TO THE MOON AND BACK
PART FIVE
David squinted at the piece of paper in his hand. It held the address he had copied from the telephone book – Vanessi's 1177 California Street. Another indignity of advancing age…..his eyesight was not what it used to be.
He approached the restaurant, and peered through the window. He spotted Maddie instantly, her back to him, standing at the hostess desk. Coming or going she was still as stunner.
He neared the desk in time to hear her say, "I have a reservation for two for….
"Addison," he interjected.
"Hayes. " she replied, turning and smiling.
"Check Addison," he repeated.
The hostess appeared genuinely confused –"I have reservations for both," she responded.
"That's all right, sweetheart," David replied, "Miss Hayes is just swept off her feet by the fact that I remembered to make a reservation." He gifted her with a glittering smile.
Maddie grinned, "I am truly impressed – I must admit. And still taking advantage of that boyish charm, I see." She turned to the hostess, "We got our signals crossed – we will only need one table."
The hostess seemed eager to get them seated at any table. David was happy to see that they had honored his request for a quiet and secluded one.
Maddie thought to herself –"Darn, I was hoping we'd get a table right out in the center – busy, bustling, plenty to do and see."
She sat carefully in the chair that David held for her, and finally had to look directly into David's eyes.
"So," she started, only to be interrupted by David's equally witty, "Well...".
They laughed.
"Beautiful blondes first," said David.
Maddie: I was just so amazed to see you this evening.
David: A pleasant surprise, I hope.
Maddie: Well, not an unpleasant one, most certainly.
David: Boy, I am just bowled over by your enthusiasm.
Maddie: David -- you have to admit, this is awkward.
David: You're telling me. I spent an hour practicing lines in the bathroom mirror.
Maddie: And I spent the same amount of time staring and wishing these wrinkles (she gestures at her face) would go away.
They smile sweetly at each other.
Maddie: David, it is very good to see you. But why are you here, after all this time?
David: Maddie, let's order a nice dinner, and a bottle of wine, and we'll swap decades, I promise.
He motioned to the waiter and discussed wine choices and dinner options while Maddie assessed this man, this semi-stranger she had not seen in 10 years.
He was different, yet the same – the same grin, that handsome face – but there was an underlying calm there. She had always felt a little unnerved when she had been with David – he had always been like a volcano, simmering under the skin. She sensed a change.
"Maddie," he asked. "Is that okay with you?"
She awoke from her reverie – "Sorry," she replied.
"I wanted to know if the veal sounded good to you," David asked.
"Perfect," she replied, and listened as he gave final instructions to the waiter.
He turned his attention to her again, and with a smile, asked quietly, "Where did you go?"
Maddie: A million years, a million miles, 10 years, Los Angeles
David: Oh there.
Maddie: (seriously) What are you doing in San Francisco, David?
David: I'm here to see you, Maddie.
Maddie: Do I owe you money?
David: No, Maddie, we are not going to play this one light.
Maddie: And how are we going to play this one?
David: Honest.
Maddie: Wow!
David: (ignoring her sarcasm) I recently had a situation in my life that made me reevaluate everything.
Maddie: Is everybody okay? Your dad, Richie?
David: They're fine. The one who almost wasn't fine was me.
Maddie: (looking alarmed) You're not sick, are you?
David: Not now…..Maddie, about eight weeks ago, I was shot.
Maddie grabs his hand.
Maddie: Oh my God, David. You're okay now though?
David: I'm fine. But wait…back up. Let's start this from the beginning.
With Maddie hanging on to his every word, and his hand, David's stories led her through the previous decade. She was mostly silent during his recounting of the days directly following the sale of Blue Moon. She became more animated with David's explanation of his friendship with Tim Donnegan.
Maddie: See David, I knew he was a good guy.
David: Listen to this – a ten year old "I told you so". Have you no shame, woman?
Maddie: Not a bit – I will take every advantage to say it to you.
David: And I wouldn't love you if you weren't exactly that way.
They both became silent. David thought to himself, "Whoa….dropped the "L" word – kind of like pouring cold water on this conversation, huh?"
David then started to regale Maddie with tales of his time in the Police Academy, and on the force. He had her laughing until her sides hurt.
