Chapter 15

"Gone? What do you mean gone?" Maddie asked.

"Gone as in she left California."

"She did?" Maddie asked in shock.

"Yup. Apparently, she couldn't find a job or a place out here. Without a job or a home she couldn't get custody of her son. So, she managed to convince Mark to take her back. How I don't know. So she's on her way back to Connecticut."

"What about her son? How will she be a mother to him from Connecticut?" Maddie asked.

"She won't I guess. She'll probably be just a check in the mail."

"That's awful. I couldn't imagine willingly putting thousands of miles between me and Charlotte."

"I know. I hate being away from my cat when I go away for work. I can't imagine being away from my child."

"Some people weren't meant to be parents I guess," Maddie said.

"Agreed."

A few days later it was New Year's Eve. Maddie and David were busy getting ready for the party being thrown at the office. "Mom, are you sure that you don't mind being alone on New Year's Eve?" Maddie asked Mrs. Hayes who was sitting on the couch feeding a bottle to Charlotte.

"Absolutely, Maddie. I'll probably fall asleep long before Dick Clark counts down to midnight. I'll give this little angel a bath, put her to bed and read until I get tired."

"We'll bring you back some leftovers. This really nice deli is catering the party," David said as he walked in and gabbed his suit jacket as they left.

The party was in full swing at the office. Everyone laughing, eating, chatting and even some dancing. Maddie and David were chatting when Richie walked in with a pretty red head. "Yo yo bro bro!" Richie said walking over to David and Maddie.

"Hello again," the red head said.

"You seem familiar," David said.

"I guess I do look different as a blonde."

"Oh! Tinkerbell?" David asked.

"Yes. That's me. But it's Caroline. Nice to officially meet you."

"Oh, this is who you guys saved on Halloween?" Maddie asked.

"Yes, this is my wife, Maddie."

"Nice to meet you."

A few hours later, Maddie, Agnes and Caroline talked while David, Richie, Bert and some guys from the office talked sports. "So, Caroline you know about Wyatt?" Maddie asked.

"Yes. I love that Richie stepped up to his responsibility. My dad never wanted to be a dad. When he found out about me, he never contacted my mom again. I've never met him."

"Does he know you exist?" Agnes asked.

"He knows. I'm in contact with his family who told him about me. But he never reached out. That's alright though."

"It's unbelievable that people can have kids but don't want them. Me and my husband can't have kids. We adopted from a couple who didn't want their baby."

"Yeah. I don't understand it. But I do have a wonderful dad. About six months after I was born, a new guy started working at my mom's office. They chatted and became friends. Then they were more than friends. They got married a couple of months after I turned two. He's been my dad ever since," Caroline said.

"That's great that he stepped in as your dad when he didn't have to," Maddie said.

"Just like you and Mr. Addison," Agnes said.

"Oh, is your daughter not David's daughter?" Caroline asked confused.

"Oh no she is. Agnes means my son. I was pregnant before a couple of years ago. I dated an old friend. We broke up and I started dating David shortly after. Then I found out I was pregnant and there was a question of which guy was the father. I didn't tell the old friend. But David was determined. He knew it might not be his baby, but he was adamant that he would be there for us. He was adamant that he be the dad."

"Well considering Richie told me you two only have a daughter, I imagine what happened with your son. I'm sorry," Caroline said sadly.

"Thank you," Maddie smiled. "Have you met Wyatt?" Maddie asked.

"Not yet. We agreed it would be best to wait until Richie and I are serious about each other."

"That makes sense. You don't want him to get attached to you, and then things not work out," Maddie said.

"Exactly."

Later that night, Maddie and David get home. They check on baby Charolette who is sleeping soundly. "Think about it Maddie, at this time last year we didn't know we were making that little girl in there," David said as they both got ready for bed in their bedroom.

"I know. Hard to believe," Maddie said noticing a familiar look in David's eye. "Oh no no no buddy. Don't even think about it. I want my body back for a little while before I lose it again."

David looked down defeated. "Yeah. I understand. One screaming baby is hard enough, two would be a nightmare."

"Definitely," Maddie said as they both got into bed.