Chapter 2

Madison sat on the wooden bench in the park, her thumb rubbing across the indents of Jason's, Duke's, and her own initials. It had been a warm Friday afternoon and being trapped in school for the day was the last thing on their minds as they found themselves at the park with a few beers they snagged from the convenient store and a joint Jason bought from a friend on the basketball team.

Sitting there now she felt like it was a different lifetime ago back when their biggest worry was if they were going to get caught especially by her dad who was a beat cop at the time long before he ever became the chief.

If she closed her eyes she could almost hear Jason's laugh as she choked on the hit she took from the joint. Duke patted her back until she stopped and the three of them busted out laughing again. There wasn't a day that went by that she didn't think of Jason or a night that she didn't dream of the accident; the blood staining his pale skin and his lifeless hand in her own.

She naively thought that leaving would help her escape the pain and while at first it did no matter if she was in Maine or New York the pain would always be there. Part of her wondered if she would really go home after this was all over. There was nothing left for her in Haven but memories she was sure would suffocate her.

"Thought I might find you out here," she smelled the cigarette smoke before she heard him as her dad sat beside her.

Madison crossed her arms over her chest, "Those things are going to give you cancer."

Her dad chuckled, remembering how angry Nathan had been when he found Madison smoking and while he wanted better for his children he wasn't going to be hypocritical. He held the pack out to her and she took a cigarette, holding it between her lips as her dad flicked the lighter, the small flame dancing in the wind. They sat in silence, watching a group of kids kick a rubber ball around the field.

"I'm happy you came. To be honest, I wasn't sure if your number was even going to work when I tried it."

Madison took another drag, letting the smoke billow around them. "I wanted to get away from Haven," she tried to explain without getting too emotional. "I wasn't trying to get away from you and Nate too."

The chief nodded in what he hoped was understanding because he wasn't about to let on how much her leaving affected him. He wasn't about to put the weight on her shoulders that the accident that killed Jason, the accident that put Madison in the hospital for over a week was what triggered his own trouble.

He snubbed out the end of his cigarette and immediately lit another. Madison knew he was nervous about whatever it was he wanted to talk about but wasn't going to push him. "Madison there's something I think you should know."

"Is this about the troubles?" She questioned, turning to him slightly. "Because I know they are back, dad. I know Nate can't feel anything but you don't have to worry about me. I'm not one of those people. I'm just me."

He patted her knee with his hand, "Yes, yes you are. I've missed you, my girl."

He pulled a couple bills out of his pocket and tried to hand it to her but she refused, "What are you doing?"

The chief ignored her and stuck the money in the pocket of her shirt, "Just want to make sure you're okay. Looks like you could use a couple of good hearty meals."

"I'm fine, dad," Madison sighed, starting to think this was all just some big ruse to get her back to Haven. "If you don't mind I told Leah I'd stop by since I was in town, might as well make the most of my time here." Madison got up from the bench, only pausing to make sure her dad didn't need anything else.

"Yeah, of course, we'll talk over dinner tonight, okay?"

Madison nodded in response and was about fifteen feet away when she turned back to him, "I missed you too, dad."

The chief stood and watched her for as long as he could before she disappeared from his line of sight and when she did the bench they had just been sitting on had split with a huge crack.

X-X-X

Madison was in her room trying to get ready for dinner with her dad but her mind kept bringing her back to the past when times were simpler.

The weather would have broken up any other party but Leah cranked the music so it could be heard over the rain. She left Dylan with the guys and joined Madison who was dancing in the middle of the pier with a few other people. Leah had locked eyes with Dylan, teasing him with every swing of her hip as she grinded up on Madison to the beat of the music.

Duke discreetly adjusted himself as he watched Madison dance in the rain, her clothes clinging to her body not leaving much to the imagination. She was oblivious to what she was doing to him and he took a long pull from the bottle of tequila he had. Her drenched hair swung around her, hitting her in the face as she shook her head. It was the happiest he had ever seen her.

The song ended and she joined him by the liquor, searching for a bottle of her own but instead took the tequila from Duke. Taking a sip, she laughed as she handed it back to him.

"God, I would give anything for every night to be like this," she sighed in content, watching the rest of people that were out on the beach. Jason was trying to convince some girl to go back to his place but was failing miserably while Leah and Dylan had snuck off to some dark corner. "Take a walk with me, Crocker?"

Duke took her hand in his in response and they walked along the beach far enough that the music could barely be heard anymore. It was easy being with Duke and she was grateful he didn't feel the need to fill the silence with meaningless conversation. They had finished the tequila and tossed the empty bottle out into the ocean.

