"You who" a feminine voice called to Madison as she was kneeling in the garden digging up some dirt for the new flowers Rebecca brought over for her yesterday. Over the last couple days the Haywood's had popped in for more than one visit and Madison was expecting to once again see Rebecca walking towards her.

Instead she was pleasantly surprised to see a young woman about her age with wavy chocolate brown locks and a pair of tight jeans. Walking beside her was a young girl in her early teens carrying a basket.

Madison wiped her hands on her jeans and stood. "Hello there" Madison said with a warm and welcoming smile.

"Hi" the woman said with a western slang "I'm Isabelle Sutton and this is my daughter Annabelle" she said smiling.

"Anna" the young teen corrected her mother.

"Yes of course, Anna" her mother said with a playful smile. She glanced at Madison and whispered "teenagers".

Madison giggled a little "I have a son about your age, his name is Noah".

Anna nodded, trying to play it cool and not get excited but she was still a ten and wanted to see the other teen boy.

"He should be inside with his dad" Madison said smiling "you can go inside and meet him and his sisters". The girl didn't give it second though before heading inside.

Isabelle smiled at Madison "I haven't gotten a chance to introduce myself over the last few days" she said. "I'm your neighbor" she gestured to the house by the fence. "It is so nice to see this house being lived in again. It's been so empty since Madelyn's tragic passing. And don't worry I know everything. The Haywood's told me on Saturday about everything".

"You knew Madelyn?" Madison asked softly, glancing at the door to be sure Brandon wasn't nearby. It was a weight off her shoulders knowing that there was somebody other than herself who knew the secret.

"I did" Isabelle said, "We were dear friends in high school. When I moved to Toronto from Calgary in grade ten every one already had their little groups, Madelyn took me under her wing. I was her maid of honor at her wedding. It was devastating to hear about her tragic death".

"Do you know what happened?" Madison asked, "no one has really told me anything".

Isabelle nodded "I do, and I would be happy to tell you the story but this isn't the time" she said. "Maybe you can come by for tea one of these afternoons," she suggested.

"I would like that" she answered. She was very used to having Brooklyn just down the hall that she could talk to at any time, and she must admit she was kind of lonely without having her nearby. It was a relief to know that the woman would be close by to talk to.

"But down to the good stuff" Isabelle said "Rebecca called to say you and Brandon had his first doctors appointment this afternoon and you might need someone to watch the kids. And so here I am bearing fresh baked cookies". She gave a little salute "baby sitter reporting for duty".

Madison glanced at her watched and gasped a little "you're right, I better get going with Brandon. We don't want to be late. Thank you so much for coming by to sit with the kids. Noah will be fine but the girls could do with someone close by". She removed her apron she used to keep the dirt off. "Please come in," she said walking to the door.

"Thank you" Isabelle headed inside and removed her shoes "this is lovely" she said looking at the newly designed rooms. The Haywood's had changed things a little before Madison and her family moved in.

"I am glad you like it" Madison said shaking off her shoes "I need to change quickly if you don't mind" she nodded to the woman and rushed to her room. "Brandon it's time to go!" she called to the man on her way.

She through on a pair of skinny black jeans and an oversized burgundy knitted sweater with black boots. With her hair in a messy bun she rushed off to collect Brandon.

"Aw mommy he hasn't finished" Emma said holding up her paintbrushes. There were green markings on her cheek and there were yellow lines on Ella's arms. The two girls clearly were enjoying their time together with Brandon.

Brandon chuckled and stood "I will finish it later with you two sweeties" he promised kissing both their heads. "Ready when you are dear" he said slipping his shoes on.

Madison took a glance at Noah in the living room. He was lying on his belly on the floor – Anna laying next to him a little closer than Madison would have liked and nodded "alright lets go".

The couple headed out to the car and Madison got in the drivers side. Silently – awkwardly – Madison drove towards the private upper class clinic that the Haywood's arranged for Brandon to have his therapy at. When Madison had suggested they have it just at the hospital they nearly laughed at her – that was too low class for their son.

"I don't really understand why I need to see a doc," Brandon grumbled like a little kid as Madison parked the car in front of the clinic "there's nothing wrong with me".

Madison smiled softly "accidents can be very traumatic and since you hit your head its better to be safe then sorry. Many survivors can face post traumatic stress disorder," she answered very formally.

Brandon grumbled but climbed out of the car nonetheless. "This better go by fast" he said softly. Madison laughed a little and headed inside with him to check in with the franticly busy nurse at the counter.

