Doctored

by K'Anne Meinel

  “Let’s pick up this place,” she sighed as she saw the mess the dog had made in the kitchen with the newspaper. She wondered if the dog just did it out of boredom and reminded herself to pick up chew toys at the store. Scott hadn’t brought any of the dog’s toys over and had only taken the kids a few times since he got out. She explained to the kids about selling the house and they got to work with gusto. It was fairly presentable before the realtor got there.

  The man who showed up was a pleasant person and very personable. Madison thought he must have to be, being in the real estate business. She was surprised that property values had gone up and she might get a decent price for the place. She’d no longer have a mortgage and she was grateful Scott hadn’t talked her into taking out that second mortgage as it would have worked against her now. Still, she was sad to see the place go as she signed the papers to put it on the market. The realtor agreed to have a sign up the next day and to put it onto the computer as soon as they took some pictures. Since she had a half day off the next day too, he would come over right after she got off work; it would work out well for them both. She’d just shown him out of the house and gone to tell the excited kids when the doorbell rang again. She thought the realtor had forgotten something and answered the door with a smile. That faded immediately when she saw Scott on the doorstep.

  “That your new boyfriend leaving?” he pointed with his thumb at the new Cadillac that had just driven away. “Got money, does he?”

  “No, that is not my boyfriend,” she explained and then resented that she had to explain at all. Who she had over at her house was none of Scott’s business. “What do you want?”

  “I came to see my kids. Isn’t that obvious?” he asked with a tone and tried to enter the house.

  “I thought we agreed you were going to call before coming over?” she asked.

  “Well, I forgot. And here he is,” he said as the dog spotted him and came leaping through the living room, his tail going wildly, knocking things off low tables. He quickly got down so he could roughhouse with the shaggy beast.

  Madison saw the mess the dog was making again and sighed wearily. She didn’t know what was worse: the kids, the dog, or Scott.

  “Daddy!” Chloe called when she spotted Scott crouching down to greet the dog.

  “Daddy!” Conor echoed as he heard his sister and came running.

  Looking over the heads of the kids, Scott was surprised to see the anger in Madison’s eyes. She pointed at the dog and raised a questioning eyebrow. He quickly looked away, but not before she saw the guilty look on his face. She knew then he had taken advantage of her. He was going to leave the dog with her so he didn’t have the responsibility anymore.

  “How about we go out for an ice cream?” he asked to a chorus of ‘yes’ from the children.

  “I’m sorry, we haven’t eaten dinner yet and it’s not convenient,” Madison told him icily. She also wanted to caution the children against telling him anything about their plans…not yet, not now. She didn’t need the headache that would cause and she hadn’t thought about how to tell him yet.

  “Well, missing dinner won’t hurt this one time,” he said jovially, always the good guy, always the cool dad.

  “No, Scott. They aren’t going.” She hated having to be the bad guy, but he had done this throughout their marriage and she wasn’t going to be tricked or taken advantage of. “You really should have called before coming over. We already have plans.”

  “What plans?” he asked, getting annoyed with her.

  “That’s really none of your concern. You should have called first,” she told him again.

  “They’re my kids too and I’d like to take them out,” he told her ominously.

  “Of course. Please call first and we can discuss it when it’s convenient.” If she was agreeable, he had nothing to argue about.

  “What? I can’t take them out now?”

  She shook her head. “No, I told you, we already have plans.”

  “But I wanted…” he began, but she cut him off. She could see the kids wanted to chime in and she didn’t want that. They might say something she would regret. She’d slightly shaken her head at Chloe and Scott saw that. He was getting angrier, thinking there was some secret they might be keeping from him.

  “I understand that,” she said kindly, not raising her voice, “but you didn’t call and we were just about to go out.”

  “We were?” Conor put in.

  “See? He didn’t know about it. You’re making this up. Or are you going out with the boyfriend?” he pointed with his thumb again, to where the Cadillac had disappeared.

  “That was not my boyfriend and it is none of your business what we are doing,” she was trying not to let the anger she was feeling come to the surface. If she lost it, he would win.

  “Well, I want…” he began again.

  “Scott,” she said firmly, “it’s not convenient. You’ll have them in a few days per our agreement, but I really have to go. If you’ll excuse me?” she said, holding the door.

  He wasn’t that obtuse and got the hint. He wasn’t happy about it. He’d wanted to try to talk to her about helping him with his fines once again. He’d gotten another job, but it didn’t pay as much as his previous job. Sighing deeply, he got up from his crouched position, slipped the dog off his lap, and ruffled Conor’s hair. “Sorry, big guy. Mommy won’t let you go this time, but we’ll make it up another time, okay?” he told him, firmly putting the blame on Madison.

  Madison was ready to take him on, but not tonight, not now. She buried her anger deep as she let him out of the house. She leaned against the door with a sigh of relief.

  “Where are we going?” Conor asked.

  “What?” she turned her head to look down.

  “You said we were going out to Daddy.”

  Knowing she’d been caught in a lie, she thought quickly. “We have to go out and get boxes if we are going to start packing to move.”

