Chapter 2

After Maddie and David leave the church, Maddie goes to her hotel to pack, and check out. Meanwhile, David is at his house preparing for Maddie's arrival. He organized and made space in his closet. Made space in a few dresser drawers. Organized stuff in his bathroom for her stuff. He wanted everything to be perfect. He felt nervous for some reason. It's not like Maddie hasn't stayed at his place before. But this was different. They were different. Last time was just fun. He hoped it was more, but he realized later it wasn't a real relationship. Last time, if someone were to visit his or her house, they'd never see any hint of someone else being there on a regular basis. This time would be different. Her stuff would be scattered around his place. Her tooth brush and shampoo in his bathroom. Her clothes in his closet. He planned to go out and shop for food he knew she would like. He thought about all of this as he cleaned and organized his stuff. The more he thought about it, the less nervous and the happier he felt about the idea of her being ingrained in his life so much. He had lived with a woman before. He was married. But this time it was different. They'd be together because they wanted to be, not because they felt they had to be. The idea of living with a woman out of love instead of obligation made him feel happy, and a little nervous. He suddenly had a glimpse of the future. Him married to a pregnant Maddie. He had been through the whole pregnant wife thing before. But this time would be different. They'd be married and expecting because of love, not a mistake. He got a taste of what it would be like when Maddie was pregnant the first time. After their speeches to each other about their commitment and feelings, they started to act like a happy in love couple of expectant parents. Having dinner before Lamaze classes. Cuddling up on her couch with tea in front of her fire. After a few weeks, they started to get more comfortable in their new normal. He started bringing an overnight bag with him on Tuesdays when they had Lamaze class. He'd stay over and they'd go into work together the next day. He remembered the nights when he rubbed her aching feet. The nights when she couldn't sleep because of heartburn. The nights he had to run out to a store at Ellen at night because of her cravings. He looked forward to the idea of going though all of that again with her. Suddenly David was nervous about the idea of Maddie getting pregnant again in the future. The good memories quickly turned to the bad memories, which brought him back to that day. Seeing her in pain. Seeing her give birth to a tiny little boy who didn't have a heartbeat. They asked for a paternity test to be done just so they'd have a definite answer. And it confirmed what they felt all along. That was his son who didn't have a heartbeat and never took a single breath. He had been an expectant father twice in his life. And neither time resulted in him being a father. 'No! Don't think about this. Today is happy day! Maddie is his, and one day soon will be his for life,' David thought shaking his head as he continued cleaning and organizing his stuff.

Meanwhile, Maddie was driving to David's house with her bags in the trunk. She had the radio on but was too lost in her own thoughts to pay attention. To say she wasn't nervous was a lie. She was nervous. She knew where she was going and why. This time, she wasn't going to David's place to thrash at each other like John Deere equipment. She was going there to live with him, possibly forever. That idea made her nervous yet happy. She remembered back to sitting in the passenger seat of this same car and telling him it's ok if they never got married or had a baby together. But truth is, it wasn't ok. She wanted to know what it was like. She wanted a real wedding and a real marriage. Not some quickie spur of the moment thing she had with Walter. She wanted a happy pregnancy. Not one filled with worrying who's the father, cross country train rides and quickie marriages to a stranger. She wanted a pregnancy filled with happiness, not tears like last time. Most importantly she wanted one that resulted in a healthy baby. And there was only one person she wanted these things with: David.

David was organizing the last of his stuff when he heard a knock on his door. He smiled and ran to the front door. "Hi," the both said in unison smiling and leaning in for a quick kiss. "Welcome to The Hotel Addison. We only have one room with one bed. That may or may not be a good thing, depending on who you ask. You may put your bags in the room right this way," David said using a fake French accent. Maddie laughed as she walked in and right to his bedroom. As soon as she enters the room, her mood changed. She remembered the fight they had in this room not long ago about her cousin. David walked in after her. He saw her just standing there. He knew her well enough to feel her mood change and to know why. He hugged her from behind. "Remember what I said on that overpass? The future is all that matters. Forget the rest," he whispered in her ear as he wrapped his arms around her. Thinking of that memory instead of their fight lifted her mood. She turned her head to look at him. "Thank you," she said as she gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "Anytime," he responded. They talked as she unpacked her stuff. They were both too tired to go shopping for food, so they ordered pizza. For the rest of the night, they did very couple like things together. They ate dinner. Cuddled up on his couch watching tv. Got ready for bed together. As she fell asleep next to him, she couldn't but regret not letting herself feel this level of comfort and happiness the first time they were together.

