angeles business Blue Moon was constantly busy with their new clients. Maddie admitted to herself happily that David’s insistence on taking the chance with LaSalle had been the correct thing to do. Her worries on clients breaking their contracts when Blue Moon took over had been unfounded. All of LaSalle’s old clients had signed up with Blue Moon, and as David had guessed they had gotten other clients through word of mouth. It looked like the agency was finally going to be the success David had always said it would be. David Addison, business expert? Maddie still couldn't believe it, but then – weirder things had happened over the last few months.
Maddie took a leisurely bath, then sat at her vanity to put on her makeup. Although people said she was glowing and had never looked better, Maddie was beginning to notice wrinkles on her face that had never been there before. She squinted in the mirror and was dismayed to see the crow’s feet around her eyes. It hit her with a pang that she was getting older! Being older than David had never bothered her so far, but now she suddenly realized she would hit that forty milestone when he was only 35. She didn’t like that idea one bit.
Maddie shook her head to toss out these negatives thoughts. What was wrong with her? She had been over the moon before she looked in the mirror today. She was getting married to the man she adored, pregnant with a healthy little girl and Blue Moon was finally a success. Her whole life lay before her like a slightly crooked, but safe path leading into a shining future. There was no reason that a few lines should bother her at all. She was still an attractive woman, and she blushed when she thought about how David couldn’t keep his hands off of her. She had nothing to worry about, she told herself as she finished applying her makeup.
Maddie opened her closet door and took out the skirt and blouse she had decided on for her outfit that day. It was the first maternity outfit she had bought a couple of weeks ago. The skirt was a deep rose color with a slit up her right thigh; it hinted at sexy without being wrong for the office – her blouse was a lighter rose color with buttons down the back. She smiled to herself when she remembered the last time she had worn this outfit. David had snuck his hand up the slit in the skirt while unbuttoning the blouse button by button. A bright shock of red covered her neck as she thought about how his magic fingers had brought her to a shattering climax parked in some client’s underground garage.
Maddie felt the familiar dampness between her legs. She had become a bigger sex maniac than David! she laughed as she put on the blouse, but her laughter died in her throat when she couldn’t zipper the skirt. The zipper wouldn’t budge an inch. Suddenly the idea of losing her figure crashed through Maddie’s mind. Soon she would be fat and old and ugly... She had just bought this outfit a couple of weeks ago and now the zipper wouldn’t even go halfway up! Of course, she had felt her dresses becoming tighter as the days wore on, but she had refused to acknowledge she was losing her waist, even if that was happening only inch by inch. But now she had to face it.
She heard David’s voice in her head, telling her she had never looked more beautiful – but then he always had complimented her, and so he was probably lying so her feelings wouldn’t be hurt. Okay, maybe now he was still attracted to her, but soon she would have no waist and wrinkles and then he would lose interest... Maddie kicked off the offensive skirt and reached into her closet for the elastic waist skirts she had been wearing for the past days. She covered the elastic with a stylish belt but when she looked in the mirror she didn’t see the beautiful pregnant woman she actually was.
Suddenly, out of nowhere David's words from a long time ago rang in her ears when during one of their heated discussions he had called her Miss I-made-a-million-bucks-off-my-physical-beauty-but-not-a-dime-off-my-emotional-substance Hayes... Not being able yet to free her mind completely from the superficial values she had learned to be important in her modeling days, now she only saw a middle aged fat woman and that made her cringe as she turned away from the mirror with tears in her eyes.
Maddie felt a little better as she parked the car and strolled towards the restaurant where she was meeting David. It was a bright sunny day and the sky was clear and blue with no smog in sight. She noticed David walking towards the restaurant from the other direction and felt her heart beat fast and a smile spread on her face as she looked at him strutting across the street. He was wearing his light grey suit which was one of her favorites and he looked hot and sexy and so – young. Other women were also eyeing him hungrily she noticed, but what stopped her in her tracks was the sight of David smiling back! How could he flirt with those women? Okay, well – he wasn’t really flirting, she admitted; but he was smiling back – why would he do that? And seeing him giving one of the younger hot women the Addison once over was like a knife in her heart. Her worst fears of David getting bored and wanting a younger woman shot through her mind, but then her sensible side kicked in telling her she was being ridiculous. She knew that David loved her truly, madly deeply and he would never cheat. But why did he still feel the need to look?
Maddie clenched her fists at her side and bit the inside of her cheek. Okay, she looked too, she realized, but it wasn’t the same. Wait, why wasn’t it the same? - she heard David’s mocking voice. Shut up – just shut up! her inner voice yelled as she resumed her walk toward the restaurant. She sighed inwardly; sometimes it really wasn't easy being Maddie Hayes.
David was already seated with the clients when Maddie walked into the eatery. She walked to the table and sat down with a forced smile as introductions were made all around. The lunch went well and Blue Moon acquired another regular client. The contract was signed and the clients left soon after leaving David and Maddie sipping their coffee.
“What’s got your maternity panties in a bunch?” David teased cocking an eyebrow.
“For your information, I am still wearing my regular panties.” Maddie snapped.
“Whoa babe.” David put up his hands in mock surrender. “What’d I do this time?”
He looked so boyishly innocent, and his eyes were so filled with love that Maddie’s anger and unease were blown away. She smiled at him across the table and took his hand. Addison would always look, she knew – but as long he didn’t touch she could live with that. “I’m just feeling a bit tired today.” She lied, “But I’m fine. I love you, David.”
A half smile flit over his face at this rather unexpected display of affection. “I know. I love you too.” He leaned over the table to whisper in her ear: “And I can’t wait to get my hands on those panties.”
Which he did in the car on the way back to Blue Moon.
***
That night after dinner Maddie came into the living room with a large yellow pad and a newly sharpened pencil. David who had been flipping through the channels looking for something good to watch sat up and turned to her with a question in his eyes. “Homework? Shopping list? Love note?” he shot in the dark.
Maddie sat down next to him shaking her head. “None of the above,” she smiled, “or below. I thought we’d go over names for the baby.”
“You mean we can’t just call her the Bean?” David joked as he ran a finger over the inside of Maddie’s ear.
Maddie swatted his hand away and frowned. “This is serious, David. The baby will be here before we know it, and we can’t put Bean on the birth certificate.”
“We can’t?” David really tried to be serious and hear her out, but as usual his wits got the better of him, and his crinkled nose and the glint in his eyes betrayed him.
Maddie didn't approve of his attitude. She threw him her look and got down to business, ignoring his last remark. “Okay, I think we should make a list of names we are considering...”
David looked at her like she had two heads. “A list?”
Maddie nodded emphatically. “Yes. First we throw out names we might like, and then over time we eliminate the ones we can’t agree on until we find the right name.”
David shook his head slowly. “I don’t like it.” he stated firmly.
Maddie’s head snapped back. “Don’t like what?”
David got up as he ran his hand through his hair. “I mean, why do we have to make a list?” He spat out the word like it was a piece of crap in his mouth, and it surely tasted like it. “Why can’t we just see what she looks like and decide then. Or ...”
Maddie was aghast; she cut him off with a sharp “Whatttt??” She couldn’t believe his suggestion. “See what she looks like?” she echoed in disbelief. “I’ve never heard of such a thing! Waiting for the last moment!? Well, why am I not surprised you would make such a stupid suggestion? And how about if that time comes and we can’t decide what she looks like? What happens then?”
“What happens then? SO, then we wait a bit, and then decide.”
Maddie looked at him with her jaw dropped almost to the floor. David was getting annoyed. Did she have to make a big deal out of everything? Did she have to plan everything to death? He didn't mind making a pro and con list when it came to business decisions, but any subject that involved emotions, gut feelings and personal preferences defied any idea of being pressed into a list in his opinion. And the decision how to name their child surely was such a subject to him. “You and your damn lists!” David snapped, “you take the joy out of everything!”
“And you and your spontaneous irresponsible ideas!” Maddie shot back with venom. “Deciding on the right name for our daughter is important!”
David nodded. “Yes, it is important,” he agreed, “but why does it have to be done with lists and eliminations instead of just talking about pretty names we like?”
Maddie threw the pad at David and jumped off the couch. “You – you!”
“Nah, don’t like that name,” went his motor mouth again, and against his better judgement he had to chuckle and mentally high-fived himself for that smart repartee.
Maddie saw red, of course, and just managed a growl as she walked past him. Suddenly, she felt a strong arm reach out grabbing her around her waist and pulling her against David’s hard body.
“What the hell...”
“Let’s not fight,” he purred into her ear. “I’d much rather fuck you right now.” He began to pull off her clothes quickly before she even realized what he was doing, until she was bare assed nude, and almost as a habit she didn't object, “and if you insist on making a list after I’m done with you...” He didn’t finish the sentence, instead he used his tongue in another far more pleasurable way – across her neck and over that spot.
Before she lost her senses, Maddie pulled out of his arms forcefully. “Not now, David!” She was so mad she almost stomped her foot. “You are the most insufferable man I have ever met!”
David chuckled as he pulled her back in his arms. “And you love me,” he whispered in that voice and once again Maddie felt that familiar, almost omnipresent ache between her legs. How she wanted to rip his head off at times!
Maddie tried to push her hands against David’s chest but he was holding her too tightly against his body; she could feel the evidence of his arousal against her loins, and of course unconsciously she moved herself against it. David laughed softly. “Yeah, you want it, babe.”
That was it; David’s smugness sent her over the line, so she stomped hard on his foot. David yelped and felt a sharp pain in his foot and realized that Maddie had stepped on his foot with all her weight behind it. Damn her! He immediately released her from his arms almost causing her to fall over. “What the fuck?” he cursed hobbling on one foot and throwing her a filthy look. “What's wrong with you, woman?!”
Maddie glared back. “I’m sorry if I hurt you, David!” she snapped, already feeling a little guilty. She looked into his eyes so dazzling green and felt herself melting. Why was she so angry at him anyway? So they didn’t make a list of baby names? So what? And so he was smug over her wanting his dick. She knew that he loved to tease her about that, and besides, she did want it and bad… Her anger subsided as her passion grew. She approached him slowly and put her hands around his waist. David just stood there with his hands at his sides. Now he was angry and annoyed.
“Sorry, baby,” she purred, planting slow hot kisses over his jawline. “You just drive me crazy sometimes,” she murmured and kissed her way down his throat, “and you do it on purpose. You know you do.” David didn’t move. Now she wanted him? Sometimes she was a complete mystery to him, although he had to admit to himself that she had a point with what she said. Pushing each other's buttons was what they did; and she had so much more buttons for him to push. “Touch me David,” Maddie breathed and molded her body against his, and despite his already subsiding annoyance David felt his dick twitch in his pants. Damn, he had his buttons too, after all. He moaned as Maddie pulled down his sweats, releasing his throbbing erection as she wiggled her hot loins against him. She cupped his balls in her hands and played with them for a few minutes, making David’s dick grow bigger, while she never stopped raining hot kisses over every exposed inch of his upper body's skin and tore at his t-shirt with the other hand to expose even more of it.
David kicked off his sweats and pulled the shirt over his head as his hands began to play over Maddie’s body. One hand cupped her ass, pushing her hotbox closer while the other fondled her breast. “Oh babe, you are so hot. Damn, you turn me on...” he almost growled as he backed her up against the wall, causing her to draw in a sharp breath in eager anticipation.
