Chapter 13
Maddie and David settled into life as parents. Two in the morning feedings and diaper changes. Bringing baby Charlotte to work with them. They didn't end up hiring someone else to help. They figured between Agnes, Bert and rest of the office staff at the ready, there was more than enough pairs of eyes and hands ready to help when Maddie or David were too busy. Plus, with both Richie and Maddie's mom now in Los Angeles, they seemed to take turns watching the little girl. "She has so many people who love her and she has no idea," Maddie said to David one day as she sat in her office feeding Charlotte.
"She'll know when she's older," David said as he sat in the couch.
Along with life as parents, they had a few cases. But their biggest case was figuring out who sent that bouquet of roses. A few more gifts and notes showed up. One day it was candy. Another day it was jewelry. Then more flowers. And none of it was from David. At one point Maddie thought David was lying and was sending these things as part of some little game. But he swore over and over that it wasn't him. The notes started out sweet, but turned romantic and somewhat pornographic. With all of their detective experience, they couldn't find out who was sending this stuff. Finally, one of the notes asked Maddie to meet this secret admirer. She went to meet one evening. David and Richie followed and waited outside. The three of them planned for Richie to go and act as just another patron to keep an eye on Maddie and her mystery admirer. David would wait outside. They didn't want to scare the guy off.
Maddie walked into the bar and sat at a table. She sat waiting. Richie walked in a couple of minutes later. He sat a corner booth not far away. As Richie sat, a good looking redhead who was obviously familiar with physical surgical enhancement sat down next to Richie in the booth. "You know it's a shame. A good-looking guy like you sitting here all alone," the redhead said in a low seductive voice.
"Uh huh yeah," Richie said barely paying attention.
"You know, this place is a little too crowded for my liking and I'm getting pretty hungry. Maybe we could go somewhere more quiet for a nibble," the redhead said practically crawling in Richie's lap.
"I already ate," Richie said barely paying attention to the redhead as his focus was on Maddie who was still waiting for the mystery man.
"I wasn't talking about food," the redhead said as she buried her face in his neck and rubbed his crotch.
"Uh huh," Richie said not even paying attention to what she's doing.
The redhead got annoyed that he wasn't reacting to her advances. "Ugh fine," she said sitting back in the booth. "I'll leave you alone," she said as she reached out to turn Richie face to look at her. "But here's what you're missing out on," she said as she pulled down the top of her dress to flash her obviously surgically enhanced breasts. She made sure Richie got a good look. She pulled up the top of her dress. "I hope you and your cold shower have a great time tonight," she said angrily as she got up and walked away.
"The things I do for family," Richie said shaking his head as he turned his attention back to Maddie.
Meanwhile, Maddie sat there still waiting. Whoever this guy was, he was late. Finally, a tall man, about Maddie's age with blonde hair sat down. Maddie instantly recognized him. "Mr. DuCain?"
"Hello Ms. Hayes," he said with confidence.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm the one sending you those gifts."
"But why?"
"Well why not? I'm Johnathan DuCain. I'm handsome, charming and women can't seem to resist me."
"Well Mr. Ducain…"
"Johnathan."
"As I was saying Mr. Ducain, I'm flattered. But I'm married and so are you."
"So?"
"What do you mean so?"
"Being married doesn't matter to me."
"Well, it matters to me and my husband. And I know it matters to your wife."
"Who cares about them?"
"Who cares about them? You mean my husband and your wife?"
"Yeah. The rings on our fingers don't prevent us from having a good time."
"Yes Mr. DuCain they do."
"Never stopped me before."
"Wait a minute. Is this something you do all the time? Cheat on your wife?"
"Yes."
As Maddie and Johnathan DuCain had their conversation, Richie watched from his booth in the corner. He didn't know what they were saying, but based on Maddie's expression and body language, he figured it couldn't be good. Suddenly she stood up. She seemed angry. Richie was ready to get up and step in. That's when he had an idea. He walked past Maddie. As he did, he pretended to bump into her. "Oh I'm sorry… Maddie Hayes? How are you?" Richie said acting as if he was surprised to see her.
"Bobby? Hi! How are you?" Maddie said catching on to Richie's idea.
"Long time no see!"
"How long are you in town?" Maddie asked Richie.
"I'm leaving tomorrow night."
"We have to catch up," Maddie said leaving with Richie. Johnathan DuCain just stood there watching them leave. "Eh whatever. She's too old for my liking anyway," he said as he walked over to the surgically enhanced redhead who was now sitting at the bar.
Maddie and Richie walked out to the car where David sat waiting. Maddie got in the front seat. Richie sat in back. "So who was it?" David asked.
