“How do you plead, Mr. Tucker?” The judge regarded the litigant with a hard stare: her dark, beady eyes looking over the rim of her glasses.

“Look. That guy had it coming. I can’t stand stuck-up Yankee fans.” Adam Tucker stated nonchalantly. The superstar Red Sox player stood there in a finely pressed, gray suit, arms crossed, a casual smile on his face. This wasn’t the first time his rowdy personality had gotten him a night in jail or a few hours in a courtroom.

“You know what surprises me, Mr. Tucker? That you would be foolish enough to get yourself in a fight, land yourself in jail and then conduct yourself in this manner in my courtroom, right after the death of your wife.” The judge sat up in her seat.

 

“How does that matter?” Adam grumbled. “She was almost as bad as a Yankee fan.” He flashed a malicious smile.

“Do you think this is some sort of game?” The judge’s voice was level. “Do you realize that if I decide to send you to jail for this act of tomfoolery, you’ll lose any and all custody of your little girl?” She paused, looking through some photographs, scattered in front of her. One of her fingers reached up, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Young Lacey, correct? I think she might be better off without her hothead father. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Your wife had similar thoughts.”

Adam stiffened at the declaration. He had been too sure of himself seconds before but now he felt some tightness in his chest that suffocated him. There was very little he was happy about when he thought of his marriage, but Lacey was the shining light in the middle of all of the hatred and anger. To lose that would mean losing his only happiness from the last decade.

“You can’t do that!” Adam snapped, kicking the chair behind him. It crashed against the gallery, causing the bailiff to rush to restrain him.

“I absolutely can. I can also assure you that, if there is another outburst like this, I’ll have you forcibly removed from my courtroom.” The judge peered down at Adam, a grimace on her face. “And from your daughter’s life.”

Adam felt his rage bubbling up inside of him. Sweat gathered at the edge of his brow, as he fought to control himself. With each passing remark, it became harder to keep his emotions under control.

 

“Do you see the damage you caused, Mr. Tucker?” The judge announced, holding up a photograph. The scene was that of pure chaos: broken bar stools, spilled liquor all over the floor splotches of red on the bar. After a passing moment, she held up another picture. This time, a man’s busted face appeared. His eyes were swollen shut and his lip was bashed open. “Are you guilty of all this damage?”

“Yes. But…”

“Then I understand why your wife added this clause to her will. Why should a sweet little girl be in the custody of someone capable of this?”

“What clause?” Adam demanded.

“Your wife didn’t think you’d be an able-bodied parent once she passed away, so she has stated in her will that she would like the court to decide whether you’re fit for the task. By the looks of it, I wouldn’t want Lacey to stay with you for even a single minute.” The judge leaned forward. “Tell me, Mr. Tucker, what makes you a good parent? Convince me.” She gave him an expectant look.

Adam remained silent as he contemplated his answer. Time seemed to drag on, and the atmosphere in the room became tense. “I’m waiting, Mr. Tucker.” The judge said, only adding to his frustration.

“Request for a recess!” A squat man with a pudgy face suddenly spoke up. Adam turned his head to see his lawyer looking rather nervous, a bundle of papers pinned under his arm.

The judge sighed, but nodded. “Granted.” She shooed everyone away with her hand and leaned back in her chair. She gave one last, reprimanding glance in the baseball player’s direction.

 

“Mr. Tucker. Please follow me,” Adam’s lawyer directed. It took Adam a minute to react. He followed the lawyer and the second they entered a closed off room, he exploded.

“What the fuck was that? How could you let her speak to me that way? And to take away my daughter? There’s no way in hell I’m letting anyone take my little girl away from me!” Adam paced recklessly across the room, heart pounding in his ear.

“Mr. Tucker…” The lawyer spoke quietly. “There is only one way to fix this.”

“Do whatever you have to. I can’t lose Lacey at any cost.” Adam bellowed.

 

The lawyer held a written statement in his hand as he stood before the judge. There was a layer of sweat on his bald head as he read out the counterproposal he had stipulated. “On behalf of my client, I suggest he remarries and finds Lacey a suitable, loving mother. We also ask you, your honor, to postpone sentence for a year, granted that Mr. Tucker stays out of trouble for the next twelve months.”

The judge gave him a hard look. “I want to see the completion of these proceedings no later than three months from tomorrow or custody of the child will be granted to her aunt. That’s my final judgment.” She slammed her gavel down.

From the corner of the room, Adam watched. He had enough money to find a temporary wife for himself. He just needed to find someone he could put up with for a year. That was a small price to pay for his daughter.

***

“What do you mean you’re letting me go? You can’t let me go. I’m the star of this whole production!” Marie Laurie’s face was now turning red with anger. “This has to be a mistake.”

“I’m sorry, Marie, but we just don’t think you’re fit for this production company. The other girls have been complaining about you and, we’ve decided that it’s more reasonable to simply let you go.” Marie’s production manager shrugged his shoulders.

“Who complained about me? Was it Kristina? I never liked her. Or was it McKenzie? That bitch.” Marie growled, going through the list of her former co-workers.

