This is for entertainment purposes only. The characters belong to ABC Circle Films and Picture Maker Productions. No infringement intended.  As always with love and thanks to Glen Gordon Caron, Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis for the wonderful characters they created. 

 

 

Two Months Later

 

Maddie awoke early, well before the alarm.  The light from the moon lit up the room and gave it a soft glow.  She was comfortable in her bed.  She snuggled deeper into the covers and the pillow still comforted by sleep.  This was her favorite part of the day.  It was a time when the world and its problems seemed far away.  Nothing  - not the current case load, the employees, money, family, world affairs or David – entered her head at this time.  She was content to let her mind focus on the clean of the sheets, the soft of the pillow and the steady breathing of the man sleeping next to her.  She was happy – truly happy in those few moments after waking before reality invaded her thoughts.  David shifted position and the moment for Maddie was gone. 

 

David and she and been living together for two months.  It seemed to be going well – better than either had expected.  They worked together as they always had – disagreeing, debating, bantering and finally compromising over the finer points of … everything.  Neither one held back any comments, but more importantly they did not play dirty with newfound information they had about the other.  David’s standard double entendres were not any more familiar than they had been and Maddie’s annoyance with them seemed to be the same.  When they reached the end of their workday – be it 5, 6 or midnight – unlike the sheepdog and the coyote in the Warner Brother’s cartoons – their work personas were not able to punch out.  They could not figure out a way to turn off whatever was going on between them during work hours.  So they took it home.  This was not always a bad thing. 

 

Their home life was far from Donna Reed.  Maddie was not home cooking well-balanced meals in heels and pearls and David was not hiding behind a newspaper.  It was not quite the Honeymooners either.  On many a night they acted like two people dating.  They would go out to eat or order food in and talk and laugh and enjoy each other’s company until it was time for bed and then the lovers would act like lovers.  Then there were the other nights – each would go to their own corner – needing to be out of each other’s company and do their own thing.  Even on those nights they found themselves pulling up the sheets together.  Then there were the other nights, not often but also not rare, that David would sleep on the couch or in the spare bedroom.  This was an occurrence that was not discussed nor even acknowledged by either. 

 

The most interesting thing was this couple who would fight about the sun rising in the morning never fought at home.  The verbal fights were limited to the office.  At home they stayed out of each other’s way and never raised their voices.  The other thing that was interesting was that the normal living together annoyances (toothpaste squeezing practices, sock placement: the floor vs. the hamper, garbage duty) were not up for discussion.  Which is not to say that Maddie didn’t get irritated when she had to pick up David’s clothes for the 100^th time, and that David would not be bothered by all of Maddie’s ‘stuff’ in the bathroom.  But there was never any discussion or overt compromise over these annoyances.  It was as if Maddie and David silently agreed that they wouldn’t turn those minor domestic habits into major discussion items.  Although they may bring Maddie and David the detectives home; they did not bring Maddie and David the domestic partners to work.

 

After two months, if either were asked, they would agree that their new status as couple was a raging success.  However …

 

Maddie slipped out of bed without David waking and quietly left the room.  She showered and changed in the downstairs bathroom and was out of the house before David woke up.

 

Maddie walked into Blue Moon shortly after 11am.

 

“Good Morning, Miss DiPesto.”  She smiled and acted as if nothing were different.  The entire staff checked their watches and looked back at her.  She picked up the mail and shuffled through it giving them an if-a-looks-could-kill glare.

 

“Good Morning, Miss Hayes.”  Maddie turned toward David’s door.  “Mr. Addison is not in his ---.”

 

“Thank you!” 

 

She cut Agnes off and marched into her own office and quickly closed the door behind her.  As she sat down at her desk she was startled to see David stretched out on the couch facing her – watching her.

 

“David!”

 

“Hey Roomie – what happened to you this morning?”  He was annoyed.

 

“Me?  This morning?  Nothing happened to me this morning.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Really.”

 

“You were up and at ‘em awful early, bird – and I don’t see a worm?”

 

“David.”

 

“Need to return a library book?”

 

“David.”

 

“Rob a bank?”

 

“I woke up early and decided to get a couple of things done.  I saw no reason to wake you.”

 

The explanation was not enough to satisfy David.  “Which ‘couple of things’ needed to get done between 4AM and –“ he checked his watch “--Almost noon?”

 

“I don’t think I like your tone.”  She was becoming annoyed too.  “And it is none of your damn business what I needed to get done.”

