“Your new contract. Permanent and the salary slightly more than discussed. Take it and read it over before you sign it, and I hope you do sign it.”
“Thank you so much. I don’t know what to say.”
He grinned. “You deserve it. Go out and celebrate tonight, and no taking any work home.”
I picked up the papers, hardly believing what I held in my hand. This was it, my ticket to the next step of my life. I couldn’t wait to get home and share my good news with Maddy.
~
All I could see when I walked in the door was her bent over the oven door. If it hadn’t been dangerous, I would have gone up and groped her, but the oven was on and the room was warm from whatever was cooking.
“Hey,” I said.
She closed the oven door, turning towards me, a huge grin on her face.
“How was your day?” Maddy asked.
“You cooked dinner; that makes today pretty eventful. Oh, and my job was made permanent.”
She squealed, leaping at me, hooking her legs around my hips. I squeezed her thighs as she kissed me, and she growled before letting go.
“That’s awesome. I’m so proud of you.”
“More money than I thought, too. This is it, Maddy.” I wandered past her, moving towards the oven. “What’s for dinner?”
“I couldn’t wait for you to get home. I was starving and I really felt like mac and cheese.”
In the oven was the biggest casserole dish I had ever seen, full of pasta.
“How hungry were you?” I asked.
Her eyes darted as if she were thinking of what she could say. “I thought it would make good leftovers for lunch.”
“Gonna be a lot of lunches out of this lot,” I muttered, closing the oven door.
She grabbed my hands, pulling me to the couch. “It’ll be ready in a minute. Sit down, and put your feet up.”
“I could get used to this,” I said. I put my feet up on the coffee table.
“Get your feet off there,” Maddy said, as if channelling Mum.
I laughed, beckoning her to join me. She sat beside me, wagging her index finger.
“You have no idea what a turn-off it is when you act like my mother,” I said.
Maddy’s eyes grew wide, and she exploded with laughter, grabbing my arm. “Sorry.”
“I’ll take my feet off the table, anything you want.” I pulled her roughly onto my lap, pressing my lips to hers.
“I have to get up before dinner burns,” she said.
“But I’m burning,” I said, blanking my face to look serious.
She rolled her eyes, laughing, and shook her head. Pushing herself off my lap she got up and I watched as she walked back to the oven, wolf whistling as she bent over.
~
She ate with the greatest gusto I’d ever seen, inhaling three helpings before admitting defeat.
“So … not so much for lunches, then?” I teased.
Maddy rolled her eyes as she threw a dishcloth at me from the counter.
“Sorry. I’ve just never known you to eat so much. Must be all the working out you’ve done lately.” I grinned. While I went to the gym most days, she hated exercise. Unless it was of the horizontal kind, and occasionally vertical. We’d been doing a lot of both.
“I dreamed about that all day. All I wanted was pasta and cheese.”
She turned on the tap, running the water for the dishes. I stood, moving behind her and reaching over to turn it off.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Fulfilling the craving I’ve had all day.”
I placed my hands on her hips, turning her toward me. She smiled that warm smile at me, the one that started at her lips and travelled up to her eyes—the one that told me she was truly happy.
In one swift move, I lifted her off the floor and threw her over my shoulder. She squealed as I carried her to the bed, tipping her back and lowering her until she lay in the middle, laughing, so full of joy.
“Now, we have dessert,” I said.
~
It was late. Once we started, we didn’t want to stop, but the practical reality of working the next day brought us to a halt.
We snuggled up to sleep when Maddy became emotional.
She buried her face in my chest, her shoulders shaking as she cried.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong?” I whispered, stroking her shoulders.
“Do you really love me?” She sobbed, raising her tear-stained face to me.
“You know I do. Maddy, I’m crazy about you.”
“I’m not … I’m not just a stand in for Charlie?”
I frowned, running my fingers through her hair and pulling her head back towards me. “No. There’s only one Maddy. I loved Charlie, but she’s gone. You’re whom I love now. What’s causing all this?”
She sobbed on my shoulder, burying her nose into my skin. I stroked her shoulder.
What’s brought this on?
“Nothing.” She said it in the same tone she usually said “fine” in, which meant something was bugging her.
“Seriously, baby. As much as I loved Charlie, that part of my life died when she did. I might not have realised it at the time, but it did. Now, I am head over heels for this gorgeous woman who drives me crazy, but in a good way. I wouldn’t change anything for the world.”
I held her until she fell asleep, and I stroked her back, wondering where her outburst had come from. Things had been great between us, and I hoped they kept going the way they had been. Maddy put up such a front in the face of dealing with so many hard things from her past, but I saw through that, through to the gentle, sensitive young woman who lurked below the surface. She couldn’t be more different to Charlie if she tried.
Charlie had worn her heart on her sleeve—you always knew where you stood with her. Her biggest struggle had been keeping our love from Rowan—she’d fought that every day. Maddy buried everything until it built to the point of explosion. Oh, she’d put on a face and pretend things didn’t bother her, but deep down, she felt it all.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
She was off-colour in the morning, complaining of a headache and feeling tired.