"You don't believe it," Maddie said shaking her head. "Johnathan DuCain."
"No way!" David said in shock. "Hang on. That means we were wrong."
"Completely wrong, David," Maddie said.
"Who is that guy?" Richie asked.
"A couple of months ago, Johnathan DuCain's wife Michelle hired us to find out if he's cheating on her. She said he's been secretive. Always busy. And she found purchases for stuff she never got. So Bert and I followed him around for a while. Well, he was secretive and busy, planning her surprise birthday party. So, we report back to Mrs. DuCain that everything is good on the home front. I guess that wasn't the case at all," David said.
"No, it wasn't. Turns out he is cheating on her, just like he cheated on all his other wives and girlfriends. He told me that he found out she hired us. He figured out why. He knew you guys were watching him. So, he did the whole surprise birthday party thing to throw off suspicion. He figured she wouldn't suspect and it would be easier to cheat if she heard from us that he wasn't cheating. He wanted me to be another notch on his belt. And the worst part is he didn't feel bad about cheating. He feels he's entitled to cheat," Maddie said.
"What do you mean?" Richie asked.
"He said that because he got cheated on by a woman in the past, he feels that gives him the right to cheat on other women."
"Even though those women he's cheating on have nothing to do with the woman in his past who cheated on him?" David asked.
"Exactly," Maddie said
They all lay shook their heads in disbelief.
Life as parents and business owners got busier for Maddie and David over the next couple of months. The agency was doing better than ever. Maddie and David even decided to move the agency. A bigger office space in the same building was available. They decided to jump at the opportunity. Not only would they be able to have their own offices again, but there was a room for baby Charlotte and baby Ashley or as David called them "the junior detectives." Halloween was two weeks away. They hoped to have the new office set up in time. Both Maddie and Agnes were excited to celebrate both girls' first Halloween. They planned on having a party again, but this time with kids. Some of the new hires have kids, so Maddie and David decided to make it a party for the kids as well. A magic act was hired for the party. A few days after everything in the new office space was set up, Maddie sat at her desk in her office. She just put charlotte down for a nap in the other room but had the baby monitor close by.
**knock knock**
"Come in," Maddie said.
"Ms. Hayes, Mr. Addison is here to see you," Agnes said.
"Mr. Addison?"
"Senior," Agnes whispered.
"Oh. Send him in," Maddie said. 'Oh boy. This won't be pretty especially with David due back any minute from getting a witness statement,' Maddie thought.
David Sr walked into to Maddie's office. Maddie stood up as he entered. He tried to give her a hug. He could tell she wasn't happy to give one back.
"No hug for your father-in-law?" David Sr said.
"What father-in-law?"
"Maddie don't be like that."
As Maddie was about to respond, her office door opened. David stood there and he did not look happy. Agnes had told him who was in Maddie's office. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see my family," David Sr said.
"What family?" David asked angrily.
"David…"
"We haven't heard a peep out of you since New Year's Eve. That was almost year ago. We had a baby, went through a whole nine-month pregnancy and you showed no interest in the fact that you would have a grandchild. Your own damn son was so bothered by your actions, that he moved across the country to be with the people he truly cares to be his family: us. And you show up one day out of nowhere and expect to be welcomed with open arms?" David said angrily. He didn't want to be too loud.
"Son, why are you so mad?"
"Why am I mad, dad? Why? Because you show no interest in what you call your family in almost a year. Then suddenly you show up out of the blue. I'm not mad for me or Maddie or even Richie. We're adults. We can handle it. I'm mad for that little girl in there. She's too young to understand anything now. But how do I know you won't suddenly vanish again in five or ten years? How do I explain why grandpa suddenly stopped coming by for Christmas? Or why grandpa didn't send her a teddy bear on her birthday? You won't do this to her. I won't let you," David said.
"Can I just meet my grandchild?"
"What grandchild? As far as we're concerned, she doesn't have a grandfather," David said.
"She? I have a granddaughter?"
"No. We have a daughter. You have a nothing," David said
"Son, I know I could have been more enthusiastic about becoming a grandpa. But I had my reason. I was scared."
"Scared? Of what?" David asked.
"I was scared of getting attached and something happening again."
Maddie had stayed quiet letting father and son hash it out. But after that last statement, she could bite her tongue any more. "You were scared? Really? Well, how do you think we felt? Were you the one who felt searing pain? Were you the one who held a tiny infant who was too small to survive? No Mr. Addison. We were the ones who experienced all of that. So don't tell us that you were too scared to show any interest."
"Get out. You don't get to just show up and decide to acknowledge us as family when you feel like it." David Sr realized he ruined things with them. He got up and left. After he left, Maddie had an overwhelming urge to be with Charlotte. She went into the nursery while David went into to his office to call Richie about the confrontation.
