Jack & Maddie

By Richard Dean

As a teenager growing up in eastern North Carolina Jack had always looked at life as being pretty simple. As he becomes a man he realizes the true meaning of many things; life, love and happiness. Simplicity turns into confusion as he navigates his ever changing life, everything he thought he knew turns upside down. Was this secret true or another lie? Has the love of his life been beside him the whole time? Outside forces have kept them apart long enough. Will that change or will it last forever?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard Dean
• Release date: Mar 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311600479

Book preview

Jack and Maddie

Richard Dean

Copyright 2014 Richard Dean

Smashwords Edition

Chapter 1

One of Jackson Donovan’s earliest memories of Maddie Thompson was the day he and some friends were playing football in his front yard when one of them noticed smoke coming from the roof vent of the Thompson‘s house. Jack, being the oldest of the group ran under the carport to the kitchen door, he knew that Ms. Thompson was home. She was the single mother that lived next door to the Donovan’s. She always had the attention of the boys in the neighborhood because she was very attractive. She had recently divorced her husband, Sam, who still lived in town but was never around. Jack opened the door to see the kitchen was fully involved with fire and smoke. The worst part of the kitchen was around the stove where the ceiling was starting to fall down in large chunks. Jack darted through the kitchen and a piece of the ceiling fell and grazed the side of his head and struck him on the shoulder. He could smell his hair as it singed, he slapped at his ear, which was stinging from being burned. As he moved down the hall he could hear the shower running in the back bedroom, there was not much smoke in the back of the house and Stacey probably could not smell the smoke.

Jack yelled out, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Thompson!

I’m in the shower! she yelled back, Get out of here!

Fire! Mrs. Thompson your house is on fire! Where’s Madeline? Jack shouted.

There was a brief pause, Oh my God. She is in her room. Stacey said frantically. Get her Jack and let’s get out of here!

Jack turned to run down the hall when he froze in his tracks; Mrs. Thompson ran out of the bathroom with no clothes on, his eyes were as open as his mouth. She scrambled to put on a robe, her wet golden hair was clinging to her shoulders, her skin had started to tighten as the beads of water sparkled in the sun, the water from her hair streamed down her shoulders and past her erect nip,

JACK! Stacey barked, GET MADDIE!

He turned and slammed into the left side of the door frame; he took a step backwards and started down the hall. He now had a knot over his left eye to go along with the blister on his left ear. Jack ran into Maddie’s room and scooped her into his arms, turned and ran down the hall, Stacey was right behind him. There was too much smoke in the front of the house, Jack covered Maddie’s face with the blanket, and turned toward the double doors on the foyer, as far as Jack knew these doors had not been open since the Thompson’s moved in, he kicked the doors where they joined, just under the lock. The adrenaline accompanied by the desire to show off in front Mrs. Thompson, caused the doors to fly open, Jack ran out first followed by Mrs. Thompson. The fire department was already there and had started to extinguish the fire from the roof, Jack’s mother was outside and took Maddie from him and walked with Stacey into their house.

Mrs. Thompson turned to Jack and hugged him, Thank you. She whispered, pulling him tighter.

Your welcome. Jack replied.

She looked at him and stroked the back of his head; Jack winced as she brushed his ear which now had a fairly big blister.

You should go to the hospital, Helen. Stacey called to Jack’s mother. His ear, it’s burned pretty bad.

Jack turned to see his friends smiling from ear to ear, they had noticed, as Jack did, that Stacey was having trouble keeping the front of her robe closed as she walked into the house. Jack never told anyone about what he saw in the bedroom and it would be years before he would ever discuss it with Ms Thompson.

The Donovan’s and the Thompson’s grew close over the years, Jack’s mother and Stacey, who was younger than Helen, became very close. Helen knew that Stacey was struggling as a single mom; Sam was never around and was paying no child support. The families did all the usual things, Christmas, Fourth of July, all the holidays. Jack’s father owned a restaurant that was always busy, he often worked late.

He was coming in late the night Stacey and Sam separated. Jack never got the full story but he remembers being wakened late one night by the sound of Stacey crying, Jack’s father Owen was with her trying to calm her as he tried to get up with Helen, who was closing up the restaurant late that night after a party. He heard his father mention the hospital and they both left, Jack went back to sleep and the next morning there was a moving van outside her house.

