Just Married...Again

by Charlotte Hughes

  It was after two a.m. when Maddy and Michael finally decided to lie down, each of them pressed close to Danny. As Michael draped a protective arm over the boy, he discovered Maddy had done the same. He touched her hand, and they linked fingers. They dozed on and off.

  ##

  Michael wasn’t sure what woke him the next morning, but he opened his eyes with a start and sat straight up. He automatically glanced over at Danny and found the boy awake. Maddy was sleeping soundly on her side of the sofa bed. “How’re you feeling, champ?” he whispered.

  “Hungry.”

  “I’ll make you something,” Michael said, taking care to speak quietly. “Let your Aunt Maddy sleep as long as she can. She was up a lot during the night.”

  They both had been up and down much of the night. Michael had seen to the fire, since he didn’t trust the electric heater and had finally unplugged it. Maddy had kept towels and blankets warming so that Danny wouldn’t risk getting chilled. Several times she’d made the boy drink something, although he had complained and insisted he was too tired. The sky had already begun to lighten when they’d finally given in to exhaustion.

  Michael glanced at his wristwatch and saw that it was after ten o’clock. He climbed from the bed quickly, knowing he had a lot to do. It wouldn’t be easy trying to write a message in the snow with broken tree limbs, but that’s all he had to work with. He would spell out the word medic in great big letters, then send off his flares and hope for the best.

  And once they’d packed and were waiting for help to arrive, he would call Maddy to the bedroom and have a final heart-to-heart conversation. He’d learned a lot about life during the past ten months; even the last few days had been an eye-opening experience for him. If nothing else, he now knew what was important to him and what wasn’t.

  Danny insisted on sitting at the kitchen counter to eat his oatmeal, although Michael draped a warm blanket around him and set the heater nearby. He sipped his first cup of coffee and watched his nephew anxiously while Maddy slept on.

  “Uncle Mike?” Danny said, speaking just above a whisper.

  “Yeah?”

  “Do you think Aunt Maddy’s going to stop the divorce?”

  The man shrugged. “I don’t know, Danny. But I don’t want you worrying about it. You need to concentrate on getting better.”

  “I could try to talk to her for you and tell her what a good person you are. I mean, look what you went through for her, all that planning. You even pretended to have amnesia for her.”

  Michael quickly glanced toward the sofa bed to make sure Maddy was still asleep. She hadn’t so much as turned over. Poor thing was probably exhausted.

  “You know the good thing about being sick?” Danny said. “My parents probably won’t come down on me as hard for running away.”

  “Does this mean you’ve scrapped the idea of hitching a ride up to Canada after all?” Michael asked, looking amused.

  “Remind me never to tell Aunt Maddy my secrets,” Danny said.

  “She loves you very much. You ’bout scared her to death when you told her your plans.”

  Danny shrugged. “I figure Canada can wait. I’m kinda in a hurry to get back home.”

  Michael heard a noise from outside and wondered if that’s what had awakened him in the first place. He hurried to the window and looked out. He was both relieved and disappointed to find two snowplows heading their way. For Danny, who needed to be checked by a doctor, it was good news. As for him, he would be too busy packing and getting the boy ready for the trip back, and probably wouldn’t have time to talk to Maddy the way he’d planned.

  His time was up.

  Maddy heard the noise, too, and knew what it meant. She’d been lying there quietly, listening to the fire and the sound of her nephew’s voice. He still sounded a little weak, but he was on the mend. It lifted her spirits. Then, just as quickly, they sank.

  Michael had faked his amnesia. He’d made a fool of her. What made it worse was that Danny had known. Oh, how the two of them must’ve laughed over her naiveté. When had Michael become so cruel? He had played her like a tune. He’d gained her sympathy; she’d given her heart and body.

  But she’d always been a fool where her husband was concerned.

  No more.

  Planting a cheerful smile on her face, Maddy climbed from the sofa bed and joined the two in the kitchen for her first cup of coffee. She wouldn’t waste time fighting with Michael. She just wanted to pack her things and get out.

