Chapter 10

A few days before Christmas, Maddie and David were on a flight to Chicago. David woke up from a nap. He looked over at Maddie who was facing him and fast asleep. He looked at her and after all these months, he still couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe she was his…finally. His fully and forever. He looked at his wedding ring and then at hers. He still couldn't believe they were married. After all the pacts, the fighting, the running from feelings, the way they used other people to hurt each other, he couldn't believe they finally made it. Sure, they still fought. They still had their door slamming disagreements. They always made up after their fights before they got together, but they were determined to make it work. 'Who would have guessed we would go from slapping to married?' David thought as he watched her sleep. He leaned in and gave her a light kiss on her forehead. Maddie didn't wake up. She stirred enough to cuddle close to David resting her head on his shoulder. David smiled and fell back to sleep.

When they landed in Chicago it was cold. They quickly got a cab Maddie's mother's house. This Christmas was different. It was a Christmas of firsts: the first without her dad and the first as a couple with David. This year was bitter sweet. She hoped her mom wasn't too sad. Maddie hoped her news and an idea that Maddie and David had would cheer up her mom. They arrived at the house and were happily greeted by Mrs. Hayes.

"Hello you two. I'm so excited that you're both here," Mrs. Hayes said hugging both of them.

"Good to see you Mrs. Hayes," David said.

"David, please call me mom."

"Ok. Mom," David said smiling.

"Mom, you don't have your tree decorated?" Maddie said as she walked into the living room.

"I wanted to wait for you two. Plus, I can't get the boxes of decorations from the attic on my own. And my son in law here is a big strong man who can do it," Mrs. Hayes said laughing.

"I'd be happy to get them down."

Maddie and David brought their bags up to Maddie's room where they'd be staying.

"Now listen to me. Do not try to put any moves on me while we're here. No shower sharing. No sex. No groping."

"Well can I at least kiss my wife?"

"Some light kisses are acceptable. But don't try to heat them up Mr. Addison. We can save that for when we to the hotel in Philadelphia."

"You got it Mrs. Addison," David said with a kiss.

After Maddie and David settled into their room, they went downstairs. Mrs. Hayes had set out coffee and cake for all three of them. They all sit at the table. "I have to tell you both, so many people are excited to meet David," Mrs. Hayes said.

"Really?" David asked.

"Yeah. Family friends. Extended family."

"Yeah. They'll all be here Christmas Eve."

"That's great, mom," Maddie said looking at David. "Mom there are some things we went to tell you."

"Are you pregnant again?"

"No mom. I'm not pregnant… yet."

"What do you mean, dear?"

"We're going to start trying in the next few months. Which brings us to the next thing we want to talk to you about. Mom, we think you should move out to Los Angeles."

"Move to Los Angeles? Why?"

"Well, it's warmer out there than here in Chicago. There isn't anything really keeping you out here. You have a daughter and son in law in Los Angeles who love you. And hopefully, if all goes well, you'll have a grandchild or two in Los Angeles who love you too."

"I think that's a wonderful idea. But let's not worry about that now. We have a tree to decorate and a party to prepare for," Mrs. Hayes said.

It was Christmas Eve. The house for full of friends and family. A lot of Maddie's aunts, uncles and some cousins were there. One person Maddie was grateful didn't make it was Annie. She didn't want to face her after what happened. It had very little to do with the hook ups with David, but more to do with Annie herself. She couldn't look at Annie the same way not only knowing she was unfaithful to her husband, but had no problems or guilt about it. And she couldn't face Mark knowing she helped Annie lie to him. 'But they aren't here so who gives a damn,' Maddie thought as she exited the bathroom. Maddie stood off to the side of the party with her childhood friends Katie, Jennifer, and Stephanie. They watched David talking to some of Maddie's uncles. "So, tell me Maddie, how did you meet this amazing guy?" Jen asked.

"I fired him."

"Wait what?" Both Jen and Steph asked in unison as Katie laughed.

