Maddie landed in Chicago without having gotten any rest. Every time she closed her eyes a pair of green eyes swam in front of her. Damn David! She needed to clear that man from her head. It was for her own sanity that she stay away from him.
Maddie called her mother form the airport. She could tell her mother was very surprised when she asked her to pick her up from the airport. Maddie couldn't remember the last time she had been home for a visit. It had to be before Blue Moon. And David. Why did just his name on her mind make her shiver? She missed him. She had been away from him for exactly 8 hours and she missed him so much she ached. That was why she had to get away she convinced herself. She needed to unmiss him!
David tossed and turned all night thinking of Maddie and what she had told him. Maybe he didn't take her feelings seriously enough. He loved her to distraction. Didn't she know it? He told her he loved her every day and he thought he showed her. David wasn't sure what she wanted he thought as he showered. All he knew was that he was willing to whatever she wanted to make her happy. He was sorry and ashamed about how he had treated her last night and he planned to tell her that as soon as he saw her.
David waited all day at Blue Moon for Maddie to show up. He called her repeatedly but she wasn't answering the phone. Wow, she really was angry he thought unhappily. David drove to Maddie's house at the end of the day. When he saw that she had taken her cosmetics and clothes he felt the wind knocked out of him. She was gone? But to where? She had mentioned Europe. He just didn't know. How could she just leave without telling anybody where she was going? Or when she would be back? And what about the business?
David felt panic overwhelm him and he pushed it down. She was ok. She was fine. She just needed time to think. David felt like a cat on a hot tin roof. He couldn't stay in his apartment, he couldn't go back to Blue Moon so he decided to visit the one place you could find him most nights before this thing, as she called it, with Maddie started.
When David entered the bar most of the regulars called out his name in greeting. '"Where you been Dave?" the bartender asked. 'We thought you died."
David shook his head. "Nah just busy with work and stuff."
"Stuff happen to be a beautiful blonde I saw you wrapped around last week?" Joe, one of the regulars, asked teasingly.
David tried to smile. 'Uh Yep. That too."
"So where is this blonde babe?" Stan, another regular, wanted to know.
"She left." David started drinking tequila and started telling his friends about Maddie and their thing.
'So what are you gonna do Dave?" Joe asked.
"I don't know. I don't even know where she is."
"Do you love her?"
David nodded slowly. "Unfortunately, I'm crazy about her."
David lost himself in tequila that night but he still woke up with Maddie on his mind; as well as a massive headache.
Maddie didn't know what she was going to tell her parents about her sudden visit to Chicago. When her mother picked her up at the airport she just told her she needed to get away from LA for a while. She didn't feel ready to reveal anything more yet. Maddie knew her mother was easy; it was her father who she figured was going to be a problem.
Maddie's father was there to greet her when she came in the door. He was thrilled to see her but he was also suspicious. He kissed and hugged her, made a little small talk then immediately asked about David. It was like her father knew her trip here had to do with David Addison.
"How's that partner of yours? We really liked him." Alex asked looking at his wife. "Didn't we dear?"
Maddie warily. "You only met him once."
"True, but I'm here to tell you, he leaves quite an impression...so how's he doing?"
"He's doing just fine, Dad." Maddie told him hesitantly. Where was this going, she wondered uneasily.
"Yeah seems like someone who always lands on his feet" Alex seemed to caution Maddie. "Although...something tells me he's a little tough to pin down, that one...not a long haul kind of guy when it comes to...you know...commitment and the like...just a feeling I got."
Maddie smiling weakly "Yes, well..." Maddie felt each word her father was saying about David like a tiny daggers to her heart. Maybe her father could see David objectively. Maybe he was right about him not sticking around. Maddie felt sick as her dad kissed her on the forehead.
Virginia followed Maddie to her room. "Don't listen to your father Maddie. David seems like a fine man."
Maddie sat on her bed and looked carefully at her mother. "What makes you think I'm here because of David?"
Virginia shrugged. "Aren't you Maddie?"
Maddie began to cry; Virginia enveloped her daughter in her arms. "Talk to me Maddie." Maddie shook her head. "Not yet Mom. Please I just need time." Virginia hugged her daughter and nodded. "Take all the time you need but remember I am always here when you need me."
Maddie spent half the night awake thinking of David and the other half dreaming of him. She woke up the next morning feeling more tired than when she went to bed. She didn't know what she was going to do with her day but she knew she had to call David and tell him where she was. She owed him that much.
David passed the night drinking and passed out on his bed a bit after one. The next day he knew what he was going to do. He was going to call every cab company in LA and see who picked Maddie up from her house. It would take time but it was something for him to do. He gave Bert the go ahead on the Wilcox case. David had to time to think about any case; he had to find Maddie. As he called and called the cab companies; David became angrier and angrier. He threw the phone across the room. Not even a phone call. Maddie? Not even the decency to let me know where you are; that you're ok? How hard would it be to pick up the phone? At that last thought, Agnes buzzed him that Maddie was on the phone.