"Sorry ma'am" the nurse said forcing a smile "we are a little understaffed right now. Our secretary seems to be running late". She grabbed hold of the schedule "Haywood, yes here you are" she said. "We have a file for you to fill in" she handed a clipboard over.

"Thank you" Madison said following Brandon to a waiting room chair. She worked with Brandon to fill the chart in. she caught his eyes looking around the room nervously. She gently rested her hand on his knee and smiled "it'll be alright" she said softly. But she must admit she was a little nervous too. She wasn't sure what to expect. Would Brandon realize the truth after just one therapy session? Or would it take more than that.

When she finally finished the forms the nurse lead them back to the office. "Doctor Gallagher will see you now" she opened the door and allowed them to step inside.

An elderly gentleman around John Haywood's age was seated behind the desk. "Ah welcome" he stood to shake their hands "it's a pleasure to meet you both". He wasn't one for small talk and got straight to work "first I would like to meet with Brandon alone. Then we will meet together for about ten minutes to talk," he explained. "Mrs. Haywood you may wait outside".

Madison wasn't expecting this man to be so forceful and tell her exactly what to do. She simple nodded and made her way out of the room leaving the two men alone to talk. She nervously went back to the waiting room and grabbed a magazine. But she didn't do much reading. Her mind was too focused on what the doctor and Brandon could be saying to each other.

The one thing that drew her attention away from her thoughts was the movement of somebody rushing in and a frantic voice saying, "I'm so sorry I'm late". Madison reentered her thoughts figuring it must have only been the late secretary.

She hadn't paid any more attention to the secretary until she spotted the long legs of a woman standing in front of her. "Can I get you anything to drink?" a soft voice asked from above her.

Slowly Madison looked up and let out a large gasp of shock "K-Kennedy?" she was stunned. And from the look of the young brunettes face she was obviously at a loss of words.

What would be the chance that the Haywood's would have Brandon going to the very same clinic where Madison's ex best friend worked? For that matter not only was Kennedy her best friend once upon a time – she was also the woman Alexander cheated on her with.

Madison had come down with the flu one day at work – what turned out to actually be her pregnancy – and had decided to head home early. To her surprise she had found more than just her devoted fiancé at home. When she walked into her bedroom intending to crawling under her covers she found Alex and Kennedy already there tangled in each others arms.

She was devastated. She had given everything to be with Alexander and she never would have expected to find him there with her best friend. She was broken for a long time, it took all her courage to gather Alex's items and throw them into the hallway. She wished she could say if fought for her but the truth is he gave up pretty quickly. And although Kennedy tried to justify her actions and explain herself to Madison it was her who opened her door for Alex and gave him a place to stay.

In fact the last Madison heard about the two of them they were expected to be married – but then again that was nearly six years ago just after the twins first birthday.

"What..." Madison could barely form any words "what are you doing here?" she forced out. The magazine slipped from her hands.

"I uh" Kennedy shifted uncomfortably "this is where I work" she said simple not wanting to talk anymore then that.

"Great" Madison said gathering her bag "just great" she grumbled. She wasn't going to sit here and watch the woman who broke apart her life. She would wait in the bathroom if necessary – but it certainly wasn't going to be here.

"Wait Maddie" Kennedy said using her childhood nickname "I can explain," she said weakly.

"You can explain?" Madison said standing to look the woman in the eye "you can explain to me how you crawled into bed with my fiancé, and father of my child, multiple times? Explain how he left me? Explain how my children grew up without a father? All of that was because of you" Madison hissed at her "please, go ahead and explain all that to Me. and it's Madison to you".

When Kennedy remained quiet Madison got her answer. She pushed herself passed her and bumped her shoulder into Kennedy's.

"I wasn't the first" Kennedy said her voice sounding defeated and broken "I wasn't the first woman he cheated on you with".

Madison paused for a minute and softly said "don't you think I knew that Kennedy?" she turned her head to glance over her shoulder at the other woman "it wasn't about his infidelity with other woman, it was about his infidelity with my best friend". She turned towards the woman "I know he was cheating, but I could have forgiven him for that. One or two random woman here or there was nothing. But knowing that he shared a bed willingly with the woman I saw as my person, the one who had been my bosom friend since kindergarten". She shook her head weakly "now that broke me".

"I didn't mean to" Kennedy argued, she twisted her dark brown hair in her finger – an old habit from elementary school.

"You didn't mean to sleep with my fiancé?" Madison asked crossing her arms over her chest.