"Tell them the story, girl," Katie said laughing.

"So, remember when I lost my money? Well, I found out I had some tax write off businesses that were bleeding me dry. I couldn't afford the loss anymore. So, I went to either close them or sell them to the employees. City of Angels Investigations was one of them. He was the detective at the agency."

"Wow. And now the important question, with how hot and charming he is, what stopped you from doing him immediately?" Steph asked.

Maddie glared and laughed at her. "Yeah, what did stop you?" David asked walking up next to her.

"Well other than the fact that you immediately thought I was a playmate of the month?" She said teasingly to David who gave an embarrassed smile. Katie, Jen, and Steph started to laugh.

"Yeah, doing me wasn't on her mind back then. Actually, within five minutes of meeting, she slapped me."

"Yeah that's a giant leap from doing," Jen said laughing.

"But we got here eventually. Might have taken a long time…"

"A loooong time," David cutting her off. "But we got here and that's what matters," David said finishing her sentence as he kissed her.

"See? I told you. They're so sweet they'll give you a cavity," Katie said. All of them laughed.

After the party, Maddie and David were exhausted. They just wanted to get to sleep and enjoy Christmas morning as a family. "Everyone loved you," Maddie said as she got ready for bed.

"Of course, they did. It's me," David said with a smug smile.

"A few of my aunts said they love your charming every-man quality and that you're a genuine person. You don't pretend to be someone you're not."

"I wouldn't want to be anyone else," David said as he changed for bed. Maddie's reply was lost in her mind as she watched David change in front of her, as he was completely oblivious to the effect it was having on her. "I like your family. Despite having money, your family is very down to earth."

"Huh? Yeah," Maddie said still affected by a very naked David.

"Why Mrs. Addison. You seem distracted by something," David said smiling with his hands on his hips. "Now listen to me. Do not try to put any moves on me while we're here. No shower sharing. No sex. No groping," David said trying to mimic her voice.

"I know. And I'm still sticking by that. But I can admire my hot naked husband." "Well admire away baby," David said as he started to do a dance.

"David stop. Let's get some sleep. It's late and mom will want us up early for presents and breakfast," Maddie laughed. They finish changing and went to sleep.

Christmas morning, Maddie and David woke up to the smell of coffee brewing and breakfast being cooked. They got dressed and walked downstairs. Mrs. Hayes had a pot of coffee, a plate of pancakes, and a bowl of fruit salad all sitting on the table. She was in the kitchen cooking eggs and bacon. The big Christmas tree was decorated beautifully with lots of gifts under it. David was amazed. In all his thirty something years, he never had a Christmas morning like this. Maddie was amazed too. Her parents always had a big Christmas morning, but this was different than their normal Christmas morning.

"Mom, you're doing too much. We would have helped you," Maddie said as Mrs. Hayes came out of the kitchen.

"Nonsense. You're the guests. And I'm excited to make a great Christmas morning for my daughter and son in law. It's the first one," Mrs. Hayes says as she puts the plate of eggs and bacon on the table. They all sit down to eat breakfast.

"This is incredible. I've never had a Christmas like this," David said as they ate.

"Really?" Mrs. Hayes asked.

"Yeah. Christmas as a kid was always a few gifts under a small tree. We didn't have any special breakfast like this. We were a working-class family. My dad usually slept because it was one of his few days off from work. As an adult, Christmas was just another day for me. My dad was in Philly. Richie was with whatever woman was keeping him company for the moment. I didn't have a family or anything. After my divorce, I just didn't see a need to really celebrate when it was just me. It was kind of sad because I thought I would have Christmas with my child."

"Like you were supposed to have for this one," Maddie said sadly holding his hand.

"Yeah, but this is different: I have the woman I love," David said smiling at Maddie.

"You didn't have the woman you love back then?" Mrs. Hayes asked.

"That wasn't a marriage of love. That was a marriage of obligation."

