Christmas Family Story: Ch. 3
SIX MONTHS LATER, a pregnant but energetic Maddie walks into work after having dropped Alex off at the day care center on the 10th floor of the Blue Moon building.
Maddie: Morning Agnes.
Agnes: Morning Mrs. Addison!
Maddie: Any messages?
Agnes hands Maddie a pile. Maddie thumbs through the messages and glances over at David's closed office door.
Agnes: (Sighs) You miss him.
Maddie shakes herself out of a deep thought.
Maddie: What!? Miss who? Him? Nonsense…he's only been gone 3 days Agnes.
Unfortunately, late last week David Sr. had a heart episode that put him in the hospital and David had to fly to Philadelphia last minute. He barely got to say goodbye to Maddie and Alex because he jumped on a red eye as soon as Stephanie called.
Agnes: How's David's father?
Maddie: Not great. He'll probably need surgery…Stephanie, Richie and David will talk to the surgeon today and get a better idea. I'll keep you posted Agnes.
Agnes: Let Bert and I know if you need anything while Mr. Addison is away…don't be shy. We can even take Alex for a night or two if you need the help.
Maddie feels a little embarrassed that Agnes and Bert think she might need help…and be away from Alex for a few days? Although Maddie lived alone for years, it would feel so strange to be in their new home without Alex, it was already strange without David.
Maddie: (Forces a smile) Thanks Agnes.
LATER THAT EVENING, 6:30pm… Maddie is at home putting a puzzle together with Alex on the floor when the phone rings.
Maddie: Hello?
David: What are you wearing?
Maddie: (Smiles and looks down at her shirt) Half of Alex's dinner…
David: Ooo, sexy.
Maddie hears a lot of chatter and clanking in the background.
Maddie: Where are you, David.
David: Richie and I stopped off at a bar on the way home from the hospital.
Maddie: A bar?
David: A bar… you know, those places that help you feel better until you feel worse…
Maddie: Huh-uh…well, don't end up on the floor, in a cell or with a stranger.
David: Ah - chucks, you're ruining all my fun.
Maddie: So, what did you find out today?
David: My old man needs open heart surgery, it'll happen in two days.
Maddie: Oh, I'm so sorry David. How's Stephanie holding up?
David: Yeah, she's pretty broken up about it. Everyone's feeling pretty stressed.
Maddie: Maybe Alex and I should come out there.
David: Nah, don't do that. It's just a lot of sitting around, waiting, hospital food, you'd hate it. I'll stay for the surgery and hopefully be home by the weekend. How's my bambino? Put him on the phone, does he miss pops?
Maddie: He misses you…we both do.
David: well, I miss you both too…put 'em on.
Maddie holds the phone up to Alex's ear and he and David have their version of a conversation.
Another week passes and David's still not home. David Sr. took a turn for the worse after his surgery and was put in a medically induced coma. Richie's running the family fish shop, Stephanie is a mess and David is the only one who's level headed enough to deal with any decision making. Maddie's holding down the fort, which is busier than ever. Just that morning Maddie met with a man who needed Blue Moon to track down his identical twin who committed a murder and then pinned it on him, a woman who put precious gems in a safety security box in town…only, she just can't remember which one, and needs help tracking it down, as well as a woman who's afraid her husband is having an affair with a woman he'd been with years earlier.
Maddie's mind wanders to David. She pictures him at the hospital consoling Stephanie. Yes, of course, that's his father's wife…and Maddie and David were…where they were. But, with Richie at the shop, Stephanie distraught and David hanging around at the hospital with her all day and then…bars at night? God only knows what could happen. She tried to shake off her thoughts, she knew they were silly, but still, David Addison has been known to do some pretty stupid things.
Later that day Maddie's working in her office.
Buzz buzz
Maddie picks up her phone receiver.
Agnes: Mr. Addison is on line 2, Mrs. Addison.
Maddie: Thank you Agnes.
Presses the flashing line 2 button
Maddie: David!?
David: (Jokey) Hello, wife 'o mine.
Maddie: (formal) David. It's good to hear your voice.
David: My voi…what? You just talked to me this morning, (suspicious) what's up?
Maddie: Nothing's up…it's…just good to hear your voice, that's all. (Deflects) How's your father?
David: Maddie…
No response.
David: You're not gonna talk to me?
Maddie: About what?
David: About what's bothering you.
Maddie: Nothing's bothering me.
David: Fine.
Maddie: Fine.
David: Good.
Maddie: Good.
David: (annoyed) O….k. …Pops still not awake.
Maddie: Any update from the Dr.?
David: Yeah, well, they say it might be a few more days before they can awaken sleeping beauty… need to get him to a stable place.
