â**Chapter 9**â
Madison
In the last three days, I thought I'll be needing to deal with Luke. But I never saw him ever since I told Ace about us. In spite of that I'm not upset, instead I'm thankful. I don't want to see his face, however I'm curious. He's supposed to report with Ace, and Ace doesn't even care that he's not coming for the last few days.
We're now on our way home, to prepare for the charity event we'll be attending tonight, for an orphanage. As far as I know, he and Zane collaborate for this project.
"Ace?"
"What?" he asked, not looking at me and just straight on the road.
The problem is... "What am I going to wear? I forgot to buy a dress." ta-da. He told me to go buy a dress earlier, but I was too much, and it slipped off my mind. "Sorry."
Instead of saying anything, he looks at his watch and turns the steering wheel and makes a U-turn around Crown Heights.
"Where are we going?"
"Let's go buy you a dress."
He doesn't sound irritated at all, I assume he'll be mad because one of the things he hates the most is forgetting what he asked to do. Remembering how mad he is when the guyâhis employeeâ forgot to print the papers he doesn't really need at the moment, makes me think he'll scold me too. But he didn't.
When we arrived at the shop, he held my hand and dragged me inside, looking like a VIP tailor shop.
"How did you know this place?" I asked, whispering as he looked at me.
"My friend's wife owns this, she's my friend too, and this is where I bought my suit."
Nodding at him, his hand locked with mine as we entered a specific room.
"Sarah?" he called out, and at first no one answered. When a woman looking in her mid-30s came out with scissors in her hands.
"Oh Ace, Long time no see. What brings you here?" She put the scissor down on her table and walked to us when her eyes went to our hands. A knowing smile boomed in her face as she smiled at me. "Your wife?"
He looks at me before nodding at her. "This is Madison, She's Sarah."
"Nice meeting you." she said all smiley while shaking my hand.
"Yeah, Nice meeting you too."
"Find a dress for her, We need to go somewhere later."
"Oh, A dress? I have a lot of that. Come on, I'll show you, so you can pick."
She grabbed my hand and suddenly pulled me, making me let go of his hand and follow her. Before we entered the room full of downs and dresses, I saw him taking a seat at the couch in front of the fitting room.
"So, what do you want here?"
I look at the room full of wonderful and gorgeous dresses. My mouth hangs open as I look around. There's a lot. From every type of dress and gown to different colors.
"I just need a simple dress." is the only thing I can say as I don't know what to pick.
"Where are you two going? Just in case, I can recommend something to you."
"It's a charity event. And also an Anniversary Party."
She nodded at me before walking around the dresses-gown. After some minutes, she came back with three gorgeous dresses in her arms.
"Here, I bet all of this will look good on you."
"Thank you." I smiled at her before looking at the dresses.
There's a Green Off-shoulder Tea-Length Dress, Rose-Gold Satin Tea Length Dress with very thin strap, and Black Mini Dress with Bishop sleeves and slit.
"They all look good, but I think I'll choose this one." I said while pointing at the Rose-Gold dress, I like its color and I have an obsession with Satin clothes.
That's why I'm planning to go shopping on Sunday, and if he doesn't have any plans, then ask him to come with me.
Closing the fitting room's door. I start to take off my clothes, leaving only my panties. I took the dress from the hook and put it on, only to realize that it needed to be tied at the back to close it. It's backless.
"Sarah?" I tried to call Sarah for help, but she didn't answer. She's just outside when I leave, right? "Sarah? Are you still there?" I called again but no answer. "Sarah?" I opened the door to look for her, but who I saw just in front of the door made me startled. "Ace, Where's Sarah?"
He just eyed me from my exposed neck to my feet before looking at me again. "She left for the restroom, You need help?"
"Ahh Yeah, Can you help me tie this up?" I said I put my hair over my shoulder and showed him the back of the dress. "Wait, I wanna see it."
I hold his arms and drag him in the fitting room before turning my back on him and looking in a mirror. I look at the dress, but I can't really see how it looks because the back is not tied up yet.
"Ace." I called out as I caught him just staring at my back, "Can you tie it, please?"
His eyes left my back as he looked at me through the mirror before nodding. He moves closer to me and slowly ties it. A shiver was sent in my spine when his fingers brushed against my bare back.
"Will you do anything to your hair?" He whispered while brushing his lips over my shoulder before planting a small kiss.
"You like down, right?"
Letting a small humming, he continued kissing my shoulder when he finished tying it, his hands traveling to my waist.
"Then I'll put it in a bun."
"Don't even try, or else your hair will be in my grip." he warned, making me chuckle.
I smile at him before looking at the dress. It's pretty. My waist looks so small in his hold.
"Is it okay?"
"Everything looks okay with you, sweetheart."
"Aren't you tired? You've been flirting with me for the whole day." I said while turning to face him. "I might think you're already falling for me."