“This is exactly why we have to let you go. We simply cannot tolerate that sort of language and behavior. We’re looking for classy actors, who know how to present themselves both on and off the stage.” The man ran his fingers through his hair, now irritated by the whole conversation.

“Are you saying I’m not classy? Do you even know whom you’re talking to? I’m Marie Laurie, daughter of John Laurie, multi-billionaire John Laurie. I’ve been going to dinner parties since I was in the first grade!” Marie spat, her cheeks turning red. “And I don’t need you or my father’s money to get to the top of this business. You just wait. I’ll become a famous Broadway actress all on my own!” Marie’s voice rose in pitch the more worked up she got. Her full head of strawberry blonde hair was now a wild mess as she kept tugging on its curly ends. “I don’t need you!” She shouted in the production manager’s face. “And I hope McKenzie actually breaks a leg on stage.” With her lips pressed into a hard frown, she turned on her heels and left, making her way onto the crowded New York streets.

“They’re a bunch of fools. Getting rid of me? The show is going to crash and burn.” Marie grumbled to herself as she walked down the sidewalk, barely paying attention to her surroundings. Angry gripes emerged from nearby people as she nearly barreled into several unsuspecting pedestrians. “If they think this will stop me, they have another thing coming!” Marie shouted at no one in particular.

Her hands were clutched into fists by her side as her mind wandered back to her parents. She still remembered the day she had left home for good. Her parents were adamant about her continuing her education at business school, but Marie knew she had to follow her dreams. If she hadn’t at least tried to pursue an acting career, she would have never been able to live with herself. So she had dropped out of college and moved to New York, bringing all the money and belongings she could carry with her.

Unfortunately, her money took off faster than her career. Now, she was broke and thanks to what had happened this afternoon, unemployed. Marie dreaded the thought of working some menial job, just to be able to finance her dream. She couldn’t imagine herself waiting tables at some gaudy restaurant or be a barista at Starbucks.

This was all her parents’ fault. If they had simply supported her, none of this would be happening right now. I don't need them. I don't need anyone! I'll get back on my feet in no time. With this new found inspiration, she stopped at a local café, dishing out her last twenty-dollar bill for a coffee and a muffin.

She sat down, and noticed the newspaper on the nearby table. She grabbed it and glanced through, looking for something interesting. Finally, she relented and turned to the Wanted section. Maybe someone was looking for an actor, she thought.

The very first ad caught her eye: Wanted: Single woman, age 20-25. Fit. Attractive. Live-in nanny. Compensation set at $500,000. Please call (567) 222-3456.

Marie reread the small ad one more time, trying to figure out if it was legitimate. It seemed strange that someone would pay half a million dollars for a nanny. “I never thought of myself as the nanny type…” Marie grumbled to herself. She loved kids, but living with a family? What did her appearance have to do with this? It seemed strange.

It’s half a mil though she thought. It would sure beat waiting.

***

“Next!” Adam shouted, shooing away the blonde that had been sitting across from him. He glanced over at his lawyer with an irritated look on his face. “This is going nowhere. All of these girls are complete idiots. They have no idea what they’re talking about and none of them would take good care of Lacey.” Adam grumbled, already irritated by the fact that he had been stuck in this dingy function hall all day.

The lawyer loosened the tie around his neck. “I’m sure you’ll find someone soon. There are quite a number of women waiting.” He gulped, a thin layer of sweat forming on his forehead. “If you don’t go through with this, you run the risk of losing Lacey.” He added. Adam gritted his teeth and turned around, now facing the vacant seat before him. “Next!” He called once more. The door opened slowly and Marie walked in. She was wearing a crisp, white summer dress. It had a white and yellow daisy pattern with a sweetheart neckline that showed off her chest.

Marie’s cheeks turned a light shade of pink as she laid eyes on Adam Tucker for the first time. He was wearing an expensive suit. On his wrist was a high-end Rolex, studded with diamonds. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life. His deep-set eyes and the hard line of his jaw made her heart skip a beat. Marie had no idea that she was looking at the best pitcher in the national baseball league. Everything about him was intoxicating and Marie felt like she might be unable to look away. “May I sit?” She finally managed to say, doing her best to keep herself presentable in front of her potential new employer.

“Of course. Have a seat.” Adam waved his hand forward. Marie nodded and batted her eyelashes, hiding her hazel eyes for a moment. Adam watched her. “What’s your name?” he asked.

“Marie Laurie.”

“And where are you from, Marie?”

“Originally, I’m from the D.C. area, but I recently moved to New York to become an actress,” Marie answered confidently, a proud smile on her face. There was something about the way he looked at her that unnerved her.

Adam nodded, unimpressed. “An actress, huh?” He looked down at her resume. Her record was spotty at best. She hadn’t been able to secure a proper job in months, and all her previous employments had been terminated. Adam was ready to let her go, when something sparked his interest. She had marked her experience with children as one of her skill sets.

“It says here that you’re good with children. Can you elaborate?”