Maddie smiled seductively. “You turn me on too...” She gasped when David pressed her firmly against the wall. He reached down and placed one of her legs around his hip then pushed into her with one deep thrust until he was buried to the hilt inside of her throbbing core. “Ahh,” she made and wrapped her arms around his neck, “even if I wanted, I could never get enough of you...”
“You better not forget that,” he purred and started to move inside her in a fast-paced, maddening rhythm, like always when they had been fighting fueled by the adrenaline rushing through their veins.
“I won't,” she panted, “and you... you...”
Sometimes, David had a bright moment about what went on in Maddie's mind, and this was one of them. He knew exactly what she needed to hear. “Shut up,” he gasped breathlessly while increasing his rhythm and the force of his thrusts, “I could – never – get – enough – of you – either – never,” he told her in a hoarse voice, each word accompanied and emphasized by a deep thrust and reciprocated by an ecstatic cry from her.
It took only two more plunges until they both fell over the cliff and came hard in a rush of adrenaline and hormones that left them leaning breathlessly against the wall, David steadying Maddie whose leg was still wrapped around his waist. Their foreheads were touching, and both their faces were glistening with sweat.
“Let's get you upstairs,” David whispered when he was able to talk again, “you're getting cold.”
“We're not done yet,” Maddie remarked, still a little breathlessly, nodding her head towards the yellow pad that was lying on the floor where she had thrown it.
“You bet we're not,” he replied dryly and wrapped one arm around her shoulder, “round two is already on its way.” Her head shot up, and she threw him a killer look while he chuckled. “I know,” he soothed, “we're gonna talk names too, okay? Later.”
Maddie rolled her eyes and started to walk towards the spiral staircase. “Then let's bring it on,” she answered.
***
Thursday arrived as a bright and sunny day. Both their parents would be arriving in LA that afternoon and they were planning on meeting at ‘Star Shine‘ one of Maddie’s favorite restaurants at 7 that evening.
David woke up already nervous and reached out for Maddie, hoping for a little comforting and bringing his morning wood to good use, but her side of the bed was already empty. He sighed and swung his long legs out of the bed; maybe he could catch up with her in the shower, but at that moment she came out of the bathroom in her underwear and a dressing robe.
“Oh,” she said when she saw him sitting at the edge of the bed, “you're awake.”
He smirked. “You bet I am, Blondie. Every part of me.” He looked pointedly down at his crotch.
Maddie just rolled her eyes and shook her head. Something was definitely on her mind. She confirmed David's worst fears when she said: "David, I've been thinking..."
"Ow!” he exclaimed in fake shock. “Whenever you start a phrase like that, it usually ends up with something I don't like..."
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "David, I'm serious!"
He put his left hand on his throat in an exaggerated manner and made choking sounds. "Then it's worse than I thought!"
"Addison!!" Maddie snapped.
David raised his hands and tried a soothing tone. "Sorry, babe... you know what they say about old habits."
She waved him off impatiently. "Listen, about Stephanie..."
That came completely out of the blue... he raised a suspicious eyebrow. "What about her?"
Maddie sat down at her vanity but had her back turned to the mirror while she faced David. "I suppose she must think that now, since we're getting married, you've told me about the two of you, right?" she began.
David shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, I suppose so..."
"And even if you two have settled things and buried the past, she might feel uncomfortable around me," Maddie went on in a thoughtful tone.
David didn't really know what she was aiming at, and that made him really nervous. "And...?"
"And...” it seemed like Maddie wasn't so comfortable with what she was going to say either, but she said it anyway: “...so I thought it might be a good idea if I talked to her about it... assured her that there's no reason to..."
"That might not be a good idea at all," David interrupted bluntly.
Maddie frowned at his reaction. "Why not?” she asked. “If I learned anything in the past few months, it's that concerns should always be addressed and not swept under the rug..."
David raised both hands to stop her. "Maddie, listen, the thing is... I might have been...” he paused and ruffled his already sleep-tousled hair before he went on: “...not completely honest about what happened between her and me..."
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What are you saying?” she demanded to know. “Was there more? Did you... have an affair?!" She rose from her seat like Satan from hellfire.
He waved his hands in defense. "No, no, no... I swear it was only that one time.” He shrugged. “Well, let's say that one occasion, it was surely more than one..." he stumbled over his own words.
"Never mind!" she snapped in an exasperated tone. She really didn't need to hear that again.
Not smart, Dave! He slapped his face with his palm mentally and offered sheepishly: "I'm sorry..."
"I said never mind, David," Maddie told him firmly and sighed impatiently. "I still don't understand why you don't want me to talk to her about..."
David growled and rubbed his face, his mind racing. There was no other way then to lay his cards on the table, even if he wasn't comfortable about it. "She’ll have no idea what you're talking about,” he finally blurted out.
Maddie frowned cluelessly. "What does that mean?” she inquired. “Surely she hasn't forgotten..." She let her voice trail off, and much to her confusion David just looked at her silently; she shook her head, and then the penny dropped and her eyes popped open in disbelief. "Wait... are you trying to tell me Stephanie doesn't remember..."
David's shoulders slumped; he sighed and shook his head. "Nada,” he replied. “Her memory is completely wiped out. Blank. Clean sweep." There was a moment of silence, then he added with plea in his voice: “And it has to stay that way! She'd be devastated if she knew that she and one of her stepsons..." He sighed again and fell silent.
"...counted the pores on each other's bodies?" Maddie finished dryly.
David had the decency to cringe a little. "Yeah, something like that." He shrugged. "She loves my dad, she really does. Why do anything to spoil their happiness?"
Maddie let the news sink in; although what had happened between David and his now-stepmother Stephanie had happened a long time ago, and Maddie had no right to be jealous about it, but she still would have thought about it every time she would have seen them together, and she knew herself – it would have bothered her. Knowing that Stephanie didn't have the slightest memory about it, that David meant nothing more and nothing less to her than her beloved husband's eldest son, made things a lot easier for Maddie to accept. She nodded slowly. "You're right,” she agreed. “That would be cruel. And she won't feel uncomfortable around me which is great."
David shook his head. "She has no reason to."
"And we'll leave it at that," Maddie confirmed. David nodded; he seemed to avoid her look a little, and she could tell that he was feeling pretty uncomfortable now – probably because Stephanie didn't remember one bit of their heated encounter all those years ago, and because he had kept that from Maddie. After a short pause she asked: "Why didn’t you tell me?"
David shrugged. "Well... it's kinda... embarrassing, I guess..." he fell silent, and Maddie rolled her eyes. Men and their pride in their sexual skills!
"Addison, you're a dope,” she told him in a merciless tone and added: “It's embarrassing for you what you did back then, for both of you, but you were young and stupid, and the way you handled it afterward...” her voice grew a little softer, “ – that is, after the crawling at your dad's party and vomiting in our car part – was pretty mature."
David looked at her in mild surprise. "You really think so?"
"Yeah, I really think so," she confirmed. David nodded thoughtfully and then fell silent again; Maddie felt almost sorry for him, but also a little mischievous. She put her hand on his arm in a reassuring gesture. "David, that doesn't mean a thing,” she soothed. “She was probably drunk."
"Yeah..."
"And that was a few years ago...” she went on, and the little devil sitting on her left shoulder made her add: “Maybe your skills weren't that overwhelming."
David's head snapped up. "Hey, I never heard complaints!" he made clear.
Maddie bit the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from grinning. "Oh, I'm not complaining either, David!" she soothed.
"Good." was his grumpy reply.
"But then... what do I really know?” She shrugged innocently. “We both know I haven't been around much."
"What??” David snapped. Was she seriously doubting now that he was an extraordinarily good lover? “You gotta be..." He stopped in mid-talk and scrutinized her; suddenly, he noticed a wicked glint in her cornflower blue eyes and an ironic smile and frowned. "Are you making fun of me, fiancée?" he asked in disbelief.
Finally, Maddie let the chuckle out. "Sorry, but I couldn't resist... serves you right." She wrapped her arms around his neck and huddled her body close to his which reminded him immediately of his morning wood and that it hadn't fulfilled its higher purpose yet. "Hey, I was just kidding. You know I'm overwhelmed every time by your skills."
His mood was already lighted up again, and he smirked. "Yeah, you surely give that impression, Blondie."
“I already wish I hadn't said that,” Maddie remarked and rolled her eyes.
“Why, it's true,” he replied, already his old, irresistible smug self again. “Admit it, you could never forget a single moment we spent making love...”
She nodded benevolently. “Probably not.”
“We should create a new memory right now,” he purred and put his big hands on her satin-covered ass, pressing his massive boner into her pubic area.
Maddie laughed and wriggled free from his grip. “Keep that thought, Addison, we have a long day ahead of us.”
“Hey!” He caught her wrist. “All the more important to start it with something really pleasurable... I know I would be able to sit through the Hayes/Addison reunion much more eagerly if we have our own small Hayes/Addison reunion now...”
“Small?” Maddie echoed and looked at the huge tent in front of his boxers. “Since when are you so modest?” She laughed and gave him a push that caught him by surprise, and he stumbled backwards on the bed. “So – come on, make it memorable!”
***
Three hours later, in the busy main office of Blue Moon, Maddie was just standing at Agnes' desk and signing a few letters that had to be sent out, when the door was opened and an attractive brunette about her own age entered the room, followed by an elder man she recognized at once as David Addison Sr.; the woman, of course, was his wife Stephanie.
Maddie smiled brightly. “So great to see you!” she greeted them and held out her hand.
“Honey!” Stephanie exclaimed, ignored her hand and pulled her into a surprisingly strong hug. “So glad to see you again! You look wonderful!”
She was a little surprised by the gushing salutation but returned the hug cordially. “Thank you,” she replied with a smile. “So do you!”
Stephanie laughed with her husky voice. “Married life is wonderful, you'll see soon! Isn't that true, David?”
She released Maddie, and David’s father embraced her, and she felt a little nervous being hugged by her future father-in-law.
“It's true,” David Sr. answered his wife and kissed Maddie on both cheeks. “Are you sure you know what you're doing?” he asked with a throaty laugh.
“David!” Stephanie chastised, and Maddie laughed too.
“Yes, I think so,” she replied, and David's father seemed genuinely pleased.
“Good,” he replied, “because I can't wait to make a scene at my son's wedding!”
Stephanie slapped his shoulder. “Will you stop that!” she scolded.
“Just a joke,” the Senior said, “bad joke.”
Maddie laughed again. “I'm so glad you two are here! As chance would have it, my parents are coming to L.A. today too. I hope it's okay for you if we all have dinner together?”
“Of course we’d love to!” Stephanie answered. “What a great coincidence!”
“Yes!” Maddie looked at her watch. “They should be landing about now.”
Addison Sr. threw a glance over his shoulder at David's closed office door and took Maddie by the elbow, leading her a few steps away. “Listen Maddie,” he told her, his voice lowered a little in a conspiratorial manner, “I just wanted to say a few words to you before...” he cleared his throat. "Let me say that I love both my boys equally... but you should know you haven't picked the easier one."
Maddie smiled fondly. "I figured that already..."
"But let me also say,” he went on, “if you look a little closer, you got one helluva great guy there."
Maddie nodded, very touched by the elder man's words and the affection that transpired. "I figured that out too..."
