DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except the character of Madison. All other characters belong to a long list of people and no offense or copyright infringement is meant.
When the shift was finished, I realized I hadn't participated in any of the traumas that came into the ER. I was surprised that, by not participating in the traumas, I wasn't nearly as exhausted as normal. I went into the lounge and grabbed my bag. I hung up my lab coat and stethoscope and headed out of the lounge.
"See you guys later," I called, waving as I headed out the door.
"Maddie, I'll walk with you," Carol said.
I waited for her to gather up her stuff and we headed out the door together.
"So how are you," she asked.
"Never better. I have to pick up Carter's tuxedo from the dry cleaners on the way home. We're going to a charity thing. And don't ask because I don't know what it's for," I said as we climbed the stairs.
"Sounds like you're excited," Carol said.
"I am," I said, rolling my eyes. "I really like Carter's grandmother. I'm just not looking forward to seeing his parents. The one time I met his mother, she was not very nice," I said.
"Why," Carol asked.
"I don't know. Maybe because I don't have the right pedigree. I'm not some high-society debutante," I said.
"But Mrs. Carter likes you. She doesn't care what you do or where you grew up," Carol said.
"Yeah, Gamma likes me. In fact, Gamma likes me and sees me as a suitable member of the family. The perfect mate for Carter. Especially since he loves me. She wished her son had found the same love that she found in her life and that Carter and I have found," I said.
"That should be all that matters. Carter thinks a lot of his grandmother. Her opinion matters," Carol said.
As the train neared my stop, I looked at her. "I keep telling myself that. See you later," I said.
I exited the EL and headed down the stairs. The dry cleaners was right by the stop and our house was just two blocks away. I went inside to pick up Carter's tux.
Tux in hand, fifteen minutes later, I walked the two blocks to our house. I wondered what in the world I was going to wear. I was almost certain Carter's mother would shove me under a bus if I showed up in something unfashionable. I mentally ticked off the dresses in my head and knew I had only one option.
I unlocked the front door and entered the combination for the alarm.
Shutting the door, I turned the alarm back on and headed upstairs. "Carter! I have your tux," I said.
I entered the bedroom and found the bed empty. I figured he was in the shower and, hearing the running water, was proved correct.
I threw my coat onto the chair in the bedroom and pulled the black cocktail dress out of my closet. It was just above the knee, sleeveless with a lacy bodice over the gray sheath under the lace. I came up around the neck and I put my pearls up against it and decided that might work. I pulled my simple black patent pumps out of the closet along with sheer stockings.
Carter stepped out of the shower and entered the room in a towel.
"Hey, Mads. You going to wear that tonight," he asked.
"Yeah. I think it's the only cocktail dress I have," I said.
"You'll look great," he said, giving me a kiss.
"I'm going to jump in the shower. I hung your tux on the closet door," I said, heading into the shower.
I showered quickly, knowing I had to hurry.
When I got out of the shower, I wrapped myself in a towel and went to the bedroom.
"You in a towel just does things to me, Sonny," Carter said, wrapping his arms around me. He started pulling at the towel, trying to remove it from my body.
"CARTER! We have somewhere to be and if you don't stop, we'll never get there and then everyone will certainly hate me," I said.
"No one hates you," Carter said, stealing another kiss before letting me return to my task.
"Your grandmother loves me and that's all I need to worry about, right," I asked, pulling my undergarments from the drawer.
"Yes. Mom and dad are just that way. They've been trying to get me to marry some high society debutante. That's not for me. That's not what I want," Carter said, buttoning his dress shirt.
I slipped into the strapless bra and black lace underwear and turned to find Carter staring.
"You don't know what you want," I said, sitting on the bed to put on my stockings.
Carter came over to me and sat next to me on the bed. "I want you," he said.
I kissed him and got off the bed before things got too far and went into the bathroom to fix my hair. I grabbed the blow dryer and dried it a little to make it easier to style. I grabbed a few bobby pins and twisted my hair into a french twist. I grabbed a few crystal accessories and put them along the side of the twist to hide the bobby pins.
I came out of the bathroom and found Carter tying his bow tie.
I stepped into my dress and went to the mirror. Carter zipped the dress for me and grabbed the pearls off the dresser and fastened them for me as well.
I went back into the bathroom and finished applying my makeup. I dabbed on some lip gloss and stepped out of the bathroom.
"Well," I asked.
"You look beautiful," he said, kissing me.
"I just hope I don't embarrass you," I said.
"You've been to these things before. Why are you so nervous," he asked, getting my wool wrap from the closet before slipping into his overcoat.
"I wasn't your girlfriend before, Carter. That kind of changes the playing field. Instead of everyone knowing I'm just your friend and came to keep you company, they're now going to think I'm after your money and the Carter name," I said.
"Are you," he asked, smiling.
"If I didn't love you, John, I'd seriously kick your ass for that statement," I said.
"In some strange way, that turns me on," he said.
My mouth gaped opened and Carter winked. I shook my head and grabbed my clutch. Carter opened the door for me. He armed the alarm and, with his hand on the small of back, led me to the limo that was waiting for us.
We pulled up to the banquet hall, Carter helped me out of the limo. "You look great and don't worry, everything will be fine," he said to me.
"I hope you're right," I said.
Carter and I shared a quick kiss before he put his hand in the small of my back and led me into the banquet hall.
