I had made the mistake of challenging him as a cook, and he wouldn’t have it. We had spent the last couple of days cleaning up and just trying to take our minds off the horrible week we’d had, trying to make the best of the good. So home cooking seemed like a great way to end the days. I made Spaghetti Bolognese the night before and about killed him. I could still see his eyes rolling in the back of his head as he took that first bite in disbelief.
His journal had become public knowledge in the house now, filled with all kinds of hidden gems, things we had skipped the first time. There were even several recipes scattered throughout it, one of which was a Shepherd’s Pie that he swore by—considering he’d had more than a hundred years to perfect it. We sat at the table as I skimmed the page, Iris playing in the great room and all of us waiting on dinner to finish while we chowed down on some amazing corned beef and cabbage spring rolls, which he had also made.
With a full mouth, I read some ingredients aloud. “Lamb, carrots, peas?” I swallowed the bite, looking at him in worry. “Oh, but Maddy, Iris doesn’t li-”
“Doesn’t like peas. I know.” He smiled, taking much smaller bites than I was. Of course he knew. His intuition never ceased to amaze me.
“You’re incredible…but you know I also have to figure out about maybe getting back to work. I don’t know.” I said, reaching for his hand. He shook his head, peering over at Iris as she played and drew contently while nibbling on her own chopped up pieces of roll. We had also taken this down time to consider putting my house on the market.
“How much are you asking?”
“What? Oh, I don’t know…I guess whatever the realty company thinks is fair.”
“I’ll buy it from you, you know, no matter what they decide on.”
“Maddy! You will not! No!”
“But why? Leila, the housing market is so poor the chances of you selling within the next year will be close to none. Especially with the bad press…so please…I can more than afford—”
“Maddy, honey, no. Your money is your money. I don’t—just no, okay?” I could tell he was displeased, but we held hands nonetheless, the many decisions ahead running through our minds. We still had yet to talk about where we saw ourselves in the years to come. “Wherever we decide to go, I’ll use the money to make up for it, alright? I don’t ever want you to think that we’re, I don’t know, mooching off you.”
“Leila, Leila…no, listen to me.” For this he scooted his chair closer, elbows on his knees as he took hold of both my hands, waiting for me to meet his eyes. “I need you to know something, okay? No matter where we are, or who you’re with, you and Iris will never be without. You understand me? As long as I’m alive, neither of you will need nor want for anything.” My eyes began to water just hearing it.
“Maddy, don’t talk like that. I’m not going anywhere.” I didn’t like how his eyes veered off, but I knew he’d had little luck in love. At the very least, I could tell he was hopeful.
“I know. I just needed you to know that, alright? I’m not going anywhere.”
I nodded, both of us leaning in for a peck before Iris came running in, teeming with excitement.
“Max! Max! Look what I drew!” Without hesitation she jumped on his lap, his arms accepting the affection as she nested there, poring over her masterpiece. Both of them smiled so candidly, their tones heartfelt and childish, speaking of squiggly lines and beautiful colors as she turned the picture to me. The father side of him seemed to flow so naturally.
“See, Mommy! There’s you, and me, and Max!”
“Oh, Iris! It’s beautiful!” I fought a quivering lip, forcing a smile through my emotional turmoil as she turned back to him. She rested her head against his chest as he cradled her, and my heart began to ache at the sight. Eventually she grew restless, hopping down to hug me before running back off into her playroom.
“She loves you, you know? And so do I…” I mumbled, fighting tears. I wiped away the start of them as Maddy took hold of my wrists, pulling me over to his lap. My arms wrapped around his neck, kissing him through salt-laden lips as he grinned.
“And I love you.”
“You do?” My heart sang now, and there was no use in fighting my tears anymore, so I let them flow freely. Maddy tried to keep up with the streams as he wiped away at them with his shirt cuff. He then took my head in his hands, warming me with a more passionate kiss as my emotions settled.
