David Addison was bored out of his mind. He kept flicking the TV remote hoping to find something to watch to occupy his mind, but nothing interested him. Unless, it was some kind of a sports program, David had little use for TV. He sighed and looked at the clock on the antique Grandfather clock in the corner of the elegantly decorated room – damn only 9 pm. He turned off the TV and lay his head back on the overstuffed couch. Just a year ago, he would have been out and about partying and having some fun – and now it seemed all his fun days were behind him.
His mind wandered to the bedroom upstairs which held his heart and a smile covered his face. David Alexander Addison. His son. Despite his unhappiness with the mother of his child, David was head over heels in love with his son. And he was HIS son, despite Maddie's initial belief (wishful maybe?) that the baby was not his. How many times had he heard that from her? How many times had she shattered his heart with those cold words? Maddie Hayes – fun killer – his wife.
Maddie had just put the baby to sleep and was going to bed herself when she looked at the clock and realized it was still early. She remembered how David used to tease her about going to bed – alone – so early. He used to tease her all the time and it annoyed her but now she missed his teasing. She missed the old David. Who was this cold stranger living with her now? She realized that she had made many mistakes in their relationship – from telling him they were a mistake to marrying another man and - so many other things in between – but she had apologized over and over. Maddie knew that she couldn't change the past and what she had done to David, but she had tried so hard to show him that she was truly repentant and that she was deeply in love with him. But he had thrown it all back in her face. And it seemed the more loving she was with him the colder he became. Maddie decided to go downstairs and try to talk with her husband. Maddie inwardly shook her head. David Addison – her husband?
When she walked into the living room, she tried to put on a happy face but then she saw David who looked like he had lost his best friend and favorite pet. She sighed as she approached him. "Hey?" She threw out with her fake model smile.
David felt Maddie's presence before he heard her. He could smell her lavender and lemony scent and for a minute it brought back all the feelings for her he had once felt. But when he looked up at her and saw the fake model smile decorating her face, he felt his blood turn cold. Damn she couldn't even smile when she was around him? Yeah, she had been right. He wasn't the man she was supposed to be with. Maddie should be with a dead old man with no dick and no spine.
Maddie saw David's jaw tense and his eyes turn cold and once again wondered what she had done. She hated the way she always felt she was walking on broken glass around him. Despite her best intentions, Maddie felt her temper rise. "Sorry if I bothered you." She spat out.
"Did I say you bothered me?" David spat back.
"You don't have to say a word. I can see it on your face!"
"See what?" He asked snidely, "my good looks?" A smirk ran up his face
"Your snide attitude is all I see!" Maddie told him.
"And your bitchy attitude is all I ever see!" He fumed, "I hate it!"
"So why are you still here if you hate my attitude so much?" She itched to wipe that snide smirk off his face, but she controlled herself. She looked at him dressed in a t-shirt and tight jeans, "and why are you still dressed?"
"Do you want me to be naked? For what, we haven't screwed in weeks!" He jabbed at her.
"We made love last week!" She told him as she stared at him with glassy blue eyes.
"Guess it was so exciting that I forgot."
"What's wrong with you?" Maddie asked as her stomach clenched, she could see that David was miserable and she had no clue what to do to change it.
"Just because I'm not dressed in pjs at 9 pm on Friday night doesn't mean there is something wrong with me." He sat up straight and stared at his wife, "but guess that's your style." David sneered, "pjs on, straight to bed, straight to sleep." He gave a bitter laugh.
"And what would you rather be doing? Bar hopping?"
David jumped off the couch, grabbed his leather jacket out of the closet and headed toward the front door, "I'd rather be doing anything than spend another wasted night arguing with you!"
"Where are you going David?" Maddie felt as if she was in a nightmare that she couldn't escape. Her fears and insecurities regarding David as a husband were all coming true. Her heart plummeted as she watched him leave with no reply to her question. When the door slammed behind David, Maddie sat on the sofa with her head in her hands.
As David drove, his mind drifted back to the night when Terri gave birth, after the wedding he had planned for Maddie went haywire. His heart was shattered at the time. So many things had gone wrong in their almost relationship and they were all caused by Maddie. From the first time they had boinked and she had told him they needed to make a pact. A pact to forget the night they spent making love and to make sure it never happened again. Of course, the pact was broken over and over – but Maddie made sure to keep him at arm's length by repeatedly telling him that he was not the man that she was supposed to be with; and that they were not meant to be together. Even when she finally seemed to accept their 'relationship' he could tell that she wasn't giving herself 100% - maybe she was giving her all sexually but not emotionally. She was holding back and that made him nervous and insecure.