"I remember you told me about your previous marriage," Mrs. Hayes said.

"But that's in the past. That wasn't a marriage. It was more like an arrangement. This is a marriage full of love. We are together because we want to be, not because we have to be," David smiled as he held Maddie's hand tighter.

After breakfast, they sit in the living room around the tree, and open gifts.

"This is for both of you," Mrs. Hayes handed them a big, rectangular, wrapped box. They open the gift. They see a beautiful wooden canvas in a gold frame with "The Addisons" painted beautifully on it in script.

"This is beautiful," David said.

"Where did you get this mom?" Maddie asked.

"Remember Mrs. Brody from the party? Her oldest son paints. He does custom stuff. I had him make this for your house."

"Thank you so much," Maddie said. David and Maddie gave Mrs. Hayes a pearl necklace that matched the one David gave Maddie months ago. They told the story of Maddie and David in the mall and David surprising her with the necklace. And she told her mom, about how she thanked him. Mrs. Hayes laughed about the thank you.

They spent a few days after Christmas in Chicago. Maddie shows David around where she grew up. Places she enjoyed going. Her old school. They spent time with some of her old friends. Then flew out to Philadelphia to ring in the new year with David's family. When they arrived at their hotel room, it was late. They unpacked and changed for bed.

"I am so tired. I haven't done this much traveling in such a short amount of time since I was modeling," Maddie said flopping down on the bed.

"I don't know how you did it," David said flopping down next to her.

"It was fun at first. When I was eighteen and full of energy it was great. When I hit thirty it wasn't so great anymore. I had that big, beautiful house, but was almost never there. My household staff had spent more time there than I did."

"You had a household staff?"

"Yeah."

"Since when?"

"David, I had one until I lost my money. That's how I found out about it. The morning we met, I had just come home from a cruise. I woke up to crashing sounds. I found my cook breaking everything because he was mad his check bounced. Within a week, my entire staff quit. And I wasn't able to afford to hire them back. But you know what?"

"What?"

"I didn't want to hire them back even if I could. I never really had to do things for myself. There was always someone to do things like cook, clean, shop for food, do household chores and stuff like that. Once I had to do all of that myself, I liked it. I like going home to my house and my bed every night. My house never really felt like home until after I lost my money. I got a taste of living like everyone else in the real world and actually I really liked it."

"Do you miss it? The money, the fame, the traveling, the modeling?"

"The money mostly for the comfort it provides. But the rest? Not at all. Why would I miss it? I have everything I need right here," Maddie said as she turned over to cuddle David. She looked up at him and they kissed. It quickly started to heat up. She climbed on top of him.

"Maddie. Maddie stop," David said breaking the kiss.

"What's wrong?" Maddie asked as she looked down at him. "We're alone here in this beautiful hotel room," Maddie said grinding her crotch on his as she straddled him.

"As much as I want to do this, considering how long we had to hold off at your mom's house, we aren't prepared."

"Oh. We don't have…"

"…any tuxedos for me to wear to the party. I forgot to pack them."

"Come on David. A few dances at the party while inappropriately dressed won't hurt," Maddie said grinding again.

"Yeah but keep in mind what happened in the past when I wasn't dressed for the party."

"Oh yeah," Maddie said as she stopped grinding and climbed off David.

"We have another month and a half to go until we hit our six-month mark. Then the clothes of any kind go out the window."

"Oh, I hope so," Maddie said with a wicked smile.

"Besides, we're both exhausted from traveling. We should get some sleep because tomorrow I want to show you around where I grew up. I want to introduce you to my old friends. Like you did in Chicago with me."

"That sounds like fun," Maddie said with a big yawn. "Actually, sleep does sound good right now." They kissed goodnight, turned out the light, cuddled up and went to sleep.

The next day, David showed Maddie around his old neighborhood. Maddie noticed David seemed more relaxed than usual, if that were possible. They visited the fish store owned by David Sr. All three went to lunch.

"So where's Richie?" David asked his dad.

