"I, for one, think it's nice." Madeleine unfurled her hot rollers. Jack thought her blonde hair in large curls looked like an 80's Barbie but knew better than to mention it. They were having dinner with Kate and Marcus and he didn't need to say anything to Madeleine that would make her uneasy.
"This guy barely knows her and now he wants to be introduced to Aaron?" He griped, shoving his foot into a dress shoe.
"Good. Aaron has two moms, now he'll have two dads."
"I am his only dad!" Jack realized he was raising his voice and sighed, trying to calm himself.
"Is that what you think about Michaela? Or about me being Aaron's stepmother?"
"We aren't married yet, nor are they. It's just a little fast and it's uncomfortable."
"I can see that." Madeleine moved closer to him, fixing his tie. "I'm sorry you have to deal with her; I hate Michaela not having her father in her life but it's a relief that I'm not stuck co-parenting like you and her."
"There's nothing to be sorry about; Kate and I rarely have problems." He watched Madeleine's face fill with doubt. He wondered if she really believed co-parenting was riddled with conflict or if she was in denial.
As always, his thoughts went back to Kate. He wondered if she felt this way when she'd met Madeleine before agreeing to let her meet Aaron. He wondered if she was thinking about him. When they were together, they rarely went out without having sex. The way she would roll her stockings up, the way she'd glance at him through the mirror while she got ready, even the way she tied his ties was erotic. Everything Kate did had been erotic.
Trying to push the thoughts out of his head, he grabbed Madeleine's waist, standing close behind her. He brushed the hair from her neck to kiss it. "Stop. You'll mess up my hair," she whined, pushing him off and flitting past him. He tried to remember if Kate ever denied him. "Ready?" She asked. She looked beautiful in a little black dress, flaunting her long legs. Her blonde hair was perfectly curled (no thanks to him.)
Outside the restaurant, he immediately recognized the sound of her heels. Kate. He looked up to find her moving towards him. She had a purple dress with a cowl neck and flats. She was leading a man by the hand. The man had longer dirty blonde hair. The man reminded him of Sawyer. He already hated him because he reminded him of the man who had slept with Kate on the island, who had told Jack he was in love with Kate. He glanced back at Madeleine and realized he had done the same. Madeleine was tall with blonde hair and brown eyes, just like Sarah.
Jack had known he wouldn't be attracted to a brunette, to someone with green eyes, to someone with freckles all over her face. How could he look at those features and not compare them to her? Was Kate unable to be with someone with Jack's features? He knew that shy of being drunk, she'd never give him a straight answer.
"Hey!" Madeleine called, waving an arm.
"Hey, so this is Marcus," Kate kept one hand on Marcus' toned arm as he stretched it out to shake Jack's hand.
Inside the restaurant, the couples made small talk for a while, Madeleine asking the most questions and commanding the attention. Jack tried to follow social cues and laugh when appropriate but he couldn't focus on anything but Kate. He noticed the way Marcus put his arm around Kate. When she laughed, she lowered her head and leaned closer to him. All the hidden glances between Kate and Marcus were noticed, as was the soft blush that seemed to last all night.
"You really think you're ready for Aaron? Ready to date a woman with a child?" Jack pushed.
"I mean, I already am dating a woman with a child," he glanced towards Kate, giving her a small smile. "But I never would have gotten involved with Kate if I wasn't ready. She's looking for a family man and isn't the type to settle."
"Marcus is actually a volunteer firefighter," Kate smiled at him with pride "and he's first aid and CPR trained."
"Ooh, a man in uniform. You're lucky, Kate." Madeleine smiled at Marcus as she toyed with her hair.
"I wear a uniform," Jack grumbled.
"You wear a coat," Kate teased. Jack could see the slight sparkle of her eyes; she was enjoying watching Jack squirm. It hadn't been easy for her months ago when Jack pushed to introduce Madeleine to Aaron.
Jack offered Kate a wry smile, one that made the entire world stop. Kate felt like she couldn't breath, the intensity of her eye contact with Jack was too much to bare. It reminded her of the way they'd stare at each other across the room at galas and hospital functions, letting each other know they craved one another. Kate glanced at Marcus, wondering if he'd ever have that effect on her. Or if she'd ever have that effect on him.
"And Kate, what is it you do?" Madeleine asked. Kate knew women; she knew that false tone. She knew Madeleine wasn't curious, she knew Kate didn't work.
"I'm a stay at home mom. Raising my son is my job. Jack and I discussed it in depth upon our return…" she offered Jack a kind smile, remembering their discussions on the best approach for all three. "Jack's work is important and he works crazy hours. We wanted to have someone be stable and available whenever something came up.
"But that was being a doctors wife, not his ex…"
"I was never a doctor's wife," Kate corrected. "But I own my home. I own my car. I'm well aware of my finances and what I can and cannot afford. I've never asked Jack for—"
"Hey, hey!" Jack started. "We aren't going to do this. Madeleine, Kate has her own money. She didn't want mine when we were together and she doesn't want it now. She won't even let me pay child support—"
"Is that true?" Marcus asked, taken aback.
"He's not going to pay me to be in Aaron's life. We're a team. Jack and I will decide what is best for Aaron. I'm sorry but…" Kate looked around at all of them. "Decisions about Aaron will be made by Jack and I. That's final."
"Okay," Madeleine shrank in her seat.
"Geez," Marcus grumbled.
Jack, on the other hand looked pleased.
Everyone made small talk the rest of dinner. Jack noticed the way Kate kept glancing at Madeleine, as if asserting her dominance. Every time Marcus noticed Jack's attention on Kate he found a way to steal Kate's attention. Jack knew this man was insecure and possibly jealous. Did Madeleine feel that way when watching Kate, he wondered. Did Kate feel any jealousy watching him with Madeleine? Jack could feel himself grinding his teeth and his body tensing up.
On the way home, Kate looked out the window, thinking of Jack. She missed his touch; the rough way he dominated her and the gentle way he made love to her. Trying to shake him, she gave Marcus a seductive glance as he drove. She spread her legs, moving his hand under her dress. She let his fingers graze the thin lace fabric as she leaned her head back.
"What's gotten into you? I'm driving." He offered a nervous glance to smooth the situation. Kate turned her attention back to the window, trying not to think of all the times Jack had driven one handed, giving her orgasms as a warm up before they got home.
She knew she'd told Jack that she had to stop the affair; she had to give Marcus a fair chance. But even without being with Jack, she found herself constantly comparing the two. She knew love took time, but how long would it take her to fall in love with Marcus?