Then when she ran to Chicago and came back after 3 months (and she hadn't even bothered to reply to his letter or call him on the phone, not to mention not telling him that she was pregnant with a baby that may or not be his) married to another man his nervousness and insecurities turned to bitterness and anger. The cold way she had told him she was married and the even colder way she blatantly told him the baby was not his made his furious. How on earth could she know for sure that the baby was not his when she was with the spaceman one time a couple of days before they boinked!? He felt in his heart and gut that Maddie was just trying to convince him and probably herself that he wasn't the father because she didn't want him to be! After all, he wasn't the man she was supposed to be with!
David parked outside of one of the bars he used to frequent. He laid his head back on the headrest and closed his eyes. Maybe he should just go back home but when he thought about spending the night fighting with Maddie he jumped out of the car and walked into the bar.
Maddie was so hurt and angry that she didn't know what to do. How could David just leave? Where did he go? Was he about to start his bar hopping and partying again? They had been married less than a year and already he was bored? Already eyeing other women? Maddie felt her heart shatter into little pieces. She should have listened to her brain and not married David. She was a successful woman who did not need a man to support her financially and she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself and a baby. David had promised to be there for her and the baby but getting married wasn't on his agenda…but then again, for a time, it seemed like everything was coming together…
In the beginning, they had been happy together. Maddie was relieved and happy when David seemed to forgive all she had done. He promised her that he would help her with the baby and be there for her. And at first it was wonderful. They had gone to Lamaze classes together and David was a whiz at it since he had gone through it with Terri. Maddie was a bit jealous of David spending so much time with another woman, but since he had done it to prepare for her – it made her realize how much he loved her. Their sex life had also continued where it had ended – and due to her pregnancy hormones and how much she had missed being with David – the sex was even hotter and wilder. She couldn't get enough of David and it seemed that he couldn't get enough of her. But there were times, even then, when he seemed cold and aloof to her. She passed it off as her imagination.
And when the doctor confirmed that the baby was David's, they were both filled with happiness. David was over the moon and treated her with kid gloves. He became the type of man she dreamed of – caring, kind, mature and loving. The night that they found out that David was the father, he made love to her with a passion and adoration that made her fall for him even more. Everything was going so well that simultaneously they had the idea that David should move into her house, and just like that his piles of stuff were strewn around her mansion. Although, he was sloppy and messy, those things hadn't bothered her much. When she complained, David tried to be neater but having him living with her and sleeping with her every night overrode his bad habits. She loved him.
When David had found out the baby was his, he was overjoyed. His love for Maddie grew in leaps and bounds and everything that she had done to hurt him faded into the background. He was happy to give up his empty apartment and sleep next to the complicated blonde every night. Finally, she was his and all of their troubles seemed behind them!
After a few weeks of living together happily, the couple began to discuss marriage. Maddie was in her 7th month of pregnancy and both thought it was the right thing to marry before the baby was born. They threw together a simple wedding and invited their close friends and immediate family and believed they'd live happily ever after. They had been wrong.
Tears filled her eyes when Maddie remembered what they had once had, it seemed like one day they were back to fighting all the time again…why were the good time so short lived? Now all that was left was ashes and tears.
The first inkling of trouble was when DJ was about 5 months old. When Maddie woke up that morning she felt out of sorts. DJ was still teething and the idea of being stuck in the house with a crying baby didn't appeal to her. Maddie was happy that her parents were seriously thinking of moving close to their growing family. She needed them around even if it was just a quick visit on a long day. Maddie decided to head to Blue Moon. Maybe she and Agnes could go out for a quick lunch. She enjoyed her quirky company and the receptionist usually could bring Maddie out of a funk.
At Blue Moon, David was in a meeting with a potential client. Mary-Lou Sharp was the CEO of an up and coming tech company and was looking to put a private detective agency on retainer to weed out company spies and espionage.
David turned on his full watt Addison charm in the hopes of signing a lucrative contract with Mary-Lou. She seemed to be eating up his attention and flirting as they discussed what Blue Moon could do for her company.
When Agnes saw Maddie pushing DJ in his stroller through the door, she felt nervous. Although, Agnes knew that Mr. Addison was trying to procure new business for the agency, she didn't know how Mrs. Addison would like the idea of her husband behind closed doors with a beautiful woman. Agnes knew how Maddie could jump to conclusions and how jealous she could be.
"Mrs. Addison!" Agnes ran around the desk to look at the baby.
"Call me Maddie!" Maddie told Agnes as she peered toward David's closed door.
