WHEN LOVE CANNOT BE DENIED

It had been four months since Blue Moon closed its doors and went out of business. Four months since she had seen Agnes or the Wobblies, four months since she said goodby to David. They had said all the things people say to each other when they parted: "take care", "good luck", "be happy", "i'll miss you". It was the "I'll miss you" sentiment that she wasn't sure of at the time. He had frustrated her in every way possible whether it was disagreeing about a case or just life in general. They argued about almost everything and it exhausted her. The one aspect of their "relationship" that she could not deny was their lovemaking. They connected not only in a physical way but spiritually also. When they made love she was lost in his arms and his kisses enveloped her, she could respond to him over and over again, always wanting more but sex was not enough to sustain a relationship and decided the best thing for both of them was to go their separate ways. So when all was said and done, she figured they were done.

When this chapter of her life called Blue Moon was finished, Maddie was forced to pursue modeling again. She hated to go backwards in her life but until she could figure out what she wanted to do next, modeling was something she knew how to do and that it would sustain her. When she applied for a job at a Modeling Agency that was interested in older models, the owner of the agency, Ms. Myers recognized her. "Madolyn Hayes, the Blue Moon Shampoo girl, right"? "Yes, that's me" said Maddie and immediately felt a pang in her heart reminiscing when someone else had remembered her as the shampoo girl 4 years ago.

After two months of walking the runway, Maddie fell back into the routine of the life of a model. Since she was older she accepted the ins and outs of the business and knew how to manage it but found modeling unfulfilling and lonly. She convinced herself it was the fact that she had had a partner for the last 4 years to talk or to be more exact, argue with, which was making her feel this way. It couldn't possibly be David she missed, her life was organized and controlled since they were not together but something was missing and she couldn't figure out what it was…then one day she realized she never looked forward to or loved Mondays anymore.

Good looking, sophisticated men asked her on dates and she went out willingly. These men knew all the right moves and said all the right things. They took her to places she loved like plays, expensive restaurants and once she went to a Symphony in the same concert hall that David had taken her and when she was ushered to the same box seats as before, she half expected her date to be escorted to another seat, in another row. That memory made her smile and when her mind came back to the present, she looked at her date and just sighed. No man had made it past two dates with Maddie and she couldn't understand why. She would lose interest in their conversations and no spark had ignited her passion for any one of them. It was on her second date with Jim that she finally understood the reason.

Jim had wanted to take Maddie to a little bistro that had just opened. It was a romantic spot, dark and cozy with good food, drinks and a guy blowing a soulful sax in the corner. As they were being escorted to their table, Maddie suddenly felt it or rather sensed it and knew HE was there, it was THAT feeling again, that electricity that she always felt when they were together. As she looked around the room she saw him. David was sitting at a table with a woman who was talking incessantly, not even noticing that David wasn't listening to her but instead was fixated on Maddie. Their eyes met and just like it was 4 years ago Maddie's heart was beating wildly. She had forgotten how green his eyes were and how they could bore into her, making her whole body feel like it was on fire. She smiled and he gave her the little smirk that would always melt her completely. Maddie was rooted to the spot and finally felt Jim grab her hand to lead her to their table. She turned to move forward but could feel those green eyes searing not only into her back but her soul as well.

The rest of the night was a blur and Maddie couldn't wait for the date to end. She didn't even want to kiss Jim goodnight and instead gave him a peck on the cheek. She was seething with jealousy over the woman that David was with. She thought that after six months she had moved on from him but it was no use. She loved David and no matter who she went out with they never could make her feel the passion she had for him. Why, she didn't understand it but it was there just the same and couldn't be denied. No, No, No, she screamed to herself in the mirror. " David has moved on and so must you".

Back at work on Monday Maddie was informed that on Friday the Modeling Agency was participating in a charity auction whereas the models would be auctioned to the highest bidder for a dinner date down in the restaurant of the hotel where the auction was being held. Maddie protested and said she didn't want to be "auctioned" off but Ms. Myers informed her that all models must attend and it was for a good cause and for goodness sake, it was only one dinner.

When the auction started Maddie was fifth in line and as she waited her turn she heard numbers being shouted out in the range of five thousand to ten thousand dollars. As Maddie was introduced and started down the runway she heard bids of three thousand, five thousand, ten thousand climbing to twenty thousand. The auctioneer was shouting twenty thousand once, twice, and before he could gavel the final bid down of twenty thousand a voice shouted out ONE MILLION DOLLARS..

The audience gasped and turned to look at the man who was walking up to the edge of the stage. Maddie stared into the bright lights, knowing that voice. David stood at the end of the runway stage and said:

"Mind you, I don't have a million dollars nor do I want a dinner date with Madolyn Hayes for one night. I want breakfast, lunch and dinner dates with Madolyn Hayes for the rest of my life. I love you Maddie and I have come to realize I can't replace you and believe me, I have tried for six months and when I saw you the other night I knew my quest to find someone else was futile.

You are not only my heart and soul but my life. I knew it 4 years ago and nothing has changed. Please, put me out of my misery and marry me".

The crowd now turned its collective heads towards Maddie who straightened her back and walked down the stairs of the runway and stopped in front of David. She put her arms around his neck and simply said: "I thought you'd never ask".