Let Love Shine (13 page)

This character interview was done for the Let Love Stay
Blog tour with Lisa Jones at True Story Book Blog.

I’m very excited
to get to meet Reid and Maddy from Let Love In/Let Love Stay. I heart them big
time–they’re like a life size Barbie and Ken doll. I arrive at the local coffee
shop where we decided to meet, and walk in to find them already seated at a
small bistro table near the back. Perfect, nice and quiet so I can pick their
brains without being disturbed.

They rise to
greet me shaking my hand. They’re both so warm and friendly and couldn’t look
any happier. Gives me butterflies! They’re soooo cute!

Lisa:
      “Well, I know you both are very busy, so
if you don’t mind, I guess we’ll jump right in.”

Reid:
     “Sounds good to us.”

Maddy looks over to me smiling and nodding in agreement.

Lisa:
      “So, Reid, what do you think Shane would
think about Maddy?”

Reid looks over
and smiles warmly at Maddy.

Reid:
     “He’d love her. Hell, he’d have a partner
in crime with her.”

Maddy grabs his
hand and lovingly squeezes. Awww… I give them both a warm smile.

Lisa:
     “Personally, I thought your old car was
pretty sweet. Do you miss your mustang?”

Reid:
     “Hell, yeah, that car was awesome. Had lots
of good memories in that car.”

His voice is
positively cocky. Maddy gives him a sideways glance and he quickly straightens
in his chair.

Reid:
     “Um, what I meant to say is no. No, I don’t
miss that car one bit.”

Nice recovery,
Reid.

Lisa:
      “How is work going? Everything you thought
it would be?”

Reid’s face
splits into a mega-watt, panty-dropping smile.

Reid:
     “It’s freaking great. I’ve actually been
meeting with this one kid lately and he reminds me so much of Shane it’s scary.
I met him at a presentation we did at a local high school, and he’s been coming
to The Bridge for a few weeks now. I really hope to help him out. Oh, and
working with Dylan every day is great too. It’s like I got back a piece of my
family when he came back.”

I think the
biggest reason why that smile is panty dropping is because it’s genuine. You
can hear the joy in his voice.

Lisa:
      “Biggest regret?”

As Reid rubs his
hands nervously over his thighs, his eyes search the ceiling for an answer.

Reid:
     “My mom. I just wish I had more time with
her.”

Maddy reaches
over and places her hand over his chest, where his tattoo is inked. Looking
down at Maddy’s hand, Reid instinctively reaches his up to encompass hers. It’s
very touching…makes my little heart squeeze.

Lisa:
      “All right Miss. Madeleine, it’s your
turn!”

She gives me a
big smile.

Maddy:
“I’m ready.”

Lisa:
      “What do you think your parents would
think about Reid?”

Maddy:
“I think my dad would have hated him at
first!”

Reid swats her on
the arm jokingly.

Reid:
     “Hey! I’m not that bad, am I?”

Maddy:
“No, silly! I just mean that when we first
met, you were pretty much every father’s worst nightmare. Now, well, now you’re
a dream come true.”

She speaks the
truth!

Lisa:
      “Can you imagine your life without Momma
and Mel?”

Maddy:
“Not one bit. I don’t know what ever made me
think they weren’t my family. Momma stops over a few times a week to visit
Braden. She loves that little boy like he’s her own. She makes me miss my mom
just a little bit less.”

Aww…

Lisa:
      “Do you still have plans to go back to
college?”

Maddy:
“Absolutely. I signed up for night classes as
soon as I moved back home. It was a difficult decision to leave Mel and the
girls back at Ithaca, but things have a funny way of working out.”

Lisa:
      “Good for you! What’s your biggest
regret?”

Maddy:
“Pushing Reid away in the hospital.”

Reid drapes his
arm around Maddy’s shoulder and kisses the top of her head. Placing her hand on
his knee, she squeezes gently and continues.

Maddy:
“I should know better than anyone that people
react to things in their own way. It wasn’t fair, but at the time it was a
defense mechanism, I guess. But it brought him closure with his mom and we made
it work in the end, so I guess I can’t regret it too much.”

Lisa:
      “As long as it worked out, that’s what
matters. All right, now it’s time for both of you at the same time – what are
your favorite five things about the other – physical and non-physical” ;-)

Maddy:
“Hmmm, non-physical, let’s see: he’s smart and
caring. He cooks, because Lord knows I can’t. He’s an amazing dad and he makes
me laugh. Physical, ehhh, I guess he’s okay.”

They both laugh
but then Maddy flushes and her cheeks turn pink. She’s so cute.

Maddy:
“I’ll keep it PG-13 and say – his hands, his
lips, his arms, his eyes and his tattoos.”

Lisa:
      “Hmm…good answers!”

Reid’s eyes rake
over Maddy’s body from head to toe.

Reid:
     “Yeah, there’s only one thing I can come up
with physically.”

A shocked look
flits across Maddy’s face as she hits him on the chest.

Maddy:
“Only one?”

Reid:
     “Yep, just one. EVERYTHING!”

He has a huge
shit-eating grin as he kisses the tip of her nose and she smiles brightly back
at him.

Reid:
     “And non-physical, yeah, I’m going to say
EVERYTHING again.”

