Chapter 4

When Maddie woke up at the next day, she felt the silence that was lurking in the house without the present of James. On one hand, she felt relieve not to have him in the house, but it felt empty and too quiet even though she had Drew with her.

After taking a morning shower, she went to Drew's room. Upon opening the door, she saw him standing inside his crib and jumping into happiness and screaming.

"Good morning, little buddy. Did you sleep well? Someone woke up in a good mood." While laughing, she approached Drew and picked him up from the crib and went out of his room. When they passed by James's room Drew pointed at his father's door, "I'm sorry buddy, but your daddy is not here, he'll be back at this weekend to see you, but don't worry he loves you a lot and miss you." Maddie reassured him with a smile and continued descending the stairs to go to the kitchen.

"Well Drew, what do you want to eat for breakfast?" She knew what he liked the most, despite that, she wanted to hear his voice.

"Egg… Laddie egg," Drew was mumbling to himself. Maddie laughed at his words. Maybe soon he'll learn to say her name correctly.

An hour later, there was a knock on the front door. She didn't wait for anyone. "Are you waiting for someone that I don't know?" Maddie smiled at Drew and tickled him. With a laughter in her voice, she went to check who was knocking this early. "Who is it?" She asked and checked the peephole at the same time. When she saw who it on the other side was, Maddie smiled and opened the door.

"Dekota! What are you doing here this early? And who are you, you little cutes?" Maddie was happy to see her best friend and her boys, Gabriel and Gilbert, were only 3 years and they walked by them self already and where a little devils when they wanted.

"Hi Maddie. I've missed you so much. I've brought these little devils with me because Bill is at work now and I didn't feel like being alone in the house with these two." Dekota hugged her friend and entered the house, followed by her two boys. Gil and Gab hugged her legs, so she went down on her knees so she could hug them back.

Maddie liked them a lot, "did you missed me, boys?" they nodded their little heads with a smile in their face "well, I've missed you too, let's go to the kitchen so you could meet Drew and join him for breakfast." Maddie led them back to the kitchen and sat them down at the table with her and Drew. "I hope you guys like eggs, because it was the request of this buddy. Am I right Drew?" Drew lifted his head from the plate and nodded and looked at the people that join the table. At first, he was confused when he saw them, but then he just smiled at the boys that sat next to him.

"I see Drew is happy to have new friends to play with, boys please play carefully with Drew because is younger than you." Dekota told her children when she let them get off their chairs and waited for Drew to be released from his highchair. When Maddie put him down, each one of them took his little hand and walked to the living room to play with him.

"Your boys are so cute," Dekota looked at her with a smile. "I know they are sometimes little devils, but kids are just kids, so what can we do with their cuteness, right?" Maddie smiled back at her friend.

"I know. Well, the real reason that I came to visit you was to see how things are going on between you and James. Is there any movement?" Dekota looked at her, but Maddie wanted to avoid that conversation because she knows this topic was difficult for her to talk about, but she had to tell someone about her feelings.

"No, Dekota. There is no movement in the air between us, but sometimes it feels weird to be alone in one room." Maddie sighed to herself and prepared herself to tell Dekota about her feeling toward James. "But… GOD, I don't know what to do Dekota, I don't want to fall in love again because I'm afraid to go through the same hell that I had when I was dating John." Dekota hugged her friend, she knew her story and what she had to go through with that man, Maddie didn't realize that she was crying when she saw her friends' shirt being wet from her tears, "I'm sorry for crying at your shirt, I don't know why I am crying. I know James is a caring and loving person who lost his girlfriend, but…" She took a deep breath and continued, "I don't want them to get hurt because of me, in case he finds me. Just so tired of this. I want to be love someone that will love me back, it that too much to ask?" Maddie cried at Dekota's shoulder.