“I do. Very much. And Iris, but I love her like she was my own.” With that, the corner of his lips fell solemnly, his face guilt ridden, “No, wait…I mean…Leila, I’m not trying to imply that—I would never try to take her father’s place I just—I need to think before I speak.” He almost looked angry with himself for saying it.
“Maddy?” I interrupted, staring hard into his eyes, my expression quite the opposite of his.
“You are a better father than her father ever was, or ever could be. You understand?” Those words didn’t come easily either, but I meant them, with all my heart. With that, his eyes watered with joy. It was the first time I had ever seen them flood like this, and I knew it was one of the happiest things he could’ve ever heard.
How we found ourselves in a slow, heated make-out session after that, though, I hadn’t a clue, but luckily the oven timer jerked us out of it before it got too out of hand. He set me back down on the seat as I dug into another roll, watching the taut butt of his pants as he walked away.
I began thinking about families and babies…and that’s when something hit me—something that almost made me choke.
“Oh…my…God…Maddy!”
He scuffled loudly as I called, a worried tone in my voice. He slung the casserole dish onto the counter before turning to me. The ceramic clanked hard against the granite. He made his way over to me with urgency, a dishtowel still in hand.
“Leila, what is it? What’s wrong?”
“Have you been tested?”
“What? Tested?” As he wiped at his hands, I could tell he was confused. He was worried that something was wrong before, and now he was just ripe with bewilderment. “Tested how?”
“After Elisa. For STDs?” Suddenly, Maddy started choking on nothing, coughing. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t asked that before. I hated to ask, but she was a prostitute back in a time when condoms and safe sex weren’t really commonplace. It was probably too late to worry now, though.
“What’s an SPD?” Iris called back to us, her eyes still fixed on her new drawing in the making as we looked at each other, mortified.
“It’s an uh…uh…” My hand swung frantically by my head, trying to spit out the first innocent thing that came to mind. I even took to waving at Maddy for him to help me make up something on the fly, “Ah, as, uh…police department, honey.”
“Is this really appropriate to talk about…now?” His voice shook as he looked over at Iris and back at me, not mad, just flabbergasted.
“I only just thought about it…now! So?”
Through an uncomfortable smile, he was forced to take a seat, rubbing down his face before putting pressure on his eyes with his fingers. “Yes, Leila. I have.”
“And?”
“I don’t have anything.”
“Oh thank goodness…and…me too, just so you know…” I breathed, a relieved hand to my chest as we exchanged an awkward glance. “I’m sorry…I…that was so bizarre. I don’t know what came over me.”
“No I get it, just…your timing is awful.” Through strained laughter, our nerves settled, and we all took a seat and began to eat. With that first bite I knew I would never take him for granted again. Even Iris devoured her meal, asking for more.
As I looked at the two of them chatting over dinner, I realized this was what I wanted more than anything. After all these years, I might have finally found it; someone for Iris to call father, someone worthy—and for me, a real man, a lover. A family. One so full of love and happiness that someone would see it fit to put into a story.
All I ho
ped now was that many more stories would unfold from our union, from our life together. So much had happened in a week alone, but with all Maddy’s years behind him, I knew there was still so much more to learn—so much more room to grow. I looked forward to whatever the future held for us.
Who knew what adventures awaited us…
THE END
Upcoming Titles
Ashes of the Fae Book 2 – Fall 2018
Beyond the Spectra – November 2018
To Tame a Beast – August 2018
Meet the Author
SOPHIA LEROUX lives in beautiful Vermont, USA. When she's not working on her farm during the day, she's brewing up passionate stories about the supernatural at night.
Her dogs, Sir Alabaster & Cinnamon, keep her busy when she's barricaded inside by ten feet of snow. Sophia loves antiques, the outdoors, and all things nature; but writing is her favorite pastime.
She has three books set to release in 2018.
Stay up to date with her on Twitter, her blog, or keep an eye on upcoming releases by joining her mailing list at:
www.sophialeroux.com
Ashes of the Fae: (Leila Davis Book 1) Page 17