"Mr. Addison in?" Maddie asked right away…
Agnes didn't answer, she was busy cooing over the baby. DJ was smiling up at her with his cute dimples and huge green eyes.
"Agnes, is David in?" Maddie asked again, "I feel like I'm looking at him right now," Agnes said as she stared mesmerized into DJ's face, which was a miniature version of David's. Maddie didn't wait for a response, "Whatever I will see for myself." Sometimes Dipesto was an enigma.
Maddie opened the door to David's office and stood shock still. A beautiful woman was sitting in the client chair and David was standing with his back to his desk and much too close to that woman. David was chuckling at something she must have said, and his green eyes were crinkled in the way they got when he was happy. The woman was looking up at David with her lips pouted in a flirty way. Her eyes looked like they were memorizing him, had someone slipped something into the Blue Moon water? Everyone seemed in a trance-like state today…and they all needed to come back to reality!
Maddie cleared her throat as she closed the door firmly behind her.
David looked up and saw his wife standing by his office door. At first, David was surprised then when he saw Maddie's stormy eyes and tense jaw, he began to feel angry. He knew his meeting with Mary-Lou Sharp was only business and innocent, he knew that Maddie had a talent for twisting things to fit her jealous mind. "Maddie!" He threw her a grin. She didn't return it. David felt tension flow over him. Sharp was just about to sign a contract and no way would he allow his jealous wife to ruin it. He stood up quickly and strutted toward Maddie. "I'll be right back." He smiled at Mary-Lou, then he took Maddie by the arm and steered her out of his office.
Maddie pulled her arm out of David's grasp. "Why the Hell did you drag me out of your office?" Maddie asked through gritted teeth.
David bent his head to whisper in her ear, "that woman is a very important client and I didn't want to lose her business because you're jealous!"
Maddie's eyes widened, "I am not jealous!"
David shook his head, "whatever. I have to get back to the meeting. Ok?"
"Not okay! Why can't I join you?"
David ran his hand over his forehead, "trust me babe." His eyes implored her, "I got this."
Maddie was just about to burst back into David's office but thought better of it when she looked into his eyes. She sighed and moved away from the door. "Ok."
"Ok." He turned and walked back into this office. A half hour later he escorted Mary-Lou Sharp out of his office. He had a lucrative signed contract on his desk, and he was feeling good – until he got home that night.
After David had practically thrown her out of his office, Maddie looked around the office feeling angry and embarrassed. The staff looked busy with their eyes on their work, but Maddie knew they hadn't missed that little episode with David. The relationship between her and David had been a great source of speculation and entertainment for the staff from the beginning. Although, she was fuming inside, Maddie held her head up high as she made light talk with Agnes then took the baby and left. Fuck David Addison! Who the Hell did he think he was?
Although, Maddie had calmed down, she was still unhappy with what had occurred earlier that day. When David came home, Maddie was waiting for him in the living room. She had put DJ down for a late nap; the baby was cranky and miserable. So was Maddie. She looked up when she heard the front door open. "Wow surprised you made it home on time. I thought you'd be taking your lucrative client out to dinner!"
Was she fucking nuts? "First of all, she is OUR client and second of all – why would I take her out to dinner?" His voice was harsh.
"Well, you were so intent that I not be a part of your afternoon delight meeting." She seethed. Maddie could never contain the green-eyed snake that reared its head whenever she thought of David with another woman. Even before they were together, that snake awoke anytime David looked twice at a woman.
"You really are crazy. Certifiable. Diploma on the wall and all!" David shouted. He had been upset all afternoon after Maddie left. He hated the idea that she still didn't trust him.
"Stop shouting! You'll wake the baby!" Maddie yelled back, "I'm not crazy!" She lowered her voice, "you're just a man slut!"
David's eyes narrowed, "a what?"
"A man slut! A man that wants to screw every woman he sees!"
"Are you kidding? I've been true to you from the first time we boinked." (He never mentioned Rita for obvious reasons.)
Maddie shook her head, "and how long will that last?"
"If you think so badly of me Maddie then why are you with me? Why did you marry me? Was it because you were pregnant?"
Maddie shook her head, "of course not! I married you because I love you!" She searched his face, "is that why you married me? Because I was having your baby?"
David shook his head, "no, I love you. You need to start trusting me Maddie. And I didn't want you in that meeting because I had her on the hook. You were being irrational and jealous, and I couldn't let you ruin the meeting." He looked at his wife intently. "And ba bing, she signed a contract and now we have a retainer of $50 grand!"
