Rogue

“Yes, I did,” he conceded, “but I wonder if it occurs to you what it's like to make love to your fiancée in the bed she used to sleep in with her husband. Your life is a little racy for me, Maxine.”

“Oh for chrissake, don't be so uptight. It's just a bed. He's not sleeping in it with us.”

“He might as well!” Charles said, and stormed out of the room. He packed that night, and in the morning he left for Vermont. He said he'd be back in time for the wedding. It was a great start. He didn't even answer his cell phone for two days, which hurt Maxine's feelings, and he never apologized to her for storming off, when they finally talked. He sounded stiff and cold. Maxine hadn't liked his accusations, and Charles didn't like having Blake around, dropping in and out of the house. Charles said Blake acted like it was still his, and she was angry about that too and said it wasn't true.

“So where's the groom?” Blake asked, looking around when he dropped by the next day.

“He went to Vermont,” she said through clenched teeth.

“Uh-oh. Do I smell pre-wedding jitters?” he teased her, and she growled.

“No, what you smell is me pissed off at him for acting like a jerk.” She never pulled any punches with Blake. She could be honest with him, even if she had to put a good face on it for the children. She had told them that Charles needed a little peace and quiet before the wedding, and Daphne had rolled her eyes. She was delighted he had left.

“What are you so pissed off about, Max? He seems like a nice guy.”

“I don't know how you can say that. He hardly said two words to you yesterday. I thought he was very rude, and I told him that in fact. The least he could do is speak to you. And he snapped at you when you invited him to play tennis.”

“It probably makes him uncomfortable to have your ex-husband around. Not everybody is as cool as we are,” he said, laughing, “or as crazy.”

“That's what he says.” She smiled at Blake. “He thinks we're all nuts. And Zellie's baby gets on his nerves.” She wanted to say “and so do our kids,” but she hesitated to tell him that. She didn't want Blake to worry about him. And she was still convinced that he and the children would get used to each other, and even like each other in time.

“I have to admit, Zellie's baby is a little loud.” He grinned at her. “Do you suppose she'll ever find the volume button on that kid? His mother must have taken a hell of a lot of crack.”

“Don't let her hear you say that. And he's getting better. It takes time.”

“I can't really blame Charles for that,” Blake said fairly. “What about you? Are you getting cold feet yet?” He was teasing her, and she shoved him, like two kids in the sandbox.

“Oh, shut up. I'm just pissed off. I don't have cold feet.”

“You should!” Daphne threw over her shoulder as she walked by.

“You stop that!” Maxine called after her, and then shook her head. “Bratty kid. Have you told them about your plans for the orphanage yet?” she asked Blake.

“I was planning to tonight. I hope they think it's cool and they don't get upset. They seem to have a lot of their own opinions these days. Jack just told me that my pants are too short, my hair is too long, and I'm out of shape. He could be right, but it's a little tough to hear.” He was smiling as Sam wandered in and looked him over.

“You look good to me, Dad,” he said with approval.

“Thanks, Sam.” Blake hugged him, and Sam beamed.

“Do you want to come out for pizza with us tonight?” he asked Maxine.

“Sure. I'd love it.” She had nothing else to do. She loved the way everyone came and went in the Southampton house and wandered around, and she liked Blake hanging out too. It was a shame that Charles couldn't relax and enjoy it. But he had said when he left that it was too much confusion for him. He called it the three-ring circus, and it didn't sound like a compliment when he did. There were times when she wanted to strangle him, like now, before the wedding. All the pre-wedding excitement and details were bringing out the worst in both of them. She wasn't as patient as usual, and she thought he was being a poor sport, stomping off to Vermont in a huff the moment Blake appeared. And Blake had been nothing but nice to him. It was obvious to Maxine that Charles had an inferiority complex about him. She hoped he'd get over it soon.

Blake picked her and the kids up for dinner that night, and as he had planned, he told them about his Moroccan orphanage as they ate. They looked a little stunned for a minute, and then realized what a wonderful thing he was organizing. They all told him how proud they were of him. And Maxine was proud of them for appreciating what their father was doing.

“Can we go to visit, Dad?” Sam asked with interest.

“Sure. Sometime we can all go to Marrakech together. The construction isn't finished yet, but when it is, I'll take all three of you over with me.” He thought that they should see it. It was a far cry from their safe, happy little world, and he felt it would do them good.