Page 161 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

Maddie sat at her desk wondering whether to bail or not. The clinic had had a last minute cancellation. Conveniently, she thought like even god was trying to get involved in her life. She stared at her screen, just as she’d done for the last hour achieving little when she had a heap load of work to do.

Cole walked past with Brandon and she glanced up feeling eyes on her. Half the team seemed fascinated by Cole, by the fact he was now back working out of BlackWater and especially that they were both in the same office. It was almost like they expected Maddie and Cole to suddenly start some ridiculous display of affection in front of them all, like they were lovey dovey teenagers, like they were that kind of couple.

Becs pinged her a message asking if she wanted a coffee and she messaged back that she was heading out, trying to make it sound as vague and uninteresting as possible. And then sighed and got her coat. If she was going to do this she needed to actually bite the bullet and grow some balls.

She left the office muttering about some meeting and hoping everyone took the bait. Tony her bodyguard was there waiting in the corridor the minute she was out the secure section.

“Where we going?” He asked as they got in the lift.

She glanced at him. He seemed like a nice guy, someone she could trust, I mean he was literally here to save her life if the occasion called for it.

“I have something personal I need to do.” She said.

He nodded in response. His face impassive.

“I’d appreciate it if you could not mention it to anyone.”

“Anyone?” Tony replied.

“No one. Including Cole and Brandon.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Where are we going Maddie?” He asked more seriously.

“A clinic.” Maddie replied looking back at the lift doors as they pinged open for them. She knew she wasn’t exactly answering his question but he’d see soon enough. Besides it was embarrassing that he was going with her, let alone her actually having to spell it out.

“Now I get it.”Tony said as they stood outside.

“No you don’t.” Maddie muttered before walking up to the door and holding it open for him.

She gave her name to the receptionist and then they took a seat. Waiting.

Maddie’s good leg tapped away. She was down to one crutch now. Her bad leg was healing but Hamid wanted her to use the one crutch for the next few months to be safe.

She looked around seeing all the posters, all the happy artwork and pulled a face. Part of her couldn’t believe she was here, that she was doing this, but she’d heard everything Cole had said the other night, everything he and Brandon had whispered when they thought she was distracted. When she was pretending to be looking over the takeaway menu.

It turned out Cole might want kids. He might actually want to be a father.

She gritted her teeth. He’d always been so strong in his denial, forceful even that he wasn’t interested in fatherhood, that it was almost a relief every time he said it. A relief that she didn’t need to think about it, to do anything about it, that she could just bury all her emotions about it too.

She’d never been interested in having a family either, but when she’d heard those words, heard that Cole might want that, she realised she needed to at least find out if it was an option.

So here she was, sat in a god damn private clinic with Tony of all people when in reality it should’ve been Cole next to her only she was too proud, too ashamed too, to ask him. Because what if she couldn’t? What if it really wasn’t an option? At least this way she could find out and then go from there. At least that’s what she was telling herself.

“Maddison Cooper.” Someone called and she looked up to the face of a smiling nurse. She got up using the crutch to brace her leg.

“Your partner can come too.” The nurse said.

“Oh he’s not…” Maddie said quickly blushing because obviously it looked like Tony was her boyfriend. Afterall, who came to these places with anyone other than their life partner?

Tony smirked and she rolled her eyes at him before following the nurse into the room.

A doctor was sat behind a desk in a crisp shirt, with his sleeves rolled up. Behind him was a bookcase full of medical texts. He smiled and stood as she approached him.

“Ms Cooper.” He said holding his hand out for her to shake and then realised she was using the crutch and that her hand was occupied.

Maddie balanced the crutch in her left hand and smiled as she shook his.

“I’m Dr. Taylor, it’s good to meet you. Please take a seat.” He said.

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