"So how did your date go last week?" Brooklyn was standing in Madison's kitchen just after lunch on Sunday. She had agreed to come early to tea in order to help Madison set up.

"Well the zoo and the movie were great. He even carried me up the Canadian domain hill because I was tired" Madison said. She knew what Brooklyn was getting at, but she was trying to avoid it. Ella had come in and interrupted them at just the right moment, especially since Brandon has now talked about having another baby.

"Oh come on Madison you know what I mean" Brooklyn cut another batch of sandwiches into triangles. She glanced at Madison and trust her hips forward with a wink.

"Did someone get it on?" Isabelle now joined the group carrying a tray of mini cupcakes for dessert. She set the tray on the table and grabbed some napkins and utensils to start rolling together. Now the eyes were all on Madison.

She sighed a little as she grabbed the tea pot "fine" she grumbled knowing she wasn't going to win this one. "He and I were about to but Ella came in from a nightmare so we stopped".

"The life of motherhood" Isabelle said.

"The struggle of having children and an active sex life" Brooklyn added with a shake of her head. "But you guys can always try again" she insisted.

"Yeah I don't know about that," Madison said with a sigh as she boiled the tea. When the girls looked at her curiously she shrugged a little and said, "Maybe it was a sign it just wasn't meant to be. I mean he doesn't know the truth. It's wrong to have sex with him in this situation".

"Now look here Madison" Brooklyn said turning to face her with her arms crossed over her chest like she was in her teacher mode "you are one attractive young lady, and Brandon would be silly not to find you attractive. Brandon's memories might be fake but that doesn't change the way he looks at you. Last week he found you attractive and wanted to have sex with you. That wasn't something from the past. That is here and now".

Madison sighed a little and looked down unable to meet their eyes "then what do I do?" she asked. She hadn't needed to impress a guy in a long time and she wasn't sure she knew how.

"I think if he's attracted to you and you're attracted to him then you should go for it" Isabelle said "you are still a woman with needs. And there is nothing wrong with having sex with the man you live with".

"We should have a girls day out, we can go to the mall and buy yourself some new sexy clothes" Brooklyn said with a wink.

"I still don't know guys" Madison hesitated for a moment. She wasn't sure how they would react to this. And she certainly wasn't sure how she was going to handle Brandon wanting another baby. "I don't think I can".

"And why ever not?" Isabelle insisted.

"Brandon wants to try for another baby," she said softly.

"What?" Brooklyn's jaw nearly dropped "when did that come up?"

"After we went to the doctors on Friday, he just brought it up out of no where" Madison said still confused by it all.

"Well I suppose it would make sense," Isabelle said with a small shrug. When the others looked at her confused she expected "Madelyn was pregnant when she died. And I mean if the accident set him off thinking that you are his wife maybe it also makes him think that you should be having a baby".

"I guess that makes sense," Brooklyn said "but you can't very well have a baby. I mean you aren't even together for real".

"I know I can't" Madison said with a sigh. "I really don't know what to do. You guys say I should go for it and have sex with him but how can I do that without having to discuss having a baby with him?"

"You have to talk to him about it" Brooklyn said "be forward with him and say you don't think that now is the right time. Put it off as long as you can. Say that maybe next summer you can start trying".

"I think that might be best" Isabelle agrees "just tell him you aren't ready for another baby".

The conversation came to an end just in time as the doorbell started to ring signaling the arrival of guests. The three women rushed around for the final touches and by the time the last guest arrived everything was in place.

"You actually pulled it off" Rebecca stood next to Madison and nodded in approval. "I must admit I was a little nervous about asking you on the last minute – this was your first event after all. But you have handled it really well". The older woman eyed the table settings of fresh cut flowers and the fine chin dishes. "I am very impressed".

Madison forced a smile; the woman seemed so professional she wasn't sure if she was being sincere or not. "I am very glad you approve".