"You are a strong woman, Maddie. Did you forget you learn how to defend yourself in case that devil is back, plus you have me and Bill as your friends to defend you against that monster? So, wipe those tears from your pretty eyes and breath." Maddie wiped her tears and smiled at her friend, who became to be like a sister to her, "and know, for our favorite theme: James. Well, I've known him since collage so don't worry about him hurting you, cause if he tries his mother even his father will kill him for just doing it. Plus, his parents likes you, right?"

"Yeah, they like me, and I like them but still… I don't know how to explain these weird feeling that I'm having right now with James. What I'm I going to do?" Maddie was holding her head with frustration inside of herself.

"Relax, Maddie and breath. It won't help you stressed about it. Let me tell you about how I met Bill." Maddie looked at her friend with enormous eyes. "Don't look at me like that. What do you think? That we had was love at the first sight? You're wrong. At first when I met Bill at college I hated him till death, because he was a playboy that liked to hook up with every other woman hist to get laid, he also was a football player and a very popular one. Me, well, I was someone that no one wanted to be friends with me because I had an issue with having a new friend because of what happened to me when I was younger." Maddie got up from the table and went to bring some water to Dekota and check out on the boys that were playing in the living room. "Thanks Maddie, how's our boys there?"

"Don't worry, they are playing very nice between them self. I never thought that you hated your husband in the past. I imagined that you just fell in love with each other. To tell you the truth, I can't imagine Bill a football player and a playboy, hahaha." They both laughed at her words.

"I know, but he was, well, like I was saying before you interrupted me. Well, one day, Bill got injured at one of his games and had to be suspended from the game for whole month and the ones he thought were his friends just abandoned him and the women that he used to see just turned their back to him I felt pity for him at first and helped him when his books felt from his hands when one guy pushed him. You know, after that we spent some time together, and I got to know a new man totally different from the one I knew as a playboy and foot boy player, as time when on I fell in love with him without realizing it, but I knew he didn't feel nothing toward me. His injury cured, and he went back to be that man that I hated at first, but then I didn't hate him anymore."

"When prom came, I went alone because no one wanted to be my date that day, yes Maddie I was lonely that day at the prom," Maddie never imagined her friend being that lonely at the young age "what surprised me that day, was that Bill came also alone to the prom, it's weird you know, but he came with no one and he approached me suddenly and I didn't know what to do with myself because I was in love with that man who liked to party and be with a lot of women, when he came to my side he just kissed me and I was panicking inside, it's just the man that you fell in love with suddenly was kissing you in front of everyone at prom, it turned out to be that… he fell in love with me after hanging out with me while he was injured, I was in cloud nine that day and since that day we never being separated, of course we fought a lot but always made peace with each other in only one way that we knew, hahaha, in the end we got married. Like you see Maddie, we all have a difficulty plus I understand that you're afraid of that monster so you don't have to be worried because will be by your side helping you fight him!" Dekota hugged Maddie.

After a few hours, Dekota had to take the boys and go home to prepare lunch, she had difficult time taking her boys from the house because they got attached to Drew, but she promised them that tell come and visit once she had time from her work.

Maddie left alone at the house with Drew. After she said goodbye to Dekota and her twins, she went to see what Drew was doing and found him sleeping on the carpet. Maddie approached him and carefully raised him from the carpet and put him in his crib. She went to the kitchen to prepare lunch for herself and Drew.

#

Now that he was back to the base, felt somehow relaxed, with no stress of being around someone that tried to avoid at all costs. While watching the recruits running around the 10 laps that he told them, he joined them and see who can really become a real Marine.

While he was running alongside of the others, he could see they were giving all their strength to be recognized as a Marine. He missed his days of youth. He used to like to run a lot with his fellows Marine but now at this age it wasn't easy, but he was still fit as much as these young soldiers if not more than them.

After the laps, it exhausted most of the youngsters from the running. "Do you call yourself Marines? This was only 10 laps. What will happen to you when you run 20 or even 100 laps in the future? Go take some water and then get in line in front of me. Move it!"

"Yes, Sir!" everyone went to drink their water and came back in less than a minute.

