Chapter 3
The next day, David could tell something was off with Maddie. All day she was quiet. The kind of quiet she always gets when she's got something on her mind. He had a bad feeling. David thought back to that day before she left for Chicago. When she kept trying to end what they had started. He was terrified that she was going to do it again. That she was going to go back on her promise. He meant what he said to her father that day on the plane. He did want to grow old with her. And he thought the last two weeks was the start of that. He knew that soon her house would be ready for her to move back in. And he worried that she would go without him. He was worried that she got her fill of a real relationship with him and was over it. He knew he would never be able to handle that. He waited all day for her to say what was on her mind, but she didn't. Finally, they sat on his couch, cuddled up, and watching TV. Neither of them were really paying attention to what was on the TV. They were both too lost in their own thoughts. "Maddie, is something wrong?" David finally asked.
"Wrong? No. Why do you ask?"
"Well, you seemed kind of distant today. You were very quiet today. The kind of quiet you get when there's something on your mind."
"Well David there is," Maddie said nervously looking down.
"Care to share?"
"David, since we started this relationship, you haven't touched me," Maddie said uncomfortably. She didn't really want to have this conversation but knew it needed to be done.
"What do you mean haven't touched you? I've kissed you, cuddled with you, held your hand, hugged you," said confused.
"David that's not the kind of touching I mean," Maddie said narrowing her eyes at him.
"Oh," David said avoiding her eyes.
"I know we had our fleeting moments of making love here and there since the baby. But that all stopped when Annie came into the picture. And since I've been here, you haven't made a sexual remark, any innuendo, or any sort of move on me. And I don't understand why? I know I haven't completely lost all the baby weight, but is it me? Is it too soon since you lay in that bed with Annie?"
"No, it's none of those things."
"Then what is it, David?"
"I didn't want you to get the wrong idea, Maddie. I didn't want you to think I said what I said in the church as way to get you back in my bed. Remember that argument we had in your office not long before you left for Chicago?"
"Yeah I remember," Maddie said sadly.
"I wanted us to start over. I wanted us to go out on a date, talk and do all the stuff you said you wanted. And you thought I was saying it to keep you in my bed. Me wanting to be with you was never about that. It was about wanting to be with you. Being together until we're old rotting bones. That's what all this has ever been about."
"It has huh? In that case, maybe you should get started then." Maddie said smiling.
"Get started on what?"
"Packing of course. If we're going to be together until we're old riding bones, I think we should be in the same house. And since I'll be moving back into my house soon, you'll need your stuff when you move in with me," Maddie said, her smile getting bigger.
"Really? When you go home you want me to go with you?"
"Of course, I do, David," Maddie said. She turned and kissed him. David could feel her trying to heat up the kiss and she started to climb on him.
"Maddie. Maddie not now," David said stopping her.
"Stop? Why David? I know you're not just trying to get me in your bed. It's ok David," Maddie said trying to climb back on him. He stopped her again.
"I think our first time should be in our bed when we move into our house. Would do you say?"
"I think you're right," Maddie said kissing him lightly. "Besides you'll need your energy for when we start packing."
A few days later, Maddie and David were lying in bed fast asleep. **RING RING** could be heard from the phone on the bedside table next to David who was sleeping soundly on his stomach. **RING RING** Maddie groaned in frustration. 'Who would be calling at seven in the morning?' Maddie thought. **RING RING** "David answer the phone so we can go back to sleep," Maddie said tapping David.
David reached over to pick up the phone without opening his eyes. "Hello?" He said groggily.
"Hello David," said a male voice.
It took David a second to recognize the voice. Once he did, his eyes went wide in shock and he quickly sat up in bed. "Uh hi," David said nervously.
Maddie noticed the nervousness in his tone. She sat up looking at him suspiciously. "Who is it?" She whispered.
"It's your dad," David whispered back.
Maddie's eyes grew wide with shock and some slight embarrassment.
"It sounds like I woke you. I'm sorry if I did. But just need to talk to about something important," Mr. Hayes said.
"Is something wrong?" David asked.
"I don't know. That's why I'm calling you. I have being trying to reach Maddie for the past week. The phones at the agency said they're out of service. I tried calling her house. First, I got no answer. Then some guy answered. Said she's staying in a hotel while her house was under construction. I didn't know she was renovating. So, I called the hotel and they said she checked out. Now I don't know where she is. Virginia suggested I call you figuring you might know. What's going on? Do you know where my daughter is?" Mr. Hayes asked.
