Chapter 6
A week later, Maddie and David were cuddled up under a blanket on a flight to Chicago. Her head lay on his shoulder. She thought back to the flight back from New York years ago. He mentioned she could borrow his shoulder for the next twenty or thirty years. She smiled at the thought that those twenty or thirty years were already starting. She was startled from her thoughts by his voice.
"I can feel you thinking."
"Just thinking of the last time, we were on a flight cuddled up like this."
"If I remember right, I said something about you borrowing my shoulder for the next few decades."
"You did. When you said that, were you thinking of us getting married one day?" Maddie asked.
"Yeah. It crossed my mind."
"Even back then?" Maddie asked surprised.
"Even back then. But that's not all that you're thinking about. If I know you as well as I do, you're thinking about what your parents will think about you suddenly popping into Chicago for a visit, again."
"It's scary how well you know me, David."
"Orchestra to balcony, remember?"
"But yeah, I am worried. I'm worried what they'll think considering the last time I popped into Chicago unannounced."
"Yeah, but it's different. Not only are you here for a good reason, but you're here with me."
Maddie suddenly started laughing. "I bet they'll think I'm pregnant again."
"You're not, are you?" David asked nervously.
"I hope not. I want to look gorgeous in my wedding dress this time."
"As if you could look any other way than gorgeous." David said.
Maddie picked her head up. David turned his head to look at her. Maddie kisses David. "You always know what to say to cheer me up," Maddie says as she kisses him again then puts her head back on his shoulder.
When they landed in Chicago, Maddie's old friend Katie was there waiting to pick them up. If David knew Maddie better than anyone is the world, Katie was a close second. She and Katie have been good friends since they were little kids.
"Hey girl hey!" Katie loudly greeted Maddie as she ran to give her hug. "Couldn't find a babysitter for this guy, huh?" Katie asked with a laugh pointing to David.
"Nah. I won't go to bed for anyone but Blondie." David laughed as he hugged Katie.
"Come on, let's go relax those nerves before you call your parents."
Maddie, David, and Katie sat in a coffee shop. "Why are you so nervous about telling them about the engagement?" Katie asked.
"Well, the last few times David has been around my parents, things haven't exactly gone smoothly, especially with my dad."
"Yeah I remember you told me about the last few times they've been to LA," Katie said taking a sip of her coffee.
"When you tell them you're in Chicago unannounced again they'll probably think we had some big fight and broke up," David said.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure they know you're here. We will call them when we check into our hotel."
"Why exactly are we staying at a hotel and not with them?" David asked.
"David, we went over this before we left LA. If we want any togetherness this weekend, we need to be in a hotel."
"Yeah. Your dad isn't that happy with me as is. I don't need him mad at me for boinking his daughter under his roof."
"David I was pregnant with your baby and we live together. I think he knows. But being together in a romantic luxury hotel room is a lot better than trying to keep quiet so my parents don't hear us," Maddie said leaning in close to David.
"You guys are so sweet it's giving me a cavity," Katie said. "So why exactly didn't you guys get together sooner?"
"Well two years ago, I was ready to spill my guts, show my hand and lay out my feelings. Hell, I was ready to propose, but Space Cadet Sam landed and crapped all over my plan" Davd said.
"Sam? Sam Crawford? Was this about two's years ago in the spring?" Katie asked.
"Yeah." Maddie said.
"So that's where he went. Let me guess, he showed up saying he was in town. He wined and dined you. Then out of nowhere gave you some speech and proposed the next day." Katie said.
"Actually, it was a couple of days later. How did you know?" Maddie said. Both she and David were surprised.
"Girl, he's been making the rounds through the friends for years. Me, Steph out in New York. Maggie down in Florida. Jen said she refused to even go out with him when he tried her. Now I found out you too."
"Really? Why?" Maddie asked.
"He went to some cousin's wedding a few years ago and he was there alone. No date. No girlfriend. Not even a woman he was just casually dating. His family was on his ass about his age and not being married. So, I guess that got to him. He's been hitting us all up to try and land one of us as a wife." Katie said taking another sip of her coffee.
"That explains why he's suddenly sniffing around again." David said.
"Yeah. That's what he's been like the last few years. He tries, when he fails, he moves on to the next, then comes back to try again. I assume you barely gave him the time of day this time."
"Yeah. He tried to get me back twice before leaving LA. Why would I even bother when I have this idiot?" Maddie said as she put her hand on David's on the table.
"I might be an idiot, but I'm your idiot," David said.
Maddie and Katie laughed. "He's probably off to make his rounds with the other ladies. He'll probably be back when he strikes out with them again."
"I hope not." Maddie said.
After chatting with Katie, she dropped them off at their hotel. They checked in, and make their way up to the room. Maddie lays down on the bed with her arm covering her eyes as David uses the bathroom. When he comes out, he sees her laying there and sits down on the bed next to her. "Honey, we can't avoid it forever. We came out here for the weekend to tell them in person. We have to do it."