A few days later, Maddie stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom. She and David were getting ready to go out to a wedding. One of Maddie's many cousins had moved out to Los Angeles years ago in pursuit of acting. She met and was marrying some rich lawyer. Maddie was happy to be there for her cousin. She was happy to introduce David to more of her family and show the family pictures of Charlotte. She heard through the grapevine vine, meaning her mom who heard from some aunts, that Annie would be there. She wasn't happy about that. But right now, the main thing that made her unhappy was how she looked. She still had the extra weight from her pregnancy. "Ugh," Maddie said audibly standing in front of if the mirror.
"What's wrong babe?" David said coming out of the bathroom dressed in a suit.
"I look terrible in everything."
"No you don't," David said sitting on the bed as he put on his shoes.
"Yes I do. I've never been this fat before, besides during pregnancy."
"Honey, everyone woman is fat after giving birth. Why would you be any different?" Maddie starts to say something. "And before you start with asking if I think you're fat, yes I do. I'm not going to lie. I know you. If I said no I don't think you're fat, you'd call me a liar and would think I'm saying that just because I'm supposed to as your husband."
"True."
"If you want, think of yourself as curvy, not fat. Once you're able to, you'll be back burning calories at aerobics in the gym. And burning some calories with me doing something a lot more fun," David said as he walked over to her and hugged her from behind. David's hand began to wander down past her belly.
"Hey hey hey. There is still a few more weeks before we're back in the game. Let's go we don't want to be late picking up my mom. You have the pictures? You know everyone will want to see pictures of Charolette."
Maddie and David walked downstairs. Richie was sitting on the couch holding Charlotte. "Maddie. You sure this guy had anything to do with making this little girl? She too cute to come from our gene pool. Plus, she looks too much like you."
"Trust me. I can see the good ole' Addison personality starting to appear," Maddie said.
"So bro, there is pizza money on the table by the front door. There are bottles in the fridge. You know the heating instructions. We shouldn't be back too late but if you get tired, make yourself comfortable in the guest bedroom."
"Man, we got this. Me and Mini Addison are going to enjoy some pizza and a hockey game. Maybe a movie or two. You two have fun. I got this."
Maddie and David walked out to the car. "I told you he'd be a great uncle," Maddie said as they got to the car.
Maddie and David pick up Mrs. Hayes and get to the wedding. The ceremony was beautiful. Maddie and David were having a great time at the reception. So many people were happy to see Maddie, and meet David. One person who was not happy was Annie. She didn't know Maddie was invited. "Did you see Maddie's husband?" One of the cousins said to another as they sat down at the same table as Annie.
"He's hot. Not the GQ type I'd expect her with," the other cousin said.
"Have you talked to him? He's so nice and charming. I can't imagine how gorgeous that little girl of theirs will be when she grows up," the third cousin said.
"Of course. The star of the family. Nobody has asked to see a single picture of my newborn son. But everyone wants to see pictures of Maddie's baby. I should be the one showing off my wonderful husband, not Princess Perfect," Annie said as she sat at a table staring at Maddie and David laughing with some family.
"What was that?" Maddie and Annie's cousin Julie asked.
Annie was slightly embarrassed. She didn't know she said that out loud. "Oh nothing," Annie said slightly embarrassed.
A little while later Maddie sat at her table as David was at the buffet table grabbing food. Julie sat down next to Maddie. "Girl. Annie is not happy with you."
"Why? What did I do?" Maddie asked.
"I heard her grumbling earlier while staring at you and your hubby."
"Grumbling? About what?"
"I think she's unhappy that you're getting everyone's attention with David and about your baby. I don't think anyone has shown any interest in her little boy."
"Does everyone know about her situation and the baby?"
"You mean that she cheated on Mark, and got pregnant?"
"Yeah."
"I guess you don't know the update," Julie's sister Michelle said as she sat down next to them.
"What update?" Maddie asked.
"Mister Side Guy Baby Daddy didn't know she was married. He was mad. Big mad. He refused to commit to her. He said that if she had no problem cheating on her husband, how can he expect her to be faithful to him. He said he'd be there for their son since he's innocent in all of it. But he wouldn't be with her. She's living in San Diego where he lives and they're having a nasty custody battle. He has the baby for now since she's living on some friend's couch. But he wants sole custody of the baby since he's the one with his own place and a job. She doesn't have either of those things," Michelle said.
"No wonder she's bitter about you and the life you guys have," Julie said.
"Mark called me yelling at me and blaming me for all of it," Maddie said.