"Don't tell him I said that!" the Senior demanded.
Maddie rolled her eyes, recognizing David and also Richie in their father's remark. "You Addison men are all alike, aren't you?"
David Sr. grinned a little sheepishly, and the likeness between him and David struck her at that moment. "You figured that out too?” he asked. “And you still like us? You're a keeper." He kissed her cheek.
"Well, you Addison men are hard not to like,” Maddie replied and added with a wink: “But don't tell him I said that."
“Said what?” came David's voice from behind, and everybody turned to him.
“David!” Stephanie exclaimed with glee, hugged her stepson and planted a totally unerotic smooch on his lips. David patted her back a little clumsily, and Maddie smirked at him over Stephanie's shoulder.
“Glad to see you too,” David replied and kissed the brunette on her temple, then he looked at his father and grinned only a little uneasily. “David Addison, I presume?”
Maddie rolled her eyes again, and Stephanie commented: “Like father, like son.”
“If that isn't my youngest son and best man!” David Sr. said, and then the two men hugged, also a little clumsily, and Stephanie approached Maddie.
“What do you say, how about we let our guys have some father-son-talk,” she suggested, “and you tell me about the plans for your wedding?”
Maddie nodded, secretly impressed with Stephanie's sensitivity. She didn't know what she had expected from her, as she didn't know her at all, but she was impressed. “Let's go to my office,” she smiled.
David led his father to his own office a little reluctantly; he would have preferred to have Maddie by his side, but it seemed like the two women had forgotten them already. He always had seemed to have some difficulty talking to his father, and he wasn't even sure why. He knew it was silly, and he was honestly determined to work on that. For starters, he wanted to ask him face to face how he felt about becoming a grandfather and was just thinking about the right words to open, when his father surprised him by starting as soon as David had closed the office door behind them.
“She's wearing the cross.”
David was so taken aback by this unexpected remark that he just replied: “What?”
His father was standing in the middle of the room, piercing his son with a thoughtful stare. “Maddie. She's wearing your mother's cross.”
“Oh.” David nodded and automatically looked away. Why did it always feel awkward when his father talked about his mother? Maybe because he never did which David had always regretted but never had known what to do about. “Yes.”
“She really is The One then?” the Senior asked with a pleased expression on his face.
David smiled. Let's talk about Maddie. These were safer grounds. “Yes, dad, she really is.”
“You never gave it to...”
“No.” David turned away from his father almost briskly and went for the liquor cabinet to pour him a Scotch with water.
“Good.” David Sr. nodded. “Trust your instincts, that's what your mother always said. She would approve, you know.” David rummaged for the bottle and said nothing. “I'm glad that you're happy,” his father added.
Finally, David turned around again and handed him the glass. “Thanks, dad. I am.”
The two men looked at each other, and after a short pause, the older one asked: “And there won't be any problems with the agency?”
David frowned. “Problems?” he echoed. “What problems?”
His father took a sip from his glass and then put it down on the desk. “Well, your wife being your boss...”
“Oh...” David smiled slightly. “She isn't my boss anymore,” he said. “We're equal partners now.”
His father's eyes widened in surprise. “You mean, this all...” he made an all-encompassing move with his hand, and David nodded.
“Half of the business is mine,” he confirmed, and his father nodded with obvious approval. He didn't know where it came from, but suddenly he asked him: “Are you proud of me now?”
David hadn't wanted to ask that because he thought it made him sound like an insecure little boy, but he had the feeling that for the first time in his life he was achieving something, and he realized that he wanted his father to acknowledge that. But the Senior frowned. “What kind of question is that?” he asked in response and added: “Of course I'm proud. I've always been proud of you.”
David looked away again, absurdly feeling embarrassed. He hadn't seen that coming. “Let me tell you something about your mother,” his father said, and David sighed inwardly. More awkwardness. “I remember one day, you were maybe about ten, when our old neighbor, Mrs. Kozleski, came to our door, her broom in her hand, and was furious about some mess you and Richie had made.” Something about the name his father had mentioned sounded familiar to David, and he felt the faint pain again he always felt when he was reminded of his mother, because he had forgotten so many things about her. “Anyway,” his father went on, “your mother apologized of course, but Mrs. K just went on and on and on and finally ended by saying that you and Richie were rascals who would come to a bad end. Boy, that was a mistake.”
David slowly looked at his father again, and the scene he was describing somehow rang a bell at the back of his mind. “What happened?” he asked.
“You mother told Mrs. K,” David Sr. went on, “where she could stick that broom, and then she said – I swear I still can hear her voice – “These boys are gold.” Then she slammed the door in the old crone's face.” the older man smiled to himself, his eyes drawn to a point somewhere in the middle of nowhere. “Then she turned to you and Richie and said...”
“...and don't let anybody tell you you're tinsel.” David heard himself finish the sentence when, all of a sudden, a flashback of that scene hit him, and he saw his mother's face before his inner eye as clearly as he hadn't seen it in a long time; a precious piece of memory coming back. “Then she grounded us for two weeks.”
A surprised smiled flew over his father's face. “You remember that?”
David smiled broadly, he couldn't believe it himself – that he had forgotten that little scene completely, and that his father's words had brought it back now. “Now I do...” he answered slowly and then added in a hoarse voice: “Thanks, dad.”
His father nodded, obviously pleased. Then, before the moment could get awkward with both men struggling with their feelings, he said: “So... I hear tonight we're meeting Maddie's parents?”
“Yes. They're in town too... coincidence.”
“Are they OK?”
David smiled. “Yes, they are OK, dad.”
Much to his own surprise, he was looking forward to the dinner.
***
In the evening the six of them had a nice dinner in a quite pleasurable atmosphere. Everybody got along well, and Maddie's parents didn't seem to find anything strange or debatable about David's father or his wife. He smiled to himself. Well, somehow it was impossible not to like Stephanie, and he knew that Virginia was a very kind person who seemed to get along with everybody. Alex, on the other hand, was a tough nut to crack, but basically a good-hearted man and a good judge of character. Obviously, Stephanie had won him over. If one of them had been surprised by the fact that David's stepmother was young enough to be his sister, they hadn't given any sign of it.
The conversation was flowing easily with no awkward pauses. Virginia was just saying to David Sr.: “Let me say that we liked David already right from the beginning, when we first met him!” She turned to her husband. “Isn't that right, darling?”
Alex nodded unceremoniously. “Yes, that's true.”
Maddie smiled at David as if she wanted to tell him See? Told you. “Well, I didn't,” she interjected dryly and all shared a hearty laughter. Then, she winked at David and added: “Obviously, I've changed my mind.” They laughed again.
David's father slapped his back and commented: “Well, we're all glad about that.”
“Well, it's impossible not to like them David Addisons,” Stephanie chimed in, and her husband threw her a loving glance.
Maddie smiled at her and agreed: “Eventually.”
The six of them touched their champagne flutes with a jovial clink, Maddie's filled with water. When they placed them back on the table, David Sr. said to Alex: “As you probably know, our home lacked the hand of a woman... but you were very lucky, having not only one, but two gorgeous women around!”
Virginia and Maddie exchanged delighted smiles, at the same time pleased with the compliment and satisfied that things seemed to be going really well.
“I was,” Alex confirmed, “and although some may think it’s not easy being in the male minority, I will say that it was much harder for my wife, given that my daughter and I share the same trait of... hmm, how shall I put it...”
“Stubbornness is the word you're looking for, dear,” Virginia chimed in graciously, and again, the whole bunch laughed in unison.
“Mom!” Maddie complained, blushing, and David Sr. shook his head.
“Your daughter, Alex? She always seemed very sweet to me, from the first moment I met her!” Maddie smiled at him, and he added: “How could she ever be stubborn?”
“Oh, she can,” David blurted out, “believe me, dad.” Maddie took a deep breath to say something, but fell silent when David shrugged and added: “Wouldn't want her any other way.”
The three Hayes and the three Addisons laughed again, in a very hearty, conspiratorial way.
***
When they finally got home after a really nice evening, David kicked off his shoes, threw his keys on the hall table and tossed his jacket on the sofa. He plopped on the couch with his long legs propped on the coffee table with a deep sigh. “I’m bushed.” He closed his eyes and rested his head on the back of the couch cushions.
“Me too,” Maddie admitted and placed her purse on the table beside David’s feet. “But it went really well, what do you think?”
David opened an eye and looked at her. “I always said Hayes and Addison goes together like peanut and butter.”
Maddie laughed. “Yeah, right.” She headed toward the blinking light of the answering machine, pushed the button and listened for their messages as she sat to take off her shoes.
“This is Mrs. Robins of A Child’s Place nursery school. Thank you for your interest in our center. I’d be happy to arrange a tour of our facilities at your convenience. Please call us back at 213 -555-9000.”
David’s eyes flew open when he heard nursery school and he jumped off the couch in consternation when he heard the rest of the message. “What?” David’s eyes bore into Maddie with green ice. “What the hell was that message, Maddie? It had to be a wrong number.” He couldn't believe what he had just heard, what that meant. What the hell was she thinking making these decisions on her own?
Maddie looked into David’s eyes. “No, David, it wasn’t a wrong number.” Damn, she really didn’t want to get into this with him now. She had been planning on bringing it up when the parents left. Ever since she had learned about her pregnancy, Maddie had been mulling things over; she had no idea yet how everything would be organized, how their lives would change, but she knew one thing for sure: she didn’t want to stay home full time, so they needed to make some plans in the upcoming months. Just because she got a jump start without talking to David about all that before shouldn’t be a big deal, she rationalized.
“What are you saying?” he asked in an almost menacing tone.
“Listen, it’s no big deal,” she told him impatiently. “I just called around to a few daycare agencies.” Maddie folded her arms across her chest. “So what?”
David was flabbergasted. “So what?” He echoed in disbelief and ran his hand through his hair. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Stop cursing.” Maddie’s eyes flashed fire. “You know I hate that.”
“How dare you go behind my back and make plans to stick our baby in some damn daycare?” David snapped and shook his head. “What were you thinking?”
“First of all I didn’t go behind your back,” Maddie defended herself, then saw David’s face challenging that statement and back tracked, “OK, well, it wasn’t my intention.”
“And pray tell what was your intention?” David’s voice was razor sharp. “We never even talked about you going back to work.” He placed his index finger against his temple, “I mean I thought you’d want to stay home and take care of the Bean!” His voice was puzzled.
Maddie pushed off the couch arm and began to pace around the living room. “Of course I want to take care of the baby, David!” she told him. “But I don’t want to leave Blue Moon completely.”
A thought flitted across David’s mind. “Why – don’t you trust me not to run the business into the ground?”
She rolled her eyes. He and his insecurities! “It’s not that.”
“Then?” David’s eyes were scrutinizing Maddie closely. “What is it? I think a mother belongs home with the baby!”
“I will be home with her most of the time, but I want to work part time, David!” Maddie told him firmly. This was important to her. Surely, he had to understand her? She was happy that she was going to have his baby, but that didn't mean that she was going to give up everything else, that she was going to stop being who she was!
“Why?” David was livid. “When the Bean is born your job will be taking care of our baby!”
She couldn’t believe how old fashioned he was! “And that is all my job?” Now Maddie was furious. “Why is it the woman’s job to stay home with the baby?”