“Oh! Well, I just love kids.” Marie answered with a smile. “When I was in high school, I used to volunteer for the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. I had a little sister of my own. Her name was Penelope. She was the cutest little thing. We used to go out and go bowling or have a girls’ night at home where I would do her hair and paint her nails. It was a lot of fun.” Marie smiled brightly as she remembered the time she had spent with the little girl. If she hadn’t been an actor, Marie would have been a teacher.

“That’s very noble of you,” Adam smiled, suddenly impressed. He grabbed a photograph from his pile of papers and slid it over to her. “This is my daughter, Lacey. My wife recently passed away and I don’t want her to grow up without a mother.” Adam explained.

Marie picked up the photo and looked at the beaming little girl. In the picture, her two front teeth were missing and her hair was done in twin ponytails. She looked very happy. “She’s beautiful. I’m sorry about your loss,” she added. She was surprised that a man as brash as Adam cared so deeply for this little girl. “I’d love to meet her sometime.”

Adam nodded, offering a smile. Marie’s love for children was enough to convince him that she would be perfect. He felt that Lacey would love her. “I’ll keep in touch.” Adam tipped his head in her direction.

Marie bit her lip, hesitantly getting up. The photograph was still in her hand. She was about to hand it back to Adam when it slipped between her fingers and fluttered to the ground. Instantly, both Adam and Marie leaned over to get it. In the process, they bumped heads. Neither of them moved as their breaths tangled together. Marie found herself staring into Adam’s dark, beautiful eyes, her heart suddenly thundering in her chest.

Adam’s lawyer cleared his throat behind them. Adam sighed and turned, feeling the tension. “I apologize.” He whispered in her direction before offering her his hand. “If you’ll follow me.” He said coolly, leading her to the door.

Marie was hesitant to leave. She had the feeling that she had not made a good impression after all. Adam’s expression remained cold and distant, making her nervous. Outside, a group of young women all waited patiently for their turn.

Back inside, Adam’s face softened a bit. “She’s the one.” He proclaimed, sitting back in his seat. He leaned back and looked at his lawyer. “Did you see her? Her experience with children has been the best so far. None of these other girls even came close.”

“But keep in mind that she’s an actress. This type of career path doesn’t seem stable enough to satisfy the judge… Maybe you should reconsider.” The lawyer pointed out tentatively.

“She’s the one.” Adam declared. “I want you to call her and schedule an appointment for her to meet Lacey. If she does well, I’ll have her sign the contract.” With that, Adam left the room.

***

“Are you ready, pumpkin?” Adam called out from his bedroom. His luxury high-rise apartment was well furnished with new, modern furniture. Classic, expensive paintings hung on the wall, adding some flair to the otherwise, beige walls. “Lacey?” He called out again when he got no response.

“I’m coming, Daddy!” A small, sweet voice suddenly squeaked. Adam heard a rush of footsteps coming his way. When he looked down, his little girl was already standing in front of him.

“You’re getting faster and faster every day. I’m going to have a track star on my hands soon.”

Lacey shook her head. “No! I like tennis better!” She rocked on her heels and smiled.

“Of course. Remind me to buy you that new racket you keep asking for.” He rested a hand on her head, careful not to mess up her hair. “Are you ready to go to the park?”

Lacey nodded eagerly. “Yeah, but who are we going with? You said someone was going to be joining us?” The little girl inquired, tilting her head to the side. He knew how excited she'd been all week for this trip.

“You’ll see. I think you’ll like her.”

“She?” Lacey sounded confused. “Who?” She insisted.

“It’s a surprise.” Adam chuckled at his daughter’s eagerness. Hopefully, she would be just as eager when she finally met Marie for the first time. “But we need to hurry up or we’ll keep her waiting,” Adam warned, placing a hand on her back and ushering her toward the front door.

***

Adam’s eyes landed on Marie, sitting on a park bench. Her long, strawberry blonde hair fluttered in the wind. He watched as various late-summer blossoms cascaded from the trees, fluttering toward her. His breath caught in his throat as he realized just how beautiful she truly was. All around them large, budding trees sprung up in bundles. It was a really beautiful day.

As they got closer to her, Marie turned her head, locking eyes with Adam. Adam felt excited after a long time; as excited as he was when he threw his first pitch. After a moment, he was able to get his bearings, and he cleared his throat. “Marie. I’m so glad you could make it.” Adam offered her a bright smile. Lacey glanced up at the tall woman with a shy expression on her face. She quickly hid behind her father’s legs. Adam tried to step forward, but Lacey wouldn’t budge. Leaning down, he attempted to pry her off his leg.

“Am I really that scary? I haven’t even played the witch in Wizard of Oz yet.” Lacey peeked out from behind her father. Her eyes were wide, observing. “But let me guess, you like Dorothy better than the Wicked Witch of the West?” Marie tilted her head, her hair falling over her shoulders.

“How did you know?” Lacey asked, her voice soft and her large, brown eyes bright with curiosity.

Marie pointed down to the little girl’s feet. “Well, you’re wearing ruby red slippers of course!” Marie laughed and soon enough, Lacey joined in. To Adam's surprise, she grabbed the woman’s hand, and held it tightly.

