After she heard the familiar click of her door closing, she looked up with tears in her eyes. "I wish I could talk to you too." As a single tear made it's way down her cheek.
"Why is this so hard? Why can't I just talk to him? Why can't he talk to me?" Her mind was racing. "Well that easy Madelyn Hayes, you aren't the most approachable." She internally started to fight with herself. "Well hold up, first of all, he makes a joke out of everything and secondly he slept with my cousin.. my cousin of all people. My very married cousin." Another tear. "Well if you would have just told him how you felt, that probably would have never happened." She swallowed hard. "That's not true! I told him how I felt after Terri gave birth, I tried to tell him how I felt when we spoke in his apartment and he was there.. with her. With Annie.. my married cousin." Tears started flowing. "Why is this so hard? Love shouldn't be this hard!" She wiped the tears away from her cheeks. "But what if it's worth it? The course of true love, never did ran smoothly." She couldn't help but chuckle at her last thought.
Even Christmas had been weird this year. David just seemed to disappear for those days. He left on Friday afternoon and arrived back on Wednesday morning. She herself decided a retreat would be the best for her. She booked a couple of days at a spa in San Diego. But with New Year's Eve coming up, she didn't want to spend it alone either. But was she ready to spend the evening with Agnes and Bert? Where else could she possibly go? She didn't know.
"Get a grip Maddie." She reprimanded herself. "Finish this!" She was getting frustrated by herself. She grabbed the stack of paid invoices and started writing down the numbers in front of her.
=X=X=X=
David left her office with a smile on his face.
"Well kids!" he feigned happiness. "I guess we're off soon!" He looked at his watch. "But first… LUNCH!" He laughed. "Well me.. not you." He pointed around the room. Then made his way towards Agnes.
"Any mail for me today, Miss DiPesto?" He tried to sound as suave as he possibly can.
"No Mr. Addison." Agnes said with a big smile, then whispers. "Are you okay?" David flashed his pearly whites again.
"Do bees, bee? Do ducks, duck?" He winked. Agnes' face turned serious.
"Just know I'm here okay?"
David had expected a lot of reactions, but this wasn't one of them.
"Thanks Agnes." He grabbed her hand and softly squeezed it. "I really don't feel like stepping out of the office, would you mind grabbing me some lunch? I have some other things to finish."
"No problem Mr. Addison. I'll be back before you know it." Agnes grabbed her bag and quickly made her way out off the office. David turned to the rest of the staff.
"Let's go kids! Let's finish up the work so we can go home!" As he quickly made his way back to his own office.
He slumped down on his couch, closed his eyes and just laid there. He couldn't deny that Maddie was right, Blue Moon did have a couple of great months. He was honestly happy that the numbers had been black these last couple of months. He felt his pocket and slipped out the cheque that had been written to him. He carefully watched the curly handwriting.
He actually loved that case. He had misjudged Miss Jackson's character. He thought she'd be another stuck up, born into wealth and needy young woman. She was not, in fact Miss Jackson treated him respectful, but she was also respectful towards her own staff. She had told him not to let the staff know why he was truly hired. So they decided that David would be hired as a contractor to do some remodelling of the house. Miss Jackson had the plan concocted herself. She just needed a detective to orchestrate it.
Maddie had said that due to the plan, David would be the most sensible option. He had asked her to join in one day as his assistant. First she had pushed for him to take Jamie, but he knew he needed her experience. That was the first day in months that they finally went on a job together. It was one of the best days in months. It was like all the things that had happened with Annie, just disappeared. Unfortunately that was the day David found out how professional Maddie could be, because the next day, she pulled away again.
David smiled to himself as she walked behind him with a notepad, writing down idiotic construction ideas. He remembered what she was wearing. Her heels clicking away on the tiles, her legs looked amazing in them.
