“The party’s almost over,” Pam said with a sneaky smile on her face.
Charlotte left to answer the door. Charlotte walked back in, just as they finished placing the gifts in the corner.
“Ladies, I have another announcement to make,” Charlotte said. All eyes were on Charlotte. She hit the button on her stereo and yelled, “Let’s get this party started.”
A song by Justin Timberlake began to play and two handsome, well-built men dressed in fireman uniforms walked in.
One of them spoke out. “I heard there was a fire in this room.”
Adrienne fanned herself and said, “Yes, and it’s right here, baby.”
In beat with the music, the dancers removed pieces of their uniforms. Each of the ladies took turns dancing with them.
The tallest one made his way to Madison. “Can your man put your fire out like this?” he asked her.
He took off his g-string and swung it around. Madison shrieked and put her hand to her mouth. “Oh my goodness.”
Charlotte laughed. “Girl, enjoy yourself. I told you I’m only doing this once.”
Madison got up and danced as they sandwiched her in. “If you tell anybody about this, I’ll deny it,” she yelled.
The ladies gave away some dollars and then sent the dancers on their way.
“This was so much fun,” Madison commented as everyone helped her put all the nice gifts in her car.
“I’m glad you had a good time,” Charlotte said.
She hugged everybody before getting in her car. “Thank y’all again.”
She drove home feeling elated, yet sad.
Chapter 23
Ethan woke up Saturday morning feeling refreshed. He made a fresh cup of coffee before taking a shower. He put on a black jogging suit and a pair of tennis shoes.
“Madison, what are we getting ourselves into?” he asked himself out loud. He got in his car and dialed her number from his cell. “Wake up sleepyhead,” he said into the phone receiver.
“I’m not sleep,” she responded.
“I’ll be there shortly. Have you eaten breakfast?”
“No, not yet.”
“Do you want something from I-Hop or the Waffle House?”
“Surprise me.”
“Okay. See you soon. Bye.”
Ethan went by the Waffle House and ordered two big breakfasts. The food was still warm when he made it over to Madison’s. He walked up to her door and rang the doorbell. “Good morning,” he said when she opened the door. He leaned down and kissed her on the lips.
“Let me help you with this,” she said, taking one bag. “What all did you get?”
“Enough to carry us until later,” he said as he noticed some gift bags and boxes on the table.
“I’ll be back. Let me get some real silverware,” Madison said as she exited into the kitchen.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said.
While she was getting the silverware, he caught a glimpse of some lace in one of the bags. He pulled it out and a wide grin crossed his face. He held it up in front of him.
Madison walked back in. “I don’t think that’s your size,” she joked.
“But it’s yours.”
“Last night my best friend and my sisters decided to throw me a surprise bridal shower.”
He continued to look at the lingerie. “Really now? I wish I could have seen the expression on your face.”
“I’m glad you weren’t there. It was already awkward enough.” She snatched the lingerie out of his hands and placed it back in the bag. “Your waffles are getting cold.”
They ate breakfast and Madison shared with Ethan the events from the previous night.
After drinking his orange juice, Ethan asked, “I’m curious. Did you have any strippers?”
“They’re dancers,” Madison slipped and said.
“I knew it.” Ethan laughed. “You conveniently left that part out.”
“I was going to tell you.”
“Sure.”
They finished eating and packed up Ethan’s SUV with a few of her items. Madison made sure he had everything that she had packed. “That’s it. I guess I’m officially moving in,” she said, brushing her hands together.
He pulled her to him. “And you’re making me a very happy man.”
Her eyes gleamed. “Don’t be getting any ideas. Remember this is only for about four more months.”
“That’s what your mouth says.”
“We’ll see.”
They stared into each other’s eyes and the trance was broken by Ethan’s cell phone vibrating.
“I guess that means it’s time for me to let you go,” Ethan said as he headed for the door, ignoring his vibrating phone. “You’re not going to follow me.”
“I want to stay here for one more night,” Madison whined. She still couldn’t believe she was actually moving in with this man.
“When will you start informing me of your decisions?”
“When I feel like it’s something you need to know.”
“I know the marriage isn’t real, Madison, but we are in a relationship.”
“Everything is happening so fast. I need more time,” she continued her whining.
“It’s your own fault, so don’t be taking it out on me.”
“I’m not. Give me one more day.” She batted her eyes at him. “Please. With sugar on top.”
“Now that was the magic word.” He smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Pull yourself together, girl. I’ll call you later. If you’re not at my place by noon on Sunday, I’ll personally come drag you out of this house.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Dare me.”
He jumped in his car and sped away.
***
It didn’t take Ethan long to carry Madison’s stuff inside his house. He decided to put her things in the spare bedroom across from his and let her unpack herself.
I guess I’ll have to share my office with her, he thought to himself. This is going to be an adjustment.
His cell phone rang again but by the time he got to it, whoever it was had to leave a message.