Maddie: How's Richie doing? Has Andrea been around?
David: Yeah…she's been around. They pop in and out. The shops been real busy, so they're workin' over there. Pop'll be real happy his shop was taken care of, ya know?
Maddie: Well, of course…he's put everything to that shop. (her voice trails off) So, at the hospital, anyone else there with you?
David: Nah…no, mostly just Stephanie and I holding down the fort here.
Maddie: You and Stephanie, huh?
David: Me and Stephanie, yeah…(Starts to dawn on him….) Ohhhh...
Maddie: (Mimics) Ohhhh?
David: do I hear a question buried beneath that question?
Maddie: No…no question…
David: Just…?
Maddie: well…it's just you and Stephanie, together.
David: Yeah…?
Maddie: Do I have to spell it out for you, David?
David: No, I want you to place hieroglyphics in an open field. What's with the cryptic messages, Madolyn? Of course I want you to spell it out for me.
Maddie: You… have a history.
David: A history, Maddie?
Maddie: A history, David, yes.
David: You're gonna throw that in my face? Something I confided in you long before we were a "we?" - I never would have told you if…
Maddie: Never would have told me!?
David: Never would have told you, yeah.
Maddie: Well, that makes me feel even worse!
David: Worse than what? There is nothing to feel worse about.
Maddie: No?
David: No! Come on Maddie, you really think you have something to worry about?
Maddie: (hesitant) no…I know… I mean, I think I know…you'd never…
David: What happened between she and … what happened is in the past…the past past…before any of us had a future, past. She's my stepmother, Maddie.
Maddie: Why is it David…that we can't visit either side of our family now without running into someone you've slept with? I've always told you your depravity knows no limits – and this is proof!
David: Look. This past is in the past…buried, under lock and key, if I could erase it, I would. But you don't need to worry about that. And didn't Annie move to Puerto Rico with that new guy she married? We won't be running into her anytime soon.
The mention of Annie's name gives Maddie the shivers. Because of her …no,…because of David … no,because of the two of them…there almost wasn't the "two of them" …Maddie sometimes wonders if she made a mistake forgiving David all of his disgusting behavior. She loves him, but he makes muck.
David: (Facepalms himself) Look, I'm sorry ok? I'm an idiot.
Maddie: You're being too kind to yourself, David. There's a client here, I need to go.
David hangs up the payphone and bangs his head against the metal box.
David: (to himself) So stupid.
He rolls away from the phone booth with a sigh and steps into his father's hospital room. David Sr. lays hooked to wires and machines. Stephanie looks up from the magazine she's reading and throws him a little smile.
Stephanie: How you doing kiddo?
David half smiles. Stephanie didn't know and she'll never know what happened between them during that drunken night years ago. He just wished Maddie didn't know. But, then again he wanted to tell her back then, she's his best friend…and she gave him great advice…which is why he's able to be here today. Maddie didn't seem all that bothered when he told her, of course they weren't really together then…but she's bothered now, which bothers David.
David: I've been better.
Stephanie: Everything ok at home? You look a little peaked.
David: (Shakes it off) Me? I'm fine...
Just then the doctor comes in to give them an update.
IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS, since David went back East and he's calling collect morning, noon and night.
Maddie: …yes, David…your tennis racket is in the garage with all the other sporting equipment. Is this really a reason to call? Our phone bill is going to be sky high…can we stick to one call a day.
David: Don't you want to talk to me?
Maddie: Of course I want to talk to you, David, I just don't want to have to take a loan out to do it…between that and all those flowers you've sent to Blue Moon…
David: Yeah…well, I thought you might want to open an arboretum…
Maddie: This wouldn't have anything to do with that talk we had last week about you and Stephanie, would it?
David: Talk? About Stephanie and me? I thought all that was forgotten.
Maddie: Forgotten, huh?
David: Well, I definitely know it is on her end.
Maddie: Oh, yeah? Why's that?
David: Did I ever tell you details about the conversation she and I had when I pulled her into the back of the church during the wedding?
Maddie: Details…from you? Ha! …no David, details are not your strong suit. Please…do tell, say something, anything that would make this situation better.
David: She didn't remember.
Maddie: Didn't remember what?
David: Didn't remember me…us…
Maddie: What do you mean she didn't remember, any of it? What are you saying David, I don't understand.
David recounted the conversation he'd had with Stephanie and how it was clear in the end…she never remembered that he'd taken her…wherever it was they'd ended up that fateful night. Maddie listens and is surprised to learn Stephanie had no memory of that time, or maybe it's not surprising knowing how Stephanie used to live her life. A little sad really, her not knowing what she was doing in a hotel room with a stranger. Maddie shuttered to think how many times Stephanie had been in that situation.
