Maddie

I know firsthand how hard it can be during a newborn's first week at home.

Sure, when you're pregnant, people will give you speeches to try and prepare you for what it'll be like, but at the time, you don't want to hear it. You think you know everything. At least, I did, and I got hit with a very rude awakening. I was a single parent at the time bringing Izzy home from the hospital. Although I had my mother, Maya, and Ethan to help, I didn't want to burden them with my decision to follow through with the pregnancy, so I was up around the clock with feedings and lost control of my mental sanity. I was going on a full day of no sleep before Maya showed up at my mother's house and barged in, snatched Izzy from me, and threatened to kick my ass into next week if I didn't get some sleep.

So now, it feels nice to do the same for her. I've been helping out however I can. From doing dishes, cooking dinner, and putting in a load of laundry, I'm doing everything possible to make Ethan and Maya's lives slightly easier. Plus, my mom's been helping out too, which has been nice. I don't get to see her often living out in Los Angeles, so any quality time I can get, I'll take.

"Pass me the kidney beans?" My Mom reaches her right hand out while she skims over a recipe in a cookbook. We're in Ethan and Maya's kitchen in the process of making chili.

Opening the pantry beside me, I grab the can of beans, smiling at how focused she looks on the recipe. Her reading glasses are perched on her nose, her mouth pursed as she peruses the instructions. "You've been quiet the past couple of days," I say.

She raises a brow, continuing to focus on the cookbook. "Hmm? How so?"

"Well, aside from how you've conveniently been leaving the room whenever your phone rings?"

A faint blush sneaks into my mother's cheeks. When she tries to snatch the can out of my hands, I dart out of her reach, holding it high above my head. Not that it helps much since we're about the same height. "If you want the beans, you better spill them."

She snorts. "Your jokes are incredibly lame, Maddie."

The smell of garlic wafts through the silence between us, but after a few beats, she says, "Fine. I'm seeing someone, okay? It's new, and I didn't want to mention anything to you or Ethan before it became serious. Apparantly, I'm not as discreet as I thought."

My hand is frozen above my head holding the can as time seems to stand still. It's not that I'm upset that she's seeing someone else. My parent's divorce was messy, and my father and her can't ever get along. He cheated on her multiple times during their marriage. Since they split, my father and I are less close than we used to be. He still visits for birthdays and holidays, but a part of me has been waiting for this moment. Mary Holden deserves the world and then some.

But I just wasn't expecting her to say that. My mother is shy and timid, and she is the last person who would want to go out on the town, but who knows? Maybe this guy is bringing out a different side of her.

I numbly pass her the can.

"Are you mad?" She asks.

"What? No. I'm...caught off guard, that's all. I'm happy for you, Mom. It's been years since you and Dad divorced, so it was going to happen sooner than later. Does he make you happy?"

That same shade of pink hits her chinks again. "Very."

"Then that's the only thing that matters. I trust that when you're ready to introduce Ethan and me to him, you will."

Maya rounds the corner of the kitchen with a loud yawn, interrupting us. She's in a t-shirt with breast milk seeping through it and her hair is tied into a wild, messy bun on top of her head. Bags lie beneath her eyes, looking ever the newborn mom if I've ever seen one. "Something smells so good," she mumbles groggily, swiping at her eyes.

"We're making chili," I tell her. "Is Elias still sleeping?"

"Thankfully," she replies, taking a seat on a barstool by the island. "Ethan's passed out too. And you guys didn't have to make dinner. You've been here for two days already. I feel shitty for making you both do so much."

"You aren't making us do anything," Mom reassures her. "We're here to make your lives easier. It's the least we can do."

"Agreed," I say. "You were a lifesaver when Izzy was born."

Maya rolls her eyes, but her lips tug into a grin. "Thanks. By the way, how's Cameron dealing with Iz all by himself?"

"He's not all by himself," I correct. "He's—"

"Oh, I forgot," Maya drawls. "He has the super hot young nanny to watch her."

My mother lifts both of her brows. "You failed to mention she was attractive, Maddie."

"What does her appearance matter?" I'm getting more frustrated by the second, pausing on chopping the jalapeno to cross my arms over my chest. "She can't help the fact that she's beautiful. Her reviews are stellar. And besides, you know Cameron wouldn't be unfaithful."

Maya leans forward to rest her elbows on the island. "All I'm saying is you left your husband alone for four days with a woman you hardly know just to be my personal housemaid. You're too kind, Maddie. You always have been. I'm just merely suggesting you should be cautious. That's all."

I am not too kind. Okay, well...maybe I am. It's the reason I forgave Cameron in the first place all those years ago. It's the reason I decided to give Katie a chance when we first met because I couldn't possibly believe someone was capable of being that cruel. And now, what if I'm doing the same? What if Nina came on board to watch Izzy with the intention of trying to seduce my husband?

If I've learned anything since being thrust into fame recently, it's that anyone will do anything for a story. My husband is one of the most sought-after men in the country, and I left him alone with a young, hot, nanny for a few days alone.

"Oh my god," I groan. "Am I an idiot?"

My mother sets the measuring cup down on the counter and wraps an arm around my shoulder. "You're not an idiot, honey. Cameron loves you too much to do anything stupid. However, I think Maya is right about being cautious. When you get home, keep an eye out. Make sure nothing is off."

I nod, returning to chopping the jalapeno on the cutting board when Maya adds, "I'm not pregnant anymore. I'll knock that bitch into next week. Just say the word."

I laugh. "I have no doubts about that, but let's keep you close to your newborn child for now, alright? There's no need to go off on any missions for me as of yet." Because Katie is still out there with leverage over my head, and if we don't find anything on her soon, everything I've worked so hard for will fall out from under me, and I might have to actually resort to calling Maya for backup.

As if the universe is trying to help me out, my phone starts to ring on the counter beside me. A video call from Cam. It's almost embarrassing how fast the knife clatters to the cutting board for me to answer it. "Hey," I say, attempting to hide how desperate I've become. "What's up?"

Cameron shrugs, shifting into a different position on our bed. He's at the new house, and my heart flutters at the thought of spending our first night together there. I can't wait. "Nothing much. Just put Izzy to bed."

"Cam," I whine. "You were supposed to call so I could say goodnight to her."

"Fuck," he admits. "I'm sorry."

"Hi, honey!" Mom shouts, sticking her hand into the camera to wave. "Hope you're doing well. We miss you."

Cam lets out a heavier sigh than usual. "Trust me, I wish I was there too. How are Ethan and Maya doing? How's Elias?"

"We're fine!" Maya calls from across the island. In seconds, a newborn cry echoes from upstairs, and Maya groans, holding her face in her hands. "Dammit! Why am I so loud? I'll be back. Ethan needs to sleep. He was on shift the last time."

Cam smiles, but it's a sad one. A smile that tells me he's disappointed he didn't get to experience this stage with me.

"How are things there?" I ask to try and change the subject. "How's Nina? Is she settling in okay?"

Subtle, my inner conscious chides snarkily.

A long, awkward pause falls over the phone. I'm praying the internet went out, but...nope. His long eyelashes are fluttering from his blinking, his chest rising and falling with his breathing. Definitely not frozen. "What?" I ask, my pulse sky-rocketing to an alarming rate. "Did something happen?"

He clears his throat, shifting an arm behind his head. "Can you go somewhere you're alone? I don't..." He sighs. "I don't want to discuss this with everyone around."