He hit send and his phone dialed the last missed call.
“Hello,” Sarah said.
“Why are you calling me?” Ethan asked.
“I’m at Wal-mart buying some Pampers and I thought of you.”
“Oh, how sweet.”
“By the way, you failed to mention you were MARRIED.”
“Excuse me.” Ethan remained calm, although his instincts told him to hang up.
“I saw the ring you gave Madison. Beautiful I might add. It looks like it cost a pretty penny.”
“What’s it to you?”
“I have one question. How does she feel about your son?”
“We’re adjusting.”
“Really. She didn’t seem to know anything about it when I showed her his picture.”
“Why would she be discussing anything with you?”
“You know how women talk. Besides, we work together, so we’re bound to find out personal things about each other.”
Ethan heard a cry in the background. “Sounds like Christopher needs you more than I do right now, so take care of him. I’ll see you at the doctor’s office. And Sarah?”
“What?” she snapped.
“Please don’t call me again.”
Lord, please don’t let that child be mine, Ethan prayed. I love kids, but I never imagined having one with that woman. I know. I should have kept my zipper up, so it’s my fault. I promise if you get me out of this one, I’ll wait until I’m married.
Ethan laughed at himself.
I must be desperate to be making promises to God about not having sex.
Chapter 24
Madison spent Sunday morning relaxing and avoiding phone calls from her family; especially from her mom, who wasn’t too happy about her missing yet another church service. Madison forwarded her home phone to her cell phone, grabbed her backpack, and th
en turned on the alarm before making her way to Ethan’s.
Madison stood impatiently outside the door after knocking. “I thought you’d changed your mind,” she said when Ethan opened the door.
“Let me take that,” he said reaching for the bag.
She walked in like she owned the place. “Where’s my stuff?”
He walked up the stairs with Madison on his heels. “I put your things in the bedroom across from mine.”
“How convenient,” she stated, following him into a spacious bedroom.
She walked around the room. “I don’t like these colors.”
“Feel free to decorate anyway you like.”
“Now don’t get mad at me when I change the whole place around.”
“I won’t. What’s mine is yours,” Ethan said with a wink.
“Music to a woman’s ears,” Madison said as they both laughed.
“I’ll leave you alone to get settled. I’ll be downstairs if you need anything.”
“Thanks.”
After Ethan left the room, Madison laid across the queen-sized canopy bed.
This is perfect, she thought. She hugged herself and fell back on the bed.
I’ve died and gone to heaven. This bed feels almost as good as mine. She sat up.
A thought crossed her mind. I know he cares about me, so between now and then, I have to convince him that I can be the perfect little wife. She laughed at her last thought. What am I doing? This is a temporary situation. In another four months, it’ll be six months and we can go our separate ways…or not.
She unpacked her stuff. When she went downstairs, Ethan was nowhere in sight. She yelled, “Ethan!”
“I’m in here,” he shouted from the kitchen.
The table was set with platters of fish, shrimp, potato salad and biscuits.
“I was going to cook for you,” Madison said as she entered the kitchen and noticed the spread.
“You can cook for me tomorrow.” He walked around and pulled out her chair.
After fixing their plates, Ethan said grace. “Lord, thank you for this food we’re about to eat. Madison and I might not be together under the best of circumstances, but Lord you know our hearts and please allow our time together to manifest itself into something special for both of us. Amen.”
“Amen,” Madison bashfully said as she took her napkin and draped it across her lap.
In between bites, Ethan asked, “Do you think you’ll find the bed comfortable? If not, we can go tomorrow and get you a new one.”
“It’s perfect,” Madison assured him.
They made small talk the rest of the meal.
“Don’t worry about the dishes. Go relax,” Ethan said.
Madison wiped her mouth. “I told you, not to start something and not keep it up.”
Flirting back with her, he said, “I don’t start anything I can’t finish.”
She left and went to the den. She took off her shoes, found the remote and began watching a movie on the Sci-fi station.
“Ugh, that’s gross,” she shouted after watching a movie about insects for about thirty minutes.
“You’re the one who put it on that channel,” Ethan said as he took a seat next to her. “Let me see your feet.” He began massaging her toes after obliging his request. She leaned back and momentarily forgot about the movie she was watching.
“Mmm. That feels good,” she moaned.
“I’m glad.”
She looked at him and smiled. “You’d make a great husband. You cook, you clean and you do toes.”
He laughed. “There are a lot of other things I do too.”
“I can imagine,” she said as he delicately handled each toe.
With each rub, she could feel her insides getting moist. She moved her foot. “Ethan, I think my feet are okay now.”
“What about the other parts of your body?”
She stood up and pushed him back playfully on the shoulder “You would have to make this difficult.”
With a boyish grin on his face, he asked, “What did I do?”
“You know what you did.” She walked towards the stairs. “I think I’ll finish unpacking.”
“You said you were through.”