“Because she is the mother!” David couldn’t believe his ears. “You don’t want to take care of the baby?”
Maddie shook her head. He was deliberately misunderstanding her. “I didn’t say that!” she fumed. “Don’t put words in my mouth!” She swallowed and tried to compose herself. “I want to take care of our baby, David, but I also need to take care of me!”
“What the hell does that mean?” he thundered. “That’s selfish!”
“Selfish?!” she echoed incredulously.
“Yeah, selfish!” he repeated angrily, and Maddie was shocked.
“No it’s not!” she contradicted. “I’ve worked all my life and I can’t see myself not working at least part time!”
“You will be working, Maddie!” David pointed out. “Being a mom is a full-time job, and it's the best job in the world!”
“Then you do it!” She snapped furiously but instantly regretted her words. “Rewind, I didn’t mean that!”
David was breathing hard, completely at a loss. Didn’t she think taking care of the Bean was the most important thing in the world? He was angry but hurt too. He remembered from his earlier childhood how great it had felt to know that whenever he and Richie came home, no matter what the day had brought them, no matter what trouble they had been in, bruised knees, street fights – when they came home, their mother had always been there; she had been their calming support, cooking their favorite meals, encouraging them. The streets had been rough sometimes, but their home had always been like a cocoon, a shelter. David remembered painfully how that feeling suddenly was gone when their mother had died. That loss had almost torn him apart. To him their baby was more important than anything. Didn’t she feel the same way?
He gritted his teeth. “I don’t want you to work at all when the baby is small.” He pointed in his direction with his next words. “I can handle things at the agency.”
Maddie couldn’t believe him! “You can’t tell me what to do! You’re not my boss!” She was so angry she felt like slapping that superior look off his face.
“No, not your boss, but I am going to be your husband.” His voice was a low dangerous growl now.
“Yeah, and they took obey out of the wedding vows years ago.” Maddie shouted throwing her hands up in the air. “I am going to work part time, and that’s that.”
“No that’s not that!” David was waving his hands around in anger. “You are going to be a mother and stay home with our daughter!”
“Really, Addison, you are so sexist!” she screamed so loud the walls almost shook.
“What?!”
“You heard me!”
“I’m a sexist cause I want the mother of my child to stay home and raise that child!?” David pursed his lips which infuriated Maddie even more. “I think not, Miss Hayes.”
She shot her right index finger at him like a bullet, firing all she had now. “A child that still has no name because her sexist, irresponsible, sex crazed father can’t take a moment out of his time to sit down and …”
“And make a dumb list!” He chuckled sarcastically, “and really, Maddie – you’re calling me sex crazed? Who was it who begged for round 3?” he threw in her face.
She clenched her fists, seeing red before her eyes. “You, you…”
“I told you last night I don’t like that name.” David shot back dryly.
Maddie stomped up the bedroom steps leaving David looking after her shaking his head.
“Are you sure?” Maddie needed to hear it again; she squeezed David's hand.
“Absolutely sure,” the gynecologist confirmed. “I checked and double-checked. Your little girl is still as fit and healthy as she was this morning when we did the sonogram.”
David put his arm around Maddie's shoulders and pulled her near, kissing her on the temple. No words could describe the relief he felt. When Maddie had told him in panic that she had found a few smears of blood in her panties, a cold hand had grasped his heart, and immediately his mind went back to the day when his first wife Tess had lost the baby, the reason they had gotten married in the first place. There had been blood too, but it had been far more of it, and Tess had been in a lot of pain. Maddie didn't look that bad at all, but he was still terrified; maybe even more terrified than she was herself, because he had gone already through a similar experience.
Maddie put her hand on his hand resting on her shoulder and said: “But the blood...”
Dr. Hill raised both hands soothingly. “Light spotting is something that happens quite often and it doesn't mean any harm for your baby,” he explained. “Some women are even spotting regularly, so that they think they are still having their period and don't even notice their pregnancy.”
“Okay,” Maddie said, letting out her breath slowly. “Well, I guess I've worried a bit too much then, but when I saw the blood...”
“No, no, Maddie,” Dr. Hill interrupted, “please don't ever hesitate to call or come here when you are worried. This is definitely a case of better worry one time too often than too less.”
“Okay,” she nodded and then, when the doctor was about to head for the door, quickly added: “Speaking of which... in fact, I am wondering about one thing...”
David frowned and threw her a sideways glance, almost starting to worry again. What was it she was worried about? She hadn't told him anything that was troubling her.
“Yes?” Dr. Hill waited patiently.
It seemed as if Maddie was a little hesitant about her question, but then she drew a deep breath and asked: “I was wondering if it was still safe for us to... to...” she stumbled over her own words, blushed and fell silent, and absurdly enough, David had no idea what she was talking about; he had been so wrapped up in his whirling thoughts mixing up this pregnancy and the one from the past, that the fog in his head cleared only very slowly.
But Dr. Hill had understood her right away and smiled encouragingly. “Oh, you mean if you continue to have sexual intercourse?”
“Ah... yes,” Maddie answered in a barely audible voice. Finally, it dawned on David what she meant, and he smiled to himself.
“Again, there's absolutely no need to worry, Maddie,” Dr. Hill told her, “and it's a good thing to ask. Here, there are no rules: you should just go with your instincts. Usually, everything that makes the mom happy and feels good is also good for the baby.”
“Okay...” Maddie nodded and avoided David's look. She knew he’d probably tease her about asking later but she just needed to know.
“There may come the time,” the gynecologist went on, “that certain positions are not as comfortable anymore as they used to be, and then you'll just have to be a little... inventive.” He smiled again at them. “And if you have any questions, feel free to ask any time. That same goes for you, David.”
“Okay,” David replied firmly, speaking for the first time in ten minutes, “thanks, Doc.” He shook Dr. Hill's hand, and when they had said their goodbyes and the doctor had left them alone so Maddie could get dressed again, David pulled Maddie in his arms again and hugged her very tightly. She wrapped her arms around his waist and sighed deeply.
“I was so scared,” she whispered, “stupid me.”
“Not stupid,” he murmured into her hair, “I was scared too.” He didn't mention anything about the thoughts about Tess and her pregnancy; she didn't need to be burdened with that. Everything was okay, and that was all that mattered.
“Yeah well...” she shrugged. “How could we know that spotting is such a common thing?”
“I didn't for sure,” he replied.
“Well, next time we know,” Maddie said without thinking.
David wasn't sure what she had meant, and maybe she wasn't sure about it either, but suddenly they were looking at each other, their faces assuming a conspiratorial expression, smiles spreading slowly.
“Next time, huh?” David finally said in a husky voice.
Maddie smiled almost shyly. “Yeah, next time...”
David smiled back and shook his head, again he couldn't believe that this happiness and luck was all his.
***
On their way home from Dr. Hill's office they stopped for a moment to register for Lamaze class; something they had planned to do that week anyway. It was about time now, and the lessons would start in a couple of months. The instructor was a short middle-aged woman named Ella, and she welcomed them very cordially. Another step ahead, Maddie thought happily and for about the millionth time marveled at how her life had changed over the last few months. She had finally gotten together with the man she was madly in love with, never having thought this possible, and every single one of her fears about him, about them had turned out to be pointless; they were getting married, and they were about to have a healthy little baby girl. Life was wonderful.
They picked up some Chinese dinner and made themselves comfortable on the couch in the living room, eating directly from the cartons. Maddie still wasn't entirely comfortable with that, but it was okay to do it from time to time. After the dinner, finally the long and exciting day took its toll, and Maddie suddenly felt so tired she could have fallen asleep on the couch. They took the empty food cartons into the kitchen and then headed upstairs.
Maddie felt the need for a shower, and when she came out of the bathroom, David was just pulling the comforter on the bed back and waved invitingly. Then he went to the bathroom; when he passed her by, he gave her butt a little slap.
“I'll be right by your side in a minute,” he said, and she smiled, slipped off her silk robe and crawled between the sheets, not laying down yet.
Only a few minutes later, David was back and slipped between the sheets beside her. He saw she was still sitting up and figured she needed a bit of distraction to get her mind off that whirlwind of emotions she had gone through the last few hours. They both did. He raised his left hand and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Then he gave her a mocking grin.
“Hey, you really didn't have to make it look like we're a pair of sex maniacs,” he teased. “You embarrassed me in there.”
Maddie rolled her eyes, but in an amused way, relaxing a little from the tension that had kept her whole body rigid throughout the last few hours. “Yeah, yeah – how do you even put up with me?”
He shrugged and smirked at her. “Oh, you do have your qualities, so I think I'm gonna keep you.”
She snorted playfully. “Addison, you're such a smug bastard, sometimes I wonder how I put up with you.” Then she mirrored his gesture and shrugged too. “But then, I guess... apart from the obvious benefits you must have some hidden qualities beneath all those warts too...”
“Well,” he replied smoothly, “I'm lucky to have found my shrewd princess, who was willing to take a second look.”
“Willing might not be the right word...” she teased and thought back of that crazy month they had spent together, both anxious not to show too much of their respective feelings, both in doubt of the other one's commitment to their love. She had been trying to fight her feelings off, but she hadn't been able to control them.
“Oh, willing is exactly the right word, Blondie!” David contradicted and smirked again and thought back of that crazy month they had spent together, that insane dance around each other they had performed, her always trying to run away from him, and him not letting her. She had never been able to resist his charms.
"Well, it's a fact that you can be very convincing..." she admitted reluctantly.
"Is that a hidden quality or one of the obvious benefits?" he asked in a teasing voice.
She sighed. "David?"
"Maddie." His eyes were glittering with humor and shining with love.
"I'm not really in the mood for advanced verbal sparring today...” she said and tilted her head slightly. “Could you just shut up and kiss me? And then hold me really close?"
Like always, when she showed her vulnerable side, he melted on the spot with his love for her. He knew what a precious gift it was when she revealed to him, and only him this side; what big sign of her trust it was that she let herself fall, whether be it while getting lost in her passion, her feelings for him or her insecurities – she had learned to let herself fall right into his arms, trusting him to be there and catch her.
"Sure, babe,” he replied in a husky voice and reached out for her. “C'mere. You must be drop dead tired." He put his left hand at the back of her head and pulled her in for a slow and tender kiss, gently making love to her mouth with his lips and tongue until she sighed and he felt that she was really relaxing.
Then he lay down on his pillow, pulling her with him, and she snuggled closely into his embrace. Not for the first time she thought to herself that to her his arms were the safest place in the world. One day she would tell him.
"Agnes told me today that she and Bert are getting married too! Did you know about that?" she asked when she had found her most comfortable position. Her arm was draped over David's chest and her leg over his. Her head was resting on his shoulder.
"Oh yes,” he replied, “Bertie-boy told me today, and of course he didn't spare me the dirty details..."
"What?!" she gasped.
David laughed. "I meant, he was rambling on and on about how romantically he set the scenario for his proposal!" he explained.
"Oh." She asked dryly: "Did he set the kitchen on fire, too?"
"Low shot, Miss Hayes,” David chastised playfully, “I thought you were not in the mood for verbal sparring?"
Maddie chuckled. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. I told you already that your proposal was perfect.” She tilted her head and placed a soft kiss on the side of his throat, then she snuggled close again. “Anyway, I asked Agnes to be my maid of honor."
