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"LONDON! OPEN YOUR DOOR!" Maddie's fist persisted in it's assault against the door.
"What is your problem?" London appeared, her face scrunched in annoyance.
"Please, just let me in!" She didn't wait for an invitation, instead she just pushed her way past her, closing the door shut quickly.
"Ok – I'm confused! Is someone after you?"
"Yes! Esteban!" Maddie moaned as she began her rhythmic pacing, a wild glint to her eyes.
"And that's bad because...?" Maddie didn't answer. "Look Maddie, you came all of this way to see him, so – see him! You're acting like a crazy person...and you're not even looking very good doing it!" She stepped toward Maddie and halted her with a manicured hand. "What happened? I left you downstairs and you were all ready to go talk to him."
Maddie looked at London, desperation covering her features. "I chickened out!" she wailed. "I was standing in the lobby, and I knew he'd be in there with Mr. Moseby and then, I don't know, it's like my courage just exploded and left me! The next thing I knew I was in the elevator waiting for the doors to close and then I saw him! And he saw me!"
London's brown eyes expanded. "And then what happened?" she demanded breathlessly, as eager for gossip as ever.
Maddie winced as she answered, "The elevator doors shut before he could get a good look at me, I think...and then I ran here as fast as the doors opened again."
London tsked. "Madeline Fitzpatrick, you still act like you're a teenager!"
"I know."
"Well, what are you going to do, now? You can't hide here forever."
"Yes, I can! You've got an entire little city here still, right? Maybe, I could move into a spot on Bikini Boulevard or Sandal Suites?"
London laughed. "I can't believe you still remember those silly names that I had made up!"
Knock, knock, knock.
Maddie's skin turned a lighter shade of pale. "It's him," she whispered.
"Who is it?" London called, moving to the door.
"It's Moseby."
She turned the knob and spoke with him through the open crack. "Who's with you?"
"What is going on?"
"Nothing! What makes you think something is going on?"
Mr. Moseby just sighed and easily pushed the barring piece of wood out of the way, granting himself entrance.
"Maddie?"
"Hi, Mr. Moseby."
"Maddie! I haven't seen you in ages! How are you?" he greeted excitedly, walking toward her.
"I'm alright. How are you?"
"Alright? You've done better than alright from what I've heard!" She was warmed by the obvious pride in his voice.
"Thanks," she blushed as her former employer and mentor of sorts wrapped her into an affectionate hug. He stepped away, looking at her kindly.
"It's so nice to have you home! I told him that he must have been imaging things, I didn't think you were really here! Imagine that!"
"Told who he was imaging things?" London asked clueless.
"Why, Esteban, of course. He had gone to the lobby to use the phone and when he returned a few moments later he looked as though he had seen an apparition. Poor fellow!" He chuckled a minute when he saw Maddie's melancholy face, before his own instantly fell with realization. "Oh, Maddie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean...I just didn't think."
"It's alright," she reassured.
"So, then where is he now?" London asked, trying to keep up with events.
"Well, I left him downstairs. I told him that if you really were here by some bizarre chance you would most likely be going to visit London."
A voice broke through the conversation, one that still visited Maddie often in her dreams. "Mr. Moseby? Are you here? Is Miss London here?" He stepped into the doorway and stopped. Maddie was out of sight, as she was slumped in the corner behind one of London's expensive drapes, a position she had scrambled to as soon as she had heard Esteban's voice outside the room.
"Esteban!" Mr. Moseby tittered.
"Esteban!" London echoed.
Esteban laughed. "Mr. Moseby! London! Ooh, I do not know this 'name game' but it sounds fun!"
Mr. Moseby and London both looked around for Maddie, but they didn't see her.
Esteban's face went serious again. "Mr. Moseby, I'm sorry about getting anxious earlier, I am sure you are right. It was just so...real..." he had a faraway look, his eyes clouded over. He shook himself out of his stupor. "But I know, Maddie is not here, I was just imaging it all. Not the first time I've imagined running into her again..."
"You thought that you saw Maddie?" London said with a strange voice. "Wow, Esteban, you really are losing it! Why would Maddie Fitzpatrick be here, right now, hiding in my room?" She was trying so hard to come off as casual but she only managed in sounding the complete opposite.
"Is there something going on?" Esteban furrowed his brows.
"What? Huh?"
"Oh, for pity's sake!" Mr. Moseby moaned.
"I am here," Maddie spoke up timidly as she stepped back into the room.
Mr. Moseby and London switched their focus back and forth between the former couple like a tennis match, anxious for what would happen next.
Esteban's entire body stiffened but his dark eyes sparkled. "Maddie?" he breathed.
"Esteban..."
Moseby cleared his throat. "Well, we'll just be leaving the two of you to talk."
"Hey, I don't have to leave; this is my room! Besides, I want to see if they kill each other!" London protested as Moseby pulled her out of the room, shutting the door behind them.
Maddie fidgeted as Esteban continued to gawk at her. "Esteban, say something..."
"I don't know what to say," he said quietly.
"Are you unhappy to see me?" she asked meekly.
"I'm getting married!" he blurted out suddenly.
Her brow creased. "I know."
"So, you know I'm getting married in two days and you decide to suddenly show up after twelve years!" His anger was rising and taking the place of his shock.
"Well, I'm sorry for needing to see you again!" Her temper was beginning to flare, matching his.
"You gave that right up when you walked out on me!"
"Well, it's not like you did too much to try to stop me!"
Esteban let out a bitter barking laugh. "What did you expect me to do? You didn't even tell me you were leaving until that morning, remember?"
She opened her mouth to respond but she found her throat getting choked with regret. "I made a mistake," she finally muttered.
"A mistake in coming here now or in leaving in the first place?" he asked, his voice softening.
"Esteban, I didn't come here to fight," she changed the subject.
"What did you come for?" he asked her gently.
She held her breath as her eyes turned up to the ceiling, searching for comfort and reassurance that she didn't find. Maddie fixed her gaze back upon Esteban as she whispered, "You."
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Ah! So, Esteban knows he's not seeing a ghost...well, perhaps a 'ghost' from his past...Isn't that clever, want to hear some more of that clever? Heehee, gotta love Judge!
Review and make me happy! It will get me off my duff and update sooner!