  Besides, there was no reason to fight. They were finished.

  Chapter Thirteen

  They packed in record time. Michael waved down one of the heavy-equipment operators and paid him fifty dollars to pull Maddy’s Jeep out of the ditch. Once he threw things in the car and put the fire out, they were on their way.

  The trip down the mountain was slow; here and there he found patches of ice, despite road crews working to put out sand. Michael constantly watched his rearview mirror to make sure Maddy was following close behind.

  The hospital was located in the foothills, a sprawling one-story building on the edge of town, blanketed by snow. Michael carried Danny into the emergency room, where a young intern saw him right away. Maddy found a comfortable chair and sat quietly in the waiting area while Michael paced.

  “Are you okay?” he asked her. She hadn’t said more than a dozen words since they’d arrived.

  “I’m tired and I’m worried about Danny,” she said, keeping her voice neutral. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, hoping he would take it as a hint that she needed rest more than conversation.

  As for his question, she wasn’t okay. She was hurt and angry. Why had Michael let her think he was more seriously injured than he had been? Why had he pretended to have amnesia? She couldn’t figure it out for the life of her. Then it came to her like a lightning bolt and made her angrier. He had sought to gain her sympathy and make her feel guilty, hoping she would treat him kindly instead of throwing him out like he deserved. And she had played right into his hands, seeing to his every need, beating herself up emotionally for hitting him with that poker.

  She had been used.

  And she had made the monumental mistake of sleeping with him, not once, but twice. Worse than that, she’d fallen in love with him all over again.

  Correction. She’d never fallen out of love with him.

  But she was too tired and worried about Danny to get into a discussion with Michael. She just wanted to know that her nephew was going to be okay so she could go back to her life. And once she got her divorce, she would leave town if she had to, in order to keep from seeing Michael again.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Kelly?” Maddy’s eyes snapped open and she sat up straight as the young intern approached them.

  Michael stopped pacing. “How is he, Doctor?”

  “Your nephew is going to be fine. I’d like to commend you on your sharp thinking in an emergency situation. Danny told me what the two of you did, and I would have done the very same thing under the circumstances.”

  Michael looked at Maddy and smiled. “My wife is the one who told me what to do. If it had been up to me, I’d probably have sat there wringing my hands all night.”

  Maddy was deeply touched by the pride she saw in Michael’s eyes, but she glanced away quickly, not wanting to be caught up once again in conflicting emotions. “What about the frostbite?” she asked the intern.

  “Luckily, it was mild. He’s almost fully recovered. In fact, he asked me for directions to the nearest fast-food restaurant.” He smiled. “You two can stop looking so worried now. Danny’s free to leave as soon as his discharge papers are in order. I understand he’s feeling a little homesick.”

  “May I see him?” Maddy asked.

  “Sure. Oh, Mr. Kelly, if you want to come with me, I’ll show you where you can sign him out. You may want to call the boy’s parents for insurance information.”

  Michael nodded. “I was planning to call as soon as I knew someth
ing.”

  Maddy stepped into a small cubicle a moment later, where she found Danny dressed and in a hurry to go. “I understand you’re hungry,” she said.

  “Yeah, I’m going to order a double cheeseburger and large fries and maybe a milkshake. Where’s Uncle Mike?”

  “He’s calling your parents to let them know you’re okay. As soon as you’re discharged, you can go.” She suddenly felt a lump in her throat. “I came in to say good-bye, honey. I checked on Muffin and Rambo once, but I’m afraid to leave them in the car much longer.”

  “Aren’t you going to McDonald’s with us?”

  “No, sweetie, I’d better get on back.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead. “I’ll call and check on you in a couple of days.”

  “Don’t forget to put in a good word about me to my mom.”

  “Of course. That’s what aunts are for.” She hugged him. “I love you, little buddy.” She turned quickly so he wouldn’t see the tears in her eyes.

