Just Married...Again

by Charlotte Hughes

  Maddy noted the return address and wondered why Smyth-McGraw would send her flowers. She waited until she was alone before she opened the envelope.

  We at Smyth-McGraw are proud to announce your husband's recent promotion to senior partner at our law firm. We know you will join us in congratulating him for all the hard work and effort he has put in to earn this prestigious title. We are holding a small breakfast, two weeks from today, to officially welcome Michael into the fold, and to thank you for the sacrifices you've made over the years for his career. Please call my secretary for details.

  Cordially yours, Gray Smyth

  Maddy picked up the phone and called Brenda. “What am I going to do?” she asked, once she’d read the message to her sister-in-law.

  “I don’t know, Maddy,” the woman said. “Does anybody at the firm know you and Michael are separated?”

  “I’m sure word has gotten around by now.”

  “Well, you don’t want to do anything to jeopardize this promotion. And it’s very nice of the firm to include you in the celebration as well. How many companies take the time to send the wife flowers acknowledging her participation in her husband’s career? Do you think the department ever thanked me for all the nights I sat up worrying myself silly when I knew damn good and well my husband was involved in a dangerous assignment? Heck, no.”

  “You’re right,” Maddy said. “I have to be there. Will you be seeing Michael between now and then?”

  “Are you kidding? I can’t seem to get rid of the man. He either calls or visits Danny every day. He helps him with his homework, and then they go to the gym. All those workouts are helping Danny with his self-confidence. Oh, and Michael has even babysat the girls a couple of times. You ask me, I think you should have hit him with that poker a long time ago.”

  Maddy sighed. “Well, when you see him, would you please tell him I’ll be at the breakfast.”

  “Sure, honey. I think you’re making the right decision.”

  “Don’t go getting the wrong idea,” Maddy said. “I’m doing it for his job.”

  “Right, I understand.”

  As Maddy hung up the telephone she couldn’t help but wonder if she was making yet another mistake where her husband was concerned. Seeing Michael again would only cause her pain and anguish. And she was still madder than a hornet over the amnesia business. But it was only fair that she do this one last favor for him, since she knew how hard he’d worked. His career was his life.

  It was his wife, mistress, and best friend.

  But she had another reason for wanting to be there, as well. When all was said and done, she wanted to be able to look in his eyes and see if he thought his success was worth what he’d given up.

  The phone rang, and Maddy snatched it up. The woman on the other end introduced herself as an employee from Knell Laboratories. “The results of your blood test were positive, Mrs. Kelly. Dr. Quigley asked me to call as soon as I knew.”

  Maddy sat in stunned silence. “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “I have the results right here in my hand.”

  Her head was spinning. “And this test is accurate?” Maddy asked. “One hundred percent accurate?”

  The woman on the other end chuckled. “Honey, the only thing you can count on, more than this test, is planning for the day you bring that baby home from the hospital. If I were you, I’d start knitting booties.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Maddy’s absolute joy at being pregnant dimmed a bit a week later when she awoke with her first bout of morning sickness. Once it passed, she cleaned herself up and stumbled into the kitchen for the box of soda crackers she planned to keep on the nightstand beside her bed from that moment on. Unfortunately, the nausea didn’t abate. It was still with her when she looked up from her desk that afternoon and found her sister-in-law standing in the doorway of her office.

  “Brenda, what are you doing here?”

  “We have a lunch date, remember?”

  Maddy glanced at her desk calendar and saw that she was right. “Oh, I’m so sorry. Yes, of course, we do.” She stood and rounded the desk.

  “Are you sure you’re up to it?” Brenda asked. “You don’t look so good. I hope you’re not getting that awful flu bug.”

  “No, I’m fine.” Maddy reached for her purse.

  Brenda grabbed her jacket from a brass coat tree beside the door and tossed it to her. “Here, you’ll need this. Oops.”

  In an attempt to catch her coat, Maddy dropped her purse. Brush, comb, wallet, sunglasses, ink pens, and soda crackers scattered in a dozen different directions.