Maddie: …David…given that she has no memory of this…are you sure it was really…
David: Positive.
Maddie: ok.
Maddie doesn't want to hear any more, but she isn't sure if she should feel some sympathy for David that this woman didn't remember spending…that, incredible night with him that seemed to stick so vividly in his memory, or if she should just be relieved that this wasn't something Stephanie was thinking about every time she saw David.
Maddie: Let's just move on from this, David…it's never going to be an issue for her, so let's not make it one for us.
David: I couldn't agree more.
They both hang up feeling relieved and another week passes. Finally, David Sr. wakes up and begins to make a speedy recovery.
Three weeks after he left, David heads back to L.A. He returns home on a Friday evening and Maddie and Alex meet him as he gets off the plane. David can't get to them fast enough… after three weeks eating bad food and hanging off a couch to sleep, they feel like all the comfort he needs in the world. David embraces his family and there are kisses and hugs all around. His hand lands immediately on Maddie's growing baby bump…
David: ooh, eee, yow! This kid is growing, you're twice as big as when I left.
Maddie: (Shy) Yeah? Well, I feel every inch of it, too.
David: (lifts her chin up and looks deep into her eyes) Drop dead gorgeous.
Maddie: You really think so?
David: More now than ever.
Maddie: Oh, David.
They embrace and kiss once more and then make their way out of the airport.
An hour later the Addison's sit at Spaghetti Factory. Maddie hates places with the menu on the placemat, but Alex loves the train car in the middle of the restaurant and laughs when David acts like the conductor.
Later that night after Alex wears David out playing "horsey," "hide and seek" and having a "Dino war" with their little plastic figures… they put Alex to bed and then Maddie and David retire to their bedroom and make love bathed in the moonlight shining through the window and then drift off to dreamland…together.
ONE YEAR LATER…
Ding!
Maddie and David's tired feet step out of the elevator in unison, they turn right and make their way down the hall and into Blue Moon. They're just returning from a chase and are covered in dried mud and hay as their client turned murderer ran into a barn and the detectives had to go up, over and through stacks of hay and inside barrels to stop him. Luckily, Maddie crawled through the back end of a tractor, forcing the madman out the other side where David was able to nab 'em. They handed Mr. Card off to the police, gave them the run-down and were now back at the office to grab their stuff before they head home.
30 mins later they're in the car…
David: Pretty wild day…
Maddie: We've had a lot of those madcap endings to cases lately.
David: (takes her hand) Yeah…we still got it.
Maddie: That we do, Addison.
David: Two kids, a cat, a dog, a lizard and a whole lotta fish aren't slowing down these LA detectives!
Maddie: (Yawns) They're not? (Blinks her eyes) I mean…right, right, they're not…but, speaking of those two kids, it's after 1am, David…6am is gonna come early.
David: Always does! (Smirks) I gotta get you into bed.
Maddie: (Sleepy) Sure Addison, whatever you say…I'm in no mood for your double entendres.
David: No need for a double, once will be enough…
Maddie looks at him and rolls her eyes. David chuckles, gives her hand a little squeeze and then accelerates towards home.
THE NEXT MORNING six month old Suzy (Suzette Virginia Addison, named after David's favorite cousin and Maddie's mom) is up early as usual. David feeds his baby girl her breakfast hoping Maddie and Alex will sleep in a bit. Roberta, the kids nanny, who stays over when Maddie and David are on a case, gets up, makes herself some coffee and gather's her things to head home.
David: Thanks Roberta, you're a lifesaver.
Roberta: I've got the easy job, Mr. Addison…you're the one out there doing the dangerous work. Did you wrap up your case last night?
David: Yes, the citizens of LA can rest a little easier today…Mr. Card is safely behind bars after offing his third wife.
Roberta: Third wife!?
David: Yes…the man was an axe thrower in the circus - passed the other two off as "workplace accidents"… but unfortunately, the authorities didn't buy the "accident" story after wife number three got axed in their home shower.
Roberta: My God.
David: We spent a lot of time saying that ourselves Roberta.
Well, have a blessed day Mr. Addison…I'll see you Monday. As David waves good bye to Roberta, their dog Moe…a black lab, wags his tail by the back door to go out, the cat, Haze, taps her food bowl to eat, and Suzy cries, needing to be changed.
Roberta: you need some help Mr. Addison?
David: Escape while you can, Roberta…you'll be here all day if you don't leave now. (he waves her off) I got it, I got it. Maddie'll be up soon. Go home.