It usually took Lacey much longer to warm up to a stranger but Marie had managed to lure her away from him with a simple, two-minute conversation. “Daddy, can we go play on the swings? There’s three open over there.” Lacey pointed to an empty swing set. He nodded, unable to deny his daughter’s request.

Squealing with glee, Lacey pulled Marie toward the playground. She ignored all the other children and sat down in the middle swing. She gave Marie an expectant look until the young actress sat down on her right-hand side. Seconds later, her father sat down on the left-hand swing. “One… two… three!” Lacey called out.

All three of them started to swing together. “I bet I can go higher than you!” Marie challenged with a mischievous smile.

“No way!” Lacey retorted, putting all of her weight into swinging as high as she could. As she did so, the wind whipped up her hair, yanking it forward and backward. “I’m so high! I can see all of New York from up here!” She commented at the top of her swing. Adam looked out and smiled. Through the trees, one could just make out the incredible New York skyline, decorated with a multitude of impressive skyscrapers for as far as the eye could see.

“This is so cool!” Lacey giggled. Adam was glad to see his daughter like this. Being gone so often meant that his wife spent most of her time with Lacey, and since her passing, she had been very reserved. Though he was angry with the judge, he was glad at how things had turned out for the better.

Adam smiled, watching the two girls have fun. His eyes rested on Marie’s long, slender legs as she pushed herself higher and higher. His heart tightened with an unknown want. Adam looked over at Marie, taking in the fine, smooth features of her face. She had a soft button nose, large hazel eyes and a curvy beautiful smile. A strange and almost unnerving feeling came over him, but it wasn't unwelcome. This woman was different, and he had to know why.

Finally, the girls calmed down, bringing their swings to a standstill. “That was a lot of fun,” Lacey exclaimed, short of breath. Still full of energy, however, she jumped off her swing and rushed over to Marie, yanking on her hands. “Let’s do something else!”

Marie’s eyes went wide. The little girl had changed so much and so quickly. She went from afraid to completely comfortable in an instant, bouncing around and smiling ear to ear. “How about we take a break and get some ice cream?” Marie offered.

“Ooo.” Lacey cooed, looking to her father. Adam smiled, nodding in consent. He reached forward, about to grab Lacey’s hand, but she immediately shook her head, her pigtails whipping back and forth. She rushed forward and grabbed Marie’s hand instead, a grin on her face.

“Two can play that game.” Adam retorted, grabbing Marie’s other hand. A wild smirk appeared on his face when he noticed the blush on her face. Adam couldn't stop himself. It seemed natural. She didn't turn away, so they continued.

He squeezed her hand and took a step forward, leading them toward a local ice cream shop. Lacey skipped along, singing all the songs she could remember from the Wizard of Oz. Marie sang along, a smile on her face. So far, so good, Adam thought. This was going to be easier than he anticipated.

***

“I can’t believe how good you are with her,” Adam whispered as they both tiptoed their way out of her bedroom and toward the living room. Lacey was fast asleep in her bed, tightly hugging her faithful stuffed animal.

“Oh… it was nothing. I’m just glad that she likes me.” Marie’s cheeks turned pink in response as she plopped down on the plush couch. She looked around the living room, her eyes dancing over the huge fireplace, the expensive paintings, and all the modern-looking light fixtures. “If you don’t mind me asking, how do you even afford to live here? New York living costs an arm and a leg.”

“I’m a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.” Adam tilted his head to the side where a large, glass display case stood, glittering with numerous trophies.

“Whoa… no way!” Marie exclaimed. “I felt I knew you from somewhere! I have seen pictures of you with your wife” She realized now who his wife was, and the details of her passing. A car crash. She bowed her head meekly. “I'm sorry.”

“Please, don’t be,” Adam grinned, walking over to a mobile bar before squatting down and looking at his selection of wines. “We've had a wonderful day, so why don't we celebrate?” He opened a cabinet, shaking his head. “I’m sorry but my wine stock is currently a little low. Will some Richebourg be okay?”

Marie's jaw dropped. “You're kidding. That's twelve grand a bottle.” She rushed forward and took the bottle before he could open it.

“Of course I'm serious. After making my little girl smile today, you deserve it.” He took the bottle back, popping it open with a sigh. He smiled, pouring them both a drink. He handed her a sparkling, crystal-cut glass before sitting down next to her on the couch.

Without taking her sight off Adam, she took a sip. Her heart was racing. She couldn’t believe she hadn't recognized him. She couldn’t stop herself from staring at him.

With the dim lighting in the living room, shadows danced across Adam’s rugged face, making him look even more handsome. Marie bit the corner of her lip, trying to stay professional. This was a job, after all. What kind of actress was she if she fell for the leading man? As her cheeks turned red at the thought, she looked up, her eyes locking with Adam’s.

Marie’s eyes grew wide as she realized how close he suddenly was. Their knees were touching and his arm was stretched across the back of the couch, his fingertips playing with her hair, making her shiver. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart hammered and all she could see were his lips, approaching her own.