“Call in sick. It’s probably why you were so miserable last night,” I said. “Sounds like you’re coming down with something.”
Maddy shrugged, pulling the pillow over her head. “Good idea.” Her muffled voice was weary, and I patted her on the arm.
“Sleep it off. I’ll bring home dinner tonight. Screw cooking.”
She mumbled her agreement, and I showered and dressed for work before leaving, floating on air because my girl loved me and I loved her and everything was right with the world despite her illness.
By the time I got home, she’d moved as far as the couch, and I bent to kiss her, waving a pizza box under her nose.
“That smells gross.”
“I love you too,” I said, sitting beside her, and opening the box on the coffee table. I breathed in the smell of pepperoni and oregano.
She picked up the remote, changing channels to the news and we sat in silence watching the world’s events while I ate.
“Sure you don’t want some?” I asked.
She shook her head, her lips downturned. It had been a long time since I’d seen her looking so glum.
“Why don’t you have a shower and go to bed? I’ll change the sheets while you’re washing so it’s nice and fresh if you’ve slept all day.”
Maddy leaned on my arm, resting her head on my shoulder. “You’re so good to me.”
“You’re pretty good to me, too.”
“I think I’ll have a shower and get changed. Maybe we can find something to watch on TV.”
I licked my fingers, removing the grease from the pizza and reached up to touch her face. “That sounds good. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Getting rid of that would be a good start. It’s still gross.” She pointed at the pizza and I nodded.
“Anything
you want.”
She stood, slouching as she walked to the bathroom.
I finished what I was eating and went to the fridge, placing the pizza on the top shelf. No point wasting it. Once she felt better she’d probably want some.
After changing the sheets, I cracked open a beer, returning to the couch to watch the sports news. Some day, and not too far away, we’d have a proper house of our own, with a bigger television than the twenty-three-inch screen I currently had.
It couldn’t come soon enough.
I put the beer on the coffee table, and lay down on the couch, closing my eyes for just a moment. I jumped, waking when my feet were lifted from the couch as Maddy returned, and I opened my eyes to see her standing over me, that glum expression still on her face.
“Feel better?” I said.
She nodded, but I didn’t believe her. The light that usually radiated from her was dull, lifeless, and I just wanted to hold her and fix whatever was going on.
I patted the couch beside me and she sat down. “Want a beer?” I asked.
Maddy shook her head. “I just want to watch whatever mindless programme is on and then go to bed.”
“Whatever you want, babe.”
We sat in silence, even while Grey’s Anatomy was on. It was her favourite show, and she was usually full of commentary about who was supposed to be together, who shouldn’t be together, who was screwing who. But tonight, nothing—just the silence.
“You’re quiet,” I said, leaning my head on Maddy’s shoulder.
She sniffed, and I raised my head to look at her. Tears rolled down her face, and I reached up to wipe them with my fingers.
“Maddy? What’s wrong?”
She shook her head, taking a deep breath with a sob in the middle.
“Maddy?”
She swallowed hard as she looked up at me, new tears welling to replace the ones I’d removed.
“Holy crap, Maddy. I need to know what is wrong. You are scaring the shit out of me right now.”
She twisted her mouth, obviously trying to find a way to tell me what she was so clearly struggling with. She looked at the floor, and my stomach flipped in concern.
“I’m pregnant,” she whispered.
“Oh.”
That was it; that was all I could manage. I hadn’t expected her to come out with that, and I didn’t know how she expected me to react, but in an instant she was on her feet, fleeing towards the door.
“Maddy,” I called, pushing myself up to run after her.
She flew down the stairs, into her mother’s rooms and shut the door behind her. I sighed, walking down and knocking on the door.
Carly opened, looking puzzled. “She just came straight through here and into her room. What’s wrong? Are you two fighting? Please tell me you’re not, because she hasn’t been as big a pain in the butt with you around.”
I shook my head. “I need to talk to her.”
“Come in and sort it out. No yelling at each other though.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” I said. She shook her head, rolling her eyes as she walked away.
I pushed through the door to Maddy’s bedroom. Maddy sat on her bed, arms folded and pulling a sour face.
“You have to let the news sink in before you decide to run away,” I said, sitting on the bed beside her. “Give me more than five seconds to process it.”
She stuck her bottom lip out, clearly fighting the urge to cry some more.
“I can get rid of it.” She barely got the words out, loud gasps between each one.
“Maddy, I love your spirit, your independence—as if I could ever make you do anything you didn’t want. Whatever you decide, I’ll be there with you. You and I are practically living together as it is. Having a baby isn’t going to be easy, but we’ll manage either way.”
Slowly, she raised her eyes until she met mine, and there was a faint smile in them. “Really?” she croaked.
“Really. If we are doing this, we need to find somewhere else to live, though. This place is no good for a baby.”