Roberta leaves reluctantly as the Addison house comes alive. David throws Suzy over his shoulder, karate kicks the door open for Moe and manages to toss a can of cat food into Haze's bowl without being scratched… David gave Haze the cat to Maddie – a cute little ball of grey fluff that was a birthday present the first year they were married, but the cat had grown into a terror and had it out for David!
He'd let Alex feed the fish later, they couldn't keep track of any of their names…Alex was always changing them (and most weren't around long enough), but the lizard, Clue, ate a spider this morning and needed more crickets for dinner, so he and Alex would have to go to the pet store later. Maddie hated that lizard and wanted to get rid of it. Alex won it at a fun fair, but David and Alex have grown fond of the little scoundrel.
Once Suzy is changed, in fresh clothes and happy again, she and David lie down on the couch for some Saturday morning cartoons. Sometime around 8am, Alex gets up and David makes him a bowl of cereal.
MEANWHILE… back in the bedroom Maddie lays like an angel with her silky hair splayed over the satin covered pillow. She slowly stirs from sleep and stretches her arm out to feel David's side of the bed, it's empty. Light streams through the window, she tries to focus on the bedside clock to see the time, 9am…oh, thank God David let her sleep in for once! Somewhere off in the distance she can hear clanking bowls and screeching cartoons. Maddie hopes David didn't keep Roberta from going home this morning. After a few minutes Maddie slides out of bed and covers her naked body with a pink robe. She makes her way into the bathroom to find the pile of mud covered clothes she and David peeled off and left in front of the shower door the night before. She bends down and picks up her expensive purple dress.
Maddie: Ugh! It's ruined.
She tosses a pair of soiled, ripped panty hose in the garbage, and swoops the dress and David's pants, shirt and tie into a bag for the dry cleaners hoping they can perform some miracle.
A short time later Maddie makes her way out to the living room. Suzy star-fishes her fingers, reaching for her mother and Maddie swoops her up onto her hip.
Maddie: Thanks for letting me sleep David.
David: (ruffles his hair and stretches out) well…thought it was the least I could do since you obliged me one "entand" last night…
Seesh, David, he could be so warm and loving in the bedroom and then so crude about it all the next morning. Maddie ignores him and heads to the kitchen…David reads her mood-shift, what did he say wrong this time, he follows her into the kitchen.
David: here…here…let me make your coffee for you.
Maddie starts poaching eggs.
Maddie: Thanks, David.
David: So, what's on the agenda today?
Maddie: Suzy and I have a little shopping to do, I thought we'd go to The Grove this afternoon.
David: Well, that works, because Alex and I need to head over to the pet store for crickets for Clue.
Maddie cringes.
Maddie: Let him starve, please.
David: My my my Ms. Hayes, it's a little early for your dark side, isn't it.?
Maddie: Hayes?
Haze the cat thinks it's being called and jumps up on the counter in front of Maddie.
David: (clucks his tongue) Can we not have animals on the kitchen counter?
Maddie: I didn't call her!
David reaches to move the cat and Haze takes a swipe at him and jumps down.
Maddie: Why is it, every time you don't like something I'm doing I'm suddenly a "Hayes?"
David: I'm sorry, I thought you'd kept that part of your name? Hyphenated it.
Maddie: That's for work, David.
David: Aweee. I see. My apologies Mrs. Addison he quickly leans in and kisses her on the neck. (Thinks) I like that, has a nice ring to it… Mrs. Addison.
Maddie: Sounds like I'm your mother.
David reaches over and pats her behind,
David: far from it.
Maddie can't help but smile.
David: So, Alex and I will drop you ladies off at the Mall and meet you later for a little lunch?
Maddie: Sure David.
LATER THAT DAY…Maddie strolls Suzy in her stroller around The Grove. They buy some books, some clothes, some shoes and after a while, meet David and Alex in the music store. David rifles through vinyl with Alex hanging off his back while Maddie peruses the classical cassettes as Suzy snoozes in her stroller. Suddenly a voice.
McDonovan: Ms. Hayes? Maddie? Is that you?
Maddie turns around and sees "Father" McDonovan…one of their old clients.
Maddie: Father McDonovan! What a surprise.
McDonovan: Well…No longer Father.
Maddie: Oh, yes…of course. How silly of me.
A woman walks up behind him holding a small dog in her hands.
McDonovan: Not at all…old habits…
Maddie nods and smiles and looks towards the woman joining them.
McDonovan: Ah! Right on cue. Maddie, this is my fiance, Genevieve.
A huge smile runs across Maddie's face as she sticks her hand out to meet Genevieve – though Genevieve continues to keep her hands firmly on her pup and does not shake Maddie's hand.