"Oh look" Rebecca's eyes brightened "there's Samantha". She latched her arm onto Madison's and tugged her over to the tall, attractive, blonde woman that looked as through she lived at the gym and hadn't pushed three kids out.

She was intimidated. There was no denying that. Madison wasn't sure why, for Christ's sake she was married to Brandon – but actually she wasn't. Maybe Samantha could come in separate them, Brandon fell for her once, and maybe he could do it again.

"Rebecca!" Sammy's face light up with admiration when she saw the older woman. She leaned in and kissed both of her cheeks "it is so wonderful to see you".

"Likewise dear" Rebecca said smiling back "I would like to introduce you to my daughter in law Madison".

"Madelyn right?" Samantha eyed her with amusement, as if she was planning something.

"Madison" Rebecca corrected wrapping an arm around Madison's shoulder "she was the one who put together the whole lunch today" she said.

Was that a hint of pride that Madison caught in Rebecca's voice? She smiled at Samantha "it is a pleasure to meet you".

"Likewise" Samantha said but it sounded forced. "Now if you'll excuse me" she didn't wait for an answer, she nodded to the two woman and walked away.

"Damn" Rebecca sighed, "I always hated that pampered good for nothing rich brat". She turned to Madison with a smile "lets go take our seats okay? Its time to serve the tea".

The entire woman was seated at the table with a cup of tea and a few hand sandwiches. Emma and Ella were even on their best behaviour at the little kid table that Madison had set up near the garden. With their tea and sandwiches the kids seemed distracted. Several of the mothers had even pulled Madison aside to thank her for making the tea kid friendly.

The chatting had been focused on neighborhood activities and summer topics such as gardening and vacations. Madison was so focused she almost didn't notice the doorbell ringing.

"I didn't know you were expecting anyone else" Rebecca said slightly confused glancing around the table noticing everyone was already there.

"Excuse me for a moment" Madison said standing. As she walked to answer the door she sent a silent prayer that it wasn't who she thought it was going to be. But her prayer wasn't listened to. When she opened the door there stood a woman holding the hands of two little boys.

"Hi Maddie" the boys smiled at her.

"Hi there Caleb. Hello Callum" Madison returned his smile, but when she looked at Kennedy it was forced "hello Kennedy". She forced herself to step aside and let them in "I wasn't expecting you today".

"Your husband invited us," Kennedy said instructing the boys to wipe their shoes on the mat.

"Yes but if I remember you told Brandon you had other plans" Madison insisted. Kennedy had already torn apart her engagement she wasn't going to let her walk in and ruin her lunch. This was her first chance to show the woman from Brandon's company what she was made of and she couldn't let herself crash and burn now.

"Caleb and Callum wanted to come" Kennedy said softly "said he wanted to play with your daughters." She lowered her voice so only Madison could hear "and I thought it might be best if you and I talked".

Madison shook her head "look, you can come in and have lunch, Caleb and Callum can play with my girls but this is not the time or place for you and I to talk". She smiled down at the boys and took their little hands "come on boys lets go meet my daughters". She led them both out to the back where the ladies were still sipping tea. She pointed the girls out to boys and let them go to them.

"This is an older friend of mine from high school Kennedy Carter" Madison addressed the woman "she will be joining us for tea" she pointed to an empty seat then sat down herself.

Brooklyn eyed her from across the table. She was the only one at the table that knew about her history with Kennedy. She watched her friend worriedly and when she was finally able to catch her eye she mouthed 'are you okay?'

Madison gave a little shrug and looked away. She tried to distract herself from watching Kennedy interact with Rebecca. She glanced over at Emma and Ella playing in the garden with Caleb and Callum. Her heart ached a little, the four kids were siblings and they didn't even know it.

She watched how the girls kept their eyes on the little boys and was helping if they needed it. It dawned on her that the girls really would make good big sisters and it was a shame that they didn't have the chance to have them as brothers.