We checked my bag and wrap with the coat room before heading into the center room. The number of people shocked me.
"Wow! You could have warned me," I said, squeezing his hand.
"You'll do fine, Sonny. Come on, Gamma's spotted us," Carter said, pulling me toward his grandmother.
"Gamma," Carter said, kissing her and giving her a hug.
She held out her hands to me and I kissed her cheek and hugged her. "Hi, Mrs. Carter," I said.
"Madison, how many times have I told you, you're family. You've been John's friend for several years now. And I'm really, really glad to see the two of you are a couple. I don't have to worry about John being alone," she said.
I tried not to blush. "Thank you, Gamma," I said, trying to hide my shock at her statement.
"John, your parents are here," Mrs. Carter said.
"I know. Dad called me at the hospital to tell me to come to this fundraiser," Cater said.
"Why don't you get Madison something to drink," Mrs. Carter said.
"I'll be right back," he said, kissing my cheek.
His grandmother turned to me. "I am pleased you came with John tonight. And he seems pleased as well," she said.
"He just wanted some company," I said.
John brought over a glass of champagne for me and his grandmother.
"Thank you, dear," she said.
"I saw mom at the table. She's heading this way," Carter said.
He placed his hand on my back and whispered in my ear, "Just smile," he said.
Eleanor Carter came over to Millicent, Carter and myself. "John, it was so good of you to come tonight," she said, hugging her son. John returned her hug and stepped back to me, keeping his hand on my back.
"Mom, you know Madison," he said.
"Your friend from med school. I thought you were bringing your girlfriend," she said.
"Madison is my girlfriend, mom. We've been dating for a few months now," Cater said.
She smiled at me, but not before I caught the look of horror cross her face. Her composure was well practiced, but I caught the look.
"Well, I supposed we'll have to have you over for dinner while we're in town," Eleanor said.
Carter caught the meaning in her tone. "I don't know if we'll have any free time, mom. We are working," he said.
"Well, maybe the next time we're here. I'll call you later, John. I'm going to go and speak with the governor's wife," she said, giving Carter a stiff hug and me a small smile.
"That wasn't too bad," I said, knowing Carter would understand what I meant.
"Ignore her. I do," Carter said.
"I'm going to the ladies. I'll be back," he said.
"Be sure you do. I wouldn't want someone to walk off with you while my back was turned," Carter said.
I laughed at him and headed to the restroom. Carter turned back to where his grandmother was standing and saw her speaking with someone he recognized but didn't know their name.
He smiled and shook hands when they departed, leaving him with his grandmother. He saw his father coming up behind his grandmother.
"Mother. John," his father said, shaking his hand.
"Dad," Carter said, taking a cracker from the waitress serving the hors d'overs.
"John, I have a young lady I'd like you to meet. She's the granddaughter of one of the foundations board members. You might remember her. Courtney Bradfield," his father said.
"You want me to meet her or date her," Carter asked.
"I thought you might share a drink with her," his father said.
I came out of the bathroom and stood next to Carter.
"Madison. It's so nice of you to accompany John to these events. If he goes and speaks with Mr. Bradfield's daughter, you might not have to come to one of these things again," Carter's dad said.
I gave Carter and odd look and cocked my eyebrow. "Dad thinks I should have a drink with Courtney Bradfield. She's a boardmember's granddaughter," Carter said.
I nodded my head. "Dad, Madison and I are dating," Carter said.
"Oh, I see. Well, maybe another time. I'll see you later, John. Pleasure, Madison," his father said before walking away.
"Sorry about that," Carter said. "Dad wants to use my dating life as a business deal."
We spent the next two hours talking with various people Carter's grandmother wanted us to know.
While speaking to the granddaughter of Millicent's dearest friend, Carter's father came back over to him.
A few minutes later, Carter asked me if I was ready to go. I nodded and we said good bye to his grandparents and headed out the door.
While we waited for the limo, I noticed Carter seemed distracted.
"Hey," I asked, bumping him with my shoulder.
"Oh, sorry. Just thinking about what dad said," he said.
"About dating the board member's daughter," I asked.
The limo pulled up and Carter opened the door and helped me inside.
As we headed toward the town house, he turned to me. "No, he's going to be staying with Gamma and grandfather for several months. I'm not looking forward to that," Carter said.
I looked at him and thought about what I'd been thinking about for a few weeks. "Why don't you just move in with me," I said.
Carter looked at me. "Move in with you," he asked.
"Well, yeah. I mean, we're always together, you practically live there now anyway and you won't have to worry about seeing them at the house all the time and we'll be able to see each other more often. You practically live there anyway, might as well make it official," I said.
"You think we're ready for that," he asked.
"Well, we can always give it a try and, if not, then you can always stay in the basement apartment," I said.
Carter looked at me and appeared to be pondering my suggestion and I was actually scared he would say no.
He turned to me and smiled. "I think I might like that," he said, kissing me.
We arrived back home and I was exhausted.
We changed clothes and collapsed into bed.
I had arranged to have the next few days off with Carter and we spent some of the time moving his stuff into the house, officially. He spent nearly all his time at my house, especially since we had started working opposite shifts. Having him officially a part of the household would be one way to make sure we saw each other as much as possible.
Unfortunately, just when things were starting to get comfortable and look like we were headed for a wonderful future, I was blindsided by Carter's betrayal.