David had suggested putting up camera's in the house. Miss Jackson was against this idea, she didn't want her staff to think she didn't trust them. Maddie watched their exchange but didn't say anything, when he had turned to ask her opinion, there was something in her eyes.. he'd say it was almost hurt. But she responded by saying that he had a point and that they would assure that the camera's would be placed out of sight. Miss Jackson had smiled at Maddie and said that she trusted her professional opinion. Maddie had just given her a slight smile.
Within a week of placing the camera's they had clear images of her sister and niece stealing jewellery and some cash. The fall out was huge, David intervened as Miss Jackson's sister tried to attack her. Leaving him with a black eye and a scratch on his face. He chuckled thinking back to that moment. Both Maddie and Bert were present for that moment. Bert had shown the evidence when the sister attacked. Maddie had pulled Daphne out of the way, but then quickly made her way to him to pull the sister off of him. It felt like the good old days. Then she immediately attended to him, asking Miss Jackson to give him something for his eye. When she put the frozen peas on his eye she gave him the first genuine smile. "You've always had a way with the ladies, haven't you Addison?" she had teased him. But when Miss Jackson hoovered over them, she was gone. She might have had the impression that Miss Jackson was interested, but looking back, if Miss Jackson was interested in anyone, it must have been her. Miss Jackson acted differently when Maddie was around, he couldn't blame her. She had the same effect on him.
A small knock on his door brought him back to his office.
"Come in Agnes." He sat up.
"I've got you some lunch." Agnes came in with a smile.
"You're a peach." He winked towards her. He genuinely loved Agnes, she had been with him for so long and she always had his back. She knew him through and through. Agnes sat down next to him and handed him the little brown bag.
"So?" She started.
"So?" As he opened the bag. "Oh Agnes! You've outdone yourself."
"You're welcome." She turned to look at him. "So? What about New Year's Eve." David nearly choked on his sandwich. "Bert and I would really like you to come." David was about to speak with his mouth full, as she held up her hand. "You already disappeared with Christmas." She rolled her eyes as he tried to speak again. "I also have to be upfront, I've asked Miss Hayes to come as well."
"Maddie?" He said with his mouth full.
"Yes. You both spent Christmas alone and I refuse either of you to be alone at New Year's Eve." She gave him a stern look. "So, what do you say?" David swallowed his food.
"If you can get Miss Hayes to come, count me in." He confidently says. Agnes squinted her eyes.
"What are you up to Mr. Addison?" she narrowed her eyes but immediately after asking, she realised what his intentions would probably be. "Hold on, are you?" She started. "Are you trying to.. you know.." She pressed. David was done pretending and he knew he could trust Agnes.
"Yes Agnes, our minds are aligned." He joked. "But.. I'd like you to keep this between us."
"Of course Mr. Addison. And don't worry, I will make sure Miss Hayes is going to be there." Agnes was sure she could keep the promise she just made.
"Oh and Agnes.. not a word to your husband." He liked Bert, but also knew keeping secrets wasn't his strong suit. Agnes scoffed.
"I know Bert, Mr. Addison." She shook her head. "He has a good heart." David nodded. "But entrusting him with secrets." She snickered. "Well let's just say, he gets way too nervous to keep secrets."
"He gives himself away even if he says nothing." David laughed. Agnes smiled knowing David was right. "Promise me, this will stay between us." David's tone became so serious that he caught Agnes off guard.
"I know how much this.. I mean Miss Hayes, means to you. I promise you, this will stay between you and me." David nodded.
"Thanks Agnes." He threw his head to the back of his seat.
"You're welcome David." She grinned when using his first name. David looked up at her in surprise, then smiled and softly patted her thigh. "I'll finish my work for today and head on home." She said before getting up. "See you Sunday." He looked up at her. "Promise me I will see you Sunday."
"I'll be there, don't worry. I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die." He said while crossing his heart.
X=X=X=X
Maddie finished crunching the rest of the numbers. Smiling at the end result. The accountant would come in on January 4th to do a final check. Things were looking up, the agency was finally making money instead of losing it.