"Oh, that's a good idea!” David was obviously pleased to hear that. “I mean, sometimes I think she wanted you to marry me even more than I did..." He yelped when Maddie punched him hard on the shoulder. "Ouch! It was a joke! Bad joke!” he exclaimed and then told her: “I think that's a great idea." He fell silent for a moment and then added fondly: "Little curlyhead will be a wonderful maid of honor."
Maddie smiled to herself. David didn't know it, but his obvious genuine fondness for Agnes who was a loner just like him had always been very appealing to her. "You always had a soft spot for her, right?" she asked.
David shrugged. "Kind of,” he replied lightly. “Well, she's La Dolce DiPesto, sweet as candy. How can you not?"
"True." Suddenly, Maddie had a thought. She was convinced that Agnes had never had a crush on David, and he had never shown any other interest in her than a very brotherly one. But she didn't know about the other women who worked in the office – she thought she had seen the odd appreciative glance from the female wobblies following him over the last three years, but maybe she had only imagined this, her perception already fogged by jealousy. And sure enough, David had never made any inappropriate move towards any of her female employees. But she had no idea how things had been before she had shown up at the City Of Angels agency... and now she wanted to know. "What about the other girls?" she asked.
David frowned, completely at a loss. "What do you mean?"
Maddie cleared her throat. "Did you ever have a soft spot for one of the other girls in the office? Did you ever have sex with a girl in the office?"
David was always happy when he noticed Maddie's jealousy. He could be completely honest about that, since – despite his very active sex life – he had never messed around with any of the employees. "Could you specify the question – did I ever have sex in the office with any girl except you, or did I ever sleep with one of the wobblies?" he teased.
Maddie's face fell; the way he had put that implied that at least one thing of the two had actually happened. Suddenly, she wasn't sure anymore she wanted to know the answer; "Both I guess?" she offered uneasily.
David took pity on her. "No and no," he replied. “Never rocked the desk with anyone but you, never laid a finger on any of the girls.”
Maddie drew a deep breath of relief. "Oh,” she managed and couldn't resist adding: “I'm surprised they never had the hots for you..."
He smirked. "Who says they didn't?” he replied smoothly and shrugged. “I always thought it would only cause trouble to screw a co-worker."
Maddie propped herself up on one elbow and looked into his face, frowning. "Oh really?” she asked with irony in her voice. “Then how come you never had those scruples when it came to us? I mean, if that didn't cause trouble, I don't know what trouble is..."
"Yeah, trouble's my middle name, I know.” He raised his left hand and traced the line of her lower lip with his index finger, causing pleasurable sensations in her belly. “But I thought you were worth that trouble." His tone was light and casual which made his words all the more meaningful.
Maddie couldn't help but sigh: "Awww. Really?"
"Really,” he nodded. “I always knew I wanted to spend the rest of my sex life with you."
She pursed her lips in annoyance, but was secretly touched. Her voice sounded sarcastic when she spoke, but without a sharp edge. "As usual, you keep impressing me with your ability to always find the right words in a romantic situation..."
David shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, sorry to disappoint, but not everybody can be a Herbert Quentin Viola."
Maddie blurted out in laughter. "Yeah, yeah. Anyway, back to Agnes... she also asked me to be her maid of honor," she broke the news.
David sighed. "And Bertie-boy wants me to be his best man..."
"Well, what did you tell him?" she wanted to know.
"Not sure yet,” David shrugged, making it sound deliberately casual. “I wouldn't want him to think we're best buddies for life from now on."
Maddie smiled. "You told him yes, didn't you?"
David grinned sheepishly. "Of course. Can't leave him in the lurch, can I?"
"He's growing on you," Maddie declared.
David waved his hands casually. "Nah, I just don't want him to whine in my ears until he finds another one to do it, that's all."
Her smile widened when she told him: "Liar. We both know that you're not half as cynical as you pretend to be."
He raised an ironic eyebrow. "Do we?" he asked.
"We do,” she replied. “Anyway, then a celebration is absolutely needed."
David frowned suspiciously. "What kind of celebration?"
"I told Agnes the four of us should go out for dinner next week," Maddie announced.
"What?” David gasped. “Why did you do that?"
"Because it would be nice,” she replied firmly. “And fun."
"What?? Since when are you the expert for fun?” David drawled, sarcasm dripping from his voice. “Sitting through a root canal treatment at the dentist is more fun! An evening with Bertie-boy? You have no idea what that means – look, I barely manage to get through a stakeout with Viola without going insane, he literally talks all the time, and a lot of what he says doesn't make sense at all..."
Maddie laughed out loud and then asked dryly: "Seriously, Addison? You of all people, complaining about a guy that talks your ears off and drives you nuts? Welcome to my world."
"Hey, for someone who claims not to be in the mood for bantering you're pretty cheeky, missy!" he told her in a playfully severe tone.
Maddie laughed. "I guess that means I'm starting to feel my old self again." She suppressed a yawn.
"A very tired self," David remarked and turned off the light on the nightstand. "Time for dreamland, girls." He kissed the top of her head.
Maddie grinned like a fool in the dark. Girls. She and the Bean. The well-developed and totally healthy Bean. She snuggled closer into David's embrace and nestled her head up to the nook of his throat between his jaw and his collarbone where the skin was warm and velvety. She could feel his pulse beating against her cheek, his warmth enveloping her, creating a warm and fuzzy feeling in her body and her heart, and she thought if she were a cat, she would start to purr now. The smell of his skin filled her nostrils, and she stirred a little, tilting her head slightly towards him, brushing her lips against his neck. It felt good, of course it did, and she felt his fingers caress her back in response, even though he was already half asleep.
She was tired herself, but she couldn't help it; she continued to nuzzle his neck softly and slid her hand under his t-shirt, instinctively looking for more and closer skin contact. Maddie wanted to crawl under his skin; but of course, she was already there, and she knew it – same as he was under her skin and would stay there forever. She moved her palm in slow, circular motion over his chest, his shoulders, his whole upper body, and finally he stirred and sighed deeply, and indeed it sounded more like a purr.
"What are you doing, baby," he murmured sleepily, "you should be resting..."
"I know," she whispered against his skin, "but you smell so good..." She continued kissing him, and like drawn by an invisible magnet, her caressing hand wandered downwards across his flat stomach.
He put his hand on hers but didn't stop her; he ran his fingertips up her forearm and stroked the inside of her elbow with his thumb so that she shivered. "Are you sure, baby..."
"I'm sure," she breathed, and he turned his head and his whole body towards her so that her lips met his. With his left arm he held her in a tight embrace, pressing the whole length of his body against hers, and with his right hand he caressed her face while they kissed, very softly and tenderly at first, but then with increasing passion.
Maddie wrapped her arms around his waist and got lost in his kisses and in the touch of his hand, his fingertips slowly wandering down the side of her throat, over her shoulder and down her bare arm, waking up every tingling nerve end. The sensation was intensified by the darkness in the room. When his hand glided on her behind and pressed her hips to his, she could feel his hardness against her belly and almost sighed in relief; she craved, needed to feel the connection now.
David kissed his way down her throat, taking his time very slowly and sensually, and when his hand wandered up again and firmly cupped her breast, his thumb drawling lazy circles around her erect nipple, she moaned and tried to pull him even closer.
Maddie moved her loins against his boner and wrapped her leg around his hips to bring her aching center in contact with his hardness. She sighed when she felt the sweet pressure. Then David got impatient too and slid between her legs. She helped him pull down his boxers and lifted her hips a little, so he could push her panties aside. She pulled him close again, and gently, very slowly and carefully he entered her.
When he was completely buried inside her, he stopped moving and looked into her eyes, right into her soul. Her face was bathed in the blueish moonlight.
“Are you feeling okay?” he asked hoarsely and with concern, wanting to make sure she was really comfortable with making love only a few hours after the shock she had experienced.
She smiled up at him, her face shining with love and happiness, and tightened her embrace. “I'm feeling wonderful,” she whispered breathlessly, enjoying the feeling of him inside her, filling her completely. “Really. Please, David, work your magic...”
He smiled back and slowly started to rotate his hips, moving gently, tenderly in and out and around and around, making love to her with all of his body, heart and soul; and she moved with him, their bodies totally in sync, in their perfectly matched rhythm, until they both reached their peaks at the same time, gasping each other's name and then just crumbling between the sheets, almost immediately falling into an exhausted but happy sleep.
***
The following morning Maddie was taking her time getting ready for the day. David had left earlier to meet Viola to do some legwork on their latest case and they had planned to meet at 10 at the restaurant where they had scheduled a meeting with their new clients. Since buying into LaSalle’s Los Angeles business Blue Moon was constantly busy with their new clients. Maddie admitted to herself happily that David’s insistence on taking the chance with LaSalle had been the correct thing to do. Her worries on clients breaking their contracts when Blue Moon took over had been unfounded. All of LaSalle’s old clients had signed up with Blue Moon, and as David had guessed they had gotten other clients through word of mouth. It looked like the agency was finally going to be the success David had always said it would be. David Addison, business expert? Maddie still couldn't believe it, but then – weirder things had happened over the last few months.
Maddie took a leisurely bath, then sat at her vanity to put on her makeup. Although people said she was glowing and had never looked better, Maddie was beginning to notice wrinkles on her face that had never been there before. She squinted in the mirror and was dismayed to see the crow’s feet around her eyes. It hit her with a pang that she was getting older! Being older than David had never bothered her so far, but now she suddenly realized she would hit that forty milestone when he was only 35. She didn’t like that idea one bit.
Maddie shook her head to toss out these negatives thoughts. What was wrong with her? She had been over the moon before she looked in the mirror today. She was getting married to the man she adored, pregnant with a healthy little girl and Blue Moon was finally a success. Her whole life lay before her like a slightly crooked, but safe path leading into a shining future. There was no reason that a few lines should bother her at all. She was still an attractive woman, and she blushed when she thought about how David couldn’t keep his hands off of her. She had nothing to worry about, she told herself as she finished applying her makeup.
Maddie opened her closet door and took out the skirt and blouse she had decided on for her outfit that day. It was the first maternity outfit she had bought a couple of weeks ago. The skirt was a deep rose color with a slit up her right thigh; it hinted at sexy without being wrong for the office – her blouse was a lighter rose color with buttons down the back. She smiled to herself when she remembered the last time she had worn this outfit. David had snuck his hand up the slit in the skirt while unbuttoning the blouse button by button. A bright shock of red covered her neck as she thought about how his magic fingers had brought her to a shattering climax parked in some client’s underground garage.
Maddie felt the familiar dampness between her legs. She had become a bigger sex maniac than David! she laughed as she put on the blouse, but her laughter died in her throat when she couldn’t zipper the skirt. The zipper wouldn’t budge an inch. Suddenly the idea of losing her figure crashed through Maddie’s mind. Soon she would be fat and old and ugly... She had just bought this outfit a couple of weeks ago and now the zipper wouldn’t even go halfway up! Of course, she had felt her dresses becoming tighter as the days wore on, but she had refused to acknowledge she was losing her waist, even if that was happening only inch by inch. But now she had to face it.
She heard David’s voice in her head, telling her she had never looked more beautiful – but then he always had complimented her, and so he was probably lying so her feelings wouldn’t be hurt. Okay, maybe now he was still attracted to her, but soon she would have no waist and wrinkles and then he would lose interest... Maddie kicked off the offensive skirt and reached into her closet for the elastic waist skirts she had been wearing for the past days. She covered the elastic with a stylish belt but when she looked in the mirror she didn’t see the beautiful pregnant woman she actually was.
