She slammed the front door.
...
“Can you believe he had the nerve to just show up here with all this stuff and expect that I would not only forgive him, but agree to marry him?” Maddie asked Callie as they drove to the theater.
“I think he really loves you. Why won’t you just hear him out?”
“Because he’ll just hurt me again. I can’t gamble with my heart like that. It’s too hard.”
Callie pulled the car into a parking space and turned to face her sister. She took her sister’s hand in her own and squeezed it gently.
“Love is always, always worth the gamble. Sure, you might lose sometimes, but it’s still the most wonderful thing in the world. If I had the chance to be with Rex again, even after all these years and all the water under the bridge, I’d take that chance in a skinny minute. No doubt about it. I would give everything I own just to feel like that again, even if it was only for a little while. “Love doesn’t come around too often. You’d better grab it while you can or you’ll always regret it. Trust me. I know what it’s like to be separated from the love of your life.”
“But he hurt me, Callie. He really hurt me.” Her voice cracked on the last word.
“Let him tell you his side of the story. If you’re still mad at him and you don’t ever want to see him again, no one would blame you. But don’t let the best thing that’s happened to you in a long time pass you by just because you’re being stubborn.”
“I’ll think about it,” she said. “And for the record, I’m not being stubborn, just realistic.”
“You promise me you’ll think about it?”
She nodded.
“Good enough. Now I want some Junior Mints.”
...
David drove slowly back to the empty apartment. He was crushed. He’d had no idea she would react to him like she did. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. After all, he had disappeared off the face of the earth for weeks without so much as a call. He should’ve planned it better.
She might be mad now, but he was determined to find a way to win her back. She was the girl for him and he refused to give up.
He parked in front of Jerry’s Bakery. He needed some high-test caffeine in the worst way. He locked the car and walked inside the shop.
“David,” Jerry called from the counter, “it’s great to see you. You haven’t been here in a while.” He stuck his hand across the counter.
“Yeah, I’ve been pretty busy at work.” It sounded empty and he was sure the older man heard the lie in his voice. “Just let me have the usual.”
“Let me see if I remember how to fix it,” Jerry joked. “Take a seat. This one’s on the house.”
He selected a table near the back of the shop. He sat down and Jerry brought him a triple espresso in a white mug.
“You looked like you might need a triple instead of a double.”
“Am I that easy to read?” he asked, taking a sip of the hot liquid and giving up on the idea of flying under the radar.
“Not usually. But you look like something the cat dragged in today. Are you okay?”
“After weeks of having my head up my ass, I finally woke up and decided to propose to my dream girl, but she just kicked me out of her house. Even though I came armed with flowers, chocolates, and balloons.”
“Who were you going to propose to?”
“Maddie Westerfield.”
“Ah, I figured. She told me the two of you were seeing each other.”
“Everything was perfect until the Corps wanted to give me the Bronze Star. It messed with my head. A lot.” He ran his hand through his short hair. “I was such a jackass.”
The older man nodded. “Yep. You’d better take a few days and figure out how to fix this. It’s going to have to be more than just candy and flowers. It’s going to have to mean something. To her.”
He turned the mug up and gulped the remaining espresso. He slammed the cup on the table and rose.
“Thanks for the cup, Jerry. Now I have to go straighten out this mess.” The bell on the door jangled cheerily when he hit it on the way out the door.
Chapter Fifteen
As soon as Maddie finished her notes on the client file in front of her, she had the whole weekend to herself. With Andrew back at Callie’s and football season finished, she had too much time on her hands. She planned on doing some Christmas shopping.
The last couple of months had been one heck of a roller-coaster ride. David shattered her heart in a million pieces. Callie came home. Andrew moved out of her house. Her team won the league championship. Then David had the audacity to show up and almost propose.
She shook her head at the memory.
As soon as she’d slammed the door behind him, she’d grabbed the bouquet and the chocolates and stuffed them in the trash. One by one she’d popped every single stupid balloon. She’d thought it would make her feel better but it ended up making her feel worse.
She wanted him in her life. More than she’d ever wanted anything. But she couldn’t have him. She had to find a way to get used to that.
For the most part, she tried to stay positive. Upbeat. She kept telling herself that for every terrible thing, there was an equal or greater positive thing. The same six weeks had been heaven and hell, all rolled into one.
The first few days without Andrew were the toughest. All of a sudden, there were no eight-year-old feet running down the hall, no wet towels on the bathroom floor, no homework scattered across the kitchen table. The house was painfully empty.
She was finally becoming accustomed to living alone again, but she still desperately missed Andrew. Even though he was just a couple of blocks away, it seemed like he was on the other side of the world.
And tough as it was to admit, she still missed David. She wanted to be strong, self-sufficient, but several times over the past week, she’d thought about picking up the phone and calling him. She’d almost decided to give him a chance to explain. But letting him back into her life would only cause her more heartbreak later down the road.