David picked up the phone and couldn't hide the fury from his voice. "So nice of you to call Miss Hayes."
"David. I'm sorry." David listened "I couldn't tell you I was leaving because you could have, would have, talked me into staying. I need to think David. I need to think away from you. You have too much control over me. It scares me. Please understand."
David heard the confusion and tears in Maddie's voice. This cooled his anger a notch. "Sorry Maddie I don't understand. I love you and you say you love me so if something needs to be worked out we need to do it together."
"I'm not sure if I want to work it out."
His anger escalated again. "What?" he snapped angrily. "You don't want to work it out? You breaking up with me?"
Maddie began to cry. "No, yes. I don't know. And please don't call me here David. I can't think if every time the phone rings I think it may be you. Please David; I need to think about us!"
David felt his temper snap. 'Well think all you want Maddie but I may not be waiting. OK. Maddie."
"Where are you going David?"
"Going? I'm not going anywhere. Unlike you I will stay here to run your business but I may not be waiting for you to make up your mind about something that could be wonderful. Get me now Maddie?" with that he hung up the phone with a bang and a curse.
Really! David sat in his chair and put his head in his folded arms propped on the desk. He was hurt, angry and confused. All he knew was that as hard as it was going to be he had to push Maddie out of his mind until, if, she came to her senses. Right now he would throw himself in the business and try to forget.
Two weeks past very slowly for both David and Maddie. They were thousands of miles apart physically but neither had the other out of their mind for more than a few minutes.
Maddie could not believe that David had not called her! She knew she had made him promise not to but when did he ever listen to what she told him to do? Maddie was pacing around her childhood room. She was heartsick and physically sick. For the past few days she was feeling tired and nauseous. She couldn't seem to keep any food down. Maddie attributed her stomach trouble to nerves. She was always feeling antsy and anxious. Should she call David? Should she go home? She had thought long and hard about their relationship; their future and realized she was deeply in love. That scared her. Did he love her as much? He said he did but who knew? Even her father believed that David wasn't the type to stick around. But then again he didn't know him like she did. She had to admit that David had never given her indication he was in it for the short term. He had always been there for her; first as a partner; then a friend so shouldn't she give him the chance to be there for her as a lover? Maybe even a husband? She had tried over the past weeks to get David out of her head but every night her dreams were haunted by green eyes and crooked smiles; her days were no better. She missed him so much it hurt! Maybe she should have stayed in LA and tried to work things out there. Maybe, maybe , maybe. So many maybes! Why didn't he call? Maybe he was happy she was gone? She was so confused. She was also angry and upset. Damn that man!
David had spent many nights with Viola working on the Wilcox and Anselmo cases. He was bone tired when he got home but still couldn't fall asleep. His body and mind ached for Maddie. He really didn't know how he was going to exorcise her from his mind. David was very angry that Maddie hadn't even tried to contact him. How could she just seem to forget him and everything they were to each other for almost 3 years? Maybe she really didn't love him. He had itched to call her but he knew she would be angry and he didn't want to argue; especially when she was 2000 miles ago. He couldn't understand that blonde . So he made her lose control; she made him lose control too. He had never felt about a woman the way he felt about Maddie. Sure the sex was the best he ever had but there was so much more. He wanted to marry her; have a family with her. Wait! He asked himself. Did he really mean that? A wife and family? She really had her hooks in him. Didn't she realize how he felt? Maybe he hadn't told her enough. Maybe he was wrong to tease her to lose control sexually but she seemed to love it. Who knew? Surely, he didn't. Would she ever call him? Ever come home?
Maddie's parents had decided to throw a party to introduce her to their friends. Maddie had not been happy about the party but her mother told her in no uncertain terms that she owed it to her father. Her mother told her that it would make her father happy if she looked like she was having a good time at this party. Maddie wanted to just stay in bed with the covers over her head which she had mostly been doing for the past few weeks but she knew she had to go through with this for her father. She hated to worry her parents but she couldn't discuss David with them; it was too personal and too raw.
The party was in full swing and Maddie felt her face might crack if she had to keep on this false smile for another minute. Her parents had introduced her proudly to so many people her head swam with all their names and faces. She just wanted to run upstairs and throw herself under the covers; and think of David. She was just going to make her excuses when she heard her name being called by a familiar voice.
"Maddie." Maddie could not believe who was standing in front her smiling a 100 watt smile. He really was not someone she wanted to see right now.
"Sam."
"How are you Maddie?" he asked searching her eyes. "I was surprised and pleased when my parents told me you were here for a visit."
Maddie just nodded. She had nothing to say.
"How's David?" Sam saw Maddie stiffen.
"David?" she murmured "David's fine. He's fine."
Sam took Maddie's arm and steered her into the party. He was hoping that now that he had her alone, without that partner of hers in the way, he could convince Maddie they belonged together.