"He's in Pittsburgh." David Sr said.

"Pittsburgh? What's he doing there?" David asked shocked.

"Grabbing the rest of his junk from his now ex- girlfriend's place."

"Oh. His latest lady?" David asked.

"Yeah. He met some woman here in a bar. They hit it off. She had a nice place in Pittsburgh. He moved out there. She spent a couple of weeks down in Orlando with her mom over Christmas. Came back a few days ago wearing an engagement ring that Richie didn't give her."

"Ouch," David said as he and Maddie cringed at the same time.

"Turns out her mom doesn't even live in Florida. She told Richie to get his junk out because she was breaking the lease and moving to Florida to be wither fiancé. She said something about new decade, new man."

"Double ouch," David said as he and David Maddie again.

"He'll he here for New Year's Eve, right?" Maddie asked

"Yeah, he'll be back by then. I can't wait for New Year's Eve. All our friends can't wait to meet you. They've been looking forward to it since you guys got married."

"Really? I can't wait to meet them."

"Oh that reminds me. I better pick up a baseball bat to fight off the guys who will try to pick you up," David said with a smile looking at Maddie.

"Pick up two. I'll need one also," Maddie said laughing.

"Better grab a third. Knowing Richie, he'll want to help fight off any drunken ass holes who won't take no for an answer," David Sr said. They all laughed and enjoyed their lunch.

It was the day of New Year's Eve. David and Maddie were in their hotel room getting ready. "So, what is this place where we're going?" Maddie asked.

"It's a bar owned by my childhood buddy, Joey."

"A bar?" Maddie said with skepticism.

"Don't give me that look. It's not the kind of place you're expecting. It's not some scuzzy, dingy, hole in the wall place. This is actually a nice place. When school is in session, a lot of college kids hang out there. He hosts parties for local college teams. Stuff like. And every New Year's Eve he hosts a big party."

"That does sound nice," Maddie said as she sat at the desk in the hotel room to use it as a make shift vanity while doing her hair. David bent down from behind her giving her a hug.

"I can't wait for our first official kiss at midnight," he whispered in her ear.

"You better keep it a nice and respectable kiss since we'll be out in public," Maddie turns her head to look at him. "We can save the rest for when we get back here since you'll be properly dressed for the party now," she said as their faces were a few inches apart.

"I can't wait," David said as he kissed her. "Let's get their early do you can meet Joey before the place starts to fill up and Joey gets too busy."

Maddie wore a simple velvet black dress with little silver gems on it that comes down to just shoved her knees and had a matching jacket. David often said it reminds him of a night sky full of stars. Maddie said that's why she bought it. David wore a button-down blue shirt and jeans. They arrive at the bar. It's mostly empty. A few guys busy setting up for later. One guy they recognize. They see Richie wiping down tables with a rag. "Look at this guy. Actually, working for once," David said loudly to get Richie's attention.

"Heeeeey!" Richie said happily as he ran over to David and Maddie. Richie and David hugged. He looks at Maddie and smiled. "Gotta hug my favorite sister in law," he said giving her a big hug.

"I'm your only sister-in-law," Maddie said smiling. "Hey. Should you be in a place like this? Knowing how you two seem to operate, isn't there a bun baking in that over?" Richie said to Maddie.

"Nope not bun baking…yet," Maddie said smiling. "But maybe there will be one next New Year's Eve."

"Come sit. I'm helping Joey set up stuff."

"I'm gonna see if the guys need help in the back," David said walking into the kitchen.

"Come on sit," Richie said as he walked Maddie over to a booth. Richie sat down and they started catching on stuff. As they talk, Joey walks in through the back door of the bar. He notices Richie with a blonde he doesn't recognize. He walks over. "Hey Richie. Who is this lovely lady who is sitting with you and not me?" Joey say taking her right hand in an attempt to kiss it.

"Hey hey hey. Joey back off. She's spoken for man," Richie said.