"Isn't it too fast to think of that?"
"Love doesn't take time, That's why there's a thing called love at first fight. So just admit it, I won't get mad." I continue playfully.
"Or maybe you're the one who's already falling for meâ Am I wrong?"
"Let's bet?"
"We'll be late, sweetheart."
He suddenly changes the topic, making me chuckle. "Coward, okay let's go now. Get out so I can change."
"Well, You can change whilâ"
"Get out before I kick your ass, Ace."
****
Ace
Living with my parents but not really feeling that I have a parent is hard, but sometimes, I just think that there are more unfortunate people or kids than me. Some don't really have parents, some are left by their parents and some just don't really feel that they have parents.
When I was a kid, I didn't attend any family day. I once did, Only to feel left out. Especially when my father is there, but not for me, but for Luke. That's why I've always been envious of him, but the older I get, the more I realize that it doesn't really matter to me.
Kids in the orphanage don't have that Family day for only family, because every day is their family day, with the sisters and other kids.
That's why every Christmas, I'm always at the orphanage with them and Jenny. We would rather spend Christmas there than in Victoria's house. But now, I have Madison. My Christmas will be different this year, and the rest of it.
Speaking of Madison, How can I tell her that she looks stunning without sounding stunned? But that's what my eyes are seeing.
A beautiful woman smiling at the children who's waving at her. The event started, and we're now sitting on our seats, near where the children are playing.
We have the Sisters at the same table who're very curious about her.
When we arrived here, everyone's eyes were on her. Even me, I couldn't do anything when I first saw her wearing that but stare. As I wanted, she just let her hair down but wore a pearl clip one side.
"You can play with them later, let's go to the stage first." I whispered to her as she looked at me confused.
"I'm coming with you?"
"Ofcourse, come on."
She nodded at me as I held her hand and walked to the stage while everyone gave us a round of applause. I smile at Sister Elena who's standing with the mic, she walks to me and gives the mic. She just introduced me, now I'll have my speech.
" Good Evening, everyone, It's good to be here again." I started as they all clapped again. "For the past few years, all of you know that I'm always coming here alone and sometimes with Jenny. But tonight is different. I will come with my wife. From now on, she'll always be with me whenever I come here." as I said those words, I gained another round of applause.
Pulling her by her waist, she smiled at me before whispering, "What am I supposed to say?"
"Thank them or tell them that you have already fallen for me."
"Asshole." She whispered before looking at them. "It was nice meeting you all, I'm Madison, And I'm glad to be here tonightâ" claps around the venue cutted her, making her smile. "If the children need something, don't think twice before asking Ace, he'll surely help you." she added before backing away from the mic. As always, she gained a lot of applause from everyone.
"As she said, we're always here if the children need something. I've been doing this for 6 years and still counting. This orphanage has a special place in my heart, especially the kids. I have no problem with financing this place, but I hope no more children will be left outside the door, meaning left by their parents. It's good that these children have their second home, this orphanage, but every time I see new faces here... I can't help but to think, what happened to their parents, what will happen to them. I know how it feels like growing up without any love or care from my parents, and I hope no more children will get to experience this. As I promised, I'll always be there for them, and with my wife. That's all." As I finished talking, a round of applause greeted me, but what caught me was the woman standing behind me with a proud smile on her face.
As I walked to her, she held my hand before mouthing, "You did great."
For the first time in my life, someone told me that, and looked at me proudly. For 30 years I've been wanting to be someone who they'll be proud of, I've done everything for them to look at me like how she does, and that's all I want. To have someone, who'll be by my side, who'll look at me like I just fucking save the world from breaking apart.
Who would have thought that this woman would be that someone?
"Thank you." I said as I went and gave her a soft kiss on the lips, that's what I really want to do right now.
"I knew it, you're alreadyâ"
I cut her off by wrapping my arm on her waist as we walked back to our seat.
****
The charity event ended and while waiting for the party for the Orphanage's 10th Anniversary, Madison went to the kids and played with them. I remain seated on our table watching them giggle. They've been like that for the last 15 minutes. I don't know what they're talking about, but Madison pointed at me, making the children look in my direction before waving at me. I looked at her confused when a smile formed in her lips before talking to them again.
After a second, a little girl went beside me and held my arm to get my attention.
"Yes, sweetie, you need something?" I ask while smiling at her.
"Can we take Madison to the lake? She said we need to ask you first."
"Oh-yeah sure, but tell her to come to me first, I need to tell her something."
Smile bloomed in her face before she ran back to their table and whispered to her, as the girl finished whispering, she looked at me before excusing herself to them and making her way to me.
"She said you're going to tell me something?" she sat on her seat before looking at me.
"You'll go out?"
"They said they want to show me their tree house near the lake."
"Okay, Go ahead. Just come back in an hour, we'll go home."