"I didn't mean for it to go that far," Kennedy said softly, helplessly. "I intended to only help you. I wanted to prove to you what a snake he was. I didn't know you knew already. I thought I could show you that you could do better. I thought maybe a date or flirting and that would be enough... but it went too far".

"Yeah Kennedy it did go too far" She said softly "and how's that working out for you now? Have you gotten the life I was going to have?"

"Alex left me for another woman" she said weakly "I caught him cheating".

What goes around comes around is what Madison wanted to say instead she took the high road and answered softly "I am sorry to hear".

The nurse rescued Madison from having to say more. She waved her over to signal it was time for her to join in on the meeting.

Madison turned her back on Kennedy without another word and headed down the hall, thankful to be away from the woman she once called her friend.

"Welcome back Mrs. Haywood" the doctor said gesturing to the one empty seat.

She took a seat and smiled softly "call me Madison please" she said softly.

Dr. Gallagher nodded "your husband and I have a nice long chat about your relationship".

"Our relationship?" Madison's eyes widen and her heart started to beat. Was this it? Did Brandon know it was fake? Was he going to be angry? Disappointed in her?

"Yes" the doctor said "maybe it would be best if you tell her Brandon, I'll be here to mediate".

"Tell me what Brandon?" Madison asked turning to face him. This was it, this was the end.

"Ever since I came back from the hospital you haven't been yourself" he held her eyes for only a minute before he had to look away. "You didn't visit me when I was in the hospital and even since I came home you've avoided me".

"I haven't been avoiding you" Madison tried to argue but the fact was it was true. She had been avoiding him in order to prevent herself from getting close.

"Every time I walk into the room you find an excuse to leave. Just today when you were coloring with the girls the moment they invited me to join you said you needed to garden" he said softly "you never want to be alone, and god forbid I try to kiss you. Since my first night back the most I get from you is a peck".

Madison remained silent. She didn't know what to say to him. She didn't know how to explain to him the reasons why she won't get close. How her heart has been broken one too many times and she wanted to avoid another heartbreak. How when she looked at Brandon's warm welcoming eyes she could nearly melt. And that terrified her.

The kiss they shared the other night had been on her mind for days. She saw it even in her dreams.

"I know I came back less of a man" Brandon said in a broken voice.

"What?" Madison gasped. How was he less of a man?

"I should have been the one to protect you" Brandon said, "I should have always been there for you but I got stupid. I should have watched where I was going. I was an idiot. I know that I turned out lives upside down and I put this burden on you".

"A burden?" Madison asked both stunned and confused. He couldn't truly think of himself that way could he?

"You have drive me to doctors appointments, you are always walking on eggshells with me worrying over something or other" Brandon said, "you must be worried about my health. I know I hit my head. It's understandable that you would be concerned for me. But I don't want to be that way" he chocked out. "I don't want my wife be afraid to kiss me because she thinks she might break me".

"Oh Brandon" Madison whispered. She never realized or even considered that her abrasive and distant behaviour from him was causing him so much pain. She reached forward and grabbed hold of his hands "I didn't mean to make you feel this way" she said softly. "I am so sorry".

"I know you don't want to hurt me-"

"I don't" Madison agreed before he could finish "I don't want to hurt you. That's why I've been so careful". She didn't want to hurt him, but she didn't mean physically. She didn't want to hurt him emotionally. She knew that one day her secret was going to come out and he would be broken.

"I know that's why you've been so careful baby but you being careful makes me feel like I am already broken" Brandon explained.

"Oh Brandon I'll know better from now on" Madison said. Her mind for a minute flashed to the contract she signed. If she in any form didn't act as his wife and this resulted in a 'divorce' or a large amount of fights then she would be in breach of contract and the Haywood's could sue her for everything she owned.

"If I might make a suggestion," the doctor said intervening. "I understand that these times can be hard. You two are a couple after all and it's natural to worry about each other and feed off of each others emotions," he said. "I think you two need to have some time to sit back and relax. Don't worry so much about what's been going on around here. Focus on yourselves".

"And how do you suggest we do that?" Madison asked in a little confusion.

"For the next week I want you two to go out on a date with each other" Dr. Gallagher said "pick somewhere you guys can go and enjoy. Don't worry about acting as parents. Just get dressed for each other and go on a date".

Brandon glanced at Madison "that does sound like a good idea. We are both free tomorrow, maybe we can go somewhere together".

Madison sighed and nodded a little. She couldn't really refuse now could she? If she needed to build her relationship with Brandon getting away from the pressures of the city might be a good way to start. "Yeah it sounds like a good idea".

Photo: Ella