"Spoken for? Definitely not by you Richie," Joey said letting of her hand.

"Me? No way. This is my sister law."

"Sister-in-law?" It took Joey a second to catch on "no! Now way man! This is Dave's lady?!" Joey said with shock.

"Maddie Hayes-Addison," Maddie said holding out her right hand to shake Joey's hand.

"Joseph Capaldi, ma'am," Joey said shaking her hand.

"Joey you better not be putting moves on my wife," David said walking up behind Joey. They both laugh loudly and hug.

"So, you got a classy looking woman like this? How?" Joey asked David. "You married this bum?" Joey asked Maddie.

"Yup I did," Maddie said.

"David how did a shlub like you meet a woman like this?" Joey asked.

"She walked into my office, introduced herself, fired me then slapped me."

"Wait a second. This is the blonde boss babe you told me about?"

"Yup. I'm the blonde boss babe he told you about," Maddie said laughing holding out her hand to shake Joey's hand again. All of them laugh.

"See? This is why I have to get out of Philly. People don't have bosses like this in Philly," Joey said as he walked away.

The party got started and the place filled up. Maddie met most of David's sold friends. Many of them asked in jest what she's doing with a bum like David. They both just laughed.

"Hey Maddie. Let's play a game of pool. One of the tables are free," Richie said.

"Sure," Maddie said. She looked at David and they gave each other a knowing smile.

"Nope. Richie uh huh. Lady will clean you out," David said.

"Oh, come on. No offense Maddie but you don't seem like the pool playing type," Richie said.

"I thought the same thing until she hustled me, man," David said.

"Ok now this I have to see. Even if I get destroyed. You coming to watch the slaughter?" Richie said to David.

"I'll come watch you get your ass beat in a minute bro. I gotta hit the little boy's room."

"Need adult supervision?" Richie asked as David walked away.

"From what adult Richie?" David said as he walked away. Maddie just laughs at them as she and Richie walked over to the pool table. She always loved their playfulness and banter. She never had siblings so it was always fun to see them interact even when they fought like little boys.

After David finished in the bathroom, he was walking down the small hallway that led back to the main part of the bar. Before he can turn the corner, he's stopped and pinned against the wall. A short, well-endowed brunette was standing in front of him. She wore a gold sequin dress that only covered what it needed to for her to be out in public. "Hi Angela," David said.

"Hi Angela? That's the greeting I get?" Angela said in a seductive voice.

"Uh how you been? What else am I supposed to say?"

"Oh come on Dave. You've been here hours and haven't even tried anything on me. That's a new record," Angela said pressing her body against his.

"Uh no no no Angela?" David said pushing her away from him. He holds up his left hand "in case you hadn't heard, I'm married Angela."

"Yeah, I know. I've watched you two all night. Seems like some boring, stuffy princess in my opinion. Being stuck with her probably has you dying for some fun," Angela said as she pressed her body against his again, groping his crotch and started kissing his neck.

"I don't want fun with anyone but my wife," David said. As he was about to push her away, Maddie turned the corner and saw them.

"Hey. Betty Big Bust. What are you doing with my husband?" Maddie said angrily.

"Giving him the fun, I bet doesn't get from you," Angela said as David pushed her off of him.

"Like I told you, I don't want fun from anyone but my wife."

"Oh come on. Polly Princess over here? I know her type. She's slumming it with you until she finds some lawyer with a bigger house and deeper pockets," Angela said drunkenly to David loudly. "Go find one of them high class doctor types with lots of money and leave him to ladies like me who he'd actually enjoy," Angela drunkenly said even louder.

Joey heard the commotion and turned the corner with a couple of bouncers. "Angela, what are you doing here? I told you not to come back. Get out or I'm calling the cops."

"Fine. Whatever. This place is a shit hole anyway," Angela said angrily as she was escorted out by one of the bouncers.

"Mike, how the hell did she get in? You guys know she's not allowed in here," Joey said looking at the other bouncer.