  “Hey, you’ve got to hang around long enough to say good-bye to Uncle Mike.”

  “I would appreciate it if you would do that for me.” She left before he had time to respond.

  When Michael came into the room sometime later, he was wearing a grin. “The good news is you’re going to live. The bad news is your mother and sister are going to drive you crazy over the next few days waiting on you hand and foot.”

  “What about my dad?” Danny tensed as though expecting the worst.

  “He was on his way out to buy ice cream and all the detective novels he could find.”

  “So he’s not mad?”

  The smile disappeared from his face. “I’m not going to lie and tell you he wasn’t disappointed, Danny. I did tell him what a trooper you’ve been the past few days, though. Maybe he’ll go easy on you.”

  “There goes any hope of getting a driver’s license before I’m forty years old,” the boy mumbled.

  Michael wasn’t listening. “Where’d your Aunt Maddy go?”

  Danny hesitated. “She left.”

  “Left the hospital?”

  The boy nodded. “Said she was in a hurry to get back.”

  “I need to try and catch her,” Michael said, turning for the door.

  “She’s been gone fifteen minutes, Uncle Mike. She asked me to tell you good-bye for her.”

  “Good-bye?” Michael simply stared at the boy, feeling as though he’d just been punched in the gut.

  ##

  The offices at Smyth-McGraw bustled with activity. As Michael waited to be admitted into Gray Smyth’s inner sanctum, he wondered how Danny was doing. He missed the kid. He’d rented a video during lunch and planned to take it by later so they could watch it together. He hoped Brenda would have news from Maddy.

  The pain was still raw. Why had Maddy left without telling him good-bye in person? Surely, he deserved better than that after the last harrowing night they’d spent together and after everything they’d shared.

  And here he’d thought she still had feelings for him, that maybe, just maybe, he was getting that second chance he’d hoped for all these months. What a fool he’d been.

  “Mr. Kelly?”

  Michael looked up. His boss’s secretary stood before him. “Mr. Smyth will see you now.”

  Gray Smyth’s office was painted a deep hunter-green and furnished in camel-colored sofas and chairs with smart piping around the cushions that gave them a rich, dressy appearance. His desk, a gift from his grandfather, one of the founders of the firm, was solid teakwood. Always the gentleman, Smyth stood and offered Michael a handshake, then motioned him to sit in one of the leather chairs facing his desk.

  He was a distinguished-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair that should have started thinning decades ago but hadn’t. His suit was silk, only the best. They chatted briefly about a case Michael had been working on while Smyth’s secretary brought them coffee on a silver tray.

  “I know your time is valuable, sir,” Michael said,” so I’ll get right to the point.” He pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to the man. “It’s my resignation, Mr. Smyth.”

  The man shook his head sadly. “Are you unhappy with the firm, Michael?”

  “No, sir. I’m very much impressed with Smyth-McGraw. But I’m afraid the long hours have caused me to ignore my health, and as a result my blood pressure is way up. There’s also my family to think about.”

  “I’d heard you and your pretty wife had separated. I know the long hours can take a toll on even the best marriages.”

  “I hope to rectify that situation, sir, as well as my health problems, but it means rearranging my priorities.”

  “But we have our own gym, Michael. And a cafeteria that can accommodate any diet.”

  “I haven’t exactly had much time for either, sir. Not with my current workload.”

  Smyth opened a side drawer and pulled out a folder. “I was afraid something was up, so I asked personnel to send me your file. You’ve given this firm everything you had to give, and you’re one of the best damn attorneys we’ve got. I’m not a stupid man, Michael. I know our competition would love to have you, and I know you’ve been contacted by them in the past. Is that what this is all about? Did one of them finally get to you?”

  “I haven’t accepted a job with another law firm, Mr. Smyth, but when I do, it won’t be with another big firm. I’ll probably go out on my own or with a single partner.”

  “And you expect me to be happy about that?” Smyth said. “Knowing our men will have to face the street fighter in court?” He paused. “What’s the bottom line here, Michael? What’s it going to take to change your mind?”