David just stays there frozen listening to him talk. Meanwhile Maddie sat there with a questioning look on her face. "Oh, you want to know where Maddie is staying," David said trying to hide his nervousness. Maddie's face dropped to her hands. David didn't know what to say. "Well, I know where's staying but I don't have the number on me. I'll tell her you were looking for her when I talk to her," David said thinking quickly of something to buy Maddie some time.
"Her mother and I are in Los Angeles for a few days. We're staying at the Four Seasons, room 619. Please have her call us. We're worried about her. And get back to sleep," Mr. Hayes said hanging up the phone.
Maddie sat next to David with face in her hands shaking her head. David just sat there looking at her. "They're here in Los Angeles," David said.
"They are?" Maddie said shocked. She played back in the bed. Put her pillow over her face to muffle her frustrated scream. She then removed the pillow and sat up. "What are we going to do? I'm sure they'll want to see me to find out what's happening with the agency and my house. I didn't want to tell anyone about our plan until we were already moved in. So much for that idea."
"Maddie don't worry. I'm sure they'd be happy about us moving in together. You'll do fine," David said holding her hand.
"Oh no. You're coming with me. I'm not telling them on my own, David. We're moving in together and we're telling them together," Maddie said firmly. "I'll call them back and tell them that we will meet them for lunch later," Maddie said. She leaned over David to grab the phone. As she did David kissed her gently on the lips. "Just like everything else, we will do this together. I love you."
"I love you too," Maddie said as she reached the phone.
A few hours later, Maddie and David were on their way to the hotel where Mr. and Mrs. Hayes are staying. David is driving. Maddie is sitting in the passenger seat. David can feel her nervousness. "Maddie there is no reason to be nervous."
"David I can't help it. I feel like a teenager telling my parents I'm moving in with my first boyfriend. And, considering how things went with the lunch you and my dad had last time was he was here…"
"But the situations are totally different," David said cutting her off. "Last time was a huge mess for everyone. We were sort of together but not. Your dad not knowing the fully story which prompted him to get mad at me. You being half way across the country pregnant with a baby that might or might not have been mine. This time it's different. We're in a real committed relationship that's going all the way. We have plans. We have goals. We're solid. What parents wouldn't love the fact that their daughter is with a man who loves their daughter very much and wants to live the rest of his day with her? Even if the man is me," David said smiling.
Maddie smiled at him and put her hand on his. "Thank you. You always know how to make me feel better."
"That's what I'm here for," David smiled.
"Is that all you're here for?" Maddie asked suggestively.
"Maddie, we agreed to wait on that," David said with a warning.
"I know. But it's fun to flirt," Maddie said with a smile.
David and Maddie smiled and flirted as they got out of the car and walked into the hotel. But Maddie's laughter stopped as they got to the hotel restaurant and she saw her parents. The same nervousness from earlier crept back in. "David I can't do this," Maddie whispered nervously.
"Maddie, you have to see them while they're in town. If you don't give them an explanation now, they will just keep bugging you until you do. They know something is up."
"I just don't want to tell anyone yet about us and our plans yet. We agreed we don't want the outside pressures from people affecting our relationship or timeline," Maddie whispered as they walked over to the table."
"Don't you think they'd find it odd that you're suddenly taking calls at my house?" He whispered back.
"We just have to rip off the band aid Maddie. Your dad thought I was an irresponsible jerk who got you pregnant and didn't kill me. So we should be fine now." Maddie gave just looked over at him and smiled.
As Maddie and David walked over having that conversation, Maddie's parents noticed them. Mrs. Hayes noticed something off about them right away. "I have a funny feeling about them," she said to her husband.
"Something funny?" Mr. Hayes asked.
"Yeah. They seem different just by the way they're walking in together. I have a gut feeling they're about to tell us something big," Mrs. Hayes said looming at them curiously.
"I hope it's not another pregnancy," Mr. Hayes said.
Mrs. Hayes looked at her husband. "Would that be so bad? He had proved himself to be a wonderful man in love with our daughter" Mrs. Hayes said just before Maddie and David got to the table. They greeted each other with hugs and handshakes then sat down. When the waiter came over to take their drink orders, Mr. Hayes waited somewhat anxiously to see if she'd order a drink. When she did, Mr. Hayes gave a quiet sigh of relief. After ordering their meals, Maddie tells her parents about what happened with the agency and her house. She told them about witnessing a murder and the police destroying the house.
