First, I am very, very sorry that it's taken me so long to update. However, thank you all very much for your reviews and I hope you like this chapter. It's sort of a filler chapter and hopefully if things go according to plan I'll have Chapter 10 up very very soon. Thanks for reading and please let me know what you think!
Chapter 9
After a week of relaxation at home, and Don refusing to let her do anything for herself when he was around, Madalynn was back at work. Granted she only had a two day work week thanks to Thanksgiving being Thursday, but she was happy to be back at work. Her side still pulled and ached every once in a while, but she took Tylenol when she needed to. She was finishing a report as the day came to an end when her desk phone rang. Making sure she saved her work, she picked up the receiver and tucked it between her ear and her shoulder.
"Madalynn Foster," she said and she heard a deep chuckle on the other end of the line.
"You know, I don't think that I've ever heard you say your full name," Don said and Madalynn rolled her eyes but smiled as she typed.
"Well now you have," she said quietly so her co-workers in the surround cubicles didn't hear. "So, did you call me at work to hear me say my name or did you need something?" she teased and Don laughed again. Madalynn tucked her hair behind her free left ear and gently touched one of the earrings she wore, which just happened to be the very earrings Don had given her for her birthday.
"I actually called to see what your plans were for Thanksgiving," Don said. "I'm one of the rare men in blue that actually got the day off and I was wondering if you'd like to come to my parents' house," he added and Madalynn stopped typing. She raised her head and grabbed the receiver holding it to her ear by hand instead of using her shoulder.
"I'd love to Don," she said. "Have you already talked to them yet?"
"Not yet," Don said. "I wanted to make sure you wanted to meet the chaos that is my family around the holidays."
"Don," she chided, "my family is just as crazy and I want to meet your family. You've met mine and it wasn't too bad was it?"
"Yeah, well, you won't be half naked when you meet them for the very first time," he said and Madalynn laughed quietly.
"No, I won't," she said. "Talk to them and see if it's all right if you bring a guest for dinner. You don't have to tell them you're bringing your girlfriend that will stop them from preparing questions." Don laughed and looked around his the pit before he leaned on his desk with his left elbow and sighed quietly.
"Don't worry Mads, I'll prepare you for the assault," he said and Madalynn laughed softly.
"Thank you for that," she said softly before she tucked the phone on her shoulder once more and started typing. "Ask your mom if she wants me to bring anything for dinner when you talk to them would you?" Madalynn asked as she quickly saved the report and started to e-mail it to her supervisor. "If she's got the main courses covered, I can always cover desert."
"Okay, Mads, I will," he said softly with a light chuckle. "I'll talk to you later, when you get off."
"Okay, Don," she said.
"Love you," he said quickly and Madalynn smiled.
"I love you too, Don," she whispered back.
"Bye."
"Bye," she said with a small laugh before she hung up the phone and finished her e-mail and sent off the report, a huge smile on her face as she did so.
Don took a deep breath after he walked into his apartment. A shower awaited him, but first he had a phone call to make. After shrugging off his jacket he walked over to the living room window and flipped open his phone before he hit a few buttons and dialed his parents' house. "Hello?" came his mother's voice and Don smiled.
"Hey, Ma," Don said as he scratched the back of his head.
"Donnie!" she said happily. "How are you doing? It's been a little while since I heard from you. Were you able to get Thursday off?" she asked and Don smiled
"Yeah, that's actually what I was calling you about," Don said.
"Oh? What's going on?" she asked sweetly and Don chuckled.
"Nothing terrible, Ma, I promise." He heard her sigh and he took a deep breath. "I was actually calling to ask you to set an extra seat. I want to bring my girlfriend home to meet you, pops, and everybody."
"What?" she asked her voice an octave or two higher than normal, which made Don laugh once more.
"Don't sound so surprised," Don said.
"It's just been so long since we met any of your girlfriends, Donnie," she said after she cleared her throat. "I think the last one was when you were in high school, Claire, I think." Don rolled his eyes.
"Ma, I dated Claire my junior year of high school," Don said. "I think you've met more girls than just her."
"She's the only one I can remember," she said absently, as if she was thinking. The more Don thought about it, he didn't think she'd met any of the other girls he dated over the years; however, he'd hopefully get her to drop the subject. "I'll have to ask your sisters."
"Now, Ma, I don't want you guys gaining up on her," he said. "We've been seeing each other since August and I just met her family because they came in for a surprise visit and she wants, well, I want her to meet you guys."
"Well, Donnie, I can't promise anything won't come from your sisters, but I'll be good and I'll make sure your father toes the line," she said and Don could almost see the bubbling smile on her lips. There was also little doubt in his mind the second they hung up she'd be calling his three sisters and telling them all that he was bring his girlfriend over for Thanksgiving dinner.
"Thanks, Ma," he said. "Oh, she wanted me to ask if there was anything you wanted her to bring."
"She's not just going to buy something is she? What I know of the women you've dated in the past, they're not ones for kitchens." Don couldn't help but laugh at that. She wasn't lying, but it was funny to him to hear his mom say it.
"No, Madalynn is an excellent cook," Don said. "She's been feeding me just about as good as you did when we grew up."
"Oh? Well, how is she at pies?" she asked. "I didn't get the order for the pumpkin and apple pies in time at the bakery and I'm debating on getting one of those frozen ones."
"I'm sure Madalynn can manage," he said repeating her name and wondered if she was going to catch on.