 

“None of my DAMN business, huh?”  He got up to meet her ire with his own.

 

“No – none of your DAMN business.”

 

“So it is none of MY DAMN business when my –“ He was searching for something to call her like wife, girlfriend, partner, lover but nothing seemed to apply.  She was just as interested to see what adjective he would use to describe who she was to him.  “—when YOU get up out of OUR bed and sneak …”

 

“I didn’t sneak.”

 

“…out of the house before dawn.  The last time you snuck out of bed with someone, you were leaving Sam to come see me.”

 

“Right David – I have a lover across town – you found me out.  My face is red.”  She said snidely and turned away from him.

 

“Maddie.”

 

“What David?  What?” She glared back at him hoping that her annoyance would end the conversation.  It didn’t.  “We are not joined at the hip.  Just because we share the same sheets doesn’t mean that you have a right to know everything about what I do, think or say.”

 

“So you want to pretend that this is normal.  That getting up at 4 AM and sneaking ---“

 

“I DIDN’T SNEAK!!!”  She screamed.  “I was being considerate.”

 

“Considerate would have left a note.”  She exhaled loudly and let him win his point.

 

“You’re right.  I should have left a note.”

 

“So…”

 

“So what?”

 

“What would your note have said?” 

 

She smiled disgustedly and shook her head.  “Dear David, I have some things to do.  Didn’t want to wake you.  See you at the office before noon.  Maddie”

 

“No ‘love’?”

 

“David.”

 

“’Fondly’?  ‘Kind Regards’? ‘Respectfully’?”

 

“David, can we stop this now – we have an appointment in---“ Agnes knocked on the door.  “Come in.”  Maddie was grateful for the interruption.

 

“Mr. Westmoreland is here to see you.”   Agnes said quickly.  She knew they were fighting and didn’t want to interrupt.

 

“Fine.  Show him in.”  Maddie said.

 

“Agnes, show him into my office.”  David instructed.  “We’ll be there in a minute.”  Maddie glared at David and Agnes shut the door.

 

“David.”

 

“Maddie – look.  Did it ever occur to you that I might be worried about you?  I wake up and you are no where to be found.”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“Don’t be sorry.”

 

“I won’t do it again.”

 

“Do it again or not – that is not the point.”

 

“Does any of this have a point?”

 

“What ‘this’ are you referring to?”

 

“This conversation.”

 

“If something is bothering you….”  He opened his arm wide as if to imply that he was there for her to confide in. 

 

“Yeah, right.”  She said sarcastically.

 

“Yeah!  Right!”  He said with conviction as he reached out to take her hands.  She stiffened.

 

“David – it is nothing really.”  She paused and he waited.  “Really.”

 

“I’ll accept that --- for the moment.”

 

“That’s good of you.”

 

“Could you give a guy some warning?”  She nodded.  “At least before you take off for Chicago or parts unknown?”  He grinned.

 

“Go to hell Addison.”  He pulled her into an embrace.

 

“I’m trying here Maddie.”

 

“I know you are.  And I appreciate it.”

 

“This model Addison didn’t come with the ‘relationship’ package standard, you know.”

 

“Don’t worry I am not looking for a trade in or a trade up.”

 

“Good to know – ‘cause I got a few thousand miles left in me.”

 

“Is that supposed to be comforting?”  She smiled and he opened the door.

 

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They walked into David’s office and Mr. Westmoreland was looking out over the city.  He was silhouetted against the bright light of the day.  He was a man of about medium height and build.  He was dressed in a suit, which at first seemed well tailored.

 

“We are sorry to keep you waiting Mr. Westmoreland.”  Maddie entered talking and extended her hand to him. 

 

As he stepped away from the light of the window it could be seen that he was a man of indeterminable age – over 40 and under 60.  His clothes were rumpled, old and too small for him.  He had tattoos on his hands and one on his neck.  His eyes were clear but his face was well worn. 

 

“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”  He said.  His voice was husky and soft and didn’t match his physique.

 

“I am Maddie Hayes and this is my partner David Addison.”  The men shook hands and David waved toward the chair for Mr. Westmoreland to take a seat.  He did, Maddie did and David took his usual position sitting on the desk behind Maddie.

 

“My name is Jake Westmoreland – but I guess you know that.”  He paused and shift position.  “I am sorry – I have never done this before.”

 

“How can we help you, Mr. Westmoreland?”