In no time their lips melted together in a passionate kiss. Adam’s large, powerful hand gently pressed against her cheek. Marie couldn’t help but think about how many baseballs he had held in that hand; how many all-stars he had struck off the field. But as the kiss intensified, her mind went numb and all she could focus on was the man, not the baseball player who had his tongue in her mouth, making her whole body tingle.

Adam quickly took control, pushing Marie down on the couch and kissing her a little harder. In her lustful daze, she dropped her glass of wine on the white carpet. She was about to apologize, but Adam didn’t even bother to turn his head. He kept his attention pinned on Marie.

Marie was left breathless as she melted further into the kiss, completely blown away. Soon enough, Adam’s fingers made their way up her milky white thighs, slowly hiking up her skirt. A soft moan escaped her lips, muffled by the kiss. She could feel his large, muscular body on top of her own. Her body burned with desire as she ran her hands along his thin shirt before lifting it up and admiring his well-defined six-pack, hiding underneath. Her eyes lingered there for a moment, impressed by the baseball player’s physique.

“Like what you see?” Adam teased, tossing off his shirt. His arms rippled with muscles as he moved down, positioning himself between her legs.

“Mmm.” Marie found it nearly impossible to properly express herself. Her mind was abuzz with excitement. Every time he touched her, she felt a jolt of pure pleasure running up her spine. It was like nothing she had ever experienced before. Her pussy was already soaking wet. She wanted this man.

“Now, let’s see what you’re hiding under these clothes, shall we?” Adam smirked down at her before his head disappeared under the fabric of her dress. Unable to see what he was doing, each touch and caress came as a pleasant surprise. His large hands gripped her inner thighs, spreading her legs wide open.

Blinded by lust, Marie obeyed him without hesitation, allowing him full access to her quivering pussy. Suddenly, she felt her panties being pulled away from her body as his teeth locked onto their fabric. He tugged on it slightly, shaking his head as if he were some sort of dog. Marie giggled at the gesture as she reached down, trying to pull her dress up so she could see him, but before she could, he yanked it back down. He softly slapped her pussy, as if reprimanding her. From that moment onward, Marie kept her hands to herself.

Adam dove into her wet folds. The feeling of his rough, grainy tongue made Marie arch her back. She moaned out loudly, the sound echoing through the room. Instantly, Adam pulled away, his head popping out from beneath her dress.

He gave her a wild grin before settling himself between her sprawled out legs. Marie was breathing hard at this point, her eyes locked on the baseball player, wondering what his next move would be. To her delight, she finally saw him working on freeing his penis. Her eyes grew wide when she saw how long and thick he was. Soon enough he rammed himself inside of her.

Marie screamed out, biting her lip in an attempt to stay quiet, but it was pointless. His huge, throbbing penis just felt too good. Adam started to thrust himself in and out of her until the couch was creaking with the effort. Marie moaned loudly as Adam penetrated her harder and harder.

Placing his hands on her hips, he gripped them roughly as he threw all caution to the wind, giving her all he had. Soon, it was too much for her to handle. With her nails digging into his muscular arms, she felt herself tightening up. Her pussy walls quivered around his throbbing dick, causing him to grunt in response, but despite it all, he didn’t stop ravishing her. Marie’s pussy got tighter around him, forcing him to push himself even harder.

As he relentlessly pounded into her, Marie found herself reaching her orgasm. Every time Adam rammed himself inside, she felt her whole body surging with pleasure. She felt like it would slowly drive her insane. She didn’t know how Adam was keeping up for so long, but at the same time, she didn’t want him to stop.

But, soon enough, Adam started to tighten. He bit his lip and tilted his head back, trying to delay his impending orgasm, but finally, he lost all control. With his load now deep inside of her, he collapsed by her side, pulling her into his embrace. Marie gasped, looking into his dark eyes. The feeling of his seed inside of her felt strange, but somehow hot and exciting at the same time. Smiling, she laid her head on his chest, letting out a contented sigh. This was about to be the best job she had ever had.

***

A week after her initial meeting with Lacey and her steamy night with Adam, she found herself in the New York Courthouse, presenting herself to the judge as the primary caretaker for Lacey. The judge was satisfied, though skeptical, but in the end everything went smoothly. They left the tryst out of their story, however, even though it was still very much on their minds. With the clause of his wife’s will now underway to completion, Adam no longer had to worry about losing custody of his little girl.

As time went on, the three became very close, growing fonder and fonder of each other day by day. Soon, however, spring began to come to a close, and baseball season was about to begin anew. The fall had been a time of respite for Adam and his daughter, but now reality would have to begin again.

There was another cup of coffee on the table, waiting for Adam when he finally decided to get up. Marie couldn’t believe how much her life had changed in those few, short months. Surprisingly, she was settling into the role of a nanny quite nicely. It felt good to have a routine and people who cared about her. This role seemed less like acting and more like real happiness.

“Good morning!” Out of nowhere, Lacey came barreling toward Marie’s legs, hugging them tightly. She smiled brightly at her.

“Good morning,” Marie answered, patting her head. “You look like you slept well. Are you ready for school?”