"How would I have ruined that meeting? And what do you mean by having her on the hook? She does know you're married?" She was happy about the money and contract, but she was more interested in the client.
David tried to sidestep that question, "I don't know what she knows." He admitted.
"You know David I think that you like the attention from other women." She eyed him closely, "especially young pretty women."
David was getting exasperated, "whatta you saying now?"
"What I am saying is that I do NOT like my husband flirting with other women!"
"You really are something else. Do you really think I would be hitting on a client in my own office?" He put out his hand to stop her, "don't bother answering, I already know the answer!" He shook his head, "noting I do is ever right. Instead of congratulating me on getting a great contract you're worried about me flirting with some stranger! I'm tired. I'm going to take a shower."
"Don't you want to eat?"
"I lost my appetite." David headed upstairs. He was getting tired of Maddie's jealousy and insecurity,
The next few days, Maddie and David barely saw one another. David was involved on an important case and was barely home. Maddie understood how cases worked but she wished that David would let Viola and some of the other workers take up some of the slack. With a sickening feeling Maddie thought David was avoiding her. After their fight about the client, they had barely said two words to each other. She hated when they were angry at each other for so long.
She had way too much time to think, Maddie realized. She was still responsible for working on the ledgers and other paperwork, but they had hired a temporary office manager to take care of the daily operation of the agency. And even though Maddie adored her son, she was getting bored. She didn't know any moms to hang around with and some days were very long when she was alone with a teething baby. AND she didn't like the idea of David with beautiful women.
Maddie was lying awake in bed, when David came in from a stakeout with Bert Viola. She sat up when David entered the room. He looked tired as he threw her a crossways grin. "Hey. You don't have to wait up for me. You're up early with the baby."
Maddie shrugged, "truthfully, DJ has been up and down at night. He's cutting a couple of teeth."
David nodded as he undressed and headed for the shower. He was wondering if Maddie was ready to make up or pick another fight. When David came out of the shower, he could tell by the look on Maddie's face that she had something on her mind. He threw on a pair of old sweats and a wrinkled t-shirt then sat on the corner of the bed. "So, Goldilocks, what do you have racing around under that blonde head of yours?"
Maddie sighed then shifted her body, "I was thinking,"
"Uh oh. That can't be good!" David joked.
"Ha Ha," Maddie threw back, "anyway, I was thinking of maybe going back to work part time. Maybe a few hours a day."
David did not like that at all, "um you do remember that we have a 6-month-old son."
"And?" Sometimes the sexist, old-fashioned side of David reared up and made Maddie crazy.
"AND, who is supposed to take care of DJ when you're prancing around the office?"
"Prancing? What does that even mean?"
David ignored her, "A mother's place is home with the baby!"
"Says who?" Maddie's eyes narrowed. She could see David's jaw tense a sure clue he was very angry, but she didn't care.
"Says me for a start!" David leaped off the bed and began to pace back and forth.
Maddie was getting angrier by the moment, "and who the Hell died and made you my boss?" She also jumped out of bed and stood with her arms crossed as she looked at David with daggers in her eyes.
David stopped pacing and ran his fingers through his still damp hair, "I thought you were thrilled to be a mother and I thought you wanted to bring up our baby?" He pointed a long finger at her, "and now you're thinking of abandoning him to strangers?!"
"By working a few hours, a day, I am not abandoning him!" Maddie's arms were now by her side, her hands clenched into fists just itching to smack that superior, self-righteous look off of David's face.
"Really? So, do you plan to strap him to your back at work?" David asked snidely.
Maddie thought for a moment, "actually that may not be a bad idea."
David's face registered surprise and confusion, "huh?"
Maddie looked at David, "I can take DJ into the office with me when I am working on paperwork." She told him, "just like I do at home."
"So why not just stay home?" David scratched his head.
"Because I want to get out of the house and be around people who don't drool or drop food all over them!" She tried to explain.
"You got me!"
Maddie looked at him, "did you hear the part about not dropping food?" She threw at him.
"I don't drool."
"Um sometimes yeah you do."
"You saying I act like a kid? A baby?"
Maddie looked at him with disdain, "let's not change the subject!"
David glared at Maddie. "What is it Maddie? Why do you really want to go back to work?" The reason suddenly popped into his head, "could it be you suddenly want to come back to the agency so you can keep an eye on me?"
Maddie was furious, she hated when he saw through her, although keeping an eye on David was only a part of the reason. "Of course not!" She denied his allegation. "You are much too arrogant!"
"And you are much too jealous!" He pulled up the covers and slipped under them, "can we talk about this tomorrow when I'm not about to pass out?"