 

“Jake.  The truth is I don’t know if you can – or if you will.”  He paused waiting for a response from either Maddie or David, when none came he continued.  “About 6 weeks ago I was released from prison after 20 years for the murder of my wife.  Involuntary manslaughter.  I have a daughter; she turned 29 yesterday.  I haven’t seen her, spoken to her or received a letter from her in all that time.  She was placed in the care of my wife’s sister when I went to jail, so you can imagine that there were no visits or correspondence of any kind.  She left there when she was 18.    My sister-in-law died about a year or so ago.  There is no other family.  I have reason to believe that she is in Los Angeles, but no real facts.  I spoke to her high school friend and she told me that Lily – my daughter – was headed to Hollywood to be a star.”  He stopped speaking.

 

“I’m sorry Mr. Westmoreland – you want us to find your daughter with nothing other than a vague reference to the fact that she told a girlfriend more than a decade ago that she was going to Hollywood?”  David was almost laughing.

 

“I have a couple of pictures.”  He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out some photographs.  “And I know that she took my wife’s maiden name – Campbell.”  He was pleading.  It was clear that the man was in a lot of pain.

 

“Excuse us Mr. Westmoreland.  David, may I see you for a moment?”

 

“There is something else you’ll need to know.  I have not found a job as yet and I have very little money.  I will pay you – whatever you ask – if you will allow me to pay it back over time.”

 

“Excuse us.”  David said and he led Maddie out of the room.

 

In the outer office Maddie and David assumed the debate position – nose to nose in front of his door.

 

“For once I think we will agree that we are NOT taking this case.”  David started.

 

“Why do you say that?  I think we should help him.”

 

“Maddie, he’s a killer – he murdered his wife – now you want to help him stage a family reunion with his kid – who I am sure has spent a ton on therapy dealing with the fact that her father killed her mother when she was 9 – and do it all pro bono?”

 

“Interesting.  That is not what I saw.”

 

“Really?  Which pair of rose color contacts are you wearing today?”

 

“I saw a father that has done his time – paid his debt to society and is now willing to pay his debt to his daughter.”

 

“There are some debts you can’t ever pay back.”

 

“Shouldn’t the daughter be given the choice of getting to know her father?”

 

“She made her choice – it wasn’t like he was hard to find for the past 20 years.”

 

“David, she was nine when he went to jail, things change, people change, -- if she knew that he was out and wanted to see her – maybe she would agree to a meeting.”

 

“This case has disaster written all over it – and there is nothing in it for us.”

 

“David!”

 

“But Hey – it is your name on the door – I just work here – speaking of … how ‘bout a raise?”  He smiled and opened the door to his office.  “Good news Mr. Westmoreland, you found yourself a couple of bloodhounds – I mean detectives.”

 

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Maddie spent the better part of the afternoon running around to SAG and AFTRA trying to find someone who had Lily’s name on their roster.  No one listed a Lily Campbell or a Lily Westmoreland.  Of course there were at least 700 Lily’s in the database at SAG, but they were unwilling to help Maddie any more than that.  Maddie also contacted the theater departments at UCLA, AFI and USC – she had no luck.  Reaching a dead end again at the Actors Studio and several of the major talent agents in town, she decided to see how David was coming along.  She arrived back in the office late in the afternoon, knocked quickly on David’s door and walked in without waiting for a response.  David was stretched out on the couch reading a file – a police file.  There were magazines and newspaper articles strew all over the floor.  David was so engrossed that he did not notice that Maddie was standing over him until she called his name a third time.

 

“David?”

 

He held up his hand to pause her from talking until he was done with the paragraph he was reading.

 

“Maddie?” He looked up quickly.  “What’s up?”  He went back to his reading.

 

“I have gone all over town to the acting guilds, colleges and talent agents – no one shows a Lily Campbell or Westmoreland in the last 10 years.”

 

“Did you try the corner of Hollywood and Vine?”  He said out of the side of his mouth.

 

“What is that supposed to mean?”

 

“Where do most of the wanna-be’s wind up Maddie?”  He looked up at her and she cocked her head.  “With the never-had-a-snowballs-chance-in-hell team making a living by the hour…”

 

“Stop it, David.”

 

“I don’t make the rules Maddie.”  She shook her head and he went back to reading.

 

“What have you got there?”

 

“Police file.”  He distractedly leafed through the file not looking at Maddie.

 

“On Lily Westmoreland?”

 

David looked confused.  “No, well not exactly.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“What?”

 

“What exactly?”

 

“It is the file on the murder of Aster Westmoreland – the mother.”

 

“Where did you get that?”