“No, of course not. I’m still in my pajamas!” She quipped before dashing off to get dressed. Marie smiled to herself. Lacey had been so excited when they had enrolled her in a local elementary school. It was Marie’s job to make sure she got on the bus every morning. Marie walked into the kitchen and turned on the stove, about to make some scrambled eggs for the little girl.

As she looked in the refrigerator, she also noticed some bacon and took it out. The sound of sizzling echoed through the spacious room as the intoxicating aroma made its way through the apartment. The smell seemed to have woken Adam up because he was now standing in the entranceway of the kitchen. Marie chuckled and walked up to him, kissing him on the cheek. Though she loved Lacey, this part of their arrangement was Marie's favorite.

“Good morning. You’re up early.” She handed him his cup of coffee and two pieces of toast - his preferred breakfast. Marie was quickly getting to know the dynamics.

“Mmm. You’re the best.” Adam mumbled, shuffling toward the kitchen table and sitting down. Seconds later, Lacey showed up in her school uniform, her small backpack on her shoulders. Marie placed a plate in front of her.

“Careful. It’s hot.” She warned. She watched the little girl dig into her eggs before grabbing a comb off the counter and brushing her hair. She was soft and gentle about it, making sure not to hurt the little girl. “What would you like today?”

“Hmm… can you do a French Braid?” Lacey asked politely.

Marie nodded and started to weave strands of hair together. Minutes later, she tied off the end, showing off the beautiful braid to Adam.

“It’s beautiful. Just like my two girls.” Adam smiled, taking a sip of his coffee.

Lacey giggled at the compliment. Marie just blushed slightly. She couldn’t believe how natural it felt to be a part of this family when it wasn’t even her own child. “Lacey, you should finish up or you’ll be late”

Lacey’s eyes grew wide as she nodded and quickly scarfed down the rest of her food. When she got up, she grabbed her lunchbox off the counter and looked at Marie expectantly. Marie grabbed her hand and together, they made their way to the elevator.

Adam watched them go, smiling contentedly. He was glad he had chosen Marie for this job; she was proving to be very capable and useful. He took a bite out of his toast and started to read the morning paper that had been on the table. “Hmm… so the Yankees made the trade, huh?” Adam started to read up on the new player's bio and stats on his phone when Marie came back through the door.

“She’s off then.” She announced, sitting down across from Adam who just grumbled, staring down at his phone screen. “What are you looking at?” He was too distracted to provide her with an answer. She chuckled, knowing it had to be baseball.

She picked up her cup of coffee again, noticing her bare fingers. It felt like something was missing. She continued staring at them for a bit before it hit her. She was yearning for a ring on her finger. She wanted to get married. Married. The feeling was uncomfortable, terrifying even, but it wasn't novel. She had been thinking of bringing up the topic for a while but now, she could no longer hold back. She wanted more from this than just a contract, more than noncommittal sex with an expiration date. Marie didn't expect herself to fall for Adam, but she had come to love this life. She knew he felt the same. He had to! They'd been sharing a bed since she'd moved in.

“Adam…” She looked up at him.

“Yeah?” He asked.

“Well, our contract ends in October, right?” She asked, trying to ease into it.

“Right.”

“Well, what happens after that?” Marie questioned.

“I don’t know, Marie. Why do you want to talk about it now?” Adam replied in a slight shock and with a slight premonition for where this conversation was headed.

“Because I need to plan my life, Adam.” She was looking right into his eyes.

“You don’t have to worry, Marie. I will honor our contract and you will have the five hundred thousand dollars. It should set you up to do whatever you want. Work, travel or not do anything at all. It’s a heck of a lot of money,” Adam replied with a smile trying to pacify an aggravated Marie.

“Just like that?” Marie retorted, a little offended. “So this was all just an arrangement. So these past months meant nothing?” Marie pressed, her fingers tightening around her mug.

“Of course, they did. What's the matter?” He finally set his newspaper down, looking intently into her eyes.

“Let’s get married. For real. Not just to appease some judge.” Marie’s eyes blazed with determination. She had finally expressed what had been weighing on her for days, and now she was all in.

 

“What?” Adam's expression was blank. “Are you crazy, Marie? Have I ever made you feel like I want to get married to you?”

Marie’s face turned red at his response. “Am I crazy?” Marie got up, her hands on the table, her body thrusting forward. “I-I love you!” Marie blushed, lips terse with emotion. “I know you love me, too. Can’t you see that? Or are you too afraid?”

“I'm not afraid of anything,” Adam growled through gritted teeth. “But we aren’t getting married. Marriage only causes problems and love doesn't mean anything. The arrangement we have is perfect because it’s an arrangement. Don’t you see it?” Marie thought she saw his jaw catch, like he was caught up in a memory. But rejection stung her deeply, and her pride resurfaced.

“Love means nothing??” Marie demanded. “What about Lacey? What about her love?”

“Don't talk about her. You aren’t her mother.” Adam snapped, getting up as well.

“I might as well be! I’m the one who feeds her, helps her with her homework and goes out to the park with her.” Marie’s voice rose. “Hell, I’m a better parent than you ever were! Why else would you need to show me off in court?”