  Michael hadn’t expected this. “I beg your pardon?” Smyth leaned back in his chair and smiled. “You’ve been listening to stories on how good the senior partners have it, haven’t you? Well, it’s true. Once you leave the trenches, so to speak, the workload drops dramatically. You’re suddenly surrounded by secretaries and paralegals and eager young lawyers willing to work all night if they have to in order to make you happy. You get to eat in the fancy dining room with the other bigwigs, and you usually make it home in time for dinner each night. And weekends …” He smiled. “When’s the last time you had a whole weekend to yourself?”

  Michael tried to remember. “Well, except for a couple of holidays—”

  “On top of all those benefits, your salary is increased and you get a cut of the profits. What do you say?”

  Michael blinked. “About what, sir?”

  “You know, you come across much brighter in court, but I imagine I took you by surprise. I’m offering you a promotion and raise and all the other glamorous things I mentioned. You would have made senior partner in another couple of years anyway, but your record speaks for itself. Unless you’d rather go find a dirty hole in the wall so you can start your own practice, and let your poor family starve to death while you’re trying to drum up enough clients.”

  Michael was so stunned, he didn’t know what to say at first. “I truly wasn’t expecting this, Mr. Smyth. May I have a couple of days to think about it?”

  “Of course, I can certainly see why you’d feel torn. By the way, may I have your wife’s address?”

  Michael was embarrassed to tell him he didn’t know it. “I’ll have to get back to you on that,” he said. “Why do you ask?”

  “Should you decide to accept the promotion, I’d like to send her flowers and thank her for all the sacrifices she’s made because of your career.” He winked. “The wives eat it up.”

  ##

  Dr. Joseph Quigley smiled the minute he walked into his exam room and found Maddy Kelly sitting there. “And here I thought it was going to be another dull day treating flu patients. What can I do for my favorite gal?”

  Maddy’s eyes automatically teared. She had promised herself she wouldn’t cry, but she couldn’t seem to help it. “I need a pregnancy test,” she said.

  “Oh?”

  “Don’t giv
e me that innocent look, Dr. Quigley. I know you sent Michael to the mountains for some R and R because of his blood pressure, right about the time you suggested I go instead of imposing on my friends at Thanksgiving. And with a snowstorm on the way. Wait till I tell Sylvia you’ve been sticking your nose in your patients’ business again.”

  He became defensive. “How was I to know you’d really go? My patients never listen to me. By the way, Michael’s blood pressure dropped considerably.”

  “And I’m two weeks late for my period.” The tears fell in earnest as she remembered unpacking her bags at home and seeing the unused tampons. She was supposed to start shortly after Thanksgiving. “You know I’m never late.”

  He reached for the box of tissues. “Could it be stress-related?”

  She snatched several tissues from the box and tried to mop her eyes. “Not even stress makes me late.”

  “Well, I don’t mind giving you a test, hon, but why didn’t you just buy one of those do-it-yourself kits?”

  She gave him a grim smile. “I had a hankering to see you.”

  “That’s understandable, me being a strapping young doctor with a sporty Volvo station wagon.”

  She sniffed. “The other reason is because I’m not that late. I was afraid one of those over-the-counter tests wouldn’t be accurate. I understand the most accurate way to find out is a blood test. I called my OB-GYN, and I can’t get in till next week. I have to know now.”

  “Well, hon, I can take the blood test, but I’ve got to send it to the lab. Even if I put a rush on it, I won’t get the results until tomorrow afternoon. Do you think you can wait that long?”

  Maddy was already rolling up her sleeve.

  ##

  The following day, Maddy was doing paperwork at her desk when a strange man holding an elaborate vase of flowers knocked on her door.

  “Mrs. Kelly?” he asked.

  She nodded dumbly and watched as he set them down.

  “Oh, and there’s a letter with it,” he said, pulling an envelope from his shirt pocket. He handed it to her.