 

“I have my sources.”

 

“David.”

 

“I sent Burt to the police station and Agnes to the library for lunch today.”   He sat up.  “This was a pretty big case Maddie, probably the biggest in Madison, West Virginia.  It was not so cut and dry as our Mr. Jake Westmoreland would have us believe.”

 

“We weren’t hired to dig up information on that case, David.”

“Well we are not getting paid so…”

 

“David, we were asked to find his daughter.  Why can’t you let the past stay that way?  He has paid his debt to society.”

 

“Why are you so defensive of a murderer?”

 

“I’m not defensive.”

 

“No?”

 

“NO!”

 

“Have it your way – at any rate there appear to be a lot more questions than answers in this file.  No one really knows what happened the night Mrs. Westmoreland died, she was not found for several days and our man Jake and his lovely daughter Lily (a.k.a. Lolita)…” He held up a picture of her, she was very beautiful and at nine she looked 18 or 20.  “…were discovered in a motel room 3 states away more than a month later.”

 

“What are you saying David?”

 

“I am saying that Father and Daughter ran – and look at this kid – I’ve known 23 year olds that look younger.”  Maddie glared at him.  “A long time ago – I have given all that up for …” He grinned at her.

 

“Shut up, David.”  She grabbed the file from his hand.   “So what are you saying… what does all this prove?”

 

“I don’t know that it proves anything other than that JAKE may not be looking for his daughter for fatherly reasons.”

 

“That is taking a pretty big leap in logic – if you’ll excuse the expression.”  She added snidely.

 

“All I am saying is that there is more to this case – HIS case, than meets the eye.  He never admitted to killing his wife – accidentally or otherwise.  He never told anyone what happened that night – day - whenever.  The evidence shows that there appeared to be a struggle and Mrs. Westmoreland wound up at the bottom of the stairs -- the hard way.  She – before the fall - was not hard to look at either.”  He pulled a picture of Mrs. Westmoreland out of the pile of papers on the couch.  She was beautiful – she could have been a model.

 

“So now what?”

 

“I think I am going to have a little conversation – man to man – with our man Jake.”  He got up and was straightening his tie and rebuttoning the cuffs on his shirt.

 

“Really?”

 

“Really.”  He grabbed his coat.

 

“What do you expect me to do?”

 

“Why don’t you just stay here looking as beautiful as you do?”  He tried to kiss her but she pushed him away.  “Or you can go talk to Lily.”

 

“What?”

 

“She is Lily Frakes – she is married and living in Hermosa Beach with her husband and two children.”  He pulled another file from the table.

 

“YOU LET ME SPIN MY WHEELS ALL AFTERNOON…”

 

“Nobody spins wheels like you do Maddie.”  He smiled and walked out.

 

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David found Jake in a bar about a block away from the room he had rented.  It was a pretty seedy section of town and Jake was already a sheet or two to the wind.

 

“Mr. Addison!!  Sit down – let me buy you a drink.”  He sloppily waved the bartender over and David ordered a beer.

 

“Mr. Westmoreland – I need…”

 

“Jake – call me Jake.”  He appeared to be a guy down on his luck to David; just a guy who had hit a really bad patch.  Not like a killer, not like a man who just spent the last 20 years of his life in maximum security.  He seemed like a but-for-the-grace-of-god type of guy – an everyman – a normal guy.  He looked like a guy that could use a little help.  David’s resolve to get to the bottom of Aster Westmoreland’s murder was softened.

 

“Jake – what type of work are you looking for?”

 

“Hell today I – after I left you – I applied at everything from a MacDonald’s Fry cook to a security company – funny thing about security – they don’t want to hire cons – much less killers.”

 

“I heard that – .”  David was beginning to believe that he shouldn’t be trying to talk to him at this time.  “What type of work did you do before?”

 

“I was an accountant – a C.P.A – I don’t think I’ll have to brush up on my debits and credits though – that career path is whacked.”  He turned toward David and opened his arms wide in a ‘look at what I have become’ stance.

 

“What did you do inside?”

 

“They put me in the library since I was pretty close to the only guy who had read a book in my cell block. – but there were not enough books to make it a learning experience.”

 

“Something will turn up.”

 

“Yeah – I can move a box with the best of them.”  He drained his glass and waved the bartender over for another.  “So any luck finding Lily?”  It was almost an after thought – like he had forgotten why he knew David.

 

“Not yet.”  David studied him for a moment.  “Do you have any idea what you will say to her?”