Soon her phone beeped and drew her attention away from the kids. She gave an apologetic smile to the woman and took her phone out. She was expecting to see a text from Brandon or Noah telling her how the baseball game was going but instead it said blocked number.

She frowned in confusion and opened the text. 'Secrets and lies you cant hide behind. I know everything. If you want to keep me quiet pay me a hundred thousand dollars.' she frowned in confusion as she reread the text. She glanced around the yard at Kennedy and Sammy but neither of them seemed to be on their phone. Another message came through 'the longer you delay the higher the wage'.

"How was the baseball game?" Madison asked later that night. She was lying back in bed with a book opened on her lap but her mind was still on the mysterious text message she got earlier that day. Rationally she knew it was just a prank but she still had the underlined worry that it was something more.

Brandon sat back on the bed and rested his hand on her thigh softly. "It was really good actually. He and I were able to have a nice long talk about hormones and school".

"School?" Madison asked lowering her book.

"Yeah it sounds like he doesn't want to return to his feeder school" Brandon said leaning back down beside her "he said something about falling off the stage at graduation".

Madison was stunned that Noah would willingly open up to Brandon in that way. She had been worried about him going deeper into his shell but it seems as though whatever Brandon said to him today worked.

"There seems to be a lot of bullying going on about it" Brandon added, "He was hoping it would stop but it didn't. It seems to have gotten only worse".

Madison sighed a little and ran her hand through her hair "then what do we do?"

"I think we should transfer him to a closer school. I know that you wanted them to go to your school with you, which I understand. It's easier to take them to school. But I think we shoulder consider transferring them to a school closer. For sure Noah, but I think the girls too. They'll be able to make some friends in the neighborhood".

"I suppose I can see your point, at least for Noah, but I would have to think about the girls. They are still young and I would prefer to be closer to them".

Brandon bit his lip and glanced at her "that's another thing, I was thinking you could stay home as a stay home mom. I mean we don't need your income. And I've seen you writing in a journal" he smiled softly "I've seen enough struggling writers. And if you stay home you would have a lot more time to write, then maybe we can consider publishing your book".

Madison turned towards him "wait are you serious about publishing my book?"

"Well I haven't read it yet" Brandon smiled softly "but yeah. I think if it shows promise then we can consider it".

She smiled wide and grabbed his face in her hands. Quickly but passionately she pressed her warm lips against his.

He instantly responded. His mouth pressed against hers firmly, deepening the already hot kiss. Holding her chin allowed him to pull her face closer to his. He ran his tongue against her bottom lip asking for entrance – but she denied him.

"Tease" he grumbled trying to part her locked lips. Just as he was determined to enter she was determined to keep out. In fact she did want to tease him.

His hands traveled down her back towards her bottom. Slowly they firmly grasped her butt. However she still didn't open her mouth. He was expecting her to gasp in shock, giving him the chance to slide his tongue in. but her mouth remained locked.

"You got to do better then that baby" Madison smirked. Now she really was teasing him.

"Oh is that a challenge?" Brandon pulled away a little to see her face.

She leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "batter up".

 When all was said and done between Brandon and Madison he crawled up next to her and lay down beside her. Gently he draped his arm across her waist, tugging her closer to his chest. If they got any closer they would melt into one person.

"That was..." Madison whispered, "wow".

Brandon nuzzled his face into her neck and panted softly "yeah... wow".

Madison blushed; she ran her hands through his hair, holding on to him. In fact she never wanted to let him go. "I had never done that before" she whispered her secret.

He looked up at her; his eyes were trying hard to decide something. But finally he sighed and admitted his own secret "I haven't either. That was my first time doing that".

So that's why he was so nervous and careful at first. It was his first time experiencing that too. No wonder he kept asking if she was okay.

"I'm glad it was with you" Madison said softly resting her head against his chest.

Brandon kissed the top of her head "I'm glad it was with you too".

photo: Caleb and Callum