"So, her name is Madalynn," she said finally and Don smiled. "Does she come from good family?"
"She does, but I'll let her tell you more when we come over on Thursday," Don said with a grin. "What time do you want us there?"
"How about noon? That way we can get all the introductions out of the way and Madalynn can help your sisters and I get dinner all set."
"Okay, sounds good. Thanks, Ma," Don said
"You're welcome, Donnie, I can't wait to meet Madalynn," she said happily and Don laughed once more.
"I can't wait for you to meet her too. I know you guys will love her," Don said. "I'll see you Thursday."
"All right, Donnie, take care. Love you," she said.
"I love you too, Ma," he said before he hung up the phone just in time to hear his apartment door close. Don frowned and turned around quickly, hand on his gun, only to lower his hand and sigh when he saw a red cheeked Madalynn holding a brown bag close to her chest.
"Hi," she said with a smile before she walked over to him and placed her slightly chilly lips on his chin. The only thing she could reach thanks to the bag in her arms and her height.
"Hey," he said with a lopsided smile. The smell of curry assaulted his nose and he raised an eyebrow.
"I know you love to come to my place all the time, but I think it's only fair that we spend equal time here," she said. "I stopped at that Indian restaurant you love on the way and got your favorites, so, while you're getting comfortable I'll get dinner all set up." She walked around the sofa and disappeared into the kitchen. Don laughed quietly as he shook his head. She came out of the kitchen a second later and hung up her jacket and took off her boots. She was dressed in a pair of black slacks and a simple cream colored sweater, but she looked beautiful. He moved quickly and gently caught her around the waist turning her around to look up at him.
"Before we do all that, I want to let you know I called my Ma," he said slowly and she raised a dark eyebrow.
"And what did she say?" she asked sweetly tilting her head to the side. Don smiled and raised his right hand from her waist and tucked her hair behind her ear before he ran his thumb across her still flushed and slightly chilly cheek.
"She's looking forward to meeting you, and that she'd like you to bring an apple and pumpkin pie if it's not too much trouble," he said and she smiled.
"Ah, she picked the two pies I rock at," she said as she laughed and pulled herself from his arms. "Shower, you smell like hell."
"Hey," Don said as he laughed. "I was trudging through one of the landfills today, not exactly the most pleasant smelling places."
"Ew, and I kissed you?" she asked with a disgusted face.
"You are asking for trouble," he said as he grabbed her waist firmly and pulled her close. However, she gasped and winced as she coward away from him. "Damn it, Mads, I'm sorry," he said as he quickly let go of her and held up his hands. She may have been fine and dandy, but the wounds on her stomach and back were still very sore and tender. "I forgot. Are you-," she silenced him by raising her hand to his lips.
"Don, I'm okay," she said forcing a smile. She lowered her fingers from his lips and wrapped her hand around his tie. She pulled on it, bringing his face down to hers. "You'll make it up to me later." Don grinned before she captured his lips and kissed him deeply. After only a few glorious seconds, she pulled away and smirked at him. "Now shower."
"Will you do that again when I come out?" he asked huskily and Madalynn's smirk remained on her lips.
"Dinner first and then we'll see," she said before she pecked his lips and walked back into the kitchen. Don sighed and shook his head as he walked into his bedroom to get a change of clothes.
"That woman is going to be the death of me," he whispered to himself, but he smiled all the same.
"Don are you sure I didn't under dress?" Madalynn asked as they drove out to his parents' house and Don chuckled as he glanced at her. She'd dressed in a pair of grey slacks and a fitted black v-neck three quarter length sweater and she was worried that she was underdressed for Thanksgiving dinner with Don's family. She'd also worn the earrings Don had given her for her birthday once more. She loved them, and wore them as often as her outfits allowed.
"Mads, for the millionth time you look beautiful," he said and Madalynn sighed quietly as she pulled her gloves out of her jacket pockets and played with them. "You don't have any reason to be so worried. They're not going to attack you."
"I know, I'm just nervous," she said. "What if they don't like me?'
"They'll love you, Mads, I know they will," he said sounding far more sure of himself than Madalynn was and she sighed as she nodded her head.
"I hope they like my pies," she said absently and Don held his laugh back knowing it would only make her upset and even more nervous.
"If they taste half as good as the smelt when you were making them this morning, I'll bet they will." He felt like he had been reassuring her all morning, and he knew he had been. She'd barely slept the night before and was up at six to make the pies so they'd be fresh
that day. He knew she was nervous, and he'd done all he could to tell her that she'd fit right in, but she didn't believe him. Soon, they pulled up in front of the house he and his three older sisters grew up in and he look put the car in park before he turned his blue eyes to the woman he loved. "You ready?" he asked with a grin and Madalynn let out a heavy breath as she slid on her gloves.
"Yeah," she whispered before her hazel eyes were on him and an uncertain smile was one her face.
"Hey," he gestured for her to come closer and she leaned over to his side of the car and he placed a kiss on her left cheek. "I love you," he said and Madalynn smiled at him, her face relaxing for the first time that day.
"I love you too," she said back. Those words were so easy to say to him that it was strange, but she wouldn't change the effect they had on her for anything. "Help me with the pies?" she asked and he smiled before he pecked her lips.
"Sure," he said softly before the pair climbed from the car and took the pies; in their respected boxes Madalynn put them in, out of the backseat. They each took a pie in their hands before they made their way up the walkway. Madalynn's heart was pounding in her chest and she hoped against hope that she didn't screw anything up.