 

“Mr. Addison, I have had 20 years to do nothing but think about my daughter – how she was, what she was doing, who she was doing it with, was she happy, was she able to forgive her- me for what happened.”

 

“What did happen, Jake?”  Jake’s face became very serious and he looked sober.

 

“You have been doing some checking.”  He accused.

 

“I have.”

 

“Then you know.”

 

“I don’t know anything.”

 

“You know that you won’t get a confession or a statement out of me – I have had cops, lawyers and reporters up my ass for 20 years trying to get me to relive that night.  The answer for you is the same as with them – NO WAY IN HELL.  It doesn’t matter anyway – I did my time.  I don’t have to say anything.”

 

“If it doesn’t matter…”

 

“There was a fight – my wife died – that is it – end of story.”

 

“Did you love your wife?”

 

“What does that have to do with anything?”  David waited for an answer.  “Yes, I loved my wife, I loved my daughter, I loved my life.  Be careful what makes you happy Mr. Addison – cause sure as shit someone it going to take it all away from you.”

 

“Who took it all away from you?”

 

“The Gods, my friend – the gods.  They hate to see any of us mortals happy.”  He drained his glass and got up.  “Look Mr. Addison – I really appreciate your help in finding my daughter and I supposed you have a few concerns about telling me where she is – I can understand that too – but really – just find her and tell her that I am looking to see her.  If she says no – fine – I’ll head back to West Virginia – or New Jersey or anywhere out of her life.  I just need to know that she is all right – she owes me that much.  OK  -- tell her that.”  He left he bar.

 

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It took Maddie more than an hour and a half to get to Hermosa Beach.  It was close to 6PM when she knocked on the door to the Frakes house.  A woman came to the door who looked enough like Lily that Maddie assumed it was her.

 

“Lily Frakes?”

 

“Who wants to know?”  She had a very thick New York accent and the attitude to go along with it.

 

“My name is Maddie Hayes…”

 

“Oh my gawd, the shampoo goil.  Hey Lily…” She called over her shoulder.  “…Lily!”  She walked away and another woman came to the door.

 

“I am Lily Frakes, what do you want?”  She looked older, much older than 29.  Her eyes were pained and she was a little high strung.

 

“I am Maddie Hayes – is there some place we can speak in private?” 

 

“Jessie – going outside for a minute – watch the kids?”  She opened the door and lead Maddie away from the house. 

 

“I am a private investigator and your--.”

 

“This is about my father isn’t it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I knew it – boy he didn’t waste any time did he?”

 

“I don’t understand.”   The two women were silent for a moment sizing each other up.  “I think he just wants to talk to –“

 

“I can’t see him, Miss Hayes.  Not after all this time.”

 

“He said that —“ She cut Maddie off.

 

“I said NO – not after – NO, Miss Hayes.”  She started to walk back toward the house when she stopped and turned back toward Maddie.  “Have you seen him?”

 

“Yes, I met him this morning.”

 

“How does he look?”  She was almost in tears.

 

“I don’t know quite how to describe him to you.  He looks older than he probably is.  He is thin… I don’t quite know what you want me to say.”

 

Lily was silent for a moment.  Tears were welling up in her eyes.

 

“My father was a great man Miss Hayes.  He was big and tall and strong.  With the biggest smile you had ever seen – it would light up a room.  The last time I saw him, I was just a kid.”

 

“I think he just wants to see that you are alright.”

 

“What did he tell you?”

 

“He told us that he had been released from prison 6 weeks ago for the murder of your mother.”

 

“Did he tell you …. Anything else?”

 

“No – just that he wanted to find you and hoped to see you.”

 

Lily walked slowly away from the house and took a seat on the curb.  Maddie trailed after her and sat down a foot or two away.

 

“Miss Hayes are you a mother?”  The question took Maddie by surprise.

 

“No.”  Her response was filled with meaning that was lost on Lily.

 

“I just became a mother for the first time 14 months ago.  My son – Marcus – was born premature.  Only 4 pounds.  We nearly lost him many times in those first 4 weeks.  I remember praying to God, promising that I would do anything if he would let my son live.  I asked God to take me instead.”  She was quiet for a while.  “I never really believed that that kind of love existed – that strong.  I have a daughter too – she’s not mine – she’s my husband’s.  It is not that I love my daughter less, you understand, it has never been tested like with Marcus.”  She paused again and started picking at her fingernails.  “I have spent nearly 20 years messed up over something that I didn’t understand.  Now that I do – now I know the gift I was given – I can’t even say thank you.  What kind of daughter – what kind of person does that make me?”  It was an earnest question.

