Second Chance 3: Ask Me Again 3: David's Story (4 page)

Chapter 9

Madelyn

I felt like a new woman, a real woman, after David made love to me all night long that night on the yacht. It was nothing like the dry and boring sex I had begun to loathe when Chad and I were together. I actually thought I really loved Chad, until I met David. What I felt for Chad paled in comparison to the intense feeling I was beginning to have for David.

Even though I didn’t like having sex with Chad, I accepted it. I believed if you loved someone the sex shouldn’t matter so much anyway. Boy was I wrong about that! David proved me wrong with one night of controlling and taming my body to his will. He was not a selfish lover, at all.

I sighed softly thinking of all the ways he turned my body inside out and tumbled my mind into a whirlwind of sweet, delicious thoughts as he murmured naughty words in my ear during our lovemaking. I knew in my head I should take things slow with David, but my heart was already telling me otherwise.

One night in David’s arms had caused me to rethink everything I ever thought about love. I suddenly realized that Chad leaving me, even if his timing sucked in the worst way, was the best thing that could have happened to me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had a chance to be with David. I shrugged off the thoughts of Chad and the past. He wasn’t worth my thoughts anyway.  David was my future and I was falling hard and fast for him. My entire body blushed, as I continued to think about how he made me feel. My body had been like sleeping beauty and he awakened it to pleasures beyond my wildest dreams. He imprinted himself upon me in a way that I knew, as long as I lived, another man would never be able to touch me in the same way again.

The more time we spent together, his calming presence even helped me not miss my mom as much. I looked forward to his calls and texts through the day to check up on me.  When he became busy and caught up at the office, he would always find the time to let me know he missed me and that I was always on his mind. Whenever I went days without seeing him, I missed him something fierce. I felt like an addict needing a fix at times. The fix being in David’s arms once again. I had it bad and I knew it, but I was enjoying the ride in more ways than one.

We both had busy lives, with me working five days a week and half days on Saturdays. I thought about how my grand opening had gone off without a hitch. A large part of its success had to do with my two newly hired employees. Without the two of them, I wouldn’t have been able to pull it off as flawlessly as I did, and for that I was thankful.

It also felt really good to have a loving man to care for me at this point in my life. David was the kind of man that helped me let my guard down. I felt I could trust and depend on him in a way I never thought was possible. In return, it made me want to give him the same.

I glanced at the clock on the wall and noticed it was much past closing time. My employees had already left, since they finished up their duties. I only stayed behind to order some much-needed supplies. Getting that order in would free up some time for the next day. My attention went back to finishing my order when my cell phone vibrated. I smiled secretively, without checking the ID, because I was sure it was David calling to see had I made it home safely. He didn’t like the idea of me driving my old clunker at night, but that wasn’t up for debate. I still couldn’t find it in me to part with Mama’s car.

“Hello,” I answered.

“Hello, Maddie.”

I pulled the phone from my ear to look at the ID. “Chad?” I questioned surprised and suspicious at the same time.

“It’s me Maddie. I know you haven’t forgotten my voice already,” he feigned a hurtful tone.

“What do you want, Chad?” I asked getting straight to the point.

“I want to see you. I want to talk with you and explain why I walked out on you the way I did.”

“It’s a little too late for that Chad, don’t you think?” My thoughts were spiraling out of control.
Why was he calling me now, all of a sudden?
I asked myself.

“It’s never too late, Maddie. I was a fool to walk away from the best thing that ever happened to me. I want to make amends, baby.”

“Don’t you dare call me baby, Chadwick Martin? You lost that privilege a long time ago. Besides, I am seeing someone and I know he wouldn’t appreciate me meeting up with you considering our history.”

“Who is the new guy, Maddie?” he asked in a demanding tone, like he had the right to know.

What was wrong with this fool?
I silently questioned myself. He had been out of my life for so long and he had the audacity to question me, as if we were still a couple. This fool had lost his damn mind for sure! “I owe you nothing, Chad! You walked away from me at the most painful time in my life. If you couldn’t be there for me as a boyfriend, you should have stuck around at least as a friend. You messed my mind up for a long time. I almost swore off men, thinking they were all trifling like you and the father that walked away from my mom when she was pregnant with me.” I paused to catch my breath before more words spewed forth. “I am so glad that my friend Monica finally talked some sense into me; otherwise, I wouldn’t have met David.”

“David? Who-who is this David character?”

“Is that all you can ask, who David is? Is that all you heard me say to you, Chad? I tell you what, lose my number and never call me again. We have nothing more to discuss and I wish you nothing but happiness,” I said really meaning it.

“I called to check up on you Maddie and you treat me like this. It’s me Chad and you treat me virtually like a stranger.”