It would be easy to stay angry at him, to keep stoking the fire of disappointment deep in her gut, but she was resolved to let the negative feelings go. Not only was it unhealthy from a psychological perspective, it was a waste of time. She wasn’t going to let a dark emotion rule her.
She might be alone again but she’d done it before and she could do it again.
...
Football tickets.
The Carolina Panthers were just a couple of hours west on I-40, and he and Maddie would’ve never met if not for football.
After a couple of online searches and a steep charge on his Visa, he had two tickets to the game. He found a hotel nearby that offered a spa package and he booked that, too.
He added in reservations to a swanky restaurant and requested two bottles of their favorite wine.
He was determined to make her his wife. He’d keep at it until he was successful. Armed with a dream weekend, he was ready to plan his next attempt. What he needed was intel. Now that Andrew was back with Callie, he had no idea what kind of schedule Maddie was keeping. She was so involved with her counseling work, she might be working lots of late nights. He wanted proposal number two to be perfect. Flawless. Impossible to refuse.
For all he knew, she was already dating someone new.
He hated the thought of her cozying up to another man.
With the days getting shorter and the nights getting longer, he decided to go for a run. On Saturday night, the streets of Fort Wilson were pretty quiet and the cool air felt fantastic. He changed into some workout clothes and laced up his sneakers.
Just before he walked out the door, he touched the engagement ring he’d threaded onto the gold chain he wore around his neck. He’d placed it there several weeks ago because he had no idea when the chance to propose might happen, and if the Marine Corps had taught him anything, it was to be prepared.
If she was seeing someone new, he might be at her
house on a Saturday night.
He jogged slowly, taking his time to focus on his breathing. He wound through the sleepy streets until he found himself on her block. The house was dark except for the light in the living room and the blaze of the Christmas tree lights in the front window. He slowed down until he was nearly running in place.
She’d forgotten to close the blinds and he saw her on the couch, alone, a paperback in one hand and glass of wine in the other. His heart rate ticked up and emotion swelled deep within him. He wanted to be beside her more than anything in the world.
And then he couldn’t stand it another moment.
He crossed the street and walked onto the porch. After a deep breath, he rang the doorbell.
Footsteps echoed inside the house, and the door opened. Maddie stood framed in the doorway, staring at him.
All the words he’d intended to say left his head.
She held the door open and he silently thanked the stars that she didn’t slam it in his face.
“Can I come in?” he asked.
She nodded and stepped back from the door.
“Can we talk?”
She shrugged and settled on the couch. He chose a chair across the room from her. “I’m sorry. I was a jackass.”
She raised one eyebrow and nodded. He took it as a sign that he should continue.
“I had tunnel vision. I was so busy punishing myself, wallowing in the guilt of Frank’s death, I couldn’t see what was in front of me.”
“Why did you take the medal?”
He took a deep breath. “I didn’t have a choice. It’s the heaviest thing I’ve ever carried on my chest.”
Tears welled up in her eyes and he wanted to take her in his arms more than anything in the world, but the time wasn’t right. Not yet. He needed to tell her the rest.
“Frank’s been nominated for the same award. I made sure of it. You can accept it on his behalf.” The tears spilled over onto her cheeks. “I’ve spent every day since his death trying to atone for it, feeling like I could never do enough to make things right.” He shook his head. “First with Robert, then with Frank.”
“Thank you for making sure he got the Bronze Star, too.”
He nodded. “He deserved it. I had a long talk with General Rodgers a few weeks ago, and I realized that I can’t live for my brother, and I can’t live for Frank. I want to live a full life. And I want to live that life with you.”
“Why didn’t you talk to me? Why did you just walk out of my life, especially after—” Her voice broke into a sob.
He rose and walked to the couch, sat beside her. “I am so sorry,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “So very sorry.”
After a long silence, she said, “Can you explain it to me? Please?”
“When I was nominated for the Bronze Star, I went a little off course. I wanted you more than anything, but I also wanted to forget my life in the Corps. I couldn’t be with you and forget at the same time.”
“And now you can?”
He shook his head. “I don’t need to forget. I need to begin a new life. And I don’t want to imagine that life without you in it.”
She looked up, her eyes the color of green sea glass, and said, “I can’t imagine my life without you either.”
If ever there was a perfect moment, it was now.
David took the ring from the chain and dropped to one knee. “Madeline Westerfield, will you marry me and make me the happiest man in the world?”
She placed both hands on his cheeks and looked deeply into his eyes. “Yes.”
“It feels so good to have you in my arms again,” he said.
He touched his lips to hers, and sparks of electricity flashed through his whole body. She tasted even better than he remembered.
“Did you lock the door?” he asked, shifting to nibble on her ear.
“Umm…that feels wonderful. I think so. Why?”
“I’m not sure this can wait for the bedroom.”
...
After they dressed, Maddie poured iced tea into tall glasses and set them on the kitchen table. She sat on David’s lap and admired her engagement ring.