 

“I am sorry Mrs. Frakes – I just don’t seem to be following you.”

 

Lily took a deep breath.  “My father did not kill my mother Miss Hayes.  I did.”

 

“Oh.”  The two women were silent for a long time.  Lily started to laugh.

 

“Do you know I have never said that to anyone?  Hell, I don’t think I have ever said it out loud – ever, not even to him.”  Maddie was dumb founded.  “I need some coffee and a smoke.”  Lily stood up and motioned for Maddie to follow her into the house.

 

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David was asleep on the couch when Maddie arrived home close to midnight.  She walked into the living room to see the remains of several empty beer bottles and a box of delivery pizza.  She watched him sleep for a moment and her expression got very sad.  She reached out to touch his foot and he startled awake.

 

“Maddie?  When did you get home?  What time is it?”  He was talking very quickly.

 

“It is almost midnight and I just got home.”

 

“Where the hell have you been?”  He was annoyed.

 

“I was with Lily Frakes.” 

 

“All night?”

 

“Yes – well until an hour ago.  Hermosa is not a mile away you know.”

 

“I know were Hermosa Beach is and I know they have telephone lines running down there from here.”

 

She turned to start picking up the living room.

 

“Leave it Maddie, LEAVE IT!  You are avoiding me, I want to know what the hell is going on.”

 

“Nothing is going on, David.  I told you – I was with Lily Frakes – she has agreed to see her father.”

 

“I don’t give a damn about Lily Frakes or Jake Westmoreland – I want to know why you didn’t call to tell me where you were.”

 

“David.”

 

“This is not like you Maddie – actually this is exactly like you – and NO WE ARE NOT JOINED AT THE HIP – what is bothering you?”

 

“David, please it’s late.”

 

“And it is going to get later.  Tell me what I have done – or haven’t done – or should have done – or should not have done.”

 

“What an ego – it’s not about you.”

 

“What’s not about me?”

 

“David – I am not going to do this now.”  She dropped the stuff she had in her hands back down on the table and started for the door.

 

“Why is it that you can dictate the times when we talk and not talk?”

 

“What?”

 

“When you want to ‘discuss’ something and I don’t want to – we discuss it.  When you don’t – we don’t.  It hardly seems fair.”

 

“When did anyone ever promise you FAIR?”  She was becoming very angry.  “Do you want to hear about fair David – fair is a man who gives up his life for his daughter, who promptly does everything she possible can to destroy that life – until one day – she becomes a mother and in that one moment her whole life changes and all the craziness clicks into place.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“Lily and Jake Westmoreland.  Lily was the one who pushed her mother down the stairs that day – not Jake.  He wouldn’t let her confess.  He made her promise never to tell anyone – ever.  Lily tried to kill her self 5 times before she was 18.  She ran away to Hollywood to be a star and wound up on Hollywood & Vine, just like you said.  She was hooked on every drug out there and finally got clean after her child was born – addicted to heroin.  She’s been clean for over a year now and the child – who was just placed back in her custody – will have respiratory and various other problems for the rest of his life.  How is that for fair?”  She was very upset and close to tears.

 

“Maddie – sit down.”  He said gently.  She did not sit close enough to him so he moved over.  “Something happened to you today – before you met Jake or Lily Westmoreland – please tell me what it is?” 

 

There was a long pause before she spoke.

 

“What are we doing together David?”  The question was not unexpected on David’s part.   He had a suspicion that their two months of cohabitation was going to take a toll on her sooner or later.  “I mean really – where is the future?”

 

“I see a lot of future Maddie – you and me and …” She turned away and David realized that this was about children.  He changed his answer.  “… growing old together.”

 

“Don’t you want more than that?”

 

“What like a legacy?  Naw – over rated.  I think I have made enough of an impact on this world.”

 

“You don’t mean that.”

 

“What are you asking me?”

 

“Don’t you want to have kids?”  He was confused how to answer.

 

“Yes and no.”

 

“What does that mean?”

 

“It means that kids can be great – but they are dirty and messy and they are a lot of heartache.  Boys of course are better than girls – easier and less likely to cause you to stay up at night – but they have their downside too.”  He tried to smile and Maddie just looked away.

 

“I know you don’t mean that.”

 

“Maddie if you’re asking me if I would like to be a father the answer is yes – if you’re asking me would I be disappointed if I never had a kid the answer is --- I don’t know.  We are a long way from never.”