Maddie huffed and turned her back oh David. "Really you're not the boss!" She told him scornfully.
David ignored her and fell into a troubled sleep.
Maddie and David were still quarreling about her returning to work the following weekend but agreed to call a truce. They were going to Chicago to attend her younger cousin Cynthia's wedding. Neither of them wanted Maddie's parents to see they were arguing…which might be difficult since Maddie's parents' were insisting that they stay with them. Neither Maddie nor David wanted to stay with the older couple, so they decided to rent a hotel room close to the wedding venue. They arrived on Saturday morning and had a quick breakfast in the hotel dining room with Alex and Virginia. The proud grandparents were so enamored with the baby, they didn't notice that there was any tension between Maddie and David. And they noticed how David doted on the baby which made them very happy. Alex hadn't been thrilled when Maddie announced she was marrying David Addison and was pregnant with his baby. He wasn't sure that David was responsible enough or mature enough to be a good dad. Watching David with his son showed Alex that he had been wrong. Now, if he was as good a husband as he was a father, Alex knew Maddie would be happy for life. Little did Alex know what was actually brewing between his daughter and David.
Later that day, Maddie came out of the bathroom dressed for the wedding. She was wearing a sparkling off the shoulder silver dress, the dress reached mid-thigh and was sexy yet classy. David was tying his tie when he noticed his wife through the mirror. His dick twitched in his pants as his eyes ran over her. He turned around and threw her his sexiest grin, "damn woman. What's with that dress? I don't want other men drawling all over my woman." He approached her and gave a low whistle.
"Your woman huh?" Maddie's voice was low and husky. Just the way David was looking at her made her nipples harden.
"All mine," he purred as his hands ran over her curves.
"Now, now tiger we are already running late for the wedding." Maddie wanted to throw herself into his arms, but they really were going to be late for the ceremony. She put her lips next to his ear, "but when we get back, we have the whole night fella."
David smiled at Maddie and moved away. He petted the bulge in his slacks. "Oh, you know it."
Maddie was proud to introduce David to her old friends and family. Everyone oohed and ahhed over the baby and congratulated the happy couple. Maddie, David and the baby were seated at the same table with her younger cousin Annie, her husband, Mark, and two other couples. Annie and Maddie caught up on old times, David noticed the younger woman eyeing him up and down and he could see that she liked what she saw. Her husband was clueless – and luckily so was Maddie. When Maddie went to the ladies' room, Annie turned her attention to David. He couldn't resist some innocent flirting with a beautiful woman. David was very careful not to go over the line with Maddie's cousin but when he saw his wife approaching David turned away from Annie. He knew how jealous Maddie could be, so it thought it better not to push any buttons. He wanted to enjoy the evening and later enjoy his wife. So, David ignored Annie and her sultry eyes pinned on him as he regaled the table with funny stories. As usual, he was the hit of the party.
Maddie and David were dancing to a slow song and both were feeling less angry and more amorous. "Babe I'm sorry I've been so stubborn."
Maddie was happy that David was extending an olive branch, "David you have to know DJ is my top priority but how can it hurt if I work at Blue Moon a few hours a couple of days a week?"
David held her closer, "I guess it won't hurt –much." He had to add. "I'm old fashioned and believe a mom should be at home with the kids."
"DJ is a good baby. I can keep him in the office with me in his pack and play until we find a daycare." She thought for a moment, "If I'm not mistaken a daycare center just opened in the building. Let's check it out on Monday?"
"Ok." David was not happy about his son in daycare, but he knew he had to compromise with Maddie. He didn't want her to harbor a grudge. He wanted her to be happy. And if leaving the baby, a couple of hours a week made her happy then so be it. He wanted to make this marriage work – he never knew how difficult married life could be. But holding the woman he adored in his arms whenever he wanted was worth it all.
Virginia and Alex insisted that they care for DJ so that left Maddie and David free to enjoy themselves. David tried to keep Maddie away from their table and on the dance floor. Maddie hadn't noticed it yet, but her cousin Annie was sending him signals and she even had the audacity to put her hand on his thigh! David had immediately pushed it off. He could imagine how Maddie would have reacted if she had noticed her cousin's antics. He didn't want her to cause a scene at the wedding.
But in spite of what was going on with Maddie's cousin, David was having a good time until he felt Maddie stiffen beside him. At first, David couldn't believe his eyes. What the fuck was he doing here? "Did you know the spaceman was beaming in from Mars?" David glared at his wife.