“Enough!” Adam bellowed. The room suddenly grew quiet, the air around them turning tense. Their eyes locked.

“I don’t need this. I don’t want a man who’s just going to waste my life.” She turned away, fighting the angry tears. “You know, you made me happy for once in my life, and we all could've been happy if you weren’t so damn stubborn. Tell Lacey I love her, but I’m sorry, I just can’t live with some brute who's too afraid to admit that he's in love!” She spat before rushing out the door and slamming it shut.

 

“Do we really have to go, Daddy? What about Marie?” Lacey’s big brown eyes implored her father for answers.

“Yes. We have to go.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m your father and I said so.” He said harshly, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the door.

“I don’t want to go without Marie!” Lacey whined.

“You can either come with me or stay here all by yourself,” Adam answered coldly.

“But what about school?”

“You’ll go to school in Boston.” He answered, getting annoyed.

“But all my friends are here. I like New York.” She was getting impatient, but Adam couldn't take it anymore.

“Marie is never coming back and that’s the end of it. I don’t want to hear another word out of you until we’re at the airport. Got it?” Each word was colder than the next. He didn’t even bother to look at his little girl as he dragged her out the door. Tears streamed down her face as she walked quickly to keep his pace

***

After a short plane ride to Boston, they settled in their old, colonial home. It was quite a change from their New York apartment, but Adam had it constantly renovated so it wouldn’t go out of style. He sighed, sitting on his luxurious, white sofa.

Lacey stood in front of him with a sad look on her face.

“Don’t look at me like that. There was nothing I could do,” Adam said sadly, feeling sorry to disappoint Lacey for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

“Now it’s time for us to get some rest, it’s been a long day.” He announced as he got up from the sofa and walked towards the bedrooms.

“Okay, Daddy” Lacey’s voice sounded hollow before she rolled her carry-on into her room and closed the door. Adam sighed, knowing this was his daughter’s way of telling him that she wanted to be left alone. She got that from her mother.

I just need to forget about her. I don’t need her to take care of my daughter. I can take care of her myself. Adam grumbled to himself as he made his way up the stairs to his own bedroom. He dropped his bags by the door and fell into his bed. It was already approaching midnight and he could definitely use some sleep. Love isn't worth it anyway. He buried his face in his pillow and let sleep carry him away.

As soon as he was asleep, the nightmare began. His mind brought him back to the last night he had ever spent with his wife. They had gone to the club together. There, Adam was sure that he had seen his wife flirting with another man. He had confronted her about it, dragging her back to the car.

“Adam! I didn’t do anything. I was just dancing.” His wife crossed her arms over her chest, with an angry look on her face.

Adam’s rugged face locked in a look of rage. “I saw you.” He shouted at her. “I saw you all over him. Don't try to deny it.”

“You can’t keep insulting me! I won’t stand for it. I’m your wife.”

“Where do you think you're going?” Adam demanded, ripping at the locked passenger door. “Alexandra!”

She merely shook her head, pealing out as she left him in the parking lot.

He called one of his friends over and demanded that he follow his car. An app on his phone showed him just where to go, and they sped after her, running red lights and cutting cars off at each turn. Rage blinded him as he followed her trail, crisscrossing the city and out into the suburbs.

He was met with police lights when he got close to their home, and he quickly popped some mints to hide the liquor on his breath. His annoyance turned to dread as he recognized the crumpled heap of metal on the side of the road as his own car. He jumped out of the car, pushing past the firemen and trying to catch a glimpse of the scene.

The last thing he remembered before waking in a pool of sweat was a gurney, a body bag. Adam had tried his hardest to wipe that memory from his mind, but now, all he could think about was the pile of crumpled metal, his wife's body in the ambulance and the look on Lacey's face when she heard the news. Every day after that, he had drunken himself into a stupor in a desperate effort to forget her. Their marriage had not been perfect, but he had never wished his wife harm, much less death.

The nightmare repeated itself. The police lights blinded his vision, keeping him from seeing the details. However, this time, as he surveyed the damage, his wife was nowhere to be found. Instead, he saw Marie on the gurney… “Don’t you love me, Adam? You know, I love you.” He heard those words on repeat, over and over again.

***

A soft rasping sound came from Adam’s door. He groaned, moving his pillow over his head. He had barely gotten a wink of sleep last night. He was exhausted.

“Daddy?” Lacey’s sweet voice floated into the room, as she knocked a little louder. “Daddy… I had a bad dream.” She whined, pressing her body against the door. “Can I come in?” She persisted when her father didn’t answer.

Adam finally got up and opened the door. His little girl stood there, holding her stuffed animal by its long, floppy ears. “What’s the matter, pumpkin?” He asked, squatting down and looking at her with concern in his eyes. The rage he had felt the day before was slowly dissipating. “What happened? Everything alright?” He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as he rested her head on his shoulders.

“I had a bad dream. I dreamt I’d never see Marie again…” Her voice wavered and her eyes grew bigger.