Suddenly, out of nowhere David's words from a long time ago rang in her ears when during one of their heated discussions he had called her Miss I-made-a-million-bucks-off-my-physical-beauty-but-not-a-dime-off-my-emotional-substance Hayes... Not being able yet to free her mind completely from the superficial values she had learned to be important in her modeling days, now she only saw a middle aged fat woman and that made her cringe as she turned away from the mirror with tears in her eyes.
Maddie felt a little better as she parked the car and strolled towards the restaurant where she was meeting David. It was a bright sunny day and the sky was clear and blue with no smog in sight. She noticed David walking towards the restaurant from the other direction and felt her heart beat fast and a smile spread on her face as she looked at him strutting across the street. He was wearing his light grey suit which was one of her favorites and he looked hot and sexy and so – young. Other women were also eyeing him hungrily she noticed, but what stopped her in her tracks was the sight of David smiling back! How could he flirt with those women? Okay, well – he wasn’t really flirting, she admitted; but he was smiling back – why would he do that? And seeing him giving one of the younger hot women the Addison once over was like a knife in her heart. Her worst fears of David getting bored and wanting a younger woman shot through her mind, but then her sensible side kicked in telling her she was being ridiculous. She knew that David loved her truly, madly deeply and he would never cheat. But why did he still feel the need to look?
Maddie clenched her fists at her side and bit the inside of her cheek. Okay, she looked too, she realized, but it wasn’t the same. Wait, why wasn’t it the same? - she heard David’s mocking voice. Shut up – just shut up! her inner voice yelled as she resumed her walk toward the restaurant. She sighed inwardly; sometimes it really wasn't easy being Maddie Hayes.
David was already seated with the clients when Maddie walked into the eatery. She walked to the table and sat down with a forced smile as introductions were made all around. The lunch went well and Blue Moon acquired another regular client. The contract was signed and the clients left soon after leaving David and Maddie sipping their coffee.
“What’s got your maternity panties in a bunch?” David teased cocking an eyebrow.
“For your information, I am still wearing my regular panties.” Maddie snapped.
“Whoa babe.” David put up his hands in mock surrender. “What’d I do this time?”
He looked so boyishly innocent, and his eyes were so filled with love that Maddie’s anger and unease were blown away. She smiled at him across the table and took his hand. Addison would always look, she knew – but as long he didn’t touch she could live with that. “I’m just feeling a bit tired today.” She lied, “But I’m fine. I love you, David.”
A half smile flit over his face at this rather unexpected display of affection. “I know. I love you too.” He leaned over the table to whisper in her ear: “And I can’t wait to get my hands on those panties.”
Which he did in the car on the way back to Blue Moon.
***
That night after dinner Maddie came into the living room with a large yellow pad and a newly sharpened pencil. David who had been flipping through the channels looking for something good to watch sat up and turned to her with a question in his eyes. “Homework? Shopping list? Love note?” he shot in the dark.
Maddie sat down next to him shaking her head. “None of the above,” she smiled, “or below. I thought we’d go over names for the baby.”
“You mean we can’t just call her the Bean?” David joked as he ran a finger over the inside of Maddie’s ear.
Maddie swatted his hand away and frowned. “This is serious, David. The baby will be here before we know it, and we can’t put Bean on the birth certificate.”
“We can’t?” David really tried to be serious and hear her out, but as usual his wits got the better of him, and his crinkled nose and the glint in his eyes betrayed him.
Maddie didn't approve of his attitude. She threw him her look and got down to business, ignoring his last remark. “Okay, I think we should make a list of names we are considering...”
David looked at her like she had two heads. “A list?”
Maddie nodded emphatically. “Yes. First we throw out names we might like, and then over time we eliminate the ones we can’t agree on until we find the right name.”
David shook his head slowly. “I don’t like it.” he stated firmly.
Maddie’s head snapped back. “Don’t like what?”
David got up as he ran his hand through his hair. “I mean, why do we have to make a list?” He spat out the word like it was a piece of crap in his mouth, and it surely tasted like it. “Why can’t we just see what she looks like and decide then. Or ...”
Maddie was aghast; she cut him off with a sharp “Whatttt??” She couldn’t believe his suggestion. “See what she looks like?” she echoed in disbelief. “I’ve never heard of such a thing! Waiting for the last moment!? Well, why am I not surprised you would make such a stupid suggestion? And how about if that time comes and we can’t decide what she looks like? What happens then?”
“What happens then? SO, then we wait a bit, and then decide.”
Maddie looked at him with her jaw dropped almost to the floor. David was getting annoyed. Did she have to make a big deal out of everything? Did she have to plan everything to death? He didn't mind making a pro and con list when it came to business decisions, but any subject that involved emotions, gut feelings and personal preferences defied any idea of being pressed into a list in his opinion. And the decision how to name their child surely was such a subject to him. “You and your damn lists!” David snapped, “you take the joy out of everything!”
“And you and your spontaneous irresponsible ideas!” Maddie shot back with venom. “Deciding on the right name for our daughter is important!”
David nodded. “Yes, it is important,” he agreed, “but why does it have to be done with lists and eliminations instead of just talking about pretty names we like?”
Maddie threw the pad at David and jumped off the couch. “You – you!”
“Nah, don’t like that name,” went his motor mouth again, and against his better judgement he had to chuckle and mentally high-fived himself for that smart repartee.
Maddie saw red, of course, and just managed a growl as she walked past him. Suddenly, she felt a strong arm reach out grabbing her around her waist and pulling her against David’s hard body.
“What the hell...”
“Let’s not fight,” he purred into her ear. “I’d much rather fuck you right now.” He began to pull off her clothes quickly before she even realized what he was doing, until she was bare assed nude, and almost as a habit she didn't object, “and if you insist on making a list after I’m done with you...” He didn’t finish the sentence, instead he used his tongue in another far more pleasurable way – across her neck and over that spot.
Before she lost her senses, Maddie pulled out of his arms forcefully. “Not now, David!” She was so mad she almost stomped her foot. “You are the most insufferable man I have ever met!”
David chuckled as he pulled her back in his arms. “And you love me,” he whispered in that voice and once again Maddie felt that familiar, almost omnipresent ache between her legs. How she wanted to rip his head off at times!
Maddie tried to push her hands against David’s chest but he was holding her too tightly against his body; she could feel the evidence of his arousal against her loins, and of course unconsciously she moved herself against it. David laughed softly. “Yeah, you want it, babe.”
That was it; David’s smugness sent her over the line, so she stomped hard on his foot. David yelped and felt a sharp pain in his foot and realized that Maddie had stepped on his foot with all her weight behind it. Damn her! He immediately released her from his arms almost causing her to fall over. “What the fuck?” he cursed hobbling on one foot and throwing her a filthy look. “What's wrong with you, woman?!”
Maddie glared back. “I’m sorry if I hurt you, David!” she snapped, already feeling a little guilty. She looked into his eyes so dazzling green and felt herself melting. Why was she so angry at him anyway? So they didn’t make a list of baby names? So what? And so he was smug over her wanting his dick. She knew that he loved to tease her about that, and besides, she did want it and bad… Her anger subsided as her passion grew. She approached him slowly and put her hands around his waist. David just stood there with his hands at his sides. Now he was angry and annoyed.
“Sorry, baby,” she purred, planting slow hot kisses over his jawline. “You just drive me crazy sometimes,” she murmured and kissed her way down his throat, “and you do it on purpose. You know you do.” David didn’t move. Now she wanted him? Sometimes she was a complete mystery to him, although he had to admit to himself that she had a point with what she said. Pushing each other's buttons was what they did; and she had so much more buttons for him to push. “Touch me David,” Maddie breathed and molded her body against his, and despite his already subsiding annoyance David felt his dick twitch in his pants. Damn, he had his buttons too, after all. He moaned as Maddie pulled down his sweats, releasing his throbbing erection as she wiggled her hot loins against him. She cupped his balls in her hands and played with them for a few minutes, making David’s dick grow bigger, while she never stopped raining hot kisses over every exposed inch of his upper body's skin and tore at his t-shirt with the other hand to expose even more of it.
David kicked off his sweats and pulled the shirt over his head as his hands began to play over Maddie’s body. One hand cupped her ass, pushing her hotbox closer while the other fondled her breast. “Oh babe, you are so hot. Damn, you turn me on...” he almost growled as he backed her up against the wall, causing her to draw in a sharp breath in eager anticipation.
Maddie smiled seductively. “You turn me on too...” She gasped when David pressed her firmly against the wall. He reached down and placed one of her legs around his hip then pushed into her with one deep thrust until he was buried to the hilt inside of her throbbing core. “Ahh,” she made and wrapped her arms around his neck, “even if I wanted, I could never get enough of you...”
“You better not forget that,” he purred and started to move inside her in a fast-paced, maddening rhythm, like always when they had been fighting fueled by the adrenaline rushing through their veins.
“I won't,” she panted, “and you... you...”
Sometimes, David had a bright moment about what went on in Maddie's mind, and this was one of them. He knew exactly what she needed to hear. “Shut up,” he gasped breathlessly while increasing his rhythm and the force of his thrusts, “I could – never – get – enough – of you – either – never,” he told her in a hoarse voice, each word accompanied and emphasized by a deep thrust and reciprocated by an ecstatic cry from her.
It took only two more plunges until they both fell over the cliff and came hard in a rush of adrenaline and hormones that left them leaning breathlessly against the wall, David steadying Maddie whose leg was still wrapped around his waist. Their foreheads were touching, and both their faces were glistening with sweat.
“Let's get you upstairs,” David whispered when he was able to talk again, “you're getting cold.”
“We're not done yet,” Maddie remarked, still a little breathlessly, nodding her head towards the yellow pad that was lying on the floor where she had thrown it.
“You bet we're not,” he replied dryly and wrapped one arm around her shoulder, “round two is already on its way.” Her head shot up, and she threw him a killer look while he chuckled. “I know,” he soothed, “we're gonna talk names too, okay? Later.”
Maddie rolled her eyes and started to walk towards the spiral staircase. “Then let's bring it on,” she answered.
***
Thursday arrived as a bright and sunny day. Both their parents would be arriving in LA that afternoon and they were planning on meeting at ‘Star Shine‘ one of Maddie’s favorite restaurants at 7 that evening.
David woke up already nervous and reached out for Maddie, hoping for a little comforting and bringing his morning wood to good use, but her side of the bed was already empty. He sighed and swung his long legs out of the bed; maybe he could catch up with her in the shower, but at that moment she came out of the bathroom in her underwear and a dressing robe.
“Oh,” she said when she saw him sitting at the edge of the bed, “you're awake.”
He smirked. “You bet I am, Blondie. Every part of me.” He looked pointedly down at his crotch.
Maddie just rolled her eyes and shook her head. Something was definitely on her mind. She confirmed David's worst fears when she said: "David, I've been thinking..."
"Ow!” he exclaimed in fake shock. “Whenever you start a phrase like that, it usually ends up with something I don't like..."
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "David, I'm serious!"
He put his left hand on his throat in an exaggerated manner and made choking sounds. "Then it's worse than I thought!"