Maddy:
“See, I told you he was smart!”

I didn’t think it
was possible for Maddy to smile any bigger than she already was.

Lisa:
      “What’s your biggest pet peeve?”

Maddy:
“When other girls hit on him. I mean, I’m
right there, with his kid no less. I mean come on!”

Reid tries to
stifle his laughter, but when a chuckle slips out, Maddy crosses her arms
across her chest.

Reid:
     “Sorry about that, babe. I can’t help it if
they all want me.”

Maddy shrugs her
shoulders, and allows Reid to pull her into his side in an embrace.

Maddy:
“Whatever. I get to bring you home at night. They
can look all they want.”

Tapping his
finger to his bottom lip, Reid looks like he’s thinking carefully about his
response.

Reid:
     “I would have to say my biggest pet peeve
is blind hatred. It brings me back to all of the things that Shane and Dylan,
and too many other people have gone through. There’s no reason to hate someone
over who they love.”

Lisa:
      “Very insightful, Reid. I have to agree
with Maddy; you are pretty smart. You’ve had an ‘unconventional’ relationship
from the start. Was there an ‘ah-ha’ moment when you ‘knew’ that this was the
only person for you or was it gradual?”

They both look at
each other and answer at the same time.

Maddy:
“Gradual.”

Reid:
     “Instantly.”

Maddy gapes over
at him with a “you have got to be kidding me” face.

Maddy:
“Seriously? You were all douche-tastic in the
beginning!”

Reid’s face
sobers a bit and he sits up straighter in his seat.

Reid:
     “Yeah, I’m not proud of that. But it was
because I knew right away you were different. I’m not too macho to say it
scared me and I acted like an ass.”

Lisa:
      “Well, at least you can admit that now. And
speaking of admitting–re-do time! The night at the hospital, what would each of
you have done differently?”

Reid:
     “I never would have walked out.”

Maddy:
“I never would have pushed him away.”

Lisa:
      “Alright, I’ve been too serious–kinky
question time! :-P  Have you had more fun with using the belt from Maddy’s
robe?”
Lol

I can’t help but
giggle as I watch Maddy slink down into her chair and her face turn red. Reid
sits up proudly and his lips curl into a sexy, lopsided grin. No one says
anything.

Lisa:
      “Alright…maybe too kinky! We’ll move on! Where
do you see yourselves in the next five years?”

Reid:
     “I’d like to finally buy that house I
promised her. She deserves a white picket fence and all that stuff.”

Reid’s chest
puffs with pride as he smiles at Maddy and she beams back at him. Gah…they’re
just so stinkin’ cute.

Maddy:
“I’m perfect where we are, but I’d like to be
done with school. Maybe another kid.”

Reid smiles and
pulls her close.

Lisa:
      “Okay, time for some word association. Give
me the first thing that comes to mind. Family?”

Maddy and Reid answer at the same time:
“Braden”

Aww…it’s cute and
dorky and sweet and they turn to each other and share a small kiss.

Lisa:
      “Shane?”

Reid almost
subconsciously rubs the scar on his chin.

Reid:
     “Pain.”

Maddy:
“Dylan.”

Lisa:
      “Trust?”

Reid:
     “Maddy.”

Maddy:
“Melanie.”

Looking at Reid,
I say,

Lisa:
      “Maddy?”

Reid:
     “Perfect.”

I grin and nod,
and turn to Maddy,

Lisa:
      “Reid?”

Maddy:
“Happily ever after.”

I think I might
get a toothache from all the cuteness and sweetness – but I still love it.

Lisa:
      “Love?”

Reid:
     “Her.”

Maddy:
“Possible.”

Lisa:
      “Very good answers! Ya’ll are surprising
me a little bit. Now for some rapid fire questions. It’s really easy,
either/or, just pick one…fast or slow?”

Maddy:
“Slow.

Reid:
     “Slow…THEN fast.”

Kinky…I like it!
;-)

Lisa:
      “Books or movies?”

Maddy:   “My Kindle”

Smart Girl!

Reid:
     “Not chick flicks.”

Such a boy!

Lisa:
      “Muscle cars or jeeps?”

Maddy:
“Jeep”

Reid:
     “Jeep. You’d be surprised how much room is
in the back when you fold the seat down!”

Kinky again! Love
it! :-D  Maddy blushes and gives him a love tap. He kisses the top of her head
as she buries her face in his shirt. She’s so cute when she is embarrassed.

Lisa:
      “Chocolate or vanilla?”

Maddy:
“Chocolate”

Reid:
     “Vanilla.”

He winks and adds,

Reid:
     “As long as I get to keep the robe belt.”

I think the reddish-hue on Maddy’s cheeks might be
permanent!

Lisa:
      “Hot or cold?”

Together:
       “HOT!”

We all share a
laugh at their enthusiastic, in-unison response.

Lisa:
      “Go out or stay in?”

Reid:
     “Stay in. I love coming home to my family
at the end of the day.”

Awwww…

Maddy:
“And we love when you come home. I say ‘in’
too.”

Bigger Awwwww!

Lisa:
      “Hard or soft?”

Maddy:
“Both. As long as it’s with him, I’ll take it
every way I can.”

Reid:
     “What she said!”