He tugged on her hand and brought them over to a small out cove. The air was thick and damp with the humidity that blanketed the area before the storm. The little cove was pitch black but Madison loved that it was a little hideout. No one would be able to see them unless they were truly looking for them and she could still hear the waves crashing on the beach.

She sat down, pulling her knees up to her chest trying to fight off the chill that her wet clothes left her with. Duke sat beside her and shook his head, causing water droplets to fly about. She couldn't help herself and deep laughter poured from her mouth. Just when she wasn't expecting it he leaned in and kissed her, entangling one hand in her hair to keep her close. She resisted at first, surprised at how bold he had been, but quickly gave in and responded in hungry kisses.

Duke had never been the first one to make a move before but she seemed just as attracted as he was. It gave him the courage to pull her onto his lap, her legs straddling him as his hands started to wander.

Madison pulled back, a little out of breath, "What are we doing, Duke?" She was nervous but didn't leave his lap as her eyes flickered from his own and down to his mouth.

He simply smiled in response loving the warmth her body was bringing his. Duke wasn't sure what the right answer was instead choosing to kiss her again and this time she didn't hesitate in kissing him back, wrapping her arms around his neck and running her fingernails through his shaggy hair. He had a hand on either side of her hips holding her in place. He wanted to continue, to strip her down and taste every inch of her skin but this wasn't the place and he eventually pulled away.

"Think we should get back before Leah sends a search party," his words were barely louder than a whisper that she felt dance along her lips.

Madison leaned forward and kissed him one more time before getting off his lap and tucking her bangs behind her ear. "Doubt she will be looking for me when I'm pretty sure she is off somewhere with Dylan doing things I won't want to hear about later. But," she held her hand out for Duke to take it. "You can walk me back to your place."

He grabbed her hand, allowing her to pull him to his feet and out of what would now be their hideaway. He only took a few steps before Madison jumped on his back, wrapping her legs around his body and resting her chin on his shoulder. Duke held onto her legs with a smile spreading across his face because in that very moment there wasn't a single thing he would change.

The knock on her door came just a little too lightly as if the person on the other side was almost praying that she didn't answer. For a moment she wished it were Duke on the other side but pushed the thought from her mind as she finished pulling her hair back into a ponytail and answered the door to see Nathan standing there.

"Hey," she greeted, leaving the door open for him to come in as she walked back to her suitcase to find something to wear to dinner. "I don't have too long to chat I'm supposed to meet dad. Hopefully, he will tell me what is going on and I can get the hell out of here."

While she never had blamed her dad for the argument that sent her out on the road the night of the accident she wasn't sure she would ever be to the point where she would be able to stay under the same roof with him. Leah had offered her couch to Madison but it was nice to be able to have an escape so she had gotten a room at the bed and breakfast.

"Mads," Nathan tried to get her attention but she was too caught up in trying to get ready.

She crossed the room again and stepped into the bathroom, leaving the door cracked so that she could change without him seeing but still be able to hear him. "Nate, I still don't know why you're not going to be at dinner. If whatever it is he has to tell me is big enough for me to come back to Haven then you should be there too. Are you sure you don't know what it is he wants to tell me?"

She came out and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling on one boot and then the next.

"Madison," Nathan called out harsher than he meant to but it was already killing him inside to even be here and she was all over the place not even listening to him. At the sound of her full name she stopped, letting her foot fall back to the ground. "I need to talk to you."

"Can it wait until after dinner?"

Nathan came and sat on the bed next to her, "There's no easy way to say this…"

Madison could swear she saw a tear swimming in his eye and she felt her own chest constrict with worry, "Nate? What is it? You're starting to scare me."

"Dad," he started and Madison could feel the bile rising in her throat. She couldn't remember the last time Nathan had referred to him as dad and not the chief. "He's gone, Mads."

She blinked at him in confusion, "What do you mean he's gone? Gone where?" The realization of what he was trying to say hit her and she violently shook her head, holding in the tears as best as she could. "No. No, that's impossible. I just saw him earlier and he was fine!"

"It just happened about an hour ago. The town will only know that he was lost at sea," Nathan tried to pull her in for a hug but she got off the bed and paced in front of it.

Her mind was going a mile a minute trying to process what she was just told. She fished through her purse for her car keys and once they were in hand she headed for the door. "If he's out at sea then I'll just go to Duke. I know you two don't get along, Nate, but he'll help find dad. He will. I promise. Then this will be over. We can figure this all out."

"Mads," Nathan caught her before she could leave the room, "He's not out at sea. He's dead. He was troubled and it became too much for him."

Madison sunk to her knees, silent tears streaming down her face, "But I just saw him."

"I think he knew he didn't have too much time left," Nathan sat beside her and she fell into him letting the tears flow freely.