"Addison!!" Maddie snapped.
David raised his hands and tried a soothing tone. "Sorry, babe... you know what they say about old habits."
She waved him off impatiently. "Listen, about Stephanie..."
That came completely out of the blue... he raised a suspicious eyebrow. "What about her?"
Maddie sat down at her vanity but had her back turned to the mirror while she faced David. "I suppose she must think that now, since we're getting married, you've told me about the two of you, right?" she began.
David shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, I suppose so..."
"And even if you two have settled things and buried the past, she might feel uncomfortable around me," Maddie went on in a thoughtful tone.
David didn't really know what she was aiming at, and that made him really nervous. "And...?"
"And...” it seemed like Maddie wasn't so comfortable with what she was going to say either, but she said it anyway: “...so I thought it might be a good idea if I talked to her about it... assured her that there's no reason to..."
"That might not be a good idea at all," David interrupted bluntly.
Maddie frowned at his reaction. "Why not?” she asked. “If I learned anything in the past few months, it's that concerns should always be addressed and not swept under the rug..."
David raised both hands to stop her. "Maddie, listen, the thing is... I might have been...” he paused and ruffled his already sleep-tousled hair before he went on: “...not completely honest about what happened between her and me..."
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What are you saying?” she demanded to know. “Was there more? Did you... have an affair?!" She rose from her seat like Satan from hellfire.
He waved his hands in defense. "No, no, no... I swear it was only that one time.” He shrugged. “Well, let's say that one occasion, it was surely more than one..." he stumbled over his own words.
"Never mind!" she snapped in an exasperated tone. She really didn't need to hear that again.
Not smart, Dave! He slapped his face with his palm mentally and offered sheepishly: "I'm sorry..."
"I said never mind, David," Maddie told him firmly and sighed impatiently. "I still don't understand why you don't want me to talk to her about..."
David growled and rubbed his face, his mind racing. There was no other way then to lay his cards on the table, even if he wasn't comfortable about it. "She’ll have no idea what you're talking about,” he finally blurted out.
Maddie frowned cluelessly. "What does that mean?” she inquired. “Surely she hasn't forgotten..." She let her voice trail off, and much to her confusion David just looked at her silently; she shook her head, and then the penny dropped and her eyes popped open in disbelief. "Wait... are you trying to tell me Stephanie doesn't remember..."
David's shoulders slumped; he sighed and shook his head. "Nada,” he replied. “Her memory is completely wiped out. Blank. Clean sweep." There was a moment of silence, then he added with plea in his voice: “And it has to stay that way! She'd be devastated if she knew that she and one of her stepsons..." He sighed again and fell silent.
"...counted the pores on each other's bodies?" Maddie finished dryly.
David had the decency to cringe a little. "Yeah, something like that." He shrugged. "She loves my dad, she really does. Why do anything to spoil their happiness?"
Maddie let the news sink in; although what had happened between David and his now-stepmother Stephanie had happened a long time ago, and Maddie had no right to be jealous about it, but she still would have thought about it every time she would have seen them together, and she knew herself – it would have bothered her. Knowing that Stephanie didn't have the slightest memory about it, that David meant nothing more and nothing less to her than her beloved husband's eldest son, made things a lot easier for Maddie to accept. She nodded slowly. "You're right,” she agreed. “That would be cruel. And she won't feel uncomfortable around me which is great."
David shook his head. "She has no reason to."
"And we'll leave it at that," Maddie confirmed. David nodded; he seemed to avoid her look a little, and she could tell that he was feeling pretty uncomfortable now – probably because Stephanie didn't remember one bit of their heated encounter all those years ago, and because he had kept that from Maddie. After a short pause she asked: "Why didn’t you tell me?"
David shrugged. "Well... it's kinda... embarrassing, I guess..." he fell silent, and Maddie rolled her eyes. Men and their pride in their sexual skills!
"Addison, you're a dope,” she told him in a merciless tone and added: “It's embarrassing for you what you did back then, for both of you, but you were young and stupid, and the way you handled it afterward...” her voice grew a little softer, “ – that is, after the crawling at your dad's party and vomiting in our car part – was pretty mature."
David looked at her in mild surprise. "You really think so?"
"Yeah, I really think so," she confirmed. David nodded thoughtfully and then fell silent again; Maddie felt almost sorry for him, but also a little mischievous. She put her hand on his arm in a reassuring gesture. "David, that doesn't mean a thing,” she soothed. “She was probably drunk."
"Yeah..."
"And that was a few years ago...” she went on, and the little devil sitting on her left shoulder made her add: “Maybe your skills weren't that overwhelming."
David's head snapped up. "Hey, I never heard complaints!" he made clear.
Maddie bit the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from grinning. "Oh, I'm not complaining either, David!" she soothed.
"Good." was his grumpy reply.
"But then... what do I really know?” She shrugged innocently. “We both know I haven't been around much."
"What??” David snapped. Was she seriously doubting now that he was an extraordinarily good lover? “You gotta be..." He stopped in mid-talk and scrutinized her; suddenly, he noticed a wicked glint in her cornflower blue eyes and an ironic smile and frowned. "Are you making fun of me, fiancée?" he asked in disbelief.
Finally, Maddie let the chuckle out. "Sorry, but I couldn't resist... serves you right." She wrapped her arms around his neck and huddled her body close to his which reminded him immediately of his morning wood and that it hadn't fulfilled its higher purpose yet. "Hey, I was just kidding. You know I'm overwhelmed every time by your skills."
His mood was already lighted up again, and he smirked. "Yeah, you surely give that impression, Blondie."
“I already wish I hadn't said that,” Maddie remarked and rolled her eyes.
“Why, it's true,” he replied, already his old, irresistible smug self again. “Admit it, you could never forget a single moment we spent making love...”
She nodded benevolently. “Probably not.”
“We should create a new memory right now,” he purred and put his big hands on her satin-covered ass, pressing his massive boner into her pubic area.
Maddie laughed and wriggled free from his grip. “Keep that thought, Addison, we have a long day ahead of us.”
“Hey!” He caught her wrist. “All the more important to start it with something really pleasurable... I know I would be able to sit through the Hayes/Addison reunion much more eagerly if we have our own small Hayes/Addison reunion now...”
“Small?” Maddie echoed and looked at the huge tent in front of his boxers. “Since when are you so modest?” She laughed and gave him a push that caught him by surprise, and he stumbled backwards on the bed. “So – come on, make it memorable!”
***
Three hours later, in the busy main office of Blue Moon, Maddie was just standing at Agnes' desk and signing a few letters that had to be sent out, when the door was opened and an attractive brunette about her own age entered the room, followed by an elder man she recognized at once as David Addison Sr.; the woman, of course, was his wife Stephanie.
Maddie smiled brightly. “So great to see you!” she greeted them and held out her hand.
“Honey!” Stephanie exclaimed, ignored her hand and pulled her into a surprisingly strong hug. “So glad to see you again! You look wonderful!”
She was a little surprised by the gushing salutation but returned the hug cordially. “Thank you,” she replied with a smile. “So do you!”
Stephanie laughed with her husky voice. “Married life is wonderful, you'll see soon! Isn't that true, David?”
She released Maddie, and David’s father embraced her, and she felt a little nervous being hugged by her future father-in-law.
“It's true,” David Sr. answered his wife and kissed Maddie on both cheeks. “Are you sure you know what you're doing?” he asked with a throaty laugh.
“David!” Stephanie chastised, and Maddie laughed too.
“Yes, I think so,” she replied, and David's father seemed genuinely pleased.
“Good,” he replied, “because I can't wait to make a scene at my son's wedding!”
Stephanie slapped his shoulder. “Will you stop that!” she scolded.
“Just a joke,” the Senior said, “bad joke.”
Maddie laughed again. “I'm so glad you two are here! As chance would have it, my parents are coming to L.A. today too. I hope it's okay for you if we all have dinner together?”
“Of course we’d love to!” Stephanie answered. “What a great coincidence!”
“Yes!” Maddie looked at her watch. “They should be landing about now.”
Addison Sr. threw a glance over his shoulder at David's closed office door and took Maddie by the elbow, leading her a few steps away. “Listen Maddie,” he told her, his voice lowered a little in a conspiratorial manner, “I just wanted to say a few words to you before...” he cleared his throat. "Let me say that I love both my boys equally... but you should know you haven't picked the easier one."
Maddie smiled fondly. "I figured that already..."
"But let me also say,” he went on, “if you look a little closer, you got one helluva great guy there."
Maddie nodded, very touched by the elder man's words and the affection that transpired. "I figured that out too..."
"Don't tell him I said that!" the Senior demanded.
Maddie rolled her eyes, recognizing David and also Richie in their father's remark. "You Addison men are all alike, aren't you?"
David Sr. grinned a little sheepishly, and the likeness between him and David struck her at that moment. "You figured that out too?” he asked. “And you still like us? You're a keeper." He kissed her cheek.
"Well, you Addison men are hard not to like,” Maddie replied and added with a wink: “But don't tell him I said that."
“Said what?” came David's voice from behind, and everybody turned to him.
“David!” Stephanie exclaimed with glee, hugged her stepson and planted a totally unerotic smooch on his lips. David patted her back a little clumsily, and Maddie smirked at him over Stephanie's shoulder.
“Glad to see you too,” David replied and kissed the brunette on her temple, then he looked at his father and grinned only a little uneasily. “David Addison, I presume?”
Maddie rolled her eyes again, and Stephanie commented: “Like father, like son.”
“If that isn't my youngest son and best man!” David Sr. said, and then the two men hugged, also a little clumsily, and Stephanie approached Maddie.
“What do you say, how about we let our guys have some father-son-talk,” she suggested, “and you tell me about the plans for your wedding?”
Maddie nodded, secretly impressed with Stephanie's sensitivity. She didn't know what she had expected from her, as she didn't know her at all, but she was impressed. “Let's go to my office,” she smiled.
David led his father to his own office a little reluctantly; he would have preferred to have Maddie by his side, but it seemed like the two women had forgotten them already. He always had seemed to have some difficulty talking to his father, and he wasn't even sure why. He knew it was silly, and he was honestly determined to work on that. For starters, he wanted to ask him face to face how he felt about becoming a grandfather and was just thinking about the right words to open, when his father surprised him by starting as soon as David had closed the office door behind them.
“She's wearing the cross.”
David was so taken aback by this unexpected remark that he just replied: “What?”
His father was standing in the middle of the room, piercing his son with a thoughtful stare. “Maddie. She's wearing your mother's cross.”
“Oh.” David nodded and automatically looked away. Why did it always feel awkward when his father talked about his mother? Maybe because he never did which David had always regretted but never had known what to do about. “Yes.”
“She really is The One then?” the Senior asked with a pleased expression on his face.
David smiled. Let's talk about Maddie. These were safer grounds. “Yes, dad, she really is.”
“You never gave it to...”
“No.” David turned away from his father almost briskly and went for the liquor cabinet to pour him a Scotch with water.
“Good.” David Sr. nodded. “Trust your instincts, that's what your mother always said. She would approve, you know.” David rummaged for the bottle and said nothing. “I'm glad that you're happy,” his father added.
Finally, David turned around again and handed him the glass. “Thanks, dad. I am.”
The two men looked at each other, and after a short pause, the older one asked: “And there won't be any problems with the agency?”