  “I’m sorry,” Brenda said, kneeling to help pick it all up. She reached for the crackers and handed them to Maddy. “Upset stomach?”

  Maddy blushed. “Yes, I think I have a stomach virus.”

  “Does Michael know?”

  Maddy shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.

  Brenda grabbed her hand and dragged her out of her office. “Let’s cruise.”

  Fifteen minutes later they were sitting in Brenda’s car at the park, lunching on cheese and crackers, cold milk, and canned peaches.

  “It happened at the cabin, of course,” Maddy said. “It was late, and I was cold and—” She paused. “It was my fault.”

  “The way you talk, one would think you’d committed a crime.”

  “We’re going to be divorced next month, Brenda.”

  The other woman turned in the seat so that she was facing Maddy. “When are you going to stop this nonsense and realize the two of you belong together?”

  Maddy shook her head. “If you had heard the things he accused me of last time. If you’d seen how he acted toward me.”

  “Maddy, do you think my darling husband hasn’t disappointed me before? Oh, you ask him and he’ll tell you he’s Mr. Wonderful, and I’m lucky to have him, but believe me, he can also be Mr. Pain-in-the-Butt. Why, I’ve been mad enough to shoot his tires out with his own gun. One time I packed his bags and called his mama to come get him. Kathleen refused, of course. Said I was stuck with him. One day that woman is going to need a favor from me, and I’m going to remind her of that night.”

  Brenda paused while Maddy laughed. “But I learned early in our relationship that I couldn’t hold grudges. Not if I was going to be married to a man with a dangerous job. And let me tell you this. If you think Michael won’t disappoint you again in this lifetime, then you’re wrong. Men can’t help themselves. They say and do stupid things, and it’s up to us to be wise and forgiving.”

  Maddy found herself smiling. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I haven’t been anywhere, dear.”

  “I know. I didn’t come around because I didn’t want to put you in the middle of things.”

  “As if I can’t take care of myself.”

  “Brenda, I realize I still love Michael, but he’s dishonest at times. I feel I can’t trust him.”

  “I know about the amnesia thing, Maddy. But what you don’t know is, Michael really did have amnesia at first. Once he realized the situation, he was afraid to tell you otherwise. From what Danny’s said to me, he and Michael were working on so many plans, it’s almost scary. Instead of feeling indignant, you should feel absolutely giddy that the man would go to so much trouble to win your affection.”

  “He told me he just wanted to be friends.”

  “That’s bunk and you know it. The man loves you. You love him. Now, when are you going to tell him about the baby?” When Maddy glanced away, she became insistent. “You are going to tell him, aren’t you?”

  ##

  Maddy’s morning sickness worsened over the ensuing days, and although her obstetrician had offered to give her something during her first visit, she’d opted to wait. She didn’t want to take any medication if she could help it, even if it had been proven safe.

  “There’s absolutely no reason to suspect a problem with this pregnancy,” Dr. Flanders had told her once she’d confessed her worries. “You’re
young and in perfect health. The morning sickness will pass, and the rest of the pregnancy should be a breeze.”

  Maddy had left the office feeling cheered.

  The morning of the breakfast at Smyth-McGraw she was in her usual position, leaning over the toilet bowl, a wet washcloth in one hand. The soda crackers had done very little to settle her queasy stomach; she suspected part of it was nerves. She thought of canceling, but she knew she had to be there for Michael on his proud day. She owed him that much after all they’d meant to each other.

  Michael had tried to contact her numerous times since their return from the cabin, but Maddy had avoided him. She had no idea what to do about the baby, and until she made a decision, she wanted as little contact with Michael as possible. Besides, this business of being friends was ridiculous. After five years living under the same roof, she could not think of Michael in those terms. She would not be able to look at him without remembering what it was like to lie in his arms after making love or smell his aftershave on his pillow once he’d left for work.

