Romantic Nonsense

Chapter 4

A month later; Maddie had her apartment. It was simple, but it was her place. Mike had somehow sourced furniture for her. She suspected he had purchased it, because it was a little too new, but he meant well. She smiled as he carried in a bar stool and sat it down. She knew he wasn't thrilled with her moving out but it had seemed right, especially with her mother visiting soon. She couldn't expose Mike to that mess.

"Thank you for helping me with this. I know you liked having me at your apartment. With Mom visiting, it's just easier." Maddie said.

"Just know you're welcome back anytime. I'll miss having someone to talk to." Mike admitted.

"You're welcome here anytime." Maddie said before giving Mike a long kiss. It almost made their 'arrangement' seem like a relationship. She wasn't shocked when Mike lifted her and carried her to her new bed. An hour later; when she woke up in Mike's arms, she realized he hadn't used a condom. That was problematic because she wasn't on birth control. She didn't have insurance so she hadn't been to a doctor to get put on it. Mike had been pretty careful up to that point. Instead of concentrating on it; she snuggled closer.

A month later, Maddie's mom Joann showed up. Maddie stayed at Mike's a couple times a week, and he stayed at her place a night or two a week. It worked for them, so Joann appearing, unannounced threw Maddie off. She already didn't feel good and had sold her first house at work. She didn't need the added stress her mom brought with her and her being there meant Mike wouldn't be there, and she couldn't stay at his place, so there was nothing to help her relieve the stress. And of course; her mom had fixated in on her having the flu.

"I noticed the shaving kit on the back of your toilet. Sure its just the flu?" Joann asked as she poured herself another glass of wine.

"It's the flu." Maddie said. She was beginning to doubt it, but that was between her and Mike. Not her mom.

"Last week; it was something you ate. Today, it's the flu. I personally think its something you did. Or rather someone you did. Just hope he was worth it." Joann continued.

"You have no idea what you're talking about." Maddie said. She grabbed a to-go cup for her coffee, glad it was time to go to work.

"You haven't ever read the clauses on the trust fund, have you?" Joann asked.

"What? I have never gotten anything on that." Maddie asked. Her dad had made some good investments. There was a trust fund that Maddie would inherit when she was thirty-two. Until then, she worked and kept her nose clean.

"Well, to paraphrase it; if you have a child out of wedlock, get arrested, or…piss me off in anyway…I get the money. And you are not anywhere near thirty-two…oh, and I get the kid…unless you get married before its born." Joann said.

"That can't be right." Maddie remarked.

"Call the lawyer." Joann yelled as Maddie left for work. She had had enough. Maybe instead of going home that night after work; she'd go to Mike. But, she also needed to take a pregnancy test and she needed to call the attorney.

Before she went to work, she went and bought a couple pregnancy tests. Once she got to the office, she took them and they all came back positive. A call to her attorney confirmed everything that Joann had claimed. Maddie honestly didn't care about the money. What worried her was the baby. How would Mike handle the idea that his baby could be taken by her mother? He loved his children deeply. He rarely talked about them, but he had adored them.

It was illegal to have abortions now and normally, Maddie would have never considered it, but she was now to save Mike the pain that would ensue. Her mind was not on her work, and thankfully he had texted, inviting her for dinner. It was a few more hours away from her mother, but she wasn't sure she was ready to tell Mike…until she saw the bottle of wine sitting on the table.

"I fixed that stuffed chicken you like so well. Cream cheese, spinach, roasted tomato. And twice baked potatoes. Salad too. And red wine too." Mike said.

"Thank you, but do you have something else to drink? Maybe some water?" Maddie suggested. Mike looked at her strangely, but got a bottle of water out of the fridge and filled a glass for her.

"You'll like dessert. Its chocolate cake with gnocchi topping. Filled with fruit." Mike explained.

"That sounds delicious." Maddie said.

"How's the visit with your mom? You could have brought her along." Mike asked. Maddie closed her eyes for a moment, and decided to just be honest. Mike deserved to know. "Maddie; what's wrong?" Mike asked again. He was sitting across from her at the table, and she took a drink of her water before starting.

"Do you remember last month when you helped me move into my apartment? You slept over that first night." Maddie asked.

"Yeah; but I've slept over several times since then." Mike said.

"That day though…you didn't have any condoms. Mike; I didn't have health insurance yet, so I hadn't been to a doctor. I had had a birth control shot before I left the Navy but…" Maddie said, hoping Mike would figure out what she was trying to say.

"You're pregnant?" Mike asked.

"Yes." Maddie answered. Mike took a deep breath, and a long drink of wine before standing up. She wasn't sure what was going on. "Mike; before you ask…its your baby. I haven't slept with anyone else in a long time." Maddie told him. He walked to the kitchen and took something out of the fridge, never saying a word. It was the cake. He sat it down in front of her, before sitting down across from her again.

"You should eat." Mike said.

"Mike…" Maddie started, but Mike just held his hand up.

"Please…just eat. I can't talk right now." Mike answered.

"Okay." Maddie answered, making the decision not to tell him about her mother immediately. The food was delicious, but for a change, the company was not good. Mike still wasn't talking, but he wasn't hesitating to drink the wine. After they ate, she helped him clean everything up, and grabbed her coat to leave. She thought about not kissing him goodbye, but she had a feeling he was struggling with something, so she gave him a light kiss on the lips.

"Take care, please." Mike said.

"Are…you okay?" Maddie asked. He closed his eyes in pain.

"No. My kids…they were everything to me. And losing them…I can't even describe it. I just…I'm not sure I can put my heart on the line again. If I lost another child…I don't think I could handle that. I just need a few days, please." Mike begged and Maddie nodded. A few days wouldn't make a difference.

"Okay. I'm sorry." Maddie said and Mike shook his head.

"I was the one who didn't wear a condom. Just take care of yourself. I'll be in touch, but let me know if you need anything, okay?" Mike asked.

"Okay." Maddie agreed before giving Mike another kiss and leaving. She should have told him about her mom; but he was in his own hell at the moment and she couldn't help him.

I realize that the clauses for the trust fund are not realistic, but that's the good thing about artistic license!