"I know. But ever since we started with us, there's always some kind of friction between you and my dad. And I don't want our marriage to be that way. And what if we have kids. I don't want our kids growing up with that."
"But the friction always goes away. Look, I know your dad doesn't have the best opinion of me. But I proved your opinion of me wrong. If I can change your mind about me, I can certainly change his."
Maddie sat up and gave him a quick kiss. She reached over for the phone. She picked it up and dialed her parent's house number. "Hello mom?"
"Maddie. Thank God," Mrs. Hayes said.
"What's wrong, Mom?"
"You need to come to Chicago immediately."
"David and I are already in Chicago. We came in for the weekend. We have some news for you and daddy. We wanted to tell you in person…"
"Sweetheart, your dad had a heart attack. It doesn't look good," Mrs. Hayes said.
Thirty minutes later, Maddie was walking down the hallway of the hospital slowly. David was walking next to her with his arm around her. She was scared. She was scared to see her dad in a hospital bed helpless. But also scared of losing him. She was scared of him not being there to walk her down the aisle. She walked into his room cautiously. David walking in behind her. David stayed at the doorway as Maddie sat in a chair next to her dad's bed. David wanted to give Maddie this moment with her dad. He wanted to stay back. He'd be there for her when needed. But right now, he understood he should keep a small distance. Maddie grabbed her dad's hand. "Hi daddy. I'm here."
"Baby girl. Hi. Either I've been out for longer than I thought or you got here fast from Los Angeles," Mr. Hayes said weakly.
"I was already in Chicago."
"You were?"
"Yes daddy. We flew in to surprise you both with some news." Maddie said trying to force a smile.
Mr. Hayes looked over at the doorway where he saw David standing there. "What are you doing all the way over there David?"
"I wanted to give you two sometime alone," David said.
"Nonsense. Come here. You're practically family. I hope that's the news you two flew all the way out here to tell us."
Maddie moved her left hand onto the bed to show her dad the ring. "That's beautiful," Mr. Hayes said. He looks over at David. "I want you to take care of my only little girl. And any future grandchildren in the future. All of my assumptions about you were wrong. I will be looking down proud to call you my son."
"Thank you, dad," David said tearing up and shaking the hand of Mr. Hayes.
"And you," Mr. Hayes said turning his head to look at Maddie. "I'm sorry I won't be able to be there for you on your big day."
"Daddy don't talk like that."
"Maddie, I know it doesn't look good. I'm sorry I won't be there to walk you down the aisle. But know I'm there in spirit when the day comes. I ask one thing of both of you."
"What is it?"
"Don't let your sadness for me overshadow this happy time. I want you both to be happy together."
"We will be daddy," Maddie said as she looked at David.
A few hours later, Maddie and David sat in a waiting room down the hall from the hospital room of Mr. Hayes. They both knew he was passing and would be gone at any moment. "I just couldn't watch it happen David. I didn't want that to be my last memory of my dad," Maddie said, wiping away tears as David held her.
"I know honey."
"I hope that doesn't make me sound horrible."
"Not at all. He understands. Your mom understands. You said your goodbye. Now it's just a matter of waiting. At least your mom is there with him," David said holding her closer. Just then, Mrs. Hayes came out to tell them he passed. Maddie got up and hugged her mom as they both cried. David walked over putting his arms around both of them.
That night, Maddie and David checked out of their hotel and moved into Maddie's parent's house. Between dealing with the funeral, the will and the business owned by Mr. Hayes, their weekend trip turned into a month. "We should just do it," Maddie said to David one night as they lay in bed.
"Do what?"
"Get married."
"Maddie, we're already getting married."
"No. I mean we should do it now."
"Now? At one in the morning?"
"Obviously not right now. But I mean this week, before we go back to Los Angeles."
David sat up and looked at her. "Are you serious?"
Maddie's sits up looking at David. "Yes, I'm serious. David, this whole thing with my dad made me realize how fast everything can change. We've been lucky. We have been given countless opportunities to be together, fully together. And I want to start taking those opportunities. I want us to be together as husband and wife before something comes out of nowhere and takes away the opportunities."
David means over and kisses Maddie. "But what about a big wedding? And what about our friends and my family?"
"So we plan a small ceremony for next weekend. Agnes and Bert can come out. You can have your dad and Richie fly out. If we still want a big party at later date, we can have one. I just want to start being your wife. And besides, the last time I had a big church wedding, it wasn't all it's cracked up to be." Maddie laughed.
"That's true. But promise me you won't run out on me on the middle of the ceremony, Maddie."
"You promise me you won't leave in the middle to take some pregnant friend in labor to the hospital."
"I won't if you won't."
"Deal?" Maddie asked smiling.
"Deal," David said as they sealed the deal with a kiss.