"I don't know. One of the new guys must have let her in."

"We'll make sure they know from now on." Mike nodded and walked.

"Excuse me. I was headed for the ladies room," Maddie said walking past Joey and David.

"What happened to her? Why isn't she allowed in here?" David asked Joey.

"Eh. Life happened. She wasn't having luck in the romance department. So she started hanging out here more. She made her rounds with all the single regulars who were interested. Then she ran out. So she started coming into the married ones. After a few of them caved, she got a big head and couldn't take no for answer. She got into a few fights with the wives. Cops were called. So I told her she wasn't welcome anymore."

"Sad," David said as Maddie came out of the bathroom.

"You ready to see me slaughter Richie in a game of pool?" Maddie asked with a smile.

"You play pool?" Joey asked surprised.

"Why does that shock people? Yes, I play pool," Maddie asked with a laugh.

"People don't expect a lady like you to not only play pool, but be as good as you are, Maddie," David said.

"Wait. She plays and she's good?"

"Oh yeah Joey. She's good. Lady is a shark. I'm talking full on Jaws shark," David said.

"Ok. I gotta see this," Joey said. They laughed as they walked out to the pool table.

The rest of night was great. Maddie and David counted down to midnight with everyone. They had their respectable kiss at midnight with a promise of more later. They were sitting in the cab on the way back to their hotel. "I had a lot of fun. More than fun than I expected," Maddie said as she sat in the can holding David's hand.

"Really?"

"Yeah," Maddie smiled. "So who is Angela?"

"Some girl I knew growing up. I've known her about as long as I knew Tess."

"Anything happen between you two?"

"Me and Angela? Nah. I wanted to though. Before I was with Tess, I really wanted to ask out Angela. But I didn't think she'd go out with me. So I never said anything. After I was already married to Tess, I found out Angela was interested and was waiting for me to ask her out."

"Anything happened between you two after you and Tess were done?"

"Nah. I didn't care for the kind of woman she became in adulthood. Maddie, I think I should explain what you saw. And what happened or should I say didn't happen before you showed up."

"There is no need to explain."

"There isn't?"

"No. I know what happened. Or in this case didn't happen. A drunken woman who wanted you came on to you, she was told no, and wouldn't take no for an answer. David, you're immature, loud, messy and crude. But I know you're not a cheater. You know what it feels like and I know you wouldn't do that to someone else."

"Especially you Maddie. I waited too long for you to be mine, really mine, to ruin it." They smiled at each other and kissed.

When they got back to their hotel, they were really starting to feel the effects of the alcohol. Then both had a very nice buzz happening. When they got up to their room, Maddie took off her jacket and they both took off their shoes. "You know what's weird? It's one thirty in the morning and I don't feel tired at all," David said standing in the middle of the room.

"You don't huh?"

"No Maddie I don't."

"I think I have just the remedy for that," Maddie said seductively as she walked across the room to David while pulling down the top of her strapless dress and taking off the strapless bra that was underneath when she reaches David.

"And what might that be? Some warm milk?" David said as he put his hands on her breasts.

"David you're terrible," Maddie said with a laugh.

"Yeah, but you love it," David said had he kneaded her breast.

"True. But right now, I love this. And this," Maddie said sighing as she reached down to rub her hand against his now erect penis that she felt through his pants.

"I see we will be starting off the new decade with a bang," David said seductively.

"You bet," Maddie said as she leaned in to kiss David.

Two days after New Year's Eve, Maddie and David landed back in Los Angeles. They got home and were exhausted. So many parties, friends, family and traveling this past week had them ready for bed. David brought the luggage upstairs as Maddie check the answering machine. The only messages were from a couple of telemarketers.

The next morning, Maddie was at the agency, sitting in her office. A buzz came over the intercom. "Ms. Hayes. There is a call for you. Says his name is Mark," Agnes said.

"Thank you. Put the call through. Hello Mark?"