How on earth could she have known that Sam was going to attend? David was livid. His green eyes were dark and stormy. All the terrible memories of that time when Sam Crawford came to LA rose up in him.
"Of course, not David!" She told him truthfully, "but so what? Let him see how happy we are!" Maddie leaned into kiss David, but he pulled away.
"Is this still a competition to you? I don't give a fuck what he thinks and why should you?" David never wanted to lay eyes on Sam Crawford again. He walked away from Maddie leaving her on the dance floor staring after him and headed to the open bar for a drink. He knew he was acting like a shit, but he couldn't help but remember how Maddie had paraded Sam out to him as more successful, smarter, wealthier – and the idea that Maddie had screwed Sam the astronaut Crawford made David see red and green.
Maddie was about to go after David but thought it was best if he cooled down. She had no idea that Sam was going to be at the wedding but why should it matter to David? They were married with a beautiful baby boy and Sam meant nothing to her. Maddie shook her head. Still things were never easy for her and David. She decided to head toward the ladies' room to check on her make-up.
Maddie was surprised when Sam stopped her on her way toward the bathroom. She couldn't walk away from him without causing a scene, she could see that Sam was drunker than she'd ever seen him. He sneered into her face, "that kid mine?" He slurred, "we did screw around you know."
"Having sex one time on one night is not screwing around." Maddie tried to move passed him, but he moved in front of her, "and no. DJ is David's son." Maddie told him quietly. "Go away Sam. You're drunk."
Sam laughed bitterly, "can't believe you're actually married to that player." Sam scoffed nastily, he nodded his head toward the bar where David was talking to Annie, "look at him Maddie. Guy is already checking out new merchandise. I know his type. Can't keep his zipper up."
Maddie wanted to claw out Sam's eyes, "you know nothing about David!" She hissed. "David is a good man." She told Sam but inside she was filled with annoyance, why was David standing so close to her trampy cousin? They looked far too cozy. Maddie knew how jealous Annie was of her and how she always made a play for any man Maddie was with. Annie had tried with Sam a few times over the years, but he wasn't interested.
Sam chuckled, "that one has got hot pants. I was never interested because loose women like her never interested me. But I think your husband is used to women like that."
Maddie walked away with her head held high. She was about to go to her mother who was holding the baby but then she turned toward the bar. Annie needed to be put in her place.
David downed 2 tequila shots and was beginning to feel better when he noticed from across the room Maddie talking with Sam. They looked way too cozy to him and he was about to interrupt their reunion when he felt a soft hand on his arm. Maddie's cousin. What was her name again? Amy?
"It's Annie." Annie giggled flirtatiously. Growing up the younger cousin of the Blue Moon Shampoo girl had turned Annie into a jealous woman. She always wanted what Maddie had but things hadn't been easy for her. Annie wasn't tall enough to be a model and although she was pretty, she didn't have the stunning looks of Maddie Hayes. Maddie was a few years older than her, but Annie had always felt that they were in a contest. And all she heard growing up was Maddie did this, Maddie did that. Annie had been spitefully happy when Maddie had lost her fortune, but her happiness was short-lived when she heard that her cousin was now running a successful private eye business with a gorgeous partner who was now her husband. And boy was David hot! Meanwhile, her husband was not very attractive and had become very boring to her fickle ways. So, when she saw David alone at the bar, she made a beeline for him. She enjoyed making trouble for Maddie.
"So, what you doing handsome?"
"Handsome me?"
Annie giggled again, "handsome you."
David hated when grown women giggled but he played along. David was enjoying the younger woman's attention. And seeing his wife with her ex-lover was making him spiteful.
David saw Maddie approaching and he moved away from Annie. He hadn't realized how close they had been standing. Annie saw Maddie in the corner of her eye and put her hand on David's arm as she looked up at him with hungry eyes.
"Annie." Maddie eyed her with blue ice and her fake model smile, "I'm glad you're getting to know my husband." She moved close to David and put her hand around his waist. Annie quickly moved her hand off David's arm.
"Oh yes, I was happy to have the chance to talk with him." She smiled at David and then at Maddie, "you're a very lucky woman." And with that and a wink she walked away.
"What was that?" Maddie demanded hotly.
"What? What?" David asked, although it probably didn't look innocent with Annie David was still mad about Sam. Maddie's cousin was hot to trot but he wouldn't be the one to clue in his wife.
"You're one to talk! I saw you with Sam!" David spat at his wife, "maybe you're regretting turning down his proposal!"
Maddie's mouth dropped open, "are you crazy? Maybe you're the one regretting it. Maybe you wish we never got married!" She glared at him, "looks like you still have eyes for the ladies."