  Maddy dressed in a chestnut-colored, sand-washed silk suit with matching pumps. Instead of pinning her hair up in a more professional look, she let it fall to her shoulders in natural waves and curls. As she started out the door she tucked her crackers in her purse and prayed she wouldn’t need them.

  When Maddy stepped into the lobby of Smyth-McGraw, she was surprised to find Michael waiting for her. The look on his face took her breath away. “Oh, honey, I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for coming.” His hand was warm and strong as he grasped hers. “You look absolutely stunning.”

  His compliment was music to her ears after the way she’d been feeling. “Thank you, Michael. Congratulations on your promotion. I know you must be thrilled. And I’m thrilled for you. I’m sure your whole family is thrilled.” She was chattering like an idiot, and he was looking at her as though he delighted in every word.

  “We’ve got a few minutes,” he said. “Would you like to see my new office?”

  “I’d love to.”

  “Maddy?”

  “Yes, Michael?”

  “There’s no need to be nervous.” He smiled and squeezed her hand reassuringly as he guided her to the elevators and punched the button. “I’ve tried to reach you at work several times,” he said. “Did you get my messages?”

  “Yes, but I’ve been swamped with work. One of the instructors relocated to another branch, so I’ve had to pick up the slack.”

  “I wanted to let you know you’ve had an offer on the condo, and it’s pretty close to the asking price. The realtor hasn’t been able to reach you, either. I know you asked me to handle it, but I don’t feel comfortable accepting an offer when it’s not even my place.”

  “It’s as much yours as it is mine,” she said. “It was a wedding gift, remember?”

  He started to respond, but a bell dinged and one of the elevators whisked open. They stepped inside. Maddy could not get over her handsome husband in a smartly tailored suit. No matter how professional he looked—and he indeed epitomized what a senior partner should look like—there was still an inherent strength and masculinity about him that made her yearn to touch his cheek or run her fingers through his thick hair.

  The elevator jolted upward with a whoosh, and Maddy’s stomach went with it. She gripped the handrail.

  “Sorry,” Michael said, reaching out to steady her. “It’s an old building, but you’d never convince these guys to move into something new and modern. Are you okay, Maddy?” His dark eyebrows drew together in a concerned expression.

  “Oh, yes, I’m fine. I just wasn’t expecting it.”

  “You look pale, honey. And you’ve lost weight.”

  He would lose weight, too, if he threw up everything he ate, she wanted to tell him, but didn’t. She wished he’d stop being so nice to her. She was so emotional these days, she cried over just about everything. “I’ve been a little under the weather, that’s all. I’m better now.”

  “And you’ve been doing somebody’s job on top of being sick? I don’t like it, Maddy. Not one bit.”

  He looked so serious, she almost smiled. “I’m not a fragile little teacup, Michael.”

  “I’ve just worried about you since, you know, what we went through in the mountains. That was pretty tough on all of us.”

  “Trust me. I’m as strong as an ox.”

  The elevator stopped abruptly. This time Maddy’s stomach went in the opposite direction, and her head seemed to spin like a top out of control. She stood motionless for one moment as everything whirled and blurred. She thought she heard Michael call her name before she blacked out.

  Michael saw her going down and reached for her, catching her safely before she hit the ground. The elevator door swished open, and he swept her up high in his arms and hurried toward his new office. His secretary blinked in surprise as he strode past. “Call nine-one-one, Mrs. Kearns.”

  When Maddy finally came to, she found herself stretched out on a luxurious sofa, a blanket covering her legs. Michael was beside her, giving orders to his secretary by way of his speakerphone. “Mrs. Kearns, please call Mr. Smyth and tell him I can’t make the breakfast. My wife needs me.”

  He turned toward Maddy. “Oh, honey, you’re awake. You scared me to death, and when you didn’t come to right away, I suspected the worst.”

  “Michael, I need to talk to you,” she said, unable to keep secrets from him any longer. “I’ve something to tell—”

  A sharp rap at the door interrupted her. Two men walked in with a stretcher and various other medical equipment. They took one look at Maddy sprawled on the sofa and hurried over.