She closed the book and then started filing everything where it was supposed to be. Even though next year was in a couple of days, she always felt that the new year should start fresh and clean.
She was about to open the filing cabinet when she heard a knock at the door.
"Come in." she said opening the drawer.
"Miss Hayes?"
"Yes Agnes?" She didn't look up, just grabbed the first stack of files.
"Do you have a moment?" Maddie turned with the files in her hands.
"Sure, please sit down." As she nods towards the chair in front of her desk. "Just let me get these to my desk first." She quickly drops the pile on her desk.
"Are those new cases?" Agnes was curious to what Maddie was doing.
"No, no, these are finished cases, I just want to file them from oldest to newest. Then they can go into storage." Agnes watched her in astonishment.
"Isn't that MY job?" She asked. Maddie looked like she was a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"Well.. yes.. but you see, Miss DiPesto. I wanted to make a head start. I don't want my office to be cluttered with old cases."
"You could have asked me to do it." Agnes matter-of-factly stated.
"I.." Maddie looked at the files. "I honestly hadn't thought about it, it was just something I wanted to get started on." Agnes just smiled at her. "So is there anything I can help you with?"
"Miss Hayes." Agnes scooted to the edge of the chair, carefully weighing her next words. "Miss Hayes, Bert and I would really appreciate if you would join us at our New Year's Eve get-together." Maddie was about to open her mouth. Agnes put her hand up. "Please let me finish. I know you said you wanted to think about it. But honestly it breaks my heart that you'll be alone on New Year's Eve. And trust me, it won't be just Bert, you and me. As I said before, I've invited more people. Not only office, but yeah.. mainly office. But also some of my friends." Agnes smiled.
"I don't know Miss DiPesto." Maddie slumped back and turned her chair sideways so she can look out the window. "Did anyone agree to go?" Agnes felt a wave of panic. On one hand admitting David would come, could push her over to also come. Yet on the other hand, it could push her further away. Agnes closed her eyes.
"Mr. Addison said he'd might come." She kept her eyes close out of fear. She totally missed the fact that Maddie immediately snapped her head towards her.
"David?" Maddie said in surprise, slowly turning back towards the window she was staring at.
"Yes." Agnes had opened her eyes and looked at Maddie still looking out of the window. "He's also alone and well.. he thinks he might enjoy himself."
"But Maddie Hayes doesn't know how to enjoy herself.. the rigid ice queen of Blue Moon." Maddie thought to herself.
"I think you could also use some fun." Agnes softly pressed. Maddie was trying hard to supress the tears she felt welling in her eyes before turning.
"I know." Was all she could say. "I still can't tell you if I'll be there. I do truly need more time to think about it. I am so sorry." Maddie saw slight disappointment in Agnes' face. "I am sorry Agnes. I know how you all see me. The rigid Miss Hayes." She had to bite her tongue not to start crying. "But I am really not that rigid." Agnes gave her a warm smile.
"I know Miss Hayes. I don't know what happened between Mr. Addison and you, but I hope you'll find your way back together." Maddie nearly snapped her head as she looked at Agnes. "Not like that, well it would be nice if it would be like that. But like before everything happened, when Mr. Addison and you worked together. You worked well together and I bet you all the money that the numbers are still good." Agnes knew a lot about the company she loved so much. "Mr. Addison and you built this up. I just wish you would go back to that time." Maddie tapped her fingers to her lips.
"Me too." Was all she responded. It was a small respond, but it sparked slight hope in Agnes' heart.
"Maybe this party could be the start of that renewal." Agnes tried to see how far she could press this.
"Maybe." Maddie smiled. "I'm still not saying yes, but I am saying: definite maybe." Agnes grinned from ear to ear.
"I'll take it!" She said before getting up. "I'll go finish up in there.." she pointed to the door. "And I'll take all these old files with me." Agnes got up and tried to grab all the files.