"So where are you staying until your house is finished?" Mrs. Hayes asked.
"I was staying at a hotel, but it got tiring staying there after a while. So, David offered to let me stay with him."
"Oh, that's so sweet, David. Letting her stay in your guest bedroom," Mrs. Hayes said smiling. Mr. Hayes on the other hand did not look happy. He had a feeling David was the guest bedroom type and knew what was coming.
"Actually Mrs. Hayes, I only have one bedroom…" David said. Now he was starting to get nervous.
"Well then where are you staying in his house…" Mrs. Hayes started to ask. She stopped when she noticed everyone else's faces at the table. Maddie and David looked nervous. Meanwhile her husband just stared at them with a stern look. "Oh. I see," Mrs. Hayes said taking a sip of her drink. Mr. Hayes just sat there glaring at them.
"So, are we going to have to get Maddie's bedroom ready for when this so-called relationship of yours blows up again?" Mr. Hayes said sternly.
"Daddy," Maddie said with an irritated tone.
"I just want to know if we need to be ready for our daughter moping around our house again for another four months." Mr. Hayes said sternly. Mrs. Hayes was about to say something when Maddie spoke up.
"Daddy enough. It's different this time."
"Oh really? How?" Mr. Hayes with a skeptical tone.
"We didn't give our relationship a real try last time. I was too scared to. I was scared of my feelings. That's why I ran to you guys. I thought that if I got some distance from David then my feelings would go away and so would his. But they didn't. Even after everything I put him through during that time, the feelings stayed strong. Never wavered. He proved how much he loved me. And made me realize my feelings for him. We are fully in this. Fully committed to this relationship this time. When I move back home, David is moving with me."
Mrs. Hayes smiled at the news. Mr. Hayes kept his glare. "Do you have anything to say son?" Mr. Hayes asked looking at David.
"Mister Hayes, I love your daughter. But you already knew that. Do you remember the discussion on the plane?"
Mr. Hayes nods his head yes.
"All is what I said to you is still true. In fact, those feelings have grown stronger since then. I don't know why you seem to have a problem with me or our relationship. Maybe you think I'm not good enough for her. Maybe you think I can't settle down and commit fully to her. Well, you know what? Maddie thought that for a long time too. And I proved her wrong. She realized how wrong she was about me. Do you know I was ready to help her raise that baby even when I was told flat out it wasn't mine? I took classes. I read all the books o could about fatherhood even though I was told I wasn't the father. Why? Because I wanted to be there for her. Because I love her that much. I still want to grow old with her. And this time, she agreed. That's right, we discussed and agreed to get married one day. So, you don't have to like me or accept this Mister Hayes. That's fine by me," said sternly as he as angrily got up from the table walking out of the restaurant and out of the hotel.
"And this is why I didn't even want to tell you dad," Maddie said visibly upset with tears in her eyes as she got up to go after David.
"Really? You just had to ruin everything. We couldn't have a nice lunch with our daughter and the man she loves?" Mrs. Hayes said going to check on David and Maddie. Mr. Hayes just say alone at the table, regretting how he let the conversation get out of hand. Maddie found David sitting on a bench outside the front doors of the hotel. He looked like he was trying to hold back tears. She sat down next to him and held his hand.
"I don't get it Maddie. What's wrong with me? Why can't he accept this?"
"It's not you, it's him," Mrs. Hayes said. Maddie and David look up to find her standing in front of them. "He's a worried father who doesn't think anyone is good enough for his only daughter. Give him time. He'll come around. Trust me. Knowing him, he already feels bad about how he acted and what he said. Come back in. Let's start fresh and have a nice lunch." Maddie and David looked at each other. They silently agreed to go back in. All three went back in and sat at the table.
"I would like to apologize to you both, but especially you David. My unfair opinion of you from the last time clouded my judgment of you. I hope you'll forgive me and give me a chance to get to know my future son in law. I want us to have a good relationship." Mr. Hayes says with sincerity.
"Well then there is something you both should know. I have been married before." Maddie knew this wasn't easy for David to talk about. She grabs his hand to show her support. Mr. And Mrs. Hayes listened intently to his story. "She was a childhood friend. We were eighteen. We slept together once and she ended up pregnant. We got married. But unfortunately, the baby didn't survive. We stayed married after the loss. I was perfectly fine with staying married her for the rest of my life, until I found her in bed with someone else." David said sadly.
