Playing for Keeps (41 page)

"Yes, that's a drawback."

Maddie hoped the trip home would go fast. They had almost exhausted talk about the weather. She needed the kids and Rob as a buffer for a longer conversation. It was strange, sometimes she could talk to her parents easily, and sometimes it was strained. This time felt a little strained. Maddie knew why, given their family history with Thanksgiving, but she'd hoped perhaps they were past that after nine years.
Apparently not.

Meg
chimed in with some conversation and they made the forty minute trip home without too much awkwardness. Rob and the children were out front to greet them, and he gave her mother a polite hug before he handed Stacie over.

"Look at you,"
Meg cooed at the baby. "Michael, doesn't she look just like Maddie did at that age?"

"Very much so." He picked up Sam and put his hand on Sophie's head. "You," he told Sophie, "need to color me another picture. I've worn the last one out showing it off to everyone at my office."

"Okay," she agreed.

Rob moved closer and shook hands with Maddie's father. "How was the trip, Sir?"

"Not bad, not bad. We thought it would be much more crowded this time of year, but we got through just fine."

"We're glad to finally be here, though,"
Meg added. "It's been a long day."

"Please, come inside. I'll get your bags."
Rob opened the back door of the SUV.

Maddie hurried to his side. "I'll help you." She pulled out one suitcase while
Rob got the other. Her parents went in ahead of them with the children, and Maddie whispered to her husband, "God, help me! We discussed the weather and the wheat crop for forty minutes!"

"Oh, there's a subject you know a lot about." He chuckled. "They can focus on the kids for a while."

"Perfect." She smiled at him, then ran a hand over his cheek and gave him a kiss. "Um, you clean up nice."

"Stop that, now, your parents are in the house. No hanky panky allowed."

"Bullshit," Maddie told him. "We're doing it, even with them down the hall. I may scream out, 'I'm coming' real loud just to see what happens. What can they do? We're married."

Rob
laughed so hard he had to set the suitcase down and stop walking for a moment. "Whatever you say, baby. I'll make you come, and you can take it from there."

"It's a deal." She ran her tongue around the edge of his ear, then pulled away reluctantly. They picked up the luggage and carried it inside.

Maddie found it much easier to get along with her parents with Rob and the children there to help carry the conversation. She made baked potatoes and Rob grilled steaks for dinner, and they all had an enjoyable evening. Meg helped them tuck the children in bed, and they sat on the back porch for a little while afterwards.

"Anybody care for an
Oklahoma champagne?" Rob held up a bottle of beer.

"I believe I would," Michael said, and Rob handed a bottle over.

"Anyone else?"

Maddie
smiled. "No thanks, sugar."

"No thank you," Meg said.

"I'll be right back." Rob went in the kitchen.

Meg
turned to Maddie. "He's a good one, Madison. He's so helpful with the children, and so polite."

"He's the best. He takes very good care of us."

Rob returned with his beer and sat in the chair next to Maddie. "My ears were burning. It better have been something good."

She ran a hand through his hair. "I was just saying how nosy you are."

He tossed his bottle cap at her and she grabbed it. "Just kidding. I was saying how well you treat me and the kids."

"Easiest thing I've ever done in my life." He gazed at her lovingly.

Michael said, "We're very grateful to you. It's good to know Maddie has someone to take care of her."

"With all due respect, Sir," Rob said "Maddie really doesn't
need
someone to take care of her. She was doing quite nicely on her own. But thank God, somehow, we found each other. I love her very much."

Michael sipped his beer and said thoughtfully, "I think this relationship works because each of you thinks that you're the lucky one. So many times people get wrapped up in what
they
want or what
they
deserve, that their partner doesn't feel appreciated."

"Not a problem for us." Maddie put her hand out and Rob held it.

"Or for us." Meg put her hand on her husband's arm.

His eyes twinkled as he gazed at her.

Maddie suddenly looked at them differently. She remembered walking into a room and seeing her parents cuddled together, sharing a bottle of wine. She'd been too wrapped up in her own life back then to realize that her parents had a life as well.

As she thought about that, her father said, "I think we should turn in. It's been a long day, and tomorrow will be another one. I bet those children wake up bright and early."

Rob nodded. "Usually do."

They all stood up, and Meg said, "Goodnight, then. We'll see you tomorrow."

They went to their room, while Rob let in Bo and locked up the house.

Maddie was quiet until they got into their bedroom and shut the door. "Did you see the look they gave each other? Oh, my God!"

"Oh, yeah!" Rob chuckled and pulled her into his arms. "I bet they're in there
doing it
right now."

Maddie grimaced. "Gross!"

"You don't think your parents should have a sex life?"

"Not in my house!"

"Do you still want to have sex with me when we're their age?"

"That's different."

He kissed her. "No, it's not. Be glad if they're happy. Lots of people aren't." He kissed her again, then let his mouth move down her neck.

"I can't do this, thinking about them in the other room!" Maddie complained.

"You shouldn't be thinking about them, if I do my job correctly." He unbuttoned her blouse.

"What if we hear them?" She widened her eyes.

He laughed. "You may have to drown them out. You're young, you can yell louder."

"Oh my God!" Maddie pouted, until Rob's mouth reached her breast. She repeated, "Oh my God" in another context entirely. She focused on him, and put everything else out of her mind. It wasn't as hard to do as she'd thought. She never heard any noises, and she tried not to make any, either.

"Chicken," he whispered as she climaxed quietly.

She merely
smiled as her eyes rolled back in her head.