"Why would he blame you? Did you put his dick in her?" Julie asked.
All three women laughed. "She cheated on Mark last year when she came out to visit me. I knew about it and covered for her because I didn't feel it was my place to say anything. Then when she was visiting her side guy last fall, she told Mark she was visiting me. I tried to explain she didn't come here last fall but he thinks I'm just covering for her again."
"How goes the gossip ladies?" David said as he came back with appetizers.
"Apparently Annie is mad I'm stealing her thunder tonight," Maddie said.
"Hey is it your fault she couldn't keep her pants or condom on?" David said. Julie and Michelle laugh as Maddie just shakes her head. "She's just jealous she couldn't have for herself what we have together."
"She could have but chose to ruin it," Maddie said.
"Honey, it's not our problem that she chose to let jealousy and resentment be her vibe for tonight instead of being happy for the bride and groom and having fun. She made the evening about herself and her screw ups. Her mood shouldn't have any effect on yours. Ok honey? Just forget her. Let her sit there glaring like some jealous school girl at the prom ," David said.
"You're right. Thank you," Maddie said looking up at David. He leans down to kiss her.
"Awwwwww," both Julie and Michelle say in unison. "So where is the Mini Maddie?" Michelle asked.
"With her loving and crazy uncle," David said sitting down.
"Aka, David's older brother," Maddie said.
As the night goes on, Annie just sits in at her table. Some family has asked her about her son, but she felt like they asked just to be polite. Nobody seemed interested like they seem to be with David and Maddie. She watched them interact happily with each other and other guests. Watched them dance all the dances together. After a while of sitting basically alone, Annie got up and left. She didn't bother saying goodbye to anyone. She didn't think anyone would notice she left. 'How did the worst things happen to Maddie yet she not only lands on her feet each time, but lands in the arms of that wonderful man? It's not fair,' Annie thought as she sat in the cab on the way to her hotel. After the reception, Maddie, David and Mrs. Hayes were in Maddie's car on the way back to Mrs. Hayes house.
"Maddie. What was going on at the reception? I heard people talking about some sort of drama?" Mrs. Hayes asked.
"Apparently Annie was mad about me stealing her fifteen minutes of family fame."
"What do you mean?"
"I guess she was mad that everyone wanted to meet David and see pictures of Charlotte and not see pictures of her baby."
"The family knows about the situation with Mark and this man. A new baby is a happy occasion, but it's hard to be happy considering the circumstances surrounding the baby," Mrs. Hayes said.
"I guess people just don't know what to say especially now with the custody battle."
"Yeah I heard about that. She really made a mess out of her life," Mrs. Hayes said.
After they dropped off Mrs. Hayes, Maddie and David got home around one in the morning. When they got in, they saw Richie asleep on the couch. Baby Charlotte was asleep on Richie's chest. "He's going to love that little girl forever," David whispered. Maddie nodded in agreement. Maddie carefully picked up Charlotte and walked upstairs. Meanwhile, David woke up Richie. "Alright! Alright! I'll leave her alone," Richie said as he suddenly woke up.
"We're home man. Go up to the guest room. It's more comfortable." Richie got up, yawned, nodded and went up to the guest room. Maddie brought Charlotte to the nursery. She checked her diaper and put her to bed. Maddie walked into her bedroom. David was in the middle of changing. "I had fun. Your family is awesome. Well most of it," David said.
"Yeah. They all loved you. I'm sorry about Annie," Maddie said taking off her shoes and undoing her updo.
"That's not your fault, despite what her ex-husband says."
"I don't know this person who she became."
"You can't help what people become. She chose to fuck up her life."
"Very true," Maddie said as she walked over to David and turned her back to him. He knew this was a signal for him to unzip her dress.
"I can't wait until unzipping your dress leads to more fun activities than going to sleep," David said as he unzipped her dress. He kissed her neck as he did.
"I know. A few more weeks. When I go for my check up, I'm going to ask for a better birth control. If we are going to have another baby, I don't want it to be for a while."
A week later, it was Halloween. There was a big party going on at New Moon Investigations. Agnes, Bert, and Ashley were dressed as a cowgirl, cowboy and a cow. Maddie, David, and Charlotte were dressed as a queen, a king, and a fairy. The various employees and their kids were having fun. David and Bert got the kids going with limbo and musical chairs until the magic act arrived. Agnes and Maddie sat with the babies. "Ashley is the calmest baby," Maddie said as she held her.
"Oh I know. Charlotte seems to smile at everything," Agnes said holding Charlotte.
"Definitely. She's most likely going to look like me but act like David. I can imagine she'll find everything funny like he does. Although I see some dark hair starting to grow in."