I laughed as she launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. Falling backwards on the bed, I stroked her hair as she straddled me, leaning over for a kiss.
“We’ll manage,” I said when she let me go. “We’ll find a way.”
She grinned through the tears, kissing me again. “I love you, Andrew.”
“Love you too. Now, we can go and finish watching your show, or we can go and tell your mother the news. Unless she’s heard already.”
Maddy laughed. The walls weren’t exactly soundproof. There was a good chance Carly already knew she was going to be a grandmother.
Sure enough, Carly was waiting outside when we emerged, clapping her hands together.
“I guess you heard,” Maddy grumbled. Carly threw her arms around Maddy, and I grinned at her excitement.
“I thought you’d be a bit crazy with me,” Maddy said into her mother’s neck. “We haven’t been together that long.”
Carly released Maddy, cupping her face in her hands. “Andrew’s a good man, probably the best you’ve been involved with. He’ll take care of you, sweetheart. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t be down here trying to make things right.”
Maddy nodded, turning towards me. “He is a good man, Mum.”
~
We lay in bed, limbs tangled together, basking in the glow of our lovemaking.
Maddy rubbed her cheek against mine, making a purring noise as I laughed. “You’re happy, then?”
“You could say that,” she whispered. “I felt so awful today—first morning sickness, and then not knowing how to tell you.”
She was snuggled in my arms, and I kissed her softly. “You make me laugh. And you make me cry. I felt so empty, but you brought me back to life.”
Maddy raised an eyebrow. “Is that from a song or something?”
“No.” I laughed. “Being with you made me human again. After everything, I felt like I’d lost so much of myself, but you found me, and you loved me. Turned out to be just what I needed.”
I slid my hand down to her stomach, stroking her warm skin. “You and this little one will get everything from me. You’ve given me so many reasons to be better. I want a future now, and I’m not dwelling in the past.”
She closed her eyes, tucking her head under my chin. “I should have known you wouldn’t be angry,” she whispered.
Bringing my hand back up, I ran my fingers up her arm. “I could never be angry with you. Everything happens for a reason.”
“I was scared you would think I did it on purpose.”
“Maddy, even if you did do it on purpose, it’s too late to worry about it now. Besides, this just means you’re stuck with me.”
She giggled, slipping her arm over me and softly pinching my back. “I think I can live with that.”
As she rolled over, she took my hand, guiding it to her breast.
“Miss Jones, are you trying to tell me something?”
“No. Just keeping you close. I think I need some sleep. This whole thing has worn me out.”
I snuggled in tight, spooning with Maddy as we settled in to sleep.
“Grow old with me,” I whispered into her hair, not even sure she’d hear.
Of course she did; she never missed a thing. Maddy rolled onto her back, cocking an eyebrow at me.
“Did you say what I think you said?” she asked.
“I don’t have a ring, but we can go shopping tomorrow. It won’t be much, but I want to be with you, Maddy. For always.”
“I want to be with you too,” she whispered, her eyes filled with longing. I brushed my lips against hers, and she laughed against my kiss, rolling on top of me.
“But I thought you were worn out?”
Maddy laughed. Moonlight flooded in the window, and she glowed with happiness. She was just so freaking beautiful. “I think I might just need a night cap.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
I pored over the real estate
section of the paper, looking for houses to rent. We’d definitely need a house now rather than a small place, and I wanted to find the right one. One Maddy would love.
“I don’t know if I want to move.” Maddy sat with her arms folded defensively, a frown etched on her face.
“I want you to,” said Carly. “Not because I don’t love you, but because I do. You had to live here in this run-down place because of the choices I made for you. Now you have the opportunity to do good for your child, give him or her what I couldn’t.”
Maddy’s lower lip wobbled, and she let out a loud sob, throwing her arms around her mother’s neck. “I had a great childhood.”
Carly raised an eyebrow, clearly thinking of her husband and what they’d been through with him.
“In a big old house that was always threatening to fall down around our ears, surrounded by ex-prison inmates. I could have done better for you, Maddy.”
She looked across at me, smiling while Maddy clung to her. “I know you’ll take good care of my girl, and my grandbaby. You’re a good man, Andrew.”
“I hope I’m good enough,” I said.
“You’ve done more for Maddy in a short time than anyone else has. You’ll never know just how much I appreciate you.”
There were tears in her eyes, and I know she meant what she said. I’d never let anything hurt Maddy, not me, not anyone else.
“I’ll love and protect her forever,” I said.
Carly nodded, her smile saying she knew I meant it. And I did.
~
“What are we going to do after the baby comes?” Maddy asked, cuddled up with me at night.
“What do you mean?”
“How are we going to manage? All this talking about moving in to a place of our own, and I’ll be off work for a while after the baby is born, but what then?”
I kissed her forehead, nuzzling her hair. “Depends on how expensive a place we get. I’m trying to find somewhere affordable, so if you decide not to go back to work you don’t have to. I don’t mind either way, Maddy, but I want you to have the choice.”
Three Days Page 10