"You married her because of the baby and stayed married to her despite no longer having an obligation to her?" Mrs. Hayes asked.
"That's right." David said. Mrs. Hayes looked over at her husband.
"Well, I admit I was wrong about you. I misjudged and your character. I would be happy to call you my son in law when the time comes." Mr. Hayes said extending his hand out to for a handshake. Facts reached over and shook his hand.
"Thank you."
The next couple of weeks were a whirlwind. They finally told everyone else about their plans. When they finally told Richie about their relationships and their future plans, his response was "wait, you guys weren't already in a relationship?" Next, they told Agnes and Bert about their plans for the agency. When David and Maddie told Agnes and Bert about their relationship plans, happy shriek could be heard from Agnes through the phone.
A few days later, Maddie's house was finally finished. It's a good thing they didn't have to worry about cases, or running the agency. David and Maddie were both swamped with moving preparations. Between the chaos of breaking his lease, sorting through what he wanted to take with him, packing everything, and finding a moving company, David didn't even miss not working at the agency. Meanwhile, Maddie was surveying her house. Trying to figure out where David's stuff would go. Clearing space in the closet, in the dresser, and in the bathroom. And she already had one room that wasn't being used where David's weight machine could go. Standing in that room made her sad. Every time she was in there, all she could picture is when it was a nursery. 'One day it will be again,' she thought. As Maddie, prepared for his arrival, reality hit her. She was going to live with a man. Something she never really did before. Yes, Sam stayed there a couple of days, but she didn't really count that. This was full on living together. The Maddie she was a couple of years ago would've been absolutely terrified of the idea. She remembered, her reaction and her thoughts when he suggested simply bringing over a razor toothbrush. Now all of his stuff would be there. He wasn't just there for a few nights; he'll be there every night. And she loved that idea. She loved the idea of him being there always with her. 'If all goes according to plan, it'll be that way for the rest of our lives,' Maddie thought.
A couple of days later, it was finally moving day. David didn't bring much. His personal items and his weight machine. After spending the day dealing with movers and unpacking both her stuff and his, they were both too tired to cook. So, they drove to a local restaurant. They laughed, talked, and flirted while enjoying cheeseburgers. When they got home, they sat down on the couch to relax. Maddie stretched out on the couch, her head laying in David's lap. They just sat there holding hands. They both sighed at the same time. It was a content sigh. "Our first night in our house, David," Maddie said as if she couldn't believe it was really happening."
"Maddie did you hear what you just said? Our house. Who would've thought we would've gotten here?" David said with enthusiasm.
"I never thought we would get here. I remember when I couldn't imagine being in the same room with you," Maddie said laughing.
"And especially the same bed as me," David said laughing.
"Speaking being in the same bed… I believe we talked about some happening on our first night in the house," Maddie said in a tone that he knew as her seductive tone. She sat up and scooted as close to David as she could get.
"And I intend on making good on that promise my love," David said putting on his seductive tone. They smiled and ran upstairs holding hands like a couple of over eager teenagers.
Hours later, Maddie was startled awake. She sat up quickly. There was a raging thunderstorm and heavy pouring rain outside. She looked over at David. He was sound asleep, laying on his stomach, his face turned towards her, his mouth slightly open, and he was snoring lighting. The blanket barely covered him. He was nude and completely exposed. Seeing him like this instantly dialed up her libido. She contemplated waking him up for another round, they have a lot of lost time to make up for. But she decided not to. 'He needs his asleep after all those rounds,' she thought as she pulled the blanket to cover the rest of his body. She was slightly jealous of how soundly he was sleeping. Maddie could never sleep during thunderstorms. For some reason, her body always knew and would wake her up. She decided to go downstairs and get some water. She quietly walked over and out on her robe. She walked downstairs to the kitchen. After drinking a glass of water, she was on the way upstairs when she heard pounding on the door. 'Who the fuck is that at one in the morning? Usually when someone knocks on my door this late t's Davd. But he's already here' Maddie thought. She opened the door to a man standing there dripping wet from the rain. From the little illumination there was form lightning flashes he could tell who was standing there. "What are you doing here?" Maddie asked the man.
"Hi, Maddie. Can I come in?" Sam said.