"Good job, soldiers. I know it's your first time her in the base of 'RED FLAG' but it doesn't mean it can be easy if that's what you thought when you joined here, I'm maybe strict with you but the others are worst then me, trust me I've had it worst but I've become a proud Marine in this base, I really hope you'll be able to pass the test that will give you to become a Miner Corp here in 'RED FLAG'." James looked at the soldiers that was in front of him, he really wish for them to be part of this family.

"How's the training is going on?" his ex-trainer and friend Mike asked him. James turned to the voice and smiled at his friend.

"Well, they look fit, but some of them don't look like they can fit here. Let's hope that they prove it to us at the end of the training and passing our final exam."

"Yeah, I can see what you're talking about. Take rest and call home to let them know-how are you, leave those kids to me! I'll make them work out a little more like I did at your time." Mike winked and smiled toward James and approached the new recruits that were sitting on the floor trying to catch their breath. James laughed at what his friend said and went to his office to call his parents.

As he entered his office, James went to sit in his chair and call his mom.

"Hello?"

"Hi, mom. How are you?" He was happy to hear his mother's voice

"James, I'm so happy to hear your voice. I'm doing good and so is your father, how the base? Anything new?"

"The base is fine mom, we got new soldiers, so I'm the trainer. Mom, how's Drew and… Maddie?" it was hard for him to ask his mom about her, even though he could have call to his house.

"Drew is doing good; he's a good boy and Maddie is doing perfect. Why don't you just call and ask her all these questions?"

James sighed to himself. "I know mom, I'll do it after I finish talking to you."

"That's good my boy, your dad want's talking to you. Wait, a second," James heard his mom passing the phone to his father.

"Hi son, how is the first day of coming back to the base?"

He's father is a retired soldier also, so he can understand him like nobody else can plus that was the reason he joined the military. For him, he's father always is his hero. "The first day was busy with the new recruits. Mike just replaced me, and you know how he is with training new soldiers. Especially if they are applying to be Marine Corps."

"You're right James, I remember when Mike trained you in the beginning, you will complain to me on the phone 'how hard it was' for you" James and his father laughed at that memory of him "but serious James, how are you? I'm worried about you now that you're back at the base."

James knew what his father meant about that. He was afraid that he'll have another episode like he had in front of… here he goes again remembering her. Now, he knows that. He doesn't want to bother anyone else, has to be quiet at night with his nightmares.

"I'll manage, dad, don't worry. If something, I'll wake up Mike because he knows about them and he sleeps next door to me, so he'll hear me if I scream at night or not. I better call home and check out about Drew. I'll talk to tomorrow." James finished his call with his parents, and now was the time to call his own house, knowing that she's going to answer the call. He took a deep breath and dialed his home number and waited for her to answer the call.

Few minutes later, there was finally an answer on the other side. "Hello? Who may I speak to?" James felt nervous, but he had to know how Drew was doing.

"It's me, Maddie. How's everything home?" There was a brief silence, but she answered.

"Hi, James. Everything is doing fine. Drew is here in front of me playing with his toys, wait I'll put him on the phone." James could hear her saying, 'Guess who's calling you Drew? Yeah buddy, it's your daddy, you want to talk to him?' James laughed at that because he thought it was cute. "I've put the phone on speaker for you and Drew is listening to you."

"Hey buddy, it's daddy, how's my boy is behaving?" He knew Drew will only say a few words but still he was happy to hear his voice.

"Everything is OK, James?" He could hear her concern for him, and it touched his heart.

"Everything is fine, Maddie. Just a busy week. I'll be home this weekend."

"I'm glad to hear that. I'll make your favorite dishes."

"You don't have to do anything, Maddie. Just make my son happy and the house clean. I'll see you this weekend. I need to go. Bye Maddie."

"I'll be waiting… I mean, we'll be waiting for you. Bye James."