I didn’t realize it before, but Chad had issues. I also wondered in that moment if he was wrapped too tight in the head. “Chad you are a virtual stranger to me,” I finally replied. “The Chad I thought I knew wouldn’t have been so cold hearted to do what you did to me. The Chad that my mom thought so highly of wouldn’t have just walked away at the worst time in my life.” I spilled forth these words from old wounds that opened up and the words festered out in the open.

“I am sorry, Maddie, for all of the heartache I caused you. I was wrong. Some things I was going through at the time, I couldn’t talk to you about because I would have lost you. But due to my actions, I lost you anyway. If you ever want to talk about what was going on with me at that time, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.” He paused before continuing to speak. My lips remained closed as I listened. “I wish you much happiness, because you deserve that happiness. I am just sorry that it’s too late to be with me. Goodbye my sweet Maddie,” he said before ending the call.

I had no desire to ever call Chad or for him to call me again. We were in the past and what was done was done. Since he finally asked for forgiveness, I no longer held a grudge against him. It felt good to finally forgive and move on. To move on to the man I was slowly but surely losing my heart to.

Chapter 10

David

“Mr. McConnell, I assure you that everything is handled per your specifications. I made the pitch to our clients down to the letter of your instructions and they signed on the dotted line without any hesitation on their end, sir.”

“David, my good man, I knew that I could count on you,” said Mr. McConnell as I sat across from his desk. I know I can be hard on you at times, but it’s for your own good, son. One day in the near future, you will be sitting in this office behind this desk as president of this bank. I am grooming you in the same way I was groomed many years ago, because as you’ve seen firsthand, the board of directors can be some hard asses to handle at times,” he chuckled to lighten his words.

“Thank you, sir. I really appreciate all of the wisdom and knowledge you pass on to me. I am soaking it in and I apply it when necessary.”

Mr. McConnell nodded his head at my thanks before speaking. “David, I am not trying to change the subject, but why aren’t you married yet? It can get mighty lonely at the top young man, with no one to share your successes or glory with.”

“In all honesty sir, I thought I would have been married myself by now, but things didn’t work out in my favor, it seems. I want to and I am ready to settle down with one good woman. I agree, it does get lonely coming home to an empty house.”

“That’s my man. Never give up on love. It will never give up on you,” he urged with much wisdom under his belt. “I miss the Mrs. every day. Estelle, my wife, has been gone to the other side for almost ten years now. To this very day, I still miss her in my big old empty house. We bought that house when I moved up on the corporate ladder in hopes of filling the house with kids. God rest her soul, she had two miscarriages and one stillbirth before the doctors forced her to give up trying to have children of our own.”

“I am so sorry, Mr. McConnell. I had no idea that you and your wife went through something so painful. I can only imagine the level of pain it caused the both of you.”

A far away, troubled look entered his eyes. “You have no idea how hard the miscarriages and then the stillborn baby put on our marriage. Estelle became so distant and started to blame me for the smallest of things that went wrong. It got to where I resented her and hated to go to my own house after a day’s work. I started working longer hours, just to avoid her and the painful memories of losing our precious babies. Divorce never entered into the equation, not even once. I was old school when it came to that. I learned that from my own parents,” he continued as he frowned, reminiscing about unpleasant memories of his past.

He coughed and cleared his throat before resuming speaking. I sat and listened as he cleansed his thoughts. “I did some things back in those days that I am not too proud of and before I leave this earth I suspect it will come back and haunt me. I wanted children so bad with my wife. I even begged her to adopt, but she wanted no parts of it.”

“I am really sorry,” I said again, not really knowing what else to say. If I felt so much pain after signing my parental rights of my only son over to Alyssa and Drake; I knew it must have been even more devastating to lose one’s children to death. Death was so final, I thought, with much sympathy to his situation.

“I appreciate you listening to an old man about his past. You know, I almost lost Estelle to some of the things I did. I had to fix my head right and be the husband I promised to be in the vows I took on our wedding day. I couldn’t lose my wife, so I regretfully walked away from a situation that could have torn our world apart.”

“We all make mistakes that we are not too proud of in life. I know I have made quite a few of them myself, but I have learned the power of forgiveness and to ask for forgiveness when required. You would be surprised at some of the things I selfishly did in recent years. I am far from being proud of the man I used to be. I said that to say this to you, Mr. McConnell, forgiving yourself is the key.”

“Young man, you could very well be on to something. Estelle gave me her forgiveness on her dying bed. I just never felt a need to forgive myself, until this very moment.”

We were both quiet sitting there in his office lost in thoughts of our own. The silence was comforting in its own way as we each reflected on the past and the power of forgiveness.