The meal continued pleasantly, and they found themselves sitting quietly over coffee and zabaglione.
David: So, I guess I've come to the punchline , Maddie. After I was shot, I had a lot of time to reevaluate my life. And I didn't like what I saw. My professional life is in perfect order – and my personal life doesn't exist.
Maddie: Oh David, I'm sure that's not true.
David: Oh Maddie, but it is. I know you are going to find this hard, maybe impossible to believe, but after all these years, you are the only woman I dream about.
Maddie: David…………
David: Maddie, let me finish. Every victory I've had, everything I have accomplished has been to show you, to make you see what I could be. The infernal stupidity of the whole thing is that I've spent ten years denying it to myself – ten lonely, unhappy years.
It took the accident – and my brother Richie, believe it or not, to show me that I needed to face my past before I could have a future.
You are my past. And after all this time, I'd like you to be my future. I still love you , Maddie.
Maddie stared at him, dumbfounded.
David: I tried this conversation once before, in another restaurant, and you know where that ended up. Maybe this time's the charm………….the second time around and all that.
His voice seemed to falter.
Maddie: David, I don't know what to say………….
David: OK fill in the blanks. Married?
Maddie: No
David heaved a huge sigh of relief.
David: Engaged, living together?
Maddie: No
David: Involved?
Maddie: No
David: Well those are all the important questions.
Maddie: Are you kidding me? Hurricane David sweeps through here once in ten years, and expects to rearrange the landscape? What if I like things the way they are? You don't even know HOW things are.
David: Maddie, wait.
Maddie: No, you wait. This is so typical of you……..you've made a decision and everybody needs to fall in line.
David: That is not it at all…if you give me a chance……
Maddie: It's not that easy.
David: But can't you see, it really is that easy. In fact there is really only one more question…………Do you still love me, Maddie?
Maddie: No
David: No, you don't love me??
Maddie: Just no period. I will not go on with this.
David: And here we go again – jump back on the roller coaster. He says/she says. I know this is weird coming out of the blue, Maddie.
Maddie: You're kidding, David – showing up after 10 years, and expecting me to just jump….that's not weird, that's downright demented!
David: Well, we all know I'm not your conventional type of guy.
Maddie; What an understatement.
David: I'm not suggesting that we fly off to Vegas. I'm suggesting that perhaps we could discuss our future possibilities.
Maddie: And I'm suggesting that this conversation is completely out of order.
David: Well then, that would make it perfect for us, wouldn't it?
Maddie: Not at all. David, I'm not prepared to deal with this.
David: And away she goes – like the Lone Ranger – flying away from any commitment, from the truth.
Maddie: You can't possibly know how wrong you are.
David: Tell me then, Maddie.
Maddie: No, all I am telling you is that this is not possible.
David: Maddie, what makes you this way? Why do you push away happiness with both hands?
Maddie: And you – how could you proclaim to be in love with somebody like that –for ten years, no less?
David: Darned if I know. Do you think my life wouldn't have been easier if you hadn't been in it???
Maddie: Well, here's some news – I'm out!! Start over, welcome to the first day of the rest of your life.
They glared at each other.
David: Fine
Maddie: Fine
David: Good
Maddie: Good
David: Bye…..
Maddie, heading for the door, stopped in mid stride. She turned slowly and stared at him for a moment.
"Bye," she whispered quietly, and left the restaurant.
Full of fury, she flung open the door of her car, flounced into the seat, and tore off down the street. She fumbled in a caseful of cassettes, pulled one out, and jammed it into the player.
The soft tones of Frank Sinatra echoed through the car. He usually soothed her, but as she heard the words, she immediately tensed
"Love is lovelier, the second time around
Just as wonderful, with both feet on the ground.
It's that second time you hear your love song sung
Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth is wasted on the young.
Love's more comfortable the second time you fall
Like a friendly home the second time you call
Who can say, what brought us to this miracle we found.
There are those who'd bet
Love comes but once – and yet.
I'm oh so glad we met
The second time around.
With a single movement, she grabbed the cassette from the player, rolled down her window, and tossed the tape into the dark San Francisco night.
"To hell with you, David Addison," she muttered to herself, and headed for home.