Stacey was a pharmaceutical rep and was always out of town, this made Jack an instant babysitter, he and Maddie had become joined at the hip, Jack never did seem to mind, he adored Maddie, it also gave him time to spend with Stacey, he still carried a pretty big torch for her. Jack always thought of Maddie as a little sister, he and his actual sister were growing apart as she discovered some of the distractions of the early eighties; Def Leppard, Duran Duran pot, C. Thomas Howell and Rob Lowe.

Chapter 2

Time passed as Jack started his senior year in high school, Maddie was in elementary school and Jack often picked her up from school. He didn’t mind helping Stacey, she needed it, besides Jack liked all the attention he received from his friends, they thought Stacey was hot and some were jealous that Jack was so close to her.

One afternoon, the Tuesday that schools let out for Christmas break, Jack arrived at Maddie’s school to pick her up in the usual place. This day was anything but usual, classes were out early and kids were everywhere. They were all hopped up on candy, that was the day when classes had their Christmas parties, and much candy was handed out. Jack didn’t see Maddie, and walked into the mass of kids that were waiting to get picked up or get on the bus.

He looked around and spotted Maddie’s teacher, raising his arms he mouthed, Where’s Maddie?

Her teacher looked around and pointed to the playground which was around the corner. Jack walked around and noticed that there wasn’t a teacher around and that was not usually the case. He then walked toward a group of kids standing in a circle, they were all laughing. In the middle of the pack of hyenas was Maddie who was sitting in the mud puddle at the bottom of the slide. Every time she tried to stand one of them would push her back down, her bag of Christmas candy was spilled around her floating in the muddy water.

Stop it! she cried out, Leave me alone.

The ring leader was Paul, who was older than Maddie and was the school bully; he was becoming as big an asshole as his big brother who was a few years older than Jack. Every bully has a toady, Paul’s was Marty Sloan, and his big brother was the biggest pot head in town.

Leave me alone. Paul said back in a mocking tone.

He stood over her holding the straps of his book bag, pushing her with his muddy little shoes. Jack walked up behind the crowd, Maddie looked up and saw him coming, he held his finger over his lips and grinned, Maddie immediately stopped crying.

LEAVE HER ALONE! Jack roared.

This caused a shock wave to shoot through the crowd, they all screamed like little girls, one of them ran away crying, two just froze for a second and then ran in fear, they never turned to see who was there. As Paul and Marty started away, Jack grabbed them by their shirts and held them in place; he then turned them so their backs were facing each other and held them with one hand and extended the other to help Maddie out of the mud. Maddie stood behind Jack, she was grinning now.

Listen, you two, I better not hear of this shit again, Jack spoke softly trying to not let Maddie hear him swear, he wasn’t sure why, he had heard Maddie use that word before. You girls know who Jap is don’t you? he asked.

The two captives just nodded; there facial expressions showed the fear that name brought to kids their age.

Jack was referring to his neighbor who was living across the street; his big sister was Jack’s age. She gave him the name, his real name was Earnest, and she called him Jap because he was a large kid with a plump face. His face was so chubby that it made his eyes look like he was Japanese, everyone in the school was afraid of him, no one ever thought of finding out whether or not he could fight, the fact is he could but he was the nicest kid on the block. Hell, Jack was scared of his sister, growing up with her; Jack knew he could take care of himself.

You can’t do anything to us you’re….

Shut up and listen boy. Jack interrupted. I’m not going to do anything except tell my father to give Jap a free sundae every week; in return he will deal with you if you mess with her again. Got it? Jack said standing upright, Now give me your candy, both of you. Jack ordered.

They fumbled through their book bags and produced the loot, their shaking hands handed it over as Marty started to cry. Jack picked Maddie up as she wrapped her muddy legs around his waist, she buried her face into his shoulder and started to sob, now the little drama queen was coming out; she knew how to pout and milk it when Jack was around. Walking away Paul asked What about our candy?

Your candy’s in the mud boys, merry Christmas. Jack answered not breaking stride.

Maddie raised her head to see her tormentors sitting there candyless, she grinned when they looked at her, and she finished the moment by giving them the finger.