Maddie: (retracts her hand) Wow…this is wonderful…it's so nice to meet you!
Maddie and David have often wondered where Father McDonovan's life took him after he left the priesthood…once he learned the lifestyle wasn't for him after falling in love with one of his parishioners.
McDonovan: (to Genevieve) Darling, this woman is the reason we're together today.
Maddie: (laughs) Oh…no, I wouldn't say that… we merely assisted you in finding the right path…(Maddie's eyes search until they settle on her husband) David… David!
David is busy singing and swinging over in the vinyl section, but sees Maddie waving him over across the store. She's standing with a couple…the man looks familiar. As he gets closer, he recognizes him.
David: Father McD!
Maddie: (quickly corrects him) David, he's no longer a…
David: Padre… that's right…ex Padre,
David looks McDonovan's fiance up and down.
David: …and it looks like everything worked out all right for you! Hi (sticks out his hand to greet Genevieve) I'm David. (Genevieve ignores his outstretched hand…but David barely notices, he nods up to the kid sitting on his shoulders) and this is Alex…and little Sue (gestures to Suzy sleeping in the stroller) she hasn't learned how to keep up with us yet.
Genevieve says nothing and strokes her dogs wiry fur.
McDonovan: So… (gestures between David and Maddie) You two are together now? Or were you then…I couldn't quite tell.
Maddie: Oh…no no no…we weren't together then…this is all fairly new… (looks around) well…long enough to have two kids new, I guess.
They all chuckle.
David: (waves her off) Nah, we were together then…it just wasn't "official"
Maddie: Well…no…no, I wouldn't say we were together, David…I mean, that would be a stretch.
David: Come on, Maddie, we were together…day in, day out…I think it's pretty clear we were in "care."
Maddie: I wasn't "in care" – maybe you were David, but I don't think that happened for me until I followed you out to New York…
McD and Genevieve look back and forth between Maddie and David like a ping-pong match…
David: Alright, alright… McD isn't interested in the minutia… point is now, yes, we is a we and this is our brood.
McDonovan: That is wonderful…congratulations, really. Whatever the situation was back then…I thought you should be a we…an us…uh, together.
They smile, nod and Maddie shrugs and gestures towards them.
Maddie: So, what about you guys?
McDonovan: Yes.. us, well… Like I said, Genevieve is my fiancé. After I left the priesthood…I took a sabbatical, went abroad for a while and met Genevieve in Italy. We're getting married in a few weeks - we were just registering in a couple of the stores here and stopped in here to browse – Genevieve loves music, loves to dance. She's really shown me another side of life.
Maddie and David smile over at Genevieve, but she gives them nothing. McD and the Addison's chat for a bit longer, but soon they say their goodbyes – McD takes Genevieve by the waist and leads her over to the electronic music section…and David takes Maddie by the waist and leads her out the door – it's time for lunch.
Maddie and David eat lunch at an outdoor Japanese restaurant by the fountain in the middle of The Grove and chat over sushi.
David: Sure was good to see McD…I wasn't really a fan of his while we worked his case, but I'm glad to see everything has worked out for him.
Maddie: Yeah. Great to see him, but David, has it all worked out for him?
David: Well, judging by that tall drink of water that was standing next to him, yeah.
Maddie: Didn't she seem a bit…strange?
David: You're strange, I still like you.
Maddie: Yes, but David…she didn't say a word and just kept petting that creepy dog.
David: Didn't McD say she was from Italy? Maybe her English isn't very good. Smart man, picking a woman who can't talk back…not in any language you can understand anyway, why didn't I think of that?
Maddie: I don't know, David…I just got a weird feeling from her. She's not the type of woman I pictured McDonovan picking….ending up with.
David: Wasn't he head over heels for some suicide case? I think you're wrong Maddie, he's always been into women with a dark side.
Maddie: Yeah, maybe you're right.
David: I'm what? I'm right? Call Barbara Walters…this is news.
Maddie smiles at him and tends to Suzy while David helps Alex eat his chicken and rice.
After lunch the family strolls around a bit more, gets some ice cream and then heads back to the car. On their way, they see a couple passionately kissing in semi-secluded doorway. They don't think much at first, but as they get closer they realize it's McDonovan's fiancé, Genevieve! They immediately go into detective mode, turning to pretend they're looking in a store window and David uses Suzy's stroller as a means to hide, but spy on them at the same time. He sees "Genevieve" hand something over to the brutish looking man who is holding onto her wrist. They chat quickly, have another passionate kiss and go their separate ways. David nods towards Maddie and she knows exactly what they need to do.
TO BE CONTINUED…