"Your cousin is no lady." David blurted out, "and you're the one who is crazy! Bet you wish Buck Rogers was by your side instead of dumb David from South Philly!" He was a bit drunk and feeling hurt and angry. "Guess I really am not the man you're supposed to be with!" David sneered
"Not when you act like this David!" She spat out as she turned her back on him and walked away. She needed to get away from him before she uttered words she would regret.
"Everything ok dear?" Maddie's mom asked as she handed a sleeping DJ over to his mom. Virginia could tell when something was bothering her daughter.
Maddie sighed as she sat down in her dad's empty chair, Alex was mingling with the guests so Maddie could talk freely with her mom. "It's Annie!"
Virginia knew the history of the two women and sighed along with Maddie, "what has she done now?"
Maddie told Virginia about seeing her all over David.
Virginia patted Maddie's arm. "I'm sure it was completely innocent on David's part. That young man only has eyes for you dear."
Maddie shook her head, "I don't know about that mom." In her mind's eye, Maddie saw how her husband was smiling at Annie, "David didn't seem immune to her charms." Then she remembered how cozy he looked with that woman client and her stomach rolled. Was David already bored with her? She tried to push those thoughts away.
Virginia looked into her daughter's eyes, "Don't let her cause trouble in your marriage," she cautioned her daughter, "because her goal has always been to hurt you. She is not a good woman."
Maddie nodded but wasn't sure that David was as innocent as her mother believed. Her old insecurities began creeping up on her. She was older than David and had always worried that he would leave her for a hotter, younger woman. She tried to push those dire thoughts aside as she saw David walking toward her.
David was still smarting over seeing Maddie with Sam, but he didn't want to start an argument at the wedding. He also didn't want the space cowboy to detect any trouble in their marriage. He put on his best Addison smile as he approached Maddie and her mother. "How can the bride compete with the two most beautiful women in the room?" He placed his hand on Maddie's shoulder and was happy she when she placed her hand over his big one. "And me without my hip boots." She quipped as she looked up at David. She gave him a genuine smile as she motioned for him to sit in the chair beside her.
David took DJ from Maddie and placed him in his stroller. "Dance with me Blondie?" He saw Sam watching from the corner of his eye. Fuck that asshole. Maddie is MY wife, he thought to himself.
Maddie took David's hand as he led her to the dance floor. A romantic song was playing as Maddie and David moved to the music. David nuzzled Maddie's neck as he whispered in her ear, "from the beginning we always danced great together."
David's lips on her neck and his whisper in her ear still caused Maddie's knees to turn weak, she laughed, "oh I remember our first dance. And how you stole the watch from me!"
"And see where that led us Blondie?" He laughed along with her. "A beautiful baby and a wonderful husband."
Maddie raised her eyebrow, "wonderful?" She teased.
David feigned hurt, "I'm not?"
"It hasn't even been a year," she looked into his eyes, "but I must say so far you have exceeded my expectations." She hoped!
David's eyes twinkled, "and you mine milady."
Sam and Annie were watching the happy couple from their separate corners, but both had the same idea in their jealous minds – burst the couple's happiness and make trouble. But how?
Maddie noticed Annie staring at David like a hungry lion and it made her guts clench. Although she knew Annie was a barracuda when it came to men, her cousin's obvious attraction to David made Maddie think of how other women acted around him when she wasn't around. David seemed to get hotter as time went on while Maddie felt she just looked old and tired. She inwardly sighed.
As the night wore on and the liquor flowed freely, Maddie thought she saw David look Annie's way more than once. Maybe it was her imagination, but it was making her feel jealous and angry. She wished it was time to leave.
Annie noticed David walking to the bar – alone –and she immediately followed him. Here was her chance to make a bit of trouble for the happy couple. Annie waited for David to turn around and she grabbed his arm to pull him into the dark, deserted alcove across from the bar.
David felt someone grab his arm and the next thing he knew he was standing too close to Maddie's cousin in a too dark, too small room. David smiled down at Annie, "and what do you think you're doing Maddie's cousin? I am a married man and last I heard you're married too."
This one was trouble and knowing Maddie and her temper, David knew he was playing with fire. He needed to escape before Maddie had an inkling of what was going on with her wild, younger cousin.
She just laughed and moved closer. "Come on handsome, aren't you tired of that fuddy-duddy you married yet?" Annie began to move her hands over his chest and arms.
David grabbed her arms, "I love my wife!" David insisted as he moved backward and found himself against a hard wall.