Jack played the radio on the way home, he kept switching the channels until he heard a song that Maddie liked, it was walking on sunshine that made her perk up. By the time the song was ending Maddie was screaming the words in a jerking, spastic like dance, oblivious to Jack, who had now stopped the car and was staring at her like she was crazy. Maddie, in mid-jerk stopped to see Jack looking at her, she froze and realized that she was busted, Jack started driving again, and they both erupted in laughter.

By the time they got home they were still laughing, Jack pulled into Stacey’s drive way, he looked over to see that his parents were not home, no big surprise. He also saw that Stacey was home, he knew that she and Maddie were leaving for the holidays.

What happened to you? Stacey asked as she walked toward her picking her up as Maddie started to tell the story.

Jack had let her sit on his letterman’s jacket, he was trying to keep his car clean, he had a big date that night. They walked slowly down the hallway into the bathroom as Maddie held up her candy bragging about how much she had. Stacey walked out of her daughter’s room, with her muddy clothes and into the bathroom to start a bath for Maddie.

She walked out and approached Jack, You’re the best, she said softly, she reached for his jacket, I’ll get this cleaned for you, I have to pick some stuff up this afternoon.

It’s no big deal, really. Jack said backing away holding his jacket.

Stacey pulled back on the jacket, bringing Jack closer; she placed her hand on the back of his neck.

You are always there and I appreciate that, what would I do without you? She leaned forward and kissed him on the lips.

Jack’s heart raced, all he could think about was seeing her that day in the fire. She pressed her body against his and jerked back quickly as she felt his erection against her stomach, scared he offended her Jack turned purple, his face felt hot and he started to sweat.

This woman was 27, he was 18, she was kissing him, Just play it cool, play it cool. Jack thought to himself.

Stacey glanced downward and grinned, It’s been a long time since I got that reaction from a man. Are you sure the jacket is all I can do for you today? She asked looking into his eyes, standing there holding his jacket.

Yeah, and no starch. Jack said thinking he had just said something clever. Stacey stared at him with the same look on her face that his father had that day when he came home years ago and his sister had dressed him up like a girl.

No starch. She said slowly, she then turned and walked away. You can pick this up tomorrow at the cleaners at the plaza, Maddie and I are leaving tomorrow, going to Georgia to spend Christmas with my parents. Merry Christmas Jack. Stacey said not turning around to see him leave.

No starch, real smooth Romeo. Jack mumbled to himself as he walked back to his house.

He turned when he heard a knock on the window, Maddie was smiling and waving. Jack stopped and smiled, Maddie’s smile could melt the North Pole, and Jack chuckled as he walked backwards, he was in a good mood now, and he had a date tonight.

Chapter 3

He was somewhat scatter- brained as he drove over to patty cooper’s house to pick her up for the big date. He headed up the walkway and knocked on the front door.

Patty came to the door and smiled when she saw jack standing there doing the same. You look pretty, I like that look. Jack said not really knowing what he was talking about; he managed to come up with that one in the car on the way over.

Patty stopped, What look?

Her hands moved sassily to her hips and her mouth remained slightly open as she waited for an explanation.

You know, that whole look. Jack explained moving his hands in circles, with a stupid look on his face. You know I only get to see you at school, you really look nice for our date, it makes me feel special. Jack stood there hoping his answer was enough to calm her down and forget about the unnecessary comment he just made.

Patty smiled and said Thanks, that’s sweet.

They walked down to the car and Jack opened the door, Patty got in and Jack closed the door behind her.

Idiot. Jack said as he walked around to get in the car.

He had liked Patty for a long time and she had recently broken up with the guy she was dating, she hinted to a mutual friend that she broke up with him because she liked Jack. He felt like he could float when he found this out, and he nearly blew it in the first five seconds. The plan was to go out to eat at the local pizza joint and then maybe go to a party at a friend’s house. Dinner went great, they talked for nearly an hour after the check came, Jack new that was a positive sign.

They left the Pizza Villa and sat in the car in the parking lot talking about what to do next. They decided to go to Mitchell’s house where a small get together was happening. Jack had a close circle of friends, most high school clicks were separated by whether or not the members played sports, his group consisted of a group of guys who played sports and some who did not. They all had one thing in common, beer. They liked it and they liked to drink it together. Mitchell’s parents were always gone, they had a place at the beach and were there all the time, his mother