The next morning, she sat in his room, wearing her robe, looking at her small compact mirror putting on her lipstick. "You scream! I scream! We all scream and get clean!" David sang from the shower. Suddenly a feeling hit her. A feeling of deja vu. This same scene played out at her house right before she left for Chicago. Maddie noticed one huge difference: she wasn't afraid. There was no apprehension or sadness this time. Unlike last time, she was happy about the situation. She remembered back to a few months ago, sitting in the mall, tailing a couple and telling him that she likes his singing in the shower. Honestly, she did. She has always liked his singing in the shower. She even liked it back then during that month together. She just wouldn't allow herself to feel it. Now, she is. She's allowing herself to feel all the things she refused to feel back then. She took a deep breath and smiled. 'The first day of the rest of our life…hopefully,' she thought happily.

After happily and comfortably eating breakfast together, they went out to do errands together as a couple. They went out shopping for groceries. She had more interest lately about learning how to cook. Now, she especially felt a need to learn. There was someone else now. She was determined not to let him do all the work. After walking around holding hands, and doing some shopping they had lunch. On the way back home, they sat in the car with David driving. "David, we need to talk about something," Maddie suddenly said.

"Oh no. This is never good," David said.

"Why do you assume it's something bad?"

"When you get that tone in your voice, it's usually not good."

"Don't worry, David. I plan on keeping that promise I made yesterday in the church. What are we going to do about this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, should we tell people immediately? Should we wait? It's literally day one of our new beginning. When should we tell people? How I explain to my parents or Agnes that I'm not staying at the hotel if they want to call? What will they think of me staying with you? And what about when we tell people our plan.." Maddie rambled on.

"Maddie, next time you get decaf," David said cutting her off

Maddie rolls her eyes. "David I'm serious," she said sternly.

"I get it, Maddie. I really do. We don't want people pressuring us and questioning us constantly about things like when a proposal will happen. Or when we're going to have kids because we aren't getting any younger."

Maddie tensed at that last statement. "You know we never discussed that. Us possibly having another baby," Maddie said. Her tone slightly sad and serious.

"Well, would you want to have a baby together eventually? You did tell me once that if we didn't have a baby together then that's ok."

"I know I said that. But thinking back now, I actually wouldn't be ok with it. I got excited about the idea of being a mother and you being the father. I want it to happen someday for us, but I'm scared. I'm scared that we'll get excited about it and it'll happen again."

"I know. I'm scared too, honey," David said as he stopped the car at a red light. He grabs her hand and brings it up to kiss the back of her hand. "But we don't need to discuss that now. It's too early in the relationship to discuss that. We're only at day one," David said still holding her hand.

"Too early in the relationship? Shall I remind you I was pregnant by week three of our relationship last time?" Maddie said laughing.

"Touché, Maddie," David said smiling.

They get back to the house and I pack the groceries. Later that evening, David cooked them steak, mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. Maddie watched him intently, still determined to learn. The soon slipped into what would become their normal nightly routine. They'd eat dinner laughing and talking. Then watch tv or listen to music. A few times, Maddie even took a bath in David's tub. It was nearly as big as hers, but it was good enough. Two weeks went by with this same nightly routine. One night, Maddie lay awake in bed. She looked over at David who was knocked out sleeping on his back. His face turned slightly to the side. His hair a mess. His mouth slightly open as he snored lightly. 'He always looks sexiest like this,' Maddie thought looking at him. As she stared at him, she couldn't shake the feeling that was keeping her awake. They had been living together for the past two weeks, and David never made a move. He'd kiss her. He'd put his arm around her as they lounged on the couch. He'd cuddle up to her in bed as he fell asleep. But it hadn't gone beyond that. She expected him to try and seduce her on their first night there. But he didn't. There were no invitations to join him when he showered. He didn't try to join her when she took a bath. When they cuddled on the couch or in bed, his hands never wandered. She was relieved but slightly disappointed. She knew he was a gentleman. He proved that the first night they spent together when he took her to the office for safety instead of his place. She was torn. Part of her was happy that she was getting from him the kind of relationship she talked about wanting last year when they spent that month together. But another part of her missed the passion and the thrashing of that month. She was the one who said she wanted more than just thrashing, and he's giving her the more. But she still wants some thrashing. Did he feel guilty? Was her apprehensive about them having sex? Was it because they were here in his bed where not long ago someone else was keeping it warm? Did he think she'd be mad about how quickly he replaced Annie for her in his bed? Not that she had any room to be mad about that. At least he took weeks. Maybe a month. It was barely a day when David replaced Sam on her sheets. She tried to put the idea out of her head. She turned to cuddle up next to David, slinging her arm across his body and resting her head on his chest. 'There's always tomorrow to discuss this,' Maddie thought as she fell asleep