David frowned. “Problems?” he echoed. “What problems?”
His father took a sip from his glass and then put it down on the desk. “Well, your wife being your boss...”
“Oh...” David smiled slightly. “She isn't my boss anymore,” he said. “We're equal partners now.”
His father's eyes widened in surprise. “You mean, this all...” he made an all-encompassing move with his hand, and David nodded.
“Half of the business is mine,” he confirmed, and his father nodded with obvious approval. He didn't know where it came from, but suddenly he asked him: “Are you proud of me now?”
David hadn't wanted to ask that because he thought it made him sound like an insecure little boy, but he had the feeling that for the first time in his life he was achieving something, and he realized that he wanted his father to acknowledge that. But the Senior frowned. “What kind of question is that?” he asked in response and added: “Of course I'm proud. I've always been proud of you.”
David looked away again, absurdly feeling embarrassed. He hadn't seen that coming. “Let me tell you something about your mother,” his father said, and David sighed inwardly. More awkwardness. “I remember one day, you were maybe about ten, when our old neighbor, Mrs. Kozleski, came to our door, her broom in her hand, and was furious about some mess you and Richie had made.” Something about the name his father had mentioned sounded familiar to David, and he felt the faint pain again he always felt when he was reminded of his mother, because he had forgotten so many things about her. “Anyway,” his father went on, “your mother apologized of course, but Mrs. K just went on and on and on and finally ended by saying that you and Richie were rascals who would come to a bad end. Boy, that was a mistake.”
David slowly looked at his father again, and the scene he was describing somehow rang a bell at the back of his mind. “What happened?” he asked.
“You mother told Mrs. K,” David Sr. went on, “where she could stick that broom, and then she said – I swear I still can hear her voice – “These boys are gold.” Then she slammed the door in the old crone's face.” the older man smiled to himself, his eyes drawn to a point somewhere in the middle of nowhere. “Then she turned to you and Richie and said...”
“...and don't let anybody tell you you're tinsel.” David heard himself finish the sentence when, all of a sudden, a flashback of that scene hit him, and he saw his mother's face before his inner eye as clearly as he hadn't seen it in a long time; a precious piece of memory coming back. “Then she grounded us for two weeks.”
A surprised smiled flew over his father's face. “You remember that?”
David smiled broadly, he couldn't believe it himself – that he had forgotten that little scene completely, and that his father's words had brought it back now. “Now I do...” he answered slowly and then added in a hoarse voice: “Thanks, dad.”
His father nodded, obviously pleased. Then, before the moment could get awkward with both men struggling with their feelings, he said: “So... I hear tonight we're meeting Maddie's parents?”
“Yes. They're in town too... coincidence.”
“Are they OK?”
David smiled. “Yes, they are OK, dad.”
Much to his own surprise, he was looking forward to the dinner.
***
In the evening the six of them had a nice dinner in a quite pleasurable atmosphere. Everybody got along well, and Maddie's parents didn't seem to find anything strange or debatable about David's father or his wife. He smiled to himself. Well, somehow it was impossible not to like Stephanie, and he knew that Virginia was a very kind person who seemed to get along with everybody. Alex, on the other hand, was a tough nut to crack, but basically a good-hearted man and a good judge of character. Obviously, Stephanie had won him over. If one of them had been surprised by the fact that David's stepmother was young enough to be his sister, they hadn't given any sign of it.
The conversation was flowing easily with no awkward pauses. Virginia was just saying to David Sr.: “Let me say that we liked David already right from the beginning, when we first met him!” She turned to her husband. “Isn't that right, darling?”
Alex nodded unceremoniously. “Yes, that's true.”
Maddie smiled at David as if she wanted to tell him See? Told you. “Well, I didn't,” she interjected dryly and all shared a hearty laughter. Then, she winked at David and added: “Obviously, I've changed my mind.” They laughed again.
David's father slapped his back and commented: “Well, we're all glad about that.”
“Well, it's impossible not to like them David Addisons,” Stephanie chimed in, and her husband threw her a loving glance.
Maddie smiled at her and agreed: “Eventually.”
The six of them touched their champagne flutes with a jovial clink, Maddie's filled with water. When they placed them back on the table, David Sr. said to Alex: “As you probably know, our home lacked the hand of a woman... but you were very lucky, having not only one, but two gorgeous women around!”
Virginia and Maddie exchanged delighted smiles, at the same time pleased with the compliment and satisfied that things seemed to be going really well.
“I was,” Alex confirmed, “and although some may think it’s not easy being in the male minority, I will say that it was much harder for my wife, given that my daughter and I share the same trait of... hmm, how shall I put it...”
“Stubbornness is the word you're looking for, dear,” Virginia chimed in graciously, and again, the whole bunch laughed in unison.
“Mom!” Maddie complained, blushing, and David Sr. shook his head.
“Your daughter, Alex? She always seemed very sweet to me, from the first moment I met her!” Maddie smiled at him, and he added: “How could she ever be stubborn?”
“Oh, she can,” David blurted out, “believe me, dad.” Maddie took a deep breath to say something, but fell silent when David shrugged and added: “Wouldn't want her any other way.”
The three Hayes and the three Addisons laughed again, in a very hearty, conspiratorial way.
***
When they finally got home after a really nice evening, David kicked off his shoes, threw his keys on the hall table and tossed his jacket on the sofa. He plopped on the couch with his long legs propped on the coffee table with a deep sigh. “I’m bushed.” He closed his eyes and rested his head on the back of the couch cushions.
“Me too,” Maddie admitted and placed her purse on the table beside David’s feet. “But it went really well, what do you think?”
David opened an eye and looked at her. “I always said Hayes and Addison goes together like peanut and butter.”
Maddie laughed. “Yeah, right.” She headed toward the blinking light of the answering machine, pushed the button and listened for their messages as she sat to take off her shoes.
“This is Mrs. Robins of A Child’s Place nursery school. Thank you for your interest in our center. I’d be happy to arrange a tour of our facilities at your convenience. Please call us back at 213 -555-9000.”
David’s eyes flew open when he heard nursery school and he jumped off the couch in consternation when he heard the rest of the message. “What?” David’s eyes bore into Maddie with green ice. “What the hell was that message, Maddie? It had to be a wrong number.” He couldn't believe what he had just heard, what that meant. What the hell was she thinking making these decisions on her own?
Maddie looked into David’s eyes. “No, David, it wasn’t a wrong number.” Damn, she really didn’t want to get into this with him now. She had been planning on bringing it up when the parents left. Ever since she had learned about her pregnancy, Maddie had been mulling things over; she had no idea yet how everything would be organized, how their lives would change, but she knew one thing for sure: she didn’t want to stay home full time, so they needed to make some plans in the upcoming months. Just because she got a jump start without talking to David about all that before shouldn’t be a big deal, she rationalized.
“What are you saying?” he asked in an almost menacing tone.
“Listen, it’s no big deal,” she told him impatiently. “I just called around to a few daycare agencies.” Maddie folded her arms across her chest. “So what?”
David was flabbergasted. “So what?” He echoed in disbelief and ran his hand through his hair. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Stop cursing.” Maddie’s eyes flashed fire. “You know I hate that.”
“How dare you go behind my back and make plans to stick our baby in some damn daycare?” David snapped and shook his head. “What were you thinking?”
“First of all I didn’t go behind your back,” Maddie defended herself, then saw David’s face challenging that statement and back tracked, “OK, well, it wasn’t my intention.”
“And pray tell what was your intention?” David’s voice was razor sharp. “We never even talked about you going back to work.” He placed his index finger against his temple, “I mean I thought you’d want to stay home and take care of the Bean!” His voice was puzzled.
Maddie pushed off the couch arm and began to pace around the living room. “Of course I want to take care of the baby, David!” she told him. “But I don’t want to leave Blue Moon completely.”
A thought flitted across David’s mind. “Why – don’t you trust me not to run the business into the ground?”
She rolled her eyes. He and his insecurities! “It’s not that.”
“Then?” David’s eyes were scrutinizing Maddie closely. “What is it? I think a mother belongs home with the baby!”
“I will be home with her most of the time, but I want to work part time, David!” Maddie told him firmly. This was important to her. Surely, he had to understand her? She was happy that she was going to have his baby, but that didn't mean that she was going to give up everything else, that she was going to stop being who she was!
“Why?” David was livid. “When the Bean is born your job will be taking care of our baby!”
She couldn’t believe how old fashioned he was! “And that is all my job?” Now Maddie was furious. “Why is it the woman’s job to stay home with the baby?”
“Because she is the mother!” David couldn’t believe his ears. “You don’t want to take care of the baby?”
Maddie shook her head. He was deliberately misunderstanding her. “I didn’t say that!” she fumed. “Don’t put words in my mouth!” She swallowed and tried to compose herself. “I want to take care of our baby, David, but I also need to take care of me!”
“What the hell does that mean?” he thundered. “That’s selfish!”
“Selfish?!” she echoed incredulously.
“Yeah, selfish!” he repeated angrily, and Maddie was shocked.
“No it’s not!” she contradicted. “I’ve worked all my life and I can’t see myself not working at least part time!”
“You will be working, Maddie!” David pointed out. “Being a mom is a full-time job, and it's the best job in the world!”
“Then you do it!” She snapped furiously but instantly regretted her words. “Rewind, I didn’t mean that!”
David was breathing hard, completely at a loss. Didn’t she think taking care of the Bean was the most important thing in the world? He was angry but hurt too. He remembered from his earlier childhood how great it had felt to know that whenever he and Richie came home, no matter what the day had brought them, no matter what trouble they had been in, bruised knees, street fights – when they came home, their mother had always been there; she had been their calming support, cooking their favorite meals, encouraging them. The streets had been rough sometimes, but their home had always been like a cocoon, a shelter. David remembered painfully how that feeling suddenly was gone when their mother had died. That loss had almost torn him apart. To him their baby was more important than anything. Didn’t she feel the same way?
He gritted his teeth. “I don’t want you to work at all when the baby is small.” He pointed in his direction with his next words. “I can handle things at the agency.”
Maddie couldn’t believe him! “You can’t tell me what to do! You’re not my boss!” She was so angry she felt like slapping that superior look off his face.
“No, not your boss, but I am going to be your husband.” His voice was a low dangerous growl now.
“Yeah, and they took obey out of the wedding vows years ago.” Maddie shouted throwing her hands up in the air. “I am going to work part time, and that’s that.”
“No that’s not that!” David was waving his hands around in anger. “You are going to be a mother and stay home with our daughter!”
“Really, Addison, you are so sexist!” she screamed so loud the walls almost shook.
“What?!”
“You heard me!”
“I’m a sexist cause I want the mother of my child to stay home and raise that child!?” David pursed his lips which infuriated Maddie even more. “I think not, Miss Hayes.”
She shot her right index finger at him like a bullet, firing all she had now. “A child that still has no name because her sexist, irresponsible, sex crazed father can’t take a moment out of his time to sit down and …”
“And make a dumb list!” He chuckled sarcastically, “and really, Maddie – you’re calling me sex crazed? Who was it who begged for round 3?” he threw in her face.
She clenched her fists, seeing red before her eyes. “You, you…”
“I told you last night I don’t like that name.” David shot back dryly.
Maddie stomped up the bedroom steps leaving David looking after her shaking his head.