"Hi Maddie," Mark said. Maddie could tell something was wrong. He didn't sound like his happy normal self.

"Is everything ok Mark?"

"No Maddie. It's not. Annie is pregnant."

"Congratulations Mark."

"Don't congratulate me. Congratulate Annie and the father."

"I'm sorry what? You're not the father?"

"No, I'm not. Annie has been cheating on me again."

"Oh no. She has?"

"Oh, don't play stupid Maddie."

"What do you mean, Mark?"

"You know she's been cheating all this time. She told me all about it. How you knew about it when she went to visit you in LA last spring. And when she was there to visit you just after Halloween."

"What? Visit me? Annie didn't come visit me."

"Maddie you can stop lying. Stop covering for her. You did it last time."

"Mark, I promise. I'm not lying. I haven't seen Annie since she was here last spring. What makes you think she came here to visit me a couple of months ago?"

"That's what she told me. She said she was going out to visit you in LA for a few weeks. Now I find out she's pregnant. According to her and the doctor, she got pregnant during those three weeks in LA. And it couldn't be mine since I stayed home for work. Now she's moving out and we're getting a divorce."

"Mark look I'm sorry but I don't understand why you're mad at me."

"You don't? You don't?! This is all your fault Maddie!"

"How is it my fault Mark?"

"Annie and I were happy. We had no problems until she went to see you. Then suddenly I'm not good enough. She has to find other men. She cheated both times she's gone to see you in the last year. Now marriage is over. And it's all because of you!"

"Mark, I promise, Annie wasn't here to see me. She's hadn't been since last spring."

"Sure keep lying. You're no better than her. I bet you're cheating on your husband too," Mark said before hanging up the phone. Maddie let out a frustrated groan. She got up, stormed across the office into David's office. She slammed his door and sat on the couch. Her anger turned to sadness. Maddie put her head in hands and started to cry.

"Hey what's wrong honey?" David said walking over to sit with her.

"Mark, Annie's husband, called me screaming at me."

"What's happened?"

"Annie is pregnant."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"Not when he's not the father."

"Oh."

"Yeah oh. I guess she found a new side guy. Seems like she went to spend a few weeks with him, but told Mark she was coming to see me. Well, she got pregnant sometime during that time. Mark blames me. Says they had no problems before she started hanging around me again. Now she's cheated on him both times she's seen me."

"But Annie hasn't been here since the spring, right?"

"She hasn't. She didn't come see me a couple of months ago. But she told Mark she was to hide what she was really doing. And because I lied for her in the past, so Mark thinks I'm lying now."

"I'm sorry honey. None of it was your fault. You didn't force her boink guys other than her husband. She was probably cheating long before she came out here. He just didn't know."

"You're right," Maddie said giving David a kiss.

"This is their problem. This has nothing to do with you. Mark probably wanted to find someone other than Annie to blame. So, he chose you. Annie, Mark, and their problems are their problems. Don't worry about it."

Later that day, Maddie was again in her office catching up on paperwork. Another buzz from Agnes. "Ms. Hayes, there is a Margret Barnes on the phone," said Agnes.

"Thank you, Agnes. Please put the call though. Hello Ms. Barnes."

"I told you to call me Margret."

"Ok Margret. Are you calling to do another interview?"

"Actually no. I'm calling because I received a call yesterday. It was about a story the woman calling thought I'd want to cover. My editor heard about it, wanted me to interview her, and publish it. But just wanted to confirm if it's true or not. It gave me a weird feeling."

"That's great that you want to make sure your information is accurate. But why are you calling me about it?"

"It has to do with you and your husband."

"It does? How?"

"Well, the woman who was calling told me she's pregnant and your husband said is the father."

"What? No way. That's impossible. David would never cheat on me."

"That's what I thought too. I figured this was some woman trying to get money for selling a story and a blip in the limelight."

"Could you tell me her name?"

"Sure. Her name is Annie Charnock."

Maddie almost dropped the phone.