Chapter 11

Madelyn

The waiter led Monica and I through the Pizzeria to David’s booth. We were supposed to meet David and his friend Jarvis there for dinner. We each thought it was a good idea to finally meet each other's best friends. I had yet to meet his parents since they stayed far away in another city, but I had talked to them several times on the phone. They were really nice people.

We arrived at the booth where David was sitting alone. David instantly stood, like a gentlemen, as I introduced him to my good friend. The waiter left us when David informed him that we would not be ready to order until Jarvis arrived. “It’s so good to finally meet you, Monica. I have heard nothing but good things about you,” David said enclosing my hand in his as we sat in the booth.

Monica sat directly across from us, giving David the once over before turning her glance on me and giving me the look that said she wholeheartedly approved of my choice. “It’s really nice to finally meet you also. Maddie talks about you all of the time. I should be angry that you’ve taken away all our girl time together, but I forgive you since you make her so happy,” she said in a teasing tone of voice.

David and I laughed well naturedly. Monica was unlike me; she never met a stranger and had no trouble communicating with them as if she had known them for years. “I don’t blame Maddie one bit. If I had a man like you in my life, I would kick her ass to the curve too,” Monica continued.

“Girl, stop it,” I said laughing so hard that I almost caught a cramp. David chuckled along with me at Monica’s jesting.

We were deep into conversation and enjoying the lighthearted banter, when the waiter led a tall, dark and handsome man to our table. David immediately stood and clasped Jarvis hand into a hearty handshake.

“What’s up everybody?” Jarvis greeted us after David quickly gave out the introductions and before sliding into the booth beside a stunned Monica.

“Hi, Jarvis. It is a pleasure to finally meet the man that David talks so much about,” I said in greeting.

“Thank you and it’s a pleasure to meet the woman who has my friend's nose wide open. I now fully understand, without a doubt, and I would just like to say that your lovely friend here is equally as beautiful,” he added turning towards Monica with a brilliant white smile.

Monica instantly kicked me under the table before giggling like a schoolgirl. If I hadn’t seen how Monica was acting with my own two eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it. Monica, the polished, strong businesswoman, was blushing like she was out on her first date. “Thank…you,” she finally stuttered.

“It’s my pleasure to compliment a beautiful lady such as you,” Jarvis said laying it on thick.

The waiter came over, interrupting further conversation, as we decided in a collaborative effort on what to order. We decided on an extra-large pepperoni pizza with extra cheese and a large order of hot wings. We all placed our drink orders, as well.

“Please tell me that you're single, Monica,” urged a hopeful Jarvis.

“I am very much single. Are you?" she asked.

“I am also single. I have been divorced for almost two years now,” he confided.

“Do you have any children?” Monica asked.

I crossed my fingers beneath the table, hoping against hope that his answer would be in Monica’s favor. I knew what Monica went through in her previous relationship. She had enough baby Mama drama to last her a life time.

“Yes, I have a four-year-old son and a six year old daughter, who are my world.”

Monica frowned, as her smile faltered a bit. “Oh,” she said.

The waiter arrived with our food and drinks in record time. Monica's one-word answer was awkward, if I had to say so myself. I felt bad for Jarvis. He truly seemed like a nice enough dude and on top of that he was very handsome. We ate in silence for a while. I caught Jarvis staring at Monica like he couldn’t get enough of watching her.

“Don’t worry about Jarvis,” David whispered against my ear in a very low voice. “He doesn’t give up very easily.”

“That’s good to know,” I replied in a low voice looking into his sexy green eyes. I trembled from the heat radiating from David's eyes as he bestowed his heated glance upon me.

“Do you realize how much I want and need you right now?” David whispered gruffly, for my ears only.

“I have missed us being together so much. I want and need you too.”

“Give me a chance and I will make it up to you tonight. Let’s get out of here and give these two a chance to connect,” he suggested with urgency in his voice.

“Okay, I would love that,” I admitted, already feeling flustered.

“Monica, you and Madelyn arrived together, but I am going to steal her away. I hope you don’t mind,” David said to my friend.

“I don’t mind in the least,” she admitted. “I suspected she would be leaving with you from the very beginning.”

“Thanks Monica! I will call you later to catch up,” I promised her.

“Go ahead and get out of here you two. I will keep Monica company,” Jarvis said.

David stood quickly and drew me upward beside him. He threw several bills onto the table to cover the bill. “Thanks guys. We are so lucky to have understanding friends. We must do this again soon.”

“Be nice,” I bent and whispered in Monica’s ear. “Give him a chance,” I urged before David led me out of the restaurant.

I hoped Monica would take my advice like I took hers. I hoped she realized she can’t let one bad experience with a man with children ruin it for someone else. I walked arm in arm beside the man with whom I was madly in love.