"She'll probably have dark hair, big blue eyes and a big Addison personality," Agnes said.
"She'll fit right in with her dad and uncle."
"How is that going?" Agnes asked.
"Richie loves being an uncle. He babysat her last week while David and I were out. When we got home, Richie was sleeping on the couch with Charlotte sleeping on his chest."
"Aw. That's adorable. Is that why he moved to Los Angeles?"
"Yeah. He told us while I was pregnant that he didn't want to be that type of uncle who she only sees on Christmas."
"Awwwwww. That's so sweet."
An hour later, Maddie sat in David's office feeding Charlotte. David walked in. "How's it going out there?" Maddie asked.
"Good. The magicians are keeping the kids occupied." He looked down at Charlotte. "I can't believe this time last year we were getting it on in that bathroom."
"I know right? Now I'm sitting here feeling a baby. Crazy." When Maddie was done, she handed Charlotte to David while she fixed her costume and covered up.
"I'll burp her and rock her to sleep. You go mingle," David said.
"Thank you," Maddie said giving him a kiss before heading back out to the party.
Later that evening, Maddie sat home with Charlotte. Richie made some friends in Los Angeles who were having a Halloween party at a bar. David dressed in his Clyde outfit from last year. "It won't be any fun without my Bonnie," David said kissing Maddie while he waited for his cab.
"I know. But someone has to stay here with the little bandit," Maddie said.
"True," David said as the cab honked from outside. "You ladies have fun."
Maddie took care of Charlotte for the night. They gave out candy to trick or treaters. The kids and the moms loved Charlotte in her pumpkin pajamas. Around one in the morning, Maddie was woken up by David coming home. He walked into the bathroom to change. Maddie walked in and saw his face was red like he had been punched. "Honey what happened?"
"We got into a fight with some guys."
"What else is new."
"Hey this wasn't my fault. Some guy bugging a woman in a Tinkerbell costume. He wouldn't take no for an answer. I tried to help her but he got mad and started swinging. So I had to fight him off," David said as he was getting undressed. Maddie then saw a red mark on his neck. She knew that was not from getting hit.
"And what about that? I know that wasn't from me," Maddie said pointing at his neck.
"Well, one of her friends dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood was thankful that I helped her friend. She tried to repay me. I kept telling her no and that I'm married. She wouldn't take no for an answer. I had to fight her off too."
"Did you give her the to better to eat you line that you tried to give me?"
"Absolutely not. Only you get lines of any kind from me."
"My loving faithful hero," Maddie said kissing David. "Ugh. You taste like beer, and nachos. And not even good beer."
"Sorry about that. How was your night?"
"The neighbors loved Charlotte in her pumpkin pajamas."
"I better say good night to our little pumpkin."
"David I just got here back to sleep. Please don't wake her up."
"I won't." David finished changing and quietly walked into the nursery. He leaned down to gently give Charlotte a kiss. He turned around to walk back to the nursery, Charlotte lets out loud gas and starts crying. "Dammit," David muttered under his breath.
"That's my girl," Maddie laughed from the other room. David laughed and shook his head as he picked up his crying daughter to change her.
The next few weeks were interesting. It was getting towards the holiday season again. Everyone was excited. It would be the first for both baby Ashley and baby Charlotte. Another occasion that was exciting was happening for David and Maddie. The doctor gave Maddie the green light to resume adult activities. They planned a weekend. Mrs. Hayes would be staying with Charlotte while David and Maddie get a nice weekend break. They got to their beautiful suite for the weekend. "Why don't we go downstairs to the restaurant and grab some dinner?" David asked as they unpacked.
"Nah. I have a better idea."
"What's that?"
"Why don't we just have dinner up here?" Maddie asked seductively as she walked over to dinner.
"Really?"
"Yeah. It's been years since we had one of those fourteen-hour sessions. I enjoyed those, David."
"You mean when we'd have sex, eat while naked in bed, then have sex again? Then shower and start all over?"
"Exactly that. It's our first weekend alone. I think we should make the most of it."
"I agree."
The next day, Maddie and David were both very satisfied. They had their fourteen-hour session where they alternated between sex, eating, sleeping and showering. They were asleep when they were woken up by the phone in their room ringing. "Hello?" David said sleepily.
"Hey man. Sorry to disturb your weekend. But I gotta talk to you and Maddie. Immediately," Richie said.
"Is everything ok?" David asked.
"I don't know man."
"Ok. Meet us at the hotel restaurant in an hour."
It was noon when Maddie and David decided to head down the restaurant in the hotel to grab lunch with Richie.
"So, what's wrong man?" David asked Richie
"I just found out I'm a dad," Richie said.