"Just leave those Miss DiPesto." Maddie got up and put her hand on the files. "I want to do this." Agnes looked up and sighed.
"Okay Miss Hayes but promise me to not overwork yourself." Maddie saw the hint of concern in Anges' eyes.
"I promise." She smiled.
X=X=X=X
Five minutes before 3 David heard noises coming from the main office. He decided to poke his head out of his door.
"What are all you kids doing?" he joked. All the employees turned to him and laughed. "Is everyone ready for the fun-filled New Year's weekend?" Everyone started nodding and talking over each other. These are the moments when David thrived.
MacGillicuddy walked up to David. "Will we see you this Sunday?" At that exact moment, Bert and Jamie walked in.
"Well kids.. I've heard about the party and unless I find a hot date before Sunday, count me in." Right before he said it, Maddie came out off her office. He was the only one who noticed her and the hurt look on her face. "Off course I'll be there!" He winked. Maddie looked at him, sadness filled her eyes, but within seconds she put on a brave face.
"Yes people! Please enjoy your weekend. Stay safe and hopefully we will see you happy and healthy in the New Year." All the sadness was gone, yet he knew. This time Jamie turned to Maddie.
"Are you going to be at the party Mr. Viola and Miss DiPesto are throwing?" She smiled. Jamie was extremely grateful to Maddie because she was the first one who really gave her a chance. Maddie sighed before replying.
"I don't know if I'll be there the entire night, but I will try to drop in." Maddie knew she couldn't back out and the thought of David being there comforted her. Jamie smiled.
"Good." Jamie said. "It'll be nice if you could join us for just a moment." Maddie gave a warm smile.
"Or an entire evening!?" Agnes chimed in. Maddie's smile grew, trying hard to not start chuckling.
"We will see." She answered and looked around the room. "Have a wonderful evening everyone, I will just finish up in my office." She waved as everyone started greeting her. David had followed her every move. He used to be so good at reading her and now he felt like he hardly knew what was going on.
Slowly people started to leave towards the exit of the office. David watched everyone leave as they greeted him. He waved them goodbye until just Agnes and Bert were standing in the office.
"Don't you two kids go and do anything crazy now, do you hear me?" David grinned.
"Aren't you going home Mr. Addison?" Agnes asked in surprise.
"Nawh kids, I've got to finish up in here." As he points back to his office.
"To do what Mr. Addison?" Bert was confused. "Didn't we just finish everything for this year?" David knew Bert was right.
"Well not entirely my dear Bert." David chuckled. "I still have some files to put away and some cleaning up to do." He shrugged. "Have you looked inside my office. It's a pigsty inside there." He smiled at the both of them. "Don't want the boss lady to start off mad at me at the start of the new year, don't we now?" Bert immediately started violently shaking his head as Agnes just snickered.
"Of course not Mr. Addison, do you need us to stay and help you clean?" Bert offered as Agnes smacked his arm.
"Better not Bert. We don't want Agnes to be mad at you at the start of the New Year." Agnes gave him a grateful smile.
"Yeah.. Mr. Addison, thank you." Bert turned to Agnes. "I'm sorry honey. I'm just trying to help." Agnes rolled her eyes at her husband and grabbed her bag.
"I know.. that's why I love you so much." She looked at her husband. "But you can be so dense at times." She locked her arm with his. "Come on, let's get home and get things ready for our party." She turned her head to look at David. "Good evening Mr. Addison."
"You too." He smiled and watched them go out of the office. He was about to turn to go back into his office, when he turned and looked at the closed door of Maddie's office.
"Dammit Dave.." He thought. "Go in there, tell her. Tell her how we feel." The inner fight had started. "But what if she.." he sighed. "Hurts us again?" He leaned into the doorframe. "We've hurt her too. Probably even worse than she hurt us." He put his hand in his hair. "Her cousin.. you idiot." He looked at her office one more time and was about to turn to go into his own office when her office door opened.