  Both kids got excited and ran to get their jackets. They were soon off to the store to see what boxes they could scavenge. That evening they began sorting things. By the time she was home from work after her second half day off, the sign was up in their yard offering the house for sale, and they had filled the minivan with as much as it would hold and still leave room for them all to ride. Deanna was expecting them and despite the late evening traffic they were sure to encounter, Madison set out. The van sputtered a few times and she worried about it making all the way up to Santa Barbara. The start and stop traffic of the 405 didn’t help things and the 101 was just as bad. When they got to Ventura it sputtered out. She was hard put to pull it to the side of the highway with no power steering. She tried to start it a couple of times, but it wouldn’t and she started to cry. It was late, it was dark, and she was tired and stressed. She called Deanna to explain and within an hour a flatbed truck was there to pick up the van. Deanna arrived too, to gather her in her arms and comfort her.

  “Come on, you guys. Let’s get home,” she told them cheerfully as she ushered them into the Rover.

  On the front seat was a cup holder with three strawberry sundaes sporting whipped cream and a cherry on top. Deanna grinned. “I thought after all that,” she pointed back at the tow truck that had just finished pulling the van onto the bed and tying it down, “you could use a little lift.”

  Madison, despite the kids that had climbed into the back seat with the dog, leaned over and gave her a peck on the lips. “Thank you,” she said with complete relief. She felt much better.

  “Oooo,” Chloe said, but the two adults ignored her. She’d get used to it.

  They handed out the sundaes and Deanna waited until the flatbed truck with the van started up and got back on the highway before starting the Rover and following.

  “What do you think is wrong with it?” she nodded to the van on the flatbed as they passed it. He was to deliver it to the house in Santa Barbara so they could offload the stuff inside.

  “I do
n’t know. It’s been acting up more and more lately.”

  “Just getting old?”

  “No idea. I think sometimes it’s where I buy my gas.”

  “I’ve heard of that happening. Maybe it’s time to get a new one?”

  “I can’t afford that…” the redhead began, but Deanna just sent her a look that was barely visible in the oncoming lights and they let it go.

  They unpacked the van the next day after Roman went to school. He’d shared his bedroom with Conor after all and they tucked Chloe in on the couch. After both kids had met Spot and gotten over their initial fears—realizing he was just an overly large cat with the mentality of a kitten—they all settled down. The only problem was Fluffy, who growled every time the large cat came near. Spot could only respond in the same way. Fluffy spent the night locked in with the boys so they could acclimate him to his new home and housemate in the morning. It was just too late at night to worry about cat and dog fights.

  “This is my room?” Chloe asked with awe as they began to bring the things they had packed into the house.

  “Yes. Let’s leave everything of yours in the middle of the room so we can choose a new paint color.” Deanna suggested.

  “Me too?” Conor asked, not to be left out.

  “You too, buddy,” she promised. “Think about what colors you want while we get this unpacked,” she grabbed another box from the van.

  Between the four of them and the housekeeper that Deanna introduced as Vera, they got it unpacked in record time. “The dealership will be sending a flatbed,” Deanna told Vera as they got in the Rover to go shopping. Deanna insisted that they had to get furniture for each of the rooms as well as paint and, of course, register for school to start in a couple of weeks.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Madison was thrilled to wake up in Deanna’s arms, in her house, knowing her children were under the same roof with her and they were going to move here permanently. She smiled up at the blonde who had woken before her and was gazing down at her.

  “You know you have a freckle there,” she pointed at one on the redhead’s cheek.

  “Where?” she smiled, causing her cheekbones to rise and move the freckle.

  “There,” she said huskily as she leaned in and kissed it.

  “Where?” she repeated throatily.

  “There,” she answered and kissed another spot.

  “Where?” she gasped out, enjoying the sensation.

  “There,” it became a game of trying to find them, and then Deanna started tickling until Madison started giggling and then shrieking. All too soon it came to an end as the children charged into the room, the dog following along for good measure.

  “What’s going on?” Chloe asked, alarmed, not used to seeing her mother sleeping with anyone, not since her father had left.

  Both adults, out of consideration for Madison’s long night, fatigue, and children in the house, were wearing sweats and dressed fairly modestly. They were laughing from their wrestling match.

  “Did you know your mother is ticklish?” Deanna asked, playfully.

  “No. Is she?” Conor said in delight and went to dive on the bed. Roman and Chloe jumped on the large bed too and soon the dog joined them. Only when the cat decided to come in did the dog begin to growl.

  “No, Fluffy,” Deanna ordered firmly.

  “He’s afraid of that big cat,” Conor told her and Deanna wondered if the boy was too.

  “Spot’s just a big ole softie,” Roman told him.

  “Fluffy just needs to learn his place here. He’s the new guy and he’s welcome, but Spot was here first so they will both have to adjust,” Deanna told the kids and exchanged a look with Madison that said more than the youngsters realized. They would all have adjustments to make.

  “Who is hungry?” Madison asked the room at large, just to get them all out of the bed.

  A chorus of “me” met her question and the kids started scrambling.