 

“We are closer than you think.”  She was tearing up again.  “It is not fair – to either of us!”

 

“If you’re suggesting that we go our separate ways over this – you’re crazier than I thought.”

 

“David.”

 

“Maddie – look you aren’t going to make me go through all that sentimental slop about my feelings for you, and why we are great together –“

 

“David.”

 

“—Because I know you know.”

 

“David – it is not that simple.”

 

“It is that simple Maddie!  It is.  It always has been – you are the only one making it complicated.”  He was exasperated.  “Look, I am going to bed.  I would love it if you would join me and I would really like to wake up slowly with you in the morning.”  He stood up and put his hand out toward her.  She looked up into his smiling eyes.

 

“That is not going to solve anything.”

 

“You never know.”  She placed her hand in his.  “It has never hurt before.  Well there was that one time when I threw my back out…” They walked hand and hand out of the living room and up the stairs.

 

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Maddie realized that she was awake and turned to look at the clock.  3:57.  She slipped out of bed and out of the room, closing the door silently behind her.  In the kitchen she poured herself a glass of juice and took two aspirin.  She was debating on whether to make decafe coffee or full strength when David’s arms wrapped around her.  She let out a little gasp of surprise.

 

“You are not the only sneak in this house Maddie Hayes.”

 

“For the last time I wasn’t sneaking.” 

 

“Whatever you say, beautiful.”  He took a long drink from her glass and refilled it and drained the glass again.  “Come on Maddie – it is freezing down here – let’s go back to bed.  I’ll let you warm me up.”

 

“I can’t sleep.”

 

“I wasn’t suggesting that we sleep.”

 

“David.”

 

“What were you thinking?”  He smiled at her.  “Sex – is that all you women think about? Sex, sex, sex.  Do you think we are just machines?  Switches to be turned on and off?”

 

“David.”

 

“Come on Maddie – it’s really cold.”

 

She turned to look at him.  He was wearing only boxers and was nearly shivering. 

 

“You could put some clothes on.”

 

“I will – when I am ready to face the day, but until then…” He snuggled into her and they walked out of the room. 

 

 

Back upstairs in bed, Maddie lay uneasily in David’s arms.  He had drifted off to a light sleep and Maddie let her mind wander over the projects that she had to do that day.  She tried to distract herself from thinking about her doctor’s visit of the previous morning.  Maddie was able to get in right away because she was there before the receptionist was.  Dr. Weed examined her and took some blood etc to run tests.  They talked for a while and Dr. Weed made a suggestion that Maddie talk to a different kind of doctor – a psychiatrist.

 

“I don’t need a psychiatrist.”

 

“Everyone could use someone to talk to now and then – and you are still mourning the loss of your baby.  It was only 5 months ago.”

 

“Almost 6.”  Maddie corrected.  “I don’t know what is wrong with me.  It is too soon to think about another child.”  She paused and Dr. Weed waited.  “There is a part of me that doesn’t want to ever get pregnant again – and then there is a part of me that is disappointed that I am not yet.”

 

“What does the father have to say?”

 

“David?  We don’t talk about it.” 

 

“Why not?”

 

“You’d have to know David.  He’s not the kind of guy you have these types of discussions with.”

 

“You ought to try.”

 

“How can I talk to him?  I may never be able to have a child, there is nothing anyone of us can do about it – what is there to discuss?”

 

“So you think…”

 

“Yes …  I think he wants a child – although he is not much more than a child himself.   He thought it was a done deal two months ago.“

 

“How did he react when you told him that you weren’t?”

 

“I never told him I was so I never had to tell him I wasn’t.”

 

“How has this effected your relationship?”

 

“I don’t know that it has – at least not yet … but … well you see David is younger than I am.”

 

“What does that mean --- to you?”

 

“Nothing … it means nothing.  Thank you for your time today Dr. Weed.”

 

“Maddie, I really think you ought to give some thought to my first suggestion.”

 

“I will.  Will you call me tomorrow with the results?”

 

“Sure – I am not expecting to find anything.”

 

“I know.”

 

“When you are ready – I mean really ready – there are alternatives.”

 

“You mean…?”

 

“I mean that modern medicine has done some pretty amazing things in the area of fertility and reproduction and there is always the option of adoption.”

 

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

 

David stirred and pulled Maddie closer to him.  “What are you stewing about, Goldilocks?”

 

“Just thinking about the day ahead.  We have to call Jake Westmoreland.  Lily will be at the office at 2 o’clock.”