Annie ignored his words, "I was always the fun one you know." Annie sidled closer to David. "Are you having fun yet?" She giggled.
Maddie knew David had gone to the bar for a drink but what happened to him along the way? She knew the men's room was in the opposite direction of where he had gone. Curiously, Maddie headed to the bar to look for her missing husband. He couldn't have disappeared into thin air. As she drew closer to the bar, Maddie heard laughter coming from a small dark recess in the wall nearby. Slowly, she walked into the dark room.
Annie molded her body against David's and was just about to kiss him when they both turned at the sound of a loud gasp. Maddie!
David's first thought was that he was a dead man. He pushed Annie away and moved toward his wife who was standing there with her face a mask of outrage, pain, and anger. "It's not what you think!" David told her holding out his arms to emphasize his words.
"You've got a live one." Annie smirked as she slipped past David and Maddie and headed to a safe place. She saw the look on her cousin's face, and she knew from incidents in the past that Maddie could be dangerous when crossed.
"And what is it that I'm thinking?" Maddie asked through gritted teeth. "What the fuck were you doing in here with that slut?"
"She pulled me in here!"
Maddie's eyes narrowed, "oh sure, 100 lb. Annie pulled YOU into the room and You couldn't stop her!"
David realized what his admission sounded like, "well she took me by surprise and before I knew it, she was groping me!"
"And you're not strong enough to push her away?"
"I was!" David insisted, "but then you walked in."
"And ruined your party?" Maddie's voice was coated with hurt and disgust.
"Not at all!" David grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him. "I would never touch your cousin Maddie!" He felt her pulling away, "what kind of man do you take me for?"
Maddie pulled out of David's grasp and kicked him in the shin, "I guess I have no clue Addison!" She turned her back on David and walked away with her head held high. Spitefully, she headed towards Sam. Maddie made sure David noticed her laughing with Sam before the night was done. Two could play the same game, Maddie thought with rancor.
But that 'game' was the beginning of the end for Maddie and David.
That night they went to bed without speaking. They slept back to back, angry and hurt over what had happened that night. Maddie and David had made a promise that they would try and talk things out and never to go to bed angry – but neither was good at keeping pacts. When they woke up the following morning, they headed to say goodbye to Maddie's parents who had booked a room in the same hotel so they wouldn't have a long drive home.
Maddie and David thought they had put on a good front but when they left for the airport, Virginia and Alex began to discuss the discontent they saw in the couple. They both hoped that it was only a small tiff between the couple. Neither could foresee what would happen to the marriage.
On the flight home, Maddie and David began to bicker and by the time they arrived home it had turned into a full out war. Maddie carried the baby from the cab and raced in the house slamming the door before David could reach it. He had been left to carry their luggage and all the baby paraphernalia. When he reached the door, he discovered it was locked. Cursing under his breath, David dropped everything on the porch and reached for his key. Opening the door wide, he kicked in luggage and threw the baby stuff in the living room.
Maddie had just put the baby in his crib and saw David kicking the luggage as she came down the spiral stairs. "Are you crazy? That's expensive luggage!" She shrieked at David. "But what would you know about expensive things!"
David threw her a nasty look, "sure Dirty Dave from South Philly doesn't know the good stuff unlike that poster boy you were all over last night!" After Maddie walked away from him at the wedding, David was stunned to see his wife head toward that asshole space jockey. And when he saw them laughing together, David had been filled with rage.
"Yeah maybe that's true. But he at least knows the value of a decent woman unlike you who was so entertained by my cousin the slut!"
"Decent yes, fun no." David sneered at Maddie as he moved passed her and headed for the shower.
"Screw you David!" Maddie was livid, "I am fun! Maybe you just have a different idea what fun is!"
He stopped on the stairs and turned toward Maddie. "Do Tell!" He mocked, "yeah my idea of fun times isn't the opera or knitting in a rocking chair." That was a dig at her marriage to Walter.
Maddie's lips curled in disgust, "yeah we both know what your fun is – getting passed out drunk and loose women! Oh yeah and bowling and beer!"
"Yeah whatever you say, wife of mine." David turned and sauntered up the stairs. Maddie heard the bathroom door slam. When Maddie went upstairs a bit later, she could hear noise coming from DJ's room. She peeked in and her heart melted when she saw David bending over DJ's crib. She could see David's eyes from the dim glow of the nightlight. They were filled with love and joy. David was singing a Motown song to his son. Maddie wished she could go in to be with her 2 men but didn't know if David would be annoyed. So, she carefully closed the door and strolled sadly to their bedroom.