“It’s absolutely gorgeous. Look how it sparkles in the light. It’s exactly what I would have chosen. Your grandfather must have had great taste.”
“I’m glad you like it. My mother was thrilled when I told her I was going to propose. She offered the ring to me, and I asked her to mail it in case the right moment came along. If you don’t like it, you can be honest with me and we’ll get you a different one.”
“I really do love it, and the sentiment couldn’t be more beautiful.” She studied the ring again, shining on her finger, then touched his chin. “Enough of admiring my rock. We need to get down to business.”
“I thought we just did,” he said with a wicked grin.
She swatted him on the shoulder. “Not that kind of business. We have a wedding to plan. I’m going to call Callie.”
The phone rang twice before Callie answered. “Hello?”
“Guess what?” she asked.
“It must be good news. You sound really excited.”
“Aren’t you going to guess?”
“Can you at least give me a category?”
“Now you’re just antagonizing me,” she said. “David and I are getting married.”
She held the receiver away from her ear. Callie’s scream could be heard in the next town.
“I’m so excited for you. When do I get to meet my new brother?”
“Why don’t you and Andrew come over for dinner tomorrow night? I need your help planning the wedding.”
“We’d love to. Do you have a date yet?”
“We’d like to get married as soon as possible.”
The sisters chatted for a few more minutes and then David called his parents. They were equally excited. They agreed to travel to Springdale the following weekend to meet their future daughter-in-law.
“Anyone else we need to call?” he asked.
“I think everyone else can wait until tomorrow.”
“I guess I’ll head on to my apartment.”
“What?” There was no hiding the irritation in her voice.
“My apartment. I guess I’ll go there and spend the night.” His poker face dissolved into a smile.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“Says who?”
“The soon-to-be Mrs. Sterling. That’s who.”
“I like the sound of that,” he said, taking her into his arms.
Epilogue
David reached his arms around the growing swell of his wife’s belly. He placed his palm on her stomach and felt a tiny little kick. She leaned into him. He loved the soft, feminine feel of her pressed against him. He nuzzled her neck, inhaling her rose-scented shampoo. He inched the fabric of her shirt to the side so that he could kiss the soft skin on the top of her shoulder.
“Stop that, I’m trying to concentrate.”
“Why can’t you concentrate?”
“Because you’re nibbling on my shoulder and you know that drives me wild. Now stop. We have to figure out what we’re going to do with this room.”
“Okay, let’s figure out what to do with this room,” he mumbled as he returned to kissing and nibbling on her neck.
“You’re impossible,” she chided.
“And you’re irresistible.”
Since the wedding, he wanted her more than ever. Everyone warned him that the romance would stop as soon as he said “I do.” But it hadn’t; marriage only intensified his desire for her. When she’d told him they were going to be parents, his need for her increased even more. His wife had never been more beautiful than she was right now. He couldn’t keep his hands off her.
She swatted at him again and stepped closer to the wall where she inspected the paint.
“So you don’t think we should repaint this room?” she asked. “There are lots of scratches on the wall. Andrew wasn’t exactly easy on the paint job. Maybe sinc
e we’re not going to find out what gender the baby is before she gets here, we should paint it a nice powdery pink, just in case.” She smiled sweetly at him.
“She?” He chuckled. “No. I don’t think so, Maddie. This room is painted the perfect color for our nursery. Since we’re having a boy, he’ll love all the football stuff. After all, he was conceived after a Panthers game.”
She shook her head. “You don’t know that. It could have been anytime that weekend. We weren’t exactly careful. I’m telling you it’s a girl. I’m the pregnant one. I know these things.”
“It’s a boy, honey. Sterlings only have boys. It’s something of a family tradition,” he insisted.
“But wouldn’t it be nice to have a sweet little girl? We could dress her in those beautiful cotton dresses and put matching bows in her hair.”
“We’ll try for a girl next time, I promise. We can start practicing anytime you want. It’s best to be prepared.”
“Oh, hush. I’m as big as a house and you’re thinking about the next time you get me into this condition.”
He laughed. “I love knowing that child in your belly belongs to me. And I’d love to have this feeling over and over.”
He moved over to the crib his mother had bought for them on her last visit. He smoothed the blankets and moved the stuffed animals slightly so that they all faced the same direction. He looked over at Maddie who chewed on her thumbnail, lost in deep thought.
It was hard to believe that only a few months ago, he’d considered a life without her. Now he was here, in this lovely, peaceful room with his wife. Not only was she his wife, but she was his best friend and his lover. And she was soon to be the mother of his child.
“I think I’m going to take a nap. This kid of yours is already wearing me out and she’s not even born yet,” she said, rubbing her hands across the small of her back.
“He’s going to be an active little boy, I’m sure—tall, athletic, handsome, just an all-around terrific guy. He’ll be just like his dad.”
“She’s going to be beautiful and intelligent, a superb football coach and always on time, just like her mother,” she quipped.
Coach Maddie and the Marine Page 15