 

“Can I take care of that when the sun is actually up?”

 

“Sure.”  She said softly.

 

“What else?”

 

“What else what?”

 

“What else are you stewing about?”

 

“Nothing – go to sleep.”

 

“Maddie – can I just say one thing?”

 

“Could I stop you?”

 

He pulled himself up so he could look at her as he talked.  He brushed a few strands of hair away from her mouth and smiled sweetly.

 

“You need to believe me.”

 

“That will depend on what you have to say.”

 

“Listen to Papa Bear, Goldilocks, everything is just right.  Sometimes it’s too hot, sometimes it’s too cold, or too hard or too soft, but on the whole – it’s just right.”

 

She smiled slightly and reached up to touch his face.

 

He kissed her softly and pulled back to see if she believed him.  She did.  She pulled him to her and they made love as the sun rose.

 

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Maddie and David entered the elevator from the garage around 11 am.  They were late.  It stopped at the lobby level and a number of other people got on pushing Maddie and David to the back.  In the shuffling of bodies, Maddie’s hand brushed against David’s.  They turned toward each other and silently connected with a knowing smile.  David’s fingers lightly played with hers behind and below the sight of the others on the elevator.  Maddie blushed at their secret connection and turned toward the lights counting out the floors.  After several stops, the last of the people got off the elevator on the 18^th floor leaving Maddie and David alone.  As soon as the doors closed, David encircled Maddie’s waist with his arm and pulled her to him.   Their noses an inch away from each other, he leaned back and hit the stop button on the elevator.  As the alarm sounded he backed her against the wall and kissed her deeply.  She let out a little sigh and her knees buckled.

 

“You’re insatiable.”  She said.

 

He kissed her again and she responded.

 

“Not insatiable, I just know a good thing when I have it.”  He smiled.  “Let’s play hooky.”  The phone in the elevator rang.  He looked annoyed as he picked it up, never letting go of Maddie.  “Pool room….  No everything is fine.  Thanks for calling.  Have a nice day.”  He hung up and turned back toward her.  “Well?”

 

“Not today – we have Jake and Lily Westmoreland coming in.”  The phone rang again.

 

He picked it up.  “Look I am having a pretty important discussion here…. Fine.”  He hung up.  “I guess they need their elevator back.”  He smiled sadly.

 

“We can leave early?”  She reached out to touch his hand as it was about to start the elevator again.  He looked back at her and she smiled slyly. 

 

“Deal.”  He pushed the button and the elevator proceeded up to the 20^th floor.  The door opened and Maddie and David were locked in an embrace, they narrowly made it out before the doors closed sending the elevator back down to the first floor.  They walked down the hall, hand in hand and into the outer office of Blue Moon to their waiting employees.  In unison, they all checked their watches, looked back at the clock on the wall and looked back at Maddie and David.  Maddie blushed and David grinned and walked toward his own office letting go of Maddie’s hand at the very last moment.

 

“Good Morning Miss DiPesto.”  Maddie said as she picked up her mail – ignoring the obvious implication that was being made by the staff.

 

“It will be for another 45 minutes.”  She said with no emotion.

 

“Any calls?”

 

“Lily Frakes is in your office.  And Dr. Weed has called twice.”  She handed Maddie the messages.  David turned as he heard the name of Dr. Weed.

 

“Miss Hayes, may I see you for a moment?”  He said walking back toward her and preventing her from going into her own office.

 

“Miss DiPesto, please tell Mrs. Frakes, that I will be right with her.”  Maddie and David disappeared behind into his office.

 

David’s back was against the door and Maddie took the chair by the desk.  She did not look at him.

 

“Maddie – do you have something you want to tell me?”  He said rather coldly.

 

“No.”

 

“Dr. Weed, Maddie?”  Maddie shrugged.  “She is your obstetrician right?”  She nodded.  “Damn it, Maddie!  When are you going to learn?”  He was shouting which startled her, but not as much as when he whipped the chair around so that she was facing him.  He placed his hand on either side of the chair and looked directly into her eyes.  He was furious. 

 

“YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ALONE – MADELYN HAYES!”

 

“You’re angry?”  He pushed the chair away from him and walked toward the door.

 

“I would need to calm down to be angry!”

 

“David.”  She was trying to remain calm herself.

 

“You’re setting us up Maddie.  You’re setting us up to fail.”

 

“David, please.”

 

“This is all in your head – You think too much.”

 

“Better too much than not at