  “Roman, you still have to get ready for school,” Deanna called before the boy could leave the room completely.

  “Aww, Mom. I thought I could stay home today and help,” he tried to wheedle. Conor looked on hopefully.

  “Absolutely not. Don’t you have a homework assignment due today for history?” she asked.

  “Oh, yeah, I forgot,” he said dejectedly as he turned to go into his room.

  “Is it done?” she called before he could shut the door.

  “Yes,” he answered and closed the door.

  “Now what are we going to do with these two?” Madison asked, looking at the dog and cat eyeing each other warily. She was certain in a fight the big cat would win.

  “As I said, they are going to have to work it out. They’ll adjust,” Deanna told her and pounced on the redhead, bearing her to the bed as she began to kiss her again and again…because she could.

  “Uggh, Mom!” Chloe said from the door. She was carrying the clothes she had worn the previous day.

  Deanna sat up immediately and Madison sat up behind her, looking guilty at being caught. “What can we do for you?” she asked to hide her embarrassment. Deanna was right, they were going to have a lot of adjusting to do with kids and pets.

  “What should I wear?” the fastidious little girl asked.

  “If that isn’t too dirty, wear it again and we will unpack your suitcase later for something clean,” her mother instructed her.

  Chloe turned with a heavy sigh as though the adults were just too much and made her way to the powder room to change. The dog followed her.

  Deanna turned back to Madison, her eyes were sparkling happily. “I don’t suppose we have time for…?”

  “A quickie?” Madison finished for her, her own eyes sparkling in barely held glee. She laughed. “There will be time for that later.”

  “Promise?” Deanna growled as she leaned her forehead against Madison’s.

  “Promise,” she kissed her, then just as it was turning interesting the cat jumped on the bed to get some attention. Sighing, Madison got up and out of the bed to get dressed while Deanna wrestled a little with the cat.

  * * * * *

  “So, paint first or furniture?” Deanna asked.

  Both children answered, “Paint,” as Madison answered, “Furniture.” They exchanged looks and laughed joyfully. Madison was taking some well-deserved time off while Deanna was here to help her move in.

  “I think we should get the furniture first so we know that the paint we buy will match,” Madison was quick to add to forestall the children from arguing.

  Deanna drove them to an outlet store and they spent time checking out beds, the kids bouncing on the mattresses as Madison tried unsuccessfully to stop them. Deanna had a lot more success as she explained that if everyone did that the store wouldn’t be able to sell the furniture that got wrecked.

  “For someone who didn’t want children, you sure get along with them well,” Madison said as they walked along looking for bedroom sets together. Deanna had gone to hold her hand, but understood when Madison avoided it. She pretended it didn’t hurt, but Madison had seen the look and was trying to work up the courage to be that public. After all, she had said yes.

  By the time they had lunch at a small café, they’d chosen Conor’s bedroom set, but been unable to find one that Chloe liked. It was like a treasure hunt. She wanted something like a princess would have, but at the same time the tomboy in her didn’t want anything so girly.

  “How about,” Deanna began as she took a bite of her sandwich and then a sip of her soda to wash it down, “we get something similar to what Roman has, but in white? That way you can put princess stickers on the wood and later, when you outgrow them, you can peel them off?”

  Madison could have kissed her for coming up with a solution to the little girl’s difficult problem. She smiled widely to show her appreciation, her eyes sparkling with promises as Chloe embraced the idea. The problem had been that the little girl had never had a room of her own or a choice
in her furniture. She’d accepted what was in the past, and the choices she now faced were a bit overwhelming.

  “I like Roman’s furniture too,” Conor began.

  Deanna headed off a possible problem there by saying, “Yeah, his is cool, but I like yours for the chest of drawers and the hidden door.” She took another bite of her sandwich, looking innocent as she began to chew. She waited.

  “What hidden door?” the boy asked, suddenly enthused again for the furniture they had picked out for him.

  Deanna pulled out the brochure of the bedroom set they had bought along with the receipt…an amount that Madison had wanted to question, but the blonde never even blinked at. She showed him on the bedroom set diagram. The hidden door was something he had obviously missed.

  “Ohhh, maybe I should get…” Chloe began, sounding a little envious.

  Deanna looked at the little girl and shrugged. “You should have said, but I don’t think it comes in white, and of course we have to find those stickers….”

  The little girl debated for a moment, “Couldn’t we paint the wood?”

  Deanna nearly smiled as Madison’s eyes went wide. The price of these sets and the girl wanted to slap paint on the wood? She waited a moment before answering, swallowing another bite of her sandwich. “Well, then your bedroom wouldn’t be as nice for a princess who wants to play at being in a tree house now and then.”

  That settled the matter for Chloe. She wanted her own set after that, and two hours later they found it at another store. It was perfect for what Deanna had suggested, or at least the little girl thought it was.

  “How did you do that?” Madison asked. She had finally worked up the nerve to hold Deanna’s hand…first in the Rover in front of the children, and then in the actual stores. No one knew them up here. She would start with small steps here and continue on; it would become easier. Few, if any, really noticed. They were after the women’s money, not to judge them or their values.