“I lied.”
She left him downstairs.
***
That didn’t go exactly like I had planned it. It’s still early and she’s gone to bed, Ethan thought. He waited to see if she was coming back downstairs. When she didn’t, he retreated up the stairs. He knocked on her door and when he didn’t get an answer, he began to walk back downstairs.
“I’m sorry,” she said after opening the door.
“No. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I can’t resist touching you.”
“I guess you need to pull out your rule book and add NO touching.” Madison smirked.
“Oh, you got jokes?”
“Plenty.”
Chapter 25
The next morning Ethan woke up to the smell of bacon and coffee. He whisked out of bed, took a shower and got dressed.
When he entered the kitchen, Madison was wearing a robe and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She was seated at the table on her iPad. She put it down. He felt like wrapping his arms around her when she smiled at him.
“Good morning,” he said as he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.
She pulled away from the table. “I hope you don’t mind, but I felt like cooking a big breakfast for some reason.”
“Don’t spoil me now,” he said, using Madison’s own words.
“Have a seat and I’ll bring everything to the table.” She filled his plate with bacon, scrambled eggs with cheese, grits and toast.
“If you cook like this every day, I know I’ll need to put in extra time in the gym,” he commented as he buttered his toast.
Madison fixed her plate and after Ethan said grace, they ate making small talk.
“Don’t worry about those dishes. Finish getting ready for work and I’ll throw them in the dishwasher,” Ethan said as he got up and cleared the table.
“Yes, I can’t go to work looking like this,” she said, rubbing her hand down her yellow terry cloth robe that matched her Tweety Bird slippers. She then headed upstairs to get ready for work.
Ethan was turning the dishwasher on when Madison came back downstairs fully dressed. He did a double take. There was not a strand of hair out of place. Her make-up was immaculate. He licked his lips as he imagined kissing the ruby red lipstick off of her.
“Ethan, are you ready?” Madison asked, forcing him back to reality.
“I’ll be leaving out in a minute. I’ll walk you to the door.”
She needs to stop wearing that fragrance. It’s intoxicating, he thought.
Before walking out the door, Madison asked, “Do I get a key or will you be here by six?”
“I’m sorry. With everything going on, I forgot to give you a copy. Wait right here.”
He rushed upstairs and came back with a couple of keys on a heart-shaped key ring.
“Thanks.” She took them and added them to her key chain.
He handed her a slip of paper. “This is the code for the alarm.”
She tucked it in her bra. He wished he could be where the paper was.
“It’s in a safe place now,” she said as she glanced at her watch. “I better get going. I have to deal with rush hour traffic.”
Although he wanted to kiss her, he gave her a tight hug instead. “Have a good day.”
“You too,” she said as she walked to her car.
He closed the door and spoke out loud. “Lord, the promise I made to you about refraining from sex, can I take it back?”
***
Sarah is the last person I want to see, Madison thought as she headed towards her desk. Why is she camping out near my desk? Madison decided to detour to the break room; secretly hoping Sarah would be gone by the time she got to her desk.
She fixed herself a cup of coffee. After adding tw
o packets of Sweet ‘N Low, she poured a small container of cream into her cup then took a sip. After a couple more sips she decided to head back towards her desk. On her way she noticed that Sarah was no longer standing there. As she approached her desk, Madison noticed a yellow sticky note attached to her computer screen. She sat her coffee down on the coaster on her desk, removed the sticky note and read it.
I forgot about lunch, Madison thought to herself after reading the note. She’s the last person I need to be having lunch with.
She logged onto her computer and returned emails she had failed to acknowledge on Friday. Just as she hit the “send” key on the last email, her phone rang. She looked at the display and saw Owen’s five digit extension and name displayed.
“What Owen?” she answered.
“See, if I had a customer on the line, you would be in trouble,” Owen said.
“You only call me when you want to gossip. I don’t know why I entertain you by listening.”
“What are you doing for lunch?”
She looked at the sticky note again, balled it up and threw it in the trash. “I’m going to lunch with Sarah, but I’m trying my best to get out of it.”
“You still hadn’t told me why she rolled her eyes at you.”
“Owen, you’re paranoid. Anyway, what’s so hot that you can’t tell me over the phone?”
“It’s actually about the person you’re going to lunch with.”
She sat up in her chair and contemplated on whether to inquire for more information, but decided to take the high road. “Whatever it is, I don’t want to know about it.”
“Are you sure?”
She paused and whispered, “Yes.”
“I guess I’ll have to find somebody else to tell, Ms. Look Like She’s Got Herself Together is really falling apart at the seams.”
“I won’t ask how you know this,” Madison said, fighting back the urge to just make Owen spit it out.
“Let’s just say, we both see the same therapist.”
“Everybody who gets counseling is not crazy.”
Owen laughed. “Thank you. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell y’all.”
“I’m hanging up on you now.” And she did just that.
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