James hanged the phone with a smile on his face. "What makes you so happy? Because you got a smile on your face after that call. Was it a beautiful woman?" James jumped in surprise because he didn't expect to have anyone listening to his call. When he turned around, he saw his friend Mike leaning against the door and having a smile face.

"You idiot, you scared me! I am not telling you anything! Now, let's get those rookies up running and training!" James approached his friend and leads him outside, while both were laughing and reconnecting again after so long! He won't tell Mike about Maddie, because he knows that he's a big player that likes to be with every different woman every week and Maddie wasn't that kind of woman, she was his! GOD, she's not mine! Get that stupid idea out of your head. You already had someone already!" He must stop thinking about her and just continue with his life like before meeting her and that is it!

#

Week Later

It has been a week since James and Maddie have seen each other, a week since they tried to not think about each other and get them self-busy but now… Today James is returning home and Maddie is trying to get herself to calm down even though she's been running to everywhere just to buy all the ingredients that she needs to make his favorite dishes like his mother explained to her, Drew was clapping his hands in happiness as he watched Maddie running around the housecleaning and cooking and trying to be with him.

When Maddie was finishing the last preparation, she heard the front door opening, so she took Drew with her and greet James.

"Welcome home James, Drew missed you, am I right, honey?" Maddie knew she sounded like a wife that is welcoming her husband with a child.

"Hi buddy, I'm so happy to see you. I've missed you! Come here, little man." James took his son from Maddie's hands and went to the living room to sit down and talk to him. He looked at her when she turned around and went back to the kitchen. "Have you been a good boy to Maddie? I've brought you a small gift." James searched his bag and found the car toy he bought for Drew. He knows he shouldn't spoil him but occasionally he can do it. He sighed to himself, what am I doing? This has become weird suddenly but seeing her with Drew in her hands and welcoming just warmed my heart and it felt too cozy for me.

"James?"

"WHAT?" suddenly he screamed and Maddie's shocked and Drew was crying after that "I'm sorry Drew, Daddy didn't mean to scare you. What do you want Maddie?"

"Well, I'm sorry, but your dinner is ready, so you can eat whenever you want. I'll be in the garden." Maddie turned and went to the garden to relax a bit.

He didn't have to scream at me. I know he is tired from the ride from the base she sighed to herself and sat down at the bench I guess it just won't work for me, why it's so hard to find someone to love me? What I ever did in my previous life to deserve this? Maddie was crying when James found her. He sat next to her and hugged her. Maddie froze in his arms.

"I'm sorry Maddie, I didn't mean to scream at you. It's just." he sighed. "Lately, ever since I came back to the base, I've been having those nightmares that drove me crazy. I have a friend at the base, his name is Mike, he had to be beside me every night because he knows that I have trouble with them plus he want me to visit a therapist about these nightmares, but to tell you the truth… I don't want to open to a stranger about it, so what do you say if you hear me? Can I tell you what I went in the war that cause me those scars that I will carry for as long as I can?" Maddie looked at him with opened eyes and couldn't believe that he preferred to tell her and not a professional.

"Are you sure, James? I'm also a stranger."

"Maybe, but you've been working for me for 2 months and I know I can trust you. I don't know why, but I know it." Maddie smiled at him after she wiped down her tears. "And Maddie, sorry again for screaming at you. I didn't mean it." He hugged her again. James liked her, but he didn't know what exactly he felt toward her.

"Thanks, James, for trusting me. You're a good person."

"First, let's eat our dinner that you've prepared for me and later, after we put Drew to sleep, will talk about my traumas. What do you say?"

"OK, let's go. I know that I'll have to reheat the dinner because it's cold now so wait a few minutes." Maddie got up from the bench and went inside the kitchen to reheat their dinner.

James watched her go inside and sighed. It's going to be harder and harder on my side to be near her every time, but I know I can trust her with my secrets and scars of war! James went inside the house to eat his dinner; he'll worry about his inner conflict with his feeling toward her later because first he'll tell her about what he had to go through in that place where he lost all he's friends.