When she woke the next morning, Maddie heard conversation and smelled breakfast. She yawned and looked at Rob.

"Good morning, beautiful." He
smiled lazily at her.

"Good morning. Someone's cooking in my kitchen."

"Maybe your parents are doing it on the kitchen table," he teased.

Maddie sat up and covered Rob's face with her pillow.

He laughed and rolled on top of her, tickling her until she begged him to stop. He nuzzled her neck. "You usually don't beg me to
stop
anything."

She groaned as he kissed her neck, then ran her hands over his face. "You're a gorgeous man, you know that?"

"If you say so. I trust you completely." He kissed her gently, and they necked for a few minutes.

"Happy Thanksgiving," she whispered as they pulled away from each other.

"Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, cutie pie. Now I'm going to hop in the shower, before you seduce me with your feminine wiles."

"Aw, damn." Maddie pretended to pout, and he nuzzled her neck before he got out of bed and headed to the shower. "Nice ass," she catcalled him.

He turned around and walked backward into the bathroom. "Quit checkin' out my butt."

Maddie licked her lips. "I like this view even better."

He shook his finger at her. "You are naughty, naughty, naughty." He closed the bathroom door.

Maddie chuckled and threw her robe on. She stopped and used the bathroom in the hallway before she entered the kitchen. "Good morning everyone."

"Hi Maddie!" Sophie called. "Happy Thanksgiving!"

Maddie gave
Sophie a hug and kiss. "Happy Thanksgiving, baby doll. Hey Sammy, Stacie." She kissed each of the kids. "Hey Mom. Look at you, making pancakes in my kitchen."

Meg
looked at her. "Hope you don't mind. Sophie said that was their favorite."

"Mind? No way! Thank you!" She gave her mother a kiss on the cheek.

"I believe you have something to show me." Meg looked at her sternly.

"What?" Maddie was confused.

Meg shook her head. "Sophie let it slip that you and Rob got matching tattoos. Let's see it."

"No way!" Maddie grinned and held her robe closed tightly.

"Show her!" Sophie laughed. "It's pretty!"

Meg said, "Show me."

"Oh all right." Maddie lowered the shoulder of her robe and showed the heart to her mother.

"Good Lord!"
Meg ran her finger over the heart. "The little one was kind of pretty. This one is as big as a deck of cards!"

"And it's pretty, too," Maddie said. "I like the rose and the drops of blood."

"Hmmm." Meg covered the shoulder up. "I hope you're done with the tattoos."

Maddie laughed and picked at a pancake. "I probably am, but
Rob had the children's names put around his. So if we have any more kids…" She raised her eyebrows.

Meg's eyes widened. "Are you considering more children?"

Maddie smiled. She was not only considering it, she needed to pick up a pregnancy test the next time she went to the store. She nodded to her mother and shrugged.

Meg
raised her eyebrows, and turned back to the children. "Who needs more pancakes?"

Maddie showered and they proceeded to cook their Thanksgiving meal. They planned to eat at three p.m., one big meal for the day. Edward and Andrea Cooper arrived, and they sat in the living room visiting with the Stewarts. Fred and Emma joined them, and Rosa, Smoky and Callie arrived shortly thereafter. Emma and Rosa ended up in the kitchen with Maddie, and the others in the front room chatted while watching the kids and a football game.

Rob carried a drowsy Stacie into the kitchen. "Mama, I think we might need a nap before we eat."

"Go ahead and lay her down." Maddie kissed Stacie and ran a hand through Rob's hair. "Thanks, sugar."

He sniffed around the kitchen. "I'm hungry."

"Beat it," Rosa scolded.

"Damn, she's tough." He looked offended and carried the baby out.

"Bring Rosa her broomstick, why don't you?" Maddie called after him, and as he walked off laughing, she explained to her friends what Rob said to her the day after her accident.

"That smart ass!"
Emma muttered, and they chuckled.

"He is," Maddie agreed.

"You had every right to be cranky. You were in a car wreck, for Pete's sake!" Rosa said.

Maddie chuckled. "I was Uber-cranky. I'm not sure 'cranky' is a harsh enough word for the way I was. The seriousness of what had happened hit me that next day, and I guess I freaked out. Fortunately, I have the world's best husband, and he got me through it."

Rosa peeked in the front room and then back at Maddie. "So, how is it with the parents? They treating you okay?"

"Yeah, they're fine."

Rob passed back through and said, "They're horny, though. We think they did it in the guest room last night."

Emma
put her hands on her hips. "So what? You believe anybody older than you shouldn't have sex?"

Rob
raised his hands in surrender. "Hey, I'm all for it. I hope to be going well into my nineties. Maddie just got grossed out, is all."

Maddie made a face at
Emma. "They're my parents!"

Rosa and Maddie both said, "Ewww," together, and Emma laughed. Maddie picked a walnut out of a salad sitting in front of her and nibbled on it. She looked at Rob. "So only into your nineties, huh?"

He shrugged and grinned. "Check back with me in a few years, granny. I'll let you know."

Rob carved the turkey in the kitchen before they sat down. It was his first time, and he didn't want everyone staring at him. They ended up watching anyway, with his father, father-in-law and Smoky all giving pointers.
Rob looked at Fred. "No advice from you?"

Fred
smiled and shook his head. "You're doing fine. You're about as skilled a man as I know."

"Ooh, I think so too." Maddie patted Rob's butt in front of everybody.

His face got red and he looked at her. "Do you see this really big knife in my hand? You might make me hurt myself."