“Don’t think that, honey. Marie is fine. Safe and sound in her bed.” Adam tried to reassure her, gently caressing her hair. “I promise.” He pulled her a little closer.

“How do you know? Can we call her?” Lacey looked desperate, tears appearing in the corner of her eyes. “Please. I just want to talk to her.” The little girl blinked, trying her hardest to keep back her tears. Adam’s heart tightened at the sight of his weeping daughter.

“Don’t cry.” His jaw tightened.

“But I miss her…” Lacey buried her face into her father’s chest, now sobbing. Adam froze in place, feeling his daughter’s trembling body against his own. She was right. Marie was a part of their life. He couldn’t just push her away. He had to get her back and reunite the family they had built. He would never live with himself if he allowed her to slip through his fingers.

“C’mon.” He picked up his daughter and walked out of the bedroom.

It took Lacey a moment to look up, but when she did, she noticed her father already packing one of his luggage bags. “What are you doing, Daddy?” She wiped her nose with the back of her arm, sniffling as she watched her father frantically gathering some travel essentials.

“We are getting Marie back. She’s part of our family now.”

***

Adam paced around JFK airport with a tense look on his face. He had already called Marie five times, but she never answered. He gritted his teeth and kept pacing back and forth. How was he supposed to find her in a giant city like New York? He racked his mind for answers as Lacey sat down, nervously swinging her legs. He could tell she was just as eager to find Marie as he was.

“Daddy.” She suddenly tugged on his shirt. “Where’s Marie?”

“I don’t know yet, pumpkin, but we’re going to find her. I promise.” Adam patted her head. His heart ached at the sight of his daughter's concern.

He made a call to his assistant, then to his lawyer, tasking them to call every production company in the city. If Marie was anywhere, she would be on stage. He was sure of it. The minutes crawled by at an agonizing pace as he continued to make phone call after phone call, searching for answers. Finally, someone called him back.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Tucker?” It was his lawyer.

“Did you find her?” Adam said urgently.

“Yes. It appears my assistant found her. She’s working as the lead in an off Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire.”

“Where? Tell me now!” Adam demanded, his heart racing with the possibility of finding her.

“The Roosevelt Theatre, near the Market District…” Adam hung up before his lawyer could even finish his sentence. He would have to give him a hefty bonus later on for finding Marie, but right now, he had to go get her before it was too late. Lacey tugged at his arm, awaiting news.

“C’mon Lacey. Let’s go get Marie.”

***

Marie sat in her dressing room, a frown on her face. She felt numb, even here, where she felt the most at home. Try as she might, she couldn't keep her mind off of the events of the last week. She sighed and combed through her hair. “I wonder what he’s doing…” She whispered to herself, looking down at her hands.

Is he thinking of me? Was it all for nothing? Maybe it really was just a job. She sighed, resting her head on her arms. Maybe love really doesn't matter.

“Showtime in fifteen minutes!” The stage manager called.

Marie sighed again and got up. As she did, she was suddenly spun around. A pair of familiar brown eyes looked into hers. Her eyes widened as she looked at Adam, her heart rampaging. Abruptly, she yanked herself away.

“What are you doing here?” She demanded.

“I came back.” He was breathless, and his eyes sparkled in a way she'd never seen. “You were right. I love you, I was just too afraid to admit it. I didn’t think I was ready for the commitment, but now I know I can’t live without you. I heard what you said. That you love me. You can’t lie and tell me you haven’t missed me, too. So please, come back to our family.” He pleaded with her, his dark eyes sincere. He looked into her eyes, taking a step forward, trying to close the distance between them.

Marie hesitated for a moment. She wasn’t sure if she could trust him again, but as she looked down at Lacey, the girl suddenly lunged forward, hugging her tightly. “Please come home! I miss you! We both miss you!” She pressed her face into the woman’s legs, waiting for an answer. Marie’s lips turned into a smile.

“Only on a few conditions” Marie demanded, and taking Adam by surprise.

“What conditions, Marie?” asked Adam.

“You will wake up on time every morning to have breakfast with Lacey and me. Do you agree?”

“Yes, I love that condition!” Lacey joined in as she giggled and looked at Marie.

“Are you serious? Okay, okay! God!” gasped Adam. He hated to wake up early.

“Alright, one more. Every evening you’re going to take Lacey and me for ice cream in the park,” said Marie pointing at Adam.

“Yes!!!” screamed Lacey with a wide smile that went ear to ear.

“Are you serious? Ice-cream every day? That’s not even good for you?” Adam responded candidly.

“Yes or no, Adam?”

“Okay, okay, it’s a yes! If that keeps both my girls happy,” said Adam as he pulled Marie towards him in a tight embrace.

Marie couldn’t stop herself as she leaned forward, her lips coming into contact with Adam’s, letting her emotions fly. Everything seemed to finally fit into place.

“I love you, Marie. I love you so much,” said Adam looking right into Marie’s beautiful eyes and feeling each one of those words from his heart.

Lacey looked up at them. “Does that mean you’re going to live with us again?” Lacey asked, hopeful.

“Yes. Now and forever.”

*****

THE END