The week following was a whirlwind. Calling everyone to have them fly in to Chicago. The ear splitting shriek over the phone when they told Agnes about the wedding happening that weekend. The even louder shriek when Maddie asked Agnes to be a bridesmaid. Planning a small and simple ceremony. The unending griping from Richie that he didn't get to throw his only brother a crazy drunken send off. They slight pouting from both Katie and Agnes that they didn't get to throw her a party to say goodbye to her single life. She zoned out as her mom listen to Katie and Agnes talk about the party would have thrown. Maddie thought she heard them mention something about male strippers. Honestly, Maddie was grateful there wouldn't be a party. Lately she hadn't been in a party mood. She has been a lot more tired lately. She figured it was from the stress of her father passing, dealing with his things, and planning the small wedding. But one small teensy, tinsy, nitpicky idea kept gnawing at the base of her noggin, as David would say. 'No. Couldn't be. Well of course it could be. We have been making up for lost time in the thrashing department since we moved in to the house together. I'll find out for sure when we get back to LA. For now, focus on the wedding,' Maddie thought.
The wedding was beautiful. The ceremony was held on a gazebo in some beautiful gardens. Maddie wore a simple but beautiful off-white dress. She felt silly wearing white. David wore a navy-blue suit. The ceremony was simple and beautiful. Later that night, a small reception of just friends and family was held in a local catering hall. The owner was a friend of Maddie's family. He reserved a party room for their reception and gave them the full royal wedding reception treatment. It was wonderful.
After the reception, Maddie, and David check into a hotel. They wanted their wedding night to be special. Later that night, they lay cuddled up in the bed of the honeymoon suite with just a sheet covering them smiling from the afterglow. "Maddie, is there something you need to tell me?" David asked.
"Uh.. no. Why do to ask?"
"Well, you didn't want to get in the hot tub that's here in the suite. And you didn't have any champagne at the reception. The Maddie Hayes I know wouldn't pass on either of those things."
"Well, I'm no longer the Maddie Hayes that you know. I'm Maddie Hayes-Addison. Or at least I will be when we get home and I legally change my name."
"Honey, don't change the subject. Are you pregnant?"
Maddie sighed. "I don't know for certain either way. I've suspected for a few days. I was going to get a confirmation from my doctor when we got home then tell you."
"I don't think I can wait until we get home though. The anticipation might kill me."
"Me too."
The next day, David sat on the bed of their hotel suite. Maddie walks out of the bathroom. "It's negative David."
David lets out a breath.
"You sound relieved," Maddie said sitting down next to him.
"I am relieved. I do want us to have kids at some point, just not now. I want to go on a honeymoon. I want us to enjoy married life together before parenthood."
"Yeah. A honeymoon would be less romantic if I'm vomiting at three in the morning. Or in the ocean the size of the orca whales," Maddie said laughing.
"I'm sure either way, you'd look gorgeous."
"Sure gorgeous. Let's see if you feel the same one day when you're the one holding my hair back as I vomit at three in the morning."
"Even then, you'll still be drop dead gorgeous," David said. Maddie smiled and leaned in to give him a kiss. "What do you say we start our honeymoon now?"
"Now? David we're supposed to go back to LA."
"Maddie, Agnes, Bert and the kids can hold down the fort for a few more days. They have been doing a great job so far. It's a quiet time at work. Why not? Spend a few more days here in this wonderful suite."
Maddie thought about it. "Ok. But I would like to go on an actual honeymoon. A nice tropical vacation."
"Of course, my little Pineapple," David said smiling. Maddie just glared at him. That glare quickly turned into a smile and a kiss.
As David and Maddie enjoy their mini honeymoon in Chicago, something was brewing back home in Los Angeles. A tall man got off the elevator. As he got off, he saw a familiar looking woman with curly hair get on. The woman didn't notice him. She was too busy chatting with the curly haired man next to her about what to get for lunch. The tall man walked down the familiar hallway. 'She's probably just avoiding me. I can't imagine why'd she do that. I called. I went over. The car was in the driveway. But there was never any answer for the last few days. Well today is Monday. And she'd definitely be here. Why she loves this place so much I will never understand,' the tall man thought as he reached his destination. He walked in. A bubbly, short woman with red hair stood at the front desk.
"Can I help you?" The redhead asked.
"Yes, I'm looking for Madolyn Hayes," the tall man said.
"Who?" The redhead asked.
"Madolyn Hayes?"
"There's nobody here by that name" the redhead said.
I'm her boyfriend. Here is the number where I'm staying. My name is Sam Crawford. Ask around. I'm sure this is where she works. Have her call me."
"I'm sorry Mr. Crawford you must have the wrong place. There's nobody here by that name."
"You sure?"
"Yes sir I'm sure. I'm sorry Mr. Crawford."
"Alright thank you. Sorry for wasting your time." Sam said as he walked out of the door. That's when he noticed. The name and the writing on the window were both different. 'Maybe she gave up the business finally. If she gave up on this place, then she probably gave up on that Addison bum,' Sam thought as he walked back to the hallway.