  “What’s the problem, ma’am?” a serious-looking man in uniform asked.

  “I don’t know why my husband’s making such a fuss,” Maddy said. “I just fainted.”

  The paramedic began taking her blood pressure while his partner shined a light in each of her eyes. “Did she strike her head when she fell?”

  “No, I caught her,” Michael told them. “But she was very pale. She says she just got over the flu.”

  “There’s a lot of that going around.” The man pulled out a tongue depressor.

  Maddy shot a pleading look in Michael’s direction as her throat was examined. The other paramedic pulled out a stethoscope and listened to her heart.

  “Ma’am, are you on any prescription medicine or taking any other kind of drug?”

  Michael instantly took offense. “My wife is not a drug addict, if that’s what you’re implying.”

  “Just doing our job, sir. We have to ask.”

  “I’m on prenatal vitamins,” Maddy said.

  “That doesn’t sound illegal to me,” Michael snapped, glaring at the paramedic. Suddenly he swung his head in Maddy’s direction. “What? You’re taking what?”

  “How far are you into the pregnancy, ma’am?” the man asked.

  “Not even six weeks yet. I’ve had terrible morning sickness, so I can’t hold anything in my stomach in the morning or early afternoon. I’ve lost a few pounds, but my doctor assures me it’ll pass. I guess it just got the better of me today.”

  “You’re pregnant?” Michael sputtered, losing some of his polish as he tried to come to grips with the news.

  “Yes, Michael.”

  Stunned, he slumped into a nearby chair. “She’s going to have a baby,” he told the paramedics. “I’m going to be a father.” They seemed amused. Michael looked at her. “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “Positive.”

  All at once he jumped to his feet. “We need to get her to a hospital,” he told the paramedics.

  “I don’t need to go to the hospital, Michael,” she said. “I just need to eat something.”

  “You can have anything you want, babe,” he said, snatching up the phone.

  “Applesauce would be nice,” she said, “or some fresh fruit.”

  Michael relayed the message to his secretary. “Oh, and Mrs. Kearns, please order me a
box of cigars. I’m going to be a father.”

  “I don’t see any need to rush you to the ER unless you think you need to go,” one of the paramedics told Maddy. “But I’d advise you to contact your doctor right away. He may want to give you something for your nausea. You’re supposed to be gaining weight, not losing it.”

  “I’ll give him a call,” Maddy promised.

  They finished their paperwork, congratulated the expectant couple, and were on their way in a matter of minutes. She glanced over at Michael and found him staring at her.

  “Are you okay?” Maddy asked softly.

  “You weren’t even going to tell me, were you? You were going to go ahead with the divorce without telling me there was a baby.”

  “No, I—”

  He gave a bitter laugh. “Well, I can’t say that I blame you after the way I reacted last time.” He crossed the room to stare out the window. “I can’t do anything more to show you how much I love you, Maddy. That’s why I handed in my resignation. I figured if I went out on my own, I could choose my own hours. That way I’d have more time for you and a family when we decided to start one.”

  Maddy couldn’t mask her surprise. “You resigned?”

  “That’s right. That’s when Smyth made me a senior partner.” He continued to stare out the window. The day looked bleak. “But that’s not good enough, is it? It doesn’t make up for the past.”

  Maddy realized she had tears in her eyes. The old Michael would never have turned in his resignation, not for her, not for anybody.

  He sighed. “I can’t change what happened in the past, Maddy, and I’m not going to spend my future begging your forgiveness. I’ve forgiven myself, and I suppose it’ll have to be enough.”

  He turned and started for the door, and it was obvious he was having a hard time keeping his emotions under control. “I’ll check on that applesauce.”

  “Michael, wait….” Maddy raised up from the couch and walked toward him.

  Her eyes were liquid as she looked into his. “I’ve already forgiven you,” she said softly. “But can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?”