I say it normally but when I realized that I said the word Home, I just realized that it was true our Home. It's not just a house, but a home where we will start everything.
"Okay then, I'll be back in an hour." She immediately stood from her seat and went to them again.
She can be really fast whenever she's excited. Cute.
****
She's late. It's already been an hour, but she's still not here. She's not the type who usually gets late.
I went out of the venue thinking of etching her, I made my way to their tree house as I saw the fairy lights turned on. I know this way because I help them build it. As I went closer to them, I saw them outside, sitting on the grass with a small lamp in the middle, her back facing me and I think no one noticed me. I just stand there watching them when I notice the bottle in the middle, are they playing spin the bottle?
"Yehey!! Your turn Maddie."
"Okay, okay, Chill. I choose dare."
Ohh, It's true or dare.
The boy wearing Spider-Man thinks before smiling widely. "Aha, Okay, The dare isâ I want you to stay in the lake for 10 seconds."
"But it's cold." a little girl butted in.
"Why? You asked me earlier to do that too." he fought with the little girl, that's when I noticed that his clothes were really wet.
"Okay, okay kids, chillax. Let's be fair here." She stood from her seat before walking to the lake. She really did it.
I walked closer this time when they finally noticed me, same as her.
"10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1..." As the kids finished counting, She immediately got out of the water with her hands covering her chest. That's when I remember that she's wearing silk.
"Ace? Has it already been one hour?" she asked while wearing her shoes.
"Yeah?" is that a question? No, it's sarcasm. I went in front of her and took off my blazer for her to wear.
"It's done John, Sorry kids, but we need to go now." She said, apologizing while putting on my blazer.
"Owww, okayâ Are you going to come back here?" one of the girls asked, making her look at me.
"We'll be back, don't worry, you'll see Madison again." I said, reassuring them when a huge smile bloomed on their faces.
It's only been two hours, but they're already close with her.
"Okay kids, you should go back to the venue, Sister's waiting for y'all. We need to go now." She bid goodbyes with them before coming with me to the parking lot.
It's already late, and the air is unknowingly cold. As we drove to the lakeside road, she just let the roof open, causing the cold breeze to hit her hair. I know she's cold because her nose is slowly turning red, and she starts to sneeze.
"You shouldn't have done that, it's already cold." I said, still looking ahead.
She averted her gaze from the sky to me. "I can't, the kids play fair,, so I do need to."
"Take a bath later. You'll get sick."
"I willâ" she came to a halt as she let out a sneeze. "It's just that I get cold easily, don't worry." she smiled before looking back at the lake on her side, the moon shining brightly above us and its reflection on the huge lake let us see it.
It's quiet, loud quietness surrounds us.
"What do you want to do tomorrow? Wanna go somewhere?" I started breaking off the silence.
"Hmmmm... I don't really know... Waitâ Let's go to Hazel's restaurant, She's my best friend. It's been a while since I last saw her, and I think she's upset because she's not calling me. Can we go there?"
"Yeah sure... She's your best friend?... But I don't remember you bringing any guests to our wedding."
"That's why I think she's upset, I forgot to invite her."
"Oh."
"Yeah, Oh." I can hear the regret in her voice.
"Where is her restaurant?"
"Around Jackson Heights. The only Restaurant and Cake shop at the same time in that street."
Giving her a nod, she smiles at me before closing her eyes again. She must be exhausted, after a day of work and a night playing with kids, I would want nothing more than sleeping and laying.
After two hours, we arrived at the villa. She had fallen asleep before we even got to Brooklyn. It's already midnight and I haven't slept for the last fifteen hours because of my insomnia.
But there's one night where I'm able to sleep comfortably, the night when she told me about her past with Luke. When we went to bed, with her in my arms, and my head snuggling on her nape while smelling her hair. And waking up still spooning her.
I walked to her side and gently carried her in my arms, I closed the car door before walking to our room. I want her to take a bath first because she'll get sick, but she's already sleeping deeply. Putting her down on the bed, I sat beside her before carefully removing her shoes and taking off my blazer . I took a towel from the bathroom and went back to cover her body with it.
I walked to her closet and took her satin nightgown. I feel like I really need to wake her up, so I just pick the one she can easily wear and go back to sleep.
As I went back to her, I slightly shook her body while calling her, "Madi, Sweetheart, wake up." After a moment of shaking her, she finally opened her heavy eyelids. "Change your clothes first, then go back to sleep."
"Huh?"
"Get up, change into this and go back to sleep." I put her nightgown next to her before helping her sit up. "I'll go out, so you can change."
She just nodded at me while rubbing her eyes. I'm not even out yet when she starts removing her clothes, immediately closing the door, I shut my eyes trying to forget that I just saw her bare back, without any clothes. And it looks so fucking smooth.
Everything about her always had my pants tightening. Fuck.